Comments on: The statin stupids http://listics.com/201001265222 “History may only rarely be written by the losers, but it is always written by the writers.” -- David Weinberger Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:22:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Frank Paynter http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64676 Frank Paynter Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:32:51 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64676 After the leaves fell this year, a huge <a href="http://hillsteadblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/paper-wasp-nest.jpg" rel="nofollow">paper wasp nest</a> was revealed. I wondered if they might be the pollinators but haven't been able to find any documentation to suggest that the trees have any insect pollinators. In Hiroshima after the bomb blast a half dozen gingkos survived when all around them the vegetation was totally destroyed. I guess if you can survive an A bomb blast, then that speaks well for your species chances at survival over the long term. After the leaves fell this year, a huge paper wasp nest was revealed. I wondered if they might be the pollinators but haven’t been able to find any documentation to suggest that the trees have any insect pollinators.

In Hiroshima after the bomb blast a half dozen gingkos survived when all around them the vegetation was totally destroyed. I guess if you can survive an A bomb blast, then that speaks well for your species chances at survival over the long term.

]]> By: Betty Jo http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64673 Betty Jo Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:35:04 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64673 Husband's family used to do expeditions to the park where female Ginko trees grew. In Muck boots with rubber gloves they collected the fruit, brought it home and scrubbed off the stinky fruit to get to the little nuts inside, scrubbed them off, and set 'em out to dry. Several popular Chinese dishes use Ginko nuts (like wintermelon soup). I discovered that canned garbanzo beans taste nearly the same, and they surely are easier on the nose. (The kids called the Ginkos puke fruit too!) Did you know tho that Ginko is one of the oldest (a truely ancient) species? Wonder what the evolutionary benefit is tho, to yukky fruit? How can the tree spread if no critter will go near the fruit to collect and transport it's seed? Husband’s family used to do expeditions to the park where female Ginko trees grew. In Muck boots with rubber gloves they collected the fruit, brought it home and scrubbed off the stinky fruit to get to the little nuts inside, scrubbed them off, and set ‘em out to dry. Several popular Chinese dishes use Ginko nuts (like wintermelon soup). I discovered that canned garbanzo beans taste nearly the same, and they surely are easier on the nose. (The kids called the Ginkos puke fruit too!) Did you know tho that Ginko is one of the oldest (a truely ancient) species?
Wonder what the evolutionary benefit is tho, to yukky fruit? How can the tree spread if no critter will go near the fruit to collect and transport it’s seed?

]]> By: Frank Paynter http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64671 Frank Paynter Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:09:50 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64671 That's a bleak association, Dr. Savory! I remember "Flowers for Algernon" and the sadness I felt as the protagonist relapsed into total dumb-i-tude. But it's good to hear from you. Age is a gift, they say. Of course they say a lot of things. Mostly I don't recall what they say though. Probably a blessing. That’s a bleak association, Dr. Savory! I remember “Flowers for Algernon” and the sadness I felt as the protagonist relapsed into total dumb-i-tude.

But it’s good to hear from you. Age is a gift, they say. Of course they say a lot of things. Mostly I don’t recall what they say though. Probably a blessing.

]]> By: Stu Savory http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64670 Stu Savory Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:36:06 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64670 Me too :-( Have you not done so, please read 'Flowers for Algernon'. Great short story... Me too :-(

Have you not done so, please read ‘Flowers for Algernon’. Great short story…

]]> By: Frank Paynter http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64664 Frank Paynter Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:32:50 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64664 I recommend Haflinger's wool clogs. Easy on, easy off, and none of that embarrassing need to bend down. A fellow your age and condition ought to keep upright at all times. You probably don't remember that time you lost your clothes on the beach at St. Martin and had to walk a few kilometers into town clad only in a shaker of Bombay gin and a smile. I recommend Haflinger’s wool clogs. Easy on, easy off, and none of that embarrassing need to bend down. A fellow your age and condition ought to keep upright at all times.

You probably don’t remember that time you lost your clothes on the beach at St. Martin and had to walk a few kilometers into town clad only in a shaker of Bombay gin and a smile.

]]> By: don harvey http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64663 don harvey Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:18:25 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64663 One more thought. I too have noticed that I'm just not quite as sharp as I used to be. Last week my wife, Elaine, told me she was certain it was a result of my drinking too much. So yesterday I stopped for a couple of hours. By the end I think I was a lot smarter but I kept bending down to tie my shoes... and I was barefoot. Besides, the only reason I keep drinking at all is so I'll have something to give up if I ever deteriorate to your condition. One more thought. I too have noticed that I’m just not quite as sharp as I used to be. Last week my wife, Elaine, told me she was certain it was a result of my drinking too much. So yesterday I stopped for a couple of hours. By the end I think I was a lot smarter but I kept bending down to tie my shoes… and I was barefoot.
Besides, the only reason I keep drinking at all is so I’ll have something to give up if I ever deteriorate to your condition.

]]> By: Frank Paynter http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64662 Frank Paynter Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:09:13 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64662 "Gingko Biloba"... metric equivalent of "Lady Madonna"... 銀杏 We have a female in our front lawn. When we arrived in March, 1990 it was about the size of a mature dwarf apple tree. It was early spring, no leaves yet, and I thought it might be a fruit tree. Well, when the leaves appeared we could see it was a gingko, but it didn't bear fruit so we thought "How lucky, it must be a male." Little did we know that they take twenty years and more to mature. We found out it was a female a few years ago when it started dropping little plum shaped fruits. The odor of these fruits is unpleasant at best. I call them puke-fruit both because of how they smell and how stomach turning they are. Nothing like accidentally stepping on one on the way to the car, tracking it in and suffering with the stench in the confined space. Somewhere around here there is a male gingko and if I find it I'm gonna cut it down. What were we talking about? I forget. “Gingko Biloba”… metric equivalent of “Lady Madonna”…

銀杏

We have a female in our front lawn. When we arrived in March, 1990 it was about the size of a mature dwarf apple tree. It was early spring, no leaves yet, and I thought it might be a fruit tree. Well, when the leaves appeared we could see it was a gingko, but it didn’t bear fruit so we thought “How lucky, it must be a male.” Little did we know that they take twenty years and more to mature. We found out it was a female a few years ago when it started dropping little plum shaped fruits. The odor of these fruits is unpleasant at best. I call them puke-fruit both because of how they smell and how stomach turning they are. Nothing like accidentally stepping on one on the way to the car, tracking it in and suffering with the stench in the confined space. Somewhere around here there is a male gingko and if I find it I’m gonna cut it down.

What were we talking about? I forget.

]]> By: don harvey http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64661 don harvey Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:46:36 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64661 OTOH I noticed your decline begining in the early sixties. I suspected medication issues even then. In case you need help with your efforts to self diagnose let me help you. Senility: Stage I: You notice things are slipping but you're generally able to cover up so others don't notice. (Bothersome) Stage II: You know you're losing it so does everyone else and you know they know. (Humiliating) Stage III: Everyone else knows but you think you're fine. (Bliss) Personally, I think you fall between stages II and three...But then when it comes to long distance diagnoses I'm no Bill Frist. Ask your doctor about Ginko Biloba. If you can pronounce it you're fine. OTOH I noticed your decline begining in the early sixties. I suspected medication issues even then.
In case you need help with your efforts to self diagnose let me help you.
Senility:
Stage I: You notice things are slipping but you’re generally able to cover up so others don’t notice. (Bothersome)
Stage II: You know you’re losing it so does everyone else and you know they know. (Humiliating)
Stage III: Everyone else knows but you think you’re fine. (Bliss)

Personally, I think you fall between stages II and three…But then when it comes to long distance diagnoses I’m no Bill Frist.
Ask your doctor about Ginko Biloba. If you can pronounce it you’re fine.

]]> By: Frank Paynter http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64659 Frank Paynter Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:24:35 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64659 I lerved it when the Republican evoked the "number one medical system in the world." Is he going to talk about France, I wondered? Oh Medicare... life in the doughnut hole. Good to hear from you Peter. Regards to your kitty. Us old cats gotta stick together. I lerved it when the Republican evoked the “number one medical system in the world.” Is he going to talk about France, I wondered?

Oh Medicare… life in the doughnut hole.

Good to hear from you Peter. Regards to your kitty. Us old cats gotta stick together.

]]> By: Peter (the other) http://listics.com/201001265222/comment-page-1#comment-64658 Peter (the other) Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:35:07 +0000 http://listics.com/?p=5222#comment-64658 Well if these last three posts are the results of a statin-free you, I say there is a question. You've been kicking some post, butt, ana I like it (so many of us blogging lightweights have come and gone, Frank blogs on)! I have been feeling very stoopid for three years, since I was put on hormone replacement (why does that somehow make sense?). Now the NUMBER 1 (WE ARE #!!!!!) medical system in the world (having just suffered through the Republican rebuttal) are pushing statins at me, and if my $700 a month insurance won't kick in until the 3k deductible, I say bring them on. Oh well, ignorance is bliss? My ol' cat and I take our meds together, it has become a warm, bonding ritual. We plan to go together... when we go. Well if these last three posts are the results of a statin-free you, I say there is a question. You’ve been kicking some post, butt, ana I like it (so many of us blogging lightweights have come and gone, Frank blogs on)! I have been feeling very stoopid for three years, since I was put on hormone replacement (why does that somehow make sense?). Now the NUMBER 1 (WE ARE #!!!!!) medical system in the world (having just suffered through the Republican rebuttal) are pushing statins at me, and if my $700 a month insurance won’t kick in until the 3k deductible, I say bring them on. Oh well, ignorance is bliss? My ol’ cat and I take our meds together, it has become a warm, bonding ritual. We plan to go together… when we go.

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