I try to find out an interesting little titbit of information each day, just to keep the ole noodle oiled, and to store things away. You never know when some useless trivia will win you that pub quiz...
Todays nugget is this:
Cash (Johnny Cash, of I Walk The Line fame) enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and technical training at Brooks Air Force Base, both in San Antonio, Texas, Cash was assigned to a U.S. Air Force Security Service unit at Landsberg, Germany. Assigned as a morse code decoder on Russian Army transmissions, Cash was the first American to discover that Josef Stalin had died.
I think Lackland's outside Houston. My buddy is there for her basic right now, and that's what she told me.
It's near Houston, right enough.
I imagine an American and a Scot's definition of "outside" may be slightly different....
We may only be a small country, but we lead the world in deep-frying things. And, possibly not coincidentally, in heart attacks. Who else would batter and deep-fry a Mars bar?
We battered and deep-fried a pair of shoes once..... ;D
Deep-fried coke was the thing at this year's fair. Deep-friend twinkies were last years.
I suppose. I lived outside close to San Antonio for a while, and it wasn't all that Houston. I think Lackland is closer to Houston, though.
I dunno. Ask Chatty.
The official Lackland AF website says San Antonio. That's what I'm going with, so as not to cast doubt on the veracity of the rest of the statement... ;)
You are correct then. :)
Lackland's San Antonio. About 250 miles or so from Houston.
Houston only has Ellington Field, home to the infamous Champagne Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard...
OK...as an official Air Force vet, I will confirm that Lackland AFB is in San Antonio.
I stand corrected. ;D
We had the one ton rat already, didn't we?*
(only a slight shift in theme from the Bush)
*yes, I know we had
yep-- deep in the heart of old San Antonio she be
Houston is where astronauts call when they have a problem (recent question on some TV trivia show or something) :mrgreen:
two words----- fried pickles
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Todays little gem is:
A female ferret can die if she goes into heat and cannot find a mate.
A friend of mine was at a conference in Glasgow, and a local colleague took him to a dodgy back-street chip shop, which had an item on the menu that beggars belief.
Take a doner kebab. Dip in batter. Deep-fry.
Apparently, there was a health warning on the wall....
Ok so if doner kebab is meat on a stick that is roasted-- from what I understand then
batter dipped deep fried doner would be a
CORN DOG!!!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_dog) (sort of) a corn dog is a batter dipped deep fried hot dog on a stick
:ROFL:
But its kinda both drastically up market (kebab instead of hot dog),
and drastically down market (crispy batter instead of corn bread)!
And Dibbler would charge more for it, 'cos it's named meat (and not fluffy or tiddles neither [unlike the hot dog in the corn dog])
Doner kebabs are supposed to be lamb. At least, they are in Turkey, and as they invented them (place called Bursa claims the credit) I'm guessing they can call the shots.
In UK at least, doner meat comes as this kind of elephant's leg shaped lump of mystery meat, which gets cooked vertically, and the outside sliced off in ribbons. It then gets put in pitta bread, covered with brown, aged salad, topped off with god-awful radio-active sauce.
Now dip the whole thing (bread, salad and sauce included) in batter.
Alan winced at even the memory of seeing one made....
Ah, doner kebab=gyro. (Pronounced Yeeh-row, sorta.)
The sauce on a gyro is tzdaziki--a cucumber and sour cream sauce. (Spelling varies from the Turkish to the Greek.)
Good gyro meat is a beef/lamb combo. Bad gyro meat is mostly grease and sawdust.
IBRAHIM - EIN STOLZER TÜRKE
MACHT RABAZZ AM KHEBABSTAND
WEIL SALAT ER UND GEGÜRKE
DOCH KEIN FLEISCH IM FLADEN FAND
FORSCH ENTLEERT ER SEINEN RAKI
GRIMMIG BEBT SEIN SCHWARZER BART
EILT ZUM GRIECHEN- ISST SOUVLAKI!
DEN KEBABWIRT TRIFFT DIESES HART.
AUF DEM HEIMWEG - KURZ NACH ECKE
IBRAHIM SEIN ENDE FAND
WER WOHL BRACHTE IHN ZUR STRECKE
MEUCHELND MITTELS MÖRDERHAND?
WARUM UNS IBRAHIM VERLIESS?
WEIL KHEBABSPIESS IHM LICHT AUSBLIES!
Oh boy Swato that's a tough one this am--- gotta cut and paste the entire thing to babel fish or something
so the type of doner kebab we are talking about would be along the lines of
this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Cristo_sandwich) but really disgusting as it has sauce and stuff on it too.....
funny- when I went to Wiki and looked up doner kebab I thought one of the photos was of a roasted elephant foot/lower leg- but it is actually a mystery meat roast
traumatic- yes, traumatic food
Not if you don't eat it with harissa sauce--and don't batter fry it!!
(A Monte Cristo is all the bad things you can do to food in one disgusting package. The typical one is a grease pit with jelly on it. Bleagh.)
Blegh.
Every time I see 'doner' I immediately think of the Donner party.
Gyros I like. Pita sammitches I like. Doners, I've never had, I think.
Today's random fact: Sodium benozate (a commonly found preservative in many foods) breaks down into benezine, which causes leukemia.
I think Babelfsih would be rather useless with "Ibrahim" (i.e. more so than usual) but maybe I should try.
Edit:
QuoteIBRAHIM - A PROUD TURK POWER RABAZZ AT KHEBABSTAND BECAUSE THE SALAD IT AND GEGUERKE NEVERTHELESS NO MEAT IN THE FLADEN FOUND VIGOROUSLY IT EMPTIES ITS RAKI GRIMMIG TREMBLES ITS BLACK BEARD HURRIES TO THE GREEK EATS SOUVLAKI! KEBABWIRT THIS HARD MEETS. ON THE WAY HOME - SHORT AFTER CORNER IBRAHIM ITS END FOUND WHO WELL-BEING BROUGHT IT TO THE DISTANCE MEUCHELND MEANS MURDERER HAND? WHY IBRAHIM LEFT US? BECAUSE KHEBABSPIESS IT LIGHT BLEW OUT!
Why does it translate "er" (=he) as 'it' repeatedly? Why does it not know "grimmig"? (=grimly, furiously). "nur" means "only" and I don't know any German word for "well-being" close to it. That it confuses 'macht' (=makes) and 'Macht' (=power) on the other hand is excusable.
Quote from: Scriblerus the Philosophe on January 23, 2008, 04:39:59 PM
Today's random fact: Sodium benozate (a commonly found preservative in many foods) breaks down into benezine, which causes leukemia.
As a rule-of-thumb, I try to avoid anything with 'benz' in the name; some are harmless, but lots are potentially nasty. Sodium benzoate is tough to dodge, though - it's in everything.
Ack! Vitamin C makes the breakdown worse!
You could not afford a Benz in any case ;D
Would not be willing to afford one, anyways. I like my cars paid off quickly, if not always immediately, and if I wanted luxury I'd be looking at a Genesis when they are available - definitely affordable.
Did someone mention kebabs?
Kebab questions haunting Home Secretary (http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=84737&in_page_id=34).
The World's Largest yo-yo resides in the National Yo-Yo Museum in Chico, California. Named "Big Yo," the 256-pound yo-yo is an exact scale replica of a Tom Kuhn "No Jive 3 in 1 Yo-Yo." Fifty inches tall and 31.5 inches wide, the yo-yo is made of California sugar pine, Baltic birch from the former USSR, and hardrock maple. It was first launched in San Francisco on October 13, 1979.
There's a real interest in these...
http://www.disappearing-car-door.com/
Oooooooh!! That sort of makes me feel naked.
Interesting. But is it safe in an emergency?
Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.
Supposedly much moreso than a standard door.
I read up on it for about an hour, and it makes sense.
Very cool looking! Some busy Denver streets are quite narrow and one's (parked) car door is in danger of being removed by heavy traffic. This would come in handy.
As long as you're saefly in the car, with the door in the upright-and-locked-position, it would foil would-be carjackers, who could literally not get a handle on the vehicle. (Not sure I would like waiting for it to close, though.)
Hmmm: what happens if someone's hair or fingers are caught in the door when it closes? How does the emergency crew get the door open in case of accident?
There are a few issues - see http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100101
In Oregon, legally, dishes must be drip-dryed.
Pachy, I don't know how you do it, but I'm impressed. Of course, I know you lot never forget anything and big flappy ears must help.
The joy of t' Intarweb, and lots of time...
Sagittiferous is the adjective used to describe anyone bearing arrows.
Wrong thread !! :mrgreen:
No, according to the OED, the above statement is factually correct. ;D
i just felt like looking up something a bit different....
Quote from: Pachyderm on January 28, 2008, 09:22:08 PM
No, according to the OED, the above statement is factually correct. ;D
But we use the TED :mrgreen:
Sagittiferous isn't in the TED? Holy Carp! :o
This must be rectified! We need the Editors!
Save our Sagittiferous!
Oh joy ! I am , sometimes , Sagittiferous !
Balsamorhiza sagittata shoots are edible, and taste a bit like sunflower seeds when you steam 'em.
Until the nineteenth century, solid blocks of tea were used as money in Siberia
Tea was served in Mongolia with lumps of sugar and butter.
When weight-watching friends come to tea, I offer them I Can't Believe It's Not Yak Butter.®
:cup:
:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL:
well that counts as odd.... I read the first entry on the thread and, without reading the last fact, i was already checking one I was told recently.....
In the wild Yak are only found above the 3500m line - almost 3 times the height of snowdon the highest mountain in England and Wales
and it slots right into a yak discussion ??? :ROFL:
galactophorous:
bearing or carrying milk
There's nothing random about a group of Toadfish types discussing Yaks.
galactophoryakous
bearing or carrying yak's milk
If we started discussing goats, that would be odd.
speaking of goats
GOAT FACTS
from : http://www.ubersite.com/m/8632
please read the disclaimer in it's self it is funny
Everything you wanted to find out about goats but your dad was too stupid to know!
Body temperature
Anything between -273Kelvin when in their stasis cycle to 10000 Kelvin when equilibriating their body temperature to that of the sun when on one of their solar journeys
Colour
Goats, like squid, have the ability to change their colour to that of their background when they feel the need to hide, which is hardly ever as they have no natural predatores bar Turkish people.
History
It is theorised that Goats are an interdimensional race of superbeings who left their dimension because theyd eaten all their universes soap resources and they came to our planet where they could get gullible humans to make soap for them. This may, of course, merely be a ruse and they in fact want to take over the world using their psychic abilities.Or not.
Hump
Anywhere between zero and none.
Speed
The average goat travels at a cruisng speed of 4MpH but have been witnessed travelling anywhere up to Warp 5 and m,any scientists belive the lesser spotted Barvarian no humped goat may be able to break the trans-warp barrier with selective breeding.Or it may be they were all drunk and lied.
Water
Goats only drink Irn Bru
Behaviour
Unpredictable at best. Goats have the reputation of being bad-tempered and obstinate creatures who spit and kick. In reality, they tend to be good-tempered, patient and intelligent. The moaning and bawling sound they make when they're loaded up and have to rise to their feet is like the grunting and heavy breathing of a weight-lifter in action, not a sign of displeasure at having to do some work.
Life Span
Probably immortal but this has never been proven to be truth or just that goats all look kinda similair and the goat you think is 100 years old is just a succesion of differnt goats.Then again it may just be all those drugs you take.
every last word of that is gospel. :ROFL:
A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee
So, there is a loophole... ;)
Ants stretch before they wake up. They also appear to yawn in a very human manner before taking up the tasks of the day.
Did anyone else see NOVA last night?
Seems there was a little museum of oddities in Niagara Falls that had purchased some Egyptian mummies back in the mid 1800's. One of them turned out to probably be the mummy of Ramses I, the founder of the 19th dynasty.
It is not 100% certain that it is Ramses I, but it was almost certainly an New Kingdom pharaoh. The skull shows a family resemblance to Seti I, Ramses II and Tutmoses III...the son, grandson and great grandson of Ramses I (I may have the order off a bit.)
Also, it turns out the buyer of the mummy got it from a man that knew the people who had access to Ramses I's sarcophagus.
After a long, round about trip, the mummy has been returned to Egypt and is now in the museum in Cairo.
Yes , I first saw it about a year ago , I saw the mummy "in the flesh " in 1990 ( although no one knew it was Ramses ) .
Fact:
everything has a web page now
HERE!! (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D2023)
Yeah! it has a web page-- The Thing has a web page.
If you have ever driven I-10 across AZ then you are familiar with The Thing
personally I have a strong opinion as to the origins of the thing but I'll leave it for another time. Hint before one stops to see The Thing one must see Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy!
In 1903 Mary Anderson invented the windshield wipers.
Quote from: Sibling Chatty on January 26, 2008, 03:38:55 AM
There's a real interest in these...
http://www.disappearing-car-door.com/
Quote from: Griffin NoName on January 28, 2008, 12:18:43 AM
There are a few issues - see http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100101
Quite interesting.
I read the strip Griffin posted as well-- one of the concerns was strength.
The way these are made, an even stronger design than is used currently could easily be done, and you'd have the double-tracks on each side to provide additional strength.
Opening sans power is an obvious issue.
And obvious solution, for such a car, is a roof hatch, that has a manual opening option.... ::) :)
Or, as can be done in some cars, an easily removable back-glass. There's a "rip strip" that you grab and pull, not unlike a zipper. This releases the rubber, and the glass falls free. Out you go! Perfect for those in-the-lake escapes.
Or, like most things, this was on Mythbusters, electrical motors and batteries work just fine when submerged in water, for quite some time, too. Plenty of time to open the door and make your escape...
I'd go for battery operated ejector seats with a huge lever marked Pull Here.
The thing that would worry me would be the length of time to get the brain to remember the emergency evacuation procedure, especially with no air hostess to go through it before every journey ;)
If Anderson invented the windshield wipers, who invented the windscreen wipers?
Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a belly button. It was eliminated when he was sewn up after surgery.
Probably Anderson as well. Just changed the name, double the patent rights...
The Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from public libraries.
The term "red tape" comes from the post Civil War era, where veterans' records were bound with red ribbon. It would take some time for the clerks to find the appropriate records when a veteran would show up in Washington to make a claim.
The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is "uncopyrightable"
Because of all the preservative in modern foods, people are taking longer to decompose after death.
The longest English word that can be typed using only the letters on the top row of a standard typewriter or computer keyboard is typewriter.
See, it's catching.
Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
In the spring of 1975, a baby in Detroit fell 14 stories and landed on Joseph Figlock, who was walking below. A few years later it happened again. Figlock and both babies survived.
pteronophobia is the fear of being tickled by feathers
Did you know that elephants are fantastic swimmers and love the water for the most part?
Also an elephant can run at speeds up to 25 mph over short distances- and don't bother climbing a tree they just knock them down.
Elephants live in herds and often stay in the family herd for their entire life.
"Proboscidea" is of Greek origins. Pro = forward or in front of. Boskein means to feed or mouth. Evidence for a trunklike organ has been known since the "woolly mammoths" and in the living elephants.
Quote from: anthrobabe on February 14, 2008, 05:27:48 PM
Did you know that elephants are fantastic swimmers and love the water for the most part?
Also an elephant can run at speeds up to 25 mph over short distances- and don't bother climbing a tree they just knock them down.
Elephants live in herds and often stay in the family herd for their entire life.
"Proboscidea" is of Greek origins. Pro = forward or in front of. Boskein means to feed or mouth. Evidence for a trunklike organ has been known since the "woolly mammoths" and in the living elephants.
Elephants are also unable to gallop. Their "run" is really a very fast walk. The cannot jump, either. Too heavy, the landing would break their bones.
The elephant's foot is an amazing bit of engineering as well. They literally stand on their toes (as do many mammals). There is a thick pad of fat underneath their foot, and the bones of their toes (fingers?) surround this pad. When an elephant steps down, the fatpad is squished, and expands the diameter of their foot. The 'finger' bones spread out, too. When the elephant picks up her foot, she draws together these bones, decreasing the diameter of the foot (squeezing the fat pad).
Why?
Because elephants like to play in the mud. When stepping in deep, squishy mud, their feet expand as they sink into it. When the foot is lifted, the reduction of the diameter keeps the foot from becoming 'glued' in place by suction-- the foot lifts out easily.
Pretty amazing, really.
I like their opposable trunks.
Elephants live in herds and often stay in the family herd for their entire life
Females do.
The life of the adult male is different. As he gets older, he begins to spend more time at the edge of the herd, gradually going off on his own for hours or days at a time. Eventually, days become weeks, and somewhere around the age of fourteen, the mature male, or bull, sets out from his natal group for good. While males do live primarily solitary lives, they will occasionally form loose associations with other males. These groups are called bachelor herds.
At least a few elephants have been suspected to be drunk during their attacks. In December 1998, a herd of elephants overran a village in India. Although locals reported that nearby elephants had recently been observed drinking beer which rendered them "unpredictable", officials considered it the least likely explanation for the attack. Purportedly drunk elephants raided yet another Indian village again on December 2002, killing six people, which led to killing of about 200 elephants by locals. Elephants have used their powers of deduction to "hijack" trucks carrying sugarcane.
I saw a young male collecting palm nuts and other fruits which had been out in the sun, and making a pile of them near a tree. He then lay down in the shade provided by the tree, and slowly ate the lot. He got pissed, had trouble standing up, swayed a lot while walking, and eventually went to sleep. Unfortunately, had to leave before he woke up, so no idea what a hang-over he had...
:drunk: I love it! :ROFL:
I have heard of various primate species (including our own) being fond of over ripe fruit because of the mild alcohol content.
The film Animals are beautiful People shows the drunken apes and elephants (with appropriate music).
I hear that birds do the same in temperate climates too. But it is open to debate whether they want to get drunk or whether it is an unintended side effect (they can't forfeit their flying licence though ;) )
Pachy-- thanks for making that more clear that the poor fellas do have to leave the maternal group!
Apes--Cheeta is still alive today, born April 4, 1932 and lives in retirement (where he drinks Whiskey and smokes cigars,but not as much as he used to because the humans finally got some sense) in Palm Springs California at C.H.E.E.T.A (creative habitats and enrichment for endangered and threatened apes). At age 75 Cheeta is probably the worlds oldest living non-human primate. He began his film career in the 2nd of J. Weissmullers Tarzan movies. Cheeta also played various other 'apes' in movies such as Ramona in a Bella Lugosi movie and Chee-Chee in Dr. Doolittle in 1967 which was his last film role. AT age 64 in 1996 he received a star on the Palm Beach Walk of Fame. On October 4th 1997 he received as his visitor Dr. Jane Goodall for the first time.Cheeta has a Myspace page- and has such varried friends as RuPaul and Barbara Walters. Cheeta is a father.
(all info from Wiki and Myspace).
Senators Obama and Clinton are making history-- however
the first black male to be nominated for vice-president was non-other than Frederick Douglass himself(he was born into slavery)--- nominated in 1872 to be the VP of nominated woman Victoria Woodhull on the Equal Rights Ticket--- interestingly enough-- he neither knew about the nomination, nor did he actually acknowledge it or run for office.
(info from Wikipedia)
(another factoid-- the Emancipation Proclamation only freed southern slaves but left northern slave holding intact)
In Washington State, you can't carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length
Quote from: Pachyderm on February 16, 2008, 04:29:03 PM
In Washington State, you can't carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length
D~mn! That means my 0.50 cal sniper rifle will have to be carried in the open, then.... ::) :P
http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/rifle/M107.html (http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/rifle/M107.html)
er Wha??????????????????????????????????????
Quote from: Pachyderm on February 16, 2008, 04:29:03 PM
In Washington State, you can't carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length
That excludes pikes and some varieties of halberds. Some longbows may be also affected.
Clearly discriminating against roaring mice!
it also excludes whips... bad luck all you fetishits!
and the AGM-86 ALCM cruise missile which is a hefty 20 ft. 8 in. (6.3 m). I once got arrested in washington state for having one down my trousers but the officer turned out to be wrong :ROFL:
apologies for lowering the tone... :-[
Awww man. Goat, that was pretty bad.
;D
Funny though.
What about telescopic weapons or those that can be taken apart?
Quote from: Swatopluk on February 18, 2008, 10:40:47 AM
What about telescopic weapons or those that can be taken apart?
dont have any of those down my trousers! :o
Did I say anything ablout inflatable?
In Philadelphia, you can't put pretzels in bags based on an Act of 1760.
When he was a boy, Warren G. Harding named his pet dachshund, "Poopsie".
A new (extinct) frog species has been found. Scientific name: Beelzebufo (hellfrog or Devil Toad))
Quote from: Pachyderm on February 19, 2008, 11:55:14 PM
In Philadelphia, you can't put pretzels in bags based on an Act of 1760.
can you still ram them down George W Bush's windpipe and save the free world with patisserie?
More than one hundred eucalypt species are no longer members of the genus Eucalyptus, they have been moved into Corymbia.
When can we move?
A ten gallon hat holds three quarters of a gallon.
315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.
Some would argue that many more are mispelled. For example the "correct" spelling is aluminium, colour, honour, all words ending in 'ise' etc. :mrgreen:
:mrgreen:Indeed.
In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even, if she so requests, in a policeman's helmet.
Does it say what she can relieve herself of? call for clarification
Undue pressure on the bladder wall, I imagine.
I'm guessing that the Buckingham guards (and their headgear) are exempt...
Don't know. It just said 'anywhere she wants'. However, I suspect that any member of the Brigade of Guards who received a request to piddle in his bearskin would get violent. Or point the requestee to the nearest Naval or Air Force personnel....
Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death. (Alabama)
The sex of box turtles is determined by the color of their eyes.
Quote from: pieces o nine on February 26, 2008, 12:13:17 AM
The sex of box turtles is determined by the color of their eyes.
True. Males' eyes are usually quite bright (red or orange), as contrasted to the much duller female eyes (dull red or brown).
You can also sex them by the color of the scales on their forelegs, as well as the length of their foreclaws. (Males typically have bright orange leg scales, during spring. Their front claws are much longer as well, and it seems that these elongated claws are used as 'foreplay' to entice the female)
Finally, a male turtle of almost any species has a thicker tail than the female does (at the base). It's where he keeps his pair of "dangly bits" (yes, most reptiles have two 'members', but needs to utilize only one for successful fertilization). They are usually contained in a little pocket at the base of his tale.
Quote from: pieces o nine on February 26, 2008, 12:13:17 AM
The sex of box turtles is determined by the color of their eyes.
? clever. I'd have thought their eye colour was determined by their gender. (
FUN !!! with facts ;) Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on February 26, 2008, 01:25:39 AM
It's where he keeps his pair of "dangly bits" (yes, most reptiles have two 'members', but needs to utilize only one for successful fertilization). They are usually contained in a little pocket at the base of his tale.
So tempting...... I shall be good and resist. ;D
Here, I'll do it.
Aye, many a lad has won his lassie with a good tale...
;)
...an' the glint in 'is red eyes...
Oops! I misspelled my post, and said "at the base of his tale" when it SHOULD have been "base of his tail".
LOL!
It made it into an unintentional pun.
Ain't English Fun? :)
Almost as fun as a Real Language!!
Quote from: Sibling Chatty on February 26, 2008, 03:42:59 PM
Almost as fun as a Real Language!!
What, like FORTRAN or sumthin'?
It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday in Ohio.
Earthquakes do happen occasionally in the UK.
In 1979, Das Besteran, a German Magazine, held a writing
competition. Readers had to send in unusual stories based on
real life occurrences. Walter Kellner from Munich won with
his story about flying a Cessna 41 between Sardinia and
Sicily. In his story he had engine trouble, landed in the
water, and was later rescued. An Austrian man, also named
Walter Kellner, wrote to the paper and told them that the
winner of the prize had plagiarized the story because
virtually the same thing had happened to him. The magazine
checked out both stories and found that they were both true,
despite being nearly identical.
During World War 2, there was a serious effort to see if bats could be "weaponized".
Quite a hefty sum of $$ was invested in research into the idea.
Bats were to be fitted with a timed incendiary device. These were to be dropped over cities in Japan, with the idea that the bats would roost under the eves of houses and buildings. Then, the timer goes off, and *woosh*.
Interestingly enough, the same scientist who developed naplm was also behind this program.
On the other side of the Pacific, the Japanese had incendiary ideas of their own: hydrogen balloons, with small incendiary charges suspended beneath. These were actually built, and allowed to drift across the ocean. Some made it as far as California, and a few made it to Nevada. The US government, fearing Bad Morale, kept it a highly guarded secret, and the Japanese, believing it a Total Failure, sent no more. (and the pro-gubment types immediately said, "see?" .... ::) )
Proposed to Winston Churchill by Lord Mountbatten and Geoffrey Pyke in December 1942, Project Habbakuk was to be approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) long and 300 feet (91 m) wide, with a deck-to-keel depth of 200 feet (61 m), and walls 40 feet (12 m) thick. It was to have a draft of 150 feet, and a displacement of 2,000,000 tons or more, to be constructed in Canada from 280,000 blocks of ice. (For comparison, an Essex-class carrier displaced 35,000 tons.)
The idea was scrapped the same year. The building material was later changed to a mixture of ice and wood pulp known as Pykrete after Pyke, who proposed the Habakkuk project—the material was invented by others.
The ship's deep draft would have kept it out of most harbours. Inside the vessel a refrigeration plant would maintain the structure against melting. The ship would have extremely limited manoeuvrability, but was expected to be capable of up to 10 knots (18 km/h) using 26 electric drive motors mounted in separate external nacelles (normal, internal ship engines would have generated too much heat for an ice craft). Its armaments would have included 40 dual-barrelled 4.5" DP (dual-purpose) turrets and numerous light anti-aircraft guns, and it would have housed an airstrip and up to 150 twin-engined bombers or fighters.
The Habakkuk was imagined to be virtually unsinkable as it would have effectively been a streamlined iceberg or floating island kept afloat by the buoyancy of its construction materials, and to be highly resilient to damage by virtue of its sheer bulk.
At the Quebec Conference of 1943 Lord Mountbatten brought a block of Pykrete along to demonstrate its potential to the bevy of admirals and generals who had come along with Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mountbatten entered the project meeting with two blocks and placed them on the ground. One was a normal ice block and the other was Pykrete. He then drew his service pistol and shot at the first block. It shattered and splintered. Next, he fired at the Pykrete to give an idea of the resistance of that kind of ice to projectiles. The bullet ricocheted off the block, grazing the trouser leg of Admiral Ernest King and ended up in the wall. The Admiral was impressed by Mountbatten's unorthodox demonstration.
It was projected to take $70 million and 8,000 people working for eight months to construct it, an expenditure which the British were unwilling to make at the time on such an experimental craft. Experiments on ice and pykrete as construction materials were carried out at Lake Louise, Alberta, and a small prototype was constructed at Patricia Lake, Alberta, measuring only 60 feet by 30 feet (18 by 9 m), weighing in at 1,000 tons and kept frozen by a one-horsepower motor. Work on the project continued through 1943, but major doubts as to feasibility had surfaced by October, and abandonment was recommended in January 1944, by when the Atlantic Gap had already been closed by long-ranged land-based aircraft. It took three hot summers to completely melt the prototype constructed in Canada.
At last, a fact I already new !!!!!!!!!! :mrgreen:
Thanks to Bob and Pachy for further reaffirming my notion that any idea I've thought of has been thought of already, regarding hydrogen balloon incendiary devices and ice-based composites respectively.
(the hydrogen balloon is an old faux-ufo prank idea that I haven't actually tried out, consisting of a normal balloon filled with H2, and released with a long waxed string, ignited at the hanging end. Released en mass, they would produce an interesting series of fireballs at night. I was thinking about using aligned natural fibres for ice-composites, similar to carbon fibre, just for interest sake, but this pykrete could be fun for temporary winter structures, and if it lasts that long would make a pretty cool summer hideout).
Empire State Building, 443 m tall
Knock Nevis supertanker, 458 m long
Yes, folks there is a ship which, if upended, would be taller than the Empire State Building. Fully loaded, it's draught is such that it couldn't sail down the English Channel.
In 1948, Convair aircraft company (USA) designed a prototype jet-powered amphibious fighter craft. It was called the Sea Dart F2Y.
It would land and take-off from the water, on two extendable hydrofoil skis. It had twin engines, and was capable of supersonic flight. It had a single large delta wing, and a single vertical tail.
Two were built in the early 50's, and test-flown. The idea was that these could be quickly deployed in remote bases, and did not need extensive runway prep. Supersonic jet fighters were just coming into use, at the time, and carrier technology had yet to catch up with them, especially an effective launch methodology.
These planes only needed rudimentary beach modification, to get into service.
They did suffer from take-off troubles, if the water was too rough, there was a very real danger that water would be engulfed into the engines, snuffing them out.
Before any were put into production, other methods of deploying more conventional aircraft on ever-larger carriers were developed instead.
Was an idea worthy of "Sky Captain and the World Of Tomorrow".
(more here wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F2Y_Sea_Dart) )
While chasing down the German battleship Bismark, the Ark Royal launched a squadron of Swordfish torpedo bombers that succeeded in getting one torpedo hit on the German ship.
A few months back, I saw an interview on the History Channel with the pilot of the plane that scored the hit. As he was closing on the huge ship, he was just about to pull the torpedo release when he heard a ghostly voice saying, "Not yet, not yet." Greatly spooked, he glanced over his shoulder to see his machine gunner bent over the side of the plane (the Swordfish had an open cockpit) looking at the waves.
When the waves were just right, the gunner yelled at the pilot, who pulled the release and scored a hit.
The amount of damage was actually rather slight, but a case of a little bit in just the right place. The torpedo jammed the Bismark's rudder, sending it into a slow, wide turn away from its safe harbor and back into the pursuing British battleships.
The largest freshwater fish ever: A 600 pound Mekong giant catfish.
The heaviest bird ever: Aepyomis Maximus, weighing in at 1,000 pounds.
The source of both of the above?
Snausage "Paw Prints" dog snacks, printed with excerpts from the Guiness 2008 World records book...so your dog can learn, not by osmosis, but by ingestion. ::)
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on March 01, 2008, 01:46:25 AM
In 1948, Convair aircraft company (USA) designed a prototype jet-powered amphibious fighter craft. It was called the Sea Dart F2Y.
It would land and take-off from the water, on two extendable hydrofoil skis. It had twin engines, and was capable of supersonic flight. It had a single large delta wing, and a single vertical tail.
...
Was an idea worthy of "Sky Captain and the World Of Tomorrow".
(more here wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F2Y_Sea_Dart) )
The British had similar designs (but more on the flying boat side). The Russians are currently the only ones in possession of supersonic flying boats iirc (a bit larger ones).
Project Pluto/ SLAM (Supersonic Low-Altitude Missile)
SLAM was a wingless design optimized for Mach 3+ flight at 300 m (1000 ft) altitude. It featured a ventral air intake for the ramjet, three fixed stabilizing fins at the rear, and three small all-moving control fins near the tip. SLAM was to be launched by multiple solid-fueled rocket boosters, which would propel the missile to ramjet ignition speed. Several basing options (including air-launch) were considered for SLAM but most likely it would have been launched from some sort of hardened shelters on the ground. Flying at Mach 3+ at very low level, the missile would have to withstand very severe aerodynamic and thermal stresses, and it was therefore designed with a very sturdy structure (yielding the nickname of "Flying Crowbar"). After launch, SLAM would cruise at around Mach 4 at high altitude (10700 m (35000 ft)) to the general target area. Effective range at high altitude was so large (more than 100000 km), that the missile could actually loiter at a "fail safe" point for some time, before it was ordered either to abort the mission or continue to the target. Close to enemy air defenses, SLAM would descend to low level, and use its TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching) guidance system to find its way to the targets. TERCOM uses pre-stored radar maps of the ground under the planned flight path, which are constantly compared by the missile's guidance system to the actual radar images. SLAM was to be equipped with multiple (between 14 and 26) thermonuclear warheads which would be ejected one by one as the missile flew over its assigned targets. The warheads were to be ejected from hatches on the top of the missile to follow a lofted trajectory to the ground. This would give the low-flying SLAM a few seconds of time to escape the blast of its own bombs.
Apart from the thermonuclear warheads, SLAM itself was also a very formidable weapon. The sonic boom of a 25+ m long vehicle flying at Mach 3+ at 300 m altitude would cause severe destruction in non-hardened structures on the ground. Additionally, the nuclear ramjet continuously left a trail of highly radioactive dust, which would seriously contaminate the area below the missile. Finally, when the SLAM eventually crashed itself at the end of the mission, it would leave a wreckage of a very hot and radioactive ("dirty") nuclear reactor.
Who came up with this? And who agreed to do the work? Holy Carp!
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 02, 2008, 04:40:25 PM
Who came up with this? And who agreed to do the work? Holy Carp!
And how many billions were spent in the prospect fase? >:(
There were several serious projects, in and around the 1950's, that featured nuclear powered aircraft.
As far as I could research, none were actually built, but several millions of $$ were spent on the concept, including the building and testing of nuclear powered jet engines-- only ever "flown" in a lab. These apparently worked quite well, as far as I can see.
The limiting factor was chiefly twofold. One, adequate shielding for the crew was never one that was solved. Even if the designers completely ignored the environment on the outside of the airplane, and concentrated on shielding just the forward (crew) portions, adequate shielding was never developed.
The other limiting factor was crashability. If this monster crashed over friendly territory, it's reactor would leave a messy radioactive mess to clean up. And the crew even if they had ejected safely, would be landing right into it.
Some studies proposed basing and launching these on remote ice-shelves only. Once fired up, the plane itself would become radioactive over time, and could not be allowed to land in normal airfields. These remote, ice-shelf bases would keep the radioactive airplane away from vulnerable populations (including military ones).
If this is such a difficult task, why consider it at all?
The (to a military mind) sweet prize of having an airborne platform flying for weeks and months at a time, without needing to return to earth.
The only limiting factor is the human element-- supplies would need to be refurbished, and methods of doing this while airborne were seriously considered, up to and including a "parasite plane" attached to the main one. This would drop away, and return, while in the air, allowing crew changes, resupply of foodstuffs, etc. (Incidentally, water could easily be condensed out of the atmosphere-- the airplane would have had an extraordinary energy budget. Massively powerful radars could have easily been accommodated. The almost incidental water distillation aparatus would have been trivial to add.)
But, cooler heads prevailed, and none were ever built.
The Russians have built a prototype that actually flew but with extremly insufficient shielding. All of the crew members except one later died of cancer and the sole survivor is not in good shape either. The documentary I got that info from* also stated that Dubya allegedly ordered a reevaluation of the nuclear-powered cruise missile. That little beastie has the additional "advantage" of a nuclear exhaust that irradiates the area the missile flies over (because it works on the direct system where the intake air is heated directly by the reactor instead of the indirect system with a heat exchanger cycle as in a power plant).
*(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iKB8TRJwL._AA240_.jpg)
There are 100 million internet users in China. Some of the sites they can't access are BBC news, Amnesty International and Dalailama.com
In the 6th century BC Greek mathematician Pythagoras said that earth is round - but few agreed with him.
Greek astronomer Aristarchos said in the 3rd century BC that earth revolves around the sun - but the idea was not accepted.
In the 2nd century BC Greek astronomer Erastosthenes accurately measured the distance around the earth at about 40,000 km (24,860 miles) - but nobody believed him.
but fortunately we've moved on from this kind of silliness and science is the accepted medium of what is and what is not.......
Quote from: anthrobabe on March 03, 2008, 04:12:31 PM
but fortunately we've moved on from this kind of silliness and science is the accepted medium of what is and what is not.......
Aaaah, you should qualify that last with "mostly".... ::) :mrgreen:
Here is a Tale of Woe, and some examples of folk who do not think science proves anything... Topix Evolution Forums (http://www.topix.net/forum/news/evolution)
Not sure I agree with you, Anthro. Not in who said what, but how it was received. Anyone who has ever watched a sailing vessel approaching them sees the mast-head first, then the mast, then the hull. The Greeks certainly had sailing vessels, and mathematicians...
The fact the Flat Earth Society still exists would indicate the lack of complete scientific acceptance.
The most recent world model propagated by the Flat Earth Society holds that humans live on a disc, with the North Pole at its center and a 150-foot (45-meter) high wall of ice at the outer edge. The resulting map resembles the symbol of the United Nations, something Johnson used as evidence for his position. In this model, the sun and moon are each a mere 32 miles (52 km) in diameter.
A newsletter from the society gives some insight into Johnson's thinking:
Aim: To carefully observe, think freely rediscover forgotten fact and oppose theoretical dogmatic assumptions. To help establish the United States...of the world on this flat earth. Replace the science religion...with SANITY
The International Flat Earth Society is the oldest continuous Society existing on the world today. It began with the Creation of the Creation. First the water...the face of the deep...without form or limits...just Water. Then the Land sitting in and on the Water, the Water then as now being flat and level, as is the very Nature of Water. There are, of course, mountains and valleys on the Land but since most of the World is Water, we say, "The World is Flat". Historical accounts and spoken history tell us the Land part may have been square, all in one mass at one time, then as now, the magnetic north being the Center. Vast cataclysmic events and shaking no doubt broke the land apart, divided the Land to be our present continents or islands as they exist today. One thing we know for sure about this world...the known inhabited world is Flat, Level, a Plain World.
We maintain that what is called 'Science' today and 'scientists' consist of the same old gang of witch doctors, sorcerers, tellers of tales, the 'Priest-Entertainers' for the common people. 'Science' consists of a weird, way-out occult concoction of gibberish theory-theology...unrelated to the real world of facts, technology and inventions, tall buildings and fast cars, airplanes and other Real and Good things in life; technology is not in any way related to the web of idiotic scientific theory. ALL inventors have been anti-science. The Wright brothers said: "Science theory held us up for years. When we threw out all science, started from experiment and experience, then we invented the airplane." By the way, airplanes all fly level on this Plane earth.
Quote'Science' consists of a weird, way-out occult concoction of gibberish theory-theology...unrelated to the real world of facts, technology and inventions, tall buildings and fast cars, airplanes and other Real and Good things in life; technology is not in any way related to the web of idiotic scientific theory. ALL inventors have been anti-science.
My, my.
If one was very seriously Flat-Earth, why would one not simply charter a jet to the edge of the world and take some videos to post on YouTube?
Quote from: Agujjim on March 03, 2008, 11:51:50 PM
If one was very seriously Flat-Earth, why would one not simply charter a jet to the edge of the world and take some videos to post on YouTube?
Why indeed.
Likely for the same reason fundamentalists refuse to visit real museums...?
Because then everyone would know. What good is manic belief, despite the obvious, if just any Tom, Dick or Harry can go and prove it?
And you would lose the fun in saying "You evil, twisted Round-Earthers will never get to non-spheriodal Heaven. It is reserved for us, the Chosen, the Smooth of Plane. So there."
OK, then if one is a Round-Earther, how would one get as many Flat-Earthers as possible on a chartered jet, fly 'em over the South Pole (heck, let's circumnavigate the sucker in a couple of directions) and take some videos of their reactions to post on YouTube? :mrgreen:
Silly that they maintain these ideas when it's relatively easy to go take a peek. I've been up high enough in a plane to be reasonably satisfied of the curve of the earth, quite aside from what science has told me. :censored:
(I wish that private space travel was cheap enough to send 'em up for a better look - patience).
So beter not waste the money in one of those Virgin Galactic tickets, eh?
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on March 04, 2008, 12:23:42 AM
So beter not waste the money in one of those Virgin Galactic tickets, eh?
Oh dear. I am so tired. I skim read that as Viagra Galactic tickets. ::)
OK, then if one is a Round-Earther, how would one get as many Flat-Earthers as possible on a chartered jet. Aggie
I don't know. These are obviously not the most rational of people.
"The World is filling up. We need to go and scout for a new one. All aboard the nasty round-bodied airyplane."
or possibly,
"Coffee and doughnuts in the big metal tube over there"?
Silly peoples.
World is a disc...remember? Turtle, elephants, and all!!
Twoflower knows...so does Rincewind.
The more intelligent (or twisted) flat-earthers deny the validity of thew laws of optics, so any "apparent" curvature of the Earth is just an optical illusion. By the same method it is possible to prove that we live on the inside of a hollow sphere. One has simply to use inversion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_%28geometry%29) on space and it all fits.
See also Hohlwelt (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innenweltkosmos)
Questions asked of librarians:
Do you have books here?
Do you have a list of all the books written in the English language?
I have an emergency, and need the telephone number for 911.
Can you tell me why so many Civil War battles were fought on National Park sites?
I was here about three weeks ago, looking at a cookbook that cost $39.95. Do you know which one it was?
I got a quote from a book I turned in last week, but I forgot to write down the author and title. It's big and red, and I got it from a top shelf. Can you find it for me?
Do you have a list of all the books I've ever read?
Which outlets in the library are appropriate for my hair-dryer?
(from American Libraries magazine)
fact:
here is just one single example of the insanity that dispatch deals with on a daily basis
if you ever wonder to yourself 'why is it taking so long for _______ to arrive to my emergency' then remember this
your dispatcher might be dealing with this crap
Wrong Burger 911 (http://www.snopes.com/crime/cops/burger.asp)
Snopes lists it as 'unverified' -- the actual call is real-- I've heard it myself with my own ears it's the location (BK or Hardees or somesuch) that is unverified-- so snopes lists it as unverified-- but the call itself is real--- I suppose it could have been some idiots idea of a prank--- and that is worse than simple idiocy.
Some of the library questions are a bit less stupid than others (depending on the library, especially its location)
One could e.g. kindly interprete the question about the list of books read as being about books from that library (for pecuniary challenged people that could be the same). Many libraries have long-term records about who borrowed which book.
And with some "libraries" I am slowly doubting the stupidity of "do you have books?".
The cookbook question is stupid but could actually be answerable (if the available number of cookbooks is limited on the shelves).
Big, red and on the top shelves? What volume of the encyclopedia do you want, dear? ;)
In Liverpool it is illegal for a woman to be topless in public except as a clerk in a tropical fish store, or in a bank if handling foreign currency.
The largest hen egg on record is a 16 ounce one, produced by a White Leghorn.
(http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/bandages.gif)
For twenty years, the US Army had these:.
Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (MADM), a low-yield (1- to 15-kiloton) nuclear land mine designed to be deployed behind enemy lines and destroy tunnels, bridges, dams, and disrupt enemy troop movements.
and these:
The Davy Crockett consisted of an XM-388 projectile launched from either a 120-millimeter (XM-28) or 155-millimeter (XM-29) recoilless rifle (the 120 millimeter version is shown above). This weapon had a maximum range of 1.24 miles (120 millimeter) to 2.49 miles (155 millimeter).
Yep, a bazooka nuke. Can't have been popular with the troops.
"Jones, you were late for parade. You get to man-pack the nuclear device..."
The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Sd.Kfz 205) was a German super-heavy tank design, and the heaviest tank to reach the complete working prototype stage in World War II. The basic design known as the VK7001/Porsche Type 205 was suggested by Ferdinand Porsche to Adolf Hitler in June of 1942, who subsequently approved it. The design up to then had been the culmination of work done by Porsche who had won the contract for the heavy tank that March. Work on the design began in earnest; the first prototype, to be ready in 1943 was initially to receive the name Mammut (Ger. "Mammoth"). This was reportedly changed to Mäuschen (Little Mouse) in December of 1942 and finally Maus (Mouse) in February of 1943.
During the tests, the Maus could hardly move due to its enormous weight and power/weight ratio. First prototype V1 (Maus I), was powered by modified Daimler-Benz MB 509 (developed from DB 603 aircraft engine), which could not provide planned speed of 20km/h but only 13km/h in ideal conditions. Also problems arose with the suspension system which had to be modified in order to take the weight of the vehicle. Another problem that emerged from its weight, was that simply there were no bridges constructed anywhere that were able to take its weight.
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 10, 2008, 12:52:22 AM
For twenty years, the US Army had these:.
Medium Atomic Demolition Munition (MADM), a low-yield (1- to 15-kiloton) nuclear land mine designed to be deployed behind enemy lines and destroy tunnels, bridges, dams, and disrupt enemy troop movements.
A very close friend actually worked on these, back when he was in the Army. There were 2 versions of the "man portable atomic devices". One was small enough to carry on the back of a typical soldier. The other was a bit larger, had a larger yield and required a couple (or 4) of soldiers to move about. They usually used a truck, and only "man-handled" it into final placement.
He says he actually only got to work with a "real" one a couple of times; most times, they used trainers: exactly like the real one in weight, etc, but not containing actual atomic materials.
He also recalls a few times as guard duty for one, that was being transshipped; since he and his buddies (Corps of Engineers, Atomic Demolitions branch) were the 'experts' they got to guard the things....
He tells also, of working out exactly how to secure one into an Apache heli. Since the Apache's were new at the time, there wasn't any "doctrine" about it, and he and his buddies had to work it out from scratch. The army eventually included their results in the next field manual.
Was an interesting few years for him, and was a stepping-stone into a brief career in the Army (as a chemical officer, later). But, more importantly, the "job" was one that paid a good enlistment bonus, as well as a good college tuition fund-matching.
He got his college degree from that. Not a bad trade.
And, no, he does not "glow in the dark". :) The army was
very strict about radiation safety-- very, very. I guess the Powers That Be in the US Army learned the dark lessons taught by the Russians under the USSR.
The Russians had a nuclear tipped torpedo with a range lower than the radius of destruction of the warhead. The sub crew would have had a very slim chance to escape by making a 180° turn after firing and running away at full speed but it was assumed that it actually was a suicide weapon.
---
The designers of the Maus did realize the bridge troubles and fitted it with a snorkel. Concepts for that existed since the planning of Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, and are still part of many tank designs today.
The Maus was nonetheless simply a waste of material. But there were also plans (scrapped by Speer when he got the chance) for a 1000t tank with 11 inch twin naval guns and a 1500t design for a tracked version of the 80cm railway gun. Landcruisers indeed.
The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.
Snorkels on tanks is fine. Very effective, in fact. But I bet the crew would be wary of driving anything that heavy into a river, with the traditional nice soft bed.
The R/P FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform) is an open ocean research vessel. FLIP ship is a 355 feet (108 meters) long vessel designed to partially flood and pitch backward 90 degrees, resulting in only the front 55 feet (17 meters) of the vessel pointing up out of the water, with bulkheads becoming floors. Pictures of this ship are frequently mistaken for a capsized ocean transport ship.
The FLIP ship is designed to study wave height, acoustic signals, water temperature and density, and for the collection of meteorological data. Because of the potential interference with the acoustic instruments, FLIP has no engines or other means of propulsion. It must be towed to open water, where it drifts freely or is anchored.
FLIP carries a crew of five, plus up to eleven scientists.
The Marine Physical Laboratory of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography created FLIP with funding from the Office of Naval Research (TRF). The Gunderson Brothers Engineering Company in Portland, Oregon launched FLIP in June 1962. (In 1995, FLIP received a $2,000,000 modernization.)
FLIP weighs 700 long tons (711 tonnes). It operates worldwide but the normal operating area is the west coast of the United States.
The design was apparently based on a Louisville Slugger baseball bat.
Was reminiscing this weekend, and recalled an old book, "Between The Elephant's Eyes" (synopsis) (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,936481,00.html?promoid=googlep) by Colonel Robert L. Scott Jr, written about African hunting before WW2.
The fact is that the best shot to get an elephant is not between his eyes, but an imaginary line from earhole to earhole. The bone between his eyes is soo thick, that all but the largest of calibers would bounce off.
A body shot may kill the elephant-- eventually. But, as the animal is so massive, it could take days or longer.
The story (from the book) ends with the hunter matching wits with an ancient behemoth of a tusker, and deciding at the final minute he didn't have the heart to kill such a noble beast-- he fired well over his head instead.
Elephant guns, or rifles made specifically for the hunting of elephants were typically very large caliber, .50 and .60 not uncommon. Most of these were over-and-under, with the large bore above, and a smaller bore beneath. The smaller bore was in case the hunter stumbled across an angry lion, hyena or other smaller animal, and was usually 30-06, .308 or similar rifle round.
It was a "sport" for the wealthy, though-- a safari was expensive to finance, not to mention the time it took; sailing to Africa; arranging local guides, and so on.
I read that book one time, in Jr High, and the synopsis was as I remembered it. *sigh* now why can't I remember anything really important?
In Michigan, a man legally owns his wife's hair.
The only flying saucer launch pad in the world is located in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada
Quote from: Swatopluk on March 11, 2008, 10:57:46 AM
The designers of the Maus did realize the bridge troubles and fitted it with a snorkel. Concepts for that existed since the planning of Operation Sealion, the invasion of Britain, and are still part of many tank designs today.
The Maus was nonetheless simply a waste of material. But there were also plans (scrapped by Speer when he got the chance) for a 1000t tank with 11 inch twin naval guns and a 1500t design for a tracked version of the 80cm railway gun. Landcruisers indeed.
The Soviets during the '30's designed a similar tank, 1000 tons with 4 8" guns. They determined that it would have to be parked on a thick reinforced concrete pad and would tend to sink into the ground when it was driven off the pad. Quite logically, they abandoned the project.
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 18, 2008, 12:53:31 PM
The only flying saucer launch pad in the world is located in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada
Heh, I was in & around St. Paul for several days in December and January. ;)
We have lots of big crazy stuff out here - my favorite is the Glendon Perogy.
Anybody want to get married? Two Montanans repeatedly take marriage vows without the benefit of divorce, but they aren't polygamists; they are proxies for absent brides and grooms.
Montana is the only state that allows a double-proxy wedding, meaning both sides can be no-shows. Kalispell, Mont., began taking advantage of this quirk about five years ago, when a native son serving in Iraq wanted to marry his pregnant girl-friend.
Some research by lawyer Dean Knapton and -- viola! -- Friday afternoon nuptials were born.
The law had been on Montana's books for several decades, perhaps to accommodate soldiers during World War II.
The cost to the real, albeit absent, bride and groom: $900,
of which $50 apiece goes to the proxies, $100 to the judge,
$150 to the lawyer-witness; $53 for court fees; $14 for two
certified copies of the marriage certificate. The rest goes
to a Pennsylvania couple who run a business facilitating
proxy marriages.
Does this mean all single people who want to be married but are just not attractive enough could have symbolic marriages ? :mrgreen:
No, it just means that meddling parents of long-term singles will be practicing forging signatures. :o
In North Carolina, elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields.
The New York Times just reported a study that shows a negative correlation between...
The average per capita beer consumption
and
The number of science papers published.
In other words, the more beer, the less science.
No children may attend school with their breath smelling of 'wild onions' in West Virginia.
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 15, 2008, 10:08:13 PM
The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.
Say WHAT???
Since when?
And...homebrew stores are OK, but an encyclopedia isn't??
Considering that we've got more beer and wine production here than almost any other state in the US...
WTF??
That's a factoid that's no fact.
Sex toys WERE illegal here, but beer?? No way.
Quote from: Sibling Chatty on March 21, 2008, 05:14:20 AM
Sex toys WERE illegal here, but beer?? No way.
So, you're saying they ain't any longer?
Hmmmm.....
Quebec Provincial Laws
· It is illegal to turn right on a red light at any time.
· All business signs in the province of Quebec must be in French. If the business operator wishes to have English on the sign, the French must be at least twice as large as the English is. There are no laws governing the usage of other languages on signs. -Bill 101 (Passed 1976)
· No language other than French is permitted to be shown out doors.
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 21, 2008, 04:15:17 PM
Quebec Provincial Laws
· It is illegal to turn right on a red light at any time.
· All business signs in the province of Quebec must be in French. If the business operator wishes to have English on the sign, the French must be at least twice as large as the English is. There are no laws governing the usage of other languages on signs. -Bill 101 (Passed 1976)
· No language other than French is permitted to be shown out doors.
It is said, that Quebec is far, far more French than France... ::)
It is illegal for a Member of Parliament to enter the House of Commons wearing a full suit of armour.
Until the German reunion (and return of sovereignty) any person in Berlin could have been shot for crossing the borders between the allied sectors without proper papers. In reality this only happened with reagrd to the Russion sector (=East Berlin).
In theory most breadknifes were illegal during the same period for exceeding the legal length of blade (I can't remember any case of allied soldiers attacked with breadknifes by angry Berlin mobs though).
Any lithium compound in Berlin had (in theory) to be cleared with the Allied Control Council (hey, someone could have built a hydrogen bomb with that!*)
*LiD (lithium deuteride) is used as "dry" fuel for those
An 18th century French prostitute could be spared punishment if she were willing to join the opera.
In Norway there are TV news with the anouncer (usually female) stripping.
Update: nothing new obviously (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_News)
"Bookkeeper" is the only word in English language with three consecutive double letters.
Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his cap to keep him cool. He changed it every 2 innings
A candidate for state senator (Idaho) has changed his name to "Pro-Life"
Vote Pro-Life
Literally: " A Senate candidate has legally changed his name to Pro-Life and will appear on the ballot that way this year, state election officials say. As Marvin Pro-Life Richardson, the organic strawberry farmer from Letha, 30 miles northwest of Boise, was denied the use of his middle name when he ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006 because the state's policy bars the use of slogans on the ballot. Now, though, officials in the Idaho secretary of state's office say they have no choice because Pro-Life is his full and only name. He says he will run for the highest state office on the ballot every two years for the rest of his life, advocating murder charges for doctors who perform abortions and for women who obtain the procedure."
Two-thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey.
Apparently, on a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag. Can we have verification from a Canuckistani Sibling?
False. It's an old version of the Canuckistani flag (the Maple Leaf was introduced in 1965 - the pictures depict the Parliment Buildings previous to this date, apparently), and that applies to the old new $5 and $10, not the $2. I have some old $2 bills stashed somewhere, but it's been a long time since one saw circulation, making this easy to propagate as a myth.
(http://www.snopes.com/business/graphics/ensign.gif)
http://www.snopes.com/business/money/redensign.asp
Quote from: Swatopluk on March 26, 2008, 11:50:59 AM
A candidate for state senator (Idaho) has changed his name to "Pro-Life"
Vote Pro-Life
Literally: " A Senate candidate has legally changed his name to Pro-Life and will appear on the ballot that way this year, state election officials say. As Marvin Pro-Life Richardson, the organic strawberry farmer from Letha, 30 miles northwest of Boise, was denied the use of his middle name when he ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006 because the state's policy bars the use of slogans on the ballot. Now, though, officials in the Idaho secretary of state's office say they have no choice because Pro-Life is his full and only name. He says he will run for the highest state office on the ballot every two years for the rest of his life, advocating murder charges for doctors who perform abortions and for women who obtain the procedure."
Hopefully, someone who is Pro Intelligence will see this puke for what he is and silence him.... one way or another. I suggest prozac or some other calming drug in large doses.
Maybe one could get him into inorganic* strawberries ;)
*"Organic Food" is a pretty stupid label in my opinion, because the amount of purely inorganic food is negligible.
Quote from: Swatopluk on March 27, 2008, 09:58:04 AM
Maybe one could get him into inorganic* strawberries ;)
*"Organic Food" is a pretty stupid label in my opinion, because the amount of purely inorganic food is negligible.
LOL!
A very strong case for twinkies as being inorganic can be made. Twinkie Project (http://www.twinkiesproject.com/)
Quote from: Swatopluk on March 27, 2008, 09:58:04 AM
*"Organic Food" is a pretty stupid label in my opinion, because the amount of purely inorganic food is negligible.
Especially considering that all the 'best' pesticides are 100% organic substances (inorganic pesticides worked well but are out of vogue; you can find traces in Loblaw's organic pear-juice products, though). ;)
Quote from: Agujjim on March 27, 2008, 05:36:34 PM
Quote from: Swatopluk on March 27, 2008, 09:58:04 AM
*"Organic Food" is a pretty stupid label in my opinion, because the amount of purely inorganic food is negligible.
Especially considering that all the 'best' pesticides are 100% organic substances (inorganic pesticides worked well but are out of vogue; you can find traces in Loblaw's organic pear-juice products, though). ;)
My absolutely favorite anti-wasp spray is based on cloves-- it smells strongly of cloves! Too cool!
And you are correct-- plants have evolved through millions of years, quite an array of anti-pests.
Sorry, didn't put enough :irony: into it. I was referring to the lovely products of Organic chemistry (organic = contains carbon in chemical terms) like DDT, Lindane, Malathion, etc., not "organic" alternatives (which are usually still organic compounds) Chlorinated organics are a scourge.
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 28, 2008, 03:02:50 AM
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
I understand he specialized in concrete-type furniture.
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on March 28, 2008, 03:42:43 AM
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 28, 2008, 03:02:50 AM
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
I understand he specialized in concrete-type furniture.
I thought that was concrete footwear.
Quote from: Aphos on March 28, 2008, 03:48:21 AM
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on March 28, 2008, 03:42:43 AM
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 28, 2008, 03:02:50 AM
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
I understand he specialized in concrete-type furniture.
I thought that was concrete footwear.
That was just a sideline, I think.... went well with the concrete overcoat.
If one can build concrete ships why not make concrete clothing (there is even musique concrète ;)).
You can't have concrete clothing because the reinforcing rods get in all the wrong places...
Los Angeles's full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula
Quite a mouthful.
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 28, 2008, 03:49:23 PM
You can't have concrete clothing because the reinforcing rods get in all the wrong places...
That's called a corset and was quite fashionable
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 28, 2008, 03:49:23 PM
Los Angeles's full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula
Little Rock's full name is "The Little Rock across the gully from the big rock and next to the cactus that looks uncannily like Victoria Beckham".
OK, I made that up.Used to live in a place called Leatherhead which, with the wonderful logic of English, meant something like "the place where you could get across the river" in Anglo Saxon.
Quote from: Swatopluk on March 29, 2008, 10:29:08 AM
Quote from: Pachyderm on March 28, 2008, 03:49:23 PM
You can't have concrete clothing because the reinforcing rods get in all the wrong places...
That's called a corset and was quite fashionable
With a LOT of the Wrong People, it still is... :eeksign:
One of the funniest starting lines in a story went something like this:
I was returning home from my wilderness vacation, camping on Its A Mountain, Stupid. As with many places, it was named by the locals, in their native tongue. When the white explorers first came to the area, they pointed to the tallest local Mountain, and asked the first local they saw, "What do you call that?" The local, not speaking the language--even though the white explorer was helpfully talking very slowly, and in an overloud voice, did recognize that he was asking a question. Seeing him point at the local mountain, he helpfully explained, "It's a Mountain, Stupid" in his own tongue. And the name stuck...
That's also known informally as the Pratchett theory of native naming (although he claims not to be the first one to come up with that idea)
After serving as a writer in the East India Company, a general in Hyder Ali's army and Prime Minister to the Nabob of Arcot, John Stewart, aged 34, decided to return to England. He walked all the way, passing through India, Persia, Ethiopia, Arabia, Turkey and Lapland. When he did get back, he spoke eight languages as well as English.
The Plantiff: Jeffery Stambovsky
The Defendant: Helen V. Ackley
The Lawsuit: Stambovsky purchased Ackley's house in Nyack, New York, for $650,000. When he later discovered that the house was "haunted," he sued Ackley for failing to disclose the presence of poltergeists.
The Verdict: Guilty. Unfortunately for her, Ackley had bragged to friends for years that the place was spooked. She was even interviewed by Readers Digest for an article on haunted houses. The judge found that Ackley should have told Stambovsky everything about the house, noting that the existence of ghosts meant that she had actually broken the law by not leaving the house vacant.
Haunted house = no fun, regardless of the existence of ghosts or not. I lived in one for 3 weeks... :scared:
No piece of square dry paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.
Quote from: Pachyderm on April 12, 2008, 01:52:53 PM
No piece of square dry paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.
Unless you're MythBusters, and the paper in question is many feet square....
Damn them. Why can't they stick to shooting ballistic gel models of Grant? I haven't seen that one.
An ordinance in Newcastle, Wyoming, specifically bans couples from having sex while standing inside a store's walk-in meat freezer.
Quote from: Pachyderm on April 12, 2008, 10:30:43 PM
An ordinance in Newcastle, Wyoming, specifically bans couples from having sex while standing inside a store's walk-in meat freezer.
Is it OK if they bring sleeping bags? ;) :mrgreen:
Those kinds of laws always make wonder -- really wonder -- about what prompted them. And then, why nice people immediately start thinking of ways to get around them. :)
Allan Sherman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Sherman) wrote a little essay on regulations, trying to come up with one which was "easy to follow and hard to break":
QuoteTHOU SHALT NOT STUFF FORTY-SEVEN TENNIS BALLS INTO THY TOILET BOWL
"Well, my friend," he said, "if I don't print this here Commandment of yours, the world will never know about it and things will go along as usual. But if I do print it and your new religion catches on, do you have the slightest idea what will happen?"
"No," I said.
"Within three days there will be a world-wide shortage of tennis balls."
"No!" I cried.
"Without question. And by the end of the week every average person in America will have forty-seven tennis balls stuffed into his toilet."
"You mean the sinners?"
"Nope. Sinners will have forty-eight. Hopeless Degenerates will have forty-nine."
"Good Lord! Well, thank heaven for the God-fearing people."
"Yes, they'll only have forty-six. They play according to the rules. ..."
Often these kind of laws come into being as "amendments" are tacked onto otherwise sensible laws that someone or a group of someone's don't want passed. they stick these ridiculous addendi on, hoping that the entire law will then get kicked into touch. Sometimes, however, the first part is wanted, so they simply pass the whole thing. on other occasions, somebody gets hauled into court for something so weird that it isn't covered by the existing laws, and a new one gets passed so that particular situation doesn't happen again. Others are just ancient laws that have never been repealed, like no more than 3 Scotsmen can gather in Carlisle, in case they are plotting and scheming. Historically, that frequently was the case, but not germane today.
In Massachusetts, an old ordinance declares goatees illegal unless you first pay a special license fee for the privilege of wearing one in public.
A lot of these laws are probably apocryphal anyway.
I strongly suspect that includes the ban of throwing mooses out of airplanes (Alaska) while I am not sure about the ban of vivitinga cinema accompanied by a lion (Florida?).
Under a 1959 ordinance, stubborn children were considered vagrants in Jupiter Inlet Colony, Fla.
Quote from: Swatopluk on April 14, 2008, 11:31:18 AM
A lot of these laws are probably apocryphal anyway.
I strongly suspect that includes the ban of throwing mooses out of airplanes (Alaska)
Perhaps not - many places in the far north are accessible only by float-plane, and it's very normal for rich hunters to fly into prime moose-hunting spots. I'll wager there was a moose (carcass) thrown from a plane at some point that could have triggered such a law. Whether it exists may be another matter, but it's not too far-fetched.
Some counties in Texas still have the 'no wirecutters in your saddlebags' laws. Heck, some counties in Texas still elect an "Inspector of Hides".
I've been arrested for wirecutters in my car...cop looking for a reason, basically. Yeah, I'ma take my #14 linesman's pliers and cut down the fences on all those ranches in downtown Houston... ::) ::) ::)
The oldest (or at least oldest still in existence*) complex prosthetic hand/arm was used by Götz von Berlichingen (early 16th century). It actually allowed to grasp (the mechanism had to be operated by the other hand though). It consisted of over 200 parts.
*although there are claims that the one shown is actually a later copy
The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds
Chickens run and don't fly! (and they are revolting of course)
Quote from: Pachyderm on April 16, 2008, 01:32:14 PM
The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds
Do the "flights" from helicopter to ground count? Oh, wait, those were turkeys.
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly"
-- WKRP in Cincinatti, TV show.
Quote from: Swatopluk on April 16, 2008, 01:35:12 PM
Chickens run and don't fly! (and they are revolting of course)
Quick! Eat them before they take over!
We'll die free chicken or die trying!
Can I eat free chicken and just die the eggs? :mrgreen:
Well, I saw that pun coming from so far away that I was tempted to type 'dye' in the first place :D
According to the bible pi has the value of 3
This is not a joke!!!!!!
The composer Richard Wagner disliked the composer Johannes Brahms, probably because he was a serious rival (and also he (=Wagner) was quite an asshole). In order to undermine him, he spread the (false) rumour that Brahms tortured cats to death and got inspiration for his musical works from the sound the cats made. According to the rumour, Brahms used a bow or crossbow with arrows/bolts attached to a line to harpoon the cats in the courtyard. Then he would draw them up to his window with the line and begin the torturing session.
So a false rumour is a fact ?
If you ask a GOP operative..... :(
La calunnia è un venticello
Un'auretta assai gentile
Che insensibile sottile
Leggermente dolcemente
Incomincia a sussurrar.
Piano piano terra terra
Sotto voce sibillando
Va scorrendo, va ronzando,
Nelle orecchie della gente
S'introduce destramente,
E le teste ed i cervelli
Fa stordire e fa gonfiar.
Dalla bocca fuori uscendo
Lo schiamazzo va crescendo:
Prende forza a poco a poco,
Scorre già di loco in loco,
Sembra il tuono, la tempesta
Che nel sen della foresta,
Va fischiando, brontolando,
E ti fa d'orror gelar.
Alla fin trabocca, e scoppia,
Si propaga si raddoppia
E produce un'esplosione
Come un colpo di cannone,
Un tremuoto, un temporale,
Un tumulto generale
Che fa l'aria rimbombar.
E il meschino calunniato
Avvilito, calpestato
Sotto il pubblico flagello
Per gran sorte va a crepar.
Ahh... Il Barbiere di Seviglia!
[youtube=425,350]cPsxeH6rWic[/youtube]
Not to forgit....the Seville Rabbit
[youtube=425,350]KQ3efT1kqXs[/youtube]
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on May 17, 2008, 04:02:33 AM
Ahh... Il Barbiere di Seviglia!
Ohhh! My very first Opera experience!
*fond memories* :catroll:
Due to lack of time Rossini did not compose an overture for the Barber of Seville but reused the one he did for Elizabeth, Queen of England
The S.O.S. signal is 150 years old this week.
While we are at distress signals, why is Mayday one? Isn't February or November far more distressing? ;)
It only takes seven pounds of pressure to rip off a human ear, and only sixty-six to snap a neck.
August 1776 - The task begun on July 4, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was not actually completed until August. Nonetheless, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence from Britain. (from Fabulous Foods 'dot' com)
July 4, 1776 -- After various changes to Jefferson's original draft, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration; 2, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No; Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. (from Fabulous Foods 'dot' com) IMHO that was a pretty close vote- but still a majority
Quote from: Swatopluk on July 04, 2008, 09:57:18 AM
While we are at distress signals, why is Mayday one? Isn't February or November far more distressing? ;)
November is NOT distressing. Now January...
Oh, and because they don't sound like the French for "HELP ME!!"
According to today's papers someone at last did a successful balloon trip (500 km) in his garden chair.
He was armed with an air rifle to pop the balloons for a controlled landing.
Unlike the priest a while back who tried that but didn't know how to operate his GPS, so ended up dead in the middle of the ocean. Oops.
A true priest should be able to walk on water ;)
Quote from: Alpaca on July 07, 2008, 05:01:40 PM
Unlike the priest a while back who tried that but didn't know how to operate his GPS, so ended up dead in the middle of the ocean. Oops.
And the collective human race's IQ went up a tiny bit as a result....
....and not automatically because he was a priest, either....
Think of it as Evolution In Action.
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on July 07, 2008, 11:49:16 PM
Quote from: Alpaca on July 07, 2008, 05:01:40 PM
Unlike the priest a while back who tried that but didn't know how to operate his GPS, so ended up dead in the middle of the ocean. Oops.
And the collective human race's IQ went up a tiny bit as a result....
....and not automatically because he was a priest, either....
Think of it as Evolution In Action.
But ... but ... but ... what if he
didn't believe in evolution? ???
;)
That's OK. Evolution believed in him enough to make SURE he was outta the gene pool.
Ya know, some gene pools need to be drained and scrubbed down with bleach...
Well, bleach is a powerful contraceptive but the side effects are misunderestimated by some*
*this is referring to the stupidity/extreme level of uninformedness of some people not to the sterilisation program of the nazis that experimented with caustic fluid injection into the uterus.
Does bleach have a caloric value?
According to www.calorie-count.com(12-08-07) the top 20 'worst' fast food items are
White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Louisville region): 1680
Nathan's Fish N Chips: 1537
Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger: 1520
Hardee's Monster Thickburger: 1420
Dairy Queen Large Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard: 1320
Hardee's Double Bacon Cheese Thickburger: 1300
Dairy Queen Large Chocolate Malt: 1300
Nathan's Chicken Tender Platter: 1300
Jack In The Box OREO Cookie Ice Cream Shake (24oz): 1290
Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Basket (6 piece): 1270
Hardee's Double Thickburger: 1250
Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich With Cheese: 1230
Jack In The Box Chocolate Ice Cream Shake (24oz): 1230
White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (New Jersey region): 1230
Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Breaded Pork Chop: 1220
Jack In The Box Strawberry Ice Cream Shake (24oz): 1220
Jack In The Box Egg Nog Shake (24oz): 1210
Nathan's French Fries (Super Size): 1188
White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (New Jersey region): 1180
Del Taco Macho Beef Burrito: 1170
but why is is all soooooooooo good (well not the egg nog shake)
(ps google the McDonalds/Burger King/Rally's nutrition facts for extra fun)
Quote from: anthrobabe on July 08, 2008, 11:12:46 AM
Does bleach have a caloric value?
According to www.calorie-count.com(12-08-07) the top 20 'worst' fast food items are
White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (Louisville region): 1680
Nathan's Fish N Chips: 1537
Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger: 1520
Hardee's Monster Thickburger: 1420
Dairy Queen Large Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard: 1320
Hardee's Double Bacon Cheese Thickburger: 1300
Dairy Queen Large Chocolate Malt: 1300
Nathan's Chicken Tender Platter: 1300
Jack In The Box OREO Cookie Ice Cream Shake (24oz): 1290
Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Basket (6 piece): 1270
Hardee's Double Thickburger: 1250
Burger King Triple Whopper Sandwich With Cheese: 1230
Jack In The Box Chocolate Ice Cream Shake (24oz): 1230
White Castle Chocolate Shake - Large (New Jersey region): 1230
Hardee's Big Country Breakfast Platter - Breaded Pork Chop: 1220
Jack In The Box Strawberry Ice Cream Shake (24oz): 1220
Jack In The Box Egg Nog Shake (24oz): 1210
Nathan's French Fries (Super Size): 1188
White Castle Vanilla Shake - Large (New Jersey region): 1180
Del Taco Macho Beef Burrito: 1170
but why is is all soooooooooo good (well not the egg nog shake)
(ps google the McDonalds/Burger King/Rally's nutrition facts for extra fun)
Now, where on that list do you put steadily throwing handfuls of chocolate-covered raisins/espresso beans down one's gullet?
Those are good, and so small and innocent-seeming and addictive...
To heck with calories (although most of those calories on the list are likely saturated fats - bad), where's the list of worst sodium offenders?
The amount of sodium in prepared foods can be incredible - especially soups.
http://www.cspinet.org/salt/hspackaged.html
High-Sodium Packaged Foods
Food, serving size Sodium
(mg)
Swanson's Hungry Man XXL Roasted Carved Turkey 1 package 5,410
Swanson's Hungry Man XXL Angus Beef Meatloaf 1 package 3,480
Swanson's Hungry Man XXL Southern Fried Boneless Chicken 1 package 3,180
Boston Market Homestyle Meal Beef Sirloin w/ Noodles 1 package 2,270
Marie Callender's Classic One Dish Chicken Teriyaki 1 package 2,200
Mott's Mr and Mrs T. Bloody Mary Mix 12 oz 2,100
Oscar Mayer Lunchables Deluxe Turkey & Ham w/ Swiss & Cheddar 1 package 1,940
Gorton's Shrimp Bowl Fried Rice 1 bowl 1,700
Stouffer's Beef Pot Roast w/ Roasted Potatoes Homestyle Dinner 1 dinner 1,610
Marie Callender's Meat Loaf & Gravy Complete Dinner 1 dinner 1,510
Stouffer's Slow Roasted Beef and Gravy Homestyle Dinner 1 dinner 1,510
Banquet Macaroni & Cheese Dinner 1 dinner 1,500
Uncle Ben's Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl 1 bowl 1,450
Maruchan Instant Lunch Ramen Noodles w/ Vegetables 1 package 1,410
Mrs. Paul's Garlic Butter Shrimp Bowl 1 bowl 1,390
Bush's Best Homestyle Chili Original No Beans 1 cup 1,380
Uncle Ben's Teriyaki Stir Fry Vegetable Rice Bowl 1 bowl 1,350
Banquet Homestyle Bakes Complete Meal, Country Chicken 1 meal 1,350
Freschetta Pepperoni Pizza ½ pizza 1,350
Mrs. Paul's Shrimp Stirfry Bowl 1 bowl 1,300
Stouffer's Chunky Beef & Bean Chili Entrée 1 entrée 1,300
Campbell's Soup Cheddar Cheese 10¾ oz. prepared 1,280
La Choy Soy Sauce 1 tablespoon 1,260
Oscar Mayer Lunchables Megapak Deep Dish Pepperoni 1 package 1,250
Gorton's Shrimp Bowl Primavera 1 bowl 1,250
Oscar Mayer Lunchables Megapak Pizza Deep Dish Extra Cheesy 1 package 1,240
Stouffer's Chicken Breasts Tenders in BBQ Sauce Homestyle Entrée 1 entrée 1,230
La Choy Chicken Chow Mein 1 cup 1,200
Source: Companies.
No UK food products on those lists - so I shall assume I can eat anything ;)
Thanks Chatty!
QuoteBased on the IOM's UL, Health Canada recommends that adults do not exceed 2,300 mg of sodium per day.
Kind of sick that packaged meals are permitted to have TWICE the daily recommended limit of sodium, eh?
I'm starting to get sick of restaurant food when in the field (it's usually small-town fare, which means fast food, pub food, westernized Chinese or steak) and am starting to pick up frozen dinners and bagged salads as an alternative, provided that I've a fridge and microwave in my room. It's pretty tough to find frozen meals without nearly a day's worth of saturated fat and sodium
per meal.
Maybe one has to electrolyze the food to get rid of the sodium chloride.
Quote from: Agujjim on July 08, 2008, 08:11:08 PM
It's pretty tough to find frozen meals without nearly a day's worth of saturated fat and sodium per meal.
Perhaps you should eat cheese and crackers:
Food (1 oz unless stated) | Sodium (mg) |
Cheese, blue | 395mg |
Cheese, cheddar | 176mg |
Cheese, feta | 316mg |
Cheese, mozzarella, part skim | 150mg |
Cheese, mozzarella, whole milk | 106mg |
Cheese, muenster | 178mg |
Cheese, neufchatel | 113mg |
Cheese, American | 337mg |
ROFL, if you only consider the sodium in the cheese and the fat in the crackers (assuming they are Stoned Wheat Thins; crackers in general are as bad or worse than crisps, and usually higher in saturated fat), then maybe.
Pre-washed salad, a hot roast chicken and some low-fat flatbread (commercial tortillas here are generally loaded with fat) are generally the best option for a dinner with leftovers that will pack easily into lunches.
It's also the saturated fats I am most concerned with because high-calorie is not a problem for me, but I do worry about overall health effects (heart etc).
Anything at a restaurant is considered to be "don't ask, don't tell" - I recall well my old chef's mantra of "FAT IS FLAVOUR. MORE FAT! MORE SALT!" - and that was at a decent restaurant that didn't rely on fat and salt for primary flavours. Cynical guy, Dom... but he knew what the masses liked. Field eating is a constant hunt for vegetables.
I used to take canned Oriental Vegetables (usually the ubiquitous La Choy back then, with lots of sodium, yes) and drain the water, rinse them a few times, pick out the celery and add them to whatever I picked up while having to eat when traveling.
A teriyaki roast chicken and tortilla/wrap thing, with some well-rinsed veggies was a favorite. If you have a microwave available and can carry a rice cooker with you (there's a Nordicware microwave rice cooker that's about ten bucks American) you can feed yourself pretty well...
Quote from: Agujjim on July 10, 2008, 05:54:35 PM
Field eating is a constant hunt for vegetables.
Anyone remember that old Gary Larson cartoon:"Early vegetarians returning from the kill."? :mrgreen:
No copy of that on google but maybe these will suffice as a stand-in
(http://www.worth1000.com/entries/247500/247928ouWT_w.jpg)
http://www.worth1000.com/entries/247500/247928ouWT_w.jpg
(http://www.hohpe.com/Gregor/Events/FarSide/caveman.jpg)
http://www.hohpe.com/Gregor/Events/FarSide/caveman.jpg
Quote from: Sibling Chatty on July 11, 2008, 05:49:46 AM
If you have a microwave available and can carry a rice cooker with you (there's a Nordicware microwave rice cooker that's about ten bucks American) you can feed yourself pretty well...
Heh, we actually have been known to carry a rice cooker to hotels.
The counfounding factor in this is that my current company doesn't give an allowance, they just pay actual expenses (within reasonable limits). So I'm actually better off buying as much prepared / precooked food as possible.
I used to get a daily meal allowance and had more fun seeing how CHEAP I could eat by packing lunches, cooking in the room etc. Now it's strictly a matter of restaurant fatigue.
At age 16 Confucius was a corn inspector
Was Confucius the guy who progressed from staring at feet to navel gazing?
Quite possibly. :D
In the 19th century, the British Navy attempted to dispel the superstition that Friday was an unlucky day to embark on a ship. The Keel of a new ship was laid on a Friday, she was named HMS Friday, commanded by a Captain Friday, and finally went to sea on a Friday. Neither the ship nor her crew were ever heard of again.
There are over 600 working girls in Midsomer Hampshire.
So few? ;)
A Chinese elephant just successfully finished heroin withdrawal treatment.
The animal was freed from drug traffickers that fed it with heroin-laced bananas.
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29236120070830
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on August 04, 2008, 03:26:38 AM
So few? ;)
And half of those are actually Labour M.P.s who don't like to give their real job in surveys.
Quote from: beagle on September 04, 2008, 09:36:46 PM
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on August 04, 2008, 03:26:38 AM
So few? ;)
And half of those are actually Labour M.P.s who don't like to give their real job in surveys.
Vote for assisted births for working girls?
Iguanas have a semi-functional 3rd eye on the top of their heads that helps them spot possible predators.
Napolean used homeopathy for his pubic lice.
From the bbc QI fact for the Day:
A cockroach can live for several weeks without its head. Some insects can live headlessly for a whole year.
<shame some governments* can't ;) >
*possible UK interest only
Quote from: Griffin NoName on May 20, 2009, 12:17:33 AM
A cockroach can live for several weeks without its head. Some insects can live headlessly for a whole year.
But how long could a famous French chemist's head live on after he was guillotined?
Not long enough to benefit from the pardon he was later given, that's for sure.
Quote from: beagle on May 20, 2009, 08:57:14 PM
Quote from: Griffin NoName on May 20, 2009, 12:17:33 AM
A cockroach can live for several weeks without its head. Some insects can live headlessly for a whole year.
But how long could a famous French chemist's head live on after he was guillotined?
Not long enough to benefit from the pardon he was later given, that's for sure.
It was discussed at the time, what the last thing would be for the beheaded to see. Would he see his or her own torso, if the head fell the right way into the basket? And also, would (s)he feel pain?
In an quick accident you rarely feel the pain while it's happening but after a few seconds later, the problem is that you are completely unaware.
Even if cutting through bone doesn't hurt immediately the anguish of the whole spectacle plus the sound of the blade falling has to be a very, very, veeeeery unpleasant experience.
Admittedly the first thought that went through my head (no pun intended) was that earplugs should be provided.
Just demonstrates my dirty mind once again. The next thought was about the pro and contra of playing muzac during beheadings and whether that counts as extra torture.
Seriously, the common procedure in 'civilized' times was to keep the guillotine behind a curtain up to the end and then have the whole heads-off business over within seconds. As far as I know the beheading by machine was abandoned less because of its (alleged by some) cruelty but becasue of the mess it creates and the stress for the executioners. Otherwise it is today considered (after some nasty facts became known about the 'humane' lethal injection) as the least error-prone and fastest method. The 15-ton weight never catched on as an acceptable method. What makes any method in some way inhumane is the iron rule that the person to be executed must be awake and at least formally aware of what's happening (for that reason alcohol has been a taboo in the last meal for centuries). If that condition could be dropped (and capital punishment could not be abandoned), I'd prefer a strong sleeping drug in the last meal (which might not be announced as such) followed by e.g. asphyxia (by inert gas or vacuum). Thinking about some certain individuals though (you can guess who), boiling oil, mustard gas, four oxen, rogue elephants and the like have a certain kind of appeal.
Despite this enjoyable discussion, not knowing what is the usual method for cockroach beheadings is bothering me. Also, what occurs after several weeks that ends their ability to survive without their heads?
Quote from: Griffin NoName on May 21, 2009, 08:43:56 PM
Also, what occurs after several weeks that ends their ability to survive without their heads?
Not being able to ingest any food.
----
Boiling oil sounds right but only if it's done slowly (can you tell I heard certain dick talking in the radio?).
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on May 21, 2009, 09:30:10 PM
Quote from: Griffin NoName on May 21, 2009, 08:43:56 PM
Also, what occurs after several weeks that ends their ability to survive without their heads?
Not being able to ingest any food.
I assumed that was taken care of - else what would be the point of having this trait ;) ;)
Quote
Boiling oil sounds right but only if it's done slowly (can you tell I heard certain dick talking in the radio?).
We just had him on our main evening BBC news....... I suspect he could survive without his head.
Something completely different:
The robocup football (that's 'soccer' for our US dwellers) goes to new extremes with the nano-league.
The playing field is 2X2 mm (a silicon chip) and the maximum size for players 300 µm.
The latter looks a bit large to me, it's a sixth of the whole field.
Training is conducted on a 2X2 cm field (sounds more realistic).
Where is the nano-thread on this forum?
Quote from: Griffin NoName on July 13, 2009, 01:36:42 PM
Where is the nano-thread on this forum?
It hides behind the dot of your question mark ;)
Quote from: Swatopluk on July 13, 2009, 04:50:31 AM
Training is conducted on a 2X2 cm field (sounds more realistic).
Finally, an exercise regime I can cope with.
Quote from: beagle on July 13, 2009, 08:14:09 PM
Quote from: Swatopluk on July 13, 2009, 04:50:31 AM
Training is conducted on a 2X2 cm field (sounds more realistic).
Finally, an exercise regime I can cope with.
:ROFL:
Contraceptives in Court .. as defendants
United States v. One Package of Japanese Pessaries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._One_Package_of_Japanese_Pessaries)