tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post7887773859380200725..comments2024-01-20T02:06:45.388-08:00Comments on The Political Omnivore: The Politics Of: The Dark EnlightenmentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-41972076817795991142014-02-08T01:17:15.800-08:002014-02-08T01:17:15.800-08:00So I just read Mencius' proposal for Revipedia...So I just read Mencius' proposal for Revipedia and it's worse than you say: He doesn't want a better Wikipedia. He wants a better <i>Reddit</i>pedia where everything is decided by debating it with more weight given to posters with a superior reputation score.<br /><br />It's like the guy who fixes bikes for a living being presented with a sick horse, and his first suggestion is "Well first, we have to disconnect the rear wheel and remove the gears from the chain."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16786612774046724453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8049100705786633064.post-25092742236981771042014-02-06T08:34:41.830-08:002014-02-06T08:34:41.830-08:00Minor quibble: Čerenkov radiation is often misiden...Minor quibble: Čerenkov radiation is often misidentified as the source of the blue glow from radioactive materials. While it is undeniably the cause of that glow under water (e.g. in nuclear reactors' spent-fuel pools), there's almost no chance you'd ever observe it in air, due to air's much lower index of refraction. When that scary glow is seen in air, due to particle beams, particularly powerful radioisotopes, criticality accidents, etc - it's the glow of ionized air, not Čerenkov radiation. For people who care about these things: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionized-air_glow<br /><br />Minor physics quibble aside, it's still a good metaphor. And the DE partisans seem to me to be spouting a bunch of pure weapons-grade balonium. Mostly discredited too, but hey, who needs facts when you've got a one-size-fits-all political agenda to Explain Everything?<br /><br />Didn't work for the Fascists 80 years ago; won't work now. Keep collecting those underpants, guys, and let me know when you've got step 2 worked out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com