Sciencewoman here with a Science Update:
Eucerin Anti-Reddening Cream? A total SHAM. The right side of my face looks just like the control (also know as 'the left side of my face.') A follow-up experiment featuring Alpha-Hydroxy made the right side of my face break out, so it was suspended. To give them credit, acne probably does make me look more youthful.
In other biology news, I did a little research on cilantro (hack). (Oh yes, I hate it too, Diner Girl, Catherine, http://ihatecilantro.com/stats.php, et al.) In my cilantro (cough) studies I chanced on Silkendrum's post on cilantro and her casual assertion that some people can't smell asparagus pee. Has anyone heard of this before? Is it like the coroner's ability to smell arsenic, only it's an inability to smell an odor? Are there truly some people who have no idea what asparagus does to them? Or, possibly, is Silkendrum just messing with me?
Back to cilantro (spit). Dislike of the c-word is so passionate that many point to a specific gene to justify it, because such hatred is contrary to their good natures. If so, does this cilantro-hating gene run in families? (Yes, I'm asking you, Queen Mother.)
It all reminds me of the day I made cinnamon bread in the bread machine. Gary said "yum," whereas I spat it into the sink. I took it to work to find out definitively who was right: Gary ("yum") or Ellen ("Must spray sink nozzle directly on tongue"). Luckily, my friend Lea was my cubemate and a microbiologist, and without tasting the bread she explained that she's had the same experience, and that we share an uncommon enzyme in our saliva. This enzyme combines only with cinnamon that has reacted with yeast and fills our mouth with the taste of rusty dirt. Cinnamon swirl bread is safe because it keeps the cinnamon and yeast from touching.
The sad thing is that I can't find a word of specific data to back up the cinnamon-enzyme hypothesis. Same with the cilantro-gene theory.
Remember, people, every dash of coriander is a cilantro plant that never lives.
Aspargus twinged pee is one of those smells that I hate but when I smell it I can't stop sniffing to make sure I it smells as bad as I think it does.
Sometimes I have the same problem with my sponge.
Posted by: melati | September 25, 2006 at 09:33 AM
Melati, you are so honest, I love you.
Oh - did you mean KITCHEN sponge?
Posted by: TheQueen | September 25, 2006 at 11:57 AM
Was it you or your brother who said pineapple tasted like black pepper? And yes there must be a cilantro gene because I tasted it at a chili cook-off and decreed it inedible.
Posted by: Queen Mother | September 25, 2006 at 02:52 PM
The only thing I can do about the red-face thing is slather Physicians Formula green stuff on my face before I put on makeup.
The rosacea prescription stuff works but I'm too lazy to get it refilled.
Posted by: Rebecca | September 25, 2006 at 04:44 PM
QUEEN! EW!
(I don't use the sponge, but now that you mention it, i would be hard for me to not sni...
I'm stopping now.)
Posted by: melati | September 29, 2006 at 12:32 PM
QUEEN! EW!
(I don't use the sponge, but now that you mention it, i would be hard for me to not sni...
I'm stopping now.)
Posted by: melati | September 29, 2006 at 12:33 PM
uh.
Posted by: melati | September 29, 2006 at 12:40 PM
Dear Queen of Mediocreta of Surbubia,
I am writing to you about your sock dilemma given that I have 50 years of experience making socks since I am the President and CEO of Wigwam Mills, Inc.You questioned whether there is a relationship between between sock pricing and performance. As a general rule there is. However I should point out to you that although Smart Wool is a fairly widely known sock brand they don't make any of the socks they sell. They contract the manufacturing of them to both domestic companies and also some in the Far East. Wigwam makes the all socks they market and sell them under the Wigwam brand. And we do it all in the USA. Also there is a general propensity from my experience for manufacturers that make socks to make them too tight so that they are binding on your leg. That need not be the case. Wigwam has been in business for 104 years and I am the third generation President and owner of the company. Let me know what sort of socks you are looking for along with your size and I will send you a pair. And take a look at our web site (www.wigwam.com) to see the variety of socks we make. Use our sock finder to identify the type of socks you are seeking.
Sincerely,
Bob Chesebro
Posted by: Robert E. Chesebro Jr. | November 27, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Robert Cheesebro Jr. - I left you a whole post (http://mocklog.typepad.com/queen_mediocretia/2009/11/socks.html). You will be included in the sock-off.
Posted by: TheQueen | November 28, 2009 at 11:38 PM