The Weimar Republic of 1919 | Analysis

The Weimar Republic of 1919 | Analysis The Weimar Republic of 1919 characterised the struggle and failure to establish democracy in Germany following World War One. Despite possessing near-identical elements required to govern as successfully as the Federal Republic of 1945, the government was fragile and short-lived (Smith, 1991). Those in authority neglected to increase the power of the parliament or commit fully to the system, choosing instead to stumble along forming weak coalitions that did not stand the test of time (Conradt, 2009). Weimars constitutional weaknesses allowed Hitler to come to power and the dark reign of the Third Reich began in 1933. By contrast, post-WWII democracy was successfully implemented and maintained because the policy makers of the Basic Law ensured a politics of consensus dominated (Slagter and Loewenberg, 2009). Roberts (2009) further believes they were influenced by the material, political, and ethical legacy of the two world wars Germany was a part of. Germany was divided into the dem ocratic West and the communist East, before achieving unification in 1990. Despite the brief history given here, it is easily recognised that Germanys political history is a complex story of a country struggling to achieve a stable democracy in an unconventional way. The Federal Republic of 1949 distinguished itself from Weimar through its constitution and electoral/party system, which are key factors when explaining democracys success. This essay will specifically contrast the constitutions and electoral/party systems of Weimar and Bonn, as well as other factors such as the economy briefly, to explain why democracy succeeded after 1949. The Federal Republic demonstrated clear changes from Weimar, but also contained elements of continuity from the past both in its constitution and party system (Roberts, 2000). Both federal systems had similar institutions in place, such as the Constitutional Courts to resolve disputes, and the representation of 16 LÃ ¤nder (federal states) at a national level through the Bundesrat (federal Council). Their constitutions were quite advanced, with a Bill of Rights guaranteeing every German citizen the freedom of speech, religion and equality. Both governed through coalition parties; no party has been able to govern alone in Germanys history save one (Gordon, 1991). This demonstrates that permanently built into the system is the need for different political groups to reach out across the political chasm and co-operate in a politics of consensus. With such similarities, why did the Weimar government collapse a few years later? Pulzer (1994) believes that if it had been dealt a better dec k of cards, [the Weimar Republic] might have survived longer (1994, p. 4). The answer is also that it is institutions and everyday practices that promote stability in the system, and in Weimar, neither was stable. The Federal Republic distinguished itself from Weimar through the governing framework of its constitution. The Basic Law bolstered the parliamentary system by downgrading the president, who became a largely representative, indirectly elected head of state, and by enhancing the stature of the chancellor (Smith, 1991, p.48). This was a clear reaction to the dual executive in Weimars constitution which authorized the president to act autonomously of the Reichstag (Conradt, 2009). Although the president of the Weimar Republic was given more power to avoid political paralysis in the Reichstag, Article 48 allowed Hitler to come to power in the end. Hence the Basic Law made the presidential role more ceremonial than anything else. By using the failings of Weimar to measure the effectiveness of the present democracy, the policy makers of Bonn achieved to still fears of a second Hitler (Paterson, 2000). The constitution of 1949 also helped democracy by dispersing power from the centre of German authority. The Basic Law worked against centralised power, guaranteeing autonomy of responsibility to Germanys different regions, and thus preventing the rise of authoritarian rule (Paterson, 2000). In the Bonn Republic power was diffused to institutions, not the general population, despite the frequent invocation of the phrase Die Staatsgewalt geht vom Volke aus, [the government authority emanates from the people] the famous Article 1 of the Weimar constitution (Paterson, 2000, p.25). This diffusion of power ensures institutions must operate together during the decision-making process, thus promoting a democratic atmosphere. The Constitutional Court, for instance, exemplifies the separation of powers by upholding the Basic Law and defending civil liberties, in contrast to Weimar, whose court was easily subverted and unstable. It can be argued that such diffusion of power might negatively aff ect governing by creating too many agencies and actors. Alternatively, if one institution decides to create paralysis in the system, fragmentation could occur. However, the systems stability has not been greatly threatened. This is testament to Germanys constitutional strength and determination to uphold democratic rule (Paterson, 2000). The reforms to the party system after 1949 also aided in democracys success. Consensus among the political parties in the Bundestag (Federal Diet) ensured institutional stability after 1949 (Slagter and Loewenberg, 2009). In contrast, stable majorities could not be formed in Weimars Reichstag (parliament) due to the existence of proportional representation (Conradt, 2009). The republic was therefore a polarised pluralist system of numerous small parties, with no consensual decision-making taking place. The hyperinflation of 1923, for example, fuelled new political parties which the Reichstag was unable to socialise to its norms (Slagter and Loewenberg, 2009, p.470). Orderly parliamentary procedure disintegrated once the centre parties came under the assault of the radical extremists. By contrast, the success of post-WWII democracy can be explained through consensus promoting institutional stability, because this was absent in the Reichstag. After 1945, there was co-operative federali sm and consensual decision making among the political parties, especially with the issue of comparable living standards in all regions. Democracy also succeeded because of the modifications made to Germanys political/electoral system after 1949. In the Reichstag, consensus was neglected because radical groups pursued electoral votes, not caring that it lost them all effectiveness within the chamber as they contributed to its paralysis (Slagter and Loewenberg, 2009, p.471). After 1949, however, parliament developed into a moderate pluralist system. Parties could only enter with more than 5% of the national vote or 3 constituency seats without. New parties which entered the Bundestag were therefore socialised to the parliamentary customs (Slagter and Loewenberg, 2009).Through this measure, consensus dominated because it encouraged stable, moderate politics while discouraging extreme politics. This helped democracy succeed, because fewer parties meant more stability, the establishment of a co-operative opposition and prevention of anti-system parties (Paterson, 2000). Therefore, the electoral system, as with all other a spects of the system, encourages moderation and consensus. Other factors such as economic conditions after 1949 might also explain why democracy succeeded. With democracy stabilising around the 1950s, Germany also experienced full employment. This is vastly different to the economic and democratic situation in 1919, because the existence of a weak government with limited policy making skills meant there was no active labour policy and millions were unemployed (Schmidt, 1992). However, with Marshall Aid speeding Germanys economic recovery, the 1950s showed rapid progress both in terms of the economy and democratic governing. The German Model further developed the state after 1945, in contrast to poorly-developed welfare state of Weimar (Schmidt, 1992). Modell Deutschland, with the concept of the managed firm and co-determination, became renowned throughout the world (Smith, 2005). Products made in Germany demonstrated that it had become an economic force to be reckoned with, especially with its car industry. It can therefore be argued that un precedented economic stability after WWII also helped ensure democracys popularity. Another factor explaining democracys success after WWII emanates from the national and foreign policies Germany has implemented. This country presents a complex and layered picture which is revealed through the challenges it has dealt with in the past. Germany promoted itself as a responsible power and avoided an aggressive foreign policy so reminiscent of Hitler, choosing instead to join NATO and promote pro-European policies at the height of the Cold War (Glees, 1996). Chancellor Brandts policy of ostpolitik (Change through Rapprochement) exposed the conflict surrounding national identity following unification, where East Germans continued to feel like second class citizens in their own country (Wiesenthal, 1998). The 1970s saw the upsurge of the extreme Left, but despite these negative impacts, the structures of the German political and social systems remain strong. Therefore, Germanys promotion of European integration and the political culture of the time ensured democratic rule succeeded. In conclusion, it is clear that despite what some may see as an abnormal path taken by Germany towards normalisation, it seems to have worked (Smith, 2005). It is argued that the countrys first attempt at democracy failed due to a specific set of circumstances facing interwar Germany, coupled with defects in the Weimar constitution [] (Conradt, 2009, p.7). It can certainly be agreed on that important evolutions in the system to the constitution and party/electoral system, coupled with better economic and social conditions were vital in sustaining democracy after WWII (Smith, 1991). The Basic Law remains largely the same as in 1949, which is a testament to its success in founding and maintaining a democratic Germany. In addition, Germany also recognised a politics of consensus is a pre-requisite for federalism to work. Its decision to take this unconventional path and follow the federal political system with a consensus democracy demonstrates that sovereignty may not always be the a nswer; homogenising such a large country with different regions and practices would be impossible. It is institutional stability and every day practices, coupled with the politics of consensus, which established democracy successfully in Germany. Bibliography: Conradt, D. (2009). The German Polity. 9th ed. USA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company Glees, A. (1996) Reinventing Germany: German political development since 1945. UK: Berg Paterson, W. E. (2000). From the Bonn to the Berlin republic. German Politics, 9(1), 23-40. Pulzer, P. (1994). Unified Germany: a normal state? German Politics, 3(1), 1-17. Roberts, G.K. (2009). German Politics Today. 2nd ed. UK: Manchester University Press. Slagter, T.H and Loewenberg, G. (2009). Path Dependence as an explanation of the institutional stability of the German Parliament. German Politics, 18(4), 469- 484. Schmidt, M. G. (1992). Political consequences of German unification. West European Politics, (15)4, 1-15. Smith, G. (1991). The resources of a German chancellor. West European Politics, 14(2), 48-61. Smith, M. P. (2005). Introduction From Modell Deutschland to Model Europa: Europe in Germany and Germany in Europe. German Politics, (14)3, 275-282. Wiesenthal, H. (1998). Post-unification dissatisfaction, or why are so many East Germans unhappy with the new political system? German Politics, 7(2), 1-30.

Caffeine Extraction from Tea Pre Lab Report Essay

Describe an alternative method for evaporation of the CH2Cl2 Can be steamed and then rinsed with ethyl acetate for several hours, and then rinsed with water, or can be soaked in a bath of CO2 and run through water, making carboxylic acid. (2) Caffeine: (4) Repeated exposure can produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs. First Aid Measures: Eye contact – Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Cold water may be used. WARM water MUST be used. Get medical attention. Skin Contact – Immediately flush skin with plenty of water. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention. Serious Skin Contact – Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek immediate medical attention. Inhalation – remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention. Serious Inhalation – Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Seek medical attention. Ingestion – do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Get medical attention immediately. Dichloromethane: (5) Causes eye and skin irritation, respiratory tract irritation. Harmful if swallowed and possibly if inhaled. May cause central nervous system effects, and kidney damage. First Aid measure:  Eyes – immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Get medical aid. Skin – flush skin with plenty of water. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Get medical aid if irritation develops and persists. Wash clothing before reuse. Ingestion – If swallowed, do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get medical aid. Inhalation – remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult,  give oxygen. Get medical aid. 6. A rotary evaporator (rotovap) is typically used in chemistry for the removal of solvent from samples by the process of evaporation. Can also be used in molecular cooking for the preparation of distillates and extr acts. How the rotovap works, is it increases the rate of evaporation of the solvent by reducing the pressure to lower the boiling point of the solvent, rotating the sample to increase the effective surface area and heating the solution. (6)   When performing a liquid-liquid extraction, the separatory funnel should be (c) 3/4 full. List two things you should do before pouring liquid into a separatory funnel: be sure the stopcock is in the closed position  be sure the stopcock is sideways tight.  Dichloromethane will be the bottom layer, since it has a higher density than the aqueous solution. The stopper must be removed from the sep funnel when liquid is being drained from it through the stopcock, so that air can flow in through the top while the liquid is flowing out the bottom. References 1. Chem Spider. 2011. Caffeine. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.2424.html. [Accessed 07 October 14]. 2. Beverage Answers. 2014. Decaffienated Tea – How is Decaf Tea Made. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.beverageanswers.com/tea/decaf-tea.html. [Accessed 07 October 14]. 3. The Modern Embalmer. 2012. CALL OF THE WILD: TAXIDERMY TANNIC ACID/TANNINS IN EMBALMING. A DEAD-END ROAD TO FORMALDEHYDE-FREE CHEMICALS.. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.themodernembalmer.com/tannin.html. [Accessed 07 October 14]. 4. Science Lab. 2013. Material Safety Data Sheet Caffeine MSDS. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927475. [Accessed 07 October 14]. 5.Science Lab. 2013. Material Safety Data Sheet Dichloromethane MSDS. [ONLINE] Available at: http://wcam.engr.wisc.edu/Public/Safety/MSDS/Dichloromethane.pdf. [Accessed 07 October 14]. 6. Chem.UCalgary. 2014. Organic Laboratory Techniques. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chem.ucalg ary.ca/courses/351/laboratory/rotavap.pdf. [Accessed 07 October 14].

Ethnology and Ethnography

Word Count: Dana Trippe Anthropology Essay #2 10/1/2012 There are two major approaches to collecting information about human culture: ethnography and ethnology. Each approach has a specific goal. Each approach employs a variety of methods for data collection and analysis, all of which carry benefits but also challenges. Along with the challenges of data collection, field anthropologists face an additional set of logistical, emotional, and ethical obstacles. Anthropology is a difficult field but provides an important perspective on cultural diversity.Ethnography and Ethnology both attempt at reaching certain goals. Ethnography is a written description of a culture based on data gathered from fieldwork, characterized by two methods, participant observation and interviews. When an anthropologist is researching through participant observation, they are attempting to study a culture while still trying to maintain the eye of an objective observer. Another form of getting data for ethnograp hy is through interviews. Through interviews, either formal or informal, the anthropologist is attempting to gather and collect notable data.Formal interviews are more scripted and reduce the situational bias the anthropologists may experience. Informal interviews are more open ended questions that allow the informant to talk about what they think is more important in their culture. These interviews can help paint a more actual description of culture of what their beliefs and lifestyles are, instead of an â€Å"ideal culture†. Sterk stated that the interviewer becomes much more involved in the interview when conversations are in-depth, more than when a structured questionnaire is being used (Sterk 2000: 27).Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct contact with the culture, ethnology takes the research that ethnographers have compiled and then compares and contrasts different cultures. Ethnology is the comparative study of cultures with the aim of pre senting analytical generalizations about human culture. Anthropologists do not rely on data from just one study to make interpretive statements about human conditions (Lenkeit: 16). Ethnology also uses forms of quantification, to help make their data easily comparable, and recordable. Ethnography employs two methods of research, articipant observation and interviews. . This method can give an accurate view of the culture from an insider’s perspective. To truly discover the bits and pieces of a culture, subculture, or micro culture, one must commit to spending extensive time in that cultural environment (Lenkeit: 13). In the field, anthropologists can also deal with daily challenges. These challenges can include food problems, safety and health issues, , culture shock, and are also very prone to catching diseases (Lenkeit 2012: 56). Napoleon Chagnon endured an incident with his health while doing fieldwork with the Yonomamo people of Southern Venezuela.Chagnon recounted that h e reacted violently to something in the field, and red welts appeared all over his body. He was weak, nauseated, thirsty, and couldn’t breathe well. The pain was rough but it can be something most anthropologists will experience in the field. † (Chagnon 1974: 174) In American culture, privacy is something people expect to have, and may even take for granted. Martha Ward reported her work with the people of Pohnpeian as a constant challenge. She said that privacy is a bad word in Pohnpeian, but she craved privacy like a physical ache and lusted to be alone (Lenkeit 2012: 56).Chagnon also yearned for privacy while in the field. He said the hardest thing to learn to live with was the incessant and often aggressive demands and threats they would make. Chagnon recounted that day and night for almost the entire time he lived with the Yanomamo, he was plagued by such demands as: ‘If you don’t take me with you on your next trip to Widokaiyateri, I’ll chop a hole in your canoe! ’ and ‘Give me an ax or I’ll break into your hut when you are away and steal all of them! ’ he was bombarded by such demands day after day, until he could not bear to see a Yanomamo at times (Chagnon 1968: 5).It can be very challenging to become adjusted to the cultures lifestyle, where these constant problems occur. Ethnographers also conduct their research through interviews. Interviews are a direct way to gather information, but sometimes they can be faulty. Informal and formal interviews can both come with benefits. They both give in-depth information about the subjects lives, coming directly from the subject. But, there are cases where the informant will give false information, idealize their lives, and simply not want to cooperate. Chagnon used interviews to record genealogical lines of the Yanomamo people.When Chagnon attempted to record all of the names and family lines of the Yanomamo people, they would give false information. They have very stringent name taboos and eschew mentioning the names of prominent living people as well as all deceased friends and relatives. The Yanomamo did not have much entertainment in their lives, so they took any chance they could get to mess around with the â€Å"white man† and get entertainment from it. Each ‘informant’ would try to outdo his peers by inventing a name even more preposterous than what Chagnon had been given by someone earlier. Chagnon 1968: 6) Also, it can be hard to construct interviews when there are language barriers, such as language. Chagnon did not know what language the Yanomamo spoke, because he was the first civilized white man to come into their village. Chagnon had to go back to his years of childhood, where language had to be slowly and carefully learned. It took him a long time to finally understand the language, but after, he could get descriptive information from the villagers about their history and culture (Video). Ethno logy includes methodological approaches of making comparisons and quantifications.Comparisons can help the anthropologist compare current and previously recorded data. They can see differences across different cultures, and changes that have occurred over time within a culture. Comparisons are commonly made within one culture. Sterk found that there were vast differences between the prostitutes living on the streets, and those living in crack houses. Those who lived in crack houses were less likely to give informal interviews because they always had their pimp looking over their shoulder. Also she made comparisons on when the women made their customers wear condoms.They would make their decisions depending on the different types of partners, types of sex acts, and social context. (Sterk 2000: 26). Another form of comparisons is across two different cultures. When Laura Bohannon was doing fieldwork with the Tiv of West Africa she found that the village was formed around story telling . They wanted to hear a story of hers so she went on to tell the story of Hamlet, and could instantly pick up on differences in their cultures. When Bohannon told them that Hamlet was sad his mother had married so quickly, and had not waited the two year mourning period.The villagers objected â€Å"two years is too long! Who will hoe your farms for you while you have no husband? † and when she said Hamlet talked to his dead father, they screamed â€Å"Omens cannot speak! † The villagers changed the story to their liking, so that it would fit their standards better (Bohannon 1966: 2). Cultures all are unique and have different standards that go hand in hand with them. Other comparisons are ones that can be made over time, which can also be the faultiest data. When Margaret Meade went to Samoa for fieldwork in the 1930's, she collected data that the girls in Samoa were quite promiscuous.When Anthropologist, Derrick Freeman, went to Samoa to update the data in the 1970's he reported that the girls were actually very shy and not promiscuous. Comparisons can lead to misleading data, because a culture may have changed drastically over a certain period of time. This comparison is variable because the definition of â€Å"promiscuous† could have changed over that many years and even the Samoan standards could have changed. (Lecture 9/10/12) The other ethnological method is that of quantification. Quantification is the anthropologist translating their studies into numerical or quantitative data.Humans can see information quantified every day, from the daily weather reports, to political poles. (Lecture 9/10/12) Numerical data gives good magnitude and is easy to compare. Usually to collect this data they use samples. They can use a random sample that tries to eliminate bias by giving everyone an equal chance to get interviewed. Samples can usually be very faulty, for the reason that sample sizes are usually not big enough, and to not represent enough people or information to make an accurate assessment of a culture.This data gives people a better understanding of data but can sometimes be manipulated and misleading (Lenkeit: 64). Ethnology and Ethnography can each come with their own sets of logistical, emotional, and ethical obstacles. These issues usually appear when the anthropologist is in direct contact with their research and subjects. Numerous ethical and moral issues appear when the anthropologist is in the field of participant observation and it can be hard for them to stay objective. Anthropologists prepare themselves for these challenges with resources like the American Anthropologist Association.Because Anthropologists can find themselves in complex situations and are subject to more than one code of ethics, the AAA code of ethics provides a framework, not an iron clad formula, for making decisions. (Lenkeit: 50) Claire Sterk was doing fieldwork with a group of prostitutes in the New York area, where she came across these kind of decisions. The women would repeatedly refuse to make the men they slept with to wear condoms, even though the risk of HIV and AIDS was huge in their lives. She as concerned for them, but also could not get too involved in fear of insulting the women. There is an ethical line for anthropologists that can often become blurry. (Sterk 2000:26) With these methods, there is the challenge of ethnocentrism, because if an anthropologist thinks that their culture is the center of the world, they will not be able to comprehend other cultures in an objective way, and instead think of them as primitive beings that are not living the right way. Anthropologists must remember to enter their fieldwork using the perspective of cultural relativism.Cultural relativism is the idea that and aspect of a culture must be viewed and evaluated within the context of that culture. In cultures like the Massai, where female circumcision is regarded from a different perspective by the rest of the wo rld, people must use cultural relativism to understand their practices. According to their traditions and practices, it is meant to have a positive rather than a negative effect on the girl. It is supposed to reduce a woman’s desire for sex and reduce immorality. Another thing is that traditionally, it is a rite of passage.It marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. The fact that their practices are much different than those of more developed cultures shouldn’t lead to them being seen harshly or as less intelligent. (Olekina 2006) With this perspective anthropologists can more objectively describe a cultural system and all of the customs, beliefs, and activities, that fit into it. This approach leads to a greater awareness, tolerance, and acceptance of the culture the anthropologist is studying. (Lenkeit 2012:17) Anthropologists collect most of their data through ethnology and ethnography.They must overcome the obstacles in order to get to the goals t hat Ethnography and Ethnology try to reach. When doing fieldwork, moral and ethical issues can plague anthropologist’s research, and they learn to adapt to these issues in order to gather necessary data, observation, interviews, comparisons, and quantification all have their own ways of deriving information. Each method has its faults, and can be misleading, but all anthropological methods attempt to unravel all of the bits and pieces that make a culture what it is.

Science Unit Conversion Humor

This is a list of funny, made-up scientific unit conversions. If you need help with real unit conversions, check out our collection of printable conversion worksheets and examples of worked unit conversion problems. 453.6 graham crackers 1 pound cakeExplanation: There are 453.6 grams in 1 pound.Ratio of an igloos circumference to its diameter Eskimo PiExplanation: Pi is the ratio of a circles circumference to diameter, while there is a stereotype that Eskimos dwell in igloos.2000 pounds of Chinese soup Won tonExplanation: A wonton is a type of Chinese dumpling. There are 2000 pounds in 1 ton.Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement 1 bananosecondExplanation: Instead of expressing the unit in terms of nanoseconds, its bananoseconds because a banana caused the fall.1 millionth of a mouthwash 1 microscopeExplanation: This refers to the popular mouthwash, Scope. The metric prefix micro means one millionth.1 million bicycles 1 megacyclesExplanation: The metric prefix mega means 106 or one million.Weight an evangelist carries with God 1 billigramExplanation: This refers to the American evangelist Billy Graham.Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour Knotfurl ong365.25 days of drinking low-calorie beer 1 Lite year16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone 1 Rod SerlingExplanation: The rod is a unit of length equal to 16.5 feet. Rod Serling is the American tv producer, screenwriter, and narrator responsible for The Twilight Zone.Basic unit of laryngitis - 1 hoarsepowerExplanation: One symptom of laryngitis is hoarseness.Shortest distance between two jokes - a straight lineExplanation: To deliver a joke as a straight line means its a short joke delivered with a straight face (like its not a joke at all).1 million microphones 1 megaphone365.25 days 1 unicycleExplanation: 365.25 days is one year or one cycle of the Earth around the Sun. Its especially clever because unicycle has another meaning. Its a bike with one wheel.Half a large intestine 1 semicolonExplanation: the large intestine is also called the colon. Since its only half a colon, its a semicolon, much like half a circle is a semicircle.2000 mockingbirds two kilomockingbirdsExplanation: To Kill a Mockingbird is a famous novel by author Harper Lee published in 1960. The kilo is the prefix for a thousand. So, 2000 is two kilo.10 cards 1 decacardExplanation: Deca is the prefix for 10.52 cards 1 deckacardExplanation. There are 52 cards in a deck of playing cards.1,000,000 aches 1 megahurtzExplanation: There are one million (106) hertz in 1 megahertz. This is a play on words, substituting hurtz (like pain, but with a z) for hertz.1 millionth of a fish 1 microficheExplanation: The word microfiche is pronounced like micro-fish. The prefix micro means one millionth.2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital 1 I.V. LeagueExplanation: Intravenous tubing is also called IV tubing. Yale is one of the Ivy League school, plus 2.4 statute miles is a length equal to 1 league.1 kilogram of falling figs 1 fig newtonExplanation: The newton is a unit force, which is mass under acceleration (such as youd get from falling figs). This play on words refers to the Nabisco cookie, the fig newton.1000 grams of wet socks 1 literhosenExplanation: Lederhosen are short breeches (not actually socks). There are 1000 grams of water (more or less) in one liter. The liter is a unit of volume used for liquids, so wet socks are literhosen.1 trillion pins 1 terrapinExplanation: The prefix terra means a trillion.10 rations 1 decarationExplanation: The prefix deca means 10.100 rations 1 C-rationExplanation: C is the Roman numeral for 100.2 monograms 1 diagramExplanation: Mono is the prefix for one, while dia means two.2 new dimes new paradigmsExplanation: Two dimes is a pair of dimes. A paradigm is a model or pattern. More Science Fun and Humor Looking for more science fun? Check out this collection of molecules with strange names, learn how to make a stink bomb, or trick your friends with disappearing ink.