Things I learned lately 1 Dec

• You're not supposed to let your phone's lithium battery level get down to near zero and charge it all the way to 100%. The battery likes to live between 30-80% with short, frequent charges and the odd trip to zero every couple of months to re-calibrate the meter.
• Europeans find it weird that American waiters keep coming back to the table to check up on things. In Europe, if you want something, you just call them over, otherwise they stay away and let you enjoy your meal.
• Opium production is setting new records in Afghanistan.
• A pamphlet called 'A measuring rod to test text books and reference books' made sure to adopt no textbooks 'which do not accord full justice to the south' were allowed in southern state classrooms. It also promoted vandalizing books with 'Unjust to the south' if they didn't measure up to southern standards of civil war history. This kind of influence lasted until the late 1970s.
• The reason why there were so many monuments erected to the heroes of the civil war in the south is because the 'Daughters of the Confederacy' lobbied for them.
• Adding a sprinkle of salt into water does not make it boil faster.
• Milk does not create more mucous in your mouth and throat. So, there's no need to avoid milk when you have a cold or flu.
• Contrary to how people arguing against science use the word, 'theory' does not mean conjecture.