Bed Bugs...infestation has folks scratchin' their head (among other things!)...

Back in the sixties (OMG!) I was first introduced to blood-sucking little devils - no, not those of the luminous variety - that stalk vulnerable humans at lightning speeds at the witchy Twilight hour.

Getting warm, though.

Of course, I am broaching a delicate subject, that may amount to just plain old nit-picking.

The removal of a pesky bed bug infestation (of which there are many stoking up stressors in cleanliness freaks around the country) is not a cup of tea.

What is a bed bug?

Nothing as cute and loveable as Herbie 'fer sure!

For starters, the pin-head-sized parasites, are part of a family of insects known as Cimicidae.

When the local pharmacist bandies about the commonly known term, he or she is usually drawing attention to one elusive "species" (Cimex lectularius) that prefers to chow down on human blood.

In contrast, insects in this family live by feeding exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded animals.

Delightful little creatures, eh?

From a life stage perspective, the pesky annoyers are fascinating critters to study.

The blood-thirsty pests shed their delicate-looking outer shell by way of a molting process (ecdysis) throughout myriad stages of intriguing development during the course of their lives.

Bed bugs must molt six times before becoming fertile adults.

Bed bugs, though not strictly nocturnal, are mainly active at night and are capable of feeding unnoticed on their hosts.

Ah-ha!

So, that's what was nipping at the butt, at the crack of dawn, one early spring morning.

Only a vigorous external treatment - usually a potent lotion applied directly to the skin - will rid a frustrated inductee!

There is one slim glimmer of hope if you believe in magic.

A rhyme we used to sing out at the top of our lungs when we were kids often did the trick.

Sleep tight
Don't let the bed bugs bite
If f they do,
Hit 'em with a shoe
'til they're black and blue

Largely eradicated as pests in the developed world in the early 1940s, bed bugs have been resurgent since about 1995.

Happy Hunting!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Royal King Cafe...Worst Chinese food in all of San Francisco! Golden Rubber Chicken Award...

Take life in hands @ Royal King Cafe!

There's there nothing worse that bad chinese food.

In fact, it ranks right up there with icky sex!

So, if you're strolling down Kearney Street towards Chinatown, and tempted to alight at the Royal King Cafe (Kearney & Commercial) to order up some Chinese, keep walking!

The Royal King Cafe has the worst Chinese food in San Francisco (possibly on the West Coast).

How a chef could screw up a simple order of steamed garlic chicken on a bed of white rice (and a cup of soothing hot tea) is beyond me!

The chicken was tough and rubbery and consisted mostly of lifeless undercooked skin.

The spoon and fork (no knife was offered up) made it a difficult proposition to get to the meat at the center - if a few tasty morsels lurked there - that is.

Doubtful!

The cook either forgot the garlic seasoning, or it was sprayed on so thin, that it evaporated during the heat-up process.

Seriously, folks - did 'ya warm up yesterday's left-over entree in a microwave - or what?

When I asked for a cup of green tea, the server noted that the restaurant only stocked regular tea!

Although, I politely passed on the American brand, the waitress sauntered over with a cup of it anyway.

Frankly, it tasted like luke-warm water.

Eugh!

By the way, the owner has framed photos of himself posing with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mayor Gavin Newsom, gracing the modest interior walls.

The winsome twosome must have been in-their-cups when they endorsed this joint!

To make matters worse?

No fortune cookie.

Just as well, it probably would have uttered up an ominous message, anyway.

Fooey!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Vioxx Settlement...a fraud perpetrated on the American people!

After a few skirmishes in the courts with litigants over allegations that the intake of VIOXX resulted in life-threatening ailments, the manufacturer - Merck - agreed to a settlement with the claimants.

In the wake of that landmark announcement last year, the pharmaceutical giant proceeded to rehabilitate its image, claimants scrambled to sign the paperwork, and attorneys rubbed their hands with glee over the spoils to come.

In recent days, there have been grumblings from claimants that Merck has not been following through on their promise.

Moreover, as the accountants get ready to divvy up the pie, it appears that - as usual - the sharks (lawyers) will gobble up the lion's share of the settlement money, while needy claimants end up with a few crumbs or - in some cases - nothing at all.

Claimants started to get nervous late in the summer when checks were not forthcoming.

After all, a few months earlier they signed off on the agreement with the understanding that payments would make their way into their hands in August (2008).

Today, some are still twiddling their thumbs, waiting for their checks to arrive.

Are they in the mail?

Heck, no!

Now there is a new twist to the ongoing deception.

Some claimants have received confusing notices from claims administrators (Mr. Brown at BrownGreer with offices back East) and high-powered law firms handling the litigation in the local courts (Khorrami Pollard Abir LLP; Kabateck Brown Kellner) advising them that there is a "deficiency" in their paperwork which must be cured, otherwise their claim(s) will be in jeopardy.

The legally-binding document is deceptive on its face because it is not meant to resolve any deficiency at all, but rather, to trick the claimant into signing a "dismissal" of their lawsuit pending in the U.S. Courts.

A couple of wise old owls figured that one out and have informed Brown (claims office) that they don't intend to dismiss the suit until he produces two things: a release and - the obvious - a draft the sum agreed to.

But, the scurrilous conduct of the lawyers handling the settlements extends further.

Victims of the VIOXX fiasco have also been mailed "lien" documents.

A cover letter urges the addressee (claimant) to sign the paperwork to ensure that no problems arise (or delays occur) in the final stages of the settlement process.

In reality, signing the "lien" documents, guarantees that doctors and/or medical facilities - and lawyers who handled the litigation and subsequent claims - receive their fees upfront before the claimant receives their settlement check!

If anything is left, that is.

Claimants I have spoken to are suspicious and holding back on those signatures.

Frankly, I don't blame them.

Complaints directed to the Judge presiding over the case in Los Angeles (Victoria Chaney) have not triggered any investigation, or appropriate action, whatsoever.

Is it possible that the female Jurist is taking money from Merck under the "bargaining" table or does she have a cushy pact with the heavyweight law firms involved that guarantees her a cut to keep her yap shut?

News at 11!

http://www.julianayrs.com