101–110 of 128 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know for sure, but I think it is reasonable to assume Jimmy Carter knows a fair bit about quantum mechanics.
And I’m sure Angela Merkel knows something about Quantum Mechanics as well – her doctoral thesis is about it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course in those asian nations you describe there is also a stronger tendency to view society as something to be "engineered". Herbert Hoover was the US's most prominent Engineer-president, and although history has been revised to make him seem like a laissez-faire president, he was (especially compared to his predecessor Coolidge) an economically interventionist president. The Hoover presidency did not turn out so…
> Of course in those asian nations you describe there is also a stronger tendency to view society as something to be "engineered". Indeed. It's important to keep in mind that a technocratic leader will likely not do well or have effective results in a political system dominated by lawyers (as Hoover shows).
To me, he's sending a huge message that science is valued, not denied. And it's inspiring, which I think is one of the PM's jobs. So what's the reporter's next question? "When will Canada start dropping quantum bombs on ISIL?" =(
> To me, he's sending a huge message that science is valued I find it surreal that such a thing needs to be done, as if science has not proven its worth time and time again, but here we are.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> but trying to send one more gallon of water through a pipe system. If you actually forced an additional gallon of water into a pipe, you make everything flow out faster.
Right but the relevant user action here would be turning on a faucet, which slows things down for everyone else.
In Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy the job of the galactic president, Zaphod Beeblebrox, is described as being "not to wield power but to draw attention away from it". Trudeau really reminds me of this quote quite a bit. In terms of traditional metrics of performance, Trudeau was heavily outclassed in leader debates during the last election. He demonstrated almost no ability to address questions directly and instead…
In fairness he's actually been doing reasonably well on his promises, as tracked by the TrudeauMetre[1]. Off the top of my head, unmuzzling scientists, restoring the long form census, and legalizing marijuana are all big contentious points that are either done or seriously underway. Given the abysmal promise-to-result ratio of typical politicians he's earned a passing grade in my books.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
As an American, where most of our politicians eagerly jostle for the title of Stupidest Human, the fact that the PM was trying to appear smart raises him up several notches. He considers intelligence to be something worthy. That's refreshing and admirable.
As an American I would be far more concerned about a leader who knows little and makes airs of knowing more than an intelligent leader who dumbs themself down... The latter has an outside shot at being wise; the former has an outside shot at being dangerous .
Earlier quoted context omitted.
And is thus reviled in retrospect by the US public for being too smart.
Carter isn't generally reviled for being too smart. The number one thing that he's reviled for (maybe unfairly) is planning and botching a hostage rescue attempt that turned out to be pointless later when the hostages were freed by their captors.
In Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy the job of the galactic president, Zaphod Beeblebrox, is described as being "not to wield power but to draw attention away from it". Trudeau really reminds me of this quote quite a bit. In terms of traditional metrics of performance, Trudeau was heavily outclassed in leader debates during the last election. He demonstrated almost no ability to address questions directly and instead…
it didnt work.
i would expect a Canadian leader to be visiting the white house for dinner, as do many political/country leaders. i would expect him to be going cross country trips as thats what every PM has done.
"Would HN be upvoting this story if it was Stephan Dion or Stephen Harper trying to teach QM?" no, as i expect the press to never ask them that type of question and never being in a situatiton to be asked that type of question.
i personally dont care for trudeau and what mostly the press brings up about him, i do however support some of his policies more so than any other candidate.
most people voted liberal in their riding as Justin Trudeau was not Stephen Harper and the Conservative party, and was more of a free thinker compared to the other options.
everyone was tired of Stephen Harper and his policies that i would say set canada back on the world stage... canada was just a lacky in the shadow behind the USA, following along most actions.
every political leader makes promises and dont fulfill, that IS politics... but as some has pointed out Trudeau has a decent track record so far.
I think the take-away here is not what so much what PM Trudeau knows or doesn't know about quantum computing. It reveals how low our expectations are of our leaders.
Imagine for a second that your roles were reversed and you were the politician who knew a lot about science, engineering and technology. Now it's your job to lead a nation, one of the worlds leading armed forces (yes Canada knows how to fight) and are responsible for trade policies that Impact all your constituents. Suddenly a terror group in > bombs a mall. How much do you know about the ethnic groups in > and what…