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[Alkarii]

I missed a call earlier, but they left a voicemail.

Apparently, there's an opening in the detail department at the Honda dealership that's part of the same auto group, next to the other Nissan store. This one is closer to my house, too.

[lake_wrangler]

I use the Variety wallpaper changer on my computer, and it happens to print out quotes as part of the wallpaper. This is the latest quote it gave me:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.

- Miss Piggy

[TazManiac]

- One or Two Persons dying in a balloon accident is local news. Sixteen all plummeting to their deaths after hitting power lines warrants a mention, even overseas.Same as if something like a Charter Bus went off a windy road, taking them all to their doom...

- That morph'd picture is creepy looking. <shudder>

- Alkarii; break a leg. Rather; break somebody else’s leg...

Lastly, and respectfully;
Send our good friend DinkyInky some good thoughts when you get a chance...

[ShneekeyTheLost]

- When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you hemlock, do NOT make hemlock-ade. The trick to life is telling the difference between lemons and hemlocks.

[Just Old Al]

- When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you hemlock, do NOT make hemlock-ade. The trick to life is telling the difference between lemons and hemlocks.

But it's so TASTY!
-Socrates

[lake_wrangler]

I learned something new, this week...

On Wednesday evening, I learned that 16 extra-strength Tylenols within 8 hours will not get rid of a migraine headache for me. (And I stubbornly continued my 6 hours of overtime, because I knew it would be difficult to find someone at the last minute... but don't worry: my head was pounding, but was clear. I was not drowsy. If I stood up too quick, I would get dizzy, but as long as I was sitting, I was fine. So I never put my passengers in danger, or anyone else on the road, for that matter.)

On Thursday, morning, when I went to the emergency room, I learned that Tylenol in too great a quantity can be poisonous to your system, particularly your liver. However, the blood test they did to measure the amount of Tylenol left in my blood came back and it pretty much didn't register.

I still had a migraine, nausea, and dizziness (oh, and a fever: 39.7 C, or 103.46 F). So they did plenty of tests, including a CAT scan of my brain and X-Rays of my chest, but couild not find anything wrong either. So they kept me overnight. The fever broke during the night. My temp was normal, this morning. The headache is much less thane before, and the nausea is gone. They can't explain why this happened, or why I was able to clear so much Tylenol overnight.

They released me, giving me a medical leave of absence until Monday, so I can rest. They also gave me a prescription for something stronger than Tylenol Extra Strength, since it's obvious it doesn't do much for me, and an antibiotic for the rash that developed on my left leg, though most likely independent of what else happened.



I've always known that I often need more than the recommended dosage of a medication for it to work, but they told me I exaggerated, this time around.

Last time I had a migraine headache, it was in 1993 (and I was much skinnier, back then...) and I was prescribed the generic equivalent of Tylenol 3 with Codeine. Posology: one pill per four hours. Within and hour and a half, I had consumed 5, and was barely getting my head clear enough to do my homework (I was in computer school, at the time).


All in all, I guess I learned that I'm not invulnerable, and that I really don't like feeling helpless...

[Dave]

Sorry to hear all that! Migraines suck. I've only ever had one or two (allergy-induced) but I count 'em as being among the most miserable experiences I can remember.

I would not ever recommend continuing to drive, or operate heavy machinery while suffering from a migraine. Migraines mess with blood flow and signal communication in the brain, and can cause a partial shutdown of certain brain centers. I think the most commonly affected is the vision center, leading to "migraine aura", which causes selective blindness and tunnel vision. You might not even realize that some of your peripheral vision was compromised, until it was too late.

In my case, I had both a serious visual aura, bad pain, and nausea... and also had aphasia. I was unable to speak, except for a very few words... I couldn't even find the words I wanted to say, let alone make my mouth speak them. Scary - it taught me a bit about what it must be like to have a stroke.

Tylenol... yeah, more than 4 grams per day (8 extra-strength) can definitely result in toxicity... one of its metabolites is toxic to the liver, and the liver can only get rid of a certain amount of this at a time. A lot of people have suffered serious or fatal liver damage by overdosing on acetaminophen, and by all accounts I have read it is a very unpleasant way to die. Takes a few days to kick in, and it's a nasty ride downhill from there.

One trick I've learned: N-acetyl cysteine is the standard counter-agent for acetaminophen overdose. It increases glutathione levels, and glutathione is what the liver needs to inactivate the toxic metabolite. It can't actually reverse damage to the liver cells, I believe, and so it needs to be given promptly. It's considered a nutritional supplement (amino-acid class) and is thus available over the counter, at vitamin and health-food stores. I keep a bottle in the fridge. When my wife was taking a painkiller containing acetaminophen after hand surgery last year I recommended that she take a dose of NAC as well. It's not without its risk and side effects, though (nausea and rash in some cases).

[lake_wrangler]

I would not ever recommend continuing to drive, or operate heavy machinery while suffering from a migraine. Migraines mess with blood flow and signal communication in the brain, and can cause a partial shutdown of certain brain centers. I think the most commonly affected is the vision center, leading to "migraine aura", which causes selective blindness and tunnel vision. You might not even realize that some of your peripheral vision was compromised, until it was too late.

I did not know that. But I did keep moving my head around, as I looked at the dashboard, the road, the mirrors, etc, which probably minimized (somewhat) the effect you speak of.

I knew that ideally, I should have stopped driving when the headaches would not go away, but I was concerned that they could not find a replacement for me quickly enough, which would have meant cutting service (by removing a bus from the line, at a time when there aren't that many to begin with...)

Tylenol... yeah, more than 4 grams per day (8 extra-strength) can definitely result in toxicity... one of its metabolites is toxic to the liver, and the liver can only get rid of a certain amount of this at a time. A lot of people have suffered serious or fatal liver damage by overdosing on acetaminophen, and by all accounts I have read it is a very unpleasant way to die. Takes a few days to kick in, and it's a nasty ride downhill from there.

That's why I was surprised, after they told me of how toxic it was, to find out there wasn't really any Tylenol left in my blood. I don't get it. I'm not complaining, but I don't get it...

One trick I've learned: N-acetyl cysteine is the standard counter-agent for acetaminophen overdose. It increases glutathione levels, and glutathione is what the liver needs to inactivate the toxic metabolite. It can't actually reverse damage to the liver cells, I believe, and so it needs to be given promptly. It's considered a nutritional supplement (amino-acid class) and is thus available over the counter, at vitamin and health-food stores. I keep a bottle in the fridge. When my wife was taking a painkiller containing acetaminophen after hand surgery last year I recommended that she take a dose of NAC as well. It's not without its risk and side effects, though (nausea and rash in some cases).

I don't know what they gave me, but after taking a blood sample to measure the Tylenol content in it, they did give me something to counteract the Tylenol.

[Dave]

That's why I was surprised, after they told me of how toxic it was, to find out there wasn't really any Tylenol left in my blood. I don't get it. I'm not complaining, but I don't get it...

I don't know what they gave me, but after taking a blood sample to measure the Tylenol content in it, they did give me something to counteract the Tylenol.

It's good they gave you a counter-agent... probably either NAC, or methionine. From what I see, the dosage you took was flirting with the danger zone... probably not enough to cause substantial liver toxicity, but people vary.

Apparently they used to try to graph out how much a person had taken, before deciding to administer NAC, but they don't bother nowadays... it's better to administer the counter-agent as a preventive, as its risks are low.

It's interesting that you didn't show a significant residual of Tylenol in your blood-stream. That might mean that your body just doesn't absorb it well when you take it, or that you metabolize it faster than most people do. Considering that it didn't help your migraines, maybe you just don't absorb it well (and it turns out that it isn't all that effective in severe migraines anyhow... only about 40% of people get relief.)

Tylenol overdose can cause nausea and sweating... I wonder whether your fever might have been related?

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that all turns out hunky-dory in very short order!

[AnotherFairportfan]

At one time, the LD50 listed in the British pharmacopia {the dosage that is fatal in 50℅ of cases} for paracetamol {the European name for acetaminophen} was only twice the maximum therapeutic dose.

The real problem is that any number of OTC products contain the stuff and do NOT warn you, unless you check the ingredient listing.

Personally, i refuse to take the damned stuff.

{Oh - if you DO take it, do NOT drink any alcohol at the same time; they interact to increase the toxicity.}

Personally, i'd ban the stuff outright.

[Warrl]

I've always known that I often need more than the recommended dosage of a medication for it to work, but they told me I exaggerated, this time around.

There's a DNA analysis they can do to identify drugs, individually and by class, that are questionable or dis-recommended for the individual patient, or how standard dosage is likely to need to be adjusted. Faster or slower expected metabolism is one of the reasons for a drug to be highlighted in the resulting output as needing special handling.

DW had tried several statins for her cholesterol, and had unpleasant (but not dangerous) side effects from all of them. The DNA analysis identifies four that she should "use with caution" and one that she should avoid... and two that should be fine for her. She's on one of those now, with no apparent difficulty. (Her cardiologist also, at some point in reviewing the 11-page report, said "okay, no coumadin for you.")

It sounds like it would be useful for you to get this analysis done. Our insurance paid for it...

[Catawampus]

I would not ever recommend continuing to drive, or operate heavy machinery while suffering from a migraine. Migraines mess with blood flow and signal communication in the brain, and can cause a partial shutdown of certain brain centers. I think the most commonly affected is the vision center, leading to "migraine aura", which causes selective blindness and tunnel vision. You might not even realize that some of your peripheral vision was compromised, until it was too late.

Or the migraine could be just a precursor to something a bit more extreme, debilitating, and sudden.

[lake_wrangler]

I would not ever recommend continuing to drive, or operate heavy machinery while suffering from a migraine. Migraines mess with blood flow and signal communication in the brain, and can cause a partial shutdown of certain brain centers. I think the most commonly affected is the vision center, leading to "migraine aura", which causes selective blindness and tunnel vision. You might not even realize that some of your peripheral vision was compromised, until it was too late.

Or the migraine could be just a precursor to something a bit more extreme, debilitating, and sudden.

I have to admit, I hadn't thought of that. My only thought was to tough it out, so that they wouldn't have to cut service on the bus line...

(Admittedly, not the smartest decision I ever made... )

[Alkarii]

I should probably just look for another job as soon as I can. I'd been detailing cars for two months now, and just about every damn car I detail looks like nobody has touched it after I spend two and a half hours scrubbing everything and vacuuming everything. I go through about a dozen rags, which always end up looking pretty nasty after a few minutes, and the moment someone takes a look inside, they comment about how it looks like I haven't done anything.

In other news, I bought Batman: The Killing Joke on DVD the other day, and I'm watching it again. It's pretty good. I think Mark Hammill is probably underrated as the Joker, even if it is just voice acting.

[Sgt. Howard]

This seems as good a place as any to put this... I live on a hillside. A hillside of high desert sand. If I want flat land, I have to make it. I've been terracing here lately, using reclaimed RR ties for low retaining walls.

One section I have been digging has yielded black sand. Magnetic black sand. I am building a rocker and acquiring other items to see if there's anything there besides iron...

PS- I have FULL mineral rights...

[lake_wrangler]

Come and listen to my story
'Bout a man named Greg
A poor technician,
Barely kept his family fed.
And then one day
He was terracing some land,
And up from the hole came some freakin' black sand.

Magnet that is, magnetite, in fact.

Well the first thing you know
Ol' Greg's a millionaire,
Kinfolk said "Greg move away from there".
Said "California's the place you outta be".
So they loaded up the truck
And they moved to Beverly.

Hills that is, Swimming pools, movie stars.

Well now it's time to say
Goodby to Greg and all his kin,
They would like to thank
You folks for kindly droppin' in.
You're all invited back again to this locality
To have a heapin' helpin' of their hospitality.

Washington that is, sit a spell, take your shoes off.

Y'all come back now, y'hear?

[lake_wrangler]

That was the first thing that came to my mind... and it was so easy... barely had to change anything...

[Warrl]

Yeah, I know where there's a heck of a lot of magnetite sand. Problem is... it's a beach (and tide-flat) deposit. Not one mentioned in the Wikipedia article on magnetite.

Magnetite has a number of industrial uses as is, and is also a high-grade iron ore. The catch is that the iron-ore business has high capital requirements and low profit margins. Being able to dig it out with an ordinary shovel and separate it using a magnet without having to grind rock up may help, But still, we're probably talking somewhere around $50/tonne.

[Dave]

Black sand is not necessarily (all) magnetite, and there are things other than gold in it sometimes.

There are black sand deposits on some beaches in northern California that include a lot of monazite... a rare-earth phosphate ore, which originally eroded out of igneous rock up in the Sierras and was gradually washed downstream. This monazite contains a fair bit of thorium, and is thus naturally radioactive. I found a "mother lode" of this on one beach, a couple of inches thick, where a black rock layer rises up along the beach bluff. At ground layer the radiation level is as much as 10-15 times what it is up on the road. Not dangerous to beachgoers, but it occasionally freaks people out.

There was a big scare a few years ago when somebody detected the higher background radiation levels and thought it meant that Caesium 134 and 137 had washed in from Fukushima. The state came out, tested, found no Fukushima isotopes, but confirmed the original results from back in the 1950s showing the presence of NORM minerals.

I've got a few pounds of this sand in a box in my yard... really should scan it with my NaI scintillometer and see if it shows the presence of any uranium in addition to the thorium.

Good luck with yours, Greg! It would be neat if you turned out to have some placer gold on your property!

(Based on Greg's earlier comments, I sorta doubt he'd move back to California even if he did strike it rich. Too many of us liberal types infesting the place )

[Sgt. Howard]

California is a beautiful state, with virtually every type of terrain and climate the lower 48 has to offer. I grew up in San Jose BEFORE it became 'Silicon Valley'... originally I thought the name was a reference to Carol Doda's cleavage... I learned to surf at Santa Cruz, hunted rattlesnakes at Lexington Reservoir, got my second paycheck job with the "Billy Jones Wildcat RR" in Los Gatos and fell in love with a girl that still haunts my memories, even though I last saw her in 1972. Unfortunately, the state is populated and run by Californians. Between taxes, governmental intrusions, land prices and political correctness, currently California's chief export is people. If Trump wins, the governor is threatening to build a wall around the state- what I don't think they realize is that Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Texas will probably send crews to help. Nevada won't- take away the busses of Californians headed to Vegas and Reno, Nevada will financially dry up and blow away.
No- I will not move back to California. The State I grew up in does not exist anymore. Here in Eastern Washington, we have an agricultural economy remarkably similar to what was once Santa Clara county. The insanities of the Capitol (Olympia) by and large are ignored. I am very much at home here and have no desire to leave. Should I strike gold (which is a cheap investment to prove or disprove, BTW), then I will simply square my debts and improve my lot. I will set up college funds for my two boys, send some money to get my Brother out of dutch, do the same for my eldest daughter... assuming I am pulling pounds, not troy ounces... probably get more guns and ammo... hmm... no, DEFINATLY get more guns and ammo... y'know, a matched brace of 1927 Thompsons (These are semi-auto only) with the 50 round banjos... in pistol configuration (no buttstock, 10.5" barrels) ... "His and Hers" sort of a thing... heh... Miss Annie would love that... whelp, I gotta do the dishes, then I will finish the rocker- ought to have it operational by tomorrow. If I strike it rich... you'll read about it here.