[QUOTE=only_human;362313]Sure but a metalized mosquito-net pup-tent that they could throw up around a person could helpful before moving somebody.[/QUOTE]Agreed.

A good idea, which I applaud, but the downside is that it's yet another bit of kit to be carted around.

[QUOTE=c10ck3r;362308]Status update: Dad had a stroke Dec 14, the day after he turned 39. The cancer has metastasized and spread to the brain. The doctors are putting in a shunt to drain fluid from his brain tonight, and he sees the oncologist sometime today. It's not looking like he'll make it another year.[/QUOTE]Bad news. Sorry to hear this. Talking about these things sometimes helps a little. Better if the crap didn't happen of course, but that option isn't available.

[QUOTE=only_human;362316]Bad news. Sorry to hear this. Talking about these things sometimes helps a little. Better if the crap didn't happen of course, but that option isn't available.[/QUOTE]

Indeed. I very sorry c10ck3r.

I lost my step-father three years ago, and my father just short of a year ago. One just doesn't understand the pain until it happens.... :cry:

[QUOTE=xilman;362311]My guess is that an ambulance, assuming metalic body, is a reasonable facsimile.

More in a moment. Poisson statistics ...[/QUOTE]One man's fish is another man's poisson.

Background information: most every afternoon SWMBO, I and the livestock have a social occasion where we meet up for nibbles and/or drinks and polite conversation. It's how we taught the cats that the chuck-chucks (as they call themselves, the English term is "hens") are family and neither toys nor food. It's also how the pecking order is set up and maintained without undue bullying. FYI, it goes SWMBO, me, old black female black cat, young grey&white ditto, orange chuck-chuck (aka Pixie), black ditto (aka Frou-frou) and orange&white tomcat (who is bottom of the heap).

Anyway, this afternoon we saw lots of blood spots on the kitchen floor. Closer examination showed that Pixie was missing a toe-nail and was dripping. :sad: Cue washing with clean water, pressure and a dressing, spray on antiseptic dressing and two layer of sticking plaster (Band-aid for our North American readers.

She doesn't seem too distressed, judged by the happy chootling noises (doubtless assisted by copious quantities of tasty treats), and she's now gone off to bed as normal.

Doubtless we shall find out more in the morning.

Just occasionally this thread reminds us how vicious life can be, doesn't it?

Paul, I wish you the speediest possible recovery. Don't let whatever this is affect your position in the pecking order above the non-human family members, whatever you do!

c10ck3r, I wish you and your family every strength at this very difficult time.

[QUOTE=xilman;362305]Just had to cancel a meeting tomorrow as I don't think it is wise to drive 120 miles each way.

Eight days ago I was carted off to hospital at about 11pm with severe chest pains. Ambulance crew were unable to run ECG immediately because of all the interference from several wifis (two of ours, three neighbours) and multitudinous computers (seven in our house alone) but a repeat out in the street suggested not heart probs.

Might be gallstones. Investigations are continuing.[/QUOTE]

I once had what my doctor suspected was a gall stone. It was a central pain just below the ribs, as I remember. What I really remember is that it hit suddenly, and doubled me up. The good part is that it abated just a suddenly, after a few sips of chicken broth (NO kidding). My thought is that the fats in the soup cause the bile duct to open up and spew some fluid, pushing the hypothetical stone on through. This was a good 20 years ago, and has not recurred, as my doctor said might happen.

It was the most intense internal pain I have ever experienced. Nonetheless, I would consider such a diagnosis as encouraging. Bad in the short term, but possibly short-lived, and treatable in any case.

@ c10ck3r- I am really sorry to hear of your Dad's difficulties. I wish you, and him, and those around you peace and comfort.

[url=globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/12/cancer-free-i-beat-prostate-cancer-mish.html]Cancer Free: I Beat Prostate Cancer; Mish the Guinea Pig[/url]

[QUOTE=xilman;362322]Anyway, this afternoon we saw lots of blood spots on the kitchen floor. Closer examination showed that Pixie was missing a toe-nail and was dripping. :sad: Cue washing with clean water, pressure and a dressing, spray on antiseptic dressing and two layer of sticking plaster (Band-aid for our North American readers.

She doesn't seem too distressed, judged by the happy chootling noises (doubtless assisted by copious quantities of tasty treats), and she's now gone off to bed as normal.

Doubtless we shall find out more in the morning.[/QUOTE]Update: examination at this afternoon's cocktail hour confirmed that Pixie is re-growing a toe-nail. It's only about 2mm long but definitely there. Nice to see the damage, though undoubtedly uncomfortable, isn't permanent.

I'm off to the local hospital tomorrow for an ultrasound examination. Presumably, it will tell whether it's a boy, a girl, gall stones or something else. We'll see, perhaps.

:paul:

The PSU in my main machine has died. In doing so and as part of subsequent diagnosis, it blew several fuses. A chase round the local PC stores failed to find a suitable replacement so the machine will be out of action for a few days.

I'm just hoping that the PSU didn't take anything else with it.

Consequences include no GCW or HCN updates and a rather inconvenient access to my incoming email. This post is being composed on a moderately elderly recycled laptop.

Ho hum.


Paul

I had a BSOD on a Windows 7 box today. It is the first I've ever had on Windows 7. Hopefully it is the last.

[QUOTE=rogue;367954]I had a BSOD on a Windows 7 box today. It is the first I've ever had on Windows 7. Hopefully it is the last.[/QUOTE]

Today my work computer (also running Windows 7) had a BSOD. I can no longer boot it up since it needs a BitLocker key, which I don't have. I'll have to get that from work tomorrow.