Have you learned anything today?

[timsussex]

How Guinness (and other self foaming beer) cans work

External Link/Members Only

[Malvolio]

Some people out there are celebrating "half birthdays" according to an article I saw today. 

I know someone who does that because she was born on Christmas Day.

[mr.bluesky]

I know someone who does that because she was born on Christmas Day.

What about people born on leap year's day Febuary 29th, technically their birthday is once every four years.

[Vice Admiral]

Reading the Sunday Times Business & Money section at breakfast this morning, I learnt that in Florida the Native American Seminole Tribe have a legally enforced monopoly on sports betting.

[bigden40]

Reading the Sunday Times Business & Money section at breakfast this morning, I learnt that in Florida the Native American Seminole Tribe have a legally enforced monopoly on sports betting.

There are several other states where Native American tribes have a monopoly (or near monopoly) on gambling, particularly casinos.  Namely Oklahoma, Washington, California and New York.

[RandomGuy99]

There are several other states where Native American tribes have a monopoly (or near monopoly) on gambling, particularly casinos.  Namely Oklahoma, Washington, California and New York.

External Link/Members Only

[puntingking]

I know someone who does that because she was born on Christmas Day.

 

[Jonestown]

Most of the Daily Mail website is behind a pay wall, but if you want to read it without the pictures you can go to the bottom of the page where the last line on the right hand side is a link to “Text Based Site” which will give you the full text of every article, should you want to read them assuming you can live without photos of Kim’s ass and Kyle’s tits.

[PilotMan]

assuming you can live without photos of Kim’s ass and Kyle’s tits.

Kyle's tits?

[Munter84]

Kyle's tits?

Jeremy has put on weight. A lot of comfort-eating since he lost his TV slot.

[Stevelondon]

Just back from some time in the sun. To be met with a heatwave in good old Surrey.
So I learned it was a good decision to have air con installed when I bought the new place.


I know I know. There will be a few saying it’s a bit of a luxury when you only really use it a couple of days out of the year here in Blighty.
But let’s face it. We are punters. Nowt wrong with a bit of luxury every so often 

[timsussex]

Just back from some time in the sun. To be met with a heatwave in good old Surrey.
So I learned it was a good decision to have air con installed when I bought the new place.


I know I know. There will be a few saying it’s a bit of a luxury when you only really use it a couple of days out of the year here in Blighty.
But let’s face it. We are punters. Nowt wrong with a bit of luxury every so often 

Don't worry about  Global warming just turn up the  air conditioning

The irony

[RandomGuy99]

BBC News - EasyJet flight diverts to Rome over power bank in luggage
External Link/Members Only

[Jonestown]

Miles Davis was born 100 years ago today, 26 May 1926, alas long since gone onto the next place.

[RandomGuy99]

Pete Waterman has had an interesting life starting out with a career as a railway fireman and ebding up a record producer

[RandomGuy99]

Pete Waterman has had an interesting life starting out with a career as a railway fireman and ebding up a record producer

External Link/Members Only

[mr.bluesky]

Pete Waterman has had an interesting life starting out with a career as a railway fireman and ebding up a record producer

Born in Coventry but supports Walsall football club 

[RandomGuy99]

Born in Coventry but supports Walsall football club 

A very intelligent man.

[mr.bluesky]

A very intelligent man.

That worked out well for him this season 

[Stevelondon]

Don't worry about  Global warming just turn up the  air conditioning

The irony

Tim says as he adjusts the air con in his motor. 😂

[WASA38]

Browsing online, learned that squirrels, in common with all other warm bloodied mammals suffer the familiar adverse reaction if they contact capsaicin, the hot component of chilli peppers. Birds,  on the other hand, are immune.

I have a nyjer seed feeder which attracts lots of beautiful goldfinches but suffered unacceptable depradation by agile squirrels. I tried sprinkling very hot chilli powder over the seeds lying on the feeding ledge and, touch wood, this seems to be working. 

[PilotMan]

Browsing online, learned that squirrels, in common with all other warm bloodied mammals suffer the familiar adverse reaction if they contact capsaicin, the hot component of chilli peppers. Birds,  on the other hand, are immune.

I have a nyjer seed feeder which attracts lots of beautiful goldfinches but suffered unacceptable depradation by agile squirrels. I tried sprinkling very hot chilli powder over the seeds lying on the feeding ledge and, touch wood, this seems to be working.

That's a great tip, thanks.

[catweazle]

I heard something  on a tv programme which I just didn't believe  but it turns out to be absolutely true:

PI is what is known as an "irrational " number. It has an infinite  number of digits, and sequences do not repeat. The "unbelievable " bit that i heard, and doubted, is that you can search PI for, say, your phone number and it's there.

Translate a word (or words)- say your address - into numbers (a=1,b=2 and so on) and search for it and it's there.

I tried it with my mobile number and it came up at something like the 80 billionth digit onwards.

There are several "search Pi" websites to do this.

I found the whole thing fascinating.

[Munter84]

PI is what is known as an "irrational " number. It has an infinite  number of digits, and sequences do not repeat. The "unbelievable " bit that i heard, and doubted, is that you can search PI for, say, your phone number and it's there.

Is that a proven rule, or just a phenomenon that's been observed and not yet been disproven?

Not trying to be a smart arse, it's genuinely one of those implications of infinite sets that i struggle to get my head around. Pi as a decimal is an infinitely long series of non-repeating numbers, I get that, but does that mean every finite sequence of numbers CAN be found within it, or WILL be found within it?

It's similar to the "infinite monkeys" situation. Infinite monkeys with infinite typewriters and given infinite time, will eventually write the complete works of Shakespeare through pure chance. But wait - if there are truly infinite monkeys, does that mean one of them is guaranteed to write the complete works flawlessly and on the first attempt? Or is it only ever a non-zero probability that becomes a one (100%, certain) when multiplied by infinite time?

[timsussex]

theres a short SF story about a guy that sets up a thousand monkeys with typewriters to test the idea that they can produce the works of Shakespeare
He watches excitedly as the first monkey  types
To be
He cannot believe it but is astonished as the monkey continues
or not to be
and he gets really excited as it continues 
that is the quesdeiufyg

[catweazle]

Is that a proven rule, or just a phenomenon that's been observed and not yet been disproven?

Not trying to be a smart arse, it's genuinely one of those implications of infinite sets that i struggle to get my head around. Pi as a decimal is an infinitely long series of non-repeating numbers, I get that, but does that mean every finite sequence of numbers CAN be found within it, or WILL be found within it?

It's similar to the "infinite monkeys" situation. Infinite monkeys with infinite typewriters and given infinite time, will eventually write the complete works of Shakespeare through pure chance. But wait - if there are truly infinite monkeys, does that mean one of them is guaranteed to write the complete works flawlessly and on the first attempt? Or is it only ever a non-zero probability that becomes a one (100%, certain) when multiplied by infinite time?

I've tried it with various phone numbers, my NI number ( digits only) my address ( converting letters inside numbers) and a few random names and words,  and they were all found. I'd guess ( but the concept  boggles my poor brain) that in an infinite number of digits logically every possible combination and/or sequence will be there.  The infinite monkeys will also be there.

[RandomGuy99]

That in WWII the US had 111 aircraft carriers and the UK had 83 aircraft carriers.

[timsussex]

That in WWII the US had 111 aircraft carriers and the UK had 83 aircraft carriers.

Only if you stretch the definition of aircraft carrier
eg
External Link/Members Only

and the USS Wolverine and USS Sable which were just floating landing strips which trained 17,000 pilots on Lake Michigan near Chicago

[RandomGuy99]

Only if you stretch the definition of aircraft carrier
eg
External Link/Members Only

and the USS Wolverine and USS Sable which were just floating landing strips which trained 17,000 pilots on Lake Michigan near Chicago

They used to take cargo ships and stick runways on top with it taking 6 months to do the conversion. External Link/Members Only

[puntingking]

There is a city called "East London" in South Africa. This surely would be confusing if you are from East London, uk and you went there as a tourist.   

East London, South Africa is a major port city situated on the southeastern coast of the country. Located in the Eastern Cape province, it sits along the Indian Ocean between the Buffalo and Nahoon rivers. It is about 1,000 kilometers east of Cape Town.

[PilotMan]

There is a city called "East London" in South Africa. This surely would be confusing if you are from East London, uk and you went there as a tourist.   

East London, South Africa is a major port city situated on the southeastern coast of the country. Located in the Eastern Cape province, it sits along the Indian Ocean between the Buffalo and Nahoon rivers. It is about 1,000 kilometers east of Cape Town.

Not as confusing as the huge number of towns / cities in the USA named after UK places.

[Thephoenix]

There are 14 Liverpool's around the world.

Can anyone beat that?

[Doormatt]

San Jose 1700 approx.

[Thephoenix]

San Jose 1700 approx.

I guess nothing's going to beat that.

I was thinking more of UK towns or cities.

[timsussex]

San Jose 1700 approx.

No imagination these Spaniards    !

[Jumping Jack Flash]

There are 15 Birminghams, most of which are in America

[Blackpool Rock]

San Jose 1700 approx.

A quick Google indicates 1716 but closely followed by San Antonio on 1691, in fact the top 5 all have either San or Santa and have over 1000 places named the same, however................

Another link throws up a technicality that there could be far more places called "New Town" or "New City" however these actual names are translated into the local language therefore they don't read the same but the actual meaning is 

[Blackpool Rock]

There are 15 Birminghams, most of which are in America

Heard a story once about some dozy fucker visiting America who needed to fly back to Birmingham UK but somehow got on a plane from wherever in the States to Birmingham Alabama
It must have been pre 911 as they had a ticket but were somehow allowed on the wrong plane 

Anyway the dozy twat got off the plane thinking it was great but wondering why the flight had only taken just over an hour when it had taken about 8 hours to get there 

[puntingking]

There are 15 Birminghams, most of which are in America

I wonder whether we copied America of naming places or did they copy us 

[mr.bluesky]

I've learned that modern parents give their kids stupid names, out and about yesterday I heard a mother call her boy Axel. Who the fuck calls their offspring Axel. She's either a Guns n Roses fan and named him after Axl Rose or a Beverly Hills Cop film fan and named him after Axel Foley. The world has gone mad 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I wonder whether we copied America of naming places or did they copy us 

I imagine that the settlements were named by people leaving Britain for the brave new world. Birmingham was a small market town when a Royal Charter was granted in 1166, Britain started to colonise America from the early 16th century so they took the names with them; York, Boston etc.

[puntingking]

I imagine that the settlements were named by people leaving Britain for the brave new world. Birmingham was a small market town when a Royal Charter was granted in 1166, Britain started to colonise America from the early 16th century so they took the names with them; York, Boston etc.

ok 

[Blackpool Rock]

I wonder whether we copied America of naming places or did they copy us 

Seriously, are you pissed   

Yeah because Britain didn't have any place names until they went to America when they adopted the native American place names, came back and told their mates who then named British towns and cities after the American places 

[mr.bluesky]

I imagine that the settlements were named by people leaving Britain for the brave new world. Birmingham was a small market town when a Royal Charter was granted in 1166, Britain started to colonise America from the early 16th century so they took the names with them; York, Boston etc.

New York was originally named New Amsterdam after it was founded by the Dutch West India company who recognised it's importance as a trading port. It became under English control in 1664 when the name was changed to New York

[PilotMan]

Seriously, are you pissed   

Yeah because Britain didn't have any place names until they went to America when they adopted the native American place names, came back and told their mates who then named British towns and cities after the American places 

I did wonder if he was pissed or taking the piss 

[Bonker]

There are 14 Liverpool's around the world.

Can anyone beat that?

Yes.
There's one Basingstoke.
One Basingstoke beats 14 Liverpools.

[PepeMAGA]

I wonder whether we copied America of naming places or did they copy us 

I don't know if there are any others, but California in Derby was apparently named after the American state, linked to the gold rush at the time.

[puntingking]

I don't know if there are any others, but California in Derby was apparently named after the American state, linked to the gold rush at the time.

 

[Thephoenix]

Yes.
There's one Basingstoke.
One Basingstoke beats 14 Liverpools.

It sounds a very cool sexy place

[PilotMan]

I wonder whether we copied America of naming places or did they copy us 

Apparently some early settlers in the North American continent (now known as the USA) found a town called Liverpool. They went back to England and the first place they hit shore they renamed after that town.

That idea of renaming places in the UK set off a trend whereby many returning travellers started renaming places in the British Isles after places in the new found continent. They found more than twenty places over the pond called Manchester, it was in such demand in the UK that the Government of the time held a sweepstake.

It was won by a town in the North West of England.

AI responses may include mistakes.