If integer arithematic cannot be proven to be consistant (free from contradiction), then there is the possibility that you could wake up one day and have 2+2=5.
Not quite. Learn a bit of math, check out Godel's Incompleteness Theorem. Then learn a bit more math, and check out Godel's Completeness Theorem.
The first deals with the general case axiomized mathmatical system. These have problems with - suprise - incompleteness!
The second allows you to get around the first, at least enough to do calculus. Nice how that works out.
And so, in spite of Godel, or maybe because of him, freedom is still the freedom to say 2 + 2 = 4. Now if only Free Beer followed from that...
My father also works for an oil/gas company, and I guarentee they are not scared by this. A very small portion of their profits come from gas-powered cars.
He does, however, get very excited when the weather gets cold. Winter time heating drives energy use way up, and usually takes gas prices with it.
Personally, I'd be happy to see hydrogen powered cars replace traditional gas powered cars, if only to have the convenience of splitting my own fuel in the garage with the energy from a solar panel. Some thoughts to ponder:
A good one time investment in a water tank and solar panel, and I've got a cheap fuel source for my car a long time to come.
The gas tax won't go away, it'll just take some other form. The government will still get my money, as long as they use it for road repairs, like they are supposed to.
Hydrogen gas does not burn very well unless it is in a rich oxygen environment. I'd be less afraid of my hydrogen car blowing up than I am of my current gas powered one. (Yes, I'm a chem major - I do have some clue what I'm talking about.)
That whole 'water is a greenhouse gas too' thing is a bunch of bunk. If you are really worried about it, set you car up with a condenser/collection tank. Then you go from a clean emission car to a zero emission car - can't beat that with a stick. It still won't have a huge impact on smog, though. A lot of that is dust kicked up by the cars or industrial emissions
Nothing will really change.
Oil and gas companies will still be around for a while yet to come. Only when we have a reliable means to heat a house without gas will the oil industry be threatened.
And despite what anyone says about global warming, it still gets mighty cold in winter here where I live. In fact, it seems to be snowing right now...
Slashdot Mirror
Not quite. Learn a bit of math, check out Godel's Incompleteness Theorem. Then learn a bit more math, and check out Godel's Completeness Theorem.
The first deals with the general case axiomized mathmatical system. These have problems with - suprise - incompleteness!
The second allows you to get around the first, at least enough to do calculus. Nice how that works out.
And so, in spite of Godel, or maybe because of him, freedom is still the freedom to say 2 + 2 = 4. Now if only Free Beer followed from that...
Vornzog
Who can decide a priori? Nobody.
My father also works for an oil/gas company, and I guarentee they are not scared by this. A very small portion of their profits come from gas-powered cars.
He does, however, get very excited when the weather gets cold. Winter time heating drives energy use way up, and usually takes gas prices with it.
Personally, I'd be happy to see hydrogen powered cars replace traditional gas powered cars, if only to have the convenience of splitting my own fuel in the garage with the energy from a solar panel. Some thoughts to ponder:
- A good one time investment in a water tank and solar panel, and I've got a cheap fuel source for my car a long time to come.
- The gas tax won't go away, it'll just take some other form. The government will still get my money, as long as they use it for road repairs, like they are supposed to.
- Hydrogen gas does not burn very well unless it is in a rich oxygen environment. I'd be less afraid of my hydrogen car blowing up than I am of my current gas powered one. (Yes, I'm a chem major - I do have some clue what I'm talking about.)
- That whole 'water is a greenhouse gas too' thing is a bunch of bunk. If you are really worried about it, set you car up with a condenser/collection tank. Then you go from a clean emission car to a zero emission car - can't beat that with a stick. It still won't have a huge impact on smog, though. A lot of that is dust kicked up by the cars or industrial emissions
Nothing will really change.Oil and gas companies will still be around for a while yet to come. Only when we have a reliable means to heat a house without gas will the oil industry be threatened.
And despite what anyone says about global warming, it still gets mighty cold in winter here where I live. In fact, it seems to be snowing right now...
Vornzog
Who can decide a priori? Nobody.