Bedbugs!

We ran into the same thing recently -- we donated a desk chair to Goodwill which was turned down. But the bags of clothing? No problem! (Yes, that can be washed, but in the meantime it's sitting in the big collection bin in the back of the store...)

Lord Gonchar said:

CoasterDemon said:

Trust me bunky, looking for bed bugs is a waste of your time.

Trust me, this is completely untrue.

Now I am confused. If bedbugs are not a problem why waste time looking for them?

I took it that Gonch, whose wife works for a hotel chain, is saying that bedbugs, or evidence of bedbugs, can be seen with the naked eye, so looking for them is probably a good way to detect if they are present.

Exactly.

By nature of my relationship, I tend to hear/learn a lot about bedbugs. It doesn't make me an expert by any means, but the info thrown around seems completely alarmist and serving no purpose other than perpetuating the stupidity.

Bedbugs have always been a 'problem' and they still are a 'problem' - but the hype surrounding them got completely out of control, too many folks fed off of the fear and created more wackiness and people are still finding ways to make money off of the whole thing two year later.

There are bedbugs. There always has been. Your odds of encountering them aren't real high. It sucks for those that do. If you're concerned or like to live in fear, you can certainly do visual inspections to reduce the risk.

Clear enough?

I suppose the only reason I brought it up again, is how ridiculous someone of the posts seem in hindsight. Otherwise completely reasonable people not taking trips to parks for fear of bedbugs.

Looking back, it's a little funny to me and shows how we get caught up in things. Keeping this kind of perspective helps us understand better next time something like this comes down.

Curses to me for having this sense of need to complete or follow-up on things.

Dammit! I'm so mad that I opened this thread again. Gonch posted and I was too curious to know what he had to say. Now I am itchy again just thinking about it.

Damn you, Lord Gonchar...damn you!

It's okay, Carrie. Bedbugs don't survive in high elevations.

(YMMV, Just made that up.)

Bedbugs are also known to learn the native language and charm their way into bed with you.

Some kind words. A few drinks. A well-placed compliment.

Those seductive bastards.

Lord Gonchar said:

I suppose the only reason I brought it up again, is how ridiculous someone of the posts seem in hindsight. Otherwise completely reasonable people not taking trips to parks for fear of bedbugs.

Wow...Gonch refered to me as "otherwise completely reseasonable." My first almost coaster-buzz compliment. (I'm honored!)

Pfft, bedbugs are so yesterday's news. Here's what all the cool kids are talking about now.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/336/6088/1521.full

Mutated, genetically engineered H5N1 influenza that can be weaponized and transmitted between people causing a world-wide pandemic. It was finally published in Science this week after a year-long debate over whether the results should be made public.

I know what I'm going to ask for Christmas this year.

Wonder if Captain Tripps will kill all the bedbugs.

sws said:

I know what I'm going to ask for Christmas this year.

A mask and air-tight suit or a vial of mutated, genetically engineered H5N1 influenza? Hmmm...maybe both.

Can the Zombiepocalypse be far behind?

Oh yeah? How about some genetically modified mosquitoes?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/science/concerns-raised-about-genetically-engineered-mosquitoes.html?pagewanted=all

sws said:

I know what I'm going to ask for Christmas this year.

You know you are wasting time by worrying about Christmas, right? The world is ending on December 21 I believe.

There's a far worse epidemic on the horizon that nobody wants to acknowledge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ6LC-olw9Q

Sws, nnniiiiccceeee.

F-ing tribbles; they're everywhere.

Ya got tribbles, my friend, right here,
I say, tribbles right here on Deck Seven
A Malthusian dilemma of Epic Proportions,
and that starts with "P", and that rhymes with "T",
and that stands for Tribbles....

Tribbles, oh tribbles,

do I smell a recurring

joke? Or Maverick?

CP Chris said:

Do you know how many Flash Passes you could buy with what an exterminator will charge? :)

Or you could go to Kennywood and buy a Flash Pass for the Exterminator.