Have you learned anything today?

[mr.bluesky]

Reading a book about the Apollo 11 moon landing the crew left behind a plaque on the moon's surface  stating
"Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the moon July 1969 AD we came in peace for all mankind".
The reason they only quoted the month and  not quote the actual date of July 20th is two-fold
First of all " for all mankind"  meant although it would be July 20th in America when the lunar module landed on the moon due to different time zones on earth it would be a different day in other parts of the world , in Australia  it would be the  21st. Secondly if the launch of Apollo 11 had been delayed for a few days due to technical reasons then they would have landed a couple of days later than the scheduled date of July 20th  so they thought it was best to just quote the month.
 

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[Marmalade]

"Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the moon July 1969 AD we came in peace for all mankind".

Sounds a good book.

I  am pleased and approve of space exploration.
Of course, they were fortunate to “come in peace” when there was no opposition and the moon isn’t inhabited by any other beings, mannish kind or otherwise.

It maybe seems no small i coincidence that War of the Worlds and every other alien invasion’s first words were “we come in peace”. Colonisers usually say “come in peace” too.

Was whoever wrote their speech unaware of the irony of the well-worn phrase?

"Humans of Earth, I come in peace. You need not fear me; I mean you no harm. However, it is important to note that most of you will not survive the next 24 hours." — Gallaxhar, Monsters vs. Aliens

I guess I’m just feeling a bit cynical today. 

[Ahalfa Carling]

I was today years old when I learned that Nick Drake, the folk singer who died in the 1970's, was the brother of Gabrielle Drake, the red haired actress from UFO, Crossroads and other stuff.

[m4rmite]

That brown sauce isn't really a thing in the USA

[PilotMan]

That brown sauce isn't really a thing in the USA

OK, you got me started on the different use of food names UK vs USA

Biscuits
Jelly
Chips
Bread Pudding
Candy
Eggplant
Cilantro
Zucchini

[Marmalade]

That brown sauce isn't really a thing in the USA

You can buy tamarind sauce in squeezy bottles now. Main ingredient. Less vinegar. Less likely to disgust a posh bird.

[Jonestown]

That brown sauce isn't really a thing in the USA

Don’t they market it as Chop Sauce ?

[A Decent Fist]

I have learned that using fabric conditioner when washing clothes is “common” – at least it is according to the Dear Mary column in The Spectator.

The advice offered to this snobbish reader (if she really exists) is spectacularly bonkers.

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[Marmalade]

I have learned that using fabric conditioner when washing clothes is “common” – at least it is according to the Dear Mary column in The Spectator.

The advice offered to this snobbish reader (if she really exists) is spectacularly bonkers.

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Great. I’ve learnt I can add Dear Mary to my list of “people I’ve learnt are fuckwits”.

I’ve learnt a lot of women use fabric conditioner. Supposed to make their clothes fluffy. I’ve heard it also causes irritation to sensitive skin. It has a nice smell. But my it doesn’t work in my washing machine so I have a good reason not to use it.

Errm … paywalled unless you can be bothered free trialling or getting round it.


I was recently attacked/bullied/talked-down-to by a gender theorist at a group dinner. The only way I could think shutting her the fuck up was to say “Well, I’ve learnt something”.

What I’d learn was that someone who previously had seemed like an unattractive but intelligent and interesting woman was actually a fucking nut job. So I wasn’t lying.

[timsussex]

The winter solstice — the day with the shortest daylight hours in the year — is on December 22. And yet something odd is happening right now because the sun is setting earlier but the latest sunrise will not happen until December 31.

[Marmalade]

The winter solstice — the day with the shortest daylight hours in the year — is on December 22. And yet something odd is happening right now because the sun is setting earlier but the latest sunrise will not happen until December 31.

Interesting post. Please explain.

[Marmalade]

I’m sensing TimS will give us the very technical explanation for this. As human organisms we react to natural light. The planet, especially its flora and fauna, with which we interact and which, together with sunlight, sustains us, is subjected to its own annual variations in relation to the sun and its own tilt.

I’m expecting Tim will iron out some of the maths (though I guess maybe not as far as predicting the best value sunshine holiday this winter!) 

[timsussex]

Interesting post. Please explain.

It came from an article in The Times (behind a paywall Im afraid)  which contained this explanation
This strange variation in the solar day results from the Earth being tilted on its axis, and the Earth’s orbit around the sun being a slightly oval and lopsided shape, and both these factors affect how quickly the Sun appears to move across the sky over the course of a year. And so the variation in the length of a solar day also changes the times of sunrise and sunset, which is why the latest sunrise and sunset do not happen on the winter solstice.

The dates of the earliest sunset and latest sunrise also vary with latitude. At places near to the equator, the earliest sunset comes in November, but at higher latitudes sunsets are closer to the date of the winter solstice.

[Marmalade]

It came from an article in The Times (behind a paywall Im afraid)  which contained this explanation
This strange variation in the solar day results from the Earth being tilted on its axis, and the Earth’s orbit around the sun being a slightly oval and lopsided shape, and both these factors affect how quickly the Sun appears to move across the sky over the course of a year. And so the variation in the length of a solar day also changes the times of sunrise and sunset, which is why the latest sunrise and sunset do not happen on the winter solstice.

The dates of the earliest sunset and latest sunrise also vary with latitude. At places near to the equator, the earliest sunset comes in November, but at higher latitudes sunsets are closer to the date of the winter solstice.

I thought it might be due to something like this?
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I did have a look at Singapore as an equator-type city but it still had late late sunrises.

[RandomGuy99]

For some reason 26 yr old Thai women sometimes look like they're 40.

[B4bcock]

MissWolf is a messy eater.

[Bonker]

Does Lou take watersports?

[standardpostage]

How to play the card game UNO. By Mattel Games. Standard version.

Not impressed.

[Ali Katt]

How to play the card game UNO. By Mattel Games. Standard version.

Not impressed.

I learnt how to play Yahtzee recently love it. Like poker, but with dice.

[mr.bluesky]

How to play the card game UNO. By Mattel Games. Standard version.

Not impressed.

Love playing UNO, always take a pack of UNO cards on holiday to play.

[timsussex]

In a field 0f 555 inc grandmasters Eight-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in northwest London, was crowned best female player at the European rapid and blitz championship in Zagreb.

quite an achievement but would anyone care to comment on the fact that the top female player - in an event that doesnt require anything other than mental ability - was 73rd ?

[mr.bluesky]

In a field 0f 555 inc grandmasters Eight-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in northwest London, was crowned best female player at the European rapid and blitz championship in Zagreb.

quite an achievement but would anyone care to comment on the fact that the top female player - in an event that doesnt require anything other than mental ability - was 73rd ?

What is the rapid and blitz championship 

[Blackpool Rock]

What is the rapid and blitz championship 

I'm guessing this is chess as Grandmasters was mentioned

[catweazle]

Squid have donut-shaped brains,  and their oesophagus passes through the central hole. If they eat something too large it can cause permanent brain damage.

[akauya]

Today, thanks to catweazle, I learnt that squids have donut-shaped brains and that their oesophagus passes through the central hole. I didn't believe it so I asked Google.

Google said:

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What a weird and wonderful world.

[standardpostage]

I learnt how to play Yahtzee recently love it. Like poker, but with dice.

Never played it. If I get a chance, I will have a go 

[standardpostage]

Love playing UNO, always take a pack of UNO cards on holiday to play.

I will have to have another go, to get into it a bit better. Only played once so far 

PS. Uno is one in Italian 

[m4rmite]

I will have to have another go, to get into it a bit better. Only played once so far 

PS. Uno is one in Italian

And Spanish

[catweazle]

There is a desk at Salzburg airport in Austria specifically  to assist tourists  who have arrived there instead of their desired destination  of Australia

[David1970]

There is a desk at Salzburg airport in Austria specifically  to assist tourists  who have arrived there instead of their desired destination  of Australia

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[standardpostage]

Looking to buy a bathroom light fitting.

Some of them come with integrated lamps. Non replaceable lamps / LEDs.

When the lamp stops working, you have to buy a new light fitting.

What a waste.

[mr.bluesky]

I will have to have another go, to get into it a bit better. Only played once so far 

PS. Uno is one in Italian 

Better game if there are a lot of players 

[mr.bluesky]

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I would imagine that's mainly for the benefit of American tourists ,they are not usually the " brightest" of travellers

[mr.bluesky]

I'm guessing this is chess as Grandmasters was mentioned

Not the " World wizard championships" then 

[webpunter]

I would imagine that's mainly for the benefit of American tourists ,they are not usually the " brightest" of travellers

Its like the american tourist looking at Edinburgh Castle who comments that a lovely castle & conveniently built next to the train station
& the americans who travel are usually the brighter ones
Something like 90% of americans havent travelled outside the country / often the state they were born & live in
I lived & worked in the US for a while & lots of them are beyond stupid, they make Dianne Abbott look intelligent
And i havent been to the midwest redneck land where they are even worse, a lot worse

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“Donald J Trump is a genius. That’s what the J stands for”.

[PilotMan]

Something like 90% of americans havent travelled outside the country / often the state they were born & live in
I lived & worked in the US for a while & lots of them are beyond stupid, they make Dianne Abbott look intelligent
And i havent been to the midwest redneck land where they are even worse, a lot worse

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“Donald J Trump is a genius. That’s what the J stands for”.

I travelled around Texas extensively in the 90's, I met many people who had never travelled outside of Texas, and many were blissfully unaware of the History of their own state.

Europe is often referred to as though it is a country. I was once asked for my opinion about travel around Europe and what language they spoke. I said it depends on what country you go to.

Dumb statement - I thought it was all one country now?
Dumb question - Do they all speak different languages?

I said yes, but that many people speak or understand English.

Dumb question 2 - American English?

You can't make this stuff up.

[webpunter]

You can't make this stuff up.

You certainly cant

There can be some advantages with americans being thick
There is a subset of american burds called Valley Girls
[from the San Fernando valley]
Think air head blondie bimbo

Back in the day when i was over there sometimes they would come across as star struck, oh my gawd you're from england 
"Love the accent can you speak some more"
[i'm thinking this is what generally happens in a conversation  ]
It was nearly impossible not to get laid

Back then british burds often had their heads stuck up their arses you might get some action if you take them out about twenty times
& then it was usually pretty crap
On the other hand the Valley Girls seemed to take pride in their skills putting out & giving BJs [usually no waiting for 2nd dates either  ]

[Blackpool Rock]

You certainly cant

There can be some advantages with americans being thick
There is a subset of american burds called Valley Girls
[from the San Fernando valley]
Think air head blondie bimbo

Back in the day when i was over there sometimes they would come across as star struck, oh my gawd you're from england 
"Love the accent can you speak some more"
[i'm thinking this is what generally happens in a conversation  ]
It was nearly impossible not to get laid

Back then british burds often had their heads stuck up their arses you might get some action if you take them out about twenty times
& then it was usually pretty crap
On the other hand the Valley Girls seemed to take pride in their skills putting out & giving BJs [usually no waiting for 2nd dates either  ]

Also referred to as a Titanic, as in goes down 1st time out   

[webpunter]

Also referred to as a Titanic, as in goes down 1st time out   

Brilliant 

[puntingking]

I learnt this interesting fact today -

42 million sex workers in the world of which 8,4 million are men.

[Malvolio]

I learnt this interesting fact today -

42 million sex workers in the world of which 8,4 million are men.

That's 20% - clearly more gigolos out there than I realised

[RandomGuy99]

That's 20% - clearly more gigolos out there than I realised

Does it say how many of them actually make any money?

[webpunter]

That's 20% - clearly more gigolos out there than I realised

Far from just gigolos
There are blokes catering for females
Have a look on the interweb, some very good looking guys who cater for the high end of the [female] market
The agencies market themselves as employing straight guys, mindful of their target market
Whereas more male escorts will be working for the pink pound
Which makes them rent boys rather than gigolos
Not quite as glamorous as gigolo suggests

[Blackpool Rock]

Only part opening your water stopcock doesn't reduce the water pressure in your house it just reduces the flow rate, i've had a couple of leaks a few years back and have high pressure so was doing this to try and reduce the pressure but someone told me yesterday it doesn't 

Checking online it appears that it reduces the flow rate (as expected) and does reduce the pressure while you are drawing water "downstream" of the stopcock but once you stop drawing water the pressure equalises back to full pressure

[pbrown355]

Akauya, My experience (which is extensive) is that you are wrong. I'm not suggesting there are no "it was better/tougher in my day" oldies, but many of them are correct.
Not sure that is necessarily always bad. It's nice for people to have some O, A levels &/or a higher qualification and most results at those levels are only relative in that they are comparative with their peers.
Other points about unusable degrees are another matter.

[pbrown355]

Sorry all, my post is at least a page too late and doesn't fit with anything recently posted here!

[akauya]

Akauya, My experience (which is extensive) is that you are wrong. I'm not suggesting there are no "it was better/tougher in my day" oldies, but many of them are correct.
Not sure that is necessarily always bad. It's nice for people to have some O, A levels &/or a higher qualification and most results at those levels are only relative in that they are comparative with their peers.
Other points about unusable degrees are another matter.

er... you have extensive experience of me being wrong? OK. I'm probably wrong about lots of things so you're probably right 

Joking aside, I think you're replying to my post about education. Fair enough. 

[Marmalade]

er... you have extensive experience of me being wrong? OK. I'm probably wrong about lots of things so you're probably right 

Joking aside, I think you're replying to my post about education. Fair enough. 

Quick reply. Will chip in on ‘education’. Whether one ‘learns’ anything is up to the individual. Without comment on the mess the Education system is in, primary education is about what you know and making sure you at least know something. University education can be useful for the self discipline and also discovering the limits of what you ‘know’ to some sort of academically verifiable standard. In other words, what you don’t know. Just use the opportunities you have, take, or are given to you.

There is such a thing as a highly trained idiot (Judith Butler being an example).

You can take a horse to water… but many teaching systems don’t even do that sadly.

[Marmalade]

I suppose i should add… that was just my experience of the education system which i described…

[catweazle]

You can take a horse to water… but many teaching systems don’t even do that sadly.

As my late father once remarked about my sister:
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.......
You can educate your daughter, but you can't make her think.........."