Chlorine In Tap Water Evaporates

Steve Lower - Dept of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (retired)

Scocasso!: "What about chlorine? We all know it's in our tap water (and what else, I do not know), and the smell and taste is not very appealing. Many people use water filters to remove some of this chlorine, at least, the smell and taste of it. What is the effect of chlorine in tap water on humans that consume it regularly? "

Steve Lower: "As far as I know, there is no evidence that chlorine or its decomposition product hypochlorous acid is harmful at the concentrations allowed for water disinfection. The only problem arises when the water contains organic materials such as humins from decayed vegetation or nitrogen-rich agricultural runoff; chlorine react with these to form chloramines which can be carcinogenic."

Scocasso!: "I know people from other countries that have come to live in Canada, and many of them boil their water in order to reduce the chlorine; or so they tell me. Does boiling water really evaporate chlorine from the water?"

Steve Lower: "Yes, any gas dissolved in water will be expelled when it is boiled. But this applies to oxygen as well, so boiled water should be aerated before added to an aquarium - or better yet, use a bubbler aerator in the aquarium.

  "A good activated-carbon filter such as the Brita will remove most chlorine and its by-products."

View his interesting websites here to learn more: 
http://members.shaw.ca/slower/SteveChem/
http://members.shaw.ca/slower/SKLstuff.html

Packaging Observation

Before and After Packaging
(click for larger image)

President's Choice Organics line has changed the look of their products. White space is added. Different images are used. The leaf is no longer a raster image, but a vector image. It is also changed from a rectangular shape to a leaf shape; the same shape that was used to dot the 'i's in Organics/Biologique. The PC 'ribbon' is flattened on the end and a copper/gold colour added. Sans Serif font is used now... well, a whole lot of shifting has happened. Personally, I think it now looks more akin to the old No Name packaging.

Colour Observation #012

KISS Solo Albums

I always really loved the artwork for the KISS solo albums. The way the characters were divided into four colour, purple blue green and red is really cool. It is painted to look like there is a white light to the front left, with a coloured light to the back right, illuminating their hair and part of the face with colour. The Starchild is purple, colour of love and passion. Space Ace blue, the colour of the coolness of space. Catman green, the colour of the jungle, and The Demon red, the colour of blood and the devil. Cool stuff.

Colour Observation #011

BC Hydro Logo

I've always thought that the BC Hydro logo was really great. The government company supplies electricity with the use of Hydro Electric Damn -- water power. Which usually means using a lake that is either natural or man made, and creating a good drop point for the water to fall down pipes to the turbines to create electricity. The logo by itself may not conjure up the proper image of such, but once the words are put next to the logo, once can immediately see what the image represents. I hope they never alter or 'update' the logo design. I do believe that they have updated the text, but not the actual logo as of yet.

The white electricity is moving along the wire. It's a common representation of electricity as seen in cartoons especially. But, it also looks like two mountain peaks reflected in the water to me. Most hydro dams are located in valleys with mountains on either side.

Colour Observation #010

Analogous Colour Scheme

Colour Observation #009

Discord Pair of Light-Blue & Dark-Green

Colour Observation #008

Japanese Yukata and Kimono are fantastic examples of very interesting colour schemes and patterns. There are just endless examples to be found that are nearly mesmerizing one you start to look through them all. I should first tell you what the difference is between a Yukata and Kimono. A Kimono is like an elaborate ball gown that takes hours to put on, not to mention additional time for hair, make-up, etc. Whereas, a Yukata is more like a dress. Men wear them too, but are not usually ornate, but black or brown -- basically the opposite of the female ones. Just like a tuxedo.

Here are two identical patterns with two different colour schemes.