So it turns out that kryptonite actually exists. No, really.
[link]
Researchers from mining group Rio Tinto discovered the unusual mineral and enlisted the help of Dr Stanley when they could not match it with anything known previously to science.
Once the London expert had unravelled the mineral's chemical make-up, he was shocked to discover this formula was already referenced in literature - albeit fictional literature.
"Towards the end of my research I searched the web using the mineral's chemical formula - sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide - and was amazed to discover that same scientific name, written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns.
"The new mineral does not contain fluorine (which it does in the film) and is white rather than green but, in all other respects, the chemistry matches that for the rock containing kryptonite."
...
Finding out that the chemical composition of a material was an exact match to an invented formula for the fictitious kryptonite "was the coincidence of a lifetime," he added.
The mineral cannot be called kryptonite under international nomenclature rules because it has nothing to do with krypton - a real element in the Periodic Table that takes the form of a gas.
Wow! too bad we actually can't call it kryptonite!
Also, Thanks, Sue-- The backstage job site seems to have done the convincing!
I think I have my cranky pants on today, because my most annoying co-orkers is really annoying me. And I think I have pinpointed the big issue-- she gets REALLY angry at people for doing annoying stuff that she herself does. For example, she is ALWAYS shouting down the hall instead of using the phone. It drives me mildly crazy, but not enough to say anything about it. In this particular office, many people, including big!Boss shout down the hall occasionally. This morning, my boss was shouting down the hall at me and all the sudden we hear a big "SHHHHHHHHH!!!! I am TRYING to work" from her. Um-- you are the biggest hall shouter of them all! Also, she hates being interrupted when she works, to the point that can only take/make orders for things (part of her job) on one day a week, from one central person who collects them all-- but she contantly shouts down the hall at me or the other admin to a) help her with her computer, b) read over emails she sends or c) help her with some part of her job. Drives me nuts!
Ugh. Too bad you couldn't have said, "Oh, you the High Queen of Shouting down the Hall," but those things don't usually end well.
I think my sore throat is really a sinus infection (it feels like it did the last time I had one). I bought the Walgreen's version of Claritin-D ($6 for five 24-hour capsules?!?) and some sore throat spray to try and knock out the worst of the pain until I can go to the doctor. I haven't been to one since I've moved, so I just did a search at my HMO's website for a local family practice female doc who is taking new patients and called the first one on the list. She's booked until August (busy woman!), but another woman in the practice has an opening for next Monday, so I'm getting the whole workup done.
Hey migraineurs -- they might help your brain, in the long run. [link]
The journal Neurology reports that a group of migraine sufferers had less cognitive decline and memory loss over a period of 12 years than a group of migraine-free adults.
I am starting to feel discombobulated about the book being completely out of my hands, now.
And I'm getting twitchy about the oceans of time I'll have to wait to see it in actual book form.
Do you know anything about book tours or other promotions they might want you to do?
