Relocated: Helpful Household Tips and the Chemistry Behind Them:

[Sher]

Great Cooking Tip: Onions without tears!

I was blabbing with our friendly neighborhood Chemist :teeth: and mentioned that I was cooking dinner, complaining how I preferred real onions instead of the jarred powders ... and Soc gave me a great tip for how to keep the strong onions I love so much from making me cry ...

... and thought I would share ... (I'd love to see more of this type of thing Ladies ... recipes ... cooking tips ... etc. :smile:)

Take the onion (I chickened out and fork-pricked it several times on top ... I was afraid of cleaning onion off my ceiling if it exploded) and cook it in the microwave for a minute. I tried this tonight, the skin came off in one full piece, there was no strong smell to cause tears (although that sometimes is an excuse for a good cry), AND no strong smell for my hands to pick up

... and I had some great fresh onion in the hamburger meat for my spaghetti pot. :thumb: He told me the reason why this works ... some acid or another that is suppressed from the heat ... but I'll have to get back to you gals on that one ... I forgot it in my excitement of not having onion-smelling hands :wink:

(Another tip he gave me, that I haven't tried yet, is that garlic should be crushed or cut, then left for 10 minutes before adding to something hot, to get the max health benefit.)

... and there you have it ... some kitchen Chemistry ... you too can turn your kitchen into a Chemistry lab ...

... now where did I put that Bunsen burner again? :huh:

:teeth:

[Sher]

Onions cause tears because of an enzyme reacting with a sulfur-containing chemical in the onion and forming a volatile sulfur compound, which is a lachrymator/lacrimator (any compound that causes tears -- from lacrima, Latin for tear, or lacrimare, to cry). When the onion cells are damaged, the elaborate cell structures that normally keep the enzyme in place allow it to come into contact with one sulfur compound converting it into the lacrimator, which in turn works by reacts with the moisture on the eye surface to form an acid, which is why you cry.

But microwaving the onion before cutting destroys -- or denatures -- the enzyme. Denaturing means destroying the precise shapes of the protein molecules so it no longer carries out its function. In the cell, protein shape is not only determined by the amino acid sequence, which was coded on the DNA, but also by other proteins called chaperones. (Boiling an egg also denatures protein, which is why it becomes hard irreversibly.)

Enzymes are important in garlic too, but this time they are helpful because they *form* the anti-cancer compounds. So it's important to activate the enzymes before they are destroyed by heating. So crushing or chopping the garlic before cooking and letting it stand for 10 minutes breaks the cells, enables the enzymes to make contact, and gives them the chance to do their job.

{edited by me from parts of a conversation ... so any mistakes are probably mine :teeth:}

As a home educator, I love this stuff ... It's interesting to pass on science lessons ... or any educational lesson for that matter ... while doing everyday normal things. My son was at Youth Group while I was cooking, so this one will be saved ... or I may just tape it up to the kitchen cabinet and let him try the process for himself for a different meal :teeth:

That way Mom doesn't have to cook that night :yipee:

[Socrates]

:idea: Glad that my chemistry has come in useful :yipee:

[Sher]

Socrates:

:idea: Glad that my chemistry has come in useful :yipee:

:yipee: ... er ... :huh: ... Wait just a minute ...

:whack: .... out, out ... out of the Sorority and back to the Frat with you


:sher:

[Sher]

Here's another great tip ... not related to cooking ... but to cleaning ...

For smaller pieces of silver ... avoid all the harsh silver cleaning creams ... and use some tin foil and baking soda instead.

Cover the inside of a heatproof glass bowl with a piece of tin foil (aluminum foil), shiny side up. Place the piece of silver in the bowl and add 1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda. Pour enough boiling water to cover the item. The foil collects the tarnish, and when you remove it, just polish it with a soft cloth.

This works great for silver chains and jewlery as well. Very easy ... no scrubbing.

=========

Another strange, but interesting tip ... our own saliva will remove our own blood from staining something in a small spot. If you are stitching or sewing, and prick your finger with a pin or needle ... getting a couple of drops of blood on the fabric (which I always seem to manage to do at least once) ... immediately wet the area with "spit" ... and it should blot right off with a clean napkin or paper towel without staining.

(yeah, yuck, I know ... but it really works)

[QuantaFille]

About the onion thing... I usually try to put the onion in the fridge to get it cold before I cut it, so it doesn't make my eyes tear... Is it better to put it in the microwave before cutting?
And rubbing stainless steel will get the smell off your hands, just rub the faucet (if it's the steel kind.)
I'll have to try the microwave thing... :teeth:

[Sher]

QuantaFille:

About the onion thing... I usually try to put the onion in the fridge to get it cold before I cut it, so it doesn't make my eyes tear... Is it better to put it in the microwave before cutting?
And rubbing stainless steel will get the smell off your hands, just rub the faucet (if it's the steel kind.)
I'll have to try the microwave thing... :teeth:

Hi QuantaFille,

I did the same thing (fridge) ... and I love those really strong yellow onions ... but this microwave trick was really cool ... worked even better ... I'd just stick with giving it 3 or 4 fork-pricks into the top end :teeth:

But that's cool with the faucet trick ... I've never heard that before.

Sher

[Socrates]

Today @ 10:00 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=139686#post139686)
Sher:

Here's another great tip ... not related to cooking ... but to cleaning ...

For smaller pieces of silver ... avoid all the harsh silver cleaning creams ... and use some tin foil and baking soda instead.

Cover the inside of a heatproof glass bowl with a piece of tin foil (aluminum foil), shiny side up. Place the piece of silver in the bowl and add 1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda. Pour enough boiling water to cover the item. The foil collects the tarnish, and when you remove it, just polish it with a soft cloth.

This works great for silver chains and jewlery as well. Very easy ... no scrubbing.

Yes, this is simple electrochemistry, and I taught my Mum (Mom to you Yanx :geebob:) this trick. Aluminium (to use the official chemical name :tongue:) foil works, because aluminium is very electropositive, and there is large surface area. The only requirement is that there must be electrical contact between the silver and this metal. The liquid completes the circuit. The baking soda is an electrolyte, making the water conduct well. Ordinary salt would do just as well. Boiling the water is unnecessary, but it would speed the process. And unlike polishing, which removes some silver, this method puts some back!

Tarnish is silver sulfide, Ag2S. The silver can be reduced by a supply of electrons:
2e + Ag2S → 2Ag + S2–
The electrons can be supplied by the oxidizing aluminium:
Al → Al3+ + 3e

The overall equation is obtained by combining the two half equations and balancing electron count:
2Al + 3Ag2S → 6Ag + 2Al3+ + 3S2–

You might notice a slight egg smell because of S2– + 2H+ ↔ H2S↑ This reaction would be suppressed by having the alkaline baking soda as Sher does, because this reacts with the H+.

Alas, where I live, unscrupulous manufacturers have sold a "silver star" cleaning device, which is a metal sheet with star-shaped holes on it. Sure, it works, but the stars have nothing whatever to do with it -- any metal in any shape which is more electropositive than silver would do.

[Sher]

Socrates:

Yes, this is simple electrochemistry [...]

I knew it! :no: You just couldn't resist ... :lol:

(but thanks ... that was rather interesting ... *clicks save*)

Sher

[Sher]

I'm really enjoying this thread ...

... but to prevent poor Soc from committing any more infractions :tongue: I'm going to move it to Home Ec (I'll leave a breadcrumb trail)

... where hopefully you ladies will come ring in with some more household hints :cheers:

... and Soc will continue to satisfy my frustrated geek side :wink: explaining why they work the way they do

:sher:

[QuantaFille]

...and I taught my Mum (Mom to you Yanx...
I'm American, and I call my mother Mum...
Umm, anyway...

Can you explain the faucet trick for getting the smell off your hands? My Mum (:teeth:) has always done that, and it seems to work. I've even seen bars of "soap" made of steel, for this purpose. But I must know how things work...

[Socrates]

Yesterday @ 05:33 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=140174#post140174)
QuantaFille:


I'm American, and I call my mother Mum...

Very unusual, but there's hope for your country yet :brow:

Umm, anyway...

Can you explain the faucet trick for getting the smell off your hands? My Mum (:teeth:) has always done that, and it seems to work. I've even seen bars of "soap" made of steel, for this purpose. But I must know how things work...

Not sure actually. The only suggestion I could find is that the metals catalyse the oxidation of the sulfur compounds that cause odor. It's plausible, since nickel is used as a catalyst for other reactions, and the catalytic converters in cars use different metals to catalyse oxidation of pollutants.

[Sher]

Socrates:

Very unusual, but there's hope for your country yet :brow:

:rofl: ... ahem ... :ahem:


=========
More Hints:

~~> To form meatballs or patties easily, reshape the meat or meat mixture into a log and slice off the portions needed.

~~> When making deviled (or stuffed) eggs, gently stir the eggs for the first couple minutes of boilling time. This will more consistantly keep the yolks in the centers of the whites, creating a strong "shell" to be stuffed (~~> a bit of dry yellow mustard is the kicker for deviled eggs)

~~> Speaking of eggs, you can tell a raw egg from a hard-boiled egg by spinning it on its side. If it wobbles around, its raw ... a cooked egg spins smoothly.

~~> And to go along with your eggs, how about some bacon? Cook larger quantities of bacon in advance by laying the slices on a baking pan side-by-side and baking at 400 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes (or until crisp). Cool, stack, wrap, and freeze until needed. You can reheat the slices at that time, mostly mess-free, in a frying pan over low heat.

[QuantaFille]

How the egg thing works:
click (http://education.usace.army.mil/clubhouse/science/inertia/eggpuzzle.html)
(I tried to explain it myself, but I'm not very good at explaining things, heh...)

(And may I take this opportunity to mention that I'm part British? :teeth: I don't live there anymore, though, it's been years... And we only lived there because my Dad was in the military... What? Topic? Oh, yes, right then, carry on...)

[Sher]

QuantaFille:

How the egg thing works:
click (http://education.usace.army.mil/clubhouse/science/inertia/eggpuzzle.html)
(I tried to explain it myself, but I'm not very good at explaining things, heh...)

Whoo Hoo ... thanks Quanta ... that was helpful ... and I'm glad you rang in with an answer :teeth:

(And may I take this opportunity to mention that I'm part British? :teeth: I don't live there anymore, though, it's been years... And we only lived there because my Dad was in the military... What? Topic? Oh, yes, right then, carry on...)

Eh :shrug: ... It's my topic ... and as Queen of OP (original post) ... I deem it okay to stray off-topic a bit ... or whatever :ahem:

I want to do a meet and greet soon in the Sorority ... hope you'll come by and intro yourself a bit more then :smile:

[Undomiel]

40 Mule Team Borax can be used to delouse or debug your house. and your yard. Sprinkle it on your furniture, let it sit for an hour and vaccum it up. It eats through the egg casings of fleas, ticks, etc, that pets bring in from outdoors. Also, you can sprinkle it on an ant hill, around the base of the wallboards in your house, and around the outside walls of your house. Also, it can be sprinkled onto carpeting, left for an hour, and vaccumed up. Kills da buggies.

-----------------

An easy Chili Recipe:

1lb Hamburger (the leaner, the better)
2 cans of Dark Red Kidney Beans
2 Lg. cans of Crushed Tomatoes (no spices in it)
Your favorite Salsa
Chili powder, Salt, Pepper, Sugar

Cook thawed hamburger in a big pot with the beans and tomatoes. Add salsa, chili powder, salt, pepper and sugar to taste. Cook on low heat for about an hour [the longer chili cooks, the better it tastes. Don't burn it. If you want it spicier [hotter], make sure to get hotter salsa the next time. ;)

When finished, serve it in individual bowls and sprinkle the top with shredded cheddar cheese and crackers (Oyster crackers are the best for chili).

[Undomiel]

Keep a stockpile of olive oil, preferably in unopened glass containers. It can be used for many things in a pinch .

Here's a list of items it's always good to have stored up in your garage, in the event of catastrophe or emergency situations:

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance ect.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled ect.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, ect. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, ect.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, ect
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffle Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, ect.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, ect
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, ect.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, boullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, ect. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, ect.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, ect,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, ect.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of the dry upappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more valuable as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches.
9. More matches

http://pub78.ezboard.com/fwolfpack76235frm54.showMessage?topicID=27.topic

[Undomiel]

Bounce (or similar dryer sheets)

And all this time I've just been putting Bounce in the dryer.
1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
2. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
3. Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop outdoors during mosquito season.
4. Eliminates static electricity from your television screen. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
5. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
6. Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
7. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
8. Prevent musty suitcases. Place a sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
9. Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
10. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit over- night, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food.
11. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
12. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract loose hairs.
13. Eliminate static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
14. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
15. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of bag or hamper.
16. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
17 Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

http://pub78.ezboard.com/fwolfpack76235frm54.showMessage?topicID=47.topic

[Sher]

Today @ 09:46 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=142698#post142698)
Undomiel:

40 Mule Team Borax can be used to delouse or debug your house. and your yard. Sprinkle it on your furniture, let it sit for an hour and vaccum it up. It eats through the egg casings of fleas, ticks, etc, that pets bring in from outdoors. Also, you can sprinkle it on an ant hill, around the base of the wallboards in your house, and around the outside walls of your house. Also, it can be sprinkled onto carpeting, left for an hour, and vaccumed up. Kills da buggies.

Cool Undomiel ... As a dog owner, I find this very interesting ... have you actually done this? Did it work well for you? (and thanks for the other tips too!)

Soc? Know why it works? :read: :teeth:

:sher:

[Undomiel]

You mean the borax? Yes. We have 2 medium sized dogs, one of which is a long-haired collie, and a cat. Flea season is always a problem for them. If you go to the expense of buying flea meds and then don't de-flea the furniture, the fleas come right back. In the cooler seasons, the eggs lie dormant outside but hatch right in the house.

[Sher]

Undomiel:

You mean the borax? Yes. We have 2 medium sized dogs, one of which is a long-haired collie, and a cat. Flea season is always a problem for them. If you go to the expense of buying flea meds and then don't de-flea the furniture, the fleas come right back. In the cooler seasons, the eggs lie dormant outside but hatch right in the house.

Yeah ... that's great! I'll have to try it. Living in the South ... fleas are a BIG problem ... always fighting to keep things clean and flea-free in the summer. Thanks for a great idea!

[Socrates]

Today @ 02:27 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=142805#post142805)
Sher, replying to:

Undomiel:

40 Mule Team Borax can be used to delouse or debug your house. and your yard. Sprinkle it on your furniture, let it sit for an hour and vaccum it up. It eats through the egg casings of fleas, ticks, etc, that pets bring in from outdoors. Also, you can sprinkle it on an ant hill, around the base of the wallboards in your house, and around the outside walls of your house. Also, it can be sprinkled onto carpeting, left for an hour, and vaccumed up. Kills da buggies.

Cool Undomiel ... As a dog owner, I find this very interesting ... have you actually done this? Did it work well for you? (and thanks for the other tips too!)

Soc? Know why it works? :read: :teeth:

The best info I could find is that borax is a dessicant, and dehydrates the tissues. It is a good fungicide, antiseptic and killer of small pests as Undomiel says.

Borax is good for killing ants if you mix about 5% of it with honey, but there are commercial products that have the right mix. The optimal concentration will not kill the workers immediately but they will take it back to their nests where the borax will kill the queen. all the same, if the ants are non-stinging and don't come into your house, leave them alone -- they get rid of other pests and clean up debris.

Here's some chemical info about borax (http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/carbonat/borax/borax.htm).

[QuantaFille]

7. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
That's because the Bounce uses a waxy substance to to what it does, and wax prevents the thread from tangling because it makes the thread a bit stiffer. Pieces of wax are actually sold for this purpose. It is also why Bounce should never be used in the dryer with towels, the wax makes the towels less absorbent.

[Sher]

Thanks guys :thumb: I'm still really enjoying this thread

/ot QuantaFille ... Myst, Riven, or Exile? :teeth: (for me, Myst ... it was the one that began it all ... but the last one's ending was too, too cool ... we played that one on Xbox ... and we even taped it to watch the replay)

[QuantaFille]

Yesterday @ 11:17 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=143974#post143974)
Sher:

Thanks guys :thumb: I'm still really enjoying this thread

/ot QuantaFille ... Myst, Riven, or Exile? :teeth: (for me, Myst ... it was the one that began it all ... but the last one's ending was too, too cool ... we played that one on Xbox ... and we even taped it to watch the replay)

/ot I own all three- realMYST (the 3D realtime remake), Riven (CD set) and Exile (non-collectors edition). (Plus all three first-edition hardback Myst novels.) Riven is the best so far, but there's still Myst IV being made, and also Uru... See the MMORPG thread somewhere in the computer section for the links to the Uru sites... Hey, I should start a thread on this over there...
This is about my location, isn't it? :teeth:

[Sher]

Today @ 11:01 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=145134#post145134)
QuantaFille:

Hey, I should start a thread on this over there...

/ot Sure :thumb: just throw me a link so I don't forget. You seem more into them than I was .... but I'd be interested in hearing about the books especially. I haven't taken the time to read them and a critique would be appreciated. Myst FOUR? Cool ... didn't realize there would be another one.

This is about my location, isn't it? :teeth:

/ot Yup :teeth:

[QuantaFille]

/ot OK, I finally got around to starting that Myst thread... here. (http://theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7047)

Now we can get back on topic. :teeth:

To get chewing gum out of fabric, put a couple of ice cubes in a ziploc bag and hold it on the gum. Use a dull knife to scrape it off. Cold gum won't string all over the place when you try to get it out.

[Sher]

QuantaFille:

/ot OK, I finally got around to starting that Myst thread... here. (http://theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7047)

Cool ... I'll ring in there in a bit :smile:

Now we can get back on topic. :teeth:

To get chewing gum out of fabric, put a couple of ice cubes in a ziploc bag and hold it on the gum. Use a dull knife to scrape it off. Cold gum won't string all over the place when you try to get it out.

This is a great one! It also works well on carpets.

Speaking of carpets, for spot cleaning in a limited area .... try foamy shaving cream! Test it in a nonconspicuous area for colorfastness ... but spray the foam, scrub with a cloth or brush, and then vacuum the area after it dries.

:thumb:

:shersig:

[Sher]

:popcorn:

"Normal ovens radiate infrared at the right energy to excite quantum vibrational modes, which is why we think of it as "heat waves". Microwaves have a longer wavelength, hence lower energy photons, with only enough energy to excite quantum rotational states. Normally, only liquids and gases have molecules free to rotate. So the microwaves don't heat the container, but only the food inside that contains lots of water, with molecules that can rotate. The only danger is from the equipartition principle -- at equilibrium, the energy is distributed equally through all modes. So microwaved food should be allowed to stand to reach equilibrium. Otherwise, if you eat it, it doesn't feel too hot because the energy hasn't equilibrated to the vibrational modes. But in your stomach, this equilibration continues, and the energy is spread to vibrational modes as well, so you burn from within. Quantum mechanics is based on the observation that energy levels are not continuous but in jumps. So is light. If a light photon has the same energy as the gap between two quantum levels, it can excite the molecule into the higher level. And when a molecule goes from a higher level into a lower one, it can emit a photon of that energy. In solids, the molecules can vibrate, so infrared radiation, as in an ordinary oven, will heat the containers too. Part of the heat to the food will be from conduction from the containers. With a microwave, the containers get hot only from conduction from the food."

:thumb: Thanks Soc! :sher:

[mossrose]

:bump:

Come along folks, we want to keep these threads going here in HomeEc!