蚊 were the f-ing BANE of my existence in Japan. Running the cooler was too expensive and my windows didn’t have screens.

The way those f-ers intentionally buzz your ears! Gah!

My life goal is to build an American-quality house in Japan. Ship the parts in containers and all. My windows will have SCREENS.

wow, from your post 7 years ago:

“However, I’m going to go to left field here and make my dream-team choice the same as my real-life guess: Barack Obama.”

I’m not terribly happy with Obama — in baseball statistics, they have a stat called “WAR” — wins above replacement, “replacement” being the typical AAA player.

He’s kinda been like Carter in playing a very tight, tactically centrist game. Not a very good showing above the average Democrat, ya know?

If I were he I’d done the same, since I think the electoral college dynamics require he win some pretty conservative states — PA, OH, MI, WI.

But after Bush’s Hoover act, this nation really needs a leftie telling people how it got to be this bad and what we can do to fix it, like how it was on that TV show about the White House. Still waiting for that Obama to appear here. Maybe he doesn’t really exist and what was sold in 2008 was a snowjob.

I can only be thankful the Republican primary process dredged up such a dead fish as Romney. If the American people want that (and Ryan, LOL), they’re welcome to it.

Be very careful, Luis.
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there in terms of mosquitoes.
I am sure you are aware of the recent potential perils:

http://www.examiner.com/article/texas-health-officials-report-30-west-nile-virus-deaths-to-date

The mosquito coils used in Asia are fairly effective on Asian mosquitoes, but I am not sure how Western mosquitoes will react. Here are some products you might consider using:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/july/health/insect-repellent/overview/index.htm

The clip-on repellent made by ‘Off’ did not live up to its expectations according to Consumers Reports, but it was tested in rather extreme conditions. Should be fine for normal outdoor activities (e.g. on the beach).

Finally, I personally find that the best way to kill mosquitoes flying through a room (or perched on a wall) is to use any kind of spray bottle cleaning fluid (e.g. Windex) as the moisture immediately renders them unable to fly.

Cheers,

–kensensei