To combat my previous problem with mosquitos, my helpful colleagues at work suggested I get a bug-killer device that you plug into a wall (I don’t know what you call them in English). You put some sort of anti-bug liquid inside it that is heated and vaporized. Don’t ask me if it’s okay for my health. We’ll find out in 20 years. If Patrick and I both get cancer, then you’ll have your answer and our families can sue Earth Chemical Co Ltd. Yes, they have an English Web site and yes, they are really called that. I suppose their motto could be: “Chemicals that are good for earth.”

Patrick’s theory was that the bug killer has to attract bugs first, so they come close enough to the vapors that kill them. The next thing I know, he has the window open only a tiny crack because he’s convinced we’ll have hoards of mosquitos coming through our bedroom window screens, wanting to partake of the deadly vapor.

Obviously, this is silly. Plus it defeats the purpose of buying the thing in the first place since the entire point is to sleep with the window wide open. It’s not like we wake up to find dead mosquitos everywhere.

My best guess is that the device keeps bugs away. I think Patrick has confused the thing with cockroach hotels or “Gokiburi hoi hoi”, which actually do attract those filthy bugs and trap them in a sticky glue-like substance.

Incidentally, Gokiburi hoi hoi was invented by the same environmentally friendly chemical people at the aforementioned Earth Chemical company. See the company history page on their Web site. It’s listed AFTER they started making bath powder and BEFORE they created the rodent hotel.

At any rate, the electric anti-mosquito device works. I forgot to turn it on last night and I woke with a huge bite on my arm.