The Higgs boson feels untouchably esoteric, a fragment of pure knowledge that may never be applied in the practical world.
Mr Gaddis gained a view of the practical world during the years when he was unable to make a living from literature.
Yet looking at the practical world of technology and business there are certainly times when it has not been obvious that any of this is a good strategy.
Rather, the discussion focused on a practical real world response to issues faced by a multinational company doing business around the world and in venues where the laws of different countries collide.
And that has real-world practical implications for the outcome of what happens in November.
In practice, this would be fine for some small countries, but it is not too practical for the world as a whole because it would require a very large amount of gold.
But these added to the bulk of the machines making them less practical for real-world uses.
The author of the column is probably oblivious to these practical, real-world concerns.
The near term is unfathomable but the investment call that needs to be made is simply 'is this the end of the world economy as we know it' or the practical equivalent 'is this the end of the world as we know it.
In my professional view, this transaction would deny the United States reliable and secure access to a vital - and, as a practical matter, irreplaceable - world-wide telecommunications infrastructure.
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It would seem hugely more practical, in the modern world, for the government to extract money as precisely as it can from the rich and use the proceeds for the welfare of the poor.
Work on projects that show you can have an impact in the real world, dealing with practical problems.
But what are the odds that world leaders will take practical steps to head off a possible calamity?
The potential of Kew and botanic gardens to provide science-based practical solutions to many of the world's problems has never been greater.
But with sweat, failure, a little maturity, they accepted the idea that what the world clamors for is practical things, things that make their life easier.
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One would be remiss, however, to discount the practical, business realities of the journalism world.
The Refugee Action group said questions remained about the proposals but it was encouraged ministers were exploring a "practical global programme to help address the world's refugee crisis".
But since Schmidt is a rumored finalist to be the next Secretary of Commerce, will he have interest in focusing on the nitty gritty practical matters Obama needs in a business world liaison?
String theorists can perhaps afford to take a different tack, because - with all due respect - it doesn't make any practical difference to anyone in the wider world who's right and who's wrong in that particular discipline.
Technology working with me, to help me in my job, is the sort of technology that I like to see at SXSW. When I was least expecting it, another practical benefit of improved connectivity in my world showed up.
Over 200 experts and stakeholders will discuss the practical ways found in different parts of the world to approach water related challenges and improve governance.
But a government ready with the courage to embrace the new ideas necessary to make those values live again for today's world -- a government of practical measures in pursuit of noble causes.
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Yet in practical matters Mormonism seems well adapted to the modern world, for Mormons are, by many measures, disproportionately successful.
Madam President, one of the fundamental challenges that UN Women faces will be translating our discussions in New York of norms, action plans, strategies, and campaigns into practical gains and tangible results for women around the world.
Who in the world today has the moral standing and the practical ability to take meaningful action?
The challenge of poverty existing despite part of the world enjoying dramatic advancement may boil down to practical solutions.
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Law schools have generally lagged behind other, more real-world oriented institutions like business schools in piloting practical improvements, as law professors tend to focus on scholarly work, says Bill Henderson, a professor at Maurer.
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The participants are to re-scope the mission of the World Heritage-related site museums in the contemporary world, by means of collective reflection and practical exercise for the enhanced and holistic interpretation of collections, collection management, development of participative approach for local communities, and museum visitor studies.
"I believe that we have to keep in mind not only the sacrifice made by those who gave their lives in defence of the realm but the practical needs of those who have been bereaved in two world wars, in the Falklands and much more recently as a result of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, " he said.
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