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Risks of Placebo
Posted by Dr. Science on 02/06/2013
I’m thinking about experimenting with a drug called “placebo”. Are there any risks?
———- from Dean F. Cully of Bethel, AK
Was it Nancy Reagan who urged us to “just say no to placebo”? Remember, any right you had to experiment with drugs went out the window the day Ron, Nancy, George and Tipper threw down the guantlet and declared a war on drugs. Sure, placebo might be harmless fun, it might even enhace your creativity or sex life, but unless it’s sold to you by a pharmacist with a doctor’s prescription, you could end up doing federal time with no possibility of parole. Who knows, it might not be any more exciting than a stiff cup of Ethiopian Hararrarrarararar which, by the way, is still legal.
Blue Ringed Octopi
Posted by Dr. Science on 02/04/2013
Will I die if I’m bitten by a blue ringed octopus?
———- from Don Justice of Northampton, MA
Yes, but it’s supposed to be the most pleasant of deaths. Apparently, youfind yourself on Gilligans Island being ministered to by Ginger and MaryAnn. The theme from “A Summer Place” plays continually in the backgroundand you’re sipping a bright blue tropical drink with a cheery orange parasolstuck in the stop. Your whole body tingles with delight. Suddenly,identical twins named Skeeter and Scooter appear, holding transistor radiosand doing the “frug” with wild abandon. Frank and the rest of the members of the Rat Pack appear, and greet you as a hale fellow, well met. Then, they raise you above their shoulders and carry you off to a wild, swinging affair, filled withhalf-clothed celebrities and fun with a capital “F”. So go find a blueoctopus and get ready to finally live!
The Rotating Moon
Posted by Dr. Science on 02/01/2013
Why does the moon rotate on its axis at the same rate it revolves around theearth?
———- from Jeff Edburg of Iowa City, IA
It does seem a little too neat, doesn’t it? I mean, what a coincidence, that the two rates of rotation, one around its own axis, the other around the earth itself, are equivalent. It’s a cleverly constructed denial mechanism to hide the far side of the moon from viewers on earth. Like a teenager obsessed with his own acne, the moon suffers from the delusion that it would lose the few friends it has if anyone saw the real moon. Fact is, the far side of the moon looks pretty much like the near. And yes, it is pock marked. Those who love the moon wouldn’t have it any other way. Try telling the moon that.
Carousels in Airports
Posted by Dr. Science on 01/30/2013
When I go to the airport, I see the carousel at the baggage claim area. Why can’t people ride on the carousel and go around until they arrive at their baggage?
———- from Bob Pease of Pacifica, CA
That was the original intention of the carousel designers. But then someone at the FAA thought passengers might have so much fun that air travel itself would pale in comparison. People would begin sneaking into airports just to ride the luggage carousel. Only in Belgium and Uruguay do airports encourage passengers to use the carousel for its intended purpose. Today’s reminder of the luggage carousel’s circus origin is the alarm that sounds when it starts up and the substitution of the white courtesy telephone for the brass ring.
Prospectus and Disgruntled
Posted by Dr. Science on 01/28/2013
What is the plural form of “prospectus”? Also, what is the opposite of “disgruntled”?
———- from Mary Cottage of Cedar Rapids, IA
