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Author Topic: Useless Fact's Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-08-2005 01:21 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - What can I do to improve the recall of my dreams? Here's what we learned from some links in the Dreams category: Writing down your dreams as quickly as you can directly after you wake up is one of the best ways to recall dreams. Keep a pad of paper handy and when you wake up begin by writing how your dream ended and then write what had happened directly before that, etc. This writing from the end back may help you to recall more of your dream as your mind is forced to track backwards. Also try "Vivid dreaming" by waking up a bit from your dream and then use a simple form of relaxation (deep breathing, meditation, or even self hypnosis) in order to "re-live the dream you just awoke from. This getting your mind back into the "zone" while not totally falling back to sleep may remind you of a lot more of the dream you just had then in a fully awake state. (However using this method may put you into new dream sequences and you will probably forget a great deal of the last dream.) It is still best to have a pen and paper handy to make notes and recall more. Whatever you do try to remember your dream right away because beginning to think of what you have to do today or even spending to much time trying to get relaxed again can be enough to force those thoughts (dreams) that your mind has already begun to dismiss out the door forever.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-08-2005 01:24 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why do diabetics avoid consuming sucrose while continuing to consume other carbohydrates? Diabetics have to be careful in consumption of all carbohydrates.They do have to consume some carbohydrates,as glucose is the “fuel” on which metabolism runs. Ultimately, all carbohydrates are converted to glucose before we can metabolize it to produce energy. On the other hand, diabetics need to control the rate at which glucose is introduced into blood, so that blood glucose level does not become too high. In non-diabetics, this is taken care of automatically; the more glucose is introduced into the blood, the more insulin is produced, causing it to be metabolized as quickly as necessary to keep the blood glucose level within reasonable limits. In diabetics, either the ability to produce insulin is impaired, or else the ability to use insulin is impaired, or both; and it becomes easy for their blood glucose levels to rise too high, which will tend to lead to some rather nasty complications. The rate at which carbohydrates are digested and processed into sugar in our blood is about as important as the actual amount of carbohydrates. Glucose doesn't need to be converted. It goes straight into our blood and immediately, directly affects our blood sugar levels. Other types of sugars take a tiny bit longer, to be processed into glucose, so their impact on our blood glucose level is somewhat more spread out. More complex carbohydrates, such as starches, take longer to be processed into glucose, so their effect on our blood glucose levels are even slower. Other components of the food in which the carbohydrates are found may also affect the rate at which these carbohydrates are digested and processed into glucose. In general, the more slowly this happens, the better.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-08-2005 09:39 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - What causes a "stitch" in your side during exercise? A side stitch is a piercing sensation just below the ribcage, usually felt when you're running. In the past, several different theories tried to explain the cause: trapped gas, swollen liver, stomach muscle cramps. However a recent and fairly conclusive theory holds that strain on the ligaments connecting the liver to the diaphragm is the cause. The liver "hangs" from the diaphragm by fibrous bands called ligaments. Running exerts a steady downward force on your liver, stretching these ligaments. In addition, when you exhale (usually as your left foot hits the ground), your diaphragm is pushed up. That means your liver falls with gravity as your diaphragm rises, placing considerable strain on those poor ligaments. The result? A stitch. The cure? Stop running immediately and press your hand just below the pain. This should raise your liver up, relieving the strain on the ligaments. Inhale and exhale evenly as you press down. As a preventive measure, take deep, full breaths while running. If you take shallow breaths, your diaphragm is consistently raised, which wreaks havoc on your ligaments. Exercise is great, but remember to be kind to the rubber bands keeping your organs in place.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-08-2005 09:58 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - What are the seven wonders of the world? As it turns out, there are several lists of wonderful wonders -- one ancient, one modern, and one 100% natural. We'll touch on all three. The list of seven ancient wonders was meant as a tribute to man's ability to alter the natural landscape. Interestingly, not all of the wonders were around at the same time. "Even if you lived in ancient times you would have still needed a time machine to see all seven." Today, the pyramids in Egypt are the sole survivor. Sadly, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum of Halincarnassus, and the Colossus of Rhodes have all disappeared. While it's unfortunate that six of the original seven have vanished, the modern world has plenty to offer. The American Society of Civil Engineers compiled a list of modern wonders that represent the "greatest civil engineering accomplishments of the 20th century." It includes: the Channel Tunnel, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Panama Canal, the Itaipu Dam, and the North Sea Protection Works in the Netherlands. Finally, Mother Nature deserves a shout out. The seven wonders of the natural world are: the Grand Canyon, the Northern Lights, Mt. Everest, the Great Barrier Reef, Victoria Falls, Paricutin volcano, and the harbor at Rio de Janero. We're pretty sure these babies aren't going anywhere.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-08-2005 01:48 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Does a vodka martini really taste better when shaken instead of stirred? We turned to the links in the Cocktails category to answer your question. The vodka martini (shaken not stirred, mind you) -- the one drink that's impossible to order without looking like a pompous jerk. Thanks 007, way to ruin a good thing for the rest of us. But still, it does beg the question, why does the secret agent like his drink this particular way? Does it really taste better, or is Bond just a high-maintenance nightmare? First off, it's important to note that we're talking about a vodka martini (as opposed to a regular martini, which is made with gin). Now as to whether or not it tastes better when shaken, it really depends on how you like your drinks. The oft-quoted Straight Dope notes that shaken martinis are colder, "sharper," and because the vermouth dissolves when shaken, have a "less oily mouth feel." So it comes down to matter of taste. We suggest donning your finest dinner jacket and strolling down to your local watering hole to see which you prefer (assuming you're of legal age). Just don't be surprised if the bartender rolls his eyes when you place your order.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-10-2005 09:30 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Can your eyesight deteriorate by swimming without goggles in chlorinated pool water? Chlorine certainly is a hazardous product, with some forms of it being more dangerous for the handler and the environment than other forms. Chlorine in a solution of water at levels found in swimming pools pose no danger for swimmers. Chlorine gas is a severe eye irritant. Stinging, a burning sensation, rapid blinking, redness and watering of the eyes have been observed at concentrations of 1 ppm and higher. Direct contact with liquefied chlorine escaping from its high pressure cylinder may cause frostbite. Burns and permanent damage, including blindness may result. Little is known about the short- or long-term effects on recreational swimmers of exposure to chemically treated pool water. Fitness swimmers, lifeguards, swimming instructors and children may be especially at risk. In general chlorinated swimming pools may cause eye irritaion but for workers handling the chlorine exposure to it is very dangerous.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-10-2005 09:38 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Can you cancel a cell phone contract for providing bad reception or poor service? We visited the links in the Cell Phones category to answer your question. As we found out, it all depends on the contract. Some contracts say things like "we do not guarantee uninterrupted service or coverage" and that you are prohibted from sueing the company over the contract. In that case, the company is probably covered legally and you can not simply cancel the contract. However, if you complain regularly, show up in person to their local store, and get your phone and SIM card replaced often (assuming it's a free service), they might let you out of the contract to save themselves further hassles. Another way could be to talk to manager that knows how to be human still, and tell that person that your phone was purchased to work in a specific area and you have not been happy with service and that it is unnaceptable. Contract lawyers are among the fastest shysters (sorry citizen lawyers) in the world. Read the commitment on an airline ticket, if you want to see something amusing. They guarantee nothing, only that they will make some sort of vague attempt to move you from point A to point B. They're not responsible for anything, including actually moving you as a paying customer.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-11-2005 07:47 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why is watching a sunset not harmful to the eyes? The simple answer is "due to the angle of the viewer from the sun". The atmosphere greatly reduces the amount of light the viewer sees, because the nitrogen in our atmosphere tends to scatter the higher energy, blue, wavelengths of light. The more atmosphere the light has to pass through, the more blue light that is scattered. So, by the time the sun is approaching the horizon, it is passing through so much atmosphere that most of the blue light is scattered out of the Sun's light. (BTW, this scattered blue light is why the daytime sky is blue.) Thus, the setting Sun is not as bright and is much more red in color. The red color is also important because red light is not as energetic as blue light so it would take a longer exposure to the red light to do damage than it would to the same amount of blue light. However, staring at the sun is not necessarily permanently damaging. Take Sir Isaac Newton. To test a question about colours, he stared at the sun with one eye until all the colours changed. As a result he had to shut himself up in the dark for several days before he could rid himself of the spots now floating before his eyes. Thomas Harriot, who discovered sunspots independently, once observed the Sun near noon, and reported that “My sight was after dim for an houre.” John Greaves reported afterimages looking like “a company of crows” for “some days” after making solar observations directly through a telescope. G. Lowe also wrote: "As there appears to be prevalent a belief that looking at the sun with the naked eye would be injurious … , for some years I have experimented with the sun by looking at it with the naked eye … . On one occasion, on the 21st of June at 12 o'clock noon, I looked steadily at the sun for 15 minutes, changing from one eye to the other at intervals of about 30 seconds, and beyond making my eyes run there was no inconvenient effect. This was done while I was living in Atlanta, Ga., where the sun is fairly strong on the date given. As this took place 12 years ago, and, as at the age of 68 my sight is very good, I am sure that no one need fear trying similar experiments." So, it's rare to hear of anyone suffering eye damage from just looking at the Sun under normal conditions. We would add that we would still not recommend trying this one yourself.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-13-2005 02:09 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - If my brain were replaced with someone else's, would I think differently? We visited the links in the Neurobiology category to answer your question and here's what we think: That would depend on what was done with your brain after the replacement. After all, it is the brain that thinks not the body, it is the brain that is "you." (cogito, ergo sum) If your brain was just tossed into a corner after the replacement, you probably wouldn't think much of it, in fact you wouldn't think at all, we think. If your brain was tossed into a bucket of water you would have to think or swim. We can't think of what the replacement brain would think. We think it would depend on how well you took care of your body and how it compared to the body it used to inhabit and think in. If your brain, or "you", were transplanted into another body we think your first thought would be, "What the heck?" Then your thoughts would concern the new body and how it compared to your old one. We think the new body might influence your thinking, if it was a big muscular body, you might begin to think more aggressively, if it is a weaker body you might become meeker. We don't want to think about how your thinking would change if you were transplanted into a body of the other sex. Well, that's what we think, but then hardly anyone cares what we think, at least we think that's what they think. But we think that's ok, we take solace in thinking, as the philosopher, Mediocrities, once thought, " I think I am."  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-13-2005 02:14 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why doesn't the US president write his own speeches? As George W. Bush category states, speech writing is a tough job. The connotations of a single word might become provocation for an international dispute. For this reason, researching for and writing presidential speeches is a full time job - for more than one person. Seeing as the President has a lot of other responsibilities, and might not have been elected on the basis of his speech writing skills, he simply does not have that kind of time to devote to the many speeches he must give. That goes for any U.S. president.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-14-2005 06:36 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Should you put lettuce in the freezer? Some links in the Cooking Greens category helped us answer your question. When water molecules freeze, they become jagged. This, however, is not the case when water is frozen quickly (Using liquid nitrogen or dry ice for examples). Since fruit and lettuce and other watery vegetables and fruit are mostly water, the jagged ice cuts at the cellular linings and walls of the lettuce and other fruits when it thaws. This causes it to become watery and mushy. So you should never put lettuce in the freezer unless you want it ruined  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-15-2005 01:44 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why doesn't the human stomach digest itself? As we learned from the links in the Digestive category, the stomach lining not only produces the acid, fluids, and other chemicals needed to break down the food you eat, it also produces special cells to protect itself from being digested. These cells only live a few days and then slough off and are replaced with new ones. If this part of the lining is damaged, the underlying tissue can indeed be damaged as the acid tries to digest it. That is essentially what an ulcer is: a bacterial infection which compromises that protective layer. [ 10-15-2005, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Bob Maar ]  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-15-2005 03:43 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Are bats really blind? No, bats aren't blind. All bats can see, although some species aren't exactly eagle-eyed. According to the links in the Bats category, smaller bats don't see in color, many species get around amazingly well in the dark. Some bat species have the added advantage of echolocation -- the ability to bounce sounds off an object, including prey, to determine its size, shape, and location. The Bat Conservation International reports the echolocation of a fishing bat is sophisticated enough to detect a minnow's fin as fine as a human hair sticking up just 2 mm above a pond's surface. Those of us with LASIK should be so lucky. So saying you're "as blind as a bat" without your contacts isn't really an admission of poor eyesight. It's just an idiom dating back hundreds of years. Though they may be as hungry as a horse, as quiet as a mouse, and as happy as a clam, bats aren't, well, as blind as a bat.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-16-2005 09:47 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why does the value of a house appreciate, while the value of a car depreciates? All goods can appreciate and depreciate in value. Some cars, such as classic cars can appreciate in value, while some properties can get cheaper. In general, properties are appreciating because: The population is growing and everyone wants to live in the same space. It is impossible to house everyone in the best location and as a result the house prices appreciate. (High Demand and Low Supply = High Prices). But: If you live somewhere where people do not wish to live, due to inaccessibility, crime or any other factor, the house prices are likely to depreciate (Low Demand = Low Prices). In general, cars depreciate because: Companies produce cars in very small quantities to start off with so that only the richest people who are desperate to get the latest model, and are willing to pay, can do so. The price steadily drops for new cars so that more and more people are able to afford the new model. (Richest first though). As cars are a fashion and a technology product, when new fashions or technologies appear, the general public is more interested in purchasing the smartest, newest cars around (Decreased demand for old car and increased demand for new car).  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 10-17-2005 07:10 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Has anyone ever tried putting on a costume to be a real superhero? OK, first off, can we all agree that moms, firefighters, and teachers are not superheroes? Sure they're great, but they don't don capes and assume secret identities. So let's take a cheese- free approach to the question. Surprisingly, even with our cold- hearted restrictions, the answer is still "yes" -- more than a few "normal folks" have tried their hands at masked avenging, as we learned from our Real-life Superheroes category. The most famous real world hero is probably Angle-Grinder Man from the U.K. His mission is simple -- to help distressed motorists remove the dreaded "boot" from their cars. Those whose cars are being held captive by the government only need call the man, and he quickly appears in costume, ready to free the ride with his enchanted tool belt. Not exactly legal, but hey, Batman doesn't always play by the rules, either. While he's arguably the most celebrated, there are others -- for example, Terrifica. Dressed in scarlet spandex and a Valkyrie- style bra, this New Yorker has sworn an oath to make sure women who've had too much to drink aren't taken advantage of. With a blinding flash of crimson, she storms bars, tells preying Casanovas to scram, and walks the drunken damsel in distress home so she might live to drink another day. Other masked wonders include the snow-shoveling Polarman and Superbarrio, possibly the first social activist who wishes to remain anonymous. While few have actually witnessed these heroes out prowling the streets, their legends still cast an impressive shadow. Criminals and metermaids beware!  |  IP: Logged

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