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Unknown Cityscape
Apr. 16th, 2009 12:11 pmThe 2009 Champagne supplement of the Drinks Business includes the following photo:
Anyone know where it is?
Anyone know where it is?
Understanding
Mar. 20th, 2008 11:07 amFollowing on from some recent discussions on language, I'd appreciate some feedback on what people think of by the term "understanding", how much this varies and whether people generally think of it in a different way to me.
So, without looking at a dictionary, what do you think it means to say "Person A's understanding of the term B is C"?
So, without looking at a dictionary, what do you think it means to say "Person A's understanding of the term B is C"?
On the Today programme this morning they had a science Q&A. They did the Qs just before I left for work, so unfortunately I missed the As.
One of the Qs was something along the lines of "Why do mirrors flip left and right, and not up and down?". Having heard the question before, I do know the answer, but still find it fascinating whenever it comes up, as it's one of those questions where the answer is completely obvious and entirely non-obvious at the same time (one of those kick yourselves when you find out the answer for not spotting it yourself type things).
The answer is, obviously (just to rub it in for those who don't know the answer already and like me didn't spotted it for themselves), that mirrors in fact flip front and back and not left and right. When you look at your reflection, your reflected left is still on your left and your reflected right is still on your right. The idea of these being flipped comes from the fact that your reflection is facing the other way and left/right depend on the direction you are facing whereas up and down don't.
I find it fascinating that the vast majority of people (including myself) pick up the misconception that mirrors flip left and right. Why is this? Is it due to discussing other people's left and right and considering our reflections as a separate entity? Do young children who are only just learning about left and right have this misconception?
One of the Qs was something along the lines of "Why do mirrors flip left and right, and not up and down?". Having heard the question before, I do know the answer, but still find it fascinating whenever it comes up, as it's one of those questions where the answer is completely obvious and entirely non-obvious at the same time (one of those kick yourselves when you find out the answer for not spotting it yourself type things).
The answer is, obviously (just to rub it in for those who don't know the answer already and like me didn't spotted it for themselves), that mirrors in fact flip front and back and not left and right. When you look at your reflection, your reflected left is still on your left and your reflected right is still on your right. The idea of these being flipped comes from the fact that your reflection is facing the other way and left/right depend on the direction you are facing whereas up and down don't.
I find it fascinating that the vast majority of people (including myself) pick up the misconception that mirrors flip left and right. Why is this? Is it due to discussing other people's left and right and considering our reflections as a separate entity? Do young children who are only just learning about left and right have this misconception?
Film Quotes Revisited
Feb. 21st, 2008 10:27 pmAs there are still a few of the film quotes left, here's a second quote from each of them before I give you the answers:
( Quotes )
( Quotes )
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