# What did you learn today? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483 "2017-07-04T02:44:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/1 "2017-07-04T02:44:12Z")
Or in the last couple of days? I learned that a white t-shirt has an SPF rating of about 5, with slightly higher ratings for a dark t-shirt. I thought clothing would be higher than that automatically! I learned that defensive indifference in baseball is a type of fielder’s choice. What did you learn today? ---
**Author:** ![Graymalkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Graymalkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Graymalkin)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/2 "2017-07-04T02:58:21Z")
That there is something called “defensive indifference” in baseball. And has something to do with fielder’s choice. That the centrality of (the) Ukraine in understanding the history of Eurasia from the 17th to the 21st century (from reading John Darwin’s After Tamerlane and watching Timothy Snyder’s talks on youtube). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/3 "2017-07-04T02:58:29Z")
I’ve been learning the rules of a game called [Visegrad](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/155413/visegrad-coming-war-eastern-europe) today. I’m meeting with a friend on Thursday to play it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/4 "2017-07-04T03:03:54Z")
I didn’t learn a damn thing today and I feel just fine about that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/5 "2017-07-04T03:12:12Z")
I learned what a [Townsend’s Big Eared bat](https://www.google.com/search?q=big+eared+townsend+bat&rlz=1C1TSNO_enUS520US538&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiIlIH-0u7UAhUrr1QKHWzyDTMQiR4IhQE&biw=1366&bih=662)looks like. Saw one roosting about 12" in front of my face. That there is something called “defensive indifference” in baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/6 "2017-07-04T03:23:11Z")
If somebody emails you instructions on how to fix a problem you’re having with Outlook, copy the instructions into a notepad document before you close Outlook. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/7 "2017-07-04T03:31:47Z")
> **[Forty-four states and DC have refused to give certain voter information to...](https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/03/politics/kris-kobach-letter-voter-fraud-commission-information/index.html)** > > Forty-four states have refused to give certain voter information to Trump commission My state is on of the 41 states refusing to give voters info to Kobach voter fraud commission ! I live in Ma. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/8 "2017-07-04T03:35:00Z")
I learned that there is an antinuclear antibody pattern called “nuclear dot” that is associated with primary biliary cirrhosis. (It’s interesting to _me_, not to mention germane to my work but I wish they would stop coming up with new ANA patterns; I just attended a lecture on it less than a year ago and I swear they never mentioned that one). ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/9 "2017-07-04T04:47:22Z")
I learned that one of the reasons we have fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July is becaues John Adams wanted us to. > **[Why Do We Celebrate Independence Day by Lighting Fireworks?](https://slate.com/human-interest/2012/07/history-of-fireworks-in-america-why-do-we-celebrate-fourth-of-july-with-fireworks.html)** > > For as long as Americans can remember, the nation has celebrated the Fourth of July by staging grand fireworks shows in public squares and lighting... ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/10 "2017-07-04T04:52:43Z")
That my body is perfectly ok with staging a full on revolt if the situation appears to call for one. And dairy calls for you. Shame. I like lattes and mochas. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/11 "2017-07-04T05:22:39Z")
Thanks to this OP and wiki, I now know what a fielder’s choice is. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/12 "2017-07-04T06:16:07Z")
Black and white is always gray, and staring through the windowpane I’m not inside your brain. Oh yeah, and that defensive indifference thing. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/13 "2017-07-04T09:35:35Z")
Recently someone on a message board (maybe this one) mentioned learning a language on duolingo.com. For the past couple of days, I’ve been refreshing my Spanish. I took Spanish in college, but the language wasn’t spoken in class, and I never actually learned to speak or understand it. Plus, I seem to be forgetting everything I once knew. Duolingo says I’m now 13% proficient, but I think it’s more like 1%. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/14 "2017-07-04T09:40:11Z")
That it’s difficult, but not impossible, to reassemble a paper drawer for a LaserJet 4540tn after it’s fallen on the floor. That my dog likes to have more than one ball when playing. That walking to the mailbox and back, without the dog, on a nice summer afternoon, is very pleasant. That my rechargeable battery pack is dead. That I’ve been assigned to a new project at work. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/15 "2017-07-04T11:11:48Z")
I just woke up. I haven’t learned a damned thing yet. I don’t think I learned anything yesterday either and I like it that way. It is a holiday after all. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/16 "2017-07-04T11:46:43Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Or in the last couple of days? > > I learned that a white t-shirt has an SPF rating of about 5, with slightly higher ratings for a dark t-shirt. I thought clothing would be higher than that automatically! > > I learned that defensive indifference in baseball is a type of fielder’s choice. > > What did you learn today? Have you ever been sunburned through a t-shirt? I haven’t. I think the spf is quite high for your average cotton t. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/17 "2017-07-04T11:54:44Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Have you ever been sunburned through a t-shirt? I haven’t. I think the spf is quite high for your average cotton t. I never believed that bullshit either. I have a farmer’s tan (or sunburn) to prove it right now. I spent this weekend in a t-shirt in the sun. The parts of my arms that weren’t covered have peeling skin. The parts that were covered are still as white as an albino baby’s ass. Anyone that thinks that cotton t-shirts offer barely any protection are welcome to show me how well you tan with one on. Somebody’s measurements are way off on that one. It just doesn’t work that way. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/18 "2017-07-04T12:13:18Z")
That the South African word for barbecue\* is braai. I learned this from watching [Ben Brown’s travel vlog](https://www.youtube.com/user/benbrown100). \*_As in the outdoor grill, not whatever the hell Americans think it means_ ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/19 "2017-07-04T13:29:43Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Recently someone on a message board (maybe this one) mentioned learning a language on duolingo.com. For the past couple of days, I’ve been refreshing my Spanish. I took Spanish in college, but the language wasn’t spoken in class, and I never actually learned to speak or understand it. Plus, I seem to be forgetting everything I once knew. > > Duolingo says I’m now 13% proficient, but I think it’s more like 1%. I’ve gone through the French language tree. It was pretty good for helping recall most of what I’d learned in high school but I don’t think I’m any where near the proficiency it claims for me. I’ve just started the Duolingo tree for Japanese. I’m starting to get familiar with hiragana but I think it will take a lot of time to get past the first couple of lessons. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/20 "2017-07-04T21:57:57Z")
That there are an awful lot of mean and crazy people out there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483.md?page=2)