Look up UNCOMBABLE HAIR on http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/ ; there's a ton of pics and info including microscopic views. Oh, and you may not wish to look up much else - it's a pretty graphic site and not for the weak stomached.

Alli

Enjoyed Distraction, Holy Fire, Islands in the Net. Lurved Heavy Weather. Something about that novel really appeals to me.

Anyone read Schismatrix? Only Sterling I haven't gotten to. Worth searching for?

Oh crud. For some reason I missed the fact you are across the river from me. Depending on what part of the park you're in, I'm either right across from you or to your right *waves* If you're short of a few beers, lemme know; we'll pop over the bridge!

Apparently we can regenerate fingertips without the need for pig bladders, bacon, acts of God or voodoo.

I read an article just last week about this; the doc in the article said we can regrow fingertips from tip to to the distal joint (between the fingertip and where the finger first bends). He also mentioned he wishes he could figure out what the difference between amputations above and below that joint.

I couldn't remember where I read the article, but came across this one online: Regeneration in higher vertebrates: Limb buds and digit tips which stated: "For both children and adults, regeneration of the fingertip involves the integrated regeneration of many tissues, including nail matrix, nail bed, finger pulp, sensory organs, dermis and epidermis, all of which reform to a normal or near normal cosmetic and physiological state through healing by secondary intention." No mention of pig bladders or bacon at all.

2 months ago I had my annual eye check up. Needed new reading and distance glasses (I hate bifocals/progressives). The reading glasses I bought thru the optometrists WITH my insurance still took $125 out of my pocket (with the exam fully covered); that was for a simple prescription with no frills for the lenses.

Insurance only covers one pair every 2 years, so I bought my distance glasses thru ZenniOptical. With photosensitive lenses, the whole thing ran me $49, including the frames, lenses and shipping. It took a week for the glasses to show up - the same amount of time it took for my reading ones to show up at the Doc's. There is no doubt I will be purchasing my glasses online from now on; the expensive ones I had previously were replaced twice and the frames STILL fell apart.

Hrmm. When I was in High School in the early 80's, we also belonged to a 'special drinking' group. Woodchucks to be precise. And one had to respond, when asked if you were a Woodchuck with the phrase "You bet your sweet ass I am!" No ID cards tho.

I suspect t'was an offshoot of the Turtles, as we lived in a pretty rural area. Haven't met any Woodchucks in years tho.

Way back when, I used to babysit 3 young boys who all would have been diagnosed with ADHD in this day and age (at $1 an hour no less!). Their fav game? To run around the living room without touching the floor, which included stepping on lamps, the cat and ME. Interesting to see how that game has matured...

"Oh Mickey" Toni Basil? How old IS she??

My Roomba has been running fine since we got it a year and a half ago. With a 3 yr old and an idiot cat, it's been a time and back saver! The lil man treats it like a real person; he'll tell us to "shhhh" when the Roomba is charging - apparently it's sleeping. The cat plays chicken with it; he lays in front of it till it's just about to run him over, then runs off to another tempting spot. We picked up a Scooba about a year ago, and that too has been great. And the cat won't lay in front of it cause the floor is wet.