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AskReddit/dj38mnl
6i3jpb
When did you decide you did or didn't want kids?
Every time they make me play Candyland or watch some dumbass kid on YouTube do a fidget spinner trick I decide that I definitely do not want kids. Edit: spelling
2
AskReddit/cz9xcay
42f940
What's a word that you've been mispronouncing your whole life?
Archipelago. I've looked it up, multiple times. As soon as I get past the "arch" my brain bluescreens, and leaves my tongue to fend for itself. The word has come up multiple times, and I think I've tried every pronunciation but the correct one.
8
askscience/d9tmrag
5c4l9a
What advancements in science did Galileo make, other than revolutionizing astronomy?
He also made decisive experiments in classical mechanics. He studied the motion of cannonballs and saw it was parabolas. Also, he showed that a free floating object should be going at the same speed forever. Galileo, with Tycho Brahe and Copernic, was in the first generation of the great European scientists. In the 16th century they started to question all the knowledge of their time.
5
askscience/do26ncl
74vncq
Is it possible to put my bare foot on the moon?
Isolating a small plot of the moon and regulate it into a safe environment so human can step their bare feet on it. Your still technically standing on the moon right? Like erect a dome and pump it full of oxygen. Heat it up, make it uv proof and air tight.
268
explainlikeimfive/cgbqw9j
21bgf6
What's happening in Egypt at the moment?
I'm not sure what's with the animosity towards world news questions while everything else seems to be good to go, but anyway, I'll try to keep this ELI5 as possible with the disclaimer that the situation is obviously more complex than what I'm posting here. So when the Arab Spring went down, Egypt overthrew Mubarek, who was in charge of Egypt since 1981. A year and a half after Mubarek stepped down, Egypt held elections in June of 2012. During this time, there was a lot of civil unrest as different factions started vying for power, as is typically the case when a power vacuum arises. Anyway, in June of 2012, Mohammad Morsi won the election with 51.7% of the vote, defeating Ahmed Shafik who obtained 48.3% of the vote. Morsi was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, while Shafik was from the Air Force. It's important to understand that the Egyptian Army is revered and has always had massive amounts of support from the population. So, Morsi won the election and many groups began to worry that he would push the country towards an Islamic state - The Muslim Brotherhood was widely repressed under Mubarek, and many of the protesters who opposed Mubarek did so out of a liberalizing philosophy, so while they may have protested with the Muslim Brotherhood (both being oppressed by Mubarek), many of these Egyptians who wanted a freer society were upset when the Brotherhood took over. Predictably, Morsi passed a referendum in 2012 giving himself unlimited power to "protect the country" by whatever means he felt fit. At the same time, Egypt's economic infrastructure ground to a halt in many places and began to crumble. This, coupled with the perception that Morsi was just going to be more of the same, this time with an increasingly Islamic bent, lead many Egyptians back to the street, especially because the army was not supporting Morsi. By June of 2013, millions of upset Egyptians, began protesting, and the military intervened on these protesters' behalves, throwing Morsi out after only a year in power. The armed forces are headed by Al Sisi right now, and while he's not "technically" the leader of Egypt at the moment, he lead the coup against Morsi and is for all intents and purposes calling the shots. He's also indicated that he'll be running for the Presidency, and the election is scheduled to be held on July 17th of this year. My guess is that he'll win by a huge margin due to Egypt's military support and current power structure. This is something that Al Sisi has begun ramping up support for in recent days. During the time that Morsi was overthrown and today, there have been ongoing clashes between Morsi supporters and those who support the army. Today, a court in Egypt sentenced 529 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death because one policeman was killed in the city of Minya in August 2013 in some pro Morsi riots last year. This is clearly a move by the military to consolidate power and stamp out dissent. The trial was largely seen as a kangaroo court, and we'll have to see if these 529 Morsi supporters are in fact executed or if their sentences are commuted. So in short, there has been a ton of civil unrest in Egypt since Mubarek was thrown out. Morsi took over, then was quickly dispatched by a military lead coup (which was largely expected by those familiar with Egyptian politics and fear that the Muslim Brotherhood would lead Egypt towards an increasingly Islamic society, something many were opposed to), and clashes have continued to this day though the military is now in charge of the country. Elections are set to be held in 4 months where Al Sisi will win without much of a doubt.
8
AskReddit/dplx008
7byijh
What's the most obnoxious way to answer a phone?
My brother lived in a 2 story, 2 family house, back in the old days when phones had party lines. If you called my brother's house, sometimes his mother-in-law would answer the phone. She was an old time Ginny Sicilian. I'm a Ginny too, just not Sicilian. Anyway, she would answer the phone with "who is this" in a mean sounding voice. Always cracked me up.
2
AskReddit/e1d48sc
8u721l
What is the most stupidest thing you've ever lied about?
When I was 9 I cracked my head open. Had to get 12 stitches. My parents asked what happened and I told them I fell out of a tree and banged my head on a stick. What really happened was I was trying to break a big stick and when it snapped it ricocheted back and hit me in the head. I still to this day have no idea why I lied about that.
10
AskReddit/dl13so6
6qz7z3
What famous person does everyone but you find attractive?
Pretty much all of the female ones that can be described as "thicc" or whatever. I get that big butts somehow became mainstream attractive over the past few decades, but they never did for me. I'll always find petite, slender, fit, tiny women with low BMIs and small butts to be about 700 million times more attractive than someone who's "thicc".
6
AskReddit/dhu1ous
6cegwd
How safe and effective are government sponsored universities in China, such as Huaihua, for students from the US who want to study internationally?
I have American and European friends who studied abroad in China (that is, their home universities were in the US/Europe and they went to China for a semester or so). None of them have mentioned any safety issues. As for "effective". not sure what you mean? FWIW, my friends specifically went to study advanced Mandarin. Overall they seem pretty happy with their experiences and the university instruction.
2
AskReddit/d51sxxt
4rka2j
Why is the term 'working class' largely absent from american political rhetoric while 'middle class' is constantly mentioned?
Because "working class" as a term is associated with communists, at least here in the US. That is, if you talk about the plight of the working class, you are assumed to be a communist, which is political death. Also, "working class" generally refers much more to the lower middle.
3
AskReddit/c33fm5t
ms9qq
How old were you when your parents stopped giving you Christmas presents?
I'm 30, and still get presents from my parents. I don't receive a bunch of little kids toys or anything, and I don't give them some absurd list of toys I want from the Sears catalog anymore. Who says there's an age limit on exchanging gifts with anyone?
2
AskReddit/c16kw0w
eadeb
Are the shows Spartacus and Rome worth watching?
Rome is one of the finest historical dramas ever made for TV. It is well worth it. Spartacus is just good, cheesy fun. Go for it, but give it until after the 3rd or 4th episode to get really good.
3
askscience/eil43gp
b1an44
What are the mechanics behind Armor piercing tank shells?
There are various types. HEAT (High Explosive Anti Tank) rounds use a shaped charge to collapse copper into a hypersonic jet that penetrates armour. HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) rounds use a plastic explosive designed to stick to the target then detonate. They do not directly penetrate the armour, but rather create a shockwave that causes chunks to spall off the armour's inner face damaging whatever is inside. Neither are effective against the main armour of modern tanks, but they can defeat older or less armoured vehicles, and HESH rounds are also good against concrete structures. Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds are a long rod of a dense metal, typically tungsten or depleted uranium. The rod is narrower than the gun barrel so a sabot is used. The length, density, and speed maximises armour penetration. These are the main rounds used in modern tank combat. A challenge for tank design is that HEAT and APFSDS prefer smoothbore barrels - the spin from a rifled barrel interferes with the HEAT round's copper jet stability, while the APFSDS must rely on fins rather than spin for stabilisation due to its length. However HESH rounds prefer rifled barrels. Most modern tanks use smoothbore barrels, the exception being the British Challenger 2, due to the British Army wanting the capabilities of HESH. (Despite the rifled barrel, it can also fire APFSDS rounds, but not any HEAT rounds at present.)
6
AskReddit/cm1659e
2m5p67
What's that one song that makes you remember a long lost love, and how has it been since you broke up?
"Wait For You" by Elliot I Am Blanking on His Last Name. He texted me that song when we had been broken up for a few weeks and I decided to go NC on him. I used to like the song before but now I can't. It's been 7 years since we've broken up. I'd say it's a good thing we broke up. We just aren't compatible, never were, never will be. I'm a Latina that has a liberal view on life and an atheist, he was a Christian, white, southerner, and conservative. That really didn't get in our way as teenagers, but when I turned 18, i knew it wasn't going to keep working. The snapping point was when he approached me about wanting to become polygamous. Nothing against people that are polygamous, it's just not what I choose. A year later, I started dating my current SO who is just so much better for me and very compatible.
2
AskReddit/c1f52ui
fdm3z
How do you know when you are an alcoholic?
By most definitions, you're an alcoholic. Don't let it control you though. You can be completely functional and successful at that level of drinking. But if you let yourself think that it is a disease and you can't help yourself, you will spiral out of control. Basically, either control it so it doesn't interfere with your life, or quit.
2
AskReddit/c8ooamb
19juxc
How do you deal with your Depression, specifically the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness?
I have suffered from depression on and off for my entire adult life. Here is what I have learnt (personally) in that time. Medication will help. If it doesn't feel like it is helping you are on the wrong meds or the wrong dose. Choose your doctor/psychologist very carefully and if they are knowledgable they will support you until you find the combo that works for you. Having said that, don't just sit around on the meds expecting them to 'cure' you. They are supposed to lift your mood enough to allow you to be receptive to other help. Don't do what I spent my early 20s doing and just take them for years, and wonder why you never get 'better'. A good psychologist/counsellor is essential. As with the doctor, keep shopping around until you find the right one. I saw many, many sweet kind female psychologists over the years, thinking, based on my personality, that they would be the right kind of person for me. Only it never really 'changed' me. It was just a temporary 'feel good' session that dissipated as soon as the appointment was over. It was only I was finally ended up with a no-nonsense, sensible, straight talking male psychologist that I realised that I'd been looking for the wrong therapist all this time. He really challenged me and some of the thoughts/ideas that I'd built up over the years. You have to really want to change. I know that is such a cliche, but it is true. You have to really, truly, in your heart of hearts, determinedly want to change. Because recovering from depression can be tough, it can be challenging and you have to find a way to be both gentle on yourself, and also challenge yourself. Things will get better. If not now, then soon. Just be conscious of when it is 'the depression talking' and know that you are not seeing the world clearly. 'Happy you' would have a different perspective, and will when he has a chance to resurface.
3
askscience/c2jk710
ke8x0
If the law of conservation of energy was not false, would the second law of thermodynamics collapse?
Correct. More academically, can they entropy of a system be decreased if we are able to bring in energy from outside of the system? And that is a well known scientific principle. To more scientifically state the second law of thermodynamics, ff you divide the universe into "system" and "surroundings" then entropy must either stay the same or increase in the system if no energy from the surroundings is transferred into the system.
2
AskReddit/dha4rbk
69xjos
What is the most strange/bizarre/interesting cause of death in your family's entire history?
Not family, but a friend (and certainly a bizarre death) that used to attend the same Scout troop as me was sledging down a small embankment near a main road. He lost control, went too fast, too far, skidded down the embankment onto the road into the path of an oncoming bus and was decapitated. I'm just glad I wasn't there to witness it.
7
AskReddit/dckuc9e
5ooh5s
What do you think will happen on Trump's inauguration day?
Trump will give a speech which nobody will listen to. All we will hear about during the event is, who is or isn't there. Trump will lie and say more people showed up for him than for Obama. Some of the people invited to the inauguration will later be recognized as rich corrupt influences with questionable human rights records. But we will only hear about Trump lying about attendance for the following days.
3
AskReddit/d9pk0ww
5bmapy
What is the worst you were bullied?
I was bullied because I was gay. 2 guys started talking about me (while I was sat next to them) about cures for "The Gay." One turned to me and said: "So Alba, did you know they have a cure for gay now?" 2nd one turned around and said "Yeah, take them outside and shoot them." They both laughed loudly. Now take into consideration that this was 3 years ago and I'm 27.
2
AskHistorians/cq0zxhr
31awv4
Are there any special meanings behind Royal Crown designs?
Speaking to the crowns and coronets of British royalty and nobility, each title has a specific design that is the official symbol of their rank. Barons have 6 large silver orbs (called pearls) on a plain band. A Viscount has 16 orbs around the rim, touching each other. The band of this rank and all above it up to Duke has the metal patterned to resemble inlaid gems, but doesn't have actual stones. An Earl has alternating metal strawberry leaves and orbs on raised stalks, 8 of each. A Marquess has 4 strawberry leaves and 4 large orbs alternating around the rim. A Duke has 8 metal strawberry leaves. For all ranks, the metal used is silver-gilt. Moving up to royal crowns, those are a bit more unique/custom, but the heir will have a single arch crossing from side to side, and the monarch will have two arches at 90 degree angles, creating the distinctive high topped crown. The sphere on top of those arches represents the world, and is found on the crowns of emperors in particular. The cross atop the arches indicates a Christian monarch. Cross on top of sphere on top of arches indicates a Christian Emperor. The particular gems used vary, and often are swapped around over the life of the crown and may not have particular meaning. Some do, of course, have meaning - a special stone from a given country of their dominion for example - but that is not codified.
2
AskReddit/c3q10wk
pk9g6
What is the most surprising thing that you have found out about your grandparents?
Long after he'd died, I found out my grandfather was bi-polar and during one of his manic phases had pulled all his teeth out. He was a butcher in a hospital so had all the tools and, apparently, quick access to medical care. He came home with a mouthful of blood and gauze. I always knew him as a kind, gentle - albeit toothless - grandfather who never seemed to show any symptoms when I knew him. But mental illness is still hardly ever talked about, so not really surprising I didn't know.
5
AskReddit/eugljsj
cgespq
What is a mistake you made that later turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
I broke a very minor company policy at one of my jobs, it was my first offense, and my shady boss used it as an excuse to fire me and hire their best friend in my place. First job I ever got fired from. Pay was subpar but enough to get by. After this I returned to a job I had previously and over the course of 2 years worked my way up to mid level management and make more than I've made in my entire life and generally don't despise my job
3
AskReddit/doawn9m
762j60
Why does America claim to be the greatest nation on Earth?
Although I don't think America is the greatest nation on earth. I can see why some of them would think that way. They have tons of influence in popular culture (Hollywood, websites, tv shows, reality shows). They also have the strongest military which allows them to flex their muscles halfway across the world, they see themselves as the beacon of democracy and the champion of human rights. Also, a disproportionate amount of great scientists comes from America.
18
askscience/dza766s
8km4no
How does an ion thruster work?
1: The same way any other rocket engine does. Throw stuff out the back and by Newton's Third Law you're pushed forwards. 2: There's no combustion in an ion thruster, the propellant is accelerated electromagnetically. In principle the electricity could be generated using a chemical fuel (either in a fuel cell or combusted to power a generator), but that would undermine the ion thruster's high specific impulse as the fuel would be another consumable. In practice all ion-thruster spacecraft have used solar panels, but nuclear power would also work well. 3: I don't know any reason why not. To be useful for manned flight you want your spacecraft to have a high enough thrust-to-mass ratio that it can make relatively quick transfers - you don't want to take several years to reach Mars for example. For a chosen thruster design that implies a power-to-mass ratio requirement which might not be possible with solar panels, but it's not a problem with a nuclear reactor. Overall putting an ion thruster on a manned spacecraft is an engineering problem not a physics one.
7
AskReddit/e6pyt4u
9jan68
What was something you once thought was real but then learned it only happens in the movies?
People get knocked out in movies and they’re unconscious for several minutes. Then they wake up and are fine, maybe just a little shaken up. In real life if you’re unconscious from a knockout for more than 20 seconds it means death, coma, or serious brain damage.
3
AskReddit/dpet02a
7b2rcy
How did people get up in the morning before alarm clocks?
I read somewhere online that they used a candle with metal pins I believe inside them. As the candle is burning the pin will fall and wake the person up. Another is obviously chickens waking people up. Maybe church bells would be a form of alarm as well but that's just a legit guess
11
AskReddit/e436wn1
96twmp
If you have a pet, what’s the story on how you adopted them?
I volunteered at an animal shelter and somehow wound up with 3 kitties! One of them had been there for almost 2 years, another was very sick when we put in the adoption paperwork, but he was the absolute sweetest little boy, and the third I adopted when his first adoption application fell through.
4
AskReddit/ch0k4sy
23ty73
What is the most inappropriate or over-the-top thing you've heard someone say at a wedding?
My favorite thing anyone has ever said in a wedding speech was the grooms best man who stood up and said "now all you lovely people turn and look into the eyes of your date, the man or woman you love" he then actually waited until we did which was so awkward cause it sounded so touchy feely and romantic, then after a considerable pause said "your now staring at the person statistically most likely to murder you" it was so funny. Would recommend.
3
askscience/etcxv8z
cavwrq
If a person becomes dehydrated, can their body somehow "draw" from liquid in the bladder as a source of hydration without having to expel and drink it?
Your body is incapable of absorbing any more water from the urine once it has left the kidneys. The epithelial cells lining these areas are not permeable to water and they need to be this way to function properly. If they allowed water to pass then they would leak water back into the body (especially when the urine was dilute) which is the exact opposite of what the kidneys are trying to do. If these cells were water permeable it would actually make you more dehydrated. This is because through osmosis water moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. If you were dehydrated your urine would have a very low concentration of water. This would be lower than it was in the rest of the body which means you would actually be losing water due to it diffusing into the urine in the bladder
24
AskReddit/cuyjwxx
3kli4t
What is the most ridiculous claim a commercial has made?
Every ab-machine commercial ever.you know, when they show some morbidly obese, sweat drenched person futilely attempting to do a situp (usually in black and white) and then show some jacked body builder using their ridiculous contraption.implying that if you use their product, you'll go from a morbidly obese, sweat drenched person to a jacked body builder.
3
AskReddit/dvmfjsm
843aac
What game did you play/still play that is highly underrated?
SOMA Really makes you think about the game weeks after playing it. Would you like to transfer your consciousness into a robot and live in a virtual world after the Earth is already unhabitable? It's a very good survival horror game, especially with the story and atmosphere.
2
explainlikeimfive/ci6c3su
281049
Why does tea need to be hot to be brewed?
It doesn't. You can brew cold teas, but generally speaking they need to steep for much longer. One of my favourite recipes: make a jug of ice tea (preferably from concentrate, rather than that sugar-crystal stuff), and put 4 to 6 green tea bags in to suit your taste. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, take out the bags the following morning, and enjoy a nice cup of it in the sun.
9
AskReddit/du7jgw0
7xdv9t
What’s an experience that made you unable to eat a certain food?
When I was in preschool, I had this crush on a boy named Chris. One day, we had a little party for the class and I saw him eating salad. I thought to myself, “I will eat salad too. It’s totally going to impress him and make him like me!” The reasoning behind this thought process was I never wanted to eat salad anyway. I hate it. Never tried it before but I knew I hate it. It’s some kind of aversion to it. But when I saw my crush eat it, I was impressed and wanted to do the same to show that we can eat the same thing. Silly, I know. But holy mother of cows, when I took my first bite of the salad, I vomited all over the floor. In front of the entire class. In front of Chris. The salad tasted awful. No salads for me. No sir, no thank you. I liked you Chris but you’re just not worth it!
6
AskReddit/dwt6kr0
89sh1r
What’s something you found annoying during your childhood that today’s kids won’t understand?
When my parents would take me and my siblings on a road trip there was NOTHING to do. I had the original Gameboy but once my batteries were dead I was pretty much screwed. Then I would annoy my parents with the "ARE WE THERE YET?! Kids are so lucky today.
2
AskReddit/ca817nb
1f9bej
What's the stupidest thing someone has asked you?
In college I was an RA and often helped my residents with their history or core humanities papers. A girl who was otherwise very nice once asked me who won World War II.
23
explainlikeimfive/e98lk0x
9v1jn3
What is the difference between the House and the Senate?
The house is based on state population, so one state may have 2 representatives while another has 7. The senate always has 2 senators per state. This is so that the house can represent the population more evenly but the senate can balance things out and make sure small states like Rhode Island don't get lost in the crowd that is Texas.
3
AskReddit/dam4a0a
5fq362
What do you own that you never use but don't want to get rid of?
My guitar. I know that at this point I will probably never learn to play it. I pointlessly pick it up ever few months and strum a few out of tune chords that I can remember, and then put it away again. But to get rid of it would mean losing the potential that I might learn it one day. It would mean accepting that I'm giving up.
9
AskReddit/cwknusc
3r2rnf
What is your worst Guests Staying Over story?
My mom's friend's granddaughter was getting married so a group of 4 people stayed in our house. My mom asked if it would be okay if 2 of them stayed in my bedroom (We had a 5600 sq foot house at the time). Idk why they couldn't have slept anywhere else, but they stayed in my room. I was 17 at the time and had 2 pet hamsters, a custom gaming pc setup with a ton of money dumped into it and a bunch of models on display. I didn't go back into the room until after they left and when I did, I probably have never been more upset in my life. I had a large series of hamster tubes that they moved around and couldn't get it back to the original setup so they just laid random pieces everywhere, the door to the cage was open and my hamster was missing, they tried to turn on and use my pc and messed around with all of my peripherals, saitek flight controls and joystick, headset, etc. The worst part was the touched and broke a lot of little pieces of some of my models. They were plastic kits like models of old cars and aircraft carriers, and airplanes. They broke the nosecone off of my model F-15, broke a radio tower off of an aircraft carrier , and one of my model cars was missing. I don't know how you can be so inconsiderate to not apologize and then just leave with things the way they are.
45
AskReddit/eemrhln
aicu6p
Where do the PAW Patrol get their funding from?
They're a taxpayer funded first responder service. The mayor started PP as a cost saving initiative to replace the very expensive police force, fire department, harbor patrol and refuse collection. To everyone's surprise, it was a huge success which is why she keeps getting reelected.
11
explainlikeimfive/eokysuo
bsb8wt
How do we KNOW that light is the cosmic speed limit?
It's the cosmic speed limit *for objects with mass. Photons and other massless particles travel at exactly the speed of light (c), and space itself can expand faster than c. The reason we know is that as you accelerate towards the speed of ight, you approach infinite mass, and require infinite energy to accelerate further, and you simply can not match or exceed infinite energy and infinite mass, meaning you cannot reach or exceed c. As an aside, there are also theoretical particles called tachyons that can only travel faster than c. They have the opposite problem as objects with mass in that they require infinite energy to go below c.
3
AskHistorians/d1y7fb2
4e7lzr
How did people do their taxes before computers were invented?
I'm in my 50s and always did my own returns on paper until 2012. Now that it's too awkward to obtain paper forms and I sometimes have trouble navigating the government web sites for PDFs, I get my taxes done professionally. A packet containing all the forms and instructions I was likely to need arrived in the mail in January or February based on my previous year's return. I read the instructions. If I needed any forms not included in my packet, I went to any public library. The libraries had racks of quite a variety of forms and instructions. They also had copies of a big book called Package X, which contained all the forms and their instructions. I xeroxed the pages I figured I would need. The government also provided free guide booklets, as opposed to line-by-line instruction booklets, for complicated situations. These were listed on the back (or inside cover?) of the 1040 instruction booklet. I called an 800 number to have a couple guide booklets sent to me every few years. Or I could usually find those guide booklets at the library and read them there and xerox the crucial pages. Bookstores also had a section of for-sale tax guide books from a few publishers. Some years I'd buy a book, but I can't remember the publisher. Maybe Kiplinger? Disclosure: I took a full year of courses from H&R Block in the early 1980s and worked there a few years. Block had their own paper forms that said H&R Block on them. So, besides my own, I've prepared over 1000 returns (including a few fiduciary and corporate) on paper. Being able to work a 10-key adding machine by touch is crucial. As for checking for math errors, go through the papers and finished forms backwards, subtracting where you would normally add and adding where you would normally subtract. You should end up with 0. IIRC, you are off by 9 if you accidentally transposed a couple digits in your math. If you are off by any other value, you really messed up, maybe copying a number wrong in the first place. Fix the numbers, fix the math. Then the returns were packed in a suitcase and taken to Block's local checking office, where they were checked for logical errors and fishiness.
2
askscience/d7on8gf
52z78e
If a sphere is rotating, is it moving relative to itself?
Another way to see that rotation is not "relative" is that there are inertial forces involved (the bits of the object want to go away moving in a straight line, but are forced to describe a circle). In your thought experiment, the basketball would slightly bulge at the equator when rotating, due to this "centrifugal force", but be perfectly spherical when not rotating. So you don't need an external reference to know it's rotating. Edit: thought, not though.
6
AskReddit/ewl8tvc
cou9rg
What is the craziest sleepwalking story you have/heard?
My sister would sleepwalk when we were kids. We had this amazingly heavy and complicated canister vacuum and her number one sleepwalking activity was to drag that thing out out, assemble it, and start vacuuming.
6
AskReddit/c0r9ri9
capf3
Why do online retailers think I'm going to spend my time taking a survey for free?
My mother filled out one of those surveys for a restaurant that she frequently visits. She didn't have the best experience so she decided to call in and let them know. A week went by, and then she receives a call saying that they're the head chef at this restaurant and is sorry for her most recent experience and would like her to come in and visit again. So she made a reservation and was told that when she arrived to tell the hostess that the chef was expecting her. She was promptly seated and ordered her meal as usual. In the end, the whole meal was comped.
16
AskReddit/c0hgc05
agk2g
If you buy someone else a gift using a gift card that was given to you, is it considered re-gifting?
No, because re-gifting is when you're too lazy to buy someone something, and you just give something you got from someone else. In this scenario, whoever gave you the gift card was the lazy one, and you're the one actually putting effort into buying a gift.
8
explainlikeimfive/e2d456w
8yr55u
What does actual love feel like?
Love feels like nothing else in the world matters when you're in their arms. Love feels like no matter how often you see them, it's not enough. Love feels like wanting to be with them even when they've hit rock bottom. Love feels like being okay with being at rock bottom, because being with them means you still have something to lose. Love feels like rushing home to see them. Love feels like their laughter being the sweetest sound in the world. Love feels like their happiness being integral to your own. Love feels like your heart trying to burst out of your chest and follow them whenever you're apart. Love feels like your whole heart is wrapped around both of you when you hug. Love feels like even holding hands with them creates the most amazing fireworks sensation in your heart. Love feels like your heart exploding over and over, but like. in a good way.
2
AskReddit/dph93ev
7be8pb
How do you handle talking to one of your parents when all they talk about is work?
I don't know. I'm 31 and have never figured out how to talk to my dad. Whenever I try to bring anything up he derails the conversation and starts talking about either his job, handball, or one of his pet interests. I honestly think it's a defense because he's afraid of talking about emotions, and I don't know how to get through it.
2
AskReddit/d7u38qo
53l4ud
What is one thing you'd tell your dad but not your mom?
It's not so much what I would tell my dad.it's how I would say it. With mom I have to dance around subjects.with my dad, I could always be more blunt. I honestly can't think of something specific simply because my dad passed away 6 years ago.
3
explainlikeimfive/eia96pu
azuy7e
How is it that things such as Centrifugal Force are obviously real and can be felt in normal everyday life, but yet isn’t classified as a real force in Physics?
To be considered a force, there has to be something applying said force. Think of being in a car going fast around a turn. You feel yourself being pushed outward towards the door, and attribute that to a centrifugal force. The thing is, there isn't a force actively pushing you outward. Your momentum from the car initially going forward would have just carried you in a straight line continuously forever, but you were acted upon by another force (the car door pushing back on you.) You already had the forward motion while driving straight, which then was an "outward" motion with respect to the car after it started to turn.
5
AskReddit/do96jhv
75urqo
What's an example of a terrible character being saved by an actor's performance?
Not that it was necessarily a terrible character, but Ewan McGregor in the star wars prequels did an amazing job with some pretty abysmal writing. You can see a lot of other characters which struggle because the actor is not amazing and has little to work with, but the good actors just about managed to sell most of their performance.
3
AskReddit/cmcf2v7
2nck65
What is a cool/interesting dream you have had?
When I was about in fourth grade, I really wanted to know how to rollerblade backwards. So I thought about it really hard before falling asleep. In my dream I was in rollerblades going forward then switched to reverse. When I woke up, I went outside and tried it just like in my dream and it worked. I was really excited to be able to go backwards but even more excited that I found a trick way to learn new things.in my dreams. So that started my ventures into lucid dreaming. I can come up with new stuff intentionally when dreaming. As cool as it sounds, I should really take more advantage of it.
2
askscience/c39njfw
njgq4
Why was I born with blonde hair that fell out and then came in brunette?
IMA african american born with blonde hair, But I have the more traditional brown hair now. Your explanation seems to only involve Caucasians, can it explain African Americans and other predominently dark haired races?
27
explainlikeimfive/cjmv59h
2d7fr7
How does the fact that we live in a zero net energy universe explain that the universe could be created from nothing?
It doesn't. We genuinely don't know where the universe came from or what was before the big bang, and we're not even entirely sure if "before the big bang" even makes sense. However, what zero net energy does explain, is that no energy was created during the big bang. Therefore, the big bang doesn't violate mass-energy conservation.
4
explainlikeimfive/duldpiz
7z57sb
How does someone get the flu if no one else has the flu?
In a global world, someone always has a strain of the flu. That means it can mutate and return in a few years to re-infect people it had hit before. There are multiple strains in circulation, so you can get a new strain every year if you're unlucky/sickly. Completely new strains jump from animals to humans occasionally, so "new" strains usually start on farms - remember bird flu and swine flu?
4
AskReddit/crcek4h
36b6fv
Why do you believe/not believe in God?
I'm an atheist, and for me it boils down to 4 very important factors: 1 - The complete lack of evidence. There is no part of religious doctrine that can't be explained in a logical, sensible, and non-supernatural way. It's no good explaining it away as God requiring faith or preserving our free will, because those arguments are fairly full of holes. 2 - History suggests that religion is wrong. I mean that in the sense of there have been hundreds of religions, and countless more superstitions, and as people have changed, they have been adapted or lost and forgotten. The Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Norse, Native Americans, even the druids and pagans. All had belief structures that are now dismissed. They were clearly just people trying to make sense of the world around them when they didn't have the ability to understand it properly. Frankly I see modern religious people's views the same way I see the Romans thinking that thunder was the anger of Jupiter. Understandable, but wrong. 3 - There's no place for a deity in my world. I know things about what surrounds me and I am desperately curious about the things I don't understand. But to dismiss any question as unanswerable just because it's hard feels incredibly dissatisfying. Yes there are big questions, and no I don't think I'm going to come up with the answers, but at least I'm heading in the right direction. 4 - If there was a God that created this world, it's not one I want to be involved with. I mean, in the Abrahamic religions, God's first act after creating humanity was to put knowledge in front of them and then tell them they couldn't have it. That combined with the how harsh and unfeeling nature is, and how cruel humanity is capable of being results in a picture of a deity who is pretty unpleasant. (Apologies if I've misspelled anything or butchered any sentences with bad grammar, it's like 1am here)
122
AskReddit/drwlc4s
7mtudy
What is the worst case of dementia you ever had to witness?
I used to work at a nursing home when I was in high school just filing papers. There was this one man on the 4th Floor (I don't remember if it was referred to as the dementia unit), and he had to be restrained to a bed. He was screaming nonsense and I was very uncomfortable because he would sometimes look at me and yell/talk in my direction. I couldn't understand him, and even if I could, I didn't know what the protocol was. (Apparently you're supposed to go along with what they're saying, but I was like 15-16 and socially inept.) I felt even worse putting myself in the place of someone else. This was probably someone's grandfather, loved one, imagine having to put him into a home, and when you do go to visit him he's all tied up and very well might not know where he is.
2
AskReddit/e2g3il0
8z4qy9
What do people who don't play computer games do with their free time?
My brother put me into starcraft and counter strike and that was it for me. I play league now but aside from that i spend all my time tending to my body after bjj / judo training. A lot of philosophy goes with it and in turn I try to improve myself physically and emotionally. I kind of became my own coach but with personal weakness as everyone else has. Find something you can get lost in, have flow and work to advance, there research material for anything online now a days. My gf started practicing bjj with me about a year ago but then took a long break about 6months. She started drinking for unwinding but never had a counter balance of exercise lately so I do see her more stressed with work. Drinking isn't a good thing to use to pass time. It's better to find something to put you into a state of flow. Something challenging, not to challenging, keep it fun. My brother on there other hand just put video games down when he started serious programming curriculums in college. He said that his professor suggested quitting gaming and that was about 10+ years ago. My bro just stopped, it was pretty impressive. He's doing great now, awesome job with awesome pay.
6
AskReddit/cuercd7
3iae79
What are games you've played several years back that have aged incredibly well?
Dark horse that everyone forgot about: Chronicles of Riddick - Escape from Butcher Bay on the original Xbox. Easily one of the best first person games on the entire system. That game was a blast.
3
explainlikeimfive/djewpjt
6jkmfs
How does sun screen stop your skin burning but allow it to tan?
It doesn't. It blocks a portion of the UV rays hitting your skin, allowing you to stay out there for longer, but also greatly reducing the amount of tan. The more effective the sunscreen, the less tan you get.
2
AskReddit/ctyvoq0
3gk6m3
What happens to viable organs of people who commit suicide?
In most places it wouldn't count. In BC, for example, you need to be a registered organ donar by filling out a form. If you were properly registered and committed suicide the organs that are still good would be used just as if your death was accidental.
2
AskReddit/dhfcsd5
6al694
Do you believe that the Confederate flag is more of a historic or racist symbol, and why?
It's a historic symbol that racists co-opt because it was carried by people that fought to keep slavery as an institution and continue to subjugate black slaves in the US South (and spread slavery).
18
AskReddit/drz2hne
7n4z19
Where would you go to survive during the zombie apocalypse?
Into the wilderness, as fast and as far as possible. Cities mean more people, meaning faster spread of disease, meaning more zombies. Additionally, in the classic zombie apocalypse, the infrastructure supporting society quickly collapses. That means the shipments of food stop arriving at the grocery stores, which leads to survivors killing each other over food. If a large enough group manages to fend off the hordes of undead, they even have to resort to cannibalism to survive. By contrast, being out in the wilderness means fewer people per square mile, meaning fewer zombies. The lack of urban development means the opportunity to hunt and forage for food. While this would be difficult at first, it would increase one's odds of survival in the long run, as the human species slowly dwindled down to (probably) pre-agricultural revolution numbers. TLDR: run to the woods, embrace life as hunter gatherers.
2
explainlikeimfive/ca275g7
1eo2sg
What is the EU's relationship to the governments of individual European countries?
Hint - if you want to ask a question about Europe, try doing so at a time other than 3.00-4.00am European time! I'm by no means an expert, but since no one else has answered, I'll have a go. But you're not too wrong if you think of Europe as being similar to the Federal government. Each state has their own laws and their own courts. Europe can issue Regulations, which automatically become law in all member states, and supersede national laws. They can also issue Directives which tell member states about something which they must include into their own laws and legislation, together with a timetable for implementation. The European Court of Justice can be asked to rule in cases where a person or another State believes that a State is not complying with European law. They can also be asked for rulings on how to interpret European law. Hopefully when the rest of Europe wakes up someone will fill in any gaps and correct anything that needs correcting!
3
AskReddit/d7r62ux
539sfm
Why do mostly all medication commercials just feature people doing irrelevant nonsense while listing all the ways it can kill you?
Showing people doing those kinds of things illustrates that the medication can help patients live a happy, normal life. A healthy person can do irrelevant nonsense without getting distracted by the symptoms of their medical condition. The list of side effects is a legally required part of advertising drugs, but it obviously would not be a good marketing strategy to have the ad actually depict people suffering from the side effects.
3
AskReddit/ernju5z
c2z9so
If you could start over, what career would you choose?
If I could start over knowing what I know now, I would’ve changed my major to finance as soon as I started undergrad and invested as much as I could in bitcoin (around 2009). By the time I was a billionaire I would know how to manage that kind of wealth. Then, my career would just be being awesome.
2
AskReddit/dskh38d
7pwbsr
What was your favorite tv show as a kid?
Will and Grace. It was nice as a gay kid from rural KY to see gay people being celebrated on tv, It was the only form of gay acceptance I knew at the time.
3
explainlikeimfive/cwbezpj
3q2895
Why are road bicycle's tires so thin even though surface area doesn't affect friction?
Actually, there is a trend in road cycling to go to slightly wider tires than previously popular (e.g., 25-27 vs. 23mm). As you have noted, rolling resistance tends to be less (although almost negligibly so) on these tires than on narrower tires. However, I think there is another thing that you need to consider. Typically, you can run higher pressures on a narrower tire than on a wider tire. This can reduce rolling resistance to a point, although there are studies that suggest that lower pressures roll better until you get to a point where low pressure causes excess drag. Another thing to think about is wind resistance. Roadies are constantly trying to reduce drag. One easy way to do this is through reducing the cross section of the tire. A narrower tire and rim will cut through the air with less resistance. Narrower tires are also typically lighter than wider tires. For example, the tires on my road bike weigh about 300g while the tires on my 29er mountain bike (same diameter rim as the road bike) weigh close to 800-900g. I know there are differences in tread, but wheel weight is a key concern when making a bike work well. Typically, the lighter you can safely go the better. Lighter wheels mean faster acceleration and better handling. In the case of a road bike, you can get lighter and still maintain performance with a very narrow tire. You also have to think about how to engineer the tire and wheel to handle higher pressures. I'm not 100 percent certain, but it is likely easier to engineer a narrower tire and rim combo to handle 120 psi than a wider set of tires/rims.
17
AskReddit/d2clz58
4fwlu0
Where's the most unusual place you've woken up?
I dunno if this is that unusual of a place but it was definitely an unusual experience. I woke up the morning after a party in an apartment I didn't recognized, fully clothed except for my shoes, laying on a folded up mattress with a guitar on top of me. As I woke up I looked around and noticed a random guy, dressed in a heavy coat and hat, nodding out on a chair directly across from me, waking up for a little to hit a bowl and then falling back to sleep. I also noticed two people sleeping on the floor next to me. One was my best friend who I was at the party with and the other was a guy I slightly recognized from the party. I probably laid in the same spot for at least an hour before my friend and the guy woke up and filled me in. Turned out I got super drunk and so did this other guy. My friend drove him to his apartment, I barged in and jumped on his roommate trying to wake him up for some reason, didn't succeed, proceeded to the living room where I took off my shoes and tried to play guitar and then immediately passed out. I still don't remember any of this. Those were weird times.
2
explainlikeimfive/c7tb6tr
166uum
Why does time fly when you're having fun?
When you're occupied, you don't have time to either think about time, or indeed look at a clock. When bored, you think about time a lot - how long has passed? Is it two minutes yet? Then you look at your watch. Whilst you hope time has passed, and your glances seem to be long between, your perception is inaccurate.
5
AskReddit/ck20rle
2eqcts
What's the food you know you should not be eating, yet you just can't bring yourself to stop?
I told myself I was gonna have a salad for lunch today. I'm eating a bacon wrapped hot dog with melted Swiss and peppers.
3
AskReddit/cp6qucg
2y6pxs
What was the most difficult "goodbye" you had to make?
most difficult goodbye was to my 14 year old dog. his hips were going and one day he fell on the kitchen floor and did the splits and couldnt walk anymore and dragged his back end. I had 30 minutes to say goodbye to him before we took him to the vet to put him out of his misery.
5
AskReddit/ehjqfqu
avvyic
What is your favorite God from all religions?
Ooh this is pretty hard. I love Ra, Quetzalcoatl, Susano-o, Thor, Odin, Apollo. I'm not a religious person but I find mythologies and religions like those to be so fascinating!
2
AskReddit/dhy89wc
6cxyfu
What's the best breakup advice you've been told?
"Time heals all wounds". It's a cliche for a reason. This has helped me go through a lot more than just break ups. In time, you realize that what you've been dwelling on in the past is irrelevant to the present you. That, or you just stop thinking about what happened because you're so engrossed in your every day present life. Edit: remember, the past is what has passed. The present is a gift to us. The future is a mystery. Focusing on the past will make you lead a life filled with regret. Living in the future will make you lead a life without fulfillment. Focussing on the present - the now - is what leads to a happy future.
5
AskReddit/cyfz99i
3yrcz4
Which are better, dogs or cats?
I like both, so it depends on my situation. Cats are more independent so if my life is busy and I'm living in a small p!Ace a cat will do. But if I have more space and a nice yard and plenty of time to spend a dog is wonderful.
2
AskReddit/c947apx
1b6wbh
What's the best band you've ever seen perform live?
Several, actually: Wilco - always a great live band. Neutral Milk Hotel - saw them in '98 and they blew me away. Amazing show. Kiss - I don't really like their music and don't own any of their albums, but I saw them play in '96 and it was a fantastic show. REM - I've seen them 5 or 6 times on several different tours and they were always great. Gomez - great live band.
11
AskReddit/c3mzwqe
p6vna
Why do my feet look like this after working all day?
Get a pair of 100% wool socks. Your socks/shoes combo is causing your feet to sweat and saturating the skin. The wool socks will wick the moisture away from your feet. I used to get the same thing, and once I started taking measures to keep my feet dry, it cleared right up.
2
AskReddit/c5wm2vz
yl085
What small and random thought made you realize you are more infatuated with someone than you originally believed?
"I could wake up to her curled next to me in a warm bed every day for the rest of my life and I would be okay with that." This coming from a severe commit-a-phobe who had previously shown no ability to settle down for an extended period of time made me have to do some serious self-reflection.
7
explainlikeimfive/cn5uop9
2qgfyt
What is better for a desktop PC, to leave it on at all times, to leave it in sleep mode when its not being used, or to shut it down completely between use, and why?
This is assuming that your PC is properly maintained and cooled. Leaving it on at all times will wear out some parts faster, but in most PC's it's not fast enough to really matter. You'll probably end up upgrading parts or buying a new PC before it really matters. Some people leave their computers on all the time and a part wears out. Once they reboot it the computer won't come on because of the worn out part and they assume that shutting it down did damage. This happens a lot with servers.
7
explainlikeimfive/c67a3kb
zs8kc
Why did people want Near Field Communication (NFC) on the next iPhone, and how does it work?
As the name suggests, it's Near Field Communication. Meaning, the communication only takes place between two objects that are near, like phone to phone or phone to register, Etc. This has the potential to be very useful. For instance, you could tap your phones together and instantly sync contact information, instead of having to find the person over WiFi or enter the information manually. You could also, potentially of coarse as this hasn't been fully implemented, pay people this way. You can also buy stickers on which you can write information to, with which you can do a lot of nifty things, like setting switches. Say you want your GPS app to come on when you set your phone in a specific location in your car - with NFC, you could do that, and that type of functionality would work with any number of apps or even features of the phone, like turning on/off Wifi. There's even been a cool app for Android where you can write your Wifi and password information to an NFC sticker, and then when someone comes over to your house, if they have an Android with the app, all they have to do is tap the sticker and they're connected to your wireless - no awkward exchange of passwords. I don't know much about this, but I do know that the hardware for NFC doesn't have to be very big or cumbersome. Like I said, they have stickers that you can write to, and they really are the size of a normal sticker. If you look closely, you can see the circuitry in them, but they aren't very big at all. So far as I can tell, it isn't much as far as the technology is concerned - but someone else will probably have to answer this in more depth than I can. The way I understand it is, you would have a pin or some other form of security that you would have to enter before every transaction, much like with a debit card. A transaction shouldn't be able to take place if the pin is not entered, protecting against, say, someone who got their hands on a scanner and tried to secretly make transactions through unsuspecting owner's pockets (I heard this was a problem with debit cards with NFC chips, or similar technology). Working with the Wallet app, where you would have to physically enter the pin each time, should prevent things like that from happening. I can't give a much more complex answer than that, though. Anyway, to me, I'm disappointed to see that Apple didn't jump on board. I'm an Android guy, however Apple including this feature would really boost the technology's popularity since the iPhone is itself so popular, and while I don't care much about Apple, I do want to see NFC skyrocket, and without Apple jumping on board that will be more complicated, I think. Honestly, I thought they were going to include NFC and boast about how "groundbreaking" and "revolutionary" it is, in Apple fashion, acting like other phones never had it until now. but what we got was worse, IMO, and that's no NFC functionality. Hopefully, Google will soon get all the bullshit surrounding it's Google Wallet app worked out, and then iPhone users can really see what they're missing out on.
2
AskReddit/dggd10h
66670z
What would your TED talk be about?
It's often been suggested I do TED or TED-X talks, and I have many topics I could go on about practically off-the-cuff, but this remains unlikely due to low voice syndrome. (far too many bouts of bronchitis thanks to NJ's pollution. My time on The Space Show was a bit of a disaster.) Reimagining CATS: how automation will change the logistical nature of space development and lead to a transhuman space future. Step Into Liquid: the challenges of marine settlement. Rumspringa: aspects of future Post-Industrial culture. Guerrillaville: an Outquisition scenario. New Babylon Revisited: P2P Urbanism and the stigmergic intelligence of the Post-Industrial city. Mobilism: how nomadic lifestyles empowered by mobile communications may reshape the domestic habitat.
2
AskReddit/c49ghtd
rxk7a
Do you have a sweet story about a pregnant couple?
Not sweet, kind of ewww but when I was pregnant I couldn't see my genitals and every time I would shave I would leave patches of hairs, well my husband kept it nice and trimmed until I gave birth , I though he was adorable for that ^
2
askscience/c6bu8g1
10ar7p
What are some branches of science that an amateur can make significant contribution?
Honestly, it will be very hard. If, like you say, you have access to, study, and can understand current research, then you should be capable of finding gaps in knowledge. The most likely way for you to be able to contribute without having resources will be by modeling and simulating, since you can do those with free programs (that you write) or pirated versions of things like MatLab. But you probably won't make any serious headway as an "amateur" or a "loner enthusiast." You will have to become a "loner expert," which is difficult without being able to discuss your ideas with other scientists.
2
AskReddit/ej47ndh
b459ah
What seemingly innocuous thing did you stumble upon as a child to only realize as an adult how ominous it might have been?
When I was a child my dad used to take us downstream to swim from these big canal locks/dam with turbines in the middle of the woods. The area was off limits but you could get there if you were willing to go off road. The downstream portion was a small, but fast moving stream that was only several feet deep. The upstream portion was massive by comparison and the huge locks would flood the entire area if they were to be completely open. We'd always go stand on top of the cement portion of the locks and hang out when we were done. It was a nice, flat, reasonably clean area where you could lay out in the sun. On one trip there was a big sitting up on the locks just laying there. Neatly placed, closed up, but there was no one in sight and we'd been there for hours. We went through the bag and saw it was filled with a few sets of clothes, a watch, a wallet with a drivers license and a few business cards. There were also a few toiletries. Who would carry this bag multiple miles out into the middle of the woods, then just leave it out in the open in a place like this? We really didn't think anything of it at the time, but looking back I've always wondered if I'd stumbled across the sight of someone's suicide by jumping into the turbines of the dam.
3
AskHistorians/cupkqtl
3jilmh
How could a de Medici daughter become French queen?
Catherine de Medici's uncle was pope, and then she was a good match for french royal family. But she married the second son of François I, and consequently, should not have become queen. But the death of Dauphin François de France led her to become Queen, cause her husband was the new heir to the throne. When her husband, king Henri II died, she led the Regency. She was the mother of three different kings (françois II; Charles IX; Henri III). This is the record in french history.
16
AskReddit/eijp911
b15vy0
What's something you used to be embarrassed about people knowing, but now are completely ok with?
The fact that I went to therapy. It took a long time and a major life crisis for me to start seeing someone and I didn't tell anyone for months because I was too embarrassed. I finally realized that talking to someone didn't make me weak; it actually improved my quality of life and now I'm very open about it.
2
AskReddit/eqfcvuu
byaujy
What are pros and cons of visiting the USA?
Pros - Lots of interesting wildlife, (and nature in general,) great theme parks, lots of stuff to see, each state is kind of like its own country, and clothes and electrical equipment are cheaper. (Than in the UK, I mean. I don’t know about other places.) Cons - The food portions are ridiculous, everything is stuffed with sugar, (including the bread,) it’s stupidly hot, they expect everyone to drive everywhere, (e.g. if they say that something’s ten minutes away, they mean by car, not by foot,) when you want to buy something, prepare to pay more than you think and it uses really strange measurements. (E.g. Fahrenheit instead of Celsius.)
3
explainlikeimfive/cnv1kdl
2t2c0a
How come you don't need a pop filter performing live?
Dynamic microphones, which are usually used for live performances are far less sensitive than condenser mics, which are used for recording in a studio. Because of this, dynamic mics inherently pick up less popping sounds. In addition, many dynamic microphones have integrated pop filters built into them.
6
AskReddit/ch5wsg5
24d1uc
What items should you carry at all times?
Some form of ID, whether it be a passport, license, student ID, etc. A phone, try to have access to internet on it, and enough credit to make a few calls or texts. $20-$50 dollars, depending on occasion carry more. Be careful not to flash it around, or to blow it all. Not always, but if you have allergies, or medical issues that are of a large significance (epilepsy, diabetes, heart issues) keep some information on your condition, or medication on you in an easy to access area; in case you cannot do it, or tell people yourself. Any licenses you need at the time (Heavy machinery, gun, motorbike, etc). If your area has a touch & go system for public transport, like Australia; carry the pass on you always. If you're in a foreign land, carry a photocopy, or actual passport on you and any other documentation you might need. All I can think of atm.
3
AskReddit/c4y93bq
usx61
What surprises you that still exist?
I am surprised North Korea still exist. Not the nation itself but the way people live and how the whole world perceives them and how they perceive us. Blows my mind every time I see them on the news.
4
AskReddit/eu3cx7x
cehlkg
When did the “I crave attention” kid go too far?
There was a kid on our school bus who needed way too much attention. He was constantly screaming or throwing stuff out the window. He at one point reenacted giving birth the whole ride. Complete with legs spread, screaming fake pushing etc. One day he threw a water bottle and hit a car. He was banned from the bus for the year. The next year he was allowed back on. In the first week he pulled out a needle and pierced his lower lip while on the bus. Of course it was bumpy so he didn’t get it centered so he did it again to even it out. He was banned from the bus again.
537
AskReddit/e6kfyn5
9il4u5
What song changed your life and how?
U2 - Stuck in a moment you can't get out of. I was in a seriously bad place in my life. This album helped immensely, but this song has always served me a great reminder - moments pass.
3
AskReddit/dy7347x
8fwqne
If the United States announced forced military service of at least two years for every citizen over 18 but under 40, what would you do with yourself and why?
2 years seems really long, but I welcome any country to implement a 6 to 12 month mandatory service term for all people who pass high school, I just think its a great idea to let people feel what stuff like that is actually like, not to mention its a learning experience overall, even into the worklife, and becoming an adult.
2
AskReddit/dg9g0s5
65duwc
What is your favourite movie/game soundtrack of all time?
FTL: Faster Than Light. It's perfect essential sci-fi tunes evoking wonder, innovation and impending doom, which is perfect for one of the more unforgiving indie games of all time.
6
AskReddit/d92zx3y
58sv1o
What fact do you know that isn't common knowledge?
Calvin Coolidge had a pet pygmy hippo. Teddy Roosevelt was blinded in one eye for his entire rest of his life after participating in a bare knuckle boxing match against a prize fighter in the lawn of the white house. The official animal of scotland is the unicorn. Edit: apparently the unicorn thing is common knowledge according to my wife. Edit 2: true criticism.
17
askscience/dzdcv5f
8ky654
Are there surgical procedures that could be considered to be performance enhancing for athletes?
Vision surgery could be thought of as performance enhancing. It’s at least a convenience in most sport to not wear glasses. In some sport such as shooting or archery vision is critical. However, any type of surgery if done with out injury or need will have ethical considerations to address.
2
AskHistorians/c8pzolt
19njbh
Is kissing (on the lips or cheeks) a socially constructed action?
I'm of the opinion that most human actions are cultural, which makes me a cultural constructivist. As for kissing, I spent some time with the Huaorani tribe in the Ecuadorian Amazon and they were not familiar with the practice. The children of the tribe asked to see us kiss because they had heard about it and wanted to see what is was like. They also thought it was funny and gross when we showed them. Just because there is a biological benefit from a particular behaviour (such as kissing) doesn't mean that that behaviour evolved for said benefit, as CreakyTom suggested. But then the whole field of evolutionary psychology is antithetical to cultural constructivist thought. So to answer your question: kissing is a socially constructed practice, not "natural," not surviving evolution because of its aptness. (I add this qualifier: I would say almost any action is socially constructed.)
4
AskReddit/cczweip
1p8s8a
Why did you throw your sneakers onto that telephone wire?
Everyone else in the neighborhood did it to be funny. I threw mine last just so I wouldn't be left out. I ended up getting them on the highest wire. All the others eventually got cut down, but the guy cutting them down couldn't reach mine. They are still hanging up there to this day.
3
AskReddit/eaqnmta
a1l0rw
What movie would have been better if the main character had been killed off halfway through and a supporting character took over for the conclusion?
Not quite halfway through a movie but a trilogy. If they let Finn die in episode 8 it would have been a super powerful moment and a good end to his arc. He would go from being a coward who always ran away to a hero who was willing to sacrifice himself. Rose or Rey use his sacrifice to save more of the resistance. We would have a satisfying conclusion to a character and no awkward love triangle/square with kylo/rey/finn/rose.
6
askscience/dgwr6qq
682fbi
Why is water such a good cleaning element ?
Water is a good cleaning product because of its chemical properties. Water is a polar substance because it has one negative side consisting of oxygen and a positive side consisting of hydrogen which means it can dissolve polar substances, the only downside is that it cannot dissolve non polar substances like oils and fats. It is also a good cleaning product because it can be enhanced buy detergents that are polar and non polar so they can clean anything. This is soapy water. The soap molecules have long non polar tails or chains like sodium laureth sulfate and on the end of the tail is a polar side to dissolve polar substances and means it can be held by the water molecules.
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