August 2011
26 posts
Message from Totalgeek42
He asked me to let you all know, he’s fine. He’s alive. He is, unfortunately, one of the many people without electricity from this fantastic weekend. But all is okay. Also, he enjoyed Doctor Who this weekend, and we are making jokes via text about attending a Gay Gypsy Bar Mitzvah for the Disabled, and that Hitler hates gay people because he had to come out of the cupboard.
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putthison:
On my public radio show, The Sound of...
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A DIALOGUE WITH SARAH, AGED 3: IN WHICH IT IS...
SARAH: Daddy, were you in the shower?
DAD: Yes, I was in the shower.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: I was dirty. The shower gets me clean.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does the shower get me clean?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because the water washes the dirt away when I use soap.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why do I use soap?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because the soap grabs the dirt and lets the water wash it off.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does the soap grab the dirt?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because soap is a surfactant.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why is soap a surfactant?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: That is an EXCELLENT question. Soap is a surfactant because it forms water-soluble micelles that trap the otherwise insoluble dirt and oil particles.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does soap form micelles?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Soap molecules are long chains with a polar, hydrophilic head and a non-polar, hydrophobic tail. Can you say ‘hydrophilic’?
SARAH: Aidrofawwic
DAD: And can you say ‘hydrophobic’?
SARAH: Aidrofawwic
DAD: Excellent! The word ‘hydrophobic’ means that it avoids water.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why does it mean that?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: It’s Greek! ‘Hydro’ means water and ‘phobic’ means ‘fear of’. ‘Phobos’ is fear. So ‘hydrophobic’ means ‘afraid of water’.
SARAH: Like a monster?
DAD: You mean, like being afraid of a monster?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: A scary monster, sure. If you were afraid of a monster, a Greek person would say you were gorgophobic.
(pause)
SARAH: (rolls her eyes) I thought we were talking about soap.
DAD: We are talking about soap.
(longish pause)
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why do the molecules have a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: Because the C-O bonds in the head are highly polar, and the C-H bonds in the tail are effectively non-polar.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Because while carbon and hydrogen have almost the same electronegativity, oxygen is far more electronegative, thereby polarizing the C-O bonds.
SARAH: Why?
DAD: Why is oxygen more electronegative than carbon and hydrogen?
SARAH: Yes.
DAD: That’s complicated. There are different answers to that question, depending on whether you’re talking about the Pauling or Mulliken electronegativity scales. The Pauling scale is based on homo- versus heteronuclear bond strength differences, while the Mulliken scale is based on the atomic properties of electron affinity and ionization energy. But it really all comes down to effective nuclear charge. The valence electrons in an oxygen atom have a lower energy than those of a carbon atom, and electrons shared between them are held more tightly to the oxygen, because electrons in an oxygen atom experience a greater nuclear charge and therefore a stronger attraction to the atomic nucleus! Cool, huh?
(pause)
SARAH: I don’t get it.
DAD: That’s OK. Neither do most of my students.
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neondarling asked: Well, if you do go to that bar, you MUST take pictures! :D And of course, if you're willing to drop $10, have a sonic screwdriver for me!
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beckysioux asked: The Script.
Put a band/artist in my ask, and I'll tell you:
letmediewithsomeoneelse:
i-think-im-ready-i-think:
foramonthofsundays:
fucktheworldordieavirgin:
- Favourite Song
- Favourite Album
- Favourite Member
- Favourite Music Video
- Have I Seen Them Live
- Have I Met Them
- Do I Own Any Of Their Merch
- How Many Songs Of Theirs Are On My iPod
bored so do it please
please do it? i’ll love you forever if you do
Do it.
Why...
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Up And At Them!: Advice from a male geek regarding... →
jopincushion:
“Don’t hate on men! There are some great ones! Perhaps you see are seeing a lack of awesome men because right now, the awesomest of the awesomest are currently holding a tournament in a secret remote location to see which of them is even awesomer than the rest, and that guy’s prize is a chance to…
Fear not, my friend. I’m coming over in a little while and together...
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I know you guys will appreciate this
A fellow singer-songwriting friend just mused via Facebook status: “I wonder if alternate universe me is rich and famous.”
Seeing as she is also a fellow whovian, I replied “yes, she is. However, the downside is that in that parallel universe, Cybermen are invading South Jersey and [your daughter] is a puppy.”
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Well, four things...and a lizard.: If a Married... →
fuckyeahlesbians:
yamino:
By this point, most of you have heard about the tragedy in Norway a few weeks ago when a Christian Fundamentalist murdered 92 people and injured another 96. The story has been well-covered by International media and the mainstream press here in the US.
What…
