Occupational Hazards of Debunking

[The Bad Astronomer]

Sometimes, being a skeptic and debunker takes over my real life.

We found out recently that the chimney over our fireplace is disintegrating. The house is 30 or so years old, and we have been discovering that sometimes corners were cut in its construction.

Anyway, an inspector told us that it either needs to be torn down, or replaced. When we investigated how much it would cost to replace it, we decided we didn't need a fireplace so much anymore!

I'm not the world's leading do-it-yourselfer, but this seemed like a job I could handle. So today I got my ladder, my sledgehammer, and my chisel, and up on the roof I went. The chimney bricks are bigger than normal red bricks, making them unwieldy and a little tough to dislodge. The mortar in between comes out readily enough, but the corners of the chimney are braced by steel rods. To get the bricks out, I had to chip away at the mortar, then grab the bricks with both hands and wriggle them until I could pull them loose.

One piece of mortar was being stubborn. It was trapped between a brick and the steel rod, and I had to really get in there to get to it. I was hacking away at it, when, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, the thought erupted fully-grown in my mind: I wondered what Hoagland would say about me trying to free masonry!

And then the second thought came so fast it overlapped with the first. I wondered what time it was... because it wouldn't have surprised me one bit if the time were 11:11 a.m.

I need a vacation.

[ZaphodBeeblebrox]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

It's gotten to the point where I can't even watch television anymore, without trying to debunk it.

And, don't even get me started on the number of Obscenities I scream, when forced to listen to Coast to Coast.

There is a reason, why I don't go for Car Rides with my Father, much anymore.

[lek]

Are you sure you werent destroying the faces in the chimney in a subconsious attempt to hide the evidence?

[Chip]

... I had to chip away at the mortar, then grab the bricks with both hands and wriggle them until I could pull them loose...

You had to what away at the mortar? :wink:

Anyway...no doubt the work produced a field of debris on the roof. You could take a photo of that, put it in your computer and with some simple photoshop tools identify the various mortar chips as obvious alien machine artifacts. This proves that Hoagland's misapplied Martian "analysis" techniques misapplies anywhere. (Perhaps "misinterpret" or even "misappropriate" is more accurate, especially the last term, which Webster's defines as: "to appropriate dishonestly for one's own use" which is what Mr. Hoagland does.)

[Sam5]

We found out recently that the chimney over our fireplace is disintegrating.

I lived in the South in the ‘80s and a lot of young people bought old Victorian homes. They solved the “old broken chimney” problem with flexible metal pipe inserts that go up through the chimney, so that no hot coals or burning embers ever contact the old broken mortar. Others replaced their wood-burning fireplaces with gas stove inserts. The new inserts are designed so that most of the heat goes into the house and the gas fumes go up the chimney. The new kind of pipes are shown at the bottom of this website:

LINK

chimney pipes

[John T]

Sometimes, being a skeptic and debunker takes over my real life.

We found out recently that the chimney over our fireplace is disintegrating. The house is 30 or so years old, and we have been discovering that sometimes corners were cut in its construction.

Anyway, an inspector told us that it either needs to be torn down, or replaced. When we investigated how much it would cost to replace it, we decided we didn't need a fireplace so much anymore!

I'm not the world's leading do-it-yourselfer, but this seemed like a job I could handle. So today I got my ladder, my sledgehammer, and my chisel, and up on the roof I went. The chimney bricks are bigger than normal red bricks, making them unwieldy and a little tough to dislodge. The mortar in between comes out readily enough, but the corners of the chimney are braced by steel rods. To get the bricks out, I had to chip away at the mortar, then grab the bricks with both hands and wriggle them until I could pull them loose.

One piece of mortar was being stubborn. It was trapped between a brick and the steel rod, and I had to really get in there to get to it. I was hacking away at it, when, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, the thought erupted fully-grown in my mind: I wondered what Hoagland would say about me trying to free masonry!

And then the second thought came so fast it overlapped with the first. I wondered what time it was... because it wouldn't have surprised me one bit if the time were 11:11 a.m.

I need a vacation.

Me too!

BA, as with everyone else and for sure, from time to time, we all need "time-off"

A good break!

For yourself, may I suggest a few weeks' fishing (just my idea).

Because a fisherman (generally speaking in my view), particularly the dedicated fisherman, have spent untold hours at the lakeside (or the riverside) even of times, catching nothing at all because he/she has been within the natural habitat of what we call "nature".

As the saying goes "fisherman have had time to think things out."

The "goin' fishing" effect is very satisfying (in my experience) and certainly "recharges the batteries".

On a scale of 'one to ten' ?

Actually being there, within the wilderness (preferably on you own), 90% for sure!

Anyway, nevermind my ramblings/rantings etc

Whatever you decide for yourself and your family,

Much happiness, and enjoy!

Cheers,

John

[beskeptical]

For me, it's the incredible claims on TV infomercials and regular commercials.

Why are there people spending 5 payments of $39.95 for an Ionic Breeze? Magnets, ionic bracelets, pills to correct your 'acidic' imbalance and cure everything, disinfectant impregnated baby toys ..... ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

We are doomed.

Instead of worrying about Hoagland, we should be worried about the people that believe him.

[soupdragon2]

I've read posts with less relevance to astronomy that have been locked before now. :wink:

But it reminds me, I was born on 11/01/--, and I used to be a Freemason. I'll take a look at that Hoagland post again.

[Captain Kidd]

There is a reason, why I don't go for Car Rides with my Father, much anymore.

Similar problem here, except its the in-laws. This weekend we visited them for Mothers' Day and my wife parents got into how good 10.5 was. #-o Then they started in on how they couldn't wait for The Day After Tomorrow. :-s And that her father has a working "theory" that oil is perpuated by the pressures inside the earth causing chemical reactions that produces it because, "there's no way there were that many dinosaurs" and thus there's an unlimited supply of it. And they were heard to say after their other daughter's youngest child was diagnosed with asthma that "there might be something to chemtrails afterall." #-o

Things that make you go ](*,)

Thankfully PX is way too out there for even them. Oh well, a few more weekends with them and I'll have my pokerface down so good I'll be able to clean out Vegas.

[Jerry]

I need a vacation.

OK debunkies, now is our chance! While BA is vacated we can Hoaglandize this board until...Oh MY! Something that looks like a silver friszbee is hovering outside my

[Lurker]

And that her father has a working "theory" that oil is perpuated by the pressures inside the earth causing chemical reactions that produces it because, "there's no way there were that many dinosaurs" and thus there's an unlimited supply of it.

Besides... we all know dinosaurs don't turn into oil... thats why they are still around for museums!! :-k

Um... Phil... its homeowners like you with too many things on their mind who always make the news papers when they fall off the ladder. It happened a couple of times at Los Alamos when I was there!!

Be Careful!!

[Cougar]

Sometimes, being a skeptic and debunker takes over my real life.

Well, it should.

We found out recently that the chimney over our fireplace is disintegrating. The house is 30 or so years old, and we have been discovering that sometimes corners were cut in its construction.

Nonsense. My house is 100 years old on a crumbling sandstone foundation with a small little fireplace probably lined with carbon nanotubes just ready to go supernova.

Anyway, an inspector told us that it either needs to be torn down, or replaced. When we investigated how much it would cost to replace it, we decided we didn't need a fireplace so much anymore!

Or else you didn't need to tell him when you wanted to use it.

I'm not the world's leading do-it-yourselfer, but this seemed like a job I could handle. So today I got my ladder, my sledgehammer, and my chisel, and up on the roof I went. The chimney bricks are bigger than normal red bricks, making them unwieldy and a little tough to dislodge. The mortar in between comes out readily enough, but the corners of the chimney are braced by steel rods. To get the bricks out, I had to chip away at the mortar, then grab the bricks with both hands and wriggle them until I could pull them loose.

My fear of heights seems to vary with my age, exponentially. Didn't anyone ever mention to you "chimney-sweep"?

One piece of mortar was being stubborn. It was trapped between a brick and the steel rod, and I had to really get in there to get to it. I was hacking away at it, when, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, the thought erupted fully-grown in my mind: I wondered what Hoagland would say about me trying to free masonry!

You are obsessed.

And then the second thought came so fast it overlapped with the first. I wondered what time it was... because it wouldn't have surprised me one bit if the time were 11:11 a.m.

Could have been.

I need a vacation.

My scientist wife has a minimum month and a half vacation set up this year. Vegas. SoCal. Larame, or however you spell it. Omaha. South Dakota. St. Louis. Lake of the Ozarks. I'm gonna be catchin' BIG fish. And driving the greens on par fours. If I can ever find my swing.

I'm sure you
are due,
too.

[Kaptain K]

Cougar,

...Lake of the Ozarks. I'm gonna be catchin' BIG fish...

Try a little farther south - Bull Shoals Lake! If you get tired of bass, the White river just downstream from the dam has some really nice rainbow trout. Try a half day or full day guided float trip. You won't be disappointed! The (Arkansas) state record rainbow trout and large mouth bass were taken within 30 miles of each other!

[Gmann]

Lake of the Ozarks.

Ahh...the Lake. I have spent many a week there. For fishing I would suggest Bennet Springs State Park. It's about 50 miles away from Osage Beach, and halfway to Bull Shoals. There is a fish hatchery there so you could learn more about the history of the Trout that you are going to make...history. Has this thread been hijacked by Outdoor Life? Not really, I had to take down the chimney that was in the center of my house. I feel your pain Phil, as a matter of fact, I felt it for 3 weeks, that stuff is heavy, and makes a mess you would not believe. I used the bricks as a border for my tomato and pepper garden.

[SAMU]

Sometimes, being a skeptic and debunker takes over my real life.

Only if you try to debunk the theory that you now have enough bricks to finaly build your KILLER BARBEQUE!!! =D>

Unless...you didn't throw the bricks away did you? Then I'm afraid you may need immediate psycological attention. :-?

[captain swoop]

Cougar,

...Lake of the Ozarks. I'm gonna be catchin' BIG fish...

Try a little farther south - Bull Shoals Lake! If you get tired of bass, the White river just downstream from the dam has some really nice rainbow trout. Try a half day or full day guided float trip. You won't be disappointed! The (Arkansas) state record rainbow trout and large mouth bass were taken within 30 miles of each other!

It always seems that you Merkins only go after game fish. here in the UK the vast majority of Anglers go after 'Coarse' fish like Bream, Barbel, Chub and Carp (A whole industry dedicated to carp fishing).

I'm a Carp man myself, it can take a two day session to catch the big boys (30lb plus)

[Archer17]

..OK debunkies, now is our chance! While BA is vacated we can Hoaglandize this board until...Oh MY! Something that looks like a silver friszbee is hovering outside my

That was my frisbee. You didn't happen to see my dog, did you? He went chasing it and went missing as well. He's a Denubian battle hound, stands 4 ft tall on his six legs ..

I need a vacation.

Based on what I just posted, you're not the only one.

[mike alexander]

Well, if no one else is going to say it, I will.

That was a HORRIBLE pun.


Congratulations. =D> =D> =D>

Sometimes, being a skeptic and debunker takes over my real life.

Only if you try to debunk the theory that you now have enough bricks to finaly build your KILLER BARBEQUE!!! =D>

Unless...you didn't throw the bricks away did you? Then I'm afraid you may need immediate psycological attention. :-?

O V E R

[DreadCthulhu]

And that her father has a working "theory" that oil is perpuated by the pressures inside the earth causing chemical reactions that produces it because, "there's no way there were that many dinosaurs" and thus there's an unlimited supply of it.

Actually, her father is not the first to propose a non-biological origin of oil -Wikipedia has some info on abiotic theories of oil formation, but note those theories are not widely accepted.

[Captain Kidd]

And that her father has a working "theory" that oil is perpuated by the pressures inside the earth causing chemical reactions that produces it because, "there's no way there were that many dinosaurs" and thus there's an unlimited supply of it.

Actually, her father is not the first to propose a non-biological origin of oil -Wikipedia has some info on abiotic theories of oil formation, but note those theories are not widely accepted.

I'll make a note to not tell him about that.

[Russ]

Hey Phil: I gather you are trying to save the brick. Take it from a hard core DIY'er. Throw the hammer and chissel back in the tool box and get a "SawzAll". It is made by Milwaukee Inc. and more than worth the $150. Get a good 10 awg extention cord and the concrete blades for it and go to town on the old cement. If you run into "rebar" that's the steel you had to deal with, nooooo problemo with the Sawzall, it'll cut right through.

Do NOT get another brand. It will not stand up to the load the way a Milwaukee will. If you need any more unsolicited advice, give me a holler.

[Musashi]

I will second the Milwaukee endorsement. Best reciprocating saw on the market.

[calliarcale]

It always seems that you Merkins only go after game fish. here in the UK the vast majority of Anglers go after 'Coarse' fish like Bream, Barbel, Chub and Carp (A whole industry dedicated to carp fishing).

I'm a Carp man myself, it can take a two day session to catch the big boys (30lb plus)

Well, what do you think we've got more of in our rivers? The most prized fish in my neck of the woods are trout (very common) and various kinds of pike. Northern pike can get *huge*, and they can be aggressive; I know several people who've needed stitches after Northern bites. The walleyed pike, of course, is Minnesota's state fish. Very tasty, too. And then there are bass, perch, sunfish, the occasional Atlantic salmon if you fish Lake Superior at the right time of year, bullheads, sturgeon, crappies, catfish.... Lots of fish.

Actually, we do have an increasing population of non-native carp, and there are several carp fishing competitions in Minnesota each summer.

[Captain Kidd]

Actually, we do have an increasing population of non-native carp

That wouldn't happen to be the Asian carp (AKA Jump Out of the Water and Hit a Fisherman Carp) would it?

A new type of sports fishing, where the fish hunt you.

[junkyardfrog]

One piece of mortar was being stubborn. It was trapped between a brick and the steel rod, and I had to really get in there to get to it. I was hacking away at it, when, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, the thought erupted fully-grown in my mind: I wondered what Hoagland would say about me trying to free masonry!

And then the second thought came so fast it overlapped with the first. I wondered what time it was... because it wouldn't have surprised me one bit if the time were 11:11 a.m.

LOL