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2ljse2
|
whenever evolution discussing the appearance of land animals is shown, we see a progression of fish, proto-amphibian, and lizard. what was the procession "out of the water" leading to insects?
|
It's amazing to me for years I've been taught about evolution and even account for it when doing research, but only recently have I realized that an explanation for invertebrates is uncommon!
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ljse2/eli5whenever_evolution_discussing_the_appearance/
|
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"text": [
"The early evolution of insects is really unclear, that's why you didn't learn about it in school the way you learned about mammalian or reptilian evolution. The oldest fossil evidence is *Rhyniognatha* from the Devonian (400mya) - about the same time jawed fishes and early sharks were evolving. \n\nIt was something kind of like a modern day silverfish.\n\nThe general thought goes Rhyniognatha -- > fixed winged insects akin to dragonflies -- > folded wing insects -- > insects with wings encased (akin to modern day beetles) -- > wingless insects, but obviously there are lots of competing theories. Nothing in evolution is as simple as a single linear pathway."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
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1y2gk4
|
why are pushups so much harder than they seem?
|
It's not like I have to carry all my weight on my feet for the whole day.
An easy explaination would be nice. =)
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1y2gk4/eli5_why_are_pushups_so_much_harder_than_they_seem/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfgr2kp"
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2
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"text": [
"I'm assuming it is because you are pushing most of your weight against gravity."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
6q1dvt
|
why do doggos wipe their faces on the carpet?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6q1dvt/eli5_why_do_doggos_wipe_their_faces_on_the_carpet/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dktt30w",
"dkttane"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Do you know how good that feels?",
"I am professional pupper on my way to being a doggo. I can undoubtedly say carpet feels good on my face. Also scratches itches my toe beans cant reach"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
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||
b7z6n6
|
when you board a plane to a different country, which country are you technically in for law/regulation purposes? for example if i board a plane from canada to usa, is the drinking age on the plane 18 or 21?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b7z6n6/eli5_when_you_board_a_plane_to_a_different/
|
{
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"text": [
"Surely that's a case of which country your plane is in. International waters, as it were, would be the bit that confused me :-)",
"Generally planes, like ships, will follow the laws of whatever country the plane is registered in.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nOn the ground the local laws still apply but once in the air it's a lot like international waters and international law applies.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nWith alcohol service though it's pretty much up to the airlines to set their own rules (although if they started serving alcohol to children something would probably be said about it). Some airlines are more flexible than others but often the policy they use is to follow the laws of the destination country - so if you're flying to Canada they'll use 18 as the drinking age, but if you're flying to the US they'll up it to 21. If you're flying to the middle east they'll often not even serve alcohol on the flight.",
"Planes operate by the laws of the country they're physically in. If they're not in any country (international airspace) they operate by the laws of the country in which they're registered."
]
}
|
[] |
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[],
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2bgq8v
|
is poop sculpture formed inside the colon or when squeezed out the poopchute?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2bgq8v/eli5_is_poop_sculpture_formed_inside_the_colon_or/
|
{
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3
],
"text": [
"This is the \"great question\" of our generation.",
"poop sculpture. awesome.",
"Poop sculpture or fecal formation occurs in [the large intestine](_URL_0_) where water from digested food is reabsorbed in the body. This is where food takes a solid form; notice that your poop usually follows the shape of your colon. There might be changes in the texture or sculpture of your poop; it might get watery or become too hard depending on various factors.\n\n\nBy the way, I shall now call my anus as the poopchute. It has a nice ring to it.",
"This is something I'd never ask or admit that I care to know in real life. But now I'm incredibly curious. ",
"I read this as \"Is Pop Culture formed inside the colon or when squeezed out the poopchute\""
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
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[],
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"http://apbrwww5.apsu.edu/thompsonj/Anatomy%20&%20Physiology/2020/2020%20Exam%20Reviews/Exam%203/CH23%20Large%20Intestine%20Anatomy.htm"
],
[],
[]
] |
||
5ee57h
|
how and why did neo nazi / white nationalist mentality get to become so mainstream?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ee57h/eli5_how_and_why_did_neo_nazi_white_nationalist/
|
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"text": [
"Neo-Nazism and White nationalism are NOT mainstream by any means. It is simply not true that more and more people are getting whipped into a frenzy over the existence of racial or sexual minorities. The racists and sexists were racist and sexist long before Donald Trump and will continue to be racist and sexist long after. While the president has changed people have not. In reality his presidency certainly makes some of those people more empowered but it won't get them anywhere. They are a tiny minority and most people dispose them. The biggest factor in the rise of hatred in recent years has actually been the great recession which threw a lot of people into poverty. When this happens historically they turn on minorities because they feel that minorities are at fault for taking away what is rightfully theirs instead of focusing on the powerful interests that run the country.",
"Historically people have always swung to far-right/populist movements in times of economic hardship. It would be my guess that this recent wave of populism is a result of the 2008 crash and the continued stagnation of the global economy perhaps coupled with growing wealth inequality and 'un-fair' globalism. When times get hard, people will search for scapegoats, usually coming to the conclusion that it's people from outside of their community: migrants and minorities. This is a result, I believe, of the inherent racism of the human psyche. (Not saying everyone's a racist but IIRC there have been studies published that show humans of all races don't like, at least subconsciously, humans of different races.) While it may seem that 2008 was so long ago that it couldn't possibly still be having an impact, I think it's worth remembering that changes in the economy can have very long lag times before the effects are felt. \n\nI would imagine that it's continued economic uncertainty and, as you rightly mentioned, fear that motivates these people. Fear and hysteria are being peddled manically by a click bait media and a complacent political class. If you look at recent populist victories like Brexit and Trump, in both cases people voted for the more 'hopeful' message: 'Make America Great Again' and 'Seize back control'. Contrast that with the messages of Remain and HRC: 'Brexit is bad' and 'Trump is evil'. Neither of the latter addresses the (sometimes) legitimate fears and concerns of the voters who voted for the former. Which is, I believe, is a result of ever increasing political correctness which has brought many groups closer in but at expense of pushing incumbents further to the fringes. \n\nThe only way to beat all this fear and hate is with love and compassion.",
"The premise of your question is flawed. \n\nThe number of White-Nationalists / Nazis is NOT growing. But for a year and a half, the political left, with the help of most major media outlets, has been pushing that narrative. \n\n\nIt's simply not true. \n\nIt's been a hysterical smear campaign that's backfired spectacularly. There are millions of very normal people who support better trade deals, enforcing immigration laws, cutting back on the red tape and regulations that strangle business, etc... and they've been labeled \"hate-mongers\".\n\nThese people don't appreciate the name-calling. \n\nThat hasn't stopped the bullies, though. Voice an opinion that hasn't been sanctioned by your moral superiors, and you'll be called a stupid, racist, misogynistic, something-or-another-phobe.\n\n\nTLDR: There are people pissing on your leg and telling you it's raining. Don't believe them",
"To answer your question OP it's a combination of 8 years of a black President, coupled with overt xenophobia by the President-elect that has emboldened Neo-Nazi groups. "
]
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8wtnvv
|
if the moon has an effect on tides, why does a small body of water not move, like a puddle or a bath?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8wtnvv/eli5_if_the_moon_has_an_effect_on_tides_why_does/
|
{
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],
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"text": [
"The short answer is that ponds and baths do have tides. The effect is just tiny.\n\nReally, in general, the effect of the moon pulling on water is a very very small one. It's just that the oceans are so huge that these small effects add up into a noticeable one."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
5kw9k2
|
how can humans 'will' themselves to die, right after the death of a loved one?
|
Whether it be consciously or unconsciously, it seems long-time married couples can sometimes die hours apart. (Or, even mother and daughters, it seems, like Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.)
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5kw9k2/eli5_how_can_humans_will_themselves_to_die_right/
|
{
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"dbr35dg",
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],
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6,
3
],
"text": [
"Debbie Reynolds died of a stroke, which may have been caused by stress caused by her daughter's illness and death, or may not, we don't know yet and may never know. \n\nIn most cases people simply stop or slow down maintaining themselves, that is they stop eating and drinking or eat and drink less, stop excercising, etc. The lack of food and drink will kill you soon enough, but in an older person it will sometimes trigger something else that will kill them faster.\n\nIt's more like giving up on life than willing yourself to die; inaction rather than action.",
"Other than suicide, I don't think this is a thing. \nOld people can die after a shock. There's no worse shock than the death of a child. Losing a spouse is also very hard. I don't think you can call that \"willing yourself to die\". "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
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|
4kfanr
|
why do light switches in sweden have electrical outlets attached to them?
|
Visiting sweden from the US right now and noticed this in the apartment I'm staying in (pic: _URL_0_). I can't possibly imagine when this could be helpful, as having a cord dangling from a light switch seems nonsensical. Any ideas?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4kfanr/eli5_why_do_light_switches_in_sweden_have/
|
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"text": [
"I'm sure this will get removed for not explaining enough, but most likely it is for convenience. There's already electrical wiring there which makes it easy to add an outlet, and it provides and extra outlet. ",
"We have that here in Germany, too. \n\nThey are used for stuff like the vacuum which you plug in, use it a short while, pull the plug and pack it away. By installing them at this convienient level, you don't have to bend down to a normal height outlet. \n\nThat's most likely the reason you see it often in hotels .. so that the cleaning personell can use it for exactly that reason. ",
"We have these in America too. Typically they're found in bathrooms or kitchens.\n\nI imagine they put those in for convenience. Easier to put one hole in the wall and kill two birds with one stone rather than install a light switch and an electrical outlet.",
"Your title reads like this is a fact of life for all of Sverige, but it isn't. While these do exist, it's not every light switch. I'm an American who lived in Sweden so I can see from your perspective why it might be \"new\", but don't jump to \"nonsensical\" so quickly.\n\nSimply put, they're a clever idea. You can plug in irons and vacuums and the like without having to bend down. A useful thing for people who have trouble doing so. It also gives you a bit more cord length on some things since you aren't wrapping it around other objects.\n\nThere's already wiring there to have the switch. Why not also put one?\n\nI love switches in Ireland that have an on/off, well, switch. It allows you to have stuff plugged in, and you can turn it off to stop phantom power drain.",
"Think of it as an electrical outlet with a light switch attached...\n\nWhy have 2 holes in the wall when you can do the same job with 1?\n\nIn my country this is unusual because lighting and sockets must be on different strength fuses, typically the lights are on separate circuits. IDK about Swedish regulation in this area.\n",
"American electrical design comes from a time when lamps and then radios were about the only electric appliances in the home. Outlets are near the appliances' bases and at a height that can be hidden behind furniture or the appliance itself. The height and spacing are defined in building codes to prevent the need for long or chained cords and to minimize tripping and fire hazard. In bathrooms things are plugged in and unplugged more frequently so the outlets are at more accessible height. In kitchens there are outlets above counters for small appliances. A combined switch and plug sounds like a design based on retrofit culture, where they want both conveniences but only want to have to install it in one place."
]
}
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[
"http://imgur.com/1It3l9V"
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1h0d7q
|
how do i do my own laundry. serious question.
|
I've gone up to a boarding school for the summer and this year for my senior year. I'll be able to fly back home every once in a while, but I know that won't keep me from doing my own laundry at some point. If someone could put it in a step-by-step process, I would really appreciate it.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1h0d7q/eli5_how_do_i_do_my_own_laundry_serious_question/
|
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"I'm not sure if /r/explainlikeimfive is the right place for this. This sub is more for 'conceptual' issues, like War, or Religion or Politics, or Maths. As per the sidebar, \"Do not ask for a walkthrough procedure\".\n\nThe exact steps will vary slightly depending on the washing machine. There are hundreds of models, and each one comes with different settings. But basically: you put your clothes in the big 'spinny' drum. Then there will be a slot to add some washing powder. And then you choose a setting (e.g.: \"Delicates\" or \"Jeans\", etc). The machine does the rest. You can usually get away with using a generic setting like 'Delicates' for almost everything.",
"since I'm really bored and I don't have anything else to do, I'll bite.\n\nFirst you have to make sure everything is machine washable. Anything that's regular cotton (like a t-shirt) is probably ok to wash. Anything that's machine washable is not always machine dryable cos the heat might shrink it. If not, read the tag and follow the instructions. \n\nSeparate the colors- lights and darks, or whites and colors.\n\nlights- whites, yellows, pinks- basically anything that you can spill red kool-aid on and stain. khaki pants.\n\ndarks- everything else- jeans and dark pants\n\nwhites- only white and beige stuff. You only need to do an all-white load if you are using chlorine bleach because it turns stuff white. (Even things that are yellow or pink)\n\ncolors- anything that's not white\n\nRed things can turn all the lights (see above) pink, so be careful with it. Either do a whole load of reds-pinks-purples, or throw it in with the darks.\n\nnow the washer- you can basically wash everything in cold water, but if stuff is especially gross- sweaty gym clothes, gross underwear with streaks, something you went hiking in, etc, you might want to use warm or hot. It's like doing dishes- very dirty needs hotter water.\n\nEvery washer is different, but they usually have a dial with numbers like 12...8...4... then cycles like rinse and spin. The numbers are how long it's going to actually wash, aka agitate- the back and forth swishing it does in soapy water. The bigger the number, the longer it agitates, so if your clothes are really gross, you need a longer wash cycle.\n\nIt will also ask what size your load is. Packing the washer all the way full is a SUPER or LARGE load. A good basket's full is medium, less than 10 items is a small load. A comforter will fill the washer and can be considered large.\n\nFront-loading washers are usually jazzy and complicated. read the instructions or ask the owner how to work it.\n\nSoap- as mentioned before, chlorine bleach is only for whites, unless you are making your own acid-wash jeans. Regular washer soap has the amount you need to use written on the package. Read it and follow it. Powder is cheaper, but doesn't dissolve as well in cold water. Some washers have a special container for it, but usually you can throw the soap right on top of the clothes. If you are using liquid fabric softener, you can throw it in there too, or use the special dispenser.\n\nThe washer will agitate, drain the soapy water, rinse with clean water, drain that, then spin, which is basically like wringing excess water out. (If your washe is rocking back and forth like it's about to explode, it's spinning.) When it's done with this cycle, your clothes are done.\n\nDrying is a lot easier. Take out anything that needs to air dry- gauzy curtains, sweaters that will shrink, that kind of thing. Most dryers have a timed dry (80 mins usually does it) or a temperature dry (More--- > Less dry) In general, just put it on More Dry or 80 minutes and you'll be fine. Throw a dryer sheet in there with the wet clothes. And clean the lint trap before you start the dryer, otherwise it'll not work very well."
]
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fnt9fk
|
what does a systems engineer do?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fnt9fk/eli5_what_does_a_systems_engineer_do/
|
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"Since you can find this on Wikipedia it's not fit for ELI5. I'm sorry."
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[] |
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||
1c5isx
|
how do i follow comic books?
|
I've read a lot of comics in the past but never a full series. Just individual issues handed down to me.
I started reading Crossed. I picked up the first issue. Then someone got me the bigger issue and it was completely different. I keep hearing terms like weekly and trades. But not sure how they intertwine.
Now I see some issues are either "badlands" or "psychopath". I assume 2 completely different story lines? It's confusing.
Please explain like I'm five. Thanks.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1c5isx/eli5_how_do_i_follow_comic_books/
|
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"text": [
"Yeah, there are different storylines in the Crossed books. Wikipedia is a pretty good resource for keeping comic books with multiple series straight. [Here's their entry on Crossed](_URL_0_)",
"Comicbook universes *are* confusing. They often have hundreds of characters, settings, scenarios, power sets, alternate universes and story arcs. Some have been running since the 1920s and have eighty years of backstory to catch up on. Others are brand new but written in convoluted ways to attract audiences with new characters every week. Yes, it can be terrifying to get into - but it's also why comics are one of the most fascinating forms of media on the planet. They're so vast, there's literally no way you can be bored. It's excellent. The important thing to realise is that while some comics fans are obsessive, no comics fan knows everything about every universe. I for one have zero interest in Batman as a central character, but I love a million other parts of the Batman universe.\n\n[Note: this approach is highly skewed to superhero comics, but I feel like it works for any comics learning process. Feel free to adapt as you see fit or ask for clarification.]\n\nI got into comicbooks three years ago with about as much knowledge of them as you can gain from being an occasional superhero movie watcher. Now I'm a hardcore comics geek.\n\nHere are my tips:\n\n- Pick a couple of companies. DC and Marvel are the main brands but there are also less superhero oriented companies like Darkhorse who produce Star Wars, Buffy and Hellboy and IDW who make horror comics amongst others. There are also a HUGE amount of independent comic producers who work on the smallscale creating fantastic content. Don't be afraid to pick a range - you're sampling what you like here and there's no such thing as too much.\n\n- Pick a couple of themes you like. Do you like Western movies? Horror? Action? Comedy? Maybe you want to try something light and silly. Maybe you're in it for gore or serious psychological fuckery. It doesn't matter. Comics have it all. Once you have a good idea of the sort of movies/books you like, you have two options. You can try googling 'x themed comics' (not literally, obviously), or you can walk into any comicbook store and ask the employees if they have any suggestions. People who work in those stores usually have an agenda (i.e. to sell you comics), and they have their own likes and dislikes and prejudices, but most of them are huge fans of the medium and will have amassed enough knowledge for you to take advantage of.\n\n- Another approach is to pick a character. Say you've decided you want to start off in the Marvel Universe after seeing, say, The Avengers. Now, Avengers is crazy like a lot of the Marvel universe because there are three or four different TYPES of Avengers universe comics before you even start on plot arcs, characters or spinoffs. In something like Spider-Man you have three or four different people as 'Spider-Man'. You've got Amazing Spider-Man, Astonishing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spiderman - all of these are different approaches to the character with different backstories, characters, etc. To make things simple, you need to try the 'inside out' approach. Watch a superhero movie. Pick a character you might be interested in. If it's Avengers, you might have found something Tony Stark did or said interesting. Now you have a character, try to narrow it down further. Ask people you know who like the character for their 'best picks' for him in comics. Ask the people in the store for the 'bestselling' for that universe. Read wikipedia summaries to find out which stories were controversial, or award winning, or hated. Read A LOT and don't be afraid to jump out of a storyline or universe if you're bored or disinterested. That's okay. You're still finding what you like.\n\n- Okay, you've got a character you like and some recommendations for great stories they're in! That's awesome. Now you're ready to start broadening your horizons a little. Read all you can about your guy or gal. Find out how they think, what their universe is like, who their major villains are, who they've dated and what tragic event caused them to want to fight crime (or even cause it, if you've fallen in love with a villain!). Don't be afraid if it seems like a lot to take in. Don't worry about memorising details - there's nothing to say you can't stop on one page and go google, say, 'Why does Lex Luthor hate Superman?'. Nobody's going to be angry with you for not getting that the colour of the guy's shoes on page six is a major plotpoint because ten years ago his girlfriend wore the same shoes. Take it slow. Let yourself bask in the universe and have it seep into you. \n\n- You've read some stories and you feel like you know your universe and your character pretty well! This is an excellent point to start looking around more. Maybe you've found out you really like the way Green Lantern comics make use of different species - or maybe you're sick of aliens and want something more earth based. Since you now have a starting point, you'll be able to know some things you like, and some things you don't. You'll get that a lot of comics work just like novels with a three part plot, a hero, a villain, and an adventure to go on - and some are a lot less linear. Why not read more about different incarnations of your character? Or find out about his villains? If you've found you really like Watchmen, why not look up Alan Moore (the writer) and see what else he's written?\n\n- Some comics have been going for years and over those years, have 'retconned' plot points. This happens when writers decide to change the laws of the universe they're writing. This can happen for many reasons - time constraints, boredom, whimsy, the social issues of the time, trying to attract new readers. This can be frustrating since you finally feel you know how the universe works and then suddenly things change. Try to understand that comics that have been running for years have often had many dozens of writers and artists and they're a very fluid genre. Just because you love how Batman is written in the 30s doesn't mean that you'll love how he's being written in the 60s. Maybe you will, though, and reading a lot is how you'll find out.\n\n- It can be expensive to do a lot of shopping around for comics when you don't know you'll love something. There are ways to save money, though. Check graphic novels out of the library. Go for 'collected editions' or 'greatest hits' anthologies, or volumes which collect entire story arcs. Do your research before you buy, or make use of the super cheap digital comics archives that many comics producers are now providing. I suggest buying TPBs (Trade Paper Back) editions over singles because single editions are usually $3 or so for twenty pages, where as a TPB may collect 100-150 for $15 and save you money and time collecting them and waiting for releases. You can also download them illegally. *cough*\n\nThe world is your oyster. Go nuts. Have fun.",
"Crossed is awesome, Avatar Press as a whole is just amazing, they also have a great comic news site _URL_0_\n\nEach Crossed series is self contained, Crossed: Wish you were here is serialized weekly for free on the web (no monthly comics for this series) and then they collect it.\n\nI have all of the Crossed TPB (they collect between 6-10 issues I think)\nand they all have a different tone to them.\nAvatar is one of my favourite comic company and since I like my comics more mature and not much of a superheroes fan, Avatar, Image and Dark Horse are perfect companies for me.\n\nIf you have any questions, dont hesitate !\n"
]
}
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[] |
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[
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],
[],
[
"bleedingcool.com"
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|
6850nu
|
standard deviation and p-value
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6850nu/eli5_standard_deviation_and_pvalue/
|
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],
"text": [
"If you break up the words Standard - Deviation you can begin to understand it more. Standard is an synonym for normal/average and plenty more words I'm sure, and deviation is a measure of how something 'deviates' or how different it is for the norm. \n\nIf you have a range of x values, you can find the average from sum(x)/n, n being the range, as I'm sure you know. We could associate this with being the 'normal'. Now, if all values are equal to the same thing, so that for example, sum(x) = 25 and n = 5, we see the average is 5. The standard deviation in this case is zero. This is because, now value actually deviates from the average value of 5, as all values are 5. \n\nSo we can consider that n arbitrary values, and find their average. The deviation of each of these values could be (laboriously) found by n1 - ā = d1, or, the first value minute the average is equaled to the deviation of first value. If we sum up all of these values, we get the total deviation of all values. If we are now to average this value, we get the standard deviation, or the average amount the all values deviate from the mean. \n\nThe p value is just the probability value. Probability is measured from 0 - 1, which is logical as there's never a greater than 1 chance of something occurring, or less than 0. In short, the p value is used to validate a hypothesis. It does this by demonstrating the improbability of the consequence that results from assuming the counter-claim to be true. (Referred to as the null-hypothesis)\n\nSource; I study physics in college and this is my understanding of it. Could be very wrong but it's gotten me this far! ",
"**Standard deviation**: If the data follows a [bell curve/normal distribution](_URL_2_) it means that [68% of *all values* are within the mean value ± the standard deviation (95% is within 2 standard deviations)](_URL_0_). It's simply a neat way of describing the spread of values. In addition, if the standard deviation is larger than half the mean (SD > mean/2) it can be an indicator that the data is *not* following a normal distribution.\n\nThere are some statistical tests you can do to data that follows a normal distribution that you can't do otherwise.\n\n**P-value**: If there is a difference between two groups the P-value describes the risk that you commit a [type 1 error](_URL_1_). E.g. If the P-value is 0.05 it means that there is a 5% risk that the difference exists due to randomness. I.e. 5% risk that you claim there is a difference when in reality there is no difference."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Empirical_Rule.PNG",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_I_and_type_II_errors#Type_I_error",
"http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-10-03-blogbellcurve.png"
]
] |
||
5mn4j8
|
what is botox and how does it work?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5mn4j8/eli5_what_is_botox_and_how_does_it_work/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dc4sj5g"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Botox is a neurotoxin (brain poison) made from a bacteria known as botulinum \n\nIt works by preventing the nerve signals reaching the muscles at the injection site (basically paralysing them). Cosmetically because the muscles can't contract they can't \"cause\" wrinkles so people have smoother skin for the relatively low cost of looking like a deer in headlights"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
r4stc
|
equinoxes. why they happen? diagrams would be a plus.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/r4stc/eli5_equinoxes_why_they_happen_diagrams_would_be/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c42wa5d",
"c42y5kg"
],
"score": [
4,
3
],
"text": [
"Because the earth is tilted at 23 degrees, the sun directs its light at different angles throughout the year.\n\n[Here.](_URL_0_[1].jpg)\n\nAn equinox is when the earth is traversing around the sun and it is in \"the middle\" of the -23 and +23 points. Hence, at zero degrees, and the day/night time is equal ~~(at the equator)~~.\n\nOther than the picture I posted, the best diagram would be for you to see it yourself: find a globe (or something) and \"orbit\" around a light source. Compare what \"day\" and \"night\" would be for different positions in the orbit.\n\nOr, if you're bored, and even more interested (like I was), take an astronomy 101 course at a local community college... :)",
"When the Earth orbits the Sun, because of axial tilt, reason for the seasons, the North Pole and South Pole are usually different distances from the Sun.\n\nSometimes the North Pole is leaning toward the Sun (especially summer in the northern hemisphere making it winter in the southern hemisphere) and sometimes the South Pole is leaning toward the Sun (especially Winter in the northern hemisphere, making summer in the southern hemisphere).\n\nTwice a year, there is no pole leaning toward the Sun and the poles are equal distance from the Sun. When this happens it is called an equinox. So an equinox is that middle point from a time when one pole is leaning toward the sun to a time when the other pole is leaning toward the sun.\n\nSince we are headed toward summer in the northern hemisphere, that means the North Pole is leaning more and more toward the Sun."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://theakumalian.com/images/2011/3-2011/equinox"
],
[]
] |
||
1w0peo
|
us politics & house of cards
|
So I'm just 'binging' my way through 'House Of Cards' ( which is fantastic btw), but can someone please explain to me the difference between a Congressman, a Senator and a Governor?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1w0peo/eli5_us_politics_house_of_cards/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cexlh0e",
"cexlhzb",
"cexljpl"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Governor is President of the the State\n\nSenator is a State Representative to the Federal government\n\nCongressman is someone who is elected to the Congress either a Senator(state) or a Representative(regionial)",
"The US has a federal government which governs over federal issues. Each state also governs over its own issues.\n\nA Governor is the head executive of a state. Think of them like the president of the state.\n\nA Congress(wo)man is someone who serves in either the Senate or the House of Representatives (the two houses that make up the legislative branch of the US government). This term isn't used very often in the US; we prefer to refer to members as either Senators or Representatives.\n\nA Senator is someone who serves in the Senate, and a Representative is someone who serves in the House of Representatives. Senators are seen as more powerful than Representatives for a few reasons:\n\n* There's fewer Senators (2 from each state for a total of 100, versus 435 Representatives, with larger states getting more Representatives) so it's seen as a more prestigious position.\n\n* Senators serve longer terms (6 year terms, with 1/3 of the Senate up for reelection every 2 years, versus Representatives' 2-year terms).\n\n* The Senate itself is seen as the 'upper' house of the Government, although there are some powers that are exclusive to the House of Representatives.",
"TLDR: All senators are congressmen, but not all congressmen are senators. Congressmen create law, Governors enforce law. In House of Cards, the Congressmen are on a federal level, while the Governor is on a state level.\n\nThink of the Governor as the state's president: Executive powers (meaning the ability to enforce laws) fall to him/her. The Governor doesn't create law. \n\nCongress has two branches. Congressmen are either Senators or members of the House of Representatives. members of the House of Representatives and Senators are both federal (County-level) representatives that legislate--meaning they create laws. House members supposedly represent a district within their state. Larger states have more congressmen. Senators represent the state itself. There are always two. Unfortunately, state legislatures no longer elect congressional senators. They are voted it by the populous, so they supposedly represent the will of the state at large.\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
65uztn
|
why are multiples of 5 or 10 are given more importance than other numbers in anniversaries, milestones, etc.?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/65uztn/eli5_why_are_multiples_of_5_or_10_are_given_more/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dgddru6",
"dgddwdi"
],
"score": [
14,
3
],
"text": [
"How many fingers do you have?",
"but would cultures with base 8/12/whatever have different \"important\" milestones? "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
5351br
|
who and how keeps track of world's countries cash reserves?
|
I see a headline like "[Russia is seriously running out of cash](_URL_0_)" and it makes me wonder how can the author be so sure? Does Russia, or any other country for that matter, report their finances to a central body? And if yes, what mechanism prevents them from "cooking the books"? It's not like money is physical anymore, it's all but a small fraction just numbers in databases. If the US has no right to audit Russia's central bank, how do they know there is no cash in the reserves?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5351br/eli5_who_and_how_keeps_track_of_worlds_countries/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d7q3hvs",
"d7q7hab"
],
"score": [
3,
5
],
"text": [
" > If the US has no right to audit Russia's central bank, how do they know there is no cash in the reserves?\n\nThe US has no need to audit Russia's central bank.\n\nIf Russia's central bank says it has 100 trillion dollar in 1 year US Treasuries, the US Treasury doesn't need to audit them to call bullshit on that claim. Simple arithmetic will do.\n\nIf Russia's central bank claims to have 100 trillion US dollars worth of Shagodelic Belarussian Dick Thumpings, the US Treasury has no reason to respond to that claim at all.",
"When they say cash reserves in this instance, they aren't talking about rubles in their banking system, which the Russian central bank can create or destroy at will. They are talking about foreign currency held by the central bank. \n \nFor most countries it's mostly USD, EUR and maybe some JPY in that order, with USD being the largest holding. The thing is, now that everything is reduced to an electronic record without having to ship trainloads of little pieces of paper, this system only works when you share your record of transactions publicly. There is no way to hoard credits against a country without that country simultaneously recording a debit in their own books. Everything is done by mutual agreement. \n \nFurthermore, most countries use foreign bonds as FX holdings instead of cash. Afterall, why not earn a little interest on your holdings, right? Well in order to earn those interest payments, you need to register your bond holdings with the issuing country. Each bond has an identifying number, and as it is traded around the world, each new owner is registered with the issuing country (otherwise you might as well not own it). \n \nCentral bank gold is the last physical reserve counted as FX, but quantities of gold have been closely tracked for so long that it's pretty much impossible for any country to declare that they suddenly have any extra meaningful amount of gold without raising a lot of questions. It can only be mined so quickly, and it would take hundreds of tons to mean anything. Not to mention what would happen when they can't produce the gold that they said they owned."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/16/news/economy/russia-cash-reserves-depleted/index.html"
] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
496liz
|
why is there such extreme wealth and luxury in places like dubai, uae, abu dhabi, etc.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/496liz/eli5_why_is_there_such_extreme_wealth_and_luxury/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d0pgamn",
"d0pgcyj",
"d0ptcyu"
],
"score": [
9,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Those areas are rich in resources (mainly oil) which are owned by relatively small groups. Those groups/families have billions and billions of dollars. ",
"Oil money. With the rise of the automotive in the 20th century came the rise of huge fortunes for the powerful in much of the Middle East. Suddenly people whose main sign of wealth was owning several camels now found themselves rich on scale they never could have imagined. However, many of these newly rich had no idea how to properly spend their wealth in useful economic endeavors except on buying more improvement on oil and wasting it on luxuries.\n\nDubai in particular is the best example of wasteful spending on Earth. Billions have been spent on making it an utopia for the wealthy (including a [SKI RESORT](_URL_0_) ) but almost no money was spent on the city's vital infrastructure. To deal with the sewage, there are [thousands of tankers dedicated to carrying poop](_URL_1_). Many have just been known to dump into the ocean/into rivers/behind sand dunes because the few sewage facilities that exist are all for a city maybe a tenth of the size, and that is not even counting all the city's tourists.",
"The royal families own everything, and look after their friends... Plenty of back room deals going on. FYI, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of the United Arab Emirates... "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_Dubai",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Hv8IHA3ig"
],
[]
] |
||
858cop
|
what even is a corporation? how are they different from other business? and why do they become so powerful?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/858cop/eli5_what_even_is_a_corporation_how_are_they/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dvvhv97",
"dvvna97",
"dvvpitw"
],
"score": [
6,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"A corporation is a body that is independent from an accounting and legal perspective.\n\nThat means it can pay tax and be held accountable by law.\n\nThere are lots of different types of businesses.\n\nSome common options are partnerships or sole traders who are fully legally liable and while they keep separate books may pay tax as an individual income.\n\nThere are also bodies like trusts, charities and non for profits that more restricted in what they are allowed to do. All of these different entities can have variations. Some can only operate in some areas or only if they are a certain size, or must meet conditions. They all usually offer a significant tax advantage.\n\nThe special features of some corporations are that they typically pay a lower tax rate, never die and can access funding from the public markets. This can sometimes help in accumulating wealth and power.\n\nI just started studying business.\n\nThere's an imperfect film made 15 years ago called \"The Corporation\" that talks about the negative aspects of corporations law if you wanted to see something like that.",
"Keys to the common definition of corporation (legal specifics may differ):\n\n* They are limited liability. The owners' and managers' assets are not on the line if the corporation fails. This is a HUGE benefit.\n\n* They never die or dissolve unless their owners say so, they are legal entities that can last forever.\n\n* They can get financing in the public stock market",
"When people talk about corporations, people get this image of large conglomerates scheming in their huge downtown office towers. In reality, a corporation can be any size business, and they don't have any inherent power in the way most people think they do. It's just a different way a business can be owned, which determines how it's treated legally.\n\nWhen you incorporate, the business is treated by the law as its own entity. The owners, shareholders, have limited liability. Meaning that if the business gets sued or goes under, creditors cannot seize the personal assets of the shareholders, only the assets owned by the business itself. So if your banana bran muffin food truck goes south, the bank can't take your house or car to cover any money owned by the business. With sole proprietorships and partnerships, creditors would be able to sue for the personal assets of the owners, as the business is considered to be a personal asset itself. So incorporating has a pretty big advantage right there. \n\nCorporations range from small \"ma and pop\" shops right up to big multinationals. Corporations can be privately traded, which means shares are only owned by a few individuals. As is the case with a lot of small and medium businesses. Or they're publicly traded, which means anybody can buy shares on the stock market. These can have thousands of owners, including you. Most people own shares of some company as part of their investment portfolios. Obviously those who own more shares have a bigger voice. All publicly traded corporations have to make public their financial statements public. Privately traded ones don't. Larger businesses go public to raise capital for big projects. \n\nAs for how they become powerful, same way anything else does: wealth. Big conglomerates can afford to hire better lawyers, lobbyists, PR firms, and bankroll political campaigns. Only a small number of corporations reach that point. \n\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
c85sea
|
why does liquid butter taste so much different than solid butter
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c85sea/eli5_why_does_liquid_butter_taste_so_much/
|
{
"a_id": [
"esk7p9k",
"eskcim7"
],
"score": [
19,
3
],
"text": [
"Because it is emulsified when solid. In liquid form it gets separated. You can see the water and fat separate. Just like mayonnaise. The base Content is oil, milk, and other stuff. They won't taste same when separate.",
"My understanding of the answer has to do with the chemical reactions that butter molecules trigger when they interact with flavor sensing cells in your mouth. Like all chemical reactions they can be sped up by increasing the temperature and by increasing the surface area. Melting the butter does both, so you essentially \"taste\" more of the butter."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
32hzpk
|
why would the california high speed rail cost approximately $70 billion and 15+ years to build?
|
I get it, bloated bureaucracy, tracks going through heavily urbanized areas, etc, etc - still doesn't make sense to me.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32hzpk/eli5_why_would_the_california_high_speed_rail/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cqbdm96"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"I suppose you don't really understand just how bloated that bureaucracy is. It'll take years of time and millions of dollars just to get through all the studies needed. Then you have all the oversight committees, selection committees, safety regulation committees, etc etc etc\n\nOnce you're there you've got to buy land you don't already own. Enacting eminent domain means court cases arbitrators, and settlements. All this before you can even put a shovel in the ground. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
2sy5da
|
how exactly does the internet work? if it's just 'a series of servers', how hard would it be to access the internet on my own without a provider like comcast or at & t?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2sy5da/eli5_how_exactly_does_the_internet_work_if_its/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cntxh3c",
"cntxvg9",
"cnty9i1"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The internet isn't a network of servers, it's a network of networks, and servers reside on those networks. So does your home computer.\n\nSo, to be on the Internet, you have to be on some network that is already part of the Internet. That's where Comcast and AT & T and other residential ISPs come in.\n\nWithout a provider that connects to other networks, your home network goes nowhere.",
"There is not 1 internet somewhere. The internet is a collection of networks. To get on it, you need to connect to *any* computer that is already connected to the internet. \n\nSo it's totally possible to 'connect on your own', which is to say, just connect to the computer of your neighbor, and ask him to enable 'network sharing'. From your point of view it doesn't matter that he actually connects through Verizon or Comcast, you are on the internet regardless. \nIt's important to remember that every computer on the internet is, in principle, connected to every other computer on the internet.\n\nIf you are thetering through your mobile phone you are connecting to a computer that is connected to the internet 'on your own'. But of course you could also drive up to your nearest data center and plug your laptop in there. \n\nAll Verizon and Comcast are providing is the connection to your house and a computer that is optimized to handle loads of connections from all the people in your area. If you bought a server in said data-center, and connected that through your own cat-5 cable to your house you would have created that service for yourself.",
"_URL_0_\n\nTL;DR - a lot of fucking work. Even Comcast relies on a *bigger* ISP to connect to the rest of the world."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/search?q=ELI5+ISP"
]
] |
||
3iibdo
|
the full process of qualification and structure of the uefa champions league.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3iibdo/eli5_the_full_process_of_qualification_and/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cugpxbg"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"It used to be very simple. UEFA is in charge of all the leagues in Europe. Each league in each country runs separately and the team in each league with the most points at the end of a season is the winner of their league. So last year Chelsea won the Premier League, Barcelona won La Liga and Bayern won the Bundesliga and so on. Ludogorets Razgrad won the Bulgarian league.\n\nIt used to be that the following season, all the teams that had won their national leagues played in a knockout cup competition called the European Cup. This competition was really popular, and whoever won it was considered the best team in Europe. \n\nBut, as more money started to come into football, UEFA noticed three things. \n\n1. It was a knockout cup, so you only got the really good games towards the end of the tournament.\n2. Leagues in Europe are all different sizes. So the, say, fourth best team in England was better and more popular than the best team in Sweden. \n3. The games between the big teams were really popular, and worth a lot of money. A game between the second best English team and second best Spanish team would be more popular than the best Scottish team against the best Finnish team. No one was that excited about Ludogorets Razgrad.\n\nSo the qualification and structure was changed so there would be more games, more big games and everyone would make more money.\n\nNow instead of it being just the winners of the league, they included the second, third and fourth teams from bigger leagues. The better your league, the more places you get. Germany, Spain and England get up to four places. Italy gets three and so on. \n\nThe winners of the big leagues qualify automatically. The winners of small leagues and people who finish fourth in big leagues have to pre-qualify for the group stages in a series of knockout games. (Bulgarian champs Ludogorets Razgrad were knocked out in the second pre-qualifying round to the winners of the Moldovan league, who themselves were knocked out in third pre-qualifying round by the winners of the Albanian league, who were knocked out in the pre-qualifying playoff by Dynamo Zagreb, which is finally a team someone has heard of).\n\nThe group stages are when the Champions League properly starts. \nFrom the group stage onwards, the structure is pretty much like the World Cup.\n\nYou have eight mini-leagues of four teams each who play each other home and away. You get three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. \nThe top two in each mini league goes into the knockout phase.\nThese last 16 play each other in a series of knockout rounds, which are two legs (home and away) until two are left.\n\nThe final is held at a neutral stadium, and the winner is decided on the night. There are no replays or second legs.\n\ntl:dr the structure is the one that makes the most money for UEFA. There is lots of pre-qualifying to weed out the small teams. There are lots of slightly pointless group matches to ensure big teams are on TV."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
1mz1cn
|
why do my pipes rattle when i turn on the water faucet?
|
Basically when I turn on the water in my bathroom I can hear the pipes thumping behind the drywall
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1mz1cn/eli5_why_do_my_pipes_rattle_when_i_turn_on_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ccdwm2t",
"ccdwr6f",
"ccdxi1k"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"...because water is flowing through them. ",
"Water under pressure naturally oscillates or knocks when travelling through pipes. This is BASICALLY because liquids can't compress. In most homes, there are naturally occurring air spaces that act as a shock absorber so the knocking is buffered and you never hear it. Modern plumbing may have actual anti-knock shock absorbers installed. If you are hearing thumping or knocks, you probably do't have any shock absorbers and you don't have any natural air spaces either. You can verify this is the case by doing the following: Turn off your home water main at the street. Open all your faucets and flush all your toilets. This will drain the water out of your pipes and re-introduce natural air spaces. Turn your water main back on and test it. The knocks should be gone.",
"When you shut off the faucet, the water behind it still has momentum, and it slams into the valve, rattling the pipes. Your house should have a pipe somewhere in the system that is verticle and capped. This air space is a buffer, and allows the energy to be absorbed and dissipate. Either you don't have one, it's full of water, or you need to install a buffer closer to your faucet."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
3wlswe
|
what are car alarms good for other than pissing off the neighbors?
|
Has a car alarm ever deterred a break-in or theft? Everyone ignores them. An alarm has been going off in my alley for the past 3 hours; if a thief walked up, smashed the window, and drove away in the car, he'd get a round of applause from everyone in the neighborhood.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wlswe/eli5_what_are_car_alarms_good_for_other_than/
|
{
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6,
2,
17,
2
],
"text": [
"Well, I guess they were helpful in the beginning when car alarms were still a novelty.\n\nThe more you hear them, the more people get used to their sound.",
"Nowadays they probably are only useful in the instance that the alarm is going off *and* someone sees a person doing something that doesn't look right. In that case, the onlooker might call the police, take a photo, etc. \n \nOr one might scare off a novice crook. ",
"Other people might not give a crap about your car alarm when it goes off, but I can assure you that you will run to your car once you recognise it's your own car.\n\nKinda like dogs barking. If it's yours, you'd go out and check it out. If it ain't, you silently scream at it.",
"It's like a bike lock: not enough to stop an intent criminal, but enough to keep a mostly honest person honest."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
2qjki2
|
why do gyms have mirrors facing the equipment?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qjki2/eli5_why_do_gyms_have_mirrors_facing_the_equipment/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cn6nse8",
"cn6ntfl"
],
"score": [
3,
10
],
"text": [
"Mirrors are supposed to be used to check form during reps and see what areas need toning. Actual use is for guys who skip leg day to watch themselves do 200 bicep curls and flex. ",
"So you can see yourself working out and make sure you have proper form. Secondly, mirrors give the illusion of space, making the gym appear larger and more appealing. \n\nAlso, some gym-goers are the vain kind of people who would like watching themselves work out."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
ald8bz
|
how does the earth spinning on its axis not slow down or lose momentum?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ald8bz/eli5_how_does_the_earth_spinning_on_its_axis_not/
|
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"When you spin a top on your desk, what stops the top from spinning is two-fold:\n\n1. The drag on the spinning top that the air around it causes.\n\n2. The energy lost to the surface it spins on.\n\nThe Earth is neither spinning on something nor in an atmosphere.\n\nThat said, it's worth noting that the momentum IS changing at all times due to core activity and space dust and debris falling into the atmosphere. It's just a very small change.",
"It does actually, but it's extremely slow. A modern day is longer by about 1.7 milliseconds than a century ago ([wikipedia](_URL_0_)).",
"It does, but very, very slowly. There's nothing much to slow it down, except for tidal forces (the moon), and that's such a small proportion of the total rotational momentum that it doesn't have much effect. ",
"The Earth DOES slow down!\n\nIts momentum is changing mostly due to the presence of the moon, which creates gravitational drag and is steadily slowing the Earth's rotation. This effect is large enough that we actually have to insert an extra second into the clock every few years (these \"leap seconds\" happen for a variety of reasons, but rotational slowdown is the biggest).",
"Without some sort of friction something that is moving, keeps moving.\n\nTo slow anything down you need to transfer energy and do work.\n\nSo an object spinning about its own axis in complete isolation and a hard vacuum will not slow down since there is nothing to slow it down.\n\nEarth spinning on its axis does actually very slowly slow down, due to the gravity of the moon (and to a lesser degree the sun) causing tides which slows down the rotation. (The moons rotation has already been slowed down this way so that it basically no longer rotates with respect to the earth.)\n\nSome other stuff also help slow the earth's spinning a tiny bit, but the earth is a really huge spinning thing so that it takes extremely large things to really slow it down in a noticeable way.",
"You can't \"lose momentum\", it's a conserved property in physics.\n\nYou can transfer momentum into something else, that's why a spinning child's top slows down, it's momentum is transferred into air and lost as heat. There isn't any air in space and so nothing like that can slow down the Earth.\n\nHowever, there is the Moon. Momentum is being transferred to the Moon, moving it slightly faster and therefore into a slightly larger orbit. This effect is very, very small; but small things is physics are still interesting.",
"it does, from gravity, but otherwise there is nothing to slow it down. Isaac Newton: an object in motion will stay in motion until something acts on it to change that motion. Well, there isn't a lot that is acting on planets to stop them, so they just keep on going, like the energizer bunny.",
"I read an article that said in 180 million years there will be 25 hours in a day because of how gradually the earths rotation is slowing. [_URL_0_](_URL_0_)",
"And a related question: how did it start spinning in the first place? ",
"Because there is no friction in space, so there is nothing to slow the earth down. \n\nNow the earth does actually slow down a little, because of the moon, its just extremely slow.",
"It does, but very slowly: [_URL_1_](_URL_1_)\n\n > After all, how long did a day last when the Earth and the Moon came to be? \\[...\\] it can be said that the day lasted only 4 hours. Over time, the Moon moved away and the length of the day increased: when the planet and its satellite were 30,000 years old, the day lasted six hours; when they were 60 million years old, the day lasted 10 hours.\" \n > \n > \\[...\\] the first evidence of life, 3.5 billion years ago, happened when the day lasted 12 hours. The emergence of photosynthesis, 2.5 billion years ago, happened when the day lasted 18 hours. 1.7 billion years ago the day was 21 hours long and the eukaryotic cells emerged. The multicellular life began when the day lasted 23 hours, 1.2 billion years ago. The first human ancestors arose 4 million years ago, when the day was already very close to 24 hours long.\n\nBy the way, the day isn't 24h. You probably know the \"leap year\" which exist to compensate for the fact that a year isn't exactly 365 days. There is also the \"leap second\" ([_URL_2_](_URL_0_)) every few years, which exist to compensate the fact that a day isn't exactly 24h.\n\nIf humanity survive long enough, we will just need more \"leap seconds\" (maybe one per year at some point!)",
"Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force. The outside forces are very small compared to the mass of the Earth, so it's slowing at a astronomically slow pace. ",
"A vacuum powered gravity bearing is mostly what keeps Earth from slowing down. Earth is falling through space in an orbit around the Sun (as it orbits around the galaxy), and it is spinning in a vacuum (space). There is practically no friction to slow it down (on the scale of the things we are talking about.) It's falling through nothingness and spinning on nothing.",
"The model of the sun forming from a spinning disk bothers me: if the sun is moving through space, then there is no flat spinning disk around it. The planets must be also moving through space at the same time. Their paths must be spirals. Is a spinning disk not in conflict with this fact?",
"Put another way - turn the question on its head. Why should it? What makes, say, a spinning top slow down and lose momentum?\n\nWhen you've answered that one, you'll know why the earth mostly doesn't.",
"When the Earth was created it was hit by a giant rock or something which caused the planet to spin very fast. Its slowly losing speed but not at a rate that would ever be noticeable, but it is happening"
]
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||
36tukt
|
why our nipples get hard
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36tukt/eli5_why_our_nipples_get_hard/
|
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"Nipples aren't made of erectile tissue. It's just goosebumps but the muscle tissue around the nipple is cylindrical. Any sexually related nipple hardening is caused by oxytocin being released.",
"A better question is why do guys have nipples? I could see women's nips getting hard to make it easier for a baby to suck on them.",
"Now I want to know : do cow's teat get hard?",
"An even better ELI5: why do males have nipples?",
"Serious follow up question. My nipples get hard while eating spicy food. Is there a logical reason for this?\n\nEdit: Well, 4 years into this Reddit thing, and this is my top comment 😅",
"For breastfeeding.\n\nBreastfeeding doesn't work via suction, like the way you suck on a straw, as anyone who's milked a cow can confirm. It works by repeatedly squeezing the nipple in a \"drawing\" motion (picture squeezing a toothpaste tube). An elongated nipple fits fully into an infant's mouth, allowing to draw milk by squeezing the nipple between the tongue and the roof of the mouth.",
"Why do people always ask me this when I approach them?",
"Maybe it has something to do with dick-turtling in cold weather and how my testicles turn from two wrecking balls into a pair of prunes that cannot get close enough to themselves or my body when in cold weather.",
"My nipples seriously are hard 24/7. What can I do to make them relax?",
"Nipples get hard to facilitate breast feeding. Male breasts have the same physiology as female breasts, but they haven't gone through puberty yet.\n\nIn the womb, both male and female fetuses are the same. If the fetus receives male hormones, it gets male genitals. If it doesn't receive any hormones, it becomes female by default. The prepubescent breast is basically the same for both genders.\n\nInterestingly, the male breast can actually develop and adequately feed an infant under some circumstances, and about one man gets breast cancer for every 100 woman who do.",
"NSFW\n\nI always thought that, during sex, the nipples to be sucked on were the girls. But one time she started sucking on mine, while her hand worked on my ~~Johnson~~ johnson. The pleasant ache that I normally felt only in my nether regions now included a line from my nips to my balls. Ho Lee Fuk, it was like discovering plutonium!",
"my favourite backhanded insult from A Song of Ice and Fire, \"You're more useless than nipples on a breastplate.\"",
"Our skin contains muscle fibers that contract to form goosebumps. Goosebumps evolved when we were hair-covered creatures as a way to fluff up our hair and preserve warmth.\n\nNipples evolved from sweat glands, and they retained the associated goosebump muscle fibers. \n\nThe muscle fibers might have been retained because they served an evolutionary purpose, such as helping with breastfeeding. Or they might have stuck around just because there's no evolutionary disadvantage to having them.",
"Tl;dr version:\n\nWe have nipples because our ancestors a very long time ago made had patches of skin that produce milk and those patches being a lump made it easier for their young to feed. They get hard because they had muscles in them that were there to make hair stand up like goosebumps already, and this helped the young latch on as well, but they still get hard when other triggers that cause hairs on or body to stand up happen, because they are still connected to the same neurological pathways as the other muscles like them in our skin.\n\nMore complete explanation:\n\nThe answer comes in our evolutionary history. Nipples are modified skin in the same way that mammary glands are modified sebaceous glands. If we look at the mammals alive today that retain the most ancestral traits - monotremes like platypi and echidna - we see that they do not actually have nipples, just patches of skin that secrete milk and their offspring suck it from the skin and fur. This shows that producing milk to feed offspring arose before nipples did, so then we just need imagine what could have caused the selection of more and more nipple-like structures where the milk is secreted.\n\nThe skin on almost all of a mammal's body had tiny muscles in it already called erector pili muscles - these are the things that give us goose bumps. They are adaptive for fur covered creators in many ways as they allow the fur to be fluffed spontaneously which can both increase the insulation (the reason they tighten when you feel a chill) and increase the perceived size of the animal to make it look more intimidating to a potential predator or competitor for mates or resources (the reason that heightened emotions and the fight/fight response also triggers them).\n\nSince these muscles are already present in the skin, it is very easy to see how there would be an advantage to animals that happen to have a protuberance of sorts where the milk is secreted, because they would allow said protuberance to become more pronounced and easier for the young to latch onto and feed efficiently.",
"Your nipples get hard because it assumes you have just killed an animal with your bare hands on a cool autumn morning. The lite rush of adrenaline coursing through you is what makes that happen, it is supposed by archaeologists and anthropologists that early \"man\" would remove the heart as quickly as possibly and cut a small 1-3 inch incision using their now razor like nipple, drinking from their victims soul bearing blood pumper before it began to coagulate.\n\nAnd that's why your nips get hard.",
"Get? Is that a trick question? My nipples are always hard. ",
"So...somewhat related questions.\n\nWhy do nipples have hair even if the entire chest is bare? 5 hairs isn't gonna retain heat worth a shit.",
"Interesting post; hoping to glean some insight via these comments. As a male I wonder why mine are almost always hard; its kind of annoying."
]
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56zavg
|
why do european countries and north american countries have two different currents/volatages/power sources and is one more efficient to use than the other? or is one more wasteful than the other?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/56zavg/eli5_why_do_european_countries_and_north_american/
|
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"Higher voltages need smaller wires but they are more dangerous. That's why the UK is so over-the-top on giant ground pins on their plugs. 50 vs 60 Hz is a sad incompatibility, but it's been that way for a century.\n\nEdit:typo",
"It's simply based on what the engineers in different regions of the world agreed on (as an arbitrary standard) when first designing AC electrical power distribution systems.\n\nThe power cycle rate (in Hz) needed to be high enough that you wouldn't notice lights flickering on an off rapidly. Most of the world chose 50 Hz (which eliminates most flickering) whereas North America chose 60 Hz (which results in even less flickering).\n\nVoltage and amperage (electrical current) are related in a way where power = voltage x amperage.\n\nThis means that you can achieve the same level of power using a higher voltage and lower amperage as you can with a lower voltage and higher amperage.\n\nThe disadvantage of using higher voltages is that there is a higher risk of electrical shock and it's possible for the electricity to jump / spark further, so safety is of greater concern. \n\nThis is why electrical outlets outside of North America are often larger (they tend to have a larger gap between the prongs) and often contain many built-in safety features like switches, breakers/fuses, etc. that are not typical for North American electrical outlets.\n\nThe disadvantage of using lower voltages is that you require greater amperage to reach the same level of power. The greater the amperage, the thicker the power cabling needs to be (in order to minimize overheating / fire hazards). This generally adds costs (in terms of wiring buildings/homes for electrical power), and it means that in many cases European outlets can (by default) support higher power levels than North American outlets since the US voltage x maximum amperage on typical US outlet is usually lower than a European voltage x maximum amperage on a typical European outlet.",
"There used to be thousands of different power standards. But as the grid evolved the standards emerged. For voltages there are three standards, 400, 220 and 110. If you have a neutral conductor (which is not always standard) then you can split the voltage in half (within the margin of error) by only using one live conductor. So it is common in parts of Europe to have three phase 400v with a neutral conductor so you can get either 400v or 220v. Older systems like the one in the US and parts of Europe use 220v supply lines to houses so you can get either 220v or 110v. Higher voltages is better for transferring power over distances but require more gaps between the conductors to prevent short circuiting. Long distance transmission lines will transform the power to higher voltages which is rather easy. However in the US the last transformer have to be closer to the houses. So in the US there are transformers on almost every street but in Europe there may only be one transformer in the neighborhood.\n\nThe other part of the standard is the frequency. The EU runs on 50Hz and the US runs on 60Hz. It is hard to transform between them but in a lot of cases the difference in frequency is negligible. It is easier to design devices for higher frequencies but lower frequency is better for power transmission. However the frequencies are so close to each other that none of it matters too much.",
"The super, super simple answer is that back when all this stuff was being picked and standardized in all the countries... slower frequency of the alternating currents was \"cheaper\" because the 60Hz generators are spinning 20% faster than the 50Hz systems.\n\nSo the faster frequency produces a smoother output for many tasks (e.g. reduced flicker as per /u/pythonpoole 's description) but it took more work and investment to create the 60Hz systems.\n\nAdn that's not half of it. The AC power on jet airplanes is at 400Hz because it needs to be _super_ _smooth_ and it's being generated by jet turbines that are spinning _very_ _fast_.\n\nSo the reasons varied for practical and financial reasons but nearly at random.\n\nSimilar early-life problems for other technologies (like railroad gauge) were rampant.\n\nThis is why we are lucky that we have developed international standards organization for telephone, telegraph, and internet type stuff.\n\nPiecemeal is no way to construct global infrastructure.\n\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
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[],
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||
61og2g
|
why aren't more electronics waterproof?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/61og2g/eli5_why_arent_more_electronics_waterproof/
|
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"It is significant extra expense and engineering challenge for something most users don't need. Most of your life is in a dry environment, why spend a lot of work so you can dunk your laptop in the tub?",
"A lot of electronics just don't need it, or the manufacturer isn't willing to spend the extra production cost for something that doesn't necessarily make it more valuable.",
"Because it can cost a lot. Most electronics needs to be opened up to put new batteries in, for repair, or ease of manufacturing. Closing all the holes that water can get in while allowing the above three costs money for features most consumers dont care about."
]
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|
[] |
[] |
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[],
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||
7yy5gm
|
what does "light" energy turn into after being emitted by a light bulb?
|
If you have a light bulb being powered by a battery for example, the light bulb takes the electricity and converts it into light energy as well as heat energy. My question is, since energy cannot be created or destroyed, what does that light energy emitted by the light bulb turn into? does it eventually turn into *just* heat?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7yy5gm/eli5_what_does_light_energy_turn_into_after_being/
|
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"text": [
"Yes, in the end it's all heat. If the bulb consumes 10 watts of electricity, it produces 10 watts of heat. The same is true for computers, pumps, fans, and virtually everything else that uses electricity.\n\nedit: also I'll add that light is radiation heat transfer within the visible spectrum of wavelengths, so there is not a separate conversion from light to heat. Light is heat within the visible spectrum. ",
" > My question is, since energy cannot be created or destroyed, what does that light energy emitted by the light bulb turn into? does it eventually turn into just heat?\n\nYes, eventually it will likely become heat. This happens very quickly which is why a closed from becomes dark nearly instantly."
]
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|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
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|
6yhn02
|
why can i suddenly smell items from across the room when i notice the items visually, even if i couldn't smell them beforehand?
|
Is it purely neurological (i.e. I'm "Remembering" the smell in my head and placing it) or is it some mechanism of being able to *"focus in"* on the environmental olfactory cues?
**Example:** I can sit in my home completely unaware to a loaf of banana bread until I spot it on the counter in the other room quite a distance away. At that point I can smell it like it's right next to me. Yet I can watch someone on TV baking a cake and can't "smell" it at all.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6yhn02/eli5_why_can_i_suddenly_smell_items_from_across/
|
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"text": [
"Reticular activation - we tend to notice phenomenon we're aware of.\n\nIts why when you buy a car you never heard of, after you take it off the lot, you start seeing it everywhere."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
y8okw
|
the red scare of the 1940's-1950's
|
We had to read The Crucible for a class. There is a question after the book that says to explain how the facts of the Red Scare and the Salem Witch Trials might justify Arthur Miller's use of the Salem Witch Trials as an analogy to satirize America's reaction to the Red Scare. We have to have a clear thesis to control the argument.
A year and a half long relationship just ended and I can't think straight. Please please help me. I don't know where to start.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/y8okw/eli5_the_red_scare_of_the_1940s1950s/
|
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"Try looking up [McCarthyism](_URL_0_) and the House Un-American Activities Committee. \n\nAfter you read a bit, it should become obvious how the Crucible's with trials relate to American fears of Communists in the '50s. \n\nAs an extra hint, note that the Crucible was published in 1952, while the Red Scare lasted several years afterwards. In other words, the play was right in the middle of the worst of it.",
"I personally think it's a really bad analogy, because while there certainly weren't any witches roaming about Salem, there definitely were Communist spies in the US government.",
"I think the biggest point Arthur Miller was trying to make is that the Red Scare resulted in people being branded as Communists with little or no evidence to back it up, much like the Salem Witch Trials admitted shaky \"spectral\" evidence to convict innocent people. Both situations were also an opportunity for people to easily get rid of rivals - politicians in the 50s could discredit an opponent by lobbing the term \"Communist\" at them; many of the girls having \"visions\" in Salem deliberately targeted people who challenged their families for land. \n\nThe big thing to take away is that the Red Scare and the Salem Witch Trials both involved an ambiguous threat (Communism/witchcraft) that whipped a largely uninformed public into a frenzy and resulted in a lot of paranoia and destroyed lives."
]
}
|
[] |
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[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism"
],
[],
[]
] |
|
2v97lo
|
- what ended the popularity of instant messaging ( aol, aim, msn) ?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2v97lo/eli5_what_ended_the_popularity_of_instant/
|
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"Alternatives: Facebook, Skype, Steam, Team speak, text messaging. \n\nMSN and AOL were also getting slow, bloated, and out of touch with the techy crowd. ",
"Social media nonsense. I think skype was pretty much the final nail.\n\nI still use AIM and AOL, I just use them all on Digsby. But, that's because most of my friends are from that era and still use it.\n\nI remember when ICQ was new and awesome.\n\nOne night, an innocent 12 year old me was doing an online search for random people to talk to and that's how I met Pablo, the Mexican vampire. I talked to him a lot and listened to all of his stories of falling asleep drunk on rooftops and swooping down on bitches. We talked until the sun came up and I never heard from him again.",
"The widespread availability of it. You can IM via any social media site. You can sent texts from your phone which now has a full keyboard. You can send a message through steam or any gaming console.\n\nInstant messaging died the same way amateur photography did: not by becoming obsolete, but by becoming ubiquitous. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
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[],
[],
[]
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||
2ob0i9
|
how do pokemon evs and ivs work?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ob0i9/eli5_how_do_pokemon_evs_and_ivs_work/
|
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"IV's are what a pokemon is naturally born with. They are a combination of the parent's IV's (when using destiny knot) as well as some genetic lottery (This is because the Destiny Knot only transfers over 5 values from the parents, and one random value). These values range anywhere from 1-31, and will have an exponential value as the pokemon levels. However, they don't have as great of an impact in stats as EV's do.\n\nEV's are Effort Values. These are representations of what the pokemon is training for. Every time you defeat an enemy pokemon in battle, any pokemon that participated in the battle (Anyone who receives exp.) you will receive EV's towards a specific stat. For example, defeating a Zubat will yield 1 Speed EV. Every pokemon can have a maximum of 510 EV's, with a single stat having a maximum of 252 EV's in it.\n\nWhat this boils down to is, if a pokemon has a lot of Speed and Attack EVs, it will have a higher Speed and Attack stat than the same pokemon without those EVs. \n\nSee the respective Bulbapedia pages for more info\n\n_URL_1_\n_URL_0_"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/IV",
"http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Effort_values"
]
] |
||
32vzv8
|
why do so many cultures have a response for sneezing but not for other things like coughing?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32vzv8/eli5_why_do_so_many_cultures_have_a_response_for/
|
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"I am one of those people who can't distinguish between cough and sneeze so I use Russian equivalent of \"Be healthy\" on both, many people do the same here.",
"Probably because most times people sneeze 1-3 times and its done. Coughing usually goes on for a while and can be a symptom of being sick. Sneezing is only a reaction to an irritant like pollen, hay, dust, etc.",
"I say 'bless you' to either. This is to avoid vicious looks off people who snough or coueeze.",
"It was rumored that when you sneeze the soul was trying to escape the body, and by saying bless you it brought it back. It was also said that the heart stops for a millisecond when you sneeze."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
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||
24f9za
|
is drug resistant bacteria evolution?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/24f9za/eli5_is_drug_resistant_bacteria_evolution/
|
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"text": [
"In a way, yes.\n\nIts not natural selection (the core process of evolution) but artificial selection. We (humans) are forcing them to evolve, and they are evolving.",
"Yes, it is. It's a perfect example of it. There's a bacterial population infecting someone, they take the antibiotics till they feel better, but not until they clear the infection. There's a few of the bacteria that aren't immune but slightly better at surviving. Once the person stops the antibiotics because they feel better, the infection come back but this time the population of bacteria is replicated from the few microbes that were stronger and so now the whole population is stronger. They infect someone else and we have to keep upping the anti on antibiotic strength but people keep repeating that process, making the stronger bacteria even better until we run out of something to use against them.",
"Yes, it's called selective pressure, by which case we selectively allow the growth of resistant bacteria by giving too much antibiotics. Bacteria under antibiotic pressure will replicate and that 1 in a million bacteria (some number I made up) will have a mutation which confers resistance to that antiboitic. If that antibiotic continues to be given, then that bacteria with the mutated gene (and hence can't be killed) will conitnue to survive and give off offsprings. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
4nj29k
|
how does being paid with salary instead of hourly work?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4nj29k/eli5_how_does_being_paid_with_salary_instead_of/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d44an3l",
"d44aosl"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Is this a serious question?\n\nHourly is paid based on hours worked and salary is a set pay no matter how many hours worked.",
"Well, you can be employed and be payed an hourly wage, in which your work hours all count towards your paycheck. The more you work, the more you make. But...the less you work, the less you make. \n\nORRRRR you can take a salaried position, which is a set amount no matter how much you work. In my experience, once they offer you a salary position, they no longer have to pay you overtime and will work you to fucking death!! "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
7taq2r
|
what do the terms "red pill" and "blue pill" mean?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7taq2r/eli5_what_do_the_terms_red_pill_and_blue_pill_mean/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dtb5s9c"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"In the movie the matrix the main character neo is given a choice. the red pill makes him wake up and be freed from the machines using his body for fuel. the blue pill pits in back in the matrix, oblivious to the real world."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
7zl2qr
|
why can sound and light rouse you from sleep, but not smell?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7zl2qr/eli5_why_can_sound_and_light_rouse_you_from_sleep/
|
{
"a_id": [
"duouf1s"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"You ever wake up to bacon? Or put hot sauce in someone’s mouth while they were sleeping?"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
30plmx
|
nutrition labels beyond the calories
|
I want to say "everything in moderation," but even then, I'm not sure if that's accuate. When I'm reading a label, I'm always thinking "What does high levels of sodium mean? Does sodium turn into fat? What aspects of the label should I be more mindful of here?" If someone could break down the label and talk a bit about how the body treats the categories, that would be fantastic.
I'm Canadian, if that makes a difference labelling-wise.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30plmx/eli5_nutrition_labels_beyond_the_calories/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cpukvqt",
"cpulidt"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Sodium doesn't turn into fat. Sodium is an element which you can find on the periodic table. These sodium ions are responsible for blood pressure regulation as well as nerve innervation so it is essential to have it in your diet. Most thing in moderation is a good saying to go by but again, people's perception of what moderation is can be skewed in either direction (everyone is different so amounts which qualify as excess or insufficient is different). I haven't looked at a label in a while, but generally you want to stay away from trans fats. Make sure you're getting some of your minerals from your food, etc. I would love to go into more detail but I feel like that would require a more in-depth explanation and understanding of what each nutrient does.",
"I'm assuming that Canadian food labels include an indicator of \"percent daily value\" (% DV), the same way ones in the US do. If not, disregard this.\n\nThere are certain vitamins and nutrients that should be incorporated into people's diets, and the nutrition labels are intended to inform you of which ones are included in a product, and how much. For example (I'm grabbing a food at random from my fridge), a single serving container of yogurt might indicate that it contains 15% of the amount of calcium a typical person should be consuming on a daily basis, but 0% of the iron. Therefore, if you want to make sure you get your recommended amount of iron for the day, you would want to look elsewhere.\n\nThe other things I'd look out for are the amount of sugar and protein. Generally you'd want to limit the amount of sugar and make sure you are eating enough protein, but it depends on your individual diet and nutrition goals."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
m6z7h
|
pricing of digital distribution
|
How can they charge the same price or more than retail stores when they don't have to pay for things like rent, shipping, physical production of the material etc.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/m6z7h/eli5_pricing_of_digital_distribution/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c2ymljv",
"c2yngij",
"c2ymljv",
"c2yngij"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Prices, even in stores, are never as directly related to the cost of producing as you might think. Ever. \n\nBesides that though, I can give what I hope to be a bit of an answer. I work in the book/magazine publishing business, so I'm going to use books as an example.\n\nThe bookstore/seller gets 50% - no matter what their rent or any other costs are. The author gets 10%. The rest of the dough gets used up in shipping and production (which includes printing and materials, design and typesetting). The publisher will take what's left, which is usually roughly 10%, and some of this goes to editing, marketing (ads and displays) and publicity for the author (like book signings and readings). \n\n*So* - most to the bookseller, a lot to the actual making and moving of the book, and a little bit to the writer and people promoting the writer.\n\nThe costs for the digital production of a book is just different.\n\nThere are still some costs directly related to producing an ebook. Typesetting and design in some form still has to happen - that's where someone takes the words in the manuscript and lays out how they need to look on the page (designing is creating how the cover is going to look). Formatting the letters and words into an ebook format (the type of file a reader like an ipad or kindle needs it to be in order to show it to you on it's screen) doesn't happen automatically either. The bookseller will always take a big cut (again, usually half of what the book is selling for) the writer needs to be paid and so does the publishing company for doing the same things as a print book.\n\n*So* - most to the bookseller, a fair share to the making of the ebook, and a little bit to the writer and the people promoting the writer.\n\n**TL;DR** There is always much more going on behind the scenes in the making of any given product, digital or physical, than meets the eye.",
"The simplest answer to your question is this: They charge what the market will bear. \n\nThat's how it is with everything. A Mercedes C-Class costs $34,000 because people think that is fair, even though it is functionally no different than my $12,000 Chevrolet. An MP3 costs 99c because that's what people are willing to pay. \n\nGranted, there are back end things like veraciousful said, about everybody getting their cut, but if the market couldn't bear the price of the product, there would be no market for the product. ",
"Prices, even in stores, are never as directly related to the cost of producing as you might think. Ever. \n\nBesides that though, I can give what I hope to be a bit of an answer. I work in the book/magazine publishing business, so I'm going to use books as an example.\n\nThe bookstore/seller gets 50% - no matter what their rent or any other costs are. The author gets 10%. The rest of the dough gets used up in shipping and production (which includes printing and materials, design and typesetting). The publisher will take what's left, which is usually roughly 10%, and some of this goes to editing, marketing (ads and displays) and publicity for the author (like book signings and readings). \n\n*So* - most to the bookseller, a lot to the actual making and moving of the book, and a little bit to the writer and people promoting the writer.\n\nThe costs for the digital production of a book is just different.\n\nThere are still some costs directly related to producing an ebook. Typesetting and design in some form still has to happen - that's where someone takes the words in the manuscript and lays out how they need to look on the page (designing is creating how the cover is going to look). Formatting the letters and words into an ebook format (the type of file a reader like an ipad or kindle needs it to be in order to show it to you on it's screen) doesn't happen automatically either. The bookseller will always take a big cut (again, usually half of what the book is selling for) the writer needs to be paid and so does the publishing company for doing the same things as a print book.\n\n*So* - most to the bookseller, a fair share to the making of the ebook, and a little bit to the writer and the people promoting the writer.\n\n**TL;DR** There is always much more going on behind the scenes in the making of any given product, digital or physical, than meets the eye.",
"The simplest answer to your question is this: They charge what the market will bear. \n\nThat's how it is with everything. A Mercedes C-Class costs $34,000 because people think that is fair, even though it is functionally no different than my $12,000 Chevrolet. An MP3 costs 99c because that's what people are willing to pay. \n\nGranted, there are back end things like veraciousful said, about everybody getting their cut, but if the market couldn't bear the price of the product, there would be no market for the product. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
6med5q
|
why do we euthanize wild animals who attack humans?
|
I just read a story about a camp counselor almost dragged away by a bear, though there was no food or anything that would have attracted the bear. The wildlife officers intend to trap and kill any bears, in the search for the offending bear.
Euthanization of wild animals who attack humans seems overall common. But why? Isn't that what happens when wild animals see food in the wild? Shouldn't we just be grateful he got away?
Obviously, this is different than a wild cougar in the streets of L.A.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6med5q/eli5_why_do_we_euthanize_wild_animals_who_attack/
|
{
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4,
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12
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"text": [
"There are lots of reasons. Some of them are understandable. In some places they have policies of killing any animal that attacks a human to see if it has rabies. Maybe not necessary all the time, but understandable, especially in a place where that's been a real problem.\n\nOthers have less meaningful reasons. Sometimes they do it because they worry it might happen again. Or they worry that it'll teach the behavior to offspring. And sometimes its just the simple fact that killing one animal won't do much to hurt their population, and its easier to do that then take any risks or deal with outraged parents or bad media reports.",
"It means the animals no longer fear humans and might even see us as a source of food (ie our food and/or our flesh).\n\nOnce it's learned that, it's likely to attack again. ",
"The same reason why we track down fellow human beings and arrest them for committing a crime. Do it once and they will likely to do it again with no fear since some managed to get away with it or done it before might as well do it again. Same logic applies to animals.",
"There is a reason humans are rarely attacked by wild animals; we've spent many thousands of years killing anything which attacks humans. Most predator species learn what prey to go after from their parent(s), so if an animal starts targeting humans we tend to kill it before it has offspring and teaches them to also hunt humans.",
"Like previous commenters said, it has to do with protecting people, since animals who attack people(in certain circumstances)are more likely to do so again. Simply look at the policies regarding brown bears in Alaska. If a person gets too close to a brown bear's cub and is killed, the bear was acting naturally, and not killed. However, if a brown bear stalks a human(This happened recently, as well) then kills them, it has added humans as its prey and is likely to continue doing so."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
bcqokd
|
what is the purpose of a canard on an airplane?
|
A canard being that wing structure on an airplane's nose.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bcqokd/eli5_what_is_the_purpose_of_a_canard_on_an/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eksq892",
"eksr828"
],
"score": [
6,
4
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"text": [
"Canards can help with a variety of things\n\n1. Extra lift - They're another wing at the front of the plane so they provide additional lift\n\n2. Lower stress on the main wing - When you try to climb, the elevators on the tail push the tail down, this also puts a downward force on the rest of the plane that the main wings have to overcome to climb.\n\n3. Better maneuverability - You can now raise the nose while lowering the tail and the additional control surface(turny bit) up front increases the overall maneuverability of the plane.\n\n4. Stall prevention - You can make the canard have different dimensions than the main wing so that it stalls out at a different angle, this means you can pull a tighter turn than your main wing would normally allow\n\n4. Looking cool! - Because they do",
"Canards reduce drag and increase efficiency.\n\nA traditional design (with the stabilizer on the tail) has the wing and the tail *opposing* each other. The wing is trying to lift the plane up at the center of gravity, but that also means the nose will want to pitch up. Without a stabilizer of some kind, the nose will simply pitch up until the plane stalls, and then your plane crashes. The tail applies a small force forcing the nose to pitch *down*. When these two forces are balanced, the plane stays level.\n\nBut that means you have two forces opposing each other. The wing is trying to lift the nose, and the tail is trying to drop the nose. Since the tail is obviously connected to the rest of the plane, if it is applying a *down* force, the entire plane tries to go *down*. That means your wing has to lift *up* an equal amount to overcome this overall *down* force. Whenever you put a force on a plane in any direction other than forward, you must also increase drag as your flight surfaces push air in a direction. You're creating a down force, which increases drag *and* makes your plane want to go down, so your wings have to add a little *more* drag to keep your plane going up.\n\nWith a canard design, the stabilizer is in front of the wings. The wings are generating lift at the rear of the plane, so the *rear* wants to go up instead of the nose - which will case the nose to drop. To counter this, the stabilizers are creating a slight *up* force on the nose of the plane. Both surfaces are making your plane go *up*, which is what you want your plane to do anyway! So instead of your wings have to do extra work to counter the stabilizing force, your wings have to do *less* work because the stabilizing force is also helping your plane go up. That's less drag, which means more efficiency.\n\nThe downside is that your plane is less stable, especially if you have a plane with a puller-prop configuration (that is, a propeller on the front of the plane, pulling the plane forward). The air that moves through the prop is accelerated and washes over most of the plane behind it, which includes any control surfaces. That means at *zero* airspeed you can still have a little bit of control because the prop is moving air over your control surfaces, even if the plane isn't moving forward through the air. With a canard, the prop is probably in the back so there's no prop wash going over your stabilizer. If you are at low or zero air speed, you have zero control. Even if the prop is in front, the prop wash is \"dirty\" air and is too turbulent to \"stick\" to the control surfaces the way it should to give you control.\n\nAlso consider a stall - that is when there isn't enough air flowing over the wing in the right way, so the flow separates from the wing and you lose lift. This happens if you're going too slow *or* if the angle-of-attack is too high - meaning, the wings are pointed too far up relative to the direction the plane is going. If you're in a stall, you want to pitch the nose of the plane down, lowering your angle of attack so that you can 1) reduce drag so that you can increase your airspeed, and 2) get air flowing properly over the wing if they were already pitched too far up. Fixing a stall usually means pointing your nose towards the ground and letting gravity speed you up.\n\nIn a traditional plane, what happens if your wings stall? The wings normally want the nose *up*, so if the wings aren't working, the opposite happens and the nose comes *down* - exactly what you want to happen anyway. If you stall so badly that even the stabilizers on the tail stall and don't give you any control, the plane is still going to want to do what you want it to do. With a canard, the wings want the *rear* to go up. What happens when the wings stall on a plane with canards? The opposite happens, and the rear goes *down*, which means the nose goes *up* - that is the *opposite* of what we want to happen. That's increasing your angle of attack, which is putting your plane deeper into a stall, which is *very bad*. And the canard wings themselves at the front of the plane naturally want to generate lift, pulling the nose up *even more*. So with no input from the pilot, the plane is going to try very hard to put itself into a worse stall and become unrecoverable, which means your plane crashes.\n\nThe more surface area your wings have, the harder it is to stall them. So if you have a canard design, big wings make your plane safer. Big wings also increase drag, which defeats the purpose of the canard design in the first place.\n\nTD;DR: Traditional designs have the stabilizers trying to pull the plane down to balance the up force of the wings. Canard designs are more efficient because your stabilizers and your wings are doing the same thing - lifting the plane up. But canards are less stable unless you reduce the efficiency, which defeats the purpose of the canard design."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
1yp2i7
|
why are there different hunting seasons for certain weapons?
|
I was looking at my State's hunting seasons, and I noticed that for Bear, the hunting season for Archery began in October and ended in November, the hunting season for Muzzle loaders lasts for a few days in November, and Firearms begins and ends later on. As I understand it, hunting seasons are mainly to make sure you don't interfere with animals breeding and stuff, so I can't think of why there'd be a reason for different seasons by weapon-type.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1yp2i7/eli5why_are_there_different_hunting_seasons_for/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfmhxaf",
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"text": [
"As someone who lives in Australia but has family in WI, I would have thought the following. (talking about white tail specifically)\n\nArchery is a much harder skill and requires a lot more stalking. This is at the start of the season as people don't want to be sneaking through bush (I think without any blaze on) with people using guns and shooting guns spooking the prey.\n\nNext up are hunters with disabilities.\nThen youth gun hunts. Gives the kids a go again before the deer are spooked.\nThen the main rifle season.\nThen finally muzzleloaders. Lots of noise so best to put it after the main hunting season.\n\n",
"Florida hunter here.\n\nFirst, the schedule:\n_URL_0_\n\nThe seasons generally go in the following order: Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading, General Gun.\n\nThey run in order of difficulty, and they all \"trickle down,\" so to speak. During General Gun season you can still use a bow, crossbow, or muzzleloader if you prefer. This effectively gives archers a longer season, since it is more difficult.\n\nRegarding the use of blaze, in Florida you are not required to wear blaze at any time while hunting on private property, while blaze is always required while hunting on state-owned land. Different states have different rules, of course.",
"It gives the more rigorous hunting methods a chance before the deer have been shot at/around making them skittish. With rifles you can shoot at 200 yds. With bow+- 50. \nHandgun < 40. Youth also are generally not as good at shooting so the closer they can get, the greater the chance of a kill shot"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates"
],
[]
] |
|
27hfea
|
what exactly is a #2 pencil?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27hfea/eli5_what_exactly_is_a_2_pencil/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ci0tpae",
"ci0tuk5"
],
"score": [
3,
7
],
"text": [
"The real question is, Who does #2 work for?",
"awesome answers so far.\n\nbut real answer is. the pencil graphite is rated at #2 hardness. hardness affects how dark or light the pencil writes. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
3m0ux6
|
how can i multiply 2 digit numbers mentally
|
So I'm trying to be able to multiply in my head without using the traditional method. Example: 36x53=1908. When I do this is my head - 30x50=1500, 6x3=18, so 1500+18=1518. Why doesn't this work? What would work instead?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3m0ux6/eli5_how_can_i_multiply_2_digit_numbers_mentally/
|
{
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"cvb08a1",
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2,
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"text": [
"You're mistaking how multiplication works for how addition works. \n\n36 + 53 = (30 + 50) + (6 + 3) \n\nyou cant really do that same thing with multiplication. You're fundamentally changing the problem by making it 30 x 50 etc",
"That approach doesn't work because you are breaking the numbers apart wrong. Remember that what you are doing here is trying to add the number 36 together fifty three times. (36+36+36+36...). The way that you breaking apart that number doesn't get to that result. \n\n\nif you want to simplify numbers that you are multiplying together, you have to break them apart in a way that they are still being multiplied. So, for instance, 36 doesn't become 30+6, but it could become 9x4---because 9x4x53 would be the same as 36x53, since 9x4=36\n\nAn \"easier\" way to do this in you head would be to simplify one of the numbers to make it more manageable. So, for example. 50 x 36 is relatively easy. It's half of 100 times 36, so 3600/2 = 1800. That gives us fifty 36s added together, meaning we just three more to have 53 of them. 3 times 36 = 108, and 108+1800 in 1908. ",
"You're doing it wrong.\n\n 36 x 53 = 36 x (50 + 3) = 36 x 50 + 36 x 3 = 1800 + 108 = 1908\n\nwould be the correct way to do that problem.\n\nYou could also simplify it further, like so:\n\n 36 x 53 = (30 + 6) x (50 + 3) = 30 x 50 + 30 x 3 + 6 x 50 + 6 x 3 = 1500 + 90 + 300 + 18 = 1908\n\nBut I think that's harder to do in your head.",
"The quick and easy way to break it apart is 36 × 50 = 1800\nThen 36 x 3 = 108, which I actually do 35 × 3 = 105 + 3 more = 108. \n\nThen add 1800 +108 and boom 1908 is the answer "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
4jgtdn
|
what is with "streaming"?
|
More like explain it like I'm 50.
What is the purpose, how does it work, and what is the attraction?
I see an occasional post on reddit that is a recording of some streaming event: drummer playing along to some piece, a kid crying because he donated $200 instead of $2, Someone getting pissed because a chick flashed a boob on his stream.
Whatever, I don't understand it, I haven't found those interesting and don't know the point or attraction.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4jgtdn/eli5what_is_with_streaming/
|
{
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"text": [
" > Someone getting pissed because a chick flashed a boob on his stream. \n \nFor this one, a gamer was doing a group video chat with other gamers, and a chick in the group chat (I believe she was drunk) flashed. The problem with this is because the video game platform they are one, Twitch, takes nudity very seriously and can shut down your account; since the guy hosting the stream/chat makes a living off of doing this (viewer donations), that girl's actions could terminate his source of income. \n \nAlso, you mean \"live streaming\", regular \"streaming\" just means you are watching a video online. Live streaming means you are \"broadcasting\" a live feed of what you are doing.",
"Sorry I'm not being clear. I get movie streaming off Netflix and the like. I don't understand individuals streaming their conversations, hobbies etc, for fun and profit. I often video stream to selected customers and clients for work so we can converse (Skype ,etc); but I don't get the idea of paying someone to have a conversation with them, if that's what is going on, or broadcasting it generally for anyone to log in and see",
"Regular streamer here. Not claiming to be an expert; I've only been doing it since around the turn of the year. Also I'm 40, so it's weird.\n\nThe purpose is mainly just entertainment. Gameplay has become a huge thing on Youtube (lucky for me) and people tune in to watch, I guess much like they would a football game, except the commentary's by the actual person playing the game. With streaming, it's better because there is a chat room, and the streamer (if he's smart) will interact with the chat and have conversations with them while playing the game, like we're just hanging out. \n\nHow it works: There is a free software download called [Open Broadcast Software](_URL_2_) (or OBS for short), that's what I use anyway. Others use one called X-Split, and there are probably others I don't know of. What they do is connect to a website (usually [_URL_4_](_URL_0_)) and broadcast to that site whatever's on your monitor, and also your microphone usually. They can also work with capture devices like the [Hauppauge](_URL_1_) or [Elgato,](_URL_3_) which are designed to send your video game footage to your computer, where it is then broadcast to the site where people are watching. \n\nThe attraction, I guess I inadvertently explained part of that in the first (edit: 2nd) paragraph. It's kind of a way for gamers to connect and come together. I can't speak for all gamers, but I suspect that a lot of them (us) are loners by nature, and this gives us all a sort of outlet, since we all share a common interest. \n\nI recently went on a binge-watch myself for Twitch highlights and came across a lot of the moments you mentioned above. Those are pretty rare occurrences; a normal stream is usually little more than just gameplay and casual conversation, with the occasional slip-up in the game which usually results in a bout of laughter and jeers from the chat. (Happens to me a lot, heheh). Not all streamers take donations (I still feel weird doing it myself, but people kept asking so I said OK), and even the ones who do don't require them for any specific reason. Twitch does have a $5/month \"subscription\" where people can get a \"badge\" next to their name in the chat room and streamers will typically come up with other silly \"subscriber-only\" benefits. It's all about how creative you can be. \n\nIt's all pretty new and exciting at the moment, but I personally can't bring myself to take it for granted because it could all be gone in the blink of an eye. Or maybe that's just my age talking."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"https://www.twitch.tv/",
"http://www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-Gaming-Definition-Capture-Device/dp/B008ZT8QKO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1463364702&sr=1-2&keywords=hauppauge",
"https://obsproject.com/",
"http://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Capture-PlayStation-gameplay-1080p/dp/B00MIQ40JQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1463364726&sr=1-1&keywords=elgato+game+capture+hd",
"Twitch.tv"
]
] |
|
22uprl
|
why is bread so bad for you?
|
When you hit your late 20s everyone keeps saying "Bread is the devil" and have given it up for lent or permanently. Why is it so bad? People don't give up Pasta, they just seem to be giving up bread? It's so god damn good as well!
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/22uprl/eli5_why_is_bread_so_bad_for_you/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cgqk8wm",
"cgqk8zy"
],
"score": [
8,
4
],
"text": [
"It depends on which theory you subscribe to. A foundation of the paleo diet, for example, is that grain has not been present in human development long enough for us to be able to digest it effectively, and therefore should not be eaten. This would include bread, pasta and other grains. \n\nCarbs have really been in focus the past few years as different diets and studies have come forward showing that low-carb diets lead to weight loss. Many people are confused as to what a carb actually is, and interpret this as \"bread is the devil!\" without realizing that pasta, fruit, potatoes, etc. are all carbs as well. \n\nRemember the fat-free craze of the 90s? EVERYTHING became low-fat or fat-free, and in most cases removing fat added carbs. Lo and behold, we are fatter than ever. Many nutritionists are starting to rethink low-fat diets, and our belief that fat is the enemy. Sweden, for example, has recently started recommending a high-fat, low-carb diet. \n\nHuman nutrition is incredibly complex. Your friends are likely misunderstanding this information, are probably confused as to what a carb is, and are giving up bread thinking they are maybe making a difference in their health. Or, they REALLY love bread and are demonstrating the sacrifice of lent by giving up something they truly love.\n\nI am not a nutritionist, and in this forum I am not advocating one diet over another, I am simply offering insight as to why you may be seeing this. ",
"It's not really bad for you. Too many carbohydrates can be bad for diabetics, and those on the Atkins diet stay away from them, but otherwise there's nothing wrong with bread."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
6vvkrq
|
u.s. presidential approval ratings.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6vvkrq/eli5_us_presidential_approval_ratings/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dm3bcss",
"dm3be0a"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because being an unpopular president is not an impeachable offence. Check the constitution for real impeachment reasons. Or Bill Clinton. He knows. ",
" > Why isn't a below 50% approval rating enough for impeachment within a democracy?\n\nWell first, because the Constitution specifies impeachment as a remedy for \"high crimes and misdemeanors.\" Being unpopular is not one of those. Second, we're not a true democracy, we're a democratic republic. Democracy only comes in when you choose who runs the country, that's why you should choose wisely.\n\n > Is there a way to change the polling system for approval to make all registered voters (who voted in the prior election) obligated to give an update of their approval based on their registered vote?\n\nThat is basically an election. If you did that, absolutely nothing would get done because people would be removed from office all the time. And even if this was a feasible idea, it would require a constitutional amendment to completely change how we define elections and terms."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
2s26q1
|
why can you only purchace pipe tobacco for roll your own cigarettes?
|
For example, why doesn't Marlboro and Newport sell tubes and tobacco?, or any other major brand for that reason. If you go to a smoke shop, they only sell pipe tobacco as an option, they offer many "mock" flavors to try to replicate the flavor of Camel, Marlboro, or Newport, but of your and avid smoker you know nothing beats that fresh unsealed pack. We were talking in the break room about this yesterday, I Googled a few forms of the question but still have not come up with a clear answer.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2s26q1/eli5_why_can_you_only_purchace_pipe_tobacco_for/
|
{
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"cnlgamo",
"cnlgd7d",
"cnlgitj",
"cnlhsap",
"cnlicok",
"cnljcev",
"cnlkda9"
],
"score": [
4,
9,
3,
2,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Brand protection. \n\nSort of like how you can't buy Coke syrup for a home SodaStream, they want to control the entire user experience. If you buy Marlboro tobacco and cheap paper, it may not be the same as having a real Marlboro cigarette. However, by controlling all variables during manufacture from plant to smoke, they ensure a consistent level of quality. If they start to sell rolling tobacco, the brand may become diluted, hurting sales. \n\nA second reason is that cigarettes may simply be more profitable and the company doesn't want to invest in a second product stream that isn't guaranteed to bring them the same return on investment. ",
"Are you saying that there's no hand rolling tobacco where you live? No Golden Virginia, no Old Holborn, no Galuoise? ",
"I believe it has to do with the way it is taxed.\n\n[Here is a Forbes article on it](_URL_0_)",
"There is \"cigarette\" tobacco for rolling here in New York. It's a bit harder to come by and it's much more expensive (taxes for the sake of it being finer cut for \"cigarettes\"), although still significantly cheaper than a pack of cigarettes. It's around but usually costs a bit more than a bag of the pipe stuff.",
"In the U.S. You can get various brands of cigarette tobacco from smoke shops, or sometimes corner/convenience stores will have it. Stores like \"smoker friendly\", which is a chain, in the south anyways, where I would get \"American spirit\" tobacco along with filters and papers. Top and buegler (spelling?) are also popular ryo brands. \n\nTailor mades range from $5-$8 around here, and I smoked a pack a day. RYO murican spurit was $9 a pouch and lasted almost a week. Plus it was a great conversation starter at bars and shows cause almost NO ONE in the states hand rolls their smokes. \n\nI haven't had a smoke in 1 month and 2 days. Fuck I miss it. ",
"I have seen cans of Marlboro rolling tobacco but not in the states. Also, they now market cigarette tobacco as pipe tobacco to avoid the ridiculous tax on cigarette tobacco, which adds about $20 to a bag.",
"My GFs dad rolls his cigs and explained it to me. You can find places that sell cigarette-cut tobacco (finer than pipe) but it is taxed like cigarettes, while pipe is taxed at a dif rate. since pipe tobaco is taxed less and is only different in that it is a bit more coarse, nobody buys rolling tobacco, only pipe tobacco. Because nobody buys it, nobody sells it. If a brand tried to sell branded tobaco they might struggle to pass it off as pipe tobacco even if it is pipe tobacco, and even if they did pass ot off they are now selling what could be seen as an inferior product. if someone starts rolling their own they might notice the subtle difference and that would hurt the brand image. Bonus if someone buys the branded stuff, cuts it with cheaper pipe tobacco, puts it in a marlboro box and tries to pass it off as the real deal selling at a lower rate on the street."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/04/18/federal-tax-hike-drives-roll-your-own-smokers-to-pipe-tobacco/"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
4tgqo6
|
why is "you are" only sometimes allowed to contract to "you're"?
|
Example: "Let's go to the cinema, if you're up for that"
"Let's go to the cinema, if the two of you are up for that" not "...if the two of you're up for that"
Sorry that the only example I could come up with sounds like a French GCSE aural exam
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4tgqo6/eli5why_is_you_are_only_sometimes_allowed_to/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d5h4tm6",
"d5h4ukl"
],
"score": [
3,
10
],
"text": [
"It is not done in the case you give here because the \"you\" and the \"are\" are parts of different phrases. Consider this grouping:\n\n[all of us] are up for that.\n[the two of you] are up for that.\n\nWhereas this is clearly *not* the grouping:\n\nthe two of [you are] up for that.\n\nSo \"the two of\" sticks to the \"you\" more closely than the \"are\" sticks to the \"you.\"",
"In your 2nd example the subject you are referring to is \"the two of you\" \n\nIn the 1st example the subject is simply \"you\" \n\nHere's another example: \"You and the person next to you are both wearing the same shirt\" \n\nIt isn't contracted because the subject is \"you and the person next to you\" \n\n\"You're\" is only typically contracted when you are referring to only the individual (entity - not necessarily a single person but a singular *thing*). Also it is not typically contracted when it begins a sentence, or in more technical or legal writing. \n\nYou also should not end a sentence with a contraction like that. Like you wouldn't say \"he's better than you're\" "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
2u975l
|
why do eyes that are vague, oddly shaped, or blank (like in masks, or the ones on the "go to sleep" picture) creep us out so much?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2u975l/eli5_why_do_eyes_that_are_vague_oddly_shaped_or/
|
{
"a_id": [
"co6at2r"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Part of it has to do with the \"uncanny valley\". _URL_0_\n\nBasically, we see it and for a split second we think, \"oh look, a person.\" But then we realize it is not a person, but rather something inhuman, masquerading as a person. We were lied to by something foreign and that makes us uncomfortable. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley"
]
] |
||
3vj83o
|
why there's so many people on reddit doing/finished computer science courses
|
I've noticed that a lot of posts relating to work or university degrees mention computer science a lot either in the comments or in the post itself. Is this because Reddit is just full of nerds who like computers a lot (no offence nerds)?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3vj83o/eli5_why_theres_so_many_people_on_reddit/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cxnzroa"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Well, posting online and studying computer science certainly has a correlation, but it's not the only branch that's represented.\n\nIt's mainly a selection bias, because naturally computer questions are answered by computer savvy people, which are likely to study something in that direction. You won't find answers on political question justified by \"because I study computer science\"."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
2refh0
|
what will happen if cat will have sex with dog and get pregnant?
|
I mean what kind of an animal will be born?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2refh0/eli5_what_will_happen_if_cat_will_have_sex_with/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cnf2pbn",
"cnf2r4w",
"cnf38ch",
"cnf48ai",
"cnf7nzw"
],
"score": [
10,
5,
13,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Not possible. Cats and dogs have genetics that are too different for one to even get pregnant from the other.",
"Your question doesn't make sense. While a cat and a dog could have sex, neither could become pregnant from it. They have different chromosomes that don't match, meaning the egg will not be fertilised = no baby. ",
"You obviously haven't seen the show catdog.. huh?\n\nEdit: spelling",
"ok so i'll be the one to humour OP instead of facting him out with why it cant happen \ndepending on the breed of both it could look something like this \n_URL_0_\nas to kind of animal, id called it Datcog :)",
"actually, I have seen a post in reddit about a guy with a wiener male dog and a cat. the cat got knocked up and gave birth to two stillborn \"things\". had pictures also! He send them over to a friend at some university and was told that this thing has happened before but never producing live offsprings. You could mate your dog with a fox though!! (both canine)"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://i.imgur.com/IM8Mq2Y.jpg"
],
[]
] |
|
105046
|
can you guys explain savings bonds to me?
|
I just recently recieved saving bonds that my relatives saved up me over the years since I was born. The amount is around $1,200 (Going by the big number in the top of course) and I do live in the U.S. (Kentucky specifically). So can you guys explain to me how this works? How I cash them in? If I'll get full value e.t.c.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/105046/can_you_guys_explain_savings_bonds_to_me/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c6agc1c"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Savings bonds are a very safe method of investing. It is backed by the government. Essentially, you give the government money to keep their wheels rolling and in return, you get back your money plus a little extra in a period of time.\n\nWhat you have to remember is because your bond is backed by the US government, it has a very SLOW rate of return. That is, the amount of money you get back from your initial investment is not as much as say if you invested in Apple or Google a few years ago. But Apple or Google wasn't a sure thing, they could have gone under. The US government, regardless of how shitty the economy is, will not go without paying out your bond.\n\nSavings bonds, like the ones you have, are meant to be long term investments, but you can cash em out at any financial institution (Banks, credit unions, etc). The great thing about this is, you do not pay any taxes on the money you earn on your bonds... EVER!"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
29hgk2
|
how can we build tunnels (ie subways) through rivers, without water leaking into the construction site, or worse, completely flooding it?
|
It doesn't make sense to me. How can we even dig the tunnel without striking water, thereby filling up and destroying any progress?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29hgk2/eli5_how_can_we_build_tunnels_ie_subways_through/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cikxqwc",
"cikxxgk"
],
"score": [
5,
3
],
"text": [
"Water leaks in all the time. It has to be constantly pumped out. ",
"usually by building tunnel sections, sinking them, welding them together, and then filling them with air. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
53duk1
|
what colleges and employers can see of your 'permanent record'
|
I've never been suspended or gotten a detention, nor am I worried, just curious how 'permanent' these things are.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/53duk1/eli5_what_colleges_and_employers_can_see_of_your/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d7s6wie",
"d7s7tw7"
],
"score": [
11,
2
],
"text": [
"It doesn't really exist, at least not in any way that could really hurt you. Assuming you're in the US, colleges really only get a transcript of your grades from your high school. Sometimes that will include major disciplinary actions like suspensions or expulsions. Each university is going to treat this info differently, but generally speaking, finishing HS with good grades and some extracurriculars overshadows minor discipline issues.\n\nYour employer, again assuming US based, couldn't care less. In fact, most employers don't even care how you did in college once you have even a little bit work experience. My current employer just asked me what my college GPS (Damn autocorrect - GPA) was, but they never even verified that I attended school at my university before hiring me. They would never have bothered looking into my public school records.",
"Almost not at all. \n\n99% of the time, especially in lower/beginning jobs, all that stuff is self reported and is rarely verified. Especially your school records. Employers will just take your word for it. They do usually call your references, or maybe past jobs, but you can make those up too. \n\nOnly the highest level government security jobs would be interested if you had detention, and even then only in certain cases would they care."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
20ndqo
|
how do "reality shows" like pawn stars and duck dynasty work?
|
I see shows like Storage Wars, Pawn Stars, and Duck Dynasty and I just wonder how the process goes? How much of it is scripted and how much is actually spontaneous, also all the separate talking to the camera takes and all?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20ndqo/eli5how_do_reality_shows_like_pawn_stars_and_duck/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cg4ygpu"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Never seen Duck Dynasty, but Pawn Stars is definitely scripted.\n\nThey close the pawn shop, and producers find people with cool things. Those people bring their things into the shop, and they talk about them on camera. Sometimes they're really purchased, sometimes they're not.\n\nIt's 99% scripted and planned out. You can see it whenever they're talking to each other with no customers present -- it feels extremely forced and is in no way how two or more people actually talk to each other about random things.\n\nI suspect Storage Wars is also scripted. There are people out there who buy storage lockers, but I suspect the ones you see on Storage Wars are scripted and planted by the producers."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
4swzev
|
how does the post office decide on the price of a stamp?
|
I'm curious how the post office calculates the cost of the service of delivering an individual letter.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4swzev/eli5_how_does_the_post_office_decide_on_the_price/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d5cxojz",
"d5cz6ih",
"d5d01yw"
],
"score": [
6,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"In the US at least, they don't, Congress tells them the price. Usually the post office says they need more money and estimates what a stamp needs to be to balance their budget, they send it to Congress and Congress tells them the new price of a stamp, it may or may not be in line with the price they requested.",
"The price of stamps is set by the Postal Regulatory Commission, which is independent of the US Postal Service. The price of a stamp is uniform nationwide and is not directly connected to the cost of delivering an individual letter.\n",
"It cost us $1,000,000 a month to pay wages, maintenance, fuel and other expenses. We send 2,000,000 letter a month. \n\nThere for we should charge 50 cents a letter to cover our costs."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
5w66hp
|
why is there a diffrence in sound between an electric hollow-body and a regular guitar?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5w66hp/eli5_why_is_there_a_diffrence_in_sound_between_an/
|
{
"a_id": [
"de7kp8y"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"In a hollow body electric the pickups are picking up that different acoustic reverberation so produce different electrical frequencies that are expressed differently through the amp. \n\nJust like the type of wood on a solid body guitar effects the sound through the pickups/amp the hollow body also has a great effect. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
7owmzs
|
why do some webpages say "if not reloaded in 10 seconds, click next to continue"?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7owmzs/eli5_why_do_some_webpages_say_if_not_reloaded_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dsctrez"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"the automatic reload feature can be turned off in some web browsers.\n\nSo...if your site relies on the ability to automatically reload...how do you make it happen anyway? Well, the second best is to just tell the user to wait a bit and then press a link."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
68x5ux
|
what happens if you or your child are uninsured and you get diagnosed with something really bad like aggressive cancer?
|
Specifically in the U.S.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/68x5ux/eli5_what_happens_if_you_or_your_child_are/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dh1zphx",
"dh1zruz",
"dh1zx0d",
"dh1zxjk",
"dh29uxs",
"dh2e8h1",
"dh2j23c",
"dh31mq3"
],
"score": [
7,
2,
3,
6,
4,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"You get whatever treatments are considered non-experimental, and you go into debt beyond your wildest nightmares. ",
"It depends on what country you live in. But based on your question, Yeah! Pretty much what the op said. ",
"If you're in the US, you're pretty much fucked by insurance companies. If you're in Europe or Australia, you're probably covered by government-provided health insurance.",
"You rack up tons of bills and you and possibly your family declare bankruptcy. The hospital writes it off and sort of recoups some money by charging everyone else more. Your families credit is ruined. Etc....",
"I am 16 with an agressive cancer. I had no insurance when I was diagnosed, but now I get ensured by my parents' employer, mainecare, and Katy Becket. Katy Becket is an organization that helps keep kids with serious illnesses in their homes. I go to a clinic with a lot of resources, like social workers and people who specialize in insurance. ",
"If you're in Canada, treatment starts next week! No charge.\n\nSo Breaking Bad would never happen in Canada, Walter White would have treatment within days, but he'll never be able to buy life insurance for it though. ",
"In the financial aspect, it's common for hospitals to drop most of the cost. For example, a good friend of mine went to the ER last year for a very severe flu. The flu turned out to be a serious intestinal issue, and she was in the hospital for 5 days. Now, hospitals aren't cheap obviously, and her total bill was approximately $100k. Both she and her husband were employed full time, but were slowly working away at years of debt they had accrued, and therefore were in no position to afford anywhere near $100k. When she contacted the hospital to work it out, they eventually cut 60% off the bill. For the remaining 40k, they assissted her in looking into grants to pay for part of it. Basically, many hospitals have funds set up by hospital donors which are intended to cover people who needed emergency treatment but can't afford it. I don't know off hand what the final bill was, but we're talking a fraction of the original cost.",
"I was able to get on medicaid, which covered everything. \n\nIt can depend on income but I recommend it to anyone who is going through cancer (or similar illness)"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1z6or2
|
isn't twitch plays pokemon illegal?
|
I was thinking about it and they're technically playing a pirated game by necessity because they're using an emulator, couldn't game freak file a complaint against them?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1z6or2/eli5_isnt_twitch_plays_pokemon_illegal/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfqz7r7",
"cfqzb2o",
"cfr2efo"
],
"score": [
4,
13,
5
],
"text": [
"Of course they could. So could any game company do the same for people playing games on YouTube. They could shut it all down if they wanted too. But the last reason I heard as to why they allow it, is because its free advertising or something along those lines.",
"I'm sure that Game Freak could file a complaint, but why would they? TTP is incredibly popular and is great advertising for the Pokemon brand. TTP has a total of 33 million views in 15 days, that is great free advertising. Plus, the game they are playing is Pokemon Red, the very first Pokemon game. The game itself no longer exists and it plays on a platform that doesn't exist anymore either. Game Freak is not losing any money over this since we couldn't purchase the game if we wanted to.",
"As far as I'm aware, owning a ROM of a game is legal as long as you already own a legal copy of the game. The person running twitch plays Pokemon would only have to prove this. And as someone else mentioned, its free advertising, though I doubt Pokemon needs much advertising."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
8yrrxa
|
if the next few generations of people will be obese, will further generations after them stop storing fat?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8yrrxa/eli5_if_the_next_few_generations_of_people_will/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e2d8fbp",
"e2d8juz"
],
"score": [
12,
4
],
"text": [
"If it would stop them from reproducing it would affect it. This dies not seem to be the case afaik.",
"There's no real selector against fat people or enjoying high caloric food items. Fat people live long enough to reproduce and since we all enjoy sex, they can usually find a mate too.\n\nAlong the same lines, your brain rewards you for eating high caloric food because it's good for survival (if not longevity) so we're unlikely to evolve away from that."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
6sy64f
|
why do members of species prioritize surviving with seemingly no other goal?
|
Just watched a video about angler fish that made it to the front page, but I've seen a similar theme throughout my education.
The way it is presented, many species (and also specific genders of many species) live solely to reproduce. What is the advantage of that? Wouldn't you want to reproduce while also doing something to improve the chances of your species or improve your children's life?
Why live to reproduce when your child will only live to reproduce?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6sy64f/eli5_why_do_members_of_species_prioritize/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dlgishq",
"dlgj7hw"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Organisms evolved to reproduce. Look at it like this: the organisms that reproduced more continued to survive, reproduce, and evolve. The organisms that reproduced less eventually lost the \"survival of the fittest\" contest due to competition for food, habitat, etc. \n\nThe only characteristics selected for in evolution are those that assist the organism in surviving and reproducing. So, evolution actually prioritizes both survival, to allow a species to reproduce as much as possible, and reproduction itself.",
"Most species are operating on instinct and don't have the cognitive function to think about it like we do. When they are hungry, they want to eat. When they are tired, they want to sleep. When their bodies are ready to reproduce, they want to mate. Hormones trigger this and even humans, with our ability to think about our actions, fail to do so when horney and an opportunity presents itself."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
5szkko
|
- why is capitalism seen as the "standard" model of society across the globe?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5szkko/eli5_why_is_capitalism_seen_as_the_standard_model/
|
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"Primarily because it is the most effective economic model that works within the confines of human behavior. It incentivizes increased effort via increased reward, and from a historical context, has it's roots in our very earliest civilizations, whereas other economic models such as socialism are much more recent.\n\nOf course in all economic models there are numerous differences in implementation. Words like Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, etc. are abstract concepts that don't exist in pure form, they are thus implemented via a variety of economic models, many of which borrow the abstract concept's title. ",
"It's currently on top, having won (through better results) a long fight against Communism. This doesn't make it a permanent standard, though, just the current winner.\n\nBoth of these systems fought to replace Feudalism, which worked well back when land and muscle power, rather than machinery, were the keys to economic production.\n\nCapitalism won because it works much better than Communism (which relies on people to be much more altruistic than they really are, and therefore was both corrupted and less effective than hoped).\n\nSome economists think capitalism will be replaced again in a forthcoming age of abundance -- a \"post-scarcity era\" when \"who gets the stuff\" is no longer the key question -- but that's just a hypothesis right now.\n",
"Because the US invaded/assassinated/funded counterinsurgency against anyone with a different opinion. ",
"When the social mobility is going lower and the income inequality is rising, it's becoming more of an aristocracy, just that today's aristocrats are the millionaires and billionaires. ",
"It's the only one grounded in reality. All other economic models are based on idealism. They seek to force man to transcend his selfish nature. However, it never works, because *someone* has to be in charge of the other systems, and because all men are selfish, corruption runs rampant and inefficiency reins supreme.\n\nCapitalism takes man's innate selfishness and uses it to better society: if Bob is only selling bread because it makes him rich, why should you care about the motivation, so long as your table is full every night? The profit incentive means that people take risks, invest time, labor, and money, and participate in the sale of goods or services, all so that they can get more money. They get rich, and you get goods or services; everyone wins. \n\nIt's the standard because it works, and because it's grounded in reality. Nobody will work just to put bread on another man's table, but people will jump through hoops to get a little more on theirs. ",
"Of all economic systems devised by man, capitalism is the one which is the least rewarding for the state. It rewards innovation, creativity and hard work. This is different than crony capitalism, which rewards connections, alliances and general corruption for the end goal of profitting. All economic crisis of capitalism were derived from cronyism in the three spheres of power in societies; judicial, private sector and state regulatory agencies. Whenever their roles were preserved and the market was free to perform its intended role, without the chokehold of the other two spheres, it thrived and led humanity to the greatest technological, societal and economical advances we ever could have had.\n\nThe problem is when socialist/communist-leaning stakeholders push for control of one sphere over another. The state exists to serve the people, not the other way around (communism); if people work for the state, they may be forced to sacrifice themselves for \"the greater good\", which is, the perpetuation of an ever-growing state. \n\nOn the other hand, the market cannot take over the state and the law and declare itself the sole ruler of it all (anarchy), since this opens the door for oligarchies and monopolies, as well as proliferation of black markets, lack of punishment for bad business practices and perpetuation of longer-lived businesses, asfixiating local family ones. \n\nFinally, the law declaring itself superior over the market and state (dictatorship) means the one who should regulate now exerts influence and dictates matters of the other two, which opens space for literal interpretations of laws and lack of personal ambiguity in specific cases may either lead to civil unrest and a case which always comes from it, where the state meshes itself with the law and declares itself the law (totalitarianism), and suppresses whatever it feels like threatens it through the use of police force and the military, again, using assets which were previously meant to protect the people to serve the interests of the state itself, instead (again, another case of the state juxtaposing itself over all others).\n\nTL;DR: All over the world, all economic models were tried. Capitalism, when kept to its core roots, has sustained much shorter, less devastating crisis of identity than all other models, which leads to the quintissential saying that \"of all its peers, capitalism failed the least\".\n\nEDIT: My first gilded comment in five years of Reddit. Thank you so much, kind stranger.",
"Unlike people in this post are saying, it's not because it's \"more efficient\" or \"because it actually works\". It's due to a lot of historical events. Capitalism is global because capitalism countries won the ideological war against the other systems, to put it simply.\n\nThe Bourgeoisie won over the French Revolution and changed the world's politics because of that. They adapted the previous representative system that kings used to listen to people into the modern concept of representative republic (more on it in this video: _URL_0_ ). In the process, they also obtained control over the means of production (such as lands), and the system they devised also excluded most of the population from the political process.\n\nHaving control over the means of production gives the controllers A LOT of power over other people's lives. Economic power and political power are directly correlated, and capitalism favors the concentration of economic power in the hand of a few. That creates a vicious cycle, where people with more power can acquire even more power. If you try to overthrow them, you'll find yourself fighting against the monopoly of force. It's beneficial to the people in power for the system to continue operating, and that's why it still operates, and why there's so much propaganda on \"it working properly\".\n\nI know people will come and say \"ok, so if communism is better why didn't it won over capitalism on the USSR?\". That also has some historical explanations: Marx himself believed that capitalism made industrial development a lot more efficient, and when he talked about implementing communism he was talking about doing it in fully developed industrialized countries. Russia was an agricultural country back at the times of the revolution (and yet, in just some years, it was about as industrialized as the rest of the world, in a much shorter timestamp). Nevertheless, communism is also the control of the means of production by the hands of the *workers*. USSR had the means of production in the hands of a *representative republic*, which can be easily be controlled by private interest. The actual workers were still alienated from the value of their work. That is, USSR's communism is not that far away from the capitalist system, and some social scientists, such as Noam Chomsky, call that system a \"State capitalism\".\n\nWhy do I talk about propaganda? Because capitalism doesn't \"work\". It just generates value in the hands of a few and drives industrial progress towards that goal, but that by no means is inherently good. We're all seeing the effects of the industrialization on the environment. We all see that people still die of hunger every day. Unemployment rates are getting to an absurd point, because industrialization is driving automation for efficient profit, and that has as a consequence that less people need to work.\n\nI don't wish to imply communism is the solution for such problems. I think my point is that a good economic system should be fit for people in general, and not for those in power. Communism tries to address that, but it has its own set of criticism among other socialist authors (such as Bakunin, Kropotkin, or Bookchin).\n\nRojava has an interesting experiment in a truly democratic society, inspired by the work of Bookchin, where economy is planned to benefit people in general, not just private interests. It is working well, even if you consider they are in a state of war against the daesh.\n\n\nEDIT: I'm having to argue over and over and over and over again on how socialism doesn't imply central planning, and I'm tired of it, so please, PLEASE, read about more socialism models than the USSR model. Please. This is an example: _URL_1_\n\nIt's by no means the only one.\n\nEDIT 2: Thanks for the gold, anonymous stranger! I believe I could have worded this answer a lot better if I had more time for research, but my point is that most capitalist apologists completely ignore both the moral grounds for capitalism (which Weber did a great job on writing about it) and the historical reasons on why it became so pervasive (which Marx and Chomsky also wrote very well about).\n\nEDIT 3: while I consider myself an anarchist (not a communist or marxist - although I do like Marx's historical analysis), I find it funny that, even though I explicitly stated that I don't wish to imply communism is the solution for the problems of capitalism, most capitalism advocates are still insisting in pointing that \"communism failed and capitalism is better\". So... thank you to prove you have not read the post, I guess?",
"Beware- trade (of whatever degree of free-ness) does not equal capitalism. \n\nCapitalism is the private ownership of the means of production (as opposed to communism- where the state owns it all). This means that returns on that capital, through profit accrued through trading the output of that capital, accumulates to the individual that owns the capital, and thus individuals can become wealthy.\n\nThe obvious alternative through the 20th century was communism where profit was returned to the state for redistribution.\n\nAs to why it's so popular now- what would you prefer? A lifetime of hard work returning the benefits directly to you, or the same lifetime's Labour trickling down to you after redistribution by the state?\n\nSimply put, capitalism is a better offer than any alternative. Bit like democracy, trousers with 2 legs and food that tastes nice. \n\n[Footnote- I mention trade up top because capitalism and free trade are often used interchangably. Trade is the most important thing we as a species do, because it creates value for both sides of the exchange with no external inputs. Communist countries trade too (Even North Korea, when we let them), but the effectiveness of their means of production often means goods cost more than their worth in the market (the final arbiter of price, and no, price controls don't work- see Venezuela), or their quality control is poor, again often do do with price controls or markets that do not operate freely (contentious statement, but often true).]\n\n",
"I initially read this as \"Cannibalism\" and thought I was about to read a very different thread.",
"During the period of feudalism in Europe, merchants and bankers built up economic power for themselves over hundreds of years. This started out in trading hubs like Venice, which had a lot of contact with the Islamic world where practices like investment were common.\n\nWhen the feudal system was replaced with the nation-state, most of the people who participated in the process of writing the constitutions came from this capitalist class. The rules were written to prevent democracy in the economy, so that these capitalists could maintain their economic power.\n\nCapitalism and the nation-state did not evolve independently in the rest of the world, but were mostly imposed on them by European powers who dominated world politics at the time. This is why if you look at maps of Africa and the Middle East, a lot of these countries have borders that are straight lines.\n\nThe nation-state has become such a fundamental concept of human understanding that even anti-capitalists did not think to come up with alternatives. Marxist-Leninist projects like the Soviet Union were based on the idea of seizing state power, so rather than abolishing capitalism, they merely recreated capitalist structures in an even more oppressive form.",
"I'll give it a shot from the \"Long Arm of History\" perspective. \n\nMy answer cribs heavily from \"The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics\". Which everyone really ought to read.\n\nEconomic systems ultimately issue forth from political systems: money is a form of power, so the two are eternally linked.\n\nHere's the basic thrust of the DHB:\n\n1. You get power not by getting everyone to like you, but to get just enough of the right people to like you. In a dictatorship, this means bribing the existing army to stand aside while you stage a coup; in the US, you use the Electoral College.\n\n2. Keeping power is different from getting it; in order to stick around, you have to pay off a select few (in money if you're a dictator, in policy if you're in a democracy) while keeping the number of people you have to pay off low. \n\n(This is why Donald Trump is firing a bunch of people and not having them replaced, and also why he prizes loyalty so much: loyal, stupid people are cheaper to pay off. It's also why layoffs happen after a merger--it's not just about costs.)\n\n3. Since these rules of power are immutable, more democracy is always preferable to less, because democrats have to pay their bribes with policies and services, since cash bribes are less effective. (If I have 1000 USD to pay off two guys, I pay them. If I have to pay off a hundred guys with the same money, I buy a thousand-dollar good or service they can all share.)\n\nSo how does this make democracy tend to lead to capitalism? Because more democracy means more powerful, influential people asking for a piece of the pie. But none of them are saints; the rules of power still apply.\n\nThe worker's paradise will never exist because everyone is (to some extent) a Donald Trump waiting to happen. We'll all favor our friends and family if given a chance. We all want to have more than we need.\n\nCapitalism works the same way democracy works, and for the same reason. Democracy pits large groups of people who want stuff against each other. The size of the groups cancel out the more ambitious, crazy-assed selfishness (most of the time).\n\nIn like fashion, capitalism allows people to pursue greed (like they're gonna do anyway), and when it works properly, the most extreme profiteers will get put in check by people whose interests oppose theirs. \n\nCompanies can buy off a senator or two, and get around capitalism's competitive restrictions. But eventually, Google gets mad at Verizon, and we all get to have net neutrality while they fight over money.",
"Nitpick: it isn't a 'model of society', it's just the economic idea that people who have money can use it to invest in someone else's business, rather than keep it in a bank or wherever. As opposed to the Marxist idea that that sort of private ownership is bad and the people (for which read the state) should be the primary investor.",
"Why capitalism is gud, by johnny age 5\n\nIt won because it is gud and communism is bad btw.\n\nThe end",
"Capitalism replaced mercantilism, which replaced some older economic models.\n\nThere are three basic reasons for why it triumphed:\n\n1) It is a very intuitive system, to the point where capitalistic trends leak through into all other systems.\n\n2) It works.\n\n3) It leads to greater economic prosperity than other economic models, which leads to economic dominance by those who adopt capitalism.",
"It kind of isn't. The most powerful country in the world, the US, is capitalist, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is the defacto best. There is no such thing as a purely capitalist system, just as there is no purely command based system. All systems are mixed,such as in how the US the government regulates certain industries, or in China how people have access to currency to act according to their wants. No system is \"best\" but politicians, and others might try to convince you a certain system is better than others. The truth is that every nation has different needs and values, they're system will reflect that. ",
"Capitalism is the natural state of human society where we implicitly communicate and collaborate using the language of prices and value exchange. Other systems attempt to replace price communication with other mechanisms by dictate.\n\nWithin the Dunbar Number of our close community, there are other mechanisms like reputation, but we can only know so many people, so we rely on prices to communicate with them.\n\nUntil another mechanism works better for individuals, capitalism will remain the dominant collaboration system.",
"It has, so far, proven the most effective and efficient means of leveraging the incentives of large numbers of people to deliver most of the needs of societies with a minimum need of government or other central guidance. Being run by humans, it also exhibits and in some cases magnifies some of the less desirable traits of humanity, such as greed, but compared to alternatives such as central planning (the old Soviet model, for example), it's proven notably better.",
"So economic models are really models of power and ownership.\n\nWithout any structure, ownership is based on what you can protect. If you have a tool, and you set it down, and someone takes it, you don't have a tool any more. If you scare or befriend them into not using it without permission and giving it back when they're done, you own it.\n\nAs societies grow, social relationships do too. Now instead of someone not taking your tool because they are afraid of you, someone doesn't take your tool because they're afraid that everyone will dislike them when they discover that they've taken your tool, and they need to cooperate with society to survive. But still, not every tool belongs to someone, some things belong to everyone, and it's more important that people take care of those things. \n\nAs societies grow apart and fracture, you get groups that are independent of eachother. If another tribe takes your tool, they aren't afraid of the repercussions of everyone in your tribe hating them. But for their tribe, they've just got a new tool. Now instead of individuals scaring or befriending individuals, tribes will scare and befriend tribes. Maybe a militia is formed, and people from a hostile tribe are attacked or scared away when they try to steal your tools.\n\nBut maybe not everyone wants to, needs to, or is capable of fighting in the militia. Some people have their safety and belongings protected by the people who will fight. Those who fight feel that this elevates them to a position of power within the society. They start to use that power to demand service. If they are not served, then they can fight the people who aren't able to fight back, or they can simply stop protecting them. This leads to a more feudal society where the serfs work for a lord in exchange for the lord's protection. \n\nNow the world is filled with different societies, and the world is a very big place. Lords are powerful, they have a lot of surplus. Some people can travel far away to trade things from their homeland for things that are very unusual in their homeland. Lords don't really want to do this, they're wealthy already, they're more or less safe and comfortable, so they let someone else do this. Market forces emerge, as these rare items trickle back and the wealthiest want to make a show of them. A class of people called merchants start to develop. \n\nLords fight amongst eachother for land and power, but cultures develop around those lands, and as threats from outside the culture start to come, these culturally similar lords may start to unite under a single banner as a country to protect their way of life from foreign invaders. \n\nUnity within a country leads to stability, and as countries, even more feudal countries, with a small merchant class, start to become stable, the lack of fighting brings more wealth. In conflicts between countries, the more stable countries have an advantage, which leads to a stabilizing effect on their enemies. Descending into infighting is a great time to be pillaged by your enemies.\n\nIn the way that the serfs are ruled by a lord, the lords are ruled by a king, or similar head of state. All countries prefer peace because a war is harmful to both them and their enemy, leaving them open to attack by a 3rd party, but they are still at odds with eachother so they instead battle through mercantilism, or essentially, strategically trading to enrich your country and weaken your opposition. This sees the merchant class grow even stronger, and develop into it's own real class. You can't survive strictly on your lords when your country's prosperity relies on the efficacy of your traders, so they become legitimized. \n\nThis is the start of the emergence of capitalism. While we were being all mercantile, relative peace and competition leads to some technological advancements, particularly in terms of the steam engine. This allows for more complex technology that can mass produce goods. Instead of tools, there start to exist complex machines that need complex infrastructure to support them. Not just anyone can get these machines, they are rare. So wealthy people are the ones who get the machines, and just compensate people to operate them. Using a sewing machine is far more efficient than sewing by hand, but an individual could not buy a sewing machine nor would they have the capability to sell like a factory could. This leads to another subdivision of classes, the capital owners, and the labor.\n\nAnother big thing that happened at about this point was weapons like guns were developed, which allowed a man to kill another man easily without putting himself at risk. In the past you couldn't carry bows around in the streets. We also had urban migration as efficient factories could produce enough to support a lot of people in a small place. Mass production led to things like newspapers and radios so information spread quickly. \n\nPeople started to communicate with eachother and organize, and were upset at the fact that the few people holding capital (like the factories) could take advantage of everyone else, and started to argue that the state should hold the capital, and be controlled by the will of the people. This idea is communism, and a number of countries tried it. The people in power don't like these kinds of ideas so this led to instability and war. \n\nNow some countries managed to install communist governments. They seized private ownership of capital. But there is a problem with communism and that is that it is run by people. Even a benevolent communist leader is just not smart enough to make the correct decisions for millions of people. This leads to people being hurt by the system, their personal or unique needs not being attended to. The leader must also delegate this authority because he can't personally distribute wealth to the population so he must ask thousands of people to each distribute wealth to thousands of people. But he can't personally manage thousands of people, so he must ask someone to manage dozens of people, who each manage dozens of people, who each manage dozens of people, who each distribute wealth to thousands of people. But even if the communist leader is benevolent, he loses control as it goes down the chain, and some of those people down the chain realize that if they skim a little off the top for themselves, it won't be noticed, or they won't be caught. \n\nOn the capitalist side changes to technology happened so rapidly that new technology would outpace old technology, and shrewd investment into new technology, or development of new technology could take you from being a laborer to owning your own means of production. This made the system seem more \"free\". You could make the transition from the labor class to the capitalist class through hard work and smart investment. \n\nOn the communist side, the issue becomes one of delegation. When you consider the problem, what if rather than having multiple layers of potentially corrupt bureaucracy, you just let the individuals manage their wealth. Then you don't have the inefficiency of trying to manage thousands of people to deliver wealth to millions of people. You have millions of people delivering wealth to themselves. The state might still seize ownership of the means of production and try to make decisions about who must work where, but rather than trying to leave the planning and organization of distribution to millions of people to a single head of state and his delegates, you leave those decisions in the hands of the people, and make more broad decisions. \n\nCapitalism is pretty standard because across the globe, machines and factories make a lot of goods that individuals can't, and it takes a lot of work to make factories and machines. So someone needs to convince people to build factories and machines, and they pay to convince them to do that. Since they pay to convince them to do that, they want to own the factories and machines, and get a return on their investment. Even in communist countries like China, where the government has taken public ownership of a lot of industries one way or another, it remains a somewhat capitalist model because someone is in charge of managing that capital, and is typically well compensated for it. \n\nThis is really very similar to feudalism. Those in power promising to protect the others, and the rest providing wealth to those with power. In many cases it seems more \"fair\" because there's not as much killing, and not as much politics. If you make enough money, you can start your own business, you can run it well, and you can become part of the other class.\n\nThis progression happened because technology is changing, so people who were strongly invested into old technology might be wealthy, but aren't immediately able to take advantage of the newest technology. You might have cornered the market on saddles, but when the automobile is developed, it doesn't matter. \n\nRight now, technology is changing though. The first big change is the Internet, and that allows a company to have access to the entire world market very easily. Instead of thousands of companies selling to billions of people, you might have one company selling to billions of people. This concentrates wealth within a very few people. This also means that the barrier to compete with these people raises as high, and we lose that fuzzy feeling of the \"american dream\" sort of promise of class movement. In the industrial revolution, more technology meant you could make more things, but you still needed people to do it. Modern technology means that in many industries you need fewer and fewer actual humans. This brings a shrinking of the labor class. \n",
"Because the CIA is the enforcement arm of big business, \"gangsters for capitalism,\" as Smedley Butler said about the military in the 1930's, and they overthrow populist leaders such as John F. Kennedy, Patrice Lumumba, Mohammed Mosaddeq and Jacobo Árbenz.",
"I could well be wrong, and I don't disagree with the premise, but I'm guessing the main reason is that you've been reading sources from Capitalist countries."
]
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"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8vVEbCquMw",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralized_planning_(economics)"
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6s6ebl
|
if i’m driving down the highway and release an insect out of my window, does it have any sense of location? (does it feel “lost”?)
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6s6ebl/eli5_if_im_driving_down_the_highway_and_release/
|
{
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"First of all, insects do not experience human emotions, so it would be impossible for them to \"feel lost\" the way a person would. Some insects, however, do have different relationships with spatial location. Ants and bees have a home that they return to, using different methods to navigate to and from their nests. The monarch butterfly makes a huge migration every year, so they are somehow figuring out where they are and which direction to go. Most other insects are not going to really care where they are in the world, they are probably just concerned about food, shelter and mates. If you drive a housefly 20 miles from your home and release it, it's just going to start following the scent of the nearest pile of garbage without missing a beat."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
1lllta
|
what makes ball bearings so effective at smashing windows?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lllta/eli5what_makes_ball_bearings_so_effective_at/
|
{
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"text": [
"-easy to throw with enough force \n-single point of contact with the window \n-energy transferred to single point of contact \n-window fails at point of contact",
"A window is built to spread impact along its surface and survive heavy hits.\nBall bearings make this impossible to do because of their tiny size and heavy weight. The window is hit at a tiny point of impact and its structural integrity fails."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
10rz2n
|
why don't soda cans have flat bottoms?
|
[Example](_URL_0_)
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/10rz2n/eli5_why_dont_soda_cans_have_flat_bottoms/
|
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"text": [
"Its I believe because they will be cooler for a longer period of time because there is less surface area touching the can when its standing on something, just like a wine glass is tall.",
"In the store, soda cans have to be stacked one on top of the other. If they didn't have the curve at the bottom the pressure inside would make them bulge out in the middle, and they wouldn't stack properly.",
"A soda can has a lot of pressure inside of it. The stuff that makes soda all fizzy is actually a gas, like air. When they make the soda, they take the sweet water, and they force gas into it. The fizziness is the feeling of that gas escaping the liquid. In order to keep the gas from escaping, they have to keep it under a lot of pressure. You know when you open the can, you hear a \"pshhhh\" sound? That is the sound of gas inside the can escaping. When you leave the can opened for a long time, the fizziness goes away, right? Well, that's because all of the gas went away.\n\nCans with a flat bottom cannot hold very much pressure. Imagine you take a metal box, and a metal bowl. If you jump on the box, the flat top is going to bend and buckle. If you jump on the bowl, however, it does not bend like the flat box. If you have a can with a flat bottom, it's going to bulge out, making it not flat anymore, and now it won't stand up straight either. ",
"TIL the bulge at the bottom has a shitload of advantages.",
"OK, so although all the other answers sound well thought out they are all just unforeseen advantages of the real reason. Money. Soda cans, like many other food containers, have a dimple at the bottom. This causes the container to look like it holds more product than it actually does so that it looks like a better value. This is just one more way that a company can try to gain an advantage over competitors.",
"Also going to throw this in there having dad who worked at the PBG (Pepsi Bottling Group) the way cans are designed allows the top to slip into the bottom making them stack much better and stay together better then a flat bottom would. "
]
}
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[] |
[
"http://i.imgur.com/wGPnc.jpg"
] |
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[],
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|
2s4bh0
|
why is women's clothing so ungodly expensive?
|
Male here. Was shopping with my SO this last week and nearly vomited over how a pair of jean shorts, that are puny, can cost more than men's full length jeans. How do companies justify this? I can't imagine there's some process by which they have to sink tons of capital into women's cloths to justify the price hike.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2s4bh0/eli5_why_is_womens_clothing_so_ungodly_expensive/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cnm351e",
"cnm4mnr"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Woman here, you are shopping at the wrong place and things not on sale. ",
"Because whenever options are increased and demand is constant the cost of producing, marketing, and housing those options becomes more experensive per \"shelf space share\". Because men's options are fewer, the shelf space is smaller, production is simpler and one product can be made over longer periods of time then men's clothes are cheaper. In short it's because they demand more fashion choices than men."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
74j45m
|
some diseases show symptoms at the point of contact, (like herpes) but why do others show most prominently in one spot? for example, why does strep throat affect the throat most obviously when certainly it is not the part of the body that first has contact with streptococcal?
|
Edit: Why do diseases "prefer" these areas?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/74j45m/eli5_some_diseases_show_symptoms_at_the_point_of/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dnyubiz"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Certain diseases prefer to infect particular places, specifically particular *cells*. In oral herpes, for example, the virus infects the cells of a nerve in your cheek. Cold viruses like to infect your nose and throat cells. Strep throat likes to infect throat cells."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
6h59ub
|
how are most planets warmer than the temperature of space
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6h59ub/eli5_how_are_most_planets_warmer_than_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"divn356",
"divnoxu",
"divsx79"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Generally, planets are hotter than space because they absorb heat from the sun. \n\nThis heat is then released back into space, but since the release is slower when the planet is cooler and faster as the planet heats up, the planet heats until it achieves an equilibrium---where heat coming in balances the heat coming out. Of course, the exact placement of this equilibrium depends on things like the planets size, reflectivity, what it's atmosphere is made of, etc...\n\nAlso, planets can be heated by their own internal processes. The pressure of the weight of a planet can cause significant heating in the planet's core, and ongoing chemical and geological processes can release heat as well. ",
"First of all, temperature is the average kinetic energy of the molecules/atoms of an object, so, as space is pretty not dense, there will be little matter, little movement, little kinetic energy, so low temperatures.\nConsider that energy doesn't magically disappears, but instead is is transformed, so if you \"receive energy\", one of the possible outcomes is that your temperature will augment. \nNow, planets' temperatures may vary for a handful of reasons: \n-The distance from its star: the closer the lesser energy will be absorbed in other objects, so more energy will reach the planet and will augment the temperature.\n-The chemical nature of the planet: some elements are better at absorbing energy than others, or reflecting it, or keeping it, or transforming it, etc.\n-Rotation and exposure time: by example, there are planets which have a fixed face (side) to their star so this side will be extremely hot and the other extremely cold [relatively].\n\nThat's what I remember now and I don't have much time left, so I hope it helps. Also, excuse my English as I am not a native speaker. And the formatting.\nIf something needs correction let me know, I'll try to add more information when I can.",
"About the temperature of space:\n\nThere's barely any matter in space (about 1 hydrogen atom per m3 in the solar system, less as you go outside it and even less if you go outside the galaxy). Whichever temperature/energy this one atom has it's not going to affect anything substantial. That one atom might be super duper cold, but it's got no capacity to cool down anything else because it's just one atom.\n\nIt'd be more accurate that there's very little matter and energy in space, rather than it being super cold. Temperature management is a huge deal on spacecraft, if it uses too much power it will overheat as there's no convenient airflow to cool it down. Basically the only way to receive and dump energy/heat in space is through radiation. \n\nNow maybe you're thinking about how some astronaut in a movie was blown into space and instantly froze. This won't happen. Things WILL get cold if you suddenly depressurize a cabin, but that's due to the expanding gas contained inside. Just putting stuff in a vacuum doesnt cool them down, in fact it will take days or weeks for a human body to radiate enough energy to freeze. \n\nNow to planets. They're big and massive and contain lots of matter. This matter gets heated up by the sun (again, through radiation). The only way the planet can get rid of this energy is again through radiation, which it does. The warmer an object is, the more energy it radiates (star radiates lots, planets less). So the warmer a planet gets, the more energy it radiates away again, until there's an equilibrium with the energy received from the sun. \n\nThis is the basis of heat transfer in space. In the case of planets complications arise like the reflectivity of clouds, ice and surface material (modulating the amount of energy retained from the sun) and atmospheric composition (trapping energy that would otherwise be radiated away). "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
3wwxv3
|
how does the shadow nice faster than the speed of light in this comic?
|
_URL_0_
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wwxv3/eli5_how_does_the_shadow_nice_faster_than_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cxzjmbz"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The shadow is not an object. It's simply where there isn't light, so relativity doesn't come into play here. No object - in particular, none of the photons from the flashlight - is exceeding light speed."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3956"
] |
[
[]
] |
|
284cli
|
why doesn't fog re-form over a surface that previously had fog and was written upon?
|
Edit: Like when there is condensation on a surface and someone runs their finger through it, that particular stretch of surface will have lesser condensation over it, even after a long time.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/284cli/eli5_why_doesnt_fog_reform_over_a_surface_that/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ci7ac6g",
"ci7af4p"
],
"score": [
2,
6
],
"text": [
"Could you elaborate a bit more? I don't really understand what you're asking. \n\nEdit: Oh, mirror fog. I'm an idiot. If you want to know about other kinds of fog, I'm your man though. ",
"That kind of fog is just a lot of water molecules that got cold and clinged to a surface. If you touch the surface with your finger you'll either dirty the surface (oil, dirt, liquid, etc.) and make it less clingable or leave a small trail of water making it harder for fog to attach itself. Usually the fog returns after a while but probably won't match the other fog around the area you ever so rudely disturbed because the surface pattern has changed."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
42w13q
|
how can a loud, but relatively insignificant, sound trigger an avalanche
|
How is it possible that someone can shoot a gun and cause an avalanche far away? If you are close to the report, it's loud, but wouldn't the sound have less impact the farther it travels?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/42w13q/eli5_how_can_a_loud_but_relatively_insignificant/
|
{
"a_id": [
"czdktw5"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The thing with sound, it creates waves in the air. If you've ever been at a concert and heard the kick drum, it kicks you in the chest really hard, right? Well, even though the sound waves might not be as heavily concentrated, the ripples can still affect things far away. Sometimes all it takes is a very, very slight shift to make something like an avalanche happen. EDIT: Oh, and many times, avalanches happen in areas with a lot of mountains, which would bounce waves off and cause them to build up, so the \"sound\" is already gone, but enough repeated slight shifts cause a big shift."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
8jeluw
|
from an energy conservation point of view, how does fast or slow metabolism work? would people with a fast metabolism have more energy (i.e. feel more energetic) than people with slow metabolism?
|
Suppose we have two people of equal weight, but one has fast and the other has slow metabolism. They both consume the same number of calories. If someone has fast metabolism, does that mean they use \(or have\) more energy than someone with slow metabolism? Since the total energy expended must mean the person with faster metabolism expends it at a faster rate?
My metabolism is very fast, but I don't seem to have excess energy compared to someone who may have a slower metabolism.
If a person equal to my weight, but has slower metabolism, consumes the same number of calories I do, will they feel even less energetic than me?
Edit: Feel free to ELI15.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8jeluw/eli5_from_an_energy_conservation_point_of_view/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dyz42i2"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"There isn't really a difference between \"fast\" and \"slow\" metabolisms. That's a common myth. Yes, your metabolism changes with age (a 50 yo man's metabolism is about 80% of a 20 yo man's), but there isn't much difference between any two people of the same age and weight.\n\nYour metabolism isn't (statistically) more than a few percent faster or slower than anyone else your age and weight. You probably don't eat as much as you think you do.\n\nIf someone your age and weight ate less than you, they'd lose weight."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
9aft6i
|
after seeing a cross section of tree rings, i’m wondering how trees produce new layers outward from the center?
|
I would’ve thought they grew from within, pushing the older rings outward. Also, how does the bark manage to keep the entire outside of the tree covered?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9aft6i/eli5_after_seeing_a_cross_section_of_tree_rings/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e4v2y00",
"e4v47xk"
],
"score": [
6,
5
],
"text": [
"The living part is the outer layer under the bark. Think of it like one layer that grows larger leaving \"dead\" layers behind as it expands outward. ",
"The tree starts as a sapling, with the inner core being called the xylem, and its protective shell called the cambium. As the tree grows, the cambium adds more layers onto the xylem, which turns to bark. \n\nInterestingly, while the tree does grow from the outside in (kind of like dipping a candle in wax, letting it try, and redipping to make it thicker), the inside is actually the \"dead\" part (called the heartwood)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
3mbglv
|
why can you use certain types of olive oil to fry, and others only for salads?
|
Also which is which?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mbglv/eli5_why_can_you_use_certain_types_of_olive_oil/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cvdl6tj",
"cvdldy9"
],
"score": [
6,
2
],
"text": [
"You _can_ use any olive oil for frying or for salads, but some are better suited than others. Extra Virgin oil has a very delicate flavour and is the most expensive, so it is a waste to use it for frying, but you certainly can do. \n\nLess pure oils are less tasty, cheaper, and have a slightly higher smoke point so are more suitable for frying.",
"Also, there is the smoke point of the oil. The smoke point is the temperature at which oil burns to fumes, which can be toxic.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_point"
]
] |
|
6yfq61
|
what do volcanoes do to the surrounding area before they erupt? (eg. water sources, plant life.)
|
I'm really curious to know how a volcano might affect the surrounding area? For example, if the volcano had started to emit gases, would that affect the local water supply, kill fish and plants etc?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6yfq61/eli5_what_do_volcanoes_do_to_the_surrounding_area/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dmmzpnu"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"They are all different. On the cone volcanos there is less plant life going up, partly due to being a mountain with a tree line, partly due to past eruptions and no stable soil. \n\nThere is a city in Africa built on a not very old lava flow. A lake near it has noxious gasses which bubble up. Pre Eruption phenomena gest overshadowed by the really dramatic effects such as [lahars.](_URL_0_) Lahars are extremely destructive: they can flow tens of metres per second (22 mph or more), be 140 metres (460 ft) deep, and destroy any structures in their path. Notable lahars include those at Mount Pinatubo and Nevado del Ruiz, the latter of which killed thousands of people."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahar"
]
] |
|
9sde3t
|
why do 720p videos look worse on 720p monitors than 1080p videos?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9sde3t/eli5_why_do_720p_videos_look_worse_on_720p/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e8nxbhg",
"e8o18zo",
"e8o45ui"
],
"score": [
11,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Even if you have a 720p video file, there still is compression taking away some video quality. 1080p, you're simply starting with a larger file and more data to create a more accurate final image.",
"You have broadly 2 different issues here - you have DOWNSCALING versus NATIVE resolution - and you have the effects of LOSSY COMPRESSION. Downscaling depends on your particular hardware and media combination but most smart screens have the ability to UPSCALE and DOWNSCALE the media being supplied. This process entails either sharpened or smoothing the image as well adjusting the contrast to make the image more vivid, whereas native resolution may have no jiggery pokery done to it (all depending on the specific manaufacturer and type of media). When you are dealing with compression look at the file size - this is a general rule of thumb as to how much information there is - the bigger the file size the more information the better the quality. If you have 720p movie with a 3GB file size and you compare it to a 1080p movie with a file size of 1GB - the 720p should be better quality because the 1080p has been more severely compressed (general rule of thumb only there's a lot more like for instance the specific codec involved). But the 720p movie that you're watching has most likely had some form of LOSSY COMPRESSION done to it in order to get it to you - so you're not watching the best quality version of the 720p movie.",
"It's basically the difference between using lego technic blocks vs. lego duplo blocks in a frame and applying compression on those.\n\nImagine that you have a square with 1280 * 720 lego duplo blocks, which would be your video.\nYour physical screen would be a frame which can fit 1280 duplo blocks in width and 720 duplo blocks in height.\n\nCompression basically changes the color of some of the duplo blocks to be similar to those around it, which means your \"native resolution\" image quality becomes worse.\n\nOn the other hand, if your frame was filled up by a video with the much smaller lego technic blocks (representing a higher source quality of the video), you would need a LOT more of those to generate an image. The compression from before also changes the color of some technic blocks to be the same as those near it, but since there's now a lot more of them the image quality does not degrade as much. Even if your frame only actually holds the same area of blocks."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
288xkl
|
why does the recommended amount of water to consume often exceed our actual thirst or desire to drink water?
|
Assuming the recommended amount of water is in the ballpark of 2-4 litres a day. Consuming this amount of water is almost a hassle. Why, if our bodies need this amount to function at its best, do we not have a desire, or an urge to consume this amount? Why are we content with a few bottles a day when that is unhealthy or insufficient?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/288xkl/eli5why_does_the_recommended_amount_of_water_to/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ci8l0mb",
"ci8mbp3",
"ci8mnm2"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Not every scientific entity recommends 2-4 litres a day. The USDA recommendation is about half that assuming you get the rest through the right foods, which after all, are mostly water.",
"For me it took a little getting used to, now I drink well in excess of a gallon a day easily. First a big glass in the morning helps. After that, running. Run a mile and it'll be the most delicious thing ever",
"The human thirst mechanism is extremely accurate. Ignore recommendations (which are often inaccurate or misleading) and just drink the amount of water you crave.\n\n_URL_0_ "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://www.npr.org/2008/04/03/89323934/five-myths-about-drinking-water"
]
] |
|
41mrxi
|
why do parents kiss their children on the lips?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/41mrxi/eli5why_do_parents_kiss_their_children_on_the_lips/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cz3lsd0"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"It depends what you grew up with. I'd you grew up not seeing it and associating it only with sexual stuff.\n\nMost usually grow out of it well before puberty naturally. In addition,it's not really done on a sexual manner,it's just a peck,not really like they're making out.\n\nSome places in the world even use some forms of kissing as a greeting outside family"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
6m6ue5
|
how is there saturated fats in food that didn't use any oil ?
|
I thought that to have saturated fat the item had to be cooked with an oil. For example I eat raw cashews all the time and there are no ingredients added. It says on the nutrition facts label there is 25% saturated fat per serving. WHAT GIVES ?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6m6ue5/eli5how_is_there_saturated_fats_in_food_that/
|
{
"a_id": [
"djzc34l",
"djzc6gc"
],
"score": [
4,
5
],
"text": [
"Many foods *already naturally contain* lots of oil. In fact you can [buy a bottle of cashew oil.](_URL_0_)\n\n",
"Nope, natural products contain saturated fats, it has nothing to do with cooking. For example, olive oil contains about 13% saturated and 85% unsaturated fats. Butter, on the other hand, has a lot, and so does coconut oil."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTL4pblJs6ChWrT7s5bd2R1hJp84W3S7cEIKNivqA8yssPFgWPKJaLYTsizuHei6rMW474sBU&usqp=CAE"
],
[]
] |
|
7ki9nn
|
how human bodies will not recognize or ignore pain during physical altercations and injuries.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ki9nn/eli5_how_human_bodies_will_not_recognize_or/
|
{
"a_id": [
"drenc0a"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Your nervous system floods your body with chemicals that amp you up to fight, which in turn also releases endorphins that block pain so that you can continue to fight and possibly live in a life or death situation. It’s survival. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
36d2vb
|
are dietary supplements actually useful and why, and if so which ones should be taken?
|
I'm particularly interested if vegetarians need to take supplementation. I'm an undergrad biologist, so understand how unbelievably complicated nutrition is, if anyone has any expertise I'd be very happy to hear it!
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36d2vb/eli5_are_dietary_supplements_actually_useful_and/
|
{
"a_id": [
"crcvuyt",
"crcw7s6"
],
"score": [
7,
3
],
"text": [
"My doctor says everyone should be on [B12.](_URL_1_)\nIt helps with lots of different body functions such as digestion, nutrient absorption, liver, skin. \n\nI'm also veg. Iron is particularly important, and you'll find that iron deficiency is common in vegetarians. I started taking liquid iron. The only brand I know of is [floravit.](_URL_0_)\n\nWithin days of taking it I felt sharper, smarter, and more articulate. I even felt more outgoing. \n\nTo tie it all together, the vitamin B12 helps with iron absorption so it's a great vitamin/nutrient duo for vegetarians. ",
"Well to start with it probably depends on where your at and where you want to be, way to many factors for an umbrella answer. \n\nI would say that yes they are. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://www.florahealth.com/product_categories.cfm?category_id=4&prod_id=88",
"http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b12-cobalamin"
],
[]
] |
|
2v8zel
|
if a patient needing an organ transplant receives an organ with active cancer cells in. what happens?
|
After watching 50/50 this thought popped into my head, assuming the organ is accepted by the host would the cancer spread as normal?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2v8zel/eli5_if_a_patient_needing_an_organ_transplant/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cofihpg",
"cofj06w",
"cofx0lw"
],
"score": [
14,
22,
2
],
"text": [
"Most likely it will spread faster than normal, as the immune system that helps fight it is suppressed to prevent rejection of the organ",
"Organs from cancer patients are often automatically set as unusable for transplant. So it is somewhat rare that it would happen, but if it did happen it would spread quickly due to the anti-rejection drugs suppressing the immune system of the person getting a transplant. ",
"It depends.\n\nRemember; you have \"active cancer cells\" in your body right now. We all do.\n\nA normal part of our immune system is in killing cells which fail to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell-death, which failure of is one of the signatures of cancer) and instead continue to grow and divide.\n\nThe trouble with transplant is it's accompanied by immunosuppressants, which could interrupt the body's ability to deal with a problem with cancerous cells which has grown beyond a certain point.\n\nBut as people with long-term immonosuppressants don't tend to develop more cancers (at least not that I've seen - it's possible I'm wrong here), that aspect of the immune system still functions."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
5jybs9
|
what is the technology that separates cd-rs from cd-rws?
|
I know CDs aren't exactly a recent technology, but I'd love someone to explain why CD-Rs cannot be rewritten over, but CD-RW can be? What's different about them other than the acronym?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5jybs9/eli5_what_is_the_technology_that_separates_cdrs/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dbjw5en"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"A CD works by having groves cut out in a reflective surface. When a laser is pointed towards the CD it gives a different reflection where there is groves and where there is a higher surface. CD-R have a crystal layer that turns opaque when heated. So if you have a powerful enough laser you can make it appear like there is groves when it is just crystals in different configurations. CD-RW on the other hand have other crystals that turn back to its original reflective configuration if you heat it even more. So you can turn it back to the way it were before you wrote data to it."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
2r4bfa
|
where does the money come from to build new churches?
|
I feel like a see more and more churches being built and often really obscenely large ones. Who pays for these things and do they have to get approved before hand by the state or federal gov?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2r4bfa/eli5where_does_the_money_come_from_to_build_new/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cncbcef",
"cncbd6t",
"cncbeuq"
],
"score": [
6,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"They are paid for by the donations of the religious, and no they generally don't require government authorization (beyond the usual for building things).",
"It all comes from donations from members of the church. They don't need much approval other than what you'd need for any other construction of a building.\n",
"christian religion is very rich becouse it does not need to pay any taxes and they get tons in donations, so they are able to afford to build churches."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1z62ft
|
how do the coats of wild animals with hair remain so clean?
|
...Especially when my cat gets matted to hell at the drop of a hat?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1z62ft/how_do_the_coats_of_wild_animals_with_hair_remain/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfqus7b"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"If a wild cat had hair that matted, it would soon die. So it wouldn't have many kittens, so cats with hair that shed cleanly without matting would predominate. \n\nWe started breeding cats with thick, soft fur, because we found them more cuddly. So instead of this thick, easily matted fur dying out, it survived, so we have to comb our pets and look after their fur.\n\nThere are animals that have to have thick fur to survive the winter. The shed heavily in spring, and their fur creates huge, ugly clods, until they lose them, leaving a neat summer coat."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
1vqysn
|
why does my head hurt after looking at a computer for too long?
|
I just get the worst headaches, but not when I look at other stuff.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vqysn/eli5_why_does_my_head_hurt_after_looking_at_a/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ceuxwlh"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"Because you're supposed to be looking at the monitor."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
4ox5cp
|
how do computers allow instant scaling of photos and videos?
|
e.g. when I drag an image to make it bigger with RES, or changing window size in VLC.
I imagine pixels are eliminated or something as you get smaller. How does the program decide how to do that, and how is it done?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ox5cp/eli5how_do_computers_allow_instant_scaling_of/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d4gcva7",
"d4gfrtx",
"d4ggwjy"
],
"score": [
3,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"There are various ways of doing it. Some are much easier for the computer to do but give a poor result, others are very computationally intensive but accurate. \n\nFor instance you can just copy or remove pixels, but that only looks good for certain end sizes such as 1.5 or 2 times the original size. \n\nLook up 'image scaling and interpolation algorithms' to see the range that exist. \n",
"The scaling of photos and videos are actually quite involved, but a computer can do the computations fast enough to seem instant.\n\nWhat the computers do to the images is called interpolation, or calculating the brightness values of the space between pixels. If you think of the original image as a chessboard grid with a color in each square, rescaling it means fitting a grid with a different number of squares over this and finding the best color for each new square based on the colors underneath.\n\nThe simplest and dumbest way, the way your described, is called nearest-neighbor interpolation: which is to pick the color of the closest pixel to the new pixel's location. It doesn't look very good most of the time. Good image scalers take into account more of the surrounding pixels to try to interpolate a color that would fit smoothly in the new pixel's location.\n\nTake a look at the different algorithms in Wikipedia's page: _URL_0_",
"Scaling of photos is dependent on the resolution and size of the original image. Take a typical digital or cell phone camera image shot at 72 dpi at 11 x 14 inches in size. Reduce it 50% and you get a 144 dpi image at 5.5 x 7 inches, or a 288 dpi image at 2.25 x 3.5 inches. A good C print only requires 200 dpi while a good lithographed image requires 300 dpi, but the computer screen only needs 72 dpi to make it look great. If I scanned an image into my computer at 4 x 5 inches at 600 dpi, I could enlarge it to 8 x 10 and get an image of 300 dpi. However, the computer does not affect the original image. It is the print out device that attempts to render the image as best it can. Thus a 600 dpi desk top printer will make the best image it can of a 144 dpi rescaled larger image.\n\nIn order to make the best possible image for an image to be output enlarged, you may need a interpolation software package algorithm such as Genuine Fractuals which samples a larger number of pixels than Bicubic interpolation method or the Photoshop interpolation algorithms.\n\nSee [this article on interpolation](_URL_0_) for more information."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_scaling"
],
[
"http://www.ronbigelow.com/articles/interpolation/interpolation.htm"
]
] |
|
fjslx2
|
why are consoles so much cheaper than building/buying prebuilt normal computers?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fjslx2/eli5_why_are_consoles_so_much_cheaper_than/
|
{
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"fkortor",
"fkorwja",
"fkosba8",
"fkowk7u",
"fkp45od"
],
"score": [
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5,
10,
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8
],
"text": [
"Economy of scale and Xbox/PS doesn’t expect to turn a profit on the consoles alone. Licensing rights, fees from marketplace, subscriptions, game fees, etc make up the bulk of their revenue.\n\nThink about how much you spend on games over the life of a console.",
"Economy of scale, they make millions of units. Also, these can be a loss leader for companies like Microsoft who make money on every game sold. Sell the console at a $50 loss and make $5-15 per game",
"Because they are sold at a loss, Microsoft and Sony make their money back by forcing you to pay for subscription services and licensing fees they charge on games. After the console matures the price of production drops many times before the price of the console drops. They also have the luxury of a massive economy of scale.",
"A number of things. For one, computers are designed to do a much larger amount of stuff than a console. Even if a particular console and a particular desktop computer have the same graphical capabilities the computer is *still* going to have to do a lot more non-gaming related stuff. All that extra capability costs money.\n\nSecond, economies of scale come into play with consoles. Microsoft is going to build *a* *lot* of these things, so they individually dont have to be priced as high for the company to turn a profit. Also, its entirely possible Microsoft is willing to accept taking a loss on the consoles if they believe the accessories (games, Xbox Live) will make up the diffrence.\n\nLong story short: Computers and Consoles are built with different goals and economic outcomes in mind.",
"Building a pc with the specs of these consoles won't cost $1000.\n\nThe gaming pc I built a few years ago for about $1000 is still more powerful than the coming systems.",
"As everyone else said, but also the fact that it will probably have none of those stats. Remember, the PS4 was supposed to do 4K 60 FPS when first rumored/announced - the pro version doesn’t even do that at all."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
ari9pc
|
what happens if you get excess skin removal surgery after losing weight, but you get fat again?
|
[deleted]
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ari9pc/eli5_what_happens_if_you_get_excess_skin_removal/
|
{
"a_id": [
"egneofw",
"egnet7b",
"egnf39k"
],
"score": [
4,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Skin stretches out again; the excess food you eat goes into creating more skin cells as well as fat cells as needed",
"Connective tissues in the skin allow the skin to be elastic/stretchable. If you get fat again, the skin may get stretched, hence causing more stretch marks or excessive undesired skin. A revision surgery may be needed. ",
"The above comments are why it’s better to develop healthy habits rather than use methods like surgery. There are plenty of people who get liposuction just to gain the weight right back because they didn’t do anything to keep it off."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
32dqra
|
where do american's taxes go?
|
I'm from the UK - we have fairly high tax rates but I know where it goes - e.g. healthcare and other welfare services. So my question is, as I know that Americans have fairly high taxes and a high population too...where does all the money go? Before Obamacare there wasn't any real national healthcare system...is it just the military? Thanks.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32dqra/eli5_where_do_americans_taxes_go/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cqa94th",
"cqa96rb",
"cqa988m",
"cqa99kj",
"cqa9dk0",
"cqagrct"
],
"score": [
6,
2,
3,
16,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Most goes to Medicare and Medicaid, which are two parts of a healthcare system. A large chunk goes to Social Security. Then like you said defense spending and foreign aid. Then you have your average governmental stuff, payments on debt, infrastructure, federal employees, etc.",
"Health care and welfare is no where near all the expenses of a government, there's paying government workers, military, infrastructure (which itself is a decent list), judicial and prison systems, the federal government also pays money to the states (most states take more money from the federal system than they put in, but some do put in more), etc",
"First off, the US was already spending a lot of healthcare before Obamacare. Medicare (health care for the elderly) and Medicaid (health care for the poor) have been significant parts of the US budget for decades.\n\nSo, yes, defense, health care, and other entitlement spending make up [most of the expenditures](_URL_0_).",
"The US budget as a [pie chart](_URL_1_) might be useful to you. \n\nThe equivalent [for the UK](_URL_0_) is probably also useful. \n\nAlso something to note, is that a lot of government in the US is done at levels other than at a federal level. Only around 55% of money is spent at that level, the rest is spent in roughly equal percentages at the local and state level. ",
"First, American tax money is primarily divided between Federal Taxes and State Taxes- there may also be county and city taxes, depending on where you live. State/County/City are very much on a case-by-case basis, so it's harder to pin that down. Federal is easier.\n\nAbout 25% of Federal goes to Social Security, which is money for retirees. \n\nAnother Federal 25% goes to health initiatives in some form or another- Medicare, Medicaid, The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Most of that 25% goes to Medicare specifically, which is for the elderly and for disabled people.\n\nA little less than 20% Federal goes to the Defense budget, which is to say, the military.\n\nAbout 10% goes to Safety Net Programs, which include low-income housing initiatives, food stamps, childcare, orphanages/fostercare, etc.\n\nAbout 7% goes towards paying interest on debt.\n\nThe remaining 18% ish percent goes towards everything else. 2% for education, 2% for research, 3% for transit, etc. ",
"Repeat after me: the government is an insurance company with an army.\n\nIn the US, Federal taxes basically fund\n\n* National defense (20%)\n* Health care (20%) [Medicare and Federal Medicaid grants]\n* Social Security (20%)\n* Interest on the debt (10%)\n* Everything else (30%)"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/2/2b/20120131174348!U.S._Federal_Spending_-_FY_2011.png"
],
[
"https://www.moneydashboard.com/media/com_easyblog/shared/Spend_2014_-_Social.jpg",
"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/2/2b/20150205015819!U.S._Federal_Spending_-_FY_2011.png"
],
[],
[]
] |
|
1sa16o
|
do poison antidotes exist (the kind that cure you within a very short period of time)? or is that just hollywood myth?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1sa16o/eli5_do_poison_antidotes_exist_the_kind_that_cure/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cdvhcb6",
"cdviknj"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Yes, antitoxins and antivenoms do exist, and are standard medical supplies for hospitals and emergency response vehicles. ",
"If a person has ingested a poison, the person will generally receive a [lavage](_URL_0_). Most of the time it is a charcoal compound and from the people I have worked with who have received one, they fart dust for the next couple days. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_lavage"
]
] |
||
cqca7f
|
what is keeping us from developing higher frequency lasers, such as gamma ray lasers?
|
One would think it would be simple, but this has turned out to be a tough problem to solve.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cqca7f/eli5_what_is_keeping_us_from_developing_higher/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ewvbjxi",
"eww1f53"
],
"score": [
2,
4
],
"text": [
"I don't know the answer for certain. I suspect it is because to get an atom/electron to emit light, you need to excite an electron to a higher energy level. If you do this enough, the electron is no longer bound to the atom at all. To get a really high energy laser, you need to provide that electron with a lot of energy. \n \nIn the meantime, some other electron in the atom is going to drop down into the vacated energy state left behind by your free electron. So instead of getting the light from that super-excited electron you wanted, you get light emission from a much smaller energy difference...a standard laser.",
"This is a complex question. To start; we actually *do* have gamma ray lasers, but they have to be engineered in a special way. In a normal laser, there is the lasing medium and mirrors. The lasing medium generates the beam and the mirrors are necessary to make the beam form properly. There are more in-depth explanations on this sub but that's all you need to know for this. The energy of a laser is dictated by the medium, *however*, the light has to be reflected by the mirrors for the laser to work. Gamma ray lasers have two issues. The first is that the lasing medium has to contain extremely high energy. This is doable, but usually requires things like nuclear reactions, and as such is quite a challenge. Such a lasing medium will also probably generate a lot of heat, and therefore be difficult to contain. The second issue is that mirrors do not reflect gamma rays at oblique angles (angles 90 degrees to the surface). There is no known material that even comes close to reflecting gamma rays enough to make a laser. This problem is not insurmountable, as sufficiently large lasers do not actually need mirrors, but these lasers have to be quite large, which worsens the aforementioned containment and high energy problems. Now, everything I have told you only applies to conventional laser designs. We have newer systems, such as the \"wiggler\" which uses magnets to vibrate electrons that are moving as absolutely ridiculous speeds, and this can generate laser light of almost any frequency we want. These devices are incredibly useful, but are still very much in development, and are probably not going to fit into hand-sized tools any time soon."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
3y6h6l
|
why are gas prices in the u.s. are no longer in $0.10 increments when they have been for at least 20 years.
|
All my life, gas prices have been:
Regular X
Mid grade X+$0.10
premium X+$0.20
I understand that mid grade is a blend of regular and premium but did the ratio change or is there something else going on?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3y6h6l/eli5why_are_gas_prices_in_the_us_are_no_longer_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cyaxc2e",
"cyb3jz4"
],
"score": [
9,
2
],
"text": [
"You are just experiencing confirmation bias. I am 30 and all my life they have been in variations of $0.05 increments. Neither of us are actually accurate as there is no hard set rule for what gas companies charge. ",
"I remember seeing that as well when I was in the Chicago area.\n\nI think the real reason is [Price point](_URL_1_). As you raise the prices on the premium, the number of people buying it will go down. But as you lower the price, eventually the number of people will reach a maximum. Even if gas was a penny, you couldn't use 100 times more. So there is a sweet spot where profit is maximized.\n\nFor example\n\n105 people buy at $1.90 = $199.50 \n\n100 people buy at $2.00 = $200.00\n\n90 people buy at $2.10 = $189.00\n\nTherefore is makes sense to sell at $2.00\n\nNow why is this different than years ago? I suspect there was some government regulation and over the years this has been repealed or changed. Every state has their own laws, but I did find this from Hawaii which lends my idea some credence\n\n_URL_0_\n\n > (e) The mid-grade adjustment factor shall be 5 cents per gallon or as otherwise determined by the commission and shall thereafter be subject to adjustment pursuant to section 486H-16(a).\n\n > (f) The premium adjustment factor shall be 9 cents per gallon or as otherwise determined by the commission and shall thereafter be subject to adjustment pursuant to section 486H-16(a).\n\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/histatutes/2/26/486H/486H-13",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_point"
]
] |
|
3h1y3o
|
is there any truth to the "it's too cold for snow!" myth?
|
Ever since I was little, I remember being told that the colder it gets during the winter, the less likely it is to snow, and that the ideal temperature for snow is 0 Celsius and slightly below it.
Any truth to all that?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3h1y3o/eli5_is_there_any_truth_to_the_its_too_cold_for/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cu3j260",
"cu3lt8m"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Yes and no. While there are places where that can happen, there are also areas where the way the general weather pattern works is that there's more snow when it's closer to 0C and less when it's closer to 0F. \n\nFor example, New England tends to get alternating weather streams either coming north from the gulf along the coast or coming from Canada via the Great Lakes. The latter is colder and often, but not always, dried out by the time it gets here. But when the warmer air from the gulf comes up, and hits the colder air, we get our snow.\n\nThere's also a reverse way of looking at it: When it's clear and sunny in winter, it's likely to get colder overnight because there's no cloud cover to keep the warmth in. When it's clouded over, with a a greater chance of snow, the daytime warmth (much of which we generate ourselves) is more likely to be kept in. ",
"Colder air tends to be drier while warmer air tends to have more moisture. So the colder it gets, the *less likely* it is to snow."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
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