Monday, June 28, 2010

Never before in 72 years and 1 day

Around noon today I was sitting on the side porch in the sun when a pair of copulating flies landed on my forearm. I saw them approach and thought they were one bee, but when they landed they were very easy to see. One was mounted on the back of the other. They were very still and I watched them for what seemed a long time. It seemed like I could swat them easily, but what would be the point? What I really wanted was a picture, but when I eventually rose to go inside for a camera, they flew away.

I guess I have not yet seen it all.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

An idium is born?

In a recent post to our neighborhood forum a person described an encounter with a solicitor.

A nice looking young man came to the door this evening....When I asked him for identification and his permit he hesitated, wasn't able to produce proper ID...He had one page filled with the names, addresses, phone/email and signatures. In this day and age of rampant identity theft, and home robberies would it not be wise to side with the air of caution...?

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Toilet Paper - Beyond Wikipedia

Wiki has about two pages on toilet paper. Some history. Some alternatives. Some descriptions. One paragraph is worthy of reproducing here.


Recent studies have also shown that hanging toilet paper in the 'overhand' manner significantly reduces usage when compared to hanging in the 'underhand' manner. Researchers speculate the overhand method reduces the likelihood of uncontrolled unwinding occurring. Other studies have suggested that those who prefer hanging toilet paper in the 'overhand' method have statistically significant higher socioeconomic status vis-a-vis those who prefer to use the 'underhand' method.


I think there is a little more that might be said on the topic in general.


So far as I know there are two things to do with TP between the time it is taken from the roll and when it is put to use. It can be folded or it can be scrunched. (I can imagine a third option, but it seems so unlikely that anyone would tear off individual pieces and stack them that I will not address that approach.) Actually I don’t have much of an address on the other two options. Really all I have are questions.

Which method is most commonly used? Is the choice gender linked? Which method uses the most material? Is one method faster than the other? Do scrunchers get a second or third application from a single tear off? For a given length of material is break-through more common with one method than the other? Is finger nail length a factor in this? Are there those who use both? If so, on what basis do they decide which method to adopt?


Just wondering.