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Today I Learned (TIL)
en.wikipedia.org
[From pages 170 & 171:](https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x004399666&seq=185&q1=concert+pitch) > [T]he multilateral treaties, conventions and agreements of an economic or technical character enumerated below … shall alone be applied as between Germany and those of the Allied and Associated Powers party thereto: > > . . . . > > (22) Convention of November 16 and 19, 1885, regarding the establishment of a concert pitch.
This [letter](https://archive.org/details/AlbertEinsteinLetterToTheNewYorkTimes.December41948) was written to the Editors of the New York Times Dec. 2, 1948 -- only months after the [Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Declaration_of_Independence). The letter was signed by [Albert Einstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein), [Hannah Arendt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Arendt), [Sidney Hook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Hook), [Jessurun Cardozo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessurun_Cardozo), [Zellig Harris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zellig_Harris), [Bruria Kaufman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruria_Kaufman), [Irma Lindheim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irma_Lindheim), [Seymour Melman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Melman), [Fritz Rohrlich](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Rohrlich), [Stefan Wolpe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Wolpe), and [others](https://archive.org/details/AlbertEinsteinLetterToTheNewYorkTimes.December41948). > TO THE EDITORS OF NEW YORK TIMES: > > Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine. > > The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin's political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents. > > Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin's behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement. > > The public avowals of Begin's party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future. > > Attack on Arab Village > > A shocking example was their behavior in the Arab village of Deir Yassin. This village, off the main roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the war, and had even fought off Arab bands who wanted to use the village as their base. On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES), terrorist bands attacked this peaceful village, which was not a military objective in the fighting, killed most of its inhabitants (240 men, women, and children) and kept a few of them alive to parade as captives through the streets of Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency sent a telegram of apology to King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan. But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre, publicized it widely, and invited all the foreign correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses and the general havoc at Deir Yassin. > > The Deir Yassin incident exemplifies the character and actions of the Freedom Party. > > Within the Jewish community they have preached an admixture of ultranationalism, religious mysticism, and racial superiority. Like other Fascist parties they have been used to break strikes, and have themselves pressed for the destruction of free trade unions. In their stead they have proposed corporate unions on the Italian Fascist model. > > During the last years of sporadic anti-British violence, the IZL and Stern groups inaugurated a reign of terror in the Palestine Jewish community. Teachers were beaten up for speaking against them, adults were shot for not letting their children join them. By gangster methods, beatings, window-smashing, and wide-spread robberies, the terrorists intimidated the population and exacted a heavy tribute. > > The people of the Freedom Party have had no part in the constructive achievements in Palestine. They have reclaimed no land, built no settlements, and only detracted from the Jewish defense activity. Their much-publicized immigration endeavors were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing in Fascist compatriots. > > Discrepancies Seen > > The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party. This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a "Leader State" is the goal. > > In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Begin's efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin. > > The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism. > > ISIDORE ABRAMOWITZ, HANNAH ARENDT, ABRAHAM BRICK, RABBI JESSURUN CARDOZO, ALBERT EINSTEIN, HERMAN EISEN, M.D., HAYIM FINEMAN, M. GALLEN, M.D., H.H. HARRIS, ZELIG S. HARRIS, SIDNEY HOOK, FRED KARUSH, BRURIA KAUFMAN, IRMA L. LINDHEIM, NACHMAN MAISEL, SEYMOUR MELMAN, MYER D. MENDELSON, M.D., HARRY M. OSLINSKY, SAMUEL PITLICK, FRITZ ROHRLICH, LOUIS P. ROCKER, RUTH SAGIS, ITZHAK SANKOWSKY, I.J. SHOENBERG, SAMUEL SHUMAN, M. SINGER, IRMA WOLPE, STEFAN WOLPE. > > New York, Dec. 2, 1948
That way you get a draft to cool you off more in the summer and avoid such in the winter. I even noticed that switch before but never thought about what it might do...
en.wikipedia.org
To clear up confusion, IQ tests are standardized so that the mean is always 100, but if a person today take a test from 30 years ago he'll probably score poorly and if he takes a test from 80 years ago he'll score great. No one knows why the trend started or stopped.
archive.org
> Roman hours were not of a fixed length because they simply equal to the amount of light or darkness on a given day divided by twelve. Since the amount of daylight varies greatly from day to day over the course of the year—with perhaps as many as 15 hours of daylight in the summer and only 8 or 9 in the winter—a Roman hour in the summer might be equivalent to a modern hour and a half, and, similarly, in the winter, a Roman hour might be only 40 of our minutes long.
> [As an alkaline battery is discharged, the anode undergoes oxidation from Zn to ZnO.](www.physics.rutgers.edu/~croft/papers/210-CoeffRest-2015.pdf#page=2) > > … > > [The battery most likely begins to bounce because of displacement of water by solid ZnO bridges between particles of zinc in the gel. These bridges provide less impeding and attenuating paths for pressure waves, in turn making the battery bouncier.](http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~croft/papers/210-CoeffRest-2015.pdf#page=5) Bhadra, S.; Hertzberg, B. J.; Hsieh, A. G.; Croft, M.; Gallaway, J. W.; Van Tassell, B. J.; Chamoun, M.; Erdonmez, C.; Zhong, Z.; Sholkapper, T.; Steingart, D. A. The relationship between coefficient of restitution and state of charge of zinc alkaline primary LR6 batteries. *J. Mater. Chem. A*. 2015, 3, 9395–9400.
www.nationalgeographic.com
[Archive link](https://archive.ph/iuG8i)
psychsciencenotes.blogspot.com
Although almost everyone does it all the time, when trying to pantomime it without visual feedback, we essentially always forget to turn back to straight and just something like a 45° turn.
en.wikipedia.org
>After the Romans departed, systematic construction of paved highways in the United Kingdom did not resume until the early 18th century. The Roman road network remained the only nationally managed highway system within Britain until the establishment of the Ministry of Transport in the early 20th century.
en.wikipedia.org
> As per the treaty signed in 1842 the British were allowed to use the forests and their natural products against which they had to pay around 3,000 silver coins to the five kings. Currently the kings receive a monthly political pension by the Government of India, which is the main source of their income. This payment is continued even though all privy purses for the Princely states of India were stopped in 1970 since the agreement was between then monarchy of Dangs and the British
en.wikipedia.org
>The Cáin Adomnáin, also known as the Lex Innocentium (Law of Innocents), was promulgated amongst a gathering of Irish, Dál Riatan and Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697. It is called the “Geneva Accords” of the ancient Irish and Europe’s first human rights treaty, for its protection of women and non-combatants, extending the Law of Patrick, which protected monks, to civilians. The legal symposium at the Synod of Birr was prompted when Adomnáin had an Aisling dream vision wherein his mother excoriated him for not protecting the women and children of Ireland.
en.wikipedia.org
>Ekuikui V sometimes dubbed himself as the "king of (all) Ovimbundu". In early 2021, Ekuikui V was sentenced to six years in prison by the Provincial Court of Huambo (TPH) for his implication in a murder in 2017. Ekuikui V had issued a judgment in a traditional court case, finding Jacinto Kamutali Epalangana guilty of killing a child. Following the judgment, Jacinto was beaten to death. >On the 3 March, 2021, he was ousted from the throne following a meeting of the Angolan Association of Traditional Authorities (ASSAT). Ekuikui V had previously claimed to be the president of ASSAT, despite no election confirming him as such. He was accused of various offences, such as forcing a son of his predecessor, Ekuikui IV, to walk around Bailundo naked. He was also accused of witchcraft, concentration of powers, and illegal sales of land. It was elected at the time that João Kawengo Kasanji would replace Ekuikui V as king, and that he would take the regnal name of Tchingala TChangungu Vangalule Mbulu. Ekuikui refused to accept the decision to remove him from the throne, and denied all of the aforementioned accusations. >In March 2021, it was announced that Isaac Francisco Lucas Somaquesenje had been installed as king of Bailundo, with the regnal name Tchongolola Tchongonga Ekuikui VI. The enthronement ceremony was attended by the provincial governor and other guests. Part of the ceremony included the newly-appointed king sitting at the entrance of his official residence and collecting a basket containing white cornmeal (omemba). This was then fed to an animal which was later sacrificed. The king later received a sword (ondelia), signifying his traditional power. Tchongolola Tchongonga is a grandson of the former king, Ekuikui IV. He was elected to the throne by the court of Ombala (a council of elders[1]) in May 2021, receiving 153 votes out of a total of 206 voters. João Kawengo Kasanji in contrast, only received 31 votes.
www.theguardian.com
On the other hand, apparently the Italians loved him: > In Ferrazzano, the village which De Niro's great grandparents left in search of the US dream in the late 19th century, most of its 3,280 residents are among his greatest fans and are adamant that he should be formally made an Italian. He does not officially qualify for a passport because neither his parents nor his grandparents were Italian born. > De Niro was born in New York in 1943, and has never visited the village. > Every August for eight years, the village's now wealthy population of lawyers, doctors and office workers, most of who commute to work in the nearby town of Campobasso, has turned out for a week long festival of De Niro films.
www.economist.com
The Big Mac index started as a joke, but became a somewhat respectable—if still highly informal—way of measuring Purchasing Power Parity. Argentina took advantage of this by making it really cheap but hiding it so no one would order it, artificially improving the country's score.
www.mentalfloss.com
Hence why they're called tread-"mills"—they were used to power mills to pump water or grind grain.
"Power" (or "*Potenz*" or "*puissance*") is the most common claim, but potential, *pondus*, and percent are also common. When the original author designated it, he implied that it was just a random mathematical letter, akin to *x*, and that it didn't stand for anything, although from context one could argue it stood for potential?
