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OscarWilde
Unbearable Bliss of Ignorance Vice Admiral
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:03 am Post subject: What is your favorite Discovery Channel show? |
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Mine is Myth Busters. It's a light hearted show that attempts to prove myths to be either true or false. I also like how these guys go about making stuff from the ground up for various experiments. Great show which I'm addicted too like a crack baby on crack.
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OscarWilde
Unbearable Bliss of Ignorance Vice Admiral
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:04 am Post subject: |
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I tried watching American Chopper, but I didn't get the point of the show, nor do I understand why it's even on the Discovery Channel. 
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'An urban myth. Like the dyslexic devil worshipper who sold his soul to Santa.' - Robert Rankin (Raiders of the Lost Car Park)
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Mord
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:45 am Post subject: |
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I've seen a lot of American Chopper. In fact, I used to record the episodes, burn a rewritable DVD, and then watch them with my son. He loves seeing the bikes go together, and I love the drama between Pauly and his father because it reminds me a lot of me and my dad when I was younger.
I also watched American Hotrod for the cars, and then got sucked into the drama. I even saw an episode where apparently someone got canned, and so I had to know the "smart mark" story and checked the American Hotrod forums.
Don't watch them much anymore, but I'll tune in if its on. Favorite show? Meh, there always seems to be something at least mildly interesting on.
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Last edited by Mord on Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:47 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Mord
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kingpinmc
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:51 am Post subject: |
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I used to get the Discovery Channel before I moved, but then again I had a stable cable broadband connection before I moved too. 
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HitScan
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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Mord wrote: |
I've seen a lot of American Chopper. In fact, I used to record the episodes, burn a rewritable DVD, and then watch them with my son. He loves seeing the bikes go together, and I love the drama between Pauly and his father because it reminds me a lot of me and my dad when I was younger. |
You and your dad had obviously scripted poorly emoted artificial arguments? Sucks to be you. 
That said, I do love "building" shows. I'd watch AC more if:
a. I fucking had the Discovery Channel. 
b. It was more about building bikes than TEH DRAMAS!
Anyway, I'm with OW, MythBusters for the win.
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Mord
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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HitScan wrote: |
You and your dad had obviously scripted poorly emoted artificial arguments? Sucks to be you. 
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Hehe. Do you really think its scripted? While I don't doubt that its built up a bit more simply due to the prescence of cameras and the knowledge that its going to be on cable, I don't actually think any of it is scripted.
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b. It was more about building bikes than TEH DRAMAS!
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The earlier ones are better in that respect. I think the drama took more of the show when they realized how popular it was.
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Nonsense. "Bias" is people whom don't agree with me. - FondueDaredevil
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HitScan
More portable than j00 Rear Admiral
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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Mord wrote: |
HitScan wrote: |
You and your dad had obviously scripted poorly emoted artificial arguments? Sucks to be you. 
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Hehe. Do you really think its scripted? While I don't doubt that its built up a bit more simply due to the prescence of cameras and the knowledge that its going to be on cable, I don't actually think any of it is scripted.
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I suppose "scripted" is a bit strong, but I honestly wonder sometimes if those stupid arguments are really happening, or if it's all just for show because they build bikes too damn fast otherwise. I think I have seen shows where things sound a little rehearsed, but they may just be my pessimism and distrust. 
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A kernel is only as strong as its weakest Interrupt Service Routine.
"I was going to write my congressman, but I can't find my checkbook." - /. poster
"Wiffleball bats are good, because they can be retrofitted with lead pipes." - Harbinger
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Mord
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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I think the familiarity and each knowing what buttons to push gives that appearance. That and really they just argue about the same shit over and over and over.
Besides, most arguments looks stupid to the outside observer anyway.
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I note that you don't have any OSY member quotes in your sig. - the twinkster
Nonsense. "Bias" is people whom don't agree with me. - FondueDaredevil
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Mord
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
because they build bikes too damn fast otherwise.
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OCC has a formula for building these show bikes. If you watch enough shows you'll see it. The only thing that changes are the shapes of the components, custom color or dip work, and the frame add-ons that Pauly sits there and thinks about. Functionally they are all the same bike. In fact, all the show bikes aren't even street legal. They only get away with riding them because of who they are.
Also, OCC makes "regular" bikes. You can order them from their website. So while the show bikes are being built, they have a whole other shop (or section) cranking out "commodity custom" bikes for people. Probably a few a month.
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Give a guy a gun, he thinks he's Superman. Give him two and he thinks he's God. - Superintendant Pang, Lashou shentan (a.k.a. Hard-Boiled)
I note that you don't have any OSY member quotes in your sig. - the twinkster
Nonsense. "Bias" is people whom don't agree with me. - FondueDaredevil
Gabe: I wish you weren't a fucking liar.
Tycho: I'm not a liar.
Gabe: Well, I wish you didn't lie.
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Jeremy Reimer
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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I watched American Chopper about six times until I realized that every single show is exactly the same. Okay, the bike looks slightly different at the end, but that's it.
Mythbusters, on the other hand, never gets old. Although I miss Scottie.
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kennedye
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:17 am Post subject: |
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Remember when The Learning Channel lived up to its name? Or when Discovery actually had cool shows on like Wings?
Feh, I say. 
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Mord
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:24 am Post subject: |
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kennedye wrote: |
Remember when The Learning Channel lived up to its name? Or when Discovery actually had cool shows on like Wings?
Feh, I say.  |
The only good thing to come out of Wings was the guy in Monk. 
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Give a guy a gun, he thinks he's Superman. Give him two and he thinks he's God. - Superintendant Pang, Lashou shentan (a.k.a. Hard-Boiled)
I note that you don't have any OSY member quotes in your sig. - the twinkster
Nonsense. "Bias" is people whom don't agree with me. - FondueDaredevil
Gabe: I wish you weren't a fucking liar.
Tycho: I'm not a liar.
Gabe: Well, I wish you didn't lie.
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pauli
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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i can't remember the last time discovery channel ran something i found worth watching. |
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kingpinmc
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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Mord wrote: |
kennedye wrote: |
Remember when The Learning Channel lived up to its name? Or when Discovery actually had cool shows on like Wings?
Feh, I say.  |
The only good thing to come out of Wings was the guy in Monk.
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Two different shows. One was about airplanes, the other was a sitcom centered around an airport.
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Maxi Does Dallas?
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FondueDaredevil
Linux Looney Rear Admiral
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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I watch the following on Discovery;
Survivorman
Mythbusters
Dirty Jobs
Cash Cab
I can't watch American Chopper because it was painfully obvious from the first episode that it was scripted and poorly acted. I also detest 'Monster Garage' (is that Discover Channel) because Jesse James is a whiny bitch.
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Mord
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lewis
new in box Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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I've never watched the Discovery Channel in my life.
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Harbinger
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:12 am Post subject: |
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I think they ran "Walking with Dinosaurs" last night. I do like Mythbusters, but don't have much TV time since spawn #2 arrived. Also, History Channel had this "Hi-Tech Hitler" show that I wanted to watch first of all. 
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Jeremy Reimer
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Survivorman is both exciting and boring at the same time.
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OscarWilde
Unbearable Bliss of Ignorance Vice Admiral
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Harbinger wrote: |
I think they ran "Walking with Dinosaurs" last night. I do like Mythbusters, but don't have much TV time since spawn #2 arrived. Also, History Channel had this "Hi-Tech Hitler" show that I wanted to watch first of all.  |
I'm not sure if the schedule of Discovery Channel in HK is in sync with the US and/or the rest of the world, but there was, 'Dragons: Fantasy Made Real', done by the same people behind 'Walking With Dinosaurs'. So maybe you saw that instead? Dragons: Fantasy Made Real does kinda deal with dinosaurs but then goes the extra mile and starts to ask indirectly, what would it take for a dragon to have evolved and then to go extinct. i.e. is a dragon even possible in reality*?
I thought Dragons: Fantasy Made Real, was a bit to dramatic for my tastes and turned off the tv before the show ended even though they had some interesting science thrown into the mix once in a while.
*If you're expecting me to give you the answer from the faux-documentary, I really can't because some of the science was so stretched out of proportion I feel like I'm contributing to bad science if I gave an answer or supported a show that does.
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OscarWilde
Unbearable Bliss of Ignorance Vice Admiral
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:09 am Post subject: |
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I can tell you this, spending over two years researching evolution, DNA, genetic engineering, for my book made me learn a very valuable lesson: pop-science has it so fucking wrong in the impressions they give to the general public.
The general public's idea of evolution isn't even right, considering that most people think that the phrase 'survival of the fittest' is the central core of evolution. That's not even close. Survival of the fittest was meant to explain why animals went extinct, but not how evolution works.
The idea that evolution occurs by chance mutations is wrong too.
The general public thinks evolution worked in this disjointed manner, i.e. eye developed first and the brain developed next to account for the new fancy eye. So completely wrong.
People think evolution is this complex thing that requires a lot of chances to get working, which isn't even true. Our understanding of evolution as we ask the questions and slowly find the answers, is a long complicated story of misunderstandings and discoveries.
The hardest thing the avg. person don't get is the incredibly beautiful and amazingly simple laws of nature that allow complex reactions to happen every day. Why do I get it? I spent a long time researching the topic and to my surprise slowly started getting into the topic and realizing just how ignorant I was of the whole topic to begin with. It's also why I stay out of debates about evolution on line. Way too many misconceptions thrown around by both sides of the discussion. I'd have to spend time trying to correct the misconception before we can get to the real nitty gritty stuff.
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'An urban myth. Like the dyslexic devil worshipper who sold his soul to Santa.' - Robert Rankin (Raiders of the Lost Car Park)
'Hate traps us by binding us too tightly to our adversary.' - Milan Kundera (Immortality) |
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OscarWilde
Unbearable Bliss of Ignorance Vice Admiral
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:14 am Post subject: |
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Moral of my post above:
When you decide to actually do research on your own (not for some degree or job) you quickly learn how ignorant you are; and you quickly learn how ignorant you will remain; and you also slowly learn to accept that what you learn makes you a little less ignorant, and that's better then being a little too ignorant. 
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Jeremy Reimer
King of Canada 1st Lord of the Admiralty
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:58 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
The general public's idea of evolution isn't even right, considering that most people think that the phrase 'survival of the fittest' is the central core of evolution.
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People misinterpret the statement. They view "fittest" as some kind of knock-down, drag-out battle for survival where only one can win, whereas the scientific interpretation of "fittest" is more like "what is the fittest variation for that particular ecological niche?" It's not quite as exciting, though. And you don't have to be the absolute fittest to survive, so it's not winner-take-all, but as environments change, certain sub-groups may reproduce more than others because conditions become more favorable.
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The idea that evolution occurs by chance mutations is wrong too.
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Mutation does play a crucial role in evolution, however. Without mutation, it would be very difficult for some types of variation to arise. Creatures that reproduce asexually rely entirely on mutation for evolutionary change. The addition of sex, however, sped up the evolutionary process dramatically, since genes could be completely remixed each generation. But it still required mutation as an initial driving point.
It's a complex subject but what is not appreciated by many people is simply how much has been learned about the process over the last 100 years. The really exciting thing now is that there are computer simulations that can run through millions of years of evolution in a few hours. This has really accelerated our understanding of how complexity can arise out of chaotic situations. In simulated environments, the creation of self-replicating genetic code, evolution, speciation, and all sorts of exciting things have been observed. Google "artificial life" to download some of these cool programs.
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"Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will penetrate its deepest mysteries."
-- Carl Sagan
"Its not a rule. Its just something I noticed. Several of us have more than one sig." - Mord
"No, you are a troll, and I should have never let you back to Ars in after the first 16,000 bannings." - Caesar, to He Who Shall Not Be Named
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lewis
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Oscar, you might like http://badscience.net.
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