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UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

bbc.com

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Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not what "ad hominem" means. They frame things in misleading ways, which disqualifies them from serious discussion. Not to note that the article reports opinions , not facts. The Bloomberg article upon which this is based, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-23/deutsche-... , would have been the much better choice to link anyway since it's in English. What it says is that some DB analysts thinks Ge…

No, it's exactly what ad hominem means. Technically, it means "criticizing the man", as opposed the argument. But modern usage absolutely encompasses "criticizing the source" as opposed to the argument. See how your last reply also does that? The Bloomberg article makes the same basic point as DWN, which implies that the exact opposite of what "Remain" promoters predicted is happening. Many EU countries are tanking f…

You continue to reduce the effects of the referendum to Deutsche Bank analysts' opinion on British and German stocks.

Why do you bring Italian banks into this? They are completely unrelated to the topic at hand.

It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy. Countries were and are regularly accused of manipulating their currencies to achieve that. The thing is that Brexit hasn't happened yet, so neither have its effects. Nobody knows whom it will affect or how. But the drop in the Pound's value is a clear sign that the markets don't have a whole lot of faith. If the Pound's weakness helps their economy now, then good for them. But it doesn't prove the point you think it does.

Nobody can predict the future, so claiming that predictions about it "reflect economic reality" is misleading. The recommendation is likely to represent the analyst's sincere expectation, though. I'm not arguing to the contrary.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Terrorism has been fueled by two things: * Intervention in other countries affairs. * Mass immigration You can't see how nationalism would ease those? You can't see how nationalism would reduce exploitation of workers, multinationals not paying taxes etc? Nationalism isn't about exerting your dominance on other nations, it's about being self sufficient, about NOT interfering in other countries affairs. It's about not…

I really shouldn't be discussing these sort of things on the internet, because I know we're never going to reach any kind of consensus. But... Can you please provide some references to peer-reviewed research that show terrorism is fueled by immigration? Also, what kind of interventions are you talking about? Please be more specific, and remember to cite your sources. Your answer to people being oppressed and persecut…

Please don't ask for things that can't reasonably exist.

I can't come up with any experiment that could produce and reproduce peer-reviewed research on the causes of terrorism. It would either be horribly unethical, or it would be horribly impractical.

We cannot ask dead terrorists to fill out survey questionnaires on why they decided to commit terrorist attacks. It is extraordinarily difficult to obtain a blinded, representative sample of live terrorists, and nearly impossible to get valid mailing addresses for sending out their questionnaires. Even then, the response rate would be abysmally low. You might be able to interview captured terrorist suspects, but their responses might be biased by the conditions of their captivity. And all that presumes that a terrorist actually knows why they do what they do.

We can't take a group of non-terrorists, apply experimental treatments and the control treatment, and release them into the wild to see if any would then go on to commit a terrorist act. That would be unethical to begin with, and the method of observation would almost certainly influence the results.

So it should be reasonably well established that everyone advancing a potential contributing cause for terrorism is stating yet another hypothesis, none of which can be reasonably tested in the real world. As such, it would be acceptable to employ simulation models, Monte Carlo methods, behavior studies on lesser mammals, and any of several other means, none quite as good as a real-life scientific study using live humans.

So what you should probably be asking for is the computer simulation model that was used to show that immigration fuels terrorism. Then we could productively argue over how flawed and simplistic the model was, and how it should have been written in a different language, or using a different software paradigm. And then someone, inevitably, would ask:

What does any of this have to do with desalinization membranes?!

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's exactly what ad hominem means. Technically, it means "criticizing the man", as opposed the argument. But modern usage absolutely encompasses "criticizing the source" as opposed to the argument. See how your last reply also does that? The Bloomberg article makes the same basic point as DWN, which implies that the exact opposite of what "Remain" promoters predicted is happening. Many EU countries are tanking f…

You continue to reduce the effects of the referendum to Deutsche Bank analysts' opinion on British and German stocks. Why do you bring Italian banks into this? They are completely unrelated to the topic at hand. It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy. Countries were and are regularly accused of manipulating their currencies to achieve that. The thing is that Bre…

>> It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy.

Except that was an argument promoted primarily by Leavers, who favored letting the currency fall, right?

The majority who where against Brexit predicted severe economic problems for Britain as a direct consequence of leaving what was characterized as "safety" of the EU. The relevance seems obvious, because the opposite is happening?

By the way I'm not reducing this to DB's analysis, that's why I hinted at the larger upturn for Britain and downturn for core EU countries in the wake of Brexit. There are other indicators... I would suggest looking on on your own.

I'm sorry that you think investment advice can have no bearing in economic reality... but in that light, I don't think it would be productive for us to continue.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You continue to reduce the effects of the referendum to Deutsche Bank analysts' opinion on British and German stocks. Why do you bring Italian banks into this? They are completely unrelated to the topic at hand. It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy. Countries were and are regularly accused of manipulating their currencies to achieve that. The thing is that Bre…

>> It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy. Except that was an argument promoted primarily by Leavers, who favored letting the currency fall, right? The majority who where against Brexit predicted severe economic problems for Britain as a direct consequence of leaving what was characterized as "safety" of the EU. The relevance seems obvious, because the opposite…

Let me repeat: Britain hasn't left yet, negotiations for the terms of Brexit are just beginning.

I was rather hoping I wouldn't have to dig up old "BUY MORE TECH STOCKS" or "BUY MORE HOUSES" articles from the height of the dot-com bubble or US housing bubble to point out that analyst opinions aren't necessarily right.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really shouldn't be discussing these sort of things on the internet, because I know we're never going to reach any kind of consensus. But... Can you please provide some references to peer-reviewed research that show terrorism is fueled by immigration? Also, what kind of interventions are you talking about? Please be more specific, and remember to cite your sources. Your answer to people being oppressed and persecut…

Please don't ask for things that can't reasonably exist. I can't come up with any experiment that could produce and reproduce peer-reviewed research on the causes of terrorism. It would either be horribly unethical, or it would be horribly impractical. We cannot ask dead terrorists to fill out survey questionnaires on why they decided to commit terrorist attacks. It is extraordinarily difficult to obtain a blinded, r…

There's definitely peer-reviewed research on terrorism, but I'm no expert. But yes please, let's stop this discussion now. I'm sorry for going off topic.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You continue to reduce the effects of the referendum to Deutsche Bank analysts' opinion on British and German stocks. Why do you bring Italian banks into this? They are completely unrelated to the topic at hand. It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy. Countries were and are regularly accused of manipulating their currencies to achieve that. The thing is that Bre…

>> It's not new or surprising that a falling currency is good for exports and can fuel an economy. Except that was an argument promoted primarily by Leavers, who favored letting the currency fall, right? The majority who where against Brexit predicted severe economic problems for Britain as a direct consequence of leaving what was characterized as "safety" of the EU. The relevance seems obvious, because the opposite…

AP News: "The countdown begins: Britain to start EU exit on March 29"

The markets are already factoring this in, dude. But that could be hard to see if you don't believe that markets embed any reliable information.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#107
post #65

This is all fine, but if it isn't inert and if it 'leaks' graphene, it can be super toxic as well. I don't want to pu-pu it, but it is legitimate concern.

For future reference, the phrase is "to pooh-pooh" - see https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pooh-pooh

Thank you, I genuinely appreciate your comment, obviously English is my second language.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#108

Seeing as we are unable or unwilling to deal with the present micro and nano-particles resulting from decades of plastic use and disposal, I worry about the environmental effects of graphene.

Abspestos 2.0

Funny enough, its not actually banned in the USA, just a liability nightmare. I ocasionally still see brake pads with the stuff. I suspect graphine, and other 'nano' materials will be similar in practice.

Re: UK researchers create graphene-based sieve that can remove salt from seawater

#110
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For future reference, the phrase is "to pooh-pooh" - see https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pooh-pooh

Thank you, I genuinely appreciate your comment, obviously English is my second language.

No worries - we're all learning :-)
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