LawLord

I can get: -Potassium nitrate technical grade, KNO3 (99.8% purity) -Sulphur/sulfur technical grade, S (99.98% purity) -Potassium permanganate technical grade, KMnO4 (99.8% purity) -Aluminium powder 600 mesh (20 microns) dark flake, Al -Black copper oxide, CuO -Black iron oxide, Fe3O4 -Magnesium ribbon -Sodium Acetate Anhydrous 99.9% and probably a few others. I suppose I don't even really know what experiments i'll be doing. You have been of help just by telling me about these MSDS. I'll certainly be getting hold of some of them. I am taking chemistry next trimester (it starts in two weeks). It could be a whole year before I start doing my own experiments. I expect the financial crisis to hit New Zealand by August-September though so I want to spend my money while it still has a lot of value. I am from New Zealand. The United States can't have Law Lords (and I as far as I know its citizens cannot be appointed to that position), neither can New Zealand although New Zealand citizens can be appointed if they are exceptional judges. I want to be a judge someday. Currently, I am just a humble first year law student though.

electrolysis? I have never heard of this. I'm sure I could find it on the net somewhere but do you have a detailed explanation on how I could go about doing this? Also, with sodium chloride, if it was distilled and the Chlorine gas was caught in a test tube and released in the open air, would that be ok? Then i'd be left with sodium, although I hear that some form of sodium combust on contact with air/water.

Things are getting rather costly over here (and by the looks of things, all around the world). I intend to learn more about the sciences and am keen to play around a bit with chemistry. At the moment my knowledge on the subject is very poor though (I'm learning fast). I want to buy my chemicals and instruments while I can still afford them. I'll worry about what to do with them later. Was wondering if anyone had advice on what I should buy? I'm going to buy some magnesium for sure. What else might a budding chemist want to obtain before his country falls into a recession and he has to struggle just to pay for the food? Thanks

Was woundering about what type of chemicals can be found naturally accuring in the environment without requiring large amounts of money/equipment to extract it. Hydrogen and Oxygen are two obvious ones. Also, how would one go about distillation of these? Or is water a compound rather than a mixture? Hydrogen has a boiling point of -252.87 °C so I assume there's no point in the usual distillation method. I ask these questions because I'm helping my nephew with his science project (In New Zealand, 11-12 year olds have a "Science fare" where everyone presents their experiments, I assume similar things occur around the world). My friend gave me the idea of distilling salt (which is what he did when he was younger), but sodium chlouride distilled sounds like it would be rather dangerous. Or perhaps in small amounts could be ok? My friend has forgotten how he distilled it so if anyone has any cheap ways to work this, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I spend a great deal of time wondering about the Universe and have in the last year or so become particularly interested in Physics and Astronomy (especially general relativety). I have a problem though. I don't understand math. This limits me very much in my study of Physics. I've looked at plenty of "maths made easy" type texts but all it takes is for one thing to become clear and i'm pretty much lost. They generally do not have a clear application to real life either. Anyone familiar with General relativity knows that it is based on the idea that time is relative to the individual. If I assume this is correct, then relativety makes perfect sense to me. Of course, I want to know how people figure that time is relative... or that it is possible to experience "time dilation" or was it dilution? I have never come across any book or person who adequately explains it in simple, non mathematical terms. Was wondering if someone could assist me in some basic math. I personally think I do very well with the Law, but Math? I was in the bottom Math class at school and stopped taking it after 5th form (age 15). I am probably not even going to understand what a math major would call "simple". Checked out Wikipedia and it provided a sort of math symbol dictionary. It is nowhere near complete. Perhaps people could post a couple of their favourite formulas and have a go at explaining them for me. People could help me work through them. Thanks to anyone who is able to help.

Your quite right, my mistake. However, looking over the constitution I noticed this: Powers of congress: "To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;" How'd the Federal government spin that one? If I understand correctly (I am not an American lawyer/law student), isn't that basically saying congress cannot finance standing armies? Anyone know how they got around that?

The United States constitution also states that only gold and silver shall be legal tender. Not a debt based system of paper money. "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness".

I haven't had time to read all the post (in a rush, about to go out). But has anyone heard of peak oil? I will explain it later if you haven't. The petrol/gas prices are causes much bigger problems than what many people believe. Many airlines are now struggling to make profit because of high oil prices. If they raise their ticket prices further, less people can afford to travel on them. Farmers use patrolium based fertilisers to grow food. Actually, oil pretty much plays a role in everything in a modern day society. If the price of oil doesn't stop going up (it is expected to continue going up worldwide) then: Airlines go into Liquidation (they already are around the world) Taxis buisnesses go into liquidation Shipping cost increase fertilizer price goes up = food goes up Travel Agents go out of buisness (no one traveling, to expensive) Car manufacturors go under (as well as those who sell cars for a living) as no-one wants cars anymore due to high cost of running. Trust me, you have ALOT more problems to worry about than running ya car. We should have Geology forum here... they'd know quite abit about peak oil (and its a science... makes sense). Most alternatives of oil use incredible amounts of energy to make. Biofuels? They use fertilizers. Wind farms? Lots of oil is used to create them and get them on location (perhaps more energy than they will produce in their lifetime(. Strongly advise you to read some geology textbooks. Shell oil was recently caught lying about its reserves... it has a lot less. I would encourage people to read their Reserve/Central banks monetary policu as well as other nations as well. Read Chinas (yes, it does make it public), USA, Britian, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, French, Sweden (don't know if they release it). Remeber also, monetary policy is usually based in things that are currently happening rather than why it is happening (non of them mention peak oil, even though many politicians and alot of geologists are now admitting were there...) I STRONGLY encourage all people to start growing their own fruit and vegetables right now. Get all variaties. Ones that grow in different seasons... Your gonna need the money that you'd normally use for food on other things (if it still has value). Gold may be a viable option also (notice it has doubled? (in America). People are abandoning debt based currency rapidly. Basically, people are losing confidence in the money supply. Where I live, alot of my fellow students are watching the US currency drop. We keep pretty up to date with this stuff. The world has alot of its wealth invested in US currency so with a faultering US Economy it is making everyone nervous. Countries around the world are starting to get rid of their US dollars... slowly though. If they did it all at once it would cause panic and everyone would try and get rid of all their US dollars... this would cause chaos. Make no mistake though, the US dollar is being given up slowly but surely. I Wish everyone the best of luck in the coming years.

@Klaynos, thanks for the info, i'll look into it. @Phi for All, I notice from your profile that you are American. I am from New Zealand, I just checked with my American flatmate and he has confirmed that when you say college, you are referring to undergraduate University. College here is the same as high school. I understand in America, Law school is postgraduate. In New Zealand a Law degree is done at an undergraduate level. Therefore, getting into Law School in New Zealand at age 18 isn't quite as impressive as it would be if I was in America. I see that you are quite passionate about the Issue with patents. I also have rather alot of on the side interests, e.g. curruption in the Pharmacutical Industry, Oil Industry (Peak Oil anyone?), Arms Industry. The problem with industries is that they have to make profit... it is more important than improving society or saving lives... What I find perhaps the most interesting, is the number of unconstitutional laws that have been passed in America that very little Americans seem to take notice of... Patriot Act 1, Patriot Act 2, Victory Act 1, 2, Military Justice Act... the list goes on. I would encourage you to look up these acts and have a read of them. I have only looked through Patriot Act 1 and 2 myself but from what I hear, the other ones are just as bad... The courts have shown little inclination to strike them down so far...

Perhaps a more timely issue would be human rights law... or constitutional law... or family law reform... in the time I have to relax I would like to learn about Science. It is difficuilt to tell on forums exactly how you are conveying your message (rudely, politely, cheerfully, jokingly, etc etc). If you are offended that I am a law student, I apologise. I am also an Economics student. I personally do not like the idea of free markets... or competition... they are products of capitalism which I personally do not like. Quite simply, the world has finite resources. Capitalism encourages the idea that for some reason, some of us have more of a right to these resources then others. Capitalism treats things like shelter and food as something we need to pay for... Some people (both past and present) managed to build their own homes using wood from nearby trees and a few tools. They fed themselves without needing money (grew fruit and vegetables). People in this world starve today because someone else is "capitalizing" away all their finate resources. Rich countries buy up all the food in poor countries. Poor people do not have the same buying power as the rich foreigners and can't compete. Personally, I think the problems flow from capitalism itself. Something the PEOPLE have to change. There are heaps of alternatives to capitalism. Ones that still encourage innovation and new technologies... just not competition. I would hope that people do still give me some ideas for my orginal topic.

Hi folks. I'm a first year Law student (18 years old)with a basic high school background in Science. Over time, science has begun to interest me more and more. I'm also interested in things that are rather rare. I was curious as to whether anyone here has come across scientific areas or sub catagories that recieve very little attention. Perhaps a discovery made twenty years ago most have forgotton (concidering how quickly new knowledge is added to the mix). I can't help thinking that somewhere out there in the darkest corner of the Library, hidden in a book that hasn't been opened in 50 years, is a scientific discovery that would help answer some of todays questions... I want to write a book (not to big), the book would look into various parts of (hopefully valuable or interesting) scientific knowledge (and math). I want knowledge that is close to extinction. Was wondering if people could recall ever reading something facinating, or know of a particular field of science that recieves little attention that I could research and write about in my "Unique" book. I had thought about having a chapter on discoveries made in Alchemy (that actually work). The problem with this is that when I read articles, I don't know if they are scientifically based or belief based... The Alchemist did make some interesting discoveries though.. the problem is: figuring out what is a discovery and what is "magic", so to speak. Thanks in advance. PS: http://www.cpe.fr/ectn-assoc/archives/lib/2006/N04/200610_RareKnowlegeFR.pdf Kinda objective I have (but all fields of Science).