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Old March 9th, 2013 #101
Mr A.Anderson
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Life has traditionally been seen as driven by energy from the sun, but deep-sea organisms have no access to sunlight, so they must depend on nutrients found in the dusty chemical deposits and hydrothermal fluids in which they live. Previously, benthic oceanographers assumed that vent organisms were dependent on marine snow, as deep-sea organisms are. This would leave them dependent on plant life and thus the sun. Some hydrothermal vent organisms do consume this "rain", but with only such a system, life forms would be very sparse. Compared to the surrounding sea floor, however, hydrothermal vent zones have a density of organisms 10,000 to 100,000 times greater.

Hydrothermal vent communities are able to sustain such vast amounts of life because vent organisms depend on chemosynthetic bacteria for food. The water from the hydrothermal vent is rich in dissolved minerals and supports a large population of chemoautotrophic bacteria. These bacteria use sulfur compounds, particularly hydrogen sulfide, a chemical highly toxic to most known organisms, to produce organic material through the process of chemosynthesis.

The ecosystem so formed is reliant upon the continued existence of the hydrothermal vent field as the primary source of energy, which differs from most surface life on Earth, which is based on solar energy. However, although it is often said that these communities exist independently of the sun, some of the organisms are actually dependent upon oxygen produced by photosynthetic organisms. Others are anaerobic, as was the earliest life.

A species of phototrophic bacterium has been found living near a black smoker off the coast of Mexico at a depth of 2,500 m (8,200 ft). No sunlight penetrates that far into the waters. Instead, the bacteria, part of the Chlorobiaceae family, use the faint glow from the black smoker for photosynthesis. This is the first organism discovered in nature to exclusively use a light other than sunlight for photosynthesis.
 
Old March 11th, 2013 #102
Roy Wagahuski
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brutus
Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue.
Quote:
This ludicrous myth was spread via an email chain letter, notorious for misinformation and general silliness. The idea behind most of them is to see how many of your friends are gullible enough to forward them without checking to see if they are true, then having a good laugh.

Not only can birds see blue but some varieties of birds can see into the UV spectrum, allowing them to detect colors that humans cannot perceive.

Owls are nocturnal and have poorer color vision than their diurnal counterparts like hawks or eagles.

The reason bluebirds, blue jays, blue herons, blue parrots and all sorts of other blue-plumaged birds attract mates with their blue feathers is because birds CAN see blue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_vi...ght_perception

Quote:
Can birds see blue?

Answer

Well, yes. All you need to really do is look at a peacock’s tail to see just how important the colour blue is for birds and, in fact, birds have really extraordinary vision because they have four cones, as well as the three that we have as mammals and humans have. They can also see UV and near UV light, and the reason they do this is for all sorts of things. We think it plays a really important role in sexual signals. If you cut out the UV part of feathers, it really kind of interferes with how birds can communicate with each other. And it’s also quite important for them in their ability to find prey and to forage and find other food. So UV light is very important and they have great colour vision too. So birds are really quite championing the world of colour vision actually, and can see much more than we can.
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Old March 12th, 2013 #103
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That chuck norris is older than rounder.
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Old March 19th, 2013 #104
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That weird al was hiding a face beneath that halloween mask.



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Old March 25th, 2013 #105
M.N. Dalvez
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When the Universe was very new, there were no atomic elements (like hydrogen) and no fundamental forces (like electromagnetism).

Hydrogen and helium, the most basic elements, were 'born' when the universe had cooled down enough for the fundamental forces to become distinct from each other and for atoms to be formed, which happened maybe 250 million years after the Big Bang.

All other elements (everything other than hydrogen and helium) were originally created by the birth and death of stars from the gas of the early Universe, which only began 300 million years after the Big Bang at the beginning of what is called the 'stelliferous era', which we are still in.

The stelliferous era will continue for 100 trillion more years.

Last edited by M.N. Dalvez; March 25th, 2013 at 03:24 AM.
 
Old April 2nd, 2013 #106
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Sweden was the first (not counting the UK) country to officially recognize the declared independent American republic back in the days when the new, free dawning nation of infinite possibilities was respectfully and reverently pronounced with a -ca ending, and not with the scornful and disgusted -kwa of today.

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... In 1763 Creutz practically closed his poetical career; he went to Spain as ambassador, and after three years to Paris in the same capacity until May 1783, and it was during this time that Creutz met with the American resident in Paris at the time, Benjamin Franklin. So, as faith would have it, Sweden was the first country (after the UK) who recognized the young American republic, and Creutz and Franklin drafted the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the two nations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustaf_Philip_Creutz

Last edited by Solskeniskyn; April 2nd, 2013 at 08:32 AM.
 
Old April 12th, 2013 #107
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NotEvenOnce @starlilies 12 hours ago
Where do you get duck fat fries? I've never even heard of such a thing. I think you're making it up to sound cool.

starlilies

Accept

They're just fries fried in duck fat. I first heard about the phenomenon when I traveled to Portland Maine. I had them at a restaurant with wood-grilled lobster. Delicious.

I make my own duck fat potatoes when I get the thin slices of duck. (Hint sweet potato fried in duck fat is even more delicious.)



NotEvenOnce a second ago
Oh. Well, ok then. My horizons have been broadened. I am not entirely comfortable with this new information, but I will strive manfully to assimilate it into my world-view. Thank you! Edit
 
Old April 12th, 2013 #108
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BTW, I prefer cop-grilled lobster. The fear adds a certain piquancy to the lucious meat.
 
Old April 21st, 2013 #109
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Odd. I thought it was 'squirreled'.
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Old April 21st, 2013 #110
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what I didn't know I learned today from fun facts fox









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Old May 14th, 2013 #111
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... In 1944 - with the war luck having turned and with Germany being pushed back towards Berlin - Sweden, still remaining neutral, but perhaps sensing the spirit of the times, decides to decriminalize... bestiality.

Sometimes weird but symbolic (some would claim coincidental) small things likes these just illuminate the scene like a flash of lightning and for a moment captures its true nature.

'The good war', supposedly fought to 'make the world safe for democracy', was "won" by the bear, the hawk and the pig with lies, deceit and viciousness, that eventually ended up fucking and consuming all three.

The defeated wolf that instead had to head out into the cold, into the night, into the wilderness, alone, however, still remains lean and dignified out there, and may yet return one day, again hungry, again strong, and again ready.

Last edited by Solskeniskyn; May 14th, 2013 at 11:44 PM.
 
Old May 21st, 2013 #112
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All circulating "Ike" dollars were made of copper-nickel and not silver, despite many myths and urban legends to the contrary. These coins have either no mint mark or a D above the date, and show a copper-colored edge.

40% silver versions were made during the years 1971-76. They all carry an S mint mark and were only sold in special packaging for purchase by collectors, not for circulation.

None of the Eisenhower dollar coins regardless of date or mintmark struck for general circulation have more than face value or have any silver in them. Only proof and uncirculated collectors coins sold from the Mint contain silver and that's only 40%.
 
Old May 21st, 2013 #113
littlefieldjohn
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Default Joseph Weydemeyer- friend of Karl Marx ,Union Military Commandant

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Joseph Arnold Weydemeyer (February 2, 1818, Münster – August 26, 1866, St. Louis, Missouri) was a military officer in the Kingdom of Prussia and the United States, as well as a journalist, politician and Marxist revolutionary.


Thanks to his background as a Prussian military officer and surveyor, he became a technical aide on the staff of General John C. Frémont, the commander of the department of the West. He superintended the erection of ten forts around St. Louis. After Frémont was removed from his command in November 1861, Weydemeyer was made a lieutenant colonel and given command of a Missouri volunteer artillery regiment which took the field against Confederate guerillas in southern Missouri in 1862. At the end of the year, he was hospitalized for a nervous disorder and transferred to garrison duty in St. Louis, which he left in September 1863.
Joseph_Weydemeyer Joseph_Weydemeyer


Marx to Joseph Weydemeyer
In New York

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx...s/52_03_05.htm
 
Old June 9th, 2013 #114
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I have not had a problem with restricted unknown harassing phone call's, but if you have that problem, this might solve it.

http://www.trapcall.com/signup/now
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Old June 9th, 2013 #115
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Linder View Post
In Confucian thought, the cold steel of a knife and fork represents weapons and violence. Chopsticks are considered benevolent and non-threatening. Since a meal is meant to be almost a ceremony of peace and hostility, the Chinese choose chopsticks.
I regard monotheism as the greatest disaster ever to befall the human race. I see no good in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Any religion based on a single...frenzied and virulent god, is not as useful to the human race as, say, Confucianism, which is not a religion but an ethical and educational system that has worked pretty well for twenty-five hundred years.
 
Old June 11th, 2013 #116
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A derecho (/dəˈreɪtʃoʊ/, də-ray-choh, from Spanish: derecho [deˈɾetʃo], "straight") is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms. Generally, derechos are convection-induced and take on a bow echo form of squall line, forming in an area of wind divergence in the upper levels of the troposphere, within a region of low-level warm air advection and rich low-level moisture. They travel quickly in the direction of movement of their associated storms, similar to an outflow boundary (gust front), except that the wind is sustained and increases in strength behind the front, generally exceeding hurricane-force. A warm-weather phenomenon, derechos occur mostly in summer, especially during June and July in the Northern Hemisphere, within areas of moderately strong instability and moderately strong vertical wind shear. They may occur at any time of the year and occur as frequently at night as during the daylight hours.

Unlike other thunderstorms, which typically can be heard in the distance when approaching, a derecho seems to strike suddenly. Within minutes, extremely high winds can arise, strong enough to knock over highway signs and topple large trees. These winds are accompanied by spraying rain and frequent lightning from all directions. It is dangerous to drive under these conditions, especially at night, because of blowing debris and obstructed roadways. A derecho moves through quickly, but can do much damage in a short time.

 
Old June 11th, 2013 #117
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Two words that can easily be confused are derecho and derecha. Both words are distant cousins of the English words "right" and "direct," and that is the source of the confusion: Depending on the context and usage, these words can carry meanings such as "right" (the opposite of left), "right" (entitlement), "straight," "upright" and "directly."
 
Old June 14th, 2013 #118
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Giraffes, because of their poorly developed voices, communicate with each other mainly by switching their tails.

"Blind as a bat" is a meaningless phrase. Contrary to popular belief, most bats can see perfectly well in bright light.

It is untrue that that the ostrich hides its head in the sand when confronted by danger. It kicks viciously when cornered or wounded.

 
Old June 14th, 2013 #119
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angel Ramsey View Post
That it's impossible to find a 36DD bra.
36 DD??

OK, I need proof..... pics pls.
 
Old July 3rd, 2013 #120
M.N. Dalvez
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Default more on that evolutionary misfit, the platypus

"A draft version of the platypus genome sequence was published in Nature on 8 May 2008, revealing both reptilian and mammalian elements, as well as two genes found previously only in birds, amphibians, and fish. More than 80% of the platypus' genes are common to the other mammals whose genomes have been sequenced."

For comparison, all people are 99.5% genetically similar. A lot of variation comes from that 0.5% genetic dissimilarity, right?

Chimps are roughly 96-98% genetically similar to humans, cats 90%, and cows 80%.

Fruit flies are roughly 60% genetically similar to people.

So, it would seem all the forms of life that have been sequenced, even very dissimilar ones, have a genetic basis, and all the variation we see in life forms comes from variation (over unthinkably long periods of time, obviously) in a minority of the percentage of that total genetic structure.

As far as the platypus goes, it seems it's even more of a freak than anyone ever thought it was before.

Last edited by M.N. Dalvez; July 3rd, 2013 at 09:11 PM.
 
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