I'd know how old I am if I could remember the year I was born

Growing old has its moments. Like when you walk into the kitchen and wonder why you're there. I did that once in a one-room 20x24 cabin. You wonder why you're there and then wonder if this is the first sign. Another one, especially for somebody who thinks he's a writer is forgetting a word, unable to find the word you want that's perfect for the phrase you just wrote, only you have to leave a blank space or a bunch of Xes or dots hoping the word will come to you later. I know there are blank spaces on this blog where I hoped to recall the word but moved on to the next subject and never fixed it. One of the most aggravating is when you are working and set a tool down and then can't find it the next time you need it even it's only been a few minutes. The point is, every time some little thing like this happens you immediately panic at another sign of losing it to old age.
     All that leads to what would have been the most expensive one I've ever had to date. It came up last week as I was ordering some DVDs to take to the cabin this year. I realized I was running out of time for anything to be delivered before I left. So, I got on Amazon and ordered the next three seasons of Game of Thrones along with some others. I never received a "your purchase has been shipped message" so I looked it up yesterday and it had turned out Amazon held up the shipment because one of the three was out of stock. They said they would ship by December 28 which is about a month too late. If the Post Office didn't return the package my videos would be here for me in April. 

     Ordering somewhere else is out of the question as nobody would deliver in the next four days. As I thought through it, I expected to have to look for them while I shopped for all the rest of the stuff I was taking. I don't know of anybody who searched for Game of Thrones DVD's, but my experience has been stores have a few seasons but are out of the ones I want. Every damned time! So I began the process of preparing my mind for not having the next three seasons of Thrones this winter.

     However, as all this was going through my mind while I planned my shopping over the next week and part of that was making sure I had noted things I had bought earlier this year. I have a habit of seeing something on my lists in a store and buying it to be tucked away until time to pack. That's when it crossed my mind that I had seen the cover of a Thrones season package. I think seeing one while I swore at Amazon tickled the memory

It took another day of that thought bouncing around in there to realize I might have bought those already. I fought the thought as false optimism for another day. As the fantasy progressed toward reality I finally decided to look so I opened one of the partially packed totes in the living room. There, underneath a bunch of socks, several books, some fittings for my propane lines, other DVDs and a box of lens wipes, there they were: all three seasons. What a relief. My winter was saved. A bigger relief occurred to me when I realized this forgetfulness could have cost me $100 or more.

     So, I now have to add a new action to the supply gathering process; I need to leave early purchases in plain sight. Incidentally that box of lens wipes was another thing on my list to buy that I already had picked up. And now I have to worry if I've turned another corner. Probably next year when I go to view the last two Game of Thrones seasons, I'll mistake them for videos of a family reunion.

Back in the day, an editor's lament

 An opportunity rose the other day that would have proved satisfying to every copy editor who ever
lived—a phrase ubiquitous in the writing world that is unnecessary and redundant. It’s one that has irritated me for years.

Perhaps I should explain further. What is a copy editor? The job is so misunderstood few people even realize it exists. The owner and editor of a paper where I worked a few years ago actually asked me what a copy editor does. When I told her reads and corrects stories and writes headlines, she said she couldn’t believe anyone would do that. I felt so valued that day.

But, that’s essentially the job. You read stories, fixing spelling and grammar mistakes, try to catch factual errors, even smooth out the writing so it presents a clear, factual account of whatever the reporter is writing about. You are truly the last gatekeeper before a story reaches the public.

There are lots of rules. Basic grammar thanks to E.B. White; usage rules contained in the AP stylebook, the universal bible of newspapers; and then there are usually local usage rules. Example: in Alaska you do not identify a person as a Native in a headline unless it is important to the story. Also, you need to know how to spell Utqiaġvik. To do this job well, a good copy editor is also a fountain of what others would call useless knowledge. Don’t ever play Trivia with a copy editor. (I once won a game in one turn).

But, back to those rules. In addition to all those sources of rules, most of us have our own personal set. Some are already written somewhere and others are our very own and some people take them very seriously. Also, they can evolve or change over the years. For example, when I first turned pro you capitalized President, even when it stood alone if it referred to the president of the U.S. However, after about a 20-year absence the rule had changed to president, lower case, when standing alone. With the change younger copy editors are working with a different set of what can only be called pet peeves than the one I came up with. Another thing that changed over those 20 years was now you only leave one space between sentences instead of the two I had known. How seriously do people take that? One fellow commenting on an Internet post said it made him furious when somebody put two spaces instead of one. Furious. I have mellowed, I commented back that if two spaces made him furious, he was going to die of a heart attack by the time he turns 40.

Of course, there are things that bother me too, not to the point of furiousness anymore, but irritating, nonetheless. 

For instance, is there an athlete or a sports announcer who can say “each” or “every” individually? Nope. It’s always “each and every.” Listen for it.

But that’s not used much in print. Now we are back to the minor victory I alluded to at the beginning. It has seemed to me that no writer or broadcaster can refer to an incident in the past without using the phrase “back in” as in “back in the 70s” or “back in 1950.” “In the 70s” or “in 1950” are sufficient without the extra word which appears almost as much as this construction does.

These days I edit a quarterly professional publication for an organization where almost everyone is a college graduate, and most write fairly well. We have had some discussions about style but not my personal preferences. That guy who hated two spaces would go nuts, so would someone irritated over excessive capitalization. Fixing those is tedious, but it’s their publication, not mine. But when the story I was editing yesterday started out “Back in the 70s …” just try to imagine the glee I took in deleting the excess word.

Not furiously but with great satisfaction, I kept it out of one minor publication one time. Yay. A victory if only a minor one. 

Sometimes this effort feels almost noble, as if we are the guardians of the language, the soldiers on the front lines making sure it is used properly. At others you feel like you are totally ineffective, unappreciated, viewed at times as a hinderance to be tolerated, and an antagonist in the life of a writer. Personally I look at part of the responsibility as helping the people we edit become better writers. Of course it seems the majority of them don't think that's our job at all. I take it one misused phrase at a time.

Now, if anyone cares to go into this further, I have a huge list of phrases we could discuss so, beware of what you ask for.

Sciencing the Covid virus

  COVID INFO FROM JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL

CDC illustration

 This virus is not a living organism. It is a protein molecule (RNA or DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular (eyes), nasal (nose) or buccal mucosa (mouth), changes their genetic code (mutates) and converts into aggressor and multiplier cells.

 
 * Since the virus is not a living organism, but is a protein molecule, it cannot be killed.  It has to decay on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.

 
 * The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat and that is the reason why soap or detergent is the best weapon.  The foam CUTS THE FAT (that is why you have to scrub for 20 seconds or more, to create lots of foam).
By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down.

 
 * HEAT melts fat; this is why it is necessary to use water above 77 degrees for hand washing, laundry and cleaning surfaces. In addition, hot water makes more foam, making it more effective.

 
 * Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ALL FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.

 
 * Any solution with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaking it down from the inside.

 
 * Oxygenated water increases the effectiveness of soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein.  However, because you have to use it in its pure form, it can damage your skin.

 
 * NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC WILL WORK because the virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.

 
  * The virus molecules remain very stable at colder temperatures, including air conditioning in houses and cars.  They also need moisture and darkness to stay stable. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade the virus faster.

 
 * UV LIGHT on any object that may contain the virus breaks down the protein.  Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.

 
 * The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.

 
 * Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.

 
 * NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is only 40% alcohol, and you need a minimum of 65%.

 
 * LISTERINE  is 65% alcohol.

 
 * The more confined the space, the higher the concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.

 
 * You have to wash your hands before and after touching any commonly used surfaces such as : mucosa (mouth area) , food, locks, knobs, switches, remotes, cell phones, watches, computers, desks etc. and don't forget when you use the bathroom.

 
 * You have to MOISTURIZE YOUR HANDS due to frequent washing.  Dry hands have cracks and the molecules can hide in the micro cracks The thicker the moisturizer, the better.

 
 * Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.