Tonsil Stones (tonsilliths)
I didn't know there was a such a thing as tonsil stones until earlier this week.
You may be aware I have had trouble with my tonsils and will be having them removed in the next couple of months. Recently I have become paranoid about developing another throat infection. Feeling a tingle in my throat the other night I asked Jamie to have a look to see if my tonsils were swollen, red, etc. He said there was a lump of goo on my left tonsil (poor old lefty). I immediately assumed that this meant infenction. I took the maglite into my hand, stood in front of the mirror and shone it into the back of my throat. And sure enough I saw a lump of whitish goo on my left tonsil.
I gargled about 3 times that night but the goo stayed and it was still there the next morning.... However, before planning a trip to the doctor I checked out the next best thing - the Internet!.

I am a total hypochondriac and will rush to the doctor at the drop of a hat demanding diagnosis and treatment. But many doctors provide websites with advice, descriptions of illnesses and potential treatments - obviously for people just like me. And sure enough within 5 minutes of searching I was able to diagnose what was wrong with me and identify the best course of action, thus saving myslef 35 euro and a withering look from my doctor (she is a very patient woman :-).

I shall keep you in suspense no longer, the lump of white goo on my left tonsil (poor old lefty) was a tonsil stone. There is even a website which explains the whole thing, so I don't have to gross you out here. But I must warn you, Jamie chose to photograph the phenomenon so the picture may appear here over the next couple of days - just to record it for posterity.
In the end the tonsil stone went away after a bout of serious gargling and I am all better now.

I'll take the red pill, please!
Yes, I saw The Matrix Reloaded last night. For the few hours after the film I was unsure how I felt about it. There were some little things that bothered me but I got over and yes it is a good movie. There are many scenes which have everything you would expect from a Matrix sequel, the special effects really blow you away.
Some parts of the story I didn't like - I had no interest in Trinity and Neo's love - yawn! But the twist!!!! I may explode with anticipation before November..... I just felt that at the end of the second film we are asking again the question we were asking at the start of the first film - What is the Matrix?

Photos
After promising for so long I have finally added photos to this site. To see them clock the 'Photos' link on the left or click here.

These photos were taken with my lovely new camera, the Pentax Optio 330 GS, which I am very happy with. Not all my photos are there yet, but I will be adding to the collection over the next few weeks. Enjoy!

Update on the cat experiments:
These nice people use sciency mumbo-jumbo to explain the "buttered cat" conundrum. I hope no cats were hurt during these experiments!
This page sheds some light on the cats and terminal velocity one. From the referencees it seems that someone not only studied but wrote a book on "How Cats Survive Falls from New York Skyscrapers". I wouldn't be brave enough to read it....

Cats and dogs!
There are two kinds of people in this world cat people and dog people. Me, I'm a dog person. Its not that hate cats, but me and cats have never really gotten along (incidents with my grandmothers cat when I was a child started it). They hiss and scratch and I've always found it better that I keep my distance. So me and cats have an understanding, I'll stay away from them, and they might consider not clawing my eyes out.

But this weekend I was reading New Scientist on the train down to Cork and at the back of the magazine, in the section title "questions for next week" was a curious thing. The enquirer asked if it is true that you can drop a cat from any height and it will survive? This is based on the theory that a cats terminal velocity is slower than the speed at which it can safely land. I'd be very interested in the reply.

I also remember another strange one about cats. It was based on the theory that a buttered slice of bread always lands butter side down, and cats always land on their feet. So, if you strap a slice of bread, butter side up to a cats back, drop them from a great height, the opposing forces (the need for the bread to not land butter side down and the need for the cat to land on its feet) cause the cat to levitate....

But the point is that even though I'm a dog person, I don't hate cats enough to try any of these experiments. They do make me curious though.
I mean, if a cat, in certain circumstances, can levitate and can't die from a high fall, why do they need 9 lives?
Answers on a postcard please.....