---------- Forwarded message --------- From: 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Nov 29, 2023 at 5:28 PM Subject: [iyer123] CULTURAL QA 11-2023-29 To: Patty Thatha <[email protected]>, Iyer < [email protected]>, Kerala Iyer <[email protected]>
CULTURAL QA 11-2023-29 All the BELOW QA are from Quora DIGEST to me on 29-11-2023. QUORA ANSWERS NEED NOT BE 100% CORRECT ANSWERS. Compiled and posted by R. Gopala Krishnan, 80, on 29-11-2023. Q1 If it is high tide where I am, will it be low tide on the other side of the world? A1 Silk Road, AI Expert 18h So first let's talk about tides. Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels due to the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the earth. The moon has a stronger effect than the sun because it's closer to us. When the moon is directly above or below a point on the earth, it creates a high tide there. When it's at a right angle to that point, it creates a low tide there. This happens twice a day, every day. As we know, earth is not a perfect sphere, and neither is the moon. They have bulges and bumps that affect how they pull on each other. Also, the earth rotates faster than the moon orbits, so the high and low tides shift slightly every day. And then there's the sun, which also pulls on the earth, but in different ways depending on its position and the seasons. Sometimes the sun and the moon work together to create extra high or low tides, called spring tides. Other times they work against each other to create less extreme tides, called neap tides. So you see, tides are not just a simple cycle of high and low. They are influenced by many factors that vary from place to place and time to time. That's why you need a tide table to know when and how high or low the tide will be at a specific location. But let's get back to your question. If it's high tide where you are, will it be low tide on the other side of the world? Well, not necessarily. It depends on where you are and where the other side of the world is. If you are on the same latitude as the other side of the world, then yes, it will be low tide there when it's high tide where you are. But if you are on different latitudes, then no, it won't be low tide there when it's high tide where you are. It might be high tide there too, or somewhere in between. Let's say you are in New York City (40°N) and it's high tide there at noon. The other side of the world from New York City is somewhere in the Indian Ocean (40°S).It will be low tide there at noon too. But if you are in Seattle (47°N) and it's high tide there at noon, the other side of the world from Seattle is somewhere in Antarctica (47°S). It won't be low tide there at noon. It might be high tide there too, or somewhere in between. Bottom line: You can't just assume that if it's high tide where you are, it will be low tide on the other side of the world. You need to check a tide table for both locations to know for sure. Q2 Is there any land on Earth where vertebrates do not dominate? A2 Gary Meaney, author of Zoology's Greatest Mystery (2022)1y One would think that, with vertebrates having ruled the world’s terrestrial ecosystems for hundreds of millions of years, it would be impossible for such a place to exist on the modern Earth. Surprisingly, one would be wrong. There is one spot which is so small and remote that no predatory land vertebrate of decent size has managed to colonize it - but something else has. The location I speak of is Phillip Island. It lies off Norfolk Island, a distant Australian territory, in the stretch of the Pacific sandwiched between New Zealand and New Caledonia. It’s pretty tiny, stretching a couple kilometres from end to end, and pretty barren, with no real human settlement. The scenery on Phillip Island is hauntingly beautiful, a fact it owes to its volcanic cliffs and bright red earth. In terms of wildlife, there’s not an awful lot going on, to say the least. The island is home to two species of lizard, and about a dozen types of seabird roost on its cliffs. All of these animals are at risk of falling victim to the formidable apex predator of the landmass: the Phillip Island centipede. With a nasty pair of mandibles and an extremely venomous bite, this arthropod has become a specialist hunter of vertebrates - fish, skinks, geckos, birds… in other words, anything and everything which crawls, swims or flies on its island. Often, it slays animals many times larger than itself, though that’s not to say it’s small - it measures more than 23 centimetres, or 9 inches, in length! In particular, the centipede is partial to chicks of the black-winged petrel, Phillip Island’s most ubiquitous seabird. Despite outweighing their predator by far, the chicks are defenseless while holed up in their burrows, and are typically eaten alive. Every year, nearly 4,000 birds fall prey to centipedes. This is not a concern for conservationists, however, as natural predation is all part of the balance of the ecosystem. As said, they don’t just eat seabirds - the two native species of lizard are frequent prey too. Here’s a great photo of a centipede chowing down on a Günther island gecko. Remarkably, this incredible carnivore was only described in 1984. At the time, Phillip Island centipedes were exceptionally rare, as the intrusion of foreign mammals like rabbits, pigs and goats had caused massive ecological disruption on the island. In fact, they gave the place its signature ochre hues, by destroying the vegetation that was holding the topsoil together. As you can see, erosion ensued. Thankfully, these invasive species have since been eradicated, and Phillip Island is healing. Plant cover is returning, so lizards and birds are returning, so the centipedes are returning. Given that we’ve only formally known about these creatures for 37 years, I suspect that we still have much to learn about their biology and habits. I eagerly await any breakthroughs or discoveries. In a world where it can seem like mammals dominate the planet, it’s nice to know that there’s a remote island out there somewhere where a giant bird-eating centipede rules the roost. If you liked this answer, you might also enjoy this one of mine from a couple years back. Well folks, this one was a little on the short side, mainly due to the fact that there just isn’t that much we know about the Phillip Island centipede… for now. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed the answer. Have a great day. Q3 What part of Ancient Greek history do you find most disturbing? A3 Patrick S,I love history8h One of the most disturbing periods in Ancient Greek history is undoubtedly the Peloponnesian War, which lasted from 431 to 404 BC. This conflict between Athens and Sparta not only resulted in immense destruction but also showcased the dark and brutal side of human nature. The Peloponnesian War was primarily fought between two powerful city-states, Athens and Sparta, each representing contrasting ideologies and political systems. Athens, with its democratic government and naval supremacy, stood for cultural and intellectual progress. On the other hand, Sparta, known for its militaristic society and disciplined warriors, symbolized strength and tradition. What makes this era so disturbing is the sheer scale of devastation and suffering endured by the Greek population. The conflict dragged on for decades, leading to widespread destruction of cities, loss of lives, and economic collapse. The once glorious city of Athens, adorned with magnificent architecture and renowned for its philosophers, was reduced to ruins. Furthermore, the Peloponnesian War saw a breakdown of traditional moral values and an increase in brutality. Both Athens and Sparta resorted to ruthless tactics to gain the upper hand. Pericles, the Athenian statesman, implemented a strategy of retreat behind the city walls, leading to overcrowding and the outbreak of a devastating plague that claimed thousands of lives, including Pericles himself. Sparta, on the other hand, adopted a policy of ravaging the Athenian countryside and cutting off their supply lines, causing immense suffering among the civilian population. The famous Sicilian Expedition launched by Athens ended in disaster, with countless soldiers being slaughtered or enslaved. These events highlight the horrors of war and the depths to which humans can descend in pursuit of victory. Additionally, the Peloponnesian War brought to the forefront the destructive impact of power struggles and political rivalries. The conflict divided the Greek world into factions, pitting city-states against one another and sowing seeds of mistrust and animosity among once-allied communities. The war was not just fought on the battlefield but also involved diplomatic maneuvering, espionage, and betrayal. In the end, the war culminated in the defeat of Athens and the rise of Spartan hegemony. However, it left behind a scarred society and shattered dreams of a united Greece. The Peloponnesian War serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked ambition, aggression, and the devastating toll that war inflicts on humanity. Q4 What is something that needs to be said? A4 Manu Joseph, Lives in Hyderabad, Telangana, India4y In my college, we have a class on soft skills once a week. So our ma’am comes to our class and draws a picture on the board. Something like this. It's just a simple circle with a small dot inside and she asks everyone to speak a few words on this or what did we understand out of this. So everyone uses their own imagination to describe it. One of my foody friend said it’s a ladoo. While me being a huge fan of Greek Mythology said that it’s a cyclops, they have only one eye. While everyone was giving their own stupid opinions one of my classmates who sat in the last bench raised his hand to answer. The entire class was silent and suprised, the first reason being that we were shocked seeing him in the class as he rarely comes. I remember one of my professors talking about him that he comes once in a blue moon. He is also in the verge of being detained from college. The second reason being that if at all he comes he just sits in the last bench and doesn’t interact with anyone and that he raised his hand for the first time for something. He stood up and said, “The circle represents our whole life and the empty space within the circle are the good deeds we have done and that one small dot represents the one mistake which we have committed in our lives. No matter how many good things you do, you are always remembered for that one small mistake which haunts for your entire life”. And he sat down in his place. The entire class was silent upon hearing this and our ma’am started clapping followed by everyone. The class then got over. We all knew that he had few problems in his life and we didn’t want to hurt him by asking. Well sadly, he got detained in that semester itself. We never saw him again. We meet many people in our lives but we never try to understand them and we start to judge people by their behaviour. We have no idea what they are undergoing in their lives. My note- Read the last line. Absolutely true. Q5 What happened to the holy Roman empire after Charlemagne's death? A5 Silk Road, AI Expert Mon He was a boss.Ruling most of Western Europe from 768 to 814, Charlemagne got crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope in 800. He was like the OG of Europe, spreading Christianity, Latin and culture all over the place. He had a bunch of wives, mistresses and kids, but he loved his daughters so much he wouldn't let them get hitched while he was alive. He also had a thing for Aachen, a city in Germany where he built his palace and chapel. But when Charlemagne died in 814, things got messy. His empire was divided among his sons, who fought each other for power and territory. The empire got smaller and weaker, and faced attacks from Vikings, Magyars and Muslims. By the late 9th century, the empire was split into three kingdoms: West Francia (France), East Francia (Germany) and Middle Francia (Italy and Lotharingia). The title of Holy Roman Emperor became a hot potato. Nobody could claim it without the Pope's approval, and the Pope had his own agenda. Sometimes he gave the crown to whoever he liked best, sometimes he sold it to the highest bidder, and sometimes he kept it for himself. The emperors had little control over their lands, and had to deal with rebellious nobles, bishops and cities. The empire survived in name only until 1806, when Napoleon put an end to it. But it never recovered its glory or unity after Charlemagne's death. Some say he was the father of Europe, but his children didn't inherit his skills or vision -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iyer123" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1152338689.5757685.1701264507323%40mail.yahoo.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1152338689.5757685.1701264507323%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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