cdeb wrote: » I'd say the worst predator blue whales have ever had is man. By that logic, they should be smaller now than before - an observable fact in many other animals, especially fish.
Ineedaname wrote: » Simple fact is in evolutionary terms being big works.
The Pheasant2 wrote: » As a result of this you might sometimes see Green Polar bears in zoos that aren't the most fastidious about keeping their water features free from algae.
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » Cod used to be five foot long when Europeans first went fishing off Newfoundland.
seagull wrote: » On an evolutionary theme, most people use the phrase "Survival of the fittest" in entirely the wrong context..
IvyTheTerrific wrote: » Speaking of cod, those species living in arctic waters have developed an ability to produce antifreeze proteins so their blood doesn't freeze.
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » Well, you see, Norm, it’s like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it’s the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers. - Cliff Clavin , Cheers.
mzungu wrote: » In the UK, dog urine was identified as the culprit for some lampposts rotting prematurely and in some cases even falling down. The base of the lampposts is weakened structurally by the chemical in dog urine that helps to speed up the corrosion process which is also helped along by rain and the passage of time.
seagull wrote: » On an evolutionary theme, most people use the phrase "Survival of the fittest" in entirely the wrong context.
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » A good few of the old stone buildings around Dublin have a layer of stone angled at 45 degrees. Like a low skirt around it. It's to stop people (men) urinating against them. IIRC urine isn't good for limestone.
New Home wrote: » Coooooool. :cool: (pun intended)
seagull wrote: On an evolutionary theme, most people use the phrase "Survival of the fittest" in entirely the wrong context....
RiderOnTheStorm wrote: » Blood is thicker than water ..... wrong! Most think this means that family bonds (ie blood) are more important than non family (ie water). But the quote is "blood of battle is stronger than the waters of the womb", ie bonds between those that share adversity are more important than family bonds. (Might have posted that one before, but it fits the theme!)
retalivity wrote: » The rich lads had beeswax candles to see in the dark without their sense of smell getting violated.
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » In prehistory a wood fire emits a lot of heat but very little light. So you have to spend hours gathering enough to illuminate the night. The % of GPD spent on illumination has been roughly constant for the last seven centuries. From animal fat candles to Oil For The Lamps Of China to the latest electronics what's happened is that as light has gotten cheaper we've used more of it.https://ourworldindata.org/light
gozunda wrote: » Most countries which were British colonies still drive on the left hand side of the road including huge land masses such as India, Australia and Southern Africa as well as the Caribbean. Europe generally drives on the right hand side apart from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus. Guyana (formerly a British colony) is the only country in South America to drive on the left. The other two thirds of the countries in the world drive on the right including the USA, China and Russia. Canada used to drive on the left but changed to the right to make border crossings with the USA more manageable. The reasons for these distinctions are historical. British horseback riders used to ride on the left hand side of the road, thus keeping their right arm free to offer greetings to passersby or, if needs be, draw their sword. However, in The USA teamsters used to sit on the left hand horse while driving a wagon and therefore keep their right hand free for whipping the other horses. They decided to start driving on the right so that they could see the passing wheels of other wagons and avoid collisions.
jmayo wrote: » Back in 2008 Seanad Leader fianna fails Donie Cassidy came up with the idea we should start driving on the right to accommodate immigrants and tourists who were mainly from right hand drive countries. He also thought it a bright idea to enforce a 50mph/80kph speed limit on those people who hailed from right hand drive countries. How in the name of God he thought it possible to enforce that is beyond me and probably everyone else bar him. There was also joke doing the rounds that he thought it might be easier to move to right hand drive if we did only some counties at any one time. I know it is not an astounding piece of scientific trivia or an example of human ingenuity, rather it is the opposite and highlights just how mentally limited some of our elected representatives are. BTW he was once an elected TD.
Carry wrote: » Not quite. Driving (or riding or walking) on the left side goes back to the ancient world when Roman, Egyptian and Greek troops marched on the left side, since most soldiers were right-handers (drawing the sword, see above). That was the norm for centuries or even millenias. During the French Revolution the French changed this rule (as they did with many others) to the right side, and after the Napoleonic Wars every conquered European country was forced to change to the right as well. As did the now USA (since 1792 enforced by law) that was supported by French troops during the War of Independence - probably to spite their former British overlords. Same was in all French colonies during the colonial era. So it wasn't a question of practicality or due to American teamsters, it was enforced initially by the French who during the French Revolution decided that all old rules have to go and must be dramatically changed. Only the UK and British (former) colonies drive on the left hand side because they were never conquered by the French.
reap-a-rat wrote: » Some might have learned this on the Top Gear Burma special like I did but others might not know! In Myanmar (formerly Burma) they used to drive on the left given they were a British colony. The guy in charge decided that he wanted to switch, so they now drive on the right. Except they still have right-hand drive steering! A lot of the vehicles are very old, including busses. So even to this day, if you're in a RHS bus(most likely) and the bus is driving on the right as it is required to, thenot you are getting out of the bus onto a lane of traffic instead of a path or the side of the road. It's mental! Apparently the infrastructure still hasn't caught up either and in many places the signage is facing the wrong way. So seems if you're tired of mundane driving then Myanmar could be a destination to make you feel alive again!
Meanaspie wrote: » I picked it up somewhere over the years that it was Napoleon himself that changed it as he was left handed and wished to pass people on the opposite of the road with his weapon hand closest to them
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