TIL: Today I Learned

This sounds like an interesting line of discussion.

 

There would be a lot of relevant variables. I can't remember the last time I bought anything from a vending machine, so I have to think I'm far safer than average.

 

TIL that the Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter has been in production for 40 years.

Once upon a time aircraft became obsolete in 10 years or less.

 

End of the Cold War slowed down the arms race quite a bit. Which is undoubtedly a good thing.

 

Also the maturing of that branch of technology.

 

The basic framework of a utility helicopter hasn't been open to any particular breakthroughs. I'd guess that the instrumentation, motive power, and armaments have advanced quite a bit and that today's UH-60 is barely recognizable compared to the original.

 

TIL the Fox News host Shepard Smith is gay.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2...-smith-became-the-voice-of-reason-at-fox-news

I guess we found one guy at Fox News who probably hasn't sexually harassed female coworkers.

 

As Tim said, the components have improved a lot. But if you really want an example of longevity, look at the B-52. That plane came out in 1955 and is slated for retirement in 2045!

It's because airframes haven't improved all that much, so the aerodynamics of a '50s aircraft with some changes is still good. And since it's mostly just supposed to carry cruise missiles or bombs at subsonic speeds in a relatively safe environment, there isn't any need for a new replacement.

But it's still incredible to see a military aircraft design keep going for that long.

 

And the B-52 isn't "this is a good design we'll just keep building them" like the Blackhawk helicopter. The B-52 it isn't just the design, it's the actual airplanes that are old.

 

But they performed "Rock Lobster." That song will be a hit decades after 2045.

 

As Tim said, I'm sure the Blackhawk has been improved a lot over the years, and that all of it's systems have been upgraded. But there have been 2, mostly failed, attempts to replace the B-52. No one is really looking to replace the Blackhawk.

 

TIL years to late that when playing a RPG game and you have a difficult puzzle to solve with many symbols in your journal you can take a picture of the screen on your phone to save having to keep opening your journal repeatedly and not make criptive notes on a piece of paper that you cannot read anyway ...

 

pop quiz: what was the name of the first caliph?

caliph means successor. And successor to the prophet Muhammad is what is meant.

 

Depends on if you're Sunni or Shi'ite. Wasn't it Abu Bakr for the Sunnis, and Ali for the Shi'ites?

Unless you're using linguistics to ask a trick question? Always possible, especially since this isn't a pop quiz thread.

 

hehe
It's not a trick! I know this is no quiz thread, but I am to lazy to make one!

Both the Sunni and Shi'ite acknowledge that Abu Bakr was the first caliph. But the Shi'ite say it should have been 'Ali.
That is at least what I have read.

Poor 'Ali became caliph (number four), but he was assassinated by a Kharijite for being to "weak" on the battlefield. He mediated with the enemy instead of letting God decide who was right through battle.

 

Today I learned that quite a few musicians died in 2017.

 

I hadn't heard that Jim Nabors died.

And of course my generation adored David Cassidy.

 

I hadn't heard about Steve Lang, the April Wine bassist. They're a great band (originally from Nova Scotia too!). He also had PD.

 

TIL that there is a Sardinian food specialty of cheese with life maggots.

There is in Malmo, Sweden until Jan 27 a museum expo on and with disgusting foods you can eat.
So... there is your chance to eat the famous well-aged shark from Iceland
(IIRC they burry it in sand to rot and dry it afterwards)

Exhibited delicacies include:

• Surströmming – fermented herring from Sweden.
• Cuy – roasted guinea pigs from Peru.
• Casu marzu – maggot-infested cheese from Sardinia
• Stinky tofu – pungent bean curd from China.
• Hákarl – well-aged shark from Iceland.
• Durian – infamously stinky fruit from Thailand.

https://disgustingfoodmuseum.com/
The link to the article and some nice pictures

 

A couple who I worked with in the mid 80s had just recently worked in Libya.
She said that she used washing up liquid to get the maggots to come out of the meat before cooking it.