Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread  (Read 251405 times)

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #160 on: December 06, 2007, 06:07:09 PM »
7 out of the top 50 restaurants in the world are in England. All in London.

Globalization once again removing wonderful tradition and downgrading the quality of life...

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #161 on: December 07, 2007, 12:25:15 AM »
The recipe for fried squid is:



Squid and Batter
1 1/2 pounds frozen cleaned small squid (bodies and tentacles), thawed, drained, or 1 pound fresh

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, divided
1 1/2 cups rice flour,* divided
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon peanut oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 cups (or more) water

Vegetable oil (for deep-frying)

Cut squid bodies into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Place all squid in large sieve set over bowl. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to drain well.

Place 1 cup flour, 1 cup rice flour, soy sauce, vinegar, peanut oil, and sugar in large bowl. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups water, whisking until batter is smooth.

If necessary, whisk in more water by teaspoonfuls until batter reaches heavy cream consistency. Let batter stand at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours at room temperature, whisking occasionally.

Mix remaining 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup rice flour in large bowl. Add squid. Toss until squid is coated, separating pieces. Turn mixture into another sieve and shake off excess flour. Sprinkle squid generously with salt, tossing in sieve. Mix coated squid into batter.

Pour oil into heavy large saucepan to depth of 1 1/2 inches. Attach clip-on deep-fry thermometer and heat oil over medium-high heat to 350?F to 360?F. Working in batches and stirring often with tongs to separate pieces, drop squid into oil. Fry until crisp and brown, about 4 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer squid to paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #162 on: December 08, 2007, 07:38:40 AM »
Fact: Mini-RC helicopters are fun.

For its price, there is no good reason not to have one of these.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverlit-Radio-Control-Picoo-Helicopter/dp/B000FNUF8O

(On an irrelevant note, mine I got today from a random shop is actually a Chinese copy rather than the original product, on the plus side it looks like an Apache (with yellow Hind-ish camouflage coloring) so it's even more awesome)

Offline captain_obvious

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #163 on: December 15, 2007, 09:10:27 PM »
The british army's mine explosion drill is :

Jump upwards 40 feet and spread yourself as far as possible. 
I miss :bigdance:

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #164 on: December 20, 2007, 06:32:48 PM »
In 4 days it's Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Offline blaXXer

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #165 on: December 21, 2007, 08:02:28 PM »
I hate christmas. fact.

YOU suck, get a life, moran.

COME TO MY PLACE clicketh me!

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #166 on: December 22, 2007, 06:37:39 AM »
Quote
I hate christmas. fact.
If you hate Christmas then the christians who want Christmas to be a miserable celebration about some extramarital birth in some stable, rather than a jolly fat man and awesome nordic traditions like the christmas tree (originally, they were putting heads instead of balls on it, search it), by sheer coincidence happening at the 25 of december when the old Roman celebration of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti occurred (the birth of the unconquered son god), and believe in wealth redistribution controlled by the party (church), as opposed to it being a celebration of western capitalism... will have won.

In fact, they (Christians) already tried to ban Christmas twice, one in the UK in 1647, and in Boston in 1659

"For preventing disorders, arising in several places within this jurisdiction by reason of some still observing such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other communities, to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered by this court and the authority thereof that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shilling as a fine to the county."

Offline blaXXer

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #167 on: December 22, 2007, 07:21:48 AM »
I should have exlained it more, I think. I hape our typical western capislist christmas, but this would be better suited for the politics forum, dont you agree?

YOU suck, get a life, moran.

COME TO MY PLACE clicketh me!

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #168 on: December 22, 2007, 09:23:32 AM »
Fact:

China will soon be the number one English speaking country in the world.

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #169 on: December 22, 2007, 03:42:03 PM »
Ok, that one if you haven't seen it before is quite cool.

Can you see the shark?



Tips for seeing the shark:

1. Put one finger in the front center of picture about 5cm from your nose.

2. focus on your finger, and then focus just on the picture. (with your finger still in front)

3. (You'll notice that you now have two fingers) Simply look between those two fingers and you will soon see the picture coming clear!



Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #170 on: December 22, 2007, 03:59:03 PM »
And here is a horse:



Offline captain_obvious

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #171 on: December 24, 2007, 09:57:54 AM »
I REALLY don't get those...

Falling down stairs can hurt quite a bit...FACT.
I miss :bigdance:

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #172 on: December 24, 2007, 11:05:52 AM »
The above images are examples of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autostereogram

Offline captain_obvious

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #173 on: December 24, 2007, 04:14:10 PM »
I really don't get it...I get the concept,but I must be doing something wrong!
Bleh, too busy trying (and failing) to get vista to connect to the internet.  My parents just got this new pc (not a bad rig, but hardly the best.) and they want AOL on it for some perverse reason. The problem is the adsl *modem* doesn't agree with vista, so it  tries to commit suicide whenever I go near it with the USB cable! REALLY starting to piss me off, never seen such an awkwardly simplistic and easy to use OS.

Vista = cnuting carp. I tell thee now.

FACT.
I miss :bigdance:

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #174 on: December 24, 2007, 04:39:41 PM »
You are not trying hard enough! It will takes you 2 minutes or so for sure.

Forget the whole finger thing, save the picture, blow it up a bit on the screen, and then just look at it as if you are really bored.

FACT: I'd rather wait for the next windows after Vista, rather than put Vista. When Microsoft will have got and all the nice feedback. I have seen a dual core 2Ghz, 2Gb memory, exactly the same make, with Windows XP2, and Vista, and the Vista one somehow was giving the impression of making an effort to run.

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #175 on: December 29, 2007, 06:36:36 PM »

Offline Aeries

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #176 on: December 29, 2007, 09:06:39 PM »
FACT! The sky isn't actually blue. It's translucent. The only reason we perceive the sky as blue is because of the reflection and refraction of light off our oceans, and the water and other chemicals floatin' about in the air. ^_^

But then again, the sky isn't blue to me! It's black. With pretty pink polka dots. :D

-Aeries.

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #177 on: December 30, 2007, 07:30:14 AM »
FACT: Water on the other hand, does have a colour, a light blue, but it becomes noticeable only in large masses. In other words no, the oceans aren't blue because "they reflect the sky".

If the sky reflected the water and the water the sky, a cloud stuck between them would create cool effects though...

Offline Aeries

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #178 on: December 30, 2007, 02:51:42 PM »
I thought the water was only blue because after a certain depth, certain colors can't be refracted anymore, thus the only color we see water as is blue? Also, I never said the oceans were blue because of the sky. The exact opposite, actually. :P But whatever.

As for the clouds, well I dunno about that. I'm going off of what little I remember of Science class back in the day... :P

Fact: I love 3d modeling. ^_^ 'Tis fun!

Offline Senator

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RE: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread
« Reply #179 on: December 31, 2007, 07:11:27 AM »
I didn't say that you said that the oceans are blue because of the sky, it's just the other wrong explanation you most often hear concerning said colour. After all the sky is all over the oceans, but why would the sky reflect the oceans over, say, the middle of Asia?


Quote
One of the world?s most ambitious building projects, Crystal Island has been granted preliminary planning permission in Moscow. Enclosed within a vast mega structure covering a total floor area of 2.5million square metres ? the project?s scale is unprecedented. At 450m the scheme in one of the tallest structures on the planet, creating a spectacular new emblem on the Moscow skyline. Conceived as a self-contained city within a city, it contains a rich mix of buildings including museums, theatres and cinemas, to ensure that it is a major new destination for the whole of Moscow.

Presented to the Moscow Public and Architectural Council, Crystal Island is a highly anticipated new project. Located on the Nagatino Peninsula, edged by the Moscow River, it is located only 7.5 km from the Kremlin, and offers panoramic views over Moscow from a viewing platform at its apex.

Crystal Island will have a range of cultural, exhibition and performance facilities, approximately 3000 hotel rooms and 900 serviced apartments, as well as offices and shops, designed to maintain a dynamic and animated public realm throughout the day. Residents are able to work and live within a densely planned area where every amenity is within easy walking distance, including an international school for 500 students. Mixed-use also presents a strong case for energy balance, with individual components using energy at different times, while reinforcing the breadth of economic and social activity of the area.

The building?s spiraling form emerges majestically from a newly landscaped park, rising in converse directions to form a diagonal grid. This distinctive geometry extends throughout the project into the park. The result is that the scheme is seamlessly integrated into a new park landscape, which provides a range of activities throughout the year, including cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter.

The internal built volumes assume a staggered formation within the triangulated steel mega frame, extending flush against the sloping facetted glazed outer skin. This terracing creates a series of wintergardens, which form a breathable second layer and thermal buffer for the main building, shielding the interior spaces from Moscow?s extreme summer and winter climates. A vertical louvre system sheaths the internal facades to ensure privacy for the individual apartments.