Saturday, June 28, 2025

I never understood why matter curves spacetime...until now!


@john2001plus
1 minute ago
To be a valid theory, Relativity would have to be able to define the 4D shape of space-time.  Does the theory do this, or does it just assume that space-time is curved?

My problem with "space-time" is that it equates and combines two things that are not the same at all.  It assumes that the progress of time is like physical motion through space.  People say that we are moving through space-time at the speed of light.

Time is the interval between sequential events. It is not a distance we travel.

Since we know that there is a cosmic speed limit, time dilation is a physical consequence of approaching that speed limit.

There is much explained by Relativity.  Could there be another model that doesn't involve the concept of "space-time"?  What if Gravity really is a force?

Physicists Debunk Net Zero: No Dangerous Warming from CO₂


The whole video is interesting, but please give it at least 11 minutes.

Does Canola Oil cause Inflammation?

Saturday, June 21, 2025

11 foods to avoid???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgdTUwLmh6g&t=28s

I haven't had time to research all of his recommendations, although I will try to look into them.

His first recommendation is to avoid spinach and almonds because they are high in oxalates.  I had no idea what oxalates are, but here is what Google AI says about them:



For most people, oxalates found in everyday foods are not dangerous and are part of a healthy, balanced diet. However, there are certain situations where elevated oxalate levels can cause issues. 
In what cases can oxalates be dangerous?
  • Kidney stones: Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds in plants that can bind with calcium in the urine, forming calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals can develop into painful kidney stones. For individuals prone to kidney stones or with a family history of them, a doctor may recommend a low-oxalate diet to reduce their risk.
  • Oxalosis: In severe cases of high oxalate levels, a condition called oxalosis can develop, where oxalate builds up in organs and tissues throughout the body, potentially damaging bones, blood vessels, eyes, and even the heart. This can happen if kidneys aren't effectively removing oxalate from the blood due to primary or enteric hyperoxaluria.
  • Impaired nutrient absorption: Oxalates can bind with minerals like calcium and magnesium in the gut, reducing their absorption. However, this is usually not a significant concern for most people who consume a varied diet with adequate calcium intake.
  • Specific health conditions: Individuals with certain conditions like primary hyperoxaluria (a rare genetic disorder), enteric hyperoxaluria (due to certain intestinal problems), or those who have had weight-loss surgery may need to monitor their oxalate intake more closely as they are at a higher risk of hyperoxaluria and related complications. 
What are symptoms of high oxalates?
Symptoms of high oxalate levels (hyperoxaluria) or oxalate sensitivity can vary, but may include: 
  • Kidney stones: Symptoms like sharp pain in the back, side, lower belly or groin, blood in the urine, painful urination, and frequent urge to urinate.
  • Joint pain and inflammation: Oxalate crystals can deposit in joints, leading to swelling, pain, and stiffness.
  • Digestive issues: Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.
  • Neurological symptoms: Tingling or numbness, muscle weakness, and in rare cases, seizures or difficulty with coordination.
  • Eye and skin issues: Burning or itching in the eyes, redness, sensitivity to light, and potentially skin rashes or crystals on the skin. 
What to do if you suspect you have high oxalates?
If you are concerned about your oxalate levels or have any of the associated symptoms, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider. They can perform necessary tests, like a 24-hour urine collection, to determine if you have hyperoxaluria and recommend appropriate dietary or medical interventions. 
In summary, while oxalates can pose health risks in certain individuals, they are generally not dangerous for the majority of people when consumed as part of a balanced diet. 

Foods high in oxalates include spinach, rhubarb, almonds, beets, and certain soy products. Other foods with high oxalate content include Swiss chard, star fruit, cocoa, bran cereals, and some nuts and seeds. 
Foods Specifically Mentioned as High in Oxalates: 
Important Considerations:
  • Moderation is key:
    While some foods are high in oxalates, it's not necessary to eliminate them entirely from your diet. A guide from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests that careful planning and balanced portion sizes can allow you to enjoy these foods. 
  • Individual needs:
    The impact of oxalates can vary depending on individual factors, such as kidney health. Consult with a doctor or dietitian for personalized dietary recommendations. 
  • Calcium intake:
    Increasing calcium intake, particularly from dairy products, can help bind to oxalates in the digestive system, potentially reducing their absorption. 

Friday, June 20, 2025

Dads


P.S.  I recently read that the average cloud weighs a million pounds.  Clouds are made up of water vapor, water droplets and ice crystals so small that they are like dust and can float on the wind.

Seed Oils: The Raging Health Debate


Also look at this chart:


Canola Oil has a ratio of 2:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3.

Olive Oil has a ratio of 10:1.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

This is one of the Things Interesting About Clinical Psychology



I found this video very informative.  I've often wondered why so many people seem to behave irrationally.  I suspected that fear is a major motivator, and this video supports that idea.

By nature, I'm a cautious person.  I've seen many friends, family members, coworkers, and others pass away prematurely.  The world is a dangerous place.

Saturday, June 14, 2025

The Prehistoric Time Hole No One Can Explain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sVzWOYaM9w

Reportedly, an ice age in Europe led to the drying of Africa, reducing the Homo sapiens population to about 7,000 individuals living along the southern coast of Africa. However, this event marked the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period, during which humans learned to fish, built the first permanent settlements, and invented new tools. It has been theorized that this behavioral shift was due to genetic changes, but I believe it was simply a case of necessity being the mother of invention.

When the ice age ended—roughly 50,000 years ago—these better-equipped humans gradually spread across the rest of the world.

I also heard that a climate-related disaster drastically reduced the Homo erectus population—from around one million individuals to just a few thousand—approximately 980,000 years ago.

In both cases, I'm glad they didn't go extinct.


The End Of Climate Alarmism

The entire video presents a thought-provoking philosophical discussion about how scientific paradigms are challenged by facts that don't fit, until they are eventually forced to change.

This is the short version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jgVdMgd-2c&t=1335s

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Hyper-realistic Robot at CES 2025!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Uy8R_3aWdJo

"@AR-zp4sl
6 hours ago
She will eventually leave you and runaway with your refrigerator or dishwasher. "


P.S.  Imagine a robot who looks like a human, talks like a human, knows absolutely everything, and wants to be your servant.  It might not be that far off.

I'm not saying that this is a good thing.  It will be a tool.  It is another way for us to lose connection to the real world.

Robot pets might be interesting.  There have been some attempts at this already.



Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Japan’s Stem Cell Scientists Claim Breakthrough in Parkinson’s Treatment

The gains were modest but meaningful. One patient improved by two stages on the Hoehn–Yahr scale, a widely used measure of Parkinson's severity. Another saw a 50% improvement in motor function during off-medication testing.

"It is a significant achievement that we have been able to confirm improvement in patients' symptoms," said Jun Takahashi, director of Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, who is leading the research. "We hope to deliver this treatment to patients as soon as possible."

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

A World without Fossil Fuels


Based upon this data....


... the world has about 45 years of oil reserves.  I would have to live to 110 to see us run out.

Although the United States reportedly has massive oil reserves, it is only five times our annual consumption.

I read that there may be additional oil reserves that we don't know about.  The United States has shale oil, but it is very expensive to extract.

Sugar Consumption, Date format

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xHXtGsKq5JU

The International ISO Standard for dates is YYYY-MM-DD.  I have been using this format for at least 15 years.  

In the computer world, this is called "Big Endian", where the largest value numbers come first.  Many computer processors use this format for numbers, although Intel and Intel-compatible processors use "Little Endian", where the least significant part of the number comes first.  "Big Endian" has a small advantage because it is easier to sort records using this format.

The Great Vowel Shift and the History of Britain

Monday, May 26, 2025

Doing THIS for ONE Minute could Save your Life!


Correlation is not causality.  It could be that healthier people are more likely to engage in brief vigorous activities.

Nevertheless, short vigorous exercise is likely to be beneficial.  I prefer to ride my bicycle for 25 minutes.

I found the chart confusing because the bottom histogram is the number of people who met the criteria.  The top of the graph shows a curved relationship between exercise and health.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Did Climate Skeptics Get THIS Right?!

This video starts off saying the same things I have been saying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP2lH2EEr9I


The first 6:45 minutes nails the science, but then it becomes very misleading. It is very misleading to say that CO2 would stay in the atmosphere for 400,000 years. A Google search shows a half-life of 30 to 120 years. It is misleading to say that we have already experienced devastating consequences of Climate Change. We have experienced weather that is not significantly worse than previous periods. Asking what effects you are feeling from human-caused climate change is just an appeal to irrational fear. It does not mention that cold kills more people than heat. It does not mention that we are in a brief warm period between very long periods of mass glaciations. It does not mention that we have been in the Pleistocene ice age for 2.6 million years.

The USA is crumbling at the bottom and sinking

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

What Kind of Weapons Are Used On North Sentinel Island?

There is an island controlled by India that is extremely dangerous to go to because the Stone Age residents will try to kill anyone who approaches.  As a result, India forbids travel to the island.

These islanders have been living there in isolation for 30,000 years. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgg9aVPLL5g

Sunday, May 18, 2025

This galaxy map is hiding a secret about dark energy

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EoVQrsmnKC8

Search Labs | AI Overview
The number of galaxies in the observable universe is estimated to be between 100 billion and 2 trillion. This estimate is based on deep field observations and extrapolations across the sky. Some estimates place the number closer to 200 billion, while others suggest that the real number could be much higher, possibly in the trillions. 

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Did We Get the Double Slit Experiment All Wrong?

The double-slit experiment is a cornerstone of quantum physics. If our understanding of it were to change, it could upend the entire foundation of physics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpMcC-E5l5c

This video doesn't explain the topic very clearly—it doesn't shed much light on it. 🙂   So, it feels more like an argument over semantics.

Einstein believed that quantum physics describes systems probabilistically because of hidden variables that we are unable to perceive.  Personally, I think it's quite plausible that events occur on such an infinitesimal scale that they're simply beyond our ability to detect.  In this case, we have to rely on theory instead of experimentation.

Water Purification and Removing PFAS from Water

I like drinking bottled water, which reportedly may not be much different from tap water—unless it's labeled as purified. To save money and avoid the hassle of buying bottled water, I was planning to get a water purification pitcher.

I spent a lot of time yesterday comparing different brands. I first came across this website:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home-products/g39110423/best-water-filter-pitchers/

It recommends the Brita pitcher, primarily due to its low cost per gallon. Brita filters produce about 120 gallons of filtered water, making them very inexpensive to use.

However, after doing more research, I found that a couple of other brands are significantly better at filtering water, especially when removing PFAS.  According to the video I referenced in my previous email below, PFAS are widespread in water supplies and can accumulate in the body over time, potentially posing health risks.

I saw a video comparing the Zerowater pitcher with Brita and Amazon-branded pitchers, and the Zerowater model performed far better, producing nearly pure water.

I initially planned to order the 10-cup version of the Zerowater pitcher from Walmart, but I found the 12-cup version at a lower price, so I ordered that one instead:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JA5H7GK

How much does it cost to use?

  • Distilled water costs around $1.33 per gallon.

  • Member's Mark purified bottled water from Sam's Club costs about $0.81 per gallon.

  • The Zerowater pitcher is more expensive to use than other filter pitchers. Each $15 filter produces only about 15 gallons, roughly $1 per gallon.
    You can reduce the cost somewhat by buying filters in bulk, and some compatible generic filters are available for about half the price.

I also mentioned considering a reverse osmosis system for my home, which might be a better long-term solution.




On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM John Coffey wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC2eSujzrUY&t=1980s

Before seeing this video, I was planning on buying a water purification jug.  

The video makes me want to get a reverse osmosis system.  I already have one, but it is broken.


Achieving Fusion…again! NIF surpass their own record for energy generated

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JXk_GPIXZgg

I don't see this ever becoming a practical fusion.   According to one YouTuber, the claim of getting more energy out doesn't include all the energy needed to do the experiment, by a ratio of like 10 to 1.


We might get practical fusion either around the year 2100 or sooner, by necessity, since we will be running out of fossil fuels.  But I don't think that it is likely in my lifetime.

According to Google AI, there is enough Uranium to power nuclear (fission) power plants for centuries.  So maybe we are looking at the wrong technology.  Much of the research is funded by the government, so I can't help but think that there is a mentality where we feel like we have to be the first to achieve it before our enemies do.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Biggest Chemical Cover-up in History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC2eSujzrUY&t=1980s

Before seeing this video, I was planning on buying a water purification jug.  

The video makes me want to get a reverse osmosis system.  I already have one, but it is broken.



Sunday, March 30, 2025

Storm

I was working on my computer when an alarm went off on my phone, followed by a citywide tornado siren and multiple tornado warning alerts and texts.

The last two warnings, both from this month, were for tornadoes near the edges of the county, far from my location.

I did the only reasonable thing: I stepped outside to check out the weather. I wasn't the only one.  Just to the west, some ominous black storm clouds were gathering. It slowly started to rain, so I took shelter inside. The Weather Bug app indicated a fast-moving storm system overhead.

Then, the power went out. The storm sounded intense, so I temporarily hid in a large closet. It passed after a few minutes.

The power company sent a text estimating the outage would last until 2:15 AM.

The power came back on after about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

I wonder whether there was actually a tornado.

Two years ago, a tornado on the far west side of the county caused a massive burst of wind in Columbus, knocking down trees all over the city, including on a property across the street. That storm sounded worse; I genuinely thought my house was about to be hit by a tornado.

--
Best wishes,

John Coffey

http://www.entertainmentjourney.com

16-Year-Old Girl Wakes Up Every Day Thinking It’s June 11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKQV0u2-7OA

I have heard of a condition called anterograde amnesia, where people can't retain new memories.

Sunday, March 23, 2025

How I Think About Climate Change


@john2001plus
0 seconds ago
Neil,

It is possible that climate alarmists are correct and that human CO₂ emissions will lead to disastrous climate change unless we take drastic action. However, I have about a hundred reasons to believe they are not. We will find out in time because we are currently running the experiment. While some changes are occurring, they do not seem significant enough to warrant panic. I believe we have far more time to address this issue than alarmists suggest, as these changes are happening very slowly.

Looking at temperature data, it took approximately 140 years for the average atmospheric temperature to rise by just 1°C—starting from 1880, which was an exceptionally cold decade.

One major reason for resistance to drastic climate policies is that human civilization depends on cheap, reliable energy to thrive. The proposed solutions are often expensive, unreliable, and require draconian government controls. I do not want the government to control the entire energy sector unless there is an overwhelmingly strong existential reason to do so.

I have followed this issue for 37 years and have seen many dire predictions fail to materialize. Around 35 years ago, some claimed that we would face catastrophe within 25 years. Yet, our supposed doom always seems to be 25 years away—much like nuclear fusion. ðŸ™‚

As I mentioned earlier, the rate of change is slow, but another key factor is climate sensitivity to CO₂ doubling. Just 15 years ago, some climate scientists estimated climate sensitivity to be between 6 and 12°C. However, these predictions have gradually been revised downward. Around 2010, experts warned that we were on track for a 3°C increase by 2100 and that this would be dangerous, though a 2°C rise would be manageable. Less than a decade later, I saw similar claims, but the numbers had shifted: now a 2°C increase was the catastrophe, and 1.5°C was the new "manageable" threshold. The goalposts keep moving.

We have nearly doubled atmospheric CO₂ since pre-industrial levels—though not quite yet. However, we have not observed a 6–12°C increase. After analyzing temperature and CO₂ data from 1880, I did some calculations and estimated a climate sensitivity of around 2°C.

A 2015 graph comparing climate model predictions with actual temperature changes showed that nearly all models ran too hot. Only the Russian model was close to reality.

We now live in a political climate where truth is often defined by narrative rather than data. It is a post-truth society. There have been numerous reports of scientists struggling to secure funding or publication unless they align with the official narrative.

The IPCC is not an unbiased organization. They have refused to hire anyone who does not already subscribe to the belief in catastrophic man-made warming. This is not how science should be conducted—starting with a conclusion and working backward. Given that the IPCC is funded by governments, it should remain neutral and let data guide its conclusions. Instead, it behaves more like a political entity. The IPCC has also attempted to prevent skeptical papers from being published and has hired individuals affiliated with environmental lobbying groups—an obvious conflict of interest.

Some scientists have resigned from the IPCC, citing excessive bias. One former member stated that the real goal of the organization was to dismantle free-market capitalism.

Antonio Guterres, the socialist from Portugal who has led the UN since 2017, routinely makes exaggerated claims about climate change—such as his statement that oceans are "starting to boil."

Unfortunately, I do not trust the political system or academia to provide an honest assessment. I wish I could, but too many individuals and institutions appear to be pushing their agendas.

Best wishes,

John Coffey

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Has Neil deGrasse Tyson Ever Been Wrong?

The Path to AGI is Coming Into View


@john2001plus
0 seconds ago
It seems like the wrong approach. LLMs excel at language but are not well-suited for other tasks. The top chess programs, for example, are exponentially stronger than the best human players. A general-purpose AI would likely need to be a collection of specialized tools, each designed for a specific task. By developing enough of these tools, you could create a highly intelligent system.

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Neil deGrasse Tyson & Charles Liu Make Predictions About the Future

Michael Mann Lawsuit Against Mark Steyn

Michael Mann is a climate scientist and a prominent figure in climate activism. He created the controversial "Hockey Stick" graph, which has been widely criticized for its methodology and accuracy.

Journalist and public speaker Mark Steyn referred to Mann as "a fraud."  Mann, who has a history of suing critics, filed a lawsuit against Steyn.  After a decade of litigation, Mann won a million-dollar judgment.  However, an appeals court has largely overturned the ruling for misrepresentation by Mann and his lawyer.

https://www.youtube.com/live/2UcBaVeSMz8?t=986s

The next part of the video discusses the alleged fraud in government funding of climate activism.

https://www.youtube.com/live/2UcBaVeSMz8?t=1673s

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Why Do Americans Call This a Biscuit?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Hl5drxqF09k

Bake something until it is completely dry and it can last for years.  Sometimes decades.  Some soldiers ate hardtack left over from previous wars.

Sea biscuits or hardtack led to the modern cracker.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Evidence That Gut Microbes May Directly Influence Our Aging

The Black Kite hunts with fire

https://youtube.com/shorts/X9aEHvilDfU?si=gUSXpoqSJOx_QYc_

Most common words in English

According to The Reading Teacher's Book of Lists, the first 25 words in the OEC make up about one-third of all printed material in English, and the first 100 words make up about half of all written English.[3] According to a study cited by Robert McCrum in The Story of English, all of the first hundred of the most common words in English are of Old English origin,[4] except for "people", ultimately from Latin "populus", and "because", in part from Latin "causa".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_common_words_in_English


Sunday, February 23, 2025

The Goliath Tiger Fish 👀

The (Second) Deadliest Virus

Duracell PowerCheck: A genius idea which didn't last that long


I loved the battery testers on the batteries.

Re: CO2 removal and farming


I like a joke I heard:  How far are we from Nuclear Fusion?  About 93 million miles.  Maybe we are looking for it in the wrong place, and just need better ways to collect solar energy.


On Sun, Feb 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM Larry wrote:


Wednesday, February 19, 2025

The Technology that Ended the Middle Ages

Why Martial Arts Are Suddenly Being Exposed as Fake

xAI on X

elo score AI meaning

https://www.google.com/search?q=elo+score+AI+meaning&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1066US1066&oq=elo+score+AI+meaning&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCDgzNjdqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


An "Elo score" in the context of AI refers to a numerical rating used to measure the relative performance of an artificial intelligence model, typically based on a system borrowed from chess where models are compared head-to-head, with the winner gaining points and the loser losing points, allowing for a dynamic ranking based on their performance against other models; essentially, a higher Elo score indicates a better performing AI model compared to others in the same benchmark. 
Key points about Elo scores in AI:
  • Origin:
    The Elo rating system was originally developed by Arpad Elo to rank chess players, but has been adapted to evaluate AI models due to its ability to compare performance through pairwise comparisons. 
  • How it works:
    • Head-to-head competition: Two AI models are pitted against each other on the same task, and a human evaluator or automated system judges which model produced the better output. 
    • Rating adjustment: Based on the outcome, the winning model gains Elo points, while the losing model loses points. 
    • Relative ranking: This system creates a relative ranking, meaning a model's Elo score indicates how well it performs compared to other models in the benchmark. 
  • Applications:
    Elo scores are commonly used to compare the performance of large language models (LLMs) where different models can be evaluated against each other on tasks like text generation, question answering, or translation.