tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post5847963046311336699..comments2023-11-17T08:28:34.015+00:00Comments on The m-factor: More trials and tribulations for KJWilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120996976638555064noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-83999127702883127762008-10-21T13:23:00.000+01:002008-10-21T13:23:00.000+01:00..those nanorobots are old hat; it's all about the.....those nanorobots are old hat; it's all about the nanocarbon tubes now, dontcha' know?Wilhelmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120996976638555064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-60923703780771083352008-10-21T12:21:00.000+01:002008-10-21T12:21:00.000+01:00Use a high-speed camera to observe collisions betw...<I>Use a high-speed camera to observe collisions between pebbles you throw against each other on your desk while assuming vacuum because there's no budget for actual facilities? </I><BR/><BR/>No. You use some of those nano-robots. They are really tiny and have very little mass, so in addition to repair your DNA at a molecular level and fix bad personality and body odor, they can also travel at light speed and be used in astronomy. This nano technology (or nanoVT as we in the biz call it), sure is amazing.<BR/>:-)Andershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07766751546432262892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-86593590391545576052008-10-21T11:40:00.000+01:002008-10-21T11:40:00.000+01:00But basically I'm just putting in the disclaimer a...<I>But basically I'm just putting in the disclaimer and having a argument because I'm sick of people with a doctor degree making absolute statements way outside their field,</I><BR/><BR/>Hellz yezz<BR/><BR/>Within astrophysics however, I'd imagine that the theoretical folks outnumber any other permutation by a large factor. Can you imagine how much it would suck to be in the "experimental astrophysics" division? What would you do? Use a high-speed camera to observe collisions between pebbles you throw against each other on your desk while assuming vacuum because there's no budget for actual facilities? Wait for some NASA-guy to send some pocket lint from outer space (or from his wardrobe)?<BR/><BR/>I admit it - I know Jack and Shit about astronomy, and Jack just had to go pick up his dry cleaningWilhelmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120996976638555064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-20712138391552785572008-10-21T10:58:00.000+01:002008-10-21T10:58:00.000+01:00Well; as long as the Ph.D. in question is from the...<I>Well; as long as the Ph.D. in question is from the same field, it's strongly correlated, wouldn't you say? </I><BR/><BR/>Yes, there are a strong correlation, I agree. But when it comes with fields of sciences outside my own, I have a hard time knowing how overlaping the area of expertise are. For example a PhD in organic synthetis and a Msc in theoritical chemistry are both within the field of chemistry, but for the most part cover different areas of the science.<BR/><BR/>But basically I'm just putting in the disclaimer and having a argument because I'm sick of people with a doctor degree making absolute statements way outside their field, that in the end affects me. Which is a different issue.<BR/><BR/>Although there are very talented and skillful people (I've worked with some) that have short university or university college education and some with MSc's and PhD's that I can't figure out how they manage to get their degree, there strong correlation about how scientific talented people are with their level of education. It requires a lot of work to finish a university degree and there are a screening of candidates at each level, so the lesser talented people peel away at each level.<BR/><BR/>Just to make that clear.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, even if Aksens just had a high school diploma, he has pointed on some weak points in KJ's style that KJ should have addressed more serious.Andershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07766751546432262892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-66291654695603676862008-10-21T10:18:00.000+01:002008-10-21T10:18:00.000+01:00I just pointed out that just having a PhD doesn't ...<I>I just pointed out that just having a PhD doesn't always make you right. In this particular case, it is an overwhelming difference. But that is due to Aksnes track record rather then the difference in education level.</I><BR/><BR/>Well; as long as the Ph.D. in question is from the same field, it's strongly correlated, wouldn't you say? Of course; if the Ph.D. is in, say, sociology, that wouldn't add much in a discussion of astronomy.Wilhelmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120996976638555064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-72043510954781641762008-10-20T22:01:00.000+01:002008-10-20T22:01:00.000+01:00Thus, I hardly think you can overlook the PhD etc....<I>Thus, I hardly think you can overlook the PhD etc. considering that the other guy doesn't have one and isn't actively involved in research.</I><BR/><BR/>Nope, I agree. But notice my "disregarding the people involved here" disclaimer. I just pointed out that just having a PhD doesn't always make you right. In this particular case, it is an overwhelming difference. But that is due to Aksnes track record rather then the difference in education level.<BR/><BR/><I>Especially seeing as how Prof. Aksnes is an emeritus and thus has access to university databases while having lots and lots of time on his hands....</I><BR/><BR/>Oh yeah! As I said in my previous post, I'd love to see the follow-up on this one. I usually dislike vindictive types, but in this case, it could be too much fun...Andershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07766751546432262892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-40064022711295322632008-10-20T14:26:00.000+01:002008-10-20T14:26:00.000+01:00But disregarding the people involved here for a mo...<I>But disregarding the people involved here for a moment; I personally find it hard to accept a statement as fact just because the dude has a PhD and a professorship when there is disagreements between professionals.</I><BR/><BR/>If it was indeed a disagreement between professionals as in peers I'd agree. In this case however, it's not a disagreement between peers, but a disagreement between two professionals at vastly different levels. Prof. Aksnes has demonstrably achieved expert status, while by comparison, KJ is an amateur. Thus, I hardly think you can overlook the PhD etc. considering that the other guy doesn't have one and isn't actively involved in research. <BR/><BR/><I>KJ stated public that a new moon orbiting around the earth was discovered. Prof. Aksnes pointed out to him that this was the remains of the Appolo rocket, which orbit prof. Aksnes himself had calculated long time ago. :-D<BR/>And mind you, KJ worked as a press contact for the institute of astro physics at UiO, and if he was good at that (i.e. kept himself updated on what's going on at the institute), he should have known this. If not for that, he should have known as a professional astronomer. KJ failed on both points!</I><BR/><BR/>Yep; epic fail on KJ's part right there.<BR/><BR/><I>And also a main point for me: When researches/ experts points out that KJ makes erroneous statements, he does not issue a retraction.</I><BR/><BR/>..which is another thing distinguishing KJ from actual scientists. Whereas an actual scientist is expected to issue a retraction/correction if earlier published works contain errors which affect the conclusions derived from said work. And believe it or not, it ain't hard to find issued corrections or retractions. Because the potential backfire from knowingly publishing stuff which is flat out wrong is so great for scientists (Sudbø anyone?), there's an incentive to stay honest - you don't even have to put some kind of moral perspective into it. Not saying it doesn't happen of course, but at least there's an incentive to stay on the straight and narrow. In mainstream media however........<BR/><BR/><I>KJ really opens up for some serious self ownage when he basically encourage the scientific community to find errors in his media articles.</I><BR/><BR/>No kiddin....if Prof Aksnes is the vindictive type, KJ is in for an asskicking now. Especially seeing as how Prof. Aksnes is an emeritus and thus has access to university databases while having lots and lots of time on his hands....Wilhelmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120996976638555064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-50899274257172995262008-10-20T13:44:00.000+01:002008-10-20T13:44:00.000+01:00Couple of comments on your post:There's no doubt w...Couple of comments on your post:<BR/><I>There's no doubt whatsoever that the professional credibility and credentials round goes to Prof. Aksnes</I><BR/><BR/>True, professional credibility goes to the prof. But disregarding the people involved here for a moment; I personally find it hard to accept a statement as fact just because the dude has a PhD and a professorship when there is disagreements between professionals.<BR/><BR/>My biggest kick was this: KJ stated public that a new moon orbiting around the earth was discovered. Prof. Aksnes pointed out to him that this was the remains of the Appolo rocket, which orbit prof. Aksnes himself had calculated long time ago. :-D<BR/>And mind you, KJ worked as a press contact for the institute of astro physics at UiO, and if he was good at that (i.e. kept himself updated on what's going on at the institute), he should have known this. If not for that, he should have known as a professional astronomer. KJ failed on both points!<BR/><BR/>And also a main point for me: When researches/ experts points out that KJ makes erroneous statements, he does not issue a retraction.<BR/><BR/><I>When Prof. Aksnes pointed to a few factual discrepancies, it doesn't necessarily mean that those are the sum total of actual errors</I><BR/><BR/>Right on! KJ really opens up for some serious self ownage when he basically encourage the scientific community to find errors in his media articles.Andershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07766751546432262892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-51212922655670402692008-10-20T13:32:00.000+01:002008-10-20T13:32:00.000+01:00:-(:-(Wilhelmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120996976638555064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5654649659503386270.post-60170995859833098662008-10-20T12:23:00.000+01:002008-10-20T12:23:00.000+01:00...beat you to this story, brotha. See below your ......beat you to this story, brotha. See below your post.<BR/><BR/>Anders 1, Wilhelm 0.<BR/>Yeah!<BR/><BR/>:-DAndershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07766751546432262892noreply@blogger.com