Guest guest Posted August 16, 2007 Report Share Posted August 16, 2007 Hi Everyone. I don't often post but really learn a lot from those of you who do. Thank you all. I just have a few random things to bring up... Alum: I'm using this chemical as a mordant for dyeing, and my dye references list 3 compounds that are called alum -- the common denominator being that they all have aluminum in there somewhere. So when I went to the drugstore and found a bottle of alum I asked the pharmacist which kind it was and he knew nothing. Later I checked the inet and found something alarming about the " crisp pickle " use for alum. The veggies/fruit is soaked in an alum solution then rinsed off, so it may not even show up on the ingredients list. But what was shocking is the way alum makes veggies/fruits crisp. The aluminum bonds with the rind or skin, forming what I imagine as a molecular-thin foil that acts like a shield and crunches when biten. Yikes! Brain Size: Discussion of raw diets make me wonder about a recent statement on a documentary (by an anthropology professor) that the key to human evolution was the discovery of fire, which lead to cooked foods that were easier to digest and hence provided the enormous amount of fuel needed for brain growth and function. Sorry I can't provide a citation for this information, but it was on TV a while ago. Meaning of Life: Another science show on TV that I saw lately was talking about parasites/microbes etc. and one of the scientists interviewed said that life is nothing but a constant battle between us and our parasites. Like viruses and prions, chemical molecules aren't actually " alive " but they too can inhabit our bodies and do various harm. I know that's a pretty grim view of the human condition, but the guy was a molecular biologist and just calling it as he sees it. I picked up on the comment because I had previously heard that if all of " me " disappeared, leaving only the invaders (parasites, microbes, etc,), " I " would still look like " me " right down to the eyelashes. Cheers, Bonnie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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