Don't use these words, or I'll hit you.
1. Recalibrate
You meant to say "modify" or "reconfigure". When the Vulculons invent a new deflector shield technology that is immune to your phasers, the solution does not involve recalibration.
Recalibration is for adjusting things to make them accurate. For example, when your phasers are shooting two miles to the left, it's time for a recalibration. Another case requiring recalibration would be when Kirk's tricorder measures Yeoman Rand's vital statistics incorrectly, he gets her the wrong size lingerie, and she hits him.
2. Critical mass
Critical mass is when having too much of a certain type of stuff in one place makes things go boom. "Approaching critical mass" is not a generic term for your space engine / reactor / widget getting dangerously close to the boom point, except maybe if too much phlebotinium got into it (and in that case, it's the phlebotinium approaching critical mass, not your space engine). If in doubt, just say "approaching critical", and I won't have to hit you.
3. DNA
I can't believe I have to say this about stuff written in 201x.
You don't understand DNA. DNA is not who you are. It does not contain your memories, skills, or personality, anymore than the blueprints to your house tell you the contents of the refrigerator. If someone gets a sample of your DNA, they can't make another you, no matter how much science they have. The best they can do is make someone with some physical resemblance, who maybe shares a couple of mental disorders. Sort of like an "identical" twin.
Screw this one up, and I'm gonna punch you in the gut. Hard.
Quote from: chaotic neutral observer on November 24, 2018, 02:12:18 PM
Don't use these words, or I'll hit you.
1. Recalibrate
You meant to say "modify" or "reconfigure". When the Vulculons invent a new deflector shield technology that is immune to your phasers, the solution does not involve recalibration.
Recalibration is for adjusting things to make them accurate. For example, when your phasers are shooting two miles to the left, it's time for a recalibration. Another case requiring recalibration would be when Kirk's tricorder measures Yeoman Rand's vital statistics incorrectly, he gets her the wrong size lingerie, and she hits him.
2. Critical mass
Critical mass is when having too much of a certain type of stuff in one place makes things go boom. "Approaching critical mass" is not a generic term for your space engine / reactor / widget getting dangerously close to the boom point, except maybe if too much phlebotinium got into it (and in that case, it's the phlebotinium approaching critical mass, not your space engine). If in doubt, just say "approaching critical", and I won't have to hit you.
3. DNA
I can't believe I have to say this about stuff written in 201x.
You don't understand DNA. DNA is not who you are. It does not contain your memories, skills, or personality, anymore than the blueprints to your house tell you the contents of the refrigerator. If someone gets a sample of your DNA, they can't make another you, no matter how much science they have. The best they can do is make someone with some physical resemblance, who maybe shares a couple of mental disorders. Sort of like an "identical" twin.
Screw this one up, and I'm gonna punch you in the gut. Hard.
Another version of recalibrate is when you say "the data does not match my preconceived notions, so obviously we have to allow for some error in instrumentation so that the instruments report reality the way I prefer it."
Thai food also can reach critical mass. In my ass.
Quote from: chaotic neutral observer on November 24, 2018, 02:12:18 PMphlebotinium
Well if we're doing this than I have to point out that that idiom misuses the prefix phlebo-
It should only be used in contexts similar to its original use in vampire action-science-fantasy media
Quote from: Doktor Howl on November 27, 2018, 04:44:46 PM
Another version of recalibrate is when you say "the data does not match my preconceived notions, so obviously we have to allow for some error in instrumentation so that the instruments report reality the way I prefer it."
Verified Truth
also:
Oversight you meant to say, "forgot" or "fucked up"