Quick Fire Questions (A Place to Ask and Answer)

[Hex]

Another one from me:

If you were a scientific type (lab-based, biology stuff) and you were trying to calm yourself down by -- let's say -- reciting something very dull and routine to yourself, what might it be?

I have a sentence written that says: "I closed my eyes, breathed slowly and recited the names of the Noble Gases, the chemical composition of [???]."

Any ideas gratefully received.

[springs]

Periodic tables? Geological ages? They always sound quite relaxing; jurassic, cretaceous. Any mneomics?

[Hex]

I was vaguely remembering that there are things with long chemical formulae. I think. But then I'm not sure what that would be. Or how long 'long' is.

Edited to say: it should be something vaguely realistic for the 1920s, too.

[springs]

Does the reader have to read it as they say it? Or is it just a throwaway this is what they were thinking of? It's just if they do you might want to go not top long; you know, chemists, rest of the population

[Abernovo]

Hey, I know this one. You did say biological stuff, be warned.

When it all goes wrong, instead of counting to a hundred, you can recite species and their Latin names.

Flowers:
Greater Periwinkle - Vinca major
Lesser Periwinkle - Vinca minor
Herbaceous Periwinkle - Vinca herbacea

and so on for animals, fungi etc. As if lab work wasn't boring enough.

[The Judge]

Well, I'm not at all scientific, but I have been known to talk myself through the first part of the periodic table -- "Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen..." has a wonderfully soothing rhythm to it (though after that I come unstuck very rapidly...). But it doesn't need much mental effort, so might it be better if he/she had to do something which requires a little concentration? If I'm feeling nauseous or faint I count, eg "2+2=4, 4+4=8, 8+8=16..." getting as high as I can, as the effort involved stops me thinking sicky thoughts.


EDIT: for chemical formulae this might help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diction...mical_formulas

[Mouse]

How about the physiological properties of insulin? (I've no idea what that means, I just Googled 1920s biology! Apparently it was a big thing in 1921.)

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by The Judge

eg "2+2=4, 4+4=8, 8+8=16..." getting as high as I can, as the effort involved stops me thinking sicky thoughts.

I leave out the pluses and just go through, the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64... (and much further, one of the perils of having to know certain binary numbers in decimal).

But if you want to keep the process in there, isn't there a song involving, I think, marigolds and an inchworm, that goes up to thirty-two?


And the US States**, in strict alphabetical order. (And I used to be able recall all 24 oblasts, plus one republic) of Ukraina.


** Eight each beginning with M and N (two Norths and four News).

[Hex]

Here are the perils of trying to write about a character with a background I know nothing of... (I have a vague idea what a lab coat looks like and I could probably work out how a bunsen burner worked, but that's about it).

She's meant to be a bit of a lab geek -- the sort of person who doesn't know the rest of the world exists, and wouldn't know how to name a flower because it's not pinned to a board. I might go with the numbers -- good plan -- but I was looking for something a little more... specific.

Insulin was a good idea -- I just tried to read about it, but none of it makes any sense to me :|

Animals might work. She could list the species of rats.

TJ -- thanks for the link. Hmm. Barium bromate monohydrate, eh? Looks promising. Thank you.

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Hex

Insulin was a good idea -- I just tried to read about it, but none of it makes any sense to me :|

Didn't to me either. Hey, at least I had a good idea!

[Abernovo]

There's only two rats, Black and Brown. Rodents might work better.

[Mouse]

I think there's more than that, Aber... http://www.petwebsite.com/rats/rat_species.htm

[Hex]

How about the marvellous calming properties of ethyl chloride --C2H5Cl Not very long, but at least I know it was around in the 1920s :s

[Abernovo]

Oops, yes, you are quite correct, Mouse. Typing with my brain in neutral and before double-checking, for which there is no excuse. There's two in Europe.

I will go off and write twenty times: I am a numpty. Do not type when tired.

Many apologies.,

[Mouse]

Heh! No worries... I knew there were more than two (I'm a huge rat fan) but didn't realise there were quite that many!