Hello, Bob;

09 Aug 04 10:06, Bob Lawrence wrote to Robert Bull:

 BL>  No, no,no! That's Ed McBain's 97th Precinct! I like him too for an

Ack.  Yes, you're right.  My memory was faulty, sorry.

 BL>  New words usually send me screaming from the room (the use of
"grow"
 BL> as a verb - to"grow" your business when they mean
"expand," or
 BL> "fragrance" to fragrance a room) but occasionally they
get it right.

I'm not sure your concern about "grow" is correct, because gardeners here 
speak of "growing potatoes," meaning doing things to cause the spuds to 
grow.  That's a long-accepted use.  As for "fragrancing", or one of y pet 
bugbears in the wonderful world of managerspeak, "progressing [something]" 
- Urghhh....

 BL>  There is a trick pharmaceutical companies use when their patent
 BL> on an old drug is about to run out. Just as the original patent runs
 BL> out, they take out another patent that is usually spurious (like the
 BL> size of the pill) that prevents generic companies making the product
 BL> while they fight it out in court. It's known as "evergreening!"

That's probably dependent on which patent office they're filing under, 
because the rules vary from country to country.  In many cases the patent 
would be ruled invalid - but I think your point is that the threat of 
having to engage in expensive legal battles in itself is a deterrent to 
third parties.

 BL> the spirit of the act as well as the meaning. English rocks!

;-)  I'm sure Strine has its own special usefulness.

     Regards,

              Robert.

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