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| Author |
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| 25 new of 88 responses total. |
tod
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response 25 of 88:
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Jul 17 19:17 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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keesan
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response 26 of 88:
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Jul 17 22:44 UTC 2003 |
Southeast Minnesota has a very nice bike trail on an abandoned railway, with
shade. It continues into Wisconsin, where one town built free hot showers.
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clees
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response 27 of 88:
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Jul 18 02:35 UTC 2003 |
I think we'll be doing that.
Or so I have been told.
The sooner we get out of this wind, the better.
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keesan
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response 28 of 88:
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Jul 18 08:20 UTC 2003 |
Houston Minnesota (the start of the trail) has a cooperative bike store run
by the public schools to teach children useful skills. The person who works
there is very nice. In the winter they build wheels. This is a town of 1000
and there is a waiting list for the 16 places in the class. If you go through
La Crosse, they have a lovely bike trail cutting through town in a marsh,
which goes under all the roads and takes you lots of useful places such as
the train station, community garden, university and downtown with food coop.
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aruba
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response 29 of 88:
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Jul 18 10:47 UTC 2003 |
You've probably been told that DeSmet is the place where the later books in
the Little House series took place. The Long Winter is a really powerful
description of how they almost starved to death one winter when the railroad
tracks east into Minnesota were completely blocked by snow fron November
until May. You're probably biking along those tracks now.
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clees
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response 30 of 88:
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Jul 21 17:54 UTC 2003 |
O yes, e have bee told about the Little House on the prairie. DeSmet
calls itself the Little Town on the Prarie. Met somne crazy and very
drunk locals there. The town hussy included.
She was all over us bikers.
But that's another story.
Time flies when you're having fun.
We have officially passed the haflway point.
Man, it saddens me toe realise that I will have to say goodby to all
these wonderful people I have spent so much time with, shared weather,
pain, grief, joy and drink with.
Part of me wishes this could go on forever.
Another part says, no more headwinds, please.
Fortunately those winds have ceased two days ago and I hope it stay
that way.
So, we left South Dakota and went into Minnesota. Mosquito country.
These little bloodsuckers (national bird of MN) seem to have a great
taste for foreign blood.
Anything exotic tastes better, I gues.
My legs testify for this.
Yesterday we had rain and thunderstorms. It made the morning part of
the day's ride (91 miles) interesting to say the least. The aftermath
is actually pretty pleasant. The heat is gone.
And finally I have started to lose weight, or it is beginning to show.
Yeah!
Me, a lean mean biking machine.
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gull
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response 31 of 88:
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Jul 23 14:27 UTC 2003 |
Get yourself an insect repellant with DEET, like "Off". It's the only
thing that really helps. You're heading into West Nile Virus territory
so it's prudent to avoid as many bites as possible.
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other
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response 32 of 88:
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Jul 23 14:33 UTC 2003 |
or smother yourself in catnip.
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other
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response 33 of 88:
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Jul 23 14:39 UTC 2003 |
http://www.mosquitosolutions.com/catnip.html
8 fl. oz. Spray Bottle
This natural mosquito insect repellent contains Catnip Oil! A full 8
ounces of protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects. Our
formula is based on actual research at Iowa State University, in which
Catnip Oil was found to be 10 times more effective than DEET at
repelling mosquitos
All natural herbal based recipe:
The Catnip based insect repellent combines: 100% pure Catnip Oil
(nepetalactone) 100% pure Pennyroyal Oil (known to repel biting
insects) 100% pure Rosemary Oil (to repel more insects) 100 % pure
Vegetable Glycerin, used to keep the repellent on the skin for up to 8
hours.
This 100% natural formula provides defense without the potential dangers
associated with the chemical DEET. Our insect repellent offers up to 8
hours of protection against mosquitoes and other biting insects such as
biting flies, no-see-ums, midges, black flies and more.
Be sure to read what others are saying about the Catnip Oil Insect
Repellent:
Deb Jackson's Story How she developped our Catnip Oil Insect Repellent.
Satisfied Customers Happy users tell us what they think of Catnip Oil
insect repellent.
Iowa State University Research Document Read the actual report by
scientists at Iowa State University showing that Catnip Oil is 10 times
more powerful than DEET at repelling mosquitoes.
Directions: Spray on exposed skin (body, neck, arms, legs, etc.). Spray
on hand and rub on face. Apply to non-exposed areas if clothing is in
contact with skin surface (as mosquitoes will bite through clothing such
as socks, jeans and t-shirts).
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rcurl
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response 34 of 88:
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Jul 23 16:07 UTC 2003 |
How is "actual research" different from "research"? (Or an "actual report"
from a "report"?)
I also like the insidious "chemical DEET", as though nepetalactone and the
active ingredients of pennyroil and rosemary oils are not also chemicals.
And those oils from pennyroil and rosemary contain many other chemicals,
which they don't tell you about.
This is not to say that catnip oil isn't a better repellent than DEET,
although it it *much* harder to synthesize and therefore would be expected
to be more expensive. And is it really better to be crawling with cats
than with mosquitos?
Anyway, it is the choice between putting N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or
5,6,7,7a-Tetrahydro-4,7-dimethyl-cyclopenta[c]pyran-1-(4aH)-one on your
skin.
Is this the next Avon Skin-so-Soft fad?
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dcat
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response 35 of 88:
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Jul 23 16:11 UTC 2003 |
"not only will mosquitos hate you, but your cats will *love* you !!"
:-)
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glenda
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response 36 of 88:
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Jul 23 16:24 UTC 2003 |
My cats already are a nuisance, wanting to be on my desk or lap. Right now
they seem to take turns with only one or two bugging me at a time. With that
stuff I would have to be fighting all six at once.
Fortunately mosquitos don't seem to like me anyway.
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tod
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response 37 of 88:
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Jul 23 17:11 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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polytarp
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response 38 of 88:
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Jul 23 22:43 UTC 2003 |
DEET is an harmful carcinogen.
37: what the fuck's wrong with you?
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tod
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response 39 of 88:
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Jul 23 22:45 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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rcurl
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response 40 of 88:
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Jul 23 23:38 UTC 2003 |
From http://212.187.155.84/wnv/List_WPMod_Cont/westnile/Chemicals/deet.htm
# Carcinogenic effects: [of DEET]
* No development of cancer in rats and mice (Mus domesticus - Laboratory
mouse) fed high daily doses over their lifetime. (W188.Mar02.WNV18)
* No direct relationship has been established between the use of DEET and
carcinogenicity in humans.
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tod
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response 41 of 88:
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Jul 23 23:45 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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keesan
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response 42 of 88:
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Jul 24 00:08 UTC 2003 |
DEET makes me nauseous.
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rcurl
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response 43 of 88:
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Jul 24 00:41 UTC 2003 |
Some individuals may be sensitive, but overall DEET is quite innoxious.
Here is the toxicity information from the above website:
# Relatively few confirmed incidents of human (Homo sapiens - Human)
toxicity have been reported. (W188.Mar02.WNV18)
* No sign of skin irritation in initial repeat-insult patch tests
conducted over 21 consecutive days and involving 100% technical grade DEET
or 50% DEET in ethanol.(J136.128.w1)
* A few cases of contact urticaria and irritant contact dermatitis
have been reported (14 cases, mainly in soldiers); there appears to be a
particular sensitivity of the antecubital fossa to develop bullous
irritant contact dermatitis if DEET products are left on this area
overnight. (J136.128.w1)
* One case of bradycardia and hypotension has been documented in the
medical literature. (J136.128.w1)
* 14 cases of encephalopathy reported, 13 of these in children less
than eight years old, with three fatal cases (including one in a child
with an ornithine carbamyl transferase deficiency which may have
predisposed the individual to DEET-induced toxicity); the other children
recovered without sequelae. Many of those affected had a history of "long
term, excessive or inappropriate use of DEET repellents. "(J136.128.w1)
.....
Note the last sentence. I prefer 100% DEET and have no effects from it
when lightly placed on my skin (avoiding area around eyes). However I
prefer to wear a "bug jacket", which is an open mesh jacket that is first
soaked in 100% DEET. One gets very little on one's skin and then only in
tiny patches where the jacket directly contacts the skin. There is no
need to even apply it to the face - the jacket has a hood and that is
enough to keep mosquitos at bay.
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slynne
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response 44 of 88:
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Jul 24 14:22 UTC 2003 |
DEET is very effective. Generally, I dont apply it to my skin but
choose to put it on my clothes instead. I think DEET melts certain
types of synthetic fabrics but I havent had any problems. I hate the
way it smells though so I only use it when the bugs are really bad.
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gull
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response 45 of 88:
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Jul 24 19:36 UTC 2003 |
I've heard that over 50% there are no additional benefits to higher
concentrations of DEET. The concentration mainly seems to affect how
long the repellent lasts, not how effective it is.
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rcurl
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response 46 of 88:
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Jul 25 00:21 UTC 2003 |
Well, that's important. The longer it lasts, the less often you have
to apply it, and very possibly it is cheaper per mosquito-hour. Why
pay for a diluent?
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clees
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response 47 of 88:
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Jul 29 10:04 UTC 2003 |
Today, Tuesday, I'll end up in Frankenmuth, Michigan, after a 88 mile
ride from Farwell.
I'll stay at the
Frankenmuth Middle School E.F. Rittmueller,
965 E. Gennesee
You can expect me to arrive between 1 and 2 p.m.
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remmers
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response 48 of 88:
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Jul 29 11:51 UTC 2003 |
Check out the chicken dinners at Zhender's!
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russ
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response 49 of 88:
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Jul 30 04:44 UTC 2003 |
Pity I had to miss this; retrieving car from repair shop ate my
free time for the day.
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