Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Accepted manuscripts
    • Issue in progress
    • Latest complete issue
    • Issue archive
    • Archive by article type
    • Special issues
    • Subject collections
    • Cell Scientists to Watch
    • First Person
    • Sign up for alerts
  • About us
    • About JCS
    • Editors and Board
    • Editor biographies
    • Travelling Fellowships
    • Grants and funding
    • Journal Meetings
    • Workshops
    • The Company of Biologists
    • Journal news
  • For authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Aims and scope
    • Presubmission enquiries
    • Fast-track manuscripts
    • Article types
    • Manuscript preparation
    • Cover suggestions
    • Editorial process
    • Promoting your paper
    • Open Access
    • JCS Prize
    • Manuscript transfer network
    • Biology Open transfer
  • Journal info
    • Journal policies
    • Rights and permissions
    • Media policies
    • Reviewer guide
    • Sign up for alerts
  • Contacts
    • Contact JCS
    • Subscriptions
    • Advertising
    • Feedback
    • Institutional usage stats (logged-in users only)
  • COB
    • About The Company of Biologists
    • Development
    • Journal of Cell Science
    • Journal of Experimental Biology
    • Disease Models & Mechanisms
    • Biology Open

User menu

  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Cell Science
  • COB
    • About The Company of Biologists
    • Development
    • Journal of Cell Science
    • Journal of Experimental Biology
    • Disease Models & Mechanisms
    • Biology Open

supporting biologistsinspiring biology

Journal of Cell Science

  • Log in
Advanced search

RSS   Twitter  Facebook   YouTube  

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Accepted manuscripts
    • Issue in progress
    • Latest complete issue
    • Issue archive
    • Archive by article type
    • Special issues
    • Subject collections
    • Cell Scientists to Watch
    • First Person
    • Sign up for alerts
  • About us
    • About JCS
    • Editors and Board
    • Editor biographies
    • Travelling Fellowships
    • Grants and funding
    • Journal Meetings
    • Workshops
    • The Company of Biologists
    • Journal news
  • For authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Aims and scope
    • Presubmission enquiries
    • Fast-track manuscripts
    • Article types
    • Manuscript preparation
    • Cover suggestions
    • Editorial process
    • Promoting your paper
    • Open Access
    • JCS Prize
    • Manuscript transfer network
    • Biology Open transfer
  • Journal info
    • Journal policies
    • Rights and permissions
    • Media policies
    • Reviewer guide
    • Sign up for alerts
  • Contacts
    • Contact JCS
    • Subscriptions
    • Advertising
    • Feedback
    • Institutional usage stats (logged-in users only)
STICKY WICKET
Corona XXV – six-word story
Mole
Journal of Cell Science 2020 133: jcs256438 doi: 10.1242/jcs.256438 Published 2 December 2020
Mole
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & tables
  • Info & metrics
  • PDF
Loading
Figure1
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab
  • Download powerpoint

Original artwork by Pete Jeffs - www.peterjeffsart.com

Brrrr. Cold and rainy day; all of a sudden, it's not summer anymore. Okay, it hasn't been for quite some time, but it felt like summer yesterday. But not today. Actually, I have no idea what time of day, month, year it is, because everything is still bad out there (but good in here, thank you), and the time just blurs together. I remember weekends, when we actually did stuff, and work days (when I also did stuff), but online, it's just the e-world. I'm sure it's snowing somewhere. And warm and sunny somewhere. Here? Gray, gray, gray. I hope you're staying safe.

As usual, I'm taking a lot of words to say not very much (“What's new, Mole?”). Which has gotten me to thinking about a story I heard about Ernest Hemmingway. More of a legend, really. It takes place in the 1920s in New York City, in the Algonquin Hotel ‘Round Table’, a fabled place where famous authors, critics, songwriters, and wits gathered. The membership included Robert Blenchley, Irving Berlin, George S. Kaufmann, and Dorothy Parker, among others. (Dorothy Parker once wrote, “One martini, two at the most, three and I'm under the table, four and I'm under my host.” It's a better toast than, ‘cheers,’ isn't it?). One day, so the story goes, Hemmingway visited, and they challenged him to write a novel with only six words, which they deemed impossible. Taking up the bet (which was apparently for ten dollars, each, quite a lot of money in those days), he quickly wrote the following on a paper napkin: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” They each paid him ten dollars. How could they not?

Like I said, it's a legend. In one version, it takes place in Luchow's, a restaurant (in which I once dined when I was very young, about four years old; it is long gone, but I still remember what I ate). Anyway, there is no evidence that any of it is actually true (the Hemingway story, not my meal at Luchow's). The Quote Investigator (an invaluable site) notes that an article appeared in 1906, in a newspaper claiming to have seen an advertisement stating “For sale, baby carriage; never been used. Apply at this office.” Another similar one appeared in another paper in 1910, and then again in 1917 and 1921. Hemmingway was a newspaperman, it is not unlikely he knew about one or more of these stories, if indeed, he ever wrote a ‘borrowed’ version. The Hemmingway anecdote did not see print until 1991, in a book by a literary agent, who claimed he had heard it in 1974. Such is the stuff of urban legends. You know, like the story of the woman who bought a small, hairless dog that turned out to be a rat (or, if you prefer, the urban legend about the poodle in the microwave, but let's not go there).

I don't really care if Hemingway really wrote this (I'm pretty sure you don't either). For Sale. Baby shoes. Never worn. It is a moving, evocative, terrible, wonderful novel. In six words. Maybe that's all that counts.

So, I've been thinking about six-word stories that might sum up where we are, now, during this Terrible Pandemic. In my own country, the one where just yesterday, we had one third of all the new infections in the entire world, it might be: “Masks save Lives. Don't wear one.” Sigh. It just makes me sad. But hey, it's a gray, rainy day.

But no, that isn't the six-word story I want to tell. I want to tell the whole story of what is happening, not only the mask fiasco. So, I've settled on a different one. I'm not Hemmingway (“Really, Mole?” Oh, ha-ha-ha. Yes, really), but at least for me, I think this sums it up.

The coronavirus was unexpected. Every day.

Do I have to explain it? Okay, I will anyway. Sure, we did not expect this pandemic. And apparently, we in this country do not expect it today, all these months later. People in the news media seem genuinely surprised as the infection rages. When I turn on the TV (which I'm doing more than usual these days), there is always a breathless announcement of today's infections. Or this week's toll on human life. It isn't just here; the virus is surging in many countries in Europe (after a pretty good summer). Australia is still in Level Four lockdown (but they are going to get this thing – good onya, mates). China is doing extensive testing and tracing to control it, and doing it well (taking full advantage of the tools in place to trace dissidents, but hey, I am in no position to criticize). But most of all, I just don't honestly expect to get it. Every day. Until I do get it, of course (but I'll continue to do everything I can to not).

I do have a point. (I know, I know: “You have a point, Mole?”). There is something called the ‘The Unexpected Hanging,’ an interesting and well-discussed logical paradox. (I think that's what it's called. It's something like that). It goes like this. A man is sentenced to death by a judge, who tells him that he will be hanged within seven days, but in an act of mercy, adds that the condemned man will not expect to be hanged on the day it occurs. The prisoner reasons as follows. “I cannot be hanged on the last day, because if six days pass, I will expect that the execution will occur on day seven, and that will violate the judge's orders. But then I cannot be hanged on day six either, because if five days pass, I will expect it on that day, and again, that cannot be. By logical extension, I cannot be hanged on any day. And so, according to this irrefutable logic, I am safe.” Two days later, his cell door opens, and he is completely surprised by the utterly unexpected hanging.

I must point out that I am completely opposed to corporal punishment, but logicians love this kind of stuff. Actually, I don't think this is the most paradoxical paradox I have heard, and with a little thought, even I can find the logical fallacy. But still, I think it applies pretty well to the paradox of this pandemic, and why it continues to be so unexpected.

Captain Kirk blew up a civilization-controlling computer by presenting a paradox (“I am Landru, I am Lannnnnndruuu….”). Mr. Spock fried a pair of twin androids by saying, “I love you, but I hate you.” (“But we are identical,” they say, to which he replied, “That is why I love you, but I hate you.” Androids down and out).

But the Pandemic Paradox is real. Until we solve it, until we expect it every day, we aren't going to beat it. Like you, I can't wait for the vaccine. But it's still a long ways off, and we have a long way to go. There's a lot we can do now. If we just remember to expect it. Hey, I warned you, it's a gray, rainy day. What do you want for nothing? A good six-word story? (or, if you are a Blues Brothers fan, ‘Rubber biscuit?’).

Oh, and the dinner I had in Luchow's at the tender age of four? Venison, and it was very yummy. Which by the way, happens to be another six-word story. Stay safe out there.

  • © 2020. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
Previous ArticleNext Article
Back to top
Previous ArticleNext Article

This Issue

 Download PDF

Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Cell Science.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Corona XXV – six-word story
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Cell Science
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Cell Science web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
STICKY WICKET
Corona XXV – six-word story
Mole
Journal of Cell Science 2020 133: jcs256438 doi: 10.1242/jcs.256438 Published 2 December 2020
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
STICKY WICKET
Corona XXV – six-word story
Mole
Journal of Cell Science 2020 133: jcs256438 doi: 10.1242/jcs.256438 Published 2 December 2020

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Alerts

Please log in to add an alert for this article.

Sign in to email alerts with your email address

Article navigation

  • Top
  • Article
  • Figures & tables
  • Info & metrics
  • PDF

Related articles

Cited by...

More in this TOC section

  • Corona XXX – speechless
  • Corona XXIX – four minutes
  • Corona XXVIII – the Rashomon gate
Show more STICKY WICKET

Similar articles

Other journals from The Company of Biologists

Development

Journal of Experimental Biology

Disease Models & Mechanisms

Biology Open

Advertisement

Introducing FocalPlane’s new Community Manager, Esperanza Agullo-Pascual

We are pleased to welcome Esperanza to the Journal of Cell Science team. The new Community Manager for FocalPlane, Esperanza is joining us from the Microscopy Core at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Find out more about Esperanza in her introductory post over on FocalPlane.


New funding scheme supports sustainable events

As part of our Sustainable Conferencing Initiative, we are pleased to announce funding for organisers that seek to reduce the environmental footprint of their event. The next deadline to apply for a Scientific Meeting grant is 26 March 2021.


Read & Publish participation continues to grow

"Alongside pre-printing for early documentation of work, such mechanisms are particularly helpful for early-career researchers like me.”

Dr Chris MacDonald (University of York) shares his experience of publishing Open Access as part of our growing Read & Publish initiative. We now have over 150 institutions in 15 countries and four library consortia taking part – find out more and view our full list of participating institutions.


Cell scientist to watch: Romain Levayer

In an interview, Romain Levayer talks about starting his own lab, his love for preprints and his experience of balancing parenting with his research goals.


Live lactating mammary tissue

In a stunning video, Stewart et al. demonstrate warping of the alveolar unit due to basal cell-generated force as part of their recent work investigating roles for mechanically activated ion channels in lactation and involution.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch more videos from JCS, our sister journals and the Company.


JCS and COVID-19

For more information on measures Journal of Cell Science is taking to support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hestiate to contact the Editorial Office.

Articles

  • Accepted manuscripts
  • Issue in progress
  • Latest complete issue
  • Issue archive
  • Archive by article type
  • Special issues
  • Subject collections
  • Interviews
  • Sign up for alerts

About us

  • About Journal of Cell Science
  • Editors and Board
  • Editor biographies
  • Travelling Fellowships
  • Grants and funding
  • Journal Meetings
  • Workshops
  • The Company of Biologists

For Authors

  • Submit a manuscript
  • Aims and scope
  • Presubmission enquiries
  • Fast-track manuscripts
  • Article types
  • Manuscript preparation
  • Cover suggestions
  • Editorial process
  • Promoting your paper
  • Open Access
  • JCS Prize
  • Manuscript transfer network
  • Biology Open transfer

Journal Info

  • Journal policies
  • Rights and permissions
  • Media policies
  • Reviewer guide
  • Sign up for alerts

Contacts

  • Contact JCS
  • Subscriptions
  • Advertising
  • Feedback

Twitter   YouTube   LinkedIn

© 2021   The Company of Biologists Ltd   Registered Charity 277992