Comments for Funny Letters and Mad Science http://brettsletters.com Letters, Publishing, Science and Baseball Tue, 31 Jul 2012 23:52:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Publishing and Editing by tom kimsal http://brettsletters.com/publishing-and-editing/#comment-262 tom kimsal Tue, 31 Jul 2012 23:52:17 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?page_id=401#comment-262 check out ( lake superior above and below ) see you tube shorts of lake superior and mines above and below ground at tkmines1 tom check out ( lake superior above and below ) see you tube shorts of lake superior and mines above and below ground at tkmines1 tom

]]> Comment on 15 Things I’ve Already Learned from My Five-Day-Old Infant: Newborn Tips for Dad by admin http://brettsletters.com/15-things-ive-already-learned-from-my-five-day-old-infant-newborn-tips-for-dad/#comment-259 admin Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:12:19 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=699#comment-259 Dear Heidi, Thanks for your note; yes, I now realize I got the math incorrect and that 10 cm isn't the "breaking point" (there's a terrible phrase to use in this context) for the female reproductive system. However, given our doctor's comments, it seems unlikely that the delivery would have possible/advisable in our specific case. We did our best to have a natural birth, and to that end, we tried several positions, including squatting. While squatting (and labor in a tub) did help with the pain, after three hours of rather excruciating labor, she hadn't made any progress. The baby hadn't budged. That's when our doc--not one to quickly suggest a C-section--mentioned it, and we agreed. All in all, I'm just glad it had a happy ending; thanks again for you kind comment! Brett Dear Heidi,

Thanks for your note; yes, I now realize I got the math incorrect and that 10 cm isn’t the “breaking point” (there’s a terrible phrase to use in this context) for the female reproductive system. However, given our doctor’s comments, it seems unlikely that the delivery would have possible/advisable in our specific case. We did our best to have a natural birth, and to that end, we tried several positions, including squatting. While squatting (and labor in a tub) did help with the pain, after three hours of rather excruciating labor, she hadn’t made any progress. The baby hadn’t budged. That’s when our doc–not one to quickly suggest a C-section–mentioned it, and we agreed.

All in all, I’m just glad it had a happy ending; thanks again for you kind comment!

Brett

]]> Comment on 15 Things I’ve Already Learned from My Five-Day-Old Infant: Newborn Tips for Dad by Heidi http://brettsletters.com/15-things-ive-already-learned-from-my-five-day-old-infant-newborn-tips-for-dad/#comment-257 Heidi Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:27:59 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=699#comment-257 As the mother of three daughters, ages 20-26, your piece took me on a journey back in time to their births and early days on the outside. Your little boy is lucky to have a father who is so clearly in love with him. I do, however, beg to differ with one aspect of your story, that is the assumption that an average-size woman's body is not capable of birthing a head circumference of 14.5 inches. I am an average-size 5' 5" tall woman. My daughter's birth weights ranged from10 lbs. 8 oz. to 10 lbs. 10 oz., their head circumferences were similar to your son's, and they were all born vaginally. Although 10 cm is considered fully dilated, the cervix is clearly able to stretch beyond that. The key to giving birth to a large baby is to do it in a squatting position. I'm glad that your wife and son are doing well and wish you a lifetime of joy and discovery with your son As the mother of three daughters, ages 20-26, your piece took me on a journey back in time to their births and early days on the outside. Your little boy is lucky to have a father who is so clearly in love with him. I do, however, beg to differ with one aspect of your story, that is the assumption that an average-size woman’s body is not capable of birthing a head circumference of 14.5 inches. I am an average-size 5′ 5″ tall woman. My daughter’s birth weights ranged from10 lbs. 8 oz. to 10 lbs. 10 oz., their head circumferences were similar to your son’s, and they were all born vaginally. Although 10 cm is considered fully dilated, the cervix is clearly able to stretch beyond that. The key to giving birth to a large baby is to do it in a squatting position. I’m glad that your wife and son are doing well and wish you a lifetime of joy and discovery with your son

]]> Comment on 15 Things I’ve Already Learned from My Five-Day-Old Infant: Newborn Tips for Dad by Kari http://brettsletters.com/15-things-ive-already-learned-from-my-five-day-old-infant-newborn-tips-for-dad/#comment-256 Kari Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:29:52 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=699#comment-256 My son just finished his 9th grade health class, and part of the class was to watch a video of a live birth. I asked him what his impression was, and he said "Scarred for life." So at least there's that. I'm sure he will have blocked it out by age 17, so maybe I should get a copy of that and show it to him every year. you know, as a refresher. My son just finished his 9th grade health class, and part of the class was to watch a video of a live birth.
I asked him what his impression was, and he said “Scarred for life.”
So at least there’s that. I’m sure he will have blocked it out by age 17, so maybe I should get a copy of that and show it to him every year. you know, as a refresher.

]]> Comment on Publishing and Editing by tom kimsal http://brettsletters.com/publishing-and-editing/#comment-249 tom kimsal Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:33:27 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?page_id=401#comment-249 I think you may like my book and dvs on lake superior and area mines,perhaps you could review them. if your interested i will prvide you with free access to the book and send the dvds to you. tom I think you may like my book and dvs on lake superior and area mines,perhaps you could review them. if your interested i will prvide you with free access to the book and send the dvds to you. tom

]]> Comment on Political Attack Ad Against Cats (Created by Dogs) by Sister-in-lawpants http://brettsletters.com/political-attack-ad-against-cats-created-by-dogs/#comment-242 Sister-in-lawpants Sat, 14 Jul 2012 19:04:20 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=688#comment-242 HA! You actually made it! Too funny. HA! You actually made it! Too funny.

]]> Comment on Letter #7 to My Future Son; Subject: Astro-Nurseries, X-Ray Vision, Pickle-related Humor, Ice Cream and Bears by rgv http://brettsletters.com/letter-7-to-my-future-son-subject-astro-nurseries-x-ray-vision-pickle-related-humor-ice-cream-and-bears/#comment-230 rgv Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:58:06 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=628#comment-230 great blogging!! keep up this sweet stuff great blogging!! keep up this sweet stuff

]]> Comment on Poor Man’s Periodic Coffee Table Update by admin http://brettsletters.com/poor-mans-periodic-coffee-table-update/#comment-165 admin Tue, 19 Jun 2012 03:04:32 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=533#comment-165 Sweet, will do. Thanks for the tips, and for the info about pH control, too. Sweet, will do. Thanks for the tips, and for the info about pH control, too.

]]> Comment on Making Iodine on Memorial Day: Fun with the Periodic Table by LanthanumK http://brettsletters.com/making-iodine-on-memorial-day-fun-with-the-periodic-table/#comment-151 LanthanumK Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:47:15 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=547#comment-151 I find careful pH control by first using excess hydrochloric acid in this reaction (which forms a yellow solution of iodine monochloride) and (later) slow neutralization by sodium bicarbonate yields the maximum amount of iodine. Excess bleach may dissolve the iodine, forming colorless iodate, while excess hydrochloric acid leaves it in solution as the monochloride. I find careful pH control by first using excess hydrochloric acid in this reaction (which forms a yellow solution of iodine monochloride) and (later) slow neutralization by sodium bicarbonate yields the maximum amount of iodine. Excess bleach may dissolve the iodine, forming colorless iodate, while excess hydrochloric acid leaves it in solution as the monochloride.

]]> Comment on Poor Man’s Periodic Coffee Table Update by LanthanumK http://brettsletters.com/poor-mans-periodic-coffee-table-update/#comment-150 LanthanumK Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:42:52 +0000 http://brettsletters.com/?p=533#comment-150 Don't forget to purchase 1N34A diode, which contains small chunk of very pure germanium. They are not too expensive. They may not be at RadioShack though. Don’t forget to purchase 1N34A diode, which contains small chunk of very pure germanium. They are not too expensive. They may not be at RadioShack though.

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