A Matter of Taste

A chemistry professor in Spain has invented a robotic tongue that can differentiate between different brands of lager beer. It may have a future in quality control. But will it "sell in Peoria?" - the home of Pabst Blue Ribbon. It won't sell north of the Pyrenees where the French take their wine tasting seriously. To assuage this thirsty tongue a scientist at Cornell has come up with a robot bartender who knows when you're empty and can pour you a refill. But it won't hear your confession after a long day at the office.
tjs

Buzzwords

Since I do not text, tweet or snapchat I find it more and more difficult to keep up with the younger generation. Some of my millenial friends use a jargon that mystifies me. As the Irish song goes "they speak a language that the stranger does not know." But I just came across a new - for me - word - "glamping" which combines GLamour with cAMPING - a heady mix of glamour and the great outdoors. If you are squeamish about cleaning the fish or building the fire, then this soft life is for you. Glamping is a modern phenomenon which has transformed the outdoor festive scene. And, Jeeves, would you mind putting another log on the fire.
tjs

Rapid Transit

A friend was musing about the demise of the old trolley car. When I used to hear Judy Garland sing "The Trolley Song" it took me back in time. The trolley cars of my youth operated with steel wheels on steel tracks and a turn at the corner at 6AM was my morning alarm clock. The fare then was two tokens for fifteen cents. The trolley pole was attached to overhead wires for its power and during Spring break the
 college "kids" would pull down the pole bringing the car full of people to a halt in the middle of the intersection. Just letting off steam. Ah, but that was then and these lovable relics have gone the way of penny candy. Please step to the rear and don't block the doors!
tjs

Current Currencies

They call it the "almighty dollar" but it takes $1.08 to buy a Euro. Now they are talking about replacing Andrew Jackson on the twenty with a woman's portrait. This will surely upset any counterfeiters out there who will have to redo their plates. While this is the first female likeness there is precedent for a woman's signature as U.S. Treasurer on all paper money. One such was Ivy Baker Priest, treasurer under Eisenhower, who was quoted as saying "Women didn't care about having their pictures on money as long as we get our hands on it." And now Goldman Sachs is investing in Bitcoin - a "virtual" currency that they think is a coming megatrend. What do these folks know? You can't hide bitcoin under the mattress!
tjs

M as in Milestone

The Google scorekeeper reminds me that this is my "posting" number 1000. Who would have thought in October 2010 that I would have so much to say. If I were to have this tome printed it probably would collapse your coffee table. I have tried to find some humor in the news of the day which is not always possible. But I thank you loyal readers who appreciate my efforts. It is not easy trying to impersonate Will Rogers. It may be time for a brief break.
tjs

The Lap of Luxury

I had planned to write about the term "MAYDAY" and the various connotations to which the term applies. But I did a segue and the word for the day is "BIDET" of French origin. The latest thing in personal hygiene is the "electronic bidet toilet seat". They are priced from $250. to $1700. depending on the model with a "wide array of more luxurious extras." The link below is worth a read on a rainy Friday. Should Scott Paper be worried?
tjs
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/technology/personaltech/electronic-bidet-toilet-seat-is-the-luxury-you-wont-want-to-live-without.html?ref=business