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r56ve
|
the rise and fall of aol. what'd the do right, and what went wrong?
|
Just curious.
they* in the title, sorry
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/r56ve/eli5_the_rise_and_fall_of_aol_whatd_the_do_right/
|
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"They didn't realize that they were in the business of eyeballs. They didn't offer their email addresses for free until many, many years after Yahoo! and Google had already done so. They held on to their subscription model focus too long. They actually have a lot of people (3.3M) still paying for AOL's internet service, so they are to be applauded for that, but they didn't realize that internet advertising was the money maker until they had been left behind all the (now) big players in that marketplace. AOL should have been the social networking god of the 21st century. They never took full advantage of their opportunity.",
"AOL entered when the internet was just starting to blow up. They offered an easy to use interface (compared to what else was out there) that gave people easy access to email, chat rooms, and other things. They also offered a free trial, where people could easily try it out for a few hours. Once people tried it, they usually loved it and stuck with it. The trial created millions of customers. AOL ballooned into a giant.\n\nThen, around the turn of the century (2000) broadband started to become affordable and accessible to the general public. Cable and DSL internet options started to become more commonplace. People started to realize they could get a better experience if they paid for a high speed, broadband connection. The experience and difference was so great with broadband over dial-up that it was a no brainer. The problem for AOL was that AOL was a dial-up ISP. This meant that in order for them to compete with broadband services, they would have had to invest a massive amount of money into becoming a broadband ISP. They probably did not have the capital to do this on a nationwide scale. Although people could still use AOL with their broadband connection it meant that customers had to pay for both a broadband connection as well as the AOL service, meaning they were paying for two ISP's. Most rational people didn't want to pay for two services when they only needed one. Given the choice, people opted for the faster, broadband connections and used web browsers, AIM, and email from their new broadband ISP instead of paying for AOL in addition to their new broadband ISP.\n\nThis is only IE5, but to go into more detail, AOL had a few options if they wanted to become an actual high speed ISP, but it would have cost a fortune to do on the scale they were already at with dial-up.\n\n\ntl;dr - Broadband destroyed AOL in the ISP sense."
]
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82cgij
|
i've heard pirates drank rum because the water would go rancid. how does water go bad?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/82cgij/eli5_ive_heard_pirates_drank_rum_because_the/
|
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"Additionally: does bottled water expire?",
"Water left sitting will eventually grow bacteria and algae. Combine heat and warmth, the process grows quicker. Unlike glasses today, wooden barrels already have bacteria in them, thus the process occurs quicker. Finally water doesn't like to stick. Fresh water is better than sitting water.",
"The water didn’t “go bad” per se. The water was already bad. Clean drinking water was hard to come by, and harder to keep clean. Deadly bacteria thrive on fresh water and rats onboard would drink and poop in it. But rum, being alcoholic, was naturally sterile. Most germs die in alcohol, and rats wouldn’t go near the stuff, so you didn’t have to worry about fecal matter making its way in there. Safer to drink, plus people preferred it for 2 major reasons. \n\n1: everyone had seen dysentery first hand and didn’t trust water anyway\n\n2: BOOZE!",
"Water unless it has been distilled and is stored in a sterile container that is sealed air tight it is contaminated with various kinds of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. These will grow in a stagnant water supply (such as in the water barrels of a ship) and it will eventually get to toxic levels. ",
"The water of the day wasn't sterilized before being bottled in a unsterilized wood barrel. The impurities and existing bacteria allows bacteria to breed. Add the tropic heat and humidity and it's a recipe for nasty water. I bet mold was even an issue. \n\nModern bottled water is heated high enough to kill whatever germs there are, or chemicals are added that does the job. Plus, the plastic keeps nasty stuff out much better than wood. ",
"Water has things living in it. Actually everything has little gems and fungi living in it. Unless you've specifically purified your water, either chemically (like bleach does) or though an extreme temperature (such as boiling water), it's going to have little things growing in it. Most of these things aren't harmful to humans, so you can drink \"raw\" water with few health consequences in most cases. That said if you left some water for a while, those little things might be able to actually reproduce to a point where they do pose a health risk to you. \n\nAlcohols like beer, wine, and liquor inhibit these other things that want to grow in your water. The relatively high alcohol content (even 3% alcohol by volume is pretty high compared to naturally occurring sources) kills most things that will try to grow there and prevents them from taking hold of the water source. \n\nYour follow-up question is an interesting one too. The answer is yes, but the reasoning is different. Most bottled water is stored in plastic containers. Most of these containers are formed by using a solvent that makes the plastic malleable. The plastic hardens as the solvent naturally evaporates (this is how a lot of glues work too). The problem is that that solvent will never actually completely leave the plastic, and it you leave it long enough some small (but measurable) amount will end up in the water that the plastic is containing. This process is called \"leeching\" and is a big reason why a lot of water bottles label themselves as \"BPA free.\" BPA is a specific solvent that was fairly popular until it was discovered that it was leeching into water in water bottles. The actual effect of BPA is disputed in the scientific community, but it's probably a good rule of thumb to not consume chemicals that you don't fully understand the effects of.",
"Sailors originally drank beer for their daily water intake, because plain water would go bad for all the reasons already cited. But once England conquered Jamaica, grog, or rum mixed with water, replaced the beer, since the rum still provided the necessary alcohol to sterilize the funky water. Source: my brain that remembers all sorts of stupid crap, backed up by a search on Wikipedia.",
"Back in the pirating days, they didn't have very good water sanitation system. They also had rats and pests that could get into water stores, die, and go rancid.\n\nOn top of that, open fire were strictly prohibited, so they didn't boil water regularly.\n\nDrinking rum was easier and more fun."
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7w3l8e
|
how does ointments you apply on the skin (eg voltaren) affect muscles under the skin?
|
Like all those muscle relief ointments, say the 'target' the sore muscles underneath the skin. How???
Also why does it burn on the skin after a while.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7w3l8e/eli5_how_does_ointments_you_apply_on_the_skin_eg/
|
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"The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and like other organ systems require the circulatory system to deliver nutrients and remove waste. The integumentary system, including the skin, is made up of several different layers, permeable to chemicals and other substances. Voltaren gel, chemically engineered to dissolve across the skin to the muscle, reducing inflammation at the target tissue. "
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[] |
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1t0h7b
|
why do so many people like richard feynman so much?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1t0h7b/eli5_why_do_so_many_people_like_richard_feynman/
|
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"\"Bill Nye the Science Guy\" is sort of the \"Blue's Clues\" of Science. Borderline insane over-the-top enthusiasm, simple concepts, big, in-your-face theatrical illustrations.\n\nIf Richard Feynman had done a show, it would have been more like the \"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood\" of Science. \n\nHe would have had more laid back, in-depth discussions of concepts while still retaining simple language and relating to the audience the whole time. Occasional journeys into the \"land of experiment\" where who knows what can happen. Field trips to museums, laboratories, factories, strip clubs, etc.\n\nI'm a big fan of Blue's Clues, but nobody can even come close to Mister Rogers.",
"Well I can only speak for myself. The few texts i have read by him I found quite fantastic because he manages to explain difficult to understand topics so almost everyone can understand them. Another thing is that the way he describes physics is very capturing. He manages to get the reader curious and it fells like you are being told a good story from a friend more than it feels like you are taught physics. \n",
"I think the other comments have nailed it:\n \n* He was a genius, and made significant contributions to science\n* He was a great public speaker, and generally an interesting guy. There are some wonderful videos on Youtube",
"He understands what it feels like to not understand something"
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3fq8zu
|
what is the legality of filming police officers?
|
If they command you to stop filming and you don't, is it illegal? Is it illegal in the first place to film a cop? Would it be considered stalking or harassment or something?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3fq8zu/eli5_what_is_the_legality_of_filming_police/
|
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"You can film anything in public if it's there, however filming them on private property is illegal. The police have no power to stop you filming in public in the UK, unless they believe the video footage could be linked to terrorism. It wouldn't be stalking or harassment to film an officer in public.",
"Please keep in mind reddit is international and workout further info, we don't know what country you're talking about. Though most people just assume the US, as people from other countries are generally more aware of the fact that they're not the only ones. ;) ",
"The legality of filming police officers are largely decided by the laws in the specific area.For the U.S. in most places public, it is legal to do so. \n\nThe problems that are usually associated with filming have little to do with the actual filming, and are often abused in ignorance. A major one is if you are not directly involved, stay away. Are you willing to take a selfie with a shootout in process 3 feet away? Probably not. By getting up close and personal, you are causing a distraction, and you are making yourself a part of the situation. \n\nIt gets further complicated when you don't follow instructions. If an officer thinks you are becoming a distraction, or putting yourself or him in harm, he'll likely tell you to get away. This is not a time for you to stand in guard of your rights. Your not a lawyer, and you're not in court. You will lose this control struggle. Worse, you are now starting to aggravate the situation. \n\nAnother lesser problem is constantly filming police doing basic duties. And it's usually \"the same asshole that was here yesterday\" \nhoping to catch an officer doing something wrong, getting too close and \"knowing the laws\"\n\nA while back there was a truck that caught fire, it was one of the very few opportunities I had to photograph an event. But I did so from half way down the block as to not get involved. not be a distraction, and keep myself from harm. ( it was a gas truck ). Of course I only got one decent image, since the fire was out but no officers involved cared I was there - if they even noticed. ",
"Almost always legal to film as long as you don't interfere with them in any way, distract them, cause a nuisance...etc. Some places it's only legal to film and illegal to record audio unless they are specifically talking to you. Further other places it's illegal to record audio unless they explicitly consent.\n\nThis all depends on the location (different jurisdictions have different laws) and the nature/surroundings of the interaction (is it in a public, not so public or private place)."
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dv7ycu
|
why are flowers symmetrical?
|
.. and most things in nature for that matter.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dv7ycu/eli5_why_are_flowers_symmetrical/
|
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"text": [
"It's because everything has to be encoded in DNA somehow. And rather than having separate DNA for every single flower petal, evolution found a way to mirror them so they form symmetrical shapes.\n\nThere are also fractal shapes in nature. That is a pattern that repeats itself in miniature versions of itself, like for example a [spiral shape](_URL_1_). They even found fossils of [plant like organisms](_URL_0_) that were entirely made from fractal shapes.",
"they're not necessarily symmetrical. but they are patterned.\n\n [_URL_0_](_URL_0_)",
"Its easy and efficient. Nature is all about being efficient and conserving energy. Think bubbles are round, water droplets too, bee cells are hexagon. Theyre all the most efficient use of space/material and energy. Its easier to have a set of genes that says 'right, we'll split round this axis and branch off' than 'ok well have this bit for starters, then this bit goes off that, then another bit here, then a random small bit below' etc"
]
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[] |
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charnia",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/2007_10_28_020_Schneckengeh%C3%A4use.jpg"
],
[
"https://www.flickr.com/photos/hamillianactor/2061280828"
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|
6e92vm
|
why did i wake up at 4:30 this morning wide awake and rested, but after falling back asleep, my 6:30 alarm made me feel like hitting the snooze indefinitely?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6e92vm/eli5_why_did_i_wake_up_at_430_this_morning_wide/
|
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"At 4:30 your body had completed it's sleep cycle and because of which you woke up. Where as at 6:30 you went on to sleep just because the laziness had kicked in. Whenever next time you wake up naturally try starting your day at that time itself instead of going back to sleep. In my experience you will feel much more fresh throughout nthe day. ",
"Just based on a 90 minute cycle, you probably woke up half an hour into a second cycle at 6:30.\n\nSide note: I did the exact same thing at the same times this morning. Also felt good at 4:30 and shitty at 6:30",
"My co-worker and I also both did this last night (independently, folks). Wasn't a full moon, but it WAS the first day after a long weekend. 3.5 hours is rough. ",
"The brain has something called Circadian Rhythm, and sleep cycles. One full sleep cycle is 90 minutes, and that's enough time to wake up and feel fully refreshed. This goes in intervals as well. For example, three hours of sleep would feel great, but four hours and you'll wake up groggy, because you're waking up mid cycle. \n\nIt's said that philosophers like Aristotle and Da Vinci literally lived around the clock on 90 minute \"power naps\"",
"I do this every day. Should I just get up?",
"A popular response seems to be \"we sleep in 90 minute cycles..don't interrupt the cycle\"\n\nSo why is 8 hours recommended?\n\nWouldn't that logic suggest that either 6 or 9 hours would be ideal?",
"I have a Fitbit and also use Sleep Cycle App _URL_0_ It's suppose to wake you when your in a lite sleep near your alarm time and it works pretty accurately. If i hit the snooze and the alarm wakes me when I've started to fall into a deep sleep I'll wake up tired where if I get up in a lite sleep state I get up refreshed. \n",
"As many have said before, you woke up at 4:30 naturally because you were in the early stages of sleep: stages 1-2, right after completing deep wave sleep: stages 3,4 and REM sleep. \n\nIt is very difficult for us to wake up during deep wave sleep, because this is when our \"bodies replenish themselves\" and when our \"memories get consolidated\" and when other processes happen that scientists aren't even quite sure about. This is why you felt shitty when waking up at 6:30 by your alarm - you were probably in stage 3.\n\nThere are apps that measure and track your sleep cycles from your body movement and actually wake you up when you are in the early stages of sleep.\n\n",
"Because you experienced what is known as \"sleep inertia\"\n\nThe 90 minute cycle is really only a guideline. The level of recommended sleep is somewhere between 6 and 8 hours and there is a lot of contention about what the proper amount is, and why sleeping is a biological imperative for us.\n\n\nNon-rapid eye movement (NREM sleep) is sleep where you do not (usually) dream. When I first started my psych degree there were 4 stages of NREM but they have since been consolidated into 3.\n\nNote that dreaming usually occurs in REM sleep but has been known to occur outside of it in some respects in EEGs\n\nPhases of NREM in order of descending brainwave frequency:\n\n1 - Lightest sleep just after you nod off. This usually lasts less than 15 minutes. Brainwave frequencies are close to awake brain activity in this stage.\n\n2 - Lower frequency brain waves with occasional spikes in brain frequency. Transition phase and has split characteristics\n\n3 - Deep sleep. This is sleep that is difficult to interrupt and if people are interupted in this phase they will have a hard time waking up until their brain frequency catches up.\n\n\nSleep is only somewhat understood and the brain less so\nbut our models and theories show that a typical sleep cycle goes like this\n\nA - Awake\nR - Rem sleep\n\nA 1 2 3 2 1 R (1 or 2) 3 2 R 1 2 3 2 1 A\n\nIt is believed that stage 3 does what ever \"repairing\" our body needs as far as consolidating memories, replenishing the myelin sheath etc.\n\nIf you are awakened from stage 3 you will most likely feel very fatigued and tired. \n\nWhile some level of confusion may be present if you are awoken from REM sleep this is a higher frequency state and you are more likely to vividly remember your dreams if you wake up from REM or stage 1.\n\nAfter you went back to sleep, you most likely descended back into P3 or P2 and your brain frequency was likely still slowing.\n\nSleep inertia happens when you are awakened either in REM or deep sleep\n\nYour brain was saying \"Hey, you need to go back to sleep we didn't finish the cycle\"\n\nThat being said, while sleep and our brains dominate our lives, we still understand very little about their function and utility.\n\n"
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1v7r2v
|
if certain textbooks are required for college curriculum amd the companies behind these books are able to charge so much with little to no compettition, why is it not considerd a monopoly?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1v7r2v/if_certain_textbooks_are_required_for_college/
|
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"There is tons of competition; for any particular subject there are many textbooks. Any individual prof is free to choose which text(s) are required for their class. So the overall market is nowhere close to a monopoly. You, as the student, have no control over what your prof picks but that's not a monopoly in any sense.\n\nThe prices *can* be very high because, in many college settings, people will pay them. However, it's totally up to the prof; I've had courses where the required text was $10, brand new.",
"Because you can pick which college you go to, which class you take, and the professor can pick which textbook (and which publisher) to use for the class. A true monopoly would have only one textbook publisher in the entire country, which would mean that no matter what class you take, the class would only be able to get textbooks from that one publisher. ",
"a monopoly is when a single organization essentially controls an industry. That isn't happening here. Your school picks from a wide selection of books. There is tons of competition. The fact that they pick ONE book doesn't mean there isn't competition, it just means one was selected. \n\nIn the same way it's not a monopoly because your local fast food place only carries coke, not pepsi. Pepsi is out there, if you wanted it, you wouldn't go to someone who only offered coke."
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657fjv
|
how come we can get close enough to take images of jupiter's moons, but can't land a rover-like device on the surface to take images?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/657fjv/eli5_how_come_we_can_get_close_enough_to_take/
|
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"Some locations we're very cautious of landing on because of potential biological contamination, like Europa. That being said, we could totally land an object there and rove around. But satellites let you see the entire surface. You probably want to find interesting landing sites first, then send your rover, which is going to be less-wide ranging. \n\nFunding definitely plays a role in the number of missions and the type however. Probes can fit a lot of things into one mission. Look at this Moon, look at that Moon, check out this planet and that planet. Your rover is a one-off. Land on Europa, and you aren't leaving. ",
"The gravity of Jupiter along with the uncertainty of a solid core to land on makes it a low priority until we get better data from out satellites. We are actually destroying our Juno probe by sending it down into Jupiter's atmosphere to avoid potentially contaminating other sites with biologic agents. "
]
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[] |
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[],
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1ezoby
|
what's the deal with the centrifugal/centripetal forces?
|
There's the xkcd, _URL_0_ which says that centrifugal force doesn't exist, only centripetal and I've seen a discussion in another thread, but it just made me more confused. (Also, where does Centripetal force come from?) ELI5?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ezoby/eli5_whats_the_deal_with_the/
|
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"text": [
"What the comic claims is closer to the truth. Depending on your frame of reference, there is *either* a centripetal or centrifugal force, but never both at the same time.\n\nIf you examine the system externally, you see the centripetal force. This is considered the 'true' force because it takes into account the entire system.\n\nBut if you are inside the system, you see the centrifugal force.\n\nPhysics teachers overcompensate for everyone saying \"centrifugal force\" when they mean \"centripetal force\" by stating that centrifugal force doesn't exist.",
"Centripetal force is whatever force in an **inertial reference frame** is keeping the rotating object from flying away. In a playground carousel it is the mechanical resistance of the carousel floor. In a Moon-rotating-around-Earth system it is gravity.\n\nIn a **rotating reference frame** there are a few forces that don't exist in an inertial reference frame. The centrifugal force is one, and the Coriolis force is another. If you want to describe motion in a rotating reference frame, these will obviously enter the equations. However, from the point of view of an inertial reference frame, they don't exist; they are pseudo-forces.",
"Centripetal force is actually a type of force, centripetal is an experience or effect, which people confuse with being a force. Imagine you're on one of those fun spiny wheels in the park, desperately holding on for your life whilst you're being flung off.\n\nThe centrifugal \"force\" is the feeling that you're being flung off. This is not an outwards force, but you're body still moving forwards whilst the roundabout moves away from the direction you're moving.\n\nThe centripetal force is the force stopping you from flying off. In this instance, it is you gripping onto the roundabout, and the strain you feel in your hands and your arms is the centripetal force keeping your body on the roundabout.\n\nCentripetal force is what we name any force which is always perpendicular to the direction of motion. Because it's perpendicular, it doesn't affect the speed of this object, only the direction it's travelling in. For example, your arms from the example applies a force to the centre of the ride, while you're always travelling at a tangent. This centripetal (if constant) will result in circular motion.",
"Centripetal force is real, and centrifugal force is 'fake' in the sense that it depends on your frame of reference.\n\nCentripetal force is just the name for any other force that makes a body turn in a circle. If you swing a rock on a string, the tensile force of the string is the centripetal force. If you turn your car in a circle, friction is the centripetal force. If you orbit the earth, gravity is the centripetal force."
]
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[] |
[
"https://xkcd.com/123/"
] |
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[],
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|
1rt9e2
|
where do currency names came from?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1rt9e2/eli5_where_do_currency_names_came_from/
|
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"The British Pound used to literally mean a pound of silver. I believe the Peso is similar (notice how inflation has robbed these words of their original meaning!). As for the Dollar, it appears to com from the *Thaler,* the monetary unit from [Joachimsthal](_URL_0_), which was an important silver mining town after the discovery of a rich vein of silver nearby in the 16th century in what is now the Czech Republic.\n\nThe Russian Ruble apparently refers to a *slice* taken from a silver ingot. The Japanese Yen, Chinese Yuan, and the Korean Won all refer to a \"round,\" the typical shape of a coin.\n\nEdit: nope, Peso comes from the word for \"weight.\""
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A1chymov"
]
] |
||
3qeplp
|
why are people saying low oil prices will boost the us economy? what's the evidence?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qeplp/eli5_why_are_people_saying_low_oil_prices_will/
|
{
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"text": [
"Oil and gas have what economists call \"inelastic demand\"...Basically, you're going to use the same amount regardless of price. You still need electricity, you still need to get to work, your food still has to travel on the same roads to get to your grocery store.\n\nSo, when gas prices are high, you have less money, and when gas prices are low, you have more money. And when you have more money, you spend it on other things, which stimulates the economy."
]
}
|
[] |
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[
[]
] |
||
cid4d3
|
how is water consumed differently to food?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cid4d3/eli5_how_is_water_consumed_differently_to_food/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ev3tkb8"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Water is absorbed by the small intestine, and the water inside what you eat gets also absorbed there. Then, the solid matter goes through your large intestine, where the proteins, vitamins and minerals are absorbed."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
f4fg2q
|
how do businesses on dragons den/ shark tank value themselves?
|
When watching dragons den the prospective investee will pitch for an investment for a certain percentage. Then the dragons often say that if you are valuing the business at "X"
My question is how do they achieve that number?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f4fg2q/eli5_how_do_businesses_on_dragons_den_shark_tank/
|
{
"a_id": [
"fhq6irr",
"fht3an5"
],
"score": [
7,
3
],
"text": [
"There are lots of different ways to value a business, which is why you so often hear the dragons say that someone's valuation is ridiculous; they've come to that valuation based on bad methods or bad data. Usually, the valuation rests on how much money the business is predicted to bring in over a given period of time. That period of time typically depends on the industry. Often, it also includes the assets the business already owns (eg if a coffee shop owns the place it operates out of, that would count towards the valuation), and sometimes the valuation is based on how much money the company expects to get bought for - this is often true for startups, where the explicit goal is to get good enough that a bigger company buys them out.",
"If I want $100,000 and I'll give you 10% of my company, then I'm valuing the company at 100,000/0.1=1,000,000. \n\nDivide the investment amount by the percentage stake to arrive at the implied valuation."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
bh3pxr
|
about natural selection - how can useless features on creatures disappear, as they are useless, but not actually a disadvantage? for experience tails in human.. etc? isn’t it lamarck’s theory, which was proven wrong?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bh3pxr/eli5_about_natural_selection_how_can_useless/
|
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"text": [
"They don't they're called vestigial and we have multiple of them. The reason things disappear is because they are disadvantageuos, this must be the case with tails but I don't know the exact reason.",
"Well if you think about it, homologous structures and vestigial organs exist still which support Darwin’s theory. So for example our Appendix (probably the most famous example), is an organ it’s argued we don’t need. So a lot of the times those features still stay with us, our wisdom teeth for example are another type of vestigial traits we have.",
"Features like a tail *are* a disadvantage if they don't provide a benefit. If nothing else, they require resources for the body to grow and maintain them. So, in times of scarcity, animals that aren't wasting their energy on a useless appendage are more likely to get old enough to breed. It might not seem like a lot (and it might not be in terms of the availability of food for a lot of us now), but if you're close to starving it can make a difference. Useless features that don't use enough energy to cause a disadvantage might stick around or might not, which probably comes down to chance as much as anything else.",
"You don’t need to select against a useless trait for it to go away. Mutations are happening in your sex cells and being passed on to your offspring all the time. If it’s a bad mutation, the offspring will not survive or have decreased or no offspring and the bad mutation will not be passed on. If it’s a useful mutation, it will be passed on and increase in the population over time due to natural selection. If it’s a mutation that has neither benefit nor detriment, the n sometimes it will be passed on, sometimes not, but over time, such mutations will eventually increase in the population because they’re not actively being selected against.",
"What you're referring to is one of Lamarck's proposed \"laws\" of heredity, which roughly states that body parts which are used more become stronger over time, and those that are used less become weaker over time (often summarized as \"use and disuse\"). Coupled with his other main point on heredity, which talks about how changes an organism experiences over its lifetime can be passed on to offspring, this forms a major part of Lamarckian theory. You're right that Lamarckian evolution is no longer accepted by any mainstream scientists (though in fairness to Lamarck, this isn't really his fault; the science of how heredity actually worked wasn't known at the time, and wouldn't be until Gregor Mendel's work was widely publicized decades later). The main part of this that is incorrect though is the idea that evolutionary changes are driven *by the organisms themselves* rather than by population-level effects like natural selection.\n\nAs other comments have pointed out, even a truly neutral trait can still tend to disappear over evolutionary time. Although it depends on the trait in question, I think that the suggestion of \"energy costs\" being sufficient to eliminate a trait that has no survival benefit is a bit hand-wavy. Natural selection is not all powerful; alleles with very minor negative effects can easily increase in frequency against selection due to random chance, especially in species with small population sizes where genetic drift is strong. However, if selection on traits with neither benefits nor costs is relaxed, this means that mutations are likely to occur without penalty in these traits. Since it's a lot easier for a mutation to disable or break something than to improve it, this may account for part of the phenomenon of neutral traits disappearing over time even if selection is too weak to remove them.\n\nAnother thing to keep in mind is that traits which at first appear useless can still potentially be serving a purpose of some kind. Just because a trait is not being used in the same way that was originally \"intended\", doesn't mean it's completely useless. For example, there have been some suggestions that the tailbone in humans has some function in helping with weight distribution in sitting postures ([source](_URL_1_)). I'll admit this doesn't seem very well supported in actually having much *selective* benefit, but it is still a possible *function* for a structure that is often regarded as useless since it is no longer part of a tail. Other examples of vestigial but potentially functional traits include many proposed ideas about the [human appendix](_URL_2_), and [pelvic spurs](_URL_0_) in some snakes, which may play a role during mating."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://66.media.tumblr.com/7b9a829cab32bceed6b653ffb5ee23a0/tumblr_inline_nqiu2lo1cS1sofzqs_1280.jpg",
"https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spine-anatomy/anatomy-coccyx-tailbone",
"https://www.sciencealert.com/your-appendix-might-serve-an-important-biological-function-after-all-2"
]
] |
||
77e8tq
|
how do animated movies stay up to date when they take multiple years to complete?
|
I would imagine that, with technology constantly improving, an animated movie that started production five years ago, for example, would end with an outdated product. Are animated movies just a reflection of the technology we had when they started animating it? Or do they somehow update their equipment and programs so this isn’t a problem?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/77e8tq/eli5_how_do_animated_movies_stay_up_to_date_when/
|
{
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"text": [
"For me it is easier to answer this referring to video games than animated movies. \n\nBut both the animated movies and a lot of games are innovating behind the scenes, trying to create the next generation of technology so what will be 'standard' in like 2020 is being worked on right now. \n\nWhen things get pushed back and take WAY too long, that is when they really show their age upon release. Like \"We started in 2010, creating the technology for 2012... but got released in 2017 due to issues so we look 5 years old\". ",
"To be honest, there's not that much difference in the quality of a cutting edge 2007 Pixar movie and a 2017 average animated kids film. If you start your movie in 2017 and don't finish until 2020, it's not like it will look out of date.\n\nThe only example I can think of would be Foodfight! which started in 1996 I think and wasn't finshed until 2012. It looks terrible.",
"All the other movies are \"outdated\" too, so everyone ends up on a level playing field.\n\nJust like with videogames.\n\nAnd yes, this means that if your schedule takes longer than usual, you'll be behind the curve. This is what stalled Duke Nukem Forever. I think the effect is somewhat lessened in movies where there's a greater focus on story rather than technical animation.",
"One important thing to note is the production cycle of films isn't linear. They don't finish 1% of the film one day, then move to the next percent. They write the whole story, make tons of sketches and storyboards, record dialogue, make animatics for certain sequences, etc, before moving on to previs CG, then better rigging, more texture work, etc. They eventually get roughly set sequences, then continuously polish the film and animation often for a long, long time. So a 3 or 4 year production cycle, but the last animation renders are only a month old when it is finished, and the last updates may include newer tech. So parts of the film may be technically dated, but other aspects may be cutting edge. Since EVERYONE does that anyway, everyone is an equal bit behind, so it doesn't matter much anyway.",
" > Are animated movies just a reflection of the technology we had when they started animating it?\n\nTo an extent, yes, but that is true for anything using an emerging technology. By the time Apple finishes their latest iGadget, there is some new technology out there they weren't able to use. This is is true for everyone making something big, so it really isn't outdated if you aren't falling behind.\n\nAlso, these days animation technology is fairly stable, what is changing are better techniques, project management, and rendering hardware. The first two are just a matter of talent, experience, and organization, and the last one can be updated to the latest technology when it is needed towards the end of production.\n\nFinally, it doesn't really matter that much with animated movies. *Toy Story* is over 20 years old, and holds up reasonably well. The differences between 2017 technology and 2012 technology are subtle enough that no one is going to walk out of the movie because the animation sucked.",
"That's why you don't generally see 'photorealstic' animation in animated movies. You see a few seconds of them here and there in mega-budget action movies like pirates of the carribian, but not in entierly animated movies. (also because it's vastly more expsive than 2) )\n\n2) It's much *MUCH* cheaper and most people think it looks better to use stylized art forms rather than trying and failing to make CGI look like a human.\n\n3) A lot of people will notice and get trapped in the 'uncanny valley' where things that look just a *little* big different than humans trigger our *corpse/unhealthy* instinct and we are revolted.\n\nSo the only reason you'd want to use realistic CGI is if you want to fool someone for a few seconds of intense action and/or want a human to do something no human can do. You could do it all with special effects but that's often much more expensive."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
5zv532
|
how can hdr make an image on a screen look brighter than if the screen was just all white?
|
Many websites are using black text on fully or mostly on a white background, but I can read them just fine without squinting or feeling it's too bright (despite black text being maximum contrast with the white background, so it's not the contrast being the issue).
But when I look at HDR screenshots like [this](_URL_0_), the bright parts *feel* brighter than just a completely white screen, with or without text on it. It makes me squint and have difficulty focusing on what's going on.
This is despite the screenshot being both less bright in absolute terms, and having less absolute contrast than completely back text has on a completely white background.
What's actually going on?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5zv532/eli5_how_can_hdr_make_an_image_on_a_screen_look/
|
{
"a_id": [
"df1e5l2",
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],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Your brain has been trained that images like this are usually accompanied by intense brightness. So even though it's not *actually* extra bright, your brace yourself for that feeling that seems likely.",
"That effect is called bloom, and it basically tricks your brain into thinking the light is brighter than it is by bleeding into the image around it, just like it would if you were looking at a real bright light.\n\nHowever that's not really *true* HDR because you're still looking at it on a non-HDR (i.e. SDR) screen. Proper HDR screens have a higher maximum brightness than SDR screens. Or I suppose I should say that the standards specify a higher brightness than they do for SDR screens, so there may be SDR screens that can also reach that brightness.\n\nBut HDR is really about the *range* of brightness and colour. HDR screens use 10 bits of information per colour channel, where as SDR is 8 bit. Doesn't sound like a big difference, but it means the number of possible values per colour goes from 256 to 1024."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://sunspots.cornellsun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/09/thelastofus.jpg?w=640"
] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
20za8l
|
what could have been outside of the particle that exploded into the big bang?
|
Are there any hypotheses on this?
To better explain what I'm asking, what was outside of the tiny spec that blow up and created our universe?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20za8l/eli5_what_could_have_been_outside_of_the_particle/
|
{
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"cg84mpp",
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3
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"text": [
"The simple answer is: Nothing.\n\nNot empty space, there was no space. There was also no time. The 'spec' was the entire Universe, and the Universe doesn't exist \"in\" anything (from an ELI5 point of view).\n\nSimilar questions are asked often here, try searching for questions like \"what was before the big bang\".",
"Depends on what model of the universe you want to consider. If there is only one universe (this one) then quite literally nothing existed outside if the spec. In fact, there was no 'outside' for something to exist in. The big bang was an expansion of space and time, and for one universe, that means nothing existed outside of it. \n\nIf you consider a multiverse perspective, then there are a couple of theoretical ideas. One if that the universe is like a bubble on a sea, with other bubbles (universes) rising around it. Another is that the universe is flat like a sheet, and that there are many of these sheets waving around. When two of these sheets collide, another universe is born, with that collision being the big bang. All of these are theoretical, but modern physicists are leaning towards a multi-verse perspective, which means there is something along the lines of an ocean or sea of universes outside of our own."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
2p6z9y
|
when i turn my phone off at 2%, and then later it says 4%. what is happening here?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2p6z9y/eli5_when_i_turn_my_phone_off_at_2_and_then_later/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cmtwtfn"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"Your phone doesn't have a way to measure how much charge is stored in the battery. But that doesn't matter too much because the phone doesn't die when the battery is out of charge. As the battery loses charge, it starts to give out less and less power. What your phone considers \"0%\" is the point when the battery isn't providing enough power to run the phone. And that's a little harder to estimate because it's impacted by things like the temperature of the phone and how much power the phone is using."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
4tkkgl
|
why do rats without cannabinoid receptors have a very high mortality rate in the first 24 weeks of life?
|
[About 30% of rats genetically modified to not express cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors die in the first 24 weeks of life](_URL_0_). The paper states that the rats looked healthy and were in normal weight, and died unexpectedly.
Why does the lack of cannabinoid receptors lead to early death? What is the mechanism behind this?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4tkkgl/eli5_why_do_rats_without_cannabinoid_receptors/
|
{
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"d5i1igf",
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2,
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"text": [
"My best guess would be that \"cannabinoid receptors\" actually receive some other neurotransmitters/some type of cannabinoid is actually used for neurotransmission in the rats brain.",
"I did some research, I don't think the answer to your question is going to be as interesting as you'd hoped, but here it is:\n\nA similar study was done [here](_URL_0_), from the abstract *Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor knockout mice did not ingest milk on the first day of life*. They state that the cannabinoid receptors play a critical role in the suckling phase.\n\nThe paper is behind a paywall so I'll summarise their findings:\n\n1. There were smaller litters in CB1 Knockout pups (average ~7 wildtype compared with ~4.5 CB1 knockout pups alive at birth.).\n\n2. Some litter sizes in CB1 knockout mice were tiny but this was not quantified).\n\n3. After 4 days there were significantly less (average ~7 wildtype compared with ~2.5 CB1 knockout pups) CB1 knockout pups alive.\n\n4. They attributed this to both maternal cannibalism (witnessed by the experimentors) and malnutrition in the CB1 knockouts.\n\n5. Injecting a drug that blocks the CB1 receptor function in mice causes it to stop suckling and an almost 100% mortality rate was recorded after 1 week.\n\n6. CB1 knockout pups drink none of their mothers milk on the first day of life, on day 2 of life 75% of the pups had started drinking and on day 3 100% had. Despite the fact that they did all start drinking their mothers milk they never gained as much weight as their wildtype litermates.\n\nThey conclude that the CB1 receptor has a critical function in the initiation of milk suckling and this is what causes the drop in survival rate.\n\nAs my own little addition I'd hypothesise that this may also have something to do with a lack of appetite given that stimulation of CB1 receptors (ie getting stoned) gives you the munchies, without them the CB1 knockout mice may not notice how hungry they are and not drink enough of their mothers milk, therefore they perish.\n\n**TLDR** The CB1 receptor has a critical function in the initiation of milk suckling and this is what causes the drop in survival rate. This is likely also due to a lack of appetite due to the loss of the receptor"
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://www.pnas.org/content/96/10/5780.full"
] |
[
[],
[
"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12568912"
]
] |
|
11rcjt
|
how does the person riding a horse have control of where the horse turns?
|
I know it has something to do with the straps leading to their mouth and face but why does it *make* the horse turn? Couldn't the horse just go rouge and say fuck it?
Note: Playing Read Dead Redemption made me wonder.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/11rcjt/eli5_how_does_the_person_riding_a_horse_have/
|
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"text": [
"The horses are trained to behave properly. By pulling the straps, you are forcing the horse's head in one direction, telling the horse you want to go that way. There is no guarantee that it will do as it's told, the horse has to be willing to follow orders.\n\nThat's why wild horses have to be tamed and trained before they can be ridden.\n\nKeep in mind that horses are fairly intelligent and will follow orders as long as they are clear and will not have a negative impact on them. My grandfather used to deliver bread around his village with a horse pulled wagon, and the horse would walk by himself and stop at the right houses everyday without any feedback from anyone once it has learned the route.",
"As someone who grew up on a horse farm, but hasn't ridden in a while I will try to answer this as best I can.\n\nHorses don't think like humans, and therefore don't follow the same path of thinking like you and I do. Instead, they live primarily in the moment and will generally move in the direction they are pointed, i.e. a horse doesn't normally step side to side and will generally move forward or back (as long as it's not toward some hazard, such as a cliff in Read Dead Redemption).\n\nNow then, it's not simple enough to say that a horse will move in the direction it's head is pointed. In fact, if you pull the reins to the right but do nothing else, the horse will simply turn its head and continue moving forward. The direction of travel the horse takes is more a result of a relationship the rider has with the horse as a means of contact with each other's bodies. When you wish to steer a horse to the right, the rider will pull the right rein toward themselves, and avoid pulling it out and to the right. At the same time, the rider will also squeeze the horse with their right leg, pushing the horses body left as the head moves right. Squeezing with the legs (not kicking) is also how you indicate to the horse to move forward.\n\nAll of this interaction is part of a learning process, not just for the rider, but for the horse as well. Horses generally need to be well trained to receive these inputs in order to interpret them as ways to move. Unlike your game, you can't just hop on an unbroken horse until its \"subdued\" or tired and expect it to obey your every input. Horses need training, and early on in the process can and will decide at some point to say \"fuck it\" and take off on their own, or try to buck you off. If the horse is startled, this can also happen as the flight response takes over. This is why we wear helmets.\n\nIn most cases where a horse and rider have received training, and the horse trusts its rider, then this typically does not occur.",
"Simple ELI5: using the reigns as well as your legs. \n\n > Couldn't the horse just go rouge and say fuck it?\n\nsure, and it happens.\n\nThink of it like your dog. When you tell your dog to sit, it sits. Why? Because it's been taught to do it, by initially rewarding it for responding to some input (speaking the word 'sit') with some action ('sitting'). And, just as sometimes you may tell your dog to sit and it completely ignores you, sometimes you may try to steer your horse and have it completely ignore you. \n\nBeyond that there are basically 3 main ways horses are trained to be, uh, steered?\n\n1) Direct reigning: pull on the left rein to go left, and vice versa\n\n2) Neck reigning: hold both reigns in one hand, move that hand left to have the horse move left. The horse is taught that when it feels the reign against the right side of it's neck, it should move away from that (e.g. move left)\n\n3) Leg pressure: more advanced riding, mostly dressage, will also involve teaching the horse to move away from pressure from the legs. For example, pressure with your left leg against the rib cage would indicate the horse should move to the right (away from the pressure). This can also get far more advanced, where the horse is taught that leg only pressure means to sidestep away (known as a half-pass or piaffe), whereas pressure from a leg and the reign indicates that the horse should turn in a circular direction, or pressure from a leg and pulling back on both reigns indicates the horse should spin around in a circle.",
"I've been riding dressage for years. Just so you know.\n\nAdding on to what's been said, pulling the reins (the ropes to the mouth) pulls on the horse's bit. A bit is basically a stick of metal in the horse's moth. Imagine that someone were to pull on a metal stick that's fairly far back in your mouth REALLY hard in one direction. You'd turn too. So that's why horses with poor riders turn.\n\nAdditionally, riders SHOULD use their seat (butt and core with legs included as well I believe) to aid the horse in knowing what to do. Good riders don't use their hands on the reins and use their seat instead. By leaning and turning in the direction the rider wants, the weight is shifted from one side to the other. Basically the horse wants to be under the weight of the rider as opposed to have a bunch of weight pulling on it strangely.\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
49zano
|
why isn’t the u.s. successful at rebuilding areas in the middle east and north africa?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/49zano/eli5why_isnt_the_us_successful_at_rebuilding/
|
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"text": [
"That's an ice cream question!\n\nWhat it really comes down to is the commitment from the united states and the culture they are trying to change. For example. In Iraq there was very little commitment on the end of the united states after baath party members were expelled from parliament to replace them properly. This meant that iraq became less controlled by the federal government and instead became more regionally controlled. This is why ISIL was able to grow and expand influence in northern parts of iraq very well but the central government was able to maintain control over the more densely populated cities in the south. Also, the US did not do enough at the outset of conflict in Syria besides providing anti-Assad militants with weapons. This battle caused the instability and the rise of ISIL in the region. Kind of the same thing in Afghanistan except for they spent more time trying to establish a functioning government and stability within the country which is why it took so long for them to pull out troops. .. they wanted to do it right. But it really comes down to the culture. There is a lot of justified anti-US sentiment in the middle east which well always be there. A lot of it has to do with how historically the US and Britain used middle eastern countries' leaders as puppets so they could profit off oil rich regions. \n\nTL;DR The US has been kind of a jerk and people in the middle east don't forget easily. Also the US usually solves fights like a shitty parent who just wants their kids to shut up and stop bickering. \n\n*mlem mlem mlem, us enjoying ice cream while i explain this* ",
"Japan was an aggressor. Furthermore, Japan has a very socially homogeneous society, while \"countries\" in the middle east are split by religion, ethnicity, and tribalism. Most borders in the modern Middle East were drawn by Europeans, completely disregarding social factors (such as tribes, ethnicity and religions) in pretty much the same way they did in Africa. So what you end up with, is a scenario that almost guarantees a failed state, as people there are suspicious of each other and in many cases outright hate each other. ",
" > Why isn’t the U.S. successful at rebuilding areas in the Middle East and North Africa?\n\n Because that was never the goal."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2d3shx
|
if i get given a big box of candy, is it better for my waist line to eat it all in one sitting, or to eat some every day for a week?
|
When restricting calories for the purpose of weight loss, is it the lesser of two evils to have one big binge, or have a few days of increased calories intake? Or does it make no difference?
I've always been in the camp of "eat everything today so you're not tempted by it tomorrow!" but wondering if there is actually any science to this.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2d3shx/eli5_if_i_get_given_a_big_box_of_candy_is_it/
|
{
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11,
2
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"text": [
"It's better to spread it out. When you eat sugar, your body produces insulin, a hormone that draws it into the cells and also promotes fat retention. It's healthy in low levels, but in high levels can eventually lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Also, small amounts of candy can be worked into a calorie limit fairly easily. An entire box, not so much.",
"The best thing, for just that box of candy, is probably to eat it all; your body won't be able to absorb all the calories as effectively as if you spread it out over a longer time. But realistically, it's better to discipline yourself; that discipline is the first step to weight loss. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
4yom2m
|
why does south america have so many sovereign countries as opposed to north america?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4yom2m/eli5why_does_south_america_have_so_many_sovereign/
|
{
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"d6pa6iy",
"d6pagad",
"d6pah5i"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It's not *that* different- thirteen in South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, France, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil) to ten in North America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, the United States, and Canada).",
"My history of Latin America is a bit rusty, but suffice it to say that the Spanish crown set up various viceroys (mini kingdoms) in latin america. These covered what are now multiple countries in latin america. In addition to other capitol cities and regions. Basically, each city/region, Lima, Santiago, buenos aires, etc. had its own sphere of influence over the surrounding territories, its own wealthy class in each sector had their own financial interests/power they wanted to protect. the best way to do that was to ensure sovereignty over their territories, and not to some overseeing government. While Simon Bolívar had a vision of a unified south America similar to the US, most countries preferred sovereignty. Its also important to remember that south America is big, and in those days especially, very sparsely populated and poorly connected, with tons of substantial geographical borders, like the Andes mountains, deserts, and the rain forest. Compared to the eastern US at the time of ratifying the constitution, where all the colonies were much closer together.",
"In a nutshell: The colonial powers (Spain, France, Britain) all established colonies in The Americas.\n\nWhen the US gained independence from The UK, a large part of Northern America was still controlled by Spain - and large parts of what are now Canada were controlled by France.\n\nCanada consolidated into an Anglo/Franco self-defined state.\n\nThe US aggressively pushed Spain out of North America and Mexico into the southern tip of the American North.\n\nMeanwhile in the South, the various colonial regions gained their independence from their parent states (Spain, Portugal, France) during the early and mid 19th century - mostly while the European countries were preoccupied with revolution and economic problems at home. Simon de Bolivar tried to create a sort of southern-American United State - but the various regions remained autonomous each in its own fashion.\n\nThat's very ELI5 but I think it is the general overview."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
26b71m
|
the ongoing battle between newegg and patent trolls
|
[Link to a common story on the subject](_URL_0_)
I know who newegg is, I just don't know who are these Patent Trolls and what they are doing to troll newegg?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/26b71m/eli5_the_ongoing_battle_between_newegg_and_patent/
|
{
"a_id": [
"chpdw7h"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"A patent troll is a company that hold no assets except for some patents that it bought from somewhere. These patents are written so as to be extremely broad -- pretty much all software companies violate them. Now, this also makes them legally invalid if they are challenged in court...however it is very expensive to defend yourself against a patent lawsuit. Not only that, but there is a particular federal court district, the eastern district of Texas, where patent trolls are likely to win. So if you are sued by a patent troll, you have two options:\n\n1) Settle out of court and pay $2000 or so to make them go away.\n\n2) Fight the case and pay thousands upon thousands of dollars in legal fees. Then, you might still lose and pay damages. Or you might win and could try to sue them for your legal costs, but that means you have to prove they acted in bad faith. Also, it is hard to recover damages from a company that doesn't have any assets aside from some now-worthless patents.\n\nIt is sadly easier to just give in and pay\n\n**But NewEgg Just Doesn't Play That Game**\nThey were able to get the case moved from the East district of Texas to the northern district of California and then won their case and won the suit to allow them to recover damages. You can read about that on [their blog](_URL_0_)"
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/04/newegg-and-geico-stop-patent-troll-that-sued-dozens-over-forms-on-apps/"
] |
[
[
"http://blog.newegg.com/patent-trolls-learn-mess-newegg/"
]
] |
|
bbv4jq
|
why do you have to wait a few seconds after unplugging something before plugging it back in?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bbv4jq/eli5_why_do_you_have_to_wait_a_few_seconds_after/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eklpgeg",
"eklpuwg"
],
"score": [
7,
5
],
"text": [
"It has to do with capacitance. When you unplug something for a reset you let it sit for 30 seconds so all power gets drained from the circuit and cache gets cleared.",
"Mechanically, there is no reason, you can unplug something and plug it back in as quickly as you're capable.\n\nIf, however, your were unplugging it for a **reason** and the reason was to **reset** the circuit to its initial conditions, then you have to wait for the capacitors that buffer the power supply to drain. \n\nAlternating current goes +, 0, -, 0, +, 0, ... and you don't want your gadget to die when the line voltage crosses 0. So, the device contains capacitors to provide power during the crossings. You don't have any way to know when the capacitors are empty, unless there is a light or something. However, very, very few electronics designers would include capacitors large enough to power the circuit for more than 10 seconds, to save money. By waiting 30 seconds, you're giving yourself some safety margin in case larger capacitors were on sale when the power circuit was built."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
vhojj
|
how does the system of european union (eu) governance work?
|
I've always been really confused about how all the parts of the EU system of government work. There's a European Parliament, a European Commission, and a European Council. Each one of these has a President, so there are three presidents. How does this fit together in practice? Is the Parliament the only thing that is democratically elected? What is the mechanism by which they influence decisions of the Commission or Council?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vhojj/eli5_how_does_the_system_of_european_union_eu/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c54lzer"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I totally wouldn't try explaining this to a 5 year old, it's pretty complex and incredibly dull! Here's the basics of what I can remember from university, it's a few years ago now so anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything!\n\n\nIn the US you've got the Presidency, Congress and Courts; or the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. Generally speaking the executive gives your government direction and leadership, the legislature is needed to pass laws, and the judiciary interprets those laws and decides whether they're fair. This is what people mean when they say separation of powers - it means that no one person or institution can have too much power.\n\n\nIn the EU, the European Commission is like the executive - the head of the Commission is the Commission President, the closest thing there is to an EU 'President'. As long as we're explaining like you're five, he's the only EU president that really matters.\n\n\nThe European Parliament and the Council of Ministers are the primary legislative bits of the EU - they consider potential laws and vote for or against them. The Council of Ministers is made up of heads of the EU member states and their ministers (foreign ministers and things), exactly who goes depends on what is being discussed. The European Parliament is directly elected by citizens in EU member states, which you're right does set it apart from the other big EU institutions. Depending on the law being discussed it is either put before the EU parliament only, or the Council of Ministers, or looked at by both and decided on by a combination of the two (I'm pretty hazy on the specifics of this, suffice to say it is not very interesting). As the EU adopts new treaties and changes over time, the trend is generally toward letting the parliament do more stuff on its own, largely because it is directly elected so it's seen as more democratic.\n\n\nThe European Council (NOT the Council of Europe aka the Council of Ministers) is what people mean when they talk about EU summits; it's just all the leaders of the EU countries getting together every two or three months to talk about things and try to agree - it doesn't have any formal powers, it's there so the EU can hopefully find broad strokes agreement on big issues.\n\n\nThe Court of Justice of the EU is the EU judiciary, it pretty much works how you'd expect it to when it comes to EU law; it interprets the law and ensures that it's all kosher, and applied fairly, in-keeping with the spirit of the text.\n\n\nThat's about it in broad strokes, in practice the different institutions' jobs kind of spill over a little bit sometimes, so for example the Council of Ministers and the European Council also help set agendas like you'd expect the EU Commission (as the executive) to do, it's all a bit complicated. The reason its seems to complex is largely because the EU has been built up bit by bit over decades, with each big reform all the different member countries argue about exactly what powers they're willing to give up to the EU and what they want the different bits of the Union to do, so the result is a always kind of messy and a right pain to learn about.\n\nedit: or youtube it! :D"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
7vc6sw
|
what determines how someone will act when they’re drunk. does drunkeness reveal someone’s true selves?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7vc6sw/eli5_what_determines_how_someone_will_act_when/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dtr6lfd",
"dtr8wqw"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"I think it does reveal a persons 'true self' in some ways because if you would never do or say a particular thing then you simply won't.. but if you only never do or say those things because you are aware of consequences then it is likely you will do or say them whilst drunk",
"Their past experiences, the things in life they’ve internalized, and their current state of mind.\n\nI doubt there is any scientific way to predict or explain it. Alcohol lowers our sense of caution and sense of reservation, so the things we keep behind a wall come out. The lower that wall drops, the more stuff comes out."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
dzyd65
|
how are films distributed to cinemas all over the world? i’m pretty sure they don’t use film reels anymore, so what do they use?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dzyd65/eli5_how_are_films_distributed_to_cinemas_all/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f8avso3",
"f8avyvu",
"f8axhxd",
"f8ay361",
"f8b5r59",
"f8b8mzy",
"f8bfz93",
"f8bt0bf"
],
"score": [
6,
45,
5,
111,
6,
2,
7,
5
],
"text": [
"Most of the Cinemas get their movies Digitally over the internet but in some cases a Modern storage device is used to distribute the movie but in case of IMAX special releases they actually ship the film reels to the location.",
"**TLDR** VERY large digital files \n\n\nA **Digital Cinema Package** (**DCP**) is a collection of digital files used to store and convey [digital cinema](_URL_1_) (DC) audio, image, and [data streams](_URL_4_). \n\nThe term was popularized by Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC in its original recommendation[\\[1\\]](_URL_7_) for packaging DC contents. However, the industry tends to apply the term to the structure more formally known as the Composition. (\"You PLAY a Composition, You do NOT play a Digital Cinema Package\".[\\[2\\]](_URL_0_)) A DCP is a “packing crate” for Compositions,[\\[3\\]](_URL_9_) a hierarchical file structure that represents a title version. The DCP may carry a partial Composition (e.g. not a complete set of files), a single complete Composition, or multiple and complete Compositions.[\\[3\\]](_URL_9_) \n\nThe Composition consists of a Composition Playlist (in XML format) that defines the playback sequence of a set of Track Files. Track Files carry the [essence](_URL_5_), which is wrapped using [Material eXchange Format](_URL_6_) (MXF). Two track files at a minimum must be present in every Composition (see [SMPTE](_URL_2_) ST429-2 D-Cinema Packaging - DCP Constraints, or Cinepedia[\\[4\\]](_URL_3_)): a track file carrying picture essence, and a track file carrying audio essence. The Composition, consisting of a Composition Playlist and associated track files, are distributed as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP). It must be underscored that a Composition is a complete representation of a title version, while the DCP need not carry a full Composition. However, as already noted, it is commonplace in the industry to discuss the title in terms of a DCP, as that is the deliverable to the cinema. \n\n**The Picture Track File essence is compressed using** [**JPEG 2000**](_URL_8_) **and the Audio Track File carries a 24-bit linear** [**PCM**](_URL_10_) **uncompressed multichannel WAV file.**",
"Basically, an external USB drive containing files in a proprietary format that the devices in the cinema can read.",
"The theater I work at gets sata hard drives from the distribution company that all the studios work with. There is only two companies in the US that we get flims from that I know of. Those hard drives can have multiple versions of the movie on them ranging from your standard 2D to 3D and also 5.1 sound and 7.1 sound. I've seen one hard drive for a kids movie contain 10 versions the movie. I've seen some movies take 200 GBs of hard drive space. Just a little bit of info from my experience working at a theater.",
"I was a booth manager at a theater for some time. Cinemark would transport film reels by ground Thursday night to be 'built up' for showings the following day. When I was leaving, they were transitioning to digital. At the time, they sent flashdrives with the movie loaded and some trailers. Plug it in an set the timer.",
"99% of the time it's digital copies.\n\n \n\n\nSome movies (Lord of the rings, godfather) that are long can be 150Gb+ so rather than streaming it to the cinema, they can simply bring a phsycial drive with it on it as it'll be quicker. The other thing is some movies have multiple versions, subtitles, autism-friendly, surround sound varients, lighting varients etc. So some movies can have 10Tb+ of variety depending on what the cinema requests. Some provide a movie in IMAX, or standard, or autism-friendly so streaming that is a pain. It's easier and quicker ot just bring a hard drive for it.\n\n \n\n\nI worked with a company that made host services for cinemas. So currently some company's spend 50+ million to distribute a movie. Our companies idea was to provide framework for streaming from a phsycial disk that we had to the cinema. So for example we'd have 10 copies of the hobbit avaliable. A cinema books a slot we isolate the drive and prepare it for their system to stream, it'll download it before the movie, play it and delete it afterwards. Ment there was minimal storage requirements. Now it's no Netflix this is 99.997% reliability requirement for some IMAX providers so it's a beefy system. Currently our big market is Europe where some cinemas require two to three subtitle languages for one movie.",
"I manage a cinema in Australia.\n\nMovies - DCP (Digital Cinema Package) on a hard drive. Usually a CRU - a specific drive housing that fits into a dock on the server, but smaller distributors often send them on a typical USB drive that you can buy at OfficeWorks.\n\nTrailers - DCP on a USB stick, and increasingly becoming available either from cloud storage services, or automatic digital delivery systems.\n\nBoth of these, you copy onto a server, which you can then use to make up a playlist. For example, opening tags, ads, trailers, movie. You can also attach automation cues at various points on the playlist, for curtains, masking, lights, etc.\n\nFrom there, you schedule the playlist to play over the course of the week at the correct times. Then you can pretty much just sit back and let them do their thing.\n\nFilm is still a thing in a few rare circumstances. Mainly with older movies at cinemas who care about the format, but occasionally new releases too, in the right circumstances. Joker received a 70mm release here, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood received a 35mm release here, etc. I’m pretty passionate about film, so I run film using traditional techniques in private theatre in my spare time, and am in the process of reinstalling film projection equipment at my cinema.\n\nHappy to answer any further questions about any of it. Talking about this stuff makes me happy.",
"I own a drive-in theatre here in Tennessee. While its a \"drive-in\", what we have in the projection booth is identical to our indoor counterparts with the exception of the sound processors. We converted from 35mm to digital projection in March of 2013. We have two screens, and our projection booths are identically equipped with Barco DP2K-23B projectors, GDC SX2000AR servers, and USL JSD-60 sound processors. These 3 components are the heart of our projection systems.\n\nOur GDC servers have a removable CRU sled drive slot that we previously used to ingest the movies from the studios. The hard drives for the movies would come in on a CRU removable hard drive (shipped either by UPS or FedEx) and the content on the hard drives are encrypted. We would take the hard drive, insert it into the projection server CRU slot and copy the DCP package for the movie onto the projection server. The way our system is setup, we have an IMB (Internal Media Block) that is installed in the side of the projector that \"decrypts\" the movie files \"on the fly\". The movie files as they are stored on the hard drives are encrypted. The movie files as they reside on the server are encrypted. The digital pathway between the server and projector is encrypted. The actual \"decryption\" takes place inside the projector in real time as the movie is being played. There is no way for us to watch the movie on a video monitor. The only way we can watch a movie is out the front of the projector on the screen.\n\nThe \"decryption keys\" for the movies are sent out by the studios usually 2-3 days before we are scheduled to play the movie. The decryption keys are written specifically for our theatre. They are coded in such a way that they are only specific to our server and IMB with its own unique serial number. They are also time coded and date coded as well. A typical key will be coded for the specific movie file, in the specific format compatible with our specific hardware ( Closed Captioned, Open Captioned, 5.1 stereo sound, 7.1 stereo sound, Dolby ATMOS, 3D, Laser, etc.), and the decryption key will only be valid for X number of days, beginning at a specified time of day and ending at a specified time of day.\n\nWith all of that being said, we no longer use removable CRU sled drives at our theatre. In May of 2018, we installed a DCDC satellite delivery system. Now all of our movie files, trailers, etc. come in via satellite and are stored on a big mass storage NAS which currently sits in our Screen 2 projection room. The satellite downloads all of our media content and stores it on a Kencast server. The Kencast server is tied in to our \"Projection Media Network\" which is accessible to both projection rooms. It is my understanding that the satellite downloads EVERYTHING available from the studios in current release, but only the film titles we have currently booked are visible to us on our end. When we book a title, we will receive an email from the studios a day or two later that lets us know that the title has been published to our satellite server and is available to ingest on to our projection servers. I simply go to the projection server and using the touch screen monitor on the rack, I navigate the ingest point to the DCDC server and copy the files on to the specific projection server. Once that's completed (takes about 10-15 minutes), I check my email and download the decryption keys on to a thumbdrive and copy them on to the projection server and IMB.\n\nThe projection server IS the playback device. When I build a show, I choose which policy trailers to use, which movie trailers to use, and arrange the order of the content how I want it to play. Once I build the playlist and insert our automation cues, I schedule the playlist to start at a specified time on the specific days we are playing it. If we try to run the playlist anytime outside of the active window of the decryption keys, the only thing that will play is the policy trailers and movie preview trailers."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Cinema_Package#cite_note-2",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_cinema",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Motion_Picture_and_Television_Engineers",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Cinema_Package#cite_note-4",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_stream",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essence_(media)",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_Exchange_Format",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Cinema_Package#cite_note-1",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG_2000",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Cinema_Package#cite_note-Cinepedia-3",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
217bkg
|
why do companies like "boeing" need commercial advertisements if they don't sell to the general public?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/217bkg/eli5_why_do_companies_like_boeing_need_commercial/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cgab4sb"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"1. to help their customers. If you've just bought 1000 planes from Boeing you don't want to have to pay to convince your customers that those planes don't suck.\n\n2. brand. if you have a solid brand in the general public that is going to influence any airline's decision to purchase.\n\n3. brand. if you need government breaks, permitting support etc. - it's good to be in good public standing so that politicians don't look bad when they support you.\n\ni'm sure there are other reasons too!"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
32b6e3
|
why do we say humans used for testing are "guinea pigs" yet guinea pigs aren't used for testing?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32b6e3/eli5_why_do_we_say_humans_used_for_testing_are/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cq9kv9u",
"cq9lllv"
],
"score": [
11,
10
],
"text": [
"The phrase more or less stuck because guinea pigs were the most commonly used for testing back in the day (17th century, etc), even though that might not be the case today as they have been replaced by mice and such.",
"Guinea pigs are actually still used for testing, though they are used less often than mice. The term originated when guinea pigs were the primary test animals of English speaking scientists. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
8noahg
|
why do crowded areas have the worst reception?
|
So i live in Orlando and I’ve always been curious why the most busy areas have little to no reception. Wouldn’t the places with the most traffic get the most attention to providing the best reception?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8noahg/eli5_why_do_crowded_areas_have_the_worst_reception/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dzx2o2e",
"dzx38ww"
],
"score": [
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Crowded areas usually have better reception. \nIt’s the fact that many people are connecting and taking up network bandwidth.\n\nHere’s an analogy. Let’s say you have a pizza. People in the same area have to share that pizza while some one who gets their own smaller pizza seems like they get more.",
"There is limited total bandwidth, so if more users are vying for it the. Reception will be worse. While the carriers would do their best to add more capacity in areas that are always busy, they may have limited options for cell placement and might not have a way to increase capacity for irregularly large crowds."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
qayx7
|
how social security contributes to national debt
|
So it's part of federal expenditures, right? So could you cut it and reduce the debt?
But if people pay into social security, then wouldn't cutting it just be cutting the money that they paid into it originally?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/qayx7/how_social_security_contributes_to_national_debt/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c3w573q"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"Social Security was doing great. In fact, it was doing SO great that as the Baby Boomers entered the workforce, it took in WAY more than it needed. However in a rare event, Congress was smart and realized \"Yeah, but we're going to be needing this money when all these folks retire.\" So they decided to save it up in a **Social Security Trust Fund**.\n\nHowever, just like you don't keep your money in a mason jar, the SSTF invested it just like everyone else does with their excess money. They invest it in what is considered the safest investment in the world. US Government Debt.\n\nSo fast forward to the present day and there's no actual MONEY in the SSTF. Just Treasury Bills. Congress owes the SSTF a **SHIT TON** of money and now they need it because the Baby Boomers are retiring. Problem: Now Congress is broke too. So now WTF do we do?\n\n > So could you cut it and reduce the debt?\n\nWell you COULD. But then you have tell over 100 MILLION Americans that they have paid tens of thousands of dollars into it for their entire lives and now they're going to get absolutely nothing back.\n\n > But if people pay into social security, then wouldn't cutting it just be cutting the money that they paid into it originally?\n\nBut that money is gone. It has either gone to pay benefits for people that are currently retired, or was \"borrowed\" by Congress to pay for the General Budget.\n\nSocial Security isn't the problem. SS is viable in the near future and viable in the long term with only major tweaks (IIRC, either a 20% cut in benefits, a 2% increase in FICA taxes, or a combination of the two and SS is solvent for a very long time).\n\nIt's **Medicare** that's hosed."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
5wafiw
|
what does adrenaline do with your brain that you feel sharpend and stronger?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5wafiw/eli5_what_does_adrenaline_do_with_your_brain_that/
|
{
"a_id": [
"de8mwu0",
"de8vu3r"
],
"score": [
75,
12
],
"text": [
"When your body releases adrenaline it's because your brain has sent out an alert that you need to prepare to either stay and fight or run to safety (flight). You brain prepares your body by increasing your heart rate, so that your core organs are functioning at their highest level of performance. Your brain will also increase your vision to be focused on what is straight ahead of you (tunnel vision). Also, your brain increases your respirations to increase oxygen flow to your brain and organs.\nIt's interesting to note that when this fight or flight trigger is misfired from your brain, when there is no need to fight or flee, it is was millions experience as a panic attack. The physical symptoms you experience during a panic attack are due to the adrenaline released by your brain to prepare for fight or flight. Beta blockers have been found to assist in decreasing the amount and frequency of adrenaline in people who suffer from panic attacks.\n\nOh and the sharper vision is to assist you in your escape. For those in the panic attack category, they report feeling as though they have tunnel vision or that things appear dreamlike or surreal.\n\nHope that helps to answer your question.",
"Why do people that suffer panic attacks feel like they cannot breathe even though one of the functions of an adrenaline rush is to increase oxygen intake?"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
8fxe62
|
how are creams obsorbed by the skin?
|
What stops something unwanted from being obsorbed by the skin?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8fxe62/eli5_how_are_creams_obsorbed_by_the_skin/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dy78xp7",
"dy7fg0t"
],
"score": [
8,
2
],
"text": [
"Something unwanted can be absorbed by the skin. That's why contact with mercury leads to heavy metal poisoning or why you need to wear gloves when changing motor oil, because it is carcinogenic to touch but relatively safe to be around otherwise.\nIn regards to the main question, something like skin cream has several components that are absorbed in different ways. Small particles are able to be absorbed by cells whereas larger particles go between cells or are absorbed by glands. There are also some parts of the cream that can remain on the surface on the skin. ",
"Creams, along with ointments, lotions, gels and vapours, along with a few others can be included it what's referred to as 'topical' medication which usually means that it is applied on top of the skin or another type of membrane that will absorb the medication into the body.\n\nCreams, ointments and lotions in particular are usually oil and water based and can be absorbed through the skin.\n\nThe best way to stop these from being absorbed is to avoid touching them altogether. In terms of administering the medication (i.e as a nurse, carer etc), personal protection equipment such as gloves and aprons can be used to avoid coming into direct contact with these substances. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
8b959q
|
where does the energy from an engine go when the car is in drive, but the brakes are applied and the car is stationary?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8b959q/eli5_where_does_the_energy_from_an_engine_go_when/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dx4w61b",
"dx4whbv",
"dx5fj9p"
],
"score": [
19,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Torque converter. It basically means that the engine is spinning in fluid, and the another turbine I'm the fluid pushes the wheels, but when stopped, the engine spins freely in the fluid. [This video](_URL_0_) explains it pretty well.\n\nThis applies only to automatic cars but from your question, I'm assuming that's what you mean. ",
"It goes into heat. The air around a car is warmer than it would otherwise be.\n\nMost of the heat is in the torque converter in the transmission, but some is in the brakes and rotors as you slow down. All that heat is what makes these car parts hot and the reason behind all the cooling systems in a car.",
"Here's a pretty good video explaining the basic concept, in the same style with that famous \"how does a differential work\" from a while ago: _URL_0_\n\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://youtu.be/z5G2zQ_3xTc"
],
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfe2ym8ojOw"
]
] |
||
7potbe
|
what was nasa’s recent finding regarding the ozone layer improvement?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7potbe/eli5_what_was_nasas_recent_finding_regarding_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dsiycgt"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Ozone is a gas that protects the Earth from harmful space rays. It lives in the upper atmosphere.\n\nBecause of various kinds of air pollution, the ozone layer is being eaten (mainly by chlorine, bromine and fluorine). The way the ozone layer works is seasonal, so every winter we can figure out through chemistry how much we've damaged the layer. \n\nNASA has been monitoring it, and they say this year we've damaged it 20% less than how much we expected to. It's not much of an improvement but it definitely is there. This means the steps towards better ecology people have been making around the world is working, and it's having a great impact.\n\nIt will take about a century for the hole in the Ozone layer to heal, but we're going in the right direction now."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
tvnlu
|
why was microsoft investigated for anti-trust behavior?
|
I don't understand what exactly they were doing wrong in 90's that violated the law. Were they trying to get a monopoly on the computer market?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/tvnlu/eli5_why_was_microsoft_investigated_for_antitrust/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c4q4ovs",
"c4q5czf"
],
"score": [
7,
2
],
"text": [
"When a company makes it impossible for other companies to trade or sell in a specific market (a fancy word for all of the companies and people that a specific product is traded or sold to), they are called a \"monopoly\".\n\nIn the United States of America monopolies have been illegal since 1890 when a senator named John Sherman wrote laws meant to protect the american economy from any company that tries to control all of the trade and commerce within a market. These laws are now known as the \"Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890\".\n\nIn 1998, 20 US states and the US Department of Justice filed a case against Microsoft saying that they did bad things that violated Section 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.\n\nIn court, lawyers argued that Microsoft intentionally did bad things to make it impossible for any other company to sell operating systems or web browsers for PC computers.\n\nThe main arguments by these lawyers were:\n\n1. Microsoft has a monopoly on PC operating system sales.\n2. Microsoft has a monopoly on web browsers because they bundle their browser with their operating system.\n\nMicrosoft's lawyers said that other companies are just super jealous and that anti-trust laws are dumb.\n\nAfter the lawyers said all of their arguments, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson found Microsoft guilty of doing bad things to other companies in order to have a monopoly of the PC operating system and web browser markets.\n\nJudge Jackson ordered Microsoft to break up into two different companies; one for their operating system, and one for any other software.\n\nMicrosoft didn't like this, so they asked for an appeal (a fancy word for a \"rematch\" in court) from the Supreme Court (the highest authority in the United States justice system), but the Supreme Court didn't want to do it themselves, so they told Microsoft to appeal the case in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.\n\nThis is where there's a weird twist in the story.\n\nDuring the original case, Judge Jackson gave interviews to news outlets before the case was finished. He said that Microsoft is a bad company with bad people running it. Giving an interview before a case is finished is a violation of the Code of Conduct for US Judges. \n\nConsidering Jackson's conduct and more arguments by Microsoft's lawyers that everybody is super jealous, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly decided that even though Microsoft is still guilty, the US Department of Justice will decide upon a less severe judgement. \n\nMicrosoft told the Department of Justice that their punishment should just be that they have to let companies that make PCs to use operating systems other than theirs.\n\nAfter a while, the Department of Justice told Microsoft that their punishment is to allow other companies to make software that is compatible with their operating system, and to allow an official group of 3 non-Microsoft people to have full access at Microsoft for 5 years to make sure that they are carrying out their orders.\n\n9 states and Washington D.C. were really mad that the Department of Justice gave Microsoft such a small penalty, but the US Appeals Court said that the decision is final and that they can't have another rematch.",
"Part two of the Commerce Act states that 'taking advantage of market power to prevent competition' is not allowed and Microsoft was prosecuted for this.\n\nWhat Microsoft did was to bundle their leading web browser Internet Explorer with all new Intel based computers, this lead to decreased competition in the market for web browsers as it lead to IE being in many computers from the beginning whereas other browsers had to be installed by the user. Microsoft also made it so that IE needed to be on the computer for other programs such as Outlook Express to work correctly.\n\nNowadays the browser still comes with new computers but it is more easily removed.\n\nThis was why the violated the law. To answer your question they were trying to gain excessive market share (the market being the market for internet browsers) by abusing their market power.\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
47hln4
|
why do we like looking at certain things and dislike looking at certain other things?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/47hln4/eli5_why_do_we_like_looking_at_certain_things_and/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d0d0d7k"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Evolutionary response. It's good that feces and rotten fruits look disgusting so you don't eat it and girls are pretty so you make babies with them. Bot of these traits help you reproduce and send these genes to your children."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
wb4j1
|
what happens to gandalf in between tfolr and ttt?
|
Spoilers are obvious, right?
Anyways, what happens after he falls into the pit with the fire monster?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/wb4j1/eli5_what_happens_to_gandalf_in_between_tfolr_and/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c5bt51w",
"c5btl9t",
"c5c4ymc"
],
"score": [
14,
9,
4
],
"text": [
"He fights the Balrog, kills it on a mountaintop, dies, and gets sent back by the god Eru as Gandalf the White.\n\nGwaihir, one of the big eagles, carries him back to Lothlorien. Galadriel gives him white robes and then he meets up with Aragorn et al again.",
"There are people who can explain this a lot better than me (and I may get some names wrong), but essentially Gandalf is the same type of god-like being as Sauron. They are both the earthly forms of their type of being, called Maiar. Maiar are essentially the servants of gods. Sauron himself is the earthly form of the servant of the greatest evil that ever was, Morgoth. The wizards were all sent to do deeds for the gods in LOTR-heavenland. When Saruman The White turns to the 'dark side' and begans serving Sauron, and therefore Morgoth, there becomes an opening for a new white wizard, and the 'good' gods elevate Gandalf to this position after he dies, so that he can continue helping the heroes defeat Morgoth's servants.",
"The Fellowship Of Le Ring?"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
3dfuyv
|
how do people build all those machines that carve different custom details? do they invent them every time?
|
Like for example [this one](_URL_0_), it creates a very specific spring, and looks very custom. Do they show a detail they need to an engineer and he makes blueprints for machine from nothing? Or do they have prepared bits that do specific thing, and just combine them together?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dfuyv/eli5_how_do_people_build_all_those_machines_that/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ct4qdsh"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"A machine like the one that makes the spring in your example is a collection of different technologies combined into a new system (pneumatic arms, motorized discs, etc. \"Carving\" would be more along the lines of a CNC mill or lathe, a laser cutter, or water jet machine that has programmable paths. "
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://i.imgur.com/VVgwSdH.gifv"
] |
[
[]
] |
|
7kt7jh
|
why didn't europe start with the euro on a smaller scale first?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7kt7jh/eli5_why_didnt_europe_start_with_the_euro_on_a/
|
{
"a_id": [
"drgxfph"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"What do you mean “on a smaller scale”?\n\nAlso, it’s not like they just switched it one day. In the years leading up to official Euro adoption, the different European countries worked to keep a fixed exchange rate between their currencies (having a fixed exchange rate is basically the same thing as sharing a currency). Countries joined this program one by one and at their own pace.\n\nIt really was a gradual adoption"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
1g6mdc
|
how does prostitution work? pimps? brothels?
|
* Wondering how it all works.
* How do pimps hire girls?
* How do pimps keep girls working for them (Without the use of drugs)
* What is the conventional money split between the pimp and the girl?
* Are brothels safe? Do you often have rival brothels harassing you?
* How do girls from foreign country find pimps? (I've seen asian girls that come for several months then leave)
* Any other interesting facts!!!
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1g6mdc/eli5how_does_prostitution_work_pimps_brothels/
|
{
"a_id": [
"caha7gt",
"cahcr91",
"cahfbk6"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It's quite direct where I live. You go on backpages or similar sites. You find a girl that looks nice. You call/text them for rates, and if the rates are reasonable, you set up where to meet, usually in a hotel or in their apartment. For the most part, in my experience, they are independent girls, but there are girls with pimps. The pimps are usually protection that the girl thinks she needs either through experience or was convinced by the pimp himself. Unfortunately, pimps around where I live do shady stuff, like robbing you, making the girl leave earlier than what was agreed upon, and interrupting mid-coitus. Those are just some of the things I've heard from other people that is why some people tend to want to avoid girls with pimps. A good way to know which girl do not have a pimp is if she states \"No black guys\" in her ad. They think black people are bad clients, and if the girl do not have a pimp, than she can't protect herself, so they would just deny black guys. As for the split, I have no idea what the pimp gets.\n\nThere are also high class girls from escort services. Their rates are far more expensive than the backpages one. You can even get a pornstar if you pay enough. I have never tried those services though. ",
"Here in Amsterdam we have an entire part of the city centre pretty much dedicated to prostitution called the Red Light District. Hardly any of the women work on the streets. Rather, they sit in a window lit by red lights and wait for a customer to come into the brothel.\n\nWhat you should understand is that, yes, while there is a lot of involuntary prostitution, most of the Red Light District is consensual. The women hire one of the windows/rooms for a few hours a day, a lot of them have dayjobs somewhere else and do this on the weekends, for example. So instead of a 'pimp' they have a 'landlord'.\n\nSorry I can't go into any more detail about this. I've never actually gone to a prostitute, so I don't know the finer details of it, but what I told you is pretty much how the RLD in Amsterdam functions.",
"look up an old 90s documentary called American Pimp \n_URL_0_\n\nThat will lay it out for you quite well"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pimp"
]
] |
|
2ume98
|
what's that tingly feeling i get all over my body when someone plays with my hair or tickles my face?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ume98/eli5_whats_that_tingly_feeling_i_get_all_over_my/
|
{
"a_id": [
"co9oqvd"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"[ASMR.](_URL_0_) \"Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a neologism for a perceptual phenomenon characterized as a distinct, pleasurable tingling sensation in the head, scalp, back, or peripheral regions of the body in response to visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or cognitive stimuli.\""
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_sensory_meridian_response"
]
] |
||
2cnjdp
|
the difference between fur and hair, and if man is the only animal with hair.
|
I am wondering if fur and hair are describing the same thing using different words, or if they have different definitions. If they are different, are humans the only animal with hair.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2cnjdp/eli5_the_difference_between_fur_and_hair_and_if/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cjh7gcw",
"cjh7ijd",
"cjh7m1y"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"I believe it has to do with the difference in composition with respect to keritin",
"Equines have hair as well. Their manes and tails are made of hair, and not fur. ",
"Structurally and biologically [hair and fur](_URL_2_) are the same thing, and are both made out of keratin. [Keratin](_URL_0_) is a very versatile protein and is the base for many animal structures. For example, a rhino's horn is compressed keratin, and your nails are also made of keratin.\n\nColloquially fur is often used in the context wherein the animal has a thicker pelage as compared to hair which is often used in the context wherein the animal has more sparse filaments. Other animals whose fur is also referred to as hair include horses, pigs, elephants, seals etc. So your answer depends on [whose perspective you are looking for](_URL_1_) - the scientific answer says there is no difference, the colloquial answer really depends on individual animals (i.e. case by case basis)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratin",
"http://askanaturalist.com/what’s-the-difference-between-fur-and-hair/",
"http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-the-difference-be/"
]
] |
|
8dttsq
|
why is a honey dipper shaped like a honey dipper?
|
It's a unique utensil.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8dttsq/eli5_why_is_a_honey_dipper_shaped_like_a_honey/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dxpynvp"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"It tries to have a large amount of surface area in a small space, so a large amount of honey will cling to it."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
wri24
|
what's the whole deal with the kim dotcom case?
|
I know he's the owner of Megaupload, which has controversial issues with allowing people to host and share content illegally, but is there more to it or is that all? Also, is that why mediafire recently got strict with sharing content (can't get music from there anymore) and how are sites like depositfiles still around doing exactly what Megaupload did.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/wri24/eli5_whats_the_whole_deal_with_the_kim_dotcom_case/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c5fsv7r",
"c5g091r"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Well, I'm sure someone will expand on this. What happened in the beginning was MU had some of it's storage hosted in the US, Virginia I believe. A US judge used what's called a \"long arm statute\" to gain jurisdiction over MU because *some* of the files we're hosted in the US and worked with NZ authorities to have Dotcom's mansion raided and MU shut down. Lots of controversy exists now whether this was done with due process. Was it an illegal search and seizure? This is for the courts to decide.\n\nAs for storage sites that still operate, they're mostly hosted outside US borders to avoid being shut down. This was why SOPA/PIPA was so controversial. None of those sites would have been shut down, per se, but would have had their DNS entries in the US blocked/removed, IE you could still get to whatever website by using its' IP address. Mediafire probably got a severe warning and has decided to play it safe for the time being.",
"It's been an interesting case, and will continue to be interesting, because of the way the authorities have gone after him. \n\nThey're charging him not with copyright infringement but with things like criminal conspiracy which many people think is way over the top. So their case may fall apart. \n\nThe other interesting part is jurisdiction and procedure: he's not a US citizen, he's not living in the US, they seem to have seized his property and assets illegally, shut down his business and frozen his accounts meaning he can't afford to defend himself. \n\nTLDR: It's the first time anyone has tried to go after file sharing in this way and everyone's interested to see what happens. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
39frlu
|
why and how is there so much money in boxing?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/39frlu/eli5_why_and_how_is_there_so_much_money_in_boxing/
|
{
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"cs2yld7",
"cs2yubt",
"cs2yyl1",
"cs366z6",
"cs37qxz"
],
"score": [
35,
2,
8,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Imagine all the money for an entire season of football for a team. That's one of 32 teams each with coaches, 55 (I think) players, huge expensive stadiums bespoke for such events, ownership takes a cut, etc.\n\nGranted, football is way more popular in the US than boxing, but with boxing a top tier fighter will fight only a few times a year instead of 16 games. It's just one guy, a small training staff and that's it. Also instead of 32 teams, there are maybe a handful of fighters in serious contention for a title in the near future. \n\nSo really, there's just not as many hands in the pot to collect the money, but people still pay good money to see these rare events.",
"There is not a lot of money except in a few big fights each year. The fighters make more money because there is little overhead (no huge training facilities and stadiums) and you only have 2 people getting paid out. Also, with soccer although you have a larger fan base the majority of those people only watch it for free and you are solely dependent on ad revenue.",
"Pay per view. If 5 million households/bars/etc around the world are willing to pay $100 for the fight that equates to half a billion dollars and that's before advertising and miscellaneous revenues.",
"There isn't to be honest, theres like 2-5 people in boxing who make serious money, everyone else barely scrapes by, many of whom probably work a normal job on the side. Most boxers are moving away from boxing to become MMA Fighters since that's where all the money is, at-least for the average fighter anyway. \n\nBut as for the big event, they made all the money because of the hype, however due to the overwhelming disappointment they probably put the final nail in the coffin when it comes to boxing, because the average person just doesn't care about any of the fighters.",
"Because there's a large amount of money going to a single athlete, in team sports there's a budget for the roster. But unlike other sports boxers often lose a large portion of their purse from paying their promoter, trainer and etc. Some athletes in other sports retain more of their money due to that."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
wip78
|
what the big difference between gpu cores and cpu cores is and why there are several hunderd on gpus and why they are so much better at some stuff.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/wip78/eli5_what_the_big_difference_between_gpu_cores/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c5dnsgg"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"CPUs take an instruction, and perform it really really quickly. If the CPU has multiple cores, it can take more than one instruction at a time, or split an instruction between them if the instruction is specifically designed to do that.\n\nGPUs are ultimately the same kind of processing unit, but have a different focus. They are designed to take more limited types of instructions (specifically, the kind of massively parallel geometric calculations needed for graphics), which can be very easily split into lots of smaller instructions to run on lots of cores at once. That means that the speed of an individual core is less important, but instead you want lots and lots of cores to each do a little bit of the work. To help this, they have lots of optimisations for sharing data between cores etc. rather than for having each core go as fast as possible.\n\nA more modern trend is to utilise this ability to run other, non-graphics algorithms on graphics card. Again, although the individual cores may be much slower than a CPU, the massive parallelisation of having lots working at once and sharing data may be far more important to overall speed."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
4spaa1
|
how is .000003125% percent of the united states population deemed worthy enough for polling data?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4spaa1/eli5_how_is_000003125_percent_of_the_united/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d5b270j",
"d5b2a8s"
],
"score": [
9,
3
],
"text": [
"It has to do with finding a representative sample. Effectively, if 1000 people who are perfectly representative of the overall population are polled, it is exceedingly unlikely the overall population feels differently from them. This is true if the overall population in question is 20,000 people or 320 million. \n\nWhen polls are widely off the mark, it is almost always because the sample they polled is not representative of the overall population.\n\nA sample being representative provides a ton of explanatory power of the thoughts of the total population.",
"Have a look at [this map of the US](_URL_0_). It's 600x373 pixels in size, meaning that each pixel is meant to represent a square about 5 miles by 5 miles in size. There's no way the map can reflect anything close to the complexity of the US topography...and yet...it gives you a very accurate view of where the mountains and plains are, and where the dry and wet areas are."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://www.geomart.com/images/raisedrelief/usrand.jpg"
]
] |
||
1x697r
|
why is windows so vulnerable to malware and viruses?
|
Not trying to turn this into a Mac vs Windows thing, but I used mac computers for almost 5 years, and I never had any sort of virus. I also never used used any sort of antivirus. When I bought a windows pc, within a few months I ended up with the FBI moneypak virus, which was a huge hassle. Now I've heard about the cryptolocker virus which sounds absolutely terrifying.
Basically, why is it that windows is vulnerable to the point where a virus can completely take over your machine so easily, even with an antivirus? I was running microsoft security essentials, and it did absolutely nothing to stop the moneypak virus. I know in OSX you had to type a password to to allow a program to make any changes to system files, does windows allow programs to modify whatever they want? I know mac is built on Unix, is that inherently more secure?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x697r/eli5_why_is_windows_so_vulnerable_to_malware_and/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cf8gnqb",
"cf8hx9n",
"cf8ib0k"
],
"score": [
4,
7,
5
],
"text": [
"As windows was he most common home OS fopr along time virus development was concentrated on it. Additionally, most people dont set up the Windows accounts properly, up to the point where everything runs as root.",
"In Windows, at least in previous versions, you run Windows in \"Admin\" mode. As admin, that means that you have full control to change anything on your system. That means that any programs that you run also have that full control to change anything. Viruses exploit that vulnerability to infect your system.\n\nIn other OS'es like Linux and OSX, you have a separate account for \"root\" and an account for you as a user. You run programs in your user account, so any potential virus does not have the root access needed to infect the files in the OS.\n\nWindows was originally designed as a single-user system, so there was no distinction between Admin and any other user. Linux was originally designed specifically to support multiple users using it at the same time, so there was that distinction between root account and user accounts.",
"Windows architecture is weak by design, especially in older versions like XP. To their credit their have increased and enhanced the security of the OS, but it still has many holes that are almost child's play to penetrate.\n\nTo wit, Intel CPU microcode has four privilege levels or rings, and Microsoft uses only two of the rings. By only using two privilege levels, there is no separation between the kernel itself and third party drivers or loadable kernel modules (LKM’s). Drivers can modify the memory associated with kernel objects such as those that represent a process’s token, as can other web or app borne DLLs.\n\nA sophisticated rootkit can modify the objects directly in memory in a relatively reliable fashion to hide. Even sloppy viruses can do the same, but AV vendors can usually detect and stop those.\n\nBottom line is that Microsoft should implement all four levels of the Intel security, should isolate the kernel and its memory from DLLs, and from applications and user files (as do the Unix and Unix-like OS's.) "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1fighl
|
why does my head instantly snap when i hear my name?
|
I mean it instantly snaps to see who said my name, sometimes before I even mentally processed what I heard.
At what age should kids start to do this? And, how long should it take an adult to get that reaction if they changed their name?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fighl/eli5_why_does_my_head_instantly_snap_when_i_hear/
|
{
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"caakzge",
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],
"text": [
"Regarding changing your \"name\":\n\nAt work, my students and I use a particular call-sign on the radio when talking to air traffic controllers. Unlike commercial flights (which usually change call-sign each flight), it's common for flight training organisations such as mine to use one call-sign per instructor. So my students get very used to using my call-sign for the three months or so that they typically spend with me.\n\nWhen they change instructor (for example, for a test, although there are other reasons they may change instructor too), most of them will continue to reply to my call-sign when air traffic control are trying to call me.\n\n**TL;DR - even for a \"call-sign\" which gets used only for a few hours a day, much less than a name, people still get used to responding automatically to a particular call-sign within a couple of months.**",
"I changed my name 3 years ago and while I still answer to my old name, it takes me a minute to think \"oh, they mean me!\" anymore. My head snaps immediately to my new name, and did so within 6 or so months of changing it.\n\nI changed my first name AND my surname and I can hardly remember how to spell my first surname anymore.",
"My name is Kelvin, so science class instantly becomes about ten times more annoying when it's about temperatures."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
dddi1z
|
how much sovereignty does each country of the united kingdom have?
|
Especially compared to other sovereign states like say, the Soviet Union? (Which obviously no longer exists)
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dddi1z/eli5_how_much_sovereignty_does_each_country_of/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f2fyxuw"
],
"score": [
13
],
"text": [
"Technically none, the UK is a unitary state. The UK Parliament is ultimately sovereign over the entire UK.\n\nScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own governments with power over various policy areas. The specifics are different in each case, for example the Welsh Assembly has fewer powers over the legal system than the Scottish Parliament. However they only have any power because the UK Parliament has granted it to them, and in theory it could overrule or even abolish them.\n\nNote that England does not have its own government. It is ruled directly by the UK Parliament.\n\nIn practice though it would be difficult for the UK Parliament to blatently disregard the other parliaments/assemblies. It technically has the legal power to do so, but it would have significant political fallout."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
7paim6
|
how come every time you save an image the quality becomes worse and worse. would this still happen if you screenshot it?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7paim6/eli5_how_come_every_time_you_save_an_image_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dsfqo0h",
"dsfsomv",
"dsfz8uf"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"Often when you save an image (either saving it or screenshotting it) it gets stored as a compressed image file. Compression reduces the file size by averaging pixels or simply by skipping over unimportant pixels. Depending on the compression format, a lot of the image quality can be lost. Opening an already compressed file, adding text or a watermark, then compressing it again will reduce the quality further because it has to guess what the pixels used to be before.",
"This is not true. However, a lot of software recompresses an image when you save it. If you're saving as a different file type it will always recompress. You can never save an image as a higher quality than the source, but you can always do the same quality or lower. \n\nOver time, as images get passed around, the general trend is always going to be *down* in quality, since it can never go *up*. it could stay the same if everyone knew what they were doing as far as image compression - but people don't.",
"This is only true if you are using a lossy compression algorithm.\n\nLossy compression algorithms aim to reduce the space required to store a file by discarding information that is deemed unimportant. For example, JPEG stores color information with less precision because the human eye is not as sensitive to differences in color as it is to brightness.\n\nLossy compression algorithms are used because they can deliver much higher compression ratios with little loss in quality. However, every time the image is encoded, information is lost. If you keep re-encoding the same image over and over again, you'll lose more and more information until the image is unrecognizeable.\n\nThis is in contrast to lossless compression, which will encode the file in a way that (on average) uses less data, but without discarding any information. A file compressed with a lossless algorithm contains all the information needed to reconstruct the original perfectly."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2w1p2a
|
why is it snowing so much in boston right now?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2w1p2a/eli5_why_is_it_snowing_so_much_in_boston_right_now/
|
{
"a_id": [
"comvoxq"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"*cough* global warming *cough*.\n\nIn all seriousness, climate change is not simply a fraction of a degree shift. It also means more extreme swings in weather. Where it is warmer in some places, it is just as much colder in others.\n\nI feel it is not a coincidence that Boston is experiencing the most snow it has seen (ever?) in this short of a period of time, and California is experiencing one of the worst droughts it has ever had. (I would give more data points but those are the two places I pay the most attention to)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
5isv4k
|
how can a domesticated animal still have natural instincts?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5isv4k/eli5how_can_a_domesticated_animal_still_have/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dbaqg0n"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Animals (including humans) developed those instincts over literally *millions* of years. Domestication has been around less than 10,000. Simply put - we haven't had near enough time to overwhelm Nature."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
4yjtug
|
what happened to gaddafi's money?
|
So according to this article: _URL_0_ and this source: _URL_1_ Gaddafi had about 200 billion dollars and 70 billion dollars of it were seized.
That's a lot of money for every country, what happened to it? Who has it now?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4yjtug/eli5_what_happened_to_gaddafis_money/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d6o86cm"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
" > what happened to it? Who has it now?\n\nRight now, nothing. It is seized which means it cannot be transferred but still is accruing interest and is functionally a fixed asset. It can sit like that a long time; at some point when Libya has a functioning government which is recognized by the seizing government it can be released into their custody. But until then it can be held indefinitely, which might be decades."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/4yi2ev/til_that_mansa_musa_ruler_of_the_mali_empire_in/",
"http://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/entertainment-articles/25-richest-people-lived-inflation-adjusted/"
] |
[
[]
] |
|
a2trmg
|
do drinks containing water actually hydrate you?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a2trmg/eli5_do_drinks_containing_water_actually_hydrate/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eb13kel",
"eb13kpb"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Not even remotely an expert, but I'm fairly sure there's no try hard chemistry going on, the water in it remains water",
"You aren't changing the water molecules by mixing stuff in it. So when you mix cocoa powder into water, you'll just have a mixture of cocoa powder and water. Similar if you brew tea or coffee, it's just water with flavour compounds from the tea leaves or coffee beans.\n\nBreaking up water molecules, which would be required to change their chemical makeup, is pretty damn difficult and would likely make the resulting \"drink\" unsafe to drink, if it was even a liquid."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
7cv2an
|
why do sites like piratebay and watchseries constantly change domains?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7cv2an/eli5_why_do_sites_like_piratebay_and_watchseries/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dpsvpot",
"dq8qp8k"
],
"score": [
7,
2
],
"text": [
"They are being actively hunted by various anti-piracy organisation s. To counteract getting the domain banned/vlocked by providers, they change it, thus being able to continue operations.",
"Domain hosting sites have content policies.\nWatchSeries hosts their website on a business network.\n\nTo host WatchSeries, they connect their servers to a domain. Now when this happens, the domain service monitors content shown on the domain. If they see something they don't like, they shut down WatchSeries' site.\n\nWhat WatchSeries does is simply buy another hostname when it gets canceled.\n\nFYI: \"_URL_0_\" is still running. This was the original domain and they keep a link to the must current domain on that page at all times. You can write a user script to redirect from there."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://watchseries.to/"
]
] |
||
111tz7
|
why didn't detonating an atom bomb set the atmosphere on fire?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/111tz7/eli5_why_didnt_detonating_an_atom_bomb_set_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c6io0vf"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Simply put, there's nothing to burn in the atmosphere.\n\nIn its explosion, an atom bomb releases lots of light, heat, and tiny particles called fallout. This would be enough to trigger a combustion reaction. If there is anything combustible in the vicinity of the explosion, it would spontaneously combust.\n\nHowever, a combustion reaction requires both a fuel and oxidizer. Fuels are easy to visualize, like wood, gasoline, etc. In order for fuels to burn, you also need an oxidizer. Oxidizers are a separate compound that reacts with the fuel in order to burn. The most common oxidizer is Oxygen gas, which is fairly common in our atmosphere. \n\nOur atmosphere is made up mostly of Nitrogen and Oxygen gases. Oxygen, as we said already, is an oxidizer. Nitrogen is very stable and does not burn. What we don't have in our atmosphere is a fuel. So, an atomic explosion would not burn our atmosphere because there is no fuel to react with the oxygen. If a sizable amount of our atmosphere were composed of a good fuel, like methane, then any explosion (not just an atomic one) would be able to start an atmospheric combustion."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
4gs77o
|
if children can be taken away for negligent malnourishment, why not do the same for negligent obesity?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4gs77o/eli5_if_children_can_be_taken_away_for_negligent/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d2k9w00",
"d2k9zra"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"This is not a proper EL15. OP is straight up trolling, this has been asked & answered so many times it's getting kind of ridiculous.",
" > Don't post just to express an opinion or argue a point of view.\n\nYou want /r/changemyview instead."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
f99yi5
|
why are soaps more soapy at the beginning than towards the end of their life?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f99yi5/eli5_why_are_soaps_more_soapy_at_the_beginning/
|
{
"a_id": [
"fiqhrtq"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"By less soapy I assume you mean produces less bubbles. Reduced surface area together with reduced size and rigidity makes it harder for you to generate enough friction (less friction and force applied) to dissolve a lot of soap into your hands and consequently less bubbles."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
6uimc7
|
why does a smart phone touch screen work after the glass has been broken?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6uimc7/eli5_why_does_a_smart_phone_touch_screen_work/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dlsx17g",
"dlszdg3",
"dlszp9c"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
9
],
"text": [
"The glass is separate from the digitizer piece. Digitizer is it's own clear plastic panel under the glass. ",
"Most touch functions on phones work with whats called capasitive touch, which basically means that the screen has a small current of electricity going through it and everytime you touch the screen with your finger (or anything conductive) it disrupts the flow of electricity, the phone detects that and in turn you have touch",
"It cuts your finger because it's literally broken glass. Nothing special there.\n\nThe glass in a modern touch screen phone is actually there to protect the underparts, it takes no part in making a touch screen work it's just that the real touch sensitive parts are fragile and need that protective layer that's transparent, so glass is used. \n\nThe kinds of touch screens used in modern phones are known as capacitive. Unlike a resistive touch screen (the older fashioned kind) it does not actually sense the pressure of your touch but actually the electric charge of organic matter. It's basically all based on static electricity. \n\nSo there are 3 basic parts to a touch screen phone.\n\nTher's the glass layer for protection. The capacitive layer to sense the touch and the screen layer to display the information. These 3 layers are all sandwiched together. \n\nIn an LCD display, the \"display\" portion is also layered. There are the crystals and the light. The crystals themselves don't emit light, they just change color when different electrical charges are passed through them, and are semi transparent. The back light shines through the crystals to make the display show. \n\nSome modern types, such as Samsung's AMOLED screens actually integrate the display and the sensor making the screen appear much closer to the glass. AMOLED screens don't use crystals, they use diodes that emit light, so they also eliminate that backlight issue. That's why they can make better blacks. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
3qvghc
|
why do countries need gold (like the gold in fort knox) to maintain the value of their currency? how does this work?
|
Still in high school, but I've been wondering since I saw die hard 3 a few months ago. All the articles I've read are either people doubting whether or not there is gold in fort knox, or explanations as to what would happen if we lost the gold there. No "why's"
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qvghc/eli5_why_do_countries_need_gold_like_the_gold_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cwio00x",
"cwio1ky",
"cwio3kg"
],
"score": [
12,
11,
5
],
"text": [
"They don't. The gold standard was abandoned worldwide 40-50 years ago depending on the country. In the past our money was always redeemable for gold but at some point people realized that was stupid and money can now just be redeemed for other money and you have to just trust america itself will continue to exist and that itself is enough to make money worth something. \n\nFort knox is a little weird because they basically sealed a bunch of gold in a room and don't let anyone check if it's really there so it's easy to get some conspiracy theories saying maybe it isn't. ",
"It doesn't anymore. Most (all?) nations have abandoned the gold standard, which is what you call tying our currency value to the gold. Under such a system, your money is basically worth some amount of gold. \n\nNowadays we use fiat money. It's basically worth what it is worth, because the government says so. That is to say, unlike the gold standard, its value isn't derived from having some commodity like gold. \n\nAnother form of money is commodity money, where the money is physically made from the valued substance, i.e. gold coins. ",
"Contrary to popular opinion, a currency NEED NOT be backed by gold by most countries' central banks any more. It used to be that way long ago, but since the price of gold itself was moving, central banks of various countries had to do enormous juggling to maintain their respective exchange-rates.\n\nAs a result, the [Bretton Woods Conference](_URL_0_) was held in July 1944 by all the allied nations and it was decided that currencies need not be backed by actual gold anymore. One `US Dollar` represents a promise by the American Government and the Federal Reserve Bank that the paper will be compensated for a dollar's worth if there be a need. That doesn't mean that the Government actually have to back that with a dollar's worth of gold held in fort knox. Having said that, the Government does maintain a lot of gold reserve (along with other assets and instruments) solely because of its intrinsic value."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Conference"
]
] |
|
cmruew
|
how does the brain chose which sounds or background noise to focus on the most and which ones to ignore ?
|
Is the brain being selective with regards to the sounds it choses to focus on and prioritize and those that it doesn’t consider as important? Is it something that’s specific to each individual person based on their environment, lifestyle etc. or something that’s the same for every one ?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cmruew/eli5_how_does_the_brain_chose_which_sounds_or/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ew4azj0",
"ew4gdnk",
"ew4qoqz"
],
"score": [
4,
7,
3
],
"text": [
"What I can tell you is that the brain of autistic individuals is not doing this focussing right hence their behavior.",
"Two rules: emotional impact and new things/change/movement. \n\nYour brain focuses on things that have the highest emotional impact. In love with someone, you focus on them. Terrified of spiders, you focus on them. Nothing has an emotional impact, you get bored and think of something else. \n\nYour brain also focuses on new things and change. If a room is still except for a fly, your brain tracks the fly. Something touches your arm and your brain focuses on it, but your sleeve touches your arm for a minute and your brain stops paying attention to it.",
"What you are touching on is called [habituation](_URL_0_). It is common to virtually all life on Earth. If an organism is constantly exposed to the same stimulus, it learns to ignore it or tune it out, one way or another. At it's most fundamental, your body and brain learn to ignore those stimuli that don't matter.\n\nAn interesting anecdote: scientists often observe a creature's response to stimuli, determine when it has become habituated to the stimuli, and then make incremental adjustments to the stimuli to see at what point the creature detects the difference. (Slowly change the frequency of a sound, slowly change a speech sound from an \"R\" to an \"L,\" slowly change the shade of a color, etc..) This can tell you a lot about how creatures incapable of collaborating in your experiment (animals or infants) perceive the world by observing their habituation and dishabituation to stimulus."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habituation"
]
] |
|
1z8sdg
|
would our perception of time change if we were many times larger (100x, 150x) than we are today?
|
When VERY large living objects are projected in films, etc they move slowly, surely their footstep isn't 2 seconds long, at least to them. What im really asking is, is size relative to time?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1z8sdg/eli5_would_our_perception_of_time_change_if_we/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfrk1wg"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"Yes, probably. Larger animals in general perceive time more slowly, as it takes longer for any impulse to cross their larger nervous systems. That's why it's so hard to catch or swat flies; to them, you're moving in slow-motion.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/16/time-passes-slowly-flies-study"
]
] |
|
4vh9n2
|
how the gambler's ruin effect works
|
Thanks
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4vh9n2/eli5_how_the_gamblers_ruin_effect_works/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d5ybxcy"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It's a fallacy wherein the belief that something happen a lot at some point means it will not happen a lot at a later point, and visa versa. \nThe most famous example, which resulted in one of the names for Gambler's Ruin (The Monte Carlo Fallacy) is where a number of people playing roulette at the Monte Carlo Casino noticed the roulette wheel coming up black 26 times in a row. They believed that this streak would be followed by a streak of red, so many made bets against the black (for the red). This result in a great deal of money being lost by the gamblers, because the outcome of roulette is random. Therefore the chances of the result being red were no more or less than before, and the 26 blacks were just a horrible coincidence. \n\nA way this is observed more often would be a compulsory gambler believing \"I've lost so many times, I'm bound to win the next one!\" the chances of them winning don't go up just because they play longer, so they're guilty of falling into the trap of Gambler's Ruin. They think their bad luck must be followed by good luck, but this simply isn't so. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
1d376n
|
why did the price of gold rise during the recession then drop as the recovery faltered?
|
I'm having trouble understanding why gold prices rose during economic uncertainty then dropped at signs of more economic uncertainty. I'd be interested in an explanation of the economic forces at work here.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1d376n/eli5_why_did_the_price_of_gold_rise_during_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c9mfhrg",
"c9mlojj"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"It could be that your idea of the recovery \"faltering\" isn't exactly accurate. We're well out of our recession and things are continuing to improve on average and in many sectors, particularly in the US.\n\nIt's possible the drop thought may have been due to unrealistic prices (as happened during the housing bubble, or .com bubble, or tulip bubble, or bitcoin bubble) but that's certainly speculation on my part.",
"Are you referencing the most recent rather large drop? If that is the case that related to the speculation that Cyprus might sell of a large portion or all of their gold reserves in order to finance their bailout. Thus, with a flood of gold to the market, the price would drop, that was speculators trying to get ahead of that market behavior, with a panic soon following."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
dewtyk
|
what is the purpose of the phonetic alphabet?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dewtyk/eli5_what_is_the_purpose_of_the_phonetic_alphabet/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f2zhcog",
"f2zi9pl",
"f30elj0"
],
"score": [
8,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Considering half the alphabet rhymes with see (or sound really similar. I'm looking at you M and N), the NATO or phonetic alphabet was developed so that no letter can be confused for another.\n\nEven if you don't hear the letter crystal clear, you can tell what it is by what word is said. If I hear something like *ovember, that can only be one letter, N. No word in the phonetic alphabet sounds like or rhymes with any other. In case you're not familiar it's:\n\nAlpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee and Zulu.",
"Are you talking about something like the NATO Phonetic Alphabet or the International Phonetic Alphabet? Those are two very very different things. \nThough a lot of people are explaining the NATO phonetic alphabet, so I’ll explain the IPA. \n \nConsider the words “Mercedes-Benz” \nWhat sound does the letter ‘e’ make? \n \nThere are 3 different sounds the same letter makes. \nThis is because the english alphabet and spelling system isn’t really built around sounds. \nThe IPA is very very specific about what sounds the combination of letters make. \nIt would write out:\n/ɛɐ̯ˈtseːdəsˌbɛnts/ \nAnyone who knows IPA will immediately be able to tell you how it’s pronounced. \nThis makes it very useful for learning about languages. \nFor example IPA transcriptions would tell you the difference between how Americans and British pronounce the word Aluminum /əˈluːmɪnəm/ and /ˌæljəˈmɪniəm/",
"From an information theory point of view the NATO phonetic alphabet is a form of error correcting code. Rather than just sending a sound you send a whole word. That does two major things: first it makes it possible to correct common errors (since b and d and t sound similar but Bravo, David, and Tango do not) and second it detects certain other errors like missing parts of the transmission (because a word is longer than one sound it is harder to miss due to static or inattention)"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2xm4ub
|
why do dogs either lick the air or hate it when you blow air in their faces?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2xm4ub/eli5why_do_dogs_either_lick_the_air_or_hate_it/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cp1fcyb",
"cp1maes"
],
"score": [
3,
4
],
"text": [
"Or hear me out guys, they like it just as much as one of your friends just blowing air at you. You don't. It's annoying and invades personal space.",
"- They're not licking the air, they're licking their nose.\n- Your blowing air into their face dries up their highly sensitive nose, which is kept moist at all times.\n- Their reflex is to lick their nose and reapply the moisture. They can't avoid that reflex any more than you can avoid blinking when I blow air into your eye and dry it out.\n\nIt stings when your eyes dry out, and it's probably uncomfortable for them when you dry their nose out."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
9z5h4w
|
how does rain supposedly help with clearing smoke in the air?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9z5h4w/eli5_how_does_rain_supposedly_help_with_clearing/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ea6g7zj"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Smoke is made of fine particles floating in the air. If rain hits the particles, they fall to the ground. Rain also helps put out fire. Less fire = less smoke."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
5n6lf4
|
how can ice/liquid water be found on mars? shouldn't the atmospheric pressure force any water into a gaseous state?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5n6lf4/eli5_how_can_iceliquid_water_be_found_on_mars/
|
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"text": [
"As per wikipedia, [a phase diagram of water](_URL_0_).\n\nMars atmosphere pressure is 600 pascals, and so, couterintuitively, at any temperature below 0C, water will be ice on mars."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Phase_diagram_of_water.svg/700px-Phase_diagram_of_water.svg.png"
]
] |
||
1cyu20
|
why is dzhokhar tsarnaev still referred to as a 'suspect'?
|
I mean ... it's pretty obvious they've got the right guy, yes?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1cyu20/eli5_why_is_dzhokhar_tsarnaev_still_referred_to/
|
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"text": [
"There's no legal status corresponding to \"obviously the right guy\". You're a \"suspect\" until you're a \"convict\".",
"He hasn't been convicted, so he's still a suspect charged with a crime.\n",
"welcome to the civilised world, where you're considered innocent until proven guilty, and where \"pretty obvious\" isn't good enough to throw you into jail.",
"In America, you are innocent until proven guilty by a jury of your peers...",
"In the United States, a person is a suspect until the Constitutionally-provided judicial system makes a determination, using a fixed set of rules designed to ensure fairness, that you really are indeed the \"who\" that \"dunit. \"\n\nUntil that point, everything is just an accusation. When the gavel comes down and the court says \"GUILTY\" is when You're The One Who Did It, and not before.\n\nAnd of course, the court can be wrong, and there are certain potential avenues to get that corrected if that does happen. \n\nWhen you don't have such a system, you have a police state. When you have such a system, but don't like it, and try to supplant it with your own, you have a kangaroo court. When you have a judicial system, but it really isn't independent, and its decisions are actually controlled by a higher-up power, you have a show trial.\n\nThe media, especially depending on a particular outlet's political bent, and intelligence level, tends to fuck this concept up royally, and pass judgement on the authority of nothing but their own hubris and simple-mindedness.\n\nBut since the Boston bombing happened in, er, Boston, and the Boston media is running point on this, and the Boston media tends to be stocked with grads from local schools like Emerson and BU and other esteemed establishments steeped in a long-standing proud Brahmin intellectual tradition (not to mention a little thing called the American Revolution), they tend not to fuck this up nearly as much. As goes Boston, at least in this story, so goes the parasitic national media.",
" > it's pretty obvious they've got the right guy, yes?\n\nNo, it really isn't. He could be the wrong guy. Or he could have been an unwitting participant, duped by his brother or someone else. He could have been coerced, or mentally incompetent. Civilized countries have trials to work things out, instead of just saying \"pretty obvious\" and throwing people in jail."
]
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|
5f9975
|
why is there still cannibalism?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5f9975/elif_why_is_there_still_cannibalism/
|
{
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"Why was there ever cannibalism? That is the real question my friend. ",
"It probably has something to do with the taboo aspect of it. I'm not an official in it but I watched a documentary on the life of this one cannibal and he said it was like a spiritual and sexual thing. Kinda fucked up but some people consider biting and such sexually stimulating so it's not far off. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
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[],
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||
91gcke
|
why does the melting point of water drop at high (~2mpa) pressures
|
The general principle we were taught about melting points of substances is that as pressure increases, the melting point goes up (since it takes more thermal energy to overcome the effects of the pressure forcing the molecules together).
The melting point of water is pretty damn close to 0C all the way from the triple point (~600Pa) up to 10 MPa, and above the GPa mark it increases dramatically, as expected. But in-between, there's a "notch" on the phase diagram where the melting point drops as the pressure approaches ~250MPa. Why does this happen?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/91gcke/eli5_why_does_the_melting_point_of_water_drop_at/
|
{
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"text": [
" > The melting point of water is pretty damn close to 0C all the way from the triple point (~600Pa) up to 10 MPa\n\nThe line goes backwards pretty smoothly from the triple point to 200 MPa. If you see it not moving at the low end, then you are probably using a log scale for the pressure axis.\n\n > Why does this happen?\n\nNormal ice, Ih, quite famously is less dense than liquid water. The casual application of LeChatelier's principle then has higher pressure encouraging it to remain liquid, i.e have a lower melting point."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
1j4jn7
|
how does a strategy computer game determine difficulty? if it knows only certainty and exact probability, i don't see how it can "dumb" itself down.
|
I was playing poker with my computer and wondered how in the hell did they calculate the software. If the computer knows the hands of all players. (not online) How does it fake a certain win or lose? Same for pc chess, etc..
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1j4jn7/eli5_eli5_how_does_a_strategy_computer_game/
|
{
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"text": [
"For poker, although the computer knows what the other players hold in their hands, the software which calculates the computer's moves wouldn't make use of that information. The algorithm for what to do what be based on the computer-player's hand and the cards/bids which everyone can see.\n\nNow we've cleared that up, how do we get different difficulty levels? Well, there are several ways of doing it. In chess, we can adjust how many moves ahead the computer \"thinks\". In poker, we can deliberately play bad moves every now and then. And so on.",
"It'll heavily depend on the game, and how the AI works.\n\nFor example, a lot of AI is based around a heuristic function. What this function does is, it takes the game board (or hand or wherever things take place) and assigns a value to your current position in the game. It'll then consider an action it could take, and assign a value to this resulting position as well. If the new value is higher than the old one, this move could be deemed a good move. Now since a lot of games involve making some bad moves to then have an excellent one, ideally the AI has to think ahead as well, and consider what things would look like, say, 5 turns from now, and if it would be beneficial to make a few bad moves to get a brilliant one.\n\nWith that you already have two possible ways to make an AI worse. You could have it solve this, and then not pick the solution with the best value, but perhaps pick the second best, or even third best. Another option is you could make it think fewer turns ahead, which means a smart opponent can outplay them because they didn't think far enough ahead.\n\nOne key part to keep in mind is that the AI doesn't have to have perfect information. The programmers decide what goes into these heuristics, they can decide whether or not the AI should cheat and include information it otherwise wouldn't know. For problems that we don't have a great AI solution for yet, they may allow the AI to cheat to artificially make it harder. For others, the AI is already capable of playing incredibly well and they'll simply have to handicap it some using methods like those mentioned above.\n\nThis last part is some extra information about AI in these games. I added it because I found it fascinating when I first read about this stuff, YMMV.\n\nKeep in mind, while computers may seem very fast, thinking ahead for an AI isn't anywhere near as easy as people often believe. To give an example, let's take a very simple assumption. You're playing chess, each turn either player has 20 legally possible moves, and you want the computer to think 5 turns ahead. So turn 1 white: 20 possible moves. Turn 1 black: White had 20 possible moves to consider, and black can make 20 moves based on that, so 20 * 20. Turn 2 white: You have 20*20 previous possible moves, and another 20 you could make. Etc. This leads to 20^10 possible moves 5 turns in. Let's say 1 nanosecond to consider each move. So 20^10 / 10^9 = 10240 seconds, just to think 5 moves ahead in this. That's over 3 minutes. Want to add one more move? We're at 47 days. Basically, you quickly reach impossible numbers. You solve this by eliminating as many bad moves from consideration as possible. To figure out which the bad moves are in every scenario, you study the game, and find ways to calculate which moves are bad. In case of Chess, another thing done is you add end game tables (so you take common end game scenarios, and how to win them). Basically, we use a whole bunch of tricks to make the AI better, and all of them require specific research into that game, and how to play optimally. By default, a computer, despite being incredibly fast, actually can't think very far ahead in most games. The exponential growth quickly overwhelms even the speed at which a computer can do things. To make a good AI for those games, you have to find tricks to eliminate as many possible moves from consideration. As a human player it's easy to see those moves that are utterly stupid without even giving it much consideration, as an AI it's not.",
"For games like chess, computers can find really good moves, better than the best humans. But finding the absolute best move, a computer could run for centuries not be sure. So for a lot of games, it is simply a matter of not letting the computer thing about it very long.\n\nAnother way is to restrict the resources a computer can use. In chess again, you could prevent the computer from thinking during its opponent turn, or you could not let it use a library of good starting moves.\n\nBut the most common way of dumbing down a computer? Not letting it cheat.\n\nWriting AI for a strategy game is hard. If it isn't an established game like chess or poker, the easiest way to make the game harder for the humans is to cheat. This is games like *Civilization* work. At higher difficulties, the computer players get more stuff than the humans...at lower, they get the same, or even less."
]
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[] |
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[],
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|
40rtyq
|
why does rubbing your stomach ease a stomach ache?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/40rtyq/eli5_why_does_rubbing_your_stomach_ease_a_stomach/
|
{
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"text": [
"Its because your stomach is full of gas and poop, when you press on it you are dispersing them "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
37ijmd
|
why do companies but location restrictions on their products, don't they just lose money?
|
For example with the new HBO Now app that is only available to US customers, won't more people outside of the US just obtain their content illegally when HBO could be making money from willing to pay customers.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37ijmd/eli5_why_do_companies_but_location_restrictions/
|
{
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"text": [
"Delivering a service in a second market means that you have to obey the laws of that market. That means you're incurring costs to cut through all the red tape making sure your product is legal, and if the startup costs are greater than the expected revenue from reaching the new market, it's obviously a bad idea. You also have to pay more for things like advertising and infrastructure, and potentially do stuff like translating your product to another language.\n\nIt's also not a bad idea to play it conservative with a new product and test it out in one market before you expand it. Just to make up some numbers, let's say it costs $1 million to deploy their product in the US, and it would cost $500,000 to deploy in Canada as well. If the service turns out to be a flop, they're only $1m in the hole since they played it safe and only deployed in the US. If they deploy in Canada and the US and it fails, they're $1.5m in the hole. Smaller market, smaller gamble."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
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|
f71qjy
|
what is the difference between an allergy and an autoimmune disorder; for example to gluten/wheat?
|
I’m trying to explain the difference between coeliac disease and wheat intolerance to a coworker and while I understand the complexities of coeliac disease and how it can effect different people to different levels, I struggled when he asked me to explain the key differences between the disorder and an allergy.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f71qjy/eli5_what_is_the_difference_between_an_allergy/
|
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"I usually type up long comments here but I'll try to keep this ultra brief.\n\nIn an autoimmune disease, the sensors on your immune cells get triggered by things in your body, like proteins on the surface of some cells. Upon activation they recruit many other immune cells and begin attacking the target to destroy it, confusing it for a foreign body. So your body ends up destroying some part of it and it manifests as the disease.\n\nIn an allergy, the sensors get hyperactivated by foreign yet innocuous or harmless substances. So the immune cells things it's a foreign enemy that will hurt you and needs to be destroyed, and so they summon a large force of the immune system to combat this enemy. And in the process, it could kill you due to the complications caused by this excessive reaction (like swelling due to the release of so many signal molecules to make your blood vessels locally leaky, to help the immune cells mobilize towards the battle site, and this swelling can sometimes be life threatening like when it's in the tongue or throat blocking your breathing for example, and this is just one example of the complications).",
"I'm going to be doing a few podcast episodes on this stuff, so I've been reading up on it a lot.\n\nAllergy is a certain kind of immune overreaction to a harmless external substance. Allergies typically have a kind of antibody response (IgE) and commonly involves certain immune cells (mast, eosinophils, basophils). The substance being \"harmless\" is an important part of the idea -- not everyone reacts in to that substance and the substance doesn't cause you damage outside of your immune overreaction. The substance being from outside your body is also important and is a major distinguishing factor between allergy and autoimmune.\n\nAn autoimmune issue is also an immune overreaction/mistake. In this case, though, your immune system is overreacting to a normal thing inside your body. Antibody responses are around, but you see more types of antibody (IgE, IgG, IgM). You also see a lot of different immune cells involved, like heavy involvement of T cells. A major point here is the thing your immune system is going after is something your own body makes.\n\nAn interesting cross-over point here is that one way your immune system can make the \"autoimmune mistake\" is if it is launching an immune response to something else, but then getting that other thing mixed up with something in your body. This is called \"molecular mimicry\", and at least in some cases this is how autoimmune problems get started -- so your immune system could start getting mad at gluten, but then confuse gluten for transglutaminase 2 (TG2). Then your immune system gets all mad about TG2 and starts attacking cells with it, namely cells in your intestinal lining.",
"Autoimmune is when your body attacks itself.\n\nAllergy is when your body overreacts to some external factor (eg. dust in the air, or nuts in your food).\n\nGluten/wheat is usually something else - *intolerance* where body can't properly process something, and is reacting negatively to it (but not *over*reacting like in case of an allergy).\n\nPS. There are exceptions, and distinction isn't always so clear, but that's the rule of the thumb."
]
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|
[] |
[] |
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|
n4d5f
|
wtf is "fifth world"?
|
As in /r/fifthworldproblems/, and /r/fifthworldpics
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/n4d5f/eli5_wtf_is_fifth_world/
|
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"text": [
"Yeah, that's sort of the intended reaction.",
"Came here for an explanation, left without clicking a single link.",
"Yeah, that's sort of the intended reaction.",
"Came here for an explanation, left without clicking a single link."
]
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|
3f39lm
|
i've heard so many so called "right" and "wrong" ways we are supposed to use the word "irony". how is it actually supposed to be used and what are common ways it is used improperly?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3f39lm/eli5_ive_heard_so_many_so_called_right_and_wrong/
|
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"text": [
"Irony is when a situation occurs that is the opposite of what is expected. There are some other uses--like dramatic irony, which is when the audience of a movie/book/etc. know something the characters don't--but this is by far the most common use.\n\nHowever, lately people have been using irony to refer to any situation they find to be mildly amusing.\n\nAn example: If you meet a prostitute who comes from a place called \"Sextown\", this is not ironic. It's amusing, in a certain way, but it doesn't go against your expectation based on the name.\n\nIf, on the other hand, you meet a prostitute from a place called \"Chastity\", this is ironic, because it goes against the expectation.",
"My cousin once defined irony by telling this story. His girlfriend's little brother walked out of his room wearing giant camouflaged work boots that didn't go with the rest of his clothes. When my cousin asked him why he was wearing those shoes. The brother answered, they are the only ones I could find.",
"Irony is based on expectations. If you expect one thing in a situation but the opposite happens, that's ironic.\n\nThe example I like to use is from the song \"Ironic\". Rain on your wedding day isn't ironic. It might be bit annoying to ruin your wedding with rain, but there's no reason to assume that it wouldn't rain just because it was your wedding.\n\nNow, if you had your wedding in a desert solely for the reason that you wanted to avoid rain and it somehow managed to rain on that day anyway, then that would be ironic because you wouldn't expect it to rain in a desert. ",
"_URL_0_\n\nSorry, I just had to."
]
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3w5lbi
|
where the bible, islam and judaism differ in their stories
|
There are quite some similarities between Islam and Christianity in terms of story, also Jesus was Jewish. Where do these religions differ in terms of scripture?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3w5lbi/eli5_where_the_bible_islam_and_judaism_differ_in/
|
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"Judaism pre-dates the other two. What Christians refer to as The Old Testament is actually what Jewish people refer to as The Bible. \n\nChristianity came next and builds on Judaism. That's how come Jesus was a Jew - that's what was practised in that part of the world at the time. Judaism always claimed the Messiah would come, and Christianity holds that Jesus was that Messiah. According to Judaism, Jesus was yet-another-false-prophet, of which there were quite a few during that time period. \n\nIslam came later and builds on the first two. According to Islam Jesus *was* a true prophet, but not *the* Messiah. Islam holds that Muhammad was the true Messiah. \n\nBasically, all three are referred to as Abrahamic religions, since all three have the same roots. This is why there are so many similarities. ",
"The Jews were a tribe (or a group of tripes) long time ago. They had their stories, or their prophets. The stories talked about a promised a chosen one that will make Israel the best and strongest thing ever. That dude was called \"Messiah\", which probably means \"The chosen one\" in Hebrew.\n\n- Judaism stops there.\n- Christianity: Like many dudes 2000 years ago, Jesus also claimed to be *the* Messiah. But his story was way more successful than any other dudes who claimed to be the Messiah. Mostly due to the marketing of another dude called Paul. And how a big political nation \"Romans\" adopted that story. It might have been a bit distorted compared to what really happened during Jesus's days, but these are ignored (minor?) details.\n- Islam: Away from all that. Some dude in Arabia wanted to unite the people, starting with his city, Mecca. Mostly pagans, his first portions of the Quran were not related to Judaism or Christianity. But after he moved to another city \"Madina\", he found that it had a very big Jewish community, and a decent Christian one. He tried to be politically smooth with all, but having a ton of Jews, he marketed his story to be super similar to them (One God & we wait for the Messiah). He also didn't want to ignore the Christians, so he marketed his story to please them too (One God, and Jesus is his most important prophet, and we wait for his second coming). \n\n\n---------------------\n\n\nScripture wise:\n\n- Judaism: (I don't know a lot in this area) Jews wrote their stories by themselves in Hebrew (original language), sometimes actual writers of books did write them, and other times it was written about their stories a few centuries later.\n- Christians: The stories were recorded about Jesus a few decades later, and sometimes more than 100 years later. And they were not recorded in the original language of the time, but by the people who have heard about the story in other nations (Greeks & Romans). Many conflicts in the oldest manuscripts, and preservation was weak for this scripture.\n- Islam: 2 sources: Quran (claimed to be word of god letter by letter, and super well preserved). And the Hadeeth (stories about Muhammed's life and interactions with communities. Kinda preserved, there are many false stories that are made up, and the most authenticated collections were a few centuries after Muhammed)\n\n\nNot sure how the old testament differs within itself about the stories. But the new testament differs a lot about some details about Jesus due to the reasons mentioned above. And noticeably, Jesus is raised in divinity the later the manuscript or the book is written about him. And Islam just hints at random Jewish stories in no details, but having one author, it doesn't conflict with itself, but might be too vague when compared to older scripture.",
"There are a great many differences. I wish I had the time to explain them all, but here are a few tips.\n\nFirst of all, he \"Bible\" is not one, complete, book which is agreed upon by all Christian faiths. A Catholic bible is different from a Protestant bible, for example. \nThe \"Bible\" as Christians know it is a collection of books. Various denominations of the Christian faith use various collections.\n\nJudaism mainly uses the \"Torah,\" which is the collection of five books known popularly as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These five books also appear in every Christian bible as part of the \"Old Testament.\" \nHowever, there are other writings which Jewish people use and study. The \"Tanakh\" is a more complete work which includes the Torah and other relevant books, mostly writings of prophets. Many of these are found in the Christian Old Testament, although there are differences between Christian denominations.\n\nIn short, from that era, we have a huge number of important books describing people's experiences with God. Different groups of people chose particular books as most important to them.\n\nWhen Jesus came along, the Christian religion got going. All (I think) Christian groups use the same set of writings, collectively known as the New Testament. \n\nAbout 600 years later, the Prophet Muhammad came along. His writings, and the writings about him, are a continuation of everything that came before. If you go to the book store and buy a Quran, you will not find the same books as you will in a Christian bible or a Tanakh, but you will find references to them.\n\nSo, to answer the original question, where to they differ? Many, many places. You could spend years finding all of the differences. If I were a 5-year-old-child who was smart enough to read all this stuff, I would think it more interesting to look for the similarities.\n\nWhen I think about this stuff, I like to think about Abraham Lincoln. He lived only 150 years ago, which is not all that long, yet there is so much we don't know about him. We have a very good idea of what he looked like, but, for example, we don't really know what he sounded like. At the book store, you can find many books about Lincoln, and all of them have something different to say. Which one is right? You can never know for sure. If you read all of the books about Lincoln, and take careful note of where they agree, you will start to get some pretty good ideas. \nAll of the Judaic, Christian, and Islamic books are trying to describe what God is like. This is an infinitely more complex subject. I wouldn't dare to assume that any individual book is exactly right, but if I look for where they agree, I might find something close."
]
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93a40b
|
if hard liquor like gin, vodka and whiskey are said to have no sugar or carbs, how does it impact your insulin levels and weight? is the former just incorrect?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/93a40b/eli5_if_hard_liquor_like_gin_vodka_and_whiskey/
|
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"Between fermentation & distilation, there should be virtually zero carbs in hard alcohol. The body, however, breaks down alcohol for energy and *that* is what causes problems for diabetics & weight gain.\n\nA shot of vodka is roughly 100 calories. If you eat \"normally\" (ie - all you \"need\") and then have a few drinks every night, those calories add up over time.",
"Despite not having carbs or sugars, alcohol itself still has some Calories present in it (around 7 Calories/gram; which is almost *double* that of carbs or protein). These calories can impact your weight just like any other calories can (and in fact are pretty bad, because they are basically the most empty calories in existence as hard liquor has literally zero nutritional value besides those calories).",
"The body breaks alcohol down into a useable form to metabolize it. Carbs & Protein have 4 calories per gram, Fat has 9, and alcohol has 7.",
"Alcohol is metabolized before carbohydrates. It has a complicated effect on glucose use. People who drink moderate amounts of spirits like whiskey or vodka have lower rates of Type 2 diabetes. Drink alcohol with lots of sugar, though, and you can send your blood sugar sky high. ",
"Some people (not necessarily OP) seem to mistakenly believe that when the body “breaks something down,“ it just disappears, or becomes inert. This isn’t the case. The body breaks things down, or metabolizes them, into simpler compounds that can then be used for energy, namely sugar. \nHard liquor contains no sugar. However, when the body processes alcohol, it breaks it down into a usable form so it can be metabolized. \nI’m sure you already know that the “alcohol“ in alcoholic drinks is a specific kind of alcohol called ethanol. The metabolic process for ethanol is a bit complex, and goes through several stages. \nMost alcohol is metabolized in your liver by an enzyme called ‘alcohol dehydrogenase’ (ADH). ADH breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde, and then another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), rapidly breaks down acetaldehyde into acetic acid, which is basically vinegar. \nSo, to summarize, even though hard liquor doesn’t contain any pure sugar, some of the alcohol in it is metabolized into sugar inside the body, meaning even pure ethanol has some caloric value.",
"The hard liquors that have no sugar or carbs don't increase the insulin levels. \n \nSince they still have calories, they can still influence your weight. The calories come from the alcohol. ",
"The simplest way to understand why ethanol, the drinkable alcohol that doesn't leave you blind (~~isopropanol~~methanol; thanks /u/Iceman_259 for catching that) or in acute liver failure (~~methanol~~isopropanol), is understand a bit of organic chemistry first.\n\nWhat is a carbohydrate? Well, H2O is water; carbon is C. Slam those together and you get **CH2O** (this particular compound is formaldehyde, a lethal liquid used for fixing tissues often in the form of formalin or 10% formaldehyde). If we, however, add a factor to our simple carbohydrate, we begin to see familiar compounds, such as C6H12O6, or glucose, which can be read as 6(CH2O) which has a factor of 6.\n\nEnergy, which is kept in the bonds of sugars/carbohydrates (table sugar, or sucrose, C12H22O11), is how we derive energy. Anything we can consume which we can break the bounds of near a mitochondria will give use energy (although, there is plenty in that category which will also kill us in the process, so don't get any ideas).\n\nMoving from organic chem into biology: the break down in sugars (among other methods) allows us to create energy. This is accomplished via what's known as *glycolysis* and the *citric acid cycle*. We can turn glucose (C6H12O6) into two pyruvate (C3H6O3), which undergoes several biological magic, which produces NADH and some ATP. ATP, or **a**denosin **t**ri**p**hosphate, is the molecule which we use to move energy around cells (and our body as a whole). It is the most well known energy currency. We generate more ATP and NADH in the citric acid cycle. It is the NADH which moves off to the membrane of the mitochondria which allows for the electron transfer (all energy, or kJ/Kcal, in biology is about electron transfer) and produce the majority of our energy for cooking, thinking, and somersaults. \n\nBack to ethanol. It is broken down in the liver by a specific enzyme, called alcohol dehydrogenase (the *-ase* suffix denotes that this is an enzyme). This breaks alcohols down into acetaldehyde (or the hangover compound). Breakdown of acetaldehyde leads to acetate, which leads back into the citric acid cycle. Said differently, alcohol is a sugar with a hydroxyl group that can lead to energy production, but at significant energy cost to break down.\n\nNow, that's energy from alcohol. Question is, *how does it impact weight and insulin*? The short answer is... well, not that short. If you were to live off of only alcohol, you wouldn't have weight gain. Despite it being a drug which requires a stupidly high dose to be effective (30g+) there isn't enough energy from alcohol alone to furnish your body. Moreover, the lack of nutrition and increased acetate in the body quickly leads to neurological problems, such as Korsikof's Syndrome. Alcohol, however, is a stressor on the body, which leads to stress responses in many systems except the brain, which it acts as a neurologic depressant. The body is very good an anticipatory actions, such as anticipate incoming food and releasing insulin and other digestive enzymes and hormones.\n\nWeight gain with alcohol comes from three sources: first, damage to the liver, which modifies the body's ability to process particular toxins which leads to lipogensis to manage, in a round about way, the increased toxic load in the circulation (fat cells act as buffers/storage areas for some toxins, one hilarious example is psilocybin, or 'magic mushrooms', which is only funny when you ate it 10 years ago and now are experiences high enough g-forces that it forces it out of fat cells and into circulation again--this is why a fighter pilot can **never** have consumed them, else you'd get a tripping pilot in a $50million aircraft with bombs).\n\nSecond, we *tend* to drink socially or with food. This is the empty calories argument. Simply, the alcohol provides us enough energy that the body see benefit in storing excess from a portion of the meal. When we eat more food, we end up with enough glucose coursing around that the lipocytes get their fill of glucose, which via *de novo* lipogensis, turn into medium chain fatty acids. Moreover, our response to drinking the night before is to consume certain foods which we might otherwise avoid to cure that hangover.\n\nThird, we *tend* to be less active following moderate drinking and moreso after heavy drinking. This activity gap, which can manifest in many ways in people's lives, can lead to what is known as the *fuel partitioning problem*. It's difficult and even more long winded to get into, but the gist is that the body, with excess glucose and insulin, will eventually stop accepting as much insulin to move glucose into cells--except for lipocytes. This means the body preferentially stores glucose rather than spend it.\n\nOkay, so this was long. Hopefully it had the parts in there that help one understand that it not as straight forward as \"drink and you get fat\".",
"Does what people say in this thread also happen with sugar alcohols? I eat this protein bar that has 15 g of sugar alcohols in it. ",
"K. So I'm type 2, diagnosed in November. I was on metformin 1500mg per day and am now down to 500mg. I'm not a big drinker but I do like appleton estates rum and diet coke. I read that alcohol and metformin can cause (in extreme cases) lactic acidosis, I'm not interested in that. It doesn't say anywhere how to avoid this or how much is too much alcohol or anything glime that, so I've essentially not had a drink since November. Anyone know what's safe? My doctor said to just not take a pill, but didn't really say what timeframe or anything, it's not like I plan ahead to have a drink it's more of a when I feel like it thing. ",
"Everyone seems to be missing the link between how the liver effects your blood glucose levels (insulin levels). Type 1, insulin dependent diabetics (like myself), take fast acting insulin to counteract the carbs they eat, and a slow acting insulin (basal dose) to counteract the sugar that the liver produces. When alcohol is consumed it slows down the process of the liver, essentially acts as a not-so-effective basal dose.\n\nTL;DR: liver makes sugar, alcohol stops liver",
"Ethanol breaks down to about 7cal/gram. Ethanol breaks down super easily by your body. Proteins (4cal/g) and fats(9cal/g) have no sugar or carbs either (by definition), but over consumption of calories is what causes weight gain. Everything breaks down to glucose for cell respiration, which triggers insulin spikes. High cal = high insulin.\n\n(ignoring complexities of glycemic indexes, genetics ect, the above statement is largely true)",
"Body needs to use up calories for alcohol right away. If you don't eat and only pure alcohol sources (not beer etc), you will not gain weight when drinking.\n\nIf you eat when drinking or not long before, your body will store that food as fat for later use while using the alcohol for existing energy requirements.",
"Sorry, didn't see this mentioned but didn't read it too far.\n\nThe liver sees alcohol as a poison. As a result, it process the alcohol out of the blood as a high priority. What this means is that it lets the insulin take a back seat. The insulin continues to lower your blood sugar rapidly while the liver is too busy to remove it. \n\nA type 1 diabetic can die because people won't know the difference between you being passed out drunk, or passed out from a life-threatening low. The behaviour of a low blood sugar is too similar to the behavior of a drunk person."
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2p872x
|
can the nose sense pheromones?
|
Got two friends, they're bf and gf. Girl always says she likes the smell of the guy's pheromones. Is she correct in saying that? Or is she just saying in a smart way she likes how he smells?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2p872x/eli5_can_the_nose_sense_pheromones/
|
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"As far as I know, you can't smell them. They absolutely influence the receiving person's body, but the brain doesn't tell them that they are smelling anything. ",
"No human pheromones have been found to exist. But human smell can and does influence people."
]
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1n9bq8
|
if i hurt my dog on accident, do they know it was unintentional?
|
I got out of bed and stepped on my dog's tail on accident. He yelped and I spent about three minutes petting him. Will he know that it was an accident and not intentional?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1n9bq8/eli5if_i_hurt_my_dog_on_accident_do_they_know_it/
|
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"To answer your basic question: dogs do seem to sense when you hurt them on purpose vs by accident.\n\nNote that when you accidentally step on their tails, they yip at first, but usually come right back to you with wagging tail. Conversely, when you're angry with them and bat their nose or something for biting or whatever, you'll notice that they will lower themselves to the floor with their tails between their legs.\n\nThis says that they can generally tell your intention, however, if you're truly alpha dog (which you should be), then they won't be upset if you do it on purpose, but assume that they did something wrong and grovel. If your dog isn't grovelling, they probably know it was an accident.",
"Dogs are very good at picking up on human's body language. I'm sure he could tell by your body language that you are not a threat. ",
"Yay! An ELI5 I can answer! I am a positive reinforcement trainer and I learned about *Relevance* and *Irrelevance* in college.\n\n**Example - Something Relevant:** A skateboard rolling down the sidewalk startles your dog and he yelps. You scream and run over to the dog to pick him up. You carry him into the house and spend the rest of the afternoon soothing and caressing him on the sofa.\n\n**Example - Something Irrelevant:** You drop a glass in the kitchen sink and cut yourself. Your dog is startled by the noise, but since you are unaware your dog is in the kitchen behind you and are busy tending to your own cut finger, you don’t rush to console him. He quickly returns to see what is keeping your attention in the sink. You turn to the dog when you can and interact with him as if nothing happened because you didn’t see him get startled.\n\nSummary: Skateboards are extremely *Relevant* to the dog and he is terrified of them; the sound of breaking glass is *Irrelevant.*",
"I'd say that it's a safe bet that the dog won't treat you any differently. The only way I see an accident turning into a long term issue would be if it was still very young and thought that would become a regular occurrence. Or maybe the dog will just not sleep next to your bed anymore. ",
"They know it's an accident by your body language.\n\nI volunteer (well when I have time) at a shelter walking dogs. A lot of them are pit bulls. I've kneed a many in the head (you're walking, the dog suddenly stops and puts his head right where your knee is to look around and BAM you just kneed him). Their reaction? Immediately look at you to see if you're mad at them. If not, they act like nothing happened. It helps that pit bulls have heads like concrete though.\n\nI've also almost broke a dog's leg before. I was putting her back into her kennel. The door wouldn't close so I was tugging at the door and she was going nuts and biting (not hard, just mouthing) my arms. I was like \"wtf? why won't this close? Why is she biting me?\" Then I noticed her leg was caught in the door and I was trying to close the door on her leg. I felt terrible and freed her leg and was all worried that she would hate me but the second her leg was free, she immediately acted like nothing ever happened.",
"yes, it's all about how it happened, and how you act afterwards. if you're aggressive after the incident, the dog knows it was done in malice, if you pet them and use the \"sorry\" tone of voice, their body language would indicate acceptance of apology",
"I've been getting into dog psychology recently. One thing I learned is that dogs are animals that move on easily. Not only that they move on fast too. If treated correctly, a dog that could have been abused for 6 years can quickly move on and be comfortable as well as trusting around its new owner. A little thing such as accidentally stepping on a tail, poking in the eye etc is nothing. Apologizing I would say is pretty important, however you don't need to spend a lot time. Just say sorry and pet on the head, not on the underside(that's important) and let it go. Make sure to use a kind tone of voice to let the dog know it didn't do anything wrong. You must also stay calm, getting nervous or shocked will pass the energy on to the dog",
"Did you apologize? ",
"When I accidentally step on or slam something into my dog, he barely seem to notice. If I tap my dog on the nose with 1 finger when I'm mad and he knows he did something wrong, he acts like I just smashed a baseball bat into his face and like I'm going to follow it up by taking him to my torture dungeon for a few weeks. In my own personal experience, they know. ",
"If I accidentally anything my dog, I apologize and offer comfort immediately so she knows it wasn't cruelty or punishment.",
"Dogs do remember harms that are done in earnest. They forget accidents.",
"Yeah, they're ridiculously good at sensing what sort of emotional state you're in via non-verbal cues. A lot of intra-pack communication is via body language--fur up/down, tone of bark, stuff like that. Imagine you're watching soap operas in a language you don't speak--you can tell when you're supposed to laugh or be sad or whatever even if you don't know precisely what's going on. \n\nI watched [ Rec 2 ] in Spanish, which I don't speak at all. A couple years later I saw it with subtitles. I had it about 90% right.\n\nSimilarly, I'm certain your dog can tell the difference between tripping over him when you walk down the hall in the middle of the night vs. kicking him because he ate your burrito, or whatever. \n\nSource: I have a fuckton of dogs. ",
"Famous quote: Even a dog knows the difference between being kicked and being tripped over.",
"My dog LOVES it when I say I'm sorry.\n",
"To expand on others...\n\nDogs really are uniquely gifted at reading human body language. So much so that they are (almost?) the only animal to look at a humans eyes to judge intent.\n\nSmarter dogs can actually look at your eyes to get a clue on where a toy is hidden for instance.\n\nSo even the uh, less smart breeds, can read enough of your body language to understand an accident when it happens fairly easily. Though that doesn't necessarily mean they won't be skittish of a similar situation in the future if it was a bit traumatic.",
"I have done this so many times",
"For true insight into behavior, check out this link:\n_URL_0_\n",
"\"Even a dog knows the difference between being kicked and getting tripped over.\" Oliver Wendell Holmes.",
"The few times I've unintentionally hurt my dog, he didn't seem to take it personally. He seemed sad for a second until I made a huge fuss by going OH MY GOD IM SO SORRY I LOVE YOU and snuggling him then I give him a treat. No hard feelings. \n\nFor the record I've **never** intentionally hurt my dog so I have no other reaction to compare it to. ",
"Dogs pick up on your mood. If you're angry, they know it. So if it was an genuine accident, they'll know it. \n\nI remember I was playing soccer with my brother when i was younger and My dog got in the way of my kick and I kicked her. I then felt really bad and hugged her and I'm pretty sure she knew I didn't mean to do it.",
"The look on your face was enough for him to know. Dogs are masters of non-verbal clues to behaviour.",
"Some animals can. I saw a chimp study years ago, where a person would bring them a drink. One person would accidentally trip and spill the drink, the other would intentionally pour it out. The chimps would pick the person who dropped it on accident to bring them another drink. But chimps are probably many factors smarter than dogs, so I'm not sure how far down the animal chain you can go.\n\n",
"In my experience, dogs will always be loyal to you unless they know that you're going to abuse them. I've accidently stepped on my yorkie plenty of times, the poor little thing. But he's always happy to just on me when I'm eating something or into the laundry basket when I'm folding clothes. He's a loyal dog, as are most others. They know you love them if you show care for them. :)",
"I think so. I ran over my dogs tail while backing up in my rolly chair just tonight (on accident of course) and she yipped and ran straight between my legs. Then proceeded to lay down again right behind my chair..",
"There was a video of a little girl hitting a horse in a disrespectful manner, when she turned her back the horse got a mouthful of her hair and tugged. Some how animals know the differences in our actions and intentions, because you know that kid did not hurt the horse, but the horse felt strongly enough to think it warranted a response. \n\nPs: I'll see if I can't find the video. \n\nThink this is it, been a while since I have watched it. _URL_0_\n",
"What about cats? I've accidently stepped on my cats tail before and she just gets mad and ignores me when I try explaining that I didn't mean to hurt her.",
"I have 3 small dogs and each one knows when I do something on accident. They are always under your feet so they get kicked, stepped on, etc. Usually, they look up at me with puppy eyes and I apologize. But then they go back to normal like nothing happened.\n\nIf I punish them on purpose, they will run from me or \"go lay down\" like I yelled at them to but minutes later, you'll see them peaking around the corner or even come over to me and put their head in lap or lick my hand. I've always referred to that as them apologizing.\n\nWeirdly enough, I have a male cat who knows when he is in the wrong. If I scold him for something that he did, he will also come apologize. If I did something to him accidentally, he's a complete ass unless I apologize to him. It's kind of cool. He's mostly an asshole, though.",
"My fathers dog is the happiest dog I have ever met. \n\nHe wags his tail constantly. Sometimes he wags his tail very fast and smacks it into a table or door frame. He yelps and looks at you like you did that to him. Prick.",
"Cats seem to assume you just did it on purpose.",
"They give you the benefit of the doubt.",
"On top of everything in this thread, your reaction afterwards is a clear sign. Even when I scold my dogs, they'll give me this look and they test whether they can come to me and I'll hug them or I'll push them away.\n\nMelts my heart.",
"Dog's seem to get the general idea based on your emotions. Most people don't realize how well dogs can read us based on facial/body language cues.\n\nIn fact, one prominent theory suggests that dogs can generally read you through eye contact.",
"IT'S THREADS LIKE THESE THAT TEMPT ME AWAY FROM BUYING A KITTY :(",
"While not quite the same thing; when my dog was much older he decided to jump down in a dry creek and couldn't get out. So, he let out his distress bark. I naturally could hear the difference in this particular bark so I ran down to see what was wrong. My dog was big; I mean Rottweiler big; and I couldn't lift him by myself out of this creek. So I placed his front paws on the bank and started to give his hind end a push. This is how I found out he had a bad hip; because he yipped and growled at me. I jumped back 10 ft because I'd never seen my dog act vicious.\n\nAs I looked at him with this look of fear and WTF; he looked back and saw it was me. He immediately dropped; his tail, his head; this dog was emotionally hurt. I assume he'd foregotten he was me and wasn't sure who was back there. I went over to him, petted his head; told him it was ok and he obviously didn't mean it. He slowly picked his head and tail back up; I put his paws back on the bank and gave him another push. He whimpered; but he didn't growl at me this time. Then he stood at the side of the bank trying to help pull me out of the creek..which I was perfectly capable of getting out of. \n\nIt taught me something; that dog was a LOT smarter and understood my behavior more than I ever thought. Sure, I'd accidently stepped on his paw when he was younger and always got down and petted him and apologized for it. That dog knew I never intended to hurt him; and when he thought he'd hurt me; boy could I see he felt as bad as I did all those times I accidently hurt him.\n\nGoing with the tripping over a dog; I did trip over him in the middle of the night; landed right on him. That didn't even bother him...he just started licking my face.",
"Yes it depends on your reaction afterwards. Just apologize and love them up and they will know. Besides if you die they will eat your face so who rally cares. "
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3ebl71
|
why do agencies like cia, fbi, mi5 etc. keep records that clearly show that they are breaking international treaties and laws?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ebl71/eli5_why_do_agencies_like_cia_fbi_mi5_etc_keep/
|
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"They destroy a vast majority of that evidence, but they still have be able to track their own activities - imagine an organization that specializes in secrets and information, not having any of that stuff lol. They have MANY contingency plans for leaks, cover-ups, emergency data destruction, fail-safes - they know what they're doing when it comes to information. "
]
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|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
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||
2u1uqc
|
what does the recent move by yahoo to spin off alibaba shares actually mean?
|
I understand Yahoo is creating this Spin-Co company, but why? Is it to get out of taxes? If that's the case why is that permitted? The un-taxed profits will be going back to Yahoo shareholders, but what about Alibaba's?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2u1uqc/eli5what_does_the_recent_move_by_yahoo_to_spin/
|
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"OK. My understanding is that they are not doing with the intent of savings on taxes. The intent of the spin off is not tax related. However, tax consequences could prevent the deal from happening. If they can structure the deal to save yahoo a bundle on taxes then the spin off makes good seance. \n\nYahoo is worth about 45 billion. They own 15% of Alibaba and that's worth about 40 billion. So investors are therefore concluding that Yahoo's core businesses is only worth about 5 billion.\n\nIf they can spin off the Alibaba shares into a new company, it will take that 40 billion with it. Leaving Yahoo as worth about 5 billion. The trick here is that most people \"in the know\" figure that Yahoo's businesses is actually worth about 7 or 8 billion. So by doing the spin off they think that the shares of the remaining Yahoo corp will correct to show the 7 or 8 billion valuation. \n\nThe spin off only works if it can be done in a tax saving manor. That's where the tax headlines are coming from. If they were to pay the standard tax on disposing of all of those Alibaba shares then the deal would no longer make money for the investors. "
]
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|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
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|
7gz09g
|
why is france in general (and paris in particular) considered to be a country of romance?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7gz09g/eli5_why_is_france_in_general_and_paris_in/
|
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"In comparison to much of Europe, specifically the UK, and to the US the French are much more casual when it comes to sex and sexual expression. They are also known for good food, and have a lyrical flowing language. Combine all of that and add to it as slight pride in the concept of big romances within the culture and you have a country and people that become known for romance. ",
"I guess the reason is the 18th century.\nFrance was the central of culture and was famous for the love affairs and all the stuff.\n\nMany royals were send there to marry someone. ",
"What I remember reading from a book entitled \"Sophie's World\" was that the philosophy (basically one's interpretation of the world around them, the codes they live by) was divided into two categories, classical and romantic (this was in the 1700s, 1800s and so on). Classical philosophy has to do with logical thinking, like maths and so on...romantic philosophy has to do more with the arts, music, food, paintings, theater, and the expression of emotion especially love.. Romantic philosophy really took off in England but then spread to France, in like the early 1800s. From then on they really embraced the culture and had great pioneers in each respective field like music, theater and such. Their romantic culture then spread to other countries; as the world in that point in time was starting to shift away from classical philosophy that dominated thinking.\n\nThat's basically what I remembered from the book and other readings. If you're interested in philosophy or just curious in general, I would recommend this book 100%. It's written in a fictional way that anyone can pick up and understand while sticking to some very interesting topics.",
"Because in much of Europe and European-decent countries sex is considered naughty, as is anything associated with sex like kissing and verbal intimacy.\n\nThe French don't see it that way - they celebrate sex and relationships and affection. There's a mistress's palace for the French Prime Minister's girlfriend to use - but he's also expected to have a wife. And it's generally in use too.\n\nSo basically you've got one place where sexual taboos are lessened surrounded by lots of places where it's considered naughty and best kept to oneself. So it naturally is seen as a more 'sexual' place, and people from other regions visit they are exposed to naughty things talked about freely."
]
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[] |
[] |
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[],
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4xglia
|
why do judges wear judge robes instead of just a suit or dress?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4xglia/eli5why_do_judges_wear_judge_robes_instead_of/
|
{
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"text": [
"When the United States separated from England, there was a debate between some of the founding fathers as to what judicial dress should be. Jefferson argued that judges should wear normal suits (normal for the time, anyway) instead of wigs and robes that were common for that time period in England, but another founding father (not sure, but I want to say Adams) wanted to keep the tradition. They ended up compromising, with no wig and a robe. \n\nSo the only reason is pretty much tradition. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
8ut8dc
|
what is the world trade organization? why is it important? and what are the consequences of leaving it?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8ut8dc/eli5_what_is_the_world_trade_organization_why_is/
|
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"text": [
"The world trade organisation makes standards for trade which countries follow to make trade more efficient.\n\nFor example, how to handle shipping animal/food products between countries, standard sized containers and related equipment, how to handle country of origin for products built in multiple countries and many many more.\n\nThe WTO also settles trade disputes, such as product dumping, unfair restrictions on trade and other trade matters. It also encourages member states to reduce tariffs to make the world more efficient and promote economic growth worldwide.\n\nIf a country leaves the WTO, it is a symbolic stance that they will no longer follow these rules of international trade. They may ignore the greater good of mankind and do everything solely in their own favour. Countries may freely ban goods from certain countries, raise tariffs, make goods incompatible with a rival nation to hurt them, slash currency price to dump their products and so on.\n\nFundamentally, the WTO is a solution to the prisoner’s dilemma. We can all prosper if we cooperate, suffer if we fight, but it is always more beneficial for a party to fight than cooperate. We put faith and trust in the WTO to force us to cooperate.",
"There seems to be some misunderstanding as to what the WTO is in here.\n\nTo begin with, the WTO only came into being in 1995 - its not a particularly old international organization.\n\nAs to what it does, it primarily serves as an arbitration choice that countries can use to resolve disputes that are covered by certain treaties.\n\nWhen two or more countries agree to sign a treaty, they will usually designate an international arbitration court to decide any disputes that are covered by that treaty. By far the most popular of these is ICSID, which is run by the World Bank.\n\nThe WTO is an alternate choice that countries can choose to use instead of ICSID. Countries typically choose the WTO for trade agreements because its focus is on trade disputes in which both participants are sovereign nations, while ICSID tends to focus on business disputes in which one side is a sovereign nation and the other is a foreign investor.\n\nThe WTO also has a small \"research\" department that publishes some trade related statistics. Most of this is just aggregating pre-existing data that has been published by member countries, and it is a very minor function that the WTO performs.\n\nThe WTO isn't really something that countries are active participants in. \"Leaving\" can mean several things, but most likely means no longer recognizing the WTO as a choice of venue for international agreements that a country is party to. This could mean that those agreements are then broken, or it could mean that the countries involved just pick a new venue to resolve their disputes, such as ICSID.\n\nBut even in the first case in which the agreements are broken, the immediate effect of that is very minimal. International agreements have to be codified into a country's domestic law to have any practical effect. Although countries can break agreements whenever they want, in practice those agreements remain in effect until one of the countries involved changes its own domestic law to be in conflict with the previous treaty.\n\nSo for example, lets say that India and Pakistan have a trade agreement that says they will not embargo one another, and which designates the WTO as the venue to resolve their disputes under that treaty. India can tell Pakistan: \"we no longer recognize the WTO as a valid choice of venue to resolve our disputes\" and, voila, the treaty is now broken. But until India's Government passes and implements an embargo on Pakistan the situation between the two countries remains the same."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
2dew8u
|
what makes this propellant-less solar sail idea impossible or impractical?
|
With all the buzz surrounding the EmDrive/Cannae drive, I only recently realized that any engine powered solely by electricity could theoretically accelerate to near lightspeed and get to our closest stellar neighbors in only a couple of decades or so, depending upon acceleration speed. Since no is 100% sure that microwave drive works, what makes this design flawed and not our holy grail for space travel?
[The Holy Grail](_URL_0_)
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2dew8u/eli5what_makes_this_propellantless_solar_sail/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cjouq6s"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Conservation of momentum. The ejection of radiation would push the craft to the left. The capture of that radiation on the sail would push the craft right. Both of these effects would cancel out and you wouldn't move."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://imgur.com/LxxA53S"
] |
[
[]
] |
|
5zev9q
|
how statistics work
|
I've come across random statistics on Twitter, etc and I've always wondered how they are calculated. In my head I think that to have an accurate statistic, you would need to have 100% of people that fall in whatever category you're surveying to participate. Since we know that is never the case, how are they calculated, and better yet why are they accepted and able to be used as accurate percentages?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5zev9q/eli5_how_statistics_work/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dexjzte"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"_URL_0_\n\nBasically, you don't need to sample all of a group to get a good statistic about a group. You only need to sample a portion of the group - and a bigger portion that you sample will give you a more accurate statistic.\n\nConsider M & M's candies. In a packet of M & M's, each candy has a different colored candy shell. Some are red, some are green, some are yellow, some are blue, and some are brown. If you open up a packet and count how many of each there are, you can work out what percentage of each color there was in that package, right? If there were 20 candies in the packet and 4 were green, you might think that you'll get a green candy about 20% of the time (4/20 = 20/100 = 20%).\n\nNow imagine that you opened up ten packets instead. You might not get exactly the same percentages as before, but they'll probably be pretty close. Since your sample size is now larger, your new percentages are probably more accurate. Let's say you have 44 green ones now, so you can guess that you'll get a green one about 22% of the time.\n\nNow let's say I have a big bag full of 10,000 M & M's. How many do you expect will be green? It's impossible to guess exactly, but our previous experience with smaller bags leads us to believe that we will get about 2200 green ones, or 22%. We could have guessed 2000, of course, which is the 20% estimate from our smaller one-packet sample, but that would probably be less accurate."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_large_numbers"
]
] |
|
359973
|
how does banning a book not conflict with freedom of speech laws?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/359973/eli5_how_does_banning_a_book_not_conflict_with/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cr280zi",
"cr2858l"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"You might need to be more specific. If a book was prevented from being printed by the government, that's one thing. If they won't have it in a school, that's not an infringement.",
"There are a variety of ways in which book banning doesn't. \n\nFirst and foremost, banning a book is only taboo by the government. If I start a private bookstore (ala, Davis Kidd, which is a Christian book store) I can choose to stock or not stock whatever books I want. \n\nSecondly, let's say I'm a school, and I want to offer reading education to my students, but also, without pissing off the entire citizenry... what I do is offer the list of books available to the parents, and ask if they have any objections to any of them. In a conservative district, some of the parents might object to a book that exposes children to sexual encounters before the parents want that to happen. In a more liberal district, the parents might not want their children exposed to Mark Twain, or Harper Lee, which ight contain \"offensive\" words, like \"nigger\". \n\nBanning the book, in that case, is not so much a case of \"we are choosing to ban this book\" as it is \"none of the parents want us to use this book\". \n\nBeyond that, there are indeed (generally small-town) districts that *do* outright ban books, and they do so successfully because people simply don't choose to challenge them. If your school banned a book, and you wanted to read it, you have two basic options... buy the book for $10 on Amazon, or launch a very expensive lawsuit suing the school district. Unsurprisingly, most people choose the former, shake their damn heads, and fail to challenge the outright suppression that the schools are engaging in as a matter of cost effectiveness. \n\nEdit: if you're truly referring to books banned by the federal government, it's worth noting that while historically, people have freaked out over the content of books for a variety of reasons (some of which resulted in banning), we've had speech pretty much figured out since the 60s, which was the last time we engaged in federal book banning[1].\n\n[1] - _URL_0_"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_books_banned_by_governments"
]
] |
||
3yqc9z
|
why are many americans opposed to the idea of hillary clinton running for president?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3yqc9z/eli5_why_are_many_americans_opposed_to_the_idea/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cyfort8"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Conservatives don't like her because she is the wife of Bill Clinton and she is more liberal than they could tolerate. Young redditors don't like her because they want someone that is going to be as progressive as is possible. However, the bulk of the democratic voters don't use this site and could give a shit what a bunch of 20 year olds think is best. Hillary appeals to them."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
byr3cs
|
what's are, and the differences between minor and major chords?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/byr3cs/eli5_whats_are_and_the_differences_between_minor/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eqkom8y"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Okay, so there are a few different ways to answer this question. I’ll address the music theory and the science answers. \n\n\n\n\n\nFrom a Music Theory Perspective:\n\n\nLong story short, there are things called major thirds and minor thirds. They are just intervals (distance between two notes).\n\nThey are called these because they have 3 notes in between the bottom and top of the interval. \n\nA minor third has 3 half steps (smallest space between piano keys ex: A white key to A# black key)\nA major third has 4 half steps. \n\nA major triad (a triad is a chord of 3 notes, very basic type of chord), has a major third between the bottom notes and a minor third between the top notes (ex: A major: A-#C-E)\n\nA minor triad is the opposite, a minor third between the bottom notes and a major third between the top two notes (ex: A minor: A-C-E)\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrom a science point of view:\n\n\nEach note has a frequency in Hertz (ex: the A strings tune to is 440 hz). There is a proportional relation to different notes/intervals, but it’s not linear. Here’s what I mean by that:\n\nAn octave (A to A for example) is always a 1:2 ratio. 440 hz A (from above) is an octave below an 880 hz A. These different ratios of hz values make different intervals (a 2:3 ratio makes a perfect 5th. Ex: 440 is A4, and ~660 E4 makes a perfect 5th, and is a 2:3 ratio)\n\nOkay, now to answer your question, a major third ratio is defined as 4:5, and a minor third is defined as 5:6. \n\nAnother thing is usually things that have smaller numbers in their ratios are considered more “consonant” or pleasant sounding, while larger numbers in ratios are usually “dissonant” or unpleasant sounding. This means technicallllyyy a minor third is more “dissonant” than a major third, but both are still considered “consonant.” For a reference, a minor 2nd (two half-steps next to each other) is 15:16. Compare that to an octave which is 1:2, it kinda puts it into perspective. \n—\n\n\nHope this helped! Sorry if I got a little detailed 😊"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
101kpd
|
why doesn't it rain salt water?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/101kpd/eli5_why_doesnt_it_rain_salt_water/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c69l6o1",
"c69liga"
],
"score": [
9,
3
],
"text": [
"When water evaporates, it gets heated to an extent that the water particles move faster and spread apart, which causes them to become \"lighter\" than the air around them, turning into water vapor, a gas. Due to this, they rise up into the atmosphere. Then, they start to cool down, and become liquid again. When they become cool enough that they're heavier than the air, it rains back down.\n\nThis is the basic water cycle.\n\nThe salt which makes it salt water requires a much higher temperature to turn into gas, one which doesn't normally happen during this cycle. Because of this, it does not follow the water, and thus, it doesn't rain salt water.",
"The rise in temperature that is required to evaporate the water is less than that is needed to evaporate salt water, as a result, the water is evaporated and the salt gets left behind. You can see this sometimes if you wear a black hat on a hot sunny day. The sweat on your cap evaporates leaving behind a salty residue (or a white lining) on your cap."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
3b64td
|
how do city states like monaco and singapore dispose of waste?
|
Where do they put it? They don't have a lot of space in their countries, so it would be hard to put it in a landfill site.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3b64td/eli5_how_do_city_states_like_monaco_and_singapore/
|
{
"a_id": [
"csj7dhh"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Alot of these smaller countries or Island Chains in the Pacific either outsource their trash pick up or have incendiary Stations where all non -toxic trash is burned. Don't forget about recycling either! "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
38gac9
|
when i'm on pandora and have low internet connection it takes several minutes for a song to load. how come advertisements load right up with no problem?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38gac9/eli5_when_im_on_pandora_and_have_low_internet/
|
{
"a_id": [
"crut8nx",
"cruv87t",
"crux8k8",
"cruy4ah"
],
"score": [
103,
11,
17,
3
],
"text": [
"At least some advertisements are cached on your device when you have good service since they will definitely be played, whereas caching songs does not make sense since you might change stations or have an effect on your current station playlist by upvoting/downvoting or skipping songs. ",
"Advertisements have priority over the network. It is how certain services can justify the prices (through assurance that the ad will be heard). ",
"I can't speak for Pandora specifically, but some services don't host their ads on the same servers as their content. So you might have a poor connection to the Pandora music servers but not the ad-network servers.",
"Most times the content and the adds are hosted on different servers, the add servers are super fast because you make money with it, the content server .... well, often not."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2szzdz
|
why is there such a long pause between a tv presenter asking a question and the person answering it?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2szzdz/eli5_why_is_there_such_a_long_pause_between_a_tv/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cnug2za",
"cnug3qr"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"If the person answering isn't in the same studio there will be a delay while the signal from one studio is relayed to the other.\n\nYou also want to make sure a talking head is done talking before you start answering.",
"It is lag. Because the connection is never really powerful enough to transfer real time communications like what you would expect."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
3mdecv
|
why is rand paul seemingly much more popular than ron paul, despite ron paul being much more active for a longer time than rand?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mdecv/eli5why_is_rand_paul_seemingly_much_more_popular/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cve2fae",
"cve2fif",
"cve3jbv",
"cve3rcl"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"I wouldn't doubt that a lot of uninformed people don't know the difference between the two, therefore allowing for some popularity to blend with the other's. Probably not the whole answer, but I bet it is some part.",
"How long someone is active doesn't really have much bearing on how popular they are. \n\nThere can be a brilliant musician who's written a new song every day and he never, ever became popular. And you can have a teenage pop singer explode in popularity overnight. Hell, before Obama became President with his wave of popularity, he was relatively unknown and new. \n\nThe longer you work in politics, the more chances you have to embarrass yourself and rack up scandals. Getting a relatively newer clean slate can only help you in Presidential politics. ",
"1) The fact that Ron Paul has been around much longer is the problem. Ron was active during a time that far right Conservatism was unabashedly racist and just overall from a different, worse, era than modern day. He has a long history of ties to racism and homophobia that Rand simply does not.\n\n2) Rand is a true Republican, whereas Ron was much more apt to go against the mainstream and insult his party, even going as far as seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination for the presidency back in 1988. Republicans more than Democrats don't like disloyalty, it is why the TEA Party has not gone so far as to break away completely. ",
"Rand Paul is considerably less polarizing and much more willing to work with his colleagues than his father. Ron Paul has some very anti-mainstream ideas and was mostly labeled a cook by political pundits. The media is much more likely to give their attention to a mainstream Republican like Rand. Ron also doesn't have the respect of fellow Congressmen and women because he often voted against his party when the bill challenged his libertarian ideals. Some called him \"Dr. No\" "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
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