amusements

[low_delta]

I have a travel cup at work, for water. It's a tall insulated stainless steel cup with a clear plastic top. This morning I got water, but when I tried to drink from it, no water came out. I figured the the mouth was closed, so despite thinking that this was highly unlikely, I went to slide the cover back from the little hole. It was already open! So I tried again. No water came out at first, but then it suddenly poured through and splashed down my front.

WTF #1: How did this happen? A bubble of air blocked the opening? I can't picture it.
WTF #2: This has never happened before.
WTF #3: When it did happen, it happened in a meeting.


After work, I walked over to the Public Market to meet a friend for dinner. I walked up to a corner as a bus pulled away. There was a guy there whom I was sure was going to ask me for money. He did, saying the bus left him behind because he didn't have any change. I was pretty sure I didn't have any small bills in my wallet, but I always carry coins in my coat pocket. I reached in and pulled out... a dime, two nickels and four pennies. I just looked at it trying to figure out what to say to the guy, like this isn't much, do you want it? He said, "God's gonna reach down for you," like I was going to get smited. I put the change back in my pocket and he reiterated something similar. So I got to stand there with him, waiting for the light. He walked back to his stuff by a light post and said something about what Jesus thought of me.

Comments

[meowmensteen]

When I worked at the bakery at Pike Place Market I used to be able to bring home a lot of the food we didn't sell that day. On my way to the bus stop after work whenever people would ask me for money, I would offer them some of the food (really good food I might add) and they would always refuse. I remember one person in particular who told me he was on a liquid diet and he pointed to an empty beer can. It made me kind of jaded about giving out stuff on the street. I'll give to organizations that help people on the streets, but I don't feel any shame about holding onto my cash when I'm out and about and get hit up for it.

[low_delta]

An acquaintance once told me he and his wife bought groceries for a homeless guy they saw in the park. They spent quite a bit of money, and it included hot food from the deli. When they went by there later, it was all torn up and scattered in the park. He said they only give to organizations that help the homeless now. But the truth is, homeless people have been hurt enough by ill intent, that they don't necessarily trust donations of food.

[hafnia]

Re: your water bottle, it's to do with the surface tension of the water and the fact that you (likely) created a very small pressure differential between what was in the bottle and the atmosphere. Not a bubble blocking it, but the actual surface tension of the water + atmospheric pressure being juuuust enough to hold it in place. It's similar to how if you suck up liquid in a straw, then put your finger over the end of it, the liquid will remain in place even if you lift it out of your drink. :)

Next time it happens, you can fix it by loosening and then retightening the lid.

[low_delta]

That makes sense, but it still took me a bit to figure it out. I finally realized that my meeting was on a different floor, and when I went up the stairs I must have sloshed the water around so that it got on the little air vent. Which also explains why it never happened before, since I've never had a meeting on a different floor. Thanks!