13 May 2013

Birthday
Robert Pattinson b. 1986

Daniel Radcliffe was asked in a recent interview whether he or Robert Pattinson had a tougher time due to being cast in a wildly successful series and Daniel said RPatz had it worse.

Personally, I worry about young actors cast as villains in popular shows more than the guys who play the heroes. I don't know that Jack Gleeson, whose first big role is as the scumbag Joffrey on Game of Thrones, is ever going to break his first type cast.

Many happy returns to Mr. Pattinson.

Prediction: The medicine chest of 1990

Predictor: OMNI Future Almamac, published 1982

Sidenote: I do love how specific the editors of OMNI are willing to be. Here they give eight drugs with their chemical names they expect to be in common usage only eight years in the future.

Drug #1: Interferon nasal spray will cure the common cold.
Reality: Folks had high hopes, but the spray caused irritation in many and some bleeding in 10% of users, which is a high proportion for such a side effect. Interferon is not prescribed a lot.

Drug #2:  Prostaglandin inhibitor will end headaches, even migraines.
Reality: It is used to induce childbirth or abortion and in small doses is used to produce eyelash and eyebrow growth, one of its common side effects.


Drug #3: Thymosin blocks infection, lowers high blood pressure and slows aging.  
Reality: The only news story I found on it was about a possible blood doping scandal in Australian rules football.


Drug #4: Choline and physostigmine will be used as memory enhancers.
Reality: Choline is considered an essential nutrient. Lecithin is the standard supplement for people who want more than their diet, but like many supplements megadoses aren't that helpful. Physostigmine has the trade names Antilirium and Esserene, which is being used as a drug to treat Alzheimer's and shows some improvement of short term memory. Side effects include nausea and dizziness.


Drug #5: Vasopressin derivative will be used as memory enhancers.
Reality: The only things I could find it prescribed for is retaining water and constricting blood vessels.


Drug #6: Catecholamine will produce instant sobriety.  
Reality: Looking through the literature there was already a study in 1978 that said it wasn't effective.

Drug #7: DHEA will slow aging, prevent cancer and obesity.
Reality: DHEA is a steroid, useful drug treatments given a bad name by use in athletic competitions. It is banned by some regulatory agencies.

Drug #8: DMSO is a universal tonic.
Reality: DMSO is a solvent. If it is pure, it doesn't stink to high heaven, but even a small amount of impurities can make it smell like rotting cabbage. It does get absorbed quickly through membranes and is used as a drug delivery system in some cases. The hope that it was a wonder drug was pushed by the "natural medicine" and "dietary supplement" crowds, not the most reliable sources for medical information.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

There are still more predictions from Robert A. Heinlein and Tuesday is his day. For those of you wagering with friends on whether Sensible Bob or Ridiculous Bob will show up, be advised. This is not a 50-50 proposition any more, if it ever was.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!