A MORE unusual paper title than most: 鈥淢olecular phylogenetic analyses indicate extensive morphological convergence between the 鈥榶eti鈥� and primates鈥� (Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol 31, p 1). The authors had been supplied with 鈥測eti鈥� hair for DNA analysis, but we can skip further details and leap directly to their conclusion: 鈥淎ll our analyses clearly indicate that the yeti is nested several nodes within a specific ungulate group (ie, the perissodactyls [the group including horses, rhinos and tapirs])鈥hese results demonstrate that extensive morphological convergences have occurred between the yeti and primates.鈥�
All the more remarkable, therefore, that one Georges Remi wrote 44 years ago of an explorer who identified the correct phylogenetic position of the yeti when he yelled at it 鈥淵ou odd-toed ungulate!鈥�, despite having seen only footprints in the snow. And who might this prescient Remi be? He鈥檚 better known as Herg茅, author of Tintin in Tibet.
Oh, and as you鈥檝e probably guessed 鈥� the Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution paper was published on 1 April 2004.
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MARC ABRAHAMS, organiser of the IgNobel prizes, writes to draw our attention to an important but under-reported result in the recent elections in India. Lal Bihari, founder of the Association of Dead People, and thus winner of the IgNobel peace prize in 2003, won 3400 votes, coming in second from last.
READERS continue to beaver away finding 鈥淧ubMed-whacks鈥�. These are search strings such as 鈥渉edgehog automation鈥� that produce precisely one paper (Feedback, 6 March). We will report soon. But first Feedback is going to crow. We have discovered the 鈥済ooglewhackblatt!鈥� 鈥� a single word that produces exactly one web page when entered into the search engine. Our first was 鈥減atoisation鈥� 鈥� the process by which a language or dialect moves toward being a patois. The second comes from our colleague who edits this magazine鈥檚 letters page: he discovered 鈥渁mazonogeny鈥�, which means giving birth after the manner of Amazons (see Letters, p 31).
Of course, neither of these will remain true if this item gets indexed, but in consolation 鈥済ooglewhackblatt!鈥� will then be its own (poor) example. If you come across a further example, note that Feedback鈥檚 judgement on whether your find is a plausible word despite its uniqueness 鈥� and was not made up solely for this purpose 鈥� will be final.
HERE鈥橲 one US company where 鈥渇reedom fries鈥� surely never appeared on the staff restaurant menu, even when Francophobia was at its height. One of its products is a laptop bag which bears a label in English and French. The English version reads simply and sensibly 鈥淲ash with warm water; use mild soap; dry flat; do not use bleach; do not dry in the dryer; do not iron鈥�. The French version, only, continues (in translation): 鈥淲e are sorry that our president is an idiot. We didn鈥檛 vote for him.鈥�
AS THE Olympics approach, athletes the world over prepare in mind and body 鈥� and, it is alleged, in more ethereal ways. 鈥淟ess than 75 years ago,鈥� intones the advert at , 鈥溾�ur bodies were in balance with the earth鈥檚 natural frequencies. Electronic pollution has increased multifold as we have increased our usage of television, radio and other electronic gadgets.鈥� Thus far, radio astronomers may be nodding in agreement.
But they are less likely to be impressed by the proposed remedy, which is to spend $500 on the Teslar watch, 鈥渘amed for Nikola Tesla, a prolific inventor who worked with Thomas Edison鈥�. And what does it do? 鈥淚t emits a special signal which interacts with the body to screen out electronic pollution,鈥� of course. 鈥淯S athletes training for the 2004 Olympics are using the Teslar to speed recovery times and allow for maximum performance.鈥�
It may be unfair to expect athletes to follow a discussion of the electromagnetic spectrum, interference and standing waves. But haven鈥檛 they even considered that if it is ever proved that this thing works, it will presumably be banned by the athletics authorities?
AS COMPUTER buffs might know, MDI stands for Medium Dependent Interface and describes cables for connecting to the internet. MDIX is similar but refers to the bothersome 鈥渃rossover鈥� cable.
Not knowing any of that, and having come across MDI/MDIX in a datasheet, Mike Fouhy typed it into Google and hit enter. The answer, according to Google, was 0.994698476.
FINALLY, we were given an explanation of this story when we ran it a few years ago, but we didn鈥檛 understand it, so here鈥檚 the story again. As Jonathan Cameron and many other readers have reminded us, the label on a Pepperami sausage declares: 鈥淚ngredients: Pork (108%)鈥�, followed by a list of other constituents pushing the percentage even higher. Once again we ask: why?
More from the department of the blindingly obvious. The scooter that Rik Clay鈥檚 niece was given for her birthday warned: 鈥淐aution 鈥� this product moves when in use鈥�