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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Here you go, Sweetcakes: http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/BHAN-5358KH?openOh my, that thing...are you sure that all of that sound track is animal, not human? Yow. Could someone please explain the "real" name of this creature? The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) I was struck by the similarity to sarcophagus. I found something that actually fits this thread (sort of)! Devils are readily seen at the Narawntapu (formerly Asbestos Range) Why would anyone give a mountain range the name Asbestos? One more question: Both devil and quoll populations naturally swell dramatically each summer when young disperse into the wild. What's a quoll, please?
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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addict
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addict
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Why would anyone give a mountain range the name Asbestos?Not taking the time to LIU, but my guess is that, since asbestos is a mineral, there are deposits of it in the mountains.... But now I'll have to go LIU, just to see if I guessed right  .
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Asbestos has an interesting etymology, from a root meaning "inextinguishable". I wonder how it ever got to mean impossible to ignite.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
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Well, Dr Bill, I suppose that it is impossible to extinguish anything that has not taken fire? And at the time the substance was named, I would think that no scientist (or anyone else, probably - maybe a devil-worshipper?) had managed to achieve a high enough temperature to ignite asbestos. (Anyone any idea how hot that is, BTW?)
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Drar RC: my dictionary says it originally referred to unslaked lime, which can "burn" like hell if you get it on you.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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As an interesting aside to this, Dr Crippen - a well known muderer who was arrested on a ship returning from the USA in company with his new lady-love (what was her name?)- made the fatal mistake of burying his wife's body together with lime which he then slaked. The result was that instead of destroying the body, it preserved it for the police to find. You would think a medical doctor would know better. (than to slake the lime I mean).
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Joined: Feb 2002
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old hand
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old hand
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Oh my, that thing...are you sure that all of that sound track is animal, not human?Blimey. I didn't realise anyone was taping me waking up in the mornings. Will have to close my windows. 
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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unslaked lime, which can "burn" like hell if you get it on you.
Aha - perhaps that explains the "unquenchable" bit then?
I've tried to find a better explanation, but that's as best as I can do.
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