# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/21 "2017-07-04T22:08:00Z")
I learned Chipotle is open on July 4th, but closes early. And something about baseball something indifference something something. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/22 "2017-07-04T22:09:58Z")
That one of my cousins voted for Trump. Knowing him, I’m not the least bit surprised, just surprised that he admits it. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/23 "2017-07-04T22:54:33Z")
That Cebu Pacific airlines does not have a direct flight from Cebu to Zamboanga, you have to change at Manila. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/24 "2017-07-04T23:26:07Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > 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. SPF or 5 is actually quite good for normal people: you probably got mostly burned in a peak period, say 1 hour, and SPF of 5 would mean it would have taken 5 hours of peak sun (which never happens) to burn under the shirt. But yes, unless there is a citation, numbers quoted on the internet are just BS. A normal dry white T shirt is going to have a much better SPF than “thin cotton”, because (1) it’s not thin, and (2) optical brighteners are like SPF for cotton. So what does 5 mean? Where did that come from? I always assumed it was for an old white business shirt, (Long sleeves to protect from the sun!) but even that is clearly a dangerous assumption. In AUS our SPF labels originally only went up to 15, on the basis that the difference between 15 and anything more was meaningless. They relaxed that rule because for very sensitive people, the difference between 1 minute in the sun and no minutes was important (though not important for the rest of us). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/25 "2017-07-05T00:13:24Z")
I learned it takes a boatload of measurements, calculations, and tools to hang a 3 x 3 array of photos on the wall, accurately spaced and leveled. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/26 "2017-07-05T02:40:03Z")
I learned that it’s illegal to wear camouflage clothing in Barbados (and prob other Caribbean countries) unless you’re authorized to do so (military). ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/27 "2017-07-07T10:09:09Z")
That the term “snowflake” is taught in elementary schools to illustrate that we are all different and all equally valuable. I’d only known it was used as an insult implying a belief that some of us were fragile and more valuable. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/28 "2017-07-07T12:29:50Z")
Watching Deadliest Catch a couple of days ago, I was surprised to learn that in WW2, the Japanese occupied a couple of the Aleutian islands in Alaska, and it took [a substantial US military effort to evict them.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands_Campaign) I’m hardly an expert on WW2 history, but I had never heard of this before. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/29 "2017-07-07T13:49:55Z")
I learned that a ni-chrome wire will stretch significantly when heated to cut styrofoam. I also learned how to build a device that will take care of that problem. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/30 "2017-07-07T14:05:46Z")
I learned about Obama’s “Fruit Loops” interview. I saw it referenced in a political cartoon as an example of how totally irresponsible Democrats are, had no idea what they were talking about, and had to go look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/31 "2017-07-07T14:27:55Z")
I work in continuing education for accountants. I reviewed a course that discussed what to do for marijuana distributors. Apparently, it’s good for any marijuana distributor, legal or illegal, to report their income to the IRS. That’s because in marijuana busts, one of the charges they bring against you is that you didn’t pay taxes on your mj sales, thus making distribution a Federal crime, so they can levy fines on top of jail time. Also, the IRS isn’t required to report illegal marijuana sales. It’s not their job. I don’t know if any dealer has ever had the balls to try that though… ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/32 "2017-07-07T15:52:57Z")
I learned that Abraham Lincoln took a medication called Blue Mass to combat his lifelong case of depression. Blue Mass contained a potentially lethal percentage of mercury, so Lincoln was basically poisoning himself. He eventually quit the medication because he believed it made him irritable and angry. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/33 "2017-07-07T18:32:08Z")
That Tony Robinson - Baldrick from _Blackadder_ - wrote a memoir called “No Cunning Plan”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/34 "2017-07-08T16:19:58Z")
Russia was 12 days late for the London Olympics in 1908 due to still being on the Julian calendar. They still competed and won some medals, though. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > That there are an awful lot of mean and crazy people out there. Shut up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/35 "2017-07-08T16:39:48Z")
I haven’t learned anything real interesting yet today. I just wanted to say that defensive indifference is my favorite call in baseball. I’ve adopted the concept in my daily life as a way to remind myself to control my anger and frustration. Somebody says something that I’m about to get pissed at. Meh. Let him have it on defensive indifference. I actually thought about changing my SDMB name to that… ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/36 "2017-07-08T18:51:38Z")
That it’s a better deal going to my small local flooring shop than the big box store. I figured Home Depot would have the best price on the carpet I wanted to install in my bedroom, but the little local place was LOTS cheaper, and much better customer service too. I did not know that! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/37 "2017-07-08T20:08:11Z")
I learned rewarmed, day old, churro, with a cup of tea, is a lovely breakfast! ---
**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 8, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/38 "2017-07-08T20:16:01Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I haven’t learned anything real interesting yet today. I just wanted to say that defensive indifference is my favorite call in baseball. I’ve adopted the concept in my daily life as a way to remind myself to control my anger and frustration. Somebody says something that I’m about to get pissed at. Meh. Let him have it on defensive indifference. I actually thought about changing my SDMB name to that… Love it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/39 "2017-07-08T21:04:56Z")
> [@](#): > > 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 thought I read a Consumer Reports article saying that any garment with a reasonably tight weave provided 30+ UPF. ETA: [http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/05/testing-sun-protective-clothing/index.htm](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/05/testing-sun-protective-clothing/index.htm) > [@](#): > > We measured the UPF in three white shirts. The Coolibar Girl’s Rash Guard UPF 50+, $32, delivered a UPF of 174. Because UPF indicates what fraction of ultraviolet radiation can penetrate fabric, that means that the garment—which is a blend of 84 percent polyester and 16 percent spandex embedded with titanium dioxide that is claimed to last the lifetime of the shirt— allows just 1/174th of UVA and UVB rays to reach the skin. > > **As impressive as those results are, they don’t seem so remarkable when you consider that the two other garments we tested, which aren’t claimed to provide any UV protection, did very well, too. A cotton Hanes Beefy-T long-sleeve T-shirt, $13, and an Eastbay Evapor long-sleeve compression crew made of the same polyester/spandex blend as the Coolibar top, $18 delivered UPFs of 115 and 392 respectively. Even when wet, the Hanes Beefy-T, which is thicker than a regular T-shirt, offered a UPF of 39, which we judge to be a respectable level of protection. Coolibar’s UPF actually increased when it got wet, to 211, and Eastbay’s dipped to 304.** ---
**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 8, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483/40 "2017-07-08T21:36:39Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I thought I read a Consumer Reports article saying that any garment with a reasonably tight weave provided 30+ UPF. > > ETA: [http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/05/testing-sun-protective-clothing/index.htm](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/05/testing-sun-protective-clothing/index.htm) I don’t know what the difference is between UPF and SPF. I was reading about SPF enhanced fabrics before I posted my first post. Iread the 5 SPF thing, then spelunked a bit and found several cites including this one: > [@](#): > > [Conclusions > > Of 28 white fabrics tested, 19 offered less protection than a sunscreen with SPF 15, Polyester fabrics offered increased protection over cotton. The presence of dyes increased protection considerably.]([http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-4362.1997.00046.x/abstract](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-4362.1997.00046.x/abstract)) I can’t get to the full article, but someone quoted from it here (not the most rigorous research, I’ll admit, but it was enough to make me think the protection of a t-shirt wasn’t as high as I had assumed): [ > [@](#): > > Lightweight cotton jersey knit, typical of T-shirt fabrics: SPF 4 (white) / 18 (dyed blue). > Heavy cotton twill weave, similar to 8 oz. denim: SPF 12 (white) / 166 (dyed blue). ]([clothing - What's the UPF of a T-Shirt or jeans? - The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange](https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/1226/whats-the-upf-of-a-t-shirt-or-jeans)) Their comment combined with the abstract was enough to make me think the SPF of fabrics is lower than I had assumed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-learn-today/790483.md?page=3)