Lights out

And so it begins. Out of Nairobi Kenya, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist has come up an idea to counter the effects of greenhouse gases said to cause global warming. The notion is that by adding certain pullutants high into the atmosphere, typically sulfates, the earth will reflect more of the sun's heat, allowing the climate to cool.

Now, that in itself sounds a little ironic, since pollutants have been blamed thus far, but I draw your attention to a sentence hidden deep in the article Scientists say pollution may be helpful. Tom Wigley, a senior U.S. government climatologist said "a temporary shield would give political leaders more time to reduce human dependence on fossil fuels". Remember, the U.S. rejected the Kyoto deal.

What happens when you allow more time for something? You use it up! And the U.S. is the biggest user. The other problem, a complex one, is the long term effect this remedy may have intermixed with the gases already present, and the inevitable build up in concentration.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it; but if you broke it, screw it up some more!

Only to live another day

A story today out of the University of Utah, tells of a new potential pain killer.

It comes from the venom of the Conus regious cone snail and compounds from it are said to have been effective in treating pain in terminal cancer patients. Unfortunately, we likely wouldn't see drugs derived from this for up to 10 years.

'Unfortunatley'? Not to sound mean, but really. How long should we keep terminal cancer patients (alive and) pain free. To what end? I don't know anyone in this terrible predicament, and perhaps I would be offended if I did. However, this is yet another example where technology is seemingly driven to prolong life regardless of any possible downside.

If pain didn't serve a useful purpose in nature, it wouldn't exist in the first place.

Just right-click

One of the many phrases the computer age has put upon the lay person. I are not one so it amuses me to no end how an entire culture has evolved in a relatively short period of time. With respect to computer use, I figure the general public can be categorized in four ways.

First, the techno-weenies. They not only use the computer in their day to day work, but probably do all of their own maintenance, installing what they need, have utility programs to keep everything running smoothly, eat at their desk, and maybe shower once in a while.

Second, the gamers and browsers. For them, the computer is a tool that owes them something and using a word-processor or spreadsheet is as tough as it gets. This group is untrainable, and must upgrade a computer simply because it has collected so much unruly junk.

Next, we have the I dunno's. Those who say they know nothing about computers and are mostly right, but are at least humble. Unfortunately, as is stated time and again, they profess to be unable to learn about them as well.

Lastly we have the innocents. Those who don't own one, can't use one and don't care to. Unfortunately for them they still pay their Sears bill at the store and can barely handle an ATM. They are, however, happy! They never got sucked in. No passwords to remember, no metal boxes in the basement that can't be thrown out, no spam, no disconnects, no viruses, and no tennis elbow.

Yes, computers are amazing. My career has revolved around them, and software, so I often wonder what the world would be like without them. It was, after all, only one short lifetime ago that they didn't exist.