Suburban Adventure - Latest Comments

Re: Scientist/Engineer Dichotomy

jleedev — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:01:40 -0000

I didn’t know about the properties of carbon under various pressures; I had to look it up. I’m sure 8th graders know the difference between melting and burning. But I bet if you asked 8th graders why bread doesn’t melt, you wouldn’t get a satisfactory answer.

(And I haven’t taken ochem, but I do see why it was a stupid question in that context.)

Re: Scientist/Engineer Dichotomy

Pat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:58:00 -0000

Oh, and the people in an intro ochem class have already had a least two semesters of college level chemistry.

Re: Scientist/Engineer Dichotomy

Pat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:54:41 -0000

I don't think it takes a semester of chemestry to determine that pile of ash /= bread.
Isn't combustion covered in 8th grade physical science?
Also, the "soot", which is mostly carbon, will melt at about 4500K at a pressure of about 106 atmospheres. Otherwise, it just sublimates, so no bread melting under atmospheric conditions, even in the loosest of defitions.
Honestly, I really remember learning about chemical changes vs. physical changes in 8th grade. Was I weird?

Re: Scientist/Engineer Dichotomy

jleedev — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:22:55 -0000

Ok, obviously you char and burn it and it’s no longer bread. But after that, you’re left with soot which actually never melts, no matter how hot you get it. In my opinion, scientists and engineers are the ones who overthink things, and this is exactly the sort of questions they should ask.

Re: Scientist/Engineer Dichotomy

actuaryoftriumph — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:14:06 -0000

Well, in that upon heating, bread forms a novel substance scientists have
classified as "toast" and as anyone who's burned toast knows, bread
decomposes and combusts rather than melting.
Terry Robinson

Re: Scientist/Engineer Dichotomy

jleedev — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:23 -0000

Is that a stupid question? If you change it to “Why doesn’t bread melt?” then I think it takes more than a semester of chemistry to understand it. I can come up with two possible reasons:

1. It ceases to be bread long before anything starts to melt.
2. It turns to carbon, which, at atmospheric pressure, sublimes instead of melting.

Re: Scotty in PropHunt

tomfolsom — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:26:32 -0000

This one had me laugh out loud.

Re: Scotty in PropHunt

facebook-1589551814 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:41:30 -0000

Pull the demo for this or it didn't happen.

Re: Need for a Kindle

actuaryoftriumph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:39:53 -0000

Nook still succumbs to the same problems as the Kindle regarding ability to
share content. On investigating their lending functionality it appears one
can only lend a text a single time. Not letting one lend a book to one
person at a time, one may only lend a given text once. This restriction is
ridiculous. Also, the texts are far too expensive. I may approximately 0
for the preponderance of my books thanks to my public library.

Terry Robinson

Re: Need for a Kindle

facebook-525423104 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:36:52 -0000

OnaZ totally beat me to the Nook plug, but I would also like to suggest it.

Re: Realities of Home Ownership

actuaryoftriumph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:22:42 -0000

The sacrifices I'm asked to make.
Terry Robinson

Re: Realities of Home Ownership

Amanda — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:21:29 -0000

We still have a whole bowl of candy left. Please come and consume chocolate!

Re: Need for a Kindle

OnaZ — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:56:45 -0000

I'd consider the Barnes and Noble "Nook" that's coming out soon over the Kindle.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/compare/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/nook-is-...

Re: Glasses Subscription Bungle

Kyle — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:31:45 -0000

I'll just buy them off you...

Re: Calculus Isn’t Accurate Enough

swingtrading — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:20:22 -0000

Nice one. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. Others no doubt will like it like I did.

Re: Poorly Named Video Circulation

Kendra — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:13:05 -0000

The content filter on this computer seems to agree with your assessment and won't let me view the video. Wonder what the criteria are for that...

Re: Punch for Z-Day

actuaryoftriumph — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:08:01 -0000

Fixed. Thank you.
Terry Robinson

Re: Punch for Z-Day

Calviin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:30:58 -0000

Each time I grabbed one or two gallon jugs of Light Hawaiian Punch each time.

Redundant school of redundancy FTW

Re: Webelos Accident

TI_ACE — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:44:30 -0000

Dear Oink,

We regret to inform you that Team Interrobang has removed you from their roster...

Re: Composure Challenge

psyburat — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:50:46 -0000

Fuck you big big bow.

Re: Composure Challenge

tomfolsom — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:31:05 -0000

I broke at 6:29

Re: Composure Challenge

Joe Naylor — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:08:26 -0000

It's a really really big bow!!

Re: A Mystery Solved, A Mystery Found

tomfolsom — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:34:48 -0000

Reference to Tweet: New Coke bottle looks like it's the European Coke Bottle... I think it's a socialist conspiracy, myself.

Re: Might Nova Scotia

Joe Naylor — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:34:51 -0000

You just decide to add a bacon day without my input? I don't like bacon enough so as to add an entire day for it...

Re: Shipping Overkill

actuaryoftriumph — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:02:02 -0000

The guardian angel that normally covers people who're drunk covers me while
photographing stuff. At least when Pants and I visit he'll be driving
*crosses fingers*
Terry Robinson