#51, Antimony, Sb: The name derives from antimonium, the medieval Latin word for antimony. The origin of the word antimonium itself is uncertain (one idea is that it derives from a mistranscription of an Arabic word, perhaps uthmud or a similar form). The symbol Sb is from the classical Latin word for antimony, stibium, which derived from Greek stibi, a cosmetic powder (antimony sulphide), and it could be that the Arabic ithmid (earlier word than uthmud) itself derived from Greek stimmi, an earlier word than stibi.
The major use for antimony is for hardening lead alloys for electrode plates in lead-acid batteries. Type metal (for typefounding and hot metal typesetting) is made of lead alloys that use antimony for hardness and resistance to wear. Pewter, a popular artware alloy that is mostly tin, also contains antimony for those properties.
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Anonymous2010-04-19 2:35
Chapter 6
It's the last day of February, and Rufus, Jeff, Marcy and Amy are on the people-mover heading downtown. Nigel has arranged for them to have a covert session of Simulcra 3 - a day before the official launch. They enter the spacious lobby decorated with posters advertising the service and famous paintings. Whether they are copies or the originals is not stated. The director of Simulcra 3, Lance Osbourne (Nigel's father), meets them in a circular room covered in a moving cloud pattern. He explains the scope of Simulcra 3 - 20 cities worldwide have been simulated, in each year, for the last 150 years, as well as a dozen time periods in the past. A hopeful Rufus asks about the sexual aspects of the simulation - Lance says there are none. Lance explains the nature of the simulation - the user takes a sleeping pill, and 3D, real-time data is streamed into their brain. He will be monitoring them and can be summoned by saying "Tech Support".
The gang take their pills and fall into a deep sleep. We switch to Jeff's perspective - he opens his eyes to see a cloudy sky and old-fashioned streetlight overhead. He is in a parking lot, with wheeled vehicles behind him. The rest of the gang catch up to him, and they call Lance. The exact date is July 5th, 2005, chosen because it is his birthdate. Jeff marvels at a Lamborghini Murceilonia. Without warning, Rufus swiftly delivers a punch to Jeff's chest. Astonishingly, he feels no pain. Rufus decides to cheat up a virtual hottie, but has his head spun around by a speeding car. Amy suggests they go ice skating, and they take the train.
While Amy ogles celebrities on a magazine, Rufus and Nigel attempt to intimidate the virtual people. Lance warns them violence will not be tolerated in Simulcra The train passes a petrol station. Amy laughs at a nearby person's iPod and shows him her modern player. Apparently Amy's connection to her Trend Ticker is so strong it materialised in the simulation. They arrive at the ice rink but have to download paper currency to rent the skates. Jeff once again falls on the ice. Marcy has a worrying thought and calls Lance. She asks whether her private thoughts and memories are safe while connected to Simulcra. Lance assures her there are three independent observers and three levels of neural shredders, effectively preventing anyone, even the operators, from stealing from minds. The sessions ends and the five youngsters wake up in the lab. On the people mover, Jeff invites everyone to his 18th birthday party.
Chapter 7
We see a high rise apartment complex. Jeff is sitting on his bed, reading his high school yearbook. He laments over his sparse yearbook entry. Amy and Marcy's entries show lots of activities. Rufus arrives in the parking lot downstairs. His car is shaped like a shoe, and has no wheels. It hovers a few inches above the ground. Rufus' present to Jeff is an adult e-mag. Nigel arrives and presents Jeff his gift - high-tech binoculars. Rufus begins drinking his favourite beer, McGilacutty's. Their next stop is Lockard Apartments, where Amy lives. Jeff goes up to fetch her, but meets her sister, Yvonne. She believes they are a couple, despite Jeff's efforts to set the record straight. Amy's present is a digital/holographic photo frame.
They arrive at the Hannaford estate. Rufus seems to be the only one not aware that Marcy is the daughter of the Lunar President. Jeff walks up to the intercom and calls for Marcy. She gives Jeff directions via intercom. She is wearing a digital dress with constantly moving patterns. Her present is a rare set of pencils and sketchpad. She makes him promise to do a pencil portrait of her one day. Rufus suggests a stay at a summer home in The car gives Rufus a mandatory breath test, and disables manual drive. The car passes over the Crescent Bridge and reaches Th