4 answers
Aug 05 26 by misdiaslocos
1 answer
Aug 07 26 by serpa
Nabisco Premium Saltine Crackers boast on the box that they are "topped with sea salt." Isn't there a geologic sense in which ALL salt is sea salt?
The definition of Salt is fairly broad, with many compounds making up salts, many of which are inedible to humans. A good example being Lead Acetate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II)_acetate which is made without any nod to the sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_(chemistry)#Properties
Common Salt (NaCl) is almost always derived from sea water, although often having been deposited underground and eventually pushed to the surface over several million years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_edible_salts
So ALL salts, no - but all edible salts - mostly. Things like MSG and Ammonium Chloride do not come from the sea, and could be used to flavor your crackers, but they'd certainly taste different (maripp2002)
1 answer
Aug 06 26 by FatherSteve
Who executed Topsy the elephant, why, and what was the connection between the execution and the War of the Currents?
Topsy had become something of a liability, having killed one man and, understandably, threatened others who abused her. Having failed to sell her, her owners decided to kill her with electrocution being chosen as the most humane method. An earlier suggestion of hanging had been vetoed. The connection to the 'War of the Currents' is less clear. Thomas Edison had nothing to do with the execution and the 'war' had been over well before the demise of Topsy. The electricity was supplied by a company bearing his name and was filmed by another company with the Edison name. Edison himself had nothing to do with the first company, and was not active in the second.
The story quoted int he first answer seems to be a myth, as is discussed thoroughly in this article: https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/essaying-edison/essay/myth-buster-topsy-the-elephant (rossian)
4 answers
Aug 05 26 by misdiaslocos
1 answer
Aug 05 26 by pehinhota
4 answers
Aug 05 26 by misdiaslocos
4 answers
Aug 05 26 by misdiaslocos
Who said: "The problem with a rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat"?
Also, just looking at the origin of the phrase "rat race"...it seems to have started in the 1930s in the USA. It was a literal race for rats that people gambled on. By 1939 it was being used in the current sense of a competition to maintain your position in a corporate environment.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/rat-race (misdiaslocos)
2 answers
Aug 04 26 by chabenao1
2 answers
Aug 04 26 by chabenao1
Carlshafen was the first name for which present-day ghost town in Texas?
In an AWFUL choice of name right up there with Chernobyl being called Wormwood, the city of Indianola, devastated by hurricane tidal surges, was actually called wave.
"The settlement's name was changed to Indianola in 1849 by combining the word Indian with ola, the Spanish word for "wave"."
https://calhouncountymuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Indianola-Visitors-Guide5.pdf
J (misdiaslocos)
4 answers
Jul 27 26 by pehinhota
3 answers
Aug 03 26 by serpa
3 answers
Aug 03 26 by serpa
How long is the Great Wall of Los Angeles?
The Great Wall of Los Angeles is a massive 2,754 foot long mural in the San Fernando Valley. Located on the wall of the Tujunga Wash flood control channel in Valley Glen, California. It measures 13.5 feet high and stretches over 1/2 mile.
(riviterrosie)
3 answers
Aug 03 26 by serpa
Which athlete was the first doping case in Olympic track and field?
elburcher, you're right that Liljenwall was the first disqualification for performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympics, and it would be the correct answer had the question posed been something similar to "What athlete was the first doping case in the Olympics?" But that wasn't the question posed; the question specifically asked about "Olympic track and field". So Liljenwall cannot be the correct answer, because Liljenwall was not competing in Olympic track and field. (AyatollahK)
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
3 answers
Aug 01 26 by pehinhota
3 answers
Aug 01 26 by pehinhota
Which sound designer created the T. rex's roar in "Jurassic Park"?
American sound designer Gary Rydstrom created the T. rex's roar in "Jurassic Park" (1993).
He blended various animal sounds quite creatively to do so, including a baby elephant for the high-frequency screaming sound, a tiger for the deeper-frequency growls, and even an alligator for the rumbling, wet throat sounds.
https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64381968/ (Rizeeve)
3 answers
Aug 01 26 by pehinhota
1 answer
May 25 25 by WesleyCrusher
2 answers
Jul 29 24 by chabenao1
Hydrogen and oxygen are the two elements that make up water, and they can be separated by electrolysis. Another compound with only two elements is common salt, but can that be separated into sodium and chlorine?
Yes, common salt (sodium chloride) can be separated into sodium and chlorine through electrolysis.Because salt is an ionic compound held together by strong chemical bonds, it cannot be separated by physical means like filtering or boiling. Instead, it must be broken down chemically using an electrical current. However, unlike water, you cannot easily do this with a saltwater solution at home, as electrolyzing saltwater produces hydrogen gas, chlorine gas, and sodium hydroxide rather than pure sodium metal. (javelpaul143)
3 answers
Jul 08 26 by ozzz2002
Which athlete was the first doping case in Olympic track and field?
The first official doping case in modern Olympic track and field (athletics) history was Polish discus thrower Danuta Rosani. During the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics, which marked the very first time the International Olympic Committee (IOC) tested for anabolic steroids, Rosani qualified for the women's discus final. However, before she could compete, her drug test came back positive for an anabolic steroid. She was subsequently disqualified and removed from the Games. : While Rosani was the first inside track and field, the first overall athlete disqualified for doping under official testing was Swedish modern pentathlete Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall at the 1968 Mexico City Games. He was stripped of a bronze medal after testing positive for alcohol ("two beers" used to steady his nerves before the pistol shooting event). : Long before formal rules or testing protocols were introduced, American marathon runner Thomas Hicks famously collapsed after winning the 1904 St. Louis Olympic marathon. He had been openly administered a cocktail of brandy, egg whites, and strychnine (a stimulant in small doses) by his trainers mid-race. Because doping was not yet outlawed, he kept his gold medal. The 1988 Ben Johnson scandal in Seoul, which remains the most high-profile 100m sprint disqualification in Olympic history. How the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was created in 1999 to standardize international testing. The evolution of drug testing technology, moving from simple stimulant checks in 1968 to advanced blood profiling. (javelpaul143)
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
In which Italian city were more than 150 goldsmiths already practicing their trade in the fifth century?
The official document marking the importance of this trade is the Fratellanza degli Orefici (Constitution of the Guild of Goldsmiths of Vicenza), which was signed in 1399 (the late 14th century). At that time, Vicenza had a population of only about twenty thousand citizens, meaning the 150 practicing artisan goldsmiths represented an immense concentration of wealth and industry for a town of its size. Today, Vicenza remains celebrated as Italy's "City of Gold". It acts as a massive global production hub and hosts Vicenzaoro, Europe's largest gold and jewelry trade show. (javelpaul143)
3 answers
Jul 18 26 by pehinhota
2 answers
Jul 22 26 by serpa
In Track & Field, was Project 222 successful?
Yes, Project 222 was highly successful.On July 18, 2026, Scottish middle-distance runner Josh Kerr officially completed the project at the London Diamond League meet by running a historic 3:42.66 mile. In doing so, he shattered one of track and field's most elusive barriers and became the first man in history to run a mile in under 3 minutes and 43 seconds. Launched by Kerr and his sponsor Brooks Running in March 2026, the campaign was named "Project 222" because 3 minutes and 42 seconds equals exactly 222 seconds. The ultimate goal was to break the legendary, 27-year-old world record of 3:43.13 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. : To pull it off, Kerr used an intense scientific regimen. He trained at high altitude in Albuquerque, slept in a home altitude chamber, tracked his heart rate variability via wearable tech, and raced in custom-engineered Brooks racing spikes. Roared on by 60,000 home fans at London Stadium, Kerr stayed perfectly on pace behind two specialized pacemakers. He broke away on the final lap to finish in 3:42.66, successfully bringing the mile world record back to Britain for the first time since the era of Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/cx2jl1wge2po
https://trackandfieldnews.com/josh-kerr-creating-the-conditions-where-wrs-become-inevitable/
(javelpaul143)
2 answers
Jul 22 26 by serpa
What does In-a-gadda-da-vida by Iron Butterfly mean?
Iron Butterfly frontman and keyboardist Doug Ingle wrote the song while drinking an entire gallon of Red Mountain wine. When he tried to play the song and sing the lyrics for drummer Ron Bushy, Ingle slurred his words so heavily that "In the Garden of Eden" came out as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Bushy wrote down the slurred words phonetically. When Ingle saw them later, the band agreed that the mangled phrase sounded exotic, mystical, and perfect for the era's psychedelic rock vibe, so they kept it. (javelpaul143)
4 answers
Apr 26 07 by Raymore
Which island has a ghost town as its de jure capital? Why does no one live there?
Because the Soufrière Hills volcano began erupting in the mid?1990s and continued with repeated, destructive eruptions. Plymouth was buried under ash and pyroclastic flows, forcing the entire population to evacuate. Montserrat moved its government functions north to Brades, but Plymouth remains the island's official capital on paper - a rare case of a legally designated capital that is completely abandoned. (javelpaul143)
2 answers
Jan 29 22 by BigTriviaDawg
Carlshafen was the first name for which present-day ghost town in Texas?
Carlshafen ("Karl's Harbor") was the original German name given by Prince Carl of Solms?Braunfels.
The settlement was later renamed Indianola, which became a major 19th?century port on Matagorda Bay.
Indianola was destroyed by two catastrophic hurricanes (1875 and 1886) and never rebuilt, leaving it a ghost town today. (javelpaul143)
4 answers
Jul 27 26 by pehinhota
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
Which athlete was the first doping case in Olympic track and field?
I had wanted to stay out of this, but I can't. "Olympic track and field" is called "athletics" and is governed by the body currently known as World Athletics and formerly known as the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The modern pentathlon is NOT governed by World Athletics, so the answer to the question posed cannot be a pentathlete (sorry, Ianfranco and elburcher). As far as I can tell, the answer provided by looney_tunes -- Danuta Rosani of Poland, who was very unlucky to have been caught at the "steroid Olympics" in Montreal 1976 -- is the first person to have been involved in an Olympic doping case in "athletics", and so I voted for that response.
Liljenwall was indeed disqualified for doping, but, because it wasn't in a sport governed by World Athletics (the governing body for modern pentathlon is the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)), he wouldn't be considered to be competing in Olympic track & field. (AyatollahK)
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
Carlshafen was the first name for which present-day ghost town in Texas?
The town was founded in 1844 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels who called the place in honour of himself Carlshafen (meaning "Carl's Harbour"). It served as the main landing site for thousands of German immigrants entering Texas.
It was renamed Indianola in 1849 and became the second-largest port in the state after Galveston. However, it was destroyed by two massive hurricanes in 1875 and 1886 prompting the surviving residents to abandon the site permanently.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianola,_Texas
(wellenbrecher)
4 answers
Jul 27 26 by pehinhota
4 answers
Jul 27 26 by pehinhota
What is the song "Gold Lion" about?
Gold Lion" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a track that captivates listeners with its enigmatic and poetic imagery, leaving the interpretation open to personal reflection. The song's lyrics use the metaphor of a "gold lion" to explore themes of power, transformation, and self-discovery. A gold lion suggests regality and strength, yet also an element of mystique-something untamed and formidable.
https://songmeaningsblog.com/the-meaning-of-gold-lion-by-yeah-yeah-yeahs/#google_vignette
(pehinhota)
2 answers
Jan 18 08 by Mickey000
Why was the Proyecto Vida Silvestre launched in Colombia in 2014?
Under Colombia's "Compensaciones Ambientales" (Environmental Compensations) law companies that destroy nature through industrial activities like oil drilling must reforest or protect specific areas elsewhere. The "Proyecto Vida Silvestre" was launched in Colombia in 2014 as a legal obligation for the state oil company, Ecopetrol, to compensate for the environmental damage caused by its operations.
https://colombia.wcs.org/en-us/Project-Microsites/PROYECTO-VIDA-SILVESTRE.aspx (wellenbrecher)
1 answer
Jul 23 26 by pehinhota
In which Italian city were more than 150 goldsmiths already practicing their trade in the fifth century?
I feel compelled to point out that goldsmithing is an ancient occupation dating back several thousand years -- long before both the 5th and the 14th centuries. In Italy, the most significant ancient work was produced by the Etruscans ca. the 8th century BCE. Insofar as medieval goldsmiths' guilds are concerned, the Roman guild was probably founded in the 13th century but is documented as early as the Vicenza guild.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldsmith
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/gold-jewelry-of-the-etruscans/
https://www.universitadegliorefici.it/en/archivio-storico/ (lanfranco)
3 answers
Jul 18 26 by pehinhota
Which athlete was the first doping case in Olympic track and field?
lanfranco I believe has the correct answer. To quote the Wikipedia article cited, the alcohol was consumed to "steady the nerves", which was considered to be "performance enhancing" and alcohol was a banned substance.
[quote]The first Olympic athlete to test positive for the use of performance-enhancing drugs was Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall, a Swedish pentathlete at the 1968 Summer Olympics, who lost his bronze medal for alcohol use, "two beers" to steady his nerves. Liljenwall was the only athlete to test positive for a banned substance at the 1968 Olympics, but as the technology and testing techniques improved, the number of athletes discovered to be chemically enhancing their performance increased as well.[/quote]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_at_the_Olympic_Games (elburcher)
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
In Track & Field, was Project 222 successful?
I would say so, even if Josh Kerr missed his goal by .66 seconds. He set a new record for the mile running it in 3:42.66 beating the previous record of 3:45.94
Watch it here:
https://youtu.be/eYi2f4ONEDg?si=uGHvcTwtKJscNrkP (elburcher)
2 answers
Jul 22 26 by serpa
2 answers
Jul 22 26 by serpa
Which athlete was the first doping case in Olympic track and field?
As can be seen using the link in the first post, the first time testing was done for anabolic steroids was in 1976 (before that, the testing was looking at stimulants). A number of athletes tested positive, including Danuta Rosani, a Danish discus thrower who would have finished in 11th place had she not been disqualified.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1976_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_discus_throw (looney_tunes)
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
In which Italian city were more than 150 goldsmiths already practicing their trade in the fifth century?
It's Vicenza, a city in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy.
[quote]It is enough to know that the first written evidence of the importance of this sector in the province dates back to the early 14th century, with the signing of the statute of "the Vicenza Guild of Goldsmiths", a corporation of more than 150 craftsmen who practised their profession in a population of twenty thousand inhabitants.[/quote]
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-gold-work-of-vicenza-unioncamere/9QVxhtBtZwYA8A?hl=en (wellenbrecher)
3 answers
Jul 18 26 by pehinhota
8 answers
Jul 17 26 by pehinhota
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