Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]

Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]

Author
Discussion

SCEtoAUX

4,119 posts

83 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
Doofus said:
If the international language of air flight is English, and the international language of seafaring is English, why is the international language of space travel Russian?
"That's one small step for a man"
"Try SCEtoAUX"
"Please be advised there is a Santa Claus".
"Houston, we've had a problem here"
"Magnificent desolation"
"We copy you down Eagle"


glazbagun

14,301 posts

199 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
Doofus said:
And that's fair enough, but I find it hard to believe that the English speaking world would acquiesce to the Russians over language. One could argue that the pioneers of seafaring weren't English speakers, but to argue is the last thijg I want to do in replying to one of your posts.
If you want to get to the ISS, you need to speak Russian because (until recently) a Soyuz was the only way post-shuttle. The controls are Russian as are the ground control.

The ISS was also made "international" to spare the US the budget pain, so a lot of the modules up there are Russian. They absolutely dwarf everyone else when it comes to number of launches and hours lived in orbit, which was a big deal at the time. There isn't much other "international" living space up there, so, in addition to being the pioneers, it's sheer practicality.

Edited by glazbagun on Tuesday 16th March 20:56

Doofus

26,228 posts

175 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
glazbagun said:
If you want to get to the ISS, you need to speak Russian because (until recently) a Soyuz was the only way post-shuttle. The controls are Russian as are the ground control.

The ISS was also made "international" to spare the US the budget pain, so a lot of the modules up there are Russian. There isn't much other "international" living space up there, so, in addition to being the pioneers, it's sheer practicality.
Lovely, thank you. smile

glazbagun

14,301 posts

199 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
It's easy to forget how the (ex)Soviets absolutely dwarfed everyone in space station and launch experience when the ISS went up. The US faced reinventing the wheel several times over, where the Russians had the experience and industry, but no money so it suited both parties.


Cyder

7,072 posts

222 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
May I lower the tone for a minute?

Farts. Why does one find the odour of ones own brand entirely acceptable, but the odour of someone else’s brand utterly disgusting?

It’s not just me is it?

StevieBee

12,993 posts

257 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
Doofus said:
It arose because I have a colleague called Stephen. He's very particular about the 'PH', because he says Steven with a 'V' is "common".

But he signs his emails 'Steve'.
Of course, your friend absolutely correct.

The shortening of Stephen to Steve is a trick we Steves invented to know if our Mums / Wives were angry or happy with us when beckoning us...a trick since copied by Daves, Tims, Martys and all.



tjl

387 posts

174 months

Tuesday 16th March 2021
quotequote all
Cyder said:
May I lower the tone for a minute?

Farts. Why does one find the odour of ones own brand entirely acceptable, but the odour of someone else’s brand utterly disgusting?

It’s not just me is it?
No you are not alone.

On a slightly related topic, I was wondering today whether if you fart would you lose weight or are farts lighter than air and you would actually gain weight ?

Nimby

4,649 posts

152 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
tjl said:
On a slightly related topic, I was wondering today whether if you fart would you lose weight or are farts lighter than air and you would actually gain weight ?
Link.
You definitely lose mass, but change in weight depends ...
Farts are lighter than air, so you might lose/gain some buoyancy (so gain/lose weight) depending on - um - "internal pressure".

nonsequitur

20,083 posts

118 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Doofus said:
If the international language of air flight is English, and the international language of seafaring is English, why is the international language of space travel Russian?
The first man in space - Yuri Gagarin - was Russian, is all I can come up with.

Cold

15,279 posts

92 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Why do so many with no connection to Ireland get excited about St. Patrick's day?

Psycho Warren

3,087 posts

115 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Cold said:
Why do so many with no connection to Ireland get excited about St. Patrick's day?
Good excuse to get completely wrecked.

Doofus

26,228 posts

175 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Cold said:
Why do so many with no connection to Ireland get excited about St. Patrick's day?
I've often thought that many people with only the most tenuous connection to a Celtic ancestry tend to play it up, and I'm never sure why. I have nothing against the Scots, Irish or Welsh (strictly speaking, I'm quite Welsh), but they seem to have more than their fair share of wannabes.


nonsequitur

20,083 posts

118 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Psycho Warren said:
Cold said:
Why do so many with no connection to Ireland get excited about St. Patrick's day?
Good excuse to get completely wrecked.
Lady nonseq is half Irish, so our celebrations concluded at noon.

Doofus

26,228 posts

175 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Cyder said:
May I lower the tone for a minute?

Farts. Why does one find the odour of ones own brand entirely acceptable, but the odour of someone else’s brand utterly disgusting?

It’s not just me is it?
I'd just like to point out that if I'd asked this question, I would have been subjected to all kinds of name-calling.

coppernorks

1,919 posts

48 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Homeless people and dogs. WTF is going on ?

Why would someone already down on their luck with a history of pisspoor life decisions
burden themselves with another layer of responsibility, i.e, another mouth to feed ?

Ok, maybe companionship, but it seems to me the dog is getting the arse end of the deal,
the poor mutts always look bloody miserable, they have a life even crappier than their masters, poor diet,
limited access to veterinary treatment, no doggy pals except this sad human loser, non existent
daily dog walking regime, just sitting outside KFC or Santander all goddamn day.

I have a house and a job, yet I don't feel I'm up to giving a dog the healthy vibrant life a healthy
vibrant dog should expect.

Boozy

2,353 posts

221 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
coppernorks said:
Homeless people and dogs. WTF is going on ?

Why would someone already down on their luck with a history of pisspoor life decisions
burden themselves with another layer of responsibility, i.e, another mouth to feed ?

Ok, maybe companionship, but it seems to me the dog is getting the arse end of the deal,
the poor mutts always look bloody miserable, they have a life even crappier than their masters, poor diet,
limited access to veterinary treatment, no doggy pals except this sad human loser, non existent
daily dog walking regime, just sitting outside KFC or Santander all goddamn day.

I have a house and a job, yet I don't feel I'm up to giving a dog the healthy vibrant life a healthy
vibrant dog should expect.
Maybe they aren’t losers but down on luck at that moment in time? Maybe a dog companion reminds them that not every living think in life is an arse and there’s hope in company?

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

246 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Boozy said:
coppernorks said:
Homeless people and dogs. WTF is going on ?

Why would someone already down on their luck with a history of pisspoor life decisions
burden themselves with another layer of responsibility, i.e, another mouth to feed ?

Ok, maybe companionship, but it seems to me the dog is getting the arse end of the deal,
the poor mutts always look bloody miserable, they have a life even crappier than their masters, poor diet,
limited access to veterinary treatment, no doggy pals except this sad human loser, non existent
daily dog walking regime, just sitting outside KFC or Santander all goddamn day.

I have a house and a job, yet I don't feel I'm up to giving a dog the healthy vibrant life a healthy
vibrant dog should expect.
Maybe they aren’t losers but down on luck at that moment in time? Maybe a dog companion reminds them that not every living think in life is an arse and there’s hope in company?
I expect it gets 'kin cold in a shop doorway in February, a warm, non-judgemental friend to cuddle must be a benefit.

valiant

10,449 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
tjl said:
Cyder said:
May I lower the tone for a minute?

Farts. Why does one find the odour of ones own brand entirely acceptable, but the odour of someone else’s brand utterly disgusting?

It’s not just me is it?
No you are not alone.

On a slightly related topic, I was wondering today whether if you fart would you lose weight or are farts lighter than air and you would actually gain weight ?
On a slightly, slightly related topic, why is it sometimes when you fart while you pee you lose pressure in your pee stream?

V8mate

45,899 posts

191 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
Einion Yrth said:
Boozy said:
coppernorks said:
Homeless people and dogs. WTF is going on ?

Why would someone already down on their luck with a history of pisspoor life decisions
burden themselves with another layer of responsibility, i.e, another mouth to feed ?

Ok, maybe companionship, but it seems to me the dog is getting the arse end of the deal,
the poor mutts always look bloody miserable, they have a life even crappier than their masters, poor diet,
limited access to veterinary treatment, no doggy pals except this sad human loser, non existent
daily dog walking regime, just sitting outside KFC or Santander all goddamn day.

I have a house and a job, yet I don't feel I'm up to giving a dog the healthy vibrant life a healthy
vibrant dog should expect.
Maybe they aren’t losers but down on luck at that moment in time? Maybe a dog companion reminds them that not every living think in life is an arse and there’s hope in company?
I expect it gets 'kin cold in a shop doorway in February, a warm, non-judgemental friend to cuddle must be a benefit.
I thought it was purely because people are more likely to stop and give money if there's a dog involved?

dumfriesdave

384 posts

139 months

Wednesday 17th March 2021
quotequote all
coppernorks said:
Homeless people and dogs. WTF is going on ?

Why would someone already down on their luck with a history of pisspoor life decisions
burden themselves with another layer of responsibility, i.e, another mouth to feed ?

Ok, maybe companionship, but it seems to me the dog is getting the arse end of the deal,
the poor mutts always look bloody miserable, they have a life even crappier than their masters, poor diet,
limited access to veterinary treatment, no doggy pals except this sad human loser, non existent
daily dog walking regime, just sitting outside KFC or Santander all goddamn day.

I have a house and a job, yet I don't feel I'm up to giving a dog the healthy vibrant life a healthy
vibrant dog should expect.
Extra benefit money I think.
Extra cash to pay for food for mutt.