How does DEET work? Scientists aren’t exactly sure how DEET repels insects. But contrary to what many people may think, DEET is not an insecticide, Dr. Kennedy said. It doesn’t kill mosquitoes and is not poisonous to them. Instead, it simply deters them, likely with its noxious smell. “The whole point of smelling unpleasant is you’re not the only one that thinks that,” Dr. Kennedy said. “Insects do, too,” he said. That includes other bugs like ticks, fleas and biting flies. Another theory about how DEET works is that it masks certain human emissions, like carbon dioxide, which insects are normally attracted to, Dr. Kennedy said.
Is DEET safe? Millions of people in the United States use DEET-containing products every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet between 2007 and 2012, there were only about 2,800 reported health incidents involving the chemical, the agency said in its most recent review. DEET has also been used for about 80 years. If it was toxic or caused cancer, “it would have showed up a long time ago,” said Jeffrey Bloomquist, an insect toxicologist at the University of Florida. Most incidents the E.P.A. noted were minor, involving skin, eye or respiratory irritation like rashes, watery eyes or wheezing.
I guess it was statistically, but I didn’t really notice it but maybe I’m not good at observing such things as I mostly spent weekends in the wilderness and weekdays in the suburban air conditioned office next to the Old Cilty Dump.
The days goes by much too quickly, 📆 as the song goes. It’s Hump Day, and I’m thinking I will try to ride uptown and go to the Farmer’s Market and pick up a few things to make it through to Friday when I’m heading north to Speculator and can quite possibly swing by Samdil Farm and Produce to get the best that summer has to offer before it’s too late. 🌽 🍆 🍅
Last night I rode out to Five Rivers then out to Voorheeesville and the Bender Mellon Preserve. 🍈 It was a pleasant evening, though I was annoyed that the rubber foot fell off my bike kickstand, but ultimately I found it at home and will re-glue it back on before I head out of town this weekend. Also, got the paperwork for the Drive and Save, and it’s fine, though I do still wonder what I agreed to when I got the insurance transmitter for my truck, and agreed to monitoring. 🚘 I remind myself I am free to quit at any time. 📱 I am wondering how it will effect my ability to use Waze and get important notifications while driving. I don’t interact with my phone. Hate to say it, if it interferes with my phone too much, I’m going to just pay the extra $52 for six months. Whatever!
Likewise, I’m watching as finally the landlord is getting the new siding and finishing touches on the apartment next door. 🏡 Starting to look nice, but I concede I know what is coming. But I don’t know, I also realize my apartment needs so much work, ⚒ that I doubt the landlord is in a rush to get me out of it when I’m paying rent. I keep looking but I’m not going to buy something I hate in the suburbs. These are the things that feed my paranoia these days. It was so nice to be relaxed up north last weekend and not have a care in the world or be thinking about such things. My mind needs to be eased from time to time.
Looks like it’s going to be cool and possibly rainy for the long weekend. 🌧️ Most of the rain will be Saturday afternoon, and maybe only thunderstorms but the high for the weekend up north will be around 70. Really quite autumn like. 🍂 I think the tube may be done for the year. We’ll it can be good, relaxed working weekend, especially if I can get that the campsite on Harmon Hill. Hopefully some good clear nights for looking at the stars. 🌟 Need to go shopping – – probably Thursday or I could do tonight for the trip. Not a lot but some miscellaneous supplies to ensure a good trip and top off the tank on my truck. ⛽ Gas prices are coming down. Thursday can be tricky as I have meetings on Thursday that can keep me late. Friday I need to leave early, as I want to have camp set up by 9 AM so I get to work right away, preferably from camp but I am also willing to drive back to Speculator to work from there.
