NPR

Biffer wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:14 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:57 am We've enjoyed 3 Body Problem so far, and it's not the sort of thing my wife would go for at all. It's nonsense of course, but fun I think.

I will watch it at some point. I read the first two books as I'm a bit of a sci fi guy, but the issue I had with them is, well a bit science nerdy. Normally for Big space opera type sci fi you can legit push the boundaries of physics and what we know, and then hypothesise stuff that might happen on top of it. But in the Three Body problem it seemed to me there was some stuff that was just flat wrong, contrary to known stuff. For example, warp speed, wormhole travel etc all are bullshit but hypothesise on known aspects of space time, that it can curve, that if we could create negative energy we'd be able to create highly curved bubbles of space time etc. It stretches the boundaries of known science without just saying 'fuck'em' and throwing it all out for something excessively handwavy. And yes I'm sure there are other examples of stuff that breaks physics completely, but this one jarred with me for some reason.

Marylandolorian wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:51 pm

Biffer wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:14 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:57 am We've enjoyed 3 Body Problem so far, and it's not the sort of thing my wife would go for at all. It's nonsense of course, but fun I think.

I will watch it at some point. I read the first two books as I'm a bit of a sci fi guy, but the issue I had with them is, well a bit science nerdy. Normally for Big space opera type sci fi you can legit push the boundaries of physics and what we know, and then hypothesise stuff that might happen on top of it. But in the Three Body problem it seemed to me there was some stuff that was just flat wrong, contrary to known stuff. For example, warp speed, wormhole travel etc all are bullshit but hypothesise on known aspects of space time, that it can curve, that if we could create negative energy we'd be able to create highly curved bubbles of space time etc. It stretches the boundaries of known science without just saying 'fuck'em' and throwing it all out for something excessively handwavy. And yes I'm sure there are other examples of stuff that breaks physics completely, but this one jarred with me for some reason.

We liked it too, my wife wants to buy the books series , Interesting article, it shows that the writer understood physic and astronomy

https://www.vox.com/culture/24108638/3- ... real-is-it

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 4:45 pm Roadhouse 2024.

Just. Don't.

Biffer wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 2:27 pm Like I say, some of it is reasonably legit, but other parts of it aren't. The quantum entanglement comms thing is one that I believe there is some debate about as it breaks a fundamental law of physics. That article talks about the stuff that's well planned out, but doesn't talk about some of the other stuff that's not.

Marylandolorian wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:51 pm

Biffer wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:14 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:57 am We've enjoyed 3 Body Problem so far, and it's not the sort of thing my wife would go for at all. It's nonsense of course, but fun I think.

I will watch it at some point. I read the first two books as I'm a bit of a sci fi guy, but the issue I had with them is, well a bit science nerdy. Normally for Big space opera type sci fi you can legit push the boundaries of physics and what we know, and then hypothesise stuff that might happen on top of it. But in the Three Body problem it seemed to me there was some stuff that was just flat wrong, contrary to known stuff. For example, warp speed, wormhole travel etc all are bullshit but hypothesise on known aspects of space time, that it can curve, that if we could create negative energy we'd be able to create highly curved bubbles of space time etc. It stretches the boundaries of known science without just saying 'fuck'em' and throwing it all out for something excessively handwavy. And yes I'm sure there are other examples of stuff that breaks physics completely, but this one jarred with me for some reason.

We liked it too, my wife wants to buy the books series , Interesting article, it shows that the writer understood physic and astronomy

https://www.vox.com/culture/24108638/3- ... real-is-it

If I dehydrate myself, can I rehydrate myself later and be fine?

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:57 am We've enjoyed 3 Body Problem so far, and it's not the sort of thing my wife would go for at all. It's nonsense of course, but fun I think.

Biffer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:16 am

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:57 am We've enjoyed 3 Body Problem so far, and it's not the sort of thing my wife would go for at all. It's nonsense of course, but fun I think.

Having watched the first couple of episodes I’ve remembered what annoyed me so much - the idea that if all the particle accelerators in the world started giving results that are contrary to theory, physicists all over the world would start crying into their porridge that their theories were broken and commit suicide. That’s diametrically opposite from what would actually happen. They’d be sick with excitement, and throwing all sorts of new theories out about why their new bs is better than someone else’s. They dream of everything going wrong, that’s what they want!

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:40 am

Biffer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:16 am

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:57 am We've enjoyed 3 Body Problem so far, and it's not the sort of thing my wife would go for at all. It's nonsense of course, but fun I think.

Having watched the first couple of episodes I’ve remembered what annoyed me so much - the idea that if all the particle accelerators in the world started giving results that are contrary to theory, physicists all over the world would start crying into their porridge that their theories were broken and commit suicide. That’s diametrically opposite from what would actually happen. They’d be sick with excitement, and throwing all sorts of new theories out about why their new bs is better than someone else’s. They dream of everything going wrong, that’s what they want!

I thought the scientists were forced into suicide by the aliens? I thought the idea was that because it was going to take four hundred years to get to earth they realised humanity would have developed technology beyond their own by that time and took preemptive action.

Tbh I didn’t give it too much thought.

Biffer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:22 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:40 am

Biffer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 3:16 am

Having watched the first couple of episodes I’ve remembered what annoyed me so much - the idea that if all the particle accelerators in the world started giving results that are contrary to theory, physicists all over the world would start crying into their porridge that their theories were broken and commit suicide. That’s diametrically opposite from what would actually happen. They’d be sick with excitement, and throwing all sorts of new theories out about why their new bs is better than someone else’s. They dream of everything going wrong, that’s what they want!

I thought the scientists were forced into suicide by the aliens? I thought the idea was that because it was going to take four hundred years to get to earth they realised humanity would have developed technology beyond their own by that time and took preemptive action.

Tbh I didn’t give it too much thought.

Nah, this is right at the start before they know about them

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:44 am

Biffer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:22 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:40 am


I thought the scientists were forced into suicide by the aliens? I thought the idea was that because it was going to take four hundred years to get to earth they realised humanity would have developed technology beyond their own by that time and took preemptive action.

Tbh I didn’t give it too much thought.

Nah, this is right at the start before they know about them

It's right at the start when the main character Doc, the one who is developing the super strong nano thread, sees the countdown to her life ending, it goes away when she pulls the plug on the programme. Others have already topped themselves.

Insane_Homer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:48 am Really enjoying Shogun, 5 episodes in

Sugar first episode intriguing so far

3 Bodies was a bit meh.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat May 04, 2024 2:18 pm Clarkson’s Farm 3. If episode 4 doesn’t break your heart, you’re probably dead.

sefton wrote: Sat May 04, 2024 2:25 pm

Sandstorm wrote: Sat May 04, 2024 2:18 pm Clarkson’s Farm 3. If episode 4 doesn’t break your heart, you’re probably dead.

Does Clarkson survive?

Sandstorm wrote: Sat May 04, 2024 2:18 pm Clarkson’s Farm 3. If episode 4 doesn’t break your heart, you’re probably dead.

vball wrote: Mon May 06, 2024 2:38 pm re Clarkson's Farm ....
I watched it and it was pretty harrowing (as the title suggests). I watched Countryfile last night and two young farmers were shown with still born lambs. They knew their stuff but it does still happen.

If you are saying Clarkson's Farm was setup to ensure that happened, I cannot back you on that. If you are saying they let them try it out and knew there is a good chance things might go wrong and we will record it, I can go along with it. Jezza and his partner did seem genuinely upset - I do not think that was acting.

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 6:46 pm

Insane_Homer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:48 am Really enjoying Shogun, 5 episodes in

Sugar first episode intriguing so far

3 Bodies was a bit meh.

Shogun looks great so far. Helps that I'm a history dork re that period.

Slick wrote: Mon May 06, 2024 3:16 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 6:46 pm

Insane_Homer wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:48 am Really enjoying Shogun, 5 episodes in

Sugar first episode intriguing so far

3 Bodies was a bit meh.

Shogun looks great so far. Helps that I'm a history dork re that period.

Yeah, really great. 2 episodes to go and not sure how they are going to fit in what I think must be coming!

Uncle fester wrote: Mon May 06, 2024 4:27 pm

Slick wrote: Mon May 06, 2024 3:16 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 6:46 pm

Shogun looks great so far. Helps that I'm a history dork re that period.

Yeah, really great. 2 episodes to go and not sure how they are going to fit in what I think must be coming!

We're at same point. Helps that I read the books so long ago that I don't know the specifics but I know a reasonable amount about the history so have a good idea where it will end up.

The episodes are proper slow burners but gripping stuff.

Insane_Homer wrote: Thu May 09, 2024 2:19 pm Sugar took a very unexpected twist in Friday's episode

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 1:23 am Rebus, a cop in Edinburg,

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11116780/? ... _0_q_rebus

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 1:23 am Rebus, a cop in Edinburg,

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11116780/? ... _0_q_rebus

vball wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 7:26 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 1:23 am Rebus, a cop in Edinburg,

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11116780/? ... _0_q_rebus

I was working in Dubai when I first read a Rebus book. Having lived in Edinburgh for many years, I could easily find my way around the places he mentions and the people he met. The music was another shared area of interest. It just took me back "home".
So will sit down with her indoors (an Edinburgh lass) and watch some these this weekend.

vball wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 7:26 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 1:23 am Rebus, a cop in Edinburg,

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11116780/? ... _0_q_rebus

I was working in Dubai when I first read a Rebus book. Having lived in Edinburgh for many years, I could easily find my way around the places he mentions and the people he met. The music was another shared area of interest. It just took me back "home".
So will sit down with her indoors (an Edinburgh lass) and watch some these this weekend.

Blackmac wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 5:48 pm

vball wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 7:26 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 1:23 am Rebus, a cop in Edinburg,

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11116780/? ... _0_q_rebus

I was working in Dubai when I first read a Rebus book. Having lived in Edinburgh for many years, I could easily find my way around the places he mentions and the people he met. The music was another shared area of interest. It just took me back "home".
So will sit down with her indoors (an Edinburgh lass) and watch some these this weekend.

A good few years back I was flying home from America sitting beside a very well off American couple who were visiting Edinburgh because they were the world's biggest Rebus fans. They were just slightly excited to find themselves sitting beside an Edinburgh detective who worked out of the same station. I arranged for them to come for a visit to St Leonard's and Gayfield stations and took them a drive around all the local hotspots and even had a pint at the Oxford Bar. They repaid me with a slap up meal for myself and my wife at The Balmoral.

vball wrote: Thu May 23, 2024 7:50 am

Blackmac wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 5:48 pm

vball wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 7:26 am
I was working in Dubai when I first read a Rebus book. Having lived in Edinburgh for many years, I could easily find my way around the places he mentions and the people he met. The music was another shared area of interest. It just took me back "home".
So will sit down with her indoors (an Edinburgh lass) and watch some these this weekend.

A good few years back I was flying home from America sitting beside a very well off American couple who were visiting Edinburgh because they were the world's biggest Rebus fans. They were just slightly excited to find themselves sitting beside an Edinburgh detective who worked out of the same station. I arranged for them to come for a visit to St Leonard's and Gayfield stations and took them a drive around all the local hotspots and even had a pint at the Oxford Bar. They repaid me with a slap up meal for myself and my wife at The Balmoral.

They may have been more impressed if they had been sitting next to the Weasel and he took them to meet Big Ger !!

Great story and it really is amazing how books (and films - how many junkies to you see running along Princess St !!) can inspire people and they then go and see the real thing. You made their trip I am sure - well done sir.