Stuff I learned today

[rags747]

Not last night, but a few years ago I learned that not all Pyrex cookware is the same. I was making shrimp scampi in a 9x13 Pyrex pan. I had done this many times before. I put it in the oven with butter and garlic and when I took it out I placed it on the stovetop and the Pyrex pan literally exploded in my hands. Millions of pieces of the glass were all over the kitchen. I had to throw out the scampi too!

I found out later that pyrex moved their manufacturing to China at some point and when they did the process for making the glass pans changed. Instead of being safe up to 475 degrees, consumers were finding that their pans were failing at much lower temperatures. I don't know if they fixed this or not but I no longer use pyrex in my ovens.

The brand Pyrex originally (early–mid 1900s) used borosilicate glass—very resistant to thermal shock (rapid temperature changes).

In the U.S., around the late 1990s, manufacturer Corning Inc. sold the consumer Pyrex line, and the newer maker switched most U.S. production to tempered soda-lime glass instead. China had nothing to do with the change of glass.

• Borosilicate → better at handling sudden temp swings
• Soda-lime (tempered) → stronger against drops/impacts, but more sensitive to thermal shock

 

[Hardline]

The same high school in The Breakfast Club was used in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

 

[paladin]

By tradition, U.S. Military Working Dogs (MWDs) are often considered one rank higher than their human handlers. While not a legal requirement or official Department of Defense policy, this custom is widely practiced to ensure handlers treat their dogs with respect and to signify that the dogs are valued partners, not just equipment.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Switzerland has 4 official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Romansh is only spoken by about 40,000 people, mainly in the Swiss canton of Grisons (aka Graubünden).

 

[Reverend Conehead]

TV dinners were invented right here in my home town of Omaha, Nebraska. The WW2 B29s, including the Enola Gay and Boxcar used in the atomic bomb attacks, were built near here.

 

[dreghorn2]

TV dinners were invented right here in my home town of Omaha, Nebraska. The WW2 B29s, including the Enola Gay and Boxcar used in the atomic bomb attacks, were built near here.

A little correction it's Bockscar.

 

[Hardline]

Did you know that Jack Parsons the scientists that invented solid rocket feul for NASA was a follower and student of Aliester Crowley?
Also Jack Parsons was good friends with L. Ron Hubbard, The founder of the Church of Scientology?

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Jack Lord was considered for the part of Captain Kirk on the original Star Trek. I believe they even offered him the part, but he wanted too much.

 

[rags747]

Yeah

Jack Lord was considered for the part of Captain Kirk on the original Star Trek. I believe they even offered him the part, but he wanted too much.

Yeah, evidently he wanted 50% ownership of the series. Lucille Ball and Roddenberry basically told him to take a hike and then Roddenberry went with Shatner. Lucy actually funded the two pilots and the first season and then sold her company.

 

[triplets_93]

World’s Longest Flights by Distance in 2026 (Top 26 Ultra Long-Haul Routes)

https://www.passrider.com/top-five-worlds-longest-flights-by-distance/