h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I did indeed sir.

or chads as in the American Electoral system?

It is that usage for which I am seeking the Etymology.
The dictionary just says first recorded use 1947, origin unknown...

The sideburn has been called a chad in Yorkshire for ever and ever. So there.

*thinks of a few other terms*

*bites tongue very hard indeed*

Is it possible to overdose on vitamin C?
Its just that these fizzy C-Vit things are great for clearing the fog from my brain....but at 1500% RDA a piece they're pretty strong.

Do you want the quick answer or the full one?

Quick!

slow! Quick! Quick! Slow!!

Tough. You get the full one:

1)High doses reverse the anti-oxidant effect of low doses.

2)Kidney stones (only if you take large doses long term:

About 90% of kidney stones are made when oxalate binds to calcium. Oxalate does not dissolve very well in urine and therefore it plays an important part of initial stone formation when it precipitates. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is broken down in the intestine to oxalate. Patients who have intestinal abnormalities which cause them to absorb oxalate at an increased rate are at risk of forming stones if they “overdose “ on vitamin C. Usually 2 grams ( 2000 mg) a day is considered a high dose.

Campbell’s Urology, 7 Th. edition, 1998, Volume #3, page 2673 states that eighty percent of the oxalate found in urine comes from endogenous production in the liver ( it is made in the body) 40% from ascorbic acid , 40% from glycogen ( an amino acid) and 10% come from dietary sources.

Tselius ,HG wrote The Diurnal excretion of oxalate and the effect of pyroxidine and ascorbate on oxalate excretion. European Urology 1977; 3:41-46 This is the abstract.

Country of Publication Switzerland

Abstract

The diurnal urinary oxalate excretion has been determined in 11 patients with urolithiasis and in 7 normal subjects. Increased excretion following meals was observed. The variation from hour to hour was most pronounced in the stone patient group. The relation between oxalate concentration and urinary volume was found to follow a biphasic exponential course. Pyridoxine administration increased oxalate excretion in 9 out of 12 subjects and decreased the excretion in 3 subjects. Ascorbate administration increased oxalate excretion in all 7 subjects studied.

ISSN 0302-2838


Here are a few more recent articles from medline. These articles are also quite technical in nature.

Wong K. Thomson C. Bailey RR. McDiarmid S. Gardner J. Acute oxalate nephropathy after a massive intravenous dose of vitamin C. [Journal Article] Australian & New Zealand Journal of Medicine. 24(4):410-1, 1994 Aug.

. Chalmers A. Re: Ascorbate acid overdosing: a risk factor for calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis [letter; comment]. [Comment. Letter] Journal of Urology. 152(1):171, 1994 Jul.

Costello J. Re: Ascorbic acid overdosing: a risk factor for calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis [letter; comment] [see comments]. [Comment. Letter] Journal of Urology. 149(5):1146, 1993 May.

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So basically, taking a big dose when you are hungover is fine.

Certainly it should be less dangerous than phase 2 .... the big club toasted sandwich! Mmmm....fattening!

may I recommend the house special - Salt beef sandwich (mustard compulsory, gherkins optional)?

As it happpens, I bottled out and got a tuna sanwich and the minestrone soup.
I read that the tuna fish is becoming an endangered animal due to overfishing so I have decided to eat as much as I can while I still have the chance

Overheard on the radio while in the Deli...
Quizmaster: "What did John Logie-Baird invent?"
Contestant: "Cartoons"

Honestly, you can't help but

DJ you really are cooking on gas in the jesting department! Any reason you wish to divulge to us?

Acid! Speed!

A near miss with Arthur's ghost - always a reason for good cheer.

"The Crankies" was a misnomer wasn't it? They always seemed quite jolly and even tempered to me.

Stop it my tummy is hurting!

I see the good doctor is showing his age - Acid indeed . Don't you know this is the e-generation.

Latest update - Moscows largest chain store is teaming up with an internet supplier from Yorkshire to make its wares available over the net. The resultant company will be called e-buy-Gumm.

I heard a version of that joke when I wasn't even born!

It's no good - there's no gurn smiley!
I shall have to start a campaign of some kind.....