q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 296 | selftext stringlengths 0 34k | document stringclasses 1
value | subreddit stringclasses 1
value | url stringlengths 4 110 | answers dict | title_urls list | selftext_urls list | answers_urls list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37vuzj | how cpu's can have "clocks" (as in clock-rate). | Many of a nerdy persuasion have played around with logic gates in our time. This *and* this. That *nor* that and so on. In each case I've just, like, connected a wire and the result comes out. I didn't have to provide a signal to tell it "make the result .... now!". I imagine the clock is needed to keep everything in the chip operating in a predictable manner but how do "they" get over logic gates not needing them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37vuzj/eli5_how_cpus_can_have_clocks_as_in_clockrate/ | {
"a_id": [
"crq7frj",
"crq7sjd",
"crq7sww"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"The most simple answer is because they are basic circuits, and then the output is constant for that input.\n\nPut simply, let's take an AND gate with two inputs and one output. The chip has power, and ground. As long as there is no power on the inputs to the gate, the output is pulled to ground. As soon as either of the gates go high, the output transistor goes high. It doesn't need a clock to read the signals, because internally it's a simple transistor circuit.",
"Clocks are used to synchronize everything. The logic gates that people toy about with don't need a clock because the output is just one stage and doesn't depend on anything else. This is called static logic and used in places where timing is not required. Now consider you have a system that *ands* two bits and then takes the output of that and *ors* with a third bit. With the simplistic static logic implementation this would be impossible. Why? Because each logic gate is built with transistors that have some finite but non zero time to set up, accept the input levels(which are voltages) and give an output. Now in a perfect world, this time would be zero. Which would also mean that our machines were super-truper-mind-fucking-blowing-too-good computers which could calculate anything immediately. However this is not true. So a clock is required to ensure that the first operation is done first, enough time is given for an output (valid one) and then the next operation is done. ",
"Faloi has it right, ghantaz also explains important information. \"Gate-buffered outputs\" is a concise way to put it, the clock activates the buffer gates all at once. However, to expand on the reason for clocks, they synchronize all the \"microcircuits\" in the CPU and ensure that the correct data will be available where and when it is needed.\n\nLets define microcircuits as individually functioning circuits that can complete very quickly and are used in more complex operations. On the software side, assembly operations are made up of micro-ops which are implemented in hardware, perhaps using several microcircuits simultaneously. Offhand, i want to say that individual micro-ops are guaranteed to complete in one cycle.\n\nIf you need the result of a sum for the next operation, you need to guarantee that it is performed and ready at the correct area. This also necessitates the need for all microcircuits to be able to complete their operation faster than the clock speed, which is the limiting factor for clock speed (too fast and you get logic glitches because they aren't finished and ready when needed). Multi-cycle operations eventually become inevitable as each operation compounds more and more micro-ops.\n\nNote: Logic that is entirely input state based and does not rely on previous inputs is known as combinational logic. Combinational circuits can be stacked, registers and memory can be added, and clocks can be introduced to create sequential circuits which do depend on previous states. \n\nI know I'm all over the place I just wanted to get this comment out there, I'm more than happy to answer any questions you need, but I do know this comment is extremely...open ended and not question answering. Also, of course this all incredibly simplistic and real processors don't operate as such, however, it is a bridge to how they actually work using a very basic method.\n\nCredentials: Have built several hobby CPUs completely from scratch, with custom assembly languages and so on. (If you want to know about other things, I've also implemented an OS from scratch and I can bridge any gaps from software to hardware that are interesting/confusing)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
6g6i7j | how are transistors (and others small computer parts) made if they are so small? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6g6i7j/eli5how_are_transistors_and_others_small_computer/ | {
"a_id": [
"dinwcuz",
"dinyu4u"
],
"score": [
3,
13
],
"text": [
"I can't ELI on this but it's done by having UV light chemically react with the substrate and thus etching the transistors in a silicon layer. Since you're using light you can now use a lens to shrink this down to those tiny sizes. This is the very basics of it, pretty clever stuff.",
"You ever see an old movie or slideshow projector? \nShine a light through a tiny picture then through a lens and it projects this massive image on the screen from a tiny picture. \nTurns out we can do that in reverse. Shine a light through a big picture and lens and we can project a tiny image on a tiny screen. \n \nScientist have found stuff that breaks apart when certain kinds of light gets shined on it.\nSo the manufactures coat a tiny chip with the stuff, then make a big picture with the circuits they want, they then shine the special light through and break apart the stuff so it forms the circuit they want, just very tiny. \nThis is called photolithography. \n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
3d9tnj | how are space probes from millions of miles away able to send/receive signals and hd images back to earth, but people still have network problems on their mobile phones? | EDIT: Sorry I was away so I couldn't look at the answers, but thanks guys! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3d9tnj/eli5_how_are_space_probes_from_millions_of_miles/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct33kve",
"ct33o7u",
"ct348yv",
"ct3yrtj"
],
"score": [
28,
6,
11,
2
],
"text": [
"With a lot of expensive technology, [huge antennas](_URL_0_), laws to ensure lack of interference, cooperation with other countries, and the transmission rates are still glacially slow due to the enormous distance.\n\nI think New Horizons is transmitting at 1 Kb/s. \n\n**Edit:** Then there's that there are much fewer probes than there are cell phones. You'd have excellent network performance if you had a tower all for yourself.",
"New Horizon is sending a directional, focused signal being tracked by many terrestial sites, and it takes 4.5 hours due to distance. Phone signals go out when they don't have line of sight to the signal tower that they need to contact to transmit. Satellite phones using a GPS-like array wouldn't have that issue, since they'd always be visible to the transmitter. It'd also cost a whole lot more than normal cell phone carriers. \nTo make it really simple, there are no trees between here and Pluto to block the signal.",
"1. Power: Your phone lasts all day (more or less) on a single charge. It can't be using several dozen watts of power for its antenna. A spacecraft can, because that's what it takes.\n\n2. Size: Your phone fits in your pocket. New Horizons decidedly does not. Its largest antenna is 2.1 meters in diameter, and the ones it is communicating with are even larger.\n\n3. Directionality: You can walk around with your phone, pointing it all different directions and it works just fine. If New Horizons gets nudged 0.4 degrees then it loses communication.\n\n4. Data throughput: You only need a few bits per second to send commands, and a few hundred thousand to send back pictures. New Horizons can send up to 1,000 bits per second. A phone can receive several million bits per second.\n\n5. Number of connections: NASA has a handful of missions they're dealing with. They can send very \"loud,\" focused beams at each of them. In a city there may be millions of people with a cell phone in a small area. A sporting event may draw 100,000 people to the space of a city block. Handling all of this is a serious logistics problem for the cell network.",
"Two different types of problems.\n\nAt Pluto the problem is just power and sensitivity, more of either will help. \n\n\n\nOn earth the problem is congestion. Too many people trying to use \n the same frequencies/channels. More power makes it worse, more sensitivity doesn't help.\n\nThis is similar to cars being wonderful solutions for country roads where no one is around, but terrible solutions for city's streets shared with millions."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/canberra_complex_close_up.jpg"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2irvpv | why is the rectangle the most prevalent shape in human creation, yet is mostly absent in nature? | Look around you and see how many things are a rectangle (a square is a rectangle). I thought about this a lot, how the rectangle makes the most sense. I've thought that maybe it's because our vision is on a lateral plane, with the varying tallness of different objects determining the height of the rectangle. Ellipse isn't used because it doesn't have defined and easily measured and splittable edges. Any space can be made up into a grid of rectangles, which can be measured, a grid of circles doesn't make sense. Maybe this is just me thinking this, I think it's interesting. Anyone have a more scientific explanation? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2irvpv/eli5_why_is_the_rectangle_the_most_prevalent/ | {
"a_id": [
"cl4uzj8"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I understand completely what you are saying, TV's, Computer monitors, etc. But in Naure, for example a tree a rectangle would be very hard for the tree to make 90 degree angles, also for the tree bark, a circular shape for the trunk is gives the most volume for the trunk compared to the amount of surface area that the tree uses making bark. \n\nShort answer, it is more effective for nature to stick to the circular shapes than to waste energy on making rectangles.\n\nGreat question!"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5zsij6 | if a human was born, raised, and lived in space their entire life, how would zero gravity effect their skin, organs, bones, and body? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5zsij6/eli5_if_a_human_was_born_raised_and_lived_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"df0sv4p",
"df0x0h0"
],
"score": [
19,
5
],
"text": [
"Truthfully, we don't really know, that is part of the mission of the International Space Station.\n\nTo monitor the effects long periods of weightlessness have on the human body.",
"What /u/gaspara112 said, we don't know and that is one of the things under constant research at the ISS.\n\nHave you read or watched \"The Expanse\"? Because that has some possible examples. Earth uses gravity as torture for those born on Mars or \"in the belt\".\n\nIt's almost certain that they would be much weaker as it happens to those we send up there. If they lived up there coming down to gravity may very well kill them as their body might not be able to handle it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1ilq9j | so if wi-fi is a radio wave, why do radio signals (music stations) travel farther than wifi? or are they completely different? | I don't know a thing about science | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ilq9j/eli5_so_if_wifi_is_a_radio_wave_why_do_radio/ | {
"a_id": [
"cb5o3f3"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"If you somehow managed to connect your router to a big enough antenna you could theoretically make your wifi reach the next gas station.\nHowever, your router does not have an antenna that powerful because you simply don't need to broadcast your wifi that far."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
ly5qq | why do high pitch noises like nails on a chalkboard hurt our ears? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ly5qq/eli5_why_do_high_pitch_noises_like_nails_on_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2wjbzp",
"c2wjbzp"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Our ears and brains prefer harmonious mid-range tones, such as one finds in singing and laughter. Nails on a chalkboard produce a lot of high frequency dissonance (i.e. the frequencies aren't mathematically aligned, like in music). Our ears have a harder time processing it, and our brains interpet it as meaningless noise, which makes us irritated. ",
"Our ears and brains prefer harmonious mid-range tones, such as one finds in singing and laughter. Nails on a chalkboard produce a lot of high frequency dissonance (i.e. the frequencies aren't mathematically aligned, like in music). Our ears have a harder time processing it, and our brains interpet it as meaningless noise, which makes us irritated. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
ei1931 | why is the industry standard for computer monitor refresh rates still 60hz if electrical frequency doesn't affect modern displays? | I know when televisions first came around, the mains frequency affected the picture if the refresh rate was not matched, so I just wanted to see if there was any science explanation left that keeps 60Hz standard. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ei1931/eli5_why_is_the_industry_standard_for_computer/ | {
"a_id": [
"fcmwc4m"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"Simple answer, reasonably practicable, money and lack of knowledge and diminishing return. Human eyes can detect the difference up to 1000 fps. Google USAF pilots experiment for proof of human eye seeing more than 200fps easily. Regarding diminishing return and reasonably practicable, more FPS equals more data, more space, more expensive equipment. Films on tv are good enough at 24fps, games at 30fpd are not. New consoles, xbox x series and ps5 will probably push for 120hz tv / monitors as default. On PC 144hz is a standard but many still cant afford it. Once you try it you will never go back to 60hz."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6uwmw9 | what makes gpus (stuff like nvidia and amd cards) so much better than the generic integrated cards (intel hd cards) in normal laptops and computers? | Have been PC gaming for a few years. Recently upgraded to a laptop with an NVIDIA graphics card. As you'd expect the increase in performance was huge.
How come these dedicated GPUs give such increased performance?
What differentiates then from the integrated stuff found in normal laptops? (eg the Intel HD range)
Also are they similar to processors or are they more like RAM. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6uwmw9/what_makes_gpus_stuff_like_nvidia_and_amd_cards/ | {
"a_id": [
"dlvx0x9"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"They're processors, not like RAM (memory storage).\n\nWhat differentiates them are two things: integrated GPUs are built onto the same die as the CPU itself, and integrated GPUs share system RAM. Discrete GPUs come with their own memory.\n\nThe upside that makes integrated graphics worthwhile is they're cheaper, they're sufficient for most non-gaming purposes, they produce less heat (no need for a fan or extra cooling/space), and they consume less power (important in a mobile setting)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
954jsf | how do sports that do not have as many fans support the players/sport? | I know that almost everything at this point is a professional sport. Even as an avid ESPN watcher there are several sports I only hear about during the Olympics. However, I know they compete year round. How are these players and leagues financially supported? For example, how do the curlers get paid? Or the sport where people shoot guns on skis? Do they have enough fans to bring in money?
Even if the athletes are self supporting I would think it would be costly for a league of some sort to operate so they could have competitions. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/954jsf/eli5_how_do_sports_that_do_not_have_as_many_fans/ | {
"a_id": [
"e3py0d9",
"e3pyavm"
],
"score": [
7,
3
],
"text": [
"In cross country skiing, for example, European teams and many of the nordic countries have a ton of funding for these sports. For other countries like the US and Australia, they have lots of donors who support the team. Also sponsors support them also. Such as Oakley and ski companies. \n\nThe most important thing to know is that just because the sports not popular in your country doesn't mean it's not popular in another country",
"They either get government support (in the US this support is mostly via universities), corporate support (Home Depot used to have a program that hired Olympians part time but paid them a full time wage and flexible hours to allow them to train), or the athletes may support themselves. \n\nCurling leagues, even high level curling leagues are funded via a mix of member dues and corporate sponsorships. Most US athletic groups are non-profits which means their financials are available to the public from the IRS (or many aggregation sites) if you want to get more detailed information about a specific one. Here's an example using the [US Curling Association's financials](_URL_0_). "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.nonprofitfacts.com/WI/United-States-Curling-Association.html#statementOfRevenue"
]
] | |
43ufzh | for some people, why do their shoes crease more noticeably over time when wearing their correct size? how can it be prevented when wearing the same shoes everyday and not walking like a penguin? | On the train, on my way to work I have seen leather shoes that look like as if they've had them for years because of the wear and tear, but no crease whatsoever. And I cant go 6 months without my leather shoes looking like wrinkly old farts. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/43ufzh/eli5_for_some_people_why_do_their_shoes_crease/ | {
"a_id": [
"czl1zff"
],
"score": [
11
],
"text": [
"Lots of care. Consistent cleaning and oiling, visits to the shoe shine guy, etc keep shoes looking new. There are also different grades of leather that will age differently. The $50 pair of slip-ons you can get from a department store are going to crease a lot compared to a higher end shoe that has better materials and has a better anatomical fit."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2sy4yk | how do i have fruit flies in the winter? | I live in Michigan, it's been below freezing for two weeks, my car windows are always up and the car is in the garage. And yet, I left an orange peel in the trash in my car for three days and there are fruit flies.
Where do they come from, in this weather and these conditions?
Are the eggs already laid on the fruit, just in case it winds up somewhere conducive to the life of the larval fly? That would mean much of all fruit was thus shotgunned which seems an awful waste of resources for the individual flies. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2sy4yk/eli5_how_do_i_have_fruit_flies_in_the_winter/ | {
"a_id": [
"cntxdgm",
"cntxg6j"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"It is high likely that there were fruit fly eggs on your orange. Only when the food started to rot, did the eggs actually hatch, the larvae started to eat and eventually became flies.\n\nRead [this](_URL_0_) for a more in-depth story about it.",
" > Are the eggs already laid on the fruit, just in case it winds up somewhere conducive to the life of the larval fly?\n\nYes.\n\n > That would mean much of all fruit was thus shotgunned which seems an awful waste of resources for the individual flies. \n\nDoesn't matter, humans and other large animals tend to have few children and focus on them. Insects don't give a damn about their children. They have as many as possible and maybe some survive. Also you're attributing too much intelligence to fruit flies. They don't know whats going to happen to the fruit, I doubt they even understand what a fruit IS. Smells good? Eat it and lay eggs. Done. Also you might say they wasted resources, but there they are having living children in the middle of a Michigan winter."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://time.com/3506808/how-to-get-rid-of-fruit-flies/"
],
[]
] | |
22v3eg | what's the exotic hadron? | The articles I've read are very technical can anyone simplify it for me? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/22v3eg/eli5_whats_the_exotic_hadron/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgqocvt"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"A hadron is a particle that's made up of smaller particles called \"quarks\" and \"gluons.\" The most familiar hadrons are protons and neutrons. A proton has two so-called \"up\" quarks and one \"down\" quark, and they're all held together by gluons. A neutron has two \"down\" quarks and one \"up\" quark.\n\nProtons and neutrons are both types of \"baryons,\" which is a type of hadron that is made up of three quarks. There are also \"mesons,\" which are made up of two quarks.\n\nThe new particle they discovered is made up of *four* quarks, which is very unique. We thought it was theoretically possible for it to happen, but we hadn't observed it yet (well, actually, we had, but this confirms it more). It can only exist at very high energies, and it falls apart very quickly.\n\nThe particle itself will almost undoubtedly never have any practical applications. What it does mean is that it confirms that the theories we're using are solid, which is nice."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
o0w7k | standby modes: how bad is it to leave small household electronics on, even when you're not using it? |
I have some desktop speakers that I forget to power off sometimes. They're always plugged in, and there's a little light that indicates the power is on. The speakers aren't using any standby mode, but I'm guessing for the appliances that do, it wouldn't make a difference in this question.
Am I right in assuming that it's only using enough electricity to put that little bulb on? If it's on for one year, how much energy will this drain?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/o0w7k/eli5_standby_modes_how_bad_is_it_to_leave_small/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3dhk23",
"c3dhwxf",
"c3djrw4",
"c3dk146",
"c3dljhf"
],
"score": [
5,
3,
9,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"1 watt standby 24/7 in Australia is $5.184 a quarter, thats $20/year.\n\n1 watt is what a ps3 uses on standby\n\nIt also depends on your electricity rate, it looks like the US pays [1/4](_URL_0_) of what we do for power.\n\nhere is a table with product wattage measurements. _URL_1_",
"[Related Link on Wikipedia](_URL_0_)\nIts worth the extra effort if you can go around your house and figure out which devices like cell charges, standby stereos and consoles etc.. are drawing power. It would be worth quite a few bucks after a year. ",
"Generally the amount of energy used by leaving things on standby is dwarfed by the amount used by things like heating, cooking and air conditioning.\n\nA few examples: \n\n- Using your toaster (1kW) for 2 minutes uses more electricity than running your 1-watt standby device for the whole day.\n\n- Using your oven (2kW) for 1 hour to bake a cake uses more electricity than running your 1-watt standby device for two and a half weeks.\n\n- Central air conditioning takes about as much as the oven (2kW), and is generally left on for a lot more than an hour in hot weather, so that's months of 1-watt standby wiped out in a single day right there.\n\nDon't forget, also, if you live in a colder climate (i.e. you primarily use heating, and not much air conditioning), the energy \"wasted\" by these standby devices is just released as heat into your home, helping to warm your home (a tiny bit). \n\nIf you want to save energy, by far the best thing you can do is insulate your home.\n\n**tl;dr: Standby power is a pointless myth; Insulate your home!**",
"In my house all the \"standby things\" are hooked up to one switch at the door. Makes it easy to turn everything on/off on your way in/out. I'm in the progress of converting to 100% solar power, so it is gonna matter a bit more for me.\nAlso, waste is bad. Even though its only a little bit, its still waste. Turn off your stuff, please :)",
" > Am I right in assuming that it's only using enough electricity to put that little bulb on? \n\nNo, say a LCD TV is on stnadby, the power consumed by the little bulb is being used, but also power is being used by a small microprocessor which is waiting for a signal from the remote to switch on.\n\nThis power is coming from a AC to DC conversion circuit inside the TV which also wastes some power. \n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://standby.lbl.gov/faq.html#much",
"http://standby.lbl.gov/summary-chart.html"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standby_power"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3zewj2 | this whole "making a murderer", steven avery thing | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zewj2/eli5_this_whole_making_a_murderer_steven_avery/ | {
"a_id": [
"cylicze",
"cylkji2",
"cyls106",
"cylsy3z"
],
"score": [
38,
4,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"The basic story of the *Making a Murderer* documentary is that there's this guy (Steven Avery) that went to jail for 18 years for a crime he was eventually cleared for once new DNA testing was available. He's out for a few years, is possibly in line for a multi-million dollar settlement from the state and the country, until he's implicated in and convicted of a second crime and sentenced to life in prison.\n\nThe documentary filmmakers had access to Avery's family and lawyers, while the prosecuting team and law enforcement chose not to participate. So the film very clearly takes a side -- while Avery may or may not be innocent, the sheer number of questionable moves by law enforcement make the conviction seem ludicrous and very possibly a frame job by local law enforcement. \n\nThose questionable moves include 1) local law enforcement who was excluded from the case due to conflict of interest, but who showed up as \"volunteers\" and uncovered vital and damning evidence in an area that had already been extensively searched; 2) a call from a deputy asking to ID a license plate belonging to the victim, days before her car was found; and 3) a clearly leading/coerced videotaped confession from a \"slow\" teenage relative, when he obviously doesn't understand the gravity of what he's saying. There's a lot more, but that's what stands out. \n\nThe documentary was released on Netflix December 18. It's been watched quite a bit since then, and a number of the viewers are outraged at what seems a miscarriage of justice. Anonymous is among those viewers, it seems. \n\n\n_URL_0_",
"Anyone who says it's obvious that Steven Avery murdered someone after watching Making a Murderer is either sourcing information presented outside of the documentary or is being irrationally contrarian. The show is extremely well made, but incredibly biased towards the defense team. It's definitely not as objective as Serial or Jareki's stuff (The Jinx, Capturing the Friedmans), that it's so often compared to.",
"Why not just watch the Netflix show? It's fantastic.",
"This sounds a lot like the Serial podcast, which I loved. Is this similar?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zeteb/eli5_making_a_murderer_controversy/cyli5p1"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
8285dv | why are most perfume ads bascically soft porn? | I know it's hard to advertise something that's about smell but still. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8285dv/eli5_why_are_most_perfume_ads_bascically_soft_porn/ | {
"a_id": [
"dv83dju",
"dv83ixn"
],
"score": [
19,
6
],
"text": [
"Because sex sells. Basically perfume is meant to attract the opposite sex. Why do you want to attract the opposite sex? To have sex of course. So in the ads they are showing you your end goal.",
"Sex sells, and they are selling the *idea* that \"if you buy/use this product, it will make you as irresistibly attractive as the person in this ad.\" It's basically the same premise as commercials for men's body spray (like Axe), just made to look more \"artsy/classy\" than \"someone puts on perfume/fragrance/whatever and is *immediately* swarmed by attractive people trying to get with them.\" "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1e6jfm | why my laptop's hardware runs hot when playing a mid quality flash movie in my browser but stays cool when i watch a dvd or a movie (e.g. avi) in vlc? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1e6jfm/eli5_why_my_laptops_hardware_runs_hot_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"c9x9g3y",
"c9x9z0y",
"c9xbfkj",
"c9xci83",
"c9xebln",
"c9xh58n"
],
"score": [
149,
456,
3,
13,
8,
11
],
"text": [
"It is well known that Flash uses lots of battery power. This is why it's not supported on many mobile devices. [Here](_URL_1_) is an interesting comparison between Flash and HTML5 videos. Using power will naturally create heat - after the power has done something useful inside your processor, it gets turned into heat. This is why your laptop gets hot when you use Flash.\n\nAs for why it uses so much power, there's a good explanation [here](_URL_0_). The ELI5 version is that Flash is capable of doing a lot of very powerful things. Because of that, it takes a lot of processing power to show Flash media, regardless of what type of media it is. It's also made worse by Flash designers doing things like including videos which are recorded in a certain resolution, then showing them in a different resolution, which Flash doesn't always do in hardware (depending on the version), and by the fact that Flash works at a fixed frame rate, and had to convert the video to that frame rate if that's not how it was recorded.",
"Flash playback and DVD playback are handled in two different ways by two different processes. Most Flash animations are not \"hardware accelerated,\" which means that the CPU/GPU is not designed to handle those operations more efficiently. Because of this, Flash usually uses a lot of CPU cycles to render video/animation. This is a shortcoming of both Flash and Flash developers. More CPU cycles = more heat.\n\nMost DVDs are encoded in MPEG2 for video, which has a substantially lower overhead due to the MPEG2 design. Modern CPUs and GPUs support MPEG2 hardware acceleration, meaning that they are optimized to decode and display the contents of a DVD (and anything else in that format). Since the CPU doesn't have to work as hard, it stays cooler.",
"Even though flash runs more power, check your laptop fan to make sure it isn't covered in dust. No airflow can make something that's a little hot into something running a lot hot\n",
"Like you're five...\n\nWatching videos is like riding your bike. The act of watching the video is the act of pedaling/moving on your bike, and the way you're watching them (Flash in a browser, VLC, etc.) is like the surface you're riding on.\n\nPaved roads, you know the smooth black ones that are fun to ride your bike on because your tires hum and you can easily go super fast? That's like using a VLC. The people making the road knew that people might be riding bikes on them and wanted to make it easier to do. But then you hit gravel. Gravel roads are easier to put in (just being. A dump truck and smooth out the gravel!), but you have to pedal really hard and get sweaty if you want to ride at the same speed. They knew people might be riding bikes on their roads, but because it was easier to just put gravel down, they did it that way instead. \n\nSimilarly, people who use flash players do so because its easier to simply dump a media file in and get a web-playable video out. On the other hand, people who really want their videos to work well will do the extra work to make it easier to play without nearly as much strain required by your computer. You might have to look harder for the nice roads too.\n\nIf I'm wrong on this, please correct me - this is just the simplest way I can thing to explain it. ",
"Most technical threads on ELI5 have highly rated comments by armchair enthusiasts who know just enough to be dangerous, and this thread is no exception. \n\nCase in point: GPU acceleration. \n\nSome have said that VLC player supports GPU accelerated video decoding. It does! However, it's turned off by default and unless the user has specifically enabled it this is unlikely to be at all related to this issue. To enable it you must first go to Tools, Preferences, Input and Codecs and check \"Use GPU accelerated decoding.\"\n\nOthers have said that Flash is CPU heavy because it doesn't make use of your GPU. Again, this is another one of those half truths. Flash may well be CPU heavy, but not only does it support GPU accelerated video decoding, Adobe have turned on by default for us - how nice of them. To check this you have to go to a flash enabled web page, right click the flash object, click Settings... and then click Display (looks like a little monitor). Verify that 'Enable hardware acceleration' is checked.\n\nSo yeah, be careful what you read on the interwebz.",
"short answer: Flash is an old, mashed-together piece of programming that's been around for ages and is so jigger-rigged and taped together, it becomes an absolute resource hog that crashes more often than Lindsay Lohan. VLC isn't."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.quora.com/Adobe-Flash/Why-does-Flash-drain-laptop-batteries-so-quickly",
"http://iss.oy.ne.ro/HTML5-Video-Battery"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
77bltm | the math behind ballistics of an object. | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/77bltm/eli5_the_math_behind_ballistics_of_an_object/ | {
"a_id": [
"dokqx6h"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Object wanna go that way. \n\nAir not wanna move out of way. \n\nEarth pull object down.\n\n[Wikipedia](_URL_1_) is much better suited for explaining the math than ELI5.\n\nSo you've got your initial velocity. Whatever made you go. That can be split up into the X and Y components with sin() and cosine(). Like say, you throw it right up at 90 degrees. Sin(90) is 1, cosine(90) is 0. It's all Y and no X. At 45 degrees, the two components are the same. \n\nBut they don't stay the same. The Y component, like `50 * t` is constantly being accelerated down at 9.8m/s^2 thanks to gravity. `50 * t - 9.8 * t^2`. There's a neat trick with calculus where you can derive a things acceleration equation, velocity equation, and position equation. `Position = 50 * t - 9.8 * t^2` - > `Velocity = 50 - 9.8 * t` - > `Acceleration = 9.8`. Meanwhile, the X component is just `50 * t` and stays that way as long as you ignore other stuff,\n\nThat math ignores air resistance though. Both components are hitting atmosphere, and their velocity is slowed proportionally to how fast it's going. `Velocity = Velocity - Velocity * resistance` (and how high the object goes, air gets thinner up top).\n\nAll that also assumes a flat plane. If you're jumping on the flat ground and want maximum air-time, you jump up. If you're on the slope of a mountain, it's probably better to jump out.\n\n\nNow... if there are lift surfaces, pretty much anything other than a sphere, the uneven vacuum forms. And moving air across it means that it'll get sucked in that direction, which is kinda how planes fly. If a cylinder tumbles in the air as it's cutting through it, the essentially random lift surfaces in every direction will make it's path unpredictable. Rifling adds rotation to the projectile which stops/cuts down on tumbling. \n\nIf you throw the object far enough, you also get to account for the fact that \"down\" changes as the surface of Earth curves. But nothing launched from the surface will be able to make orbit, at best you'll either escape the gravity well or have a large parabolic (ish) arc that comes back down somewhere. \n\n\nSum it all together and it gets rather complicated, and telling people about it [might get you killed](_URL_0_). "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Bull",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projectile_motion"
]
] | |
2h1q3e | how do clouds seem to have defined borders if they are just water vapour? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2h1q3e/eli5how_do_clouds_seem_to_have_defined_borders_if/ | {
"a_id": [
"ckoiuqf",
"ckoizrg"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"The edges of the clouds are thinner, so it's easier for light to get through, which means the edges look waay brighter.\n\nBut this thickness increases really rapidly from the edges, which is why the light border is so thin.",
"Source: _URL_0_\n\nBasically, water vapor rises to the point it condenses and differences in temperature create pockets of high/low temperature. Clouds stay in low temperature pockets and form ice crystals. Any water vapor that encounters a hot zone will vaporize and disperse. How defined the edge is is based on the humidity of the surrounding clear air, its temperature, and how close you are to it. The closer you get, the less defined it appears."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-clouds-always-appe/"
]
] | ||
e6wnf8 | if you put your body on something warm for long enough, would it cook you? | So I'm currently sat over an electric radiator and I'm getting pretty warm/itchy, it's not exactly burning hot but if I sat here long enough would it begin to cook me? If so can the body repair it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e6wnf8/eli5_if_you_put_your_body_on_something_warm_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"f9ti3wi",
"f9tiivb",
"f9tj399"
],
"score": [
11,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Only if it's putting heat into you faster than your body can lose it. The body has wasy to regulate it's temperature - sweating being the obvious one - so it depends on how much heat you're getting and the ambient temperature around, as well humidity, your clothing, etc etc.",
"It would cause you to dehydrate faster as your body would sweat more to dissipate the heat. Depending on the temperature, you could be fine for long periods of time if you drank water fast enough. My guess is you’d die of dehydration before being cooked...\n\nHowever as I write this I’m trying to define “being cooked”... technically a rare steak that is just warm in the center is cooked.",
"You have to understand what cooking is before answering this question. All living beings are made of proteins, i.e. very long chains of amino acids, i.e. more or less complex molecules which all have in common an amino acid base, made of an ammine (NH2) attached to a weak acid (CHCOOH, acetic acid). There are also 4 different ways in which amino acids can arrange themselves to form a protein (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, very creative naming I know) that go from the simplest, that is a line of amino acids, to the most complex, that is a group of different lines all bundled up on themselves in strange ways.\nNow, let's go back to cooking: an egg is gelatinous when raw because it's made of very complex proteins that don't interact together, therefore they slide one over the other like balls in a ball pit. When you cook an egg, you give heat to his proteins, heat breaks the bonds inside the protein, and rearranges the bonds to link different proteins together, that's why a cooked egg is solid.\n\nBack to us: your body is made of cells, which are made (mostly) of proteins, but your body is already very hot inside (37°C), very near the point where proteins change form (like in the egg, this process is called denaturation). This process is irreversible in eggs because you give a lot of heat in a very short period of time, but in your body it happens every time you get a flu! Fever it's the natural way of our body of denaturating viruses and bacteria proteins. It does damage a bit our proteins too, but it's reversible when the temperature goes back down and our body. Just like fever, radiators reach maximum temperatures of 40°C, but since it's outside the body, our shield (i.e. the skin) protects you from it. It becomes itchy because your skin sweats to lower the temperature. Don't worry though, if you were cooking on there, you'd be screaming in pain: in medicine what you call cooked it's called burn! Funny huh, our body it's not easy to cook properly, it burns immediately :)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
10z0ls | why are fancy clothes (suits, ties, dresses, etc.) considered necessary or important? | Basically, I want to know why fancy apparel (suits, etc.) are considered so important for things like job interviews, weddings, and other formal events. How did they become so important in our culture? Why?
I've been wondering about this for a while and it's always interested me. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/10z0ls/eli5_why_are_fancy_clothes_suits_ties_dresses_etc/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6hubpj",
"c6hv7b1"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"It shows class. \n\nThose with money can afford clothes that aren't rags. ",
"Up until the mid 20th century, most people worked with their hands, and you could tell by looking at their dirty, worn clothing.\n\nIf you wanted to advertise that you were one of the privileged few who had a desk job, you wore clothes that were expensive and clean. And since you worked at a desk, they would stay that way, and you could stand out from the working class.\n\nThese days, clothing is less expensive, and a lot of people working minimum wage for desk jobs, making clothing based distinction less important. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
g2eyz3 | how does chrome and other apps allow you to restore the last session's data after you close it incorrectly? | Like if you restart your computer while chrome is open and then open Chrome, it gives you the option to restore all you tabs. If it's closed unexpectedly how does it know where you were? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g2eyz3/eli5_how_does_chrome_and_other_apps_allow_you_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"fnl0dkp",
"fnm0gvu"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It constantly saves your current state (pages, tabs, text-fields) to a set of temporary files that it plans on deleting if you close it properly. If you don't close it properly (as in the situation you described), Chrome sees that those temporary files are still there and opens them again.",
"It actually works even if you close the window normally. Ctrl + Shift + T brings up the last window (or tab if that was closed last) that you closed. You can even do it multiple times to bring up things that you closed before that."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3ejm15 | if passwords are hashed irreversibly when stored in databases, how can hackers leak passwords of users from websites? | When signing up to a website, there's an algorithm that hashes the password, and this is irreversible. Then how someone who hacks the website can get non-hashed passwords? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ejm15/eli5_if_passwords_are_hashed_irreversibly_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctfjw7t"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Two basic reasons.\n\n1. The website didn't implement the hash correctly and it is indeed reversible. Some websites simply store their passwords in plaintext (i.e. not hashed at all).\n\n2. Hackers were able to guess passwords and compare them to the list of hashed passwords to see if they match. If you're doing your hashing correctly this should take an enormous amount of time and computing power but, once again, many websites don't do it correctly."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4xrzwz | how do directions work in space? are north and south still a thing? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4xrzwz/eli5how_do_directions_work_in_space_are_north_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"d6hypks",
"d6hyplu",
"d6hz5y8",
"d6i2ub8",
"d6i2v1i",
"d6iepwc"
],
"score": [
6,
14,
2,
2,
7,
4
],
"text": [
"\"North\" refers to the magnetic North pole on *Earth*. As such, it obviously wont work in space. There's also no \"Up\" or \"Down\". \n\nWhat you can do in space is use a common 3-dimensional grid, with (for example) the centre of our galaxy as point 0,0,0. You can then use points on that grid for destinations and headings. Of course, you still have to compensate for everything moving around. \n\nNow if you're talking about stuff that's close to Earth (like the ISS), they can still use Earth as a reference point. And if you're just confined to our solar system, you can use the sun as a reference point. But pretty much everything else in our solar system is constantly moving so you have to compensate for that. ",
"You can still refer to directions. \nNorth and South aren't really a thing, in space. \nIn general all space navigation is done in terms of orbit shapes. \nSo they might describe the orbit as how high it is at it's furthest point, how low it is at it's closest point and what angle it is orbiting. \n \nSo if you want to change what the orbit looks like you can fire a rocket and travel in a few directions. \nSo where you're facing relative to your orbital path might be used as a direction. \nForward and Back are called Prograde and Retrograde respectively. \nTowards the thing you are orbiting and Away from the thing you are orbiting is called Radial/Nadir for towards, Anti-Radial/Zenith for away. \nUp and Down would be Normal and Anti-Normal",
"Generally, ships have a gyroscope, which gives astronauts a way to tell what is up and what is down. In addition, the space station is designed to have a \"ceiling\" and \"floor\" in that all writing on the wall is written a certain direction. It all depends on what your reference plane is. If you were referring to an earth- moon system, then they both essentially orbit on the same plane, so you could go above that plane. But really north and south wouldn't be used to describe it",
"It depends on where you are in space and in reference to what you are talking about.\n\nIn the space that humans have been going which is mostly orbit around earth (except for the apollo crews) you simply use the directions from the planet you are orbiting above if you want to talk in those terms.\n\nIn orbit around other planets you would do the same thing.\n\nOur solar system has the ecliptic that we can use to define a north and south in space and even our galaxy can be discussed in those terms.\n\nIt might not always make sense to use such terms though.",
"Usually, a reference system based on the body you orbit is used. \n\nSo, for example, you could be in a 200 km prograde orbit with a 10 degree inclination around Mars, meaning you are 200 km over the (average) surface level, tilted 10 degrees compared to Mars axis of rotation, and travelling in the same direction as Mars rotates.",
"Go read Ender's game (or watch if you are lazy), it goes into the fact that in space, direction and orientation are completely relative/up to you."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4f1kbz | why is saudi arabia selling off hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of american assets held by the kingdom such a threat to america? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4f1kbz/eli5_why_is_saudi_arabia_selling_off_hundreds_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"d255r5p",
"d255tqo",
"d256898",
"d259r76",
"d25ovru"
],
"score": [
2,
89,
14,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"I'm confused by this a little because they would be selling the stocks, which means somebody would have to buy them, so how would that effect anything besides them probably not being all held in the same place/foreign government? \n\nSource: I am not a smart man. ",
"TL;DR it would be a first step down a road that has ugly consequences.\n\nThere is a bill making its way through congress that would make it possible to allow Saudi officials to be prosecuted in American courts for their involvement in 9/11. This has made Saudi Arabia angry and they've threatened to sell treasury securities (about $750 billion) as a result.\n\nThe short answer is that this will have a small but noticeable economic impact on the US. It will, however, have a large impact on Saudi Arabia, since their entire currency is pegged to the US dollar (and, presumably, they wouldn't sell $750B in US treasuries without unpegging the Riyal). Destabilizing another arab nation would be another blow to regional stability and, especially considering the fact that SA buys lots of US weaponry and the US buys lots of Saudi oil and they are, at least nominally, allies, this will create further economic unrest in a region where there is already a lot of western animosity. \n\nLonger term, this could lead to a regional realignment with Eastern powers in an effort to seek stability. This would reduce US influence in the region and lead to increased polarization of world power (i.e. a US-led Western cohort and a Chinese/Russian-led Eastern cohort). This polarity already exists in the world but the West is far more powerful, influential, and wealthy than the East. If the West loses any ground, it could make it easier to lose yet more ground and next to impossible to get any ground back, diminishing Western influence and power.\n\nIncreased polarization is fertile ground for conflict and war, the outcome of which is almost always unknown. This leads to uncertainty and fear and damages markets' ability to perform optimally, further exacerbating the problem.",
"The reason for selling off the assets is because then there would then be no property to which lawsuits or judgments could be attached.\n\nComplaints are often filed against property, or brought against property in lieu of their owner. If an individual does not live in the states and has no property in the states, there is no basis to establish jurisdiction in federal courts. Without jurisdiction, the complaints would have to be dismissed.",
"Can someone please tell me what these 'other assets' imply? Anyone got any idea what it refers to?\n\nWhen they say 'stocks'...which company? Is there any way to find out specifics?\n\nWhat is a treasury security?\n\nI'm looking for answers as simple as ELI5 or advanced.\n\nI personally, am of the opinion that these stocks might belong to some oil company since what other assets could it possibly be in that arid part of the world.",
"Not exactly coming across as 'innocent' are they?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4u12e1 | why do we have different programming languages for different tasks. for example c is used for writing driver software, python/r for data analysis, java for enterprise software, javascript for web apps etc. what's don't we universal language that can do all the things well? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4u12e1/eli5_why_do_we_have_different_programming/ | {
"a_id": [
"d5lygi2",
"d5m01os"
],
"score": [
10,
7
],
"text": [
" > What's don't we universal language that can do all the things well?\n\nWhy don't you have a single universal tool that can drive nails, turn screws, drill holes, cut wood, etc. well?\n\nThe answer is that different programming languages have different strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes having a strength in one area implies a weakness in some other area. There is no \"perfect\" programming language.",
"The advantage of a language like Assembly or C is that it's very low-level. That basically means that you have more direct control over the computer hardware and the programming commands you use are very close to the actual instructions being executed by the microprocessor. This is compared to high-level languages (like Python) which are far more abstract and where there is much less of correlation between the programming commands you use and the microprocessor instructions that actually get executed.\n\nIn general, the advantage of using low-level languages like Assembly and C is that they are more powerful (i.e. provide more direct control over the hardware) and they compile directly to machine code so they can be executed natively by the computer's processor (maximizing speed/performance and efficiency). \n\nThe disadvantage of low-level languages is that they are usually much more difficult to program in and require much more advanced computer science knowledge. Programs created in low-level languages can also be more difficult to port over to other systems/platforms.\n\nThe advantage of using high-level languages (like JavaScript, Python, PHP, etc.) is that they are comparatively very easy to program in and you don't have to worry about lower-level hardware stuff like memory allocation and 'garbage collection', etc. They are also easier when it comes to porting programs (including graphical programs) to other Operating Systems (in many cases the programs don't need to be modified or recompiled at all).\n\nThe disadvantage of high-level languages is that they are usually less powerful (in terms of direct control over the hardware) and they typically do not compile to machine code. Instead they usually require a runtime interpreter or virtual machine to basically translate the program instructions into machine code in real-time (as the program is running). This reduces performance and adds inefficiency. It also requires that the end user have the runtime interpreter or virtual machine in order to run the program.\n\nJavaScript is used for web apps because, as the result of a universal web standard/convention, it is the ONLY programming language allowed to run in a web browser. You cannot, for example, put python code in a web page and have the end user's web browser execute it. Web browsers will only agree to run JavaScript code. It is theoretically possible to write code in another language and then have a JavaScript interpreter run the code in the browser, but ultimately it's still only JavaScript code that the web browser will agree to execute.\n\nJava (not to be confused with JavaScript) is often used in enterprise environments because it offers many of the advantages associated with both low-level languages and high-level languages. It's a powerful language that encourages object-oriented design and is suitable for very large/complex projects. It also has high-level language features like 'garbage collection' built-in and provides cross-platform support. \n\nThe disadvantage of Java is that it's more difficult to learn / program in (as compared to high-level languages like JavaScript, Python, PHP, etc.) and it still requires the user to have a Java runtime interpreter / virtual machine installed on their system in order to run the application."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
yfwic | why are hydrogenated oils bad for you? | Everyone is telling me they're bad, and I avoid them whenever I can. I do a search on reddit and people are basically saying they're poison and banned everywhere in europe. Most of the sources that I've tried to research are a little too complicated. Can someone eli5? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yfwic/why_are_hydrogenated_oils_bad_for_you/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5v75nn"
],
"score": [
10
],
"text": [
"There are 2 well known types of fats, saturated and unsaturated fat. They have different shapes of molecules, and this affects how well they fit together. In other words, saturated fat molecules fit together like Legos so they're a solid at room temperature. Unsaturated fat molecules have a little bend in their shape, and don't stack together well, like a bag of potatoe chips so they are a liquid at room temperature.\n\nNaturally, our bodies digest both of these fats and were happy. However, science discovered that by adding hydrogen (hence *hydrogen*ated) and doing some other chemistry, we can make hydrogenated fats better known as transfats. Transfats are not a natural molecule, and therefore our bodies don't know what to do with them so for the most part they just stay in our body.\n\nThe original idea of transfats was that they taste great and that because the human body doesn't absorb them they won't make you fat. They don't really make us fat, but unfortunately they do cause a very long list of other more complicated health problems.\n\nTL;DR trans fats were first used because scientists thought that because our bodies won't absorb them that food can still taste great but we won't get fat. Unknown at the time, they stay in our bodies and fuck shit up."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
s7ba4 | why are tuxedos so expensive? | Normal clothes are way cheaper. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/s7ba4/eli5_why_are_tuxedos_so_expensive/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4bnvrk",
"c4bo6i5"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"So buy normal clothes! \n\nhah no, it's simply a \"get what you pay for\" type of thing. The most difficult to create items always are the most expensive, and often enjoy a heavy mark-up due to exclusivity. Tuxedos are very expensive, but you need to pay well to get one with a good fit and material. ",
"They are usually made out of nice material, and they are usually tailored to fit you precisely. Plus they have a lot of pieces to them, each of which has to be sewn to fit. Normal clothes are made in a few sizes, designed to fit large swathes of the population, and normal clothes also have relatively few stitching points and lines."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
a57e5m | why are staples sometimes used to close scars instead of stitches? what determines which type of closure will be used? | Are staples more prevalent now than they were historically? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a57e5m/eli5_why_are_staples_sometimes_used_to_close/ | {
"a_id": [
"ebkcdp6",
"ebkcz59"
],
"score": [
8,
3
],
"text": [
"Staples are faster and less traumatic. This is especially good for children who may only need one or two. They are also quite strong so are effective in long wounds such as along an extremity. Sutures result in a smaller, more attractive scar so these are preferred in exposed areas such as the head and neck,.or in places that see a lot of movement such as the hands or over a joint.",
"Mainly due to the strength of closure and the area that’s being closed. Long surgical wounds for instance. Surgical wounds in large people can be under extreme tension that cause the wound to open if sutured. \nIt’s also quicker to use staples. They also use staples internally to connect two ends of something like intestine. \nThat’s just the outside closure. There are sutures (stitches) underneath that approximate the muscle and “fascia” (connective tissue under the skin). \nThe clinician will not get an accidental needle stick using staples compared to sutures with a needle. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3kfvkt | why do humans and animals shake their heads after being disoriented/taking a blow? | Got curious after seeing a video of clumsy penguins falling over and shaking their heads after. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3kfvkt/eli5_why_do_humans_and_animals_shake_their_heads/ | {
"a_id": [
"cux38jk",
"cuxsup8"
],
"score": [
46,
3
],
"text": [
"I don't have an authoritative answer but my best guesses are\n A) Shake off any dirt or debris from the fall\n B) Reset the motion of the fluid in the semicircular canals that help you keep your balance. That's why when you spin you get dizzy. The fluid is still moving a bit.",
"I always thought it was to \"calibrate\" yourself. Like how when you're drunk you sometimes don't know what's straight down or slightly to the side or if you're moving or just positioned weirdly. I think shaking our heads helps quickly getting our bearings when we become dizzy"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4fiayl | how are companies allowed to have "secret ingredient(s)" when allergies exist? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4fiayl/eli5_how_are_companies_allowed_to_have_secret/ | {
"a_id": [
"d290f20",
"d290ggw"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"[Assuming you're in the United States, major food allergens are required to be labeled by the FDA.](_URL_0_)",
"Do you mean \"secret recipes\", because that's different. When you see the ingredient list and it says \"spices\" or something, those are usually checked against a list of known spices which people can be allergic to. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/guidancedocumentsregulatoryinformation/allergens/ucm059116.htm"
],
[]
] | ||
3nhgad | when do you cross the line between free speech and hate speech? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3nhgad/eli5_when_do_you_cross_the_line_between_free/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvo3hbr",
"cvo3voa"
],
"score": [
14,
5
],
"text": [
"In the US, **you don't** (despite what some *want to* believe).\n\nWe only invoke \"hate\" crimes when you move beyond mere \"speech\" into something physical.\n\nYou can rant about blacks and jews and retards and immigrants and fogeys until you turn blue in the face, *so long* as you don't actually *do* anything about it (or credibly incite someone else to do something about it).",
"Hate speech is when you're specifically encouraging acts of violence against people. \n\nThis is distinct from hate*ful* speech, where you're only saying mean things about people, regardless of how unrelated to reality what you say is. \n\nFor example, saying \"All X people are lying cheating bastards\" is free speech. Saying \"X people need to be rounded up and murdered while their children watch\" is hate-speech. \n\nIt should also be noted that \"Free Speech\" protects you from *the government* putting limits on you. It does not, I repeat, **not** mean you can spew nonsense wherever you want and people have to listen, or even **let you speak**. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
pl85w | the difference between electric potential and the electric field. | Thanks. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/pl85w/eli5_the_difference_between_electric_potential/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3q94in",
"c3qb3qs"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"The electric potential is the energy per unit charge at every point in space. The electric field is the force per unit charge at every point in space.\n\nAlso, the potential is a scalar field (it has a numerical value at every point in space), and the electric field is a vector field (it has a magnitude and a direction at every point in space).",
"They are related. The electric field is the strength of eclectic force on a charged particle that depends on its location. For example, the electric field close to an electron is stronger close to the electron than farther away. An equation that represents an electric field can be thought of as a kind of \"map\" of where the electric field is strong and weak (and positive or negative). \n\nNow that we have a map of the strength of the field, potential is the difference in strength between two places on the map. The bigger the difference, the bigger the potential. Moving between two points with a large potential will either require a large amount of energy or put a lot of energy into the object that is moving (depending on the charge of the object). \n\nIf you look at a map of a mountain range, the height of each mountain might be thought of as the strength of the field in that place. If you pick a point at the top of a mountain and another at the bottom, the potential between the two points is very big: going from the bottom to the top takes a lot of energy."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2e8cab | why does a wood dining table last generations but wood in a forest rots seemingly quickly? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2e8cab/eli5_why_does_a_wood_dining_table_last/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjx0nec"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Wood for furniture are often treated and the paint/stain will protect the wood. In addition furniture are kept indoors away from the elements whereas dead trees outside are exposed to rain, sun, various insects, etc. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
151o9r | keynesianism or keynesian economics? | And what effect did the New Deal (or Keynesianism Welfare State) economic reforms between the 1930s and 1960s have on the middle class?
And lastly, I don't think I fully understand Neoliberalism
edit: typo, and added another question | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/151o9r/eli5_keynesianism_or_keynesian_economics/ | {
"a_id": [
"c7ihlb7",
"c7ilr93"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Keynesian economics focuses on the short run. \"In the long run, we're all dead\". Keynes said that supply =/= demand due to the instability of demand. The instability of demand is caused by \"animal spirits\". He also argued that prices and wages are sticky. Keynes wanted the government to step in and fix problems with demand. \n\nAn example: \nThere is a restaurant with a line. 30 people come rushing the door unexpectedly (animal spirits). Suddenly, supply doesn't equal demand and not all 30 people can be served simultaneously. Do restaurants instantly increase their prices to the new 30 people to decrease that number to maybe 20? No. They keep the prices the same (price stickiness). The only way to deal with the situation is to just live with the unexpected demand. \n\nThis is where Keynes would argue for intervention. Keynesian economics is another way of saying Government Deficit Spending and is a form of Expansionary Fiscal Policy. Two very basic examples of employing KE are issuing a stimulus and cutting taxes. Both give more money to consumers who will then hopefully spend more money to jump start the economy. \n\nOver using Keynesian Economics, as we did in the Vietnam War, eventually leads to high inflation. This can be fixed by inducing a recession. The idea is to use it, but not over use it to where it gets us in more trouble than we were before we employed it. \n\nAs far as the New Deal goes, think of the three R's. \nRelief: actually employing the Keynesian theory. \nRecovery: actually using the benefits from the Relief. \nReform: \"jump starting\" the economy by Recovering. \n\n",
"_URL_0_\nEnough said."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQnarzmTOc"
]
] | |
37ih7z | why do movies portray people who in some way become extremely large moving in somewhat "slow motion"? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37ih7z/eli5_why_do_movies_portray_people_who_in_some_way/ | {
"a_id": [
"crmymnq",
"crmzd8w"
],
"score": [
5,
3
],
"text": [
"It would look unnatural to see them moving at normal speed. With that much mass there would be a huge amount of inertia and air resistance to overcome. I think it also stems from the ponderous movements of other large animals, such as elephants, and whales. We're just used to seeing large things move slowly.",
"That's just what it would look like to us. Imagine a toddler running around, frantically, on a sugar high. He appears to be fast, but that's an illusion; he's only fast in relation to his own body. An adult can match his speed by falling into a lazy jog, if that. Hence, from the toddler's perspective, the adult moves like a giant in a movie."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
zeqzw | what are the white boxes with antenna sticking out of them on traffic light poles? | I've been seeing these more recently, they're not cameras from what I can tell, but they're white boxes with about 4 or 5 antenna sticking out of the top and attached to a traffic light pole. I've been wondering what they are, because I'm seeing them on traffic lights that don't even have cameras, so I don't think they're related. What could it be? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/zeqzw/what_are_the_white_boxes_with_antenna_sticking/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6486mk"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Some traffic lights have a receiver that emergency vehicles can send a signal to which turns the light to green for them."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
fhjzbx | what happens to the body when you stop a diet coke habit? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fhjzbx/eli5_what_happens_to_the_body_when_you_stop_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"fkbkq67",
"fkbnu6g"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Assuming you stop all artificial sweeteners, your gut microbes will change (one of the suspected issues with Ace K, Aspartame, etc) is that it changes your gut bacteria and not in a positive way.\n\nAs for the caffeine, caffeine has a half life of about 6 hours, so if you've stopped all caffeine intake, you'll be clean in about a day. You'll go through withdrawal symptoms if you've been a long time caffeine addict. You'll feel very tired, mostly. It will pass.",
"The only practical change would be a drop in caffeine intake. Depending on how addicted you are to caffeine, it might be a shitty couple of days for you - drink lots of water, and take Advil per label directions if needed. When I cut my coffee from approx. 3 cups/day down to 1 cup/day, I had a bitch of a headache for a day or two, then was OK.\n\nThe diet sweeteners are fine, and stopping drinking them is fine."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
bnq429 | why is it that after staring at a light bulb and you close your eyes you are still able to make out the shape of the light bulb? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bnq429/eli5_why_is_it_that_after_staring_at_a_light_bulb/ | {
"a_id": [
"en8owmz"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"There are bits in the back of your eyes that actually “see” things; the area is called your retina and the bits are called rods and cones. Everything else in your eye is designed to make the clearest possible picture for those bits to see.\n\nThose bits are good at different things. Rods can see in low light, but they are bad at seeing in color. Cones can see lots of colors, but only if they’re bright. Together, they make a pretty good team. However, if you stare right at a bright light, like the sun or a lightbulb, they try to take in all the light and quickly get tired. Then when you look away, they’re still tired and work poorly for a bit.\n\nSo when you stare at the light, your rods and cones get burnt out pretty quickly and have to rest, but only in the spot that was looking at the light; this is why the burnt out bit remains in the same place in your field of vision when you look somewhere else."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4rv7rb | why does a half empty capped plastic water bottle get disfigured after it's been in the fridge for a while? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4rv7rb/eli5_why_does_a_half_empty_capped_plastic_water/ | {
"a_id": [
"d54cryu"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Gasses (and to a lesser extent liquids) take up different amounts of space depending on temperature. Since the bottle is capped it has a specific amount of air captured at room temperature. Once you put the bottle in the fridge the air gets colder and takes up less space. The result is a vacuum effect, the force of which is enough to deform the thin plastic bottle. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6vzcu0 | how did prehistoric humans do daily hygienic activities? | hair trimming, teeth cleaning, butt wiping, etc. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6vzcu0/eli5_how_did_prehistoric_humans_do_daily_hygienic/ | {
"a_id": [
"dm448yu"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"One of the few things known about prehistoric grooming habits is that people over a wide spread of places and environments used [ochre pigments](_URL_0_) to cover themselves. It provided Sun protection, allowed for tribal and personal decoration, and might have concealed odors to some extent."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochre"
]
] | |
3g547q | would we notice a physical difference on earth if the planet's revolution around the sun doubled in speed? | With no changes in the Earth/Moon/Rotational relationships.
Days are the same, etc. The year just turns into 183 days. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3g547q/eli5_would_we_notice_a_physical_difference_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctuwubi"
],
"score": [
12
],
"text": [
"How far away the earth is from the sun is directly proportional to how fast it travels around it. For non-five-year-olds, the equation is:\n\nv = sqrt(GM / r)\n\nSo if you double the speed around the sun, the distance closes proportionally to v^2 so we'd suddenly be four times closer to the sun.\n\nAll life would die, and Earth would burn to a crisp.\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3zjuu1 | why are ip(v4) addresses usually represented in decimal while colors are usually represented in hex? | Both numbers consist of multiple octets, so what differentiates them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zjuu1/eli5_why_are_ipv4_addresses_usually_represented/ | {
"a_id": [
"cymqav1",
"cymtigt"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"It is a scheme that predates IP, when packet switching on ARPANET was carried out by [IMPs](_URL_0_).\n\nIn RFC730 (1972), Jon Postel suggests the adoption of a field based extensible address scheme where each field is separated from its neighbors by a delimiter character and each field has a name. The fields should be written in a natural way, with the most general part of the address coming first and numbers written in decimal. Although the RFC doesn't lay down the precise scheme adopted for IP(v4), it lays the foundation.",
"Note that, while it's a pretty obscure thing to actually use, most modern software still supports representing IP addresses as hexadecimal. Try visiting [_URL_0_](_URL_0_)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interface_Message_Processor"
],
[
"http://0x4A7DE2A0"
]
] | |
3spmjo | why is it it so hard to create a weapons system that can intercept an inter continental ballistic nuclear missile? | Nuclear missiles seem to be the end game of war and the US created the Star Wars programme. But nuclear missiles still seem all conquering. It seems to me that if a country could create a counter measure they would effectively negate this form of attack. Why is it so hard to do? We eel to be able to knock missiles out of the air in other situations. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3spmjo/eli5_why_is_it_it_so_hard_to_create_a_weapons/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwzc7ib",
"cwzcgxu",
"cwzcj8k",
"cwzhcr7"
],
"score": [
6,
2,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"They're traveling so fast you'd have one shot at it. It's more of an accuracy issue than being able to do it. ",
"Yes, the rate of speed is obviously an issue. But detection and disposal are the more challenging issues faced, the system would be useless if the nuke wasn't intercepted high enough in the atmosphere to \"safely\" detonate",
"Note the full meaning of \"ICBM\": it means that the missile has an initial boost phase where it fires rocket motors, during which the missile is over friendly territory. This phase lasts only a short period of time; far too little to allow a conventional missile to get to it from friendly territory.\n\nAfter that phase the missile is on a ballistic trajectory: it more or less just coasts until it reaches its target (it may split into several warheads).\n\nSuccessfully neutralizing this kind of missile is a very difficult task. If you have line of sight to the missile during the boost phase then you can neutralize it by compromising the rocket engine, as was the goal of the Boeing YAL-1 airborne laser. This requires line of sight, though, and if you *miss* (or fail to destroy the missile) then that's a serious issue.\n\nAfter the boost phase your options are more limited. For thermonuclear warheads simply destroying the missile is sufficient, but with a biological warfare warhead that may not be enough. If you get to the missile after it has separated into its multiple reentry vehicles then you need to destroy *all* of them.\n\n******\n\nWith all of that said, I think it's silly to think that the U.S. has no missile defense system. It's probably just not public knowledge. We have had public demonstrations of the YAL-1, and the fact that that program seems to have stalled suggests to me that it was the loser of a classified competition while the winner went into service. There are plenty of things that make \"Star Wars\" *difficult*, but nothing that makes it impossible so I'm sure that with the U.S. spending more on its military than the rest of the world combined there's *something* in the arsenal to deal with the biggest existential threat that humanity has thus far designed. ",
"Ultimately it becomes a question of resources, which realistically equates to money.\n\nIf I throw a ball across the room at a table, you could have a machine in place to stop it, an automated arm with a net.\n\nIf I threw one at the side of a barn, you could have a similar machine to stop it, but it would, by necessity, be a bigger machine, it would take longer to design, build, and test, than the first machine.\n\nIf I were to launch one from miles away at a square mile, it could technically be done, but the kind of resources to do so would be fairly intense. You likely couldn't do it with just one machine, you'd need several so that all flight vectors of the ball are covered.\n\nNow, make that a rocket powered ball that moves rapidly, with a nuclear warhead, and increase the size of the land by a factor of millions."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
91cgam | if folks don't work for the us government anymore, what do they still need the security clearance for anyway? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/91cgam/eli5_if_folks_dont_work_for_the_us_government/ | {
"a_id": [
"e2wzxn8",
"e2x1hom",
"e2x1v12",
"e2x202d",
"e2xcqu6"
],
"score": [
2,
10,
15,
5,
6
],
"text": [
"People working at defense contractors need to have a security clearance because they work on top secret projects.",
"A lot of the time, if you're really high up (like say... FBI Director) the new guys will call you in to ask about something. Hell, my old agency calls me for advice sometimes on things I worked on before I left, and I wasn't important it all. It can be good to get the perspective of the last guy. If the situation is classified, the last guy would have to maintain their clearance to show them any updated news.",
"Security clearances are issued to individuals for a period of time, not necessarily just for the time they're working a certain job. A Top Secret clearance is good for five years and a Secret clearance is good for ten, for example. \n\nOne of the most common professions that give its employees a security clearance is the US military where anyone that has a real job will have a Secret clearance at minimum even though the average term of enlistment is anywhere between 4-6 years. It helps account for possibility of reenlistment, commission, career change, or promotion instead of having to go through an extensive background check each and every single time someone changes their work environment.",
"If you have a good shot at working for the government or its contractors very soon, and in a role where you'd likely need a clearance, having the clearance around is useful. It's not like as soon as you left govt work your clearance circumstances have changed - a lot of time and money was spent looking into you and granting your security clearance, and there's pretty hefty demand for people who already have clearances to fill roles.\n\nFor people who are about to retire? Probably won't need them again, which is why the announcement today is even more silly than usual. It's not as if anyone with a clearance can walk into Langley or Foggy Bottom and demand access to classified data, you still, you know, need a reason to have it, and you're still on the hook if you leak it, clearance or not.",
"The real reason is that world problems don't magically end because you moved on to another job.\n\nFor anyone who was involved in ongoing situations that require a security clearance, they may still be called in to consult or debrief or discuss the situation as it evolves. They would be a consultant, not a regular team member, but nonetheless would require the clearance in order to participate.\n\nThese persons are not usually kept up to speed on new situations; or on situations that happened while they were employed but which they were not involved. A security clearance allows you to be brought in to specific situations, it is NOT a library card that allows you to peruse the files at your whimsy.\n\nThere is also the consideration that they may have a specialized skill set or have specific networks/contacts that may be needed \"on call\" from time to time."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1t4lnv | how do 99 cent stores sell goods so cheaply? | Will hey need to change the name in a few years? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1t4lnv/eli5_how_do_99_cent_stores_sell_goods_so_cheaply/ | {
"a_id": [
"ce49kkf",
"ce4civq",
"ce4e8gh"
],
"score": [
11,
11,
3
],
"text": [
"I've bought perfectly good stuff from really cheap shops. The key points are:\n\n* Stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap - they sell large volumes;\n* Loyalty - the idea that goods are cheap keeps customers coming back (apparently);\n* Maximise margins - consistent costs (so no relabelling) and no additional fancy costs;\n* Buying power - most 99c shops were I am have dozens if not hundreds of stores so they can push for lower prices;\n* Smaller units - less for your dollar than two dollars gets you somewhere else;\n* Efficiency - such shops tend to be ultra-aware of what sells and what doesn't;\n* Sometimes it's also about selling stock acquired cheaply because it is expensive for the seller to keep it or dispose of it.\n\nEdit (to answer second part): we've had pound stores here in the UK for twenty years! The smaller units is the key to keeping their name - so you might now get two packs for 99c when you would have got three a few years ago. Or 80g of chocolate when it was 100g. (The fact that many goods stocked are actually multiple for 99c helps with this.) \n",
"I have a friend who used to sell to 99 cent stores. He said that the 99 cent stores would contract to buy his products from him for 66 cents each. So there was the 99 cent store's profit.\n\nSo how did he sell his items so cheaply? His company would buy liquid products (e.g. shampoo) in huge tanker-truck quantities, then repackage them into small consumer-level bottles. At that quantity, the product itself is virtually free, so the cost comes down to the bottles (purchased in bulk from China), the repackaging and labeling equipment, and the labor (minimum wage employees). Even with small margins, sell enough and you can make a decent profit.",
"Well in \"poundland\" I have noticed products listed for £1 that cost about 50p in other shops. So I figure they basically have it set up that they are selling more expensive items cheaper, but enough cheaper items for higher to make a profit. People are usually too lazy to change stores once they start shopping."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4ibbfo | why do people have obsessions/fixations? | I can't think of a situation where an obsession or fixation proves useful, rather it causes suffering for the bearer. Is it merely mental illness, if so what goes wrong with someone's mentality that they experience this? Also, could these be modern phenomena caused by a certain lifestyle? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ibbfo/eli5_why_do_people_have_obsessionsfixations/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2xtg5h"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"To explain simply, your brain releases happy chemicals when you do things which aid your survival like eating or having sex. The reason people get addicted to drugs is because drugs trick the brain into releasing happy chemicals. But people can get addicted to anything if something happens which leads the brain to releasing these chemicals. A lot of people actually get physically addicted to exercise because the endorphins and happy chemicals are a reward for doing physical activity. So basically people get obsessed with stuff because they associate the thing they are obsessed with with feeling good because they have basically accidentally conditioned their brain to release happy chemicals in response to the obsession. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
23x2bx | why doesn't ukraine join the eu? | Wouldn't it guarantee their safety from Russia? I know they want to put tariffs on all the trade goods coming in and out of other European countries, but I don't think the money they get from that is worth risking their entire country from being annexed. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/23x2bx/eli5why_doesnt_ukraine_join_the_eu/ | {
"a_id": [
"ch1e8qp",
"ch1gpi5",
"ch1igtg"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The last thing the EU needs is another broke kleptocratic country that doesn't have its act together.\n\nIt's not the Ukraine's decision to make.",
"That's one of the biggest issues causing the trouble now. Some people want closer ties with Europe, some want to stay with Russia.",
"To join the EU is not just buying a ticket to join the concert.\n\nIt requires changes, reforms, implementation of laws, rules and regulations, standards and procedures that reduce corruption, improve economy, improve quality of life, social conditions, etc, but it takes years to go through its steps.\n\nThe Free Trade Agreement that Yanukovich refused to sign was one of these steps that is now being taken. It can take years, even decades, but Ukraine can really become a strong and prosperous country within the EU. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
66tc1h | what circumstances is torrenting legal? | Obviously any freeware would be okay.
Is it ever legal to torrent a Movie?
If you pay for cable/streaming services are the shows on there legal to download since you pay for those in a way?
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/66tc1h/eli5_what_circumstances_is_torrenting_legal/ | {
"a_id": [
"dgl4msq",
"dgl4t5x",
"dgl8cwl",
"dgli9is"
],
"score": [
24,
4,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Torrenting is legal so long as the people you are Torrenting from have the legal rights to distribute the files they are distributing. If you seed, it's legal so long as you have the legal right to distribute the files you're seeding. ",
"In most cases it's legal only with the permission of the copyright holder. Just because you're allowed to make a copy one way, doesn't mean you're allowed to make a copy any way you like.\n\nIt's also legal to torrent something in the public domain, which means the copyright has expired, was given up, or was not correctly registered to begin with. This is rare for movies.\n\nIt's also legal if the copyright is not recognised by your country. For example software and movies copyrighted in the USA are reproduced freely in Iran, and vice-versa, because Iran and the USA do not recognise each other's copyrights.\n",
"torrents are used by variety of software as the legitimate distribution method. Windows updates run on a torrent-like distribution. I believe World of Warcraft also does. \n\nif the owner of the copyright allows it to be torrentable, then it's legal to torrent. because it's all about whether or not you have permission to download and distribute. ",
"Torrents are just a download protocol, so not illegal by itself. It all depends on WHAT you download."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
348s5a | why is it socially acceptable to shame things like drug abuse and smoking but it's not socially acceptable to shame people for being obese/morbidly obese? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/348s5a/eli5why_is_it_socially_acceptable_to_shame_things/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqscreq",
"cqsd4vc",
"cqsd7dw",
"cqsggdu",
"cqsgrog"
],
"score": [
6,
3,
5,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"People \"shame\" obese people all the time. \n\nIt basically comes down to what the majority opinion in a certain group is. In America for example enough people are obese that the risk of being \"challenged\" for fat shaming is to high for most people. If you narrow your group down to a bunch of health nut gym junkies you'd find a lot more fat shaming",
"This is completely crap. It is absolutely socially acceptable to shame fat people, you just have to pretend that it isn't. Bonus points if you do it with subtlety ",
"You can stop smoking tomorrow. But you can't stop being fat overnight.\n\nTry shaming people for eating fast food or junk food instead of for being fat. But, like with smoking, only shame them when you can physically see them doing it.",
"Over the 60 years, society has pushed the equality of all message very successfully. There are solid weak areas that certainly need work, but it is better now then pretty much anytime.\n\nOver the past 30 years, this movement of equality has really boiled over into 'special snowflake' territory where everyone must be loved regardless of their flaws. So instead of trying to encourage people to fix their issues, such obesity, it's become expected that we accept, and to lesser extent encourage, these flaws. \n\nThis way everyone is equal, regardless of how unequal reality dictates.\n\nAt least that is my thought. It's a byproduct of society. ",
"I don't necessarily think people should be shamed for their choice to smoke or do drugs, either. If someone's life choices are starting to vastly affect others, then I think its reasonable to say something. The people who bitch, moan, and complain about these types of people are just looking for a reason to do it.\n\nPeople who engage in high risk behavior tend to die sooner and actually have less medical costs in the long run; old people on average cost exorbitant amounts of money to keep healthy. \n\nI also don't like when people are disingenuous about their choices though. Don't try to justify something by lying and saying its good for you. I think people should be aware that being overweight is unhealthy, or that smoking is unhealthy. The type of people who say that there are no real health risks with being overweight are posing a danger with their misinformation. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
pzgac | why do we feel compelled to think / meditate / stare blankly when looking at rain or fire? | As the title asks. I noticed it first while in the Boy Scouts -- everyone stops and stares at a campfire when it's lit. Conversations are hard to come by, as everyone tends to speak in single syllables while the flames lick their souls. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/pzgac/eli5_why_do_we_feel_compelled_to_think_meditate/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3ti75p"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"I've always thought that it's the *movement* of the flame that attracts us. It's random enough to focus your attention, but also uneventful enough not to send your body into full-alert mode, so while your eyes feast on the flame, the rest of your brain goes into thinking/meditation mode.\n\nThis applies to rain as well: rain is random, you can't predict *where* the splash in a puddle is going to appear, but to most people, rain is boring enough not to ring sirens in your brain.\n\nWhite noise is another example of this - which is why sounds of rain or white noise are used as concentration aid by people."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6m0hli | if water, electricity etc are considered basic human rights, why are people charged for them and companies can shut down your utilities if you can't pay? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6m0hli/eli5_if_water_electricity_etc_are_considered/ | {
"a_id": [
"djxyqmh",
"djxz2np",
"djy01qt",
"djy0bgp"
],
"score": [
7,
5,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Water is more than a basic human right, it's essential for your survival. However, clean water piped directly in to your home is not a human right, and when you pay for water, that's what you're paying for: the convenience. You can dig a well and get fresh water that way. What if you live somewhere you can't do that? Move, as people did before the modern age. \n\nAs for electricity, it's not a human right at all. Many survive just fine without it, some by choice.",
"Just so we are all grounded. Where does it say anywhere that these things are basic human rights? I'm not denying that water is a necessity, but where is it written that it's a right?",
"So, this is a leading question, and you're going to get a lot of opinionated answers.\n\nMy take is that it costs money to make those things; they are scarce. So, if we make the value zero, then these resources will get abused.\n\nSo, everyone has a right to be connected to the electrical grid (though in remote places, they may have to foot the wiring bill personally).\n\nWater is the same way.\n\nIf you are too poor, then the social safety net will take care of these things for you, but because it takes energy and effort, and we don't have enough to waste frivolously, a charge for the majority of people is the simplest structure. ",
"The UN resolution talks about having **access** to water and sanitation as basic human rights. The objective is to foster cooperation between nations so the poorer countries can have access to means and methods to provide for their populace. \n\n > Calls upon States and international organizations to provide financial resources, capacity-building and technology transfer, through international assistance and cooperation, in particular to developing countries, in order to scale up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all\n\nIt doesn't mean it has to be free or even subsidized. \n\nThe resolution doesn't say anything about electricity. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
brzno0 | does us have a federal health care system? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/brzno0/eli5_does_us_have_a_federal_health_care_system/ | {
"a_id": [
"eoht1ck"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Yes, it's called Medicare/Medicaid.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nMedicaid is for low-incomepeople, and the benefits and requirements vary by state, with minimums set forth by federal standards. Medicare is for anyone 65+ or disabled, and is 100% unified as a federal system.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nIt should be noted that in many states, Medicaid is very fucked up, with the cutoff being about $12,000 annually, which is far, far below the national poverty line of about $25,000 annually."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
erlhca | how do rocket launchers that have lock on capabilities know what to lock on to. like, how do they know what's a vehicle and what isn't? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/erlhca/eli5how_do_rocket_launchers_that_have_lock_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"ff4etnd",
"ff4j4cl"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Alot of missile Heads have infra-red cameras. {cameras that see heat}\n\nSo they lock onto the heat signiture of the target.\n\nEngine is 98 degrees c it sees it it follows 98 degrees c give or take.",
"ATGM missiles like the javelin have an infrared camera in their nosecone that look for heat signatures such as engine exhaust vents. When the weapon launches the camera is already locked onto the target, and slaves the control fins to guide the missile to the target. It is possible however to spoof these sorts of weapons by firing off flares that have an even brighter IR light than the engine, so the camera gets confused on where the target is and flies off in the wrong direction. \n\nHowever, this is a big improvement from the previous generation of ATGM such as the dragon, which had guide wires trailing out of the back of it to the launch system. The soldier launching a dragon had to keep lock on at all times during the flight, potentially exposing him to return fire. If the aiming reticule was moved, the missile moved as well causing a miss."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
9s7732 | ; what happens if you put a dry clean only suit through the regular wash? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9s7732/eli5_what_happens_if_you_put_a_dry_clean_only/ | {
"a_id": [
"e8mm8xm",
"e8mtqri"
],
"score": [
8,
6
],
"text": [
"I’ve done this before (it was a pair of suit trousers). They shrink like crazy and become extremely wrinkled.",
"Hey, ex-custom suit guy here. It really depends on the suit, but all in all, you'll probably ruin it. There are all kinds of layers of fabric that exist inside the jacket. Those layers are glued together and unless its a really deconstructed jacket, that fabric will be adhered to the wool, this keeps the jacket looking smooth against your chest. All that shit will delaminate once its washed. Since the jacket is 75% of your suit, don't at the very least ruin your jacket, ruin your pants and then you can usually use it as a sport jacket. \n\nMi dos centavos. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
9zytui | why can’t we just a take a giant fishing net and run it through the massive trash build ups throughout the ocean? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9zytui/eli5_why_cant_we_just_a_take_a_giant_fishing_net/ | {
"a_id": [
"eacztqo"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"Because it's not chunky trash by the time it reaches mid-ocean, it's finely ground-up particles of plastic. It would go right through a fishing net. Instead you need a specially designed machine."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
edl5xh | what genetic mutation/adaptation set us on the path to being the current dominant species? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/edl5xh/eli5_what_genetic_mutationadaptation_set_us_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"fbio91l"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"There are several different theories to this, all of which have some degree of validity-\n\n1. Humans quickly developed a preference for cooked meat instead raw meat. The human body can digest cooked so much more effectively that it led to significant increases in brain development over thousands of years\n\n2. Brain growth and activity are tied directly to social behavior and reliance. While almost all animals exhibit some form of social interaction, humans developed social interaction at a much higher level. To my knowledge we're are the only creature to ever exist that can use tools in conjunction with other people, i.e. a two person saw, using several handles to lift heavy objects, etc.\n\n3. Our increased reliance on tools made us WILDLY more successful at just about every action we perform (think knives and spears for hunting, bowls and forks for distributing food, hammers and similar objects for building) that we became dependent on them. This meant that eventually our collarbones rotated back, our pelvis grew forward to support bipedal movement, etc. \n\n4. As bipedal movement became the mode of transportation for humanity, it freed up our extra limbs to perform other actions, meaning we could carry heaving objects for longer distances, use tools while moving, etc.\n\n6. Because of our social nature, congregation became a requirement in order to survive, and as groups of humans grew in numbers and use of tools became more and more advanced, we drifted away from being nomadic to settling down.\n\n7. (this is probably the most significant advancement) Once humanity developed to become territorial and settled in one place, we started farming for more regular incomes of resources, which skyrocketed the rate of human growth, and we developed things like the ability to make clothes and build permanent structure that makes it much more possible for us to live in harsh environments, like European mountains and African desserts\n\nCredit: my sophomore year evolutionary theory class that I got an A- in\n\nHere's another fun little bit of evolution information for ya- people always tell you than humans developed around a source of running water because it is consumable and meant we would have to travel less. This is slightly true, but there are hundreds of thousands of miles of running water in the world, and significant human development is not that arbitrary. More likely the case, humans developed societies around the bases of mountains that were within a days travel of running water, because the rapid change of elevation in mountains mean that there are varying temperatures and dirt qualities, meaning it was much easier to develop multiple forms of crops at various ecological zones."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3szi7g | how is it possible to see what isn't directly in front of a mirror, in the reflection? | For example, if you're facing it at it an angle and can see things way off out it's "field of vision" | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3szi7g/eli5how_is_it_possible_to_see_what_isnt_directly/ | {
"a_id": [
"cx1s6yk",
"cx1soku"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"_URL_0_\n\nSee this image? If the mirror is placed at the point where the light bounces off the wall, you will be able to see the reflection of the object. It doesn't matter if the mirror only extends a foot in either direction as long as it's in that spot.",
"I did a poor edit of /u/RyanW1019's provided image. [This](_URL_1_) is the way I've been able to understand it well. \n\nFor each example, the viewing angle will create an equal angle on the other side (yellow angle sizes are the same). \n\nSo, you can only see what's directly in front of the mirror if you're directly in front of it. Move to the side, you'll see to the side. \n\nThis is also helpful and apparent in [billiards] (_URL_0_). Angles a and b are the same, and angles c and d are the same. \n\nEdit: You can try it out with a laser pointer in a mirror."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/refln/u13l1c2.gif"
],
[
"http://i.imgur.com/FSpi7Uf.png",
"http://i.imgur.com/ywpXZR8.jpg"
]
] | |
3wn64f | why do so many people on reddit and the internet seem to hate the poor? what gives? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wn64f/eli5_why_do_so_many_people_on_reddit_and_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxxfv8j",
"cxxg3c6",
"cxxg5af",
"cxxg9rr",
"cxxgao4",
"cxxgubp",
"cxxhfjg",
"cxxhfob",
"cxxj1u7"
],
"score": [
6,
3,
2,
29,
6,
4,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"People are people wherever you go. \n\nReddit mocks people who take The Onion and Facebook links at face value but at the same time rarely give two shuts about reliable sources or background info on anything else. \n\nGo look on more entertainment based subs like Funny or Gaming and you'll see plenty of reposts with many up votes despite the top comment proving it's wrong, not their own content or how it's taken completely out of context while only having 1/10 of the up votes. \n\nPeople are dicks who like to think themselves better than others regardless of where you go. ",
"The people in the thread were probably more concerned about the fact that he turned down the jobs because he was making more than enough to live as a beggar, which meant that he was actively deceiving people by manipulating them into believing he was a needy man. I don't see much evidence that reddit is anti-poor otherwise. If you mention that poverty is escapable,and not determined by race, you're likely to get met with downvotes unless you're on /r/conservative.",
"It's easier to catagorize andmake mass assumptions then it is to give the benefit of doubt or mind ones own self. \n\n\nBasically exactly what /u pbzzepplin1977 has said\n\nMy favorite experience being poor is realizing people hate me because I'm way more free than them I own nothing don't have to work so I get to volunteer or play or do whatever I want whenever I want. My life is just so much more gratifying than there lives. They hate it. Worst part for them is I still eat at nice restaurants (volunteer work and being a general bad ass has allowed me to meet and become good friends with chefs) I still go to there expensive music fests (again volunteering) I still get to go do everything that the \"rich\" do for the most part but I have nothing to lose and I mean that literally. I own almost nothing and everything except skateboard surfboard snowboard bicycle fit into one backpack. Oh and everything I do own was found in the trash or handed down from people who don't need it anymore and see me busting my ass for no pay volunteering. I don't hate money I just rarely have it or use it. Certainly never save it.\n\n\n*edited to put in self appreciative bullshit there at the end ",
"You went from justifying begging over working to persecution, demonizing, and genocide. It's actually much less simple and less sinister than that. People generally don't like those who would rather leech off of others instead of trying to earn things for themselves. The assumption when someone gives to the poor is usually that they cannot find a job and had to resort to begging. Not that they make enough begging that they do not want to work. If that's the case, they are taking donations from well-intentioned folks who might've given it to someone who actually can't find employment or work for some reason. It's deplorable because it takes advantage of the benefactors and robs the poor.",
"There are several things going on here that make it difficult to answer your question;\n\na) No link to the thread you're referring to. It makes it impossible for me to see what exactly you're talking about. \nb) You make some really weird generalizations; people on reddit just hate poor people, how they treat beggars is representative of how they treat the working poor, implying that only the non-poor have a problem with beggars. Each of those assumptions really requires their own full-length comment to address. \nc) \"From a libertarian perspective\" is a sort of strange card to play here, since they'd be the most likely to exhibit the behavior you're talking about. It doesn't matter whether they're begging or taking welfare, they see that as pure economic drain. Because it is. The difference between a libertarian and a person with a shred of compassion is how you deal with that drain - helping them become productive or abandoning them.\n\nThere's a LOT to unpack here, so you might have to help us out a bit before you get any meaningful answers.",
"There are two kinds of \"poor\" people (wildly generalizing here.) There are those who have made choices and continue to make choices that leave them in a state of perpetual need and struggle. An example would be a homeless person who would rather beg than go to a shelter because they find the rules confining.\n\nThen there are people who are poor because of unavoidable circumstances. Job loss, illness, lack of privilege, whatever, they just need a little help to get on solid ground and they will be ok.\n\nThe backlash, in my opinion, comes largely from the fact that people in poverty are all lumped together. We are constantly told we should take care of the poor by people who ignore the fact that there are those who continue to make terrible choices. I think some people resent that, and then go overboard lumping people together in the other direction, assuming we all have exactly the same chances and some just choose not to be helped. \n\nTldr; many people lack the ability or desire to see nuance. ",
"Good natured people aren't very vocal. Usually we only hear from obnoxious assholes and psychopaths. ",
"I think that there has been a centuries long propaganda campaign against people who \"opt out\" of the capitalist type employee/employer model of living. Those who find ways to live that don't include spending 40/percent of your life working for someone else are vilified as \"lazy\" or \"shirkers\" etc. If everybody really realized that they're spending their lives as slaves to someone elses' purpose it would destroy this carefully constructed system whick only teall benefits a small portion of humanity.",
"You are asking a loaded question and asking for a debate/discussion. Try another sub."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4l5dfj | how is it that sometimes extremely tall people (7ft) don't have extremely tall parents? | I was looking at pic of Kevin Durant (6'10) with his parents and neither of them are close to his height. They look to be pretty average or just above average in height. How is this possible? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4l5dfj/eli5_how_is_it_that_sometimes_extremely_tall/ | {
"a_id": [
"d3kfd0f",
"d3kg7b9"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Because genetics don't work *that* perfectly. People's height is not hard-coded in their DNA. Plus, Kevin Durant may have very tall ancestors that are not his parents.",
"Height is complicated. Unlike the gene for, say, blue eyes or red hair, there isn't a single identifiable height gene. Scientists say that there are as many as 20 different genes that affect your height. That's just how genetics work. So, the height of your parents or ancestors doesn't guarantee anything about your own height -- you need to have a certain combination of genes in order to be tall/short.\n\nAlso, there are environmental factors like diet and exercise. If you're an active kid and eat a healthy diet with lots of protein, you're going to fulfill your height/size potential moreso than if you spend your childhood being totally sedentary in front of a TV.\n\nSo, Kevin Durant was obviously born with the correct combinations of genes for height. I'm sure he was very active and athletic as a child/teen, so he fulfilled his genetic potential in terms of his height."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
7k6wzq | why do people conflate abortion rights with women's rights? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7k6wzq/eli5_why_do_people_conflate_abortion_rights_with/ | {
"a_id": [
"drbzvk2"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"TLDR; To win arguments. \n\nConservatives have a nasty habit of winning arguments by painting their opponents as godless heathens. Nothing is more godless or heathen than a baby killer. So if there is a group of well meaning people who want to help out lower-income women to plan their families buy offering a vast array of women’s services and one of those happens to be abortions, then they will be painted as godless baby-killers\n\nLiberals have a nasty habit of winning arguments by painting their opponents as backwards idiots who hate anyone that’s different from them. A misogynist who wants to repress women fits that pretty well. So if there is a group of well meaning people who want to decrease the amount of abortions because they feel that they are human lives but that means that they want to take funding away from organizations that promote abortion, then they will be painted as woman-haters.\n\nStraw-man arguments like these have become increasingly popular in politics because people are polarizing, which means there are less moderates which means politicians are no longer competing for the middle. Instead they’re competing to see who can do a better job motivating their right or left base. When you’re competing over the middle, you tend to talk more about the facts and strike a conciliatory tone, but when you’re competing for opposite extremes, it’s easiest to paint the other side as a legitimate danger to your side and say, “you better come out and vote or else they will ruin everything we hold dear!”\n\nAnd now that I’ve offended everyone by not being liberal or conservative enough, I will sit here and enjoy my downvotes."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
307znb | what purpose do fleas have in the ecosystem? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/307znb/eli5_what_purpose_do_fleas_have_in_the_ecosystem/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpq756v"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"They are a parasite. By definition, the only \"purpose\" they serve is to themselves, at the detriment of the host animal. They are taking advantage of a food source and give nothing in return (compared to commensal or symbiotic organiasms which gain advantages by working together)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1n57yf | what does a jail broken iphone mean? | So I have a jail broken iPhone but I don't know what the hell it is. My ex did this to my phone while we were together, but now that we are broken up, I have no clue how to use it, especially want to download iOS 7.
If someone could explain how to do cool things with this technology, I'd appreciate it. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1n57yf/eli5_what_does_a_jail_broken_iphone_mean/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccfi91f",
"ccfl2h2"
],
"score": [
9,
2
],
"text": [
"Because everyone else in these comment sections won't answer the question, I will. A jailbroken iphone allows the iphone to do things it normally is not able to do. It still runs on the iOS, but all the things that it could do, but aren't allowed to by the iOS, are possible by jailbreaking it. Hence \"jailbreaking\" these programs or customizations from their normal restrictions. \n\nYou can do things like change which way you scroll across the app pages, or making 4g turn off automatically when you lock your phone, among literally thousands of other things. I had a program that allowed me to lock landscape mode, even though a normal iPhone can only lock portrait mode. \n\nIf your ex jailbroke your iphone correctly, there should be an app called \"Cydia\" on your phone. Cydia acts as the app store of these programs . You can download most of these programs for free. I couldn't tell you where to start, but you can practically get anything here. If you like game emulators, jailbreaking your phone allows you to download some emulators (probably nothing more than NES, SNES, and Gameboy emulators)\n\nTo make it even more simple: the Apple app store adds applications in addition to your phone's content, Cydia adds applications that literally change your phone's content. \n\n",
"A jailbreak is basically a hack that runs on the iPhone and disables all of Apple's application execution protection (the reason why you have to get apps from the App Store only on non-jailbroken iPhones), which allows you to run any executable code without restrictions, and also unlocks system privileges and opens up the filesystem.\n\nFor example, you can use a jailbreak to run a theme application or loading complex apps.\n\nJailbreaks are limited, however, and only work on specific iOS versions that the hacks/exploits were coded for. iOS 6.0-6.1.2 or earlier can be jailbroken, but currently iOS 7 and 6.1.3 cannot since no one has found an exploit for it yet."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
7oz576 | how does tread (like snow tires and boots) provide better grip if they are packed with snow? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7oz576/eli5_how_does_tread_like_snow_tires_and_boots/ | {
"a_id": [
"dsdj0nq",
"dsdmap2",
"dsdnhz0",
"dsds30d",
"dsds59d"
],
"score": [
38,
2,
4,
2,
33
],
"text": [
"It isn’t just tread on snow tires that makes them better for snow than other tires. \n\nMost rubber gets hard in cold/icy conditions, so the rubber isn’t able to grip and is as good as having tires made of rock. However the rubber compound used to make snow tires is made in a way that keeps them from getting as “hard” at cold temperatures, allowing them to remain more grippy in those conditions.\n\n",
"A) Thread generally increases the surface the tire has contact with the ground/snow.\n\nB) Thread has more edges that summer tires, the edges \"grip\" better into the street or even snow and slide less away. \n\nC) As was said by u/sd_aero, the rubber itself is a different mix for winter tires. In the summer it becomes too soft and wears out faster, but in the winter it still is flexible enough to give you better grip. Rubber in summer tires becomes hard in cold temperatures and as such loses contact area (it is less compressed down on the road) and grip (the material itself slides easier).\n\nAll seasons tires try to balance both the rubber mixture as well as the tread, but depending on the temperature change (cold winters, hot summers) in your area they might not be useful to use, in temperate climates with mild winters and cooler summers they are actually an alternative (unless you hit a particularly cold week in winter). ",
"Snow tires are designed to trap snow in the tread as the grip that snow has on snow is greater than the grip rubber has on snow. Once you squeeze a snowball tightly, it sticks together very firmly. That effect is the goal of trapping snow in the tread of snow tires. They are also designed with many edges (sipes) that wipe water off of ice to increase grip on ice. \nAlthough superficially similar in appearance, mud tires have larger gaps between the treads such that mud and snow fall out of the spaces, making mud tires the worst performers in the snow.",
"Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet is that nothing sticks to snow better than snow. Part of the tread pattern of snow tires is designed to actually trap snow, as to increase grip!",
"The tread of a winter tire is covered in grooves called \"sipes\". Similar to it skating, the tire actually melts the snow and ice when it drives over it, and the sipes are specially designed to evacuate water. \n\nThis is why narrower winter tires work better. \n\nThe rubber compound is also different than a summer or all season tires. Different companies have their own gimmicks (Toyo uses crushed up black walnuts, allegedly the hardest organic substance on the planet) and their own tread patterns. \n\nDifferent tread patterns will behave differently on ice, snow, or slush.\n\nTo answer your question, they don't work nearly as well when the treads are packed with snow. They're designed to get rid of it. More research and development goes into the production of winter tires than you think."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
83m82v | if i fire lasers opposite directions, what speed do they have relative to each other? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/83m82v/eli5_if_i_fire_lasers_opposite_directions_what/ | {
"a_id": [
"dviv7fx",
"dviwujv",
"dviyf3w",
"dviywbe"
],
"score": [
6,
3,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Adding relative speeds is technically not correct. It's just a very close approximation for slow speeds (as in: significantly less than the speed of light). To answer the title question: the two beams move away from each other at the speed of light AND they both move away from the starting point at the speed of light. It's mind-bending, yes, but it can be proven by experiment and the math of relativity predicts exactly that.\n\nTime and space are relative themselves, they seemingly stretch and contract depending on relative speeds.\n\nI your example with the 2km/h + 100km/h the resulting speed after \"adding\" is actually a tiny bit less than 102 km/h because of this. This effect gets stronger the bigger the speeds are until it completely cancels the addition out at the speed of light.",
" > Lets say train standing still and ground goes -100km/h relative to train and I go +2km/h relative to train. This way shouldnt I exactly move 102km/h relative to ground? And I can move with a speed of 2km/h if train stops but when train starts going forward with a speed of 100km/h then I became moving slower? Or adding 2 speeds just like that is wrong?\n\nYes it is. But why? After all, it is just intuitive. However, there is a final arbiter of reality, and that is experiment.\n\nWe have 2 theories:\n\n* Galilean Relativity says that the answer is = 102 km/h\n\n* Special Relativity says that the answer is < 102 km/h\n\nYour (or anybody's) opinion and intuition doesn't matter. We just have to do it, and see the result.\n\nThe answer is, if you have sufficiently sensitive instrument, that the answer is < 102 km/h. The bad news is, the answer doesn't make sense (to most people) and run counter to intuition (to everyone). But it doesn't matter, that's how the reality works and we have to deal with it. The good news is that have a theoretical/mathematical model of how Special relativity works (Lorentz transformation), which means that, it is not important whether it is even possible to understand how and why the answer is < 102 km/h, we can still make GPS work.",
"c. And yes that is mindblowing.\n\nWe're basically talking about [relatavistic velocity addition](_URL_0_). In other words if I run away from you at speed x and you run away from me at speed y then standard physics says that the speed between us is x + y, but relativistic velocity addition says that's actually an oversimplification and the true speed is actually:\n\nx + y / (1 + ( xy / c^2 ) )\n\nWhy? Well it's complicated and you basically need to look closely at Lorentz transforms to fully understand it, but my slightly simplistic and not-entirely-correct-but-it-will do explanation is as follows:\n\nSpeed = distance / time. But relativity says that distance and speed are related to each other. The faster you go the slower time goes. So speed = distance / a thing which is also related to speed. And that's a function that has a limit. If the faster you go the slower time goes then there comes a point where you can't go any faster because going faster just makes time go slower to the point where you're actually not moving any faster at all. That's c. \n\nAnd adding speed is the same. You can't just add my speed to your speed because your speed comes attached to the speed at which you experience time, which is self limiting.\n\nHope that helps.",
" > Or maybe explaining with photons is confusing because of low mass. \n\nYes, this conversation is a lot easier if you're not trying to figure out what a photon \"sees\". And a photon can't see anyway. So let's take your second case.\n\n > Let's say there are 3 planets or galaxies A B and C. GalaxyA moving away from B with a speed of 0.7c (so it's not greater then speed of light) and GalaxyC is also moving away from B opposite direction with same speed as 0.7c, this way A and C moving faster then c relative to each other. If we look from A to C we see its going away from us more than c?\n\nNope! Their speed relative to each other is 0.939 c.\n\n > If not, and speed of C is still lower then constant c, how B sees each object moving away from with 0.7c?\n\nBecause only one of the following two things can be true:\n\n1) Velocities add using ordinary addition\n\n2) The speed of light is the same in all reference frames.\n\nYour everyday experience teaches you that #1 is correct, and #2 is crazy, but your everyday experience is wrong. Your only hope is to let go of that and embrace #2 as a fundamental truth of the universe and see where that leads you.\n\nIt leads you [here](_URL_0_)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity-addition_formula#Special_relativity"
],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velocity-addition_formula#Special_relativity"
]
] | ||
65dse0 | why does isis exist, and is it the fault of actions western countries have taken in the past? | So I've tried to google the answer to this question and I'm getting a lot of mixed messages. I'm not here cause an argument or start a debate, I'd just like a simplified, clear history of how ISIS came to be. Please | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/65dse0/eli5_why_does_isis_exist_and_is_it_the_fault_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"dg9fn55"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"ISIS exists because there are some people that think they can improve their lives by supporting it.\n\n\"Fault\" is a very subjective term. Actions by many groups over the last 2500 years have led to the present situation. More than enough blame exists to go around to everyone.\n\nISIS came to be when some al Queda folks decided that being a non-state actor was proving ineffective. They would do stuff, but they were always subject to the sometimes unhelpful actions of the government hosting them. \"We could do this better if we had out own country.\" So, they captured a couple of towns and declared themselves a country. Sometimes this works, see South Sudan. It just didn't work when ISIS did it because the folks in the cities they captured turned into refugees and fled the area. To have a country, you need to have people who want to be in your country."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
724ajp | why nfl players are getting brain damage when they are all wearing huge helmets. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/724ajp/eli5_why_nfl_players_are_getting_brain_damage/ | {
"a_id": [
"dnfmbux",
"dnfngrg"
],
"score": [
22,
3
],
"text": [
"From my limited understanding most brain damage doesnt occur from sharp impact but rather from the concussion.\n\nYour brain sits suspended in fluid inside your skull. \n\nImagine you have a pizza in a box. The pizza is your brain, the box is your skull. \n\nIt doesnt matter if that box is made from titanium, If you shake that box around hard enough your pizza is gonna be wreaked. \n\nIf you take a hard hit, even though you didnt break your skull, the momentum will cause your brain to collide with the inside of your skull \n",
"I'm not sure how true it is today but I know there was a news article or a podcast I listened to a while back that talked about how a lot of these guys don't wear their helmets properly either. That article talked about how they are used to having loose helmets from playing with ill-fitting stuff when they were young so that's how they wear them now. Those helmets are designed to be worn tight so your head can't rattle around inside it. Every time you see a helmet pop off a guys head on the field, that's someone who is doing it wrong."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1ekcxf | why does it burn when you hold snow then put your hand in warm water? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ekcxf/eli5_why_does_it_burn_when_you_hold_snow_then_put/ | {
"a_id": [
"ca12qte"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"There's a couple of parts to this. First of all when your hand is cold the blood vessels all contract to stop you drawing the cold in to your body core and thus it's just your hand that's cold not the vital organs. When you put it in warm water then that opens the blood vessels quickly and this can be uncomfortable. \n\nThe other other part is what the pain receptors in your skin do about temperature. They obviously react to extremes of temperature. Put you hand in boiling water and it's going to hurt. A lot. This is because the skin recognises it's being damaged and is prompting you get get your hand out of there RIGHT NOW! \n\nThe skin also reacts to quick changes in temperature even though the temperature may be within safe limits. This is effectively making you aware that this might be about to be dangerous if it continues changing so quickly. Early warning if you will. \n\nIt's like being cold and getting in a pleasantly hot bath. The water in the bath might be 30+ degrees C difference to your skin temperature. Variations like this in nature are often associated with really bad news for your skin. Therefore rather than coping with changes like it could Mother Nature has seen fit to make this an unpleasant experience initially. Once you've been in there a few moments and the skin has adjusted all is well and the warning sensation goes away. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
101cas | how did julia gillard become prime minister? | For those of you that are experts in Australian Politics; Tell me how Julia Gillard became prime minister of australia.
Thanks. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/101cas/eli5_how_did_julia_gillard_become_prime_minister/ | {
"a_id": [
"c69kaj8",
"c69lao6"
],
"score": [
4,
3
],
"text": [
"Gillard challenged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to a vote for who would be leader of the ALP (and therefore the Prime Minister). K Rudd initially said that he would challenge her, but when it turned out that basically no one supported him, he stepped down, making Gillard the leader of the party and the Prime Minister. ",
"Also - she was voted in by the Australian Public in the last election. The Kevin Rudd fiasco happened before that."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
92u3ue | when ussr disbanded, why didn't countries from which it had taken land take it back? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/92u3ue/eli5when_ussr_disbanded_why_didnt_countries_from/ | {
"a_id": [
"e38e4mz"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"How would they do that?\n\nThose part was considered a part of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic that become Russia today. Bassarabia/Moldova was Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.\n\nThe split of USSR resulted in that the 15 Soviet Socialist Republic that was in a way considered independent left the union and become the countries we know today.\n\nSo to get the areas you mentioned back they would have to get Russia to agree to that or invade. There was almost no of the population left from the the former countries. That is the case for Germany and Finland I am not sure for Japan\n\nSo there was not a moment there to leave Russia as the population was primary Russians.\n\nYou are missing one large land grab of the Soviet union. After/during WWII the border of Poland shifted. The eastern part become Belorussian and Ukrainian and Poland got part of eastern Germany as compensation. So Germany have lost a lot of land to Poland. Half of east Prussia become Russian and the other part Poland so Kaliningrad is only half of it.\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1lyewy | how do we discover and extract gasses? | Like helium for example. Or natural gasses, do we just go exploring caves with some kind of scanner and when it goes off we put a vacuum in there?
(Apologies for any mistakes, on mobile) | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lyewy/eli5_how_do_we_discover_and_extract_gasses/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc47ou2"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The gasses are in the air we breath. Oxygen is made up of many gasses and they can be separated into each component.\n\n( I don't know processes sadly) "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3rf900 | given a casino game with at least equal payout on your bet, if you double your bet each time won't it eventually pay off more than your losses? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3rf900/eli5_given_a_casino_game_with_at_least_equal/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwniwwa",
"cwniydb",
"cwnjadn"
],
"score": [
6,
7,
5
],
"text": [
"This is why casinos have table limits. Eventually you would get to a point where your required bet would exceed the table limit.",
"This is called the [Martingale strategy](_URL_0_ and it is an *extremely* bad idea. No, you can't count on winning beforehand, because you're doubling your bet every time - it will not take long at all for your money to run out. It'll work the first few times you try it, and then you'll hit a bad streak of luck and lose *all* your money.",
" > The only risk is playing until I am completely out of money\n\nYou identified one of the problems. This works if you have an infinite bankroll and there is no maximum bet. If you don't have unlimited funds or there is a maximum, however, you eventually go bust.\n\n > in a game like blackjack with near 50% odds I can count on winning beforehand, right?\n\nNo. Things scale extraordinarily quickly. If you're starting with a $100 bet, as you describe, and you play 1,000 hands, there is more than a 1/3 chance that you'll run into a streak of 10 straight losses. If your bankroll isn't 100k or if the table maximum is under 50k, you go bust. Even if your bankroll and the table max are massive, you will eventually run into a long streak that breaks you."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martingale_(betting_system%29)"
],
[]
] | |
d097g1 | why does your vision get "weird" when you get a new pair of glasses? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d097g1/eli5_why_does_your_vision_get_weird_when_you_get/ | {
"a_id": [
"ez7xvfq",
"ez8362h"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Your eyes were used to the old prescription. You new glasses are a slightly stronger or weaker so your eyes have to readjust. Think about as your looking down a microscope and adjusting the knobs to get a better view. Your new frames are a turn of the knob to get a better view. Theres a big difference in off versus on so your brain knows your glasses will fix it...\n\nI've been wearing glasses since 1997, gone through many pairs...this is just my personal experience. I'm sure there is a more scientific explanation",
"One of the things a new prescription or lens size will do is change your field of view - effectively zooming your vision in or out slightly. While it makes you feel a little off, this also really trips up your depth perception. Five feet may look like six. This can really trip you up when driving or jumping or opening doors."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
5v5hl9 | what does it mean to have a certain percentage of ownership in a company, and how does that translate into a monetary value? | This post was inspired by someone's AdviceAnimal meme, saying that he/she was offered 10% of a company for creating a product that sold out twice (whether it's true or not is irrelevant to me). I also enjoy watching Shark Tank, and of course all of the deals involve one of the Sharks taking a certain percentage of the company in exchange for whatever money is provided to the company. My question is, especially in the case of the 10% in the first example, how is that translated into dollars and cents? If I were just of the blue given 10% ownership in any one company, what does that entitle me to have/do and, let's say on my taxes, how much would I be required to pay? Thanks for any responses. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5v5hl9/eli5_what_does_it_mean_to_have_a_certain/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddzdfqd"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"If you own X% of a company, that would grant you certain rights and privileges in guiding that company, depending on how the company is structured. Typically, you'd have some say/vote in how company runs although whether that's any actual power depends on how distrubuted the ownership is... if one other guy owns 90%, then he'll always get his way. If there are 20 partners who each own less than 10%, then you might be able to side with them against the founder if you have different opinions.\n\nAn ownership stake would also typically grant you a 10% cut of whatever profits/dividends the owners pull out of the business at the end of the year. If once all the bills are paid, etc. and there is $100k profit left that ownership decides to pay out as profit sharing to owners, then he'd get $10k. But the business could decide to retain the earnings to re-invest into the business.\n\nAdditionally, his net worth would go up by 1/10 the value of the business. Depending on the type of business, there is usually a ratio of profits that determine a business value... often about 8-10x profits. So let's say this business is worth $1 million were it to be sold, then his 10% ownership would be worth $100k. While it's a number on his net worth, it's not really something he can do much with unless the business goes public, gets sold, etc."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
kix86 | fractal dimensions. how is a 2.x dimension anything possible? | Bonus: Why are commercial antennae more efficient with fractal geometric designs? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/kix86/fractal_dimensions_how_is_a_2x_dimension_anything/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2klxtt",
"c2kpplp",
"c2klxtt",
"c2kpplp"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
4,
3
],
"text": [
"You can think of the fractal dimension as being a number that describes how well a certain object fills up a space. The best way to get a sense of what this means is to look through [this list of fractals which has their fractal (Hausdorff) dimension along with a little picture](_URL_0_). \n\n\n\n",
"The way I understand it, which may not be correct: \n\nImagine a square with sides 1x1. If you double the length in all directions, you will get 2x2, for an area of 4. Which is 2 to the second power (dimension 2)\n\nMathematically, D = log(4) / log(2) = 2\n\nImagine a cube 1x1x1, if you double it you will get 2x2x2 for a volume of 8. Which is 2 to the 3rd power (dimension 3). \n\nD = log(8) / log(2) = 3\n\nOther shapes, like fractals, are defined in really strange ways that doubling their size results in odd multiples. \n\nThe cantor fractal (easiest to explain) is made by taking the real line from 0 to 1, and then removing the middle third from it. (you're left with 0-1/3, and 2/3 - 1)\n\nThen iterate the process. The cantor set is the end result of this process. \n\n\nIf you triple the initial size of the line, you'll end up with twice as many points in the final set (after the first iteration, you have 0-1 and 2-3, which will obviously result in the points of the cantor set, and the points of the cantor set + 2).\n\nMathematically, log(2) / log(3) = 0.69... etc.\n\nNow this set is between 0 and 1, (it's less than the real line). So it makes sense that its dimension is between 0 and 1. I'm sure you can think of some fractals that are between 1 and 2, and then 2.x would just be follow the same pattern, but between 2 and 3 dimensions. \n\n\nI have no clue why antennae are more efficient with fractal designs.",
"You can think of the fractal dimension as being a number that describes how well a certain object fills up a space. The best way to get a sense of what this means is to look through [this list of fractals which has their fractal (Hausdorff) dimension along with a little picture](_URL_0_). \n\n\n\n",
"The way I understand it, which may not be correct: \n\nImagine a square with sides 1x1. If you double the length in all directions, you will get 2x2, for an area of 4. Which is 2 to the second power (dimension 2)\n\nMathematically, D = log(4) / log(2) = 2\n\nImagine a cube 1x1x1, if you double it you will get 2x2x2 for a volume of 8. Which is 2 to the 3rd power (dimension 3). \n\nD = log(8) / log(2) = 3\n\nOther shapes, like fractals, are defined in really strange ways that doubling their size results in odd multiples. \n\nThe cantor fractal (easiest to explain) is made by taking the real line from 0 to 1, and then removing the middle third from it. (you're left with 0-1/3, and 2/3 - 1)\n\nThen iterate the process. The cantor set is the end result of this process. \n\n\nIf you triple the initial size of the line, you'll end up with twice as many points in the final set (after the first iteration, you have 0-1 and 2-3, which will obviously result in the points of the cantor set, and the points of the cantor set + 2).\n\nMathematically, log(2) / log(3) = 0.69... etc.\n\nNow this set is between 0 and 1, (it's less than the real line). So it makes sense that its dimension is between 0 and 1. I'm sure you can think of some fractals that are between 1 and 2, and then 2.x would just be follow the same pattern, but between 2 and 3 dimensions. \n\n\nI have no clue why antennae are more efficient with fractal designs."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fractals_by_Hausdorff_dimension"
],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fractals_by_Hausdorff_dimension"
],
[]
] | |
4j886k | how do amoeba detect food? | In biology class I've learned that amoeba extend these things called pseudopods to engulf their food. This leaves me wondering: how exactly do they detect food without eyes, or even a brain? What chemistry that goes on makes it possible? Please try to explain in extreme detail, to the molecular level. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4j886k/eli5_how_do_amoeba_detect_food/ | {
"a_id": [
"d34lfmb"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"First you need a bacteria in the environment that the amoeba would like to munch up and digest. This bacteria of interest will be secreting chemicals (I do not know specifically what the chemicals are as they will vary depending upon the bacteria) into its environment and the concentration of these chemicals will be highest right next to the bacteria and gradually reduce in concentration as you move away from the bacteria because of diffusion (known as a chemical concentration gradient). This concentration gradient is the important thing that enables the amoeba to know which direction the bacteria is - by determining which side of itself is exposed to the higher concentration of chemical coming from the bacteria.\nHow does the amoeba determine which side is facing the higher chemical concentration? The amoeba will have many protein receptors dotted around all over its membrane which are capable of binding to the chemical given off by the bacteria. Once bound it becomes an activated receptor which then creates and amplifies a signal within the cell telling the amoeba to start forming more pseodopods close to where the signal was made. If there are more signals occurring on one side of the amoeba than the other, then more pseodopods are formed on that side and hence more movement in that direction.\n\nThats the basic outline of what happens as I dont really know specifics for this signalling pathway in amoeba. A similar process happens with your white blood cells when they go hunting for bacteria in your body, its called *chemotaxis* and *phagocytosis*. I don't know specifically what the receptors are, but they are likely to be a type of receptor called *G-protein coupled receptors* and they are involved in many hundreds of different signalling pathways in cells. Pseodopods are formed by *microtubules* (and other types of filament) assembling and disassembling rapidly (like stacking and de-stacking lego bricks to make tall towers). If you want any more details about the words the processes i've highlighted in italics, feel free to ask me (or google it). Also if there's anything i've written that doesn't quite make sense, i can try and explain it better :)\n\n "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
abo5cj | why are there a host of "remastered" versions of music i listened to in the 90's? weren't they mixed properly back then? what needs to be remastered about them? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/abo5cj/eli5_why_are_there_a_host_of_remastered_versions/ | {
"a_id": [
"ed1sbzb"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"This is a common question and here's a good answer from just yesterday: _URL_0_\n\nBasically, as technology improves and musical tastes evolve, studios will go back to the original recordings and remake the music to match the latest standards. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ab28ce/eli5_what_does_it_mean_when_it_says_music_is/ecwzdhc/"
]
] | |
3fztw5 | why is killing fish not recognized as animal cruelty? | People go crazy over animal cruelty but it's perfectly okay to slice up a fish or boil a lobster alive. Just seems cruel to me. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3fztw5/eli5_why_is_killing_fish_not_recognized_as_animal/ | {
"a_id": [
"cttgubf",
"cttgyaq",
"cttgyh0",
"cttlh5u",
"cttnxqt",
"cttriwl",
"cttrrta",
"cttu6dk",
"ctty29z"
],
"score": [
51,
6,
20,
5,
3,
3,
2,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"Some people see any killing of an animal as animal cruelty, or even liken it to murder. Some people don't have a problem with killing any animal. Neither position is ubiquitous, and most people are in the middle. Influencing factors can vary, such as the rarity of the animal, and the cuteness of the animal. More people are upset if you kill a familiar animal like a horse or dog, or a 'cute' animal like a lion or a tiger, than if you kill an 'ugly' animal like a spider or a frog, or an animal associated with common diets, like a cow or a chicken.\n\nFish and lobsters tend to be associated with food, aren't generally considered cute, and these factors don't help their 'cause' as it were.",
"If you aren't a hypocrite then you consider both of them in the same way. I personally am totally fine with killing animals for food (at least as you don't just get one tiny part and throw the rest away at least).",
"The same reason hunting wildlife isn't animal cruelty. \n\nThat said, to your point, there are specific ways in which animals must be slaughtered, which are considered humane. Also, many simple creatures (lobsters, fish, mollusks, worms, bugs, etc.) have such simple nervous systems that their brains cannot comprehend the idea of \"pain.\" In essence, they don't feel pain, so no matter how you slice it (pun intended), it really isn't \"cruel.\"\n\nFor humans, pain is associated to emotions, and our emotions are a large part of what drives our comprehension of pain. Simple animals don't have these emotions, and therefore, no comprehension for pain.\n\nScience time: Invertebrates have a mechanism called chain ganglia, which are groups of neurons connected by nerve fibers. When stimulated, these chain ganglia cause muscles to contract. The chain ganglia network is so simple it doesn't even require a brain. So, if you were to remove the head of a lobster, the body of the lobster would still react the same way, because of the local reflexes involving those chain ganglia.\n\nWhen you drop a lobster in boiling water, or put a fishhook through a worm, or even hook a fish through its gill, those stimuli cause those muscles to contract. Humans describe that response as pain because of the motor response (which is similar to that of a human writhing in pain), which is nothing more than neurons that have been stimulated.\n\nBack to the point: there are specific procedures that must be adhered to when killing an animal, fish, etc., that will cause as little \"pain\" - or muscle response - as possible to the wildlife to keep it from seeming cruel.",
"fish are not warm fuzzy animals. The general public doesn't outcry for animals that are not universally considered cute. If it is warm blooded and has fluffiness people care. Scales, shells, slime? There isn't enough people that see value in these animals to move politicians to action and classify these animals under the same laws of cruelty",
"Because we eat the fish. Then when we die our bodies become the tetra flakes which feed the fish. ",
"\"We should be concerned about the wellbeing of conscious creatures to the degree that they are conscious\". \n\n-Sam Harris\n\nIf you think about things in this way, it kinda works out - we should care more about killing dolphins and dogs than spiders and snakes, but should still care about snakes and deer more than we can about ants and wasps. \n\nIntention is also important: Senseless killing is a more immoral act than killing to satisfy the need for hunger, shelter, and other physical needs. \n\nHunting purely for sport, since it is not at all for survival, could be worse than killing an entire nest of ants, despite the numbers for the ant nest being around the thousands and thousands mark.",
"In general, society doesn't consider it inherently cruel to kill a \"food\" animal for food and focuses instead on minimizing the suffering that the animal experiences.\n\nMany of the ways we prepare foods are based tradition rather than modern science.\n\n\n\n\n\n",
"Phoebe: \"turkeys are intelligent, beautiful animals\"\n\nJoey: \"no they're not, they're ugly, and stupid, and delicious!\"",
"Killing =/= cruelty. Cruelty implies inflicting *unnecessary* suffering upon the subject.\n\nIf you're preparing food, it is presumed necessary to kill the animal in the process, but not to stab a cow a thousand time with a steak-knife until it dies.\n\nSome animals, like insects and crustateans, are presumed to basically be too stupid to suffer, and the best way to prepare them for human consumption involves cooking them alive. I'm not claiming to be an authority on this part, I'm just stating the presumption."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1shioq | why does https make some restricted web pages visable | Right now, I'm on reddit on my school laptop and it's usually restricted. I added https:// to it and now I can see everything. Why? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1shioq/eli5_why_does_https_make_some_restricted_web/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdxml3e",
"cdxmt21",
"cdxn4ko"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"There is an internet proxy at your school where they have apparently restricted access to non-https sites. This is not something \"the internet\" does, it's a very specific (albeit fairly worthless) security setting that the network administrators have done at your school.",
"Your school may have some kind of security filter to block webpages that may have certain keywords.\n\nIf you use HTTPS it encrypts the page information which will prevent the filter from reading the content of the page. ",
"The firewall/proxy is probably restricting certain sites on port 80 (HTTP), but missing port 443 (HTTPS)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1zrrc8 | how is safeway only "worth" 9 billion whereas whatsapp sold for 19? | I don't understand why tech companies like WhatApp or Snapchat are valued so highly (despite having relatively little or no revenue) while Safeway (2013 revenue ~31 billion) is only "worth" 9 billion.
Edit: thanks for all the answers | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1zrrc8/eli5_how_is_safeway_only_worth_9_billion_whereas/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfwc42w"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"A company is worth what someone else is willing to pay.\n\nThis number is usually based on the estimated value of its future cash flows discounted for being in the future.\n\nEdit: Sorry for finance terms. Basically I mean that a firm is worth what all of the money its going to make in the future is worth, adjusted by a % to account for it being in the future.\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
tntok | - why aren't jews for jesus considered christians? | EDIT: I guess the better question is why do they identify themselves as "Jews for Jesus" and not as "Christians" | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/tntok/eli5_why_arent_jews_for_jesus_considered/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4o8ua2"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Simple rule, if you believe Jesus is the incarnation of God you are *Christ*ian. Jewish religion does not believe this. Jewish also refers to a race of people. So a Jewish person can be a Christian because of term Jew meaning different things."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1uteh9 | why is the "f" word considered so much worse than other curse words? | I've googled it and look through a few sites but wasn't able to find out why | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1uteh9/eli5_why_is_the_f_word_considered_so_much_worse/ | {
"a_id": [
"celhqnf",
"celi1ra",
"celig2p"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
3
],
"text": [
"Um, the \"C\" word is considered much worse than the \"F\" word in the United States, so there's that.....\n\n*Edit: Some people, such as myself, consider the \"C\" word to be worse than the \"F\" word. ",
"Short answer: it's not, there are far worse words.\n\nMore complicated answer: words only have 'power' to be 'bad' if we give them that power. Is the word screw actually less worse than fuck? Of course not.",
"The hard K sound. Which you also get with the word Cunt. Basically it's not the word itself. It's the sound."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
cljjv5 | what does it mean when two currencies are compared in their exchange rates are considered strong or weak relative to the other? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cljjv5/eli5_what_does_it_mean_when_two_currencies_are/ | {
"a_id": [
"evvqn6w",
"evvricz",
"evwfdum"
],
"score": [
3,
19,
5
],
"text": [
"The word purchasing power often comes up when talking about currencies. This helps to describe the value (materials received) you receive for every dollar spent of a given currency. So for example a loaf of bread may cost $3 in the us. Well if you convert say 3 euros to us $, you will be able to buy that loaf of bread and still have some money left over bc the Euro is worth more than a dollar. The value thing is key here. So in a poor country bread might be cheap. So if you come from a rich country and exchange your money, the bread will seem really cheap relative to the amount of money you exchanged. But in reality this is bc of the currency differences. It will be a lot harder for the people of the poorer country to earn the same value because the country is so poor. Unless of course you are in a country where your economy has been run so poorly that your dollar is worthless, ie Venezuela. But that’s a whole other discussion.",
"Foreign currencies are valued based on the amount of that currency available to banks and exchanges on the market. For example, if a US company does business in Japan, it might need to purchase Yen to do so.\n\nThis need for yen then goes up. Alternatively, if nobody wants to do business in Japan, nobody is buying Yen, and the value goes down.\n\nIf the Japanese want their currency to be valued lower, then they will put more of their currency for sale, or restrict it from being created or going to the exchanges to raise the value. This is artificially valuing/devaluing the currency.\n\nOn top of that, you have inflation and deflation of the currency, but don’t focus on that too much for this ELI5.\n\nIf I live in Japan and I’m making and selling PlayStation 4’s paying Japanese employees using Japanese hardware, I want the yen to be low, that way foreign buyers are enticed to buy my stuff because it’s cheaper.\n\nIf I’m running a large video game convention in America and want to have a ton of PlayStation 4’s, I want yen to be low too, so I can buy them cheaply.\n\nIf I’m the guy making PlayStation 4’s for 1500 yen an hour, going home in my Japanese car to drink Japanese beer and eat Japanese grown food, I don’t really care about the conversion rate.",
"There are two things you need to consider here.\n\n1. What the exchange rate is between the two currencies, as in, how many Australian Dollars can you buy with a US Dollar.\n\n2. What the prevailing rates of goods are in the two countries, as in, how many Australian Dollars does it take to buy an XBox in Australia, versus how many US Dollars does it take to buy an XBox in the US.\n\nWith those two things, you can look at relative strength or weakness. If that Xbox costs $300 in US Dollars in the US, but costs $500 Australian Dollars in Australia, despite the exchange rate suggesting it should cost closer to $450 Australian Dollars to be equivalent to the US cost, then the US Dollar is relatively strong, compared to the Australian Dollar (at least for Xboxes)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
6pejoq | why is soy associated with low/decreasing testosterone? and if that's the case, why is natto (fermented soybeans) known to boost testosterone? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6pejoq/eli5_why_is_soy_associated_with_lowdecreasing/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkoqjui",
"dkor5no",
"dkor8di"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"For the first question (based on my general understanding) \n\nSoy naturally contains estrogen, which is like the hormonal opposite of testosterone. Everyone has a mix of these hormones (and others, but for simplicity's sake I'm only going to talking about testosterone and estrogen), which are sensitive to your general lifestyle (such as sleep, diet, prescription/recreational/abused/non-abused drugs, etc). \nIf your consuming something with estrogen constantly, you're going to suppress testosterone. \n\n\nSecond question: \nI couldn't find anything that substantiates natto as a testosterone booster. If it is, then I would guess that once soy is fermented, the chemical changes eliminate the estrogen. \n That's a complete shot in the dark, the only thing I found online about natto was a general health page that used a lot of buzzwords to make it sound like an obscure Japanese superfood. ",
"Soy has estrogen in it. Consuming estrogen, even plant estrogen at sufficiently high doses will lower testosterone production. This is how hormone conversion therapy works for transgendered people. \n\nNatto has no connections to boosting testosterone from scientific studies that I have found. There are some old wives tales and folk myths about it, but those are likely tied to it smelling a bit like the dead so taking a modicum of bravery to eat. ",
"No expert here, but as part of my treatment for PCOS and hirsutism I was suggested to eat more of soybeam.\n\nAs I understand there is not a great lot of research on the efficacy of this, but basically soybeans are rich in isoflavones that act like phytoestrogens, which are xenoestrogens (a type of xenohormone - compounds that act like hormones). In short: isoflavones are rich in plant-based estrogen-like compounds.\n\nSo, regarding natto, what I think is the cause of confusion (after checking some fitness blogs) is the fact that fermented soybeans are very rich in vitamin K2 (menaquinones - that have bacterial origin - which explains why it's present in fermented version of soy only), which some studies show might play a role in the production of testosterone -- the deficiency in said vitamin seems to be connected to lower testosterone levels.\n\nThe conflict here is that soybean provides a good source of isoflavones that boost levels of estrogen, but in fermented form also provides lots of vitamin K2, which might contribute to testosterone production.\n\nIn the end, sounds just like the confusion is due to fitness blog's poor research :P"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
dq7qg1 | how did the every part of the world come to only use the calendar we are currently using today? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dq7qg1/eli5_how_did_the_every_part_of_the_world_come_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"f611phk",
"f611skn",
"f612q6i",
"f61d9ms"
],
"score": [
10,
6,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"It has to do with British colonialism. The British Empire owned a very large part of the world for sometime and enforced the British way of doing things...and it worked so why change it? It makes it simple for international business and travel because everyone is using the same system...sort of the same thing happened with the English language and Christianity.",
"The short answer is that it doesn't. For one (admittedly batshit) example North Korea uses the \"Juche\" calendar. There's also the Iranian Muslim calendar, and Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand use modified version of the Gregorian calendar the rest of us use. \n\nMore broadly if you look at the history of calendars, the simple answer is that groups spent a few thousand years killing and invading each other, and consolidating their calendars.",
"The Gregorian calendar was used by the majority of Europe for the past few hundred years, and as they colonized most of the globe, they brought their calendar with them across Africa, the Americas, and parts of Asia. By the turn of the 20th century, if your country or region wasn't directly controlled or influenced by Europe, you certainly were conducting trade with them, so it was handy to pick up their calendar and use it alongside your traditional calendar.\n\nThen, come globalization following the world wars, when international travel and international business (not to mention computers and the internet) became an everyday thing, it made even more sense to adopt the most widely-used calendar. \n\nThat being said, traditional calendars are still used, mainly for cultural and religious events, while day-to-day, the Gregorian calendar is used basically across the globe. The Hebrew and Islamic calendars are mostly lunar-based, and are used to determine the dates of holy days and festivals. The Chinese calendar is still used to determine holidays as well, which is why the Year of the Pig started this year on February 5th - it's based on a lunar calendar and so the date moves around on the Western calendar.",
"They don't. However, that current calendar was widely exported with European colonialism around the world. Those populations that don't use said calendar still generally do business with the rest of the world, much of which does. As a result, it is often convenient for them to either convert, or at least widely understand it. But there are absolutely locations with different calendars in use."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
mf0s7 | what is the internet backbone? | I know what the internet is, how it works and everything. It's a basically a giant network of connected computers that can talk to each other with different protocols. But is the actual backbone of the internet? how does it work? does any one own it? who gets to decided which protocols are used? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mf0s7/what_is_the_internet_backbone/ | {
"a_id": [
"c30ea9h",
"c30hhv6",
"c30ea9h",
"c30hhv6"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"My understanding is that the internet is more akin to society and trends rather than a company and procedures. Imagine you're at school, and one kid wears a coat that everyone else likes. Soon, more kids buy that coat and you see lots of kids wearing it. Same goes for anything else, like sayings or cartoon shows, they just catch on because people like them, not because anyone in charge says so. At the same time, you also have popular kids who can decide something is cool, and lots of other people will follow them. I think it could be said that Google is a popular kid, and when Google does something lots of other kids follow.",
"The Internet backbone is a network just like any other, except it uses quite a bit different hardware to facilitate communication.\n\nBasically, it breaks down to some massive switches and routers and some very very wide tubes. \n\n-----\n\nOkay, say you're sending some information to a computer in Europe (whereas you're located in the US). First, the information gets split up into little pieces called packets, and encapsulated on the software level. Your program encapsulates the data, then the network stack further encapsulates the data, then its passed to the hardware which adds its own encapsulation. This is to enable each of these layers to figure out where your information needs to go.\n\nSo now you have this, for the sake of discussion, single packet. This packet was generated on your computer. Your computer sends it down the network connection to your router. Now, your router is likely connected to your modem which is connected to a big switch on your ISP's side. Lets say your ISP is a smaller more local one. They have hardware in your city, but nowhere else. So, now your packet is on your ISPs network. They do some stuff to it and figure out where they have to further send it. They send it along to *their* ISP, a big statewide company that has infrastructure all over the state. This statewide ISP takes data from all of the smaller ISPs onto its own network and then sends it along to the national ISP. This ISP has infrastructure all over the country. It is to the statewide ISPs as the statewide ISP is to all the city ISPs. \n\nThese big national ISPs form the 'backbone'. They have the infrastructure, such as very powerful routers, switches and enough cabling to handle very large amounts of data. Whereas your connection to your ISP might be in the 10mbit range, the backbones are running at speeds of Gigabits, if not Terabits per second. Each higher level aggregates more and more of the smaller ones until eventually all of the internet traffic is passing over just a few very big cables.\n\nYour packet now gets sent along this massive cable, down under the ocean until it reaches the national ISP on the other side. From here on, its the same process as above but in reverse. \n\nFor ownership -- no one really owns it, or at least is not supposed to be able to. And in reality, it is unlikely that any one entity could take the internet down entirely, though severe damage is very very possible. About the worst that could happen is one of the backbone providers shutting down their network. Something like that could effectively sever two halves of the globe from each other on the Internet. Its in everyones best interest to conform to these protocol specifications. \n\nAs for protocols -- essentially anyone can create a protocol. The major ones, like HTTP, FTP, TCP, IP, ARP...etc are all specified by various regulatory bodies. They specify what exactly the protocol needs to be able to do to be conforming to the specs. No one *has* to conform to these, but the result of not doing so will likely mean that *you* wont be able to connect to the internet, or communicate with others using it. ",
"My understanding is that the internet is more akin to society and trends rather than a company and procedures. Imagine you're at school, and one kid wears a coat that everyone else likes. Soon, more kids buy that coat and you see lots of kids wearing it. Same goes for anything else, like sayings or cartoon shows, they just catch on because people like them, not because anyone in charge says so. At the same time, you also have popular kids who can decide something is cool, and lots of other people will follow them. I think it could be said that Google is a popular kid, and when Google does something lots of other kids follow.",
"The Internet backbone is a network just like any other, except it uses quite a bit different hardware to facilitate communication.\n\nBasically, it breaks down to some massive switches and routers and some very very wide tubes. \n\n-----\n\nOkay, say you're sending some information to a computer in Europe (whereas you're located in the US). First, the information gets split up into little pieces called packets, and encapsulated on the software level. Your program encapsulates the data, then the network stack further encapsulates the data, then its passed to the hardware which adds its own encapsulation. This is to enable each of these layers to figure out where your information needs to go.\n\nSo now you have this, for the sake of discussion, single packet. This packet was generated on your computer. Your computer sends it down the network connection to your router. Now, your router is likely connected to your modem which is connected to a big switch on your ISP's side. Lets say your ISP is a smaller more local one. They have hardware in your city, but nowhere else. So, now your packet is on your ISPs network. They do some stuff to it and figure out where they have to further send it. They send it along to *their* ISP, a big statewide company that has infrastructure all over the state. This statewide ISP takes data from all of the smaller ISPs onto its own network and then sends it along to the national ISP. This ISP has infrastructure all over the country. It is to the statewide ISPs as the statewide ISP is to all the city ISPs. \n\nThese big national ISPs form the 'backbone'. They have the infrastructure, such as very powerful routers, switches and enough cabling to handle very large amounts of data. Whereas your connection to your ISP might be in the 10mbit range, the backbones are running at speeds of Gigabits, if not Terabits per second. Each higher level aggregates more and more of the smaller ones until eventually all of the internet traffic is passing over just a few very big cables.\n\nYour packet now gets sent along this massive cable, down under the ocean until it reaches the national ISP on the other side. From here on, its the same process as above but in reverse. \n\nFor ownership -- no one really owns it, or at least is not supposed to be able to. And in reality, it is unlikely that any one entity could take the internet down entirely, though severe damage is very very possible. About the worst that could happen is one of the backbone providers shutting down their network. Something like that could effectively sever two halves of the globe from each other on the Internet. Its in everyones best interest to conform to these protocol specifications. \n\nAs for protocols -- essentially anyone can create a protocol. The major ones, like HTTP, FTP, TCP, IP, ARP...etc are all specified by various regulatory bodies. They specify what exactly the protocol needs to be able to do to be conforming to the specs. No one *has* to conform to these, but the result of not doing so will likely mean that *you* wont be able to connect to the internet, or communicate with others using it. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
czm82g | why do some electronics connect to cell phone via bluetooth, while others create a wifi network that you then have to connect your phone to | for example, my dashcam and my OBDII reader both create a wifi network and I have to then go to my phone's setting and choose that wifi network. Is there some benefit to connecting via wifi over bluetooth? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/czm82g/eli5_why_do_some_electronics_connect_to_cell/ | {
"a_id": [
"eyz66po",
"eyz7ljo"
],
"score": [
7,
9
],
"text": [
"I may be wrong but I don't think Bluetooth has the capabilities to move large chunks of data like wifi can.",
"Wifi is around 10X faster than even the latest bluetooth connections.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nBluetooth is an incredibly secure device-device link but sacrifices speed because of this."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3x3kjc | how do browsers make links blue/purple if it checks every link in your history to see if you've visited it before? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3x3kjc/eli5_how_do_browsers_make_links_bluepurple_if_it/ | {
"a_id": [
"cy169nu"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"That's pretty much what they do. The browser will check your history and set the link as visited if it is in your history. You can try searching something like Reddit and clicking on the link then going back and swing that the link is purple. Then clear your browsing history and refresh the page and it should be blue again. If this isn't what your asking let me know and I'll try to clarify more.\n\nEdit: I just realized if you mean how it actually does it in terms of html and css it just adds a :visited to the specific link you clicked."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
64lbf5 | what's going on with lastpass? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/64lbf5/eli5_whats_going_on_with_lastpass/ | {
"a_id": [
"dg30nuu",
"dg34uwi"
],
"score": [
8,
23
],
"text": [
"The most critical (and dangerous) problem was fixed in the last few weeks, but there are still some deep security vulnerabilities in LastPass' security algorithm. On the other hand I assume that, now that the vulnerability has been brought to light, they'll be moving to fix it as quickly as possible.\n\nOverall, a password manager from one of the top-tier companies is still better than no password manager even after the leaks.",
"One of the worlds most respected security researchers (@taviso) took a look at their product and found some vulnerabilities. He responsibly disclosed them, and allowed LP to fix them before releasing the bugs publicly. \n\n_URL_0_\n\nThe issues were resolved."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://blog.lastpass.com/2017/03/security-update-for-the-lastpass-extension.html"
]
] | ||
2c7ngo | why do my legs itch randomly, so much so that i break the skin itching? | It seems to mostly happen at night but sometimes my legs become so itchy that I can't stop scratching them and it breaks the skin. It's often the same spots - outside of knees, outside or ankles, top calf. It's been happening for years in all different environments. Can't find this question here anywhere else. Anyone got a theory? No real allergies except mild dust allergy. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2c7ngo/eli5_why_do_my_legs_itch_randomly_so_much_so_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjcrt4p"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"It could be dust and dust mite allergies, cotton allergies, and so on. It could also just be a mild skin condition, lots of people have itching issues.\n\nYou should try getting your hands on some antihistamines and see if they help (dunno if you need a prescription in your country, but you don't need one here.)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5l173z | if a nuclear war were to happen what would be the "targets"? population centers? millitary bases? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5l173z/eli5_if_a_nuclear_war_were_to_happen_what_would/ | {
"a_id": [
"dbs6b2o",
"dbs6f4r",
"dbs8moj",
"dbsf2s7",
"dbsfj24"
],
"score": [
23,
15,
4,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"The first targets would be the enemy's (presumably Russia or China's) own nuclear capability: missle silos, air bases, sub bases, any identified nuclear storage facilities, etc. The idea is to limit the enemy's ability to launch a \"second strike\" even if they've already gotten their first strike or retaliatory strike off towards the U.S. or NATO countries.\n\nSome Military command and control centers, which can be in population centers are also high priority targets.\n\nUnfortunately, some of these, particularly airbases are co-located near population centers and nukes aren't very discriminating weapons, so a pretty large number of civilians casualties would inevitably result.",
"Ummm... Everything? \n\nSeriously, the target lists in the Cold War were pretty much insane. Anything that could possibly have military significance was going to be nuked. That means not just military targets, but energy facilities, ports, airfields, communications, and population centers. \n\nYou can read about it here:\n\n_URL_0_",
"Target priority 1: Known enemy launch sites. \n\nTarget priority 2: Military bases and their supporting cities. \n\nTarget priority 3: Cities housing government hubs (country capitol, state capitols, etc), and major financial districts (cities like LA, New York, Dallas). Basically all major population centers.\n\nTarget priority 4: Cities and locations that have historical significance to the country. \n\nIf nuclear war were to occur it would be total war, and in total war civilians are legitimate targets. ",
"Hello,\n\nThe top priorities in a nuclear attack are:\n\n*industry*\n\n*projection*\n\nIn that, industry centers are generally also population centers. Next, industry demands energy, and energy centers (nuclear energy) are prime targets.\n\nProjection in the ability to attack (attack back). making military bases, like those hosting capital (naval yards and aircraft), or other missile bases (ICBMs), the counter-punch or primary threat to any attack. Making them the most probable areas of attack, while also the most necessary.\n\nThis means, the coasts become prime attack locations. As, those coasts host naval yards and airbases. In the US, Air bases are located a little more inland, and army bases even more inland. With ICBMs located in the most rural and underpopulated areas of certain states. More missiles will go to the coasts, as they are less inland and more probable in destruction achieved in capital and projection, industry and population, than any other location. Much more returns in destruction per missile.\n\nEDIT: Seats of power are assumed targets, like a capital. The primary means of response is coordinated by military and the government it serves. So, the governmental structure is always attacked in every war, as it sows anarchy and lack of command in response. ",
"There are two types of nuclear war: limited and full-scale.\n\nFor a limited warfare, tactical nuclear weapons are usually used. These have a low yield, ranging from [0.072kt W48 fission shells](_URL_1_) to [dial-a-yield B61 bombs](_URL_0_). Targets are usually counterforce targets, such as air and naval bases, vehicle convoys, outposts, launch silos, and command-and-control centres. The goal of this is to weaken the enemy preemptively.\n\nFor full-scale warfare, everything is a target. This means civilian targets like cities, factories, mines, oil refineries, air and sea ports, infrastructure, etc. as well as military targets get hit. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nukevault/ebb538-Cold-War-Nuclear-Target-List-Declassified-First-Ever/"
],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B61_nuclear_bomb",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W48"
]
] | ||
2zu5c5 | morals aside... why do countries deploy aid and charity giving to other countries? is there any economic advantages to this? | This is not my opinion on how other countries should treat eachother. just wanting to know 'what in it for UK' to give to Sudan. as an example | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2zu5c5/eli5_morals_aside_why_do_countries_deploy_aid_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpmakvq",
"cpmangs",
"cpmazey",
"cpmb46s",
"cpmdvt5"
],
"score": [
8,
2,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It can help a country develop into a potential market for the UK. Right now, Sudan can't afford any UK products, but there is a chance that with aid, they can develop themselves, get a higher GDP and wealth across the population and then suddenly they can afford all those products from the UK. Not saying that is necessarily what happens, because a lot of factors influence things, but it could be a economic incentive for providing support for a different country. \n\nAdditionally, giving support to a foreign government can sometimes net the giver with special treaties and tax benefits. I give you 1000 dollar a month, and wow suddenly I am allowed to build a factory somewhere. Magic. ",
"I would imagine that it is cheaper and easier to send aid rather than send in the military to remove a dictator that took advantage of the desperation.",
"After WW2, the US and UK helped to rebuild Germany and Japan. Seems to be paying off as they are strong economic partners now.",
"A lot of time the aid isn't given as a lump of cash. It's a line of credit that can be used to purchase supplies from the giving country. So it's kind of like a boost to local production, while also helping out people in trouble.\n\nAnd it will (ideally) make the country stable much more quickly than if they were left alone. And they'll have an established relationship with the nations that offered aid, and be more ready to engage in regular commerce with them.",
"Development aid is a good tool to gain political influence in countries that depend on development aid. For example you could give aid to improve environmental protection. Other specific political goals could be education, health, human rights, etc. Or influence in a geographical area politicians deem strategically important (for example because of natural resources)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
27dw0e | why are most vr headsets goggles instead of helmets? | VR Goggles appear very front heavy, whereas a helmet seems as though it would better balance the weight and allow for more descreet wiring, etc. A helmet could also incorporate audio immersion, which currently appears to be lacking in VR accessories (you could use your own headphones, I suppose). Is there a particular reason that goggles are currently the norm? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27dw0e/eli5_why_are_most_vr_headsets_goggles_instead_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"chzu97u",
"chzvbkz",
"chzvl7d",
"ci01ecc"
],
"score": [
4,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Mainly cost. Adding more material costs more, and most VR companies are trying to make low cost products. Also they're pretty light, so you don't really need more support. As for the audio, most people buying a VR product already have headphones/earbuds, so it's not really needed.",
"Cost and weight.",
"A helmet usually isn't all that comfortable. It can get hot and stuffy inside, plus if it doesn't fit your head, then it's going to either be too tight or move around too much.\n\nIt's much easier to make adjustable straps for a set of goggles than to make an adjustable helmet. \n\nI think we might see some VR headsets with built in audio, but most of them will likely allow you to remove that audio system and use your own. Many people (particularly those likely to be early adopters of tech like VR) already own a decent set of headphones, likely of higher quality than what will be built into consumer level VR headsets.\n\n",
"Need to make more product in order to cover all possible sizes (prevents people with really big/small heads from every being able to use it.\n\nCan contribute to constricting feeling that goggles may already provide\n\nUncomfortable, hot, cumbersome.\n\nSomeone who wants a helmet can easily adapt one anyway\n\nLess profit"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
aew1yu | how can companies afford to waive shipping costs to their customers so often? | I know the obvious answer is “because they’re multimillion dollar companies, duh” but is there something else behind it in the realm of economics, vendor relationships etc? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aew1yu/eli5_how_can_companies_afford_to_waive_shipping/ | {
"a_id": [
"edt61i3",
"edt6d2y",
"edt6mnv",
"edt6u3p",
"edt7tll",
"edt8zri",
"edtb16k"
],
"score": [
14,
5,
5,
2,
5,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Shipping is just included in the price instead.\n\nThey buy wholesale which is a fraction of the price they charge. They can afford to offer free shipping and still make a profit. ",
"As /u/shoebox17 said, it's just part of the cost of doing business.\n\nWhen Amazon decided to start offering free shipping, they took the money from their Marketing budget. They figured that there was no better marketing than being able to offer free shipping.",
"A lot of the time the shipping costs are already taken care of in the cost of a product. \nLet's imagine a company sells one product, this product costs the company $10 to make and have packed for sale. They then sell it for $20, meaning they earn $10 profit per item sold. Let's also imagine that it costs them $1 to send it to a customer, in terms of profit they are still making a good amount if they don't charge that customer $1. \n\nA good company will take the above into account when looking at profits, if their goal is to make $5 profit minimum, they can easily make shipping free becuase the product sale price covers this profit and the shipping cost. \n\nPlus free shipping is a great incentive for customers to buy more, the company might have done some research and projections and saw that selling it for $19 +$1 shipping sold half as many as selling it for $20 with FREE shipping. ",
"\"Free shipping\" is one of those things which entices people to shop. If given the choice between two online vendors - one which has free shipping and one which doesn't - almost all shoppers will choose the one with.\n\nOver the last year, [3 in 4 people surveyed](_URL_0_) have canceled at check-out because shipping costs were too high; 3 in 4 also rated \"free shipping\" as the most-important factor which choosing where to shop. You can actually *charge more money* by offering \"free\" shipping, and customers will still choose you over the cheaper option.\n\nThere's also the factor of thresholds - when a store requires you buy a certain amount of items before you qualify for free shipping. This can entice people to buy more.\n\nSo, ultimately, either the store makes up the loss by increasing prices a small amount, or by getting people to buy more to meet thresholds; but ultimately, online stores *have to* offer free shipping, even if they can't make up that loss, because people simply won't shop there otherwise.",
"Large companies get a huge break on shipping costs, making it easier to include the shipping in the item price and offer \"free shipping\" as an incentive. ",
"Here at my warehouse we have a national account with UPS. We continuously ship and use them so they offer us a discount on all shipping. We in turn allow free shipping on anything above a $60 purchase.",
"It's built into the price. Just as you don't pay a rent surcharge or employee question answering fee when you buy something in a store, the charges for delivery are baked into the product margin. An online retailer can have one warehouse in a cheap area to fulfill orders rather than lots of expensive retail locations which create efficiencies freeing up margin for shipping costs. Also, large scale shippers have negotiated much lower than usual shipping rates."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://econsultancy.com/55-of-shoppers-abandon-carts-due-to-shipping-costs-infographic/"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2c3py4 | why is it when i get poor quality sleep, i wake up and my teeth hurt? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2c3py4/eli5_why_is_it_when_i_get_poor_quality_sleep_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjbmfk3",
"cjbmfq2",
"cjbmfyk",
"cjbmgxq",
"cjbmh38"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Perhaps you are stressed and are grinding them in your restless sleep? ",
"You might be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw in your sleep. I do this when I am stressed/sick (which also contribute to a poor sleep). ",
"sounds like you might be clenching your jaw in your sleep. would explain the headache+tooth pain. a deep sleep makes you more relaxed and less clenchy. same thing happens to me sometimes",
"It's possible you're grinding or clenching your teeth at night without realizing it. If so, this can lead to issues later on, so you should talk to a dentist.",
"This phenomenon is called bruxism, more commonly known as \"teeth grinding\". It is commonly associated with disturbed sleep. It might be prudent to get an exam at some point as dental damage is a result of said grinding."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
5x2qub | why do some people stop liking something when it becomes popular/mainstream? | Nirvana, Game of Thrones, Punk;
They all seem to have had fans who were passionate, and then as soon as these things became mainstream, some of those people just jumped off the ship.
Does anybody know the psychology behind it? Why do we often place emphasis on something being exclusive and 'alternative'? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5x2qub/eli5_why_do_some_people_stop_liking_something/ | {
"a_id": [
"deerg7t",
"deesw5y",
"deesyot",
"deetgb1",
"deethmd",
"def2tfg",
"def3ml2",
"def60zy",
"defc6gp",
"defcdcl",
"defchgh",
"defe5mf",
"defjbo8"
],
"score": [
29,
26,
4,
15,
20,
5,
2,
2,
2,
5,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Some people identify themselves as 'alternative' or 'underground' or whatever you want to call it, and things like music and clothing can be part of that identity. They can feel smarter or more 'involved' in the music scene if they listen to non-mainstream music. If something becomes popular it doesn't fit that identity anymore, so they stop liking it.\n\nIn the end, liking a band because they're popular (which also happens a lot) and not liking them because they're popular is pretty much the same thing; you let its popularity influence your opinion. Other people just like music because they like it, popular or not. One is not better than the other, people are just different like that.",
"I have an alternative reason than what was provided. I stop liking stuff that may have become popular, or refuse to watch stuff that is, because of burnout and overhype. I quickly get sick of hearing stuff when it's all over the place. I think that some people are like the - it's like sensory overload. The other reason was is people overhype something and it isn't as good as I expected, it ruins it for me.",
"Contrarianism. People feel special and better informed if they are in opposition to the \"herd\". It is especially common in younger people who see the contradictions in the general culture and look for alternative positions which, ironically have similar or worse issues but have a rebellious feel. ",
"I used to be one of these people. Still am to a point. \n\nGenerally, when things become more mainstream, it changes a great deal to be more palatable to more people. \n\nLike, a former favorite band of mine, they became popular and suddenly their music just became really bland. I still like their older stuff, but the new stuff just isn't the same. ",
"As a fan of two of those examples you mentioned (can't speak much to GoT), I don't think that true fans of those things would simply jump ship just because they're popular. But in the case of music I can see why some would distance themselves from the genre when it became mainstream... the spinoff bands that evolved out of punk and grunge to achieve commercial success were... in a word, awful. The genre ceased to have the same originality as it evolved from an underground scene to top ten radio and MTV \"buzz clips\". \n \nThere is definitely a culture that latches on to what is \"cool\" at the time, and the industry dilutes it to be more appealing for the masses in order to make money. Those who were drawn to the genre in its original form suddenly risk themselves being seen as cliche or trendy, and in the case of punk and grunge this was antithetical to the mission of the genre in the first place... to be an outlet for people who were not trendy or popular. \n\nIn a nutshell there are those who strive to conform, and those who strive to not conform. Those who want to be accepted as part of a group, and those who want to see themselves as an individual. Whether or not you stick with a particular trend would depend on where in that spectrum you're most likely to be.\n\n\n\n",
"Over-saturation.\n\nIt's not that I don't like it, it's that I never enjoyed it so much that I want to hear about it every single day of my life a hundred times a day.\n\nNow that I have to hear about it all the time, I'm sick of it... to the point where I don't like it anymore.",
"I am not sure, but just throwing ideas out into the void: when people like something that is 'alternative', they are not only buying into the movie/TV show/band etc. but they are also buying into this 'niche' of people who understand a part of them that others may not. When this 'niche' expands, people originally part of this group begin to feel as though their space has become crowded or that they are being pushed to the side ( i.e. people who watched game of thrones originally may be self-identified \"nerds\" feel that the people entering their niche may not identify in the same way) and thus being to leave said niche. However, I also agree with others in the sentiment that if you like something enough, you will probably continue to like it; you may hate the new fans, but you would continue to stay. ",
"Another thing that is probably more specific to bands than other examples is that bands often develop as part of a close-knit scene, and mass popularity drops them out of that scene. The really passionate early fans that know the band members personally from local clubs and house parties can feel left behind when the band hits the big time. I have a musician friend that is friends with the bassist from Nirvana, and he says that during the couple years that Nirvana was at peak popularity, it was pretty much impossible to find time to do anything together. ",
"Put on a sand-yellow colored filter and walk with me.\n\nImagine having a Metallica lunch box that your mother got you because the whole family likes Enter the Sandman that was played on the radio. Everyone at school saw your lunchbox but don't know what the hell that is. Except for this one other person who is a real rock fan, walks up to you and give you props for the Metallica lunchbox. Then he tells you his family also heard their song on the radio and liked it. He then recommend some other songs to you because he knows what it is that attracted you to the band. You just met someone with very similar interest and your knowledge of metal has grown. You go home and ask your parents to call in and request those songs your brand new friend just recommended. The whole family likes them. \n\nThe next week, everyone knows about Metallica because it was featured on television as 'the hottest thing right now', even the dolled-up crowds know them. They complimented on your lunch box because nutellica is cool. What? But it's not... what? They then started naming other things you might like, Meek Mills, Nikki Minja, the sound of their neighbours hammering nails, their little brothers' fork drum solo, the sound of towel falling on the floor, licking their thumb then rub it on balloons, etc.\n\nIt wasn't all about the band, the brand or the content. The content was good, don't get it wrong, but some people care more about finding the right people to hang out with, talk to and plan trips than that one person who walks by your cubicle, leans on your cubicle wall, unwrapping a candy bar and says 'lets talk about that ludicrous display on the television last night, huh?' blowing candy bar chunks all over your desk as he giggles at his own jokes.\n\nTo watch maybe game of thrones at someone else's house after work, having a beer, discuss the plot and what have you with friends than talk about it next day when you see them. Plus you don't need to listen to candybar spraying coffee stained shirt talks about the broke girls is what you should watch next because it's sooooo similar and awesome.",
"While there are bandwagon haters, there are few people who jump ship *just because* something's popular now. Popularity can bring with it things that make people turn, or make it seem like people turned on the popular thing:\n\n-Over-saturation. It's a good test of just how much a dose people can take of something, assuming quality doesn't dip. \n\n-Quality dips. Sometimes, things legitimately get crappier after getting popular.\n\n-Dissenting opinions being worth something now. Chances are, there were a lot of people who hated something *before* it was popular. They didn't speak up though, because it was a waste of keystrokes back then.",
"punk rock died for me when shitty emo boy bands like sum 41 and blink 182 dared to call themselves punk and all the stupid people around embraced it",
"Everything we do \"pays us\" some dividend. Sometimes it's the pleasure of the thing itself. Sometimes it's the pleasure of the novel. And sometimes it's the pleasure of knowing the experience is \"rarefied\" or exclusive.\n\nSo some people like jazz because it speaks to them. And some people like jazz because it is unpredictable and so is capable of surprising them. And some people like jazz because they know that very few people in their circle like jazz.\n\nNow people tend to shit on that third class, and that's largely because the people in that class tend to come off as shitty. They tend to _seem_ like they are just in it for the cachet, so we assume they don't _really_ like it, they just want to be seen to like it.\n\nThe thing is, from a point of real or social evolution, this behavior is wholly valid. The lust for the rarefied can keep information or behavior alive during the period of least immediate value.\n\nFor (simplified) instance, the guy who's totally into martial arts during the times of peace for reasons that nobody else seems to \"get\" is refreshing and remembering the practices. When a time of less peace comes around, the community with one master of the obscure art will have an advantage over the community with none.\n\nOf course evolution is a jerk, so we get more \"mall ninja\" than fu masters over any particular span. Rarefied information has low fidelity.\n\nSo, for example, I like watching videos and reading about obscure techniques in blacksmithing and metallurgy and pottery. I know just enough to be dangerous, but that's substantially more than most people know. So if I were stuck in a primitive situation and I needed to make crude pottery or reshape a piece of metal, I'm pretty sure I could manage it without having a kiln explosion or cracking my metal stock. And if I can combine what I know with a few other people we might be able to make something fairly advanced.\n\nWe may look like \"twelve monkeys trying to reassemble a banana\" while we all figure out what we know and what we are guessing and all that...\n\nBut from an evolutionary standpoint that beats burning down the village or killing everyone in an explosion.\n\nSo there are good reasons for the mall ninja to be among us, but that doesn't make them less annoying. 8-)",
"According to the National Institute of Health; studies tested the hypothesis that people with culturally stigmatized and concealable conditions (e.g., gays, epileptics, juvenile delinquents, and incest victims) would be more likely to feel unique than people with culturally valued or conspicuous conditions (e.g., the physically attractive, the intellectually gifted, the obese, and the facially scarred). What holds true is the 'Master Statue' a status that has exceptional importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life. When choosing where to eat, what to watch, who to listen to. I am that girl that jumps ship at first sign of a trend. You can call people like me 'trend setters not trend settlers'"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3c28gv | why do we love dogs and eat pigs? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3c28gv/eli5_why_do_we_love_dogs_and_eat_pigs/ | {
"a_id": [
"csrlnl2"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Because we domesticated dogs (many many years ago) as animals to help us hunt and to protect us. As a result over the years we have developed a much different relationship with dogs than with other animals (even cats)\n\nPigs on the other hand, were bred to be food. We didn't use them to hunt, we used them for food, and so today they are still viewed that way (although they are starting to be a more and more popular option as a pet)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
24rkne | what is the science behind having a crush on someone? | * Why and how does it happen?
* What happens when we stop having a crush on someone?
* How to stop having a crush on someone?
* Etc
Please and thank you. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/24rkne/eli5_what_is_the_science_behind_having_a_crush_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"ch9z4jg",
"cha9abu"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"How old are you, son?",
"When you develop a crush: \"Daaaamn they would make a viable mate for me, I should attempt to mate with dat\"\n\nWhen you stop having a crush: \"Daaaaamn closer inspection has yielded my initial hypothesis of them being a viable mate to be false, I should no longer attempt to mate with dat\"\n\nHow to stop: There is no one answer to this."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6uxkvh | when doing the laundry, how does the duvet virtually always manage to 'eat' everything else in the drum, so the other items have to be fished out of it at the end? | Note: I button the duvet up to avoid this during the wash, but it's still a bit of a hassle if forgotten. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6uxkvh/eli5_when_doing_the_laundry_how_does_the_duvet/ | {
"a_id": [
"dlw5u6f"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"It's just the mechanics of how it works when you spin all of it together in a small space. Fabric has friction and static cling so an item can enter the duvet cover more easily then it can escape. Fast forward through 40 minutes of tumbling and boom: it's eaten the rest of your clothes."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
r1ol7 | why is the us oil industry subsidized by the government? | What is the rationale behind providing the nation's petrochemical industry government subsidies (and the potential ramifications of removing them)? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/r1ol7/eli5_why_is_the_us_oil_industry_subsidized_by_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"c426toc",
"c42dhrk",
"c42h0bp"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"They have a powerful and well organized lobby. They are also able to exert disproportionate influence over states that benefit from their industry, and because of the organization of the legislative branch and especially the Senate have a loud voice in national politics. Like, West Virginia is a tiny and sparsely populated backwater, but they nonetheless have as much Senate representation as NY or California. Those two senators, whoever they are, will be the permanent representatives of the coal industry. No other kind of business has that kind of built in political power.\n\nThe justification for petrochemical subsidies isn't rational or policy-based and hardly pretends to be (economists as a category being decidedly negative about subsidies). They are a product of politics, and in many cases the result of 18th century political institutions being unable to engage 21st century conditions.",
"1) It lowers gas prices at the pump.\n\n2) It may help find oil in regions the US controls. This could lower dependence on foreign oil, which would make the US more independent.\n\nBoth reasons are flawed, however.\n\nReason 1 is kind of silly, because the subsidies come from our taxes (or, in the case of inflation, our savings). With Reason 1, people who don't even buy gasoline are paying for some it.\n\nReason 2 is silly also. The countries that export oil are pretty dependent on these exports for most (if not all) of their income. The US is the largest buyer of oil. For oil-producing countries to *not* sell oil to the US would essentially be like them shooting themselves in the foot, or biting the hand that feeds them.",
"First things first, a tax break is not a subsidy.\n\nSecondly: It is politically popular and get's you lobbying dollars. No reason for politicians not to. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.