TIL: Today I Learned

[Josu]

TIL: Maize must be cooked in an alkaline solution before grinded.

 

[Kyriakos]

Til that Euripides wrote his "Bacchae" play while he was in the court of the macedonian king Archelaus I. Also that he was buried relatively near Thessalonike.

 

[Morty]

TIL that Fiona Hill (ex presidential advisor or whatever her job title was) is from Bishop Auckland, England - where I lived for 6+ years, and my eldest son still resides.

Small world!

 

[Arakhor]

I knew it was somewhere Oop Narth, but then Co Durham is really up north.

 

[Morty]

I know.....there's a wall just a few miles north to keep those pesky Scots out!!

 

[Arakhor]

Built by some chap called Adrian, right?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I knew it was somewhere Oop Narth, but then Co Durham is really up north.

She made a point during her opening speech that part of why she wanted to become an American citizen is that she has a distinct working class accent that she felt would have held her back professionally when she started her career in the 80's and 90's.

 

[Berzerker]

Today we look up at the stars and wonder if we’re alone in the universe. In fantasy and science fiction, we wonder what it might be like to meet other intelligent species, like us, but not us. It’s profoundly sad to think that we once did, and now, because of it, they’re gone.

at least 9 other human 'kinds' shared the planet with us ~300,000-250,000 years ago

http://theconversation.com/were-other-humans-the-first-victims-of-the-sixth-mass-extinction-126638

Maybe this is why "God" knew our nature before birth, our ape ancestors fought wars long before we arrived on the scene.

 

[Samson]

at least 9 other human 'kinds' shared the planet with us ~300,000-250,000 years ago

http://theconversation.com/were-other-humans-the-first-victims-of-the-sixth-mass-extinction-126638

Maybe this is why "God" knew our nature before birth, our ape ancestors fought wars long before we arrived on the scene.

And they did not really die out, but merged with us.

 

[Berzerker]

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-bacteria-low-calorie-sugar.html

a safer version of sugar produced by bacteria

This will save millions of lives and trillions in health care

 

[AmazonQueen]

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-bacteria-low-calorie-sugar.html

a safer version of sugar produced by bacteria

This will save millions of lives and trillions in health care

What would its advantages be over xylitol? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol

 

[Samson]

What would its advantages be over xylitol? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol

It is lower calorie (xylitol is ~56% of sugar, this 38%). There is the flatulent effects of xylitol, and the toxisity for dogs, but this may also have them.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Hopefully it would cause less gastrointestinal distress.

 

[AmazonQueen]

It is lower calorie (xylitol is ~56% of sugar, this 38%). There is the flatulent effects of xylitol, and the toxisity for dogs, but this may also have them.

The dogs can take care of themselves (or their owners can) but the rest, thanks.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Today I learned that there was a big flood of molasses in 1919 when a tank broke in Boston.

EDIT: The accident happened in January. The molasses moved at 35 mph. Slower than molasses in January...?

 

[Phrossack]

Today I learned that there was a big flood of molasses in 1919 when a tank broke in Boston.

EDIT: The accident happened in January. The molasses moved at 35 mph. Slower than molasses in January...?

Better known as the Boston Molassacre.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

TIL that stowing away in wheel wells usually ends in death.

 

[Dekker]

Today I learned that there was a big flood of molasses in 1919 when a tank broke in Boston.

EDIT: The accident happened in January. The molasses moved at 35 mph. Slower than molasses in January...?

Oh wow I somehow discovered that story back in grade school, it was in some type of anthology and I remember reading it again and again it was so capitvating and sad and, weird. Talk about a sticky situation.






I'll see myself out.

 

[Samson]

TIL that in Maryland, on the outskirts of Washington DC, you can sit in the bar and bet on computer generated horse races.

So we went to the bar, and between the football and the rugby with armor there was what at first glance was horse racing on the TV. After closer examination it turned out to be a computer generated interface to a state lottery. There was a guy who was playing it, he was scanning bit of paper and handing stuff to the barmaid. Horses were given prices and last result, and the whole race was simulated from the walk out to the race though it was always very similar.

The drinking and gambling at the same time thing is pretty regulated around europe, in the UK I think you have to be a paid member of a club. I am surprised.

 

[Farm Boy]

Gambling is a popular US Liberal vice. Granted, the holdouts that hate it are either very liberal or old school conservative, so maybe it's just mainstream these days. Seems like they've been trying to use it to replace, at least partially, the addiction to nicotine taxes.

Smart move on the horse racing. If you simulate it, you can remove any skill that might help thwart the algorithm. I mean, payouts were always adjusted so that the house always wins, but this way we can ensure than on a moderate timeline every single player loses.