The unimportant news thread

[DavidW]

The media has always had a problem with accurate reporting on science news.  They go for sensationalism, don't understand how science works, describe things inaccurately with overly flowery prose, and are unable to correctly interpret the significance of what they read.  Journalists badly need a good dose of scientific literacy.

[amw]

That wouldn't buy 251 square ft. where l live. 100, maybe, in the poorer areas.

I always feel weird when realising my home town is no longer the most expensive city in the world—450 in NYC can get you a 600+ square foot one bedroom in a nice neighbourhood close to the subway. (And here's me still finding that too expensive.)

(Of course from a musician point of view, NYC is just about as bad in terms of job situation right now; everyone who's smart and can get a visa moved to Berlin two years ago. Housing prices there are no longer affordable either, now, so a large number of musicians are relocating to places like Belgrade and Athens, which will have the same problem in five years.)

[Karl Henning]

The Atlantic also widens by about an inch and a half per year so good bye America too.

Exactly!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I always feel weird when realising my home town is no longer the most expensive city in the world—450 in NYC can get you a 600+ square foot one bedroom in a nice neighbourhood close to the subway. (And here's me still finding that too expensive.)

(Of course from a musician point of view, NYC is just about as bad in terms of job situation right now; everyone who's smart and can get a visa moved to Berlin two years ago. Housing prices there are no longer affordable either, now, so a large number of musicians are relocating to places like Belgrade and Athens, which will have the same problem in five years.)

Of the stories that you've heard, are most of them buying homes or renting?

PD

[amw]

Of the stories that you've heard, are most of them buying homes or renting?

The latter. It's been a long time since being a musician paid enough to be able to afford to buy a home. (Of course I don't know that many longterm orchestra musicians, & those I do know often ended up losing their jobs in e.g. the Minnesota Orchestra lockouts, the Met Opera layoffs, etc.)

[SimonNZ]

BBC:

Clown shortage: Appeal for new recruits in Northern Ireland

Originally saw the story in Wonkette as this:

Why Is Lin Wood Talking 9/11 Conspiracies In US While There's A Clown Shortage In Northern Ireland?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The latter. It's been a long time since being a musician paid enough to be able to afford to buy a home. (Of course I don't know that many longterm orchestra musicians, & those I do know often ended up losing their jobs in e.g. the Minnesota Orchestra lockouts, the Met Opera layoffs, etc.)

"Pandora Papers:  Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed"  I wonder how accurate this information is?  It's intriguing though!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58780465

PD

[MusicTurner]

BREAKING:
Facebook has been down now for several hours for quite a lot of users.

Maybe they could do this say for one day every week?

[mahler10th]

The media has always had a problem with accurate reporting on science news.  They go for sensationalism, don't understand how science works, describe things inaccurately with overly flowery prose, and are unable to correctly interpret the significance of what they read.  Journalists badly need a good dose of scientific literacy.

+1

[Pohjolas Daughter]

BREAKING:
Facebook has been down now for several hours for quite a lot of users.

Maybe they could do this say for one day every week?

Amazing!  Think of all of the time people are now saving?! 

PD

[MusicTurner]

Amazing!  Think of all of the time people are now saving?! 

PD

Yes, society might benefit quite a lot from this ... 

[mahler10th]

Yes, society might benefit quite a lot from this ... 

I can't stand FB.  I hope it crashes for good.   

[Spotted Horses]

Amazing!  Think of all of the time people are now saving?! 

PD

Saving time? They're incessantly clicking, "is it up yet, is it up yet, is it up yet?"

[MusicTurner]

Saving time? They're incessantly clicking, "is it up yet, is it up yet, is it up yet?"

Just give them time ...

[Karl Henning]

Saving time? They're incessantly clicking, "is it up yet, is it up yet, is it up yet?"

(* chortle *)

For those who do, it's an opportunity to reflect, if they are yet capable of reflection.

[MusicTurner]

The explanation will be interesting, since one would think that FB is using tons of money for service reliability.

An expert here says that it's probably not a hacking event, but an error in the company that provides IP addresses for all web users, a company that is external in relation to FB.

But we'll see.

[Karl Henning]

Facebook Is Not the Town Square

[DavidW]

Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 Announced

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Saving time? They're incessantly clicking, "is it up yet, is it up yet, is it up yet?"

Well, in any event, it's back.

PD

[Spotted Horses]

Well, in any event, it's back.

PD

Brings to mind the Simpson episode: cable TV goes out in c and (to the accompaniment of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony) residents of Springfield are taking walks in the forest, picking flowers, writing poetry, etc. Life is blissful, until the TV comes back on and everyone is grimly glued to their TV sets again...