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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: Phaedrus2129 on Tue, 18 January 2011, 11:54:36

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Tue, 18 January 2011, 11:54:36

So I'm taking physics this semester, and our teacher for it's a pretty cool guy. Really smart, eccentric, rambles on and loses the plot, etc. Think he's going to be a great teacher.

Anyway, while driving home the point on the difference between rote memorization and actual learning, he asked us to name one thing, one thing that proves that the earth goes around the sun, and not the other way 'round. And he bet a free test grade weighted A than no one would have an answer.

Well, I got to thinking. First thing to mind was libration of the moon; but that only proves that the moon goes around the earth. Then I thought of all the astronauts and instruments we've sent into space; but that just proves that the earth is round. Then I got it. Parallax of the stars as the earth goes around the sun!


Ding ding, free A for me on first day of class. Apparently he usually gets just one or two people each semester (and he teaches ten classes a semester) who can provide a proof, and I was one of those this year.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: msiegel on Tue, 18 January 2011, 11:58:13

that A wasn't free, it's because you're a natural-born scientist!

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:07:32

Quote from: Phaedrus2129;280444

So I'm taking physics this semester, and our teacher for it's a pretty cool guy.

It sounds like you'll do well in Physics.  English on the other hand...

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:18:01

Quote from: itlnstln;280461

It sounds like you'll do well in Physics.  English on the other hand...

Hey, "it's" in that situation is grammatically valid. Poor form, but I don't give no **** bout that.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: bugfix on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:22:39

Quote from: Phaedrus2129;280475

I don't give no **** bout that.

So you do care.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:24:03

The comma before the "and" is incorrect.  You don't have two complete sentences on either side.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:29:40

Quote from: itlnstln;280479

The comma before the "and" is incorrect.  You don't have two complete sentences on either side.

If you have two complete sentences but don't want them to be completely separate, you separate them with a semicolon: ;

When you have two complete clauses (which I did) you separate them with a comma.



It's more of a style issue than strict grammar law. I overuse commas and semicolons, but I rarely use them in grammatically incorrect ways; I just use them in situations that don't absolutely require them.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: HaaTa on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:33:30

Quote from: ripster;280484

I had a cousin named "It" once but he wasn't a teacher.

Show Image

(http://www.fortunecity.com/bennyhills/pun/190/cousinitto3.jpg)

Gomez is that you? :tongue:

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:35:56

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: piotrek on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:45:21

Instead of retarded discussions about grammar you guys should overcome your ignorance and read Earth not a Globe.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: bugfix on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:46:41

Quote from: piotrek;280502

Instead of retarded discussions about grammar you guys should overcome your ignorance and read Earth not a Globe.

Perhaps we should hang you in the name of science.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: msiegel on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:47:27

i love pendulum experiments!

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:47:46

Quote from: itlnstln;280494

childrens programming

CMOS (http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html)

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 18 January 2011, 12:51:14

CMOS is a good reference.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 18 January 2011, 13:40:48

It took a momentary web search to find what he seems to have been referring to:

Zetetic Astronomy.
Earth Not a Globe!
An Experimental Inquiry
into the
True Figure of the Earth:
Proving it a Plane,
Without Axial or Orbital Motion;
and the
Only Material World
in
the Universe!

by "Parallax."

It's available on Google Books.

Title: Free test grade A on first day of classes
Post by: keyb_gr on Tue, 18 January 2011, 13:47:43

^ This in the context of this thread = LOL.