What Does a Chemist Have to Say? Borek's PF Insights Post

[Greg Bernhardt]

Greg Bernhardt submitted a new PF Insights post

Interview with a Chemist: Borek

Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

 

[Doc Al]

Good story, Borek! :rofl:

 

[Bandersnatch]

I can't believe it.
Borek is the same Borek that was also Naczelny, Kopalny, etc., of Top Secret!

I blame you guys for spoiling my childhood. I should have gone out more, instead of playing games and reading your irreverent, absurdist magazine.

 

[lisab]

You've had a fascinating path through life, Borek.

Your thoughts on education really resonated with me. Every time I think about the education system, I get this nagging feeling that something is really not right. I just can't quite figure what it is.

 

[turbo]

Love the narrative, Borek.

My early life was a series of stop-and-start issues, so I can empathize. I don't know if growing up in Maine was better or worse than in Soviet-controlled Poland. No way to compare.

 

[Monsterboy]

Nice story

 

[Evo]

Loved your story Borek!

 

[marcusl]

Hi Borek
Thanks for the look at a strange far away galaxy!

BTW, you have quite a way with words--many of them are even used correctly

 

[WannabeNewton]

Omg The Witcher is the most awesome thing ever. Have you played both games? They are so brilliant.

 

[Mark44]

Very interesting, Borek!

 

[Dembadon]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your life, Borek.

...

BTW, you have quite a way with words--many of them are even used correctly

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Omg The Witcher is the most awesome thing ever. Have you played both games? They are so brilliant.

I got frustrated with the second one.

 

[WannabeNewton]

I got frustrated with the second one.

Whyyy? Technical glitches?

 

[Borek]

Good story, Borek! :rofl:

Nice story

Loved your story Borek!

Very interesting, Borek!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your life, Borek.

Thanks

I can't believe it.
Borek is the same Borek that was also Naczelny, Kopalny, etc., of Top Secret!

I blame you guys for spoiling my childhood. I should have gone out more, instead of playing games and reading your irreverent, absurdist magazine.

Its a small world, isn't it?

Google for Pixel Heaven 2013.

You've had a fascinating path through life, Borek.

Up to 1996, since then it is mostly boring.

I don't know if growing up in Maine was better or worse than in Soviet-controlled Poland. No way to compare.

We were not under a strong ideological pressure, sure, many things were organized differently, economy was different, but I doubt as a 10 years old we would be able to name and understand serious differences. They were becoming more and important when we grew older.

BTW, you have quite a way with words--many of them are even used correctly

I found when you write a lot and use a lot of words, some them land in the right places. I am just a monkey with a typewriter.

 

[AnTiFreeze3]

... I found when you write a lot and use a lot of words, some them land in the right places. I am just a monkey with a typewriter.

Nah, you're a very humble person, but your writing style is very refreshing and nice to read.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Google for Pixel Heaven 2013.

I'll be there in 2014!

 

[jackmell]

. . . what did you do in Chemistry Borek? Chemist to a chemist? How can someone not ask that question since you consider yourself a prodigy? I mean I didn't do much, made alanine from scratch but you'll know that ain't no hill. The department head, whom I had asked to do a "special synthesis", looked at me with suspicion and asked, "what kind of synthesis?" Suppose that response was warranted since I did pot with him and a group of students at a party at his house the previous year.

Anyways, I'm just curious what you did on your own in Chemistry that wasn't part of the curriculum?

 

[Evo]

. . . what did you do in Chemistry Borek? Chemist to a chemist? How can someone not ask that question since you consider yourself a prodigy? I mean I didn't do much, made alanine from scratch but you'll know that ain't no hill. The department head, whom I had asked to do a "special synthesis", looked at me with suspicion and asked, "what kind of synthesis?" Suppose that response was warranted since I did pot with him and a group of students at a party at his house the previous year.

Anyways, I'm just curious what you did on your own in Chemistry that wasn't part of the curriculum?

I believe Borek said others considered him a prodigy, not he himself, he said he got along not by doing the best, but I have no doubt he would have been had he had a better school experience.

I see that too much, really bright students discouraged by teachers and/or the school policies.

 

[Integral]

Wow! What can I say. Interesting life.
My first wife was Czechoslovak, born in the the 50's escaped in the late 60's. So that galaxy far far away you speak of is known to me.

I also know about that waiting on computers you mention. I did my BS in math doing mainly numerical analysis courses on my Apple II. I completed every Numerical analysis course offered by OSU between 1980 and 1984.
One of the models I did took over 12hrs to run. .

 

[berkeman]

Well we certainly know now which Mentor/Admin has the best sense of humor!

 

[jackmell]

I believe Borek said others considered him a prodigy.

. . . same dif.

I was just askin' for a little bit of chemistry that's all since I majored in Chemistry and loved it.

 

[Chronos]

God, I hated chemistry. I took this test once and accidently picked water as a combustible material because it was composed of hydrogen and oxygen.

 

[drizzle]

The beginning of the story definitely hooked me! I LOVE IT!
I'll be back to read the rest..multiple times.

 

[drizzle]

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of Poland's rich history, maybe I'll start to read more. Nonetheless, that was quite an interview. Thanks for sharing Borek. Ps. I was expecting more details when it comes to Marzena..

 

[Borek]

Anyways, I'm just curious what you did on your own in Chemistry that wasn't part of the curriculum?

Whatever I did, disappeared with flash, smoke and noise.

Seriously, the only experimental part I even did by myself was small scale pyrotechnics. Still, even on small scale it can get dangerous.

Ps. I was expecting more details when it comes to Marzena..

That has to wait for "Meet an Admin's wife" series.

 

[Borg]

Well written biography Borek.

 

[D H]

Whatever I did, disappeared with flash, smoke and noise.

Sounds a bit like my childhood with a chemistry set. I discovered, years after the fact, that that choking cloud of noxiousness that I made as a child was red fuming nitric acid.

They don't make chemistry sets like that any more.

 

[nitsuj]

That was very fun reading! artistic non fiction, great writing skill you've got Borek.And a great opening too, for pf readers

I was born half a century ago, in a galaxy far, far away. So far away our laws were all shifted to the red,

 

[drizzle]

That has to wait for "Meet an Admin's wife" series.

Can't wait! :!)

 

[Borek]

Your thoughts on education really resonated with me. Every time I think about the education system, I get this nagging feeling that something is really not right. I just can't quite figure what it is.

This was just posted elsewhere (in the context of education, which makes it even more fitting):

Our system has taken away an important human right, the right to fail.

 

[Curious3141]

The first part of this was some of the funniest stuff I've ever read! :rofl:

I was born half a century ago, in a galaxy far, far away. So far away our laws were all shifted to the red, shifted so heavily I would risk a crackpot ban if I would try to post about them in Social Sciences. Despite that I don't think my childhood was significantly different from the childhood of other PF members born around that time, even if I didn't drink my first Coke before being ten, as it was not sold earlier in our galaxy for political reasons.

So Borek has a lot in common with Borat. :tongue:

I already have a good Polish friend, a fellow doctor and infectious diseases specialist. Now I can say I know two Poles! - or is that diPoles?

BTW, I am happy you had at least your right hand after your chemistry misadventures. Can't imagine going through your early teens without hands, can you?

Wait - Greg said "constructive comments" are welcome. I have no idea if my comments are constructive, but I'm making them anyway! :tongue2:

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

This interview has been moved to Insights
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/interview-chemist-borek/

 

[Chestermiller]

What a wonderful and fascinating presentation/story! I loved it! When is the next chapter?

I must say, I totally agreed with your assessment of the current state of education.

Chet

 

[Borek]

When is the next chapter?

You mean obituary?

 

[Chestermiller]

You mean obituary?

Ha! Good one.