Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 220922 times)

captain_obvious · « **Reply #800 on:** October 25, 2008, 11:09:47 AM »

right, I'm moving to macedonia!!!
or not.

Senator · « **Reply #801 on:** October 25, 2008, 06:39:50 PM »

I am sure I have posted that picture before but I really like it:

I think the planet is inhabited...

USS Frontier · « **Reply #802 on:** October 25, 2008, 09:42:18 PM »

Know what's really funny?

Looking at that iftheworldcouldvote.com site, it says Madagascar had 4 votes (3 for obama).
And look at how many light "dots" there is in Madagascar in Senator's "Earth at Night" picture - 4 lights.

Aeries · « **Reply #803 on:** October 25, 2008, 09:46:12 PM »

note how countries with 0 votes default to being blue.

Nebula · « **Reply #804 on:** October 25, 2008, 10:26:56 PM »

really? they default to gray on my screen.

1DeadlySAMURAI · « **Reply #805 on:** October 26, 2008, 06:29:12 AM »

Yeah, grey for me too.

And if you look in the list of nations, you'll only see nations that has voted.

Senator · « **Reply #806 on:** October 26, 2008, 03:35:28 PM »

The speed of light is not 300,000 km/sec

Its 299,792.458 km/sec

Thats almost 208 km/sec difference!

For comparison, the speed of sound is 0.340 km/sec

The SR-71 (Blackbird), fastest airplane evah:

When it was really meaning it, was said to go at about 3,530 km/h.

That was an "h" grasshopper so that's actually 0.9 km/sec

Contrary to popular belief that is not actually the fastest, airplane looking, thing though. The space shuttle goes 8,04 km/sec in order to stay in orbit. (and so does the space station)

That however isn't the fastest a human has ever got, that's the Apollo 10 which at some point (the crew capsule) went 11.08 km/sec

Which means that the fastest humans have ever got, can't even begin to cover the error between the actual and popular notion of the speed of light, and that light itself is very, very, very, fast.

limey BSc. · « **Reply #807 on:** October 26, 2008, 05:05:18 PM »

In the grand scheme of things, though, light is rather pathetically slow! It takes 8 and a half minutes to get from the Sun to the Earth.

Also, contrary to popular belief, the sun is white, not yellow/orange.

Senator · « **Reply #808 on:** October 26, 2008, 06:17:08 PM »

Perhaps the grand scheme of things is too grand...

Center of the Galaxy to Earth: 26000 light years.
(I'd stick to the 4.5 light years Proxima Centauri for now if I were you)

And no FTL technology in sight yet.
And if none is found, space exploration is going to be quite an EPIC business.

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #809 on:** October 27, 2008, 08:24:39 AM »

Let Them Eat McNuggets

President Bush's budget for fiscal year 2007 called for a cut of $108 million in the Federal Supplemental Food Program for the poor, reducing food subsidies for 420,000 elderly Americans and 50,000 pregnant women.

This policy put recipients at greater risk for poor nutrition and resulting in poor health problems; scientific research suggests that in poor neighborhoods, both supermarkets and fast-food outlets are less likely to stock and sell nutritious food than they are in more affluent ones.

captain_obvious · « **Reply #810 on:** October 27, 2008, 12:24:06 PM »

Quote from: Senator on October 26, 2008, 03:35:28 PM

The speed of light is not 300,000 km/sec

Its 299,792.458 km/sec

Thats almost 208 km/sec difference!

For comparison, the speed of sound is 0.340 km/sec

The SR-71 (Blackbird), fastest airplane evah:

When it was really meaning it, was said to go at about 3,530 km/h.

That was an "h" grasshopper so that's actually 0.9 km/sec

Contrary to popular belief that is not actually the fastest, airplane looking, thing though. The space shuttle goes 8,04 km/sec in order to stay in orbit. (and so does the space station)

That however isn't the fastest a human has ever got, that's the Apollo 10 which at some point (the crew capsule) went 11.08 km/sec

Which means that the fastest humans have ever got, can't even begin to cover the error between the actual and popular notion of the speed of light, and that light itself is very, very, very, fast.

actually, the fastest plane was the X-15, which neil armstrong (and a few other apollo astronauts) earned his astronaut wings on.
The SR71 Blackbird was the fastest plane to take off and land under it's own power and not the fastest "3var"
.

Senator · « **Reply #811 on:** October 27, 2008, 12:48:53 PM »

I protest! The X-15 wasn't an airplane, it was a rocket with wings going horizontally!

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #812 on:** October 27, 2008, 01:07:32 PM »

Rhode Island is only one of two states in the U.S. that does not consider prostitution illegal - so long as it is indoors and between consenting adults...

Senator · « **Reply #813 on:** October 27, 2008, 04:33:49 PM »

The capital of Switzerland is Berne and the capital of Australia is Canberra.

You'd be surprised how many people don't know these two.

Aeries · « **Reply #814 on:** October 27, 2008, 08:23:12 PM »

Quote from: Senator on October 27, 2008, 04:33:49 PM

and the capital of Australia is Canberra.

Oh... thought it was Sydney.

1DeadlySAMURAI · « **Reply #815 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:55:42 AM »

Yeah, many believe that. Sydney is the largest city while Canberra is only the sixth largest city.

limey BSc. · « **Reply #816 on:** October 28, 2008, 09:54:23 AM »

It's the same with the capitals of US states, its never the one you think it is!

1DeadlySAMURAI · « **Reply #817 on:** October 28, 2008, 11:04:37 AM »

LOL yeah. Not many knows Sacramento is California's capital. Most think it's LA.
Same with Tallahassee and Miami in Florida etc.

Aeries · « **Reply #818 on:** October 28, 2008, 11:08:17 AM »

Victoria is BC's capital... almost EVERYONE I talk to on teh intarwebz thought it was Vancouver. WRONG-OOOOO.

Edit:
Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland, because he doesn't wear pants!

Kirk · « **Reply #819 on:** October 28, 2008, 11:14:15 AM »

Bridge Commander has a capitol?

Ohio's is Columbus.

News:

Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 220922 times)