Questions you've always wanted answered

[Ian Volante]

On a similar subject, will Queen Camilla become the Queen Mother when Charles dies?

I really doubt it, unless there's a bigger surprise waiting for us from the early 80s.

[Marc Meakin]

On the subject of royalty, anyone living a longish life that was born after Prince George can potentially expect to see 5 British monarchs in their lifetime.
Was there a period in time previously when someone could have done the same?

[Gavin Chipper]

On the subject of royalty, anyone living a longish life that was born after Prince George can potentially expect to see 5 British monarchs in their lifetime.
Was there a period in time previously when someone could have done the same?

Someone born in around 1900 only had to live to 1952 to see Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II. That's six. Easy.

Edit - It wouldn't have been completely impossible for someone to have been born in 1837 and died in 1952 at the age of 114 having seen William IV as well, but we'd probably know if it had happened. And someone living as long as Jeanne Calment allegedly did could have been born in 1830 seeing George IV as well.

[Thomas Cappleman]

On the subject of royalty, anyone living a longish life that was born after Prince George can potentially expect to see 5 British monarchs in their lifetime.
Was there a period in time previously when someone could have done the same?

Plenty of occasions when people would have seen at least that many monarchs, especially if you extend to pre-Britain. Someone born in 1460 and living to 100 - unusual but probably happened - would have got 9.

If the question is specifically could someone be born and expect to see 5 monarchs, probably also true. Someone born at the end of e.g. George III or Victoria could reasonably expect to get through a few, without knowing exactly how.

[Fiona T]

allegedly

lol

[Gavin Chipper]

How is it that you can suck the colour and flavour out of an ice lolly?

[Fiona T]

How is it that you can suck the colour and flavour out of an ice lolly?

Because the concentrate has a lower melting point than the water?

[David Williams]

On a similar subject, will Queen Camilla become the Queen Mother when Charles dies?

Even apart from the obvious, when George V died his wife became the Queen Mother, but simply carried on being called Queen Mary. When George VI died that was a bit of a problem, because there would have been two Queen Elizabeths, so Queen Mother was added to her title. As an afterthought, Queen Mary was actually the Queen Grandmother when she died!

Incidentally, the unusual aspect of number of monarchs in a lifetime is surely the number of people living to a decent age who will only have seen one - anyone dying under the age of 70 from now on. I suspect there aren't many people hereabouts who can match my current total of two.

[David Williams]

On this general topic, the Six Nations rugby is going on at the moment, but also the BBC have been going on about Scotland winning the Calcutta Cup with no explanation. But having looked it up, it seems that the winner of the Engalnd/Scotland Six Nations game also wins the Calcutta Cup. I don't think most people would know that so I consider it pretty weak journalism.

Isn't this a bit like complaining that they don't explain the rules of Countdown at the start of every episode? Most people who tune into rugby would know what the Calcutta Cup is. For every person who found it useful to hear an explanation there would be dozens who would be irritated. And more so nowadays when Alexa will tell you in an instant.

[Gavin Chipper]

On this general topic, the Six Nations rugby is going on at the moment, but also the BBC have been going on about Scotland winning the Calcutta Cup with no explanation. But having looked it up, it seems that the winner of the Engalnd/Scotland Six Nations game also wins the Calcutta Cup. I don't think most people would know that so I consider it pretty weak journalism.

Isn't this a bit like complaining that they don't explain the rules of Countdown at the start of every episode? Most people who tune into rugby would know what the Calcutta Cup is. For every person who found it useful to hear an explanation there would be dozens who would be irritated. And more so nowadays when Alexa will tell you in an instant.

No, because I'm not tuning in to watch rugby. It's on their news page. If someone becoming an octochamp made the news, I'd expect some explanation.

[David Williams]

On this general topic, the Six Nations rugby is going on at the moment, but also the BBC have been going on about Scotland winning the Calcutta Cup with no explanation. But having looked it up, it seems that the winner of the Engalnd/Scotland Six Nations game also wins the Calcutta Cup. I don't think most people would know that so I consider it pretty weak journalism.

Isn't this a bit like complaining that they don't explain the rules of Countdown at the start of every episode? Most people who tune into rugby would know what the Calcutta Cup is. For every person who found it useful to hear an explanation there would be dozens who would be irritated. And more so nowadays when Alexa will tell you in an instant.

No, because I'm not tuning in to watch rugby. It's on their news page. If someone becoming an octochamp made the news, I'd expect some explanation.

On the news page you have more of a point. I still think most of those who are interested would know anyway, and are they really going to take the time and space to say not only that Scotland have beaten England to win the Calcutta Cup, and the Calcutta Cup (which will probably be called something else pretty soon) is a cup awarded to the winner of the game between England and Scotland?

[Marc Meakin]

There's always Google ffs
Which had I used I probably would have worked out the 6 monarchs answer

[Gavin Chipper]

Other than where there's a diving board, why do swimming pools ever need to make you out of your depth?

[Ian Volante]

Other than where there's a diving board, why do swimming pools ever need to make you out of your depth?

To facilitate heavy petting?

[Johnny Canuck]

Would there ever be a viable reason to have Num Lock turned off on your keyboard?

[Fred Mumford]

Does the Flat Earth Society have a Global President?

[Gavin Chipper]

Why is it just assumed by the media that Jackie Weaver was in the right and why has she become some sort of "hero"?

As someone who has spent many hours arguing the intricacies of governance, she was wrong. That's not to say her colleagues didn't behave appallingly, but she indeed did not "have the authority".

Still funny though

A bit of a follow-up in the news today.

[Fiona T]

They paid £85K for that? Heck I could have told them for £75K

[Mark James]

People are always clamouring for an edit feature on twitter. Can't you just delete the tweet and write a new one?

[Mark Deeks]

What's wrong with leaving the toilet seat up, exactly? It's flushed, what's the problem?

[Marc Meakin]

What's wrong with leaving the toilet seat up, exactly? It's flushed, what's the problem?

I have been reliably informed that some women use the loo in the dark after bedtime so the assumption is that the seat should alway be down

[Gavin Chipper]

What's wrong with leaving the toilet seat up, exactly? It's flushed, what's the problem?

I have been reliably informed that some women use the loo in the dark after bedtime so the assumption is that the seat should alway be down

Previous discussion here.

Basically my position remains the same as it did then. The "proper" way of doing it is to put the lid down, but there's no difference between leaving the seat up or down if the lid is up. Both are uncouth.

Plus it's mental to go to the toilet in the dark.

[Marc Meakin]

What's wrong with leaving the toilet seat up, exactly? It's flushed, what's the problem?

I have been reliably informed that some women use the loo in the dark after bedtime so the assumption is that the seat should alway be down

Previous discussion here.

Basically my position remains the same as it did then. The "proper" way of doing it is to put the lid down, but there's no difference between leaving the seat up or down if the lid is up. Both are uncouth.

Plus it's mental to go to the toilet in the dark.

Sometimes the seat down makes aiming more of an issue.
When you get to my age I go for a sit down wee anyway

[Gavin Chipper]

Sometimes the seat down makes aiming more of an issue.
When you get to my age I go for a sit down wee anyway

Well obviously you shouldn't piss with the seat down (while standing up) any more than you should piss with the lid down. This is about how you leave the toilet afterwards.

[Ian Fitzpatrick]

Sometimes the seat down makes aiming more of an issue.
When you get to my age I go for a sit down wee anyway

Well obviously you shouldn't piss with the seat down (while standing up) any more than you should piss with the lid down. This is about how you leave the toilet afterwards.

Quite so. the lid should always be down when not in use, especially when flushing.

[Mark Deeks]

None of this has convinced me.

[Gavin Chipper]

None of this has convinced me.

I'm not sure whether you were mainly concerned with leaving the seat up versus leaving the seat down and the lid up, or leaving the seat up versus leaving the seat and lid both down.

I would agree that there is no moral difference between leaving the seat up and leaving the seat down but the lid up, so maybe that will partially satisfy you.

[Marc Meakin]

None of this has convinced me.

I guess if you live alone then it really doesn't matter but if you are in a share house or are cohabitating then consideration to your fellow housemates should be considered

[Fiona T]

How do things you eat colour your wee? I'm thinking beetroot here (if you've ever had a beetroot shot, you'll have seen the alarming results!), but also things like B vitamins.
There's no direct connection (as far as I know) between the digestive system and the bladder, so presumably the colour has to get to your wee via the bloodstream then kidneys? If the beetroot dye is that strong and being carried around in your blood, why aren't other bits of you turning pink too?

(Although I do remember stories of a child turning yellow after drinking too much Sunny Delight back in the day...)

edit - link to said story - sadly no pics!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/too- ... 34703.html

[Paul Anderson]

Smells too with some foodstuffs, Coffee and Sugar Puffs both spring to mind

[Gavin Chipper]

And asparagus!

[Marc Meakin]

Also garlic, I worked with a guy who sweated garlic, or at least the smell of it

[David Williams]

My layman's knowledge of the digestive system is that it essentially takes what it needs (and some things it doesn't) and rejects the rest. I don't think it expels them into the blood. I thought that liquids found their way to the bladder mainly through the kidneys, and also extracted by the solidification of waste in the colon. Pretty much any foodstuff does get digested, but if there is something in there which is completely indigestible it just goes straight through and emerges unaltered.

[Fiona T]

My layman's knowledge of the digestive system is that it essentially takes what it needs (and some things it doesn't) and rejects the rest. I don't think it expels them into the blood. I thought that liquids found their way to the bladder mainly through the kidneys, and also extracted by the solidification of waste in the colon. Pretty much any foodstuff does get digested, but if there is something in there which is completely indigestible it just goes straight through and emerges unaltered.

yeah that makes sense for, er, solids - the undigestible stuff doesn't go near the blood.

But as you say, the bladder is fed from the kidneys - afaik the kidneys are basically filtering blood - I don't think there's any other way for that red dye or asparagus smell to enter the bladder except via the blood stream, which all seems very weird!

[Phil H]

The Duolingo-Amber Heard social media row. What does the offending comment actually mean?

https://thetab.com/uk/2022/05/19/duolin ... ard-252204

My best guess is it's meant to imply "it would be funny if she saw how much everyone on TikTok is taking the piss out of her" but I had to think for a while even to get there and I'm still not sure at all.

Yet this and other articles are written as if it should be self-explanatory. I'm obviously not very bright.

[David Williams]

There are 10 pints of blood in the human body. It's perfectly possible to drink 10 pints of beer in an hour or two. I don't think your blood becomes that heavily diluted. I thought the small intestine extracted the liquid that it needed and passed the rest to the large intestine, which extracts the liquid to leave solid waste. Google is remarkably silent as to what it does with the liquid extracted, but you'd have to think that if you were designing a human body the logical place to send it is the bladder. Sending it to the blood when you've previously taken all the liquid you need, and identified this as waste, would be perverse.

[Fiona T]

There are 10 pints of blood in the human body. It's perfectly possible to drink 10 pints of beer in an hour or two. I don't think your blood becomes that heavily diluted. I thought the small intestine extracted the liquid that it needed and passed the rest to the large intestine, which extracts the liquid to leave solid waste. Google is remarkably silent as to what it does with the liquid extracted, but you'd have to think that if you were designing a human body the logical place to send it is the bladder. Sending it to the blood when you've previously taken all the liquid you need, and identified this as waste, would be perverse.

So you're proposing a route to the bladder from the intestines that does not go via the main bloodstream? Interesting thought - will google some plumbing...

Follow up question - if it does go via the main bloodstream, and I drink (say) three beetroot shots before donating blood, will the recipient have pink pee?

[Gavin Chipper]

The Duolingo-Amber Heard social media row. What does the offending comment actually mean?

https://thetab.com/uk/2022/05/19/duolin ... ard-252204

My best guess is it's meant to imply "it would be funny if she saw how much everyone on TikTok is taking the piss out of her" but I had to think for a while even to get there and I'm still not sure at all.

Yet this and other articles are written as if it should be self-explanatory. I'm obviously not very bright.

Well I think it's just people posting stuff about Amber Heard on the Chinese government website and tbe Duolingo person basically saying "You fools. You know she's not going to see any of this don't you?"

A bit like when people on an F1 forum start congratulating a driver for something. They're not going to see it. Edit - Or indeed like congratulating Rachel Riley for having a baby on this forum

Not really much of a joke and even less to get offended about. But thetab - hardly mainstream news. Non-event. Edit - If anything she's the one taking the sensible line. Everyone doing their memes on the Chinese government site and she comes along and says "Get a life. She doesn't see these. Move on." The offended will be offended.

[Phil H]

Well I think it's just... the Duolingo person basically saying "You know she's not going to see any of this don't you?"

That might seem the most literal reading, but then I don't understand how it appears to have been largely interpreted as anti-Heard and pro-Depp.

But thetab - hardly mainstream news.

It was in the New York Post too, but I didn't especially want to give that the additional clicks.

Of course most people probably aren't particularly invested in this, but it seems a decent-sized number are. I wasn't so much looking to make a judgement about whether the backlash was justified (or worth covering at all), though; I just hoped to understand the story at its basic level.

[Mark Deeks]

Why do some ovens refuse to work until you've set the clock?

[Johnny Canuck]

Why do some ovens refuse to work until you've set the clock?

I'm guessing to make sure the alarm goes off and you don't accidentally forget you have food in the oven and burn it or cause a fire.

[Mark Deeks]

But they don't require an alarm. This isn't about the alarm. I cannot use my oven until I've set some kind of time on its clock (again, not its alarm timer), even if I do not use an alarm. Madness.

[Graeme Cole]

Why do some ovens refuse to work until you've set the clock?

To encourage you to set it. What if you have visitors over? What if they go into your kitchen and see the oven clock blinking midnight? They'll think you don't know how to set it. They'll think you're the kind of person who phones their niece or nephew because "my Facebook isn't working". It's no good pleading laziness and claiming you just didn't get round to it - that's what they all say. Your card will be marked forever as a technophobe. Neff have only got your best interests at heart. You'll thank them one day.

[Mark Deeks]

Sometimes it's the bigger man who simply says, "I don't know."

[Mark Deeks]

I think the real question here is why does my bloody dad keep turning the oven off at the plug for no reason. But I don't think this thread is going to help me answer that.

[David Williams]

I think the real question here is why does my bloody dad keep turning the oven off at the plug for no reason. But I don't think this thread is going to help me answer that.

The real question is why do so many things have clocks at all. How much electricity do they use over the lifetime of the appliance for virtually no benefit?

[Mark Deeks]

Well, yeah, that too.

[Gavin Chipper]

Why do people talk about winning the "point" in tennis when they actually win up to 15 of them? 10, 15 or unspecified (if it goes to a non-numerical score like advantage or game).

[Gavin Chipper]

I think the real question here is why does my bloody dad keep turning the oven off at the plug for no reason. But I don't think this thread is going to help me answer that.

He might join the forum. Corby's dad did.

[Mark Deeks]

Those big multi-chamber revolving doors that some offices, hotels etc have. Why?

[Jon O'Neill]

Those big multi-chamber revolving doors that some offices, hotels etc have. Why?

Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress?

[Marc Meakin]

Those big multi-chamber revolving doors that some offices, hotels etc have. Why?

Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress?

Not too popular on bring your pet to work day though

[Gavin Chipper]

Those big multi-chamber revolving doors that some offices, hotels etc have. Why?

Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress?

Not too popular on bring your pet to work day though

Two sets of doors sorts out the insulation problem. Works like an airlock.

[Mark Deeks]

Those big multi-chamber revolving doors that some offices, hotels etc have. Why?

Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress?

Not too popular on bring your pet to work day though

This is apt as it was reading about a dog getting stuck and dying in one of them that prompted me to post this. I feel like they are an inefficient solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.

[Marc Meakin]

Much as I love my dogs, the idea of taking them to work with me sounds ridiculous.
And not just because I work in a supermarket
Unless of course you work from home then that's fine.
I have also noticed since Lockdown, more and more shops are allowing dogs (not just guide dogs) in their shops to attract customers.

[Jon O'Neill]

Keeps the inside relatively well insulated while allowing easy access/egress?

Not too popular on bring your pet to work day though

This is apt as it was reading about a dog getting stuck and dying in one of them that prompted me to post this. I feel like they are an inefficient solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.

If you speak to anyone who works in reception of one of these buildings you'd see that it's a problem that definitely does exist. It's more a winter problem here as AC is less widespread but I would imagine in hotter climates that it serves effectively the same purpose.

[Mark Deeks]

Well there we are.

[Gavin Chipper]

The solution I suggested doesn't kill dogs.

[Mark Deeks]

Could do. Could cleave one in two. In fact, if it was a really long dog that got stuck in both doors at the same time, it could get cleaved into three.

[Marc Meakin]

I was going to buy an Air Fryer and my friend said that he bought one and his parrot died because of the fumes.
What fumes?