I recall reading that when the Romans sacked Carthage, sundials were prized booty. However, there was enough difference in latitude between Carthage and Rome (or the rest of Italy, for that matter) that they didn't keep proper time.
Alan
P.S.: I mean to go back and listen to that podcast about mustard I linked on the previous thread--but probably not tonight. Dog tired.
P.P.S.: I had a little accomplishment today; some big black tablets of alleged rodenticide came to us for identification. They weren't anticoagulants like D-Con, nor were they strychnine. I harked back to second and third semester Chemistry, determined they weren't organic, and after a bit figured out that they were probably aluminum or zinc phosphide. Found photos online of same, that were dead ringers for what we had. For some reason--good ventilation, and part time working under a hood, I hadn't noticed the smell, but then I did. Just exposure to the ambient moisture in the air produced enough phosphine gas to be readily apparent; and I was the only one in the lab who knew what phosphine smells like (from working a long time ago with acetylene gas, which always has a bit of phosphine in it). So, a definite and powerful poison indeed; to posses it requires a special license. Nice little accomplishment for The Geezerhood.
It induced very short term hypochondria. Miyoko remembers the stink from the carbide lamps [Click] that shops used to illuminate the streets of her home town during festivals when she was young. Yep, phosphine. (Because there is phosphorus in al living things, including seashells, therefore limestone, which is changed to calcium phosphide when the limestone is heated strongly enough in an electric arc furnace to change the calcium carbonate into calcium carbide. End of chemistry lesson for the day.)
Things are terrible in Britain. Though it sounds like it might have been a normal winter a couple of generations ago, people aren't used to it nowadays. In typivally British fashion, though, they're pulling together.
And then there is this: Scott Pruitt makes the argument for reopening the looney bins. [Click] The trouble is, there isn't a looney bin big enough. On the other hand, it would cost far less to build a wall around, say, Alabama, than along the whole US-Mexico border...
Is Trump Capable of Handling a Crisis? [Click] In two words, obviously not. Will there be a crisis during his administration (assuming it lasts for four years)? It's a near certainty.
Great news! DFA, Our Revolution and Brand New Congress all have endorsed candidates in Texas, many of them women. If even some of them make it to Congress, it will be progress indeed.
"Character is fate. That’s as true for a president as it is for anyone else, and so it’s no surprise that the Trump presidency is engulfed in chaos.
The policy process is broken and incoherent, with the White House lurching from one position to another. Factions are warring. Top aides are embroiled in scandal and bailing out. President Trump is escalating his attacks on his own advisers, especially his attorney general, and is increasingly isolated and embittered.
The Republican Party is learning what should have been obvious from the outset: Mr. Trump’s chaotic personality can’t be contained. Indeed, combining it with the awesome power of the presidency virtually guaranteed he would become more volatile and transgressive. His presidency is infecting the entire party."
“Inside the White House, aides over the past week have described an air of anxiety and volatility — with an uncontrollable commander in chief at its center,” the Washington Post reports.
“These are the darkest days in at least half a year, they say, and they worry just how much farther President Trump and his administration may plunge into unrest and malaise before they start to recover. As one official put it: ‘We haven’t bottomed out.’”
I figure they will bottom out like Wile E. Coyote. --Alan
I wonder how they built anything in total darkness. I've been on several cave tours and when they turn out the lights you really cannot see your own hand in front of your face. It is a total and complete blackness. They must have had another entrance big enough to come in carrying torches.
That sounds like something Kushner would do. Very like his pushing Christ Christie out the door because Christie prosecuted his father. It's amazing that he's such a slimy little weasel because his physical appearance is that of a tall pre-teen who has not finished growing into puberty.
Of the original Moon's children, one son runs the church that did the blessings, the other runs a gun manufacture bidness. Thus the Moonies represent the fool circle.
I recall reading that when the Romans sacked Carthage, sundials were prized booty. However, there was enough difference in latitude between Carthage and Rome (or the rest of Italy, for that matter) that they didn't keep proper time.
ReplyDeleteAlan
P.S.: I mean to go back and listen to that podcast about mustard I linked on the previous thread--but probably not tonight. Dog tired.
P.P.S.: I had a little accomplishment today; some big black tablets of alleged rodenticide came to us for identification. They weren't anticoagulants like D-Con, nor were they strychnine. I harked back to second and third semester Chemistry, determined they weren't organic, and after a bit figured out that they were probably aluminum or zinc phosphide. Found photos online of same, that were dead ringers for what we had. For some reason--good ventilation, and part time working under a hood, I hadn't noticed the smell, but then I did. Just exposure to the ambient moisture in the air produced enough phosphine gas to be readily apparent; and I was the only one in the lab who knew what phosphine smells like (from working a long time ago with acetylene gas, which always has a bit of phosphine in it). So, a definite and powerful poison indeed; to posses it requires a special license. Nice little accomplishment for The Geezerhood.
Well done, Alan! Very impressive.
DeleteWell done, Alan!! A society needs us geezers. Experience and wisdom are in short supply without us. You'll be legend there before you retire!
ReplyDeleteI hope that smelling the phosphine gas wasn't harmful. Hurrah for good ventilation.
It induced very short term hypochondria. Miyoko remembers the stink from the carbide lamps [Click] that shops used to illuminate the streets of her home town during festivals when she was young. Yep, phosphine. (Because there is phosphorus in al living things, including seashells, therefore limestone, which is changed to calcium phosphide when the limestone is heated strongly enough in an electric arc furnace to change the calcium carbonate into calcium carbide. End of chemistry lesson for the day.)
DeleteAlan
Re the previous thread...
ReplyDeleteA proper blessing for the guns? Of course!
"May God bless and keep the guns
far away from us!!"
How about blessing them with a drop forge, or a good sized trip hammer (say two to five tons)?
DeleteAlan
Amen to both of those suggestions!
DeleteThings are terrible in Britain. Though it sounds like it might have been a normal winter a couple of generations ago, people aren't used to it nowadays. In typivally British fashion, though, they're pulling together.
ReplyDeleteSnow, ice and driving winds causing severe disruption - Click
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/02/23/150-years-after-first-impeachment-america-needs-another-one/364847002/
ReplyDeleteWell put.
DeleteAlan
Talk about morally bankrupt!
ReplyDeleteMulvaney called the non-defense spending “extortion payments” and said that Trump only approved the measures “to defend the nation.”
<a href="http://observer.com/2018/02/mick-mulvaney-explains-which-obama-era-initiatives-are-hardest-to-repeal/</a> - Click
And then there is this: Scott Pruitt makes the argument for reopening the looney bins. [Click] The trouble is, there isn't a looney bin big enough. On the other hand, it would cost far less to build a wall around, say, Alabama, than along the whole US-Mexico border...
Delete--Alan
Is Trump Capable of Handling a Crisis? [Click] In two words, obviously not. Will there be a crisis during his administration (assuming it lasts for four years)? It's a near certainty.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a brighter note, Democratic Early Turnout Has Doubled In Texas [Click] Outnumbers Republican turnout, even (follow the link).
--Alan
Great news! DFA, Our Revolution and Brand New Congress all have endorsed candidates in Texas, many of them women. If even some of them make it to Congress, it will be progress indeed.
DeleteI visited Andrew Janz's web site, and see he has a new video up, with viewing data:
ReplyDeleteNunes - The Americans Ad Campaign
Posted by Andrew Janz
24,945 Views
Not bad.
Alan
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/03/opinion/sunday/trumps-white-house.html?smid=fb-nytopinion&smtyp=cur
ReplyDeleteFrom the article:
"Character is fate. That’s as true for a president as it is for anyone else, and so it’s no surprise that the Trump presidency is engulfed in chaos.
The policy process is broken and incoherent, with the White House lurching from one position to another. Factions are warring. Top aides are embroiled in scandal and bailing out. President Trump is escalating his attacks on his own advisers, especially his attorney general, and is increasingly isolated and embittered.
The Republican Party is learning what should have been obvious from the outset: Mr. Trump’s chaotic personality can’t be contained. Indeed, combining it with the awesome power of the presidency virtually guaranteed he would become more volatile and transgressive. His presidency is infecting the entire party."
“Inside the White House, aides over the past week have described an air of anxiety and volatility — with an uncontrollable commander in chief at its center,” the Washington Post reports.
ReplyDelete“These are the darkest days in at least half a year, they say, and they worry just how much farther President Trump and his administration may plunge into unrest and malaise before they start to recover. As one official put it: ‘We haven’t bottomed out.’”
I figure they will bottom out like Wile E. Coyote.
--Alan
I didn’t realize how ancient[Click] those neanderthal structures found in caves were.
ReplyDelete—Alan
Breathtaking!
DeleteI wonder how they built anything in total darkness. I've been on several cave tours and when they turn out the lights you really cannot see your own hand in front of your face. It is a total and complete blackness. They must have had another entrance big enough to come in carrying torches.
DeleteProbably. The article does say there is evidence of fire, lots of it. Those fires may have also provided some light.
DeleteThe very constricted current entrance was dug through an ancient rockfall; once past the rockfall the cave was rather roomy.
DeleteAlan
Mueller probe looking at possible influence of UAE advisor on Trump admin policy: report - Click
ReplyDeleteRelated story here. [Click] Sounds plenty inculpatory to me.
Delete--Alan
That sounds like something Kushner would do. Very like his pushing Christ Christie out the door because Christie prosecuted his father. It's amazing that he's such a slimy little weasel because his physical appearance is that of a tall pre-teen who has not finished growing into puberty.
DeleteSlimy little weasel indeed! BLECH!
DeleteTrump adrift after week of White House anarchy [Click] A nice little summary.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Hard for me to see how this turns out well.
ReplyDelete--Alan
Try again...
DeleteBrexit warning from US senator who brokered Northern Ireland peace [Click] George Mitchell: ‘If you reinstate a hard border, you go back to the days when stereotyping resumes, demonisation resumes.’
Hard for me to see how this turns out well.
--Alan
Philando Castile charity pays off entire school district's student lunch debt - Click
ReplyDeleteThis one's for Puddle.
ReplyDeleteW.Va. lawmakers try to give teachers smaller raise, accidentally pass bill giving them full raise - Click
Of the original Moon's children, one son runs the church that did the blessings, the other runs a gun manufacture bidness. Thus the Moonies represent the fool circle.
ReplyDelete