Tuesday 20070529 - Rain - two men on a beach; Petrol; Lunch - Golden Corral and May "Wired" - Drug Test Cowboys, London's Northwick Park Hospital; Lowe's - coupling, rake, venetian blinds, junipers; Home - drain coupling, the wonderful world of planting; Monday's web page
(Web work - (Wed) 20070530-2030 / (Tue) 20070529 / (Mon) 20070528 + (Tue) 20070529)

Two men on a beach sharing an umbrella Larger image

Today's photo is a different take on rain. I've seen this image before without paying two much attention to it. I like the body language of both guys - casual, as would be the case of two people who have known each other for a long time. The highlighting of all the wrinkles in the clothing. The shadowing on the arms and legs. And in particular, how one gives the other far more protection with the umbrella than he gives himself.

And behind them, a very gray sea, differentiated from the similar sky by a band of grayish whiteness. Two men without pretense. Obviously the idea of significant others comes to mind. But the distance between them seems slightly off-putting. Or it may be saying that one is more self-possessed than the other.

First stop of the day was Pilot, this gargantuan petrol/diesel station. Thirty or so bays for cars. And another set to the back for 18-wheelers. And cars are always waiting to grab the first slot, so parking is at all angles. Eight point eight gallons at $2.839 per.

The June issue of "Wired" that shows petrol prices around the world per gallon. Available at "Atlas: Where to Gas Up Around the Globe (Or Take the Bus)". London - $6.65; Rome - $5.62; Moscow -$2.89; San Francisco - $3.32;; Dubai - $1.70; Kuwait City - $0.79; Tehran - $0.33.

(Out -Tuesday - 20070529 - 1318: $24.98 - Bank Debit Card)

I reverted back to the May issue of "Wired" knowing that I never finished it.

First story of interest was Drug Test Cowboys: The Secret World of Pharmaceutical Trial Subjects.

"Nick is part of a growing subculture of human lab rats. Each year, US scientists require a total of at least 10 million healthy test subjects, says Adil Shamoo, chair of Circare, a human research watchdog organization. Depending on duration, rigor, and risk, medical studies can pay as much as $10,000 each."

"The work isn't demanding, but it can be dangerous. In March 2006, eight male volunteers checked into London's Northwick Park Hospital for a weeklong study of TGN1412, an experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and leukemia to be manufactured by Boehringer- Ingelheim. Within minutes of receiving the first dose, six of them began to writhe in pain, vomit, and lose consciousness, according to news reports. Nurses rushed them to the hospital's trauma unit, where doctors treated them for multiple organ failure. The test subjects lived, but all suffered permanent damage to their immune systems and internal organs. One lost fingers and toes. Another developed signs of cancer possibly triggered by the drug."

(More on this at "Drugs trial men 'are improving". This was in the midst of the trials. About the best article I can find on the causes is at "Elephant Man drug trial victims 'injected too quickly" Warning: sometimes stories in the DailyMail can be dodgy. The same hospital earlier had also experienced another very serious problem: "Healthcare Watchdog renews call for robust safety checks in maternity units as investigation describes deaths of ten women". "...ten women, all of whom died during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth between April 2002 and April 2005. " )

I'd made some comment about parents not cleaning up after their urchins throw food on the floor. I now have a better understanding of why. The lady across from me knocked a chewed chicken leg into the aisle in a very obvious space and never bothered to pick it up. The server picked it up and joked with me, "Are you throwing food on the floor?" In a moment of magnificent patience, I said nothing. That's all I'll say, otherwise, I'll move into tirade mode.

(In - Tuesday - 20070529 - 1329: $7.51 - Cash)

"Why is nothing ever simple?" he asked.

The other day, contours provocations journal - 2007-0527 - sun 2030 (Saturday 20070526) - "Lowe's", I'd been by Lowe's and:

"At Lowe's, I first went after a drain coupler for the washer. The washer hose does not fit properly into the drain pipe, so there is always an overflow. However, this had only started in the last few months. I got a coupler, that most likely is not right, since I didn't know the diameter of the drain pipe."

On the same day, I'd bought a 6-inch wide metal rake with an expandable handle. Well, it worked for a day or two, but then I could not get the handle to go up or down. So I returned it, and picked out a standard plastic rake of the same width. Actually, it's more flexible than the first.

(Out - Tuesday - 20070529 - 1437: $10.68 refund - Bank Debit Card)

I looked at the venetian blinds to replace the two vinyl ones I have. Tiger, Tiger has ripped off the end of about six slats on the one in the bedroom. He stands on the desk, so he can look out the window. But the real problem is the 38-inch wide one in the bath. I couldn't find anything in a wooden-hue in that length. I may have to try something like a Roman blind. I very much like the dark colors of these blinds.

Now I wandered out into the plant section. For several months, I've been considering replacing the three dwarf boxwood, which are about 3 feet high, along the north side of my carport. At one point, there were five, but two are missing: extraction, disease, accident., I don't know.

I've given the idea much more consideration with the new inhabitants next door and their two cars, one SUV, one truck, one boat, and one hauling trailer. And one very loud woman with lots of friends. The Swiss have yodeling contest:s I think this group have yelling contests.

I'd installed the outdoor blinds along that side, and they have been very helpful. But I want some tall vegetation. And the boxwood would not service that purpose. So for their replacement, I selected three Blue Point Junipers, as a start. I've always loved conifers. (Is there a rain connection?)

I'm also going to start adding tall plants in among the north hedge row. One section in particular, directly across from my carport door gives me great pain. It's a section about six-feet long, devoid of any vegetation. And gives me a great view of the kitchen next door. Only some evil diety could dictate that in addition to everything else, the northside inhabitants have a totally clear storm door. Only when they are gone do they close the inner door.

I need to carefully select what will go into the empty slot. Yucca? Giant Venus Fly Trap? Prickly pear cactus? Oh wow! I've found a web site devoted to Defensive Planting.

(Out - Tuesday - 20070529 - 1524: $66.58 - Bank Debit Card)

First thing I did was to install the drain coupler. Works like a charm. Not a drop since.

Next, I removed after much ado, the first box wood. The major problem was the root system, which I had no choice but to cut in several placed. Obviously, not the best thing for the plant. I moved it about three feet to the east by the wall of the store room. Within seconds, the shovel hit a very large root that ran across the entire area. Thank the god of machinery (Vulcan) for the reciprocating saw. Took about five minutes to remove the root.

I finished digging, and it was not too strenuous. The dwarf boxwood appears to have a very shallow root system that does not go downward very far. Surprisingly, the plant was almost a perfect fit for the hole.

I didn't try to plant any of junipers. I thought I'd way until I'd replanted all the boxwood, then clean out the bed.

Monday's web page turned out to be a tad complicated. First was the main journal page. Then the article page on the Dutch Flyers. (If there's a news story, I find of interest, I'll copy it into the articles' section. Too many times. news stories, depending on the source, may only be kept for a few days. Or may require a fee if older than say two weeks.) Then there were all the photos.

Solicitation for Applied Advantage Visa Card (junk); solicitation from "Details" magazine (keep); June 4, 2007, issue of "TV Guide" (keep)

(Out - Thursday - 20070531 - 0015)