Q|B s|h|e|l|l

today e cat tested out Q|B S|h|e|l|l @ Millenia.

e cat has always been fascinated by e 'shell' design & today it satisfied it curiosity & lived to tell e tale =) pretty neat - there is a little oven-like compartment with a UV lamp where new combs* & e vacuum brushes are sterilised by UV rays**, & a little basket for safekeeping of spectacles; behind e mirror is a compartment where there is space for customers to keep their barang & e booster cushion (for little kids who are too short) is stowed; below e mirror is a little screen that plays some graphics(?) that appear all white to e blind cat; where e cabinet meets e floor is a little opening connected to a vacuum source through which hair on e floor that has been swept up is sucked into. brings to mind airplane toilets & galleys, submarines & campavans - e cat once lived out of a CPU box & is impressed by good design that allows maximum utility of small confined spaces.

24 minutes later (including waiting time), e cat had lost 7-10 inches (numbers are a range due to layering), was $10 poorer & approx >0.5 kg lighter, & e owner of a new comb. sure beats those slimming centre weight loss programmes ;)

e cat observed that men & kids form e majority of customers who patronise these $10-10min-haircut booths/outlets. probably because (1) most kids have relatively simple hairstyles, & (2) men are kids. ladies like e cat's sis need a shampoo+haircut+perm/rebonding+colouring/highlighting+other complicated stuff that involve various chemicals that can be found on e chemicals shelves, toxics cupboard (under lock & key), & flammables & corrosives cabinets (under e emergency shower) in e cat's lab. so e ladies go to salons.

so e cat was e odd one out in e queue, & e only one with long fur. & if e cat charged every shopper who stopped by to watch it getting its fur trimmed (& extra charge for those who poked their heads & big fat noses in), it would have recovered e cost of e grooming session plus much more. apparently e other 2 'shells' simply didn't have e same entertainment value.

e last time e cat had its fur cut was shortly before e Kinabalu trip, which should have been around April 2004? those who said that they would buy 4D when this event occurs, you can go ahead & do so now, & don't forget my cut of e winnings.

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* exposing certain plastics to UV can affect e integrity of e plastic, just like what happens to plastic ware left in e biological safety cabinets in e lab; true enough, e teeth of e new comb broke off easily =P

** whether this method is reliable is subject to debate; in e lab context, exposure must be for a minimum of 20-25min, & lamps wear out after some time & have to be replaced

[ filed under: 9_lives_2005 ]