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Comment: So, how do the spoon benders do it? (Score 2) 386

by phozz bare (#42742395) Attached to: Interviews: Ask James Randi About Investigating the Truth
Most people have seen spoon bending on TV or in stage acts - I've seen it done right before my eyes, in a completely improvised setting, with an ordinary spoon taken from the kitchen. There was no sleight of hand involved - the spoon was bending while in this man's hand, being visible all of the time. The handle remained rigid in his hand while the spoon's bowl actually rotated with no apparent force being exerted on it, so that the spoon basically twisted by about 120 degrees. (I've kept the spoon as a souvenir. It remains twisted, not cracked, and will not bend in any direction with any amount of force I can apply with my hands.)

My question to you is: if this is no more than a magic trick, how was it done? The various trick methods described here could not have been employed.

Comment: Re:Efficiency (Score 1) 132

by phozz bare (#42679207) Attached to: Researchers Use Lasers For Cooling
That shouldn't be an obstacle, as current refrigeration technology doesn't directly cool the air in your fridge/home/office either. It would be possible to cool some object using the laser then use the low temperature of the now cold object to cool the surrounding air. However as long as the efficiency is indeed 1.2-2% as mentioned in an adjacent comment this is no replacement for current A/C tech.
Earth

Scientists Develop Sixty Day Bread 440

Posted by Unknown Lamer
from the not-in-my-back-pantry dept.
Hugh Pickens writes writes "BBC reports that scientists have developed a technique that can make bread stay mold-free for 60 days that could also be used with a wide range of foods including fresh turkey and many fruits and vegetables. At its laboratory on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Don Stull of Microzap showed off the long, metallic microwave device that resembles an industrial production line. Originally designed to kill bacteria such as MRSA and salmonella, the researchers discovered it could kill the mold spores in bread in around 10 seconds. 'We treated a slice of bread in the device, we then checked the mold that was in that bread over time against a control,' says Stull. 'And at 60 days it had the same mold content as it had when it came out of the oven.' Food waste is a massive problem in most developed countries. In the US, figures released this year suggest that the average American family throws away 40% of the food they purchase — which adds up to $165 Billion annually. There is some concern that consumers might not take to bread that lasts for so long and Stull acknowledges it might be difficult to convince some people of the benefits. 'We'll have to get some consumer acceptance of that. Most people do it by feel and if you still have that quality feel they probably will accept it.'"

Comment: Re:Proportional response? (Score 1) 861

by phozz bare (#42053623) Attached to: Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield Actually Works
I don't know what a "computer assisted sniper" is, and even if such a thing existed, how exactly do you spread military equipment in enemy territory without the enemy destroying it once it's left there unattended?

And back to reality, what do you do when the enemy is shooting rockets from within schools and city rooftops? How do you "take them out" while guaranteeing the safety of the civilians they are hiding behind?

Comment: Re:You disgust me. (Score 1) 861

by phozz bare (#42045049) Attached to: Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield Actually Works
Once British forces left the region and the Arabs attacked Israel, the partition plan became irrelevant and the division of the country was to be decided according to the outcome of the war. And yes, losing a war means losing the territory from which you attacked. The Arabs have no one to complain to but themselves. Perhaps in your view Israel should have surrendered instead of defending itself?

It's interesting that Egypt is also blockading Gaza but no one is complaining about them or shooting rockets at Cairo?

Comment: Re:You disgust me. (Score 1) 861

by phozz bare (#42044913) Attached to: Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield Actually Works
Yes, but under various different regimes, none of which were Arab. Living somewhere doesn't automatically grant political power over that territory, and the political powers decided to divide the territory among the two peoples inhabiting the area; a plan that was, as mentioned, rejected by the Arabs who wanted everything.

Comment: Re:You disgust me. (Score 1) 861

by phozz bare (#42043835) Attached to: Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield Actually Works
What do you mean "their land"? The land wasn't theirs, not then and not ever! The Arabs were choosing between accepting the partition plan and "driving the Jews into the sea" and they chose the latter and failed. Everything we know today is a consequence of that choice and subsequent failure to execute it.

You have all eternity to be cautious in when you're dead. -- Lois Platford

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