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2bzy7f | why do websites with countdown lists always make you click the next button instead of displaying it all on one page? | Is there some reason for this? It is so widespread on the internet, against all sensibility of having the countdown on one page. I have made it a practice of not using these kinds of websites anymore because I find the layout deserving of boycott. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2bzy7f/eli5_why_do_websites_with_countdown_lists_always/ | {
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"They get more page views, and therefore more ad revenue.",
"You click new pages, their ads reload, and they get more ad revenue. Slideshows made in HTML5 are far easier and look better, but the $$$ is what matters.\n\n... | [] | [] | [
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"http://deslide.clusterfake.net?o=html_table&u='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)"
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3mulzp | why does a runny nose drip instead of coming out all at once? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mulzp/eli5_why_does_a_runny_nose_drip_instead_of_coming/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Because snot is being produced continually. There's not a lake of it just waiting to all come out in a rush, it's produced slowly all across membranes in your nose and generally just runs out as its produced."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
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3otqyk | why are republicans always to one to take the blame for extreme partisanship in the u.s. legislature? | It seems that by definition Democrats should be 50% to blame. Yet they always seem to be painted as the bipartisan party. Is this just media representation/internal bias (not that I am Democratic, I consider myself quite Independant). So what causes this? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3otqyk/eli5_why_are_republicans_always_to_one_to_take/ | {
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"Republicans have decided, on the day of Obama's first inauguration, that they would do anything and everything to stop him.\n\nSo, they have spent most of the last 7 years doing... | [] | [] | [
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cmjumf | how do scientists around the world compare notes and/or eliminate duplication of effort when doing things like looking for a cure to a disease? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cmjumf/eli5_how_do_scientists_around_the_world_compare/ | {
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"Well first of all, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they compete. But more often than not, scientists researching a particular topic know each other (or at least of each other). And any research that isn't proprietary will g... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2nmq1h | is there any merit to the idea that exposing yourself to germs strengthens your immune system? | Not in the way that exposure to the chicken pox at a young age "vaccinates" you later in life, but in the way that some people refuse to use hand sanitizer, or don't object to swimming or drinking unfiltered water, etc.
I know [this](_URL_0_) is an exaggeration, but it's along the lines of what I'm asking. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2nmq1h/eli5_is_there_any_merit_to_the_idea_that_exposing/ | {
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4qodrq | why do homegrown plants need constant attention such as water or they will die, while wild plants are left alone and flourish? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4qodrq/eli5_why_do_homegrown_plants_need_constant/ | {
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"Wild plants die all the time. The ones you see are the few that lived - natural selection. They are outdoor so they get water from rainfall.\n\nIndoor plants are often from another region. They are constantly at \"room te... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | ||
cmolsk | how are ‘hybrid’ plants created? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cmolsk/eli5_how_are_hybrid_plants_created/ | {
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"text": [
"Usually by controlling which plants get pollinated. Sometimes they will use a small paintbrush do it manually instead of letting bees and other insects do it randomly. It only works with closely related plants.\n\nBreeders will cross two plants w... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1fbwpy | why do humans throw up when they see something disgusting? | I know about the gag reflex but what triggers that reflex when you see something disgusting? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fbwpy/eli5_why_do_humans_throw_up_when_they_see/ | {
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... | [] | [] | [
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2ks6zd | why do worldleaders even think about going to war with eachother even though they know that it will cost incredible amounts of money and many innocent lives? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ks6zd/eli5_why_do_worldleaders_even_think_about_going/ | {
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"War is usually about land and resources. If one country needs land for farming and it's taken by another country, they will not have the ability to feed their... | [] | [] | [
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1x1mt8 | why does google safe search filter out anything sexual but leave very graphic gore images? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x1mt8/eli5_why_does_google_safe_search_filter_out/ | {
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"cf7dn1o"
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"text": [
"I'm sure they could if they wanted to but that isn't where American priorities are at. We have this weird Puritan culture that has a fucked up relationship with sex. House wives all over would rather their children stomp hookers in GTA than see e... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3pb8di | how is t-mobile able to afford people top use large ammounts of unlimited data while sprint and at & t have been found to throttle speeds. | With Sprint announcing they will throttle people who use over 23GB of data, how is T-Mobile able to have people use large amounts of data without throttling it?
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3pb8di/eli5how_is_tmobile_able_to_afford_people_top_use/ | {
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"text": [
"Very few people actually use very large amounts of data. T-Mobile is willing to let the few that do have it, because they believe that the goodwill they foster with their customer base is worth the traffic on their network.... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6qu6nr | why can't gifs be stored/compressed in the same way videos can? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6qu6nr/eli5_why_cant_gifs_be_storedcompressed_in_the/ | {
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"text": [
"They *sort of* can. \n\nThere are clever gif making programs out there that make each successive frame in a GIF image transparent, and only make it contain parts of the picture that have changed from t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
2b70cb | why are cops portrayed so overwhelmingly positive in all tv show procedural? they are all morally upstanding, caring, really really competent, hard working to the point where their personal lives are in turmoil and good looking to top it all off? | I know there are many good cops but even they aren't as near perfect as they are portrayed in pretty much any of dozens of TV Procedural. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2b70cb/eli5_why_are_cops_portrayed_so_overwhelmingly/ | {
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"text": [
"Because shows portray everyone that way.\n\nThey portray doctors that way, judges, models, chefs, factory workers, teenagers, etc.\n\nUnless it's one that has to be sad/depressed/a... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313043/",
"http://wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Day_at_a_Time",
"http://flavorwire.co... | |
1exudt | how do home theatre systems convert stereo sound into simulated surround sound? | I have a 5.1 surround sound system. Whenever I send a TV show that I know has stereo sound to my television, it is able to accurately convert it into a sort of 'simulated surround sound'. When I turn off my front 3 speakers, I can hear background noises (for example, the background sound of people talking in a diner).
... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1exudt/eli5_how_do_home_theatre_systems_convert_stereo/ | {
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"Chances are, the stereo sound of the TV show is encoded in Dolby Pro Logic stereo. This is also the method used in Dolby Stereo in movie theaters (before the advent of digital sound, that is). It is a way to mix four channels of sound as two an... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1fdet4 | what really happens when you get a blown motor? | My car recently got a blown motor and I have no idea what that really means beyond the point of "Hey your motor won't work, get a new one."
-edit-
The way my engine blew was lack of coolant and oil from a cracked head. So, if my engine had run without coolant for long enough to have it go out, what really happened in... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fdet4/eli5_what_really_happens_when_you_get_a_blown/ | {
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"That could mean a lot of different things. The timing belt could have snapped, causing the pistons to hit the valves. A connecting rod may have broken due to a spun bearing, punching a hole into the block as a result. Blown ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
p74wu | if facebook made 3.71 billion usd in 2011, why would they want to sell their company instead of keeping future profits for themselves? | I don't understand the benefits of an IPO for a company that is profitable. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/p74wu/eli5_if_facebook_made_371_billion_usd_in_2011_why/ | {
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"People are willing to offer far more than Facebook is worth right now, which means it's a good time to sell. In the mean time there are lots of profitable things to invest in, and... | [] | [] | [
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"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/jauzj/explainlikeimfive_stocks_and_the_stock_market/"
],
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946q4q | why do foods with a more basic ph give me heartburn? | Why would something like orange juice (3.5) make me feel acidic if my stomach is already 1.5-3? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/946q4q/eli5_why_do_foods_with_a_more_basic_ph_give_me/ | {
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"text": [
"The pH is not the only thing contributing to the acidity. The type of acid also matters. Your stomach fluid is around 10% Hydrochloric acid. Most fruits contain C-vitamin (ascorbic acid) and citric acid. These contribute differently to the acidit... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_regia"
]
] | |
3ae8cn | how they create and maintain millions of activation keys for software and especially games (like on steam) without complications | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ae8cn/eli5_how_they_create_and_maintain_millions_of/ | {
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"It isn't really all that hard.\n\nAn activation key is just a (somewhat) random assortment of numbers and letters (usually 16). All you would need is a basic random value generator to create a few million unique codes, ente... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4o43vh | why did soldiers in the 1800s put their ears to the ground to hear enemies approaching | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4o43vh/eli5_why_did_soldiers_in_the_1800s_put_their_ears/ | {
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"text": [
"Because the shockwaves of the boots and wheels of approaching enemies travel further through the ground that the audible sound does through the air. Edit: The Wabes have been erad... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[]
] | ||
2gb7mz | what about water makes bed head go away? | I could put gel in my hair and it wouldn't make bed head go away but when you rinse your head it's all gone. What is it about water that does this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2gb7mz/eli5_what_about_water_makes_bed_head_go_away/ | {
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"text": [
"Hydrogen bonding! These are attractions between the oxygen and hydrogen of separate water molecules, because of electromagnetic force. It may sound complicated, but basically, it's what makes water \"sticky.\" When you dip your hand in water and ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1edpue | when drinking, why do i feel sober after puking | If the alcohol is in my blood, why do I immediately feel "sober" after puking (while drinking, not day after)? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1edpue/eli5_when_drinking_why_do_i_feel_sober_after/ | {
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"text": [
"Don't think you feel sober, you just feel like you can drink more since your stomach is empty.",
"You might be confusing feeling 'sober' with feeling 'better'. Before you pu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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9t06i7 | light travels at a constant speed in a vacuum. how do we not know our absolute speed in the universe? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9t06i7/eli5_light_travels_at_a_constant_speed_in_a/ | {
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"text": [
"Because relativity is weird. If we did exactly as you proposed, we would measure no difference in any if the beams. If we launched the detectors at thousand... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelson%E2%80%93Morley_experiment"
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3n540b | what would happen if the us just adopted all of australia's gun policy laws verbatim? | Change the geographic locations referenced but keep everything else exactly the same. What would happen? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3n540b/eli5_what_would_happen_if_the_us_just_adopted_all/ | {
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"In the long term gun violence would be reduced, but due to the fact that there is such a huge volume of legal AND illegal guns in the US there would be a long adjustment period whe... | [] | [] | [
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3v6g5j | why do countries prevent regions/states from seceding? | I don't think people who are defeated in a secession struggle will ever be really happy with the state. So what's the point in keeping unhappy citizens in your country?
edit: two answers so far suggest that a country loses resources if regions secede. Doesn't this suggest that governments are more interested about se... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3v6g5j/eli5_why_do_countries_prevent_regionsstates_from/ | {
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"text": [
"When a country loses territory, it loses people and resources. That makes the old country weaker than it was before. Also, if the people in the new country are hostile towards the people in the country that they left, the old country suddenly has... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
rygkm | easter | Seems to me like a free long weekend to everyone except the hardcore religious. Explain to me, as somebody who knowns next to nothing about Christianity, why it's so important. Regardless, I don't mind four days off school. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/rygkm/eli5_easter/ | {
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"In Christianity, the week leading up to Easter, Holy Week, has a service each day, representing some part of Jesus's work in the world. Good Friday, the last weekday of Holy Week, ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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8en296 | why can't you move your leg and hand in circle in opposite directions simultaneously? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8en296/eli5_why_cant_you_move_your_leg_and_hand_in/ | {
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"text": [
"You can. You just have to practice.\n\nYou spend an entire life teaching your muscles to remember certain moves. Standing up seems easy to you, but watch toddlers do it sometimes and you're watching ... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[]
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7q8q7f | what is 'sharpness' and how does serration affect it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7q8q7f/eli5_what_is_sharpness_and_how_does_serration/ | {
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"Sharpness is correlated to how thin the leading edge of a blade is. The thinner the edge, the easier it can wedge between other materials and thus cut them. Serration is also used for cutting, but instead of relying on a thin edge to cut, the te... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3spwfq | why is paris being repeatedly subject to terrorist attacks? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3spwfq/eli5_why_is_paris_being_repeatedly_subject_to/ | {
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_the_United_States#Attacks_by_date",
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5bsfm0 | how the targets are decided and who is doing what in case of ww nuclear war | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5bsfm0/eli5_how_the_targets_are_decided_and_who_is_doing/ | {
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"Targets fall roughly into 3 categories: military Infrastructure and people. The majority of nuclear weapons would be directed against enemy military targets such as bases and likely nuclear launch sites to slow down an enemy exploiting the nuclea... | [] | [] | [
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3y9r38 | where are we at with the turing test? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3y9r38/eli5_where_are_we_at_with_the_turing_test/ | {
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"It was announced in 2014 that a chatbot posing as a 13 year old Ukrainian named Eugene Goostman had passed the Turing test. While the needed number of judges did vote for this bot, it is not what is popularly defined as artificial intelligence.\n... | [] | [] | [
[]
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1bsnjx | unix epoch time | So, I was figuring out the 'date' command in Linux the other day, and came across the subject of Unix Epoch Time. I know it began January 1, 1970, but other than that I have no idea why it is relevant today, or how it may still be used, or why it was started. Here's to hoping someone in computer science can explain it ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1bsnjx/eli5_unix_epoch_time/ | {
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"text": [
"It's just the number of seconds since 1 January 1970, UTC. Note that the 'UTC' means it is independent of time zone, and your computer takes that into account when it has to show the date, like this:\n... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem"
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[]
] | |
2utz5m | from a skeptics standpoint, how do psychics/mediums/clairvoyants go about getting the conclusions that they come to. | I understand about focusing on generalizations that are basically true for anone but if someone could take me through the process of giving readings and the like, I would appreciate it. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2utz5m/eli5from_a_skeptics_standpoint_how_do/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Generalized statements, cold reading, eavesdropping. Those seem to be the primary methods.\n\nGeneral statements: \"Does anyone in this room [of 100+ attendees] have a lost loved one named John? He wants you to let go and be happy.\"\n\nCold read... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_reading"
]
] | |
3aic3m | why do we see our reflection in windows? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3aic3m/eli5_why_do_we_see_our_reflection_in_windows/ | {
"a_id": [
"cscxqs3"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"The same reason you see your reflection in anything other smooth surfaces eg mirrors/polished metal. Perfectly smooth surface means that light bounces off it at exactly the same angle at which it hits it. \n\nReflections are fainter in glass bec... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5xy82f | how do we know when our sun will go supernova? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5xy82f/eli5_how_do_we_know_when_our_sun_will_go_supernova/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
3,
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"text": [
"Our sun will not go supernova, and when our sun begins to die, it will go big and red.\n\nWe know this due to calculations that we do and observations. ",
"Our sun doesn't have enough mass for that.... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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] | ||
feayx0 | why sound is not flipped (or reversed/messed up in a way) no matter how you flip/turn the source? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/feayx0/eli5_why_sound_is_not_flipped_or_reversedmessed/ | {
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"text": [
"Sound is vibration in a medium (mostly air). It doesnt matter how the thing creating the vibrations is oriented as long as the pattern/intensity/frequency of ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://fohonline.com/articles/tech-feature/cardioid-directional-subwoofer-arrays-part-1/"
],
[]
] | ||
aycxl2 | how do you tell if something is an actual rock and not something made by man? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aycxl2/eli5_how_do_you_tell_if_something_is_an_actual/ | {
"a_id": [
"ehztjm7",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"There is no simple, straightforward method of doing so. There are some general rules of thumb we can use, but for each of those you will find at least a few exceptions. In general, you don't see right a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-ocean_ridge"
],
[]
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2633l4 | when sucking a piece of candy (hard or soft) why do you have the urge to crunch and swallow it instead of savoring the flavor longer? | Every time I go to the barber shop I get a sucker and inevitably wind up crunching the hard candy off the stick and eating it instead of fully sucking it and dwindling it down. I do this with Mentos as well. Seems like it would be better to keep sucking the one piece of candy and letting it last longer, but I always ha... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2633l4/eli5_when_sucking_a_piece_of_candy_hard_or_soft/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Because your whole life youve been crushing things with your teeth and swallowing them immediately as they enter your mouth. It becomes a reflex.",
"i thi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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383c5b | how is it possible that i always lose at blackjack, despite playing the exact same rules of hit/stay as the dealer? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/383c5b/eli5_how_is_it_possible_that_i_always_lose_at/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"The biggest reason is just that the dealer plays last. If you bust, the house still wins your bet even if the dealer busts against someone else at the table. That advantage is bigger than any of the rules in your favor (bein... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | ||
1jbxjj | why are hospital emergency signs always red? | I've looked this up on google, and all I get is a bunch of pictures of emergency signs instead. I've noticed that every hospital that I've seen, even ones in Mexico, they all have a big red sign on the hospital and the direction list saying 'EMERGENCY' in big lettering and everything.
Edit: okay, I get that they're e... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jbxjj/eli5_why_are_hospital_emergency_signs_always_red/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Big bold red lettering is the easiest to see both during the day and at night.",
"The simple answer is that it's a standard. Sometimes standards don't necessarily have a specific reason for why they're one way and not an... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3coazh | why do people pass out within a few seconds at high altitude (e.g. loss of cabin pressure) but we can hold our breath without passing out for much longer? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3coazh/eli5_why_do_people_pass_out_within_a_few_seconds/ | {
"a_id": [
"csxdnjf"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"If I tell you to hold your breath, straight away you'll take a really deep breath so you get a good lungfull of air to go on.\n\nIf you're in an aircraft that suddenly loses cabin pressure without warning, you don't get the opportunity to go from... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1tihfj | why is cosmetics testing on animals always so abusive? i don't see why make-up requires torturing monkeys, mice, etc | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1tihfj/eli5_why_is_cosmetics_testing_on_animals_always/ | {
"a_id": [
"ce8b59a",
"ce8cx68"
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"score": [
8,
5
],
"text": [
"Because makeup isn't always used for its perfect, intended purpose. Poisonous lipstick might not be such a big deal when used normally, but when someone's toddler eats it? That's a problem. They need to test every scenario t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
16fixc | why is wearing fur considered less moral than eating meat? | Considering that eating meat is not *really* necessary for survival nowadays. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16fixc/eli5_why_is_wearing_fur_considered_less_moral/ | {
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"I believe because it's because it's so wasteful. Slaughtering a cow can feed dozens of people, killing a chicken ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
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[]
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1pypkp | why is it widely believed that o. j. simpson is guilty, even after being acquitted by a jury? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pypkp/eli5_why_is_it_widely_believed_that_o_j_simpson/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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12,
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"text": [
"The preponderance of circumstantial evidence and motive on his part versus lack of evidence or motive for a phantom killer.",
"[Hi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Did_It"
],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pypkp/eli5_why_is_it_widely_believed_that_o_j_simpson/cd7el4u"
],
[],
[],
[]
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3bpqjf | how is it that the us women's soccer team is the one of the best in the sport worldwide, yet the us men's team is lackluster in comparison? | Seriously, the US women's soccer team has been amazing for a long time and the US-Germany match today was fucking riveting. And now it's just a match against England or Japan to win the cup. Why doesn't that talent+teamwork match with the US men's equivalent? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3bpqjf/eli5_how_is_it_that_the_us_womens_soccer_team_is/ | {
"a_id": [
"csocusp"
],
"score": [
14
],
"text": [
"Most of the best male American athletes choose to play sports other than Soccer. Women's soccer is a top dog sport by comparison and attracts some of the best athletes. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
44uwco | how is neutron star matter so dense that a teaspoon of it weighs 10 million tons? | Everything that has mass takes up space, so how can that many neutrons fit in such a small area to weigh so much? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/44uwco/eli5_how_is_neutron_star_matter_so_dense_that_a/ | {
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"score": [
11,
85,
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"text": [
"A hydrogen atom is 99.9999999999996% empty space. If you can collapse that space into a plasma of subatomic particles without atomic structure, you can see how much opportunity ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2rsp2p | if the affordable care act requires that people with pre-existing conditions can not be denied by private insurers, why wouldn't everyone just wait until they were sick and then purchase insurance? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rsp2p/eli5_if_the_affordable_care_act_requires_that/ | {
"a_id": [
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45,
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"text": [
"Theoretically, much of this is combated by having open enrollment periods. ",
"Because the ACA has provision that penalizes anyon... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"healthcare.gov"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
3nzub7 | why didnt i get withdrawals from quitting smoking | was a chain smoker for 9 years. quit cold turkey without any withdrawals. how is this possible ? before i wanted to quit, going 2 hours without a cigarette was impossible without feeling irritable and grumpy
EDIT: 26 days since last ciggy | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3nzub7/eli5_why_didnt_i_get_withdrawals_from_quitting/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvspdwl"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"How long has it been since you quit?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
10fc2u | the reddit front-page algorithm | Please explain to me how upvotes, downvotes, points, and how long ago something was posted (and maybe some other factors) come together to decide what posts makes it on my front page. Thanks. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/10fc2u/eli5_the_reddit_frontpage_algorithm/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6d1x6a"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Totally stealing this from a bestof post about the algorithm. I couldn't find it so I am typing this out. \n\nThink of reddit like a horse race where each post is a horse that enters the race at the moment it is submitted. The number of upvotes i... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
32ybgj | why drawing picture of allah is not allowed in islam? | Allah(or god) is someone who created everything, from small insects, trees to planets , sun and the universe.
Why then is drawing a picture of Allah banned in Islam?
Is he so weak that he gets offended when some tries to draw him? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32ybgj/eli5why_drawing_picture_of_allah_is_not_allowed/ | {
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"text": [
"They aren't allowed to draw Muhammad. No one will every try to draw Allah because as an omnipresent deity, it has no form we would recognize.",
"I'm not ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2yyt96 | why do arabic men grow such mean beards while they live in hot climates? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yyt96/eli5_why_do_arabic_men_grow_such_mean_beards/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpe7c7w",
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"score": [
3,
3
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"text": [
"It's mandated by Islamic dogma, two aspects in particular:\n\n1. In the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Arqam Mohammed said: “Whoever does not remove any of his moustache is not one of us \n\n2. God's command for Abraham to keep his bea... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
33mms2 | how do our ears position the source of a sound in 3d-space when the sound is behind us? | I can completely understand spatial positioning when the source of the sound is within ~120^o in either direction, but beyond that, how does it work? Like, how do we determine that the sound coming from the rear speakers in our home theater is supposed to mimic/emulate a sound behind us? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33mms2/eli5_how_do_our_ears_position_the_source_of_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqmdvmw"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Accuracy of hearing is not 100% precise. If the distance to the sound is similar from both ears you may confuse the direction.\n\nThink about crickets in the grass, one cricket can appear emmiting sounds from different directions. By moving your ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1ohids | why do material things i buy seem extremely expensive when i buy food for the same money and not give a second thought? | Also, I tend to have a much harder time buying things in person than when buying things online. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ohids/eli5_why_do_material_things_i_buy_seem_extremely/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccrzfb8",
"ccs0406"
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"score": [
2,
6
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"text": [
"Well its because you need to eat, but do you need a new iphone?",
"There have been studies on this phenomenon. The virtual shopping doesn't feel as real and therefor you don't think of your money as real because you're n... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5vclso | why do racing cars have so many sponsors - what's the point or benefit to the companies? | I'm trying to understand this, even though cynical part of me says "tax writeoff". Why do racing cars have so many sponsorship decals on them. You might say "it's a great promotion if the car has T-Mobile livery" - that's fine, but what's with dozens and dozens small, almost invisible stickers and logos plastered all o... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5vclso/eli5_why_do_racing_cars_have_so_many_sponsors/ | {
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"text": [
"It's not about the viewers immediately Googling the name. It's about getting viewers subliminally exposed to the name over and over.\n\nIt's the same reaso... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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] | |
b2en5b | batteries. what's the difference between volts and amps? how does a charger know when a battery is fully charged? | As a specific example, I have a drone that takes 3.7v and 500mAh, but I can use 3.7v and 750mAh batteries for it (from another drone) and it works just fine. Does it fly longer. Another example is that my daughter has one of those electric cars with a 6v 5amp battery in it. I replaced it with a 12v 5amp battery and it ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b2en5b/eli5_batteries_whats_the_difference_between_volts/ | {
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2
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"text": [
"mAh (milliamp hour) is a measure of capacity, whereas voltage and amperage are measures of energy flow. Voltage is a function of the battery (think of it as ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5awxfn | how significant is the cubs winning the world series in the world of baseball? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5awxfn/eli5_how_significant_is_the_cubs_winning_the/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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2,
2,
2
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"text": [
"The World Series is the championship of the top baseball league in the US/Canada. This top league, Major League Baseball is the oldest major sports league in the US, dating back t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
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26iuct | what is the purpose of terrorist attacks, if they only give the group a bad name? | Unless it's a hostage situation or something, where the terrorists have something to gain, what purpose do they actually serve? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/26iuct/eli5_what_is_the_purpose_of_terrorist_attacks_if/ | {
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"text": [
"Terrorists attempt to strike fear into their enemies' civilians. If a country suffers terror attacks, the civilians might think to foll... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4u5bq4 | can america actually pull off significant or total economic isolation? | I hear this topic thrown around a lot (especially with the current election cycle), and being a layperson when it comes to economics, I don't have nearly the scope of comprehension required to have an educated opinion on this matter.
Are there any comparatively simple resources that explain whether the U.S. could act... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4u5bq4/eli5_can_america_actually_pull_off_significant_or/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
19,
3,
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"text": [
"Absolutely not. The USA imports and exports A TON. \n\nLong story short, there would be many jobs lost, many companies would go into a panic, and common day goods would not be available.\n\nIt is argua... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_advantage"
]
] | |
23tv8i | computer science and discrete math | I'm a CS major finishing up calc 1 and taking discrete math this fall. Why is discrete math important in computer science? I understand that Boolean algebra is important, but why abstract topics like rings and fields or proofs? Where do they come into play, if at all? Where is that knowledge applied or useful? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/23tv8i/eli5_computer_science_and_discrete_math/ | {
"a_id": [
"ch0jibe",
"ch0ougu"
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"score": [
22,
3
],
"text": [
"Very good question. There are a ton of topics in discrete mathematics that have applications to computer science. Here are a few of them:\n\n* logic: let's say that you want to prove that a program is correct, or automatica... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1xbsv8 | world superpowers tend to be huge. why don't smaller countries unite? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1xbsv8/world_superpowers_tend_to_be_huge_why_dont/ | {
"a_id": [
"cf9wzyt"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Like the EU and African Union?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
59wdgm | dakota pipeline. why is the $3.8 billion pipeline moving oil from north dakota to illinois? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/59wdgm/eli5_dakota_pipeline_why_is_the_38_billion/ | {
"a_id": [
"d9bvc11"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"A pipeline is the cheapest and most efficient way to move oil. Some other ways to move oil are tanker truck, railroad tanker, tanker ship, and barge. All of these methods are time consuming, limited, and somewhat dangerous. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4zy5z1 | are memory palaces real? how useful/powerful can they become? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4zy5z1/eli5_are_memory_palaces_real_how_usefulpowerful/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
10,
5
],
"text": [
"They don't increase your.. eidetic memory. You can't memory-palace glancing at a phone book and then remember the entire page. No one has a photographic memory of that sort as portrayed on television. It has to be someth... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ged%C3%A4chtnispalast",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci"
]
] | |
2g0e05 | why do countries use civilian agencies for military intelligence (cia for example)? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2g0e05/eli5_why_do_countries_use_civilian_agencies_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"ckef8s8",
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"score": [
2,
5
],
"text": [
"There's a grey area between law-enforcement, military and dedicated intelligence when you're thinking about things like foreign-based terrorist threats or counterfeiting operations and other such things. Countries solve thes... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1vch4j | what's wrong with/why don't people like the ayn rand institute? | I glanced at the Facebook comments to [this](_URL_0_) NPR article and saw things like, " i stopped reading at 'ayn rand'" and "I smoke, but if the Ayn Rand institute approves of something I'm doing, I clearly need to quit immediately."
Thank you! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vch4j/eli5whats_wrong_withwhy_dont_people_like_the_ayn/ | {
"a_id": [
"ceqvvgf"
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"text": [
"Lots of reasons, but one of them is that ARI defines Objectivism as a \"closed system\" -- that is, whatever Ayn Rand said is the beginning and the end of the truth, and anyone who thinks for themselves is explicitly unwelcome.\n\nEven if you buy... | [] | [
"http://www.npr.org/blogs/theprotojournalist/2014/01/15/262489772/quick-question-time-to-leave-smokers-alone?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook"
] | [
[]
] | |
3c5tui | why do fireworks "pop" *after* they explode and not while they are exploding? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3c5tui/eli5_why_do_fireworks_pop_after_they_explode_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cssi2e7",
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"score": [
9,
3
],
"text": [
"Typically a firework will be some 10's or hundreds of meters in the air and some distance away from you.\n\nThe light from them reaches your eyes almost instantly, but the sound travels slower and comes a second or so later.... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1nolyu | how do we refer to "locations" or "positions" in space? | In space everything is orbiting everything else and there's no such thing as a "fixed" position or point of origin. Ok, sure, so then how do we refer to positions?
Say I'm from another planet and I want to tell you to meet me at a particular moon orbiting a particular planet orbiting a particular star, how the hell do... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nolyu/how_do_we_refer_to_locations_or_positions_in_space/ | {
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"There would generally need to be some sort of previously agreed upon reference point. And from there it's a continuing series of relative reference points. \n\nIf our agreed upon reference point is the center of the Milky Wa... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
lzdl4 | economic growth. | What does it mean when the economy grows by 4%?
Edit: and why does growth benefit stockholders? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/lzdl4/eli5_economic_growth/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Let's say a company that makes TVs manages to make 10% more TVs this year than they did last year. We say that company \"grew.\" That's usually good for stockholders, because it usually means they're making more profits.\n... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
n6cws | the diamond industry | The reddit hivemind seems set against the diamond industry and all its evils. All I've really heard is that leaders in the industry only sell a fixed amount of diamonds per year, keeping demand high. I also have a small amount of knowledge concerning blood diamonds, but not enough to really understand how much (if any)... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/n6cws/eli5_the_diamond_industry/ | {
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"text": [
"To my knowledge, there are three things people have problems with the diamond industry for. How accurate these perceptions are is debatable.\n\nOne, DeBeers, the diamond cartel... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2010/fall/scrank-tin-fever/",
"http://ihscslnews.org/view_article.php?id=43",
"http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Diamonds-George-Harlow/dp/0521629357"
],
[],
[
"http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2010/fall/scrank-tin-fever/",
"http://ihscslnews.org/view... | |
1sq566 | why is the united states make such a big deal about the idea of 'spreading democracy'? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1sq566/eli5_why_is_the_united_states_make_such_a_big/ | {
"a_id": [
"ce02htx",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"It is a euphemism for securing access to natural resources via toppling governments that are unfriendly. We don't \"spread democracy\" in countries that don't have things that we want.",
"It's an ea... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
275pl3 | is it possible to make a solution of salt and water that doesn't hydrate or dehydrate you? | I know that drinking sea water dehydrates you, but is this possible? Like a perfect mixture of regular and sea water? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/275pl3/eli5_is_it_possible_to_make_a_solution_of_salt/ | {
"a_id": [
"chxnqwd"
],
"score": [
3
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"text": [
"Yes. It's called an isotonic solution. The saline they give you in hospitals to rehydrate you is isotonic, and contains .9% salt by volume."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2qtm1m | why does the us have a 3 school system (elementary, middle, high)? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qtm1m/eli5_why_does_the_us_have_a_3_school_system/ | {
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"text": [
"6th through 8th/9th grades are considered an especially important time developmentally, so they are put in a smaller school for that. It also serves as a tr... | [] | [] | [
[],
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6rzruw | why do manufacturers sell their products in a lot of poor countries, instead of focusing on only the wealthy ones? | I live in Lithuania (lower economy level) and recently been in Norway. The prices are x3 compared to my country there, so it got me wondering, why does Coca-Cola bring products to countries like mine, where they get x3 times less profit, instead of focusing on only the wealthy ones? Is it only because wealthy countries... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6rzruw/eli5why_do_manufacturers_sell_their_products_in_a/ | {
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"text": [
"Did you go anywhere in Norway where you couldn't buy Coca-Cola because it was sold out? I'm gonna guess that you didn't. So either Coca-Cola stops producing m... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
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] | |
678417 | why is the ping high even when you have a fast internet connection sometimes? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/678417/eli5_why_is_the_ping_high_even_when_you_have_a/ | {
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"text": [
"Your connection is only one small link in a potentially long chain. It's like saying your house is on a high-speed expressway, so why does it take a long time to drive somewhere sometimes?\n\nIf your n... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | ||
50ri28 | what happens (legally) to nazis that are caught nowadays or the past ten years (given their age) once they are caught? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/50ri28/eli5_what_happens_legally_to_nazis_that_are/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"They go to trial and get sentenced to some prison time. But due to the advanced age they probably can sit it out at home under house arrest. \n\n[This is the latest case of a 90+ year old nazi who got sentenced to 5 year of ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/auschwitz-guard-guilty-accessory-murder-charges-jailed-five-years-reinhold-hanning-nazi-germany-a7087341.html"
],
[]
] | ||
7yc7tj | how do holograms appear closer to the viewer? | I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but the image in the hologram display of the Lykan Hypersport seems closer when you look at it. How does that work? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7yc7tj/eli5_how_do_holograms_appear_closer_to_the_viewer/ | {
"a_id": [
"dufmk2l"
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"score": [
4
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"text": [
"Your eyes can‘t see distance. Instead both of your eyes see slightly different views of the world in front of you. The more those views differ the closer your brain thinks an object is. That‘s what you perceive as distance. Holograms like the one... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
vhow0 | ion thrusters | Edit: I found a fairly good explanation by [NASA](_URL_0_) if anyone is interested. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vhow0/eli5_ion_thrusters/ | {
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"text": [
"Take a heavy particle which has a charge, such as a proton. and put it in an electromagnetic field so that it moves. When it moves, the thing creating the field moves the opposite way (because all ac... | [] | [
"http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/fs21grc.html"
] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
c9kzzk | why do corporations get rid of their ceos so eagerly? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c9kzzk/eli5_why_do_corporations_get_rid_of_their_ceos_so/ | {
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"A CEO, especially at a large company, is th... | [] | [] | [
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4gbqaa | what are those random pains you get sometimes, such as in a toe or arm, that then quickly go away and you never feel again? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4gbqaa/eli5_what_are_those_random_pains_you_get/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2gbkrm"
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"text": [
"Just to clarify here, folks, I'm not talking about muscle cramps. I know what causes those bastards. I'm just talking about extremely brief, random pains in random places in your body. Might not even be that bad. I know the human body is incredib... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2h31wb | what's happening in argentina financially? why can't argentinians buy the dollar? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2h31wb/eli5_whats_happening_in_argentina_financially_why/ | {
"a_id": [
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"Argentina has been having financial problems since the 1930s, but back in 2001 the government stopped payment on $100 billion in their debt. Yes, with a \"B\". Since then the government had been spendin... | [] | [] | [
[],
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tkupc | why is widescreen the preferable way to view screens? and why these specific ratios? | I'd like to know why it is that widescreen is the preferred viewing format for screens. I know the obvious "you can see more on the sides, they aren't cut out" but...why are the filmed like that? Why did we decide that widescreen is the way we'll do our movie screens, and more recently TVs and computer monitors?
Also,... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/tkupc/eli5_why_is_widescreen_the_preferable_way_to_view/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
3,
19
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"text": [
"Cinema screens started off square (or nearly square, they had a ratio of 1.33:1), and when tv started it followed the same ratio. Cinema audiences started to drop because more people were staying home to watch tv, so movies... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
64vm8o | why haven't hydrofoil boats become popular? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/64vm8o/eli5_why_havent_hydrofoil_boats_become_popular/ | {
"a_id": [
"dg5dgrf",
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"score": [
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3
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"text": [
"They use a huge amount of fuel simply because they are going so fast. They seek to be lightweight to lift up properly, so their capacity is limited. They are loud. Many require fairly calm seas in which to operate at speed. ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2odksw | people always compare smells to rotten eggs, but i've never encountered this smell. what do "rotten eggs" smell like? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2odksw/eli5_people_always_compare_smells_to_rotten_eggs/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmm590l",
"cmm7bs8",
"cmmci95",
"cmmmi0k"
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"score": [
3,
3,
2,
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],
"text": [
"Light a match. The smell that hits you when it is first lit is sulfur.",
"ever heard of \"fire and brimstone\" in reference to hell?\nBrimstone is sulfur....so hell.....it lite... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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6wcr7o | why are nearly all children heavy sleepers when it varies more in adults? | I can pick my daughter up, carry her up a flight of 15 stairs and put her on the bed and she won't even stir, but if someone opens my door quietly I'll instantly be awake. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6wcr7o/eli5_why_are_nearly_all_children_heavy_sleepers/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"My kids doc recently explained it to me in relation to why adults wake up to use the rest room while kids do not. There is a gland that is not yet fully developed in children so it does not produce a certain hormone that makes us sleep less sound... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2e9j80 | why can't android get updates like windows does, bypassing the phone's manufacturer? | Both Windows and Android have to deal with vast number of devices of various manufacturers, but Windows can update itself while Android can't. I thought this might be caused by how phones need to be optimized for power and performance, but so do laptops.
Edit: In short, why doesn't Android devices get updates at the s... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2e9j80/eli5_why_cant_android_get_updates_like_windows/ | {
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"text": [
"first of all, every manufacturer (besides of nexus series) is tinkering with android. so there is almost no \"pure android\" besides of official google products. this means that e... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5yqnee | why do airplanes use two-pronged headphones? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5yqnee/eli5_why_do_airplanes_use_twopronged_headphones/ | {
"a_id": [
"des778l",
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"score": [
2,
12
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"text": [
"So you have to rent/buy the headphones on the plane and not just use the ones in your pocket.",
"So you won't take the headphones with you when you leave. It's an anti-theft measure. Headphones are cheap, but some peop... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
zv3wk | why haven't more species of animals evolved out of having natural predators? | It seems to make sense that animals with natural predators would be killed, while those prone to no predators would survive. And yet, this is not true. Why? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/zv3wk/eli5_why_havent_more_species_of_animals_evolved/ | {
"a_id": [
"c67yybl",
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"score": [
5,
2
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"text": [
"As the prey evolves so to does its hunter. Evolution also takes millions of years, we have only been around a few thousand. ",
"Prey species evolve lots of ways to avoid predators, like being faster/hiding better/fightin... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5gilyh | how is it possible to catch a ball without ever looking at your hands? | How is the body able to accurately catch an object without actually observing where the hands are in relation to the falling object? For instance, how is a juggler able to consistently use his/her hands to keep the objects in motion while only watching the peak of the arc? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5gilyh/eli5_how_is_it_possible_to_catch_a_ball_without/ | {
"a_id": [
"dasiqbp",
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"dasz64o"
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"score": [
14,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"We actually have more than 5 senses. One of the other senses is [proprioception.](_URL_0_) You can feel where your body parts are without looking at them.",
"Thanks to unconscious processing, most ... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception"
],
[],
[]
] | |
3i8v84 | how can stores like wal-mart or best buy legally check your receipt or search your bags? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3i8v84/eli5_how_can_stores_like_walmart_or_best_buy/ | {
"a_id": [
"cuealz6",
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"score": [
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19
],
"text": [
"Technically they can't. They can however ban you from the property if you refuse. Some business where you have to a member, will likely have a clause in the agreement where you consent to checks and searches by joining. ",
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4c7ypk | why do sites immediately interrupt my browsing, asking me to sign up for their email newsletter? who signs up to a newsletter before seeing anything about the site? why is it a popular strategy to annoy site visitors like this? can i block these pop-up pleas? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4c7ypk/eli5_why_do_sites_immediately_interrupt_my/ | {
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"d... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://i.imgur.com/xabP6da.png",
"http://i.imgur.com/yxX9Jq1.png",
"http://i.imgur.com/IFEuWzS.png",
"http://i.imgur.com/HClM2al.png"
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"http://getfirebug.com/"
],
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"http://github.com/gor... | ||
4cj937 | if the student loan bubble is so certain to happen, why is nobody attempting to bet against the student loan market as in the movie the big short? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4cj937/eli5_if_the_student_loan_bubble_is_so_certain_to/ | {
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"http://www.studentdebtrelief.us/forgiveness/obama-student-loan-forgiveness/"
],
[],
[
"http://www.bls.gov/cps/earnings.htm#education",
"http://chronicle.com/blogs/innovations/job-skill-tr... | ||
f5nl2b | how do you gauge audio quality just by hearing? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f5nl2b/eli5_how_do_you_gauge_audio_quality_just_by/ | {
"a_id": [
"fhzr84d"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Good speakers just sound better. Clear pure highs, low rumbly lows, good strong mids. You’ll especially notice it in how you’ll hear instruments you missed on bad speakers. Default speakers often don’t even have a subwoofer, so all the bass is ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
82m39i | why do baby's have their fists clenched all the time? | I just recently was introduced to my newborn first cousin once removed, and I noticed that her fists were almost always closed. Why is it that babies always clench their fists? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/82m39i/eli5_why_do_babys_have_their_fists_clenched_all/ | {
"a_id": [
"dvb5317",
"dvb8fkf"
],
"score": [
9,
4
],
"text": [
"Instinct reflex.\n\nIt goes out after some time, but it’s an inborn reflex for not letting go",
"It is the grasping reflex that we share with the other apes and many primates. It is important for the infant to be able to... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2qf8f1 | how do video game cheat code devices (action replay / gameshark) work? | What exactly does the device do to create a cheat code environment? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qf8f1/eli5_how_do_video_game_cheat_code_devices_action/ | {
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"text": [
"Games (and any software) will load elements that it needs to use into the device's memory. These cheat devices find where that piece of code lives in memory and modifies it. So b... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
b6t81b | how does the electrical grid, respond so quickly to power being turned on/off all the time all over the place, if they generate just enough power in real-time for the demand? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b6t81b/eli5_how_does_the_electrical_grid_respond_so/ | {
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"ejmzrto",
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7,
6,
5,
3
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"text": [
"although they can only provide enough to meet demand (at least until big battery banks become a thing), they are rarely running at 100%.\n\ne.g. you might have 2 generators each ab... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1d5914 | why is there men hair shampoo and women hair shampoo? is there a difference between men's hair and women's hair? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1d5914/eli5why_is_there_men_hair_shampoo_and_women_hair/ | {
"a_id": [
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4
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"text": [
"Biologically, no, but there's a difference in what men and women WANT with their hair. Men's shampoo has to deal with dandruff, while keeping the hair \"rugged\" or \"rough\" in texture, whilst women's hair, in addition to b... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
17ghkz | the difference between shame and guilt | This is kinda out there, but I couldn't find a decent /r/ask_ sub :/
Anyway, I know that there are cultures labeled 'shame cultures' and 'guilt cultures' and I understand the difference between feeling shame and feeling guilt,
but I'm not sure of the *effects* that living in a shame vs guilt culture has on the way ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/17ghkz/the_difference_between_shame_and_guilt/ | {
"a_id": [
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3
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"text": [
"Shame is external, guilt is internal. Shame is focussing on other people/society/norms and the rule you have broken, whereas guilt has its focus on your own experience and what you feel about your action.",
"In the conte... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
99cn55 | why do people make noise when something/someone physically assaults them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/99cn55/eli5_why_do_people_make_noise_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"e4mkpye"
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"score": [
3
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"text": [
"Like, growls, screams, and cries? That's an animal instinct to either frighten the enemy or call for help. Useful stuff. Lots of animals don't ever cry or scream when in danger because they are not social animals. They don't hep each other. But w... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
si9xr | when looking up the difinition of a word, how are we supposed to read the "pronunciation" text. | [Example](_URL_0_) how are we expected to read **ˈdikSHəˌnerē** and make it the pronunciation of Dictionary? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/si9xr/eli5_when_looking_up_the_difinition_of_a_word_how/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4e949c"
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"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It's usually in [IPA](_URL_0_). This is a standardized system used for representing the sounds used in language. "
]
} | [] | [
"https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=QFhU6BzIPTZWXnR__nbiLA&pq=dictionary%20format&cp=15&gs_id=1o&xhr=t&q=define+dictionary&pf=p&safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&oq=define+dictiona&aq=0&aqi=g3g-s1&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.o... | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet"
]
] | |
2mywso | why does a book in canada cost so much more than the same book in america? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mywso/eli5_why_does_a_book_in_canada_cost_so_much_more/ | {
"a_id": [
"cm8v6lu",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Senate report cites barriers at border for price gaps:\n_URL_0_",
"Also, as well as other posts: Taxes and tariffs. Both of which effect end prices, depending on the law and the good",
"It's bec... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/senate-report-cites-barriers-at-border-for-price-gaps/article8296607/"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
32gjqx | what is the point of spam e-mails that don't have any links/advertisements, but rather just have nonsensical gibberish? how are scammers making money off these? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32gjqx/eli5what_is_the_point_of_spam_emails_that_dont/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqazal6",
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"cqb44g0",
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"cqb5c5f",
"cqb60tb",
"cqb647f",
"cqb6s1b",
"cqb7qo4",
"cqb7rn3",
"cqb8k8d",
"cqb9mjj",
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"cqbd2br"
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"score": [
2016,
14,
56,
194,
7,
3,
3,
2,
2,
18,
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.quora.com/Why-are-email-scams-written-in-broken-English"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayesian_poisoning"
],
[
"ftp.fixme.ch/free_for_all/Ebook/Nigerian_Scammers.pdf"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4dvijc | what does it mean when a game is well optimized vs badly optimized? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4dvijc/eli5_what_does_it_mean_when_a_game_is_well/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1uoyi1",
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"score": [
10,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"A well optimized game has programming that allows a computer to process its graphics very easily without getting bogged down. It's done in a simple, efficient manner.\n\nA game that is NOT optimized ha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
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