Factoids and Babies

I used the word "factoid" today and realized I just might not know what it means. Indeed, when I looked it up, Washington State advised me not to use the term, stating: The “-oid” ending in English is normally added to a word to indicate that an item is not the real thing. A humanoid is not quite human. Originally “factoid” was an ironic term indicating that the “fact” being offered was not actually factual. However, CNN and other sources have taken to treating the “-oid” as if it were a mere diminutive, and using the term to mean “trivial but true fact.” As a result, the definition of “factoid” is hopelessly confused and it’s probably better to avoid using the term altogether.

I use it to mean not terribly precise, but close enough-- short facts of interest and worthy of storing for future use. These "facts" are usually out of date as soon as they are written down. My sense actually captures both parts--not quite true and short. The crux of the word seems to me not absolute truth but truth as a moving target.

There is an interesting video that gives many facts/factoids that will rapidly change. At one point the video states that during the time I was watching, 67 babies were born in the US, along with 274 in China and 395 in India. Obviously, these numbers--factoids--will change. They may be close to what is happening, but certainly 67 babies at the 4 minute and 30 second point of the video is a bit too precise for me to believe... and what if I stopped it before getting the Chinese or Indian number.

The point is that factoid is a perfectly good term (and precision in babies over 4.5 minutes is impossible) and very useful in our era of changing information. So, Mr. Webster, do I get the job?

The Synesthetic Quality of Music

I'm in New Orleans for the Jazz Fest which starts tomorrow. Yesterday I read a Jasper Johns quote related to the painting shown.
"As for the Cézanne [Bather], it has a synesthetic quality that gives it great sensuality—it makes looking equivalent to touching." So if looking is the equivalent of touching, then what is listening?
I would maintain that it is beyond touching. Some music is the equivalent of just making out--a few deep kisses but mainly lots of embracing (maybe 75% frontal touching). This could be a George Benson or a Strauss waltz--light, not too serious, predictable and easy to leave.
Other music might be the equivalent of heavy petting, short of full coupling, but getting there. Ravel, Etta James, Albinoni, the Stones come to mind--very separate in their approaches, but the touching is equivalent.
Then there are the over the top touchings--in all the right places--and here Wagner stands out as do many tenor voices singing to their Aidas or Toscas or Mimis(at least for my female parts--guys, fill in your own blanks), even Aaron Neville singing a capella.
Over the next 3 days, I expect experiences beyond touching. Check out the touchers.

Bucking Basset

Did you know that bassets buck? This happens at happy times, but also when cutting their toenails--as I attempted to do yesterday. Imagine trying to pin down a bucking basset, get the clippers around the nail and squeeze at the same time--or, for the real problem nails, position the dremel tool so as not to grind down the foot pads. All this is no mean trick, but the deed was done with a minimum of yelping and a victorious wrestling match.
This got me thinking about bucking---a strange word at that--conjures up images of cowboys--and bucks, as in Harry Truman waiting for some hovering buck to stop on his desk.
So, I looked up "buck" in the internet dictionary. It just reinforced why English is such a hard language to learn. Here is this four letter word whose meaning as a verb ranges from leaping to dislodge a rider to objecting strongly to butting to gambling. And then there are the nouns-- Bambi's father, dollars. Remember white bucks? What about young bucks or sawbucks? When were you last buck naked? "Buck, buck," go chickens. Confused yet?
This dictionary also offered translations. My favorite was Swedish " hoppa och sparka bakut ." Yep, that's just what my basset did. So buck up, little buckaroo, and buck the system. Maybe next time your toenails can keep on growing.

Q words, hearts and dogs

I commented on the lack of "u" after "q" in Arabic words, and a friend of mine pointed me to a Wikipedia article on English words where "q" is not followed by "u." The article lists 16 plus plural words suitable for Scrabble where no "u" is required--a very "u"seful thing to know. The article also points out that other than trade names or proper nouns, these are imports from other languages.
Back to the original subject of dogs, I learned that the romanized Arabic "q" which can be "q" or "k" (as in Koran) needs to be carefully differentiated in writing and speaking, since the word for "heart" (qalb) is very similar to the word for "dog." (kalb) In light of the comforts we get from dogs, it's only fitting to mix them up with hearts .

Did the Inquisitors Write Memos?

Yesterday four “Top Secret” memos to John Rizzo of the CIA were posted on the web. Three were over 20 pages and written by Steven Bradbury. I read the 18 pages of the August 1, 2002, memo written by Jay Bybee (above right), a Mormon. Bybee is now comfortably a judge for the Federal 9^th circuit. Ironically, he said he wanted this on his tombstone, “He always tried to do the right thing.” …and even more ironically, those Friends of the Inquisition, the Spanish, (now doing the right thing) are considering trying him for war crimes.

His memo centered around a ranking Al Qaeda prisoner, Abu Zubaydah.(Aside: why don’t the Arabs use “u” after “q?” There’s one in the Quran—sometimes.) The topic was whether what they were going to do to Zubaydah constituted torture—things with euphemistic names like “walling,” “attention grasp,” “insects in the confinement box,” sleep deprivation, and (that ever-popular surf sport ) “waterboarding.” Each technique was described and discussed in detail, particularly how it might affect the 31-year old Zubaydah’s health and physical condition. Funny how religious folks continue to try to find the right thing to do. One might even consider Zubaydah as religious. Ergo, are all religious folks whack jobs?

Now, check out the guy in the picture on the left. I’m sure my teenage son wants to be just like him. According to the torture memo, the 26,829 of these guys were trained between 1992 and 2001 in SERE, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape. According to their web site, SERE is a “small specialized career field in the US Air Force comprised of approximately 325 enlisted personnel. Air Force SERE Specialists train aircrew members and high risk of capture personnel from all branches of the military. The students are trained in skills which allow them to survive in all climatic conditions as well as how to survive while being held captive.” (http://www.gosere.com/medium.html) The SERE guys appear to be the torture experts—giving and getting—and are cited several times in the Bybee’s memo. I also learned from the memo that the Navy waterboards our sailors. Do we really torture our own citizens when they join the Navy, even if they suffer no permanent damage? Scary, no? …and do the other services keep up –our guys are tougher than yours kind of competition? I’m sure it’s all secret.

In relation to the techniques proposed, Bybee discussed what physical and mental torture is under the law. He even talks about research in these areas. I was particularly intrigued that he addressed the “intent” to cause severe pain and suffering. Acute episodes were not considered suffering because they lacked “the connotation of a protracted period of time generally given to suffering. To violate the statute, an individual must have the specific intent to inflict severe pain or suffering.” All this smacks of Orwell.

So, Bybee, the upright citizen, presently well-rewarded for his work, concluded at the end of 18 pages “Based on the foregoing, and based on the facts that you have provided, we conclude that the interrogation procedures that you propose would not violate Section 2340A. We wish to emphasize that this is our best reading of the law; however, you should be aware that there are no cases construing this statute; just as there have been no prosecutions brought under it.” In true cover-your-ass fashion, he ends with a caveat that he just might be wrong…and I think he is… and should suffer consequences.

Earth Day

Shades of the 60's--or rather 1970. It's almost Earth Day, and we're wearing green for the second month in a row. In many ways we have come a long way, but the problems now are much more complex. I guess it's the complexity that keeps us science-type environmentalists interested...certainly not the touchy-feely hootnannies! (Now there's a word that should be retired--and probably is, but I'm not aware of it.)

UK Nano EHS report

The UK's report of research in nano EHS is posted at http://www.safenano.org/Uploads/EMERGNANO_CB0409_Full.pdf It always strikes me that the US does most of this research, but the folks across the pond compile it into nice reports. I guess it's some sort of shadow collaboration that no one speaks about.

Nano Addiction

"Study hints at new nanotech addiction therapy" The Buffalo News, N.Y. (April 5, 2009)
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=1276A7D46A91C038&p_docnum=1

I didn't realize I had it so bad that I needed therapy. ;>)

I now live with only the basset. The 15 year old cocker spaniel died peacefully in his sleep on the rug by my bed. I felt relieved at not having to clean up his pee when he couldn't make it to the door. It was hard to be incontinent for that little gentleman. I do miss his constant companionship. The basset is a love, but not a velcro dog. He often keeps his own company, but I do believe he is mopey about not having the old cocker around to pester. At least he could get a growl and a snap out of him on occasion. I guess it's like some human relations where a growl and a snap at least confirms our existence.

I'll get him a new friend in May or June.