Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 204874 times)

Phaser · « **Reply #1120 on:** June 06, 2009, 04:41:30 PM »

Not exactly, eclipse74569. True, there were some design sketches with the secondary hull above the saucer and the nacelles below it, but the final design sketch, given the go-ahead by Gene for production, had the basic shape we know and love. The Enterprise was never originally "designed" upside-down. It was just one of the concepts.

The process of designing the Enterprise was along the lines of Matt making a bunch of drawings, and Gene picking out what he liked and didn't like. Then Matt would make new sketches, using Gene's recommendations. This was repeated until Gene was happy with the overall design. Then the ship's basic design be considered final.

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #1121 on:** June 06, 2009, 05:22:15 PM »

save that for another thread lol

the U.S. produces more tobacco than it does wheat...
*coughs* now where did i put my Marlboros coughcoughsputter*

1DeadlySAMURAI · « **Reply #1122 on:** June 06, 2009, 07:09:35 PM »

Americans spend more then 5.4 billion dollars on their pets each year.

eclipse74569 · « **Reply #1123 on:** June 07, 2009, 01:11:01 AM »

Quote from: JimmyB76 on June 06, 2009, 05:22:15 PM

the U.S. produces more tobacco than it does wheat...
*coughs* now where did i put my Marlboros coughcoughsputter*

Speaking of Tobacco....North Carolina is the largest producer of tobacco in the US

So Jimmy, you need to get your butt down here and buy you a pack of Marlboros, they're only a little over 4 bucks including tax!

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #1124 on:** June 07, 2009, 10:53:04 AM »

Quote from: eclipse74569 on June 07, 2009, 01:11:01 AM

So Jimmy, you need to get your butt down here and buy you a pack of Marlboros, they're only a little over 4 bucks including tax!

heh about $7 - $8 for a pack of Marlboros here in RI these days...

drugs are cheaper than cigarettes now lol

the first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin in WW2 killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo...

Phaser · « **Reply #1125 on:** June 07, 2009, 10:51:31 PM »

Quote from: JimmyB76 on June 06, 2009, 05:22:15 PM

save that for another thread lol

What happened to your nerdy Star Trek side? You call yourself the moderator of a Star Trek forum...

The term "Dog Days of Summer" comes from the ancients Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. They believed that the star Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, was so bright that during the summer months--which is when it can be seen in the northern hemisphere--it actually helped heat the Earth. They were wrong, but the name 'Dog Days' is still given to the hottest days in summer.

Senator · « **Reply #1126 on:** June 07, 2009, 11:01:01 PM »

There is no road connecting North and South America.

That's where it stops. Right below Panama and above Colombia there is an area called the Dari?n Gap half of which is mountainous jungle, and half of which is swamp land. No paved or even unpaved road, not even a "marked path" crosses it.

Sure enough, you could probably, with a jeep or something. (as long as you are ready to be pushing the car a lot more than driving it, Camel Trophy style - anyone remember those?) but the point is, you can't take a normal car and a GPS navigator and drive from New York to Brazil. (going around with ferries doesn't count).

Apparently attempting to cross said jungle is politely described as "suicidial", where, if the insects, snakes, tropical illnesses and general lack of civilization, fast food restaurants and fuel stations doesn't kill you, the guerrilla forces, kidnappers, drug traffickers and corrupt local governments will.

Quote

*coughs* now where did i put my Marlboros coughcoughsputter*

The Jimmy smokes cancer sticks?

Nebula · « **Reply #1127 on:** June 08, 2009, 06:58:55 PM »

50th anniversary of the X-15 rocket research aircraft today

This joint program by NASA, the Air Force, the Navy, and North American operated the most remarkable of all the rocket research aircraft. Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chrome-nickel alloy known as Inconel X, the X-15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on June 8, 1959, while the first powered flight took place on September 17, 1959. Because of the large fuel consumption of its rocket engine, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at about 45,000 ft and speeds upward of 500 mph. The airplane first set speed records in the Mach 4-6 range with Mach 4.43 on March 7, 1961; Mach 5.27 on June 23, 1961; Mach 6.04 on November 9, 1961; and Mach 6.7 on October 3, 1967. It also set an altitude record of 354,200 feet (67 miles) on August 22, 1963, and provided an enormous wealth of data on hypersonic air flow, aerodynamic heating, control and stability at hypersonic speeds, reaction controls for flight above the atmosphere, piloting techniques for reentry, human factors, and flight instrumentation. The highly successful program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs as well as the Space Shuttle program. The program's final flight was performed on October 24, 1968

Mustang · « **Reply #1128 on:** June 08, 2009, 08:50:19 PM »

A huge part of the reason behind the Mature rating of Halo 3 was because of Xbox LIVE. Other than that, Halo 3 could pass for a T rated game.

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #1129 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:27:57 AM »

across the planet, this week there were 130 reports of record high temperatures, and 230 reports of record cold temps...

since Jan 1, 2009, there have been 7,350 reports of record high temps, and 3,712 reports of record cold temps...

since Jan 1, 2000, there have been 286,876 reports of record high temps, and 138,683 reports of record cold temps...

Villain · « **Reply #1130 on:** June 09, 2009, 11:48:33 AM »

Quote from: Mustang on June 08, 2009, 08:50:19 PM

A huge part of the reason behind the Mature rating of Halo 3 was because of Xbox LIVE. Other than that, Halo 3 could pass for a T rated game.

ESRB ratings only apply to offline IIRC, otherwise all games with online would be rated R for excessive language.

limey BSc. · « **Reply #1131 on:** June 09, 2009, 01:18:55 PM »

Quote from: USS Prime on June 09, 2009, 11:48:33 AM

ESRB ratings only apply to offline IIRC, otherwise all games with online would be rated R for excessive language.

Which is why they have the disclaimer saying game experience may change online

PC gamers (ie proper gamers) usually don't have to put up with the whiney noobs you get on consoles. Most people communicate with text, if at all. Still waiting for Microsoft to port Halo 3 to PC :argh: :argh:

Nebula · « **Reply #1132 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:00:00 PM »

NASA's SDO Mission

1DeadlySAMURAI · « **Reply #1133 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:35:34 PM »

McDonalds salads contain up to 60% more fat then their burgers.

Nebula · « **Reply #1134 on:** June 09, 2009, 10:57:01 PM »

I want some proof!

Senator · « **Reply #1135 on:** June 10, 2009, 12:08:07 AM »

A quick search reveals this:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article1041428.ece

limey BSc. · « **Reply #1136 on:** June 10, 2009, 05:16:07 AM »

Quote from: 1DeadlySAMURAI on June 09, 2009, 10:35:34 PM

McDonalds salads contain up to 60% more fat then their burgers.

You're being a little mis-leading there.
The Ceaser dressing is what contains all the fat and calories, and that's not made by McDonalds! And it's pretty much standard across all Ceaser dressings.

The correct fact would be less McDonalds orientated: A ceaser salad contains up to 60% more fat that a burger.

1DeadlySAMURAI · « **Reply #1137 on:** June 10, 2009, 12:32:33 PM »

I have this stupid iPhone App called "cool fact" that does exactly what we do here.

So I blame that one! :lol:

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #1138 on:** June 11, 2009, 10:31:11 PM »

fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails....

Senator · « **Reply #1139 on:** June 12, 2009, 03:01:22 AM »

Quote

A Betelgeuse supernova could easily outshine the Moon in the night sky. It will likely be the brightest supernova in recorded Human history, easily outshining SN 1006. After it explodes, it will likely linger for several months, being visible in the daytime sky and lighting up nighttime skies in the Solar System for a long time, after which the "right shoulder" of Orion will disappear forever.

According to wikipedia, a supernova is supposed to occur at a rate of about 1 per 50 years for a galaxy the size of our own. But the last, nicely observed with the naked eye supernova in human history was in 1604. We are sooo overdue one, and I think that if Betelgeuse blew up in our lifetime (or to be specific: 520 years ago) it would be the coolest thing EVER.

I want to see a supernova dammit ><

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Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 204874 times)