The quote is actually from Lord Kelvin, a century or so after Newton:

"In physical science the first essential step in the direction of
learning any subject is to find principles of numerical reckoning and
practicable methods for measuring some quality connected with it. I
often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and
express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot
measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of
a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge,
but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the state of Science,
whatever the matter may be." [PLA, vol. 1, "Electrical Units of
Measurement", 1883-05-03]



Desmond Gayler BEng(Hons) MIET
QA Manager - Timeguard Ltd
 
Logo Image
 
This e-mail and any files attached are strictly confidential, may be
legally privileged and are intended solely for the addressee. If you are
not the intended recipient, note that any disclosure, copying,
distribution, or use of the contents of this message and attachments is
strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender by return e-mail and
delete the e-mail and any attachments immediately. Any views or opinions
presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of Timeguard Ltd.  Although Timeguard operates automated
anti-virus programes, it does not accept  responsibility for any damage
that is caused by viruses.
-----Original Message-----
From: EnviroNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MA/NY DDave
Sent: 19 July 2006 07:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [EN] Earth's Temperature Is Hottest in Centuries

Hi Joe, Chuck, Brian,

<Interesting notions. Some sage observed that if you can't express a
concept
in numbers you can't know all there is to know about it.>

Right! I think it was Newton or at least someone in his life time span
and
Issac gets the credit.

It would be fun to create or see the Global Warming equation. I don't
even
think it has that many elements in it for a first order approximation.

<The bill eventually comes due and someone must ultimately pay. Sort of
like
the deficit spending that we see in government. The problem gets passed
forward in time apparently in the hope that something magical (or maybe
the
presumption of something totally devastating) will happen that causes
the
ctrl-alt-del key sequence to be hit for a reboot.>

deficit spending I understand; although the Japaneese Central Bank
having
0% for a long time was a bit confusing. 3.5% long term GDP growth is one
objective of USA monetary policy. The Chineese are in for a tumble
someday
since they are expanding too fast.

The Global Warming Bill will be paid, yet most will not know it is being
paid. It is just Too dam difficult for most humans to understand this
stuff
and the politicans get to have fun, and win votes, in the turmoil
process.

<Nature cannot loose the game, no matter what the outcome. A planet
with
life or without, nature will persist.>

Like Brian, I am hopeful on that point. As we get closer to, or beyond
the
point in the equation that we need to take real action stuff will get
done
even by the politicans. Most of life has an operating temperature point
with some organisms or plants being able to accomodate extremely wide
ranges. Yet not all can accomodate wide ranges, or environments.

As a political case in point is my own good old ugly running for
president
GOP "give them death" boy called Mitt the Romney, Governator, Celebrity
of
Mass. With a recent Big Dig ceiling collapse that could embarrass him,
or
that he can use to furthur his career, he all of a sudden knows about
epoxy, bolts, cleaning of holes etc. The same thing will happen as
Global
Warming comes to a REAL, not an Al Gore, important point.

Yet as the population expands, and industrialization expands with it we
are
in for a ride with an expanding numerator, and a diminishing
demoninator.
Even the Amazon Rain Forest is getting burned. Back when you and I were
kids 2.5 Billion people were in the world and only about 200M in the
USA,
and China was striving for an agrarian culture.

Yours in Engineering, Dave
YiEngr, MA/NY DDave