Trials and tribulations: caulking

摘要

Imagine, if you will, a rowing boat forcing its way into heavy seas. Standing in the bow is an eagle-eyed jack tar, scanning the horizon for rocks, whirlpools and other dangers. In the body of the boat one or two more are bailing out the water for all they're worth whilst someone else is hammering in caulking to stop the leaks. Don't ask where the rowers are in all this scene painting, that's another picture all together. You might, as I'm sure you often do, be wondering what on earth all this hasto do with mushrooms or in particular, this column. Well, the analogy may be a bit 'folksy' but it's nice and simple and quite accurately describes the three categories of problem that this column sets out to identify. One has to admit that we aren't that good at rocks and whirlpools but we can do bailing and caulking. But there, like all analogies, one should perhaps leave it for fear of confusing the simple point. Otherwise we'll stop bailing because we've thrown that water over the side several timesalready. But perhaps the analogy isn't so limited after all. If we don't cure the problems that seem perennial and recurring perhaps we also could sink. But .... definitely enough of that. These thoughts arose because at present most of the water on board is pretty stale old stuff, harvesting problems, Virus X, that sort of thing and I'm still determined not to manufacture problems just to fill the space. So a little sanctimony; who's perfect?