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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Stalagmites
Now, this is weird.
I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago as an undergrad, and had the difference between -mites and -tites drilled into me. (Our prof's reminder was that mites crawl along the ground; others speak of things hold "tite" to the ceiling.)
I've just watched a BBC3 programme on the British landscape prior to the last ice age. Non-flashy stuff: getting-on-to-elderly presenter who clearly knows his stuff, with specialists sitting in their labs discussing their specialities. One of these happily identified Tibetan dung beetles that sort of specialist so, in short, a low-budget programme peopled by those who know their stuff.
Okay. The elderly presenter guy met up with a cave specialist, with whom he discussed the dating of calcium deposits by reading uranium levels. (This had to do with what these could tell us about the climate 29,000 year ago.) Both men pointed to, touched, and clearly were referring to short bits of calcium deposits on the ceiling of the cave.
Which both of them called "stalagmites".
These guys are the opposite of novices or disciplinary illiterates, so I can only assume that in specialist circles all cave calcium deposits are now referred to as "stalagmites".
Anyone know when this happened?
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago as an undergrad, and had the difference between -mites and -tites drilled into me. (Our prof's reminder was that mites crawl along the ground; others speak of things hold "tite" to the ceiling.)
I've just watched a BBC3 programme on the British landscape prior to the last ice age. Non-flashy stuff: getting-on-to-elderly presenter who clearly knows his stuff, with specialists sitting in their labs discussing their specialities. One of these happily identified Tibetan dung beetles that sort of specialist so, in short, a low-budget programme peopled by those who know their stuff.
Okay. The elderly presenter guy met up with a cave specialist, with whom he discussed the dating of calcium deposits by reading uranium levels. (This had to do with what these could tell us about the climate 29,000 year ago.) Both men pointed to, touched, and clearly were referring to short bits of calcium deposits on the ceiling of the cave.
Which both of them called "stalagmites".
These guys are the opposite of novices or disciplinary illiterates, so I can only assume that in specialist circles all cave calcium deposits are now referred to as "stalagmites".
Anyone know when this happened?
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
Top answer
[nq:1]Now, this is weird. I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago asan undergrad, and had the difference between -mites and -tites drilled into me. )[/nq] I learned that stalaGmites rise from the floor the "G"round, that is; stalaCtites hang from the "C"eiling.
- [nq:1]Now, this is weird.
- I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago asan undergrad, and had the difference between -mites and -tites drilled into me.
- )[/nq] I learned that stalaGmites rise from the floor the "G"round, that is; stalaCtites hang from the "C"eiling.
- (balance deleted I didn't have an answer for the question asked therein) Maria Conlon And baTs hold "T"ight to the "T"op, I would think.
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30 Answers
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[nq:1]Now, this is weird. I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago asan undergrad, and had the difference between -mites and -tites drilled into me. (Our prof's reminder was that mites crawlalong the ground; others speak of things hold "tite" to the ceiling.)[/nq]
I learned that stalaGmites rise from the floor the "G"round, that is; stalaCtites hang from the "C"eiling.
(
I learned that stalaGmites rise from the floor the "G"round, that is; stalaCtites hang from the "C"eiling.
(
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Harvey Van Sickle filted:
[nq:1]Okay. The elderly presenter guy met up with a cave specialist, with whom he discussed the dating of calcium deposits ... assume that in specialist circles all cave calcium deposits are now referred to as "stalagmites". Anyone know when this happened?[/nq]
You going to listen to language experts, or cavemen?...
They're both wrong, although it
[nq:1]Okay. The elderly presenter guy met up with a cave specialist, with whom he discussed the dating of calcium deposits ... assume that in specialist circles all cave calcium deposits are now referred to as "stalagmites". Anyone know when this happened?[/nq]
You going to listen to language experts, or cavemen?...
They're both wrong, although it
00
The mites go up and the tites (tights) come down.
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
00
[nq:2]an along I learned that stalaGmites rise from the floor ... I didn't have an answer for the question asked therein)[/nq]
[nq:1]The mites go up and the tites (tights) come down.[/nq]
Oooh!
When the tights come down, who knows what might go up?
Redwine
Hamburg
[nq:1]The mites go up and the tites (tights) come down.[/nq]
Oooh!
When the tights come down, who knows what might go up?
Redwine
Hamburg
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I was taught, more memorably, I think, that "it's like ants in the pants - the mites go up and the tites come down".
Don Aitken
Mail to the addresses given in the headers is no longer being read. To mail me, substitute "clara.co.uk" for "freeuk.com".
Don Aitken
Mail to the addresses given in the headers is no longer being read. To mail me, substitute "clara.co.uk" for "freeuk.com".
00
[nq:1]Now, this is weird. I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago as an undergrad, and had the difference ... me. (Our prof's reminder was that mites crawl along the ground; others speak of things hold "tite" to the ceiling.)[/nq]
Mites grow up, tites fall down.
Ray.
Mites grow up, tites fall down.
Ray.
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[nq:1]Okay. The elderly presenter guy met up with a cave specialist, with whom he discussed the dating of calcium deposits ... assume that in specialist circles all cave calcium deposits are now referred to as "stalagmites". Anyone know when this happened?[/nq]
It didn't. I'd put their error down to psychology.
Adrian
It didn't. I'd put their error down to psychology.
Adrian
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[nq:1]Now, this is weird. I studied limestone geology (karst topography) 30 years ago as an undergrad, and had the difference between -mites and -titesdrilled into me. (Our prof's reminder was that mites crawl along theground; others speak of things hold "tite" to the ceiling.)[/nq]
Les stalagMites Montent, et les stalacTites Tombent.
Philip Eden
Les stalagMites Montent, et les stalacTites Tombent.
Philip Eden
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[nq:2] I learned that stalaGmites rise from the floor the "G"round, that is; stalaCtites hang from the "C"eiling. [/nq]
[nq:1]The mites go up and the tites (tights) come down.[/nq]
So, more evidence that the grown-ups were wasting our time in 5th grade and in the scouts and brownies, feeding us worthless *** just because it sounded cute.
Now, I suppose the "fact" that bactrians have tw
[nq:1]The mites go up and the tites (tights) come down.[/nq]
So, more evidence that the grown-ups were wasting our time in 5th grade and in the scouts and brownies, feeding us worthless *** just because it sounded cute.
Now, I suppose the "fact" that bactrians have tw
00
[nq:1]Les stalagMites Montent, et les stalacTites Tombent.[/nq]
Now, wait a minute, Philip.
That incident in my tent had nothing to do with Tom bending. I don't even know Tom. Not that well, anyway.
Maria Conlon
The pen of my aunt, etc.
Now, wait a minute, Philip.
That incident in my tent had nothing to do with Tom bending. I don't even know Tom. Not that well, anyway.
Maria Conlon
The pen of my aunt, etc.
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