more likely he thinks he's Iron Man, and he has a suit he made of cardboard, duct tape and tempera paint.

If he disappears at the same time as DragonCon, then we'll know where he is.

Happy Anniversary, Cashmere!

I mean, I can sympathize with a desire to GAFIAte (aka Get Away From It All) especially when you're a high profile public official, so even if you DO hike the Application Trail (::snerk::) you likely get a bunch of people Not Leaving You Alone. So going to a picturesque foreign country with great scenery where nobody knows you would be a great idea...

if, say, you confide in the lieutenant governor and the senior member of your staff how you can be reached quickly and ask them to keep it very very quiet.

On the whole, I think the governor would have been better off to go unshaven and wear a hoodie and large sunglasses whilst hiking the Application Trail.

Waiter, There's a Large Bird of Prey in My Soup

New Yorkers tend to throw fits about wildlife showing up in odd parts of their city. So we're unsurprised to hear that a local man was flustered when a large hawk flew into the restaurant where he was eating last week and perched on his lunch.

It'd be cruel to steal the story away from its hilarious original teller, whose best line was "I turned around to see it standing on my two-piece-with-side-and-soda combo, just chilling and looking out the window wistfully, as though a Sarah McLachlan song were playing in its head."

A phone call to the restaurant confirmed the tale, including the tidbit that a cook, Manoli (in the style of a true superhero, no one at the eatery knew his last name), whom a waitress describes as "pretty fearless," caught the thing in his bare hands when it flew into the kitchen. Said hawk was sent to the vet, who reportedly turned him over to a wildlife refuge.

The name of the eatery? Birdie's.

I have an ear infection. It's excruciating. I started antibiotics yesterday at 4pm...has anyone had one of these recently? How long does it take for the pain to at least dull after starting a course?

I've only been at my job for like six weeks, and I had to leave early yesterday to go to emergency and call in sick today. Bleh. My eardrum feels like it may explode.

Would a heating pad help?

Actually, Allyson, that's what'll relieve the pain-- if your eardrum ruptures, it'll allow the the fluid buildup to be released. At least, that's how it was with the one time any of my kids had an ear infection.

Sounds far more appalling than it actually is.

I have an ear infection. It's excruciating. I started antibiotics yesterday at 4pm...has anyone had one of these recently? How long does it take for the pain to at least dull after starting a course?

Depending on the infection and the antibiotic, between a few hours and a day, usually. If it's not feeling better in two days, call the doctor again.

Ouch, Allyson. I've got nothing.

The Application trail isn't nearly as fun to walk.

Don't I know it!

How long does it take for the pain to at least dull after starting a course?

I would think it should start working in 24 hours if not sooner. Can you call the doctor's office that gave you the prescription and see if they can call in a prescription for numbing the pain? There are eardrops that can be used for the pain, I can't remember the name of the drug though.