Bonus Points: The Super Brand New, Completely Unique Feature on The Secret of Newton

We* here at The Secret of Newton are always striving to improve your blog reading experience and give you a little somthn'  that you just can't get at any other blog anywhere else on the world wide web of information.

So today we* roll out......... Bonus Points!!!!

That's right, here at TSON and only at TSON can you earn Bonus Points.    

And to stem the flood of questions that will poor in from across the world wide web of information about these Bonus Points I've prepared  a little thing that I've called a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).  Which is yet another thing that nobody else has on the world wide web of information.  Soon everybody will be offering bonus points and FAQs on their sites.  But remember, you saw it here first.

Bonus Point Question #1:  How  can I get bonus points?

Bonus Point Answer #1:  In a myriad of ways.

BPQ #2: Such as?

BPQ #2: Well you might send me a great suggestion for the "Cool or Creepy" feature.

BPQ #3: And?

BPA #4: Or you might leave an outstanding comment to a post that furthers the discussion or deepens the topic as all great comments should.

BPQ #4:  Is that it?  Doesn't sound like a "myriad" to me.

BPA #4: No, that's not it.  You could also get Bonus Points by answering questions posed within the posts.  Or by showing me outstanding blogs that you thing are relevant to science, history or faith. Or by referring TSON to other folks.  Or BPs shall be handed out on a whim by the admin of TSON for outstanding contributions and participation to this blog.  If you want to jump out to a head start on the leader board click the "Bonus Point" label link in the side bar to  to look for Bonus Point offers on previous points that have yet to be capitalized on.  Some real opportunities are lurking out there!  Plus I've given a few people some good will bonus points for being early visitors to TSON and getting the blog off the ground. 

BPQ #5: Hold on, this is starting to sound a little MLM'ish to me.

BPA #5: Not even close, I can't stand multi-level marketing schemes.  Bonus points won't get shady in any way.  

BPQ #6: So what can I do with Bonus Points anyway?  

BPA #6:  Good question.

BPQ #7:  Well?

BPA #7:  Well what?

BPQ #8: What good are Bonus Points for?  What can I do with them?

BPA #8:  Terrific questions!

BPQ #9: Look, I'm getting a bit ticked off now.  Can I do any thing with these &%#! points or not?

BPA #9: Hey!  You just lost 5 Bonus Points for being snarky and using punctuation symbols to swear.  Just call down.  The answer is that Bonus Points are useful for a myriad of things.  But mostly they're great just to have.  I imagine in time there will become a black market for Bonus Points and you'll see them being sold on Ebay for real money.  Until them, just hang on to them and try to get more than other people.  That's usually the fiducial for the value of stuff.  Just compare your Bonus Points to other people's.  But I'm sure they'll be worth something some day.

BPQ #9a: Won't this just cheapen the discourse?  I mean, shouldn't people want to discuss science, history and faith for it's intrinsic value, not for some artificial point system that doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

BPA #9a: Yeah, I see what you mean.  But I look at it like this.  The primary motivation for any effort should be for it's intrinsic value or for the contribution it adds to the community.  But if you can add another extrinsic reward on top of that it's... well... Bonus Points!!!!  Besides, even most things that are done for intrinsic value don't matter in the grand scheme of things.  So why not get a few BPs along the way?

BPQ #9b: But bonus points have nothing to do with science, history or faith. So why add them to your blog?

BPA #9b:  Actually, I had a physics teacher in high school who used a bonus point system.  And I credit him for instilling a life-long passion for science within me.    Besides, the value of any given item is established by he community itself.  Look at the huge value we place on money, which is just paper.  But we've agreed that it's worth something.   The theory of money is interesting.  Perhaps, since we're off the gold standard, we should go on the Bonus Points standard.

BPQ #10:  How will I know how many Bonus Points I have?

BPA #10:  We* here at TSON will keep a "Bonus Point Leader Board" which will be available at just a convenient click of the mouse button from your world wide web of information browser. Look at the side bar where it says "Bonus Point Leader Board".

BPQ #11:  This is terrific.  Thanks for setting it up.  I'm really glad TSON is doing this because nobody else on the world wide web of information has any system even close to being as cool as this.

BPA #11: Thank you very much.  That is very kind.   I'm giving you 10 bonus points for the flattery.  But, I'm afraid, I'll have to subtract 10 bonus points for not asking a question.  BPQ#11 were just statements.

The Fine Print

*Me, here at TSON

Frequently* Asked Questions

Q1:  So what is the "Secret of Newton"?

A1:  A blog about science, history and faith with some techno geeky stuff and humor thrown in.

Q2:  No, that's not what I mean.  I mean what exactly is Newton's secret?

A2:  If I told you then it wouldn't be a secret.

Q3: Look, don't get cute with me pal.  Do you know the secret or not?

A3: I do.

Q3: So then why won't you tell me?

A3: See A2.

Q4:  I'll bet you don't even know.

A4:  That's not a question.  Look at the post title.  It's not "Frequently Stated Comments".

Q5:  [Head shaking, half in anger, half in disbelief.]  OK, let's suppose you know his secret, and you're not telling.  How can I find the secret?

A5:  Read the complete works of Newton including the Principia, his alchemy, his letters, his Mint work... 

Q6:  And then I'll know the secret?

A6:  Probably not.

Q7:  Why the heck would I read all of that then?

A7:  To appreciate one of history's greatest minds. 

Q8:  Wow, I'm impressed you read all of that stuff.  Must have taken years?

A8:  C'mon, you can't just put a question mark at the end of a statement and think all of a sudden it is a question.  Grammatically, you should've said, "Must have taken years."  And then my response to A8 would be, "See A4".

Q9: Fine.  I'll play your little game---

A9:  Hey, it wasn't me who clicked on the FAQ.  You can leave anytime you want Mr. Cranky Pants.  So ask your question or I'm going to drop this whole deal and leave you hanging about the secret of Newton.

Q10:  Sorry.  You're right.

A10:  Apology accepted.  (Plus, A4.)

Q11:  So, how long did it take you to read all of that Newton material?

A11:  I never said I did, you cut me off on A5.  

Q12:  Do you know anything at all about Sir Isaac?

Q12:  Only from the perspective as a lover of science and history, but not a historian or academic.   

Q13:  So this blog isn't really a "hard core" science or history blog. Is it?  I mean, I notice a bunch of humor, or at least attempts at humor.  

A13:  I'm passionate about science.  But my day job involves a bunch of technical writing and when I come home, I don't want to write technically in my blog or novel.   I prefer to keep things on the loose end.  Plus, I'm typically writing late at night, which explains the propensity to coin phrases, a practice  which no sleep-sated person does.

Q14:  Also, if you tried to write technically about something then the world would immediately know that your sandwich is all bread with no meat.  Correct?

A14:  Correct.  Except for perhaps my geology thesis topic which was the "Kinematic Implications of Paleomagnetic Data from Lago Verde and Northern Isla Chiloe, Southern Chile". But even now, the waters of time have mostly rusted that garden tool in my mental shed.  So I suppose I must answer Q14 in the affirmative.

Q15:  You identify yourself as a Christian and say that "The Secret of Newton" is also about faith.   Are you going to go all preachy on us?

A15:  Not all preachy.  At the very most, I give you my word that I'll only go .0023% preachy on you.  Which makes .9976% of the content non-preachy, guaranteed.  

Q16:  Make it .0019% max and I'll stick around and follow this blog religiously.  Deal?

A16.  Umm... [Scratching goatee and looking up at the ceiling, squinting one eye]  Fine. Deal.  You drive a hard bargain.

Q17:  Thanks.

A17:  A4.

Q18:  Seriously now.  Do you know the secret of Newton and will you talk about it?

A18:  I suspect that I do.  It involves a conspiracy that blows away anything in "The da Vinci Code".

Q19:  You didn't answer the second part of my question.

Q20:  Well?

Q21:  Hullo? 

Q22: Are you even there?

Q23: Is my mic on?

Q24:  Drat.

A24:  A4.

The Fine Print

* Rarely.  If ever.