George Hammond writes:

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:29:58 +0000 (UTC),
(Michael Moroney) wrote:

OK, EXACTLY 13 2nd order eigenvectors (however you redefine 'eigenvector').
Not 14, not 12, but EXACTLY 13. Got it.

Whaddau mean "redefine eigenvector"? An eigenvector is a
principle axis of a matrix ellipsoid, whether it's in
quantum mechanics, Psychometry Factor Analysis or the moment
of Inertia in Mechanics, makes no difference. An
eigenvector is an eigenvector.
The Pagan "gods" are 2nd order psychometry eigenvectors
caused by the cubic anatomical symmetry cleavage of the
brain. They form a CUBE.

Yup. Add 'eigenvector' to the growing list of redefined words.


7.7% "pretty good for ancient science". Let's imagine,
just for a moment, that the ancient Greeks built the Parthenon with some
of the Doric columns 12 meters tall and others 13 meters tall. The 12m
and 13m columns all mixed up. That would be "pretty good for ancient
science", right? Only 7.7% off, right? Wrong - if they ever did that,
the Parthenon would look pathetic. Instead of the ancient Greeks being
revered by western society, they'd be the laughing stock of the ancient
world! I'm laughing just thinking about it!

Cut the **** Moroney, measureing something with a ruler
like the Parthenon is kid stuff.

And counting as far as 13 is even more kid stuff. My kid could count past
13 when she was just 2.

Fact is Eratosthenes estimated the Earth's circumference
around 240 BCE. The Sun was directly overhead in Syene at
the summer solstice but in Alexandria it still cast a
shadow. Using the distance and angles he estimated the
Earth's circumference. Eratosthenes' figure has an error of
around five to ten percent.
So "7.7%" was par for the course in advanced scientific
measurement in ancient Greece.

We're not talking about measuring angles of sunlight, time or distance
(all of which would be necessary to do what Eratosthenes did) or
even just distance (enough to get the columns of the Parthenon to the same
height), we're talking about _counting gods_!

The fact that they could estimate "God" to 7.7% is a
phenomenal scientific achievement by comparison!

Counting to 13 is *not* a phenomenal scientific achievement! It's
something that some two-year-olds can do!

So you'll have to find some other trivia to rag on, I've
beaten your "12 vs. 13" objection to death.

You're the one who makes it a big deal about your claim that there are
"EXACTLY 13 2nd order Eigenvectors". Well guess what. 12 is NOT "exactly
13".

Like I said, the Greeks were 7.7% off, same as their
measuremet of the Earth's circumference.

We're not talking about 'measuring' anything (and even so they could
measure Parthenon columns to much better than 7.7% error), we're talking
about simple counting.

BTW, 12 and 13 are not within 3 significant figures of each other. (do
you even know what that means?) Try 1 sig fig.

I've got 2 degrees in Physics from accredited
universities in Massachusetts, that certifies that I KNOW
what it means.

Maybe, just maybe, you knew the definition once, but it appears you no
longer do.

If a physicist making measurements writes down the following figures as
lab measurements, how many significant figures are in each number, and
why?

12
13
0.000876
1.000876
120
120.
469.230

Let's hear your "definition" of significant figure. I'll add it to
the ever-growing List of Words Redefined by George Hammond.

"Exist"
"Prove"/"Proof"
"Peer-reviewed"
"Eigenvector" (kewl sounding word that makes my 'proof' sound scientific)
"Twelve" (a number considered unlucky by many)
"Thirteen" (number of eggs in an egg carton)
"Thirty" (number of dollars you need to be considered a multimillionaire)

Modern Science has proved that there are 13-2nd order

Another one. "Modern Science" = "Hammond's imagination"

Of course, perhaps words like "are" "that" "has" etc. should be on the
list and their redefinitions completely change the meaning of what you
write to something completely different.