The very many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXVIII

[Domen]

From:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=13726558#post13726558

Fathers with some haplogroups of Y chromosome seem to have on average a higher proportion of boys among offspring:

http://www.eupedia.com/forum/thread...-count-influenced-by-Y-chromosome-haplogroups

The haplogroup with the highest sperm count in the study was hg1, which unsurprisingly is R1b, followed by hg3 (R1a). This supports my hypothesis that R1a and R1b became dominant in Europe, in spite of their late Bronze-age arrival, thanks to a genetic predisposition to father more boys compared to other haplogroups. Indeed, a higher sperm count is one of the principal factors in raising the chances of having a boy rather than a girl.

But are these differences really significant?

If so then for example in Ireland or in Wales (where great majority of fathers are R1b) boys should significantly outnumber girls...

Is this the case - are boys more numerous among children there?

Any data on sex ratio among newborn babies available?

 

[really]

http://www.cso.ie/multiquicktables/quickTables.aspx?id=pea01
Further statistics are available.

 

[sophie]

If you had a platinum card though...

I got a "Platinum" debit card just for opening a checking account with Wells Fargo. I'd say they're rather meaningless over here.

 

[Borachio]

I don't know about anyone else, but I tend not to examine the contents of other people's wallets.

And if someone feels the need to ostentatiously flash some brand of credit card about, I would, if I noticed it, studiously avoid looking like I'd noticed. I'd also put them into the category of person I don't choose to associate with normally.

 

[PhroX]

Platinum? Pfah. What you really need is one of these:


Link to video.

 

[Borachio]

I don't have a bat credit card.

But whenever I open my wallet (which isn't often), a bat does generally fly out. It's very reminiscent of a dusty, little-frequented, small crypt. With an air of decay about it.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Maybe I should've added a smilie to the last post... Still, I'm not sure what your initial point was - is it still desirable in the US to have high credit limits? If so, platinum/gold cards would seem like a prestigious thing to have. Or is it that anyone can have a high credit ceiling? I don't see any reason to have $24000 in credit line. More of a risk.

So people have pointed out how essentially high credit limits are forced on people, but I'd like to get back to your original question about credit being a status symbol.

I am fairly certain no one cares anymore how high or low anyone else's credit limit is.


It's also kind of a moot point because thanks to our higher educational system, practically everyone with a college degree is carrying around $40,000 in debt with or without credit cards.

 

[really]

My bank copped on that I amn't a student anymore a couple of years ago. They switched me from a colourful student credit card to a drab standard one.

I have the same limit since the year 2000 I think.

 

[Borachio]

I have an amazingly high credit limit since I apparently don't have any income. Well, not any worth mentioning to anyone.

But I never use more than 5% of the limit, and pay it all off every month.

It's just another form of cash, imo. And more convenient than carrying loose change around.

 

[Steph]

Although we name it "Carte de crédit", in France they are actually debit card.
You just use it to avoid carrying cash, or using a cheque.
But it's payed from your bank account every month.
What is relatively common is a delay: what you pay is taken from your bank account the 20th of each month for example, even if you buy it the 21st of the previous month.

 

[Mise]

That delay is technically interest free credit though, which I assume is why it's called a credit card and not a debit card. My credit card works in the same way: they only take money out of my account on a set date each month, and any purchases made on the card just accrue (interest free) until the next billing date.

However, it's my choice whether I do that, so I guess that's where the difference is. I could if I wanted to just not pay it off and they'll then charge interest (some high rate like 16-28%, I don't remember). They do force you to pay a minimum amount each month though, but anything above that just accrues interest.

My debit card literally takes money directly from the bank account as soon as it is charged. There's no delay or interest free credit period. (Well, there is a delay of ~3 days between the money coming from my account and the money ending up in the seller's account -- which is technically the seller giving interest free credit to me and then me simultaneously giving interest free credit to my bank for 3 days.)

 

[Borachio]

There's really no reason for that 3 day delay. It's a scam being worked by the banks. The little tinkers.

Anyway, I have a question not worth its own thread:

If you'd been involved in some freak lawn mower accident and had your hand amputated at the wrist, which would you go for: a hook, or one of those flesh-coloured plastic things?

 

[Traitorfish]

Chainsaw.

(But yeah probably the hand. The hook would feel a bit conspicuous.)

 

[Borachio]

Risky.

What would happen if you absent-mindedly picked your nose with it? I expect more than just nasal hair would be eliminated.

 

[Farm Boy]

Can I choose work hook and show hand?

 

[Borachio]

You mean to have interchangeable prosthetics?

I see the attraction. I'd want one that was loosely attached, and came off when someone shook hands with me.

The advantage of a hook, though, is that you can have hanging baskets full of trailing flowers on them and it doesn't look daft.

 

[W|M]

Chainsaw.

Spoiler :

(But yeah probably the hand. The hook would feel a bit conspicuous.)

A chainsword might be more useful

 

[gay_Aleks]

SPEHS MARIENS! ATTEKC!

(5charchaosmarine)

 

[Borachio]

How about a pair of scissors?

I'm often searching the house for a pair of scissors. So it might be really handy (duh!) to have a pair permanently at arm's length.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Attaching your keyring as some kind of a cybernetic implant to your hands doesn't sound that bad.