Sunday, January 13, 2013

SunDay


17 comments:

  1. Howard is still first, and the weather in SW Ohio is totally bizarre. We've hit the low 60's for the last three days. In Ohio! In January!

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  2. Here, too, Susan. But not new this year; pretty much like the past several. . . .

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    1. About 40 here. Fog this morning, then sun, now clouds, rain coming. Way too early for a thaw.

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    2. I'm really unhappy with it. I don't do well in warm weather. I'm a cold weather toy.

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    3. I'm with you, Susan. I'm concerned about how hot it may get this Sunmer. We have never owned an air conditioner, but may have to make that move this year. :-(

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  3. "I vote for 3 drinks, the ability to be mobile with assistance, and a budding romance. :-)"

    Ah, listener, you're such a romantic...a girl after my own heart. *grin*

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  4. Except for tomorrow, the forecast for the coming week calls for highs in the low to mid 40s, which is at least a lot closer to seasonable than 60s. *shudder*

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  5. After some warm (for January) weather, today's highs are in the 20s. But little wind, so not bad as I walked to my book discussion.

    The book was "Amped" by Daniel Wilson. The consensus was that it was a book you could zip through with some degree of enjoyment, but he missed a real opportunity to write a better, more meaningful, book.

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    1. Good for me to know, Bill, so I can guide folks who come into the Library asking. Thanks!

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  6. The Aurora Boealis is ACTIVE! If you have clearer skies than me please try to see it if you can.
    http://www.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm>http://www.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm

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  7. Cat--

    Re drinks required to get sloshed--here's my way of estimating it off the top of my head, which is probably good within about a drink.

    First, the amount of alcohol in a single drink is about the same no matter what it is. Examples:

    12 ounces of 5% alcohol (regular) beer, or 12 times 0.05 equals 0.6 ounces pure alcohol.

    An ounce and a half (one shot) 86 proof (equals 43 percent) whiskey equals 0.645 ounces pure alcohol.

    Four ounces 14% alcohol wine equals 0.56 ounces pure alcohol.

    It takes some time for alcohol to be absorbed; allow an hour for a single dose. (It could be less on an empty stomach and all consumed at once.)

    The blood alcohol falls by about 0.02 grams percent per hour, which is about the increase due to absorption of one drink. So one can have one drink per hour and never have more than about 0.01% alcohol in the blood (assuming an average size person).

    A 165-pound male of normal build will have an increase in blood alcohol level of 0.020 grams percent for each ounce of 86-proof whiskey he consumes.

    Getting to your example, I suppose a weight of 200 pounds would be reasonable for the height and a normal build. Obviously sloshed (half seas over?) would probably be at least 0.15%, could well be 0.20%, might be 0.25%. At 0.20% a person would be obviously intoxicated, should not have blackouts (memory loss), and although probably sleepy would be nowhere near comatose. He would also not be vomiting. He should be able to walk, although modest assistance would not be amiss to help with balance and steering. So let's go with 0.20%. For a 165-pounder that would mean the equivalent of ten drinks in his body at the time. For a 200 pounder, it would be twelve drinks. Let's say he consumed that over two hours; two drinks' worth would have metabolized away, so it would require 14 drinks. So 14 or 15 drinks over two or three hours on an empty stomach or with just snacks should be about right. Assuming steady drinking, he will reach a maximum blood alcohol level of 0.20% about half an hour to an hour after cessation of drinking, whereupon it would begin to fall about 0.02% per hour, and he should be sober (albeit hung over) in about ten hours. I think this qualifies as SERIOUS drinking.

    Hmmmm….I can check Wikipedia to find out the amount of alcohol in a Blood Mary…checking….checking…. it's a shot of vodka, which is 80 proof or 40%, which adds up to… 0.6 ounce of pure alcohol. So everything's about right. Fifteen drinks over three hours equals five drinks per hour or an average of one every twelve minutes. That's doable, although idiotic. Probably a binge drinker.


    --Alan

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    1. Re death due to uncomplicated acute alcohol poisoning...that typically requires at least 0.50% alcohol in the blood, although people often survive higher levels. No one survives a one percent blood alcohol level without being put on a mechanical ventilator.

      --Alan

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  8. On a cheerier note, this 32-hour shift at the hospital, starting at 8:00 AM, is great! SO much easier than before, and safer driving to and from work. This Saturday morning it was clear and beautiful, with temperatures varying from about 32 to 27 degrees Farenheit over the course of the drive. Oh, and the almond trees are just starting to leaf out. Bees are beginning to be brought in to pollinate said almonds. The grapevines are partially pruned. And now off to the Land of Nod.

    --Alan

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  9. Fascinating, Alan! I cannot even IMAGINE drinking so many drinks (even of water! LOL!). For me, 2/3 of a glass of wine is PLENTY. More than that and I get dizzy while dancing and somewhat silly. Not enjoyable in retrospect. Ha!

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