Post facts which surprised you

More Than Mortal · August 30, 2014, 01:17:04 PM

I'm using the term "fact" flexibly. Everything is open to debate.

Fiscal stimulus in low-income countries doesn't serve to accelerate growth.

Private investment in the U.S. is four times the size of government investment.

Scott Sumner was proposing NGDPLT way back in '89.

There was a stock market crash in '87 comparable to the one of '29.

F.A. Hayek wasn't a liquidationist.

Banks weren't acting recklessly in the run-up to the financial crisis.

That's all I got.

BlitzFiend · August 30, 2014, 01:17:54 PM

the fact that you've actually gotten laid surprised me

DAS B00T x2 · August 30, 2014, 01:19:50 PM

Dassault is pronounced "Da soo"
Fucking frogs...

Kinder Graham · August 30, 2014, 01:23:16 PM

Well, I was surprised a few years back when I did my own research and found Lincoln didn't even care about freeing slaves and only resorted to it solely for strategic purposes by taking away a large amount of Southern productivity which would severely effect the the Confederate war effort. He also initially supported the idea of shipping the freed slaves back to Africa (Liberia I believe)

Not the man people try to make him all out to be but that's what happens when you let a small group of people control the education system

BlitzFiend · August 30, 2014, 01:25:04 PM

i didn't mean to be rude btw

it was just so tempting to post

cxfhvxgkcf-56:7 · August 30, 2014, 01:29:11 PM

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More Than Mortal · August 30, 2014, 01:30:03 PM

Quote from: Doom DH on August 30, 2014, 01:25:04 PM

i didn't mean to be rude btw

it was just so tempting to post

hue its k bby

I'm much more personable irl, believe it or not.

Super Irish · August 30, 2014, 01:33:47 PM

That apparently we've explored outer space more than the ocean floor.

Spoiler

But I'm a bit skeptical about this. If outer space's reach is supposedly infinite, doesn't that mean the explored bit would always be 0.00000~1%, while the ocean is limited and therefore higher than that? Because I'm pretty sure we've been to the ocean floor at least a few times to be higher than our exploration of space. I mean, space is pretty fuckin' huge.

Surface freshwater (lakes, rivers, surface springs, etc) is 25x10^-4% of the total water supply on Earth. And that is what WE mostly rely on.

^That fact made me sad when I realise how we go about taking care of it, what with the Aral Sea (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan) being "The Aral Puddle" in only ~60 years, and Lake Karachay (russia) being so irradiated it can give a lethal dose to humans in an hour.

Sandtrap · August 30, 2014, 02:07:12 PM

Quote from: SuperIrish on August 30, 2014, 01:33:47 PM

That apparently we've explored outer space more than the ocean floor.

Spoiler
But I'm a bit skeptical about this. If outer space's reach is supposedly infinite, doesn't that mean the explored bit would always be 0.00000~1%, while the ocean is limited and therefore higher than that? Because I'm pretty sure we've been to the ocean floor at least a few times to be higher than our exploration of space. I mean, space is pretty fuckin' huge.

Surface freshwater (lakes, rivers, surface springs, etc) is 25x10^-4% of the total water supply on Earth. And that is what WE mostly rely on.

^That fact made me sad when I realise how we go about taking care of it, what with the Aral Sea (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan) being "The Aral Puddle" in only ~60 years, and Lake Karachay (russia) being so irradiated it can give a lethal dose to humans in an hour.

What's even more pathetic is that the surface of our planet consists overall roughly 60% water. And we've found nothing productive to do with it. Stick turbines off the coasts and the tides will give you power for as long as there's an ocean.

Juuzou · August 30, 2014, 03:12:55 PM

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Dustin · August 30, 2014, 04:34:09 PM

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More Than Mortal · August 30, 2014, 04:34:51 PM

Quote from: Le Dustin on August 30, 2014, 04:34:09 PM

Meta thinks he's actually of use in society.

I have literally no idea what gave you that impression.

rC · August 30, 2014, 05:12:46 PM

Quote from: Kinder_ on August 30, 2014, 01:23:16 PM

Well, I was surprised a few years back when I did my own research and found Lincoln didn't even care about freeing slaves and only resorted to it solely for strategic purposes by taking away a large amount of Southern productivity which would severely effect the the Confederate war effort. He also initially supported the idea of shipping the freed slaves back to Africa (Liberia I believe)

Not the man people try to make him all out to be but that's what happens when you let a small group of people control the education system

MUH PUBLIC SCHOOL IS EVIL

we learned this last year in an OH SO EVIL public school

R o c k e t · September 01, 2014, 02:05:55 AM

Quote from: Doom DH on August 30, 2014, 01:17:54 PM

the fact that you've actually gotten laid surprised me

as far as you know

Dustin · September 01, 2014, 02:07:20 AM

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More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 06:27:48 AM

Quote from: Le Dustin on September 01, 2014, 02:07:20 AM

"I'm going to go into a politics major guys! No, not political science, I somehow think I can actually become a politician!"

And you "somehow" thing you can become an engineer, what's your point exactly? I don't see how my potential political aspirations necessarily mean I think I'm useful to society.

challengerX · September 01, 2014, 07:37:07 AM

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Dustin · September 01, 2014, 01:21:36 PM

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More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 02:17:57 PM

Quote from: Le Dustin on September 01, 2014, 01:21:36 PM

Despite being extremely unlikely you'll become one, politicians are of the least use in a society. And like I asked you before, why don't you just go into business and after a successful career move into politics? You don't just become a politician without a background.

Shit, you do here. Most people go straight to the CRD after University and end up in high places. Not that I ever claimed such was my explicit aim; just an option.

I've thought about doing a number of things, and I'm far too ignorant of my own abilities to set myself on a career path.

Again, I have no idea where you're getting the notion I want to be "useful" to society. I would dispute the fact that politicians are of the least use, however.

Dave · September 01, 2014, 03:59:56 PM

You want to be a politician?

Shit, that explains everything.

More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 04:12:09 PM

Quote from: Dave on September 01, 2014, 03:59:56 PM

You want to be a politician?

Shit, that explains everything.

lrn2red fagg0t

Quote

I've thought about doing a number of things, and I'm far too ignorant of my own abilities to set myself on a career path.

Dustin · September 01, 2014, 04:13:22 PM

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More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 04:28:36 PM

Quote from: Le Dustin on September 01, 2014, 04:13:22 PM

Does it really work that way in the UK?

Yes. A lot of prominent Conservatives pass through the CRD, including the current Prime Minister and Chancellor.

The only prominent politician I can name that can seriously claim to not be a "career" politician is Nigel Farage.

Dustin · September 01, 2014, 04:33:32 PM

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More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 04:38:47 PM

Quote from: Le Dustin on September 01, 2014, 04:33:32 PM

What is CRD?

Conservative Research Department.

It's like the breeding ground for prominent Tories.

Dustin · September 01, 2014, 04:42:02 PM

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More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 04:42:35 PM

Quote from: Le Dustin on September 01, 2014, 04:42:02 PM

So is that part of your federal government or something?

Okay now I can't tell if you're fucking with me.

Dustin · September 01, 2014, 04:46:54 PM

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Dave · September 01, 2014, 04:50:34 PM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on September 01, 2014, 04:12:09 PM

lrn2red fagg0t

Don't sell yourself short, sounds like you'd be great at it.

More Than Mortal · September 01, 2014, 04:51:53 PM

Quote from: Le Dustin on September 01, 2014, 04:46:54 PM

I don't know anything about your country. In America, our public education system only teaches about America. The only time we learn about another country is when that country has gone to war with us (in which England has, but they've only taught us how you guys wear red coats and don't know how to fight a guerrilla war and that you were a monarchy at the time). You guys always say Uni and I have no idea if you mean that there is only one college in your entire country or if it's private or public or what?

Lel. We're a unitary state, not a federal one. The central government could, say, take away Scotland's assembly if it so chose.

As for "Unis". There's a stage in between high school and University which we call college. Colleges, however, are also the physical campuses of many Unis. When we say "I'm going to Uni," it just mean "I'm going to University".

Unis are technically private.