Today I Learned

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Today I learned that cleaning a white hat can be done with bleach cleaner, but it’s important to rinse it before wearing it again. I also discovered that "oyster veneering," a woodworking technique from the late 1600s, is experiencing a minor revival despite its labor-intensive nature. Additionally, I learned that the factorial of 23 (23!) equals 25,852,016,738,884,976,640,000, which interestingly has 23 digits, a unique coincidence among factorials. I found out that medical specialists often spend less than 10 minutes with patients, and that watching TV can contribute to weight gain. Other insights included the fact that a kiss can transfer around 80 million microbes, and that bureaucracy can sometimes hinder employment opportunities. The discussion also touched on various trivia, such as the emotional sensitivity of barn owls and the complexities of gravitational lensing around black holes.
  • #1,301
mfb said:
Today I learned: For some reason, the night is a popular time to get babies - or at least it has been so 1950.
From your reference; "The 12-hour period with the most deliveries is between 9 p.m. and 9 a. m., ..."
Trying to remember the time when my 3 daughters were born, I checked their Certificates of Live Birth.

Jennifer @ 4:57 p.m.; not even close to the range
Sarah @ 4:10 p.m.; not even close to the range.
Misty @ 9:29 a.m.; close but still not in the range.

Today I learned: So much for statistics.
 
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  • #1,303
I learned about myself today that I am a person who cherishes once-in-a-lifetime moments! I would want to make friends and be in touch with people of the same hobby, likes or better, manners and behaviors.
 
  • #1,304
TIL - Booker T. Washington dinner at the White House caused a ruckus in 1901
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington_dinner_at_the_White_House
On 16 October 1901, shortly after moving into the White House, Theodore Roosevelt invited his advisor, the African American spokesman Booker T. Washington, to dine with him and his family, and provoked an outpouring of condemnation from southern politicians and press. This reaction affected subsequent White House practice, and no other African American was invited to dinner for almost thirty years.
:frown:
 
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  • #1,305
Astronuc said:
TIL - Booker T. Washington dinner at the White House caused a ruckus in 1901
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington_dinner_at_the_White_House
:frown:

It wasn't publicized in any way. Booker entered and left by a side door. A reporter found out about it. Senator Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina said "we shall have to kill a thousand niggers to get them back in their places."

It was one of the few times Roosevelt backed down from a fight. The dragon was too big.
 
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  • #1,306
Today I learned that be calm down when someone upsets you and don't be rude.
 
  • #1,307
abwagen said:
Today I learned that be calm down when someone upsets you and don't be rude.
Yes, calm down, count to ten and punch on eight. Nobody is expecting this!
 
  • #1,308
fresh_42 said:
... count to ten and punch on eight.
Lol...
 
  • #1,309
PM: You know it is hard to believe that people can create a table with used ground coffee.
Jim: Really ? Is that what you just learned today Pepper Mint ?
PM: Yes, It can also be used as compost for green plants. My mom often does this.
Jim: That's wonderful! I am going to reuse it from now.
 
  • #1,310
$$\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 \\
a & b & c & d \\
x & y & z & w
\end{bmatrix}$$
Took me a second until I understood which kind of table is meant.
 
  • #1,311
TIL that Sigmund Freud was a cocaine addict ?:)
 
  • #1,312
ProfuselyQuarky said:
TIL that Sigmund Freud was a cocaine addict ?:)
Have you ever regarded a Miro or a Picasso, seen Spongebob or a Tarantino movie, listened to Schönberg, ...
 
  • #1,313
fresh_42 said:
Have you ever regarded a Miro or a Picasso, seen Spongebob or a Tarantino movie, listened to Schönberg, ...
Um, yes. Not sure what that has to do with Freud and cocaine, though ...
 
  • #1,314
ProfuselyQuarky said:
Um, yes. Not sure what that has to do with Freud and cocaine, though ...
None of this looks, or sounds like it could be done sober or clean. And LSD was first used in psychiatry.
 
  • #1,315
fresh_42 said:
None of this looks, or sounds like it could be done sober or clean.
oooh ... that explains why Doyle portrays Sherlock with an opium habit.
 
  • #1,316
It seems in some cultures it is considered rude for a person to do a favor to another, when this favor cannot be reciprocated immediately, or at least reciprocated over the short run. The reason behind this, it seems, is that the recipient of the favor feels indebted , which makes them feel uncomfortable. Of course, this applies to " non-trivial" favors, not just any favor like giving someone an address.
 
  • #1,318
Today I learned that in order to make an electromagnet i must insulate my wire [emoji23]
 
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  • #1,319
KaleLetendre said:
Today I learned that in order to make an electromagnet i must insulate my wire [emoji23]
They manufacture dedicated wire for this. Google: magnet wire. The insulation is very good and very thin so you can achieve maximum number of turns in the space you have. It's true you can use any insulated wire, but magnet wire is the best, due to its very thin insulation layer.
 
  • #1,321
ProfuselyQuarky said:
TIL that Sigmund Freud was a cocaine addict ?:)
I was taught in H.S. that Kekule was using cocaine when he came up with the structure of benzene. But it seems history has been changed since then, as I can't find any references on the internet about his cocaine use; which I was also taught was common place back then.

[PLAIN said:
http://humantouchofchemistry.com/biting-ones-own-tail-the-history-of-benzene.htm]Friedrich[/PLAIN] August Kekule's structure
For Kekule, benzene was a great challenge. He spent many years trying to work out the structure. Once, while thinking about the problem, he nodded off and had a day-dream. In it he saw a snake coil up, and suddenly grab its own tail. It then struck him that benzene might be a 'ring'.
 
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  • #1,322
TIL that it is impossible for me to have any intuitive understanding of physics.
 
  • #1,323
Today I learned that George McGovern was a combat bomber pilot who had several narrow escapes.
 
  • #1,324
... that Woodstock actually took place in Bethel.
 
  • #1,325
Buzz Bloom said:
TIL that it is impossible for me to have any intuitive understanding of physics.
Lol ... I also learned that you might only think (?) you can't. ..:oldwink:
Buzz Bloom said:
... I do not believe I have the time to struggle with the math sufficiently to ever achieve the necessary comfort for intuition to follow.
I also learned that you are a person who is from 80 to 89 years old.....:oldcool:
 
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  • #1,326
dlgoff said:
I was taught in H.S. that Kekule was using cocaine when he came up with the structure of benzene. But it seems history has been changed since then, as I can't find any references on the internet about his cocaine use; which I was also taught was common place back then.
Quite interesting, I daresay. There are more recognized people who play (or at the very least, played) with drugs than I thought...
http://www.famousscientists.org/14-famous-scientists-inventors-who-experimented-with-drugs/
 
  • #1,327
depleted uranium might make good transistors

http://web.ead.anl.gov/uranium/pdf/WM01Semicond.pdf
ABSTRACT
Semiconductors that are based on uranium dioxide (or other actinide compounds) appear possible and
could offer significant improvements in performance as compared to conventional Si, Ge, and GaAs
materials. The energy band gap (forbidden band gap) for uranium dioxide (UO2) lies between Si and
GaAs at the optimum of the band gap vs efficiency curve (1), indicating that one should be able to use
uranium oxides to make very efficient solar cells, semiconductors, or other electronic device.
 
  • #1,328
Today I learned that in January an Iranian mob burned down the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
 
  • #1,329
jim hardy said:
depleted uranium might make good transistors
In addition it should be significantly cheaper than pure Si or Ge is.
 
  • #1,330
fresh_42 said:
In addition it should be significantly cheaper than pure Si or Ge is.
I guess the UO2 has to be very pure as well.
In addition, oxides are much more resistive to radiation damage
Uh... SiO2 layers are the typical failure mode in conventional silicon semiconductors. On the other hand, if UO2 is the semiconductor instead of the insulating material, things can be different.
 
  • #1,331
TIL that electrical circuits on boat docks do not necessarily have GFCIs. While many state governments do not require it, but it is just common sense to have GFCIs on any electrical circuit near water. It shouldn't be necessary for governments to mandate safety practices - but apparently it is.

Grieving Parents Warn Against the Dangers of Lake Electricity After Daughter Is Killed
https://gma.yahoo.com/grieving-parents-warn-against-dangers-lake-electricity-daughter-160804236--abc-news-topstories.html
 
  • #1,332
TIL bald spots make good targets for Mockingbirds protecting their young. :olduhh:
 
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  • #1,333
TIL that the recommended daily calorie intake for a male rower in an ocean-going solo rowboat is 4,000, although apparently one can get by with 2,700 in the form of 2 breakfasts + 2 dinners + grains, muesli, powdered drinks.
 
  • #1,334
dlgoff said:
TIL bald spots make good targets for Mockingbirds protecting their young. :olduhh:
lol...Is there a story to share?
 
  • #1,335
Today I learned that a Twinkie has more energy pound for pound than TNT. Twinkies just do not release it as fast.
 
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  • #1,336
Astronuc said:
TIL that electrical circuits on boat docks do not necessarily have GFCIs. While many state governments do not require it, but it is just common sense to have GFCIs on any electrical circuit near water. It shouldn't be necessary for governments to mandate safety practices - but apparently it is.

Grieving Parents Warn Against the Dangers of Lake Electricity After Daughter Is Killed
https://gma.yahoo.com/grieving-parents-warn-against-dangers-lake-electricity-daughter-160804236--abc-news-topstories.html
This is so sad, I remember when "common sense" was more than just a John Prine album.
 
  • #1,337
Today I learned that Julian Assange tricked the US gvt into forcing down the plane of the President of Bolivia in an attempt to capture Edward Snowden. Assange discussed the fake "plan" on an unsecure line.
 
  • #1,338
ProfuselyQuarky said:
lol...Is there a story to share?
No. Just a couple scratches.
 
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  • #1,339
dlgoff said:
No. Just a couple scratches.
Has it been like this?
55385_lustiger_vogel.jpg
 
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  • #1,340
Astronuc said:
TIL that electrical circuits on boat docks do not necessarily have GFCIs. While many state governments do not require it, but it is just common sense to have GFCIs on any electrical circuit near water. It shouldn't be necessary for governments to mandate safety practices - but apparently it is.

Grieving Parents Warn Against the Dangers of Lake Electricity After Daughter Is Killed
https://gma.yahoo.com/grieving-parents-warn-against-dangers-lake-electricity-daughter-160804236--abc-news-topstories.html
I wonder: how far across the water can disabling shocks go given whatever common power sources are found on boat docks? I would have thought just a few (less than 10) meters but the article seems to imply much more.
 
  • #1,341
fresh_42 said:
Has it been like this?
55385_lustiger_vogel.jpg

Cool hair cut, Fresh.
 
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  • #1,342
WWGD said:
Cool hair cut, Fresh.

Feather cuts seem to be in style.
 
  • #1,343
Today I learned Kai-lan, Kohlrabi, Savoy, Collard Greens, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Cauliflower, CABBAGE, and Broccoli are all the same species. I love domestication!
 
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  • #1,344
Today I learned that Jupiter's Red Spot has turned orange.
 
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  • #1,345
Hornbein said:
Today I learned that Jupiter's Red Spot has turned orange.
Where did you hear that? I missed it.
(never mind, found it) thanks by the way. :smile:
 
  • #1,347
Today I learned that during the Martian summer atmospheric concentrations of Methane increase and then fall during the Martian winter. All though many geological processes could produce this Methane, maybe there is a (very) remote chance it is from microbes. After all, microbes seem to generally have faster metabolisms in warmer environments.
 
  • #1,348
TIL about Planes That Changed the World 2of3 Douglas DC3


and the SR-71
 
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  • #1,349
Hoophy said:
Today I learned Kai-lan, Kohlrabi, Savoy, Collard Greens, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Cauliflower, CABBAGE, and Broccoli are all the same species. I love domestication!
Yep. The species called: open the window.
 
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  • #1,350
I learned how to replace the backcover of a Huawei P6.

An "old" phone lying around the house had one of the corners "detached" from the main body after it was dropped.
So I got around fixing it.

I also learned that its normal that it heats up (a lot) when doing intensive stuff.
I don't get why they didn't fix it though, it's quite disconcerting with the occasional story of exploding batteries.
 
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