# Things you know that it never occurred to you others wouldn't know... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696 "2015-11-05T11:07:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/281 "2015-11-15T14:22:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > exchanges its left for its right every time she parks Come again? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/282 "2015-11-15T15:02:39Z")
Rinse/wash your rice, before cooking it. Every Asian and African knows this, no matter how disadvantaged, or uneducated. Learned, well read, educated Westerners, not so much! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/283 "2015-11-15T15:59:47Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Although I really did try to get smart women for my girlfriends, I had a couple who didn’t know that toilets kept working during power failures. Echoing above, if you have your own well, no, they don’t. You fill a bathtub when a storm is coming to be able to flush the toilets. Having grown up with a Ma Bell phone, it still surprises me when the phone \*\*doesn’t \*\*work during a power failure! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/284 "2015-11-15T16:26:01Z")
> [@katpohl](#): > > As a native of New Mexico , when I have travailed to other states it is at times annoying to have to explain to seemly :dubious: well educated people , that we are the state between Texas and Arizona .:rolleyes: I find this odd because I’ve lived in New England all my life, and in New Hampshire 2/3rds of it, and no one has ever asked if I’m British. Canadian, yes though that’s another story, but people do seem to grasp the fact that New England and England aren’t really connected, nor are Hampshire and York (and I presume Jersey?) in England and our states. Weird that they can’t figure out New Mexico/Mexico too. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/285 "2015-11-15T16:46:16Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Rinse/wash your rice, before cooking it. > > Every Asian and African knows this, no matter how disadvantaged, or uneducated. > > Learned, well read, educated Westerners, not so much! I never have, but it rings a bell, so I looked it up. One thing that learned, well read, educated Westerners can do is Google things on teh interwebs! Unfortunately, it seems that opinions vary. According to [Chowhound](http://www.chowhound.com/food-news/148823/nagging-question-should-you-rinse-rice-before-cooking/), it depends. Some say it helps prevent sticky rice, but Chowhound says that for short-grain rice used for risotto you actually want that texture, and certainly for sushi. For ordinary cooking with ordinary long-grain rice the advice seems to be: not necessary for domestic rice, may be a good idea for the imported kind which may be coated with talc, glucose, or other crap. According to [foodhacks](http://food-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/ingredients-101-why-properly-rinsing-rice-barley-farro-quinoa-is-so-damn-important-0156320/), it’s important because some rice may be coated with diatomaceous earth as an insect repellent. And according to [foodreference.com](http://www.foodreference.com/html/a-rice-soak-rinse-1208.html), it’s absolutely not necessary. And [Viet World Kitchen](http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/03/myths-and-truths-about-cooking-rice-.html) takes an intermediate view: yes you should, but only for the taste. So this learned, well read, educated Westerner is thoroughly confused. Next time I’ll just read what Uncle Ben has to say and do that. ETA: One thing that everyone is consistent about is thoroughly rinsing dried porcini mushrooms, so clearly there are some things where there’s no doubt about the need for rinsing. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/286 "2015-11-15T16:52:35Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Somewhat similarly, a week or so I ago I randomly found an article in an Irish online mag collecting posts from across the world where people were making innuendo about the airline Aer Lingus’s name. The comment on that article indicated that until then, at least a couple Irish hadn’t thought about what the name sounded like. Well of course, the Irish are pure, godly Catholics – the activity concerned would never have occurred to them, and its name would mean nothing to them 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/287 "2015-11-15T17:14:25Z")
If you’re eating Uncle Ben’s, don’t worry about it! ������ ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/288 "2015-11-15T17:28:15Z")
I cook a lot of rice. I buy 25lbs of Jasmine rice (from Thailand) at a time, and I never wash it. It always comes out light and fluffy. Why add an extra step of washing it? ---
**Author:** ![katpohl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@katpohl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katpohl)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/289 "2015-11-15T19:01:40Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I find this odd because I’ve lived in New England all my life, and in New Hampshire 2/3rds of it, and no one has ever asked if I’m British. Canadian, yes though that’s another story, but people do seem to grasp the fact that New England and England aren’t really connected, nor are Hampshire and York (and I presume Jersey?) in England and our states. Weird that they can’t figure out New Mexico/Mexico too. Some of the state of New Mexico’s southern border is part of the country of Mexico’s northern border . I’m guessing that could have something to do with it . ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/290 "2015-11-15T19:10:27Z")
We have some home-made C clamps at work, in which the pad on the end of the screw isn’t peened onto the end of the screw with a swivel joint. It’s made by welding a little square of sheet metal onto one end of a nut. Therefore the screw threads through the top of the C and then into the pad nut. I spent a while the other day trying to convince a mechanic that this C clamp does not tighten and loosen unless the pad actually skids against the thing you’re clamping, as the screw is just translating through two internal threads as long as the pad doesn’t spin. The pad and the top of the C clamp do not change their separation, unless the pad rotates with respect to the clamp. I tried several different lines of argument, but never did convince him. I don’t get how he can not get this. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/291 "2015-11-15T20:02:28Z")
I can promise you everyone in Thailand washes their rice. ( In fact, most Asians are a titch judgemental of white folk not being smart enough to wash rice!:D:D) I use the exact same rice as you. Just try washing it, and you’ll see the difference for yourself! ( Just add too much water, swish it around until the water is milky, pour that water off, add portioned water and cook. I use a rice cooker myself!) ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/292 "2015-11-15T21:48:40Z")
I used to wash my rice. Then tried not washing it, found no difference, so now I no longer do. I use medium grain rice, if that’s relevant. Don’t quite get why you would want to prevent sticky rice! But oddly, it was in Japan that I was taught to wash it in the first place, and they certainly aren’t trying to prevent stickiness. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/293 "2015-11-16T00:53:08Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I can promise you everyone in Thailand washes their rice. > > ( In fact, most Asians are a titch judgemental of white folk not being smart enough to wash rice!:D:D) > > I use the exact same rice as you. Just try washing it, and you’ll see the difference for yourself! > ( Just add too much water, swish it around until the water is milky, pour that water off, add portioned water and cook. I use a rice cooker myself!) Sigh. Fine. I’ll try it. This better be good, or I’ll hold you personally responsible for my wasted few cups of water. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/294 "2015-11-16T01:43:50Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Self-labeled, fraudulent enthusiasts do that for sure. A true enthusiast knows that a modern manual transmission is inferior to just about every automatic transmission available, but chooses to drive a manual for his own personal driver engagement. > > But yeah… we can make this post fit the thread, because I am shocked at the number of people who don’t’ know that old automatic transmissions were wasteful and inefficient (Two gears! Lots of slip/losses! Slushbox!) but that modern automatics are so efficient and responsive (and often pack more gears than manuals now)… plus they are computer controlled… they are just the best option in almost all cases for almost all drivers if true performance and efficiency are desired. > > . A manual transmission still offers a few advantages for folks who know how to operate it. Ever gotten stuck in the mud or snow and had to try to rock the car to get it out? I’ve always found that a lot easier to do with a manual gearbox than an automatic. As far as I know, you still cannot push-start an automatic car if your starter dies, but you still can with a standard transmission. I can always beat the **highway** sticker mileage by around 10 to 20 percent with my standard cars, but the automatic cars never seem to get any better than what the sticker says. I get that a lot of automatic cars are geared higher for the highway, but 80% of my driving in Maine is on back roads with speed limits between 45 to 55 miles per hour. Now to shift this back to the topic: I’m always surprised that folks who grew up driving manual-shift cars don’t know that you can use the parking brake to keep it from rolling backward on a hill while you shift to first. I’m doubly surprised that the method they were taught to prevent rollback involves holding the clutch partially engaged and giving it gas the whole time they are stopped! I guess someone has to keep the clutch manufacturers in business. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/295 "2015-11-16T02:56:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Ironically, it turned out a few years ago that standard Duck/Duct tape isn’t very good for taping ducts. It took a scientific study to show them that? Had they never TRIED using it to tape ducts? > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I know that the 1967 version of _Casino Royale_ is the greatest Bond film ever made. When I see people expressing admiration for any other “Bond” film, I presume that they’re fucking with me. They are. Everybody knows, in their heart of hearts, that it is true and that Joanna Pettet is the hottest Bond Girl. ETA: Except, maybe, Jill St John and her Coin Slot From Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/296 "2015-11-16T03:24:05Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > Now to shift this back to the topic: I’m always surprised that folks who grew up driving manual-shift cars don’t know that you can use the parking brake to keep it from rolling backward on a hill while you shift to first. I’m doubly surprised that the method they were taught to prevent rollback involves holding the clutch partially engaged and giving it gas the whole time they are stopped! I guess someone has to keep the clutch manufacturers in business. Surprised? I’m downright astounded! When I learned to drive the parking brake technique was taught, emphasized, and mandatory! If someone did the slipping-clutch thing on their driver’s test where I live they’d never get their license! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/297 "2015-11-16T03:38:12Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If you’re eating Uncle Ben’s, don’t worry about it! I don’t know if that was snark but I was once at a tasting where a chef from a notable upscale restaurant told me Uncle Ben’s was his standard go-to rice, and it’s always worked for me, plain or with various cooking liquids and additions, and sometimes plain basmati to accompany grilled seafood. But in any case, Uncle Ben speaks: Never Wash Uncle Ben’s® Rice You never have to worry about washing Uncle Ben’s® rice. That’s because Uncle Ben’s® Rice is already washed, cleaned and milled (to remove the outer layers) before it arrives in your kitchen. In fact, if you wash Uncle Ben’s® Rice, you’ll actually remove essential vitamins and nutrients. All you need to do is cook and enjoy! [http://www.unclebens.ca/en-ca/RiceHealth/HowToCookRice.aspx](http://www.unclebens.ca/en-ca/RiceHealth/HowToCookRice.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/298 "2015-11-16T03:56:33Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > It took a scientific study to show them that? Had they never TRIED using it to tape ducts? It actually works pretty well for taping ducks together, but it seems to upset people when I do it. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/299 "2015-11-16T04:40:52Z")
I’ve never washed rice. I always sauté it in olive oil before cooking it in a skillet or sauté pan. It hasn’t failed me yet. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696/300 "2015-11-16T05:43:47Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Surprised? I’m downright astounded! When I learned to drive the parking brake technique was taught, emphasized, and mandatory! If someone did the slipping-clutch thing on their driver’s test where I live they’d never get their license! Some people seem to think the parking brake is an “emergency” brake, and thus never use it. I don’t know where you’re from, but if you’re ever in this neck of the woods, just stand around on the sidewalk of hilly parking lot and watch how many cars lurch downhill after the engines are shut off. Most people are driving automatic cars, and even on steep hills, do not use the parking brake. Plenty of people around here don’t even set the brake in a manual car.:eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-know-that-it-never-occurred-to-you-others-wouldnt-know/736696.md?page=16)