A Limitless Paradox

Only A Couple Of Episodes Of This Left To Watch
And I've nearly finished Episode 21.  In case you're not familiar with the series, it features an aimless wannabe who ends up on the brain-boosting NZT-48, and whom then acquires a consultancy gig with the FBI.  Unlike anyone else who takes the drug, he doesn't suffer the debilitating and eventually fatal side-effects.  So, when he pops one of the transparent little pills, he gets 12 hours of genius-level intellect with no killer hangover.  Art?

Pill Brian

     The FBI strictly limit Brian's intake of NZT, allowing him only one pill per day, and when he takes it, he's on the clock with them.
     Conrad then wonders about why "Pill Brian" doesn't sit down and recreate this neuroenhancer designer drug, whilst he's one of the world's smartest men?  He did figure out the correct diagnosis for his father's medical condition, and did it overnight merely by reading through his brother's old medical books.  Why not bone up on neurology, pharmacology, neuro-enhancers and the like and then cook up a batch of NTZ?

An EEG 

     In fact, why not reverse-engineer NZT and create a form of it that doesn't have the hideous and  long-term fatal effects?
     Conrad supposes that it would take a lot of the tension out of the background, and those television suits would probably feel even more uncomfortable about a program that positively promotes illegal drug taking, especially one that has no harmful side-effects..

     Ah!  I see the technical artisans are back outside again, and have brought their Thud-making Machine with them.  Splendid work ethic, chaps, especially as it's going to be dark shortly.  Did you bring lighting?  

Talking About Volcanoes -
I know we weren't, just follow my lead and try to keep up, hmmm?
     Okay, so the log-in screen on my laptop showed an interesting landscape picture today, which - obviously! - has now changed, so I can't get a picture to show you.  However, I did manage to Google a picture that's almost entirely the same.  Art?

With puny human for scale

     Your Humble Scribe did note that this is Sao Miguel Island, in the Azores.  What immediately struck me is that it seemed to have the features of a volcanic caldera.  "What is a 'caldera'? O snowy-haired author," I hear you ask.  Art?

The crater formed when the centre of a volcano collapses

     It's common for the caldera to have a lake in it, which is what appears to be the case in Sao Miguel.  Can we have an aerial shot, Art?

Lots of volcanic features

     What we're looking at in the first photograph is the Cete Sidades Massif, which consists of - a caldera.

All caldera-ish and shizzle

     Of course the volcano has been extinct for millennia, as otherwise you'd be looking at a lake of lava, not water.  Even so, Conrad wouldn't feel exactly happy at the thought that "Extinct" might actually mean "Dormant for a really, really long time".  I bet they don't play with fireworks, either.
     Next!

     Ah, the Thud-Machine has stopped.  Just when I was getting used to it's beautiful background noise.

"ZEPHYR"
Yes, you guessed it, Conrad is ranting and tanting about the Codeword he managed to smash despite having that above as an answer.  I ask you!  As if - what's that?  It means "a gentle breeze".  It comes from the Greek - it was always going to be that or Latin, wasn't it? - "Zephuros" which meant "The spirit of the west wind", and which reached 17th Century English as "Zefferus".  

Also comes as car

     They also had "BEAU", which is again straining the bounds of English as it's FRENCH.  You see?  You see the hellish nonsense I have to put up with as a crossword fiend?  Treachery and deceit all around me!  

What On Earth?
Conrad sees odd things on occasion, frequently when I don't have my phone so I can't provide evidence, like the tap-dancing cow.  Anyway, there I was in the kitchen, having stirred the chili again - there's still about five person's worth of it left, by the way - and what did I espy under the chair?  Art!

Jenny versus shoe

      This is Jenny, taking offence at one of my shoes.  She went at it for a good couple of minutes, luckily without making holes.  I hope.  I'll need to test them out in a puddle tomorrow.  Also visible to starboard is a paper that she tore up; BUT I FOOLED HER AND I'D DONE THE SKELETONWORD ALREADY*!

     So, not only are earphones not safe anywhere Jenny is, neither are shoes.  I should probably go and rescue them.

Your Daily DANGER! Dose
And today we have reached "Acrylonitrile" on our list.  This stuff is deadly guff, and no mistake.  A harmless looking liquid, it evapourates easily at room temperature and is toxic in low doses, as well as being highly flammable.  The vapour causes skin and eye irritation.  If it does burn then ones of the by-products is hydrogen cyanide, which is instantly lethal if inhaled.  It's also a carcinogenic, and those working with it end up have high rates of lung cancer.  If it's let loose into the environment then it breaks down into formaldehyde and formyl cyanide, neither of which are good for you.

CAUTION!  Will kill you both quickly and slowly

     This horrid stuff is used in the creation of plastics and artificial rubbers, where it has several applications, so no, they didn't just invent it to be unpleasant.  Definitely not one to sprinkle on your chips.

Finally -
Well, that's the end of "Limitless".  Props to Bradley Cooper, who was one of the executive producers, and who appeared in a few episodes as well, which must have pleased the suits no end, having some star power present.  Props also to him playing a character who is definitely dirty and dangerous, a complete moral swing from his film persona.
     Back to "Ragnarok" and "I Am Not Okay With This".

Pip pip!


* Heh.