The "Did you know" thread.....

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by les1917lie

The population of the UK has increased by just over five million in 11 years - previously it took 35 years, from 1970 to 2005, to make the same leap.

Interesting.

Nigeria population grew of almost 100 millions inhabitants in less than 30 years (1990: 95 millions - 2017 : 192 millions). In 1900 there were 15 millions Nigerians.
If nothing change, in 2100 Nigeria could have a more important population than China.

In 1900 there were 10 millions people in Egypt. In 2017 its population is of..... 95 millions.



I read a book written by a French genetician "Albert Jacquard: J'accuse l'économie triomphante".
According to French and American studies made in the 90's, our planet "can be a sustainable ecosystem" for 700 millions typical Occidental consumers.

We actually are at about 7,5 billions people.
We would be more than 10 billions inhabitants at the end of this century.

I made a small simulation on Excel taking the birth and death rates of the UNO.
If everywhere on this planet we decide to have the same political birthrate than in China in the 80's (1 child per people during its life)... in 2050 we will have a population of about 4,7 billions inhabitants and about 460 millions in 2130 yep.... about 500 millions in 120 years ... without war.
(Malthusianism)

That means, maybe working a little bit older (or to let more job to the robots) to give a chance to the next generation to live on a sustainable ecosystem and in peace.

[Roubignol]

Yesterday I've listen a radio report about a guy who made the Vendée Globe race.

He spoke about one thing that was very interesting: The Nemo Point.

Here is the definition:

The oceanic pole of inaccessibility (48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W) is the place in the ocean that is farthest from land. It lies in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,688 km (1,670 mi) from the nearest lands: Ducie Island (part of the Pitcairn Islands) in the north, Motu Nui (part of the Easter Islands) in the northeast, and Maher Island (near the larger Siple Island, off the coast of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica) in the south.

Known as "Point Nemo", Latin for "no one" and also a reference to Jules Verne's Captain Nemo, it lies more than 1,400 nautical miles from the nearest land.

The area is also known as a "spacecraft cemetery" because hundreds of decommissioned satellites, space stations, and other spacecraft have been deposited there upon re-entering the atmosphere to lessen the risk of hitting any inhabited locations. Point Nemo is relatively lifeless; its location within the South Pacific Gyre blocks nutrients from reaching the area, and being so far from land it gets little nutrient run-off from coastal waters.


He explained that when all the runners cross this point, the nearest people near them are the astronauts based in the spatial station at... 350 km above their heads.

[Roubignol]

If you see a hedgehog during the day, he's in great danger.
Green and "shit" flies lay eggs between their spines and the hedgehogs are eaten alive by the larvae.
If you see one, look if it does not already have eggs laid on its spines. If this is the case, try to take it and remove the eggs.
If you already see worms, bring him to the vet to save him.
I alreay saw a poor hedgehog eaten alive by larvae... It was horrible.

At the same time. Never give milk and bread to a hedgehog. He eats it... and die later.
If you want to feed him during the pre or post cold season, you can give him a plate with dry cat food. He likes it a lot.

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

If you see a hedgehog during the day, he's in great danger.
Green and "shit" flies lay eggs between their spines and the hedgehogs are eaten alive by the larvae.
If you see one, look if it does not already have eggs laid on its spines. If this is the case, try to take it and remove the eggs.
If you already see worms, bring him to the vet to save him.
I alreay saw a poor hedgehog eaten alive by larvae... It was horrible.

At the same time. Never give milk and bread to a hedgehog. He eats it... and die later.
If you want to feed him during the pre or post cold season, you can give him a plate with dry cat food. He likes it a lot.

The alarming thing is I haven't seen a hedgehog for twenty years. Used to be common round here.

[Mal Hombre]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

Yesterday I've listen a radio report about a guy who made the Vendée Globe race.

He spoke about one thing that was very interesting: The Nemo Point.

Here is the definition:

The oceanic pole of inaccessibility (48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W) is the place in the ocean that is farthest from land. It lies in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,688 km (1,670 mi) from the nearest lands: Ducie Island (part of the Pitcairn Islands) in the north, Motu Nui (part of the Easter Islands) in the northeast, and Maher Island (near the larger Siple Island, off the coast of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica) in the south.

Known as "Point Nemo", Latin for "no one" and also a reference to Jules Verne's Captain Nemo, it lies more than 1,400 nautical miles from the nearest land.

He explained that when all the runners cross this point, the nearest people near them are the astronauts based in the spatial station at... 350 km above their heads.

According to H P Lovecraft it's also where "In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming".

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by bloke57

The alarming thing is I haven't seen a hedgehog for twenty years. Used to be common round here.

Don't you get any gardens in your area?
That's a very charming animal.

I've got several in my gardens. Sometimes three.
But I mainly listen to them more than I see them.
They "hunt" snails when the obscurity begins.
You can listen to them if you let your windows opened.
"sniiff snifff sniiifff" They breathe quite strongly.

If you want to see more hedgehogs in your area.

1) Let a little area wild in your garden
2) Don't use green or blue pellet to kill the slugs. Use a net to protect your lettuce.
3) Talk to your neighbours to encourage them to do the same.
4) Don't use dangerous machines without taking care if a hedgehog is hidden in your garden.
5) Don't burn all you dead leaves. Let some of them, like that your hedgehog will use them to make his nest.
6) If you cross a small hedgehog just in the automn, give him some cat food. Because if his weight is under one pound, he probably could not survive to the winter.
7) If you see a nest, never disturb. There are maybe a mother and her children.

If you have time to spend and you want to improve the biodiversity of your area, speak with biologists, watch good website and maybe create a little association with your neighbours.

That's always nice to cross a hedgehog "running like a mad" at 10 PM in your garden.

[bloke57]

Originally Posted by xyzde69

Don't you get any gardens in your area?
That's a very charming animal.

Yes, all the houses have gardens here and most are well tended and should lend themselves to these creatures. I worry though that we do have people now who are, let's say, not used to the gardening tradition and several have concreted over the whole thing.

I think that should be illegal but...you know...they're not "indigenous" so the Council is unwilling to make a fuss.

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by bloke57

Yes, all the houses have gardens here and most are well tended and should lend themselves to these creatures. I worry though that we do have people now who are, let's say, not used to the gardening tradition and several have concreted over the whole thing.

I think that should be illegal but...you know...they're not "indigenous" so the Council is unwilling to make a fuss.

One of my neighbours... put plastic grass instead of real grass.
6 years ago, there were almost nobody around my house. I had an old neighbour who had a very wild garden with huge trees. When he died, the new neighbours cut the trees and created stylish gardens that get some invasive plants.
Actually my house is surrounded of less interesting biotops for the local species.
So... I've decided to let some parts of my garden very very wild.
It's one of the last residence of hedgehogs, fieldmouses.
I sometimes spoke with some of my new neighbours and some of them are interested to neglect a little bit more some parts of their garden.

[Roubignol]

Did you know that in 2011 Amnesty International has called for several African and European nations to arrest and detain former President George W. Bush for authorizing the use of waterboarding and other forms of torture.

Former US president George W. Bush did not travel to Geneva on February 12 2011, according to reports in the Tribune de Genève. The cancellation came ahead of expected protests and possible legal action against the former president.

President Bush cancels visit to Switzerland

[bloke57]

Did you know that on this day, 60 years ago, a lad called Paul McCartney met another lad called John Lennon at a church fete in Woolton, Liverpool.

Wonder what happened to those two?