Top 10 Ridiculously Common Science Myths

- Published April 8, 2009 by JFrater - 15613367 Comments2009-04-09+06%3A17%3A21jfrater

There is nothing better than a bit of mythbusting (which accounts for the popularity of the television program of the same name), so here we are again, presenting you with a new list of terribly common misconceptions and myths – this time about science.

Evolutionary Improvements

The Myth: Evolution causes something to go from “lower” to “higher”

While it is a fact that natural selection weeds out unhealthy genes from the gene pool, there are many cases where an imperfect organism has survived. Some examples of this are fungi, sharks, crayfish, and mosses – these have all remained essentially the same over a great period of time. These organisms are all sufficiently adapted to their environment to survive without improvement.

Other taxa have changed a lot, but not necessarily for the better. Some creatures have had their environments changed and their adaptations may not be as well suited to their new situation. Fitness is linked to their environment, not to progress. [Source]

Humans Pop In Space

The Myth: When exposed to the vacuum of space, the human body pops

This myth is the result of science fiction movies which use it to add excitement or drama to the plot. In fact, a human can survive for 15 – 30 seconds in outer space as long as they breathe out before the exposure (this prevents the lungs from bursting and sending air into the bloodstream). After 15 or so seconds, the lack of oxygen causes unconsciousness which eventually leads to death by asphyxiation.

Brightest Star

The Myth: Polaris is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere night sky

Sirius is actually brighter with a magnitude of −1.47 compared to Polaris’ 1.97 (the lower the number the brighter the star). The importance of Polaris is that its position in the sky marks North – and for that reason it is also called the “North Star”. Polaris is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor and, interestingly, is only the current North Star as pole stars change over time because stars exhibit a slow continuous drift with respect to the Earth’s axis.

Five Second Rule

The Myth: Food that drops on the floor is safe to eat if you pick it up within five seconds

This is utter bunkum which should be obvious to most readers. If there are germs on the floor and the food lands on them, they will immediately stick to the food. Having said that, eating germs and dirt is not always a bad thing as it helps us to develop a robust immune system. I prefer to have a “how-tasty-is-it” rule: if it is something really tasty, it can sit there for ten minutes for all I care – I will still eat it.

Dark side of the Moon

The Myth: There is a dark side of the moon

Actually – every part of the moon is illuminated at sometime by the sun. This misconception has come about because there is a side of the moon which is never visible to the earth. This is due to tidal locking; this is due to the fact that Earth’s gravitational pull on the moon is so immense that it can only show one face to us. Wikipedia puts it rather smartly thus: “Tidal locking occurs when the gravitational gradient makes one side of an astronomical body always face another; for example, one side of the Earth’s Moon always faces the Earth. A tidally locked body takes just as long to rotate around its own axis as it does to revolve around its partner. This synchronous rotation causes one hemisphere constantly to face the partner body.”

Brain Cells

The Myth: Brain cells can’t regenerate – if you kill a brain cell, it is never replaced

The reason for this myth being so common is that it was believed and taught by the science community for a very long time. But in 1998, scientists at the Sweden and the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California discovered that brain cells in mature humans can regenerate. It had previously been long believed that complex brains would be severely disrupted by new cell growth, but the study found that the memory and learning center of the brain can create new cells – giving hope for an eventual cure for illnesses like Alzheimer’s.

Pennies from Heaven

The Myth: A penny dropped from a very high building can kill a pedestrian below

This myth is so common it has even become a bit of a cliche in movies. The idea is that if you drop a penny from the top of a tall building (such as the Empire State Building) – it will pick up enough speed to kill a person if it lands on them on the ground. But the fact is, the aerodynamics of a penny are not sufficient to make it dangerous. What would happen in reality is that the person who gets hit would feel a sting – but they would certainly survive the impact.

Friction Heat

The Myth: Meteors are heated by friction when entering the atmosphere

When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere of the earth (becoming a meteor), it is actually the speed compressing the air in front of the object that causes it to heat up. It is the pressure on the air that generates a heat intense enough to make the rock so hot that is glows brilliantly for our viewing pleasure (if we are lucky enough to be looking in the sky at the right time). We should also dispel the myth about meteors being hot when they hit the earth – becoming meteorites. Meteorites are almost always cold when they hit – and in fact they are often found covered in frost. This is because they are so cold from their journey through space that the entry heat is not sufficient to do more than burn off the outer layers.

Lightning

The Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice

Next time you see lightning strike and you consider running to the spot to protect yourself from the next bolt, remember this item! Lightning does strike the same place twice – in fact it is very common. Lightning obviously favors certain areas such as high trees or buildings. In a large field, the tallest object is likely to be struck multiple times until the lightning moves sufficiently far away to find a new target. The Empire State Building gets struck around 25 times a year.

Gravity in Space

The Myth: There is no gravity in space

In fact, there is gravity in space – a lot of it. The reason that astronauts appear to be weightless because they are orbiting the earth. They are falling towards the earth but moving sufficiently sideways to miss it. So they are basically always falling but never landing. Gravity exists in virtually all areas of space. When a shuttle reaches orbit height (around 250 miles above the earth), gravity is reduced by only 10%.

Inspired by an excellent LiveScience Article. This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.

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This list has 367 comments [Add Comment]

1 Borka
April 9th, 2009 at 1:36 am

#7

If it`s something sweet,it can be on the floor for 2 days for all i care,i`m still gonna eat it. xD

#4 Actually tested this,hit my friend in the shoulder after “few” tries…he didn`t even said “Jaooo”
2 cm
April 9th, 2009 at 1:39 am

I never knew myth 7 existed.
3 Matt
April 9th, 2009 at 1:40 am

I’ve never understood how someone could be so stupid as to believe the “five-second rule”.

Yes, because bacteria’s going to wait five seconds before jumping on. -_-
4 Kieren
April 9th, 2009 at 1:40 am

Quality List! Always the best kind these are!
5 spidermonkey
April 9th, 2009 at 1:41 am

Agree with you on number 7 – but my rule is if it doesn’t have any visible dirt or hair its safe (except food that lands on the kitchen floor – thats never safe).
6 Bill
April 9th, 2009 at 1:45 am

As for number 7, my rule is; “if you see it hit the floor, its edible” no matter how long it stays there.
7 ZedroZ
April 9th, 2009 at 1:45 am

Good list,
Think the explanation for the “dark side of the moon” entry could give a bit more information though.
Oh well, wikipedia + tidal locking = my answer
8 genaroian_13
April 9th, 2009 at 2:01 am

nice list men

AHAHAA

keep it up
9 genaroian_13
April 9th, 2009 at 2:03 am

SEE THE LIST WHERE NAZI HAS A BASE IN THE MOON
it in the DARKSIDE of the moon
10 genaroian_13
April 9th, 2009 at 2:04 am

i cant remember the name of the list

ANYONE HELP!!!
11 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 2:09 am

Genaroian: the film is called Iron Sky – the trailer is on YouTube
12 donald
April 9th, 2009 at 2:10 am

Ive had so many arguments with friends about the 5 second rule. and Ive always said to them, what happenes if you drop your cookie in a pile of shit?
13 archangel
April 9th, 2009 at 2:12 am

Awesome list… though how is every part of a sphere (moon) illuminated from one section? Isn’t that dimensionally impossible? Unless i take into account that light spreads…

???
14 Arnaud
April 9th, 2009 at 2:22 am

I remember attending a conference by Jean François Clervoy, a French astronaut.
He said to the audience: “weightlessness happens when there is nothing BUT weight”…
Now meditate…
15 astraya
April 9th, 2009 at 2:22 am

#6 probably would have been better phrased as “every part of the moon is illuminated by the sun at some time or another” . It isn’t (and can’t be) all illuminated at the same time (not that your sentence suggested that it was, but some people appear to be interpreting it that way). The darkest places of the moon are the poles, which only ever get the sun at an extreme angle.

Put it another way: (almost) every part of the earth gets sunlight through the span of 24 hours. (Almost) every part of the moon gets sunlight through the span of (approx) 28 days. When the moon is “new”, the side facing us is dark. At that time, the “far” side is “full”.
16 jajdude
April 9th, 2009 at 2:41 am

Mythbusted guns on the list, g. It’s good to read the breed of lists where twists of facts are attacked yo.
17 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 2:42 am

Donald: well – that’s a matter of taste
18 stunty
April 9th, 2009 at 2:50 am

12: Don’t tell me that anyone would be stupid enough to actually believe in 5 second rule…
19 joliver
April 9th, 2009 at 2:53 am

interesting list!, and yes! some of them are teachings of my relatives or friends, like 5 minute rule! gosh!
20 Deziner
April 9th, 2009 at 3:15 am

Thank you Jamie for Item 2- Lightening.

perhaps someone can enlighten (pun intended) me upon the myth/fact status of:

“Lightening looks like it strikes from the sky, but actually strikes from the earth TO the sky.”

I’ve read this in alot of places, and like to watch video of lightening strikes, especially slo-mo footage. The various footage pieces I’ve seen seen tend to support the sky to ground flow of the discharge.

So I wonder about the accuracy of this piece of common trivia.
21 astraya
April 9th, 2009 at 3:19 am

I had always heard of the “3 second rule”.
22 genaroian_13
April 9th, 2009 at 3:26 am

thnks mr. Jfrater
23 Wildlifeman
April 9th, 2009 at 3:54 am

It was a lot of fun reading this list, well done Jamie. With regard to the 5 second rule, I think a better rule is the drier (less sticky) an item is, the longer it stays edible on the floor. I drop a chip, no big deal. I drop a chip with dip on it, it’s not going anywhere near my mouth.
24 Rob
April 9th, 2009 at 4:11 am

“There is no Dark side of the moon, as a matter of fact it’s all dark”
25 Carlos
April 9th, 2009 at 4:25 am

@ Donald LOL!

@ Deziner I think I remember being taught in school that lightning strikes from both upwards and downwards at the same time cause Lightning is nothing more than the mass exchange of protons and electrons from the atmosphere and earth. But then again, my mind is a little rusty on the subject. I love science! The only one I didnt know on the list was #1. Yet another reason to track down my old teachers and give em’ a kick in the arse.
26 Cazza
April 9th, 2009 at 4:28 am

Again with the 5 second rule, ir depends where I’ve dropped it. Under the sofa = no way am I going to eat it. Onto the sofa = it’s proberly fine
27 Static Boy
April 9th, 2009 at 4:32 am

I used to live in a rural area outside Alpena Michigan when i was a little kid. One very stormy evening in 1976 our family farm house which was made of stone and was the highest point around was struck twice in the same evening by lightning about 15-20 minutes apart.

Fortunately the previous owner had installed lightning rods to absorb the impact so i can also assume that the house had been hit sometime in the past too.
28 Carlos
April 9th, 2009 at 4:33 am

@ Cazza Lol, so you would rather eat off of a surface where people place their butts vs a surface where no one can walk or sit on? …. Maybe I just made you changed your mind.
29 Carlos
April 9th, 2009 at 4:35 am

change*
30 Mo
April 9th, 2009 at 4:37 am

Re. #3

I thought the increased pressure led to increased friction. I didn’t think pressure on its own could actually causes anything per se, it was the way it caused other molecules to interact.
31 Reader
April 9th, 2009 at 4:37 am

#20 It is true that in some instances, lightning does come up from the ground. However, it does not continue all the way to the clouds. As it is going up, there is also a lightning discharge going down toward the ground and they usually meet somewhere between 50 to 100 feet above the ground. I assisted with lightning research at Kennedy Space Center years ago. We had several recordings of “ground up” lightning that when played in slo-mo showed this happening.
32 nolod1207
April 9th, 2009 at 4:42 am

wouldn’t there have to be a dark side of the moon? I mean obviously it wouldn’t be a specific side but the sun couldn’t logically illuminate the entire moon at one point in time. I mean there’s a dark side of earth its called night. I just don’t know if your trying to say that there isn’t a specific dark side of the moon that is never illuminated or that the sun illuminates the entire moon all at once.
33 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 4:47 am

Okay – thanks to your comments I have updated the list to make things a little clearer and to expand on what I had already said.

Also – can someone test the latest ads we are showing – you don’t need to click the ads as I just need to ensure they are showing. Go to Google.com and do a search for “15 misconceptions about evolution” (include the quote marks) – the first result should be a page on listverse.com. Click it and tell me (in this list) whether you see an advert below the title of the page you land on. It should have tabs and a few images. NOTE: this only applies to US readers as non-US readers will be seeing a blank space at the moment. thanks
34 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 4:52 am

Oh – and don’t forget to vote in the poll at the top of the page – once it reaches 2,000 we have done all the polls we need for site demographics and I will publish the info here for you all to see.

Deziner (20): You are describing “ground to cloud lightening” which is very rare but does occur. Most lightening is “cloud to ground”.
35 Saffa
April 9th, 2009 at 5:00 am

Jamie, I can confirm that I see a blank space so it must be working!
36 Cheeshygirl
April 9th, 2009 at 5:19 am

Great list! Jamie, I checked for the ad. Found a box with two tabs under the title. I think that is what you were looking for.
37 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 5:29 am

Cheeshygirl and SaffaL thanks – just what I was hoping to hear
38 Tasha
April 9th, 2009 at 5:54 am

I love #7..that’s hilarious and my 4 year old son would surely agree with the “tasty” rule!
39 Tasha
April 9th, 2009 at 5:57 am

Hey jfrater, I am a radio personality in Nassau, Bahamas and I love to share the cool stuff on this site with my listeners it’s great! Keep ‘em coming..
40 Shelly
April 9th, 2009 at 5:58 am

When it comes to the five second rule…anything food related that hits the floor belongs to the dog, pretty much. Dog aside, if it’s something that can be washed, I’ll wash it off. If it isn’t…then no. Blech. >.
41 jake ryder
April 9th, 2009 at 6:00 am

Well actually I knew all of these. Thank you for making me feel extra smart today.
42 Cybogen
April 9th, 2009 at 6:43 am

Great List! I like the comments just as much as the theme of the list of the day. I find the longest list of comments come from Lists focused on religious controversy. They become by far the most hotly debated subjects and its really interesting to see peoples views on these lists. Its a excellent website you got going here
43 Freddy
April 9th, 2009 at 6:51 am

I’ve had so many arguments about #9 and what people have seen in movies like 2001.

Where did u get the scientific information from???
Has any scientist put their name to it?
44 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 6:52 am

I knew many of these. Very cool list. About the 5 second rule, I knew it was false, but….My kid used to throw her food on the floor when she was younger. This worked for my mom who would immediately pick the food up and put in the garbage. I on the other hand, said 5 second rule and picked it up and gave it back to her. The kid did it on purpose so I gave it back to her on purpose. She’s older now and heathly so she didn’t suffer from that!
45 DiscHuker
April 9th, 2009 at 6:57 am

jayfray: when i did the google search, under the title was a blank space before the description began.

also, my blocker stops a pop-up everytime i first open the page. i let it open this time and it was for “mp3 unlimited download”.

what survey are you talking about?
46 Renegade
April 9th, 2009 at 7:34 am

“In fact, a human can survive for 15 – 30 seconds in outer space as long as they breathe out before the exposure.”

Bull. Space is only 3 degrees above absolute zero. If they were exposed to space they would freeze to death almost instantaneously. They wouldn’t die immediately due to lack of oxygen, but they would still die very swiftly due to the harsh conditions.
47 Renegade
April 9th, 2009 at 7:50 am

*edit* around our atmosphere it is about 35K, or -396.67 degree Fahrenheit and -238.15 degree Celsius. The lowest world temperature for anywhere was -128.6°F / -89.2°C recorded at Vostok Station, Antarctica. I can almost (almost because I’m not willing to test it) guarantee that you would not survive in space for 15 seconds at this cold of a temperature.
48 timmy the dying boy
April 9th, 2009 at 7:50 am

#10: “Imperfect” is an odd way to refer to organisms that have stuck around for eons. I think a better phrase would be “highly successful.”
49 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am

When people talk about the “dark” side of the moon, they are usually referring to the “far” side of the moon – the side that never faces the sun.

During new moon is when the Sun illuminates the “other” side, during daylight on Earth, when the moon moves between the earth and sun. If the moon is perfectly aligned between Earth and Sun, we get a solar eclipse. Otherwise, the moon is just not visible (due to the sun’s glare).
50 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:17 am

by the way, tonight is Full Moon, when the Sun completely illuminates the side of the moon we see, and the Earth falls between the Sun and Moon. (if it were perfectly aligned we would have a lunar eclipse).
51 Talanic
April 9th, 2009 at 8:18 am

Renegade:

Technically space may be cold, but where’s the heat IN the human going to go? Heat is conducted through matter. In short, no, you’re not going to freeze instantly on exposure to vacuum.
52 Tricia
April 9th, 2009 at 8:22 am

My rule for things that fallon the floor: if the food is sticky in any way, it gets thrown in the trash. My thought is that other stuff like hair and grossness will stick to it. If its an M&M or something similar, I’m not gonna bring much back up with it.
53 AstroNerd
April 9th, 2009 at 8:25 am

Cool list – I bet you could find plenty more of these!

Renegade the heatloss in space would be via radiation/conduction but it would be a slow process. The real problem is the vacuum, although the lack of air slows the heatloss via conduction to almost nil, and people don’t radiate much heat so yeah, longterm you would freeze, but short term you’d be fine. Might even be less cold than in a cold atmosphere without the air molecules to remove extra heat.

People might be interested to know that the 5 sec rule aledgedly dates back to Genghis Kahn and was then the overnight rule. Leftovers found on the floor after banquets were fine for breakfast the next day, but not longer than that!
54 ringtailroxy
April 9th, 2009 at 8:25 am

regarding #10…

“While it is a fact that natural selection weeds out unhealthy genes from the gene pool, there are many cases where an imperfect organism has survived. Some examples of this are fungi, sharks, crayfish, and mosses – these have all remained essentially the same over a great period of time”

Jamie, I rarely ever disagree with you, but this one is either written incorrectly or you may have a mistaken idea of evolution…

The reason why fungi, sharks, crayfish, and mosses are virtually unchanged over the past few million years is because nature hit on a design that was perfectly suited for the ecological niche these species evolved into…they are not “imperfect organisms”…they are actually perfectly evolved for their roles. This is why they have evolved little since their current form…there is no need at this time to evolve further.

ringtailroxy
55 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:25 am

Also, a slight correction to #8 (Polaris) -

The pole star changes because the Earth wobbles on its axis (like a top slowing down), causing the north polar axis to trace a circle against the northern stars. This is called “precession”.

In 3000 BC, Thuban (the brightest star in Draco) was the North Pole Star. This is why many pyramids are oriented towards it (and not Polaris).
56 ringtailroxy
April 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am

oh-and in my house, we have a 2 second rule regarding food fallen onto the floor…

if it’s still on the floor in 2 seconds, it’s yours! (i have 5 cats, a dog, and a skunk)

rtr
57 rocknopera
April 9th, 2009 at 8:27 am

You calling Floyd liars, dude?
58 Cedestra
April 9th, 2009 at 8:28 am

Copperdragon: You mean, the side that never faces the Earth, right? The Moon has a rotation just like the Earth. It just happens to rotate at a rate that keeps the same point fixated on the Earth, so we don’t see the other side. That side, however, is receiving light from the Sun during times in its rotation. Imagine a large ball with a smaller ball attached to it with a stick. Rotate the larger ball in the middle in front of a lamp. You will see the smaller ball’s “dark side” will receive light from the lamp for about 50% of the rotation.
JFrater: The entry for the Dark Side still reads a little funny. Other than that, I really enjoyed this list. You always have high quality lists.
45. DiscHuker: He’s referring to the stationary one, top right-hand side.
59 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am

correction to my correction -

Thuban is not the brightest star in Draco (that would be Eltanin), but it is the “alpha” star (probably due to its former pole-significant position)
60 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:32 am

cedestra: right. the side that never faces Earth is considered the “far” or “dark” side, even though it DOES get illuminated by the Sun during the period we call “new moon”
61 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am

interestingly – the “far” side of the moon does not have any of the large dark “seas” that the near side does. (the “seas” are what gives us the “man in moon” design)
62 Saint Cad
April 9th, 2009 at 8:48 am

#8 – I never knew people thought Polaris was the brightest start in the Northern Hemisphere

#6 – I think “dark” when referring to the dark side of the Moon never meant illumination. It refers to not knowing since until space travel we did not know what the other side looks like. It is kind of like saying you’re in the dark about something – you’re not saying that you’re in an unilluminated area, but rather do not know the answer to a problem.

But of course there is no dark side of the Moon . . . it’s all dark.
63 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 8:58 am

i laugh at those who say that there is no “dark” side of the moon because its all dark. that’s a disingenious way to describe it.

while it’s true that the moon does not create any light of its own, one half of the moon is constantly lit by the Sun. the same could be said for any of the planets, including Earth.

by the same reasoning, you could say there is no light or dark side of Earth…its all dark.
64 blackbit
April 9th, 2009 at 9:00 am

Excellent list, although I had never heard of ‘the five second rule’.
65 segue
April 9th, 2009 at 9:08 am

54. ringtailroxy took the words right out of my mouth. I had a wonderful response to #10, but she beat me to it!
Good job rtr!
Sometimes nature just gets it right on virtually the first try. Of course, there were proto-sharks before there were sharks, but that was so long ago, millions and millions of years, that it shouldn’t count against them.

Really great list Jamie! Just my cup of tea!
66 Saint Cad
April 9th, 2009 at 9:12 am

[quote=copperdragon]i laugh at those who say that there is no “dark” side of the moon because its all dark. that’s a disingenious way to describe it.[/quote]

Buy a copy of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”
Play it
Wait until the last song fades out
Turn the volume up REAL LOUD!
Listen carefully
67 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am

Talanic,

The heat shall radiate out of the human to the colder surroundings. Think about it, if heat couldnt travel through a vacuum, how does it get from the sun to earth?

Common sense mate!
68 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am

rtr – i think i get the general gyst Jfrater is trying to put across

Organisms that are absolutely PERFECTLY adapted to their environment are screwed if the environment changes. In this case, species which are not as finely attuned stand a better chance of surviving (obviously this would probably result in them evolving into a new species)

Evolution is a difficult concept even for experts to understand and convey, let alone relative layman.

Good list though!
69 shaymm
April 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am

Excellent list. I especially like #5. Reading it makes me feel so much more comfortable getting drunk now. Im sure that has been on another list (drinking does/doesn’t equal cellular brain damage), but I dont remember–lol.
70 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am

Saint Cad (66) -

Sorry, but I don’t take my science facts from a bunch of drugged-out musicians. Although I do like the album.
71 Eugene
April 9th, 2009 at 9:24 am

copperdragon They are quoting from Pink Floyd’s Dark side of the moon. It’s the last line on the album.
72 thisnamestaken
April 9th, 2009 at 9:31 am

A few points:

#9: Not that I’ve ever been in space, but I’m pretty sure you’d die from exposure to the sun before you’d die of asphyxiation. Without an atmosphere to protect you, you’re toast.

#8: “…stars exhibit a slow continuous drift with respect to the Earth’s axis.” You should really make this clearer as you don’t explain why the north star will change. It’s due to precession, the same thing that makes a spinning top wobble.

Here ends my ostentatious pedantry.
73 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 9:39 am

Since i was just listening to Dark Side of the Moon, I did what 66. Saint Cad said to do. Here is the quote: “There is no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it’s all dark”
74 AstroNerd
April 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am

cymraegbachgen87 – radiation will lose you less heat than conduction. You get cold in the atmosphere from particle collisions taking away your surface heat. Of course you will radiate away energy, but think – do people glow in the dark? Not so much because they’re not hot enough. I can’t be bothered to do the calculations for how much energy you’d lose (it’s roughly the temp difference to the power 4), but the skin would rapidly cool (and burn as a result). Your core temp wouldn’t change too much unless you were out for longer than it would take you do asphyxiate anyway. I think the general scenario is of someone who loses a helmet, or whose suit rips. Heat loss would not be your main concern. In any case I wouldn’t recommend skinny dipping in space
75 AstroNerd
April 9th, 2009 at 9:42 am

thisnameistaken – I guess that depends WHERE in space you go for your skinny dip
76 Randall
April 9th, 2009 at 9:50 am

From Cecil Adams, “The Straight Dope.” Final word on this dying in space thing:

“Though your chances of surviving such an experience are slim, your body would not explode (although see below). In fact, if you were able to scramble to safety quickly enough (as the helmetless astronaut did in the famous scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey), you might emerge virtually unscathed.

To be sure, there are a few troublemakers who will give Cecil an argument on this. Some flight surgeons at NASA, for instance, say death in a vacuum would be almost instantaneous. They offer the following Technicolor scenario: your blood would boil, your eyeballs would explode, and your lungs would turn to red slush.

But the medical literature suggests this view is exaggerated. For one thing, I have never seen anything indicating your eyeballs would explode (although your eardrumms might burst). It’s true that in the absence of ambient pressure your blood and other bodily fluids would boil, in the sense that they would turn to vapor. But that’s not as drastic as it sounds. Your soft tissues would swell markedly, but they’d return to normal if you were recompressed within a short time.

It’s conceivable your lungs might rupture, since in a vacuum the air in them would greatly expand. But experience suggests this is rare even if decompression is extremely rapid. The chances are much greater if your windpipe is closed, making it impossible for the expanding air to escape.

Death would not be instantaneous. It’s believed you’d have 10-15 seconds of “useful consciousness” and it’d be several minutes before you’d die. If you were rescued within that time there’s a decent chance you’d survive. Research with chimps and monkeys suggests that if you were exposed to a virtual vacuum for less than 90-120 seconds you might not suffer any permanent damage.”
77 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 9:52 am

Saint Cad, Oouchan, and others – i understand the quote and its origin. Its still wrong.

1. the moon does not create its own light. it is lit by the sun.
2. using Pink Floyds reasoning, the Earth is all dark.
3. If the moon was all dark, we wouldn’t see it.
4. pondering while high does not equal science or fact.

Conclusion, the moon is NOT all dark. It is 50% lit (by the sun) and 50% dark AT ALL TIMES. The part that is light or dark changes during the month as it orbits the Earth.
78 Janus
April 9th, 2009 at 9:55 am

the fellas in Pink Floyd probably thought Polaris was the brightest star, too.
79 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 10:00 am

Ok…then if you have a dark room and shine a flashlight on it, then it’s lit up. However, when you turn the light off, its’ still dark. So the moon is dark because it doesn’t give off it’s own light. Wouldn’t that be correct?
80 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 10:19 am

oouchan (79) -

Sure, but the problem with your (and PF’s) logic is…
The light (the sun) never goes off! Therefore the moon is never ALL dark (as Floyd says).

Even when its new moon, and the side facing earth is dark, the other side (the “far” side or what Floyd thinks of as the “dark” side) is now the lit side.

They are simply using the word “dark” in a figurative sense to imply “mysterious” or “mystical” or something of that sort.
81 Janus
April 9th, 2009 at 10:21 am

Give it up copperdragon – you can’t explain planetary mechanics to an uneducated drug user.
82 Janus
April 9th, 2009 at 10:29 am

oouchan – if you turn on the lights but close your eyes, is the room still dark? Of course not. Same concept applies at new moon, when the “dark” (“far”) side gets lit up BY THE SUN on the other side of the earth.

in your case, the lights on but nobody’s home.
83 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 10:33 am

80. copperdragon: Thank you for the explanation. It still seems to be a little off since the sun won’t always be shining (meaning the future). I guess it seems to me that because it doesn’t generate it’s own light, the moon would be dark.
I am a Pink Floyd fan but don’t worship them like gods or anything. I was just quoting what they said in the song.

81. Janus: So you attack for the fun of it, huh? Didn’t hear anything from you about a theory or about planetary mechanics. Go away troll.
84 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 10:40 am

81 Janus: The disagreement is over semantics, not planetary mechanics. The moon doesn’t emit light, therefore it is “always dark”. However, it reflects light, so yes from certain angles it appears as being “not dark”. And, it receives light from another source, so if you were standing on the sunny side of its surface, it would not be dark around you (except maybe in your shadow).

Btw, that was an uncool comment there at the end.
85 mexecution
April 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am

what up
Rascalian this list is dope looks like I’m going to win a bunch a arguments now
86 bistrobrat
April 9th, 2009 at 10:47 am

I THINK the 5 second rule might come from Board of Health standards for restaurants. I know in my state you have 20 seconds of something being on the floor before you have to throw it away. Anything before then you can still serve no matter what it is. I think that is gross and I never do it. I always throw food away in restaurants that land on the floor. Now at home is another story
87 smithstar15
April 9th, 2009 at 10:48 am

Renegade is correct–It would not matter if you breathed in or out or thru your butt-You would have 2-3 seconds tops,before becoming a popsycle–
88 6twistedbiscuits
April 9th, 2009 at 10:53 am

bistrobat – i’m never eating out again!

janus – what is the point in being that nasty? does it give ou a thrill to single out a person?
89 rafterman
April 9th, 2009 at 10:56 am

Great list, except for a few things that I believe are wrong. Sorry if these were mentioned above.

9. Humans can’t survive in space for that long. Water boils at 212 F at sea level. Go to Colorado, and water boils at 200 F. Go to the top of Mt. Everest and it boils at 175 F. The lower the atmospheric pressure, the lower the boil point goes. Take this into space, where there is obviously zero atmospheric pressure, and water will not exist as a liquid at all. This means all the water in your body will instantly turn to its gas form once you enter outer space with no suit on. There would be no pressure around you to keep the water in you liquid. Water can not exist in space as a liquid, only a gas.
90 Talanic
April 9th, 2009 at 11:06 am

Rafterman -

Your skin is remarkably durable, actually, and your internal pressure is only 1 ATM – not enough to break your skin.

Yes, any cuts you have will bleed gas, but assuming you’re not severely injured already, your blood won’t liquefy because your skin is durable enough to maintain some pressure.

Likewise, you’re not shaking off heat at any appreciable rate (heat from the sun comes as solar radiation, which humans don’t emit) and there’s nothing COLD touching you to take the heat away. You would probably eventually freeze, but not instantly.

I don’t believe that NASA has exposed anyone or anything to the vacuum of space to test, but 15-30 seconds of consciousness is the expected amount, with death occurring in about one minute. Lab tests confirm this, and, apparently, a subject removed from a vacuum chamber before that time period recovers completely in a very short time.
91 locutus83
April 9th, 2009 at 11:07 am

I used to have the wrong impression that meteors get heated due to FRICTION between the atoms on the meteor rock surface and the air molecules hitting the surface. But I guess the air pressure-compression theory makes more sense, as we can deduce from the Gas laws (for constant volume, if pressure increases, temperature increases) – and it is the temperature of the AIR being compressed under the meteor falling under gravity, not the meteor itself.

I am however still skeptical about the theory that humans can survive exposure to outer space for 10-15 seconds. Besides the -270 deg. C temperature (even though heat cannot flow through any ‘matter’ a la CONDUCTION, it can still flow as RADIATION from the human body! And human bodies at +37 deg. C are quite a decent Black Body radiator with such a temp. differece compared to outer space – skin and blood would turn hard and brittle in less than a second), the PRESSURE differnece is enormous between the human body and outer space!! Would not skin and blood vessels which have been internally pressurized at Earth’s atmospheric pressure (even in the space suits) just blast apart in less that 2-3 seconds, when exposed to an environment at almost 0 millibar pressure??
I have to study more references about this.
92 Cybogen
April 9th, 2009 at 11:11 am

4/15/91 is my birthday. Does anyone else share that date with me?
93 Randall
April 9th, 2009 at 11:13 am

rafterman and talanic:

Read my post #76, above.
94 simuun
April 9th, 2009 at 11:13 am

Great list, I love these mythbuster lists…except I can’t help but roll my eyes anytime someone quotes from wikipedia. It doesn’t in any way help support an argument, and is the equivalent of finding advice written on a school desk and taking it as fact.

GIves me goosebumps everytime.
95 Randall
April 9th, 2009 at 11:14 am

locutus83:

You too. Post #76.

Sheesh. I hate repeating myself.
96 deano147
April 9th, 2009 at 11:15 am

lol for the five second rule
i do 5 seconds in school (cos its skanky)
but like a minute at home cos i know its sorta clean there
97 Lifeschool
April 9th, 2009 at 11:18 am

Hey, very informative. No.10 reminded me of the mentality of some businesses I have had the displeasure to work for – who also see progress as imporvement. ‘Must try harder, must do better, must come up with more rules, must grow, must expend’. I hate that. I prefer the ‘ideal’ senario – whereby if something works ‘ideally’, for god sake don’t keep messing with it until in breaks!! (Did Einstein look at E=MC2 and think – ohh must improve, must try harder?) – Just my pet hate – see I keep pets too!

Some of the points on the list seem obvious when broken down – like the DSOT Moon, but I suppose the ‘penny from the empire state building’ depends on how you throw it. Yeah? If you throw it sideways, the penny will topple over itself; looking a bit like a falling sphere; and will create drag to slow it down. But perhaps if you threw it edge on, and downwards, the penny will drop fast and HARD. Try it! Stand on a step ladder and throw a penny down on someones head. If a penny hits you edge-on at 100mph, its gonna do more than sting… Obviously, children are at more risk than bone-headed adults (self included )
98 Shifty
April 9th, 2009 at 11:22 am

#7 I always thought there was a “10 minute rule”, good to know time doesn’t matter anyway.

#4 My high school science teacher told us that myth to scare us into not drinking alcohol.

I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon
99 smithstar15
April 9th, 2009 at 11:29 am

Rafterman–You may be right–As you pointed out,it’s never been tested under actual conditions–But I’ve read that if you fell overboard in the Bering sea,your life expectancy is 4 minutes and as Renegade pointed out,space is much,much harsher temperature wise.
100 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am

oouchan and maggot:

Since the Earth does not “emit” light, would you consider it always dark too? hopefully not, nor would anyone else. its almost noon here (arizona), and its pretty bright out.

Floyd is using a ancient, colloquial phrase and backing it with misapplied logic. Hence its appearance on this list.
101 Kerry
April 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am

I’m no scientist, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I was under the impression that in addition to space having no air or pressure, it is very, very cold. So I’m assuming that if you were ejected into space with no protection, you’d freeze to death in a matter of seconds.
102 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am

lifeschool:

a penny is really not aerodynamically built to sustain that speed over a long fall. Even if you threw it on edge, it would flip or rotate at some point due to air resistance.

Now, if you threw (or dropped) a marble from the Empire State building, and it hit someone on the head, I could see it maintaining its speed enough to do some damage.
103 6twistedbiscuits
April 9th, 2009 at 11:49 am

copperdragon – if the sun wasnt here the earth would be always dark
104 Wood
April 9th, 2009 at 11:58 am

Has anyone ever tried the penny test? And if they have who would agree to that?

And 72. thisnamestaken
Toast you would freeze to death lol

and how does heat travel through a vaccum? can someone explain please?
105 Crimanon
April 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

I’m going to start using random lists as back drops for my less than Exciting parties. At least I can get debates started.
106 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

6twistedbiscuits – if the sun wasnt here, humans wouldn’t be either. nor would there be any plants, and very few animals.
107 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

copperdragon: What 6tb states is true. Earth doesn’t emit a light either. (excluding man made light). I guess that is why I have a hard time believing that the moon as *not* being fully dark. To me, it’s just not making sense. I am not trying to be stubborn, I just can’t seem to make ‘light’ of it all.
108 6twistedbiscuits
April 9th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

copperdragon- i realise this, i know i’m a bit stupid but i’m not that stupid. that hasnothing to do with whether or not the earth is light. all the earth does it reflect light, so like has already been said, its sometimes light and smetimes dark. but if there was no sun the earth and moon would be all dark
109 bwmyers18
April 9th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

Re: the penny from Heaven … an object reaches terminal velocity (32 f/sec) after about 4.6 seconds. Therefore, an object dropped from about 30 feet will be traveling at the same speed as from the Empire State Building. If it won’t kill you from 30 feet, it won’t kill from 30,000 feet. That being said, getting hit in the head with a bowling ball from 30 feet would WAY suck ….
110 Cybogen
April 9th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

107. oouchan- You make a good point that the light we see is from the sun and when we see the moon at nite it is actually the Sun reflectuing off it that we see.
111 Wood
April 9th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

bwmyers18
So if i jumped out a plane and hit the floor it would have the same effect as if i fell 30ft?
112 locutus83
April 9th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

Actually “heat” by itself does not travel through vacuum. “Heat” is the collective term for lot of vibrating atoms and molecules at high energy states due to increase in energy of the system of collection of particles.
It is ENERGY that travels through vacuum in the form of ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES – such as light, X rays, gamma rays, microwave, infra-red rays, radio waves, etc. For example, sun light is primarily light energy travelling through vacuum.
Some particular frequencies of E.M. waves like INFRA-RED transfer their energy to the collective vibration of molecules better than others, when the rays are incident upon these materials (or are absorbed). The energy carried by the E.M. waves gets TRANSFERRED to the matter and RESULTS in HEAT.

In short, the energy that causes heat is tranported through vacuum, but since there is hardly any matter in vacuum, nothing gets ‘heated up’. Once those E.M. waves ‘hit’ something or are absorbed by some material, like the Earth’s atmosphere or some asteroid or a space-craft’s surface, the energy MAY be transferred to that material as heat.
113 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

100 copperdragon: Duh, it’s light outside during the day. It’s still just semantics, cd. So yes, you could interchange “Earth” with “the moon” in my post 84.

We’ll overlook earthly light emissions from man-made sources for this discussion, but I do suppose one could say that Earth can emit its own light from such things as active volcanic lava flows and such. So in that sense then, no the earth isn’t “dark”.
114 locutus83
April 9th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

Explanation in Comment 112 was for Wood’s question @104
115 6twistedbiscuits
April 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

maggot – i didn’t think lava gave light off?
116 Wood
April 9th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Thanks locutus83
I Know only basic physics
but with the freezeing or boiling argument you would freeze right, with it being absolute zero
117 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

115 6tb: in molten form it is “red hot”, so I would say that in the absense of any other light source, it would still glow.
118 6twistedbiscuits
April 9th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

maggot – cool! i would never have thought it would glow, but it does make sense
119 Wood
April 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

Until we do these things it all theories though, aint it?
120 locutus83
April 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

@116 – You’re welcome, Wood!

I am not very clear either on the boiling or freezing agrument either. Outer space is not exactly absolute zero, it’s about 3 degrees Kelvin (-270 degrees Centigrade!) Common sense dictates that skin, tissue etc. would just freeze and turn solid.
But physics of boiling state that any soild or liquid will boil if the atmospheric pressure is equal to the “vapour pressure” on the surface of the solid/liquid. It’s a bit contradictory here. My guess is the body would initially boil, and when all heat escapes, would turn to hard solid powder.
I would advice you check up some university web pages for this info. I am not an expert, and neither is Wikipedia a good source!
121 Wood
April 9th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

@locutus83
Thats what i though, the two contradicting themselves.
122 Hemant Abhare
April 9th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

seems we missed the contributor name..please forgive me if it mentioned in some of the comments. I am too old to read all 121 comments.. cheers
123 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

here is a very good discussion of the “survival in the vacuum of space and decompression events” stuff:

http://www.geoffreylandis.com/vacuum.html

the writer is a Visiting Professor of Astronautics at MIT, and has published in many academic journals, but he’s also written some science fiction and all the info on his site is easy to understand.
124 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

122. Hemant Abhare: It’s Jaime Frater. Listed at the top of the list.
125 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

oouchan:

I understand your confusion, and its still mostly with semantics. You’re beginning to mix the words “fully” and “always”. Fully is a measure of completeness. Always is a measure of time.

I think we can agree that neither the Earth nor the Moon are “always” dark, as we can see they are lit by the Sun (as are all the other planets) for part of the time. Nor is any PART of the Earth or Moon “always” dark, because of their rotations and orbits. Finally, neither the Earth or the Moon are “fully” dark, again because some part is lit by the Sun at all times (just not the same part).

Reflected light is just as valid as emitted light to consider something as being NOT dark.

But you never answered my question. By the same rules you are applying to the Moon (that it is dark because it does not emit light), do you consider the Earth to ever be “fully dark”?
126 locutus83
April 9th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

Thanks for #76. and #123. That sort of clears my misconception to a large extent.
All said and done though, it would be a very PAINFUL, suffocating and scary experience, and I wouldn’t wish exposure to outer space to even my worst enemy.
127 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

125 copperdragon: Reflected light is just as valid as emitted light to consider something as being NOT dark.

Depends on context and semantics cd, that’s all. This is really a pointless argument. When you turn off a light-bulb, is the bulb light or dark? Shine another light on the powered off bulb, or even take it outside in broad daylight to look at it, and it is still a dark bulb.
128 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm

maggot – i agree. i’m just trying to help oouchan understand.

applying his logic to his other example, if you take 100 lit flashlights into a room, the room is still dark because the room is not emitting its own light. the walls are simply reflecting the light.
129 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

125. copperdragon: Oops. Thought I did answer it. Yes, the earth is dark as well. I so believe that due to the fluctuation of the surface of a planet like Jupiter that it can *emit* light.
Always being a measure of time, means that at one point it will end. I understand your point. Since it is ‘semantics’ wouldn’t what we are saying amount to the same thing? Meaning, right now at this very time, the moon is not dark because of the sun. Take away the light now or in the future, and it’s dark. Basically the moon needs an artificial light source to become ‘light’. So, we can have both options at the same time.
Kind of like the phrase: “I say tomato you say tomahto”.
130 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

128 copperdragon: I think “she” understands. She’s basically saying the same thing I am saying.
131 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

the moon: i think we can all agree that it emits (creates) no light of its own.

we can also agree that if we were standing on a part of the moon currently being lit by the sun our surroundings would be lit, just as they are on earth during the day.

so the next question is how much light does the moon reflect for us to see here on earth?

this is a rather complicated question. i’d always heard “the moon is as reflective as asphalt,” but this turns out to not be quite right. it would be better to say parts of the moon reflect about the same amount of sunlight as a golf green (sort of). if this interests you, you can learn more here:

http://jeff.medkeff.com/astro/lunar/obs_tech/albedo.htm

how would everyone feel about saying “the moon is a dark (non-light emitting) celestial object, and it is lit by the light of the sun and other celestial objects that reflect starlight onto its surface.”
132 oouchan
April 9th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

131. lo: I like it!
133 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

lo and behold, lo’s got it.
134 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pm

jfrater-

i’m joining those taking slight issue with your evolution info. it’s totally true that something like fungi might not seem as “perfect” to some of us as a mammal. but this argument only works if we start with the assumption that complex life forms like mammals are “better” or “superior” to less complex organisms.

the truth is that the “best” organisms are simply those most suited to their own environment, the best survivors for there niche. knowing this, an organism like a shark which hit on a “perfectly” good body plan that hasn’t required changes for millennia is not “imperfect” in any way!

i think what you meant to say was “it is a fallacy that evolutionary adaptation always leads to ever-increasing complexity.”

we can see this in cave creatures which have lost their pigment and functional eyes. we can also see it in all those creature you named that found a simple, functional form and had no need to change it further to survive.
135 copperdragon
April 9th, 2009 at 2:16 pm

oouchan: none of the gas-giant planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune – emit light.

All of their light is reflected from the sun. Because their gases create a perpetual cloud cover, they reflect more light than average.

Venus is the same, although it is a rocky planet (like Earth and Mars), it is perpetually cloud covered and reflects a great deal of light.
136 Lifeschool
April 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

135: Copperdragon – (You don’t say…!) Ahem, must be polite. Er, C.D. that is a good statement you write, but your point is a little vague – unless of course you are trying to tie up this uncredibly low-brow argument that nothing is ‘light’ unless it is a light emitting super-sized ball of nuclear fusion (star). Is that fair to say?
137 Joe
April 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

People believed Polaris was the brightest star?
138 Lifeschool
April 9th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

137: Joe – Yes they did. A stars brightness, as it appears to us, depends on four major things – its size, its age, its rate of fusion, and of course its distance from us. Some of the brightest stars appear to be quite dim only in so much as they are [b]so very far away [/b].
139 Maggot
April 9th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

131 lo: an interesting tidbit (I thought so anyway) from the link you provided:
“the perfectly full moon is never visible from Earth (at such times, the moon is eclipsed). From the Apollo missions, we know that the exact subsolar point – in effect, the fullest possible moon – is some 30% brighter than the fullest moon seen from earth.”

Makes perfect sense of course but I never really thought about it before now – that the “full moon” we see from Earth is never really 100% “full”. This sounds like a good bar bet in the making.
140 Arnaud
April 9th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

For those who think you either freeze or burn if tossed into space, follow the link below. I think those guys know what they’re talking about.

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/970603.html

Contrary to what many may think, empty space is NOT cold. Temperature is a state of molecules. But in empty space there are no molecules (it’s mostly… empty).
There is no such thing as “cold” by itself. SOMETHING has to be cold to take away your heat. That’s conduction.
If you are in empty space, you will only lose your temperature little by little through radiation. And it’s a rather slow process.

And even conduction is not instantaneous… If you heat your oven at 200°C; after some time, everything in it will be at 200°C… including the air. But you can open the oven and put your hand in it, you won’t get burned. Because air is a bad heat conductor.
If you touch the metal grill, NOW you will get burned. Because metal is a very good heat conductor. But the air and the metal are at the same temperature.

I know that seems weird but that’s the way it is.
141 astraya
April 9th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Growing up in the southern hemisphere, I never got the change to see Polaris for 38 years, until my trip to Europe. Then I didn’t even see the stars, though at one point was dumbfounded by the moon being in that part of the sky and lit like that.
During my time in Korea, I looked at the stars occasionally. I found Polaris easily enough, but struggled with the rest of the stars being “upside down” and six months out of date (eg Orion is a summer constellation in the southern hemisphere).
I am amazed that anyone would think that Polaris was the brightest star in the northern sky. Several seconds of actual observation would put that one to rest.
BTW most of the brighest stars lie in the southern hemisphere (though are visible from (sometimes) large parts of the north).
And BTW, the moon is dark. It has a very low albedo (rate of reflection) and is close to being the colour of coal. The only reason that it appears bright is that there is a huge light source (the sun), and the moon is (astronomically speaking) very close and comparatively big.
142 AstroNerd
April 9th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

For the people who doubted the penny/quarter killing thing, the equation for terminal velocity comes from equating the gravitational force with the drag force, and is given by

V(max)=((2*m*g)/(rho*A*C))^(1/2)

where m is mass of the object (0.002kg?), g is gravitational const (9.81 m/s^2), rho is density of the fluid (1 kg/m^3), A is cross sectional area of the object (depends if it tumbles, assume 0.02m by 0.001m as worst case) and C is a dimensionless drag (around 0.5).

That comes out at about 220 mph. I don’t know much about the biomechanics of bone fracture, but it depends on rates of momentum and energy transfer. For the sake of comparison the coin has a kinetic energy (0.5*m*v^2) of around 7 Joules. A punch can reach maybe 5 m/s with the arm mass of maybe 1kg or 12.5 Joules. The coin is much smaller so the local stresses will be higher, but bone can flex a little so the coin would probably just bounce of. I’d expect soft tissue damage, no more…..

Of course the coin is not aerodynamically stable so once it starts to tumble the cross-sectional aread goes up by a factor of around 20, which decreases the terminal velocity by around a factor of 4. So you’d be pretty unlucky to get hit by a coin end on and seriously hurt.

I’d be scared of something that would drop more stably, like a pen. If it fell point down the small cross-section would make it pretty fast. All you anarchists out there – you need to make a flight out of card to stabilise the fall – then it’s dangerous.

Wow that was time consuming. Hope it helps someone!!
143 MattBacera
April 9th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

It’s funny. I knew all of this. Most of it from my seventh and eight grade science class.
144 AstroNerd
April 9th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Arnaud I basically said that in post 74. Honestly I don’t know why I bother sometimes

To be precise, the power radiated by a blackbody source (that means the energy is radiated across a broad spectrum) is

Power = sigma*T^4

sigma is the Boltzmann constant (10^-7) and the body temp is 300K so

P = 0.8KW

Now that is quite a lot, so it would burn. But the point is that the skin would very quickly cool as the blood supply cuts off (blood that is cooled by a couple of degrees entering the heart can cause it to stop, so the body is pretty efficient at closing off circulation close to the skin when it needs to). Once this happens and energy is no longer being transported to the surface it would take many minutes for heat trapped in the core to be transported out. Think of cooking a big turkey at 200C – the skin gets crispy before the inside even starts to heat up.

Before any of this became important you’d want to start breathing again, so heat tranfer would be a problem.
145 segue
April 9th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

123. lo: That was very interesting. Thank you.
146 Saint Cad
April 9th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

I guess this thread will teach me to introduce some levity into the conversation.

copperdragon, any reaction to the point I made earlier that the whole discussion about light is moot since “[dark] refers to not knowing since until space travel we did not know what the other side [of the Moon] looks like. It is kind of like saying you’re in the dark about something – you’re not saying that you’re in an unilluminated area, but rather do not know the answer to a problem.”
147 Blogball
April 9th, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Great List! When I was a bachelor living alone it was the 3 day rule. That’s even 2 days longer than Genghis Kahn (as #53 AstroNerd brought up)
148 Moonbeam
April 9th, 2009 at 5:22 pm

shaymm (#69) says: “#5….makes me feel so much more comfortable getting drunk now. Im sure that has been on another list (drinking does/doesn’t equal cellular brain damage), but I dont remember.”

I know you’re partly joking, but just FYI there is something called “wet brain syndrome” caused by alcoholism.

“A… consequence of years of alcoholic drinking, wet brain (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) occurs from a thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition.

“Alcoholics become deficient in thiamine (vitamin b-1) through poor eating habits (liquid meals), damaged gastro intestinal systems that do not absorb nutrients well, and through liver damage (leading to a reduction in thiamine processing). Thiamine is an essential nutrient for glucose conversion in the brain, and over time, a thiamine deficiency leads to significant brain cell death and serious structural damage in certain areas of the brain.” – From choosehelp.com
149 fazrin
April 9th, 2009 at 5:22 pm

Well,actually lightning also strikes a few times to the very same person!!!
150 ViewARandomList…
April 9th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

good list.

Brock Sampson survived being in the vacuum of space
151 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

148. Moonbeam – “). Thiamine is an essential nutrient for glucose conversion in the brain, and over time, a thiamine deficiency leads to significant brain cell death and serious structural damage in certain areas of the brain.”

Is THAT why a number of new hangover cures are including a vitaB pill?! Haha, although when I tried to google the one I heard of, I’m seeing “take B-6″ or “take B-12″….among the other hangover remedies Someone should make a list of the most ridiculous ones. Just from the excerpts on Google search I see “Eat a greasy breakfast sprinkled with marijuana.”
152 kat
April 9th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

I saw a mythbusters episode about the Penny Drop and they tested it…the terminal velocity of a penny is around 70 mph, I don’t remember… so anyway, they made a gun that would shoot the penny at terminal velocity, and they shot it at each other, didn’t even make a scratch on their skin, but it stung for a couple minutes. And it made no impact on concrete either. The penny drop is harmless, unless you were looking straight at a penny falling from the sky and it hit you in the eye, lol.
153 alex
April 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

Wait what about the myth of brain cells? Does this mean that people who drink and smoke can still regenerate cells? Cuz if so…yah!
154 kiyomi
April 9th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

#7 “Five Second Rule” does have to do with germs/bacteria on the floor, however (and this was tested on Mythbusters), it depends highly on the moisture-content of the food piece. The more moisture, the more stick of whatever was on the floor. Think about this: Drop a cracker and slice of cucumber (about the same thickness), the cucumber will pick up more bacteria than the dry cracker, if you put sand on the floor to represent bacteria, it will be obvious.
155 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 7:35 pm

kiyomi: I would still eat the cucumber
156 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

well, why can’t we put the floor-cucumber on the floor-cracker with some fancy spread (or a soft white cheese)? bacteria sandwich…yum yum
157 jfrater
April 9th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

gabi319: mmm – sounds appealing
158 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

i would eat the cucumber slice too. but i’d rinse it off first. clinging grit and fuzz/hair isn’t yummy!

our western (american? do they do it in australia and the EU?) obsession with antibiotic hand soap and the like is only helping super-bacteria to evolve and making us sicker. i once drank some hot coco mix with had been literally scraped out of the montana mountain dust on a leave-no-trace backpacking trip. and i ate tons of street vendor and market food in the amazon, no harm done.
159 Curious_missy
April 9th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

#5: recent studies and trials (unfortunately outside the US, but still credible) have showed that stem cells introduced to the brain (not directly, through a femur vein or whatever the name of the huge vein…) allow the brain to regenerate some of the damaged brain cells.

Also, there are trials that have shown positive results in diabetic patients who had their own stem cells introduced to their pancreas. Their pancreas started producing insulin again and now they can once again eat chocolate cake!!!

I wonder why the US isn’t funding these…
160 feud
April 9th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

jfrater lists are the best!!

What a beautiful picture for #2!
161 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

“unfortunately outside the US, but still credible”

Ahem! Excuse ME. As a european research scientist I feel honour bound to question that statement. Some of the best research in the world is done OUTSIDE of the US. *shock horror!

America is a waning intellectual power. If current school trends continue, your intellectual base will go the same as your manufacturing base – overseas.

Remember, the UK has a far better cost effectiveness for research than the US.

“I wonder why the US isn’t funding these…”

Ethics. Your political and education systems are hampered by religion. I’m disgusted that, this month, the Texas board of ed will now call on studnts to “analyse and evaluate scientific explanations for the complexity of cells, the fossil record, glbal warming and the origin of the universe.” The board also voted to remove from textbooks the fact that the universe is about 14billion years old.

How can you criticise world class research done abroad, when there is a serious debate in your schools to teach CREATIONISM. Seriously, the US is the laughing stock of my uni’s zoology, ecology, cosmology…etc.etc…departments.

I would ask for an apology, but you probably DO think that all research done outside of america is sub-standard. Don’t worry. We are used to it.
162 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 9:40 pm

Out of the top 20 most influential scientists lists, only 2 – Edison (an inventor) and B.F Skinner (psychologist and inventor) – are american.
163 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 9:51 pm

cym- i beg you not to take all 300 million US citizens as idiots.

yes, my nation has some very bad policies (based in a religious conviction held by a very vocal minority of our citizens) that effect research funding. but please remember that many of us are working hard to change this, and seeking private funding while we wait for policies to change!
164 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 9:53 pm

p.s. maybe that other poster meant “unfortunately outside of the US” as a criticism of the the fact that the US is behind the times, not a criticism of other research!
165 Swede
April 9th, 2009 at 9:55 pm

It was less than a week ago that I had to correct my friend’s opinion that the pole star is the brightest star in the sky.

About Thuban: If the ancient Egyptians did align their pyramids due north when they were built they would remain aligned due north even today. This means that if they set up some pyramids pointing at Thuban back then, these pyramids would point to Stella Polaris today. If some of them point to Thuban today, they must have pointed to something else when the Egyptian built them.

Copperdragon, please realize that the poles don’t change position in relation the ground. A simple proof of this fact: The 5000 years old Newgrange mound still points in the same direction as when it was built. It still lights up inside at dawn during the winter solstice only. Also, the almost as old Great Pyramid is still aligned due North, pointing at the pole star, not at Thuban (but it must have been aligned with Thuban when it was built or it wouldn’t point to the pole star today).
166 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

159. Curious_missy – #5: recent studies and trials (unfortunately outside the US, but still credible) have showed that stem cells introduced to the brain…I wonder why the US isn’t funding these…

oh sweetie, you answered your own question…The answer’s right in front of your face (unless you are as ignorant about US politics as you are World Science Research). Stem cell research was a huge huge topic in the past presidential elections because there is a strong movement against it. So if this trial you speak of uses stem cell research while US Politics and American religious right are against it…connect the dots…

And this is a very international group commentors. I’d advice you to be more considerate and less arrogant when creating your future comments.
167 georgia
April 9th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

5 seconds is way too long, i belive the 3 second rule is much more appropriate.
168 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

164 – in that case she should take care with how she phrases things, in case they insult people.

163 – don’t worry, I dont take you ALL as idiots. Statistically speaking there must be three or four intelligent americans I kid! I’v met plenty of intelligent americans! It is a shame that you also have such a vocal opposite end of the spectrum that is so powerful!

However, if trends don’t reverse (and quickly) america will get more stupid as a nation. As it is, our final year of A-level (17/18 years old) is more advanced than many first year degree courses in the US

First thing is first – nationalise the curriculum. Otherwise certain students will go to university less well informed than others. That will inevitably breed a two tier system.
169 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

“Copperdragon, please realize that the poles don’t change position in relation the ground”

Geographical poles, no. But magnetic poles reverse periodically.
170 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

164. lo – “p.s. maybe that other poster meant “unfortunately outside of the US” as a criticism of the the fact that the US is behind the times, not a criticism of other research!”

If she had left it as just “unfortunately outside of the US” perhaps something was lost in translation and the reaction was unnecessarily harsh but it’s hard to misinterpret “but still credible”
171 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Do you really think I’m harsh, gabi?
172 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 10:13 pm

cym- while i maintain (strongly) that we aren’t all idiots, it seems plenty of us might be. but is this because they’re inherently stupid or simply poorly educated in critical thinking?

what i really feel is the problem is that science, education, and religious convictions are getting so sadly intertwined in our political system (what the hell ever happened to separation of church and state?) add “reality” TV to that and america is on a path toward idiocracy levels of dumb. this breaks my heart!

and this is why i fight tirelessly to keep creationism out of the science classroom (it’s welcome in the philosophy or comparative religions classroom) and religion out of the legal system. it’s a very frustrating fight
173 dbrownl
April 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

man looking at that star picture was hypnotic…anyine else think so?
174 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Cym:
Had it been a phrase that could’ve been interpreted a couple different ways (both positive and negative and the honest mistake), then your response could’ve tread the fine line between sharp and harsh. However, like I said to lo, that particular phrase could only be interpreted as either willfully ignorant or downright arrogant. I thought the reaction was fitting.

What you’ve written would only be insulting if directed to those of us who did receive a good education. It’s the generalization of the entire American education system and its students that I think lo found objectionable in your comment.
175 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm

167. georgia – “5 seconds is way too long, i belive the 3 second rule is much more appropriate.”

Do you really think those two extra seconds will make things better/worse?
176 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

“what the hell ever happened to separation of church and state?”

You mean you used to have it? You have “in god we trust” on your money! Your presidents constantly end their press conferences with God Bless America!

Everyone knows that God is actually British. Common sense. We don’t have earthquakes or twisters. “Why, cym?” I don’t hear you cry! Well I shall answer anyway! Because you dont crap on your own doorstep!

gabi,

Unfortunately, as a Brit, I tend to generalise as I get most of my information from secondary sources. Leafing through new scientist, there is a constant struggle in the american education system to actually teach the students the truth – particularly in evolution (which is a cornerstone of current biology as you well know)

I tend to be a little sarcastic and for that I do apologise. I have the greatest respect for america, but I fear where it is heading.

Luckily I have you to keep calling me up on stuff
177 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

i might be giving the other poster way too much credit, but maybe she was referring to the Dr. Hwang Woo Suk hoax, it was really bad for the credibility of the field:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/03/EDG2IGCOIT1.DTL

my mother has early-onset Parkinson’s disease, so i follow stem-cell and other genetic therapy research pretty regularly, even though it’s outside of my field of study (botany.)
178 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

“Do you really think those two extra seconds will make things better/worse?”

Now there is a statement that requires its context!

According to my fiancee, a couple of seconds (on very rare occassion you understand) can make ALL the difference :p
179 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:25 pm

177. lo – “my mother has early-onset Parkinson’s disease, so i follow stem-cell and other genetic therapy research pretty regularly”

Had I continued on in science research, I would’ve tried to get into Alzheimer’s research since it’s near and dear to my heart (or er, brain, haha). I do try to get my hands on as much neuroscience-stem cell information as I can.
180 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:27 pm

“According to my fiancee, a couple of seconds (on very rare occassion you understand) can make ALL the difference”

Oh, so those rare occassions are the only “differences” she can get? poor girl……
181 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

I thought I worded that soooo carefully. Trust you to find the loophole and throw it to the world in general!
182 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:34 pm

It’s because I’m talented like that.
183 Swede
April 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

@ cymraegbachgen87: “Geographical poles, no. But magnetic poles reverse periodically.”

Well, the ancient Egyptian pyramid builders would be hard put to align anything whatsoever with the magnetic poles, considering that the magnetic compass hadn’t been invented yet.
184 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

gabi- my paternal grandfather died from end-stage Alzheimer’s, after twice beating skin cancer and one major heart attack. i was the only family member to be with my grandmother to witness his passing. it was one of those “they get to the point where they forget how to/refuse to eat” and we let him go vs. putting him on a feeding tube, as he’d been totally non verbal/mobile for months prior. yeah, that one’s near and dear to me too. and are these things influenced by inherited genetics? shudder…
185 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:41 pm

183. Sorry swede! I commited the cardinal LV sin and didnt read above. Just read yours and blurted!

Eugh. Gabi is going to shout at me again.
186 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

184. lo
I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather. And yes, they are influenced by inherited genetics but that really is blown out of proportion by the media. There is strong belief in an “Alzheimer’s gene” or some kind of markers that may indicate its imminent presence in an individual, which is why there is so much emphasis placed upon it in conjunction with mapping the human genome but…the actual cases of Alzheimer’s passed on through generations is so negligible (and it doesn’t consider other factors like age. The likelihood of having Alzheimer’s doubles for every five years after the age of 65 and nowadays we have the medical advancements to live well beyond 65) that the idea of inherited Alzheimer’s is still too hazy to take as pure fact.

It’s still scary from a personal standpoint as my maternal grandfather, paternal grandmother as well as paternal “uncle” (more like cousin of my father, whatever that title technically is) all had it.
187 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 10:52 pm

cym my friend, i like you, but:

“Everyone knows that God is actually British. Common sense. We don’t have earthquakes or twisters. “Why, cym?” I don’t hear you cry! Well I shall answer anyway! Because you don’t crap on your own doorstep! ”

jokes are expected, but that’s pretty low! attributing the geographically small land mass that is the UK’s lack of earthquakes and tornadoes to the behavior of its citizens is insulting.

especially when here in the states we actually had idiot religious leaders saying things like “hurricane katrina was a punishment for people embracing gays as equal human beings.” come on! the snark would be funny if crap like that didn’t happen. and if you take a continent sized piece of land anywhere it’s going to experience earthquakes and extreme weather events, that’s simple science my friend!
188 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:57 pm

I meant that god isn’t crapping on his own doorstep by sending tornadoes and earthquakes to the UK! O dear it really is too early…

Look at japan for example. A similar size but a hotbed of volcanoes earthquakes and tsunamis…god clearly isnt japanese!

Anyway its a stolen joke from a british comedian Al Murray. I’m not nearly witty enough to make up my own jokes!
189 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

“hurricane katrina was a punishment for people embracing gays as equal human beings.”

Seriously?

What I don’t get is that the anti gay sentiment of the bible is expressed explicitly in leviticus. It is also here that you told the dietry laws. Its interesting how many fundamental christians pick up on the gay thing, but still eat pork.
190 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

I do apologise btw for the insensitivity of my statment. I have now been up for 19 hours and its starting to take its toll (am trying to reset my body clock! too many late nights and late mornings)
191 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 11:10 pm

189. cymraegbachgen87 – “hurricane katrina was a punishment for people embracing gays as equal human beings.”
Seriously?

You’d be surprised what they’ll connect with what. I had a friend who died in a school shooting. The Westboro Baptist Church had planned to attend his as well as other victims’ funerals to declare their deaths were punishment for A B and C. Gays being one of the many reasons.

“Look at japan for example. A similar size but a hotbed of volcanoes earthquakes and tsunamis…god clearly isnt japanese!”
Well, obviously, considering it sits on the ring of fire. You Brits have…. lots of fog. I dunno… I need to google research some insults.
192 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 11:11 pm

cym, at least one prominent evangelical, john hagee, suggested katrina was a punishment for gay pride, but has since “recanted”:

“Hagee, who has also been criticized for his remarks about the Catholic Church, suggested this week that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for a planned gay-pride parade. “What happened in New Orleans looked like the curse of God,” the Texas televangelist told a radio show host. “It was a city that was planning sinful conduct.”

“As a believing Christian, I see the hand of God in everything that happens here on earth, both the blessings and the curses,” Hagee said in a statement issued through his public relations firm. “But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise. No matter what the cause of the storm, my heart goes out to all who suffered in this terrible tragedy. There but for the grace of God go any one of us.”

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/hagee_retracts.html
193 lo
April 9th, 2009 at 11:14 pm

and cym, i know what it’s like to lack sleep, the brain goes into a nearly “drunk” mode as far as reactions -physical and emotional- may go.

just letting you know how weird and real all this afore mentioned stuff can be in the states. friends?
194 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

Friends? Never stopped

I really cannot believe some of the stuff evangelicals get up to…it saddens the heart. Am currently debating a guy on another list who is suggesting that homosexualism is “wrong”
195 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 11:30 pm

“just letting you know how weird and real all this afore mentioned stuff can be in the states.”

One really wierd thing is the censoring of films on network tv in the states. I was in NY for my 21st and was watching blade 3, a film a know very well. It was about 6 in the evening. What struck me was that words like siht, fcuk, etc werent bleeped or skipped, but the numerous christs and god almighty were.

Wierd indeed.
196 cymraegbachgen87
April 9th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

“but is this because they’re inherently stupid or simply poorly educated in critical thinking?”

The latter I believe. Personally I think your testing system is flawed. Correct me if I’m wrong, but most testing is multi choice?

Our testing is almost ALL extended answers requiring much more critical thinking and understanding of the concepts, rather than learning parrot fashion. I think school boards take too much from test results. I don’t think that equips students for the wider world.

Thoughts?
197 gabi319
April 9th, 2009 at 11:45 pm

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but most testing is multi choice?”

Depends on the teacher. Individual classes (and their tests and test format) are designed by the teacher. Standardized tests (kind of like a report card for the school and district), however, are multiple choice and I have strong opinions against Standards of Learning Tests as do a number of teacher friends of mine.

…plus, the art degree proves I’m a visual person. When I got those answersheets (it’s a long multi-column list of bubbles), what I wanted to do was fill in the dots to make a picture…
198 astraya
April 10th, 2009 at 12:24 am

cymraeg: You told us previously that no-one fucked with the Welsh!
199 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 12:29 am

198. astraya – “cymraeg: You told us previously that no-one fucked with the Welsh!”

astraya, as you can infer from his 178, they do not fuck…they have “differences”
200 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 12:30 am

too harsh, cym? jests are all in good spirit

actually, I wasn’t too concerned for your bruised ego. I was trying to find an appropriate way to get that well rounded 200.
201 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 12:42 am

astraya…i’m disappointed in you. I expect this from gabi…
202 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 1:16 am

Aww, cym! That’s the best compliment I’ve heard all day!…granted, it’s 4 am, so the bar is set pretty low…

Bad Gabi! Bad! It’s been an exhausting week. Apparently that seems to bring out my borderline snarky side, haha.
203 3litE
April 10th, 2009 at 2:11 am

hehehe… Nice list. I like #7.
204 H3000
April 10th, 2009 at 3:48 am

So, if a spaceship were to stand still in outer space, which i’m sure isn’t possible. Astronauts wouldn’t be able to ‘levitate’?
205 AstroNerd
April 10th, 2009 at 5:14 am

H3000 – You’re exactly right. To stop from falling back to earth the spaceship would need to have velocity parallel to the ground. It falls due to gravity, but by the time it’s fallen back to earth it has travlled ‘around’ and the gravitational force is in a different direction. All objects fall at the same rate due to gravity (only in a vacuum) so everything in the spaceship falls at the same rate.

If the spaceship didn’t have this velocity, it could use thrust to effectively ‘cancel’ the gravity and stay above one spot, but the objects inside wouldn’t get the same thrust, so it would just be like being in a normal airplane.
206 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am

I read many years ago that scientists had dropped a baseball from the Washington Monument and it was being clocked at 500 MPH by the time it hit the ground.Of course a baseball has much more mass and weight than a penny–But still,I would not want to be hit by a penny thrown from a skyscraper–Has anyone ever been hit by a penny dropped from the Empire State Bldg and said,”hey something just stung the top of my head”!? Do we have a name?
207 Randall
April 10th, 2009 at 10:58 am

smithstar15:

No, smithstar15… no baseball was EVER clocked at 500mph after being dropped from ANYWHERE. It never happened.

Again, a penny dropped from the Empire State Building isn’t going to kill ANYBODY. It’s terminal velocity at best wouldn’t be enough to do anything more than make you go “ouch.”

And it doesn’t require some anecdotal “personal experience” to know a thing is true. It’s called SCIENCE moron.
208 Cybogen
April 10th, 2009 at 11:03 am

207. Randall – Hey mate, did you have to come back so cruel on your last comment to SMITHSTAR 15? I mean calling somebody a moron isn’t exactly kind-hearted even if you are just correcting somebody.
209 firstborn
April 10th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

cym-87-Whats up with all the comments degrading the U.S.education system ? Taking advantage of the 2 nice American girls who wont argue back.I don`t care how long you have been up pal.What are you some 20 something pompus asshole who thinks hes the smartest person in the room ? Research scientist my ass your probably some geek without a bit of common sense with a dictionary next to you and Wikipedia at your beck n call. Keep your comments about the U.S to yourself. You weren`t educated here so you cain`t comment on it without making yourself look like a little shithead.

Rant over.
210 Cybogen
April 10th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

NOW we got ourselves a debate going! Showtime!
211 lo
April 10th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

firstborn-

i think your comment is sexist, although i do hope i’m generally a nice person.

i didn’t “argue back” with cym because i agree that american students are often not encouraged to use critical thinking. and since when does one have to be an american to hold an opinion about america? i’ve never been to the UK, but i have friends from there and have read about many aspects of life there. so this doesn’t give me as much knowledge as someone born there, but it is enough to allow me to have educated opinions about some aspects of life there.
212 oouchan
April 10th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

lo…I second that motion! I live in AZ and the educational system here sucks. It changes from not only district to district but from school to school within the district. We need an overhaul.
213 Rorscach
April 10th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

lo and oouchan: it just goes to show the fact that you cannot please EVERYONE…if you post an anti-american comment, you’re a racist, anti-female, a sexist, and the list never ends…wonder why listverse doesn’t have a list of -ist people…LOLz
214 6twistedbiscuits
April 10th, 2009 at 2:17 pm

what is critical thinking?
215 oouchan
April 10th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

213. Rorscach: Did you read my comment? I was agreeing with lo that the American educational system sucks. I didn’t mention anything else. So, what are you talking about?
216 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 3:16 pm

209. firstborn
lo, did an eloquent enough job, but I suppose I can contribute since I’m a “nice girl” as well.

The American Education System is in bad form and this coming from a first person point of view as a product of said education system. Anecdotal evidence I can include would be a then-junior in college who’s helicopter parents babied her to the point that up to that point no one had ever taught her how to write a check or pay for her own bills (she honestly thought they magically disappeared and the letters were simply statements like bank statements). Or a news article about a teacher who was threatened to be fired if she wouldn’t raise the grade of a certain student she failed for skipping too many classes. Politically correct crap in which the teachers are called to task if any student and/or parent is the least bit offended with anything taught. Standardized testing that forces teachers to spend less time teaching and more time cramming information in young minds hoping something may stick longer than a few weeks. Outdated books and supplies, school funding not placed where it is needed most. Entire art, music, dance and drama departments shut down simply because they “don’t serve any purpose.” A number of faculty who teach simply as a “fall back job” rather than from any desire to educate. Shall I continue on in my personal rant? I have plenty more where this comes from…

Cym did not take advantage of a nice girl who doesn’t argue because I’m only nice when it suits my whimsy and I argue plenty with friend or foe if they say something I don’t particularly agree with. I’ve had this education discussion with him before and even then, I was frank and honest regarding the state of the American Education System. Many debators here would take him to task should cym EVER use solely wiki as the basis of any platform. Using wiki as a completely reliable source…you funny, firstborn…

Rant in suspension and will be continued if necessary.

6.t.b.:
Critical thinking – process that challenges an individual to use reflective, reasonable, rational thinking to gather, interpret and evaluate information in order to derive a judgment
217 6twistedbiscuits
April 10th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

gabi – thanks. doesnt that mean everyone uses critical thinking in everyday life though? or have i misunderstood?
218 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

6tb:
Everyone should, however, some don’t utilize it as well as others (I suppose problem-solving is a good synonym and hopefully everyone uses that to some extent). Critical thinking is sadly lacking in education where flashcards and memorizing random trivia is encouraged instead. Parlor tricks and besting your friends in Trivial Pursuit is nice but true understanding of subjects and subject matter is made through critical thinking.
219 6twistedbiscuits
April 10th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

gabi – i think i understand now. i had to do problem solving through college, i was studying to work in a beauty salon – one of the problems being “a child tells you his parents are abusive, what do you do?” and we had to think on the answer. we were told after the debate due to laws and such we were to call child services. am on the right lines?
220 firstborn
April 10th, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Im not sexist since im a female.

I thought #87 was being a rude jerk. Go back and read what he wrote again and see what I mean. What`s he know about Texas ? Just because he read it dont mean it`s true. Maybe the education system needs reform. That don`t mean it`s the downfall of the U.S. Maybe I was a little harsh but no more harsh than he was.

P.S. No offense to you gals.Im just not as understanding as you.
221 firstborn
April 10th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

One more thing.Constructive critisism about different countries and badmouthing is two different things.

#87 was doing the latter.
222 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Awww…firstborn thought she was bringing something to the table and was shot down

“Whats up with all the comments degrading the U.S.education system”

How long do you have? It isnt even just my opinion that the american education system needs to be reformed. Schools are asking for it. Parents and teachers are asking for it. And the two ‘nice girls’ above both agree with me.

Right.

First. Being female does not stop you from being sexist, just as being pakistani, african, chinese, british or american stops you from being racist.

“Just because he read it dont mean it`s true”

You are actually helping my argument here. The correct grammar is ‘just because he read it doesnt mean it’s true.’ Don’t is a shortening of do not, not does not.

“P.S. No offense to you gals.Im just not as understanding as you”

Or as well read or intelligent either.

“What are you some 20 something pompus asshole who thinks hes the smartest person in the room ?”

Yes, I am 21, as most LV regs know. I am the smartest person in this room, as I am the only one in it. I am not the smartest person on the forum, although I am well equiped to deal with scientific questions (but then, so are many others!)

“Research scientist my ass your probably some geek without a bit of common sense with a dictionary next to you and Wikipedia at your beck n call”

If you knew me, you would know that I berate wiki as an AWFUL source. I use it sparingly. Most of my knowledge is my own. As it happens, I have NO common sense.

“What`s he know about Texas ? Just because he read it dont mean it`s true.”

Actually, as it was released in a press statement from the Texas Board of Education, published in many reputable magazines and newspapers, I think that makes it true – try and keep up here.

“I thought #87 was being a rude jerk”

My dear girl, I was merely being snipy and curt. You would KNOW if I was being rude.

“That don`t mean it`s the downfall of the U.S”

More poor grammar but we shall overlook that. Think about it. If America no longer has an internationally acclaimed intellect base, EVERYTHING goes downhill. Your brightest graduates will move to europe and asia, your economy will crash as high skilled jobs move elsewhere, you will no longer be a leader in innovation. Education shapes the future of a country, if you endanger it or ignore it, or allow religion to cloud fact, you are heading for trouble.
223 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

“One more thing.Constructive critisism about different countries and badmouthing is two different things.

#87 was doing the latter.”

If gabi, lo, or any of the other regs thought I was badmouthing, they would (and HAVE) call me on it. You just can’t take someone criticising your country.

It is nothing personal. Get over it.
224 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

“Research scientist my ass”

My current research is on the post translational effects on accessory proteins of the cardiac ryanodine receptor relating to cardiac arrhythmia.

If you look THAT up on wiki, it will give you info that is 20 years out of date.

I don’t have to vindicate my credentials to you.
225 lo
April 10th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

firstborn, it’s possible to be female and sexist at the same time.

a sexist is any one who believes that members of a gender have certain traits purely because of their gender, things like “all men are tough. all women love chocolate and babies. all men should enjoy sports. etc.”

women who believe that women shouldn’t pursue careers outside the home because their “place” is staying home raising babies are sexist. and female.

and i found your statement “Taking advantage of the 2 nice American girls who wont argue back.” sexist in that it implied i’m “a nice girl” -actually i’m an adult woman, “girls” are children. and that i’m somehow too what- weak? stupid? “ladylike”? to argue back and defend my opinions when they need defending.

and what’s up with call cym #87? and using the phrase “That don`t mean”"?

-aren’t you educated enough to type the welsh (or at least use copy/paste) and to know that the grammar is “that doesn’t mean”???

if you think cym’s wrong, maybe you should explain to him why texas education standards are good enough to allow its students to compete with students educated internationally. that might be more helpfull than calling him “a little shithead.”
226 lo
April 10th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

cym, i was typing while you responded! beat me to it:)
227 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

220-221. firstborn – “Go back and read what he wrote again and see what I mean. What`s he know about Texas ?…One more thing.Constructive critisism about different countries and badmouthing is two different things. #87 was doing the latter.”

I reread everything as you requested. Took too long and cym stole my thunder regarding the “I’m female which means I’m not sexist!” bit…

161. cymraegbachgen87
I’m disgusted that, this month, Texas board of ed will now call on studnts to “analyse and evaluate scientific explanations for the complexity of cells, the fossil record, glbal warming and the origin of the universe.” The board also voted to remove from textbooks the fact that the universe is about 14billion years old.

This comment? It was quoted for a reason. NT Skeptics has a collection of articles from various Texas newspapers saying essentially the same thing. The ‘I’m disgusted by’ denotes personal opinion rather than criticism – constructive or otherwise.

209. firstborn
What are you some 20 something pompus asshole who thinks hes the smartest person in the room ? Research scientist my ass your probably some geek without a bit of common sense with a dictionary next to you and Wikipedia at your beck n call.

This comment? can’t be interpretted as anything BUT badmouthing.
228 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

226. lo – cym, i was typing while you responded! beat me to it:)

HAHA! YOU TOO! My browser refreshed so I saw his ‘sexism and female’ comment so I had to delete mine. The jerk. Let’s get him!
229 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

What can I say? I’m just that quick

That was me being sarcastically arrogant btw – for the benefit of those who cannot take a joke, or read into tone
230 Maggot
April 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

229 cym: I’m just that quick

Dude….gabi will just jump all over that one…
231 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Yup. I know. I’m used to it.

You didn’t have to point it out though :p
232 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 4:54 pm

230. Maggot – April 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

229 cym: I’m just that quick

Dude….gabi will just jump all over that one…

Ugh, you guys!! Both of those comments sound so dirty! I’m getting misty eyed… you two make me so proud.

And we know cym’s not THAT quick! As per 178, he needs the extra two seconds, so we can infer that he gives at least THREE seconds to…the “differences”.
233 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

I am so glad my fiancee doesn’t read these lists…
234 red
April 10th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

I don’t get #9. Who honestly loses consciousness after 15 seconds without air? I can easily go 25 seconds with no trouble. Am I a freak of nature or is this item just completely stupid?
235 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

219. 6twistedbiscuits – April 10th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
gabi – i think i understand now. i had to do problem solving through college, i was studying to work in a beauty salon – one of the problems being “a child tells you his parents are abusive, what do you do?” and we had to think on the answer. we were told after the debate due to laws and such we were to call child services. am on the right lines?

Sorry for late response!
hmmm…in this situation, any hypothtetical solutions you made during debate exercise critical thinking/problem solving. The “told after debate” was not. HOWEVER, with knowledge of local laws and child behavior techniques and wouldn’t hurt to have some prior professional experience dealing with children and understanding of your local child social services…you could’ve applied critical thinking to come to the conclusion and completely OWNED that debate!
…it’s simply being knowledgable/informed about a variety of things and being able to make rational decisions based on that knowledge.
236 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

234. red – April 10th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I don’t get #9. Who honestly loses consciousness after 15 seconds without air? I can easily go 25 seconds with no trouble. Am I a freak of nature or is this item just completely stupid?

In the JFrat item in question “In fact, a human can survive for 15 – 30 seconds…”

Answers question? Ah, but you’re saying 25s easy implying you possibly, like me had to spend years doing “lung exercises” as part of flute training and at my peak maintain 2m 37s of playing middle D. Regarding beyond this time frame…

According to DamnInteresting.com:
For about ten full seconds– a long time to be loitering in space without protection– an average human would be rather uncomfortable, but they would still have their wits about them. Depending on the nature of the decompression, this may give a victim sufficient time to take measures to save their own life. But this period of “useful consciousness” would wane as the effects of brain asphyxiation begin to set in. In the absence of air pressure the gas exchange of the lungs works in reverse, dumping oxygen out of the blood and accelerating the oxygen-starved state known as hypoxia. After about ten seconds a victim will experience loss of vision and impaired judgement, and the cooling effect of evaporation will lower the temperature in the victim’s mouth and nose to near-freezing. Unconsciousness and convulsions would follow several seconds later, and a blue discoloration of the skin called cyanosis would become evident.

At this point the victim would be floating in a blue, bloated, unresponsive stupor, but their brain would remain undamaged and their heart would continue to beat. If pressurized oxygen is administered within about one and a half minutes, a person in such a state is likely make a complete recovery with only minor injuries, though the hypoxia-induced blindness may not pass for some time. Without intervention in those first ninety seconds, the blood pressure would fall sufficiently that the blood itself would begin to boil, and the heart would stop beating. There are no recorded instances of successful resuscitation beyond that threshold.
237 Rorschach
April 10th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

“”“Research scientist my ass”

My current research is on the post translational effects on accessory proteins of the cardiac ryanodine receptor relating to cardiac arrhythmia.

If you look THAT up on wiki, it will give you info that is 20 years out of date.

I don’t have to vindicate my credentials to you.”"

***-”We have a mad scientist on the HOUSE”…run for your lives!!!!
238 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

MWAH HAH HAH HAAAAAAAAH!
239 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

Look what you did, Rorschach…Cym’s gone off his rocker.

…do they use that phrase in the UK?
240 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

JFrater–I’m sick and tired of this asshole,Randall attacking me–I never mention his name in any post because he’s ignorant and not worth debating. I would like for you to instruct him to not reply to my posts again with his childish name-calling.
Thank You
241 Crimanon
April 10th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

smithstar15: You do realize that you just painted a target on your comments right? Best of luck.

Randall: Have fun, I love to watch.
242 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

Thanks Cybogen–I just consider the source and the massive ignorance this person is obviously eaten up with.
243 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

240 – asking someone to not reply to your posts is childish. The adult thing is to ignore him. Cybogen has already spoken up in your defence. We know it is harsh.

Problem is, randall isn’t ignorant. Not by the definition of the word. He is rather unforgiving in his corrections though.
244 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

241 – oh…you like to watch do you?

I agree though. You have painted a bullseye on your back now smithstar.
245 red
April 10th, 2009 at 6:21 pm

gabi, flute player ftw!
that probably has something to do with it
246 Crimanon
April 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Cym: I usually jump into the fray for the finale. No point in wasting my energy when the video can amuse me later.
247 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 6:34 pm

1908 Baseball Dropped from Top of Washington Monument Caught by Gabby Street. It took thirteen tries until the Washington Senators catcher was able to snag one, and later the crowd that had gathered to watch Gabby Street attempt to catch a ball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument described the sound of the ball hitting Street’s mitt as that of a pistol shot. The 535 foot drop took just four and a half seconds, the ball carrying two hundred pounds of force behind it as it reached Street, traveling at one-eighth the speed of a rifle bullet, as a local Washington newspaper reported.
248 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

correct me if I’m wrong but don’t these two (smithstar and Randall) have past history? For some reason I seem to recall a wordy argument with Randall and some name that looks remarkab ly like smithstar (although I think it said smithstar4). That could explain Randall’s quick jab in the face but…well Randall’s like that with everyone. At least he’s not discriminatory

Earlier, Randall spewed bile at those not researching (I’m including myself in the biled since I didn’t research that particular hair comment) but meh… it’s late, I’m exhausted, and since I am no longer in school and no longer am in a career that is academically demanding, I’ve put a strict curfew on how late into the night I research.
249 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Well,I do ignore the little asshole–And I’m used to being a target being a disabled veteran.But it’s cowardly to attack someone in cyber space calling him a moron when you kinow the little coward would never face you in person. And I feel sorry for anyone who thinks someone is intelligent who has to resort to childish name calling because he’s too ignorant to make an intelligent comment.As far as the bullseye–Yeah,I’m scared to death.
250 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 6:43 pm

damn…I couldn’t help it. I looked into this debacle. Top 10 Most Overrated Novels has a wordy, ad hom-ridden discussion between Randall and smithstar4.

Can’t help it. I’m addicted to research…
251 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

I am lol-ing at the irony of you saying “And I feel sorry for anyone who thinks someone is intelligent who has to resort to childish name calling” and then calling him a coward and ignorant – is that not also name calling
252 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 6:45 pm

o and calling him an asshole…
253 Eugene
April 10th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

“There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact, it’s all dark.”

This was not meant to be a source to prove or disprove the dark side argument. Just as a tongue-in -cheek comment to highlight why we were all quoting it. That’s all. Man people get carried away here. Not everything is personal.
254 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

gabi 319–Just so you won’t think I’m hiding from braindead what’s his name–Yes,I was smithstar4–I left for awhile and when I tried to sign back in it said “smithstar4 is already taken”–But I couldn’t get in under it so I changed to smithstar15–But yeah–same guy.
255 cymraegbachgen87
April 10th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

Yes everything IS personal and I’m offended that you dont think it is!
256 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

245. red – gabi, flute player ftw! that probably has something to do with it

Increased lung capacity due to plenty of flute playing, yes…but it doesn’t really apply towards the vastly different environment of outerspace. Doubt you’d be that much different from the rest of us in that situation. Hope it answered your question, though!
257 smithstar15
April 10th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

cymraegbachgen87

Well,it’s my understanding that it’s not actually name-calling if the person in question actually is an asshole.But you might want to check with wickepidia or whatever that site’s called.
258 gabi319
April 10th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

257. smithstar15 – April 10th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
cymraegbachgen87
Well,it’s my understanding that it’s not actually name-calling if the person in question actually is an asshole.

Then how do you validate calling him a coward and ignorant?
259 DDDiogenes
April 10th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

here and there quip responses to the list herewith in :

-spawning of the freak is the only way for our evolution to prosper properly, in my opinion.

-horror vaccui of the horror vacuum within our empty heads exploding in space.

-germs and dirt = nothing to a child’s paws

-new cell growth does not necessarily mean an old dog can learn new tricks.

- a penny dropped from the empire state high rize may not pass through some passerby’s cranium and concrete below–but a sack full of pennies would certainly piss a lot of unluckies off and land the penny dumper in The Tombs and the front page of The Post with the headline reading “No Cents Shenanigans Answers To The Lynch Mob”

ect. blah blah ect.
260 segue
April 10th, 2009 at 11:47 pm

Ah cym, maybe we Americans aren’t all idiots, but I am.
Yes, ideedy do. I am at that.
261 lo
April 11th, 2009 at 12:13 am

?
262 Stormy617
April 11th, 2009 at 12:21 am

#86 Bistrobat:

What state do you live in cause I will never eat in a restaurant in that state.

I live in Michigan and am currently a swing manager for a McDonald’s restaurant. I had to take a 16 hour course called Serv-Safe and pass a test that only 3 of the 10 people in my class passed. (I was one of the 3) We are required to have someone certified by serv-safe in the restaurant at all times. If the health department were to come in for an inspection and there was no one certified working at that time, they would immediately shut us down. As to the food on the floor rule it is never acceptable to serve food that has touched the floor for even a microsecond. We even throw away the nugget dipping sauce cups if they fall on the floor.
263 6twistedbiscuits
April 11th, 2009 at 12:54 am

gabi – thanks. at the time i didn’t see the point in debating what to do if there was only one thing we were allowed to do, but i am glad now we were given the excersise. just out of interest, i will be studying those laws as i am now training to work with young people.
264 Denzell
April 11th, 2009 at 2:23 am

I’ve been telling dad several times that the 5-second rule is just a danged myth!
265 firstborn
April 11th, 2009 at 2:43 am

segue-260-wise reply.

#87-I don`t have anything more to say to you.I got my point across.I still got love for ya.Keep your narrow opinion about the U.S. to yourself and I ain`t got nothing but love.

If I made any errors in grammer or spelling let me know.
It`s very critical to my well being.
266 firstborn
April 11th, 2009 at 2:52 am

I wish I was a scientist and only 20 something. That would be so cool.

Check my grammar ok.
267 jhoyce07
April 11th, 2009 at 4:20 am

# 7 myth on this list has been shown and DEBUNKED by MYTHBUSTERS on DISCOVERY CHANNEL..try searching this episode in youtube.. (JFrat’s explanation, therefore, is correct..) ü
268 cymraegbachgen87
April 11th, 2009 at 4:26 am

“Keep your narrow opinion about the U.S. to yourself and I ain`t got nothing but love”

No. I have the right to express my opinion. It is your opinion that my view is narrow. Many of the people above agree with me so that suggests that my opinion is not narrow in the slightest.

If we all agreed with each other the world would be a boring place.
269 gabi319
April 11th, 2009 at 7:13 am

260. segue – April 10th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Ah cym, maybe we Americans aren’t all idiots, but I am.
Yes, ideedy do. I am at that.
Forgive me, segue, but I’m kind of confused by this. Could you add on, please? I know we’ve somewhat ventured into the plight of American stupidity and your views on it. Fortunately, your kids (and lo and myself) chanced upon a handful of great teachers in the somewhat recent past forays in American education and/or found and expanded on what we had a natural aptitude for but many weren’t as lucky. Was there sarcasm in that comment 260 or do my eyes deceive me?

Cym:
It’s obvious nothing will get through to her. I’d advise you to let it go before she brings you down to her level and you end up looking the bad guy.

firstborn:
No point was given or interpreted by those reading your comments. You expressed your opinion and be damned anyone who doesn’t agree so you feel no need to clarify or word it in a way that doesn’t turn people away from your writing. I understand what you’re projecting – you’ve got a hella lot of national pride and assuming how much offense you took to that particular article about Texas, I also assume you reside there and have much love for the Lone Star State. But there comes a point where there can be TOO MUCH pride. Where Texas pride becomes “that loud-mouthed cowboy” and other stereotypes are born. I know I live in a location known for its pretentious yuppy Republicanism and yes I get thrown insults over it even though I’m as far on the opposite side of spectrum as one can get. Rather than take the ad hom road, which would label me a pretentious yuppy Independent, I prefer to show I have some class and prove to others that not everyone here acts like that. You declared what you found offensive in cymraeg’s comments…if you would be receptive to a meaningful discussion, perhaps give specific evidence as to WHY it is offensive (i.e. what is good about the education system).

And you learn far more about different cultures and other locales by being open minded, considerate, and giving strangers the benefit of the doubt if they don’t particularly see things your way.
270 segue
April 11th, 2009 at 8:52 am

269. gabi, sarcasm, my dear, post 260 was fairly drenched with sarcasm.
On occasion, it becomes absurdly obvious that the only possible answer is sarcasm, nothing else will be understood. In fact, he didn’t even get the sarcasm! His reply? 260 – segue – wise reply!
Does he have any idea at all about my intellect? My education? My career(s)?
No. Of course not. Yet he’s ready to label me, and an entire nation of people, Ill and/or under educated.
He’s laughable. So instead of pulling out a rant (which everyone has come to expect, I guess), I go with sarcasm.
More fitting in this case, I think, don’t you?
271 lo
April 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am

segue, the great defender of texas claims to be female. (and therefore incapable of sexism, a point she has not responded to when called out for.)

and i have to add that sarcasm is the hardest thing to express online, i was torn between it between it being sarcasm and it being one of those impostors.
272 gabi319
April 11th, 2009 at 9:09 am

Sarcasm was my first instinct in regards to 260 but then I saw your (lo) question mark and firstborn’s subsequent “wise reply” which made me unsure. I shall never doubt you again, dear segue!

There is an imposter going around in the past couple days, though. Used downhighway61′s name (but spelled it downhighway60) as well as Rorschach (but took away one letter. I forget which).
273 segue
April 11th, 2009 at 9:21 am

You are both right, it’s difficult to do anything which requires tone of voice or facial nuance to get across well on the internet.
I guess I’ll stick to wrath or jokes.
274 Randall
April 11th, 2009 at 10:13 am

smithstar:

In fact, I did NOT remember you from our previous exchange. Now I do.

“Well,I do ignore the little asshole”

I may be an asshole, smithstar–I’ll cop to that. But no, I’m not little.

“–And I’m used to being a target being a disabled veteran.”

Uh huh. Cheap play, that. Downright insipid.

“But it’s cowardly to attack someone in cyber space calling him a moron when you kinow the little coward would never face you in person.”

And you know this how?

I’ve had this ridiculous and moronic assertion thrown at me before (and seen it thrown at others). It’s a remark of desperation. The ol’ “you’re not man enough” bullshit… so, what, smithstar, you live your life like an episode of “Gunsmoke”?

Grow up for chrissakes. If you have intelligent things to say here, then say them. If not, then shut up.
275 Randall
April 11th, 2009 at 10:28 am

BY THE WAY. The article in question ONLY makes the remark that it was ESTIMATED that the ball dropped at 161 feet per second. I verified this with the New York Times site.

ESTIMATED. AND a peculiar “estimate” at that, being so precise… but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was for real.

161 feet per second. There are sixty seconds in a minute and sixty minutes in an hour. 3600 seconds in an hour then. 161 feet times 3600 seconds equals 579,600 feet per hour. Divide this by 5,280 (the number of feet in a mile) and we get 109.7727 etc. etc. — in other words NOT ANYTHING LIKE 500 mph, but rather like a much more realistic 110 mph, which is what you’d expect for the terminal velocity of a baseball dropped from that height.

FOR CHRISSAKES. Now, I’ll grant you math has never been my strong suit–just about everything else IS, but not math. But it’s a simple enough equation to figure this one out, and a child could do it. And unless I’m still hungover from last night’s party (a good friend is in from Brazil and several of us had rather a lot to drink last night and I woke up this morning feeling less than fresh) I don’t believe I’ve made an error.

SO ENOUGH. Science is what it is, and no goddamned baseball was ever dropped off of anything and achieved a speed of 500 mph. For all we know at a speed like that the goddamn ball covering would have ripped right off, but it probably would have shattered the hand of any damn fool stupid enough to try and catch it, glove or no. Or, since I’m harping on hyperbole here, let’s just say it would have hurt a whole hell of a lot.

But smithstar can go back to irrelevantly calling me a “little coward,” which is all he’s got.

The url of the original New York Times story:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A03E0D81E39E333A25756C2A96E9C946196D6CF
276 Mongo
April 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am

#7: Is it sad that I ate a Sour Patch Kid that was on the floor after dropping it about three days prior? >_>;
277 Maggot
April 11th, 2009 at 11:38 am

266 firstborn: Check my grammar ok.

Well your punctuation could use some work. Your well-being is very important to me.
278 smithstar15
April 11th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

Randallass
Well,if you read the entire post I said “I read” somewhere long ago that the baseball was clocked at 500 mph–I didn’t say I did the test.But goofy math aside,it throws into question the proposition that a penny dropped from the empire state building would only sting which is what I was actually questioning.By questioning,we learn things.But instead of giving a well thought out reply you resorted to name calling. It was the same way before–I never posted any replies to your inane remarks. You started that ball ny calling me names.

And after saying all that..You’re still a little coward–
And you know it–
279 smithstar15
April 11th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

I know where everyone got the notion that a penny falling from a skyscraper would not kill you.I watch “Mythbusters” also. And you are all probably correct but I have never taken anything I hear at face value–I’ve always questioned everything. There would be updrafts around skyscrapers(I have a private pilot’s license and know a little about updrafts-Not a lot but a little).But if one of these guys on Mythbusters would actually volunteer to have a penny dropped on his head from a skyscaper(preferably thru a constructed pipe with his head under it so it wouldn’t miss or be effected by drafts)and he said,”hey that stung but just a little” then I would be a believer.That’s all I’m saying. I seriously doubt there would be any volunteers. I know I sure as hell wouldn’t.
280 firstborn
April 11th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

Thankyou Maggot I will work on it.
Wise reply was sarcasm.Need to work on that too I guess.
Not from Texas. We are all Texans though.
And New Yorkers,Nebraskans,Californians,ect.
Didn`t mean to stir you folks up.I think I have the right to reply in kind to my country being downgraded in a non constructive way ,just like you have the right to critise my spelling,punctuation and whatever else you want to do.
Having no common sense is not a good thing.OK you can start breaking down my sentences now.

P.S. Us Americans argue and fight about almost everything under the sun like brothers and sisters,ect.But when someone from another country sticks their nose in,I take offense. Maybe im wrong,but i`ll keep on.Thanks for your time.
281 smithstar15
April 11th, 2009 at 1:09 pm

firstborn:”Us Americans argue and fight about almost everything under the sun like brothers and sisters,ect.But when someone from another country sticks their nose in,I take offense. Maybe im wrong,but i`ll keep on.Thanks for your time”.

No–You are NOT wrong.
282 oouchan
April 11th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

280. firstborn: I am from America but please don’t lump me in with you. I will not bury my head in the sand and think this is a great country. It has its moments, but the other countries laugh at us for a reason. Our educational system is a joke and our children are suffering because of this. I would love to send my child to Japan or England for her education instead of America because of the level of education here.
It’s ok to defend your country, but you need to do it in a positive and correct way. Just saying “my country is great”, doesn’t cut it. We need to back it up with proof and facts. However, I would still choose to live here because this is where I was born and raised. I do love my country…doesn’t mean I have to like it though.
283 firstborn
April 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

282- O.K. Thanks for the advice. Im very passionate and PROUD of my country.I promise not to lump you in with me. Thanks smithstar15.
284 gabi319
April 11th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Not born in the US but certainly raised here. My parents willingly uprooted our family, traveled halfway across the world specifically so that my sister and I could have the education and opportunities we wouldn’t have had where I was born, so education reform is of particular interest to me. I know it’s not the worst out there because girls can still attend school even after they hit puberty. It’s also not the best given how so many of us are “Not Smarter than a 5th Grader” (for our abroad friends, it’s a tv trivia game similar in style to Who Wants to be a Millionaire except the questions are those normally found in Grade 5 curriculum and below (ages 6-10). People watch, enjoy, get a good laugh at the man or woman who fails to answer all the questions while I watch and die a little inside at the answers some of these contestants give). No one holds the market on national pride. I like to boast that I have an extra helping of it because I’m grateful to be here. Had I stayed where I was born, I probably could be the PhD of everything under the sun and yet without shady and/or monetary connections, I’d most likely have no future outside of the four walls of my kitchen (or crummy job just to pay the bills with no hope of ever finding enjoyment in work). If I move back to my father’s homeland now, I most assuredly would be kidnapped, held for ransom and/or killed. But would I turn down a job abroad? Honestly, no because I enjoy seeing how the rest of the world lives and what experiences I can take from it. But when the commitophobe in me does take a minute or two to think of the heavy stuff like children I may or may not have, I’m thinking “which state to I want to live in?” not “Which country?” I am proud of the American part of my heritage, which is specifically why I rejoice the good as well as fully acknowledge the bad so that I know what needs to be worked on and perfected. I’m not deluding myself into thinking that everything is perfect. I’m not completely demeaning and taking for granted the country that made me 99% of who I am today. I am simply looking at things objectively and realistically. And IMO, everyone is free to jump in the fray. In fact, I welcome non-American opinions since it’s probably more objective because they see the big picture without the emotional attachments.

One last thing before I drop this ridiculous discussion about nationalism (the topic is not so ridiculous as the complete lack in progress of said discussion):
280. firstborn:
I think I have the right to reply in kind to my country being downgraded in a non constructive way ,just like you have the right to critise my spelling,punctuation and whatever else you want to do.

No. No one has the right to ‘reply in kind’. People have the OPTION to ‘reply in kind’. Same thing I mentioned earlier: Show some class. Had it been an intellectual conversation and you presented yourself well, cymraegbachgen87 could have easily looked like an ass instead. A number of people have given you constructive criticism on how you could have ‘attacked’ him better (i.e. with facts, not ad hominem).

Even if I find grammar issues grating, I normally let it slide but this I feel compelled to say: Even if you were sarcastic about our attacks on your grammar, at the very least proofread what you write. Perhaps my superpower’s working overtime but comment 283 could easily be construed as insulting. Unless I interpreted it correctly and you were trying to be subtly insulting, then A) bravo on the subtlety and B) bring it on because I’ve been itching for a fight!
285 Stormy617
April 11th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Wow! It is a really good thing that this “conversation” is not taking place in a real life public venue of any kind. It would be an all out free for all and a lot of people would surely end up in the hospital.
286 lo
April 11th, 2009 at 8:43 pm

firstborn-

loving whatever country you call your own -including the USA- can be a wonderful thing, but that shouldn’t mean loving it blindly.

think of it like this: say you have a sister you really, really love, but she keeps driving drunk and has already had 2 serious car accidents.

now you’re free to say “i love her flaws and all. let her drink, not a damn thing wrong with it!” but i think someone who really loved her would first admit that she was doing something that could hurt or kill her and others, and therefore is a very bad thing. then they would try to help her change the behavior by convincing her to get cabs, have a sober driver, have drinks at a diner party at her home instead of the bar, etc.

america is like that sister. i love it, but that doesn’t erase the fact that it has flaws and fucks up sometimes. if i love it, i should try to change those things for the betterment of us all, not pretend they don’t exist because somehow “america is perfect and can do no wrong.”

any of us with any grasp of reality at all knows nothing is perfect, and that includes school systems -in texas or anywhere else. lying to ourselves about this prevents us from making things better, and that is the sort of attitude that will cause things to decline, in the states or anywhere at all.
287 iRonnie
April 11th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

Thanks for #1. Had a huge fight with a science teacher over this in Grade 7 who insisted there was no gravity in space. I asked repeatedly what held the planets in orbit if there was no gravity in space. He just repeated the dogma, “No gravity in space.” Put me science for years. Still have misgivings about grade school science teachers.
288 gabi319
April 11th, 2009 at 11:01 pm

285. Stormy617 – “Wow! It is a really good thing that this “conversation” is not taking place in a real life public venue of any kind. It would be an all out free for all and a lot of people would surely end up in the hospital.”

Damn skippy. For the most part, I’m generally open-minded and go with the flow, but if my mood is right, my coffee is wrong and the opposition is obstinate, I have no problem being brutally honest. Once, I got so fed up with how so many people were passively complaining about some jerk that I walked myself over and had it out with him. No one had ever stood up to him before and he had no idea how to handle it.
…I like to point out how funny the “ever stood up to him before” really is because the dude was seriously 6ft4. With my good sneakers on, I can comfortably attain 5ft3.

As it is, I hurt my thumb and two fingers at work today, so I doubt if this were a physical setting that I would get in a physical fight because I don’t think she’s of more value to me than those bandaged tips. But seeing as this is a science-related list, I encourage you to set up an experiment to test your hypothesis!
289 gabi319
April 11th, 2009 at 11:12 pm

287. iRonnie – “Put me science for years. Still have misgivings about grade school science teachers.”

Don’t think they are all bad! I had a number of great grade school science teachers, many of whom I am still close to. In fact, I was just talking to my high school bio teacher yesterday about a car accident I was almost in earlier this week.

And a middle school science teacher (huh, grade 7 like your story!)… on the first day of school, she walked around the room holding this jar with neon yellow liquid and these black dots floating up and down. She claimed they were mutant ticks found in sewage systems and the expounded on that with fancy scientific words. My first impression was “hmm..those look like raisins to me…” but everyone around me was getting all excited about this new species that I began to doubt myself. Turns out, they really were raisins and the carbonation from the soda made them “swim.” Teacher told us: Always question. Never believe simply because you’ve been told what’s what – even if it came from a teacher!
290 geee
April 12th, 2009 at 2:33 am

this is the coolest website!! i tell all my friends about it!!! haha
291 segue
April 12th, 2009 at 8:05 am

firstborn, tell you what guy. I am in possession of an extremely detailed family history, including names and dates of births and deaths, families who married in, wars they fought in (and, when an issue, for which side), going back to the early 1700 in America!
So. If we’re going to be proud of a country based on stupid things I’m supposing having been here to make this a nation is one of those stupid, arguable things, wot?
Oh, a *good* unarguable idea would be for you to learn English and how it is used in everyday conversation. It might make you sound a little bit more like an American, and less like an escapee from the planet Piston.
292 cymraegbachgen87
April 12th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

“non constructive way”

What was non-constructive about my criticism. I suggested ways that the system could be improved!?

Not really up to spec on the meaning of words either are you?

Anyway, you can continue to live in ignorance if you want. I quoted my sources.

Gabi/segue can either of you tell me which list HHH was on? I cant seem to find it and want to know how it is progressing!
293 cymraegbachgen87
April 12th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Just a thought, isnt not allowing people of different nationalities to have an opinion (negative or otherwise) on your country just a little bit racist?

There is national pride (which I am a great supporter of) and playful banter between nations, but getting this insulted over a vaild, backed-up opinion just because I’m not american…that’s wrong, surely?

Thoughts?
294 cymraegbachgen87
April 12th, 2009 at 5:23 pm

*Well, maybe not racist, but certainly Xenophobic
295 gabi319
April 12th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

My thoughts? They’re both wrong (racism and xenophobia).

Racism is a group of people connected through biological similarities (e.g. The African race is more susceptible to sickle cell anemia. The Asian race is supposedly almost entirely lactose intolerant). One would automatically assume ethnicity is racism and vice versa but ethnicity refers more to cultural aspects. How does one define a half-anglo, half-Native American who lived all his life on the reservation? Ethnically more N.A. than Anglo but racially both.

Xenophobia is fear of foreigners. This could incite anger and physical violence, sure, but the underlying emotion is fear. And to be technical, the above wasn’t a fear of foreigners but …?? hatred of criticism made by a foreigner? That’s an idea more than a physical being. Doesn’t really apply.

What would I call it? Nationalism, or as Columbia Encyclopedia defines it “a collective state of mind or consciousness in which people believe their primary duty and loyalty is to the nation-state.”

Of course, there are those who believe Racism and Nationalism are one and the same. And essentially, they are 99.9% correct.

You read the entire pointless comment? haha… forgive me, I’m being a smartass today. Semantics is currently my best friend.
296 cymraegbachgen87
April 12th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

Fine. If you want to aruge semantics!

Although the suffix phobia (from the greek phobos meaning fear) suggests this word is only fear of foreigners, in common lexicon, and many dictionaries, dislike or hatred is also included in the definition.

Therefore discluding foreigners from expressing opinions about a country merely because they are foreign is discrimination that would come under “xenophobia”

I can be difficult too

:p
297 cymraegbachgen87
April 12th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

Wow. Too many commas. They should come in pairs.
298 jfrater
April 12th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

cymraegbachgen87: commas shouldn’t come in pairs – in some cases they do, but certainly not always. For example:

* I love chocolate, ice-cream, cookies, and toffee.
* The comma is used in many contexts and languages, principally for separating things.

They are used in paris when you are using them as a parenthesis:

John, my boss, was very pleased with my work.
299 oouchan
April 12th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Commas breed like rabbits.

I always thought that xenophobia had to do with an alien race decending from the sky.
300 cymraegbachgen87
April 12th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

jfrater,

Well yes obviously I knew the list one. However when separating multiple ideas in a sentance, they should be in pairs.

Similarly, when identifying someone, they can be used singularly:

Don’t run with scissors, John.

I apologise for the over-generalisation! It won’t happen again

But thanks for pointing it out – keep up the good work
301 gabi319
April 12th, 2009 at 6:21 pm

“Although the suffix phobia (from the greek phobos meaning fear) suggests this word is only fear of foreigners, in common lexicon, and many dictionaries, dislike or hatred is also included in the definition.”

Then they are wrong as well. Common lexicon is creating a mockery of the English language which ultimately causes confusion. A place where words such as ‘art’ can be thrown around to describe everything fancy, making it impossible for to me to do a general search for a job (I usually end up with computer or nursing ads with “State of the art blah blah blah). It also creates situations in which a clearly defined term, such as ‘theory’, is thrown around with little to no semblance of its true meaning.

so we’ve gone from science to education to nationalism/racism/….fine, “xenophobia to english lessons! Where to next, guys?!
302 Maggot
April 12th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

295 gabi (re racism, xenophobia, nationalism):What would I call it?

She was being a jingoist.
303 gabi319
April 12th, 2009 at 6:52 pm

299. oouchan – “I always thought that xenophobia had to do with an alien race decending from the sky.”
Technically, if they flew over by airplane then that statement would still apply. Get it? Illegal Alien… *sigh* my jokes are stale today.

302. Maggot – “She was being a jingoist.”
A Jingoist, eh? It sounds more like a word tossed around while planning for a 1950s tv advertisement, but the definition looks sound! I think Maggot’s found the answer!
304 oouchan
April 12th, 2009 at 7:02 pm

303. gabi319….not so stale or I’m just tired because I got a chuckle out of that.
305 Stormy617
April 12th, 2009 at 7:03 pm

288. gabi319:I encourage you to set up an experiment to test your hypothesis!

Hhhmmm let me start on my to do list for this experiment.

1. Pick Venue

2. Figure out how to get everyone from this “conversation” to that venue.

3. Find safe place inside said venue to kick back and watch the show!!!

LOL
306 gabi319
April 12th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

Lemme help you out, Stormy…

1. Pick Venue
I recommend a hockey rink because of the giggles I get from people sliding around when they attempt to fight on ice.

2. Figure out how to get everyone from this “conversation” to that venue.
Advertise free food. If you advertise free ice cream, I may get there faster but since I am lactose intolerant, I may leave there faster as well.

3. Find safe place inside said venue to kick back and watch the show!!!
THERE IS NO PLACE THAT IS SAFE! muahahahaha…
307 Maggot
April 12th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

306 gabi: since I am lactose intolerant, I may leave there faster as well.

If you don’t, we will.
308 Stormy617
April 12th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

Well there we go we have it all figured out. Now all we have to do is get yo work and make it happen.

However, I think I will make sure that there is security cameras in the hockey rink. That way I can go watch it all on the monitors in the security office, with the door locked, and maybe barricaded as well!!
309 Stormy617
April 12th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

*”get To work”
310 Eugene
April 12th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Sing
Sing a song
Sing it loud
Sing it strong
Don’t worry if it’s not good enough for any one else to hear
Just sing
Sing a song
311 Tron
April 12th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

just about # 10.

I agree w/an above poster (sorry dont remember the name) that said the word ‘imperfect’ isn’t all that accurate.

While im not so sure about crayfish and a few other species that are kickin around our planet.
A shark for example. hasn’t NEEDED to evolve in well over 1 million years (basically nature got it right the first time around w/them they are the perfect aquatic killing machine.)

Other things, yea sorry. in general evolution makes things better (and by better I mean better able to survive.) as evolution IS just genetic mutation in a species. IF the mutation is favourable and increases the chance of that species survival it becomes a dominant and prevailant gene in future generations of said species.
IF the mutation puts the species @ a disadvantage to predators etc. then that species is going to die out (or at least the members of the species w/the lousy gene mutation).

fun/stupid evolution fact. there’s a muscle in humans wrists (and i dont remember the name of it now. sorry not all that up on the crap load of muscles in a body). that only 1 in 5 people nowadays have. Apparently it was something that we (humans) needed in the past and now due to the way we live it’s no longer necessary and is slowly being erased from the human body as genertions go on.
alright that was pointless but whatever.

awesome list.
312 firstborn
April 12th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

gabi n lo__ You two sure like to argue huh ? Between wrongly attributed inventions and this thread it`s hard to figure out if your the fighters or the umps. I applaud that,ya got balls.When you hitch your wagon it stays hitched.
cym__ If you say something bad about the U.S again I swear ,I will exhaust every avenue to find something bad to say about Wales.HA !
segue__ Thanks for the tips guy. While reading different list I happened upon Ultimate Rivalries comment # 226. That couldn`t possibly be true could it. I didn`t thing so.
313 cymraegbachgen87
April 13th, 2009 at 5:15 am

Again with the ad hom! Why don’t you pay attention to the people above? If you have a problem with what I am saying about your country, then refute it properly giving me counterpoints. Don’t just go for the automatic knee jerk emotional response.

I wish more americans were like gabi and segue! You pay no attention to people who are, ultimately, trying to help you. All the while you insult them.

Gabi has not hitched her wagon to me. She AGREES with me. Get you head round this. If you read more widely around this site, you would see that the girls above frequently disagree with me and we have debates – the biggest one on the death penalty list. Just because she agrees with my quoted, cited, referenced well thought out point, doesnt mean she is pandering to my ego.

Sorry, bach but you are merely helping my point.
314 gabi319
April 13th, 2009 at 5:51 am

down, cym, down…

“I applaud that,ya got balls.When you hitch your wagon it stays hitched.”
A midwestern colloquialism, I believe. Kind of like “You choose your argument and it stick to it. No one can force you to back down.” She mentioned lo and my behavior on another list so I assume she’s complimenting our personalities as strong-minded. Of course, I’m too much of an optimist so perhaps I’m interpreting it wrong.

“If you say something bad about the U.S again I swear ,I will exhaust every avenue to find something bad to say about Wales.HA !”
I believe the “HA !” indicates it may be a joke. A rather weak one, but hopefully a joke nonetheless. Am I interpreting this correctly, firstborn? And tbh, firstborn, it was rather weak since he hadn’t mentioned any criticism against USA in the most recent comments – derogatory or teasingly. It wasn’t a topical joke if that was what you were attempting.
The problem, firstborn, is first impressions…and perhaps second and thirds as well. You came in here with guns blazin’ AND THEN continued on in that ad hom direction that it’s hard for the rest of us to take anything you write at face value without assuming they are blatant insults. Hopefully this can be rectified. Everyone’s opinion is welcome in Listverse, including yours should you manage to converse with people respectfully.

“Between wrongly attributed inventions and this thread it`s hard to figure out if your the fighters or the umps”
It was this and that little tip to segue that makes me think no malice was intended in the above comment but, like I said earlier…I’m finding it hard to get a true ‘read’ on you. I do extend a hesitant ‘Thank you?’. It’s hard to figure out if I’m the fighter or the ump because I’ll play both for funsies. It’s no fun when you stick to a role just because it’s expected. Besides, referees have fun, too. Are you familiar with college (American) football? This past season, a ref tackled the quarterback about five yards away from the endzone. It was hilarious.

And cym:
“I wish more americans were like gabi and segue!”
(psst…you forgot lo! Don’t worry. I’m whispering so hopefully she doesn’t ‘hear’) Of the three of us (segue, lo and myself), lo is the nicest and most helpful. Do your research and you’ll see I’m speaking truth.
315 gabi319
April 13th, 2009 at 5:56 am

And to dispel any possible rumors about me pandering to cym’s ego, let it be known that the only ego I am concerned about is my own. It is roughly the size of Antarctica and I am intent on keeping it that way because it looks damn good on me, if I do say so myself. …which I will because it’s true.
316 cymraegbachgen87
April 13th, 2009 at 6:23 am

For some reason I always forget lo! Damn. Its because she is too nice I think!

SORRY LO!

I do apologise if I have misinterpreted the above post, but combined with the one on bizarre theories, where this persons only contribution was ‘disgraceful’, it is hard for me to see any light/funny side. Regardless the apology is offered.
317 GTT
April 13th, 2009 at 8:49 am

Damn… I´m late to the debate! But I have to say it was a lot of fun to read!

I will weigh in with cym on this one… I only attended college in the States and while I will NEVER regret that decision, I was slightly taken aback by some people. Whenever I mentioned I was from Venezuela (born in Peru, etc), I would inevitably get the response: “Wow… So what´s Africa like?” Now, I know that most people in the US are not this blatantly ignorant of world geography but still… Scary that I was getting this reply from people at what is supposed to be one of the top higher-education centers in the States…
318 gabi319
April 13th, 2009 at 9:23 am

317. GTT

“I only attended college in the States and while I will NEVER regret that decision, I was slightly taken aback by some people.”
Someone who is NOT an American but received an American education?!?! Ladies and gentlemen, we have found THE MISSING LINK! GTT, could you provide more input on your experiences? Granted, American college education is vastly different from American grade school education (my primary concern) but anything would be greatly appreciated.

“I will weigh in with cym on this one…”
Oh, so you agree with cym about the Education System but you don’t agree with me about my gigantic ego?! GTT, I am SO offended that I will henceforth partake in a full Listverse protest. GOODBYE!

…actually, I have errands to run. But when I get back, I’ll do another LV protest. It will be a sit-in.
319 GTT
April 13th, 2009 at 10:45 am

gabi319 (318):

How can I begin to apologize? The indignity! I promise I will never forget to stroke, or otherwise acknowledge your Antantica-sized ego ever again.

Wow… that sounds rather dirty, does it not?

Anyway…. Regarding my experiences as a foreigner in a US college:

- The apparent lack of knowledge of basic geography was one of the things that grated on me the most. It was more than a little irritating to have to say “No, Venezuela is in South America, we speak Spanish, and yes, we have cars and cities and not just jungle. Africa is a whole other continent!” This is stuff I learned in middle school so it was surprising that college-level students were unaware.

- Not to insult anyone here but… My honest experience is that most US students really only care about the US: US geography, history, language. Most of the American kids I knew at college (I was in Boston so mind you there were thousands of college-age students in the city) knew English and a smattering of words in another language (mostly Spanish but some French also). Not to toot my own horn but I went into college fluent in 3 languages and came out with a fourth.

- On a similar note, I actually did a semester of college in Florence, Italy where I was part of a group of 150 all American students (I was the only non-American in the bunch). I am very sad to report that the vast majority (not all, but a majority none-the-less) of these 20-year-old college students were much more interested in drinking (legal in Italy from age 18) and partying than actually absorbing the culture they were inmersed in. Here you are in Florence and you´d rather do shots tha visit the Duomo? I´m not saying dont go out but sheesh… It just made me really sad at the time and it still does today when I look back on it. Do these people realize the opportunity for self-growth that the missed? The chance to see amazing sights, art, the opportunity to meet new people and learn about different cultures? To learn a language while bebing able to practice it in your daily life? *sigh*

Again, I dont mean to insult anyone here who actually DOES care about other countries/cultures but those were just my honest experiences: not all students were like this, just enough to taint my overall perception of them.
320 gabi319
April 13th, 2009 at 12:59 pm

GTT:
A number of those issues would be hard to fix simply because that’s the mindset of the individual. If they have no desire to learn, then there’s only so much anyone can do to force them. But that’s also part of the reason why I think grade school teachers are so crucial and truly should have more respect (and far better pay) than they get now because these are the people who would have the greatest chance to inspire a love of learning.
It’s a sore spot with kids but I also think uniforms would help as well!

I had a friend who studied abroad in Switzerland and they would also visit Italy, Austria, France, etc. She has a lot of enthusiasm for art but not much knowledge of it so we spent a lot of time prior to her leaving talking about it and me recommending places (I’ve never been to Europe but am very familiar with art there). She told me that didn’t get to visit most of the places I recommended because it didn’t seem ‘cool’ to the other kids who weren’t in the least bit interested in seeing museums or visiting buildings that are older than anything they’d probably seen before! She bemoaned the fact that she only saw the Mona Lisa from extremely far away for practically two minutes (but imo, it’s overrated. There’s far more interesting and less populated sites to see). For the most part, they stuck together in a small tight group. It’s nice in one respect because you grow close to some people but in another respect…what memories will you take with you that you couldn’t have in any other setting?

But how does your education experience here differ from your schooling in Africa-I-mean-Venezuela? I don’t mean from the observational standpoint but any specific practices they may do there, like (for lack of a better term even though I’ve grown to hate it) a standard nationalized or localized level of education, teaching practices, etc.
321 GTT
April 13th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

gabi319:

You want to know the really fun part? I went to an American school in Venezuela (mostly international kids but my parents really wanted me to know English so…) so I did have to take all the standardized tests, etc. However, there were some local influences so I ended up with a mish-mash of all sorts of teaching methods.

I know kids in Venezuela have to write a thesis paper before they graduate. Basically it´s a year-long research assignment that they not only have to write but also present to a panel of teacher judges.

I should also say that (at least until I graduated high school), kids in Venezuelan schools had to choose either a SCIENCES or HUMANITIES course load for the last two years of school. Basically that meant that if you chose the SCIENCES curriculum, you would have more in depth study of physics, chemistry, advanced math, etc while taking some “lighter” courses in history, literature, etc. HUMANITIES was just the opposite. As I said before, I went to an American school so I did not get this choice. I got a little bit of everything but nothing in depth unless I took the optional AP courses.

Entry into a university in Peru requires one of two methods:
- you either take a entrance exam which tests just about everything you should have learned in high school (history, math, literature, geography, etc.)
- you take a three month “refresher” course called a Pre-Universitario. There again you go over all the knowledge you should have retained from high school and once you pass the course (with a series of tests involved), you´re in.

So the entrance exam is kind of like an SAT only they do not only test verbal and basic math… they test global knowledge.

My husband and I want to start MBAs in the States next year and we´re studying for the GMAT. I´ve taken standardized tests my entire life so i´m completely used to the format and I know “how to take them”. My husband, on the other hand, is slightly boogled by the test. He kicks my butt in math but it´s just the format of the test that seems to get him. And it´s not just him either. Fove of our close friends are in the same process and they all say the same thing… So, why do people who know a lot more than I do about the math concepts involved (believe me, this is one area where my Americanized education is seriously lacking in comparison…) get a lower score?

I´ll get back to you with more…
322 segue
April 13th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

313. cymraegbachgen87:…I wish more americans were like gabi and segue!
****
cym, thank you! I wonder if it may have anything to do with the fact that both of us had a parent or parents who were from countries other than the United States?
I know that gabi and lo are both, like me, over-anxious to keep on learning as new information continues to become available.
Intelligence, requirement for knowledge, personal ties to foreign lands, I think perhaps all these things help make us open to other ideas, other ways of thinking or doing things.
I’ve been sort of out of touch for the last 4 days (hit & miss), so I apologize for not replying to all posts in a timely manner.
323 snooch2danooch
April 13th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

#6 is wrong. The second largest impact crater in the solar system is on the “dark side of the moon,” and it’s called the South Pole-Aitken Basin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole-Aitken_basin). Within this basin there are many other craters, and from NASA says, “Many smaller craters exist on the floor of this basin. Since they are down in this basin, the floors of many of these craters are never exposed to sunlight. Within these craters the temperatures would never rise above about 100 K (280 degrees below zero F) (2). Any water ice at the bottom of the crater could probably exist for billions of years at these temperatures.” (http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/ice/ice_moon.html).
324 valdaglerion
April 14th, 2009 at 7:39 am

Can I just tell everyone that ‘lightning’ doesn’t have an ‘e’ in it? Thanks for reading.
325 Uncle Al
April 14th, 2009 at 9:30 am

For dry air at 20°C (293 K), the speed of sound is 1125 ft/s while the rms speed of air molecules is 1647 ft/sec. Low earth orbit is ~5 miles/sec or 25,000 ft/sec. 10 miles/sec entry velocity for bolides is unremarkable. If an object hits air at 50,000 ft /sec, and 20 C is 1647 ft/sec rms, what temperature air does the object encounter? That’s a warm breeze, folks, aside from friction and compression shock.
326 Looser
April 14th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

sweet list. i knew about the penny myth but pretty much everything else i didn’t know.
327 Curious_missy
April 15th, 2009 at 1:45 am

hey, cymraegbachgen87, I’m sry i didn’t mean to insult anyone besides americans lol.

By saying “still credible” I meant to say that Americans think they’re the only ones who make big, great discoveries.

And, yeah, ethics, you’re absolutely correct. But so ppl must suffer bc some republican guy has ethics…great ethics that he chose to join the coast guard so he escaped the draft.

I really hope Obama can do better.

(And, no, I’m not American born. lol)
328 gabi319
April 15th, 2009 at 2:18 am

327. Curious_missy – “By saying “still credible” I meant to say that Americans think they’re the only ones who make big, great discoveries”

oy, Curious_missy, just stop while you’re behind. While you’re trying to unruffle cym’s feathers, you stand to insult a number of Americans (and by that I mean me). I know science advancements are made everywhere and with as much credibility as the next nation. I laugh at the idiots on the radio who say “Global issue” or “globally connected” or other global whatever and then continue on describing just the US. Not every American thinks the rest of the world lives in the jungle and has yet to invent fire. This egocentric view is merely a relic of extreme cold war patriotism and I did not live through it and also recognize it that whole period is an absolute mess. You’re essentially making the same generalization problems that cym made and was called out on. They don’t work because there’s always an exception to the rule (and in this American Egotist rule, there are many many exceptions) and so there will always be someone to call you on your bullshit (and if I’m feeling confrontational, it’ll most likely be me).

But at least it provided enough drama to extend this comment board by another 50 or so…
329 oouchan
April 15th, 2009 at 2:25 am

I second gabi! Thank you for that! You put it much nicer than what I would have. I certainly don’t think the rest of the world is off their rocker and that America is number one. We are not the only ones out there. That’s all I would like to add.
330 gabi319
April 15th, 2009 at 6:46 am

yo oouchan, let’s see if I can ‘cym’ my way around that missy comment

“hey, cymraegbachgen87, I’m sry i didn’t mean to insult anyone besides americans lol.”
And as I pointed out, you’ve now insulted two Americans. Both of whom (just by judging by these two comments you’ve posted here) have a far better grasp at the English language than you do. oops. I forgot to add the lol. ‘sry’ This isn’t a damn cell phone. The full keyboard should give you easy access to all the keys. Utilize them.

“By saying “still credible” I meant to say that Americans think they’re the only ones who make big, great discoveries.”
We’ve already discussed on this very comment board that sarcasm is not effective via the internet except for a very few talented people (Like Maggot! anyone else agree with me?). Rather than apologize for your insipid comment, you clarified it in a way to make yourself appear even stupider. Ad hominem is strictly against the commenting FAQ and yet, without being provoked, you went straight for the jugular even without knowing just who you were attacking. Well guess what? That person you were attacking was me. Nice to meet you. Please excuse me as I show the rest of the world how stupid a troll you are.

“And, yeah, ethics, you’re absolutely correct. But so ppl must suffer bc some republican guy has ethics…great ethics that he chose to join the coast guard so he escaped the draft.”
Stem cell research and ethics have nothing to do with Bush being in the coast guard or his Republicanism as stem cell research has some opposition in both sides of the floor. If you’re going to attempt to bring the discussion back to stem cell research, no one is going to take you seriously when you’re still throwing around random insults at anyone or anything that comes to mind. Seriously, you need some Immodium for this Insult Diarrhea of yours.

“I really hope Obama can do better.”
Finally, something that appears to be a sane comment, but given what you’ve written above, who the hell knows if it’s another snarky comment or not. As it is, you’ve proven your extreme lack of knowledge so I doubt you’d be able to know if Obama is doing better or not.

“(And, no, I’m not American born. lol)”
You specified not American born so I assume that’s American raised? You’re an ungrateful twit, you know that? I’ve mentioned I am not American born but have also noted the good and the bad. If you don’t like the fact that your parents probably went through bureaucratic hell to get here, then I’d advise you to let them know all their naturalization work has been in vain and to go back to where your ancestors originated. You’d simply be one less stupid person in America that’s misrepresenting the sane and logical Americans.
331 oouchan
April 15th, 2009 at 10:15 am

gabi…you did a very nice job! cym should be proud! (hopefully! )
332 segue
April 15th, 2009 at 11:45 am

gabi, thank you. You saved me from having to vent, from having to smash “curious missy” by way of The Wrath Of segue!
I’m proud of you, friend. You did good…and saved me a lot of agony!
I just don’t get people who come on to bitch and moan about something, and then get all surprised when they get called on it.
333 lo
April 15th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

first off,

cym you are forgiven for forgetting me. -for now! however, my niceness may have limits, we’ll have to wait and see.

secondly to “curious_missy,” by-way-of gabi’s recent comment:

and to think i was standing up for you!

you said: “recent studies and trials (unfortunately outside the US, but still credible) have showed that stem cells…”

i said: “p.s. maybe that other poster meant “unfortunately outside of the US” as a criticism of the the fact that the US is behind the times, not a criticism of other research!”

and then i said: “i might be giving the other poster way too much credit, but maybe she was referring to the Dr. Hwang Woo Suk hoax, it was really bad for the credibility of the field.”

looks like i was too generous with my credit for you, as you now come back with:

“I’m sry i didn’t mean to insult anyone besides americans lol.

By saying “still credible” I meant to say that Americans think they’re the only ones who make big, great discoveries.”

-so, you’re admitting you meant to to purposefully insult americans, (not simply vaguely voicing a criticism of their scientific research, as i thought earlier, but a flat-out insult!).

then you did it again, by noting a supposed american scientific hubris (hey, it could be real) and just leaving it hanging, not adding thoughts on international research in general, or backing up the claim, etc.

and your last post is dancing on the very razor’s edge of being text-lolz-speak.

how old are you? 12-14? that’s not necessarily an insult, it’s merely noting that if you are young you have a lot to learn about both science and international relations, no harm (possibly) no foul. but if you’re older, and now choosing to communicate this way, then i do brand thee as an “idiot-first-class, of all the internet realms and beyond.”

may you remain curious (for it is a noble trait), and may you learn from all the questions curiosity pushes you to ask, on each and every day, forever and ever, amen!
334 lo
April 15th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

whew-hoo! i got to be post 333, i was born at 3:33pm, and it has some interesting occult/mythology affiliations.

p.s. did we scare away firstborn? i hope not, i was semi-trying to start a dialogue with her (being “nice” again?).

obviously, we disagreed about much, but there might have been something to share there, a la me and heyyooo on the saints list:

http://listverse.com/religion/10-strange-legends-and-images-of-saints/

it really starts at #57. i went into that expecting a mindless, petty fight, initially feeling really poorly about “heyyooo”, but actually had a great dialogue.

you never know who really lives behind any LV/internet handle…
335 Shadow Lord
April 16th, 2009 at 4:07 am

I agree with #1. In fact there is nothing like zero-gravity in space. Even if we escape the remotest part of the universe there will be micro gravity but never zero gravity.
336 Devo
April 16th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

These myths are not that common. Most people I know believe these myths to be false. Also, about popping in space? It’s not hypoxia that kills a person. Before a person can die of hypoxia in the vacuum of space, the extremely low barometric pressure causes water to vaporize, and that would kill you before you’d die of hypoxia.
337 Handrejka
April 16th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

I always thought number 7 was more along the lines of, “in five seconds nobady could have seen me drop it, so I won’t look scuzzy if I eat it.” I’ve only ever heard the expression used jokily, never thought anyone actually believed it was true.
338 Maggot
April 16th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

330 gabi: ’sry’ This isn’t a damn cell phone. The full keyboard should give you easy access to all the keys. Utilize them.

rolling on the floor laughing my f*cking *ss off…
339 cymraegbachgen87
April 17th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

Guys we need to be more careful. We came PERILOUSLY close to the wrath of segue. I’ve seen it up close on this site. It isn’t pretty. Jfrater will be picking ad hom out of the site for weeks if she goes off again

(joking segue – love you really )

On to curious missy.

“hey, cymraegbachgen87, I’m sry i didn’t mean to insult anyone besides americans lol.”

Americans can be wonderful people (lo is a wonderful example) so starting out to insult them is just…wrong. I don’t think I can express myself any more clearly than that. To attack a group of people out of the blue is not nice, polite, or good debating etiquette. Yes americans can be stupid (they did elect bush twice – joking again guys…well…maybe only a little) – but I have met more than my fair share of complete airheads from my own fair shores.

I realise I can be hostile when defending my point of view, but I TRY to stick to the points (with the odd ‘idiot’ thrown in) When I don’t it makes me look bad.

We have all done the ad hom, but not in the way you have. Nobody ever needs to apologise to ME on this site. You take the rough with the smooth, and when you post as often as I do you expect some abuse; just as you expect a mix of intelligent and daft comments. I do, however, think you need to apologise for your second post.
340 segue
April 18th, 2009 at 9:43 pm

cym, how sweet of you to notice!
(and I do love you too , dear cymraegbachgen )
341 Charles Bloodworth
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm

There MUST Be less gravity at 250 Miles up.
Is gravity reduced BY 10% or reduced TO 10%.

I thought the equasion for Gravity was the Inverse of R Squared, so that every mile you travel away from the earth gravity is reduced by a reverse square of something.

After all, I doubt that an object falls at 9.8 Meters per second square (Minus 10%) at 250 Miles up.
342 ChrisRippel
April 26th, 2009 at 9:17 am

Another myth is that a pound of feathers and a pound of lead fall at the same rate because they both weigh a pound.

Truth: A pound of feathers and a pound of lead fall at the same rate because everything falls at the same rate regardless of how much it weighs. There is an exception for objects shaped to be dramatically slowed falling through air, e.g., maple leaves, parachutes, kites, gliders, etc.
343 Crimanon
April 26th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

ChrisRippel: You just did the thing that everyone does and not conclude with “in a Vacuum.” This is the only time that things will fall at the same rate, to many other variables are in play to make that statement true in an atmosphere.

Didn’t they teach you this when you were ten?
344 CreamKreator
May 28th, 2009 at 5:34 am

“The reason that astronauts appear to be weightless because they are orbiting the earth. They are falling towards the earth but moving sufficiently sideways to miss it.”

Can’t remember it correctly but according to Hitchikers Guide that is the way to learn to fly. You jump and fall but at the last moment you miss the earth slightly..
345 cymraegbachgen87
May 29th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

I love HG2G!
346 gabi319
May 29th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

It is also a common myth that evolution improves a human’s ability to pop in space when the brightest star falls on the floor and is picked up five seconds before the dark side of the moon regenerates the brain cells that fall from the sky like pennies from heaven while overly hot from the friction during reentering the Earth’s atmosphere where lightening struck twice because of the lack of gravity in space.

whew! This is the smile of accomplishment, everyone!
347 oouchan
May 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pm

346 gabi319: I had to post here because I tried to say that run-on sentence you wrote and passed out from lack of air.
By the way…that was very clever.
348 cb
July 26th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

you have #6 wrong, the sun never penetrates several of the deepest craters at the moon’s poles….
349 Ibby77
July 26th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

All the myths listed above are totally ridiculous. Good job
350 SIMAMKELE
August 25th, 2009 at 7:08 am

MYTHS2 LIGTH STRIKES ON ONE PLACE
351 crosbyfan15
September 4th, 2009 at 6:31 pm

all you littile science fags need to get a fucking life and stop beating off to all this science shit
352 Daniel
September 21st, 2009 at 7:36 pm

Jesus Rules! Whooo!

can heat travel through a vaccum
353 Hi
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm

Myth: Space is COLD

Fact: Only idiots believe that, because only an IDIOT would think that.

Science: The Sun is HOT, no? The EARTH is hot, no? So why should everything between the sun and the earth be COLD? Where there is little matter, there is little to capture and the heat.

Those COLD meteors? Myth, right then and there. Re-entry can heat up to what, 5,000 F? (Remember, the shuttle is designed the minimize re-entry heat, so it should be a multiple of that) for two min? (remember these are just quick “guess” calcs).

But as for frost? Aerodynamics, as an object moves at great speeds through a gas, that gas becomes like liquid (it happens on aeroplanes now and then, why not a meteorite?).

And just to say again, SPACE IS NOT COLD, and most debris is going to be atracted by the gravitational field of the sun. Not all, but most. THUS it is far more likely that the object will have heated up signifigantly while approaching earth than it being -270 C.

Also, math > than your ass. Gmm / R^2 is EASY to remember, expecally if you know it.

Gmm / R^2 = g
1 / R^2 = g / 2

R^2 = 2 / g
R = sqrt(2 / g)

Basic half life formula, to reduce the gravity by one half, you have to travel to 1.41 times the current distance.

AND REMEMBER, the EARTH IS NOT FLAT (insert duhh moment here)

Infact it has a radius of 3964 miles (insert duhh moment here)

And using our half life equation, you would have to travel to 5600 miles to even HALF the gravity of earth, let alone the gravity of the sun.
354 Hi
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm

MYTH: Galileo threw balls off the tower of pizza (not pisa) and claimed some stupid law.

TRUTH: F = ma, p = sqrt(m). An object in motion stays in motion until acted upon by an external force.

Gmm / R^2

Gravitational Attraction increases between an object of greater mass.

An object of greater mass accellerates at a SLOWER RATE than an object of lesser mass.

To Test: Go to your local bar and find a bunch of fat people, insult them enough not to crush you under their own wieght but just right so they agree to street drag. *Be sure to stuff them all in a little compact car.

Now you, weighing in on a decent 120 pounds, go race them.

Effect: They’re sooo damn fat they slow their car’s acceleration down

Effect: They gang up on you

Effect: You Learn what it means to have your head up an ass.
355 Joe
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm

#5 is incorrect. They had a mythbusters episode about it that stated that if food lands on the floor, bacteria generally stays away from it for up to 1 minute.
356 bmw1493
December 16th, 2009 at 9:20 pm

there is no air pressure in space and with no air pressure all the fluids in your body would start to boil, that would be the cause of death not the lack of oxygen
357 jOYCE
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm

“People might be interested to know that the 5 sec rule aledgedly dates back to Genghis Kahn and was then the overnight rule. Leftovers found on the floor after banquets were fine for breakfast the next day, but not longer than that!”

THAT IS JUST HILARIOUS ! ! !
358 jOYCE
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 pm

the fellas in Pink Floyd probably thought Polaris was the brightest star, too.

Hey, if those Pink Floyd guys fell on the floor (as they undoubtly must’ve done countless times) would the 5 second rule apply?
359 jOYCE
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm

gabi319
#346
that was awesome! LOL
360 RtM
January 18th, 2010 at 8:48 am

The “gravity in space” is misleading it should be “in orbit” because gravity is what holds you in orbit…Gravity in space implies that you could travel outside the solar system and still be affected by gravity, which may be true since I haven’t been able to test this, but I suspect any gravity you experienced would be so weak as to be negligible…
361 Mico
January 25th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

lol,“how-tasty-is-it” rule.lol
362 Mico
January 25th, 2010 at 3:35 pm

also 346, you were fucking awesome!!!!!
363 fooboo0
March 30th, 2010 at 8:20 am

You do pop in space, I’ve seen it on Total Recall so it must be true…lol
364 wasssss up
May 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

wtf, why do you have a skunk. that shit stank
365 Samuel
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:34 pm

Regarding #7: http://www.improb.com/ig/ig-pastwinners.html#ig20... http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news2467.ht...
366 beasthoven
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:48 pm

I dislike you saying that sharks are anything less than perfect. Seems to me they were perfectly adapted to their environment and place in it a very long time ago.

Evolution understands the concept of “never change a working system”.

Sharks work. Unlike SOME people.
367 WillMcIntyre
July 12th, 2010 at 10:30 pm

Lol

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