The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by debcha:

JulieL:

McGee does go into deep technical detail about how to ripen persimmons; in an oxygen-free environment, their metabolism shifts to produce acetylaldehyde, which binds with the tannins (and keeps them from binding with your tongue). But the key piece of info is that most plastic wraps and plastic bags (ie Ziploc bags) are made of polyethylene, through which oxygen can diffuse readily. Saran Wrap, on the other hand, is polyvinylidene chloride, which has a much lower diffusion coefficient for oxygen. So it was the triple-wrapping in Saran Wrap that likely did the trick, although the warmth of the pilot light might have helped.

Jules:

I sometimes suggest that the Science Fiction shelves in W H Smiths should be renamed the Iain M Banks shelves. His books seem to take up well over half the space in my local shop.

If it makes you feel better, the SF shelves in the big chain bookstores on this side of the Atlantic seem to consist of face cords of schlocky series. I was absolutely thrilled to pick up a copy of The Algebraist at the airport (!) - I had a stopover at Heathrow a couple of months ago - since it won't be out in the States until the fall.

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