Pocket Puzzle

Last Thursday's ride was much shorter than last week's rides, and
those were short by my old standards.

Last Thursday was far from the hottest weather I've cycled in -- I
recall once I sweat enough to short out my watch, and I don't normally
sweat: I just get home to find a layer of salt on my face. And it
wasn't any hotter than weather I've cycled in this spring.

I've been carrying starlight mints for decades. (Starlight because
you can buy them anywhere and always having the same flavor helps to
prevent overdose. Besides which, they taste terrible whenever I'm the
teensiest bit thirsty, so they help to keep me hydrated.)

But last Thursday was the very first time all my starlight mints
melted in my pocket.

I just recently started carrying them in my back pocket, having just
acquired a cell phone, but the mint in my front pocket with the phone
melted at least as much as the mints in back. I've been using off
this bag of mints for months (I keep them in a plastic container in
the freezer), and the mints have been sharing the pocket with a cell
phone all spring.

When I go to the Farmer's Market this evening. I'll get fresh mints
out of the freezer and see what happens.


--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://www.debeeson.net/joy/
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11:03:09 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote:

I just recently started carrying them in my back pocket, having just
acquired a cell phone, but the mint in my front pocket with the phone
melted at least as much as the mints in back. I've been using off
this bag of mints for months (I keep them in a plastic container in
the freezer), and the mints have been sharing the pocket with a cell
phone all spring.

Starlight Mints appear to be made from hard candy, which is a melt of
sugar and corn syrup. This mix melts at about 370F (190C), so I doubt
that it actually melted from too much heat. More likely, the candy
was exposed to enough sweat, humidity, and water to begin softening.
Once the surface glaze has been breached, the inner contents are quite
hygroscopic (absorbs moisture), which would product rapid dissociation
and dissolution. My guess(tm) is that the candy was somehow cracked,
absorbed some moisture, and then started to soften and dissolve.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11:03:09 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote:

When I go to the Farmer's Market this evening. I'll get fresh mints
out of the freezer and see what happens.

Took five mints; two got sticky, one stickier on one side than the
other. Neither had all its red parts run off.

I took them out of the freezer a few hours before roll-off time.
Perhaps the first set were still cold and attracted water?


--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://www.debeeson.net/joy/
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.

On Sat, 22 Jun 2013 00:12:21 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote:

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11:03:09 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote:

When I go to the Farmer's Market this evening. I'll get fresh mints
out of the freezer and see what happens.

Took five mints; two got sticky, one stickier on one side than the
other. Neither had all its red parts run off.

I took them out of the freezer a few hours before roll-off time.
Perhaps the first set were still cold and attracted water?

If the clear plastic wrapper was air tight, the mints will probably
survive. However, if the wrapper let in any warm room air when you
took the mints out of the freezer, moisture probably condensed inside
the plastic wrapping, which eventually caused the mint to partially
dissolve. Also, if you store the mints in the freezer for some time,
a small amount of moisture will condense on the mints every time
someone opens the freezer door. That's what cause the ice buildup in
freezers. The same ice can build up on the mints, which when removed
from the freezer, will melt and dissolve the candy.

If you have one of these in the house, that may also be a problem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXsTMsmX3Q4

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Friday, 21 June 2013 15:03:09 UTC+1, Joy Beeson wrote:
Last Thursday's ride was much shorter than last week's rides, and

those were short by my old standards.



Last Thursday was far from the hottest weather I've cycled in -- I

recall once I sweat enough to short out my watch, and I don't normally

sweat: I just get home to find a layer of salt on my face. And it

wasn't any hotter than weather I've cycled in this spring.



I've been carrying starlight mints for decades.

I'm sure there are other brands you could manage.

(Starlight because

you can buy them anywhere

I don't know, cos eye ma brit, but i guess they are that poor they'll NEVER sell out.


and always having the same flavor helps to

pretend it's not there?


prevent overdose. Besides which, they taste terrible whenever I'm the

teensiest bit thirsty,

Suspect magnesium or potassium deficiency. Eat a mango or other good fruit.

so they help to keep me hydrated.)

Mints are full of water?



But last Thursday was the very first time all my starlight mints

melted in my pocket.

Yummy!


I just recently started carrying them in my back pocket, having just

acquired a cell phone,

Don't worry about it, it'll be at least 2017 when officialdom announces the limitations of you prison cell.

but the mint in my front pocket with the phone

melted at least as much as the mints in back. I've been using off

this bag of mints for months (I keep them in a plastic container in

the freezer), and the mints have been sharing the pocket with a cell

phone all spring.


Wot a luvly 'splanixion.


When I go to the Farmer's Market this evening. I'll get fresh mints

out of the freezer and see what happens.

Wharever ye get, if ye leave it to ground an it notever sprout, youere reet in nor eating it. Check out what Moses sayd.