215 replies to this topic

[Todd Gross]

Looking over some notes I jotted down from a storm water permit seminar where a representative from the Port of Houston was one of the speakers:

The Port of Houston is the largest petrochemical complex in the US, second in the world to Rotterdam.

The Port of Houston is first in the US for foreign waterborne tonnage.


An inspector for Harris County (Texas) showed some pictures of some illegal drainage he had investigated. In one picture, there were large puddles of a red liquid in a field behind a business. He said the liquid had a pH of 12.9! And he said that wasn't even the worst he had ever seen! He couldn't talk about the worst as it is an open investigation.

[Henry Blanco]

I learned that Tillary Street in Brooklyn is not "Tuileries Street." I've only heard it mentioned in traffic reports before today.

[njerry]

I learned that Tillary Street in Brooklyn is not "Tuileries Street." I've only heard it mentioned in traffic reports before today.

Henry, are you still living near the intersection of Cumming and Seamen?

[Henry Blanco]

Henry, are you still living near the intersection of Cumming and Seamen?

Seaman? No, not for years. I live in Harlem now but I visit the old neighborhood often.

[garjones]

I went to college with a guy that went to Sexey's School on Lusty Hill.

[steveuk]

Today I have leaned that white asparagus tastes as bland as it looks.

[Arjan Dirkse]

Nigerian tv shows apparently all consist of the same annoying guy yelling out loud 24/7...

[Arjan Dirkse]

Today I have leaned that white asparagus tastes as bland as it looks.

Wrapped in bacon they taste quite good.

[craggy]

Wrapped in bacon they taste quite good.

substitute "white asparagus" for pretty much any food, and that statement still works.

[Christian U]

White asparagus is fantastic. Bit of butter and a bit of bacon with it, that's all you need.

[Michael Stranger]

White asparagus is fantastic. Bit of butter and a bit of bacon with it, that's all you need.

Oh, definitely. Had a white asparagus soup in Munich a couple of years ago, it still stands as the nicest soup I've ever had!

[Miqque Loveland]

One thing people grow in their city-yards around here is asparagus. Basically, one sees a round-ish dark green or black plastic umbrella a few inches high - usually under the shady spot of a tree - it's an asparagus bed. About once a week one can pull about a pound, pound-and-a-half asparagus and/or watercress from about six-eight foot footprint. Efficient. White has no chlorophyll, less molecules that register flavor, I guess. Still a delicate flavor, to be savoured as a delicate flavor - not just bland.

Especially when deep-fried in batter and bacon fat.

[Ogul]

There was a good show on Discovery last night called "Headgames" that was about human psychology and how it works. That episode was about "conformity" and how humans do irrational things without even thinking about it in the name of conformity. One of the funnier tests was that they had people enter a museum exhibit, but then had a red tape line that went straight across the floor, more distant from the exhibits than most people would care to be, and a sign that asked them to stay on the line. Everyone just walked down that line like it was a tight rope. Then they removed the tape line and replaced it with one that sort of zigzagged across the hall in a pattern that didn't make a lot of sense, and people stuck to the line regardless. Then, just to be ###holes, they changed up the line so that it zig zagged and then went around a support column in a 3m diameter square loop, with little chevrons indicating travel direction, and people would actually follow the line and take a few laps around the column before realizing anything fishy was going on!

[ditta]

I've learnt that I can deadlift 140kg. Pretty chuffed with that.

[Miqque Loveland]

There was a good show on Discovery last night called "Headgames" that was about human psychology and how it works. That episode was about "conformity" and how humans do irrational things without even thinking about it in the name of conformity. One of the funnier tests was that they had people enter a museum exhibit, but then had a red tape line that went straight across the floor, more distant from the exhibits than most people would care to be, and a sign that asked them to stay on the line. Everyone just walked down that line like it was a tight rope. Then they removed the tape line and replaced it with one that sort of zigzagged across the hall in a pattern that didn't make a lot of sense, and people stuck to the line regardless. Then, just to be ###holes, they changed up the line so that it zig zagged and then went around a support column in a 3m diameter square loop, with little chevrons indicating travel direction, and people would actually follow the line and take a few laps around the column before realizing anything fishy was going on!

Ladies and gentlemen, THAT is why I love psychology.

[Ogul]

Another thing they showed (with which I have a LOT of personal experience) was that they had people lined up to enter an event, and they let everyone know that EVERYONE would get in, no worries, but then had an actor pretend to cut in line, in various ways. Each time people got more and more pissed, and then they decided to move everyone from one line-up spot to another, and a second actor cut in front of all of them, and people got REALLY pissed, even though there was no practical advantage to being ahead in line. Then they let everyone in on it and one of the guys that was really getting pissed was like "I don't even know what that was about, I just couldn't contain myself."

[stephanie familiar]

Another thing they showed (with which I have a LOT of personal experience) was that they had people lined up to enter an event, and they let everyone know that EVERYONE would get in, no worries, but then had an actor pretend to cut in line, in various ways. Each time people got more and more pissed, and then they decided to move everyone from one line-up spot to another, and a second actor cut in front of all of them, and people got REALLY pissed, even though there was no practical advantage to being ahead in line. Then they let everyone in on it and one of the guys that was really getting pissed was like "I don't even know what that was about, I just couldn't contain myself."

it should come as no surprise that someone who buds in line would piss people off. it's disrespectful, and who cares if they all knew that they would get in? when i stand in line for a concert with a ticket, i know i'll get in, but that doesn't mean it's okay for people to just ignore the fact that i am there and go ahead of me.





anyways. i learned today that i'm a terrible person.

[garjones]

when i stand in line for a concert with a ticket, i know i'll get in, but that doesn't mean it's okay for people to just ignore the fact that i am there and go ahead of me.

My problem with the concept too. It seems to work on the assumption that 'getting in' is the only thing of importance. Anything with a ticket and you know you're getting in. If I'm in a queue for an aeroplane I'll get on regardless but someone jumping the queue means I wait longer, which isn't fair because I got there first.

I can see in places the reason may be quite trivial though and our sense of natural justice takes over.

[Steve Sensible]

I just learned that Bruce's middle name is Marmaduke.

[Marc Diamond]

My problem with the concept too. It seems to work on the assumption that 'getting in' is the only thing of importance. Anything with a ticket and you know you're getting in. If I'm in a queue for an aeroplane I'll get on regardless but someone jumping the queue means I wait longer, which isn't fair because I got there first.

I can see in places the reason may be quite trivial though and our sense of natural justice takes over.

My family and I arrived late for a Ryan Air flight. Joined the end of the mile long queue, eventually had our tickets checked then were directed onto a bus taking everyone to the plane.
The bus was full, we were jammed in the doorway and thus... were the first OFF the bus and onto the plane.

Oh, if looks could kill we'd be smears on the runway. 'Its not your fault', I kept muttering in Good Will Hunting style.