2009 — 17 December: Thursday

Suddenly, it's 00:36. How does that happen?

I've decided it's cold1 enough to merit keeping the central heating on all night, though I've turned the thermostat down from its normal 18C to 17C. Let's see how I get on... G'night.

Tales of national...

... snow and ice, but seemingly not quite hereabouts. The sun is shining brightly, the bird bath is unfrozen, it's 08:39 and I'm due at the dentist in an hour or so. Oh, joy! And only one BSOD when I forgot to switch on the external soundcard before the PC. Fantastic. :-)

These two stories, however, are equally chilling. Religion in the military. Ugandan anti-gay legislation. Isn't it an unfunny time of year?

Would you Adam and...

... Eve it, Christa? The only explanation Dr Fang has for mobile mouth pain in the absence of damage, decay, or abscess? Hypothesis: I've started grinding my teeth, probably in my sleep. Caused by worry and/or stress.

"Well, I think I've demonstrated a reasonable level of stress tolerance over the last 30 months or so. What about an aged parent?" Yep, that could be the final straw. "Solution?" (You'll love this one, my love.) Chew gum (and/or fit a gum shield). Anything to keep your teeth apart, basically. He says research has demonstrated that teeth normally touch2 for about one minute in every hour. Grinders can manage 23 hours of such contact a day! And the painful eyetooth shows strong evidence of exactly such wear. Crikey!

Right. What's next, Mrs Landingham? Well, you had a walk pencilled in for tomorrow, but we'd better postpone until Saturday as the feather warcast has changed, and not in a good way. So, a bit more supplies shopping, I guess. And remember not to grind those teeth! (There's still loads of chewing gum in one of Christa's desk drawers.)

Who could resist?

A definite non-tooth-grinder, on this evening?

Larry David

My own odyssey through the original "Seinfeld" is nearing the end of Season #3. Incidentally, this morning Dr Fang also claimed whiskey was pretty effective at reducing tooth grinding, so I've treated myself to an experimental bottle of the stuff. I note it costs rather more than petrol, which is already not cheap. Must remember not to drive with it on board!

"The Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of stones." Loved it!

The devil finds stuff...

... for idle web browsers. Given that I started on Amazon's US site after they suggested I'd enjoy a collection of new paintings (Conceptual Realism: In the Service of the Hypothetical) by Robert Williams (they were right, and it's nestling in my shopping basket) I was quite tickled to end up at this little item...

Russell T Davies

... on their UK site just a few clicks later. Never heard of it, but I know several rabid fans of the author's work.

Mr Postie has just (15:14) knocked on the door, which has reminded me that Dr Fang took me away from "Dear Granny Smith" this morning. Today's topic seems to be Corporate drivel. Why does that sound so familiar?

I've just been reminded (thanks, Roger) that:

Some tortures are physical
   And some are mental,
But the one that is both
   Is dental.

Good job I've stopped Ogden (g)Nashing my teeth. I'm sure I recall a comment along the lines of not even the most stoic of philosophers retaining his poise in the teeth, as it were, of such provocation, too. But hot cuppas are back on the menu, as long as they're treated with some degree (C or F?) of care.

This is what's known as a leap of faith:

DVDs

The series is produced by the same chap (Chuck Lorre) who moved on to The Big Bang Theory which I very much enjoyed last week. I like laughter, and I'm hoping this will deliver plenty. If you wonder why I like laughter, re-watch the wonderful Preston Sturges film "Sullivan's Travels".

I don't like the look of the ominous dark clouds I can see in the growing gloom outside. It's 16:17 and I'm listening to tales of woe in the UK's bookshops. Need another cuppa.

I've been listening, in a weirdly fascinated way, to an NPR phone-in debate about the US health care bill. As pundits describe what seems to have become a bill written by and for the health care insurance industry, I'm reminded that someone wiser than me, a long time ago, asserted that "love of money is the root of all evil". I'm going to stop, 'cos a chap needs to eat, and it's somehow become 18:53 already. I don't really understand the "problem" with socialised medicine. And I do think the NHS is, however flawed, one of the few remaining jewels in the UK's tattered crown. Though I also have to observe that the system works best as you're in the last stages of your skid off Life's bumpy highway.

A petition worth signing

Having just enjoyed the resumption of "Big Bang Theory" (though not the atrocious ads and the ghastly 'DOG') I have to say I love Chuck Lorre's petition. (I sneaked a peek ahead in his vanity card collection.)

  

Footnotes

1  Christa was used to much colder winter weather back in Meisenheim (and much hotter summers, too, come to that — good wine country).
2  Food doesn't count; only direct upper tooth to lower tooth contact counts.