Questions you've always wanted answered

[Marc Meakin]

Why are people wasting money on adult bum wipes.
Whats wrong with toilet paper for fucks sake.
Another example of creating a want that nobody needs

[Mark Deeks]

After prostate cancer surgery, my dad made that change. He has never detailed why he now needs this new technique. And nor do I really want him to.

[Gavin Chipper]

Why do sunglasses sometimes come with a picture of cars that looks clearer when viewed through the sunglasses? What does that mean? Is it supposed to demonstrate something about the glasses?

[Ian Volante]

Why do sunglasses sometimes come with a picture of cars that looks clearer when viewed through the sunglasses? What does that mean? Is it supposed to demonstrate something about the glasses?

Sounds like they might be prescription sunglasses?

[Gavin Chipper]

Why do sunglasses sometimes come with a picture of cars that looks clearer when viewed through the sunglasses? What does that mean? Is it supposed to demonstrate something about the glasses?

Sounds like they might be prescription sunglasses?

They're not, but by clearer I don't mean less blurry but that they're supposed to be invisible until you put the glasses on I think. (But you can still make them out.) I think it's a test for polarised lenses actually upon looking further because the picture fades again when you rotate them 90 degrees. A bit like this picture:

[Mark Deeks]

I do a lot of night time driving, and, being an East Anglian girl, most of it is done around the countryside. This means I spend a lot of time trying not to kill deer, because at night, they're bloody everywhere. But where do they go during the day?

[Gavin Chipper]

I do a lot of night time driving, and, being an East Anglian girl, most of it is done around the countryside. This means I spend a lot of time trying not to kill deer, because at night, they're bloody everywhere. But where do they go during the day?

I often wonder where they live generally. You get them crossing the roads near here but where do they actually live? It's all either populated or fields isn't it?

[Gavin Chipper]

You get people who count cards at casinos, which casinos don't like, and I've heard people talking about having multiple decks to make it harder - but why not just shuffle them?

[Andres Sanchez]

You get people who count cards at casinos, which casinos don't like, and I've heard people talking about having multiple decks to make it harder - but why not just shuffle them?

As someone that's been around cards for a while, I think it may be better to just have a mechanical card shuffler. It helps prevent people from doing something called cold stacking - stacking the deck AS you're shuffling. I can see why people use multiple decks though, it's to prevent the use of cold decks - already stacked decks of cards.

[Paul Worsley]

You get people who count cards at casinos, which casinos don't like, and I've heard people talking about having multiple decks to make it harder - but why not just shuffle them?

Because you get more hands per hour, which means more profit for the casino.

[Mark Deeks]

What are those black spinny things you sometimes get on vans for?

[Gavin Chipper]

What are those black spinny things you sometimes get on vans for?

Following.

[Sam Cappleman-Lynes]

What are those black spinny things you sometimes get on vans for?

Following.

They're ventilators, useful when the thing being transported by the van requires a source of fresh air.

[Gavin Chipper]

Cool. Another success for this thread.

[Marc Meakin]

What are those black spinny things you sometimes get on vans for?

Following.

They're ventilators, useful when the thing being transported by the van requires a source of fresh air.

They are called fletner vents.
Used for food but also transporting guard dogs as some vans don't have windows

[Marc Meakin]

What are those black spinny things you sometimes get on vans for?

Following.

They're ventilators, useful when the thing being transported by the van requires a source of fresh air.

They are called flettner vents.
Used for food but also transporting guard dogs as some vans don't have rear windows

[Mark Deeks]

Some people say C4C peaked 12 years ago. But to that I say, pah.

[Gavin Chipper]

When we had the economic crash in about 2008, they lowered interest rates in order to lessen the badness, but in itself it would have been considered a bad thing. Now things are also bad, and they've had to raise interest rates to lessen the badness, but in itself it is considered a bad thing. So my question is - if things are going swimmingly what is considered a good interest rate?

[Marc Meakin]

When we had the economic crash in about 2008, they lowered interest rates in order to lessen the badness, but in itself it would have been considered a bad thing. Now things are also bad, and they've had to raise interest rates to lessen the badness, but in itself it is considered a bad thing. So my question is - if things are going swimmingly what is considered a good interest rate?

Not sure what the answer is but interest rates a double edged swords as high interest rates are good for savings but bad for mortgages

[Fiona T]

Surely high interest rates stop people spending - if I've got debt it's costing me more, if I've got savings then I want them to earn me some dosh! Generally people spending money is good for the economy I think?

FWIW, the turmoil following the mini-budget has wiped an eyewatering amount off my SIPP (personal pension fund). Fortunately I'm fairly sanguine about these things and kinda assume it'll all work out in the end.

[Gavin Chipper]

On YouTube, what's the difference between subscribing and clicking the bell? What if you do one but not the other? Will you find out about the videos?

[Callum Todd]

On YouTube, what's the difference between subscribing and clicking the bell? What if you do one but not the other? Will you find out about the videos?

If I understand correctly:

Subscribing means the channel is added to your subscriptions list. Which means new videos uploaded by that channel will appear in the Subscriptions tab when you view YouTube while signed in.

Clicking the bell means you get a notification (in the notification tab like the ones you get on social media sites) when a new video is released by that channel. Notifications might also be received by email or as push notifications on your phone if you have those settings enabled.

Confusingly, YouTube used to (many moons ago) give you a notification whenever a channel you were subscribed to uploaded a video. At some point it stopped doing this, but only for some videos/channels (the algorithm that determines which videos/channels produce notifications, assuming there is such an algorithm, has always been shrouded in mystery so far as I am aware).

So if you want to know when a channel uploads a video as soon as it comes out, clicking the bell is a good idea. Otherwise you'll have to regularly check your subscriptions tab like an inbox. Unless you get a notification anyway, which you might or might not

[Gavin Chipper]

I do basically all YouTubing incognito really anyway unless I'm logged in to upload or something, so none of it makes much difference to me - I was just curious. So thanks!

[Gavin Chipper]

Do Americans think the "o" in "mother" is actually pronounced as an "o"?

[Marc Meakin]

Well they do say Mom instead of Mum but they do refer to motherfucker in the correct way

[Gavin Chipper]

The problem is that their "u" and "o" are very similar - an "o" is basically a long "u" so it can be difficult to tell.

I used to get confused by the "mom" spelling because it didn't sound like they were saying "mom".

[Andres Sanchez]

Do Americans think the "o" in "mother" is actually pronounced as an "o"?

If you're talking about with a short o sound, then as an American I've never thought that. I do see where you're coming on about though and I am wondering why we have that pronunciation of the o sounding like a short u like in other, come, and month.

[Johnny Canuck]

"Mother" is definitely pronounced with the O as a short U here in Canada (with the same vowel sound as "mum", and differing from "mom").

As is "Montréal", contrary to popular belief abroad (unless you're speaking French).

"Mother was in Montréal on Monday" = three U sounds.

[Gavin Chipper]

Interesting responses, thanks.

In the south of England at least and probably elsewhere, first vowel in "mother" is the same as in "mum" so it's pronounced "muther". But because "u" and "o" are closer in North America, I wondered if it was just a normal "o" for them, so something like "mahther".

[Mark James]

I'm not sure if I've asked this before or if someone else did and it's been answered but are Darts players allowed to bring their darts in their carry on luggage on a plane?

[Marc Meakin]

I'm not sure if I've asked this before or if someone else did and it's been answered but are Darts players allowed to bring their darts in their carry on luggage on a plane?

I asked Colin Murray this question yesterday and he said probably not but most Dart players, go to tournaments in Europe by boat, maybe for that very reason

[Adam Gillard]

What happens when you set the rotary heating dial thing in a car to a point between two settings? If it's set to half way between "bottom heat" and "top and bottom heat" does it supply 2/3 bottom heat and 1/3 top heat? Some cars have 3 points that the dial can rest at between each "proper" position.

[Mark James]

You know that famous meme about the couple sleeping in bed and the woman has a cloud speech bubble thinking to herself "I wonder what he's thinking about" and then the dude has a cloud speech bubble where he's thinking about something banal like football results or changing the transmission on his car or something? Am i the only guy who is happy to share what I'm actually thinking. Where did this come from that men don't share their feelings. I'm more than happy to do that. But for some reason that means I'm gay or something and all of a sudden girls don't actually like when you share your actual feelings. What the fuck is that all about.

[Marc Meakin]

You know that famous meme about the couple sleeping in bed and the woman has a cloud speech bubble thinking to herself "I wonder what he's thinking about" and then the dude has a cloud speech bubble where he's thinking about something banal like football results or changing the transmission on his car or something? Am i the only guy who is happy to share what I'm actually thinking. Where did this come from that men don't share their feelings. I'm more than happy to do that. But for some reason that means I'm gay or something and all of a sudden girls don't actually like when you share your actual feelings. What the fuck is that all about.

From my perspective its a generational thing my parents hated it if I cried over something emotional saying I will give you something to cry for.
I'm not saying that bottling emotions up lead to my many bouts of depression but it didn't help and my partner listens to all my shit now so I don't really get depressed now

[Mark James]

How in the hell were the three bears porridge at three different temperatures? It's the one flaw in that story.

[Marc Meakin]

How in the hell were the three bears porridge at three different temperatures? It's the one flaw in that story.

One came ready made from the fridge
One was from the hob and one was microwaved

[Gavin Chipper]

Different size/shape bowls meant the heat dissipated differently. Came out of the big serving pot at different times.

[Mark Deeks]

What was with that weird 70s phase of sitting the drummer up the front?

[Marc Meakin]

What was with that weird 70s phase of sitting the drummer up the front?

Blame The Carpenters

[Graeme Cole]

When plastic milk bottles were introduced, why did they use a completely different colour code from the foil tops on the glass bottles which had used an unchanged colour code for decades and which everyone already knew? It's not like the plastic colour code was invented long after everyone had forgotten about glass milk bottles - they've been that way for as long as I can remember.

Glass: whole milk silver, semi-skimmed red, skimmed blue.
Plastic: whole milk blue, semi-skimmed green, skimmed red.

It's like Walkers compounded matters by making cheese and onion red and ready salted blue.

[Marc Meakin]

When plastic milk bottles were introduced, why did they use a completely different colour code from the foil tops on the glass bottles which had used an unchanged colour code for decades and which everyone already knew? It's not like the plastic colour code was invented long after everyone had forgotten about glass milk bottles - they've been that way for as long as I can remember.

Glass: whole milk silver, semi-skimmed red, skimmed blue.
Plastic: whole milk blue, semi-skimmed green, skimmed red.

It's like Walkers compounded matters by making cheese and onion red and ready salted blue.

Waitrose have gone for clear caps for all its own milk to be more environmentally friendly.

I remember when Fire extinguishers were colour coded too

[Fiona T]

When plastic milk bottles were introduced, why did they use a completely different colour code from the foil tops on the glass bottles which had used an unchanged colour code for decades and which everyone already knew? It's not like the plastic colour code was invented long after everyone had forgotten about glass milk bottles - they've been that way for as long as I can remember.

Glass: whole milk silver, semi-skimmed red, skimmed blue.
Plastic: whole milk blue, semi-skimmed green, skimmed red.

It's like Walkers compounded matters by making cheese and onion red and ready salted blue.

Recently (like in the last week) semi-skimmed appears to have gone from green to white (or transparent but appears white). I got very confused...

[Fiona T]

Ah, what Mark says - but not just Waitrose (I ain't as posh as him!)

[Fiona T]

I remember when Fire extinguishers were colour coded too

Are they not still? I do remember learning that stuff once upon a time.

[Graeme Cole]

When plastic milk bottles were introduced, why did they use a completely different colour code from the foil tops on the glass bottles which had used an unchanged colour code for decades and which everyone already knew? It's not like the plastic colour code was invented long after everyone had forgotten about glass milk bottles - they've been that way for as long as I can remember.

Glass: whole milk silver, semi-skimmed red, skimmed blue.
Plastic: whole milk blue, semi-skimmed green, skimmed red.

It's like Walkers compounded matters by making cheese and onion red and ready salted blue.

Waitrose have gone for clear caps for all its own milk to be more environmentally friendly.

I remember when Fire extinguishers were colour coded too

The clear caps thing is what got me thinking about this - I just bought a clear-capped bottle of semi-skimmed from the Co-op in an attempt to use up some surplus hyphens. Predictably, clickbait news articles are shrieking that customers are hopelessly bewildered about this change as if they wouldn't think to look at the bottle itself, whose label is still predominantly the appropriate colour.

All fire extinguishers are red now (perhaps to make them more recognisable as fire extinguishers?) but they do still have a colour-coded panel on them.

[Fiona T]

... customers are hopelessly bewildered about this change ...

tbf that was me - I hadn't heard about it, and it appeared to be only the semi-skimmed that had the clear caps so I was looking for green amongst the blue and red. It took me at least 2 seconds of hopeless bewilderment to work it all out!

[Gavin Chipper]

It wouldn't be a problem if everyone went vegan.[/Callum]

[Marc Meakin]

Back in the 80s fire extinguishers had clear distinctive colours Red was for water only.
Foam was cream CO2 was black and dry powder light blue, they still looked like fire extinguishers

[Peter Mabey]

I also remember gold-top Channel Islands milk - extra creamy - which now seems to have disappeared thanks to the present obsession with lo-far diets

[Paul Worsley]

Why does feeling "below par" mean you're feeling bad, when below par in golf is better than normal?

[Marc Meakin]

Why does feeling "below par" mean you're feeling bad, when below par in golf is better than normal?

Less than normal from a mental or physical perspective would be a bad thing

[Adam Gillard]

Why is Vanilla extract £7 in one supermarket and 60p in another (for the same quantity)?

[Marc Meakin]

Why is Vanilla extract £7 in one supermarket and 60p in another (for the same quantity)?

Same quality?
Madagascar vanilla is more expensive (yes I work for Waitrose)

[Adam Gillard]

Why is Vanilla extract £7 in one supermarket and 60p in another (for the same quantity)?

Same quality?
Madagascar vanilla is more expensive (yes I work for Waitrose)

The 60p one was Madagascan. I just can't comprehend that the quality would be so different to warrant such a vast difference in price. Invariably you don't use more than a teaspoon of it at a time anyway.

[Mark James]

So, gears on a bicycle. I have an 18 speed bike. Who are gears 1 to 15 for?

I was trying out a new bike yesterday and it was in 1st gear and I thought the chain had fallen off it was so loose.

[Ian Volante]

So, gears on a bicycle. I have an 18 speed bike. Who are gears 1 to 15 for?

I was trying out a new bike yesterday and it was in 1st gear and I thought the chain had fallen off it was so loose.

I've got 21, and I usually just stay on the top five or so on the top big cog (3-3 to 3-7). But for longer/steeper drags I will drop right down sometimes to 1-2 or 1-3. Middle cog usually gets used for windy days when it's a long-term slog.

[Gavin Chipper]

I'm not sure how you even number gears like that? Presumably it's 3 sets of 6. My bike that hasn't been used for years has 21 (like Ian) - 3 lots of 7 - and I always just used the highest gear ratio on the front cog, so the 7 gears that lead to the highest gear of all. But I'd use all 7 of these. You start in a lower gear to accelerate or go up a hill.

But it depends on your bike. You might have shit gear ratios.

[Mark James]

What is up with burial/cremation costs? Shouldn't it be free, or at least state funded? Isn't it in society's interest that we dispose of dead bodies in an appropriate manner? What happens to bodies when there is no next of kin to cover funeral costs? What if you are next of kin but didn't like the now dead person? Are you expected to pay if the dead person didn't leave money behind?

Also, why do people care so much about how they are buried or what their funeral would be like. I don't think I'd want one. Ok, I suppose I would prefer burial to cremation but just bung me in any old hole in the ground to decompose. I don't even need a coffin.

[Marc Meakin]

What is up with burial/cremation costs? Shouldn't it be free, or at least state funded? Isn't it in society's interest that we dispose of dead bodies in an appropriate manner? What happens to bodies when there is no next of kin to cover funeral costs? What if you are next of kin but didn't like the now dead person? Are you expected to pay if the dead person didn't leave money behind?

Also, why do people care so much about how they are buried or what their funeral would be like. I don't think I'd want one. Ok, I suppose I would prefer burial to cremation but just bung me in any old hole in the ground to decompose. I don't even need a coffin.

Bury me at sea, chuck me off the Woolwich ferry.
But seriously, its the same as weddings, unnecessary expense that are usually because of religion or convention.
There should be a fund provided from your taxes so you get the basic cremation package as a right and everything else you pay for

[Gavin Chipper]

I think we're all in agreement on this.