Vanity plate shows drug formula
A black 2002 Audi tooling around Seattle’s streets has a vanity license plate that appears to have gotten in under the radar of the state licensing police.
The inscription, C9H13N, is a label for many chemicals including amphetamine.
The Merck index, the bible of chemical formulas, lists methamphetamine as C10H15N. But at least two sites list C9H13N as the label for methamphetamine, according to the University of Washington’s chemistry department. C9H13N is the formula for hundreds of compounds, the department said, including amphetamine. Not that the general public would know that.
I highly doubt that most people who see this plate would even think of it as a chemical formula…that is except for those of us who have endured the torture known as Organic Chemistry
References:
Structure of Amphetamine vs. Methamphetamine
Chemical Structure of caffeine (why not?)
Chemical structure of capsaicin (what makes hot peppers hot)
Well the Justice has put out its final edition for the year.
Naturally, the focus of the coverage surrounds Sunday’s Commencement:
Embracing the Law–Marshall Delivers Keynote
Marshall instructs seniors to seek justice–Excerpts from Marshall’s address (aside: I wonder if her full remarks will be published at some point?)
One-on-one with Marshall
Tom Brokaw advises University Fellows not to ‘short-circuit’ souls
In other (non-commencement) news:
The athletic field is getting a much, much needed (and long overdue) makover: Gordon Field to be revamped–Having played on that field, I can attest to the problems that are described in the article. As for the track at the university–let’s just say, most middle schools have nicer tracks then Brandeis’.
Tom Friedman ’75 came back to campus to speak on his latest book
Potentially the stupidest act at Brandeis of the year:
Student arrested in bomb threat
(*I say potentially since he’s still innocent until proven guilty in court)
The forum section has the usual series of so-long editiorials and some other stuff mixed in.
In the Features section–people posting fake Facebook profiles?
Waltham gets a bookstore (accross from Lizzy’s no less)
And that’s how the year is wrapped up…
So I made a trip from the lab to campus today (it’s a 17 mile trip) to pick up two articles which arrived via inter-library loan for me.
At the same time, I have two other articles which I’m waiting for mind you.
Then I get back to the lab this afternoon…and check my email, and what do I find?
A letter letting me know my other two articles are in….though they couldn’t tell me that when I was there?
*groan*
I think this article in the CSM…better yet its headline says it all:
Drama on the Hill: Americans shrug
Okay memo to the Senate…why don’t you actually get around to taking care of things people care about?
Much has been made about this report out of the University of Haifa:
‘Sarcasm’ brain areas discovered–
Scientists say they have located the parts of the brain that comprehend sarcasm.
Here’ s the press release from the American Psych. Assn.
Now no questions asked, I think this is a really interesting discovery. Especially the proposed neural network which the authors suggest.
Naturally, I’m skeptical of a lot of neuroscience reporting in the mainstream press. It’s often that the reporters are journalists, and many of them lack a scientific background.
As such, I’ve downloaded a copy of the paper from the journal Neuropsychology. I think you can get a free PDF version of the article.
It’s going to definitely be worth reading–and if you’ve got questions–I’ll try to give answers!
That is those of us from “Red States” who attended Brandeis in light of this remark, by Brandeis’ Commencement speaker, Mass. SJC Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, picked up by the Boston Globe:
Marshall began with a joke about the blue and white balloons suspended from the Gosman Sports Center ceiling. She said she liked the colors, which included “no red states”–winning a big laugh.
For those unaware, the University’s colors are blue and white.
Now I know that a lot of Brandeis’ student body either hails from MA, NY (spec. NYC) or NJ….but there are those of us who attended the university who come from “flyover country” (as some term it) whose states happen to be “red states” [An aside: for the record, no, though I'm from Ohio, I do not own a cow or a tractor! And yes--I was asked that by some students when I was there].
Now should those of us from red states feel offended by this cheezy joke from Justice Marshall? We could pull the classic Brandeis “victim” card.
I think it was just a bad joke if you ask me.
Related Posts on this article:
Eugene Volkoh
James Taranto (Best of the Web)
Brandeis’ Press Release (w/ links to major papers)
Yep…still at the lab. On tap for another 10 hour day here.
But I’m looking forward to heading home and watching the season finale of 24–all 2 hours of it!
Just to clear up any misconceptions, while I may say here that I’m occasionally bored, or mention the long hours that I”m working…I just want to point out that I’m enjoying thje work that I’m doing here in this lab, and I’m learning a lot. Rather than being a burden its an enjoyment…alas one with a lot of down time…but something I enjoy none the less.
Greetings from the lab….
I’ve got nothing productive that I can do right now, so I’m really just sitting here bored. Bored, bored, bored.
A quick thought.
Last night the local CBS affiliate was running one of those “coming up on tonights newscast” headlines about Ariel Sharon’s visit to NYC and him being heckled.
Now two thoughts came to mind:
1) This is NYC–isn’t heckling expected?
2) The man gets heckled back in Israel…with the number of Israelis in NYC (and activists) wouldn’t the same be expected?
Well at least Newsweek is somewhat honest about itself this week
Newsweek’s CW section
I’m still dealing with that stupid cold/allergy thingy that hit me earlier this week. Oh how I wish it would just go the hell away!
Anyone got any hints/clues /suggestions on how I can once and for all kick this cold/headache thingy once and for all?
(Nota bene: Grandma’s chicken soup isn’t an acceptable answer)
Nelson sunk by PC raiding party
ADMIRAL NELSON saw off the mighty Franco-Spanish fleet at the battle of Trafalgar but 200 years on, he has been sunk by a wave of political correctness.
Organisers of a re-enactment to mark the bicentenary of the battle next month have decided it should be between “a Red Fleet and a Blue Fleet” not British and French/Spanish forces.
Otherwise they fear visiting dignitaries, particularly the French, would be embarrassed at seeing their side routed.
Even the official literature has been toned down. It describes the re-enactment not as the battle of Trafalgar but simply as “an early 19th-century sea battle”.
You’d think after all these years that the French would be accustomed to re-hearing about their military losses.
First Amendment no guarantee of reporters’ access, judge rules
Journalists do not have a constitutional right to interview government employees, a federal judge ruled this week.
Journalists do not have a constitutional right to interview government employees, a federal judge ruled this week.
The give and take of information in the form of one-on-one interviews and comments from public employees is not protected by the U.S. Constitution, U.S. District Judge Peter C. Economus said, because the First Amendment does not guarantee the press access to information not generally available to the public.
From the Plain Dealer:
Senate cuts beer drinkers a break
Proposal scratches House’s plan to double tax on brew, targets cigarettes instead
This calls for drinks to celebrate!
(The rest of Taft’s budget though does not merit a drink)
I”m here in the lab…wasting time. I’ve got nothing to do right now.
My rats are doing there part of the experiment–but that leaves me with nothing to do. Sigh.
I’ve been reading websites and the like for a while. Not the most exciting news day either. So Saddam in his underwear….did we really need to see that? I mean come on!
The only other story in the news seems to be the whole filibuster thing…blah, blah blah. I’m so bored of this whole debate. Yawn.
Only 2+ hours to go. Sigh.
Newsday: “Enough is Enough: They feel spent:
Weary of high taxes and district expenses, parents of students emerged as major foes of budgets this week”
From what I”ve gathered property taxes out here are obscenely high and many school districts went to voters seeking rather large budget increases this year.
Do you think the politicians will finally get the message about over-taxation?
[U.N.] Official: U.N. Not Bloated Bureaucracy
A top aide to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told a congressional panel Thursday that a transformation of the United Nations is under way, but denied the U.N. is an out-of-control bureaucracy.
If you believe that UN isn’t an oversized bureaucracy, then have I got a good deal on a bridge in Brooklyn for you!
