Ask a physicist anything. (6)

[mzungu]

green tea can work as a stimulant for me! But not red or black tea!

Some tea my dear?

 

[Lillen]

This must be my last question for a while... But have you understanding in Forrest Gumps saying "Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know whats in it"? Most people watching the movie laugh at this, but they seem to have lack of understanding of what he is really saying, do you have a clue!!?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

This must be my last question for a while... But have you understanding in Forrest Gumps saying "Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know whats in it"? Most people watching the movie laugh at this, but they seem to have lack of understanding of what he is really saying, do you have a clue!!?

It seems pretty obvious to me. It's a metaphor for the unpredictability of life. Like a box of chocolates, there are some things you just can't predict, or which give results contrary to what you predicted.

 

[mzungu]

ET call home: Found: A Batch of DNA Molecules That Seem To Have Originated in Space | Popular Science

 

[Lillen]

I am not sure I follow you!?

I remeber a old classmate talking about chocholate before the whole class, I guess he wanted to show all women how charming he was, these days i laugh at it!!!

I remeber it well, perfect chocholate should be set up in a cluster of five crystals bond togather!

 

[Wiccan_Child]

I am not sure I follow you!?

When you pick a chocolate out of a box, you're never quite sure what flavour you're going to get. Likewise, in life, you're never sure what events will befall you. In that way, life is like a box of chocolates.

 

[pgp_protector]

When you pick a chocolate out of a box, you're never quite sure what flavour you're going to get. Likewise, in life, you're never sure what events will befall you. In that way, life is like a box of chocolates.

My aunt works as Sees Candy, and just by looking at them can tell you what's in each one

 

[Lillen]

Actually the two boxes of chocholate i can come up with, Alladin and Paradis (brands by Marabou) contain a brochure of what the diffrent pieces contain... So I can not relate to that saying!

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

When you pick a chocolate out of a box, you're never quite sure what flavour you're going to get. Likewise, in life, you're never sure what events will befall you. In that way, life is like a box of chocolates.

Not quite true. It depends on the specificity that you want in your predictions. I can't tell you the kind of girl that you met and eventually married. I can't tell if you met a girl at all. I can't tell you what kind of job you do over the internet. But I can tell you that there's a high chance that at least one of your close family will die from either a chronic heart condition or some kind of cancer. I can tell you that it's likely you have a job that requires you to be at work every weekday morning until the afternoon, etc. etc. High probability stuff. Like the things that mentalists (well, the bad ones anyway) and psychics use.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

My aunt works as Sees Candy, and just by looking at them can tell you what's in each one

Is candy a type of chocolate? I always thought it was hard sweets that were 'candy'

Actually the two boxes of chocholate i can come up with, Alladin and Paradis (brands by Marabou) contain a brochure of what the diffrent pieces contain... So I can not relate to that saying!

True, that's the norm nowadays, but the idiom dates from a time when there was no brochure, and the tradition was to just pick one and hope for the best.

Not quite true. It depends on the specificity that you want in your predictions. I can't tell you the kind of girl that you met and eventually married. I can't tell if you met a girl at all. I can't tell you what kind of job you do over the internet. But I can tell you that there's a high chance that at least one of your close family will die from either a chronic heart condition or some kind of cancer. I can tell you that it's likely you have a job that requires you to be at work every weekday morning until the afternoon, etc. etc. High probability stuff. Like the things that mentalists (well, the bad ones anyway) and psychics use.

True, but those things are commonplace and occur to everyone, that's why you can predict them. The idiom exists to reflect the fact that there is a large element of unpredictability in our lives. A figure from the past returns for some reason, someone in our present leaves without a trace, your business goes under, you're offered a much higher salary, etc.

 

[pgp_protector]

Is candy a type of chocolate? I always thought it was hard sweets that were 'candy'

It's the name of the store

True, that's the norm nowadays, but the idiom dates from a time when there was no brochure, and the tradition was to just pick one and hope for the best.


True, but those things are commonplace and occur to everyone, that's why you can predict them. The idiom exists to reflect the fact that there is a large element of unpredictability in our lives. A figure from the past returns for some reason, someone in our present leaves without a trace, your business goes under, you're offered a much higher salary, etc.

 

[chris4243]

I found a great tea sortiment with african rooibos with it.. Even though rooibos is actually not a tea it is bark from a tree. My question is what effects is there of tea, is it a stimulant or is it a depressant?

The tea plant's effect is due to caffeine, so it is a stimulant. However, some people call any herbal infusion into hot water a tea, in which case presumably you could have all sorts off effects depending on the plant. But mostly if you get a tea from a store, it might have antioxidants, flavors, minerals, and possibly caffeine or vitamins, and probably nothing more of significance.

 

[JCFantasy23]

MOD HAT ON

Everyone, due to some reports I had to a do a mini thread-cleanup a few pages back for flaming and OT posting. Please remember to be courteous here in your discussions. The last couple of pages have been fine and all have gotten themselves back on track

MOD HAT OFF
​

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

The tea plant's effect is due to caffeine, so it is a stimulant. However, some people call any herbal infusion into hot water a tea, in which case presumably you could have all sorts off effects depending on the plant. But mostly if you get a tea from a store, it might have antioxidants, flavors, minerals, and possibly caffeine or vitamins, and probably nothing more of significance.

Depending on the plant, it is likely to have all that you mention - plus a heck of a lot more. For example, foxglove tea was used before molecular biology to control what was then known as dropsy (pitting oedema, which is most commonly caused by congestive heart failure). Foxglove is the natural origin of the drug we now know as digoxin, which we use to control atrial fibrillation and several other cardiac arrhythmias, as well as congestive heart failure and sometimes hypertension. Willow bark contains acetylsalicylic acid, a pain reliever, which we now manufacture artificially and sell under the name of aspirin (as well as a whole load of other drug names such as Cartia). It is a mild analgesic and anticoagulant, and so is used in the management of myocardial infarction, strokes, and pulmonary embolism, and during rehabilitation for the same to help fibrinolysis and prevent future coagulation.

Also, I should point out that just because antioxidants perform a useful physiological role, more does not necessarily mean you get a better outcome. In fact, if you get recommended daily amounts of vitamins already through a varied diet of fruit and vegetables, then additional supplementation with antioxidants through either natural or artificial means will do nothing to improve health.

However, it is unlikely that 'teas' or infusions will contain significant amounts of minerals to be of any benefit, and it is doubly unlikely that it will contain much caffeine.

 

[Chalnoth]

Also, I should point out that just because antioxidants perform a useful physiological role, more does not necessarily mean you get a better outcome. In fact, if you get recommended daily amounts of vitamins already through a varied diet of fruit and vegetables, then additional supplementation with antioxidants through either natural or artificial means will do nothing to improve health.

Actually, the evidence is mounting that antioxidants are more likely to kill you.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Actually, the evidence is mounting that antioxidants are more likely to kill you.

Really? I know that for a few years there was a lot of evidence published showing that result, but I also was under the impression that more and more studies were showing a lack of any adverse effect.

 

[Chalnoth]

Really? I know that for a few years there was a lot of evidence published showing that result, but I also was under the impression that more and more studies were showing a lack of any adverse effect.

Well, yes, I expect in the end the effect is going to prove to be minimal at worst. But it just goes to show that you should be wary of nutrition fads.

 

[razeontherock]

Many countries have a national flag, and separate flags for their constituent sub-groups. The Union Jack is made up of the flags of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (though Wales is conspicuously missing ).

Due to lack of interest, Wales moved here to Wisconsin. About 5 miles down the road from here. Lovely place ...

 

[razeontherock]

Also, I should point out that just because antioxidants perform a useful physiological role, more does not necessarily mean you get a better outcome. In fact, if you get recommended daily amounts of vitamins already through a varied diet of fruit and vegetables, then additional supplementation with antioxidants through either natural or artificial means will do nothing to improve health.

I don't know about "recommended daily amounts" in any country but the US, but here in the States those recommendations are WORTHLESS. They assume a 90 year old woman who weighs less than 80 pounds has the same nutritional needs as an active 250 pound male athlete. DUH! Burn out your supply of B vitamins and it's like your car having no spark plugs ... (just as one example) Likewise, useful amounts of antioxidants can vary greatly based on the quantity of free radicals at any given time.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I don't know about "recommended daily amounts" in any country but the US, but here in the States those recommendations are WORTHLESS. They assume a 90 year old woman who weighs less than 80 pounds has the same nutritional needs as an active 250 pound male athlete. DUH! Burn out your supply of B vitamins and it's like your car having no spark plugs ... (just as one example) Likewise, useful amounts of antioxidants can vary greatly based on the quantity of free radicals at any given time.

They are not meant to be a be-all and end-all for all individuals. If you need to be so accurate about your daily nutritional intake, then you likely need a nutritionist for it, you shouldn't be trying to do it yourself.