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31pzh4 | why does heat aggravate the taste of spice? and cold the affects of menthol? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/31pzh4/eli5_why_does_heat_aggravate_the_taste_of_spice/ | {
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"Because the chemical responsible for \"spice\" capsaicin, activates the same receptors that actual heat does, so when you add temperature heat to it, its magnified. Similarly, menthol activates the same receptors that actual cold does, again magnifying the effects when you expose it to both menthol and actual cold."
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3s667l | why does the cold virus survive longer on non-porous surfaces (stainless steel, doorknobs) than on porous surfaces (clothes, tissues) and skin? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3s667l/eli5_why_does_the_cold_virus_survive_longer_on/ | {
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"Actually it depends on envelope status. A non-enveloped virus means that it is what we refer to as \"hardy\" so it could potentially survive equally as well on any of these surfaces, which we would then refer to as fomites--especially hardy viruses like the adenoviridae are even capable of surviving chlorinated pool water for sufficient time to cause disease spread. Rhinovirus though, is less hardy and can really only survive at slightly lower body temperatures, making it slightly less hardy and therefore slightly easier to kill...I hope this is helpful! "
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8vyn6x | why do a lot of basement storage rooms/laundry rooms have a string to turn on the light but all other rooms use a light switch? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8vyn6x/eli5_why_do_a_lot_of_basement_storage/ | {
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"Its easier to to install a fixture with a draw string than to wire to a switch. There are fixtures with the draw string already set up and because basements are usually less likely to be seen by company, the aesthetics are less important.",
"Because it works. Yeah, I guy could run power to a switch and back, but a pull string answers and utility rooms don't have to impress anyone. Running extra cable is just a waste of money. ",
"In the UK a lot of bathrooms still have a string. My understanding was that this was to avoid potentially wet hands touching a switch and causing an electric shock (very unlikely sure but still). As cellars can flood or are susceptible to damp could this factor be another consideration perhaps?",
" Because a keyhole light fixture is the absolute cheapest fixture and electrical wiring installation you can get.\n\nAlso useful to light as yet unfinished spaces where the layout isn’t determined yet",
"These basements were made to be finished at a later time. Don’t know where the walls (or eve the lights) may eventually be, so you just tack them up. You can add a switch leg later when plans are made and you know where the switches will be. Until then, pull cords. ",
"Because it's cheaper. You'll usually find the pull string in unfinished basements, and that's what they are, unfinished. The assumption is that if you finish the basement you'll install switches, otherwise this gets the job done.",
"1. It's cheaper to install than running a line to a switch.\n\n2. It's safer in rooms where water is present or that could potentially have water on the floor. Touching a poorly insulated switch with wet hands or standing in a pool of water could kill you.",
"Running electrical through concrete without proper conduit violates building code.\n\nIt is very expensive to do this and still be up to code, so this is done as a cost saving thing, and as a safety thing as others have mentioned. ",
"I wonder how many countries the string light switches are used in. Here in Sweden noone has it. Perhaps it is not allowed. If we have concrete basement we just attach the cables to the wall and put up a light switch.",
"Is t it so you do t touch the electrical while possibly standing in water or just the damp basement in general",
"I’m pretty sure the National Electrical Code does not mandate a light switch in closets, like it does for other rooms, but I don’t have my code books handy to check the exact wording. ",
"Electrician here. It’s just easier than running wires to a switch. Pull chain on the fixture serves as the switch. Simple and effective cheap way to add light to an unfinished area. ",
"I can think of 2 (ok, 3!) main reasons:\n\nConvenience - these switches could be easier to install in more difficult places \n\nRisk of electrocution - String pull switches were also used in lieu of nornmal switches in rooms where moisture build up was a problem as it increased the risk of electrocution. Eg bathrooms etc...\n\nCombination of both of the above - some basements and cellars were prone to flooding so having the electrical components in the ceiling as opposed to the wall (at risk of wetting due to flooding) drastically minimised risk of shorting or electrocution.\n\n",
"Probably because the walls are generally concrete, also if there’s a chance to flood it keeps the electrical up high to not get submerged ",
"these are meant as \"Storage/Mechanical\" rooms, so \nthey will have an outlet or two, that is required by code, so\nthey tap that for the bulb outlet.\n\nessentially it's like everything in construction, driven\nby cost.\n\n",
"Basements have block walls. it's hard to run electricity through block walls easier to suspend in the ceiling",
"Usually cost.\n\nFor a string pulled light, you just need to run one power wire to the light, put the (usually very cheap) fixture up and done. For a switched light, you need to run a power wire to a switch, buy the switch and box, install them and run a switch leg to the light. May not sound like much but if you're on a budget you can probably save $100 that way for parts and labor.",
"Also, basements/cellars are prone to flooding so the higher up the electrical items the less likely to ever have a short.",
"This is common in older houses. The answer in those cases is usually because a light switch wasn't put in originally, and no one bothered to put one in later because they're infrequently used. When I bought a 110 year old two family, there were no light switches in the bedrooms either, just wall sconces or pull strings. First thing I did was update the lighting in the rooms and basement (fortunately knob and tube had already been taken out).\n\nEdit: to clarify, originally houses had knob and tube wiring, and a basement would need wiring down the wall to get to a switch, which is tricky for knob and tube as you wouldn't want exposed wiring for that. So running the wiring through the ceiling and using pull strings was much simpler and worked just fine."
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61gnd5 | how come when you're on a roller coaster you can feel how fast you're going, but on an airplane everything feels normal? [physics] | From my VERY limited knowledge I think it must have something to do with the fact that a plane is enclosed and a roller coaster isn't lol
A plane also obviously goes way faster than a rollercoaster so that's another thing | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/61gnd5/eli5_how_come_when_youre_on_a_roller_coaster_you/ | {
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"On a roller coaster:\n\n* you can feel the wind in your face\n* much of what you perceive as \"fast\" is actually acceleration, as roller coasters are constantly changing speed and velocity...a good pilot keeps their airplane's acceleration to a minimum, mostly during takeoff and landing",
"There are two things at play here. To start with we do not every feel how fast we are going, we feel the *change* in speed. \n\nWhen an airplane speeds up down the runway to take off you feel yourself getting pushed back into your seat. But once it is at a steady speed you no longer feel that. \n\nThe other aspect is wind. In an airplane you do not feel any wind, on a roller coaster you do. You can experience this driving in a car. While inside the car you feel almost nothing, if you stick your head out the window you feel the rush of air. \n\nThose two things are what make all the difference. Together with the added quick direction changes of a roller coaster and that is why they feel completely different."
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2o6n8w | why do i get the chills when my temperature is above the normal range, say 101.3 fahrenheit? | It doesn't make sense if my internal temperature is warmer than normal | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2o6n8w/eli5_why_do_i_get_the_chills_when_my_temperature/ | {
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"When your get a fever, your body raises your internal thermostat. You shiver and get the chills in order to reach your new higher temperature setting. It's one way you can tell if you're getting a fever if you don't have a thermometer. Chills means a fever us coming on, sweating means the fever is breaking."
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38ahme | why do realtors still exist? | The Internet seems like you should not need this expensive service anymore. I understand why it used to exist as it was the only way for buyers and sellers to find each other, but nowadays it seems like Zillow or sites like that could take care of everything for free or a nominal fee. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38ahme/eli5_why_do_realtors_still_exist/ | {
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"Real estate laws are super complicated, because many states use real-estate resources to drive tax revenue. Sellers don't have anything like the time to figure out the laws, make web-sites and stage their house to get a good return. When you only sell your house once a decade, how could you possibly stay current on the best marketing trends.\n\nBuyers agents, who help you figure out where to look, will be the first to go. You're giving them a lot of money to drive you around town when you could go to the seller's agent and talk about reduced points if they get both sides of the deal.",
"Buying a house isn't like buying a sandwich. There's a lot of paperwork involved, inspections, negotiations, escrow, yada yada yada.\n\nPeople pay real estate agents to take care of that stuff.",
"Buying a house is much, much more complicated than booking a flight or reserving a rental property. Realtors are experts in that process, and are often much more than simply salesmen. In some jurisdictions, they are more like lawyers, with education and licensing requirements.\n\nIn California, where I live, the realtor is responsible for overseeing all phases of a home purchase, making sure all the contracts are signed, that the buyers and sellers know what the contracts say, etc. There are certain legally required disclosures that have to be made (Is the house on a flood plain? Is the house near a military base? Has someone died in the house?) They make sure that all the legal requirements for a sale are met. Were all the necessary permits pulled for upgrades to a house? Have all liens against the house been discharged? \n\nThey also coordinate the efforts of all the people involved in a home sale (inspectors, escrow agents, lenders, all for both buyers and sellers).\n\nPlus, a good realtor will work hard to be sure that you find a house you like. I've bought two houses, and both times the realtors I worked with earned every penny of their fee.",
"When I came to this country I found a realtor to be extremely helpful. I didn't know anything about this area but she found dozens of properties that met my criteria, drove me all over the area for several weeks to see them, arranged viewings of properties that I found myself on the websites, pointed out issues that should make me reconsider such as cracks in the wall or uneven floors, gave opinions on fair pricing for a property, told me about the neighborhoods and their safety, and it didn't cost me anything because the seller is the one who pays the fee for both realtors.",
"ELI5? You're completely correct.\n\n\n\nAnymore this has become an 'expectation' that has lasted from the previous generations. Give it time and realtors will either evolve, or slowly become obsolete. For a large chunk of the younger population, realtors only purpose is to be the one letting them into the house that they had already found online.\n\nThat said, a GOOD realtor is still valuable. A GOOD realtor will know the area, have a good idea what a house is actually worth, and can provide valuable and well thought advice. That said, GOOD realtors are extremely few and far between. ",
"I help people buy homes by arranging their mortgages. I also used to be a realtor, so I guess I've got a weird perspective on things.\n\nIn my opinion agents are overpaid, but not unnecessary. A good agent can help guide you through the process of buying/selling, prevent you from overpaying (everybody thinks their house is worth more than it is. Everyone.), protect you from impulsive/poor decisions, and generally give you advice on a VERY substantial purchase. \n\nTo give an example; I just helped a person who wanted to avoid using a real estate agent. This is fine, and I think I might do the same, but only because I've seen a number of purchases/sales and know what the risks are. Unfortunately, this person was of the mindset that agents are just there to collect a paycheck. When I met him, he had already made an offer to purchase a house, and this offer didn't include the condition \"subject to financing\". Meaning that whether or not he could *afford* the home was not going to be a deciding factor in him purchasing it. And guess what? He couldn't afford that particular house (should've gotten pre-approved first, something an agent should tell you), and risked losing his $10k deposit. He ended up getting it back, but the seller was not legally obligated to so. Something I felt a little sick over for a while.\n\nOne thing I appreciate about agents now is that they (should) verify *everything*. I've seen too many people lie about so many god damned things that it makes me dizzy. Seen people lie about affordability, lie about mold/grow ops/repairs, lie about what's included in a sale. I had someone lie about the size of their lot, which is hard to get away with. \n\nAgents do a lot of good, but I don't think they need to be paid like doctors.",
"So everyone is talking about the legal requirements of real estate transactions which has nothing to do with realtors. Sure realtors typically have enough knowledge to fill in for a lawyer but their fees are many orders of magnitude higher than what you'd pay a lawyer to look over your forms.\n\nGetting to the question of why do we still have realtors? Let's look at how the interactions are setup. If you're buying a house then the first thing every realtor is going to tell you is that it doesn't cost you anything to hire them. This is technically true because they collect from the seller's agent. If you buy a house without a buyer's agent then the seller's agent just keeps what they would have otherwise given to your buyer's agent. Because of this, there is essentially no reason not to get a buyer's agent if you're shopping for a house which means almost every buyer is represented by an agent.\n\nLet's look at the flip side, if you're selling your house, realtors typically ask for 6% of the home's sale price. Because buyer's agents know they'll get paid their cut automatically by houses for sale by agent they show those houses without even blinking to their buyers. For every house that is for sale by owner, those buyers' agents have to negotiate a commission from those sellers and get it in writing before it's worth their time to show the house. Since they don't know whether or not their buyer will buy the house, in many instances, it simply won't be worth their effort to negotiate a commission on the potential that their buyer will buy it. As a result a lot of people who try to go the for sale by owner route end up having to suck it up and hire a realtor.\n\nAccording to [this article](_URL_0_) 70% of people who initially try to sell FSBO end up hiring an agent.\n\nInterestingly enough [according to this question post](_URL_1_) FSBO in Canada gets the same price as realtor sold homes on average.\n\nOne thing you can do as a buyer, at least, is to negotiate for a rebate with your agent before entering an agreement. There's a site called redfin that will set you up with a broker and a prearranged rebate. This is probably not the best rebate you can get if you call around yourself but if you don't like to call around then it will certainly be better than nothing.",
"Realtors still exist because buying a house is probably going to be the most expensive thing you're ever going to buy in your life. I'd say in most cases it's comforting to have someone who knows what they're doing help you through the process. \n\nThat being said, you should check out [_URL_0_](http://www._URL_0_), they handle everything a typical buyers agent would but only charge small flat fee. "
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1q6fdn | why are broadband companies spending so much energy and money pushing home phone service when less and less people are maintaining land lines in favor of mobile phones? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1q6fdn/eli5_why_are_broadband_companies_spending_so_much/ | {
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"Money is the right answer. For companies that use DSL over your phone line to sell service, the equipment already exists to set up phone service; it costs them hardly anything to hook you up to it.\n\nFor companies that use cable connections, modern cable modems that use the DOCSIS 3.0 standard often have phone modems built into them, so again, it doesn't really cost them much to get you hooked up.\n\nSince it doesn't cost them much to get you connected, then all they have to do is charge you more than it costs them to get you a phone number and get you dialed into the national phone grid, and they make an easy profit.",
"The first thing they do is sell your number. I had one for \"free\" with my cable and started receiving sales calls within the first hour."
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5p79tt | what is a denial of service (dos) attack. | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5p79tt/eli5what_is_a_denial_of_service_dos_attack/ | {
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"As some internet smartass once put it \"Wanna DDoS a bar? Get a shitload of friends to all go in and keep asking for glasses of water.\"\n\nThe point of a distributed denial of service attack is to tie up one server with **so many** requests that ultimately aren't real that it has no time to service the actual users who want to visit the page. All web traffic starts with *some* form of request and conversation between the two computers. The attacking computers in a DoS scenario just drop the conversation and start over from the top every few seconds.\n\n\nUsually to pull off a DoS attack effectively, you need a botnet, a network of thousands of virus'd computers that accept commands you give them. If you tried to pull a DoS attack with just one or relatively few computers, it would be very easy to trace and blacklist you. But if thousands of computers all over the world all connect to your victim's server simulatenously, that server can't tell which incoming requests might belong to real users and which are bogus and going to end early."
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apdtl0 | what is a tax return? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/apdtl0/eli5_what_is_a_tax_return/ | {
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"You've got it, mostly. Your employer withholds a certain amount for taxes, but they don't take in to account credits you might use when you actually figure out your taxes.",
"You're correct. You get taxes withheld from your paycheck. But those taxes are just an estimate of what you will actually owe. When you started your job you filled out a W4 form which helped calculate how much taxes they would withhold, based on things like whether you have dependents, whether someone claims you as a dependent, whether you are the head of a household.\n\nAt the end of the year, the amount you got withheld usually doesn't match exactly what actual tax you owe. If your withholding was more than your tax owed, maybe because you had a lot of deductions or something, you get back the extra amount that you've already paid in though withholding. That's you tax return.\n\nIt's also possible you might owe extra money. Then you have to send payment in when you file your taxes.",
"This is a very interesting topic that comes up every now and then.\n\nYou're almost correct. It's not a miscalculation, but an estimate of how much you made. \n\nThere are countries where the tax collection body of government calculates the amount you earned in one year and the tax you should pay for it. Then they send it to you. \n\nYou sign it if you agree or can dispute it. So easy! You don't have to do the hard part of calculating anything. \n\nBut whether such a system would work in your home country depends partly on the economics and partly on the social workings of your country. ",
"\"tax return\" is a confusing term, because it doesn't actually mean that you'll always get something returned to you. It's better to just think of it as \"tax form\" - a form that you fill out and send in, where you write in how much money you made during the year, how much taxes you've already paid (if any) and it includes instructions so you can figure out how much in taxes you still need to pay, or how much you will get back in a refund if you've already paid too much during the year (see below). Then you send in the form, maybe with your payment, or maybe you'll get a refund. \n\nThe reason lots of people get tax refunds is because every time they get a paycheck, usually some % of it is taken out and instantly paid as taxes (this is called withholding). So at the end of the year when you do your tax return and figure out *exactly* what your taxes should be, there is usually a difference between what you’ve paid over the year via withholding vs what you really should have paid. If you paid too much you get a refund, if you haven’t paid enough then you need to pay to make up the difference. "
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4t8c99 | how do you figure out a time signature in a song? | This post is inspired by this [Tool post](_URL_0_).
How did they go about figuring out all the time signature changes? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4t8c99/eli5_how_do_you_figure_out_a_time_signature_in_a/ | {
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"When you listen to a piece of music - often when you count the notes between the the *strong* ones, that's your time sig. \nFor example with 'all you need is love', by the Beatles, the chorus goes ONE two three four five six seven, ONE two three..., for the verse it's ONE two three four ONE two three four. \nSure a best of 2/4 is simile to 4/4 but they work different. ",
"Here are the basics:\n\n2/4 will have a 1-2 feel to it with 1 being strongest and 2 being slightly weaker (volume wise). \n3/4 will have a 1-2-3 feel, with 1 being loudest and 2-3 being about the same. \n\n4/4 will feel like two 2/4 bars, but the 3 will be somewhat weaker than 1. This is by far the most common time signature. \n\n5/4 will feel like a 2/4 followed by a 3/4 (or vice versa), but this is getting into the realm of esoteric contemporary music. They can usually tell if this is the case if the tempo keeps switching between 2/4 and 3/4 in a regular fashion.\n\n6/8 will sound like 2/4 with 3/4 stuck inside each beat; 3/4 with 2/4 stuck inside each beat will usually be 6/4. And the 4/4 2/4 analogy works on 6/4 3/4, but who knows. \n\nOther than that, you are getting into the range of crazy composing and that'll be case by case (I think I've seen 11/8 before? It's ridiculous).\n\nEdit: 9/8 12/8 and 16/8 are also pretty common, and they are just analogies to 6/8.",
"I'll try to use some examples: \n\n3/4 is mostly used in waltz. It has a very easily recognized \"hum-pa-pa\" rhytm. [The first seconds make it clear!](_URL_1_)\n\n2/4 is mostly used in marches. It's steady, marching tempo, and goes a bit up and down every beat. [From 15s you should recognize it](_URL_2_). \n\n6/8 may look like 3/4, but its rhytm is very different. It's a bit like a combo of 2/4 and 3/4: you can recognise the \"hum-pa-pa\" , but also the up and down feeling of a 2/4. [Queen](_URL_0_) is a good example. \n\nAlmost everything else is written in 4/4. Rarely you can find a 2/2, which is equally steady but a bit less up-down and more smooth. As if the marching peloton got wheels. Even more rare is the 5/8, which has a weird \"hum-pa-pa hum-pa hum-pa-pa hum-pa\" rhythm. On the same note 11/8 is just a 6/8 and 5/8 combined, which also sounds a bit weird. "
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8j4mb0 | why are concrete driveways and sidewalks made in squares instead of one giant patch like roads and asphalt driveways? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8j4mb0/eli5_why_are_concrete_driveways_and_sidewalks/ | {
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"The squares are there to help stop cracks from spreading across the whole slab. If you're talking about the stamped grid marks. \n\nOr they are heat expansion joints if you're talking about the individual blocks that are sometimes poured with thin strips of wood in between.",
"They serve a couple purposes — they help limit cracks by allowing for expansion and by creating a barrier to stop a crack that develops. They also help channel water off the surface when it rains or snow melts, water from washing cars or sprinklers gets on them.",
" Concrete is hard and needs to expand while curing. Breaking it up into sections will reduce cracking from adjacent pressure. \n\nAsphalt is soft. It gets it's firmness from the compacted base (rock and fines) underneath. Hence why you sometimes see asphalt warped from heavy loads. \n\n",
"If you look closely at a concrete road (or parking lot), they are made in squares as well. The squares are just much bigger, because the concrete tends to be thicker as well. "
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kfzu1 | ted talks? | What are they? what do they do? and why should I care? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/kfzu1/eli5_ted_talks/ | {
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"just watch one.",
"TED talks were created to explain complex ideas as if you were 5 years old. Huh. What a concept.",
"TED talks are like lectures given by experts and professionals from all walks of life, professions, experiences, values. They are usually outside the box and push the boundaries of cultural thinking. Anyone can do one, there is a speakers fee, so that limits any Joe Retard from trying to discuss the relativity of Scarlett Johanson's ass. ",
"just watch one.",
"TED talks were created to explain complex ideas as if you were 5 years old. Huh. What a concept.",
"TED talks are like lectures given by experts and professionals from all walks of life, professions, experiences, values. They are usually outside the box and push the boundaries of cultural thinking. Anyone can do one, there is a speakers fee, so that limits any Joe Retard from trying to discuss the relativity of Scarlett Johanson's ass. "
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6wbpfw | how do live youtube streams of tv shows get away with it? | I've spent all day binge watching live YouTube streams of South Park, Family Guy and American Dad on my TV and it's been great
But I've been wondering how these streams survive considering that when full episodes of TV shows are uploaded to YouTube they are always quickly removed due to copyright. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6wbpfw/eli5_how_do_live_youtube_streams_of_tv_shows_get/ | {
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"Because streams cannot be easily automatically processed by Youtube's ContentID system. Someone would have to report the stream to the copyright holder, then they would have to contact Youtube to shut down the stream.",
"You can't possibly keep up with how fast people put them back up when they're taken down.\n\nNature of the beast.",
"Besides the obvious triviality of re-uploading deleted content, they often alter the stream. Some will mirror the image right/left, others zoom in, stretch or draw a black border to change resolution. Even audio can be changed.\n\nYouTube's algorithm needs a comparison file to check against. Even the simplest alterations can cripple its functionality entirely.",
"My guess would be it's so much easier to live stream. With videos say 100 episodes of South park they have to make an account upload them ect everytime they get taken down. A stream all they do is restart the stream no uploading way less work "
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8tn65t | how does thermo-pads work? i'm impressed how with the flex of the disk the liquid crystalizes and generates heat. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8tn65t/eli5_how_does_thermopads_work_im_impressed_how/ | {
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"The reusable heat pads usually contain a supersaturated solution of sodium acetate in water. Crystallization is triggered by flexing a small flat disc of notched ferrous metal loose in the pad. Pressing the disc releases very tiny adhered crystals of sodium acetate, which formed on the metal surface, into the solution which then act as nucleation sites for the crystallization of the sodium acetate into the hydrated salt sodium acetate trihydrate. The liquid is essentially super-cooled, to below the solidification temperature, at room temperature. The presence of seed crystals allows it to solidify and that puts the edge crystals at the melting point briefly. Chemistry has lots of unusual solutions like this.",
"It takes energy to change something from a solid to a liquid - this heat is called the [Latent Heat of Fusion.](_URL_2_)\n\nThe material in the Thermo-pad is a [SuperSaturated](_URL_0_) solution of water and sodium diacetate - SDA. (Fun Fact: - This stuff is the same chemical used to flavour Salt-and-Vinegar potato chips!)\n\nWhen you boil the pads, you dissolve the SDA into the water as you add heat to it, melting the crystals. Since the inside surface of the vinyl packaging of the pad is very smooth, there is nowhere for crystals to start to re-form as the solution cools. Crystals typically need a [Nucleation Point](_URL_1_) to start growing.\n\nWhen you snap the little metal disk inside the solution, it creates a nucleation point, and the SDA rapidly crystallizes out of the solution, releasing the Latent Heat of Fusion that you added when you boiled it - making it warm!\n\nYou can then re-boil the package and repeat the process."
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mxzej | organic vs natural foods, and their pros/cons? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mxzej/eli5_organic_vs_natural_foods_and_their_proscons/ | {
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"[I found a neat little picture for ya :)))](_URL_0_)",
"[I found a neat little picture for ya :)))](_URL_0_)"
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2skl6s | why do i hear so many radio ads for companies hiring truck drivers? | Is there a major shortage on truck drivers willing to take crappy jobs? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2skl6s/eli5_why_do_i_hear_so_many_radio_ads_for/ | {
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"It's because truckers spend a lot of time on the radio\n\nThe marketing ppl did a study and found out that truckers spend a lot of time on the radio so they put their ads targeting truckers on the radio\n\nThe problem is that truckers don't listen to the radio, the radio they spend so much time on is their CB radios. \n\nSince truckers don't listen to the radio that has the ads that target them, they don't get to hear about all the jobs that the marketing ppl are advertising. Because of this mix-up, the jobs don't get filled and the ads keep running. \n\nAnd that is why you hear so many ads for companies hiring truck drivers. ",
"I am a truck driver. Most of the ads you hear on the radio for drivers are for Over The Road (OTR) drivers trying to fill an industry created driver shortage. Its crappy pay, crappy working conditions and generally a crappy life that very few people are willing to even try let alone stick with if they do.\n\nSeriously, you try living 24 hours a day 320 days a year in a space 1/3 the size of an average prison cell and you will understand why they have to advertise so much."
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54lkuz | after waterloo,napoleon was merely exiled;marshal ney(a subordinate) was executed. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/54lkuz/eli5after_waterloonapoleon_was_merely/ | {
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"Ney was a traitor since he defected from the monarchy side.\n\nNapoleon was \"only\" exiled because he was the head of a state, it was unseemly for the royals of Europe to execute one that had equal rank",
"After Napoleon's first exile, Michel Ney had pledged loyalty to the restored Bourbon monarchy. When Napoleon returned, Ney went off to fight him, in command of a Bourbon army. Napoleon talked Ney and his troops into switching sides. \n \nNey was tried for treason, since he had betrayed his oath.",
"Besides what others were said, Ney was tried and executed by the new French government, but Napoleon's fate had to be agreed upon by the other great powers meeting at the Congress of Vienna. There were certainly some there who would have liked to see Napoleon's head on a pike, but they couldn't get everyone (especially Britain, who were particularly influential since they were the ones who actually had him in custody) to agree."
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3c0pqw | why does the fanta in turkey taste so much better and the color is more orange too. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3c0pqw/eli5_why_does_the_fanta_in_turkey_taste_so_much/ | {
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"text": [
"because the ingredients available in turkey are different than the ones in the states.\n\nit is well known that in mexico the cocacola tastes the best because it is served in a glass bottle and uses real sugar not splenda"
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68m0n4 | why do video games still have a childlike or an unproductive stigma to them? | 34 y/o, i work, provide for my family, and play video games a few days a week in the evening to relax and unwind. some people ridicule me for that (i don't really let it bother me for the record), meanwhile those same people who also work and provide, unwind by watching tv. so really, what's the difference? both are sitting in front of a screen. if anything, playing a game engages the mind more than watching tv. also, video games nowadays appeal to all ages, from mario kart, zelda, grand theft auto and resident evil. so it's not a kiddy thing as they were maybe in the 80s and early to mid 90s. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/68m0n4/eli5_why_do_video_games_still_have_a_childlike_or/ | {
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"Let me preface: I play video-games alot, i have 300 games in my steam library and within the last year i ranked up to Diamond in star-craft 2. But i make sure not to let the games interfere with my personal life.\n\nThe main problem with gaming is the secluding nature of the hobby. Its really easy to blow off your relationships just to play one more level. Tv is a screen, but the whole family can sit around the living room and talk about whats going on and stuff. When you play video games, it is a very secluding and exclusionary hobby and it basically alienates the rest of the people in the house (unless you are playing same screen co-op games). This isnt too big of a deal when done in moderation, but it can be pretty damaging to children over the long run when done in excess. It basically shows that they are less important to you than the game and kills their self esteem. It can cause them to distance themselves from you because you have distanced yourself to begin with.\n\nThe distancing is not necessarily a bad thing and it is good to recharge, but often this is a time consuming thing. You spend hours apart from the family to entertain yourself when you could be fostering relationships and doing activities as a family. \n\nThis kind of hobby really suits the lifestyle of teens and young adults. When you spend 2-3 hours playing COD or whatever each night, as a teen, its no big deal. but when you have a family, you are taking time away from your family that could have been spent doing something together. Not that its bad, but when done in excess it can cause relationships to falter and your family will learn to live without you... If you begin to wonder why your kids/wife does not want to spend time with you after a couple years. Remember all the times you pushed them away for your games.\n\nThe same thing can happen with a variety of hobbies, golf, motoring, work travel, etc. But the ease of access of video games and the time consuming nature makes it a really easy way to remove yourself from your relationships."
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22wee4 | static in the dark | Why does there seem to be static when I look with my eyes in the dark? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/22wee4/eli5_static_in_the_dark/ | {
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"It's always there, you just notice it more in the dark because there isn't as much other visual information for your brain to be distracted by.",
"It's caused by phosphenes firing out in the nerves in your eyes. _URL_0_"
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1nwsdf | if matter cannot be created or destroyed, why doesn't carbon dating always date back to the big bang? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nwsdf/eli5_if_matter_cannot_be_created_or_destroyed_why/ | {
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"Matter cannot be created or destroyed - but chemical and nuclear reactions happen all the time which *rearrange* matter into new elements and compounds. \n \nCarbon-14 in particular is an unstable radioactive isotope which is generated in the atmosphere by radiation from space - it exists in a known concentration in the atmosphere. Since the carbon in the atmosphere is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis and then eaten by animals, it is found in all organic matter. Once the organism dies, the carbon ceases to be replenished by photosynthesis/eating and begins to decay at a known rate - this is how carbon dating is used to estimate the age of living organisms.\n ",
"The statement \"matter cannot be created or destroyed\" is at the best confusing and at the worst just not correct. Matter and energy can turn into each other under the right conditions. If you put enough energy into a system, you can create new matter and under the right circumstances you can turn matter into energy. This is part of what is going on when nuclear reactions occur and why we get heat from the sun.\n\nEven if we ignore the mass-energy conversions, atoms can still change and not violate a rule prohibiting the creation and destruction of matter. Atomic nuclei are made of smaller massive objects called protons and neutrons. Various nuclear processes can cause the nuclear particles to split or combine. When the number of protons changes, the charge of the nucleus changes and thus we have a new element. When just the neutrons change, the mass changes, and thus we have a new isotope. If you accept that nuclear decay is a thing which makes sense, then you have to accept that atoms can change the number of protons and neutrons and thus we call them something different.\n\nAs for how carbon 14 dating works. High-atmosphere nitrogen 14 gets struck my energetic waves from space and a proton gets turned into a neutron, which turns the nitrogen 14 into carbon 14. These are being generated all the time and at a very regular sort of rate and is being absorbed by plants for photosynthesis and then by things which eat those plants (like us). When something dies, it stops ingesting atmospheric carbon and since it isn't in the upper atmosphere or have that much nitrogen in it, its supply of carbon 14 does not increase. Since it is radioactive, carbon 14 atoms eventually decay, so by counting the amount remaining, we can estimate how long it has been since it ingested atmospheric carbon (directly or through a plant) and thus how old it is.",
"Carbon dating only works back to about 50,000 years ago. Once you need something further than that, you can test for other isotopes. Uranium-234 dating works to about 500,000 years ago, with an accuracy of about 500 years. Uranium-235 dating has a useful span of about 7 billion years, accuracy to plus or minus about 3 million years. If you need to go REALLY far back, there are a few other radioisotopes you can test for whose useful time span exceed the life of the universe. Rubidium is one of them, and it can theoretically test back to 300 billion years ago, but that's a good while longer than the universe has been around (in its present form, at least).\n\nThe trouble with radioisotope dating is two-fold.\n\n1. The thing you're testing won't always have enough of the isotope to test, or even any at all. Radiocarbon dates attached to inorganic items, like stone tools, are always iffy because the tools themselves can't necessarily be tested; you need organic material, and that doesn't always survive the years. The ideal case would be blood crusted on an arrowhead or spear point, but it's almost never that easy. What is tested in many cases is an organic item that is found near the stone tool in question. At that point the debate becomes about the certainty with which it can be said that the organic item is associated with the tool, and it's rarely clear-cut. Hunter-gatherer peoples have been known to use the same campsites for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years, and just because you find a piece of charcoal next to an arrowhead doesn't mean that they are from even remotely the same point in time. Geological dating using things like sediment layers can often help with some of the ambiguity.\n\n2. With the older elements, the problem is that they just weren't there in the beginning. (simplification ahead) The only elements that were created directly by the big bang were really light ones, hydrogen, helium, lithium, and maybe one or two others. The rest (with the exception of the synthetic elements) were formed by fusion of these elements in the extreme heat and pressure of the center of a collapsing star. The problem is that stars didn't really start to form until about a billion years after the big bang, and the stars that were there didn't die and form heavier elements until at least three or four billion years after that. The result being that the heavy elements one would use to date something VERY old (billions of years) probably didn't *exist* until as recently as 8 billion years ago, so dating the universe using those elements is impossible.\n\n**EDIT:** I am forever tweaking words and phrases for clarity."
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2np5ej | why are vw busses/beetles stereotypically "hippy" even though vw has a lot of negative connotations with nazi germany? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2np5ej/eli5_why_are_vw_bussesbeetles_stereotypically/ | {
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"In the states, there is almost no association of VW with Nazi Germany. The only association i've ever seen to that effect is here on reddit",
"Living in Western Europe, I've never heard of this sentiment.",
"Most, if not all of those associates are likely dead.",
"Hippies had to be fairly frugal on account of being professional bums. Early VWs were cheap and had fewer components that could go bad (no radiator/water pump). Also, consider that many hippies were the sons and daughters of U.S. WWII veterans, who would have bought primarily American steel. My WWII veteran grandpa who passed away a couple years back never once purchased an imported car...",
"After WWII, people in the US were more worried about the Soviets than the Germans. The Nazi stigma associated with German products faded pretty quickly.\n\nAlso, hippies were exactly known for putting their political views into a deep historical perspective. Turn on, Tune in, Drop out, man.",
"The hippy counter-culture wanted to be the opposite of the estsblishment. In the 1960s, this meant getting imported cars since the establishment liked their big American cars. VW was the only import that was drivable. British cars wre MGs and Austins, which were really preppie. Japanese cars were hard to find. French and Italian cars were just crap. This image of a hippy rebelling against mom and dad by driving a beatle really took off in movies and TV in the early 1970s.\n\nAdd in a clever marketing campaign by VW in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Hitlermobile image was eliminated. Magazines stood in for the Internet in those days, and they weren't going to push away a major advertiser by bringing up Hitler and VW."
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78dquw | why wouldn't prop planes require counter torque when helicopters do? does it have to do with the plane's mass? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/78dquw/eli5_why_wouldnt_prop_planes_require_counter/ | {
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"An airplane has control surfaces that can move it in directions. If there's any torque from your engine affecting flight, you just adjust some flaps and you're good to go.\n\nA helicopter, OTOH, doesn't have anything controlling its rotation. To compensate for torque, or even do maneuvering in that axis, you need a secondary rotor.",
"Look into trim tabs and what they do. Prop planes will typically have a little tab that sticks out of an aileron and one side of the rudder. These are there to make fine adjustments to trimmed flight. These also offset the torque created by the motion of the prop. Also, when a single engine prop plate increases power, there is a corresponding rudder input (typically to the right) to offset the torque on the fuselage. The wings, fuselage, horizontal and vertical stabilizers also counter these forces. These are control surfaces that helicopters don't typically have. ",
"Propwash and wings. The air spirals backward toward the tail of the plane. This provides stabilization as it passes over/under the wings. The pilot will the trim the aircraft out by adjusting the aileron's trim-tabs(not flaps like suggested). The Propwash actually helps provide lift too. A plane can actually fly slower than the minimum controlled speed or Vmc when the aircraft is close to the ground, while the plane is in \"ground effect\". The Propwash spirals the craft and hits the ground causing a simulated lift on the wings. Very useful to know if you need to make a steep climb-out or if you are executing a short - field takeoff.\nHelicopters do not have wings, therefore the torque must be mitigated with the tail rotor.",
"All propeller driven aircraft display left turning tendencies due to three forces from the prop. One is torque, think Newton, for every action there's an equal opposite force. So the prop turn to the right, the plane tries to twist left. The propeller isn't contacting the air in the same way on the upswing as it is on the down swing. It has to do with how airfoils create lift in relation to the air's angle of attack, and each blade on the prop producing a different amount of lift depending on which side it's on. This causes the right side to produce more power than the left side, so the plane tries to turn left. The third cause is the wind the prop is producing itself. This wind twists around the aircraft and winds up hitting the vertical stabilizer and rudder. This again causes one side to produce more lift than the other. Except that this time it's not different blades on a propeller, it's different sides of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. This too causes the plane to want to turn left.\n\nAll of this is taken into account during the initial design phase of the aircraft. Pilots know this is happening too and know to adjust rudder trim, if the plane has it, or to step on the rudder a little during high power, low speed flight.\n\nSource: SEL pilot.",
"All the people in here talking about \"flaps\" are going to give me aneurysm. Here's a very brief Into to Flight Dynamics:\n\nAilerons: A control surface mounted on the trailing edge of the outboard section of the aircraft wings. These control surfaces move up and down opposite to each other and allow roll along the longitudinal axis. This movement is called \"roll\" and is the primary method for changing the aircraft's direction\n\nElevators: A control surface mounted on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer on the tail of the airplane. This control surface moves up and down, usually together (some fighter aircraft have independent stabilizers for advanced maneuvers). The allows the the aircraft to rotate along the lateral axis, which moves the nose up or down. This movement is called \"pitch\" and is the primary method for changing the aircraft's altitude. \n\nRudder: A control surface mounted on the trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer on the aircraft's tail. This surface moves left and right and causes the nose of the aircraft to swing about the vertical axis. This movement is called \"yaw\". Yaw is a somewhat complicated movement and basically has to do with prevented the aircraft for slipping or skidding, which is when the direction of movement does not match the direction the nose is pointing. \n\nFlaps: A secondary control surface that extends aft and down from the trailing edge of the wing surface. This changes the shape of the wing and drastically increases drag and lift, and causes the nose of the aircraft to rise. This allows the aircraft to land and take off at much, much slower speeds than would otherwise be possible. \n\nYaw is the movement we are worried about here. All propeller driving aircraft will tend to yaw on takeoff and climbout due to a torque effect from the propeller(s). This yaw is offset by applying a slight rudder trim to produce a counter force equal and opposite to the torque steer. Watch a video of an old C-130E or C-130H take off and sometimes you can see that the aircraft is trying to pull to one side. It is most evident in max power short airfield take offs. ",
"Right rudder! Right rudder!\n\nIf you have every taking a flying lesson, you will constantly hear that. The prop caused torque from its spin, the from the asymmetrical airflow it causes, its asymmetrical lift when at an angle, and even gyroscopic procession.\n\nAn airplane has a lot of movable surfaces, its rudder and ailerons in particular, that counter that torque. Also, it has big wings perpendicular to the axis of the torque that helps to resist the torque.\n\nHelicopters don't have moving surfaces for the most part, and have to adjust by rotors alone. "
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dl40w3 | . why do not all chicken eggs produce baby chicks | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dl40w3/eli5_why_do_not_all_chicken_eggs_produce_baby/ | {
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"If a rooster (male chicken) does not inseminate the female, the eggs will not produce a chick because you need both sperm and an egg to procreate. So it's pretty important to keep roosters away from the henhouse.",
"Sorry in advance for the bad analogy, but just as human females release an \"egg\" once per month, a female chicken releases an egg about once per day. If there is no male there to fertilize the egg, no life will emerge from the egg. \n\nFemale chickens lay eggs with yokes and no chickens every day. That's what you are eating from the store. It would be impossible to lay an egg with just a chicken in it and no yolk. The yolk is what sustains life.",
"Production of eggs is part of the standard hen reproductive cycle. Whether a male chicken, a rooster, actually fertilizes the egg so it produces a viable chick is of course dependent on whether a rooster does its deed with the hen.",
"An egg is produced and pushed out regularly _regardless_ of whether it's been fertilized. An unfertilized egg (no sex with a rooster) cannot produce a chick.\n\nAll eggs have yolks (unless its a truly irregular egg)."
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1iak6f | can a person move in space? if superman could fly, would such ability work in space? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1iak6f/eli5_can_a_person_move_in_space_if_superman_could/ | {
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"Depends how he flies. We can move spaceships in space, but if you were just floating around yourself in a spacesuit, you couldn't really do anything.",
"You can flap your arms and legs around but since there's nothing to push against, you can't propel yourself that way.\n\nIf you shoot projectiles out of you (pee, poop, spit, throw things) you can propel yourself a little bit! That's sort of like pushing against something that's smaller than you are.\n\nIt doesn't look like Superman is pushing against anything when he flies, so I would guess that he can fly in space.",
"Smartereveryday (Youtuber) actually asked astronauts on the ISS a similar question and they responded with a video: \n\n_URL_0_\n\nHaving said that, although they are capable of changing direction, they are not capable of moving from the spot they are floating. They are also not capable of inducing a constant spin (without pushing off of something) as if someone spun you on a swivel chair. It all has to do with momentum.\n\nWhich means if you spun someone in space, they wouldn't ever be able to stop spinning unless they threw something at the right angle with a sufficient amount of momentum to stop the spinning. \n\nOr they would be stuck in the same spot unless they threw something in the opposite direction they wanted to move. Every action has an equal but opposite force. When you jump off the ground, you are pushing the ground with just as much force as you are experiencing. With no ground, there is nothing to push off of, and you would remain stationary. \n\n\nSuperman would need to have some means of ejecting propulsion if he were to fly in space - like a rocket. He would need to shoot something out his backside. \n\nHe would not be able to fly in space if his means of flying was like a propeller airplane, that is, creating a vacuum in front of him that continually sucks him forward. \n\n\n\n"
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||
1ho0w0 | why do some national armies seem to have more autonomy than others, to the point of being able to instigate coups? | Could a coup ever take place in a Western nation such as the UK or the USA? Why do so many Second and Third World countries seem to have governments, police forces and armies that have differing loyalties? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ho0w0/eli5_why_do_some_national_armies_seem_to_have/ | {
"a_id": [
"caw75gn"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"A coup is made more likely in a country where the army is more loyal to the 'leadership' of the army than the government.\n\nThis could happen for a number of reasons, for example if there is a military 'class'. Or if the army is small enough that a single charismatic person could gain influence.\n\nIn the 'west' armies are bigger, there is more respect towards the government.\n\n------\n\nSide note: you are using 'second world' and 'third world' incorrectly. What you are probably thinking of is 'developing' and 'underdeveloped'.\n\n'first' 'second' and 'third' world is a cold war relic where NATO allies were the 'first' world. Soviet allies were the 'second' and the 'third world' was 'neutral' parties (for example africa and the middle east).\n\nNow these tend to overlap with 'developed' 'developing' 'underdeveloped' but be careful because they do mean different things."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
1ly2k9 | what causes petrification in trees and forests? what is it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ly2k9/eli5_what_causes_petrification_in_trees_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc3vlpt"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"The wood gets replaced by minerals dissolved in the water it is exposed to. \nThere are no lignins left. Lignins are what makes wood \"woody\".\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
247839 | when you buy a used vehicle and have to pay tax on it. | When a vehicle is sold new you pay the tax to the gov't - in BC that is 12% (PST/GST). When you sell that vehicle used, the buyer is also required to pay 12% tax. Hasn't the Gov't already collected the tax in this vehicle? Is this not double dipping? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/247839/eli5_when_you_buy_a_used_vehicle_and_have_to_pay/ | {
"a_id": [
"ch49bms",
"ch49cfo"
],
"score": [
4,
2
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"text": [
" > Is this not double dipping?\n\nMore like triple, quadruple, quintuple, etc dipping. \n\nYou were also taxed when you were paid by your employer. And your employer was taxed when they earned the money. And the person who paid them the money was taxed when they spent the money, etc.\n\nEvery dollar is taxed over and over again, which results in the government being paid based on economic activity. The stronger the economy, the more often money changes hands, and the more the government earns. They then use that money for payroll and various government projects.",
"\"Double dipping\" isn't a problem or even a thing.\n\nFor example, you pay income tax and then when you buy something with that already-taxed money you have to pay sales tax. Money is never taxed once and forever tax-exempt in the future. \n\nSo, yeah, in this case it could be considered \"double dipping\". But that's just the way it is."
]
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[],
[]
] |
|
1oj5mu | are there any advantages to having a cell phone with the same area code as where i'm living? | My wife and I bought a house in a new area code. Her phone number is from well out of the region (east coast, we're in the midwest), and my area code is from another area in the greater Chicagoland area. Are there any advantages for having our phone numbers have the same area code as the house that we bought? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1oj5mu/eli5_are_there_any_advantages_to_having_a_cell/ | {
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"ccsfeux",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"sometimes i'll get a call from lets say a 215 number. If its not in my contacts, I'll think \"hmm who do I know from Philadelphia?\". That's pretty much it.",
"when you call your neighbors, they might not pick up the phone cause it's not local area code.\n\ni don't pick up any calls i don't recognize the area code. ",
"If you ever have to call either phone from a land line, you'll quickly re-appreciate the difference between local and long distance calling.",
"There are still people & businesses with land-lines that will avoid making long-distance phone calls.\n\nHaving moved to 503 from 505, people regularly get my area code wrong & I miss phone calls.\n\nThe last apartment building I was in had a call-box to let people into the building. It was only capable of calling phone numbers with 7 digits, not the 10 that it would take to call my number.\n\n[Mostly, it just boils down to this](_URL_0_)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://xkcd.com/1129/"
]
] |
|
1id88y | what do the dow jones industrial average and s & p 500's points stand for? why does the dow have so many more than the s & p? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1id88y/eli5_what_do_the_dow_jones_industrial_average_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cb3b3te"
],
"score": [
6
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"text": [
"The Dow is a kind of average of the price of stocks for 30 large companies. They aren't all industrial companies anymore, that's just an old name.\n\nThe S & P 500 is a different average of the 500 largest companies that sell stock publically (anyone with money can try and buy their stock).\n\nBoth of them work pretty much the same way: Add up the price of all of them and divide by some number. Technically the S & P counts up all the stock that exists for those companies rather than just the price but that is taken into account by the \"Some Number\" part.\n\nThe number that they divide by is a bit arbitrary. It's not 30 for the Dow and 500 for the S & P or anything simple like that. The number was made up by the companies and changes to make sure that the number today means the same thing as it did last year. (If a company splits their stock so there is twice as much but each share costs half as much you don't want the number to change) If they chose the dividing number to be 100 times as big then the result would be smaller but it wouldn't mean anything else. \n\nIt doesn't make a lot of sense to compare the two. The % change in each one is the important thing. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
2of1a3 | how do they fill a cavity? | Was at the dentist today getting a cavity filled and there's all this equipment going in and took names (burnisher, light, etc). What the heck happened in there? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2of1a3/eli5_how_do_they_fill_a_cavity/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmmiuaz"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"[very carefully](_URL_0_)\n\nhope the video helps!"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sMR2GX1yRM"
]
] |
|
1vddzq | what is the differnce between likelihood and probability? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vddzq/eli5_what_is_the_differnce_between_likelihood_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cer47vx",
"cer48ev"
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"score": [
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2
],
"text": [
"In non-mathematics, they're synonyms.\n\nIn math, a likelihood is weaker than a probability. ",
"Let's say we have a coin. It's loaded, so that it comes up 75% heads and 25% tails, but we don't know this.\n\nIf we flip the coin twice, the *probability* of it coming up tails twice is only 1/16. Probability describes, given a known *weight* on the coin, the chances of a particular result.\n\nOn the other hand, if we flip the coin 100 times and get 75 heads, the *likelihood* that the coin is fair is essentially zero. Likelihood describes, given a known *result*, the chances that the coin has a particular *weight*.\n\nIn more formal terms, probability fixes the parameter and calculates the probability of a random result. Likelihood fixes a value for the random variable and asks about the likelihood of a parameter."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
6z64ym | why can humans go crazy? | it seems odd that our minds allow us to go crazy, why are humans able to mentally snap? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6z64ym/eli5_why_can_humans_go_crazy/ | {
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"text": [
"There is no definitive answer to this. We have only the most rudimentary data on what causes mental illness. ",
"In severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and some forms of depression/bipolar disorder the mind actually breaks, losing touch with reality. This is called psychosis. The mind can't allow or prevent it from happening because the mind is actually involved in the process. \n\nThe brain is an extremely complex organ, perhaps the most complex thing we know of, but it forms from relatively simple components. Lots of single cells that slowly develop more and more complex structures and circuits. This process starts in the womb and continues into adulthood. \n\nSometimes the process goes wrong (or differently) along the way leading to various developmental conditions which include autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorders and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Usually there will be a combination of genetic factors from parents, as well as external factors such as harsh or traumatic childhood experiences, and potentially the use of certain drugs.\n\nADHD and autistic disorders are obvious early in childhood. Disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar tend to present in late teenage years or early adulthood. People with schizophrenia seem to slowly cut themselves off from life, becoming isolated and depressed over a period of months before the more classic symptoms such as hallucinations and abnormal beliefs develop. ",
"It's not exclusive to humans. Look at animals kept in captivity, particularly the ones which are held in especially abusive conditions. You'll frequently find monkeys flinging their own shit around in zoos, caged birds plucking their own feathers out, dancing bears rocking back and forth, and so on.\n\nWhat causes it is generally extreme amounts of stress and deprivation. Humans, like animals, need to have a certain level of living standard. When that becomes an impossibility, the mind becomes ill. ",
"It would be far more shocking if nothing could possibly go wrong!\n\nIf we had no mental weaknesses or frailties whatsoever we'd be the only thing in the natural world that never breaks down. Literally everything else around you can break down. The earth itself can fracture so violently that it destroys cities. Why should our minds be any stronger? How could they be?"
]
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[],
[],
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|
xlvc7 | center of gravity | I don't really understand how it can be to the side, below or above you either.
Thanks in advance | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/xlvc7/eli5_center_of_gravity/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5nkbma"
],
"score": [
3
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"text": [
"Here are some shitty examples for you: \nNumbers represent mass, * means the approx. center of mass, --- and __ are inflexible beams.\nTake note that we will neglect the weight of the beams for these examples.\n\nStraight bars:\n\n1--------*--5 \n\nThe CoM is closer to the heavy side, because it's an average.\n\n\n\n\n3----*----3 \n\nThis bar is evenly weighted.\n\n\n\n\nOther shapes (enclosed space is empty):\n\n _________\n |1 5|\n | | \n | * |\n |5______2|\n\n\nIn this example, the center of mass is close to the diagonal between the 5s, but the 2 pulls it toward the lower right corner. Though it is inside the object, the center of mass is located in empty space (remember the lines represent straight beams).\n\n\n ________7\n |\n | *\n |\n 7\n\n\nIn this example the center of mass is not on the object. When you average the mass of the two 7 weights in 2D space, you get a point directly between them, even if it's not on the object.\n\nCelestial objects: **( )** represents the Earth and **o** is the Moon. ~ is gravity. CoM is center of mass.\n\nThe Earth-Moon system:\n\n\n**(**CoM**)**~~~~~~~~~**o**\n\n\n\nBecause the Earth is so much more massive than the Moon, the center of mass for the Earth-Moon system is inside the Earth. Similarly, the mass of our Sun is so much greater than the mass of the planets, the CoM for our Solar System is inside the Sun.\nThe center of mass for the Moon alone, however, is inside the Moon. \n\nThere are some twin planets and some star systems that work like this, because they have similar weight:\n\n\n**o**~~~~~~~~~~ CoM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**o**\n\nBoth of these planets/stars would orbit that center of mass.\n\n*Edit: formatting*"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
3ni8zh | why do "no shirt, no shoes, no service" signs not include pants? | I feel like pants are vital. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ni8zh/eli5why_do_no_shirt_no_shoes_no_service_signs_not/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvobfzg",
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"text": [
"If you aren't wearing pants you are getting arrested. It's necessary, of course, so much so that including would be overkill. ",
"Because people coming into the store without pants isn't a problem. People generally go out wearing pants. But not wearing shoes or shirts does occur.",
"My sister once told me they don't include pants for people who are wearing dresses or skirts. Technically they are not wearing pants. I am not sure if this is true, but I've always thought this.",
"It is lawful to be in public without a shirt (for men) or shoes.\n\nIt is not lawful to be without pants.\n\nThe signs don't need to address something that is already illegal. The signs just cover things which are legal in general but not allowed on the premises."
]
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[],
[],
[],
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|
2yjklk | what is happening to a person's body during a seizure? how and why are mouth foam produced? | Read an article about a truck driver suffering from one, would like more insight. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yjklk/eli5_what_is_happening_to_a_persons_body_during_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpa4c37"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Epileptic seizure (which I asume you are talking about) happens when your brain \"short circuits\" and starts acting chaotically. This can be result of some head trauma, it can be congenital, it can even be caused by a brain tumor. \nWhen the seizure starts (the point where it starts is called focus) it quickly spreads throughout brain. Suddenly, muscles all around your body start getting conflicted orders, so your entire body starts spasming, you fall down and lose conciousness. The \"foam\" at the mouth are just saliva overflowing from the mouth, because you are unable to swallow. When the seizure ends, all your muscles relax at once, including sphincters. After that, you slowly start to regain conciousness, wondering what happened, because you have amnezia about the entire seizure."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
49zppx | why do some emergency vehicles not run their sirens consistently and instead have the "remix" effect? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/49zppx/eli5_why_do_some_emergency_vehicles_not_run_their/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"I always thought when a police car has a siren on like WEEEOOOOWEEEOOOOO and then they need to beep the horn because people are in the way, instead of making a horn noise, it just goes WOOPWOOP. That was how I understood it, anyway.\n\nSame thing for firetrucks: normal siren like WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, horn siren like ERHERHERH\n\nAmbulances: normally WEEEE-OOOO WEEEE-OOO, horn goes EEOP EEOP",
"Police officer here: Sirens don't switch on thier own. They're controlled with different buttons and switches.\n\nWe'll alternate them to be heard better.",
"EMT here. We have a few different settings, wail, yelp, and phaser, as well as horn which is useless. If I'm driving and there's no traffic I'll use wail, coming up to traffic I might change to yelp and pulse phaser to get people's attention. Same thing when approaching an intersection. If it's a constant sound people can block it out. But if you change it up people take notice. ",
"Here is a [video.](_URL_0_) I'm sure the technology hasn't changed much in the last decade.",
"Is there a rule you follow about when to use sirens and when not to? I live close to a fire/ambulance station and I can hear them with their sirens and honking at 5:30am in the morning when no one is around. Is it user preference?",
"Cop here, it's already been said, but we control the sirens. My squad car has a selector knob, so I just twist back and forth changing the siren. One reason I do it is because if multiple police cars are going to the same call, if they're all using the same siren, the chances of an accident are much higher. We are like everyone else, if there's an emergency vehicle nearby, we have to make sure we're aware of their location in order to avoid an accident. Changing sirens takes care of that. If we're on the same siren, we won't know we're near each other and could possibly crash. The other reason is because it makes me feel like a DJ remixing sirens. ",
"decades ago we were told the differences in sirens was due to an accident when two vehicles were running their sirens that happened to be in sync so they couldn't hear the other one coming. I have no idea if it was true...this was early '70s and could be apocryphal.",
"_URL_0_ . This is the siren control in my ambulance, pretty basic but it does the weewoos the woooooOOOOOOOOooooo's and the really fast woopwoopwoop, and my personal favorite, the air horn"
]
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[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ger4C-9Im24"
],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://i.imgur.com/xGOPefs.jpg"
]
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||
2vtc1v | why can't we just use magnets to remove bullets from the body? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2vtc1v/eli5_why_cant_we_just_use_magnets_to_remove/ | {
"a_id": [
"cokqljz",
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3,
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"text": [
"Bullets are mostly lead with a metal jacket in a lot of cases, of either copper or steel ",
"Use magnets and the bullet is going to go the path of least resistance and that's straight. That means the bullet could be pulled through organs or arteries or anything else that is there, causing more damage.\n\nEDIT: /u/NorthMed made the good point that bullets are mostly lead (not magnetic) but lead is also being phases out as a component of bullets."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
4043ly | in a court of law, how is the amount of money paid for "emotional distress" measured? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4043ly/eli5_in_a_court_of_law_how_is_the_amount_of_money/ | {
"a_id": [
"cyrco18",
"cyrct7n"
],
"score": [
25,
3
],
"text": [
"Old lawyer here. If the case is tried to a jury, the jury decides the amount, not the judge. The judge provides instructions that explain the applicable rules and standards, but the rest is up to the jury. The instructions are necessarily subjective because pain and suffering are subjective experiences. In my state, Connecticut, the basic rule is simply that the amount be just, fair and reasonable. Lawyers for both sides can suggest figures. [Here's a link to a sample instruction that a judge would actually use in a civil negligence trial.](_URL_0_).\n",
"It is pretty subjective, but someones they can take into consideration that cost it would take to offset the distress.\n\nFor example, if you were robbed and claimed emotional distress from not feeling safe in your home, the cost of a security system might be considered a reasonable estimate."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.jud.ct.gov/JI/civil/part3/3.4-1.htm"
],
[]
] |
||
s3cg9 | what the federal reserve bank is? a us nationalized system that oversees the american economy? is that right? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/s3cg9/eli5_what_the_federal_reserve_bank_is_a_us/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4arfoe"
],
"score": [
3
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"text": [
"I wanted to make some analogy to a father giving a mother money for the grocery store (creating money) and then taking money from the mother when they needed to save (pulling money out), but I anticipated a lot of dribble about how it was offensive that the father was financially caring for the household and how that money already existed to that particular family, etc etc.\n\nThe Federal Reserve controls the money that America has. It doesn't control the economy - the economy is built up of import, export, etc. The Federal Reserve pulls money out of the economy when we have too much overflow to prevent artificial inflation. They create the inflation themselves by putting more dollars into the economy when that's the better choice. They oversee the *fiscal policy* of the nation. They're the guys who tell a bank how much money they have to offer in loans each year, because they decide how much money exists physically for the American population.\n\nThey delegate this to 12 district banks. Each district has leaders that pay attention to the money in their own and then the actual FRB pays attention to national activity. It's meant to prevent things like a Great Depression (fun fact: it existed before the Great Depression! and hopefully operates better now) before it actually happens - preemptive damage control."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
1ll33y | aside from metabolism, why can my skinny friend eat mcdonald's 6-7 times a week and not gain a pound and i have to diet on fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins to lose weight? | This is something that has always bothered me. I know about the obvious metabolism differences but it seems like it is very easy for me to gain weight and I've literally watched my friend eat breakfasts of 3 sausage egg and cheese biscuits from McDonalds - for BREAKFAST. That's probably most of his daily caloric intake right there! Can someone please explain how he can get away with doing that and I can't? He does this regularly, it's wasn't like a one-time thing, either. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ll33y/eli5_aside_from_metabolism_why_can_my_skinny/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc0bhbi",
"cc0d66t"
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5,
2
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"text": [
"Obviously we don't have all the information, and you or him might have a legitimate abnormality.\n\nHowever, people tend to be pretty bad at judging how much they eat and how much other people eat. If you ignore what you think is healthy or unhealthy and just look at total calories, I bet he doesn't eat more than you.\n\nFor example maybe he eats three large meals a day, but never snacks. A lot of people who diet eat two or three small meals a day, are hungry all the time, and end up snacking all night.\n\nThe other option is that he is much more active than you.",
"Contrary to what many diets say, weight loss is as simple (for the most part) as calories in - calories out. Keep track of everything he eats for a few days. I bet he doesn't actually eat that much more than you. If he eats these huge breakfasts, maybe he doesn't eat anything else that day aside from a small dinner. Or maybe he does tons of running or other exercises. There's no magic \"high metabolism\" that allows him to eat shit tons of junk food without exercising and stay skinny. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
1qmqdo | why is the state of california the state mentioned in all the warning labels? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1qmqdo/eli5_why_is_the_state_of_california_the_state/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdebzfc",
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"text": [
"California has a substantial history of setting its own consumer safety and environmental rules above what the USA federal government requires. Since California is such a huge market and it is expensive to make different products for different places, companies will often just put the California labels on everything since it isn't illegal to have them on products sold in most other places.",
"California's laws often dictate that certain warning must be included on products to be sold in California. Due to the massive market that California is, many companies just choose to label everything with the California label."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
66fkvu | how come damaged headphone cords give the impression of an instrumental track when the audio itself doesn't separate vocals and music? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/66fkvu/eli5_how_come_damaged_headphone_cords_give_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"dgi53sx"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"You can get that effect if one channel of the audio has ended up connected where the ground connection should be. The sound produced by the headphones will then be the difference between the two channels, since one of the channels is effectively being used as the \"zero\" reference point. Vocals will usually be quite \"central\", with little difference between the left and right channels, so they disappear. You just hear anything that's louder on one side than the other."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
8zj3zi | why do some fruits taste 'dry'? | I had an orange today and thought it would be a good question because after taking a bite into an orange I realized that it was somewhat dry? Is that a thing? I've had many other fruit that appear to be super juicy just result in me spitting it out because it tastes dry in a sense. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8zj3zi/eli5_why_do_some_fruits_taste_dry/ | {
"a_id": [
"e2j4521"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Do you mean dry like wine (dry in fruit means lack of sweetness. Or do you mean dry like not juicy, low moisture? "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
5zvlsf | the difference between children's glue and normal glue. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5zvlsf/eli5the_difference_between_childrens_glue_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"df1g2n9"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"What are you thinking of when you say \"normal glue\"? "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
8u4ey2 | why do they always the need to change up the ui of a big social media app? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8u4ey2/eli5_why_do_they_always_the_need_to_change_up_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"e1ciqcn"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It’s so they can tell their shareholders/stockholders that they are adding value and keeping their product “relevant” "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
3dtrbp | why has game graphics "stalled" and doesn't seem to get much better every year anymore? | I remember the extreme differences between Playstation 1, 2 and 3. I can't see much improvements in pc gaming for the past three years either. Is it a physical hardware problem? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dtrbp/eli5_why_has_game_graphics_stalled_and_doesnt/ | {
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"It's a sign of computer graphics maturing. We've gotten all of the low-hanging fruit already. The advancements that are left all require dramatically more computing power than what we are currently doing. This is pretty much expected in any field. At first you'll grow and get better in leaps and bounds but eventually that period of fast growth slows down.",
"Between the Playstation 1 and 2 there are five years. The same is true for the Playstation 2 and 3 (too lazy to look up the actual dates).\nThese are \"Generations\" of Consoles. \n\nWhen you take a look at PC games from 1995 and 2000 you can see a clear difference, even on the PC. \nAnd this is still true. If you take a look at games from 2010, most of the time you can cleary tell that these games are quite old.",
"One thing you have to bear in mind is that once you get above a certain number of triangles to define a 3D object, you can have increases of many orders of magnitude and not see much of a difference. \n\nSee [this](_URL_0_) for an example. Each generation there has 10x the detail of the generation before, but as things advance it becomes far less obvious.",
"These days, a lot of the advances come down to things we take for granted. Realistic tattoos, Hair physics, etc. \n\nMy previous Boss' son-in-law became a millionaire by selling algorithms for creating realistic sweat that is (or was) used in one of the recent NBA games. ",
"Everyone has touched on very good points here, but the development cycle also plays a big part of it. Any artist/ tech artist could develope games that produce cinema quality graphics, but on any development cycle, that level of detail means a sacrifice in another department such as gameplay, mechanics, play testing, even programmers having to find new and unique ways to get the game engine to performed faster. On any given cycle, you can expect preproduction, production, and post production. Ideally, devs want to spend the majority of their time in pre production to flush out everything and nail the art style. This also costs less if their programmers are contracted rather than on retainer. Devs will favor mechanics over graphics because the core value of a game is if it's fun. Fun sells. ",
"It used to be that graphic improvements hit you over the head- high poly count leap from ps1 to ps2 etc. But now we can have enough polys that adding more polys makes no discernable difference. Then it became all about texturing and lighting. Things like bump maps and normal maps etc gave that next level boost of making things look real by fudging the lighting to fool the viewers eye. After that, HD, and frame rates. then making better real lights rather than fudging them. Meanwhile, physics was improving the whole time too. Nowadays a lot of those improvements are still going on, but its more a matter of refining than revolutionising. Lighting is good, but we can push to make it a little better etc. Improvements are more subtle these days.\n\nNowadays I think scale seems to be the big obvious push, hence so many huge open world games that look great - assassins creeds, arkhams, just cause 3 etc. A few years ago, bioshock was a graphic powerhouse, but it was a relatively small self contained environment. Meanwhile gta4 was large in scale and looked crappy in comparison. Not that it looked bad, just that bioshock looked better. So nowadays, the big graphical push will be in giving GTA style games the same fidelity as bioshock style games.\n\nHow do we do this? Well the ps4 generation can just do more heavy lifting than the ps3. Thats a given. But the people making this stuff need better workflows and tools to create those graphics on a realistic timescale. So the other major graphical leap were having right now isnt necessarily making what you see on screen better, but rather being able to make the current quality of graphics faster. ",
"Look at GTA 5, how can you make it better looking than that?",
"It hasn't, you're wearing rose tinted glasses. We can compare two very large open world games, Red Dead Redemption and The Witcher 3, released 5 years apart.\n\nRed Dead Redemption: _URL_0_\n\nWitcher 3: _URL_1_\n\nThey are both 3D games, have realistic walking animations, and realistic physics on bodies. The Witcher 3 has higher quality models for everything (except the damn horse but he's a jerk any way), realistic sized towns and cities, foliage everywhere, round rocks, better sound, more sound. The biggest difference is the foliage, even when you wander into the forested area of the game there's nothing on the ground, just a few wisps of grass."
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5vuf1e | what can be done to make sears brick and mortar stores live on? | the nostalgic part of me wants to see Sears stores continue. I do not work for Sears and never have. Sears is Americana and it pains me to see it dying. How can an American owned Sears physical store survive? Please do not say as a museum sponsored by Amazon. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5vuf1e/eli5_what_can_be_done_to_make_sears_brick_and/ | {
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"In the present configuration, it can't.\n\nThere may be an opportunity for a handful of the still-strong stores to emerge again following the impending bankruptcy and, hopefully, selection of new leadership. But whatever that will look like, it will be very different from what Sears was in its heyday or what it is presently.",
"Nothing really, expect a major brand overhaul. There really is nothing about Sears that's better than other stores/services. It's similar to why Macy's and Kmart are closing so many stores, even Sports Authority shut down."
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6wyr9l | what exactly do physicists mean when they say the universe in expanding | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6wyr9l/eli5_what_exactly_do_physicists_mean_when_they/ | {
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"the spaces between everything are essentially getting larger. More or less without any fancy waffling about.",
"Over time, any two (significantly) distant points in the universe are increasingly far apart. There's more 'space' between them.\n\nThis occurs at very large scales. For instance, our local galaxy cluster is gravitationally bound, and not expanding apart. To the contrary, we will eventually collide with another galaxy, Andromeda. But distant galaxies to which we are not gravitationally bound are all becoming more distant over time. An observer would see the same from any other location in the universe, everything distant from them moving away. \n\n > What is beyond the universe?\n\nExpansion is not meant to imply that the universe is something like a bubble, gradually filling up a greater volume. Rather, it is thought to be, although unproven to be, infinite in volume. Over time, it is becoming less dense. There's more space between objects. \n\nIt is not known to be 'expanding into' anything, and we have no knowledge, nor at this time reason to believe, in an external volume which the universe is contained in or touching. As far as we have solid evidence for, the universe contains everything that exists. "
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6x92s3 | why isn't the formula that determines a credit score public? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6x92s3/eli5_why_isnt_the_formula_that_determines_a/ | {
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"Because that would put the power in the hands of the public, not the three companies that generate the number(s) which define the limits of your happiness."
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8dplbb | if i use the same amount of coffee grounds but more water, does my caffeine content change? | I normally drink two 16oz coffees - one in the morning, one after lunch. I'm thinking I should cut down, but I like to have my coffee last a while.
If I just use half the grounds (e.g. 1tbsp instead of 2tbsp) and the grounds remain the same size, and the same quantity of liquid, will I reduce the caffeine I consume? I use a French press and thermal pot so it's always the same temperature, and I use a digital timer so there's always the same amount of extraction time. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8dplbb/eli5_if_i_use_the_same_amount_of_coffee_grounds/ | {
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"Caffeine comes out of the grounds. If you reduce the grounds, you reduce caffeine. If you steep too long, the flavor sours.\n\nFor good-tasting, strong coffee, you increase the amount of grounds you use.\n\nFor good-tasting, weaker coffee, you decrease the amount of grounds you use.",
"It'll almost certainly increase. But not to the same amount as 4tbsp per day.\n\nHow much it increases by depends on the amount of caffeine that remains in the grounds, and the solubility of caffeine in water compared to the grounds (the partition co-efficient).\n\nLess steeping time (which is easier to do with tea, not-so-easy with coffee) is probably the greatest reducer of caffeine. Using the same grounds again (or using the same 2tbsp for both cups) is another great way to cut down - but you're gonna hate that second cup.\n\nUsing less water to brew, and then diluting it with hot water, is another option.",
"True story - best, strongest coffee I ever had was at the actor James Caan's house. I asked him the secret and he said his wife reduced the amount of water used to make the coffee. Less water = more grounds = stronger coffee.\n\nOh James Caan is incredibly nice. But his wife's coffee? That is what I really remember from that day. "
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5kiino | street gangs | I'm fascinated behind the history of street gangs (Bloods, crips, gangster disciples etc), But how do they work on a daily basis? What is your job/responsibility in a gang when you are just a teen? Is there really an initiation? What are the different roles people play? I have so many questions but I am mostly just interested in the day to day aspect of it. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5kiino/eli5_street_gangs/ | {
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"Well I would assume that like anything they would work like a business. Its just what they do is considered illegal and or is based on harming others. Its all about the profits. \ndepending on the nature of the gang what they do on a daily basis can be very different. but the basic motions are the same. just think of it as alternative business. if you want to sell drugs you have to make drugs ensure distributions proper storage and customers. so goes for people guns booze and anything that can turn a profit. The gangs may be really glamorized on TV but it is really just like keeping a job.\n\nas for what your job is when you are young this also can differ due to the difference of crime. But the basic principles are the same.Build up gang loyalty and getting to know the neighborhood and how the business works. for example some gangs would employ young children of broken homes i.e. moms who work 2 jobs who can't be home where their house is always cold and they need bread on the table. those are the target recruits because they have very little parental supervision needs money desperately and is looking for belonging or attachment to a group. The young ones would either be look outs (community gangs) or they would be \"corner boys\" the sales front for drugs. They are easy to keep in check and would not get hard time if they are caught due to being minors and such. they are also plenty disposable since they are kids and are very unlikely to fight back in any sort of meaningful way.\n\nas for initiation is more of a ceremony. this is more likely to have it roots in tribal behavior. this can range from getting a tattoo or clothing to murder or some other gruesome act. The former is to sell the sense of belonging like they are your family and the ladder is to build the feeling of you are in for life and there is no turning back.\n\nthe roles are similar to any jobs. you have the boss who tell people what to do. you have the middle managements or lieutenants that carry out the order. you have enforcers who keep security. you have the accountant well that explains itself right? the foot soldiers are the red shirts in this case. they do the everyday grunt work of the crew. there are the suppliers. they can be either in-house or they could be other gangs. And there is the specialists. i.e. the really really bad mofos.(contract killers, cleaners, dirty cops you know) they are usually like good plumbers. they might be expensive but everyone keeps them on retainer just in case. and you can't forget the lawyers. \nbasically its like any office job except your job is to do illegal shit.",
"Under 15: Recruited at a young age to be a lookout; they will get $20 or so to stand on a corner for a while and watch for police/rival gangs.\n\n15-18: Once they are a teenager they can be promoted and start helping out the corner kids with selling drugs and can make $100 or more per day.\n\n18:After they turn 18 if they are already in the gang and have a clean record then they will be used to purchase firearms for the 'soldiers' in the gang.\n\n18 and up: Depends on what their skills were so hard to guess \n\n",
"I grew up in a housing facility dominated by a gang called \"Mad Cowz. \" MC was a gang formed from African immigrants new to Canada, they quickly formed ties to Indian Posse, which is a major gang up in the prairies here made up mainly of Native Americans living in impoverished reserves. I moved around the age of 14ish, but a lot of my friends ended up incarcerated or killed. \n\nDifferent gangs do different things. MC was made up of a lot of youth and rather violent, I remember watching them fight each other a lot just for fun. I ran drugs around the complex because I was young, there weren't any rival gangs around really so it was pretty safe. \n\nThe initiation for MC and for most gangs is a group beating. I left before experiencing this, but leading up to it I was told to just protect my head. \n\nDifferent roles people play? That's a pretty complex question. MC was mostly about violence, generally, if someone could beat you up, you listen to what they say. MC had no real masterminds, there was no \"boss,\" there was just a group of people who grew up together and figured out that dealing drugs and women payed a lot better then minimum wage. And on the roles of women.... Honestly it was disgusting. Thier nothing but property, to be sold and used. The fucked up part was that they enjoyed it. They partied and drank and got payed like everyone else, and they had protection and people who \"cared\" about them, so they liked it. ",
"I just finished my Master's thesis on this very topic. TL;DR it all depends on the gang, though trends do exist in more complex gangs like those listed in your question. \nBasically, think of each gang as a society within our own society. Some seek power and authority through fear-tactics, others through monetary, while some (such as the Gangster Disciples (G.D.s)) work toward an agenda of authority and legitimacy through providing welfare, services, jobs, etc. for those trapped in bad neighborhoods for a variety of reasons (what G.D.s call \"The Struggle\"). \nOn a daily basis, they work like any organization operating top-down. They have jobs, orders to carry out, lives to lead. The best comparison is that of a basic military in which pride, loyalty, honor, etc. come from membership and what you can do in service to the greater cause. \nAs an inexperienced youth, you can expect to carry out tasks the older/more experienced members don't wish to do. These are often more dangerous, and studies show a higher mortality rate in younger gang members than those who stay in past young-adulthood. \nAlmost every major gang has an initiation or rite of passage, but these vary based on the group's history, location, primary ethnicity, and so many other factors.\nLet me know if you have anymore specific questions, I love this stuff and would be happy to provide any answers/resources I can."
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41ln90 | how long will it be before we run out of metals? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/41ln90/eli5_how_long_will_it_be_before_we_run_out_of/ | {
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"Metal itself isn't going anywhere, looking at the big picture. Gigantic skyscrapers or megastructures that arguably hold the most metal will erode and disappear in mere centuries, eventually returning to the soil.\n\nMinerals and terrain regenerate slowly, but they do, given enough time. They might be increasingly difficult to mine after the most accessible sites get depleted, but technology is always one step ahead making it easier to mine previously impossible deposits. ",
"Metals come from ores. The richest ores are mined first. Less rich ores are mined next and there are more of them. There are always more lower grade ores than richer. We have more waste and it takes more energy but there is always more."
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abw1wa | is rebalancing an investment portfolio a form of the gamblers fallacy? | ...because you're moving money, which has been gambled, based on the assumption that risk is lower, i.e. chances of profit / winning is higher. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/abw1wa/eli5_is_rebalancing_an_investment_portfolio_a/ | {
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"No, that's not the assumption it's based on. Rather, it's based on *regression to the mean,* the statistical fact that something which has outperformed is likely to stop outperforming.",
"Rebalancing is more about risk mitigation than maximizing gains. Let’s say your portfolio goes up 10% but one stock doubled, and the rest actually went up 5-6%. If you had about even holdings in each stock, then the one that went up more would be an unevenly large part of the portfolio. So you might want to see some of those shares to get the holding back in proportion to others and either add to the other holdings or invest in another stock.",
"Re-balancing is simply sticking to a strategy. If that strategy was created with legitimate research and isn't based on a random headline or a hunch I wouldn't call it gambling."
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rehzk | dr. who | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/rehzk/eli5_dr_who/ | {
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"A nearly-immortal being stole a time and space ship, went off on adventures, and takes humans along for the ride. Sometimes he saves the universe.",
"Explain the concept or why people like it?\n\nConcept: He's basically the last of an alien race called the Time Lords and he travels through time in a ship called the TARDIS (time and relative dimensions in space). The cloaking device is broken so it's pretty much stuck on phone booth.\n\nWhy people like it: campy science fiction fun.",
"“Look: there’s a blue box, it’s bigger on the inside, it can go anywhere in space and time, sometimes even where it’s supposed to. There’s a bloke in the box, he’s called ‘The Doctor’ and when he gets where he’s going there’s going to be a problem and he’ll try to solve it and he’ll probably succeed because he’s awesome. Now shut up and go watch ‘Blink.’” \n-- Neil Gaiman discussing “Doctor Who” at WonderCon 2011 ",
"I guess I should start watching Dr. Who then.",
"Wibbly wobbley timey wimey and attractive females.",
"Why do I love this show more than any I've ever seen before? Because it combines the wonder and magic of adventure/sci-fi/fantasy with characters who have great emotions and what-not. The show changes location/set/ALL main cast/tone/writers etc. all time. It's an entire universe and a huge franchise with a large history you can get lost it.\n\nSome may criticize it for not being 'hard' or 'pure' sci-fi but I never thought it was. It's every genre. It's been boy adventure book style (early 80s), gothic horror (late 70s), etc. There are suspense episodes, silly episodes, drama episodes.\n\nAnd if you can ignore the special effects and keep your mind open then it'll all work out. Since the basic premise of the show (spacetime travelling alien) opens it up to literally *every* story possible.\n\nThe continuity is a nightmare.\n\nAlso there is no official canon so you can pick and choose. And claw other fans' eyes out to defend yourself. ;)",
"_URL_0_\n\nBite-size doctor who!",
"[Craig Ferguson gives a decent basic overview to the tune of the theme song](_URL_0_).\n\nAs has been mentioned here already, the Doctor is an alien called a Time Lord. Time Lords are not a species but rather an order within a species, or perhaps a subspecies. The species are Gallifreyans from the planet Gallifrey. Time Lords have the ability to regenerate when they're gravely injured. In doing so they not only change their appearance but their entire personalities. They retain their memories and presumably their moral code.\n\nHis real name is unknown to the audience. Time Lords choose their own monikers and he decided to be the Doctor.\n\nThe Doctor's spaceship, the TARDIS, is an odd thing. There were different models of TARDIS (the Doctor's is a Type 40 and was already a museum piece when he got it) but his is the only one left. The TARDIS is a living machine with a soul, grown rather than built. Like the Doctor, it regenerates when damaged. Any TARDIS should be able to disguise itself upon landing by way of a chameleon circuit. The chameleon circuit on the Doctor's TARDIS got jammed and it became stuck with the outward appearance of a police phone box. The Doctor stole his TARDIS from a museum on his home planet.\n\nThe 2005 revival of the series followed on from an off-screen event called the Time War (or more fully, the Last Great Time War). This was a war between the Time Lords and the Daleks (more on them later) that eventually led to the Doctor destroying both races and his home planet. Because he is non-violent he did this did this not by blowing them up, but with a Time Lock. As with a lot of sci-fi the details surrounding this are pretty flimsy but essentially it means he removed them both from having ever existed. The TARDIS is tapped into the temporal vortex and as such prevents this paradox from also erasing the Doctor. It does that sort of thing for him a lot. It also gets into your head telepathically to translate alien languages (slighter nicer than a Babelfish in my opinion). It even does the written word for you but that takes a while to kick in.\n\nThe Doctor has various recurring enemies, the most famous of whom are the Daleks. As I've mentioned, they fought in the Time War. They are a genetically engineered clone race who are born and die inside of their individual metal tanks. They were created by Davros as a weapon in a generations-long civil war on his home planet of Skaro. They quickly usurped Davros and decided that all life that was not Dalek was inferior and should be destroyed. The Time Lords sent the Doctor back to attempt to prevent them from ever being created in the first place but he wasn't able to do so. The Daleks considered this an act of war and that's what eventually led to the Time Lock.\n\nThe current Doctor is the eleventh and is my personal favourite. Because the Time War plot device wipes out basically everybody the Doctor knew, the 2005 revival manages to be a continuation and a reboot at the same time. The character has a history but not all that much of it is relevant to what he's doing now and if it is then it gets enough exposition.\n\nThe first season in particular is often *very* clearly a show for kids but still has its moments and Christopher Eccleston is fantastic. As it goes on, it matures but doesn't lose any of its charm. Sometimes episodes divide opinion but few are universally panned. David Tennant replaced Eccleston after just one season and he was in the role for four seasons plus about eight specials. Matt Smith has starred in two seasons so far and is currently filming a third.\n\nWhen Matt Smith came in, the show got a new head writer as well when Russell T Davies stepped down to be replaced by Stephen Moffat. None of the characters from previous seasons returned* so this was another mini-reboot within the continuing storyline. The eleventh Doctor's first episode, The Eleventh Hour, would be on of many fine places to begin watching. The tone shifted a lot as well. Under RTD, each season had a monster-of-the-week structure with vague indicators of something that would become relevant in a multi-episode finale. Under Moffat, the writing is more long-term. There are still monster-of-the-week episodes once in a while but for the most part everything links into the bigger picture. That is more in keeping with the style of the classic series.\n\n*At least not initially.\n\nEdited for grammar."
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7dscet | how do plastic tyre bikes work? why did we use rubber ones (requiring air to be pumped in) in the first place? | Curious after seeing the post about the airless tyre bike. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7dscet/eli5_how_do_plastic_tyre_bikes_work_why_did_we/ | {
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"Well, the material itself is somewhat stiffer, while still retaining a certain flexibility. The holes are there to offer room for the material to flex, avoiding the uncomfortable hardness you'd experience if the tires were solid- it fulfills the same purpose as the pressurized air inside a regular tire, as well as lowering weight. \nThe classical, inflatable tires fulfill the requirements to enjoy a smooth ride, while remaining simple to produce, but early on, bike tires were, in fact, solid rubber. ",
"Rubber ones are cheaper, require less material, weigh less and are more flexible.\nAlso as a someone pointed out it does a lot of good to have the air in the tyre absorb the energy from a hit than the frame or anything solid really.\n\nThe only danger is if you encounter sharp objects that can pierce through the rubber bit. Or if you over-inflated the tyre it could blow up given a considerable hit.",
"As to the question why we use air filled tires: the rolling resistance is lower. Which means it’s more comfortable to actually get the tire to roll. \n\nAnother reason is that air filled tires are considerably lighter, albeit the new plastic tires got rid of most of the weight with the holes drilled into them.\n"
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2p6m3l | how is it that the piratebay was able to be taken down by a single raid on a physical location? | I've never had a truly sound understanding of how the piratebay operated but I had thoughts that part of how they'd stuck around so long despite multiple take downs was that they never really operated entirely in any one location anywhere. This I thought provided them the means to simply pop up once again whenever they were taken down and also meant that if they were raided anywhere they has the means to start up again from elsewhere already in place.
I also read [this](_URL_0_) which seemed to provide a laymen's understanding of how they went about doing exactly what I just described. How then is it anyone was able to raid them and 'seemingly' be effective in taking them down this way. Why didn't anyone just do this before for that matter? I mean it happened back when it was under its original ownership and it did nothing to stop them.
EDIT: After reading the responses and the other similar thread linked to in the comments I think the short answer is nobody knows which unsurprisingly is probably why none of the relevant tech media have offered up any articles answering this question themselves. I figured this may have been the case, but I did wonder if there was any very savvy and informed guesses that could offer an interesting theoretical answer, howeve it seems no amount of nouse can penetrate this fog because the relevant details of how are likely being kept close to the chests of the authorities and the website owners for now.
I think personally, my theory for now is one I entertained to begin with which is that the owners simply hadn't implemented the type of raid proof architecture they spoke of previously at all, at least not close to the extent they may have described. In this theory, there is no special trick or tactics employed by authorities or vulnerability to the the way tpb theoretically set things up, just human frailty and a case of grandiose claims being found to be false. I don't find this particularly unlikely, they've previously talked about running servers from drones and moving to Sealand, or North Korea. Whatever the case, I'll miss them, they were a great symbol even if what they became since ownership from the founders was transferred, was perhaps something less than what they could have been.
The load balancer theory holds some weight on further re-reading of my source article, as it sounds like that was running through just the one virtual machine. But it seems that though the load balancer was a possible single point of failure for the operation it doesn't sound as though it should have made it impossible to simply start up a new one again (especially as they wouldn't have been out of pocket for the actual machinery) given the various other VMs for the operation should have still operated (or at least many of them) and it sounds like most of the other functions of the site which were catered to by specific VM's actually had redundancy (the article implies the load balancer didn't). This suggests then that if the measures they claimed to have taken had been taken, then the reason tpb isn't back up yet is because those who could put it back up, aren't for one reason or another. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2p6m3l/eli5_how_is_it_that_the_piratebay_was_able_to_be/ | {
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"text": [
"It looks like the answer is in the same article you posted: \"All traffic goes through the load balancer\"\n\nFrom what I've been reading, this was precisely what was hit by the raid.",
"Not sure if this is entirely helpful, but here is a link to The Pirate Bay documentary \"Away From the Keyboard\" _URL_0_",
"decentralized networking will be the next big thing.\n\nsurely if they were serious about keeping TPB online they would have had had multiple points of entry. I'm thinking the operators have had enough and cant be assed bringing it back, they would have had a level of redundancy ",
"I use Kickass and IPT torrents, but I still hope Pirate Bay is not down for good. "
]
} | [] | [
"http://torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-runs-on-21-raid-proof-virtual-machines-140921/"
] | [
[],
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"http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BEzZDKKZ3IA"
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6r7ljj | why are parents more worried about giving their kids more freedom compared to the 70's to 90's when the crime rate was higher? | _URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6r7ljj/eli5why_are_parents_more_worried_about_giving/ | {
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"text": [
"Define freedom? Kids have far more freedom in some ways than previous generations. Cellphones, social media, etc.",
"The actual crime rate was higher, but the perception of crime is higher now. Lots of people talk about how the world got unsafer. That is not based on actual crime statistics (which have all been going down) but rather on the fact that because we live in such an interconnected world nowadays, we hear *everything*. And we hear it 24/7 due to the constant news cycle. That means people are hearing about things that happen that they would not have heard about 20 or 30 years ago, which makes it seem like these things are happening more often to them. "
]
} | [] | [
"http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm"
] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
1f58zk | colony collapse disorder | I ran a search in ELI5 and didnt see anything thus far. How widespread and complex is this issue? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1f58zk/eli5_colony_collapse_disorder/ | {
"a_id": [
"ca7341u"
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"text": [
"It's pretty widespread, but it's not all that complex. Current research indicates that it's linked to the use of a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids. Europe has, as a result, already banned use of these pesticides, and if/when their bee population begins to recover, we'll have a definite answer."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
1odd17 | the concept of light years and how it is that we can measure distance with time | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1odd17/eli5_the_concept_of_light_years_and_how_it_is/ | {
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"The speed of light in a vacuum is a constant. The distance it travels in a year is thus also a constant. And that distance is large enough that it's a convenient measure of large distances. Though for what it's worth, there are other units that astronomers also prefer in certain contexts, such as the parsec. ",
"A light year is simply the distance light travels in one year. It's a measure of length, much like meters, feet, or inches. It's just a LOT.",
"\"Light-year\" means \"light-speed\" x \"year\", so the units (X meters/year * year = X meters) work out to a distance, not a time, even though the unit has the suffix \"-years\".",
"Measurements like meters and yards are arbitrary; their lengths were determined by nothing more than man's preference. A light-year, however, is a measure of distance with reference to a constant, objective frame--how far light can travel over the course of one year. Since light travels at about 300,000,000m/s, a light-year can be easily calculated.\n\n300,000,000m/s * 60s/min = 18,000,000,000m/min\n\n18,000,000,000m/min * 60min/hr = 1,080,000,000,000m/hr\n\n1,080,000,000,000m/hr * 24hr/day = 25,920,000,000,000m/day\n\n25,920,000,000,000m/day * 365day/yr = 9,460,800,000,000,000m/yr\n\nOr, in scientific notation:\n~9.46*10^15 m (it's redundant to put /yr)\n\n\nThat is a light-year. It's just a calculation of how far light can travel in one year. And it's always constant, too, because light travels at the fastest possible speed in the universe.",
"Follow up to OP's question,\n\nHow does one measure/estimate the distance of objects = > a light year from us?"
]
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[],
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||
41isjg | why is the sound quality so poor over airplane tannoys? | In a closed environment, surely there's no reason why the sound quality can't be perfect... in all my years on flying, I'd say more than 50% of the time I literally don't have a clue what the captain or cabin crew are saying due to lack of clarity and or / low volume. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/41isjg/eli5_why_is_the_sound_quality_so_poor_over/ | {
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"text": [
"For those wondering, 'tannoy' is a British term for a loud speaker or public-address system. [From Wikipedia](_URL_0_), it comes from a company's name, Tannoy:\n\n > \"It became a household name as a result of supplying PA systems to the armed forces during World War II, and to Butlins and Pontins holiday camps after the war.\"",
"Two problems: The confines of a fuselage are a nearly impossible place to evenly distribute intelligible speech audio. The ceiling is so low that you can't evenly space speakers without either leaving holes in coverage or causing overlaps that ruin intelligibility.\n\nAlso, the microphones being used are designed designed for person-to-person communication (radio microphones and telephone headsets) and the signal the generate seldom works well for speaking to large groups."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannoy"
],
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|
2ouv63 | why and how do lights flicker when faulty, and how does hollywood recreate faulty lights for shows | I was walking downstairs today and my apartment stairwell light was flickering (fluorescent), and I couldnt figure out why it was doing so, i.e how being faulty causes it to flicker, not completely not work. Thanks! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ouv63/eli5_why_and_how_do_lights_flicker_when_faulty/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmqqbit"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"This is caused by a [preheater](_URL_0_) which doesn't function properly. When the lamp is ready to start up it sends a jolt, which starts the preheater. This jolt also lights up the gass in the light, after this the preheater kicks in and the light turns on properly. When the preheater is broken, you only see the flickr. And since it continues to try to turn itself on, it continues to flickr. \n\nSo if you want to recreate this effect, save your preheaters and put them in lamps which you want to flickr.\n\nTLDR: The preheater is broken, so the light can't turn on properly."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.nettlageret.no/shop123varer/bilder/image_672.jpg"
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|
z8yuj | we name hurricanes, so why don't we name earthquakes? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/z8yuj/eli5_we_name_hurricanes_so_why_dont_we_name/ | {
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"I guess a hurricane will hang around for a while and will move all over the country, so there needs to be a name that people can refer to, to warn others.\n\nWith an earthquake, it comes and it goes within seconds. No need to name it because only one place will be effected, and for a relatively short time period.",
"Because sometimes there is more than one hurricane occurring at a given time, and naming them keeps them organized. Also, it can take weeks for a hurricane to become dangerous and naming them helps us keep track. Earthquakes happen quickly, we don't get to track them. By the time we'd named them, they would be over."
]
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[],
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] |
||
aumnf3 | - why is not vaccinating children, not an arrest-able offence? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aumnf3/eli5_why_is_not_vaccinating_children_not_an/ | {
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"text": [
"It’s recently new, and it needs to be a bigger threat than it is now before the police can be involved.",
"No government, anywhere, should have the authority to force medical procedures or medicines on anyone, especially those too young to consent. I'm not antivax, but no one has the right to make decisions for you in regards to raising your children. Let the dumb ones die by their own hand. "
]
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[],
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||
2a0rn4 | why will only drugs and mechanical stimulus revive a flat-lined heart, versus a defibrillator? | I've searched, and everything I've found explains that once a heart has stopped beating, defibrillators will NOT help, but not why it won't help. I'd think an electrical boost would help. So, why is it that only a shot of adrenaline (or some other drug, potassium or something?) has a chance of bringing back a heart that has flat-lined?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2a0rn4/eli5_why_will_only_drugs_and_mechanical_stimulus/ | {
"a_id": [
"ciqdm23"
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"text": [
"Defibrillators stop fibrillation, or the uncoordinated contraction of heart muscles. It doesn't start the heart beating, rather it *stops* the beating so it can resume proper timing. That makes the pumping action start working rather than just twitching."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
2cx19a | there's hundreds (and probably thousands) of different beautiful gemstone minerals here in the world - why does it seem like diamond is the only one sought after for aesthetical purposes in jewelry? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2cx19a/eli5_theres_hundreds_and_probably_thousands_of/ | {
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"They're not, they're preferred because they have a great marketing agent! (De Beers) \n\nMy wife's ring has a diamond flanked by 2 pink topaz :)",
"_URL_0_\n\nI dont like to just spam what someone else wrote but the whole article is great, and it really details it very well. Below is the \"worth\" part of the Article By: Rohin Dhar.\n\nBefore 1870, diamonds were very rare. They typically ended up in a Maharaja’s crown or a royal necklace. In 1870, enormous deposits of diamonds were discovered in Kimberley, South Africa. As diamonds flooded the market, the financiers of the mines realized they were making their own investments worthless. As they mined more and more diamonds, they became less scarce and their price dropped.\n\nThe diamond market may have bottomed out were it not for an enterprising individual by the name of Cecil Rhodes. He began buying up mines in order to control the output and keep the price of diamonds high. By 1888, Rhodes controlled the entire South African diamond supply, and in turn, essentially the entire world supply. One of the companies he acquired was eponymously named after its founders, the De Beers brothers.\n\nBuilding a diamond monopoly isn’t easy work. It requires a balance of ruthlessly punishing and cooperating with competitors, as well as a very long term view. For example, in 1902, prospectors discovered a massive mine in South Africa that contained as many diamonds as all of De Beers’ mines combined. The owners initially refused to join the De Beers cartel, joining three years later after new owner Ernest Oppenheimer recognized that a competitive market for diamonds would be disastrous for the industry:\n\nCommon sense tells us that the only way to increase the value of diamonds is to make them scarce, that is to reduce production.\n\nHere’s how De Beers has controlled the diamond supply chain for most of the last century. De Beers owns most of the diamond mines. For mines that they don’t own, they have historically bought out all the diamonds, intimidating or co-opting any that think of resisting their monopoly. They then transfer all the diamonds over to the Central Selling Organization (CSO), which they own. \n\nThe CSO sorts through the diamonds, puts them in boxes and presents them to the 250 partners that they sell to. The price of the diamonds and quantity of diamonds are non-negotiable - it’s take it or leave it. Refuse your boxes and you’re out of the diamond industry.\n\nFor most of the 20th century, this system has controlled 90% of the diamond trade and been solely responsible for the inflated price of diamonds. However, as Oppenheimer took over leadership at De Beers, he keenly assessed the primary operational risk that the company faced:\n\nOur only risk is the sudden discovery of new mines, which human nature will work recklessly to the detriment of us all.\n\nBecause diamonds are “valuable”, there will always be the risk of entrepreneurs finding new sources of diamonds. Although controlling the discoverers of new mines often actually meant working with communists. In 1957, the Soviet Union discovered a massive deposit of diamonds in Siberia. Though the diamonds were a bit on the smallish side, De Beers still had to swoop in and buy all of them from the Soviets, lest they risk the supply being unleashed on the world market. \n\nLater, in Australia, a large supply of colored diamonds was discovered. When the mine refused to join the syndicate, De Beers retaliated by unloading massive amounts of colored diamonds that were similar to the Australian ones to drive down their price. Similarly, in the 1970s, some Israeli members of the CSO started stockpiling the diamonds they were allocated rather than reselling them. This made it difficult for De Beers to control the market price and would eventually cause a deflation in diamond prices when the hoarders released their stockpile. Eventually, these offending members were banned from the CSO, essentially shutting them out from the diamond business.\n\nIn 2000, De Beers announced that they were relinquishing their monopoly on the diamond business. They even settled a US Antitrust lawsuit related to price fixing industrial diamonds to the tune of $10 million (How generous! What is that, the price of one investment banker’s engagement ring?). \n\nToday, De Beers hold on the industry supply chain is less strong. And yet, price continue to rise as new deposits haven’t been found recently and demand for diamonds is increasing in India and China. For now, it’s less necessary that the company monopolize the supply chain because its lie that a diamond is a proxy for a man’s worth in life has infected the rest of the world.\n\nConclusion:\n\nWe covet diamonds in America for a simple reason: the company that stands to profit from diamond sales decided that we should. De Beers’ marketing campaign single handedly made diamond rings the measure of one’s success in America. Despite its complete lack of inherent value, the company manufactured an image of diamonds as a status symbol. And to keep the price of diamonds high, despite the abundance of new diamond finds, De Beers executed the most effective monopoly of the 20th century. Okay, we get it De Beers, you guys are really good at business! \n\nThe purpose of this post was to point out that diamond engagement rings are a lie - they’re an invention of Madison Avenue and De Beers. This post has completely glossed over the sheer amount of human suffering that we’ve caused by believing this lie: conflict diamonds funding wars, supporting apartheid for decades with our money, and pillaging the earth to find shiny carbon. And while we’re on the subject, why is it that women need to be asked and presented with a ring in order to get married? Why can’t they ask and do the presenting?\n\nDiamonds are not actually scarce, make a terrible investment, and are purely valuable as a status symbol.\n\nDiamonds, to put it delicately, are bullshit."
]
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[],
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"http://blog.priceonomics.com/post/45768546804/diamonds-are-bullshit"
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||
3l51bk | why do most businesses use ups or fedex instead of the us postal service. | As above, they both seem like pricier options for the same quality of service. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3l51bk/eli5_why_do_most_businesses_use_ups_or_fedex/ | {
"a_id": [
"cv38nff",
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"text": [
"In general, for packages you can get better prices from UPS or FedEx than you could from the USPS. For letters, sure, the USPS is best, but for packages? Depending on how fast you need it delivered, they aren't usually the best choice.\n\nSource: Worked shipping/receiving for years",
"On another note ups and fedex also ship stuff usps won't. Lots of hazardous things can not go through usps"
]
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[],
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|
6o5vvs | on many reality shows like bar rescue, they often find extreme health hazards like cross-contamination, mold, rotten meat, etc. how do these restaurants/bars/hotels not get shut down by the usda? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6o5vvs/eli5_on_many_reality_shows_like_bar_rescue_they/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkeurr4"
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"text": [
"The USDA isn't the agency that shuts down bars/restaurants. It's the county health department.\n\nSome of these departments inspect infrequently, so there's a lot of time to get scuzzy since the last inspection. Some are even corrupt, and will accept a bribe to give a passing grade."
]
} | [] | [] | [
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] |
||
67dcsm | how is it that an airplane can take off even if it's on a treadmill that matches it's speed? i understand that mythbusters proved that it will take off, but i don't understand how? | Can someone explain what happens to
1. Position of the plane relative to ground.
2. Speed of wheels.
3. Speed of conveyor belt.
The thing is, I can imagine the conveyor belt moving the plane backwards at 5 mph. Then the plane adds thrust, so it's moving 0 mph. Then the conveyor belt moves 10 mph. That's -5 mph. Then the plane adds thrust, so it's moving 0 mph. At what point does this logic break down?
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/67dcsm/eli5_how_is_it_that_an_airplane_can_take_off_even/ | {
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"text": [
"An airplane's wheels aren't (normally) powered. All the thrust comes from the props/jets \"pulling\" on the air. The wheels just spin freely; there is some backwards drag from the treadmill but not enough to completely counteract the thrust of the engine.\n\nNow if the plane were in a wind tunnel, that would be a different story. The plane would still technically \"take off\" because its wings would give it lift, but it couldn't move forward.",
"Um. I don't think thats how it works - can you link to the MythBusters episode that shows it working?\n\nAirplanes can take off when the _airflow_ across/under their wings reaches a certain speed. Period. The speed that their wheels are travelling on a treadmill has nothing. to. do. with. it. Unless there's an external factor providing airflow to the wings to generate lift. \n\nNever mind. [Found it.](_URL_0_). \n\n1. the airplane in question has a ridiculously low take off speed. Its a brush plane designed to take off at low weights and speeds.\n\n2. the truck is towing the conveyor belt backwards. \n\n3. the conveyor belt, which is moving backwards at the same speed the aircraft is moving forward.... all that means is that as soon as the airplane's wheels hit the conveyor belt, they're now moving _twice_ as fast as the airplane is moving forward. \n\nThe key bit is how fast is the propeller pulling the aircraft forward relative to the air. Which remains unchanged regardless of how fast its wheels are moving forwards or backwards on the conveyor belt. ",
"The wheels and the ground are not important for a airplane regarding flight. Airplane can have wheels, skids or pontoons. Their only function is to make it easy to move over the ground they are not use for any energy transfer. \n\nThe importerat thing it the speed the aircraft has relative to the air. A propeller/jet engine pushes against the air and the is the thing used to accelerate the aircraft the ground and wheels are not involved\n\nSo if the ground move backward the only effect that would have is that the wheel would have to spin faster. The wheel spinns free like the front wheel on a bike. As long as the wheels can stand the spins the speed of the ground want matter because not energy is transferred to the aircraft.\n\nAnother way to see that the round speed is irrelevant is that high winds can cause a airplane to start to fly. The stall speed of a smal Cessna is 40 knots and a storm wind speed is above 48 knots so in high wind a small aircraft might might start to fly while being stationary relative to the ground.\n\n\n\n",
"Another way to think about it which might help is that the wheels can be spinning in any direction, at any speed, and an airplane can still take off because the ground is largely irrelevant. The engines are pushing off the air, the ground is just there to prevent the plane from falling into the center of the earth."
]
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a6dhv7 | which lubrication to use when? | I'm confused. There's regular oil, silicone oil, WD-40, petroleum jelly and graphite powder. I have zero idea how to decide which one to use for what application. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a6dhv7/eli5_which_lubrication_to_use_when/ | {
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"When you hit a problem where you need lubricant Google what you need. I can tell you the WD40 is a penetrating releasing lubricant, meaning it's good at getting stuck things unstuck. Graphite power is a dry lubricant meaning it's going for things like locks where you really don't want to get it gunked up with dust and crap that will otherwise stick to a wet lubricant. The others, I'm less sure about.",
"Depends on the item and context. Also, no such thing as \"regular\" oil - Different lubricants have specific features and uses, and equipment has unique needs for lubrication - viscosity, additives, corrosion inhibitors, that sort of thing. \n\nCar oil - in your car engine to lubricate and cool bearings. look up the correct grade (usually an SAE number like 5w-30, where the w indicates the winter grade) to match with the engine manufacturers specs. Not for sex. \n\nSilicone oil - specifically for use with silicone items, usually sex toys. Don't use with anything not silicone. Don't use any other lubricant on silicone items either. Possibly for sex. \n\nWD-40 - heaps of uses! The wd stands for water displacer, so it's good to use as a light corrosion inhibitor, but will need frequent reapplication. Don't use it to lube bike chains as it can damage the bearings. Not for sex. \n\nPetroleum jelly - heaps of uses, it's also known as white Vaseline. I use it on seals in hydraulic and fuel systems. Not for sex.\n\nGraphite powder - a dry lube for small intricate machinery like locks, or in high heat areas where a conventional lubricant would dry out. Can also be found mixed in liquid, and is then called \"colloidal graphite lubricant\" as the liquid is just there to help apply it faster and more evenly. Not for sex. "
]
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|
5heh5j | working class opposition to unions. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5heh5j/eli5_working_class_opposition_to_unions/ | {
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"In many cases it simply comes down to fear. For example, my father's place of employment tried to unionize. Management started rumors that they wouldn't be able to afford it if a union came in and would have to shut the sawmill down.\n",
"* Unions take money out of your paycheck (to pay for their services, of course, but like insurance people who don't think they benefit from the service resent the payment)\n\n* Unions prevent people from getting jobs, because if unemployment is high union shops hire unemployed union workers first, thus making unions appear to be nepotism instead of hiring the most qualified. (well, of course unions are designed to help their members, but can leave a bad taste in people's mouths)\n\n* Unions make it difficult to fire or correct undesireable employees, which can feed into toxic workplaces (i.e. police officers that seem obviously corrupt or lawbreaking being defended by the police unions)\n\n* Unions make decisions on your employment on your behalf, rather than allowing the individual to make their own decisions for themselves, removing independence in negotiating raises, perks, etc., so it seems anti-freedom.\n\n"
]
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3fxpzd | how can scientists conclude results similar to "doing x increases chance of cancer by 15%" | Im not a science geek but I know my fair share of it. How can a scientist identify a control group such that it will yield results as mentioned in question? If thats not the case then how realistic are those statistics? Especially when a condition such as cancer which devolops in long long time is the case
Edit: forgot the question mark so here it is "?". | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3fxpzd/eli5_how_can_scientists_conclude_results_similar/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"The answer is they use multiple regression analysis and very large and hopefully well chosen samples. This should weed out the correlations. For example women with breast implants get cancer more often, but women with breast implants also smoke and drink more and do other things that increase cancer risk. So by using multiple regression and a large, well chosen sample you sort out the real connections from the correlations.\n\nOf course getting a large sample is expensive and getting a well chosen sample is expensive and takes some skill. You also have to put the variables for possible correlations into the analysis so anything unsuspected will slip through. Its not a perfect situation."
]
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[]
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|
7fx5xc | why are some sounds annoying when they're made by others but satisfying when we make them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7fx5xc/eli5_why_are_some_sounds_annoying_when_theyre/ | {
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"Liking unusual sounds is usually just you being satisfied that you know how to make the sound. When others hear it, they don't know the cause, and it feels odd to them, even after they see where it's coming from. So when they try it, they are satisfied that they're able to make a similar noise, like it's some type of achievement. Another reason is simply because only you might understand it or relate it to something good. If I'm bored and try to tap to the Harry Potter theme song or Flight of the Bumble Bee, every \"stroke\" I make is monotone. I know what song I'm \"playing\", but it's actually very difficult for someone else to figure out what you're playing. Just imagine tapping FotBB, you'll look like a freaking spaz"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
41ehhm | what's currently happening with michigan's water and why? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/41ehhm/eli5_whats_currently_happening_with_michigans/ | {
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"In Flint, MI (not the entire state) almost 2 years ago, the powers that be decided to stop using Lake Huron (via Detroit) as its water source and switch to using the Flint River, which to those who grew up in or around Flint is utterly laughable because it's a notoriously brown, murky, polluted mess, but I digress. The switch was done in order to cut budget costs, so to save a little money basically. \n \nSoon after the switch, residents noticed their water looking and smelling funny and dirty, apparently due to the high amount of iron in water from the Flint River which makes this water 19 times more corrosive than the clean, clear miraculous inland ocean of tasty wonder that is Lake Huron's water. The State Department of Water Equality didn't add anti-corrosive agents to the water, so the water was eroding the pipes carrying the water to everyone. The lead poisoning experienced is a result of that, lead in the piping infrastructure being corroded by the shitty water. Basically, Flint city water will not be safe again until they complete replace the infrastructure that's been irreparably damaged. \n \nNow, people are trying to get as much bottled water to Flint as possible, with grocery stores all over the state taking donations from cool people who buy extra packs of bottles to be sent to the city. But it's really only a drop in the bucket. People need/use an astonishing amount of water on a daily basis. Meanwhile, officials are telling people the water is safe, though to what degree I'm not 100%. (In other words, I'm not sure if the water has been OK-ed to drink or if they say it's just okay for bathing and washing dishes, etc.) I'm sure someone living in Flint now could elaborate more about their personal experiences. \n \n[source with more info](_URL_0_)",
"Various cities in Michigan have been struggling mightily with their budgets. Some cities were in so much financial trouble that the Governor began appointing Emergency Managers. This was legal.\n\n_URL_4_\n\nAn Emergency Manager (EM) is effectively a dictator. They can remove staff, change spending and otherwise redirect and reshape resources with no accountability to local government or citizens. Flint's City Council and their EM decided in March 2013 that Flint could save money by drawing its drinking water from Lake Huron instead of buying it from Detroit. Detroit didn't appreciate this and notified Flint that it would cut them off on April 17, 2015, before Flint was anywhere close completing their new pipeline. In late April 2014 Flint's EM decided to draw and treat water from the river. Untreated river water is more corrosive/reactive than treated water and it began to leech lead from the pipes and from the lead solder used to join the pipes. Apparently the treatment was too dilute or was otherwise performed ineffectively.\n_URL_0_\n\nLast October 15, Flint switched back to Detroit's water supply. That's 17 months of Flint's citizens experiencing unmonitored exposure to lead-contaminated water. All they were told by the city was to boil the water and they would be fine. According to the CDC, boiling lead-contaminated water can increase exposure.\n_URL_2_\n\n > Heating or boiling your water will not remove lead. Because some of the water evaporates during the boiling process, the lead concentration of the water can actually increase slightly as the water is boiled.\n\nHere is The Rachel Maddow Show's first coverage of the scandal, broadcast December 15. She does an excellent job of clearly explaining what is happening and what lead up to it.\n_URL_3_\n\nYou can see all of her coverage in these clips: _URL_1_"
]
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"http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/health/toxic-tap-water-flint-michigan/"
],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis",
"http://www.msnbc.com/search/maddow%20flint%20lead",
"http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/lead.html",
"http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/towns-water-toxic-despite-state-assurances-588539459955",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_emergency_in_Michigan"
]
] |
||
442dj6 | why do asian immigrants more than any other race give their child "american" names? | (With the exception of universal biblical names for example) , African immigrants will give their child an African name. Mexican immigrants will give their child a Hispanic name. Indian immigrants will give their child an Indian name. I am generalizing but mostly I see this obvious pattern. But for Asian immigrants, they'll give there child "American" names like Doug, Vince, etc. Why is that? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/442dj6/eli5_why_do_asian_immigrants_more_than_any_other/ | {
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"A lot of the times, they don't. That's just those kids taking on the closest English approximation to their name (or just one they like best) to avoid always having to tell people how to spell / pronounce it. Most of the time, their legal name is indeed something Asian.",
"I think it has to do with the pronunciation of most Asian names. It would be very hard for Westerners to not butcher their names. I also have heard that having an Anglo-saxxon name are more competitive and better view upon when trying to gain employment in the west.\n\nAsians in general (At least the ones that were born in an anglo country) seems to assimilate really well. ",
"Many Asian immigrants already have an English-language name because their native language name is hard to pronounce or spell. It's a normal practice in several countries. Accordingly, they have no trouble giving such names to their children, though they may additionally give them a name in their native language.",
"Are you sure about the african immigrant thing? Black american names have african roots but also english roots and heavy french roots and aren't strictly traditional african names. \n\nIn general the farther away from a romance language someone's name is the more it gets changed and mangled to sound more english. ",
"This seems to be most common among Chinese people in particular. It may be because Chinese language is tonal, and it is hard to English-speakers to pronounce them properly. On, the other hand, it is pretty easy for a native English speaker to pronounce most Spanish names."
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2ps5zh | how can animals live in contaminated areas created as a result of a nuclear disaster, but humans can not? | Do they get affected at all or anything? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ps5zh/eli5how_can_animals_live_in_contaminated_areas/ | {
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"Plants and animals are not affected by laws, unlike humans.\n\nThat does not mean however, that most animals and plants aren't affected by the (Chernobyl*) radiation. Many species of birds and plants have evolved radiation-resistant abilities, for example by increasing the amount anti-oxidants or having more active cell repair abilities. \n\nThen again, there are also humans living within the exclusion zone. A small group of predominantly senior women lives within the exclusion zone, because they've lived there their entire lives.\n\nIn practice though, you could live perfectly safe in Chernobyl as long as you don't visit any hotspots, don't disturb the soil and trees too much, and don't eat any mushrooms.\n\n* Fukushima is too recent to gauge any of the effects. ",
"They don't live long enough to suffer the consequence of it. Just like how they don't get tooth decay from not brushing teeth. Also, I read somewhere on reddit where they said smaller animals are more resistant to radiation. It makes sense that their body is more simple than humans and so has less organs to fail.",
"Radiological contamination of this sort means that there are radioactive particles (long-lived fission products, to be specific) in the ecosystem. These materials are not so terribly radioactive that they will kill you immediately or even make you acutely ill. They are, however, radioactive enough that if you get lots of them in your body, over a long period of time, they can increase your risk of cancers over the long-term — e.g. over a horizon of several decades. And \"increase your risk\" doesn't mean \"you get cancer 100%\" — it just means that probabilistically, your risk of certain cancers (and other illnesses) will increase by a certain amount.\n\nBirds and deer don't generally live several decades. So they won't die of radiation-induced cancers, because the time of their development is too long. They do pick up radioactive particles in their bodies, which is only a problem if something more long-lived (like people) kills and eats them ([wild boar hunted in Germany now have to be screened for radiation because of Chernobyl](_URL_0_)).\n\nPeople over a certain age aren't going to die of radiation-induced cancers, either — because they're going to die of just being old, before the cancers can hurt them.\n\nSmall groups of people probably won't get cancer, because the risk factors aren't increased by so much that the excess cancers would be noticeable. So let's say that the risk increased so that 1 out of 100 people would get cancer. If only 100 people are living in one of these zones, you're not going to be able to distinguish the 1 extra cancer over the course of those lifetimes — it might not even occur, but even if it does, it is going to look pretty similar to the sources of cancer that come from other sources.\n\nThe reason that large numbers of people cannot live in these areas is because at that point you would start to see larger numbers of excess cancers, birth defects, and other side-effects of prolonged, chronic radiation exposure starting to show up in the populations. So if 100,000 people were living in that area, and the radiation increased their cancer rate by 1%, that's 1,000 new cancers — a fairly significant number. "
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"http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/chernobyl-disaster-leaves-radioactive-wild-boars-roaming-germany-n193596"
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2qlppw | might be a /r/shittyaskscience question, but how the fuck does shaving cream work? | what I mean is how does it expand so much? one drop of it can cover like half your face. what causes it to be so expansive? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qlppw/eli5_might_be_a_rshittyaskscience_question_but/ | {
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"It's important to understand that most gasses compress very well.\n\nShaving cream is a compressed mixture of the actual 'cream' and gasses, this keeps the gas bubbles very, very small. Once you squirt it out, the gas is free to spread out and takes up many times the amount of space. This causes the cream to expand as the little bubbles inside spread out.\n\nAnother effect is the cream remaining in the can gets a bit more space to spread out and the pressure decreases. This decompression cools it down and that is why the can feels cool to the touch just after you spray some out."
]
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1yqj1w | how can alexa (_url_0_) find out numbers of visitors of websites (and then their rankings)? | I imagine only the owner of a website can find out how many visits his website has. How does Alexa do it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1yqj1w/eli5_how_can_alexa_alexacom_find_out_numbers_of/ | {
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"It's based on their toolbar. If you have the alexa toolbar installed, your traffic is recorded and sent to alexa, which uses the statistics to rank websites.\n\nThis does make sites which are frequented by people who have a lot of browser bars installed way overrepresented though, so you should take the alexa statistics with a large grain of salt."
]
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14owua | why california's k-12 public education is so bad. | I'm a high school student and a lot of my school's sports programs were cut this year. I was just wondering why this is. Why is the education budget in California suffering from cuts? Why are so many teachers being laid off? What are some possible solution for this problem? Will the passing of Prop 30 (Raising the taxes on California's high income residents) have much of an effect at all? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/14owua/eli5_why_californias_k12_public_education_is_so/ | {
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"gate2doom summed it up pretty well. I would add that judging how successful school programs help identify how they want to allocate money. Unfortunately, kids often don't understand the long-term benefits to their education, so they don't try hard. As a result, teachers make things easier to keep grades, productivity, and moral up. In reality the better alternative may be to help students realize the value of their education more, make everything gradually harder, increased education can benefit the budget down the line. Right now many students feel like jr. High and Highschool are like day cares, and in some respects they are right. Obviously this is mostly my opinion. ",
" > Why is the education budget in California suffering from cuts?\n\n1. [Prop 13](_URL_1_).\n\n2. The [consequences of payday loan financing](_URL_0_) as the education funding source of last resort.\n\n > Will the passing of Prop 30 (Raising the taxes on California's high income residents) have much of an effect at all?\n\nBand-Aid on a bullet wound.",
"There's more than one reason. Here's an answer I provided on prop 13's effect in the past - _URL_0_\n",
"Proposition 13, 1978. \n\nIt was the beginning of the movement that has dominated American politics for over 30 years now, with disastrous consequences.",
"The California budget has a minimum percentage that must go towards public education based on Prop 98. The percentage is about 45% of the General Fund, but varies year to year based on the economy, number of students, and some other factors. Anything above that percentage is allocated by the budget passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. Politicians and unions find it much easier to ask for more funding for schools because people are more emotionally invested in \"the children\". So they will cut the school budget before other things like prisons or public employee pensions. CA spends nearly 5 times as much per [prisoner](_URL_0_) as it does per [pupil](_URL_2_). There are more students than prisoners, but the spending per prisoner has also gone up 40% in 10 years while spending per pupil has only gone up 20%.\n\nPeople like to claim that Prop 13 is to blame, but even though Prop 13 has limited the growth of Property taxes, [CA still has the 15th highest property taxes. CA also has the highest sales and income taxes, 2nd highest gas tax, and 8th highest corporate tax](_URL_1_).",
"I live in Oregon and everyone that comes from Cali should either be in a grade above or is in all AP classes. I've found no exceptions.\n\nAnd the people I know that move to California usually post to facebook about how much more difficult the school system is there.\n\nThat just my experience, no statistics or anything behind it.",
"The State of California prints text books for use in California schools. Many of the better books are not available, since the publishers won't agree to this.\n\nWhen I was in the 8th grade, in Science class, I learned about the (sub)[luminiferous aether](_URL_1_). When I got to High School I read in (a book or magazine in) the school library that [Michaelson and Morley](_URL_0_) had done an experiment in 1887 which indicated the absence of this substance. I was appalled that it had still been in my California State Science text book in the mid 1950's.\n\nThis is an indication of the quality of texts as a result of the publishing decision made by the state.",
"It's not the entire state. There are school districts that have a lot of funding, but a huge amount of that comes from local property taxes and alumni. \nSource: I went to a really good public school in california recently. ",
"BREAKING NEWS: You'll get an excellent education if you live in a wealthy area of California. ",
"Look up how much administration has grown in the last 30 years and how much more they get paid now compared to 30 years ago. Part of the problem, right there. Money just isn't going where it needs to all too often.",
"This is just my own personal experience.\n\nCA high school graduate (and college grad in t-minus 3 days) here. I went to public schooling my entire life. Graduated HS in 2004.\n\nIn my experience, I feel like I learned just fine. In retrospect, as a greenhorn HS graduate I was indeed prepared for the rigors of community college, which in turn prepared me for the rigors of upper-division classwork at my 4-year university, which in turn prepared me for med school (hopefully lol).",
"Only thing not mentioned is massive population boom both via illegal and legal means which in turn increases class sizes. "
]
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[],
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"http://www.npr.org/2012/12/07/166745290/school-district-owes-1-billion-on-100-million-loan",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_13_\\(1978\\)"
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"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/13ef28/eli5_how_come_obama_during_his_supermajority_in/c73zqmd"
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[],
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"http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/laomenus/sections/crim_justice/6_cj_inmatecost.aspx?catid=3",
"http://www.caltax.org/research/calrank.html",
"http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/21/4579408/california-falls-to-35th-in-nation.html"
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[],
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[],
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1qn9zl | tpp | Could I get an actual ELI5 answer? I've only seen complicated answers so far. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1qn9zl/eli5_tpp/ | {
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"It's a trade partnership, which means a bunch of nations agree to standardize their tarrifs and trading laws so that its easier for businesses in one nation to sell goods to all the nations in the partnership. \n\nIt's in the news currently because the US has been negotiating to join, and one of the terms the US is looking to add to the partnership is much tighter intellectual property laws (meaning other nations would need to pass laws that are more like those in the US). (They'd feel it's worth it, because they'd have more access to US markets--which buy huge amounts of goods annually). "
]
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1meckp | why do men enjoy boobs? why does it turn them on? if you think about it, it's just another part of the body. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1meckp/eli5_why_do_men_enjoy_boobs_why_does_it_turn_them/ | {
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"Because.... You know....\n\nBoobies.",
"If you are asking why men get sexually aroused by breasts, then it is a cultural thing. During parts of history women wore less revealing clothing so different parts of the body were sexualized including ankles. As clothes became more revealing the sexual zones moved. It is about seeing something that is forbidden or taboo. In places were breasts are exposed more often then they are less arousing generally. That is a large generalization, but the idea is that if you made showing the ears taboo, and had all \"good\" girls constantly wear ear muffs then a naked ear would eventually arouse the men raised in this culture."
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4wa3sb | why and how do countries deliberately violate the airspace of others'? | To avoid political discussion I won't name any specifically, but certain countries are particularly notorious for this. I'm not sure what sort of longterm political gain is made from it.
By 'how' I mean: how do the orders get to the pilots? Is it a regularly scheduled thing? Are there specific flight plans drawn up beforehand? Or is it just opportunistic? Are pilots just told to go somewhere and see if they're seen off, or do they have specific goals in mind? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4wa3sb/eli5_why_and_how_do_countries_deliberately/ | {
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"They do it to show power. Sometimes they just want to let you know that they could do something if they wanted to. It's like that kid on the playground that runs up and cock his arm like he's going to hit you and says \"sike!\" He wants to know he's stronger and see you in fear. It's not accidental or opportunistic, these pilots are given orders to fly into these areas and probably hang out for a minute before leaving. It's also used as a message to back off if one country is pissing the other off.",
"I think a lot of the time they don't wonder in to the airspace as such, it is an order to simply fly in a certain direction and see what happens.\nThis is called 'probing'. Russia does this all the time, they simply fly a bomber in any given direction (then they can deny that it was given specific orders) and then wait to see what radars they pop up on, who intercepts them etc. Its just to get an idea of air defence and response time. After a while they can build up a map of how far they can get into an airspace before being detected or intercepted. even the interceptions themselves give them an idea of radar ranged and effectiveness e.g. if we fly close to an airspace but not into it and 2 jets fly up to meet us we know they can see and track us far before we enter the airspace.\n\nI think MAYBE, in rare cases the navigation might be off from what the pilot is seeing to what the country think is its airspace but most of the time it is the 'probing' action to test defences.\n\nthis is my understanding of it at least."
]
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ceh7hu | why is it better to be relaxed than tense if falling from heights? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ceh7hu/eli5_why_is_it_better_to_be_relaxed_than_tense_if/ | {
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"It's like the same thing as you can break spogotter but then u be cooking teh spogotter and then u cannot break it anymoar",
"When you tense, you are making it harder for your muscles to absorb energy.\n\nSo when you fall, the energy is typically put on your bones"
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119mh7 | the economy of audio-books. why are they so expensive? | I had assumed that the process of making an audio book is a significantly smaller cost than the production of the book in the first place, and since making it an audio book expands the marketable demographic this would result in a product around the same cost as the book.
So why then are audio books so god dam expensive? I'm currently listening to an audio book that cost me £16 where as the book itself, which I also own, costs £3.99. Could someone explain the economy behind audio books.
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/119mh7/the_economy_of_audiobooks_why_are_they_so/ | {
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"The answer to \"Why does this cost so much?\" is always \"Because enough people are willing to pay that much.\"\n\nThe cost of production only puts a lower limit on the price --beyond which it would be a loss to sell the product. A lower cost of production opens up the opportunity to sell to a larger audience at a lower price, but that is not necessarily the best price to maximize your profits. If you are already reaching the the majority of your audience, lowering the price won't result in enough sales to make up the difference."
]
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2j48pt | when i'm angry why/how does punching walls and wanting to be violent help to relieve anger? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2j48pt/eli5_when_im_angry_whyhow_does_punching_walls_and/ | {
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"It's actually a mature defense mechanism in psychology called \"sublimation.\"\n\nYou take an unacceptable impulse, and divert it to an acceptable activity.\n\nExample:\n\nA kid is so angry at his dad he wants to punch his dad. He diverts his energy into playing sports instead.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
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[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimation_(psychology)"
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||
2o0jys | the origin of miss, ms., and mrs. and how misses becomes mrs. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2o0jys/eli5_the_origin_of_miss_ms_and_mrs_and_how_misses/ | {
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"Mrs. is short for \"mistress\", which originally covered all women, but then in the 17th century, they created \"miss\" for unmarried women which also derives from the word mistress.\n\nDuring the early 1900, \"Ms\" form appeared as a catch all title for women, the equivalent to the male \"Mr\", and the term really caught on during the 70s with the feminist movement as this title can stand alone without referencing women relative to the men in their life (or lack thereof). "
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||
30si2z | when the u.s. started adding fluoride to our tap water, how were other animals affected? | Did fish have much nicer teeth? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30si2z/eli5_when_the_us_started_adding_fluoride_to_our/ | {
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"Fish do not have teeth. Adding fluoride to potable water supplies without fluoride naturally only seems to affect our teeth. Tap water gets discharged to sanitary sewer systems which discharge treated water into much larger bodies of water. The fluoride is diluted. It flows to the sea. It does not evaporate into the air the way water does."
]
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g1dq06 | why is paddle shifting still considered automatic transmission? | Why is a semi-automatic, paddle shift still not the same as manual gear switching and is not as good as a manual for drifting, etc. Thanks! | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g1dq06/eli5_why_is_paddle_shifting_still_considered/ | {
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"A quick answer: Clutch\n\nA manual gear box has a clutch that can be disengaged at any point in time removing power from the power train. \nThe clutch can also be partially engaged via a pedal much the same as the gas pedal to give variable amount of power, known sometimes as “bite”. \n\nThe clutch is essentially to large plates typically the size of dinner plates. They exist between the engine and drive train. The clutch when disengages allows the engine to run whilst disengagement of the drive train so a gear change can be made. \n\nClutch plates are typically very durable and are designed to grip.\n\n[This is a great demo](_URL_0_)",
"You can't \"dump the clutch\" with a paddle gearbox. This is where you redline the engine with the clutch disengaged and then very rapidly lift the clutch pedal - the massive surge of power to the wheels when you do this allows you to break traction and spin the wheels.",
"Paddle shifters don't have a mechanical link between the controls (the paddles) and the transmission. With a manual transmission, you actually move gears around when you move the shifting lever."
]
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4awall | can a tech or software company just move out of the us so they don't have to deal with government demanded backdoors? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4awall/eli5_can_a_tech_or_software_company_just_move_out/ | {
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"text": [
"Yes, yes they can. But that would be a very very very expensive thing to do. ",
"Yes. Assuming the country they move to doesn't demand backdoors either. Also, they would have to move *all* their operations overseas.",
"A small one might be able to do so. A larger one would have considerable difficulty because their employees probably wouldn't want to leave the country and they'd have considerable recruitment difficulties going forward."
]
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||
6oqnrr | why can phone companies claim they are better than others by using the company name, but other items have to say "competition"? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6oqnrr/eli5_why_can_phone_companies_claim_they_are/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkjf4tv"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"They have to substantiate their claims. They need to cite a study that shows their claim is true in order to say it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
3ldxl1 | if blackjack is a game of 'skill', how is it not allowed in states that don't have gambling? | I understand games of chance (lottery, roulette, etc) being illegal because it's truly gambling. But if blackjack (and poker) are games of skill, how are they not allowed in those states? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ldxl1/eli5if_blackjack_is_a_game_of_skill_how_is_it_not/ | {
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"text": [
"Blackjack/Poker can be a game of skill AND gambling. Gambling is just the wagering of money on an event with an uncertain outcome. Think of it as still being a game of chance (like roulette, craps, etc.) with a meta-game of skillfulness and card counting.",
"they are still games of chance- you can't control what card is drawn at all, and sometimes you get fucked over by random chance and there is nothing you can do about it. likewise, it doesn't take a world champion poker player to pull a royal flush. however, there is a strategy aspect on top of that; unlike, say, slots.",
"If blackjack is a game of skill (rather than just memorisation of tables to ensure losing at the slowest rate) then the casino consider you to be cheating and will kick you out. The skill would typically entail identifying randomisation flaws such as insufficient decks in the shoe, and then counting cards. Poker is very different, it's player v player with the casino merely taking a vig, a game of skill by design rather than by accident. It appears alongside blackjack only due to tradition. The luck v skill argument is a red herring in either case, in 100% of real world instances the games are legal iff the right people are getting their cut.",
"Its not a game of skill, or at least it isn't purely one.\n\nNo matter how skilled you are, you cant make an ace appear in your hand (barring cheating). The skill is in calculating odds, reading the other players and decision making, so essentially how you react to the cards and others."
]
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|
abhjti | why do unicode emoji depend on the platform instead of the font which is used? | Why does their look depend on the platform used (as depicted [here](_URL_0_)) instead of the font? For example, if a certain font is used on character "A", its look does not depend on the platform on which you see it. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/abhjti/eli5_why_do_unicode_emoji_depend_on_the_platform/ | {
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"text": [
"As part of the Unicode set, emojis can be made part of a font. \n\nA complete font (with emojis and stuff) can be huge, so most systems probably store only one complete font and allow you to change only part of it.",
"To save time and space, operating systems will store a shared library of fonts. Emojis are just pictorial representations of the Unicode integer value. To store different versions of each emoji would eat up a lot more space in storage and memory. \n\nAn example of something different is Facebook. They have their own set of emojis and they store that in the app and online. They still don’t use multiple sets of emojis but they do have a set separate from the main set used by the operating system.",
"You are correct in assuming it depends on the font, and not really the platform.\n\nThere are two reasons why platforms have a typical style.\n\nFirst, there are tons of emoji and/or Unicode characters, and usually the platform provides one complete font (with all the characters) and lots of partial fonts (most about Latin characters, some about Asian ones).\n\nSecond, programs decide to use either the selected font or their special font, then fall back on the system font for missing characters.\n\nFirefox on Windows have two styles of emoji, some are handled by Firefox emoji font, the others are handled by Windows, and some are not handled at all because Windows default font is not even complete.\n\nWhatsApp on Android also have its own emoji font (to be more uniform across all devices). Therefore the emoji on there are not the Android emojis."
]
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"http://unicode.org/emoji/charts/full-emoji-list.html"
] | [
[],
[],
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|
3k9do9 | please help me understand the difference between being sad and having depression. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3k9do9/eli5_please_help_me_understand_the_difference/ | {
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"text": [
"Being sad is usually a passing feeling and theres a reason behind it. Like, i was on my way to work and spilt my coffee down myself, broke up with my boyfriend, accidentally killed my dog and its Monday. That would make someone sad but they would get over it. \n Depression is feeling shit nearly all the time. Its feeling unmotivated, useless and lazy. You don't even want to do the things you love anymore. Its not just feeling sad, its feeling nothing. Its also due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, not just because something shitty happened like it is when you're sad. (This is kind of just my opinion, please don't attack me :P) ",
"There's being sad, and being incapable of being happy. Depression is most usually not overwhelming sadness, as much as it is an empty feeling, just going through the motions of life, uncertain of what it is you are doing. You aren't always sad, but you're never happy. ",
"Sadness is a state where you get over it. For instance, I get sad when I can't hang out with my friends, but I know we can hang out next week. It is temporary.\n\nDepression is a state where you can't get over your sadness. For instance, if your children die in an accident, you know they won't be back - you can't \"replace\" them. That might cause someone to be unable to be happy again.",
"Allie Brosh of Hyperbole and a Half does the best job of explaining what it feels like to have depression in these two comics (if you only read one, read part 2):\n\n_URL_0_\n\n_URL_1_",
"The difference between my feeling depressed vs. sad/blue is that a depressive episode (I have experience, so I'm not guessing) interferes pretty significantly with my every day life. Along with the significant, all-encompassing melancholy, and possible suicidal ideation, comes lack of focus, exhaustion, intense apathy and a sort of paralysis...All that combined make getting through a regular day a real challenge. The duration of a depressive episode is also usually longer than feeling sad about something.\n\nWhen I feel sad/blue, the depth of the feeling is less than depression, and it might weigh on my mind but it does not interfere with my every day life."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html?m=1",
"http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html?m=1"
],
[]
] |
||
3aj0qi | how does war 'work'? | This is something I've been confused about for a long time, and was hoping for a little enlightenment. Is it like a game? If so, what are the rules? How do nations or groups 'declare' they're at war with each other? Why resort to violence in this day and age - why not a debate? How is it decided who 'wins' the war - is it by the number of people die/when the leader dies?
Lots of questions, thanks for any replies! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3aj0qi/eli5_how_does_war_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"csd1usu"
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"text": [
"War is not a game.\n\nHowever, in a 'just war' (declared so by the UN) there are rules. These generally follow that of the Geneva Convention (Be nice to Prisoners-Of-War, don't kill innocent civilians etc)\n\nNations generally declare war through the UN (United Nations)\n\nSometimes debates just don't work, sometimes one side refuses to listen to the other and war is the only option. War also happens when one country is persecuting its own people or when another country is doing something bad, in this event a debate wouldn't be the best idea as this behaviour needs to be stopped immediately.\n\nWars are won through a variety of different means. Sometimes nations give up due to the fact that they've lost too many people (public pressure) and sometimes they give up due to the fact they they are surrounded by the opposing nation, and that carrying on the war would reduce the losing nation to dust (and they don't want this).\n\nSometimes wars are stopped when the leaders die, this is another method of stopping a war.\n\nEverything I've explained is *incredibly* simplified, if you want more detail/anything explained then give me a shout :)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
clf6dc | how do octopi camouflage? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/clf6dc/eli5_how_do_octopi_camouflage/ | {
"a_id": [
"evuy2sd"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Cephalopods have a bunch of specilized cells carrying different pigments and such.\n\nThey can constrict or contract these cells to change the color of their skin on the fly.\n\nThey are also able to change their texture as well. Cephalopods without shells or bones I.e. squids and octopuses are able to squeeze through any size hole as long as it's larger than their beak. They're basically highly intelligent goo. And as such their skin basically does whatever they want.\n\nCephalopods are fascinating creatures that gave up their ability to \"rapidly\" evolve in exchange for an ability to essentially rewrite their RNA on the fly in order to better suit their environments. From my understanding they are the only animal with this ability."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
agl42n | what's the difference between reptiles and mammals that allows one to be warm blooded while the other can't create its own heat? | As far as I know all the major organs are roughly the same between cold and warm blooded creatures - lungs, hearts, brains. Do mammals have an extra organ that lets us produce our own heat? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/agl42n/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_reptiles_and/ | {
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"text": [
"Part of it is mammalian cells aren't particularly good at holding substances within themselves, so they pump into their cells more. The pumping generates heat as waste, this heat keeps them warm.\n\n[_URL_0_](_URL_0_)\n\n\\*citation added in edit\\*",
"some cold blooded animals do generate their own heat by muscle action, but they do not maintain a specific, stable body temperature. At rest, cold blooded animals slow down heartrate, respiration, digestion, etc\n\nActive predatory fish like tuna have powerful muscles that make a lot of heat, and help the fish to move fast and swim hard to catch it's prey.\n\nA snake at rest will stay cool, warming up in the sun when it wants to, but they can turn up the temperature metabolically when they are digesting a big meal.\n\nMammals basically \"keep the heat on\" all the time with a high metabolic rate *even at rest*, so just the action of digesting, breathing, growing, etc uses energy and produces heat as a byproduct of that energy use. ",
"It is our cells that creates the heat when it produces energy for the body to use. In a mammal the cells are set, like a thermostat, to always aim for a certain temperature regardless of outside temperature and if the energy is needed. In a reptile the cells don't have this setting and instead uses the outside temperature to regulate how much energy is used.\n\nIt is a trade off between not wasting energy and being able to function in different climates.",
"Different hearts in Reptiles.\n\nAll lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians (worm lizards) and turtles have a three-chambered heart consisting of two atria, one variably partitioned ventricle, and two aortas that lead to the circulation.\n\nSome species (like pythons and monitor lizards) have three-chambered hearts that become functionally four-chambered hearts during contraction of the heart\n\n_URL_0_\n\n_URL_1_\n\nCrocodilians have a four-chambered heart like a bird, but still has some of the features of a lizard heart"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3605374"
],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=115520&org=NSF",
"https://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/reptile_hearts2_h.jpg"
]
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|
9uj0uw | how does the automatic wiper blades works? | Some cars have a system in wich the wiper washer auto activates when is raining, and adjust itself to how hard it's raining. At the start I figured it can work with some kind of system that measure the water that falls down the windshield, but when you throw water into the windshield it seems to start working before the water reach the bottom of the windshield.
I know it seem a silly question, but have been bugging me for some time so... is there any car engineer in the room? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9uj0uw/eli5_how_does_the_automatic_wiper_blades_works/ | {
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"Im no expert but from what I know if existing sensor technology I can guess:\n\nProbably measuring the capacitance of some surface layer, when it changes in a recognizable way, like when a conductive liquid (i.e. water) is on it it triggers a response that scales with the change in capacitance....\n\nIt's how our touch screens work on our phones and tablets, so it's probably similar - likely with less granularity than a phone though. ",
"Most have this clever system that relies on how light bends when it goes through stuff like glass & water. They project some infrared light through the glass at a 45 degree angle. if the glass is dry most of it gets reflected back to a sensor. But if there are rain drops on the glass some of it will be scattered. The more rain drops there are the less is light reflected back. \nThe system will turn on the wipers if the amount of reflected light reaches a low enough level. \nIt also keeps sensing between wipes & if it detects too many rain drops building up between sweeps it will increase the frequency. "
]
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[],
[]
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|
2192la | why can't all the animals/fish that we are eating to extinction be farmed instead? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2192la/eli5_why_cant_all_the_animalsfish_that_we_are/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgaroz9"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"They can.\n\nTo begin with we are not hunting any animals to extinction, and take great steps to prevent extinction when we can.\n\nAs to fish, we are not really fishing anything into extinction but we are overfishing. There has been an effort to begin farming fish, known as aquaculture, but it has not become as widespread as one might hope. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
53vj7o | what distinguishes vowels from consonants? | Some languages have less than 5 vowels. What distinguishes them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/53vj7o/eli5_what_distinguishes_vowels_from_consonants/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7wn64n"
],
"score": [
10
],
"text": [
"Consonants involve a constriction of airflow through the vocal tract. On the other hand, air flows freely through the tract when pronouncing a vowel."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
2kl0gx | how does a bullet fit in the barrel of a gun? | if you had a bullet without the shell casings, just the raw bullet. how snug would it fit in the barrel of a gun? say i took out the barrel of the gun and put the bullet in the barrel, would it just drop straight through? would it bounce off the sides? or become lightly wedged? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2kl0gx/eli5_how_does_a_bullet_fit_in_the_barrel_of_a_gun/ | {
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"text": [
"It wouldn't fit at all. Modern firearms use rifling which will dig into the sides of the bullet when fired; unless you can push it in hard enough to gouge metal then it won't go in.",
"Tightly wedged, the bullet usually forms a nearly gas tight seal that allows the pressure created by the burning powder to propel the bullet through the barrel. You can see something similar on videos of \"[slugging a barrel](_URL_0_)\" with a ball of lead and the amount of force required to force the lead through an empty barrel without gunpowder. ",
"There are good answers already, but nobody has really addressed why it's a snug fit.\n\nThe gunpowder explodes, which means it turns into gas very quickly and expands to take up much more space that is available.\n\nThese gases will take the path of least resistance and if the weapon is functioning correctly, they will push on the bullet at great speed until it's out of the way, then finish expanding through the empty rifle barrel's opening.\n\nIf there was a gap between the edge of the bullet and the barrel, the gases would just seep through that gap and exit the barrel without imparting all their force on the bullet, maybe only moving it slightly. Remember: path of least resistance.\n\nIf your barrel is stuck, your entire rifle may explode because the gases have nowhere to go, and try to break out in all directions.",
"To go into a little more detail, for most modern firearms the barrel has three separate sections cut into it. First is the chamber. This is where the cartridge is when it's fired, and it is much larger than the bullet. The bullet would drop easily through this first section without touching the sides, but probably wouldn't be so loose as to get wedged in most cases. (about 1-5 inches, depending on cartridge size)\n\nNext there is a small amount of \"free bore\", this is a short length where there is no rifling and it is basically exactly the same diameter as the bullet. The bullet would slide through this initial part of the barrel relatively easily, but without any free space. It would probably require light pressure from a finger to push the bullet through this area. (0.1-0.5 inches, usually on the lower end of this range)\n\nAfter that, the rifling begins, which is a set of spiral ridges that dig into the sides of the bullet and force it to spin as it moves down the barrel. At this point pushing the bullet through would become fairly difficult, like trying to recork a wine bottle. (the rest of the barrel)"
]
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[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLduLyN0uvo"
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Subsets and Splits