Bismuth: Until 2003, scientists considered bismuth the element with the highest atomic number to be stable; but, they’ve since determined that it is actually radioactive. Slightly… with a half-life of over ten trillion years; so, unless you plan to expose yourself to it until entropy reverses itself and most stars have flickered and gone out, you have nothing to worry about. Bismuth compounds are big in the medical field as active ingredients in Pepto-Bismal and other antidiarrheal medicines. So, Bismuth is the element for people who want to take the train but NEVER want to see the bathrooms.
Bernoulli’s Principle: This law of physics explains lift, i.e. what makes your plane go up in the air and, more importantly, stay up there. It predicts the pressure differential around fluid flow. Sadly, this principle expires in 2025 if congress does nothing to extend it. So make your travel plans accordingly.
Bilirubin: Ever want to know WHY jaundiced folks are yellow without rudely demanding that they tell you? Well, look no further than bilirubin, the substance formed when red blood cells break down. It is why your urine, bruises and bile are yellow, as if they needed a reason. It also makes feces brown, which, you have to admit, you have been wondering about.
Borderline Personality Disorder: Drama-queens and kings who inspire anger, panic and confusion in every relationship they have until time with them is as enjoyable as bandage changing hour at the burn ward. They can’t help being what they are but that can be said for rabid dogs as well. The term “borderline” comes from our being unable to decide whether to strangle them and bury them under some leaves in the woods or just to strangle them and leave them where they lay as a warning to other borderlines.
Bot-Fly: The letter ‘B’ is pretty disgusting and unpleasant when it comes to science. Fortunately, there are bot-flies. We all idolize good parenting. Well, the bot-fly spends a sizable portion of its day trying to find the perfect place to lay its eggs. And, that place is under the skin of either a mammal or something that will bite a mammal. The larva eat at the flesh of the host and, suddenly, you’ve got an internal pet.
Betelgeuse: Found in the constellation Orion, Betelgeuse is one of the largest stars we can see with the unaided eye. Betelgeuse is a red giant. If it were placed where our Sun currently is, it would engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth and most of the good asteroids… so, don’t do it, even if it seems like a good idea at the time.
Flesh eating larvae and feces coloration. I learned a lot on this blog. Now I must try to forget.
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Then, refer to yesterday’s column…
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I’ll place a red supergiant in our solar system if I want to. Don’t tell me what to do… pfft
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Kids!
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Ew. I read Naked Came the Florida Man and in the book one of the main characters felt it was his duty to provide justice to wrongdoers. Some – most – of his tactics made you puke a little in your mouth. When seeking justice from someone who swindled money from an honest older couple, he used the guys head as a nest for bot-fly larva. It was really gross!
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Sounds like my kind of book, Robyn. I’ll check it out…
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And then there’s BALDNESS, which scientists say is caused bu the loss of hair,
And BACILLI BELLICOSIS, which is found in abundance in my underwear.
I thought I could stop hair loss by putting my underwear on my head,
But such folly burned my follicles, leaving me a bald hothead instead.
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You are another Tennyson… Cut it out!
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You forgot barf Charles.
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I’m saving that for ‘V’, Deb…
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V’s for Vadar
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And, for… VENDETTA!!!
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I do wonder about your selective science, here. What about bacteria? Botulism? Beavers?
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I can only do six of them, Chelsea… and beavers scare the hell out of me…
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They would if I saw one, I’m sure.
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They are like fearless rats that are half your height…
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Yeah, I knew Billy Rubin back in grade school. And he was a yellow-bellied coward even then.
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So was his brother “Bruise Rubin”…
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So…remind me again why you bother to blog? Ego gratification? Have something to say? Shits and giggles? Share with friends? Exploring motivations…
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I doubt I have anything of value to say, George. It all goes back to when I was looking for humor on line and ninety-eight percent of it was memes. I decided to try to create original humor…
… and I’m still trying to this very day…
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LOL!
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Radioactive anti-diarrhoea element surprised me!
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Elements can be sneaky like that…
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