You know how, every now and again, you’ll be reading the news and something will pop out at you? And when I say something, I mean something that makes “What. The. Hell.” (actually, that’s not the three words you’re likely to use, but I’m being polite…) That happened to me, today, with a story on Engadget Mobile, but for once, I do actually think it’s a good idea, or at least compared to most of the daft ideas that get bandied about, it is.
It’s icky, though.
I’ll warn you now.
Seriously, if you’re squeamish, don’t read this.
The new ‘Beat The Bugs’ system is up and running in the UK, sending out SMS alerts to parents’ mobile phones, as part of the “once a week, take a peak” campaign. Let’s not beat about the bush.
It’s about nits. Head lice. Evil, crawling denizens of itchy heads. Oh god, it’s just like being back in school again, with a 40-stone gorilla-in-a-smock damn near ripping my hair out to check for lice.
Bad flashback, man!
And that is why, for once, I’m not going to rant about something and say it’s stupid. One of the single most terrifying experiences of any school kid’s life is visiting the nit nurse (that’s if they even do it nowadays!). God forbid the nurse actually finds head lice on a kid’s head, since that kid will irrevocably be the “the kid with nits” for the rest of their school life (which will most likely involve getting their head shoved down the toilet) as well! So, if this system lets your mum check you for nits, then that can only be a good thing.
Although I can imagine it would be a weeny bit disconcerting if your Nokia 6300 suddenly shouted, “Your kid’s got liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!” at you…
Tell you what, though, I want to see the next evolution of this system:
Bluetooth nit-comb! HA!
Oh, and on a final note, I would like to make a public-service announcement for the first time in my life… a colleague of mine said the best way to deal with head lice, is to use vinegar, since the little sods can’t stand it. I can best repay his advice and kind words by not naming him, since, you know, his kid had nits……
Leave a comment and have your say!
April 15th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I don’t think they have nit nurses nowadays – you must be really old!
April 16th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Hahahaha, Love it Jennie!
TechnicalMarkus is ?? years old!!
Although, I’m only 22 and I remember having nit nurses at Infant school….
April 16th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
There’s no point hiding it Jillian, if you’re going to divulge my age, you might as well tell people I’m 30…
July 10th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
i can remember wen i was in primary skwl havin a nit nurs it was gross but why ant they got them any more en the should