Prince Philip has died • Hacker News Board

Re: Prince Philip has died

#351

Post by jmartrican » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:45 PM UTC

pjmorris wrote: post #262

kitd wrote: post #75

Story about him (from the Guardian, via Reddit): Hargreaves was a yeoman aboard the destroyer HMS Wallace on which Philip, son of Prince Andrew of Greece, had been appointed first lieutenant - second-in-command - at the age of 21. In July 1943, engaged in the Allied landings in Sicily, the ship came under repeated bombardment at dead of night and its crew realised that they would probably lose their lives. It was the…

The raft may have been purely quick thinking, and it may have been influenced by a knowledge of history. Thomas Cochrane was a celebrated Royal Navy captain during the Napoleonic wars. Here's Cochrane from his autobiography [0]: "Before they had fairly renewed the chase night was rapidly setting in, and when quite dark, we lowered a ballasted cask overboard with a lantern, to induce them to believe that we had altere…

The Brits storied history at sea must give them access to tons of tactics to pull from.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#352

Post by arminiusreturns » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:50 PM UTC

I wonder if he will get to be reincarnated as a deadly virus that contributes to the "overpopulation problem" like he wished. (yes, for real)

I find the many servile and naive responses here really quite pathetic. The man was evil both personally and as part of the structure of the monarchy. I understand that many simply don't know about his history, either as outsiders with a strange fascination with royalty but only at a superficial level (as many Americans confusingly are), or as part of a learned and willful ignorance required to be modern monarchist.

Jimmy Saville was a good friend of his, just as one in a myriad of examples. At least two of his sons have a reputation as of the same inclinations as Saville. This only scratches the surface.

While I hesitated to say this, as gloating over the death of even an enemy I find rather unbecoming and crude, but lets not make any mistake such people and institutions deserve no sympathy, as they have presided over horrors that would boggle the mind.

On the topic of monarchy, I'm mostly with Diderot that mankind will not be free till the last king is hung with the guts of the last priest...

Re: Prince Philip has died

#353

Post by oneplane » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:50 PM UTC

u801e wrote: post #322

starfallg wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of the issue is that the practice of medicine predate scientific medicine (which is known as just 'medicine' today). For example, many medicinal herbs used in traditional medicine are effective for a variety of ailments, and some have been proven scientifically. So how do we reconcile that with scientific medicine without stigmatising possibly effective remedies.

> many medicinal herbs used in traditional medicine are effective for a variety of ailments, and some have been proven scientifically. So how do we reconcile that with scientific medicine without stigmatising possibly effective remedies. If those treatments have been studied in a scientific manner, then the reconciliation, so to speak, has already happened. But, how do we define the effectiveness of treatment? In som…

To be fair, a placebo can be helpful in its own way. And a 'good' placebo might need to have various methods, tastes, shapes, sizes etc; on the other hand it would be more psychotherapy than what people think of when thinking 'medicine'.

Something that 'helps' in a measurable way with no drawbacks is a useful tool to have. It does of course not mend broken bones or suture cuts in the skin.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#354

Post by cryptica » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:51 PM UTC

533474 wrote: post #241

99 years of tax subsidies, he surely had a good life without many regrets. It's beyond my comprehension why humans still keep these hereditary regimes, constitutional or absolutist, alive

What is the difference between being born lucky versus getting lucky later in life? Name one millionaire who didn't get lucky. The only way to earn that kind of money is luck... They all received special treatment.

Unless you're advocating for the abolition of capitalism as a whole... But then you should focus your criticisms on the rich in general.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#355

Post by ubermonkey » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:53 PM UTC

oneplane wrote: post #259

ubermonkey wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Extremely famous people frequently "author" books, usually with ghostwriters. Charles' book is credit to him "with" two other people (Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly who, I suspect, did most of the heavy lifting. Charles has for years been sympathetic to all sorts of woo, such as "alternative" medicine; his book was met with broad criticism for its cherry-picking of scientific findings to support his environmental agenda…

I don't think there is such a thing as 'alternative medicine'. There is medicine, and there is not-medicine. Just like there is treatment and there is not-treatment. Calling things 'alternative' puts them on the same level, which they are not.

I agree, I was just using term as it is normally used.

The pithy joke about it is this:

"What do you call alternative medicine that works?"

"Medicine."

Re: Prince Philip has died

#356

Post by nicky0 » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:53 PM UTC

andrepd wrote: post #148

ksec wrote: post #36

It wasn't that long ago he recovered from an infection [1]. And I remember reading he is only a few more months from 100 years old!. Spending his life serving the country. Rest In Peace [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56172496

> Spending his life serving the country. More like spending his life having the country serve him.

He did more for me than I did for him.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#357

Post by cryptica » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:55 PM UTC

andrepd wrote: post #152

crossroadsguy wrote: post #32

Rest in peace! I have always felt strongly against monarchy. Especially against the British royal family, more so as I am an Indian. They never apologized for any of the massacres (Jallianwala is just one example) or pogroms committed at their behest and in their name. I do believe they are a disgusting symbol of colonialism, racism, subjugation. It is very disturbing that a good part of the world and an entire natio…

Disappointing to see showers of downvotes for a respectable opinion, burying your thoughts under heaps of comments praising a useless dead monarch.

Rich people are all equally useless. They're all parasites who profit from the exploitation and monopolization of people and economic resources.

There is no such thing as a 'self made' millionaire or billionaire. They just got lucky and most of the time somebody helped them.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#358

Post by toomanybeersies » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:57 PM UTC

atulatul wrote: post #94

nickkell wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Narrowly missed getting a telegram from his wife

You get the tele-message (not a telegram) from the Queen when you turn 100. But it seems you have to apply for it. https://youtu.be/7Quyte7zN70?list=PLkX9Ba6AAK_2g3Y9Y8MdLbbcT...

You also get one on your 60th wedding anniversary.

I organised one for my grandparents a couple of years back. They also received a card from the Prime Minister [of New Zealand], the Leader of the Opposition, their local MP, and a couple of other random politicians and dignitaries.

It's not something that I thought about at the time, but I'm quite happy that it's something you need to apply for. It would be a bit disconcerting if the Queen had access to the birth, death, and marriage records of everybody in New Zealand.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#359

Post by oneplane » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:58 PM UTC

starfallg wrote: post #345

msla wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As others have said: We do the trials, and, if something from the pre-scientific era passes muster, we figure out the best way to make it as safe and efficacious as possible with the least variability in effect and fewest side effects. I'm not saying that eating a plant is ineffective, but plants don't come with dosage information for the active ingredient printed on the stem, and knowing how much of the useful (and…

Yeah, but by stigmatising traditional medicine as 'not medicine', the damage has already been done. Lots of people would be turned off a remedy just because it's 'not medicine', even afterward it was proven scientifically. It is medicine, just not scientific medicine. Compare with the issue of getting people to trust in vaccines when the news headlines are all about very rare side effects. Keep in mind that there are…

The issue is with the devaluation of mudding of words and language. (which might not be the correct wording)

I don't think it has to be stigmatising, but I do think that calling things by their specific name helps with everyones mindset.

Some words like 'helpful' are fine, because it does wat it says it does. But calling disparate things by the same name leaves the door open for people to mentally align those things to 'be' the same thing, which they aren't. Distinction is important, even if the differentiation isn't black-and-white. Taking some aspirine vs. drinking a nice cup of green tea can both help with a slightly sore throat, but they are not the same thing. (at the same time, I'd argue that it's better to take that nice cup of tea, take a nap, eat healthy, get to bed on time etc instead of covering the symptom with aspirine)

Turning people away from a subject in itself isn't a bad thing; if someone is swayed that easily, they should probably not be entering a world of non-repeatable non-measurable non-transferable items and activities, especially if the people involved can't be held responsible for their actions. It also isn't a pharmacology thing on its own. While pharmaceuticals can help with certain issues, it's not the core of medicine and in certain cultures it's mostly just abused to cover up symptoms instead of used to mitigate or resolve root causes.

But it's a tricky comparison. In the end we're comparing something measurable with something based on feelings and traditions. Those are generally not that reconcilable.

Re: Prince Philip has died

#360

Post by nicky0 » Fri, Apr 09, 2021, 2:58 PM UTC

mnw21cam wrote: post #269

andrepd wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't even need to go into secret meetings. In her public speeches at parliament she interferes and sets a direction for her government (it's hers, not ours). Like calling for more and continued austerity amid the crisis, I don't call that being apolitical (also the irony of calling for austerity from a golden throne shouldn't be lost oje anyone).

You know that particular speech is written for her by the government, don't you?

It's OK, it would be asking a lot for a Labour supporter to understand the constitution.