Folk Science

06 Aug 01 - 05:46 PM (#522162)
Subject: Folk Science
From: Bert

I was going to label this BS, but decided that it really IS folk stuff.

This thread is for all those frequently observed phenomena that have gone completely unnoticed by the scientific community.

For starters. Have you noticed that garbage cans (dustbins) repel onion skins? Throw an onion skin in the garbage and it WILL miss. Look around any garbage bin and you will see onion skins that have been rejected by the garbage bin.

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06 Aug 01 - 06:07 PM (#522177)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Gareth

Perhaps Raccons / Foxes / Dingo's don't like Onions ?

Gareth

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06 Aug 01 - 06:17 PM (#522186)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: JenEllen

You throw your onion skin
Always misses, never in
And you ask why, oh why?
Garbage bins don't like to cry

whaddya know, there might be something there...*g*
~Jen

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06 Aug 01 - 06:36 PM (#522196)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Clinton Hammond

I suspect yer just a lousy shot, bert...

;-)

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06 Aug 01 - 06:36 PM (#522197)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Jeri

I've heard (I stole it) you can make a very simple anti-gravity device by tying a slice of buttered toast to the back of a cat.
Drop the cat from a reasonable height
---Toast always lands buttered-side down
---Cats always land on their feet
The cat/toast will flip from butter to feet continuously, and never hit the ground.

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06 Aug 01 - 06:42 PM (#522201)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: GUEST

Bert,

You should have labelled it BS - it's not folk, not funny, not anything much apart from dull and tedious...

Never mind, no-one 'hits' every time

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06 Aug 01 - 06:46 PM (#522206)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Bill D

would you have told Bert that face to face, Mr/Ms guest:turnip?...I might have, but he'd know it was me...and respected me for it, I'll bet.

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06 Aug 01 - 06:51 PM (#522213)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Shields Folk

He is right though, it is shite!

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06 Aug 01 - 07:25 PM (#522234)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Sorcha

No it's not, it's funny; so there. Matter of opinion.

Telephones are hard wired to bathtubs, showers and toilets. Otherwise, they would ring just at "that" moment every single time.

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06 Aug 01 - 10:01 PM (#522312)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: RangerSteve

What does a synchronized swimming team do if one of it's members drowns?

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06 Aug 01 - 10:57 PM (#522330)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Bert

Yer right Bill. I certainly do respect your opinions. And I'm always ready to discuss these matters with friends. I've had many an interesting discussion/battle with friends here.

Folklore is much a much broader subject than just music. Many a Folk Myth has eventually been incorporated into modern science. Penicillin and aspirin, were the once the scoffed at folk remedies of mouldy cheese and willow bark.

I was hoping to get more folk observations, come on, you MUST know some!

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06 Aug 01 - 11:17 PM (#522337)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Mark Cohen

It's a well-known fact that when you try to start a discussion like this, someone will come along and barf on your parade. It's been written up in the Journal of Irreproducible Results. (Which, by the way, does exist.) Illegitimi non carborundum, Bert.

Aloha,
Mark

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06 Aug 01 - 11:20 PM (#522338)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Bert

I'm not worried Mark, just kinda amused. I guess we have to cut the guy some slack, after all the poor fellow hasn't even got a handle.

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06 Aug 01 - 11:32 PM (#522347)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Sorcha

whoa, bert, that was badddd! No handle, hee hee hee! Fella seems to having a field day today, eh?

(mine should have said--"telephones would NOT ring at just that moment"...

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06 Aug 01 - 11:38 PM (#522354)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Philibuster

My computer will only boot up when I'm NOT looking at it.

I, as of yet, have no explanation for this.

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07 Aug 01 - 06:17 AM (#522451)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: GUEST

Philibuster,

A simple explanation is your lack of patience...

Sit and watch it for a while, you'll soon disprove your 'theory'

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07 Aug 01 - 06:42 AM (#522454)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Wilfried Schaum

Bert's observation fits well in a pattern known over here as "selective gravity". I will add it to the list. Other phenomena not cited by Jeri are: - a falling hammer will always hit your foot - an OC (Navy: Midshipman) will always fall on his nose. I will start a discussion with my fellow musicians in the next pause, backstage. To the mudcatters who don't find this funny: You must not read this discussion, please stop to add your expressions of dislike. It spares time on reading and space on the server.

Wilfried, Germany

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07 Aug 01 - 09:21 AM (#522510)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Grab

Wilfried, you've missed some important points. A falling hammer will only rarely hit your foot - there's usually something more valuable around to hit, or something fragile (especially something fragile belonging to someone else), or just _someone_ underneath it. Or, in a recently experienced one, it will miss anything that could hinder its downward progress if (a) you're in a position from which it's difficult to get down (eg. up a ladder), or (b) it can fall into a location from which it can't easily be extracted (eg. a holly bush, or next door's Dobermann enclosure).

So if you're up a ladder overlooking next-door's greenhouse, don't even think about bringing anything heavier than a foam hammer with you - the results are almost inevitable...

Graham.

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07 Aug 01 - 09:28 AM (#522514)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Mrrzy

The synchronized swimming bit was done recently in a Tank MacNamara strip, very funny, you see several frames of sports announcers getting more and more aghast, and in the final frame they are weeping at the ambulance under the Synchronized Swinning sign, saying First one got a cramp, and then...

Why is it that when you go upstairs to do something, it's only after you get there that you realize something you need is still downstairs? Does nature abhor making only one trip, or something?

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07 Aug 01 - 11:59 AM (#522609)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Naemanson

Actually, Grab and Wilfried, there is another corollary to the falling hammer rule. If you are over an open hole or, worse open water, the falling hammer will miss anything that might stop its progress and disappear into irretrievability. Also the hammer is capable of falling through a hole that is too small for them to fit into.

This applies to any tool as a matter of fact.

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07 Aug 01 - 12:27 PM (#522634)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Hollowfox

On the selective gravity subject, there was a study done (1967 or earlier) on the Inate Malevolence of Inanimate Objects. It involved dropping slices of bread under as close to identical circumstances as possible, the only difference being whether they were dropped over linoleum or white carpet. The bread landed jelly side down on the carpet more often than the linoleum, statistically more often than random chance would warrent. I heard this in an Anthropology 101 lecture, and the professor is, alas, no longer living, so I can't give a more specific source citation.
For other folk science, how about the practice of burying a statue of Saint Josep head downwards in your yard (USA for "garden") to get a quick sale when you want to sell your house?

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07 Aug 01 - 02:39 PM (#522749)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Gareth

Actually there is something in the tools and gravity theory. Time and time I have droped Spanners, Mole wrenches, etc on a boats deck. Thump. slither, splash ! If there is a freeing port available the tool will find it.

Gareth

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07 Aug 01 - 02:44 PM (#522756)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: LR Mole

No, that's folk theology, like hanging the rosary beads out the window for a nice wedding day.

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07 Aug 01 - 11:00 PM (#523147)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Bert

Then there are those rooms, which, when you enter them, immediately make you forget why you did so.

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07 Aug 01 - 11:04 PM (#523151)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Sorcha

Oh, yes, bert, I have been in those rooms. Then there is also the
"I have to ask Jeff about (whatever)" and when Jeff shows up I only remember that I had to ask him SOMETHING....but not exactly what......after Jeff leaves I remember, of course.

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07 Aug 01 - 11:34 PM (#523182)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: RangerSteve

Has anyone ever had their car break down within walking distance of their house?

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07 Aug 01 - 11:38 PM (#523188)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Sorcha

With 49 and 3/4 years on the planet, once........good one, Steve.

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07 Aug 01 - 11:39 PM (#523191)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: RangerSteve

Oh, yeah, that business about St. Joseph, He's the patron saint of home buyers/sellers, for the simple reason that he look for a place to stay in Bethlehem and had no luck.

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07 Aug 01 - 11:44 PM (#523195)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Sorcha

Steve, I do have to admit that the "one time" was 14 blocks (1 mile?) from home with a 6 month old baby in the midst of a zero visibilty blizzard......I beat the parking ticket in court, though.

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08 Aug 01 - 12:32 PM (#523564)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Hollowfox

Mole, I didn't think of the St. Joseph sales technique as folk theology because I've seen non-believers simply bury the artifact, as well as believers requesting help from the saint. Both houses sold, though.

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08 Aug 01 - 06:54 PM (#523909)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Mr Red

bert & Sorcha - those rooms? would they be chat rooms? and as I was going to say........

Sod it....I'll go away & come back when I remembered the question

meanwhile can I chip in with ---- Neatsfoot oil

acheing joints? broken bones? back pain? Then try Neatsfoot oil

folk remedy from the Black Country --- (urban West Midlands of England - to the W by NW of and most definitely not including B'ham).

Rub on affected areas, a little goes a long way.

Sold at all good equestrian centres. Aka Neatsfoot compound

Do NOT acquire from a chemist - their product is raw and rank!!!!!

Any other neatsfooting 'catters out there?

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08 Aug 01 - 07:00 PM (#523914)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Mr Red

I remembered, I remebered
Naemanson, Grab and Wilfried - I can't say much on the on the subject of Birmingham screwdrivers as I am just a hammer chewer at it!!!!!

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26 Dec 01 - 07:59 PM (#616730)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Amos

Meanwhile, those of you more concerned with "How will we ever get the next generation out of the Dark Ages?" might be interested in this successful approach, named Grossology by its founder and discussed on this page.

Regards,

A

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26 Dec 01 - 10:31 PM (#616799)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Ebbie

The other evening a woman in the group said that Superglue was 'invented' in WWII and used first for closing open wounds, and that she uses it for small injuries herself. (I'm going to look it up, momentarily)

The part that doesn't ring true is that until recently Superglue had to be created, at least in the domestic market, by combining and mixing two separate compounds. Surely that would not have been feasible on the battle front?

On the pro side is the fact that I myself use colorless nail polish to close finger wounds that result from hangnails. Which sounds just as bizarre, I'll admit, as the Superglue story.

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27 Dec 01 - 12:53 AM (#616860)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Bob Bolton

G'day,

Ebbie: I think you are confusing your glues: normal epoxy resin needs to be mixed on the spot (some "one mix" ...?!? types do exist), but 'superglue ... alpha cyano-acrylate ... is a single liquid with anaerobic setting; ie it sets when deprived of oxygen ... as when you jam the job together, assuming it has good fit-up.

I don't think it was invented as early as WWII, but it was developed for wound sealing, having the advantage of not needing removal of sutures. It has been superseded by disolving sutures.

The first place I struck the alpha cyano-acrylates was in high grades of "Loc-Tite" - thread sealant and general nut lock. They later appeared in commercial packaging as "superglue".

Regards,

Bob Bolton

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27 Dec 01 - 01:06 AM (#616865)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Bob Bolton

G'day again Ebbie,

Whoops - l'esprit de l'escalier strikes again:

As I sent the last posting, I remembered what may have been muddled up with the superglue/artificial suture story. For a long time back, collodion - a liquid form of nitrocellulose - was used as a wound dressing ... possibly before WWI. I had this applied to a head wound (domestic ... a lead sinker being spun by my older brother, on a fishing line that broke ... struck the side of my head) around 1954.

The most familiar (if unknown!) use of collodion was in Hollywood movies where the clear solution was used to trace out facial scars, in horror films and such. As it dried, it shrank, puckering up the flesh like scar tissue. This was also a prank of apprentices in the printing industry, where they used the photographic collodion process as late as the early 1960s. They would draw horroble scars onto their faces before going out to lunch and enjoy the horrified looks of passers by.

This use may have been mistaken for the later alpha cyano-acrylate incision sealant.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

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27 Dec 01 - 09:07 AM (#616962)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Sooz

Our local Accident and Emergency department uses Superglue to close wounds. It is blue and comes in a "one use" sterile container. It also hurts a lot less than stitches! The staff told us that it had been invented for such use and only went commercial later.

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27 Dec 01 - 10:03 AM (#616993)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: catspaw49

I'm thinking that this idea falls into the category of "Folk Science."

Spaw

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27 Dec 01 - 10:48 AM (#617011)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Uncle_DaveO

My minor at the University of Minnesota was theater, and a special interest to me was stage makeup, and in particular close-up makeup, for small in-the-round stages.

Besides making "scars" with collodion, there was another collodion use: "cotton-collodion buildup". One would use cotton batting (Brit: "cotton wool") impregnated and/or overlaid with collodion to build up parts of the face, such as a protruding chin, prominent cheekbones, and so forth.

Dave Oesterreich

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28 Dec 01 - 01:52 AM (#617491)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Amos

Wow, Dave, thanks for the tidbit!! The things ya learn on the Cat!!!

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28 Dec 01 - 06:46 AM (#617547)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: GUEST,DMcG

A different slant on Folk science, based on gargoyle's post: How many of you remember doing science experiments repeatly at school until you carried out the one on ten or so that gave the 'right' answer?

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28 Dec 01 - 01:56 PM (#617686)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: AliUK

talking od superglue. I always endup glueing some part of my hands together.

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28 Dec 01 - 03:46 PM (#617728)
Subject: RE: Folk Science
From: Amos

I don't suppose everyone knows there is actually a folksong about Superglue....which can be found for your enjoyment at this spot.

A

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