turniphat
turniphat t1_je22fws wrote
Reply to ELI5: If digital data is stored in 0s & 1s, how does the reader know how many of the digits to take into consideration? by distinct_oversight
You need to know the type of data you are dealing with. For example, if you want to open a .wav file, you find the specification (https://ccrma.stanford.edu/courses/422-winter-2014/projects/WaveFormat/) and then you write your program to the specification.
It says first 4 bytes are the ID, then next 4 bytes are the size, then next 4 are the format... etc. etc. etc.
If somebody just hands you a blob of data and tells you to interpret it, then you are correct to be confused. You'd have no idea what the bytes mean.
Also, if you open a file in the wrong program, it interprets the bytes in the wrong way and you just get nonsense. Open a .exe file in notepad and it's just crazy characters all over the screen.
turniphat t1_ja57uex wrote
Reply to ELI5: Why does farming equipment require such low horsepower compared to your average car? by thetravelingsong
Modern cars are ridiculously overpowered. Every year, the new models need to be better than the old models and better than the competition.
Farm equipment just needs to get the job done. A tractor rarely needs to work at more than 5 mph. So no reason to spend money on a larger engine.
Most commercial equipment has a lot less hp than you'd expect. When whoever is buying equipment is looking at operating costs, purchase price, expected profit, they buy just what they need, not what is most fun.
Most consumers on the other hand think, I may tow a trailer in the mountains one day, so I'd better get the bigger engine just in case. Commercial operators say put it in 2nd gear and go slow.
turniphat t1_j8xn9of wrote
Reply to comment by bolanrox in TIL that in the 1980s musical "Chess", the American's fortunes change depending on which version is being played; in the West End version, he quits the match and loses his World Championship, while in the Broadway version, he discovers a tactical edge and gains it. by London-Roma-1980
The song came first, on a concept album, which was used to raise money to put on the musical.
turniphat t1_j5celkm wrote
Reply to TIL that Point Roberts, Washington is a pene-exclave of Washington just south of Vancouver, Canada. It is attached to Canada by land but separated from the USA. It can only be reached from the USA by sea, air, or by driving 25 miles through Canada and then into Point Roberts, crossing two borders. by IAmDavidGurney
They got pretty screwed really hard by covid restrictions. The border closed to non essential travel, business dropped by 80%.
turniphat t1_j2bxlkr wrote
turniphat t1_iy8dar3 wrote
Reply to ELI5. Why do active noise cancelling headphones/earbuds not protect your hearing? by mostofit
It is, the just don't advertise them as such because that's not the target market they are going after.
Search for 'active hearing protection' and you'll find basically the same devices but for a different market.
https://www.amazon.com/active-hearing-protection/s?k=active+hearing+protection
turniphat t1_ircdtxg wrote
Reply to comment by ThenaJuno in TIL the length of the US rail network is twice that of Europe by Pardon_my_baconess
No. Europe is slightly larger than the US.
https://mapfight.xyz/compare/europe-vs-us/
The United States is about 2x as large as European Union
turniphat t1_jegxfjx wrote
Reply to comment by Ndvorsky in ELI5: What are tree wells and why are they dangerous during an avalanche? by Narrev
You can't dig because it's hard packed snow / ice that's been there for months. You also can't really move your arms because you are stuck upside down in a small area next to the tree.