Further moves towards vacation

I started taking lariam (again). Fortunately, I tolerate it well.

And I stocked up on bismuth subsalicylate (generic pepto-bismol).

If only the clearing things off my desk were anywhere as easy as the medical preparation.

News briefs - cosmetic edition

Two items from the International Herald Tribune make me wonder what our world has come to:

1) "A study published last year in The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that dermatologists in 11 American cities and one county offered faster appointments to a person calling about Botox than for someone calling about a changing mole, a possible sign of skin cancer."

Now, it doesn't say how many cities and counties they surveyed, so it's hard to tell if this is really common, but it's pretty appalling none the less. The article explains that focusing on cosmetic procedures allows the dermatologists in question to avoid dealing with insurance companies, resulting in higher income for the same time spent on procedures. That little thing called the Hippocratic Oath doesn't seem to enter their heads.

2) Today's IHT had a story about brides who tried to insist on cosmetic procedures, including plastic surgery in some cases, for their bridesmaids. I can see a spa day as a nice treat, but they also had examples like a botox party and the bride who asked her bridesmaids to get breast implants.

To be fair, they also pointed out several cases where the bridesmaids refused to go along, even at the cost of the relationship.

News - celebrity (music and sports) edition

1) Papa Wendo has died. For those unfamiliar with afropop, he was a major figure in Congolese rhumba.

2) Gilberto Gil is stepping down from his position as culture minister in the Brazilian government to focus on his music.

3) Manny will be Manny at Chavez Ravine. I have to admit I'm surprised since they went through this whole "trade me, you don't deserve me" business at least twice before without dumping hm. But he does still play well much of the time. Do the Dodgers have a hair style policy?

I am telling myself that the Red Sox have made these trades work for them before. I was deeply disappointed at "no more Nomar," but that definitely proved to be the right move.

Note to self

Next time, check to see if you actually have soy sauce in the house before stir frying.

The improvised curry sauce was not a success.

(One can also do a decent stir fry sauce with peanut butter, but that is another thing I didn't actually have in the house.)