# Something you learned recently, that you didn't know before **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199 "2017-08-09T22:05:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/121 "2019-01-11T04:10:10Z")
I learned, today, that in golf, a double eagle (two under par) is also called an “ALBATROSS!” ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/122 "2019-01-11T06:48:54Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > … a double eagle (two under par) … A double eagle (aka albatross) is a score of 3 under par on a hole. (Most often, 2 on a par 5.) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/123 "2019-01-11T07:11:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Because of _The Merchant of Venice_, right? 😃 Don’t call me stupid! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/124 "2019-01-11T09:39:54Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Mea culpa. > > When the urgeoning American Mafia took a hit as a result of Prohibition, the KKK took advantage of their influence with the booming southern moonshining industry to make inroads on the mafia’s weakened alcohol distribution networks. According to the documentary, the KKK had their fingers in a number of vice-related industries. When the KKK began dabbling in such industries, they structured their organization based on that of the Sicilian mafia. > > I had no idea that the KKK had any agenda other than the suppression of blacks before viewing this show. > > Hope that is clearer. Also, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) dealt drugs, and the Mafia was the Sicilian resistance against the Italian occupation. It’s like there’s a connection between breaking the law and … breaking the law. Not to mention the CIA and drug running 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/125 "2019-01-11T10:05:52Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > A double eagle (aka albatross) is a score of 3 under par on a hole. (Most often, 2 on a par 5.) So 2 under par is an eagle, and 3 under par is a “double eagle”? :dubious: Guess I learned golfers aren’t great mathematicians… ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/126 "2019-01-11T10:48:13Z")
I learned that a Spoonerism is when you switch the initial sounds of two words in a sentence, as in “I’m reading a thread in a Bessage Moard”. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/127 "2019-01-11T10:51:10Z")
Not terribly interesting, but I learned yesterday that my late uncle and my aunt’s favorite rock star have (had?) the same birthday. I didn’t think to pay attention to who had first billing though. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/128 "2019-01-11T13:23:53Z")
I learned today that uptake rates for (free!) routine bowel cancer screening (aka poo sticks) in the UK are barely higher than 50% (!?!). > **[Uptake rates for bowel cancer screening far too low](https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/news-and-blogs/news/uptake-rates-for-bowel-cancer-screening-far-too-low-dont-ignore-the-test!/)** > > Uptake rates for bowel cancer screening far too low - don't ignore the test! I also found out that there is no follow up on mine. Whew. j ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/129 "2019-01-11T13:41:06Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > A double eagle (aka albatross) is a score of 3 under par on a hole. (Most often, 2 on a par 5.) So _that’s_ a brain fart! Guess I learned _two_ things yesterday. I swear, I was looking right at “3 under par,” and typed “2” anyway. BTW, do you get wafers with it? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/130 "2019-01-11T14:24:32Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > They make safety reading glasses. > > A few months back I caught myself working on the lathe with reading glasses because I couldn’t see my work well enough–not a good idea. I searched Amazon and found that safety reading glasses are a thing. Very cool for the not-so-young crowd. Cooler - Multi focal contact lenses. They actually work. At least for me. No more reading glasses. Disposable, you put in a new one every day. They cost about a buck each. Check with your optometrist. No. More. Reading. Glasses. So nice. I found about a dozen pair of the things laying around the house, at work, in the car and such. Cleaned them up and gave them to the local library. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/131 "2019-01-11T14:39:19Z")
This one is so embarrassing–I just found out that the last major league baseball team to be integrated was my own Boston Red Sox. Apparently the owner at the time was a big old racist. He gave Jackie Robinson a tryout, but did not hire him. In fact, the Boston Bruins hockey team was integrated nefore the Red Sox. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/132 "2019-01-11T19:45:21Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > I learned that a Spoonerism is when you switch the initial sounds of two words in a sentence, as in “I’m reading a thread in a Bessage Moard”. Named after the [Reverend Spooner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Archibald_Spooner) who, thankfully, was never called upon to introduce Victoria Regina. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/133 "2019-01-11T22:26:56Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > So 2 under par is an eagle, and 3 under par is a “double eagle”? :dubious: > > Guess I learned golfers aren’t great mathematicians… They’re not very good ornithologists, either. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199/134 "2019-01-14T17:30:55Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I learned that there is such a thing as prescription-ground scuba masks! I love to swim but can’t see a damn thing at the beach, thanks to my vision being 20/200 without my glasses. Getting a prescription mask opened a whole new world for me. Never seen Notting Hill then, I guess? That was a comedy point in the movie [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-you-learned-recently-that-you-didnt-know-before/793199.md?page=6)