Emailed around by a workmate:
Queens University researchers have discovered the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (symbol=Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant
deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called pillocks. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 to 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that
Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium (symbol=Ad), an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many pillocks but twice as many morons
Speaking of Chemistry – Rish cooked dinner tonight :)

We take safety seriously.
Tagged as:
chemistry,
cooking,
public service,
safety
Rish’s mother goes a bit over the top when she buys chrissy presents for her boys, and in amongst the wrapping paper was a package of squid ink pasta. I haven’t tried it before now, so was quite curious about how it would cook up and, more importantly, taste.

It was very quick to cook – 7 minutes to a good biteyness. Cooked up some chicken in a Barilla ricotta/tomato sauce, and made an awesome coloured salad with mushroom, feta, avocado, roquette, baby spinach, egg tomatoes and cucumber to make me not feel so pasta-ey.

The taste – well it just tasted like normal, nice, pasta. Looked really cool though. Any suggestions for how to cook up the second half of the packet?

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cooking,
pasta
Finally made it home about 6.30, to a cute little present box…


Ooh Soy Creamy Cooking milk. Two tins, won through Not Quite Nigella… I’m so trying this tonight! (They don’t yet stock it at the local Woothworths at Weston Creek, so if I like it, I’ll have to ask them to get it in!)
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cooking,
dairy-free,
soy
Spicy mouth spicy mouth!

Thought I’d give making my own taco seasoning a go, using the Taco seasoing recipe from Planning with Kids I read this week.

Eeps. I’m such a wuss. Will definitely have to put less in or less chili powder next time. My nose is running and my mouth on fire! (lack of cheese doesn’t help I’m sure!)

(thankful for the wine to wash it down!)
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cooking,
tacos
Inspired by having three well-overripe bananas in the fruit bowl, I decided attempting Banana Bread was a great idea. Let’s just ignore the fact that I still don’t own a loaf tin, and am probably missing some ingredients.

As usual, I used a recipe from Taste.com.au and phona-ised it.

Baked in a round tin, substituted milk with soy milk, butter with canola oil, and added in walnuts, because we have two opened packets of them. Why? No idea. Oh and I used three small bananas instead of two medium. Heh.

Tasted pretty good – we ate more than half of it for lunch! Yums!
My version of the recipe below the cut [click to continue…]
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cooking,
dairy-free,
recipe