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This was published 15 years ago
By Jane Richards
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It's a matter of geniality, and their DNA make-up.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
The agitation during laundering in a washing machine consolidates the yarn and fabric structure of cotton jeans. This is called consolidation shrinkage. It continues when the jeans are tumbled in a clothes drier. Consolidation shrinkage not only stabilises the fabric structure of the cotton jeans but also improves their durability.
Erhard Gohl, Allambie Heights
The heat process makes each fibre so dry that it becomes stiff and loses its natural elasticity. Result? The garment is no longer flexible. It is not smaller but seems smaller. Use the dryer a few times and the process is irreversible.
James Prior, Sylvania waters
Jeans don't shrink in the dryer - you're getting fatter from not using the energy required to hang them on the clothes line.
Lez Sanders, Leichhardt
The fibres are stretched in the cloth-making process. When the jeans are heated, the fibres expand and move so the tension is released. Once cool, the fibres shrink to their normal size before being stretched and your jeans no longer fit.
Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie
Can you die of boredom?
The grand master of epigrams, Ashleigh Brilliant (B.1933) also contemplated a kind of death from boredom, and hinted at the solution, when he wrote in Pot-shots #2328 "Must I live through all the dull parts of my life? Isn't there a condensed version?"
Michael Allan, Earlwood
If you read Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
No . It sits with babies till they fall asleep
It gives seniors serenity
It heals after a hectic, nerve-breaking period
It makes priest, monk , spiritual leaders
Boredom is equilibrium
Dzung Dinh, Ermington
Yes. My Aunty Rowena passed away in church during a lifeless performance of the Te Deum, and an on-the-spot doctor mumbled something about her having died of tedium. Ennui, she's gone.
Jim Dewar, North Gosford
Yes, by listening to Kevin Rudd. I nearly died twice last week but was luckily resuscitated.
Peter Wright, Asquith
Have you never been bored stiff?
Mark Latham, Cabarita
In the first chapter of the novel Catch-22, Dunbar was in hospital, working hard at increasing his life span. He was doing this by cultivating boredom. He was working so hard at this that Yossarian thought he was dead. So whilst you may not die from boredom, it may look to those who are observing you that you have.
Susan Tutt, Wareemba
No, not people. However, this fate did befall Channel 10's Big Brother.
David Mitchell, Lane Cove
Whilst there are no known reported cases up to now, advanced level trials on most subjects who are interested in following NSW state politics look promising.
Rick Samimi, Cammeray
George Sanders did. He topped himself because he was bored.
Phil Cohen, Avalon
Yes, but it takes a long time. Japan has the longest average death-from-boredom time of 80 years, according to government figures. Similarly, in the United States, a baby born today can expect to die of boredom at 77 years. These numbers continue to rise, not only in developed countries, but all over the world. When statistics are placed to a graph, the numbers speak for themselves. Studying such statistics is often boring enough to cause death at these ages.
Lez Sanders, Leichhardt.
Spiritually, yes; the kind of death Samuel Johnson had in mind when he famously said a man who is tired of London is tired of life.
Garth Clarke, North Sydney
No, but some unusual causes of death include Philitas of Cos who died from insomnia in 270 BC; Martin 1 of Aragon died from laughing in 1410; King Adolf Frederick of Sweden died from overeating his favourite dessert in 1771; and in 1978 Claude Francois, a French singer, was electrocuted changing a light bulb while standing in a bath.
Dr John Frith, Paddington
Ever listened to George W. Bush, or John Howard speaking?
Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Yes, it can lead to risky behaviour such as substance abuse, gambling or extreme sports. Unfortunately, severe boredom is linked to brain chemistry. People who demand constant stimulus often have low levels of dopamine. Hobbies, sports, meditation and an active social life can help but may not cure the problem.
Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie
Yes, but it's not very exciting.
Norm Neill, Darlinghurst
Yes - it's the disease called ennuitis.
John Woodstone|, Annandale
How far from the home tree - if there is such a thing - do possums roam at night in urban environments ?
I live in a suburban village in the Blue Mountains, and there are possums that live in my yard. These possums do not roam at night - given that they keep eating my home-grown vegetables and herbs.
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
The distance between the home tree and your roof.
John Truman, Chatswood
Depending on the density of the possum population and the availability of food, their feeding range can vary in the natural environment from one to 15 hectares. Food is more abundant in urban environments because of food waste and flowering/fruiting garden plants so the range would be short.
Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie
ANY ANSWERS?
1: If we are taught to recognise colours by pointing, how do we know that the colours we see are the same as the colours others see?
2: Why, when heating/cooking in a microwave using a pot with a handle does the handle always end up facing the rear?
3: Does salt water foam in the open sea away from land?
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