Ancient Greek Computer

NOVA, Ancient Computer
A Greek shipwreck holds the remains of an intricate bronze machine that turns out to be the world’s first computer.
Full Episode 

"The Greatest Anti-poverty Program Ever Created"

Sometimes my liberal colleagues at Princeton and Harvard will say to me, “OK Robbie, maybe you’re right.  Maybe you've got the correct theory of marriage. Maybe the Jewish and Christian idea of marriage as a husband/wife thing is correct.  (Now it happens to not be only the Jewish and Christian idea but every other culture in civilization) Maybe you’re right about all that.  But, that is a minor issue.  Why do you devote all your time and attention to that?  Why don’t you devote that same time and attention to fighting poverty?” And I say [puts hand to his head], “You guys don’t get it! The reason I fight for marriage is that it is the greatest anti-poverty program ever created. In fact is it such a great weapon and tool for human elevation and ennoblement for overcoming poverty and lifting people up, that its almost as if it wasn't a mere human creation.” (Professor Robert P. George, Sutherland Institute Annual Dinner, Apr 10, 2013 at 51:54 )

How Long Should a Microwave Last?

We bought a GE microwave in Feb 2012 from Home Depot.  A with a trim kit to fit into the cabinet above our oven.  It cost us $515.71.

Starting yesterday it started cooking at less than 5% power.  I put in 3 cups of water and a cup of grits.  After about 9 minutes of cooking, the the water was tepid.  I put in about a cup and a half of water, after 9 minutes I could barley tell it was warmer than after I got it out of the tap.

Anyway, we did not buy an extended warranty.  We rarely to never buy them.  It is like buying insurance for your purchases.  It certainly would have been worth it in this case, but over the averages of all purchases of electronics and appliances, I am sure it has been a better deal to skip them.

I am not sure if this defect is common or if it was a fluke.  It looks like we are shopping for a new microwave.

The model number is JEB1860DM2BB.  Here is the manual.  Here is a similar model at Home Depot.

The True Science of Parallel Universes

It describes our known reality and some theories that have been dreamed up to explain why life exists among other questions. None of which have been experimentally confirmed.

"Physics is science, not philosophy"