4 ms·
Isn't "molten lava" redundant? When lava is no longer molten, we just call it "rock". Anyway, I wonder how the flavor changes with the type of rock that is mol
by kijin 11y ago
Isn't "molten lava" redundant? When lava is no longer molten, we just call it "rock".
Anyway, I wonder how the flavor changes with the type of rock that is molten. The article mentions 1.1 billion year old basalt. Why that particular type of rock? Did it just happen to be around? Is basalt easier to melt? Is it easier or safer to handle once molten, or easier to clean up afterward? What would happen if you tried to melt a different type of rock such as granite or marble? Would they produce toxic gases?
- derefr 11y agoRe "molten lava": it's an idiom, probably one to do with "lava" being a surprising word to throw at people in a non-geological context, one they'll suffer a cache miss on. Leading up with "molten" primes them so that they can process "lava" in real time; otherwise they might not "hear" you, and will likely ask you to repeat yourself while their neurons finish firing. (See also, the end of http://lesswrong.com/lw/o1/entropy_and_short_codes/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/o1/entropy_and_short_codes/)
- voltagex_ 11y agoI've never thought about "cache miss" and "hit" in a spoken language context - interesting!
- markrages 11y agoThere's a chapter on this in Steven Pinker's English style book. You might enjoy it. http://www.amazon.com/The-Sense-Style-Thinking-Persons/dp/0670025852 http://www.amazon.com/The-Sense-Style-Thinking-Persons/dp/06...
- kijin 11y agoIsn't "volcano style" enough to prime the cache in this case, though?
- gamache 11y agoThis is the best justification for "assless chaps" I have ever seen. I thank you.
- Sophistifunk 11y ago"I was walking down Oxford Street and I saw a fellow wearing chaps" implies he's just dressed like an idiot, whereas: "I was walking through King's Cross and I saw somebody wearing assless chaps" implies you're on Oxford St.