Persephone

So I have to figure out the rate constant of tert-butyl reaction (first order) for my orgo lab. My professor set up the equation used as essentially being -kt(time, in seconds)=ln(((.9x.1x3.0)/10)/((1.x3.0)/10)) because 3 mL of tert-butyl chloride was used in a 10% reaction in 10 mL (water + acetone) total.

This gives me -kt = ln (.027/.03) = ln(0.9) = -.10536. If T is 81.67 seconds, then

k= -1.29x10-3 (-.00129)

My dilema comes from the fact that I must be doing something horribly wrong since, in a pre-lab question where we had to plot constants and temps for an arrhenius plot, all the rate constants were numbers like .004034 or .0421. And they aren't negative!

So basically, help me figure out WTF I'm doing wrong. Thanks!

I recently bought a Sony Cybershot TX1 after my old Nikon pooped out on me. I did the best research I could do in a day to buy a new one (since I was on vacation at the time.) I like the TX1, especially the shutter lag time and the panorama mode, but I don't feel completely confident in it. It hasn't been 2 weeks, so I still have a couple days to return it to Best Buy to trade it in for something else. Note that I live on a limited budget (Student!) so this was a major splurge to begin with, so something more advanced is a bit out of my price range, otherwise I'd just be getting a DSLR!

I've been looking into the Canon Powershot SX120 IS, and I wonder if this may be a better camera for me. I someday want to purchase a DSLR, so I like that it has a few more manual controls than the TX1, which takes care of everything. I also like the longer zoom. However, I realize I'd have to sacrifice the awesome panorama mode and the shutter lag times.

However, my primary uses for my camera are landscapes, action shots (such as wildlife, pets, things in motion), low lighting/night, and soon to be underwater since I'll be taking scuba diving (and yes, I know I'll need to get housing for it :p)

Color and contrast are very important to me, because I want photos that make me say "wow!", especially as I work on developing my skills as a hobby.

I've looked and compared pictures and specs on Cnet, flickr, and other sites and still haven't come up with a definitive answer. Any suggestions?

the balance board seems to be reading weight when I'm not even using it (for instance, telling me to get off of it before I've even gotten on in the first place!). It's being used on a tile floor with no extensions, and I've found the trick is to tip the board up at first and then quickly jump on it to read my weight. This has been going on for a few months.

When it does read my weight, it's usually 10 pounds or so over. I know its incorrect since I've weighed myself on various other scales, and those weights have all been consistent.

The board was a gift for my mother, who procrastinated to call tech support until after the 3 month warranty had expired (I was out of town at school) and now won't accept the board.

TL;DR Can someone tell me how to home repair it? It's not like its going to void the warranty...or at least tell me whats wrong with it? Is it a sensor issue? Circuitry?

Thanks!

I have Trichotillomania and since I moved away from home, this is the first time post-relapse that I will need my hair trimmed and evened up (from the places where I don't pull to be more even with the relapsed places) at home the family hairdresser who we went to for years always did it, but since I'm at school, I'm not certain if most salons and places really train people on sensitive issues like TTM. I'm pretty open about the disease, but I'd like to go to someone and know that they know how to deal with what I'm asking for them to do without feeling ashamed.

So, do cosmotologists get trained on Trichotillomania? (Compulsive hair pulling)

So I should have gotten my period about 2 and a half weeks ago. The day I thought I started my period, it actually turned out to be extremely heavy spotting (a rather large clot came out too) because it was inconsistant and not a constant flow of blood, although the spotting did last for about three days. I'm freaking out now because I'm not sure if I'm experiencing the signs of pregnancy; I have been nauseous and fatigued, but this could be due to other things as well.

Here's the kicker; I'm technically a virgin. I was off of my birth control (ran out, had to make an apt to get more) for about three weeks, then started it up again. I do have a boyfriend and we fool around, but we're always careful that our "parts" don't get too close because I know it is possible to get pregnant with semen on the outside of the vagina. I figure the chance of me getting pregnant this way is astronomically low. I hadn't seen him at all while I was off BC, by the way.

So I guess what I'm wondering is what could cause such heavy spotting but a missed period, or if in other peoples opinions that WAS my period but it was thrown off by the change in BC?

my memory card reader crapped out on me and I thought I would be clever and access the card through my nikon. I know that once I plugged the nikon in to the computer that it would pop up into the "my computer" section as a removable disk if I was using a PC...but there seems to be no way for me to do this on a mac (which I am using one temporarily, so I'm new to it) IS there a way to access the folders within the drive?

I know I can walk a mile in 15 minutes, therefore it takes me an hour to walk 4 miles. I'd like to know what my speed is in mph. I know its distance/time but I'm not sure how getting it in miles calculates in.

the new dsi won't have a port for GBA games...I put off buying a DS because, well...I actually never had the money for it to begin with xD

but once Pokemon Platinum comes out I will be interested in purchasing a DS. I've heard the new features are amazing, but the lack of GBA port worries me. I know Gen III pokemon can be put on the Gen IV games, but how will this be accomplished with the new dsi?

I workout using an intense workout video. I'm sweating up a storm, gasping for breath, my muscles are working hard, and my heartrate is through the roof. However, a few minutes after I cool down, I feel normal again; no tiredness, no muscle fatigue. Would it be counter-productive to pop the tape back in and do it again? I'm on the intermediate level of this particular tape and was at least considering doing the beginner level after I've cooled down from the first workout.

I've estimated I burn around 350-400 calories with the one workout; would adding another be alright? I do the tape daily and I've heard that working out more than neccessary is actually more harm than help. If it helps with your answers; I also do a yoga "workout" usually before dinner. I guess I just want to up the workout since I've been doing it for a couple months and haven't seen any remarkable results.

I'd really appreciate your opinions!

The front right brake on my (old) mountain bike is hitting the wheel, causing a really bad squealing noise when I move the bike forward even without applying pressure to the brakes. I can adjust the brake pad manually with my fingers (essentially moving that u shaped part that connects the two brakes) but as soon as I apply the brakes and release them it shifts back to where it was before. I'm not sure I've explained the situation well enough for anyone to understand, but I'm not sure how else to describe it.

Obviously I know nothing about bikes and proper bike terminology since I use my bike mostly for recreation on nice days and sometimes for transportation, so I wanted to check to see what I should do before I start messing around with it. Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong area, but the sports > cycling seemed to be about as specific as I could get. Any ideas what I should do?

Also: the brakes themselves are not squealing when I apply them; in any case I've already checked to make sure they're debris free. I just think the noise is coming from the brake hitting the wheel while the bike is in motion.

So I've been exercising almost daily for the past month and a half (burning around 400-600 calories per day from exercise) and I've noticed that I've actually gained weight, at least 7 pounds, since I've began. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but the only weights I've been using are little handweights and my exercises are geared more towards losing fat than gaining muscle. My diet has been consistent if not better than what I was eating before; a lot more fruits and veggies and protein and cutting out snacks and carbonated drinks.

I just put on a pair of size 15 shorts that were my "fat" shorts and were usually still a bit loose and now they are snugger than ever before!

What on EARTH is going on?

So my boyfriend and I were fooling around and he stuck the tip of his penis in. I know he had pre-*** on it. The thing is, I take birth control for my normal excessively bad periods. My doctor told me that they are "a low dosage" so I'm not sure if its as effective as birth control used soley as a contraceptive (its still in the same packaging, taking one pill everyday at the same time) is it still possible for me to get pregnant?

I've been craving sweet beans for awhile and would like to buy some if I could. Problem is, I can't seem to find a grocery store with them anywhere! I'm fairly new to St. Louis so I don't know many places anyhow.

I just reformatted my laptop and backed up all of my files onto a portable hard drive. All of my files had been showing up correctly on it previously but as I went to copy my "my music" folder over to the reformatted computer my iTunes folder wasn't showing up. The properties tab accounted for the proper amount GB the file took up, so I know it has to still be there somewhere. When I connect the HD to my mac, all the files show up fine.

Could this be a problem with the usb hard drive or is it a problem with my computer? It has XP on it but I think I need to redownload the latest .NET and Service Pack for it.

I'm going on a date with a longtime friend turned possible romance (don't start, I know, I know...) and I need an outfit for a date out to dinner at an upscale sushi bar. I'm tall, with wide hips and all my sundresses seem...too summery. I have no idea what to wear! Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm a college student and don't have any money to join a gym. I'd like to lose 20 lbs so I thought I'd take up jogging. I was talking to my father about it and he pointed out our family history of joint issues so I decided to explore other options instead.

Does anyone know what a good sort of low impact cardio I could do instead?

Could anyone recommend a cardio work out video I could maybe watch and work with in my apartment when I get home from class and before I go to work?

A year and a half ago my ex and I broke up our LDR since I had moved away temporarily and he "had found someone else" I was shook up then and heartbroken for a long time, and now nearly a year later of no contact (absolutely none) I'm still thinking I'm in love with him.

I try to date and have fun with guys but at the end of the day I find myself still thinking about the ex and never finding true interest in these other guys. I've done everything one needs to do to get over someone that has worked with previous exes (going out, keeping my mind off them, volunteering, etc etc) but this case is extra strange since it's been so long and I still find myself missing him.

Does anyone have any advice for how to get over someone when plenty of time and no contact has passed?

last tuesday I was driving at 15 MPH (max) on an icy road and while changing lanes into a left turn lane skidded, straightened up, and braked until the ABS started doing that bumpy thing. The tires didn't get any traction and I ended up rear-ending the stopped truck in front of me.

I got a ticket for "failure to reduce speed" even though I've been driving in these conditions every winter ever since I got my license in high school and knew I was going a safe speed for the conditions and there was nothing I could do.

My question is how succsessful would I be in contesting this ticket? I don't feel its fair I was cited the $75 for it when it was unavoidable. I'm curious because I would like to know my chances in appealing to a judge in a case where the conditions were more at fault but still got a ticket anyhow.

the page is loading and I get links in google, but clicking on a link pops up a new window...usually some generic search engine. I'm thinking it has to be spyware or a virus because the AVG website is no longer loading as well and I can't download updates for free AVG.

How can I fix this?

it just sounds really interesting, but I can't make out whats being shouted to look it up. I can't find any info anywhere. Any help?