Friday 20 February 2004

Pic of the day: The Sims don't mind living in a place like that. I might, just barely.

Wear & tear

The Sims are so lucky. Yes, their stuff will break down sometimes. But then they just repair it, and it as good as new. Then again, the Sims are immortal too, or at least un-aging. (All this will change this fall with Sims2, but that's another story.)

In real life, things are subject to wear and tear and the passage of time itself. In modern times, we don't notice this so much, since we tend to get new stuff when the old is no longer shiny and trendy. Well, for partial values of "we". I do this with computers, few of which die from old age in my home. But the rest of my furniture is at least 20 years old, and I am sure there are things older than me in there. I bought it on flea markets when I was 20 or so myself, or got it from friends who got something new. Not all of my friends were rich, so it had probably come to them from somewhere else first.

The tables keep their age with stoic strength. Chairs are a different matter. Some of them are visibly worn, and the ones made from bamboo- like reeds are starting to break apart here and there. But the bed is in the worst condition. It's not like I've really put it through a lot, at least that I know of. But it was kinda old when I got it 20 years ago, and I guess I do move about a bit. The legs are loose, but they don't fall as long as the angle is right. The springs are really close to the surface now, but at least they are not coming through the sheets ... I guess a new double bed would be nice, but it is a nightmare to get these things moved. I hope it does its work until I have to move (and I hope I don't have to move soon).

I'm not ashamed of the state of things. If anything, my vanity is shining through the tatters. But in truth, it is just that I don't care much. A new computer can do things that the old computer could not. A new chair, on the other hand, is just like an old chair ... only newer. That is far less impressive. If there has been any improvement in "chairmanship" since Ekornes invented the Stressless, it must have been for the office. Some of the new chairs are supposed to be much better for the back. From my limited experience, this mostly translated into being less comfortable to sit on. Not a bad idea, since it encourages people to get up now and then, which is literally what the doctor ordered. But at home I have Break Reminder for that.

On a related note, I hear the Japanese has already some time ago invented a toilet that, after use, will rinse your rear with lukewarm water and blow it dry with pleasantly warm air. I am not sure if this is the same toilet that comes with a loudspeaker and a highly realistic flush sound chip which can be activated at any time, should there be a risk of anyone in the house hearing any other sounds from the bathroom. Now that's a reason to upgrade, I say unto you. Things happening to be a few years old is NOT.

***

The body itself is subject to wear as well, and cannot easily be replaced. Even repairing it is no easy matter, so an ounce of prevention is probably the best course here. I already mentioned Break Reminder for those of us who have wrists.

Small quantities of alcohol is supposed to protect the circulatory system (and we're talking really small here, like a glass of appropriate size for the liquid in question, over the course of the day). I always seem to forget drinking, though, and some who don't forget it sometimes seem to forget that they have already drunk their quota five minutes ago. So I don't know about that one.

Moving about at varied speed is a normal condition for humans, and seems to protect people from a host of ills to body and sometimes soul. Those who sit all day do so at their own risk. Anything from blood clots down to hemorrhoids may come of it, and even cancers. To prevent some of those, apart from avoiding smoke and such, one is supposed to eat fruit and vegetables. I'd happily do that if I found a way for this to energize my whole body instead of supercharging my digestion, but so far the effects have been very local indeed. I suppose this varies from person to person. At least I do move around quite a bit, up hills and down hills, up stairs and down stairs. I would probably do a lot more of it, and a lot more vigorously, if I really thought my life was at stake. But at the time people start to think that, it is usually too late. So also for me, I guess.

Oh, and chocolate is supposed to be healthy too. People who eat chocolate are generally slimmer than those who don't (which of course may be why they don't, but don't let us get confused by facts here). As far as I know, no one has measured the effects of flowers. Pets, however, prevent a heap of stress related symptoms. And the more stressy your personality type, the better the effect of dogs and cats. Irritable bosses without a pet are on the express train to an early death; just add dog, and they can continue to terrorize their subordinates for a decade more. There should be a law limiting pets to people with below median income... But me, I can't even get a cactus to stay green.

Finally, a couple doctors have recommended a regular sex life (since I don't smoke, they don't have all that many alternatives left, I guess). I suppose that would kinda combine the benefits of exercise and pet petting. Although, what do I know. But there's bound to be cheaper ways to stay healthy than keeping a woman around. I guess I will have to gnaw some carrots after all. It's better than throwing out all my perfectly usable 40 year old furniture. Wear and tear on the chairs I can live with; wear and tear on my soul, not.