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#101354 04/22/03 10:03 PM
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Pooh-Bah
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- and urine was an important component of the dyeing process - used as a mordant snce ancient times. I am led to believe that the Aztecs had public conveniences along the causeway from Mexico City to the mainland, and that people came out in boats to empty the contents thereof to use for just that purpose.

Sterility of urine was well-known in the ancient world, also. Wounds sustained in battle or whilst hunting were sterilised by pee-ing onto them. It is, of course, only sterile whilst abolutely fresh - urine attracts bacteria pretty swiftly [eek]



#101355 04/22/03 11:25 PM
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Carpal Tunnel
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And now for something completely different...AWAD's first Pee-rusal of Pee!


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Carpal Tunnel
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RE:and urine was an important component of the dyeing process - used as a mordant snce ancient times.

actually, i think it it ammonia that is used, and urine will quickly become ammonia compounds as it oxidizes. it is critical for indigo, and the only mordant that yeilds the true blue.
fresh urine, brought to a simmer, is excellent for washing woolens. i remember my nana using... my mother used woolite.(but then, she didn't have a store of left over chamber pots as Nana did. Nana (in council housing) had indoor plumbing, but always worried about the "drains" and keep some chamber pots.)
Michael Criton, in his book "Eaters of the Dead" (the adventures of a arabian prince who visits the Viking north of the 13th century) comments on the viking use of collected urine to wash/bleach white the wooden floors of the houses. (and yes, ammonia will bleach or "pickle" wood, giving it a white tone,and a smooth finish)

don't you just love organic chemistry?


#101357 04/23/03 01:25 AM
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old hand
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...and now back to our regularly scheduled Hogwash® ...

I'm easily swayed by public opinion -- therefore I'll take J.

Hi Sheepishlion!


#101358 04/23/03 02:36 AM
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I think I like E and that's my vote but A, J and M certainly are appealing, aren't they?


#101359 04/23/03 03:19 AM
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B
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In reply to:

I would think drinking urine would kill you.


Didn't Ghandi drink his own urine in the mornings as a tonic?

Edit for spelling: Gandhi
Bingley



Bingley
#101360 04/23/03 03:59 AM
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member
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>Alt and then, while still holding it down, key in 0174
unless you're on a mac, then it's option-r<

And isn't it wonderful to be able to do a simple thing
with one or two simple keystrokes?!

Mac Lover Ruby


#101361 04/23/03 09:41 AM
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Pooh-Bah
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I was sure this was going to be connected with combing wool, but there is nothing remotely connected with wool (unless you count nit picking). So its B for me.


#101362 04/23/03 10:53 AM
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one or two simple keystrokes

ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ


#101363 04/23/03 11:38 AM
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Back to urine:

OK. So you all say it's safe to drink--you bunch of lanter lauders.

But tell me about salt petre and sodium nitrate production. Is it the urine (bat, chicken, whatever) that eventually will lead to production of gun powder--or is it the fecal matter?


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