# What's the coolest insignificant thing you've done lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025 "2018-03-04T21:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/41 "2018-03-06T07:34:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I just gave GESancMan a pass. But, I don’t get the joke. I know alittle about amps. I see you posted words but I don’t understand them. > Algebra is not something I get. > But, dude that is funny. ( I think) My act was posting this explanation for **Beckdawrek**. [These go to 11.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/42 "2018-03-06T10:28:55Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > When I teach proportions in elementary algebra (college level), I do the following example for the class: > > I start by reading the problem aloud. If anyone goes “hey!” or something, I’ll acknowledge the reference. But more often than not, the kids in the class have no clue. So I just go on and do the problem, playing it straight. > > A couple of weeks back, after reading this problem, one of my students (a young’un) raised his hand. I nodded at him to go ahead, and he asked “why didn’t he just make 10 louder and make it the maximum?” Of course, I paused for a couple of seconds, then said “these go to eleven.” > > He nodded and smirked. I looked around the room and no one else was even smiling. They were all completely clueless to our little unplanned improv. So I just went on with the problem… playing it straight. > > Once I was done, though, I couldn’t stand it, so I said “oh and by the way…” You are my hero. Now, can you insert a little Music Appreciation and play them a little Mozart/Bach piece? 😉 ---
**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:** [March 6, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/43 "2018-03-06T14:37:18Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > That’s not insignificant. That’s really great. Good on you. Thank you. I figure it only takes a few minutes three times a week for the garbage cans, and I’d bring in the mail anyway. I have to be nice to old people; I intend to be one someday. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/44 "2018-03-06T15:09:25Z")
learning to tie paracord ‘stuff’ - saw a set of handles someone was selling for the jeep - decided to make them myself. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/45 "2018-03-06T16:04:32Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > When I teach proportions in elementary algebra (college level), I do the following example for the class: > > I start by reading the problem aloud. If anyone goes “hey!” or something, I’ll acknowledge the reference. But more often than not, the kids in the class have no clue. So I just go on and do the problem, playing it straight. > > A couple of weeks back, after reading this problem, one of my students (a young’un) raised his hand. I nodded at him to go ahead, and he asked “why didn’t he just make 10 louder and make it the maximum?” Of course, I paused for a couple of seconds, then said “these go to eleven.” > > He nodded and smirked. I looked around the room and no one else was even smiling. They were all completely clueless to our little unplanned improv. So I just went on with the problem… playing it straight. > > Once I was done, though, I couldn’t stand it, so I said “oh and by the way…” This may be good math (and pedagogy), but it’s bad physics. Decibels are logarithmic, so 10% louder than 115 dB would not be 126.5 dB (the result I assume they’re supposed to reach) but about 116 dB, according to (my interpretation of) [this source](http://www.noisehelp.com/decibel-scale.html). An engineer with a better technical background may be along to correct my math, but I don’t think I’m very far off, and I’m quite sure the answer isn’t close to 126.5. Acoustics and the physics of sound are _very_ [complicated](http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-levelchange.htm). So even though it’s a fun inside joke, I suggest you find an example that doesn’t inadvertently teach incorrect physics. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/46 "2018-03-06T16:19:52Z")
I had a _Terminator 2_ moment driving late at night a couple of weekends ago; my wife was driving us up I-95 through South Carolina and I was asleep in the passenger seat. I was just waking up and I immediately told her to slow down, there was a cop right behind us. She didn’t believe me, but I insisted and she slowed down, and moments later a sheriff’s cruiser zoomed past us. “How did you know?” she asked, and I looked at her side-eyed and replied, “I see _everything_.” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/47 "2018-03-06T16:32:04Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > My act was posting this explanation for **Beckdawrek**. > > [These go to 11.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o) Thanks so much. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/48 "2018-03-06T16:49:40Z")
Earlier this year I bought the Audubon Bird of the Day Calendar. For the first few days, after tearing off the previous days’ bird, I would chuck it in the garbage. Then I decided to memorize the whole thing so now I take yesterdays bird and stick it in a door frame. Once a day I go through the whole list and repeat every bird. Coolest ones so far are the Chestnut-Eared Aracari and Whitehead’s Broadbill. Fun and good for the brain! ---
**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:** [March 6, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/49 "2018-03-06T18:35:43Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > A few months ago I casked 2 two gallon oak barrels with unfinished white whiskey. Last week I bottled one of the barrels and even made my own cool labels. Last Saturday I uncorked a bottle at my wife’s 60th birthday party. The bourbon was a hit. I was expecting some harshness like cheap bourbons but mine was really smooth and tasted fantastic. I’m going to bottle the other cask this week, can’t wait to taste it. The second cask has a much higher rye content than the first, the little extra time should help smooth the bite that comes from the rye. Just curious about this… I thought that stuff had to sit for years. How did you get it so tasty in just a few months? ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/50 "2018-03-06T19:51:58Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > This may be good math (and pedagogy), but it’s bad physics. Decibels are logarithmic, so 10% louder than 115 dB would not be 126.5 dB (the result I assume they’re supposed to reach) but about 116 dB, according to (my interpretation of) [this source](http://www.noisehelp.com/decibel-scale.html). An engineer with a better technical background may be along to correct my math, but I don’t think I’m very far off, and I’m quite sure the answer isn’t close to 126.5. Acoustics and the physics of sound are _very_ [complicated](http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-levelchange.htm). > > So even though it’s a fun inside joke, I suggest you find an example that doesn’t inadvertently teach incorrect physics. Sigh… you’re right, of course. This isn’t the first time I’ve come up with some clever example without thinking it fully through. I really should have, considering that I have an example involving decibels that I regularly do in my college algebra classes when I’m teaching logarithms. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/51 "2018-03-06T20:26:32Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > You are my hero. > > Now, can you insert a little Music Appreciation and play them a little Mozart/Bach piece? 😉 Or, _“Lick My Love Pump”._ ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/52 "2018-03-07T06:17:02Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Sigh… you’re right, of course. This isn’t the first time I’ve come up with some clever example without thinking it fully through. I really should have, considering that I have an example involving decibels that I regularly do in my college algebra classes when I’m teaching logarithms. Sorry to be the spoilsport. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/53 "2018-03-07T08:00:54Z")
I wasn’t the perpetrator of this, I was in the truck at the scene. Me and Mr.Wrekker were driving through a medium sized town. We pull up to a intersection, 4 lane (busy) state highway crosses a busy 2 lane. Right in the middle under the traffic light was an open, bright yellow umbrella. It was windy today, so the umbrella was rocking and scooting around a bit. Causing all matter of confusion and alarm. Mr.Wrekker pulled over to the shoulder, jumped out of the truck. Threw his hands up like Moses parting the Red Sea, traffic came to complete stop. He quickly grabbed the offending object, closed it & walked over and tossed it his truck bed. By the time he was getting in the truck all cars in the vicinity started beep their horns. He started the truck and we drove off. He never said a word or explained himself. My mouth was just hanging open looking at him. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/54 "2018-03-07T22:31:18Z")
Dyed my hair a deep, dark, purple-red color. It looks really cool. It’s totally insignificant, except that I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/55 "2018-03-07T23:39:16Z")
Taught my gf how to drive a car with hand controls. Totally insignificant because she’s not legally licensed to drive with her hands and most importantly, she doesn’t need to. But still, kinda neat. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/56 "2018-03-08T00:21:38Z")
I played [Deja Vu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0_Vu_(video_game)) for awhile on a System 6 Mac SE by remoting into it from my MacBook. Got the amnesia guy into the elevator, then saved the game for later additional play. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/57 "2018-03-08T05:01:53Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > This may be good math (and pedagogy), but it’s bad physics. Decibels are logarithmic, so 10% louder than 115 dB would not be 126.5 dB (the result I assume they’re supposed to reach) but about 116 dB, Bels are _Linear_ in loudness. That’s why we use Bels instead of Amplitude or Power. 11 Bels is 10% louder than 10 Bels. 12.65 deciBels is 10% louder than 115 deciBels Bels (after Alexander Graham Bell) are logarithmic to power or amplitude because Loudness is logarithmic because Hearing is logarithmic. You can hear really quiet noises, and really load noises, because your hearing uses logarithmic compression of noise amplitude. We often hear about how you can see in really low light, and see in really bright light, but we less often see how hearing works: it too has a wide range of sensitivity. I make no statement about how linear _your_ hearing is in dB. But it’s not logarithmic in dB: it’s logarithmic in power. That’s why we use a dB scale for loudness. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/58 "2018-03-08T05:09:54Z")
I got a county commissioner on the phone tonight and had a discussion on an upcoming vote. I thought it was cool. Him, maybe not so much. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/59 "2018-03-08T05:22:26Z")
I had another cool moment last night: same class, same student. Just before it happened, the thought that flashed through my head was “he understood a Spinal Tap reference, therefore he’ll probably get a Monty Python reference.” If not for that, I probably wouldn’t have said it. Anyway, the topic was permutations and combinations, and the example was “How many 5-card hands from a standard deck contain 3 diamonds?” I started the problem, and the student raised his hand and asked if this meant hands with four or five diamonds qualify. I conceded that the question wasn’t well written, that I need to change the wording to “exactly three diamonds.” I started to turn back to the board when I was suddenly inspired. I turned back and said “three shall be the number of the diamonds, and the number of the diamonds shall be three. No more, no less. Five is right out.” (I know, I left part of the quote out.) The student chuckled, and a couple of others smiled. Most of the rest of them were looking at me like they wanted to ask WTF I was on about. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2018, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025/60 "2018-03-08T05:52:21Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > I had another cool moment last night: same class, same student. Just before it happened, the thought that flashed through my head was “he understood a Spinal Tap reference, therefore he’ll probably get a Monty Python reference.” If not for that, I probably wouldn’t have said it. > > Anyway, the topic was permutations and combinations, and the example was “How many 5-card hands from a standard deck contain 3 diamonds?” I started the problem, and the student raised his hand and asked if this meant hands with four or five diamonds qualify. I conceded that the question wasn’t well written, that I need to change the wording to “exactly three diamonds.” > > I started to turn back to the board when I was suddenly inspired. I turned back and said “three shall be the number of the diamonds, and the number of the diamonds shall be three. No more, no less. Five is right out.” (I know, I left part of the quote out.) > > The student chuckled, and a couple of others smiled. Most of the rest of them were looking at me like they wanted to ask WTF I was on about. There’s a British quiz show called _Only Connect_. Part of the game involves showing the contestants a list of (up to) three things, and they have to figure out what is the fourth item in the sequence. Of course, there are more points if you can figure it out sooner. You might enjoy [this clip](https://youtu.be/mHNr_pzrr7U?t=15m26s). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-coolest-insignificant-thing-youve-done-lately/810025.md?page=4)