Althouse: The Big Questions.

January 27, 2018

The Big Questions.

19 comments:

Big Mike said...: If there’s a chance you’re in mountain lion country you don’t need an iPhone, you need a gun.; 1/27/18, 6:59 AM
Humperdink said...: For me, the most valuable feature on my iPhone is the flashlight.; 1/27/18, 7:08 AM
Wince said...: It's like the old adage about women: Can't live with them, can't live without them.

"Words of wisdom, Lloyd. Words of wisdom."; 1/27/18, 7:35 AM
MadisonMan said...: I think one of the best things you can teach your kids is how to orient yourself, and determine which direction is the right one to walk.; 1/27/18, 7:39 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: MadisonMan said...

I think one of the best things you can teach your kids is how to orient yourself, and determine which direction is the right one to walk.

Morally, even more so than geographically.; 1/27/18, 8:09 AM
Jaq said...: I have a Galaxy Note, it has a stylus and you can make a handwritten note on it and save it in just a few seconds. It is actually easier to use than a Moleskine. And if you pick the right pen or brush, you can make your handwriting much more readable, at least I can, than with a Bic pen, or whatever. You can doodle too, I always loved to doodle, nice to start again.

I like it.; 1/27/18, 8:20 AM
Jaq said...: And GPS is great, but only as a supplement to a paper map that covers the scope of the journey. A lot of times those things take computational shortcuts or select a route over a half mile difference that is far less interesting.; 1/27/18, 8:23 AM
Fernandinande said...: My big question is - what would the night sky look like if the Earth were in the center of the galaxy? Maybe it'd never get dark.; 1/27/18, 8:45 AM
Original Mike said...: ”My big question is - what would the night sky look like if the Earth were in the center of the galaxy? Maybe it'd never get dark.”

Yes, we’re lucky. We’re in a pretty sparse neighborhood. If we were inside a dense cluster, for example, it would be too bright to be able to accomplish serious astronomy. And without astronomy we wouldn’t have a clue as to history of the universe (aka “where we came from”).

If we were in the center of the galaxy, we’d be dead.; 1/27/18, 9:15 AM
Fritz said...: Sometime last year there was a story about a woman up near Frederick Maryland who was attacked by a bear while out walking her dog. She used her cell phone to call for help. Ever since then, when I walk the dog at night my wife insists I carry my cell, the "bear notification device".

As far as I know no bears have made it south of Annapolis in recent memory.; 1/27/18, 10:03 AM
Fritz said...: Fernandistein said...
My big question is - what would the night sky look like if the Earth were in the center of the galaxy? Maybe it'd never get dark.

The center of the Milky Way galaxy is believed to be a giant, star devouring black hole. Light would be the least of the problems.; 1/27/18, 10:05 AM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Don't foreget the hover text:

There;s a mountain lion nearby, but it didn't notice you because it's reading Facebook.; 1/27/18, 10:29 AM
Kevin said...: My big question is - what would the night sky look like if the Earth were in the center of the galaxy?

Did you ask Siri?; 1/27/18, 10:30 AM
Big Mike said...: Fritz is right on all three assertions.; 1/27/18, 11:23 AM
buwaya said...: On life in a globular cluster, if not the center of the galaxy -

"Nightfall", Asimov; 1/27/18, 2:36 PM
buwaya said...: Also check out Gregory Benford.; 1/27/18, 2:39 PM
Original Mike said...: @buwaya - Nightfall is a great story. What Benford book are you referring to?; 1/27/18, 3:03 PM
Gahrie said...: I have never owned a cell phone or a pager.; 1/27/18, 3:52 PM
mikee said...: "There's a mountain lion nearby, but it didn't notice you because it was reading Facebook."

It always pays to hover your cursor over the comic, to get the extra dose of wit.; 1/27/18, 10:23 PM