bookofjoe

'World's only blogging anesthesiologist'? — 'I think not!'

Every few months I get an irate email with more or less the message above.

Sometimes from an anesthesiologist, sometimes from a reader of an anesthesiologist's blog.

Each time I assign my crack research team to follow up and get the facts.

Because if there is indeed another blogging anesthesiologist — and I'm the one who decides what makes a blogging anesthesiologist — then I will graciously change my sobriquet to "World's first blogging anesthesiologist."

'Cause I think I've got that one sewn up.

But I digress.

Let's see who's out there, shall we?

The first of the other anesthesiologist blogs I became aware of was wakingupcosts.

It's written by a practicing anesthesiologist, true enough.

The most recent posts appeared on October 15, October 9, August 22 and July 7.

Nuff said.

The same anesthesiologist produces romanvenable.net: its last post went up on April 30 of this year.

Imsosleepy is the blog of a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist in the Middle West.

He posted on October 17, October 16, October 11 and September 25.

Then there's echojournal, a joint production of anesthesiologists Michael Ostrovsky and Paul Geldard which began on November 1, 2003.

The last post was on June 14 of this year.

Now we leave the U.S. and enter the big wide world.

Gasman is a Malaysian anesthesiologist who posted on October 30, October 21 and September 26.

smooze is the blog of a Swiss anesthesiologist named J. Corniche.

He emailed me recently to call my attention to his existence.

The email was in English but his blog is in French — not one of my languages.

The most recent posts were on October 30, October 27, October 21 and October 16.

Finally, there's nurseanesthetist.

It's quite good and offers much of interest to those who visit.

Now, having toured the (known) world of anesthesiologist blogs, wouldn't you agree that it's actually quite reasonable for me to continue calling myself the "world's only?"

I mean, I post more often each day than most of the others do in a month.

I welcome your thoughts.

Swiss Army Snowboarding Tool

12 tools with 16 functions, among them a removable 10 mm hex key and 4 mm curved Allen wrench to adjust most bindings.

Snap shackle to attach to backpacks, etc.

3.5" x 1.25" x 1".

$90 here.

PODS® — Portable On–Demand Storage

From time to time I read.

My question today is very simple: how is it that until I read about these storage containers–to–go in the Abode supplement enclosed within the current issue of C–Ville, I'd never heard of them?

I mean, they started up in 1998 — seven years ought to be more than enough time for word to get out.

Wrote Priya Mahadevan:

What's in Your Pod?

Need a place to store your stuff?

Planning to move anytime soon?

Maybe it's time to think PODS.

Short for "Portable On–Demand Storage," PODS gives college students, business owners and families an efficient way to store and move their belongings.

PODS differs from a regular moving truck or the standard storage facility.

First, PODS containers are at ground level so you don't have to worry about carrying heavier items up narrow ramps.



Also, a PODS container is delivered to your doorstep, then picked up by a PODS representative and either taken back to the PODS warehouse (if you're using it for storage) or delivered to the location of your choice.

Past that, PODS is affordable — it can be rented on a monthly basis for between $140 and $200.

This seems to me a superb solution to the chaos and misery of moving and/or storage.

Tell you what: I'm gonna suggest them next time someone I know calls and asks, "Joe, can you help me move this coming weekend?"

Might make a reasonably priced abode for a visitor who outstays their welcome....

The website says the containers are 8'W x 8'H and either 12' or 16' long and hold the contents of a 1,200–square foot home.

That ought to be enough space, ya think?

A shame about the lighting, though....

Tel: 888-776-PODS/7637.

Movable Outdoor Faucet

Perhaps your hose outlet is in a bad place.

Well, guess what?

Now you can stick it wherever you like.

From the website:

5' and 10' Faucet Extensions

No need to step through mud and wet, scratchy bushes.

Attach this faucet extension to the outside faucet, "snake it" through the bushes out to the bed edge, then push the stake into the ground.

When you’re ready to water, just connect your hose to the extension's faucet!

Galvanized steel stake leaves space underneath to fill a watering can.

Reinforced rubber hose with solid brass fittings and faucet.

400-psi burst strength.

The 5' extension is 13" tall and costs $25.99; the 10' is 22" tall and costs $35.99, both here.

Your name in lights?

Well, until joeTV kicks off I can't do that for you but in the meantime there's no reason I can't put it up in pixels.

I've received a number of emails from joeheads around the world wondering if I'd put their name in a real bookofjoe post.

Guess what?

Yes, I will.

As soon as I get a critical mass of people I'll devote a prime-time post to a list that includes name, hometown, country, and perhaps other things if you like.

I suppose I could put up a picture too.

So keep the emails coming — one day you'll wake up and you'll be famous.

Conversation Cushion

From the website:

The conversation cushion is filled with 100 questions.

Sneakily pick one of the question ribbons from the small rips in the front of the cushion and give a tiring conversation a fresh boost.

Measures 20 x 40cm (8" x 16").

$62 here.

[via AW]

'Hidden Treasures: The Inner Life of the Buddhas'

Above, the title of a show on display in Paris this past summer, of CT scans of Korean Buddhas from the 11th to the 18th centuries.

French artist Rudolphe Gombergh and his team found hidden pearls, sacred texts, covert messages and precious stones concealed beneath the timeless visages.

Gombergh calls the techniques used, including rendering software to sharpen the images, "virtual life art" that makes what appears to be a solid block of wood suddenly stunningly vivid.

The exhibit is scheduled to travel to San Francisco and New York.

Jeanette Borzo wrote about the project in the current (November) issue of Wired magazine.

The Buddha pictured above reveals a wood gnarl in blue–green and a pearl in white (between the eyes).

TimeTable

Under the glass top is a battery–powered clock.

13.5"D x 23"H.

$98 here.