Limerick of the Day, Jan 28, 2012

And then there's this fellow called Newt,
Whose own horn he continues to tewt.
When I hear his ex-wives
Discussing their lives,
I say, "God! What a phony old cewt!"

Metaphors for Hardness

        Starting after the middle of the 20th century, I began working with machinists and skilled construction tradesmen of all kinds.  I was impressed by the abundance of colorful metaphors they used in almost every line they spoke.   For instance, some of the expressions used to describe various kinds and degrees of hardness included:
 "Harder than a whore's heart",
  "Harder than the hubs of hell",
  "Harder than Chinese arithmetic",
  "Harder than a Nicholson file", and
  "So hard a cat couldn't scratch it."
  Only the reference to Nicholson files had any concrete reference point in the real world,  but they all served to convey the notion of really, really hard.  As a young man, I was fascinated by this style of narrative, and wish today that I had bothered to write some of it down.  Is there a modern day equivalent to this type of jargon? Do people still do this?

Interesting Gorbachev Article

                  It has been about twenty years since the demise of the Soviet Union.  The January 9/16 issue of Nation magazine marks this occasion with a set of three brief articles:  The first is by Mikhail Gorbachev, entitled “Is The World Really Safer Without The Soviet Union?”  The second is by American historian and Russian Studies expert Stephen F. Cohen, entitled, “The Soviet Union’s Afterlife.”  And the third is by American educated Russian journalist Vadim Nitikin, entitled “Back in the USSR.”  I recommend all of these articles, particularly the one by Gorbachev.

Whole Genome Sequence for $1,000?

    According to an article in the Jan 10 issue of Wall Street Journal,  Life Technologies Corp is introducing a machine in the coming year which it claims can provide a whole genome sequence for any individual who wants one--for about $1,000.   And it can do it in a day.   A genome read out that quick and cheap could allow genetic sequencing to be used as a routine medical screening.  And as the price drops even further, such tests would be available to the entire population in most developed countries.
     The advantages would be: first, individuals could discover early in life whether they are particularly at risk for certain diseases, and take preventative action. Second, this information could guide therapists in tailoring treatments to the individual. And third, it could allow drug companies to develop specific drugs for different genetic types.  And forth, it would make it more practical for drug companies to develop drugs to mitigate the effects of certain genetic diseases, particularly those caused by a single mutation, by identifying the pool of individuals who might benefit from them.
     Of course, there could be a downside.   Once such information exists, it's only a matter of time before some of it falls into the hands of those who might use it to our disadvantage.  And eventually, such use might even be legal and institutionalized.  Have you seen the movie GATTACA?

Does Skyscraper Boom Predict Recession?

     According to an AP article in Jan 11, 2012 Waterloo Courier,  Barclays Capital has issued a report claiming that it has uncovered an "unhealthy correlation" between skyscraper construction and recession, that goes back 140 years. Building booms are a sign of excess credit, and skyscraper construction coincides  with easy credit, rising land prices, and excessive optimism.  But these are the same factors which produce speculative bubbles which result in a crash.  So by the time the skyscraper is finished, the economy has slipped into recession.  Right now China and India are having a skyscraper boom, which could mean their economies are heading for a crash.

Cheap Sugar From Cellulose.

    According to the January 3 issue of Wall Street Journal,  German chemical giant BASF is investing 30 million dollars in a plant in Pennsylvania that will produce cheap sugar from hardwood cellulose.  The sugar is not intended for human consumption,  but to be used as a chemical feed stock for producing acrylic plastic.  This plastic is now made from Brazilian cane sugar.

Quote of the Day, Jan 1, 2012

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell,  a hell of heaven."
................Milton