Manufacturers Assume People Have Fingernail!

Quick vent here. I have always been a nail biter. There is a picture of me at age 6 with fingernails chewed to the nub!

It is so frustrating how manufacturer's packaging assumes you have a healthy long set of fingernails to begin undoing their wrapping. Oh, they serrate and poptop and include all kinds of unwrapping aids in products these days... but, you STILL need to get them started! Most people would just use a fingernail. Me, I have to dig out a knife or siscors or some kind of implement to use their "value added" innovation. *sigh*

Maybe not a big deal to YOU. But, I bet, the "Lefty" (left-handed) people out there know what I mean.

Hey, Innovative Package Designers! NOT EVERYONE HAS FINGERNAILS! There. Thank You. I am done. ;-)

Teacher Retirement Gifts

It is that waning time of year for school once again. Soon, the school year will end. And, there will be teachers who are retiring. Many students and fellow teachers feel a special bond or fondness for such people that have been an important part of their lives (sometimes parents too ;-) ).

It can be a challenge to come up with appropriate jokes and gifts for the retirement party. That is why, when we have a favorite teacher going into retirement we look over this site which is focused on teacher retirement gifts.

World of Warcraft Larger Than Life!

LOL! WOOT! Gratz are in order for moi. Try playing World of Warcraft on a 50 inch TV!
After reading about 50 inch TV used for Internet stuff, I just had to do it. Checking out the 50 inch TV reviews at this site I finally settle on the Awesome Panasonic VIERA TC-P55ST30 55-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV. Hundreds of reviews claim it is the greatest... and, I would now have to agree.
Jeez, my toons are so huge now it is almost like Virtual Reality to play WoW!

How smart are smart phones anyway

LOL, here is cartoon of two smart phones discussing some undesirable, middle of the night, and unidentified, phone calls. Cellphone reverse lookups can be an effective way to deal with unwanted callers.

Phone Records Search Cartoon

FraudTool Virus Salvation

Our family computer gets hit by nasty viruses periodically, mostly because our Autistic Son gets on some questionable site and probably clicks on through all of that Wonderful Microsoft Security (dripping sarcasm here).

This one was of the real nasty type that screws up everything and claims to be the fix for the damage it has done. We have been using Ad Adware Free Internet Security, which did manage to fix the main bad boy file (frj.exe in this case). Unfortunately, the damage done to the registry persisted. This meant that NO programs could be run, either claiming need an association or flat out not finding the file (which was clearly still on the hard drive).

Fortunately, at this point, I can report that we seem to have it all fixed and functional again. Which is particularly important because trying to run the eMachines Recovery Management program had likewise failed. Typically, such a virus would be responded to by just blasting a fresh install image back onto the machine.

Finding the Real Fix took a bit of surfing from page to page, but the final destination paid off. Oh, did I mention we are talking Windows 7 here? So, the Windows 98 and XP versions were out. And, the Windows Vista version did not work.
However, this one DID work and I am so happy with them that I am going to give them a nice backlink right here! FraudTool Windows 7 Registry Fix

My Wife Hates Underwire Bras And Says Wireless Bras Are Way To Go

Right from sports towards sexy and for your everyday breast support, wireless bras can be quite a powerful option to all those potentially painful, and undoubtedly not comfortable underwire bras.

Good News for the Girls! Wireless bras do not have any underwire and so are without doubt your desired choice if you don't like underwires. My wife actually removes those wires immediately upon getting a new bra.

Donning any bra will give you back support, and if you’re something more than a thirty-four B, it's best to in fact utilize a bra intended for back support and you will probably enjoy a wireless bra.

Time to Harvest Nettles for Pot Liquor

Last year I experimented with harvesting nettles as a wildcrafting food souce. It was tremendously successful! I love the stuff.

But, really, it has a season of April through June. Theoretically, you can gather them all through the growing season, but, in my experience the tender top six inches are best and free of bugs, gunk, and such, before summer sets in.

Which means I better get my butt out there and harvest some! Nettles are about the best wildcraft herb easily and ubiquitously available. It has all the good things about spinach multiplied by, like, a thousand times!

What I do is take a big pot, gloves, and scissors (or clippers) and cut the top 6 inches from the best looking plants. The more clean and healthy, the less prep work before cooking.

Then, I wash (pick out any ugly stuff) and fill pot with some water. Put on the stove and boil the crap out of it. People mostly are adverse to using nettles because of the little needles that inject the minor toxin that make them "stinging". But, really, the cooking does get rid of that.

Anyhow, there are three products of my effort:

1) The vegetative mass can be used similarly to spinach. By itself, or in recipes,

2) Any excess that is more than I will eat in a day or two gets dehydrated for use later in the year,

3) The liquid left over is what is called "Pot Liquor". It is considered a tonic. And, I love it! I put a bit of salt into it and drink it down. For me at least, it indeed does seem to be a tonic. Extra amounts get stored in the frig for a few days and a bit is drunk down each day. Theoretically, this tonic liquid should last a long time in the frig.

So, there you have it. Won't cost you nuthin but some effort and great for your health. Need I mention that powerful buzz word of our age: "Anti-oxidants"? LOL, go for it! (standard disclaimers apply)

Pot Liquor Nettles Cartoon

Girls Climb Cliff Blindfolded

My wife is a Girl Scout Leader and they did a camping trip this last weekend. She was relating some interesting stories about the activities and I thought I would blog one here. Aside from the humorous tale of the Volunteer for making the morning coffee for all the adults (a very critical chore), who turned out to be a Jehovah Witness and never drinks, or makes, coffee, there was rock climbing.

The girls were doing so well and the artificial cliff had 3 hours paid for that they (the Leaders and Rock Climbing Teacher) were looking for more activities to keep it interesting. My wife suggested that she would like to see more team building amongst the girls. And, the Teacher came up with this for the three best climbers...

The Climber was blindfolded and then the other girls talked her up to the top. The Climber had to trust the other girls to say where a foot or hand needed to go next.

It was a huge success and fun was had by all!

Coworkers discuss prank calls

Fun cartoon where coworkers are discussing what to do about nuisance phone calls...

who is calling?

Phone Records Search

Death From Above

Yes, it is tragic. After Duck Force 9 made it through the winter without any attrition (expected coyotes to hit in February), and they were roaming far and wide to free range quite well, disaster struck within a few minutes span of time.

All that was left of three ducks was one corpse from the belly up. Well, and a whole lot of feathers. Eagles are the suspects. I envision it was Mama, Papa, and Baby Eagle as two bodies were gone altogether, but the third was hacked off from midsection down (probably all the younger eagle could carry).

And, it happened fast! My wife saw them all at the pond behind their shed when she left for town. Coming back 20 minutes later she commented that there seemed to be a dead duck in the yard.

Forensics indicates that the first got it right next to the pond. The second heading towards the front of the shed (trying to get away). And, the last right in front of the shed. The remaining six were, of course, in the shed quivering in fear.

So, now we need to be careful of "Death From Above". Losing 3 ducks in a few minutes time is one thing, if it happens again and then again, there will be no more ducks!

So Duck force 9 (scratch that), uh, 6, only gets out for a brief period of time each day while there is a Guard to watch out.

First day we did this, my wife cried out an alert to an aerial predator! But, it was a hawk, and, I think, way too small to threaten a duck.

Oh well, sigh, such is country life...

Daughters Teacher is Retiring this year

One of my daughters teacher is retiring soon. So, we were looking for teacher retirement gift ideas. This site is great for this: www.teacherretirementgift.com. Check it out!

Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt At Home

Found this cartoon where two guys discuss making your own frozen yogurt...
How to make soft served frozen yogurt in a blender.
This is the site mentioned in the video: Soft Serve Machines

Diabetes really sucks!

I hate having to take two shots a day of insulin. Even though the person who trained me on what it means to be diabetic with regular insulin shots, herself, required five shots a day (when asked, she responded, "it is either that or die"). I blanched when she clarified that the needle does not go in at an angle, "Oh no! It has to go straight in all the way." Crap! My fear, or reluctance, of sticking needles into myself was one reason I had delayed in going beyond pills (although my doctor was pushing) for so long.

As it turns out, with a little experience and probing, you can actually find spots to insert the syringe without (sometimes) any pain. Other spots are not too bad. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems like it takes four or five tests to find the right spot.

Sure, sometimes I just say to heck with it and push the needle to completion, even though it hurts. What I do not do though is just randomly push it in somewhere. Because when it hurts, there are spots where it will hurt ALOT!

It is always a temptation to skip a shot, but this is a mistake as it does seem to build up in the system.

Of course, as it is type 2 diabetes, I always hold onto the hope that something will make it go away. I am trying to lose weight. Just hope it isn't like a dead pancreas syndrome or something.

Autistic Son Loses Some Weight

Yay! Our teenage son, who is severely autistic, weighed in 20 pounds less than before! We have been very concerned as his weigh continued to climb with no end in sight. It is very difficult to regiment and discipline someone with OCD (which is a typical ailment for Autistics). But, everyone involved in his daily care has been trying to get him to eat healthier foods (and less of it) combined with increased physical activity. It seems to be having a positive effect! Yay!

Comfortable Strapless Bras That Do Heavy Duty Work

My wife is rather large up top and has trouble finding a good bra to do the job. Well, yesterday she found this site: www.plussizestraplessbras.net and bought a few prizes!

She got two Glamorise Women's Complete Comfort Strapless Bra and a Sexy Convertible Strapless Bra (rararrr! LOL). Needless to say, she is very happy right now.

What Causes Cold sores?

What Causes Cold Sores

Cold sores are probably the result of a reactivation within the body from a virus. The herpes simplex virus strikes coming from the mouth area to silently survive (“remain latent”) inside the central nervous system. Around roughly one-third of us, the herpes virus may well “wake up” or possibly reactivate in order to cause disease. Whenever reactivation arises, the herpes virus extends down the nerves towards epidermis where by it may cause blisters (cold sores) throughout the lips, within the mouth or maybe, in about 10% of cases, on the nose, chin, or perhaps cheeks. But, what precisely brings about cold sores, you ask? Cold sore episodes might be influenced by diverse sources such as stress, menstruation, sunlight, too much sun, a fever, or maybe local skin trauma. Oral surgical procedures such as dental or neural surgery, lip tattooing, or even dermabrasion can also be typical triggers.

"Geez", you will declare, "What precisely IS this virus?". The technical name for these kind of cold sores (sometimes known as a fever blister) is Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) or Herpes labialis (means lips, in no way female genitalia). Herpes labialis infection takes place when the hsv simplex virus makes get in touch with oral mucosal tissue or perhaps abraded skin of the mouth area. Infection by way of the type 1 strain of hsv simplex virus (HSV-1) is most frequent; nonetheless, conditions involving oral infection by the type 2 strain are actually growing.

Listen up, this can be serious! It is significant that you are conscientious to not ever transfer herpes to other people. The moment HSV-1 has moved into one's body, it never ever leaves. Herpes is undoubtedly carried by way of persons by means of spittle, oral contact, dead skin cells, eating utensils, etc.
HSV-1 will be able to on scarce circumstances end up being passed on to newborn babies through relations or possibly hospital staff who've cold sores; this will produce a extreme disease referred to as Neonatal herpes simplex. Individuals will pass the herpes virus from other cold sores along with other body parts, such as eye, skin, or maybe hands and fingers; this is called “autoinoculation." Eye infection, such as conjunctivitis or possibly keratitis, may occur if your eyes are rubbed just after touching the sore. Finger infection (herpetic whitlow) can occur when a child with fever blisters or even primary HSV-1 infection sucks his/her fingertips.

Typically the hsv simplex virus is one of the most common varieties of malady obtained in North America, Europe and Australia. This virus is extremely infectious and appears to be a blister over the hypersensitive portions of human body. Type 1 virus comes about on the body parts above the hips and type 2 virus comes about on the human body parts below the hips. When a body's attacked with this cold sore virus then there is no long lasting cure available on the market.

I'm sorry, this is actually the reality: One can only make the virus inactive and hope for the best. A cold sore requires 9-12 days right before getting in the remission phase in which the virus turns into inactive. These kind of bruises could reoccur anytime before it might be dormant.
Blisters are acknowledged to occur on the face, nostrils, mouth, neck, ears, and so forth. This kind of noticeable incidence of blisters presents a difficult problem to numerous men and women. Now there are cures which can make the noticeable blisters inactive. If you are influenced straight away it is very important that you obtain medical health advice and get treatment for that cold sore. It is very important to understand the basic nature and structure of the virus to be able to combat it efficiently from inside and outside of the body.

This may be your best chance to live without cold sores!

Duck Force 9 still going strong!

Well, it looks like all nine of my egg laying ducks made it through the winter uneaten. I originally bought so many because February around here typically has hungry predators on the prowl. But, they seem to have made it okay. Although, we did tragically lose a loved house cat pet just a few days ago.

Anyhow, net result is that I am up to my eyeballs in duck eggs! Which is fine because the excess older than a week or so is converted into dog food and fed to our large dogs (A Great Pyrenees and a Newf Lab mix).

Tub Refinishing means New Life for Old Tubs

Bathtubs have it rough. That they get a whole lot of use, this kind of causes a whole lot of wear in addition to tear.
Tubs can be expensive to replace, however making an older tub look like new is actually not as hard as it may well appear.
Bath refinishing is frequently much easier as compared to swapping a bath tub and it can be usually far more cost effective.
The proved, economical alternative regarding bathtubs which are worn out or perhaps tarnished, refinishing is a sensible method for you to make damaged fixtures look new.
Refinishing, likewise known as reglazing or resurfacing, is a painting practice which might repair blemishes in the porcelain.

Bath tub refinishing generally consists of restoring any defective spots, preparing the surface and applying a new lustrous finish.
The idea is actually to some extent the same as the finish on a auto or truck and must be cared for in the similar approach to prolong the life of the finish.
Tub reglazing can certainly be applied to a wide variety of surfaces such as porcelain tubs, ceramic tile , countertops, fiberglass tub areas, laminates, cultured marble, and formica, tile .
The majority of men and women are generally concened with baths and showers, nonetheless, hot tubs are yet another area worth researching.

Bath tubs happen to be an significant feature in the bathroom, and over time they have the inclination to fade and chip.
In the event that this is the circumstance in your own bathroom, or you are stuck with an annoying and outdated colouring, might be it truly is time to plan a bathroom remodel.
Baths are able to be changed in virtually any color you prefer.

Bathtub refinishing will involve various distinct steps, and every single one ought to be carried out properly for the end result to be excellent.
This is likewise essential to employ top quality products throughout each and every action of the bath tub refinishing operation.
Critical to the approach is to not merely have the material to do the task, but additionally to have the safety items.
The application will involve spraying a paint-like chemical over the surface of the bath tub.
Bath tub refinishing paint stiffens substantially more when compared with standard paint, giving an individual a good surface for your bath.

Bath tub refinishing entails a variety of distinctive steps, and every one should be carried out correctly for the end result to be ideal.
In order to begin the process the whole bath will be stripped and outcomes in a like-new finish by the conclusion.
Using a spray-on paint can be a little messier than the roll-on or brush-on varieties but is going to give you an fantastic expert look.

Tub refinishing is actually also thought to be an earth-friendly or "green" alternative since aged fixtures are refinished on site, thereby saving the landfills of a lot more trash.

Diabetic diet has just about eliminated my insulin shots!

I am about a week into my Nutrisystem D diet to lose 52 lbs and hopefully become non-diabetic. Wow! I had some nasty episodes of gushing sweat and almost passing out... a little research confirmed that it was a hypoglycemic condition, even though for me it seems to trigger around 83 dg/mL instead of the 70 that supposedly is when "normal" people get it.

Anyhow, now that I have located my blood meter (it was in a place I had put it so it would not be lost, and then forgot it was there. In plain site too! Duh-oh!) regular readings are showing reasonable blood sugar levels! Still diabetic for sure, but have skipped my insulin shots (30 units) for the last two nights. Reduced the daily one to 15 units yesterday. And, trying 10 units today.

Not cured, but then I have only lost 4 lbs or so and had not expected such results so soon. I had lost like 20 lbs using the Vintage Nutrisystem of 20 years ago and was glad to discover that the modern Nutrisystem had a program specifically with Type 2 diabetes in mind.

You should definitely check it out!

Duck Force 9

Well, this years gaggle of ducks should have been old enough to lay eggs about a month or two ago... still have not seen any eggs!

Might have to do some research on any missing triggers or something that is keeping them from developing in that direction. It has been suggested that maybe they are all males. Yikes! I certainly hope not as I paid a premium for them to be female only.

Well, this blog hasn't had any new entries for awhile, so, I thought it would be worthwhile to note here. If I find anything useful, it will be added to this post.