The Slate Rope

[islandjoe2]

Welcome!

Those of you on the East coast of the US may remember a weekly newspaper column entitled The Straight Dope, wherein the author would answer reader submitted questions about all things common and obscure.

This is my attempt at bringing the mysteries of the world to light, Lit style.

So, the rules are simple. Ask questions. That's it. Anything that's bothering you, things you've always wanted to know, or something off the wall you're wondering about while you read this on the toilet, ask it here.

Want to know what patent leather is? Best substitute for garlic powder? How to overcome a fear of left hand socks? Lay it out, then sit back and relax as you're force fed the answers which you seek.

Andddddd....... go.

 

[ydahecnot]

Why was this column named The Slate Rope and not The Spate Cope or, indeed, The Skate Mope?

 

[islandjoe2]

Why was this column named The Slate Rope and not The Spate Cope or, indeed, The Skate Mope?

Good question and great opener!

I wanted to capitalize on the popularity of the original column while at the same time distancing myself enough to avoid copyright infringement issues.

Googling "words that rhyme with straight" gave me a very robust list of useless words, so I asked my 10 year old. Slate was his choice.

Rhyming with dope proved even more difficult, and I eventually just went with a random selection from dictionary.com.

 

[ydahecnot]

“Very robust list of useless words”...isn’t that most Lit threads?

 

[SMNaughtywife]

I’ve got nothin, but I’ll admire for a bit.

 

[islandjoe2]

“Very robust list of useless words”...isn’t that most Lit threads?

I'm sure there are some that are less than useless. And some that are more. Some are barely vast and many less are robust at all.

 

[islandjoe2]

I’ve got nothin, but I’ll admire for a bit.

Whatever pleases you. Im counting your comment as a thread hit anyway.

 

[numeniusa]

I have one, Joe.

I accidentally froze a couple of pairs of single use contact lenses. Completely solid. I let them defrost naturally, and they look normal now, but....

What do you think? Safe to use? Or should I just chuck them?

 

[ydahecnot]

You know you did it! Why??

 

[numeniusa]

You know you did it! Why??

They were spares in a bag I left in the car while it was parked in sub-zero temperatures for a few days. I'd forgotten they were in the bag!

 

[tnman03]

They were spares in a bag I left in the car while it was parked in sub-zero temperatures for a few days. I'd forgotten they were in the bag!

So what's this then abuse of disposable contact lenses? But from a curiosity standpoint if the packaging didn't rupture allowing air inside of it than how would the lenses be damaged?

 

[ydahecnot]

I was addressing Mr. Slate, Numi

 

[snexxer]

I have one, Joe.

I accidentally froze a couple of pairs of single use contact lenses. Completely solid. I let them defrost naturally, and they look normal now, but....

What do you think? Safe to use? Or should I just chuck them?

If you put lenses dipped in a solution in a freezer, the solution will freeze around –15°C. However, the frozen solution protects the lens from damage and contacts thus show no signs of change in quality after defrosting.
Without a solution, lenses can freeze but they will probably dry out first.

 

[numeniusa]

So what's this then abuse of disposable contact lenses? But from a curiosity standpoint if the packaging didn't rupture allowing air inside of it than how would the lenses be damaged?

No rupture, as far as I can see. I'm just feeling squicky about whether the freeze-thaw cycle might have changed them somehow. Like when you freeze a cucumber

I was addressing Mr. Slate, Numi

OK. Sorry. Carry on.

If you put lenses dipped in a solution in a freezer, the solution will freeze around –15°C. However, the frozen solution protects the lens from damage and contacts thus show no signs of change in quality after defrosting.
Without a solution, lenses can freeze but they will probably dry out first.

Errr, this sounds like you've tried it?

–15°C. Wow, it was cold out there. I think it went down to –23°C at its lowest.

Where is Mr Slate?

 

[islandjoe2]

I have one, Joe.

I accidentally froze a couple of pairs of single use contact lenses. Completely solid. I let them defrost naturally, and they look normal now, but....

What do you think? Safe to use? Or should I just chuck them?

Sorry for the delay, I've been worshiping at the porcelain bowl the past few days.

As to your question, there really is only one way to know for sure. Have someone else try them.

Though I'm quite certain that freezing them won't hurt them (surely they occasionally freeze in the mail when they are in transit) it never hurts to test this theory out on someone else before subjecting your own peepers to an unknown.

On a related note, freezing can occasionally cause impurities in the solution to adhere where they typically wouldn't so I strongly recommend a warm saline bath for the contacts before they go in anybody's eye.

 

[islandjoe2]

You know you did it! Why??

I cannot reveal the answers to the questions you ask. Which is pretty counter to this thread, but.....

 

[Hornblende]

Sorry for the delay, I've been worshiping at the porcelain bowl the past few days.

As to your question, there really is only one way to know for sure. Have someone else try them.

My question is why have you put this idea in Numi's Head? Now I have to check she hasn't substituted a pair of her lenses for mine.

 

[tnman03]

Well H. I don’t wear contacts so I’d be delighted to play host to your lovely spouse until she sorts out her difficulties with defrosted lenses. It’s what friends do right? I suspect even this Slate Rope guy would agree.

 

[Hornblende]

Well H. I don’t wear contacts so I’d be delighted to play host to your lovely spouse until she sorts out her difficulties with defrosted lenses. It’s what friends do right? I suspect even this Slate Rope guy would agree.

.

 

[snexxer]

Errr, this sounds like you've tried it?

–15°C. Wow, it was cold out there. I think it went down to –23°C at its lowest.

I actually got the information from the manufacturers website

 

[jeff_is_smiling]

I've brought this up in some other threads from time to time, but since you have answers, I'll ask here formally.

Why, when space aliens have traveled trillions of miles to come to Earth - through the blackness of space all that time - they stumble upon a well lit planet and then decide that they need to turn on their headlights? Why? So we can see them? Why do UFO's need lights?

I await your response....

 

[islandjoe2]

My question is why have you put this idea in Numi's Head? Now I have to check she hasn't substituted a pair of her lenses for mine.

I believe, good sir, that I said "someone". Not referring specifically to you. I mean, I have zero control over what value she places on your baby blues.... maybe she is trying to tell you something?

 

[islandjoe2]

Well H. I don’t wear contacts so I’d be delighted to play host to your lovely spouse until she sorts out her difficulties with defrosted lenses. It’s what friends do right? I suspect even this Slate Rope guy would agree.

I was trying to think of one of those clever phrases that people use in manly man situations that would be appropriate here, but I'm at a loss for something that wouldn't defame the lovely Numi, so.... I'll just let you and H work this out amongst yourselves.

 

[BadAmy]

Why is one tit larger than the other?

 

[islandjoe2]

I've brought this up in some other threads from time to time, but since you have answers, I'll ask here formally.

Why, when space aliens have traveled trillions of miles to come to Earth - through the blackness of space all that time - they stumble upon a well lit planet and then decide that they need to turn on their headlights? Why? So we can see them? Why do UFO's need lights?

I await your response....

Good sir, you're only viewing the question from a very narrow, earth based perspective. Our view of space is limited by about 50 years of space travel. We don't have the benefit of knowing what is beyond our own solar system in terms of intergalactic travel.

It's entirely possible that there is some type of space travel agency out there, that dictates that all spacecraft manufactured after Stardate XXX be equipped with daytime running lights, for safety reasons.

Or, perhaps what we perceive to be lights are actually sensors of some type. Or a propulsion assist system.

Or, maybe aliens are just like humans and they like to pimp their rides. Isn't it entirely possible than they just like their ship to look nice so they add extra lighting?

Expand your horizons sir!