Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 3]
Discussion
glazbagun said:
But how did they, for example, make the first Metre stick? It's fine knowing that a Metre is one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole and that a centimetre is a hundredth of that, but even if you converted it from imperial you'd still at some point need to make a standard measuring stick for the first time.
I'm familiar with some rudimentary things which are pretty cool. I know that you can hand scrape a surface perfectly (or as perfect as manually possible) flat if you simultaneously make three of them and rub the uneven surfaces together to reveal high spots.
Where do you get the idea that a metre is anything to do with equator to pole?I'm familiar with some rudimentary things which are pretty cool. I know that you can hand scrape a surface perfectly (or as perfect as manually possible) flat if you simultaneously make three of them and rub the uneven surfaces together to reveal high spots.
kowalski655 said:
Following on from the paracetamol one, what would be the quickest and most painless way to top yourself, assuming no access to firearms?
The guy who tied a rope around his neck, tied the other end to a tree, and then drove off at speed in his convertible car probably felt no pain whatsoever. JustinF said:
Where do you get the idea that a metre is anything to do with equator to pole?
Internet said:fundamental unit of length in the metric system, equivalent to 39.37 U.S. inches, originally intended to be, and being very nearly, equal to one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the pole measured on a meridian: defined from 1889 to 1960 as the distance between two lines on a platinum-iridium bar (the “International Prototype Meter”) preserved at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris; from 1960 to 1983 defined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of the orange-red radiation of krypton 86 under specified conditions; and now defined as 1/299,792,458 of the distance light travels in a vacuum in one second.
Seems one ten millionth was the figure.
JustinF said:
glazbagun said:
But how did they, for example, make the first Metre stick? It's fine knowing that a Metre is one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole and that a centimetre is a hundredth of that, but even if you converted it from imperial you'd still at some point need to make a standard measuring stick for the first time.
I'm familiar with some rudimentary things which are pretty cool. I know that you can hand scrape a surface perfectly (or as perfect as manually possible) flat if you simultaneously make three of them and rub the uneven surfaces together to reveal high spots.
Where do you get the idea that a metre is anything to do with equator to pole?I'm familiar with some rudimentary things which are pretty cool. I know that you can hand scrape a surface perfectly (or as perfect as manually possible) flat if you simultaneously make three of them and rub the uneven surfaces together to reveal high spots.
These days it's officially dictated by the speed of light in a vacuum, but when it was originally invented by the French in the ruins of the revolution in the tail end of the 1700's (who were decimalising everything. They even had metric dials on clocks!), it was decided that their new form of measurement would be a 1/10000000th of the meridian from the Pole to the Equator.
It fell to a couple of astronomers to work out the distance of a quadrant of earth by physically touring the Paris Meridian in post-revolutionary France and extrapolating it from their measurements. They got arrested on numerous occasions for their trouble, one later caught yellow fever whilst out trying to improve his readings and died!
In the 20th century they used satellites to go-over their original measurement of the Meridian and found they were out by about 0.23mm per metre which is pretty cool given the tools they had.
Edited by glazbagun on Sunday 11th June 18:36
glazbagun said:
But how did they, for example, make the first Metre stick? It's fine knowing that a Metre is one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole and that a centimetre is a hundredth of that, but even if you converted it from imperial you'd still at some point need to make a standard measuring stick for the first time.
The oldest units were natural measures, human ones like the foot, the cubit, the span. They varied. Or ploughing based like the chain, the furlong. gowmonster said:
TTmonkey said:
How many people are alive today that would definetly have killed themselves overdosing on paracetamol thanks to the limiting of only two boxes per transaction at a supermarket?
So we had two boxes today and some neurofen. Got refused to buy them. But the guy actually said we could go to separate tills. I assume people killing themselves woth overdoses are too upset to think about this though.....
I had an argument with a cashier about this, as I said, if i was suicidal, i could go buy bleach or stanley blades. or i could just go to each till or lots of different shops.So we had two boxes today and some neurofen. Got refused to buy them. But the guy actually said we could go to separate tills. I assume people killing themselves woth overdoses are too upset to think about this though.....
turns out is not to prevent intentional deaths/overdoses, it's the accidental ones. if you go buy two packets and take the lot, it's just under the dose to kill you. and if you go to a pharmacy you can get more but it will be explained to you.
kowalski655 said:
Following on from the paracetamol one, what would be the quickest and most painless way to top yourself, assuming no access to firearms?
There are several very easy to obtain chemicals (no I'm NOT saying what) that can be mixed and the subsequent gas then inhaled which will cause a quick and thought to be painless, death.I hate paracetamol. I once had a patient who cared for her elderly neighbour, she had tooth ache and no dentist, he had daily medication that included paracetamol "when required". He didn't take them often so put them in an empty coffee jar. She was nice, not that bright but working hard to make something of herself, taking a handful of paracetamol every time she checked on her neighbour rather than take time off work.
75mg/kg is the over dose, if you're lightweight, 2 boxes can kill.
75mg/kg is the over dose, if you're lightweight, 2 boxes can kill.
Chris944_S2 said:
Howcome in a general election when we get a turnout of 68.7% we consider it very high, but when the French have a turnout of 74.6% they consider it very low?
Because they invest in education & are a generally civic minded bunch. Whilst there are several million things I dislike about the French, having done a bit of school in Grenoble, there is a general attitude of social cohesiveness, political engagement & revolution, not kidding.One of the things I like about them is the second a mayor suggests a cut to this or that service, out they come, marching on the town hall. Whilst that sometimes cocks up your holiday, it keeps the politicians honest, up to a point. I realise this is a bit NP&E but I lived there & looked on as the bemused pet foreigner. Anyway it all translates into them all piling out & voting (and moaning about it) at every opportunity.
Long term paracetamol use is just as bad. Taking a daily dose below the "daily maximum" for a week or more will destroy the liver just as effectively. Takes a while for the liver to fully process it, and if serum levels are topped up before the last has been metabolised (half life is about 2-2.5 hours) there's still drug in the serum whern the next dose is taken.
After a week, the metabolites of the paracetamol start to affect the liver, and essential compounds used in the metabolism deplete further, the risk of liver damage increases. Remember, you're not even overdosing.
One of the metabolites is quite reactive, and remains sat in the liver, attached to essential compounds and gradually accumulates further, until the metabolites reach toxic levels. Liver necrosis sets in, and after the 'tipping point' is reached (10 days or so depending on various factors) any further paracetamol taken has nothing to bind to, and rapid liver failure commences.
There are several documented cases where people have died from paracetamol overdoses, when they haven't overdosed, simply taken the 'limit' for 7-10 days and suddenly become seriously unwell.
After a week, the metabolites of the paracetamol start to affect the liver, and essential compounds used in the metabolism deplete further, the risk of liver damage increases. Remember, you're not even overdosing.
One of the metabolites is quite reactive, and remains sat in the liver, attached to essential compounds and gradually accumulates further, until the metabolites reach toxic levels. Liver necrosis sets in, and after the 'tipping point' is reached (10 days or so depending on various factors) any further paracetamol taken has nothing to bind to, and rapid liver failure commences.
There are several documented cases where people have died from paracetamol overdoses, when they haven't overdosed, simply taken the 'limit' for 7-10 days and suddenly become seriously unwell.
vonuber said:
The Vambo said:
20 500mg tablets will give you liver failure, not immediately but after an excruciating 48 hours.Dont do it kids.
I mean, do it if you like, just don't complain to me when your skin goes yellow and you have to go to A&E...
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