[Rearview] A bed bug thwarting ‘Sleep Cocoon’?

A bed bug thwarting ‘Sleep Cocoon’?
SkyMall — everyone’s favorite catalog for off-the-beaten-path gadgets and comfort items — now includes a ridiculous, albeit fitting, bed bug product. Sandwiched in the pages somewhere between the Toilet Paper iPod Holder and BigFoot Garden Yeti Sculpture readers will find The Traveler’s Bed Bug Thwarting Sleeping Cocoon. The product is described as “a portable sleeping cocoon made from a specially woven fabric that is impervious to bed bugs. Its tightly wound polyester threads are only 1-micron apart to prevent 100% of bed bugs from penetrating the fabric. The durable polyester threads are impervious to bed bugs’ teeth yet the fabric remains soft, pliable, and breathable for optimal sleeping comfort in a hotel bed. The hooded top protects your head and neck yet allows you to breathe naturally, and the entire unit fits in the included tote for ease of travel.” — Brad Harbison

What’s with PCOs and cycling?
An interesting trend appears to be emerging in the pest control industry. Several PCOs are trading in their golf clubs, tennis rackets and fishing poles for a childhood favorite — a bicycle. And many of the PCOs have gone from weekend warrior riders to skilled long-distance cyclists. Consider the following:

This summer, Neil Parker, owner of Bug Busters USA, and 10 of his friends road bicycles from Canada to the Louisiana Gulf Coast. The journey began on May 18 and was finishing up at press time.

Phil Cooper is in the midst of “Phil Across America,” a cross-country bike trek to raise money and awareness for MS. From now until Aug. 1, Cooper is bicycling throughout the U.S., and blogging about his experiences at www.philacrossamerica.com. Along the way several industry professionals are joining Cooper, including Andrew Klein (Assured Environments), Dina Richman (FMC), Gary Marcucci (Residex) and Michael Woodring (Bug Zero).

In 2009 the Jenkins brothers — Bobby, Raleigh and Dennis — embarked on the “Brothers in Arms: Ride for Charity” bike ride. The 2,300-mile, 37-day journey from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta, Canada was a re-creation of one that Bobby took one summer while in college. This time the Jenkins brothers used the ride to raise money for each of their favorite charities. Together they raised $135,000 total for their charities. Raleigh rode for the National Kidney Foundation of Southeast Texas; Dennis rode for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; and Bobby rode for Caritas of Austin. Each of the brothers, as well as mother Sandy (who was driving behind the boys with their supplies), updated the progress of their ride on their respective blogs.

No super powers for Slayer axeman
Comic book fans should probably do a little more research on what can really happen when you’re bitten by a rogue arachnid. Last year, Jeff Hanneman, the guitarist from the heavy metal band Slayer, was bitten by a spider and instead of gaining super powers, all he got was a lousy flesh-eating disease.

Known as necrotizing fasciitis, the rare infection actually eats away at the skin, fat and bones of those infected. Hanneman had to undergo surgery on his right arm in order to treat it. It has still not been reported whether or not he has developed any “Spidey senses” in the months since his bite.