What did you learn today TIL

[KitKat]

parrot fish poop is sand



 


Simply by chewing on reefs, a large Hawaiian parrotfish can ingest a coral's calcium carbonate and poop out up to 800 pounds of sand each year, according to marine biologist Ling Ong of Hawaii's SWCA Environmental Consultants. One Australian species, she notes, produces up to one ton per year.

[JBRG]

I learned that honey bees are not indigenous to the Americas. The honey bees used in North America for honey production are native to Italy and were imported because they make honey. Bees native to the Americas, while being great pollinators and do not sting, do not produce honey.

These Italian bees are susceptible to the varroa mite which is one of the causes of hive collapse syndrome. Russian honey bees are not affected by the varroa mite but produce less honey.

The things I learn with National Geographic in the "reading" room. 

[staci]

Native Americans would bend trees in order to create trail markers that formed an early routing system, which served multiple purposes. From indicating that water and food was nearby, to warning travelers of rough country ahead, these landmarks were important features in navigating the early Americas.

Most are still bent although much larger. Was also used to indicate safe passages.

I find this interesting as well as historical.

[_priapism]

Never poke fun at a brother's cock.  Even in jest.  I lived in a fraternity house for four years, and it's a rare day I'm not called a son of a bitch by noon; however, I need to remember that others don't take my funny comments as funny.  If I call you an asshole, it's because I like you.

[Katiebee]

I learned the slang equivalent for women for fap.
shlick.

And yes, last night I had Schlick material that I used.

[MintJulie]

Was watching Jeopardy and I learned that for only the 2nd time in the shows history, the winner won with $1.    2 players were tied and bet it all.  With incorrect answers, they went to $0.  https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/highlights/$1-winners

For the record, I got the final answer correct to....The country that has borders touching both the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.

[msslave]

My guess would be Iran.

[_priapism]

My guess would be Iran.

Without Googling, that would be my answer also.

[MintJulie]

My guess would be Iran.

Oh, sorry, I can't accept that..........

[_priapism]

[msslave]

My guess would be Iran.

Oh, sorry, I can't accept that..........

What is a large waste of sand and mountains led by fanatics who would like to nuke "The Great Satan"?

[_priapism]

[Levorotatory]

Iran, a lesson of the perils of "regime change", going back to 1953.



I recently learned that bra cup sizes are relative, not absolute, measurements.  Something didn't seem to match between the descriptions of C-cup breasts in erotic literature and the C-cup breasts that I have had the opportunity to play with.  A little googling informed me that cup sizes are based on the difference between chest diameter under the breasts and chest diameter around the breasts, so the cups in a 44C bra are actually the same size as a 36G, and twice the volume of the 36C that seem to be most writer's favorite.  Nice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bra_size

[msslave]

Iran, a lesson of the perils of "regime change", going back to 1953.



I recently learned that bra cup sizes are relative, not absolute, measurements.  Something didn't seem to match between the descriptions of C-cup breasts in erotic literature and the C-cup breasts that I have had the opportunity to play with.  A little googling informed me that cup sizes are based on the difference between chest diameter under the breasts and chest diameter around the breasts, so the cups in a 44C bra are actually the same size as a 36G, and twice the volume of the 36C that seem to be most writer's favorite.  Nice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bra_size

Too much math for me...I'd rather just grab on to one and judge for myself.

[Hades]

I learnt that the Aboriginals came to Australia in boats some 12000 years ago.  They started their journey from someplace in indo china.  The iconic dingo traveled along with them.
That's one hell of a journey on a raft or primitive boat.

[MissBarbara]

I recently learned that bra cup sizes are relative, not absolute, measurements.  Something didn't seem to match between the descriptions of C-cup breasts in erotic literature and the C-cup breasts that I have had the opportunity to play with.  A little googling informed me that cup sizes are based on the difference between chest diameter under the breasts and chest diameter around the breasts, so the cups in a 44C bra are actually the same size as a 36G, and twice the volume of the 36C that seem to be most writer's favorite.  Nice.

And this explains why one of my biggest turn-offs in erotic literature occurs when the writer describes a woman's breasts by referring to her cup size. The measurements refer to the bra, and not the breasts.

As msslave put it, "that's too much math for me." The author should describe, using words and descriptions and metaphors -- and not math.

[MissBarbara]

Every month I don't have to determine how many kilowatt hours of electricity I used, and calculate the cost using the prince per kilowatt hours, service, fees, etc.; Con Edison simply sends me a bill, and I pay it.

Similarly, I don't have to figure out how much talk, text and data I used, perform advanced math to determine how much I have to pay for that; Verizon just sends me a bill, and I pay it.

So why, after the end of each year, do I have to do all of the math and calculations, and fill out near-impossibly complex forms, to determine how much I earned and how much I owe in taxes? I mean, the first thing you must do in calculating your taxes is enter the information from your W-2s and 1099s -- yet the government already has all of that information, since it's sent to the government by employers, banks, financial service companies, etc. at the same time it's send to individuals. I'm basically required to provide the government with information it already knows. Why doesn't the government do all the calculations and simply send me a bill? Close to 70% of Americans do no itemize deductions and take the standard deduction, so the majority wouldn't have to perform a single calculations -- they'd just pay the bill they receive (or deposit the check they receive). Those who do itemize would fill out a simple form to declare their itemized deductions. This seems so simple, so easy, so cost-effective, and so logical -- and that's the way taxes are already handled in many other countries. So, why not switch to return-free filing?

The answer, of course, is money. There are a number of corporations -- led by Intuit (the maker's of TurboTax) but also including H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, Liberty, and several others -- who have a vested interest in keeping the government from ever switching to return-free filing, or a short-form tax return. Their entire businesses are based on keeping tax preparation as complicated as possible -- and wildly profiting as a result. And they spend tens of millions of dollars every year lobbying Congress to ensure that legislation providing for a switch to return-free filing or a short-form tax return never passes.

http://www.trutv.com/full-episodes/adam-ruins-everything/2124089/index.html

[watcher1]

Very interesting, MissB.  Along with the many tax preparing services that you mentioned, one can take an educated guess as to how many lawyers, CPAs, auditors and others in the tax field would be out of work if the public did not have to file tax forms.  Then, on the other hand, how much would the IRS have to grow, personnel wise, to do what your article suggested?

[_priapism]

I think for the 70% who do not itemize, and who have no income the subject of a W-2 or 1099, that is an excellent suggestion.  Simply swear or affirm that you are in that category, and the IRS sends you a simplified bill, with a refund check if you are entitled to one.

The problem is with the self employed, 1099's that do not reflect net wages (I get a 1099 on every settlement check I receive a fee on... I must itemize who got what from each check.  My fee is typically 40% or less of the total), and people who get paid in cash (laborers and waitstaff).

[JBRG]

Absolutely totally useless trivia here.

Folks who follow professional wrestling know who Chris Jericho is. What I learned is that his father, Ted Irvine, played 15 seasons in the NHL.