Letters.Calling for novel approach I remember reading about Ishi back in the 1970s when I was a teenager, and I was saddened anew by the story of the repatriation Repatriation The process of converting a foreign currency into the currency of one's own country. Notes: If you are American, converting British Pounds back to U.S. dollars is an example of repatriation. of his preserved brain ("Ishi's long road home," SN: 1/8/00, p. 24). I hope that Alfred and Theodora Kroeber's child, novelist Ursula K. LeGuin, will at some point take up the intriguing question posed in your story. How is it possible to regard someone as both a friend and an object? Lila F. Ralston Athens, Ga. "Backpack" lashes Concerning kids' backpacks ("Operation overload: Kids' backpacks," SN: 1/8/00, p. 31), these are not "backpacks." These are better called "school" or "convenience" packs. A true backpack carries the load on the hips and waist, with shoulder straps for hold and balance, and does not encourage a stooped stoop 1 v. stooped, stoop·ing, stoops v.intr. 1. To bend forward and down from the waist or the middle of the back: had to stoop in order to fit into the cave. posture from carrying the load on the shoulders. Joseph Kostka Natrona Heights, Pa. I am 74 years old, weigh 185 pounds, and frequently carry a backpack weighing 70 to 75 pounds for several hours at a time with no difficulty. Why do the youngsters in the article have so much difficulty? To any experienced camper or hiker, the answer is obvious. They wear the pack incorrectly. When a backpack is banging into your buttocks buttocks /but·tocks/ (but´oks) the two fleshy prominences formed by the gluteal muscles on the lower part of the back. , it is pulling you backwards and beating you to death. One look at the illustration reveals this. A backpack needs to be strapped up high on the back and firmly against the shoulders. In this way, its weight is properly distributed. Backpacks for school children are marketed by department and chain stores that have absolutely no comprehension of the proper way of wearing this equipment. The problem is a simple case of the misapplication misapplication, n the use of incorrect or improper procedures while administering treatment; results from inadequacy in experience, training, skills, or knowledge. May also result from impairment or incompetence. of a highly effective way of transporting a load. Robert E. Moore Pittsfield, Mass. Wave patter pat·ter 1 v. pat·tered, pat·ter·ing, pat·ters v.intr. 1. To make a quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: Rain pattered steadily against the glass. The article "Catching a Wave" (SN: 1/8/00, p. 27) describes the use of interference patterns from laser light sources to measure the effects of gravity waves Gravity waves has differing meanings in differing contexts:
n. 1. Physics a. The natural phenomenon of attraction between physical objects with mass or energy. b. The act or process of moving under the influence of this attraction. 2. interference effect would correspond to gravitational "fringes" with more or less gravity and, therefore, areas with more or less mass than the average mass density for a given space. The effect would be extremely small and ride on top of the normal gravitation effect, but over the course of millions or perhaps billions of years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time small interference effects would accumulate and might be proof of the existence of gravity waves. Quite a long while ago, SCIENCE NEWS had an article (SN: 8/5/89, p. 87) about the ring-arcs of Neptune that described an accumulation of zones of more or less mass than the average mass density of the overall ring. Perhaps this is an observation of a gravity-wave interference effect. Richard Hanig Silver Spring, Md. Send communications to: Editor, SCIENCE NEWS 1719 N Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 or scinews@sciserv.org All letters subject to editing. |
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