So there's a site called Baby Steals, which is a lot like the woot sites, where you get a deal a day. They have the zoobie giraffe for today for half the usual price. And I totally want one, except I bought two zoobie monkeys just a few days ago and can't justify the $20 when I don't have $20.

Maybe I need to stop looking at the interweb.

First clafoutis of the season is in the oven. All is right with the world. Well, almost.

Kathy -- thank you for the book recs! I bookmarked your post.

I purchased and put up a new shower curtain rod. And then I made potato wedges. Oh, my god. Those were some cracktastically tasty potato wedges, you guys.

I think this is the crowd to enjoy this: [link]

I think bandages and kisses are also placebos, just "acceptable" ones.

Totally, but in the case of kisses, they are totally free. That's a plus to me. There are other accepted placebos: name a cure for hiccups that isn't just a placebo?

I also kind of agree with the guy who says you don't want to condition your kid to always think "pill" when they are feeling bad. I know you disagree Kat, but I think toddlers are pretty quick with that conditioning anyway. Or maybe that's just my two kids.

I'm trying to think of the situation where it would be the best choice. A headache? If I suspect there's real pain, I'm reaching for a real painkiller. Upset stomach? Perhaps as there aren't good meds for kids although I've found that Gripe Water seems to actually work (I tried it myself when I was pregnant). Allergy attack maybe?

things like kisses aren't in pill form which is the first place I see the problem.

and while there are studies on the magic of touch, kisses make you feel better not because they heal,but because someone cares

Okay, Ashton Kutcher is...well...well...he's happily married to Demi Moore, and that's just weird. Helping raise the kids and having a totally healthy interaction with their father.

His image throws me off balance. More power to him, I guess. I just can't work out who his target audience is, and how his familial situation must affect that.

His camera ad is cute, where he leaves his camera "untended" and all these LA style hotties pick it up and take pictures of themselves of them, and the comes back for it playing ignorant.

I just can't think Demi would take that well.

I want more lemonade. Stomach is vat of acid. :(

IIRC there's a hierarchy of lab coats in a hospital, right? Or a code? Full-fledged doctors wear one length, students another? Which is which?

Okay, we've well moved on from the ghosts and monsters comment, but I'm only just now catching up, and wanted to defend myself:

I was not reacting to the percentage of people who have seen a ghost (though I remain skeptical of ghosts). My "primitive and superstitious outlook" and "bugfuck crazy" comments were about the monster in the closet statistic.

ita, it may be too late, but med students wear the short ones, but everyone else wears the long ones at my hospital, including some nurses. NP's and more established doctors tend to have their name and credentials embroidered on them so you can tell who is who.

lab coats, that is

Um, some hiccup cures aren't placebos. Holding your breath as long as you can, or taking as many small sips of water as you can between breaths works for some people because suppressing the gag reflex lets the jittering muscles of the diaphragm relax, thus easing the hiccup reflex.