Elements of Smile

Patt Morrison’s Inside Politics (“Lockyer’s Elements in Ca. Political Chemistry,” Feb. 25), describing Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer’s new elements (Burtonium, Enronium, etc.), reminded me of some other rare elements, often sought in the aerospace industry.

One is balloonium, a favorite of designers whose projects are exceeding weight targets. Balloonium has a negative density, so the more you use, the lighter the structure becomes. The other is unobtanium, which always seems to be in short supply.

As the current election contests diverge toward pandemonium, we are being inundated with effluvium from the candidates. What’s most discouraging is that we have to put up with all the garbage for eight more months before the November election. Aarrgh!

Ralph Merrill

Long Beach