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AskReddit/czls7zg
|
43xl7j
|
Was is the most uncomfortable thing a teachers done to you?
|
In 4th grade my teacher bought a new car. It was a Miata. She had a little competition where she gave us a few hints, and then had the class guess which vanity license plate she got, and the winners would get to ride a ride in her car during the summer and go to a free lunch. About 8 of us won, and she set a date for all of us and said she would be calling us. Well I felt super uncomfortable about the whole thing and didn't particularly like her, so I just ignored her as she kept trying to call me, atleast 2 or 3 times a week all summer. In retrospect the whole thing was a bit weird, but I don't suspect her of any funny business or anything like that.
| 3 |
AskHistorians/c9bkl95
|
1bymb1
|
How did the world respond to the destruction of Hiroshima?
|
This will probably get buried, but I just finished my dissertation on this subject and I've been waiting for someone to ask a question on my specialist subject, so to speak. Let's take the British reaction as a cross section of the world reaction. To explore what civilians think, we'll see what they're writing to Newspapers saying. I chose to go with The Times, as it's popular and it's archives are easily accessed. Most civilians were outraged at the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many letters write into the paper in August 1945 expressing disgust. John A. F. Watson writes on August 10th saying: >"The most ghastly aspect of modern warfare is the widespread slaughter of non-combatants, especially children. The allies have hithero done their best to avoid it. They may have been unsuccessful but at least they have tried. Here however there is no pretence. And by whom? By the same allies who barely a year ago were seething with righteous indignation at the indiscriminate brutality of the flying bomb" This comparison that the Allies should be better than Germans because they're supposed to be the good guys is not an uncommon opinion initially. Ian C. Barton writes on 7th August 1945 saying: >“We protested at the German’s indiscriminate bombing when they sent flying bombs and rockets over here, but this new weapon is a thousand times more indiscriminate and barbarous." There is only one letter in this time period to The Times defending the use of the atomic bombs on a civilian target. Maude Royden Shaw, a famous suffragist and public speaker says: >“In what sense are civilians innocent and soldiers guilty? In none. If we could see to it that only soldiers suffered for our common guilt, would that be more moral, more acceptable, more just? I do not think so. But those who ask for the disuse of the atomic bomb are asking for a longer war and the sacrifice of innumerable soldiers, sailors and airmen. How dare civilians ask for this?” This does not seem to a be popular opinion. Although there is much disgust that the Allies would commit such an atrocity, there is full support and agreement that it brought the war to an end. Statesmen William Henry Beveridge writes saying: >"“There can be little or no doubt that it hastened or even dictated the Japanese offer to surrender." After the initial shock of the Allies attacking a civilian target the concern of the public and indeed the Government moved towards how shall international affairs be conducting now there is not only a presence of nuclear weapons to which there is no defence but also a monopoly by the United States on this new atomic weapon. Many ideas for a solution begin to pile in, and some men argue that the atomic secret should be destroyed. Others offer new solutions. Beveridge writes that: >“The only alternative method which can be world-wide is compulsory arbitration by an impartial tribunal applied to all disputes between all nations, and back by overwhelming international force.” To conclude, the bomb was met with great fear. Fear that the Allies were capable and would do such a thing, fear over new atomic diplomacy and fear over being nuked. I just wrote 4500 words on this so if you have any more questions, just ask.
| 139 |
AskHistorians/czmm6yv
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43z43d
|
What would a TUDOR (English) HANGING SIGN - for a pub/public space be made out of?
|
It's a little later than Tudor, but there are a lot of commercial signs up at Colonial Williamsburg that are painted wood. (As a theatre carpenter I have built replicas) Probably a couple of planks joined together, not plywood like it would be today, but otherwise not very remarkable. Speaking as a woodworker: don't get too hung up on the specifics of "English Oak" It would have been made from that material if that was readily available. If some other suitable kind of wood was available, that would have been used instead, especially since the whole thing was going to get painted. It is easy to romanticize the wood choices that were made in 'olden days', but a quick look at the back or under side of any antique will show you some brutal economic choices being made. This is technical knowledge, so I'm not sure how I would cite it, but I can find photos of antique furniture if that would help.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cqzwlqn
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350vk5
|
Would the earth continue on its same path or would it dramatically change if we got rid of one element on the periodic table?
|
Astatine [At #85] only exists (on earth) for a few milliseconds after radioactive decay of other elements so 'getting rid' of it wouldnt be a very big deal. Scientists aren't even sure what it looks like because it decays so quickly.
| 2 |
AskReddit/ddgnu9s
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5smzwx
|
What song has aged very well?
|
Hotel California. It has a raw sound that can't really be destroyed by any modern musical advancement. It is beautiful. Bowie's music is good but hasn't aged that well. Bohemian Rhapsody is a brilliant song but it's started to sound slightly dated. But The Eagles just have a raw guitar style that just can't really be replaced.
| 2 |
AskReddit/d6n3v58
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4ydy7w
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If you could call yourself five years ago and had 30 seconds, what would you say?
|
Shut up and listen, I only have 30 seconds. This on-again, off-again thing with (ex's name) will never work out. You're too far apart on values and you always will be. Just stop now and save yourself the trouble. Keep in touch with (old friend A, B, C, D, and so on). Get outside more and make new friends. It's not as hard as you think, but you do have to try. Don't stay too long in your next job. It won't help your career, it's a toxic environment, and you're going to wish you had gotten out sooner. Stop badmouthing (hometown). It's a good place and you're going to move back - not because you're homesick, but in two years, you'll get this unshakable gut feeling that that's where you need to be. You'll understand why a few months after you get there. Don't wait six months to tell her you love her. Three is probably about right. But that's OK because it doesn't change the way the story ends.
| 11 |
explainlikeimfive/cizozzr
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2axcob
|
What stops banks from creating money out of thin air?
|
Disagree with the other two posts. Only the Federal Reserve and US Mint have the power to create money (edit: obviously talking about in America, before someone mentions it). They just do. They're the only ones that have the stuff and are allowed to do it. Fractional banking, which they're discussing here, is a system of indebtedness to the Federal Reserve. Owing debt to the people who make the money isn't the same thing as making the money yourself.
| 2 |
AskReddit/e347tha
|
92a5r0
|
If money is the root of all evil, why do they ask for it church?
|
Because it takes money to run a church? They have to pay rent for the venue. A lot of people working at the church are required to work full-time to keep it running and I'm sure that they prefer not to starve so they need a salary. Mega-churches have enough money I agree, but go to any small church, they have serious financial needs. and Money isn't the root of all evil, pride is.
| 10 |
AskHistorians/dfjssc5
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6235oe
|
How is it that Orange, a town in Southern France, is so fundamental to the Dutch (through their Monarchy, and through Orange as the national color) -- when it so very distant from the Netherlands?
|
Alright the town and name Orange found its way into Dutch history through hereditary processes. Rene of Chalons used to be Prince of Orange until his death in 1544. He left Orange and several possessions in the Netherlands, then ruled by the Habsburgian Charles V, to his cousin William of Nassau. This William would therefore found his own branch of the House Nassau, the House of Orange-Nassau. William of Orange Nassau would become the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish/Habsburg rule and his descendents became hereditary stadtholders and later kings of the Netherlands. The Dutch translated the French Orange into Oranje, hence the affinity with the colour. I would not say, by the way, that the town was fundamental to Dutch history. It gave William of Orange-Nassau his name and higher standing before he gained more titles and lands through marriage, but beyond that it did not have a significant role in Dutch history.
| 395 |
AskReddit/e74f0bc
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9l1i7u
|
What’s your biggest screw up in the kitchen?
|
I was pretty wrung out and hungry and decided to make some pasta in my friend's open kitchen. Set up the water on the stove and turned back to watching Netflix on the couch 2m away from the kitchen space. All of a sudden both of us noticed something was wrong, turned to the stove and saw a huge cloud of smoke. I had turned on the wrong part of the cooking surface and melted a big plastic container that sat on top of it (the kitchen is usually pretty cluttered). The stench took forever to get out and I spent quite some time cleaning the stove.
| 2 |
AskReddit/c1u0dhf
|
hb59j
|
What is the difference between an intellectual and a pseudo-intellectual, and how do I know which I am (if either)?
|
Here's how to feel like a pseudo-intellectual. When I was younger, I was a voracious reader, I often read 4-5 large novels per week (almost a speed reader, but not quite). I had a great working vocabulary, but obviously you don't hear some words very often, so pronouncing them incorrectly happens. I was making a point to use all my big words and I told an English teacher (in the classroom, no less) about how Shakespeare or something was the epitome of classic lit. Although I used the word correctly, I pronounced it epi-tome (long O). The teacher looked at me and said, "what the heck is an epitome?" Of course the actual intelligent people in the room about died laughing at me. The difference between being an intellectual and a pseudo? Feeling the need to try to demonstrate your superiority. I felt like a total fool, and being from a small town, I see the teacher frequently still, and even 10+ years later, she sometimes sees me and says, "epi-tome", while cackling loudly.
| 8 |
AskReddit/c806rwh
|
16wl03
|
What significant change is happening in the world right now that many of us don't realize?
|
I think our abuse of resources is the biggest thing going on. We all want to treat the planet better, be greener, etc. but most people don't realize how much they actually use nor do they realize that we are barely covering it. Things like gasoline, water, coal, etc. we have short term reserves of, but should their supply suddenly stop due to a freak storm for even a week it can take months to recover from during which time everything vastly increases in price. A $1 loaf of bread could cost $10, private transport could almost cease to exist, water rations could mean the end of people watering their lawns and possibly even having bucket baths, etc. Imagine what that could mean for society and our chances of coming through it intact. Scarily its quite likely to happen and be far worse than you can imagine.
| 5 |
AskReddit/esms5o1
|
c8h77w
|
When was the worst possible time for your phone to run out of battery, and what were the consequences?
|
I was driving home and my phone decided I clicked the power button 6 times of whatever so it decided to call the police. I hung up as soon as I heard the alarm going off, maybe 30 seconds later I get a call from a private number and my phone dies. I go inside and within 15 minutes the police and an ambulance are at my house, I had to explain I pocket dialed them and my phone died. All my neighbours care outside watching, one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
| 3 |
askscience/dkuw7si
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6q5ev5
|
Does a falling object have more kinetic energy if it falls on a slope versus a slope of zero degrees?
|
The gravitational force is conservative, so the work done by gravity doesn't actually depend on the exact path taken by the particle. All that matters are the endpoints. In the specific case of gravity near the surface of Earth, all that matters is the difference in height of the particle. So whether an object falls straight down some height H or slides down a height of H along a frictionless plane, the object gains the same amount of kinetic energy. Mathematically, the force per unit mass is f = -ge*z = -∇(gz), whence the potential is U(z) = gz. Hence the force is conservative and the work done per unit mass in moving a particle from z = z1 to z = z2 is simply g(z2-z1*) = gH.
| 11 |
explainlikeimfive/d36rrlb
|
4ji4sp
|
Why do things need scientific names?
|
We use Latin for scientific names, legal terms, etc. because it's a dead language. Because it's dead, the meaning of words won't change over time. The meaning of those words is set in stone, so it allows us to give names to things that will never change. For example, if I called someone "gay" a couple hundred years ago, they'd think I was calling them happy and carefree. If I call someone gay now, they'll think I'm calling them homosexual. We don't have that problem with changing meanings when we use Latin. Whatever the word meant when the language died is what it will mean for eternity. Edit: Oh, right. There's also the fact that lots of languages have Latin roots, so it's got a nice, familiar vibe with many different languages.
| 35 |
AskReddit/eifyj13
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b0ob3v
|
What’s the highest tip you have ever given your waiter/waitress & why?
|
I was eating at chain breakfast restaurant and my waitress was very visually pregnant and should not have been on her feet. She wasn't terribly attentive but gave overall good service so we were happy. I went to the bathroom which happened to be by the kitchen and I could hear her sobbing, desperately tring to find someone to cover the end of he shift as her body just wouldn't take it anymore. My bill was like $15 but I left $100 tip. Wish it could have been more but I am on disability and have a fixed income.
| 3 |
AskHistorians/cd0o3qu
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1pb4th
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Was the "Little Corporal" Napoleon ever really a corporal?
|
As stated by the others, Napoleon started in the Royal Army as a Sou-Lieutenant (or Second Lieutenant in our rank system). When the Revolutionary Wars broke out, he made a name for himself at the Siege of Toulon, where he placed his artillery in a dangerous but advantageous position. However, throughout his campaigns, he would meet with his men and discuss tactics with his men, even as Emperor, he would take the time to occasionally see his guns and aim some of them personally. He was called the 'little corporal' out of love by his men because he was never above them to meet and talk with them about their jobs.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cnzk032
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2tjeei
|
Can a startup company with 30 twenty year olds on staff, that each have 2 years of experience in the company's field, say that they have 60 years combined experience in their field?
|
If the company makes widgets, and ten of your employees have experience in shipping and product handling, five in bookkeeping, three in legal, and the remaining 15 in widgets. then no. It's 30 years' experience in the field.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cdh6qh8
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1qwgja
|
What is the greatest birthday/Christmas gift you have ever received?
|
When my dad retired, he built a workshop in the garden and starting getting into carpentry. For Christmas that year, my two siblings and I each got a handmade backgammon set (we're part Greek and my dad taught us all to play at a young age). They're gorgeous; mahogany with beech inset spikes and our initials embedded in the front. He also got our great uncle (his uncle), who used to be a turner but is now elderly and very inactive/withdrawn, to hand-turn the pieces on his old lathe. We all cried when we unwrapped them. It's one of the most precious things I own.
| 2 |
AskReddit/d0raofy
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49f2kz
|
Which college major has the answers most easily found online?
|
I would argue computer science. When I was a computer science major often for large projects you can take large snippets of code and just work them into your individual assignment, or at the very least small portions of your assignment. As it is all a standardized language for some programming languages, for most processes there is only so many ways you can do something, and the most popular are often well documented online. My major now isn't so much. I'm doing a masters in criminology and it is strongly research based; often you find what you are studying is outdated by new discoveries and research and you have to go out and collect new data.
| 2 |
AskReddit/ertsjak
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c3vyjc
|
What is your most embarrassing visit to the doctor/hospital?
|
It was actually about 4 days ago when I went to the hospital. I had this stabbing, stabbing pain in my side that was murdering me. My dad thought it was appendicitis. The doctors and nurses kept asking me if I've ever had a kidney stone before, and I kept saying no, no, I haven't. Had to get a CT scan, X rays. It turns out it was a 3mm kidney stone. Unfortunately, I don't do pain well. I got my first shot (I've never had a shot before since vaccines as a baby), I cried in front of my dad (I'm 19). I also ended up pressing the call button 5 times because I ended up having to throw up (again, I don't do well with pain).
| 4 |
AskHistorians/c6uiuze
|
12f1hq
|
Do historians believe that Josephus writing on Jesus is genuine?
|
I'm inclined, on the whole, to feel that there is enough evidence to suggest a historical figure that is the basis for the Jesus of the New Testament. Traditionally, Josephus is used as supporting evidence, but I personally discount it because it seems quite probable that the reference was a later addition. The language is off for the period that the text was written in, and the reference does not seem to fit the tone of the rest of Josephus' writings. In addition, our first copy of the text that we currently possess dates to the 10th century AD to my recollection, 9 centuries after he originally wrote it. That's plenty of time for editorial decisions to affect the text, even if it was only originally small errors.
| 6 |
AskReddit/dexfl0h
|
5zehjo
|
What is the job equivalent of "Chips companies selling air"?
|
But chip companies don't sell air. They sell chips, safely packed in a gaseous mixture that both keeps the chips fresh and protects them from damage during shipping.
| 3 |
explainlikeimfive/elwuj8f
|
bhzfzd
|
Why is it considered safe to give your banking login details to 3rd parties like Mint/TurboTax/etc?
|
No employees do not have access to your passwords. If someone accesses your Mint account, the most they have access to is how much money you have and how much you spend. You cannot get your password to your banking institutions through Mint either so there's no security risk in someone accessing your account really at all, unless you are overly private about how much money you have.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cr81yrs
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35udp1
|
Why were you late for work today?
|
Technically, I'm always "late" because I come in at 9:30 instead of 9. My bosses have told me that they don't care when I come in as long as I get all of my work done, which I do. So hooray, I get an extra half hour of sleep every day!
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/cr4ju1b
|
35hu4z
|
Why do outdoor patio sets that are made of wicker with cushions often cost more than a leather couch?
|
The outdoor furniture has to be higher quality to withstand the harsher environment. There is a lot of variation in the cost of outdoor wicker because they can put in just a token amount of sun protection into the resin or they can put in enough to actually protect. There is no way you can tell because labels just sun Sun protection, not amount of of protection. So if you buy it at Costco, a store I usually like, expect it to look worn after a couple of years.
| 27 |
AskReddit/c29euwv
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j5wx3
|
Is it douche-y to wear a band shirt to that band's show?
|
Here's my take on it . I am, of course, biased. Two months ago I flew all the way from South Africa to Munich just to watch Roger Waters perform "The Wall". Before setting out I purchased the official tour t-shirt online and then wore it on the night of the concert. Now it is no longer a t-shirt . instead it has transcended to a higher plane of awesomeness. In 20 years time when it's tattered and faded it will still be a vivid reminder of an incredible night. So I fit in to soundslikeagoodidea's framework of being a serious, long-term fan.
| 6 |
AskReddit/e8ule2m
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9t9n6f
|
What would Africa have been like today if colonialism didn't happen?
|
It is impossible to imagine how Africa would be now. The effects of colonialism started much earlier than the question assumes they did. In fact, colonialism had started with Muslim conquest of North Africa. Everything else was more of the same. The ethnic borders would have been changed by wars (just like they were in Europe) and multinational states would have created trade languages and hegemonic religions and the like. Africa would be very different, more populous and richer, but it would be so different that we cannot make any guesses about how it would be.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cx8vazi
|
3tslj8
|
What is the eeriest "staring into the void" moment you've ever experienced?
|
When I took Psilocybin mushrooms the first time and stared past physical reality and found the Hindu deity Ganesha staring back while floating in a void/space of repeated versions of himself patterned for infinity. I grew up in the Bible Belt of America and had no idea who he was. it was kind of awkward.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/c77i2du
|
13vdn6
|
What exactly is so great about 64 bit versions of things, like Windows, or Firefox, or even Photoshop?
|
Pretend you are doing arts and crafts. You have paper and cardboard and glue and paint and magic markers and scissors and glitter (if you're evil) all spread out on your desk. Having all that stuff on your desk takes up a lot of room, and it doesn't leave much space for the actual thing you're working on. Moving from 32bit to 64bit is like moving to a much bigger desk. Even if you don't need it, you have a lot more room to spread things out, and that makes it easier to work on arts and crafts. You can make much bigger projects, and you can organize your supplies better. It's a heck of a lot more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it if you're five.
| 1,838 |
AskReddit/ejin84z
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b68mn2
|
What's an unusual or interesting quirk about your body?
|
I have a mitral valve prolapse - a harmless heart condition that doesn't increase risk of heart disease or anything at all. It just makes clicking noises. But I also have extra nipple tissue down my torso. several spots of them. They look like freckles, not full-blown nipples. but they are made of the same stuff and you could tell if you touched them. The interesting thing is that a lot of people with a mitral valve prolapse also have this extra nipple tissue. Way more than youd find in the normal population. No one has any idea why.
| 3 |
explainlikeimfive/cjdjvdy
|
2caj32
|
What would be some negative consequences for the economy/people if we decided to raise the minimum wage to $10.00?
|
It might be hard for people to gain work experience if companies do not think they are worth $10 an hour. On the bright side, robot labor will become more affordable.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/ee4t44e
|
agatls
|
If the flu is rapidly changing, how can scientists certainly identify the flu?
|
The changes the flu goes through affect some very specific aspects of the virus's structure, which is why we describe flu variations with titles such as H1N1 or H3N2. A strain with either of those characteristics could be more or less serious as there could be other differences, but in terms of how our body identifies/fights it-- and how we make vaccines for it-- we're only talking about 2 locations on the virus which tend to look different depending on the strain. There are a lot of other aspects of these different versions of the flu which look similar, and distinctively flu-like.
| 4 |
AskReddit/duh7uax
|
7ykbyt
|
Why does the media make it sound like starting your own business is so easy/cheap?
|
Because it is. Seriously. A business license can vary between $50 - $250 depending on where you live. Even with additional expenses and / or hired assistance to guide you through the process, most of the time it's under $1000 to start a legal business What you do with it from there is up to you.
| 4 |
AskReddit/dpdkn49
|
7axms2
|
What "cliche quote" helped you grow into an adult?
|
"Go with the flow" - Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Learning to plan ahead yet still be flexible and take things in stride has really helped me mature. And just chill out in general
| 3 |
explainlikeimfive/c458w8i
|
resyo
|
Why do movies and music CD's have the same prices as their competitors while those of practically every other product vary drastically compared to their competitors?
|
Good question. I guess this is a combination of several factors. Firstly, while peoples opinions of various artists/movies may vary, there is no objective way to assign value to a piece of art. Some people love Justin Bieber and some people hate him - in economics the term 'utility' is used to describe how much worth someone gets out of an object - and therefore the utility of an Album will vary much more than say. bread, as peoples opinions vary so much for art. Why isn't there a proportional relationship between quality and price? You can't measure the quality in art the same way you can for cars. If a justin Beiber CD was half the price of what it is now, would you buy it simply becuase it was cheaper? Secondly, the actual cost of manufacture of the physical product - the CD or DVD and the case, is essentially the same for all CDs/DVDs. Another explaination may be an idea known as 'perfect competition', which essentially states that in a highly competitive market with many sellers, products tend to the same price. I don't know how relevent it is to this market, however.
| 6 |
AskReddit/d232rz2
|
4et473
|
Do you listen to a lot of the music your parents listened to when you were a kid?
|
Actually the opposite. My parents hated pop music, rock and everything that comes with it. They listened to light classical music, choirs and church music. I Never really heard top 40 or radio stations. When I heard Iron Maiden for the first time, I was about 10, I was hooked to hard rock and metal. The more extreme the better. My room turned into a metal shrine, covered in posters and memorabilia. To the horror of my parents. I did eventually make my way to Beatles, Beach Boys and some more modern pop. And even some classical music like beethoven and wagner. But never really to stuff my parents liked.
| 2 |
AskReddit/dp1kud0
|
79fnrv
|
If US government suddenly turned into a fascist military dictatorship, what would you do?
|
I would go see a neurologist, because the odds that I develop schizophrenia or some other mental illness that could make me imagine the US government turned into a fascist military dictatorship are much higher than the odds of the US government actually turning into a fascist military dictatorship.
| 3 |
AskReddit/c5z6ylw
|
yvjao
|
What's the scariest thing you can write in 30 words or less?
|
"Don't blink! Don't even blink! Blink and you're dead. They are fast, faster than you could ever believe! Don't turn your back, dont look away and don't blink! Good Luck!" Still gives me the chills. Exactly 30 words if you don't count contractions.
| 841 |
AskReddit/c3hpnq9
|
oj93d
|
What is the best or worst part about having to work on a federal holiday?
|
I live in Canada and when we work on our holidays (called statutory holidays) we get pay and a half. I worked on Christmas one time and got triple pay and a half. The money is really good.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cdaq1x8
|
1qa3nl
|
What are the books/ideas you're surprised aren't movies yet?
|
It'll probably never happen, but I've always thought any of Tamora Pierce's books would make great movies. She writes such rich worlds and wonderful characters. But people aren't really in to fantasy right now (aside from ASOIAF), it's all about sci-fi and superheroes lately.
| 2 |
AskReddit/ewqksyh
|
cpm23m
|
What would you need to die happy?
|
If I were to list 5 things 1) make sure my parents are always loved and never alone and never abused. 2) fully own a home with no mortgage. Dude I'll pay the estate tax idc but not having to pay mortgage would be a load off and actual when I pay the loan off my condo I'll be half way to retirement 3) find the love of my life and marry her 4) have kids and watch them grow up to be adults 5) watch my future kids get married and have kids. If I can completely own my home, take care of my parents, marry the love of my life, have kids and watch them grow up and get married and have kids id probably die a happy man.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/e549az0
|
9bn41v
|
Why does Down's syndrome give very defining physical characteristics while other genetic disorders don't?
|
Down syndrome is caused by having an extra 21st chromosome (or a partial 21st chromosome). Many genetic conditions are caused by a mutation in a single protein or protein complex meaning if it were to affect physical appearance then it will usually be minor, but containing an extra chromosome means potentially hundreds of genes that aren't supposed to be there. So down syndrome is more of a chromosomal disorder over regular genetic disorders. Other chromosomal disorders tend to have drastic changes in appearance.
| 6 |
explainlikeimfive/cajcso0
|
1ge5xu
|
What is credit default swaps and what role does it play in financial crisis 2007-2008?
|
When you lend someone money, you may want to insure yourself against the risk of them defaulting on the loan. To do that, you buy a CDS, and the organization that sold you the CDS would have to compensate if your borrower goes bankrupt. What makes credit default swaps problematic is that market is pretty much unregulated, and that anyone can buy CDS, even if they haven't loaned out any money. That's very different from traditional insurance policies. You can buy fire insurance for a house that you own, but you can't take out fire insurance on your neighbour's house. And you definitely can't take out 10 fire insurance policies on your neighbours house and receive millions when it burns down. With credit default swaps, this is possible. You can take out bankcruptcy insurance on companies that you have nothing to do with, and you can buy as many policies as you like. Why is that dangerous? When a house burns down, you know that an insurance company somewhere is probably going to be on the hook for the cost of the house, so that insurance company is going to be $300k poorer. Maybe $500k if it was a nice house, but that's it. With credit default swaps, there's no way to know how much the bankruptcy of a company is going to cost insurers. If a company takes out a $1 million loan and defaults on it, it's possible that 10,000 people have bought CDS for that company, so a $1 million bankruptcy may end up costing insurers $10 billion. This is why credit default swaps added fuel to the fire of the financial crisis. You don't know how many of these CDS contracts are out there and who's on the hook for them, so there's a real danger that a small company going bankrupt may cause the bankruptcy of MegaWallStreetBank who sold tons of credit default swaps for that small company. And the bankruptcy of MegaWallStreetBank may cause other large banks to go bankrupt if they have sold CDS for MegaWallStreetBank.
| 8 |
AskReddit/e67n3xt
|
9gxxpr
|
How do you pass those last 30 minutes at work?
|
Ideally -- cleaning up my desk and making sure I've left a folder for my clerk (she generally gets here about 15 minutes before I do). ​ Realistically - forgetting to check the clock and realizing that it's far past time for me to go home.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/c8yfw43
|
1al76t
|
Why tons of students I know that are fairly wealthy and well off are receiving high amounts from FASFA for college while I, from a middle-class family that is barely getting by and is heavily relying on FAFSA, only received a small sum that barely assists us at all?
|
Similar to that, it also seems like savers are punished. Take two hypothetical families, both with 3 kids, the same mortgage and both earning say $75,000: the Savers and the Spenders. The Savers take no vacations, drive old cars, and manage to scrimp and save $5,000 to put towards their children's education each year. The Spenders, on the other hand, take multiple vacations, lease new cars, and put nothing towards their kids' educations. Flash forward 15 years, the Savers have roughly $75,000, the Spenders, $0. Guess who will get more financial aid? According to FAFSA employees I've spoken with, the Spenders. Because on paper, they have less to contribute. How is that fair?
| 346 |
AskReddit/cjt6xg1
|
2dug2a
|
What is a historical event that you are surprised to find people have limited knowledge about?
|
Plenty of people like to think and say that the Semitic people (Jews) were enslaved in Egypt. There isn't a shred of evidence to support this, nor is there evidence that they had a large presence in the area. I find that interesting.
| 2 |
AskReddit/elrc7gm
|
bhay97
|
Does one's behaviour on social media reflects who they are in real life?
|
It shows you the person someone whould become without social boundries. Repression for our behaviour is everything that (mostly) stopes us going full narcistic egomaniac, thats why people talk smack online but are polite IRL
| 3 |
AskReddit/d01nqdw
|
4616i4
|
What is your tip to a good night of sleep?
|
If I want a good night of solid sleep, I turn out the lights, strip down, pop an Ambien, open up my bedroom window, turn on the Riceboy Sleeps album, smoke a cigarette while I watch the passenger planes land in the distance, one after the other, lay down and curl up with my big gray cat, close my eyes, and imagine kittens.
| 2 |
AskReddit/c9a4i3w
|
1buawc
|
What bad habit/behaviour have you picked up from someone else?
|
I started taking voice lessons my freshman year in high school with a teacher who snorted when she laughed. And she laughed often. I eventually picked it up from her and now I can't help but snorting like a pig every time I laugh.
| 2 |
AskReddit/efp5w0q
|
amwrl2
|
What are your thoughts on sweet victory not being played at the super bowl?
|
Not trying to hijack the post, but can anyone explain this all to a guy who has no idea? *What is up with: Maroon 5, Spongebob, and that song Sweet Victory?* I posted on "outoftheloop" but it was auto-deleted by a robot. Note: Am 40 year old out-of-touch person. Thank you for your help.
| 2 |
AskReddit/emcx0ba
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bk0tgg
|
What would you do if you can swap bodies with anyone?
|
2 actually My first one would probably Lionel Messi (username checks out) to see what is it really like to be in the limelight all the time, especially having insane skills on the pitch while also being compassionate for a family. The thought of being famous petrifies me as you essentially sacrifice your private life, I’d want to witness it for at least a day to see the stress we as fans put on our idols. My second one would be a female that isn’t in my family, my friends, my crush, or a famous woman really. I’d like to experience what it’s like to live in their bodies and feel the pain they have to go through at times (periods, catcalls, etc) while they can feel what it’s like to be a guy and be outside of their shells for awhile, learning to adapt with a whole new environment.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cxjgbdy
|
3v18kp
|
What are some things you need in a relationship to keep you happy?
|
COMMUNICATE. I cannot stress this enough to my friends and family when they ask me why my relationship with my boyfriend currently is well and all around great. Talking about the insecurities, problems, good news and all is necessary to keep things open and clear. Miscommunication happens mostly from the lack there of. Talking plainly and simply as you would with friends or family is what you should do with your SO.
| 3 |
AskReddit/cfwg35o
|
1zs4xw
|
What career path would give me the ability to live life in a way that isn't the same thing everyday?
|
Well, every career has some sort of same thing that happens every day, but jobs that aren't the usual 9-5 could be like teaching abroad, become a doctor and join doctors without borders, military, singer/actor, green peace/other volunteer agency, au pair, work at a zoo or reservation, flight attendant, entrepreneur, author, painter, photographer, etc.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cpn2yp6
|
2zx3pe
|
What was an awesome rumor that someone started about you in Highschool?
|
The only rumour I remember is that I threatened to stab someone over a guy, which would have been pretty petty. The person who started it got someone else expelled a few months later by claiming she threatened to bring a gun into school and shoot her, I have a feeling it never happened but everyone else seemed to believe it.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/cti4fkp
|
3et4jn
|
Why making comic books with characters from different universes require less right acquisitions than making similar movies?
|
Movie rights were sold off when Marvel and DC had gone through rough patches. They still own character rights for comics, but not movie rights. For this reason they'll not invent a new character for xmen to say the least, because marvel do not own the rights. It also took huge amounts of negotiations to allow spiderman into the MCU.
| 2 |
AskReddit/ejrvxq7
|
b7i1lb
|
What is some cooking tool or method that has saved you significant amount of time and/or savings?
|
a toaster oven! I cannot love that thing more. ​ Me and my SO moved into a new place last year and had no furniture, no money and the gas wasn't going to kick in for another month for dumb reasons. So we used our savings to get a toaster oven and wow that thing saved our lives.
| 6 |
AskReddit/cdchria
|
1qga85
|
What is the most ridiculous thing you've done out of extreme anger?
|
Burned $60 in $20 bills then went to a drive up atm, took out another $300 threw $100 in the air, which sent people swarming out of their cars, then went into a restaurant and handed most of it our to people screaming it's fake! Then I tore a $20 in half and left it as a tip and walked out. I was extremely angry about corruption, overpaid executives, inefficient tax system, wasteful government, and scamming bankers. The thing is if the working classes didn't accept existing forms of money, it would render the wealth of the elite worthless- so it isn't totally ridiculous, just ridiculous that I didn't get enough people to join me.
| 3 |
askscience/d5te7gq
|
4usfw4
|
Why does Alcohol relieve pain?
|
Alcohol is a depressant, meaning that it gives a sensation of relaxation while at the same time lowering the intensity of all sensations, pain included. I assume you are talking about when Alcohol is consumed and not when it is rubbed over a wound or something along those lines.
| 5 |
AskReddit/cpitbnl
|
2zgy4r
|
What are some things I should know about living the deep south?
|
I was born in the south but I spent most of my adult life on the west coast and in the mid-Atlantic region. I moved back to the south a few years ago and I had a bit of culture shock. I had forgotten how many trailer parks and run down shacks there are. I forgot that churches outnumber schools. I forgot that you can't buy wine and liquor in the grocery store and you may not be able to buy any alcohol on Sunday. I forgot that people can't mind their own business and random strangers feel the need to interject themselves in private conversations. I forgot that it's cool to leave your truck crusted in mud all the time. I forgot that if it snows, the streets will be empty and there will be no eggs or bread at the store. On the plus side, there are BBQ places everywhere and if I order sweet tea at a restaurant, they won't bring me a glass of tea and packets of sugar. The south isn't all bad, it just takes some adjustment to live here.
| 7 |
AskReddit/dhybf6y
|
6cxx5t
|
What do you think the final man-made post to the internet will be?
|
On the last social media website, as mankind falls, panic and pleading until the final days when everyone goes quiet. The last person with internet access will be bargaining for company. 'Hello?' 'Is there anybody left?' 'I have food and water!' 'Please?' 'Someone?' 'Can anyone still hear anything outside?' Something like that probably.
| 2 |
AskReddit/cyvb54b
|
40m3ze
|
What have you learned from Reddit?
|
Among the strange tangled limbs of the interwebs, there are some terrible people, incorrigible fools with strange ideas, biased mindsets and truly awful grammar. I knew that already. I have learnt from Reddit that among the ordinary folk there are some extraordinary folk. Great writers, great thinkers, great wits. Great people from all corners of the world. And that's just so marvellous.
| 3 |
explainlikeimfive/cbkuper
|
1k30o2
|
How the Affordable Care Act will actually increase my insurance premiums by 56%?
|
The specifics of any particular premium change are going to be complicated, but the biggest factor that the ACA would have to increase your premiums is by requiring a different standard of coverage. The ACA sets minimum standards for a plan to qualify and your plan may not have met those standards previously. Your plan may have excluded many types of care which must now be provided, it may have had very high deductables which you would have had to pay in case of illness which now have to be lower, or the plan may have had relatively low caps on yearly or lifetime coverage which must be lifted. These changes can be particularly expensive if your insurance pool is particularly small and/or risky. If some of your coworkers have expensive chronic conditions which now must be covered, your premium--combined with your other coworkers--is paying for their health care, but somebody in a pool with less cost and risk is not. One of the goals of the ACA is to normalize the payment of health care and reduce the risk of financial disaster for people who utilize services. Many people in need of health care, but who lack insurance, end up utilizing services in very inefficient ways, such as going to emergency rooms for simple or manageable ailments. Costs associated with medical conditions are a leading cause of credit default and bankruptcy. The thinking is that no insurance, or inadequate insurance is a major problem in controlling medical costs because it leads to situations where nobody has an incentive to reduce risk or cost.
| 8 |
AskReddit/dfgvz33
|
61sfc8
|
If Scooby Doo was real and in the modern era, what relatively harmless crimes would the "monsters" be doing nowadays?
|
There would still be: Real estate fraud, insurance fraud - But I would imagine new ones would be: insider trading, posting bills where it says not to, medical fraud, prostitution, not separating your recyclables, tearing the tag off the mattress, selling out of date milk, selling Scrappy Doo into slavery
| 5 |
askscience/c3w40p9
|
qatcg
|
In translation, are the tRNA always floating about waiting to collide into the right codon?
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AFAWK the tRNAs are floating aroud pretty much randomly. While the GIF shows mechanisms correctly its incorrect in one way that the right tRNA doesnt just come and sit there, trnas randomly go around and at times randomly just try to sit on the codon of the mRNA in the site (aided by the ribosome and other accessory proteins) and the ones that do lock stay and are processed further. This explains the horrendously slow rate of translation you find (the fastest is something of the tune of 20 aas per second which is pretty slow for a molecular process).
| 5 |
explainlikeimfive/csuu87l
|
3cem7z
|
Why can it be so hard to fall asleep at night, but come morning, so difficult to wake up and start one's day?
|
Only partial speculation on my part, but I suffer from an acute sleep phase disorder, so I know the issue very well. Ultimately, it probably has to do with melatonin levels. It's the chemical that makes you feel sleepy. If you don't have enough of it, you're not sleepy (to say nothing of being unable to fall asleep when you ARE sleepy). Once your melatonin levels get high enough and you fall asleep, you enter into a normal cycle of sleep-brain activity. Your sleep cycle has shifted forward because you took longer to fall asleep in the first place, and so you find it hard to wake in the morning due to being in a stage of sleep during which you're not used to waking.
| 2 |
AskReddit/ekmuxv5
|
bc0o47
|
What's the easiest way for me to get into and stay knowledgable on politics?
|
All of this is assuming US politics. Find a topic you have interest in and read up on it through multiple sources. If you are getting news from just one source it's hard to see the whole picture sometimes. A good way to make up your mind on topics is to research the core of what they are first, then read up on the various stances on them. For example, I have an interest in nuclear energy. So I did a bunch of easy reading on reactors, benefits of the technology, pitfalls of it, etc. I then looked into the different legislation and such concerning it. I find that staying knowledgeable about the topics you care about and having a base knowledge of others is sufficient. There is no problem in saying something like "I don't know enough about that to make an informed decision", although the current political climate demands that people "fake it till they make it" and common people who debate politics usually have no idea about what their debating, and just know their party's opinion on it. Last parting word. Reddit is not a good place to get news or stay informed with politics. Reddit is a liberal website and they aren't ashamed to show it. There is nothing wrong with that, but some users on here refuse to acknowledge that the disparity in the amount of liberal to conservative users is nothing like what the actual partisanship of the nation is.
| 5 |
AskReddit/dve718g
|
830max
|
How has the human race not acquired a tolerance for alcohol after drinking it for hundreds of years?
|
We have. Most species don't get the kind of pleasurable effects from alcohol that we do. For most mammals, alcohol is just a toxin that they need to flush out of their system as quickly as possible. Primates have an enzyme that helps break down alcohol; not surprising, since we're mostly fruit-eaters, and alcohol is commonly found in fruit. The human version of this enzyme is particularly effective at breaking alcohol down and removing it from our system, very important for a species that was scavenging for less desirable food sources out in open grassland.
| 37 |
AskReddit/cnu4t2k
|
2sydns
|
What's your favorite movie that has to go through multiple viewings in order to fully comprehend or appreciate?
|
I saw Scream for the first time when I was in middle school. I really enjoyed it, but I hadn't seen enough of the genre to understand that it was parody and all the meta jokes went over my head. I appreciated it much more in subsequent viewings after I had seen more movies.
| 2 |
AskReddit/e0aejrs
|
8pdmct
|
Why is the worst boss you ever had the worst boss you ever had?
|
My old boss was arrested for voyeurism- he hid a camera inside of an air freshener above the women’s bathroom stalls. If that’s not the worst of the worst, I don’t know what is!
| 2 |
AskReddit/d6p5k0z
|
4ynlvo
|
What's a fact people refuse to accept?
|
I work in a military museum in Australia. I've had quite a few Japanese visitors refuse to accept that Japanese soldiers committed the atrocities they committed. I've personally been called a liar on more than one occasion.
| 1,931 |
AskReddit/cku13xt
|
2hmimv
|
What's the world's worst-kept secret?
|
I can say Area 51 or something like that, but it's not that secret, since we know it exists and even where it is. The best-kept secret in the world is something we can't even imagine and aren't even close to knowing a thing about it. EDIT: misread the thread title, sorry.
| 3 |
AskHistorians/dlaoatm
|
6s4a3g
|
What did swordsmanship look like in the middle ages?
|
A bunch of very common misconceptions here we'll try to clear up; these questions are always great because they spur a whole lot of interesting discussions. First thing's first, we should differentiate between one-on-one sword dueling and battle tactics. They are two very different things. Swordsmanship was an important component of the status of the landed elite, but the way it manifested itself varied greatly at different times, in different places, and for different individuals. I mostly draw from my knowledge of Italy between the 11th and 14th centuries, however these first paragraphs will give a general overview that if not complete for every time and place, broad lines can give you an idea of the kind of people we're dealing with. Generally, it's safe to assume that landholders who drew their income from rents had the time and money to buy arms and practice with them, with the time and money available to them varying in proportion to their wealth and status. However, there are also very many cases of members of the upper middle class like notaries, doctors, lawyers, and moneychangers imitating the aristocracy (for both status and necessity) who also might not only own minor estates outside the cities where they lived, but also purchase and train with arms and armor. And this is by no means a universal truth: some aristocrats spent vast amounts of time in their city homes while neglecting their estates and had little to no familiarity with arms and armor, while some members of the upper bourgeoisie might only go into the city once or twice a week, and own and know very well how to use a complete set of arms and armor. As much as we like to think of ancient society as easily boxed, categorized, structured, and regimented, especially due to "feudalism," the truth is often much more nuanced. That gives you an idea of the kind of person engaging in combat with swords. But with all that being said, it's also important to remember that swords are side-arms. They are certainly excellent status symbols: a sword is difficult to make, and has no purpose apart from battle (at least a spear can be used for hunting). Swords require lots of practice and training, meaning that those skilled at using them can signal to their peers they have lots of free time and disposable income. But when in battle, especially on horseback, a fighting man would almost always only use his sword in lieu of another weapon, at least until late in the gunpowder age when infantry became lightly armored and cavalry found it was useful to be armed with sabres. This is because, after the bronze age, battles were seldom swirling melees of one-on one duels: order and discipline was a crucial necessary condition for success. Infantry presenting a tightly packed wall of spears is nearly impossible to penetrate (or at least impossible to penetrate from the front. Which is generally why medieval tactics called for the cavalry to encircle and charge the infantry from behind. One of the most important advantages swiss pikemen had was their ability to advance and even turn while keeping a tight formation). Cavalry too, would repeatedly charge when lined up knee-to-nee armed with pole-arms, rather than engage for prolonged periods of time like you so often see in films and television (which is why the best way to combat cavalry was to bog them down with broken terrain or obstacles like woods, bushes, or mud). So generally, when a sword was drawn, an individual fighter has been isolated from his companions and/or is fighting in close quarters; and either way, can generally be said to be in a situation where something has gone wrong (with a prominent exception being made for cavalry in pursuit of a routing foe). Of course, this role of the sword as an elite side-arm only strengthened its role as sort of freudian signal of status. Although popular media has an annoying habit of incorrectly depicting knights walking around doing their daily business in a full suit of armor, you can rest assured that a powerful lord and his retinue, when when walking around in "street clothes," would nonetheless prominently display their sheathed swords. So, to (finally) get to the question, what did a sword duel actually look like? Two young men from rival families look at each other the wrong way in 13th century Verona and after some banter goes to far, draw their weapons; what do they do? We luckily know exactly what. Or rather, we have the best historical equivalent: a fencing guide from two centuries later that gives us some insight as to what one-on-one combat might have looked like. The guide in question, titled Flos Duellatum, is an early 15th-century treatise on swordsmanship written by one Fiore de Liberi. Fiore, mostly active in the later part of the 14th century, was a fencing master from a northeastern region of Italy called Friuli. The Friuli, a mostly agricultural and less-urbanized region compared to the Veneto immediately to the south, has sources attesting it had been home to multiple "Fencing Masters" for at least a century prior to Fiore and probably longer: "Magistro" Franceschino, "Magistro" Domenico Triestino, and Lucca Scarmitore, all mentioned to be living in and around Cividale, Friuli's most important city at the time. It would seem that with a strong landed aristocracy, fencing instructors were in high demand in Friuli. It wouldn't take much for their reputation to spread over all of northeast Italy, and Fiore was particularly popular, acting as an instructor for a score of important noblemen all over northern Italy, as well as to the monarchs of the Marquisate of Este. Fiore de Liberi wrote his Flos duellatorum in the Este's chief city of Ferrara. The Duellatorum outlined instructions for several forms of combat, discussing different kinds of swords, quarterstaff, mace, wrestling, and even spear on horseback! It's imaginable that in one-on-one combat, a person would be able to use the knowledge contained in the manual holistically, for example moving from a sword parry to a wrestling grapple should the situation allow. Regarding swordsmanship specifically, you'd be surprised to know that Fiore's art is more similar to modern sabre fencing than any flailing and pirouetting you'll see in a film. In Fiore's manual (as well as others) a lot of emphasis is placed on posture, stance, footwork, and moving from one kind of guard to another. In northeast Italy especially, sword masters developed an almost maniacal attention to striking measure, time of the strike, and distance. But unfortunately, no one that I know of recorded specifically how long a medieval duel could take. You might be interested in Medieval Warfare by Maurice Keen (Oxford University Press, 1999) which is a complete and wide-scoping, if cursory, overview of what medieval battles actually looked like. Or any of the innumerable translations of Italian fencing manuals published after the Flos duellatorum.
| 4 |
AskReddit/c1j3u2u
|
fwbvn
|
If there is a correlation between correlation and causation, can it be inferred that correlation implies causation?
|
Correlation can be used to check causation, but a correlation on its own doesn't give you causation. You usually need multiple correlations with a common cause, or some way of eliminating other causes. These tend to be the situations where you'll get some idiot spouting "aha - but correlation does not equal causation" despite it actually being a really good indicator in this particular instance. The other "aha - but correlation does not equal correlation" abuse that's very common, is when a statement is made that doesn't give causation. "20% of fraternal twins will be schizophrenic if their twin is" for instance. Nobody's saying that being a twin causes schizophrenia or vice versa, but you'll still get some idiot popping up, seeing the word correlation somewhere in the article and saying "aha - but correlation does not equal causation" because they think this makes them look knowledgable about statistical analysis.
| 5 |
AskReddit/eu43a50
|
cepg2b
|
What kind of reaction do you feel when you think about milk with ice?
|
Fear. I love milk with ice but every time I drink it like that someone makes fun of me. People say it'll water it down or whatever, but who drinks stuff that slow? Cold milk is the best milk.
| 6 |
explainlikeimfive/d5ho7mr
|
4tit3t
|
Why does dropping heavy objects on the floor not kill the bacteria there?
|
I'm sure some of the bacteria get squished, but most of them don't, because they are microscopic and fit easily in all the gaps between the 2 objects. There is still lots of space between the "heavy object" and "floor" If you look at the edge of one under a microscope it definitely will not look like a straight line. To imagine this mentally it would be like taking a skycraper and removing all the windows, then dropping it on its side onto a field packed with mice, and counting how many of the mice were killed by the impact. This is a really bad example but gives you a visual at least.
| 7 |
explainlikeimfive/e4liswa
|
997jkd
|
How do people "fight" cancer versus those who don't?
|
Being sick can be very hard work. When you are weak, fatigued, in pain, and hopped up on painkillers, it can take a lot of willpower to keep up on diet, exercise, hygiene, meds, therapy, and keeping in touch with your doctors. People who are "fighting" are actively and aggressively staying on top of those things.
| 3 |
AskReddit/cfb3j02
|
1xgfcm
|
How does H&R block make money by filing taxes for free?
|
Next year,when you make more money and can't file for free,you will pay them. Think of it as a leader item. Like gasoline at a convenience store. They know they will lose money at it,but you'll by something else sooner or later.
| 3 |
askscience/c79xarw
|
1452oc
|
Why can eggs/sperm be frozen for future use, but the same is not true for humans?
|
Alot of it has to do with speed of freezing/thawing. Slower freezing means big pointy ice crystals which rupture cell membranes. Faster freezing means smaller crystals. Big things freeze slower so bodies freeze more slowly and get bigger crystals. This could be overcome with really, really rapid freezing. You have a different problem being thawed. Your body needs to come out of being frozen close to natural body temperature in a matter of seconds without frying you. If your brain thaws before your heart, you die. If your heart thaws before you can breathe, you die. And so on. But assuming you can freeze us really quickly and thaw us out instantly to exactly the right temperature, there is still one big problem. Things just spread out when they freeze, resulting in tiny tiny cracks. For a round ball, these can more easily heal, but for neurons, this can be a real problem. Brain freezing is really the critical step remaining. Scientists have done it for individual mammalian organs (heart and liver) but not for whole creature. Brains are still the critical step.
| 9 |
AskReddit/db96csx
|
5ilutz
|
Why is called going "Commando" when a man doesnt wear undies?
|
Military commandos, or really just soldiers in the field on extended field duty usually don't wear underwear, especially in wet or damp regions of the world. Changing and washing doesn't happen often, and when it does, it's better to have to just wash your pants while you're wearing them, instead of stripping down to wash your underwear and everything trapped in your underwear between washings. It's just easy and you don't get crotch rot
| 3 |
AskReddit/cy57hw3
|
3xjhda
|
When you were in school, why was "that teacher" the one no one wanted?
|
I had a teacher for math 11, his first year of teaching. He was a young guy, not much older than we were. Had a super soft voice, very timid. He had no idea how to control a class, or how to effectively teach. I sat in the front row, and the noise level in the room was so high I could barely hear him. This is not to say that I could have done better, just that I wished he had. Curiously, the students who made the most noise and who were the most disrespectful, were also the ones who complained he didn't teach. One of the best classes we had was when he was away and the school board sent in a substitute teacher to replace him. There weren't any math teachers available so they sent a biology teacher. She didn't know the material so more or less read directly from his notes. The class was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop, and every one of us understood the material from that day. She could effectively teach, even though she didn't know the material. He knew the material, but couldn't teach it. I eventually started going to the other math 11 class (the school was big enough for two) taught by the math department head. As it turns out, when they call attendance, they only notice if there is someone not there who should be. Nobody notices if there is someone there who shouldn't be. Went from Cs at the beginning of the year to As at the end.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/emq1dub
|
blo90t
|
Why does our body not reactively stop us from smoking or drinking or consuming other things that harm our body in the long run, like it pulls us away from a hot object or makes us blink when something potentially harmful is approaching us?
|
A lot of it has to do with brain chemistry. Using the smoking example, the main reason why people have such a hard time quitting is because of nicotine, a chemical found in the leaves of tobacco plants. Nicotine alters the brain chemistry and creates a dependancy on the drug; that is, your body uses the drug to a point where it does not function properly without nicotine. Although there are drugs with much worse dependencies (heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine to name a few), nicotine dependency is a problem. Even though people are aware cigarettes are bad for your health, the nicotine literally alters your brain so that your brain thinks you need it. It's scary stuff.
| 2 |
AskReddit/c3zr221
|
qr16e
|
Why don't people believe in Greek Gods anymore?
|
Belief in the ancient Greek Gods persisted until it was outlawed (and sometime after) by the Roman Emperor Justinian. I think it was Justinian, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe a more learned redditor can confirm/correct?
| 5 |
explainlikeimfive/e93yoh3
|
9ufujh
|
Why are burritos so good at causing an upset stomach when the ingredients are so simple?
|
It depends on what's going into your burrito. If you're loading it up with refried beans, sour cream, and cheese - that's a lot of fatty food. It may also be the speed of eating, or the giant bag of chips you've having alongside it. A typical burrito also has a lot of ingredients that can cause heartburn, which contributes to their reputation. Lastly, the typical Westerner with a low-fiber diet is going to have some issues digesting a fiber-heavy bean burrito.
| 3 |
explainlikeimfive/cx7ku4v
|
3tn288
|
What is it that prevents Xbox games from being played on a PlayStation but yet allows people to play music CDs on either?
|
Xbox and PlayStation are very different animals, just like a dog and a cat are very different animals. They have some similarities - 4 legs, 2 eyes, good pets - but internally they are different beasts. Their internal plumbing is different, even when you pull them apart and you notice strong similarities, you also notice they're not exactly alike. In Xbox vs PlayStation this is called the "hardware". Cats and dogs also speak a different language. Your cat won't bark and your dog won't meow, and I suspect a cat doesn't really understand most of what a dog is saying when it barks. Xbox games are written in Xbox language and PlayStation games are written in PlayStation language. PlayStation simply doesn't understand the language of the Xbox, and vice versa. In Xbox vs PlayStation this is called the "software". However you can train a pet to understand human words and perform tricks. Dogs are obviously much better than cats at being trained, but something simple like playing an Audio CD is an easy trick so both the Xbox and PlayStation have learned that one. That's a language they both understand. You can teach Xbox and PlayStation to understand other languages with "emulators". This allows them to understand the words of other animals like SNES and Commodore. However this needs a lot of brain power, and just like dogs and cats aren't very smart, neither are Xboxs and PlayStation, so they can only learn older (simpler) languages.
| 7 |
explainlikeimfive/co4m9a7
|
2u2xt7
|
How are old English, such as in this picture, and current English considered the same language?
|
They aren't considered to be the same language, that is why it is called Old English. The same with German, Old German, or to be exact the version spoken by the Angles, is the origins of Old English.
| 9 |
AskReddit/d4ocmtg
|
4pwe6s
|
What is the smoothest way you've been asked out/hit on?
|
In first grade, we were lined up boy-girl-boy-girl to go back in class from recess, and the girl behind me just grabbed my hand and kissed it. Like literally, lips and tongue to the back of my hand for like 20 seconds. Not smooth, but probably the only time I can say I've been "hit on" unless I've been oblivious to something (which isn't out of the realm of possibility)
| 3 |
AskReddit/e1s0yzg
|
8w1tb5
|
What have you sold or given away that you now regret losing?
|
I was having a clear out and went to a carboot sale. I had a Tiffany keyring in the box, I didn't really pay much attention to what I had brought. And stupidly sold it for just £9. Solid silver. Dumbass!
| 3 |
AskReddit/clhtzfp
|
2k4bai
|
What's the craziest thing you've either witnessed or been apart of at a college party?
|
Not technically a college party, but a party with friends from college. Chatroulette was right at its peak when we had this party and I thought it would be interesting to hook up my computer and webcam to the TV. The next part wasn’t my idea, but I supported it. We decided to have a girl push her cleavage up into the webcam to bait guys into jerking it on camera. At which point she’d move and the whole party would be there waving. It was hilarious. The guys would usually freak out and leave real quick or slap the camera away lightning fast. Except for one guy. He paused jerking off….and then continued. For whatever reason (alcohol) we, after our initial shock, start cheering the guy on until he….well….finished. It was bizarre and unlike anything else I’ve experienced at a party, but we all were laughing hysterically and it’s made the whole event a legend in our group. The best part was after he finished the guy typed out in all caps “THAT WAS CRAZY!”
| 5 |
AskReddit/ejy0ajp
|
b8ix37
|
What fixes, game balances or new features do you want to see in life's next update?
|
Respawning confirmation, I still don't know if it's a rogue like or not. RNG needs to be balanced. Resource spawns on the map needed to be increased. Nerf taxes. The lore is pretty intresting but want a space expansion pack. General quality of life improvements would be nice to. Still cant find the information hud and it took us over 30,000 years to make the interface handheld.
| 5 |
AskReddit/ck55tgi
|
2f226f
|
What store-brand product is just as good or better than its brand-name counterpart?
|
Most phramacutical drugs. I work in a grocery store that has my go-to pharmacy in it. They've told me that the off brand stuff of most pain relievers, benadryl, itch cream, etc is pretty much the same thing as the expensive stuff. A bottle of name brand benadryl can run up to $8, but the off brand is around $3-4 when it's the exact same thing. You're pretty much paying for having the name attached. This isn't always the case, but a good majority.
| 3 |
AskReddit/c4nebc0
|
tkk6z
|
What's the best song to sing for karaoke?
|
Umm. this varies greatly by person? I know a woman who does a great "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and that's her song. but it would be ridiculous if I got up there and sang it (I go with "Don't Stop Believin" by Journey).
| 2 |
AskReddit/cp9uujs
|
2yihbw
|
What do you think about this kind of guitar playing?
|
No offense, but this didn't particularly move me. You've obviously put a lot of work into your playing and are much more skilled that I will ever be, but I can see why someone who doesn't play guitar would say 'meh'. I would say to follow Guthrie Govan's advice in the video you posted on your channel and use your guitar as a way to communicate with your listeners. Rock on!
| 2 |
AskReddit/em1hmjo
|
bim6fs
|
What is your mindfulness - the thing that takes your mind away to a peaceful place?
|
I have a million things going through my head at once. But when I sit down in front of my piano with a new piece of music in front of me, my mind takes central focus on the music and nothing else is allowed to break it. When I play the keys, I am nowhere except at my piano.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/cwbo2l1
|
3q3aue
|
Is storing things in iCloud a bad idea?
|
The goal of cloud services is to get you dependant on using their paid data plans. Most people dont delete things so eventually you will hit the cap akd need to buy more storage or risk losing uour data. Then once you have the service for a while then cant afford the monthly payments, youre screwed until you cough up the money.
| 3 |
AskReddit/c2ih9z3
|
k9de7
|
Do you think if Christ were to return (assuming God exists) he would be shunned or condemned by Christian's?
|
The last book in the bible already states on what is going to happen when he returns. People will still hate him regardless that there will be proof that he is The One. But not everyone will hate or ridicule him. Then again, a "real" Christan won't condemned him. But that doesn't mean every self proclaim Christan will accept him even then. Why is that?
| 3 |
AskReddit/eemxw7e
|
aiddc2
|
What was your rock bottom moment?
|
After traveling for years and marrying the guy I'd been traveling on these wild adventures with, he turned abusive and took me for everything I had. I managed to get out, but had nothing left. At 22, moved back in with my parents in the middle of nowhere farm country, took the first job I could find. Miserable. They were fighting all the time, and me being there made it worse. Managed to get a car to get to work and back, but it had no heat so I had to drive with the windows down in frozen tundra winter. Rock bottom.
| 2 |
AskReddit/db4vgue
|
5i2gqo
|
If World War III broke out tomorrow, which country would win?
|
The US would probably win, along with any countries allied with it. The main potential challengers are Russia, China, India, various EU nations, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea, Turkey, Australia, and Canada the top 15 military spenders. I am assuming nuclear weapons are used only as a last resort to prevent the total loss of one side. I think everyone would rather go to the negotiating table than use nukes. The US is closely allied with NATO, which includes all of the EU nations in the top 15, Canada, and Turkey. For social and cultural (shared language especially) and military reasons (the US has a base there), Australia would probably side with the US as well. Russia and China would probably have to form the axis of an anti-US alliance, but they account for only 15% of world military spending, vs 40% by the US alone, and 55% from the US and the allied countries listed. Japan and South Korea are also home to US military bases, and both would be hurt by a victorious China asserting control in the region, so I would guess that they would join the US alliance as well. India is in a similar situation as they currently resist Chinese attempts to increase influence in the region, and share a disputed border with China. I don't know enough about Brazil's internal politics or foreign relations to have a great idea what they'd do, but they do not have a very significant military force. Saudi Arabia faces a regional battle for influence with Iran, which is anti-US and aligned with Russia, likely pushing the Saudis to the US alliance. Other important countries not addressed include the other nuclear powers: Israel which likely allies with the US. North Korea likely aligns against the US (with their main backers China and Russia), but is inferior to the South Korean military except for their small nuclear arsenal. The disposition of N. Korea against the US and of S. Korea against N. Korea also likely contributes to S. Korea joining the US alliance. Pakistan military is heavily funded by the US, but I honestly have no idea what they'd do. If nothing else, Pakistan-India tensions probably prevent both nations from exerting to much power elsewhere. Perhaps the most immediate threat to the US homeland is a possible anti-US alliance among certain central and South American countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, possibly Cuba and others (maybe even including Brazil). The US and Canada are far to powerful at home for me to believe this presents a major threat beyond guerrilla warfare and sabotage. There are no major powers in the region except maybe Brazil, so they don't have the necessary support to stand up to the US forces that would make securing the homeland a priority. Sub-Saharan Africa probably doesn't have enough forces to be very relevant, and Egypt would either need to side with the US or lose huge amounts of military funding, so I don't see many threats to either alliance arising from Africa. The rest of the EU probably splits more towards the US alliance due to NATO memberships and cultural and social values being more similar, but who knows. In the scenario described, it's very hard to imagine the US alliance losing. The US faces very little threat of internal violence. Russia and China, on the other hand, both have discontented ethnic minorities already pressing for independence. These groups would see more opportunities at disruption and advancing their agendas during a World War, which would hamper national war efforts. In terms of resources, the US and Canada (which would form the most powerful part of the alliance by far) have recently begun exploiting significant oil (and natural gas) resources, allowing them to sustain their war efforts without relying too much on imports. Russia also has significant energy resources, but the infrastructure to share these with China is not fully developed. China would likely struggle to supply their forces with fuel in a prolonged conflict until this infrastructure could be brought online, and even then it would be vulnerable to attack and sabotage. The infrastructure to fuel and supply Chinese and, to a lesser extent, Russian forces would be susceptible to domestic sabotage as well. As discussed previously, Canada and the US would not face the same constraints at home. Their NATO and Asia/Pacific allies would fare worse, and the US alliance would potentially struggle to supply forces in Europe or Asia, weakening their ability to go on the offensive. This would make securing supplies from the Middle East extremely important making nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia potentially very important. As I suggested earlier though, they are more likely to align with the US and NATO, giving US allies in Europe some potential access to energy resources. Ultimately, it's hard to believe a scenario like what I described above could happen (though it is certainly interesting to speculate about) due to the gross power imbalances. Geopolitical alliances would likely have to shift away from the US before this sort of war would be possible, if the threat of MAD wouldn't shut it down anyways. A small point I wish to address: No country is happy to find out the NSA or other US agencies are spying on them. Others in this thread have speculated that people being "unhappy" with the US would cause them to lose allies. This is not very likely given the way things are now. Everyone spies on everyone else, it will take far more than this latest scandal to seriously rock the boat.
| 4 |
AskReddit/eq0kl8c
|
bwux4j
|
What was the best meal you ever had and where?
|
My girlfriend makes this really good chicken salad with avacado, grilled tomatoes, grilled chicken, some sort of lemon sauce/dressing she makes in a blender, and little tortilla crisp things. There's other stuff in it too, but it's usually gone before I can take a good look. It's one of my favorite meals from anywhere.
| 2 |
explainlikeimfive/dgxut2p
|
68el8s
|
How do game developers know what's minimum and recommended specs of PCs?
|
It's a trial and error process. All computer components can be placed on a giant scale from worst to best. The game developer (or an outside company) will try their game on a wide variety of different systems and see which ones live up to their requirements, usually 60fps. As they try a whole bunch of different computers and see which ones work and which don't, they can then make a chart of worst to best and determine what is the minimum specs to suggest along with their recommended. There is not a science and there are a ton of factors that developers cannot account for, which is why system requirements are often wrong.
| 2 |
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