Don’t be too grossed out when you hear this name; it doesn’t mean “butt” as in “rear end” - the cut actually comes from the front shoulder of the pig.
During colonial days New England butchers tended to take less prized cuts of pork like these and pack them into barrels for storage and transport. The barrels the pork went into were called butts. This particular shoulder cut became known around the country as a New England specialty, and hence it became the “Boston butt.” Interesting that this name is not used in Boston. A hogshead is 64.8 US gallons and butt it equal to two US hogsheads or 126 US gallons.
Aug 28, 2009
Aug 27, 2009
Nanodiamonds
These little gems deliver insulin for wound healing. Bacterial infection is a major health threat to patients with severe burns and other kinds of serious wounds such as traumatic bone fractures. Recent studies have identified another use for insulin as a weapon for fighting infection and healing wounds. These can also be used for chemotherapy and other local drug deliveries.
Using tiny nanodiamonds, researchers have demonstrated a method for delivering and releasing insulin to a specific location over a period of time. The nanodiamond-insulin clusters hold promise for wound-healing applications and could be integrated into gels, ointments, bandages or suture materials.
A wound site skin pH levels can reach very basic levels during the repair and healing process and researchers found that the insulin bound to nanodiamonds is released when it encounters basic pH levels.
A substantial amount of insulin can be loaded onto the nanodiamonds, which have a high surface area and can accelerate the healing process and decrease the incidence of infection. The results of the study were published in July by the journal Biomaterials.
Barbie
Diamonds may be a girls best friend, but the company that manufactures the greatest number of women's dresses each year is Mattel, maker of Barbie.
Benjamin Wright
Wright died this week in 1842 - He was an American engineer who directed the construction of the Erie Canal that links the waters of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. It was completed in 1825
Wright made the Erie Canal project a school of engineering. Until mid-century, almost every civil engineer in the U.S. had trained with, or been trained by someone who had worked under Wright. Because he trained so many engineers on that project, Wright has been called the "father of American civil engineering." He was also the first Chief Engineer of the Erie Railroad.
Top Jokes from BBC
These were submitted in a contest for the best joke Aug 23, 2009.
Hedgehogs - why can't they just share the hedge?
I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought, 'This could be interesting'.
I had my boobs measured and bought a new bra. Now I call them Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes because they're up where they belong.
I'm sure wherever my dad is; he's looking down on us. He's not dead, just very condescending.
Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be rough.
To the people who have iPhones: you just bought one, you didn't invent it!
And considered the worst -
I'm not doing any Michael Jackson jokes, because they always involve puns about his songs. And that's bad."
I phoned the swine flu hotline and all I got was crackling.
Michael Jackson only invented the moonwalk so he could sneak up on children.
Hedgehogs - why can't they just share the hedge?
I was watching the London Marathon and saw one runner dressed as a chicken and another runner dressed as an egg. I thought, 'This could be interesting'.
I had my boobs measured and bought a new bra. Now I call them Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes because they're up where they belong.
I'm sure wherever my dad is; he's looking down on us. He's not dead, just very condescending.
Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. You know you're going to get it, but it's going to be rough.
To the people who have iPhones: you just bought one, you didn't invent it!
And considered the worst -
I'm not doing any Michael Jackson jokes, because they always involve puns about his songs. And that's bad."
I phoned the swine flu hotline and all I got was crackling.
Michael Jackson only invented the moonwalk so he could sneak up on children.
Highest Paid CEOs, 2008
Interesting that none of them, other than the first one, are from Wall Street or Banks. The first one includes 700 million dollars from his stock received at the IPO of his company, so it is not really pay. Most are from the energy sector. Hmmm!
| Name | Company | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Schwarzman | Blackstone Group | $702,440,573 |
| Lawrence Ellison | Oracle Corp. | $556,976,600 |
| Ray Irani | Occidental Petroleum Corp. | $222,639,705 |
| John Hess | Hess Corp. | $159,566,940 |
| Michael Watford | Ultra Petroleum Corp. | $116,929,392 |
| Aubrey McClendon | Chesapeake Energy Corp. | $114,286,867 |
| Bob Simpson | XTO Energy Inc. | $103,485,972 |
| Mark Papa | EOG Resources, Inc. | $90,471,784 |
| Eugene Isenberg | Nabors Industries Ltd. | $79,333,079 |
| Michael Jeffries | Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | $71,795,744 |
Today in Science
This site has lifted a number of quotes from various books of mine and added them to its web site. I suppose I should be honored that someone lifted quotes from me, that I lifted. Sample - "No sense being pessimistic, it probably wouldn't work anyway." from 'Greatest Jokes of the Century Book 2'.
I didn't find any of my personal quotes though. Guess I haven't been dead long enough for that. At least they give me attribution.
I didn't find any of my personal quotes though. Guess I haven't been dead long enough for that. At least they give me attribution.
School Books on Your Phone
US and Canadian college students can pack textbooks into their pockets instead of spine-bending backpacks. A northern California supplier of electronic textbooks on Tuesday released free software that makes digitized forms of college textbooks available on Apple's iPhone or iPod devices.
Instead of lugging old-fashioned ink and paper books to classes, students can use iPhones or iPod Touch devices to access textbooks online for reference during classes.
The company (Courtsmart) began offering eTextbooks in 2007 and as of Tuesday had reportedly sold copies to students in more than 5,900 schools and works with a dozen major textbook publishers to stay current with electronic versions mandated by professors for classes. It claims its prices are typically about half that of print versions. Wow, half price with no publishing costs. They probably make more than the authors.
Instead of lugging old-fashioned ink and paper books to classes, students can use iPhones or iPod Touch devices to access textbooks online for reference during classes.
The company (Courtsmart) began offering eTextbooks in 2007 and as of Tuesday had reportedly sold copies to students in more than 5,900 schools and works with a dozen major textbook publishers to stay current with electronic versions mandated by professors for classes. It claims its prices are typically about half that of print versions. Wow, half price with no publishing costs. They probably make more than the authors.
History Lesson
“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” Cicero, 55 BC
Burger Franchise
It is not what you think. Packaging up urgent care services like a Burger King and selling franchises across the country is the new American dream.
Maryland physician, Dr. Scott Burger and his partners have run an urgent-care center, named Doctors Express, for three years. Now, Burger wants to blanket the US with Doctors Express franchises. He and his partners hope to open 3,000 such centers around the country during the coming years.
His first franchisees will open their doors in Temple, TX, (of course Texas) with about two dozen more locations set for future launches in Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina, North Carolina, Colorado and Virginia.
The model will have a physician on duty during all of its hours of operation. Doctors Express locations will also have digital X-ray equipment, a lab, and a pharmacy on location. In addition to providing urgent treatment, the centers will also conduct drug screenings, do pre-employment physicals, and provide vaccinations. Want fries with that xray?
Maryland physician, Dr. Scott Burger and his partners have run an urgent-care center, named Doctors Express, for three years. Now, Burger wants to blanket the US with Doctors Express franchises. He and his partners hope to open 3,000 such centers around the country during the coming years.
His first franchisees will open their doors in Temple, TX, (of course Texas) with about two dozen more locations set for future launches in Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina, North Carolina, Colorado and Virginia.
The model will have a physician on duty during all of its hours of operation. Doctors Express locations will also have digital X-ray equipment, a lab, and a pharmacy on location. In addition to providing urgent treatment, the centers will also conduct drug screenings, do pre-employment physicals, and provide vaccinations. Want fries with that xray?
Jack Daniel's
Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel of Tennessee whiskey fame was the descendant of Welsh settlers who came to the United States in the early 19th century. He was born about 1846 and was one of 13 children. By 1866 he was distilling whiskey in Lynchburg, Tennessee.One morning in 1911 Daniel showed up for work early and couldn’t get his safe open. His temper got the best of him and he kicked the offending strongbox. The kick was so ferocious that Daniel injured his toe, which became infected. The infection soon became the blood poisoning that killed ol' Jack.
Do you know why the JD bottle also has Lem Motlow listed as the distillery’s proprietor? Daniel’s busy life of distilling kept him from finding a wife and siring an heir, so in 1907 he gave the distillery to his nephew Lem Motlow, who had come to work for him as a bookkeeper.
Quotable
Men want the same thing from their underwear that they want from their women, a little support and a little freedom.
Aug 25, 2009
Profound Thoughts Book 2
Profound Thoughts Book 2
Chapter 1 from my second book in a series of great thoughts from great minds. This book is about Friendship, Kindness, Happiness, and Laughter.
Chapter 1 from my second book in a series of great thoughts from great minds. This book is about Friendship, Kindness, Happiness, and Laughter.
Aug 21, 2009
Did You Know
Richard Dawson from Family Feud is in the Guinness World Book of Records as having kissed more women than anyone else. I liked him better on Hogan's Heroes.
Google Tricycle
Google's tricycle-mounted cameras are shooting footage of the 17th century gardens of France's Chateau de Versailles destined for its Street View service by year's end.
The tricycle carries nine cameras set to take automatic shots every six feet, providing footage of some of the most popular spots of the onetime home of Louis XIV, the main courtyard, Grand Canal, and Grand and Petit Trianon.
The palace and gardens on the western edge of Paris are visited by more than three million people a year. The pictures taken by the tricycle will complete those taken by car as it can get to places that aren't accessible to historically interesting pedestrian areas.
Google began its photographic campaign of France and next goes to the northern city of Lille and the Mont Saint-Michel abbey in western France, also a popular tourist site.
Health Clinics
The federal government just made $851 million available for expanding and rehabbing community health clinics across the US. This money is part of $2.5 billion set aside in the stimulus law for free and low-cost health clinics for the under and uninsured, and not part of the $1.6+ Trillion for Healthcare reform.
The $851 million will be distributed unevenly, depending on the number of clinics in a state. Grants include $109 million for California, while Utah will get $6 million. I forget - whose pocket is this coming from - and who gets the benefit? How many illegal aliens in Utah? Hmmm!
The $851 million will be distributed unevenly, depending on the number of clinics in a state. Grants include $109 million for California, while Utah will get $6 million. I forget - whose pocket is this coming from - and who gets the benefit? How many illegal aliens in Utah? Hmmm!
Bottled Water
I was wondering why bottled water has a “drink by” date on it when common sense dictates that water doesn’t go bad, so I went out searching.
You can thank New Jersey, which passed a law in 1987 that required all food products sold there to display an expiration date of two years or less from the date of manufacture. Labeling, separating, and shipping batches of expiration-dated water to Jersey alone, was inefficient for bottled water producers, so most of them started giving every bottle a two-year expiration date, no matter where it was shipped to. Maybe that's also where Pepsi had inspiration for its "freshness date."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never established a limitation on the shelf life of bottled water and even though the NJ law was amended a few years ago it has been an industry norm for so long that many producers haven't bothered to change.
Unopened bottled water may not do you any harm, but it isn’t going to get better with age. The plastic that water is packaged in, usually polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for retail bottles and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for water cooler jugs, is slightly porous, so the water can pick up smells and tastes from the outside world. Keep a case in your garage for a while and your water might end up with a slick oil finish. Mmmm, bottled water - the pet rock of a new generation.
You can thank New Jersey, which passed a law in 1987 that required all food products sold there to display an expiration date of two years or less from the date of manufacture. Labeling, separating, and shipping batches of expiration-dated water to Jersey alone, was inefficient for bottled water producers, so most of them started giving every bottle a two-year expiration date, no matter where it was shipped to. Maybe that's also where Pepsi had inspiration for its "freshness date."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never established a limitation on the shelf life of bottled water and even though the NJ law was amended a few years ago it has been an industry norm for so long that many producers haven't bothered to change.
Unopened bottled water may not do you any harm, but it isn’t going to get better with age. The plastic that water is packaged in, usually polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for retail bottles and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for water cooler jugs, is slightly porous, so the water can pick up smells and tastes from the outside world. Keep a case in your garage for a while and your water might end up with a slick oil finish. Mmmm, bottled water - the pet rock of a new generation.
Chocolate Lovers Rejoice
Heart attack survivors who eat chocolate two or more times per week cut their risk of dying from heart disease about three times more compared to those who never touch chocolate, scientists have reported. Smaller quantities confer less protection, but are still better than none, according to a study, which appears in the September issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Earlier research had established a strong link between cocoa-based confections and lowered blood pressure. It had also shown that chocolate cuts the rate of heart-related mortality in older men and women.
The new study is the first to demonstrate that consuming chocolate can help ward off death after a person has suffered a heart attack. It appears the antioxidants in cocoa are a likely reason. Antioxidants are compounds that protect against free radicals or molecules which accumulate in the body over time that can damage cells and are thought to play a role in heart disease, cancer and the aging process.
The study tracked 1,169 non-diabetic men and women, 45-to-70 years old, during the early 1990s from the time they were hospitalized with their first heart attack. The participants were queried before leaving hospital on their food consumption habits during the previous year, including how much chocolate they ate on a regular basis. The results held true for men and women, and across all the age groups included in the study.
They underwent a health examination three months after discharge, and were monitored for eight years after that. The incidence of fatal heart attacks correlated inversely with the amount of chocolate consumed (the more chocolate, the less deaths from heart attacks). The study did not differentiate between milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Thought you chocolate lovers might enjoy this one.
Earlier research had established a strong link between cocoa-based confections and lowered blood pressure. It had also shown that chocolate cuts the rate of heart-related mortality in older men and women.
The new study is the first to demonstrate that consuming chocolate can help ward off death after a person has suffered a heart attack. It appears the antioxidants in cocoa are a likely reason. Antioxidants are compounds that protect against free radicals or molecules which accumulate in the body over time that can damage cells and are thought to play a role in heart disease, cancer and the aging process.
The study tracked 1,169 non-diabetic men and women, 45-to-70 years old, during the early 1990s from the time they were hospitalized with their first heart attack. The participants were queried before leaving hospital on their food consumption habits during the previous year, including how much chocolate they ate on a regular basis. The results held true for men and women, and across all the age groups included in the study.
They underwent a health examination three months after discharge, and were monitored for eight years after that. The incidence of fatal heart attacks correlated inversely with the amount of chocolate consumed (the more chocolate, the less deaths from heart attacks). The study did not differentiate between milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Thought you chocolate lovers might enjoy this one.
Speaking of Chocolate
How about Mo’s Bacon Bar made with applewood smoked bacon
that has been flavored with alder wood smoked salt, and then
blended with deep milk chocolate. It has 41% cocoa and costs
only $9.00. Haven't tried one yet, but I have tried chocolate
covered potato chips and they are very good.
Speaking of Bacon
Bakon Vodka will run you about $30 a bottle.
Can you think of a Bloody Mary with a hint of bacon?
OK, enough. Sometimes I do go off on tangents.
Aug 19, 2009
Internet Radio
Here is an interesting 'old is new' concept. Free music, sports, and news from around the world. It is called Ira, an Internet Radio Adapter that connects automatically to any wireless Internet network in about 3 minutes without the need of a computer.
Just take it out of the box, plug it in, and connect it to your home stereo or speakers with the included audio cables. It features over 11,000 stations from just about every country in the world and includes On Demand (Podcast) programming for many stations so you can listen to your favorite shows when you want. It costs about $150 for the device, including the remote control and piggybacks on your internet connection for free.
http://www.myine.com/ira.php
Just take it out of the box, plug it in, and connect it to your home stereo or speakers with the included audio cables. It features over 11,000 stations from just about every country in the world and includes On Demand (Podcast) programming for many stations so you can listen to your favorite shows when you want. It costs about $150 for the device, including the remote control and piggybacks on your internet connection for free.
http://www.myine.com/ira.php
Honeymoon
It was the accepted practice years ago, that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink, to aid the couple in fertility. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, hence the honeymoon.
The first literary reference to the word honeymoon was in 1552 in Richard Huloet's Abecedarium Anglico Latinum. It held that the word honeymoon, “Was a sardonic reference to the inevitable waning of love like a phase of the moon.” There is also supposedly a Norse legend about stealing the bride, but it seems a bit far fetched. And last, there is that time of year that the moon looks all golden, like honey.
There are a few more legends, but the bottom line is that no source seems absolutely certain of the real origin. Of course you heard of honeymoon salad, which is 'lettuce alone'.
The first literary reference to the word honeymoon was in 1552 in Richard Huloet's Abecedarium Anglico Latinum. It held that the word honeymoon, “Was a sardonic reference to the inevitable waning of love like a phase of the moon.” There is also supposedly a Norse legend about stealing the bride, but it seems a bit far fetched. And last, there is that time of year that the moon looks all golden, like honey.
There are a few more legends, but the bottom line is that no source seems absolutely certain of the real origin. Of course you heard of honeymoon salad, which is 'lettuce alone'.
Shades of 1984
For those who have not read George Orwell's book, "1984" it might be a good time to do so, or at least read an online summary of it.
Tiburon, a town of 8,000 in Marin County, CA, officials want to photograph every car and use the license plate information to solve crimes in the town of 9,000.
Many see the plan as an intrusion into the rights of citizens, but officials say it is a sensible precaution that absolutely will not cross privacy lines. The town manager says, "The proposal has been misunderstood." Yeh, right! We have been misunderstanding a lot lately, like, 'Trust me, if we spend another trillion dollars today it will save more tomorrow. . .'
Hula Hoops
Many of you will remember the hula hoop craze from days gone by. They are still around and still fun. Do you know where they came from?
There was a famous radio and TV personality that was responsible for financing, manufacture, and promotion.The person was very concerned that folks did not find out who was responsible and be swayed by his stardom, but now I'll tell you his name. It was Art Linkletter, star of House Party, and 'Kids say the Darndest Things', and more. Many Terrible Tommy and Dirty Johnny jokes were inspired by his book.
There was a famous radio and TV personality that was responsible for financing, manufacture, and promotion.The person was very concerned that folks did not find out who was responsible and be swayed by his stardom, but now I'll tell you his name. It was Art Linkletter, star of House Party, and 'Kids say the Darndest Things', and more. Many Terrible Tommy and Dirty Johnny jokes were inspired by his book.
Aug 13, 2009
Captain Morgan
The Captain wasn’t always just for mixing spiced rum with Diet Coke. In the 17th century he was a feared privateer.Not only did the Welsh pirate marry his own cousin (like Jerry Lee Lewis and Einstein), but he ran risky missions for the governor of Jamaica, like capturing some Spanish prisoners in Cuba and sacking Port-au-Prince in Haiti. He also plundered the Cuban coast before holding for ransom the entire city of Portobelo, Panama.
He later looted and burned Panama City, but his pillaging career came to an end when Spain and England signed a peace treaty in 1671. Instead of getting in trouble for his high-seas hi-jinks, Morgan received knighthood and became the lieutenant governor of Jamaica. Now I know why I like the guy. . . and the rum.
Touchable Holograms
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed 3D holograms that can be touched with bare hands. It is called the Airborne Ultrasound Tactile Display and uses acoustic radiation pressure to create a pressure sensation on a user's hands.
A retroreflective marker is attached on the tip of user's middle finger, IR LEDs illuminate the marker, and two Wiimotes sense the 3D position of the finger. This lets the users handle the floating virtual image with their hands.
In the video link below, researchers demonstrate how a user can dribble a virtual bouncing ball, feel virtual raindrops bouncing off their hand, and feel a small virtual creature crawling on their palm. First practical uses will likely be games, but real applications should follow. This is at the top of my whizzbang technology list. Now we really can reach out and touch someone, almost.
youtube
A retroreflective marker is attached on the tip of user's middle finger, IR LEDs illuminate the marker, and two Wiimotes sense the 3D position of the finger. This lets the users handle the floating virtual image with their hands.
In the video link below, researchers demonstrate how a user can dribble a virtual bouncing ball, feel virtual raindrops bouncing off their hand, and feel a small virtual creature crawling on their palm. First practical uses will likely be games, but real applications should follow. This is at the top of my whizzbang technology list. Now we really can reach out and touch someone, almost.
youtube
Cornucopia
Now that fall is approaching, I thought it is time for a definition. In Greek mythology, Amalthea was a goat who raised Zeus on her breast milk. When her horn was accidentally broken off by Zeus while playing together, this changed Amalthea into a unicorn.
The god Zeus, in remorse, gave her back her horn. The horn then had supernatural powers which would give the person in possession of it whatever he or she wished for. This gave rise to the legend of the cornucopia, or horn of plenty.
The original depictions were of the goat's horn filled with fruits and flowers: deities, especially Fortuna, were depicted with the horn of plenty. The cornucopia was also a symbol for a woman's fertility. Current pictures show it as a woven basket, I guess because goat's horns are not so easy to find these days.
Speaking of Horn of Plenty
Another stupid study - August 10th, 2009, The US Food Stamp Program may make users fat, according to a new nationwide study that followed participants for 14 years. Researchers found that the average female user of food stamps had an increase in weight of 5.8 pounds.
In 2008 about 28 million people, or almost 1 in 11 residents, received benefits from the food stamp program in a given month.
This study compared nearly 4,000 survey participants who used food stamps with almost 6,000 survey participants who did not. They looked at Body Mass Index (BMI) and food stamp use among the participants from 1989 to 2002.
The study also found that people's weight increased faster when they were on food stamps than when they were not, and increased more, the longer they were in the program.
The researchers took into account income and a variety of other factors, including race and education, that may have also affected the weight of survey participants, outside of the use of food stamps. Even after the various controls, the link between food stamp use and higher weight remained clear, especially for women.
Male food stamp users, both white and black, did not have significantly higher BMIs than those not in the program.
Results showed BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps. In addition, the study found the longer participants received food stamps, the fatter they became.
"Every way we looked at the data, it was clear that the use of food stamps was associated with weight gain," a researcher said. The study appears in the current issue of the journal Economics and Human Biology. Our government at work again, tax dollars to study a tax dollars program with ludicrous results. Do ya think it might be the food they buy with the stamps and not the stamps? Why not study how some people can remain on food stamps for 14 years? Hey, let's eliminate obesity, stop the free food stamp program!
In 2008 about 28 million people, or almost 1 in 11 residents, received benefits from the food stamp program in a given month.
This study compared nearly 4,000 survey participants who used food stamps with almost 6,000 survey participants who did not. They looked at Body Mass Index (BMI) and food stamp use among the participants from 1989 to 2002.
The study also found that people's weight increased faster when they were on food stamps than when they were not, and increased more, the longer they were in the program.
The researchers took into account income and a variety of other factors, including race and education, that may have also affected the weight of survey participants, outside of the use of food stamps. Even after the various controls, the link between food stamp use and higher weight remained clear, especially for women.
Male food stamp users, both white and black, did not have significantly higher BMIs than those not in the program.
Results showed BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps. In addition, the study found the longer participants received food stamps, the fatter they became.
"Every way we looked at the data, it was clear that the use of food stamps was associated with weight gain," a researcher said. The study appears in the current issue of the journal Economics and Human Biology. Our government at work again, tax dollars to study a tax dollars program with ludicrous results. Do ya think it might be the food they buy with the stamps and not the stamps? Why not study how some people can remain on food stamps for 14 years? Hey, let's eliminate obesity, stop the free food stamp program!
Quotable
An expert is a person who persuades the government to spend money it doesn’t have, to learn something nobody wants to know.
Steampunk
Many probably have not heard of steampunk. These gadgets are modern equivalents of old-looking objects, many with practical uses. It is a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that denotes works set in an era or world where steam power was still widely used, usually the 19th century, but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, like Jules Verne. Here is a modern working steampunk USB drive.
It is amazing to see how much time some folks dedicate to create these odd contraptions. To see more steampunk pictures, try this site.
National ID Cards
You have probably read that the new healthcare bill includes a provision for a national ID in the US. Here is a disturbing fact about that kind of technology from the UK. Its National ID Card was hacked In 12 Minutes. I personally don't think anyone can make an unhackable ID card.UK National ID cards are currently being used by foreign nationals who are working in the UK. The card features a built in microchip which, according to the Government, makes the ID cards ‘unforgeable’, the problem is that a hacker was able to hack the chip in under twelve minutes using just an ordinary laptop and a mobile phone.
He was able to create a cloned card, change the information on the cloned card, and add a message to the card which could be read by police officers when they scan the card, the message read, ‘I am a te**orist – shoot on site’. (my asterisks) I seem to remember that national ID cards started in Germany in the 1930s to identify all good German citizens. I don't remember if cards created a furor, or they were created by a fuhrer or both. . .
Quotable
About the only consolation the average taxpayer has is that you don’t have to pay taxes on the amount you think you’re worth.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
The Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of JFK, died on August 11, 2009. She was born in July, 1921.
As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver led the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide for more than three decades.
Her vision and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of special athletes across globe. Their lives, and those of future athletes, are forever impacted. Her legacy lives on through the acts of courage demonstrated by every athlete. I belong to a group that is honored to give out medals at local and regional Special Olympics each quarter and it is a great thrill to see the joy on their faces. It's one of those wonderful volunteer things that you get way more out of it than you put in.
As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver led the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide for more than three decades.
Her vision and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of special athletes across globe. Their lives, and those of future athletes, are forever impacted. Her legacy lives on through the acts of courage demonstrated by every athlete. I belong to a group that is honored to give out medals at local and regional Special Olympics each quarter and it is a great thrill to see the joy on their faces. It's one of those wonderful volunteer things that you get way more out of it than you put in.
Quotable
Today’s opportunity: -
To care enough to dry a tear,
To dare enough to volunteer,
To live that others may be blessed,
To give our talents and our best.
To care enough to dry a tear,
To dare enough to volunteer,
To live that others may be blessed,
To give our talents and our best.
Cool Camera Projector
Nikon is introducing the first combined digital camera and built-in projector and it should be available in September 09.
The Coolpix S1000pj has a 12.1 MP high-resolution capacity with a 5x zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD display, wireless remote and a 10 lumens projector that will display 5 to 40-inch images of pictures with sound. The display distance is 10-inches to 6 feet.
The image resolutions include a 4000 x 3000 High setting with a range of settings for PCs, TVs, wide-screen displays and normal displays.
Included in the package is a stand, wireless remote, rechargeable Li-On battery for about 220-shots or 1-hour projector mode, a battery charger, USB cable, audio/video cable, wrist strap and CD-ROM software suite. A SD/SDHC slot is included, but the memory card and AC adapter is optional.
Nikon believes size does matter. It measures 4-inches by 2.5-inches with a depth of 0.9-inches and weighs 5.5-ounces. It is light-weight, highly portable and literally turns on a dime to project images on a screen or wall. Price will be about $500. Want to know what to get me for Christmas?
Quotable
from 260 BC,
Tao bears love;
Love bears restraint;
Restraint bears acceptance;
Acceptance bears the World;
All things begin with love and end with restraint, but it is acceptance that brings harmony.
Tao bears love;
Love bears restraint;
Restraint bears acceptance;
Acceptance bears the World;
All things begin with love and end with restraint, but it is acceptance that brings harmony.
Aug 6, 2009
American Medical Association
As of 2005, latest numbers I could find, the AMA represented 15% of the physicians in the US. (30% of that number are medical school students, residents, or fellows.) Gone are the glory days when it represented the majority of physicians, but for some reason, it still has political clout through its lobbying efforts.
Next time someone tells you the AMA approves, remember that means only 15% of doctors approve.
Next time someone tells you the AMA approves, remember that means only 15% of doctors approve.
Quotable
Today’s state-of-the-art medical technology makes it almost impossible for your doctor not to find something wrong.
Firefox Browser
The open-source browser Firefox passed its billionth download on Friday, July 31 ahead of the release of its fourth iteration. The milestone includes downloads of all versions of the web software since its first release in 2004.
Figures suggest that Firefox now has nearly one third of the browser market worldwide, at 31%. Microsoft's Internet Explorer still dominates the field with around 60%, whilst Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Opera are all less than 5%.
Microsoft is currently in talks with the European competition regulators, which ruled in January that pre-bundling Internet Explorer with the company's Windows operating system hurt competition.
The browser, developed by the Mozilla Foundation, has quickly become a favorite with web surfers since its launch in 2004.
Last year, the foundation set a new Guinness world record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours when the third version of Firefox was downloaded more than eight million times.
Mozilla developers are currently working on the fourth iteration of the software, and earlier this week, it showed off screenshots of the next version of the browser, Firefox 4.0. I have been using it almost exclusively since it came out. It is great and offers many free add-ons.
Figures suggest that Firefox now has nearly one third of the browser market worldwide, at 31%. Microsoft's Internet Explorer still dominates the field with around 60%, whilst Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Opera are all less than 5%.
Microsoft is currently in talks with the European competition regulators, which ruled in January that pre-bundling Internet Explorer with the company's Windows operating system hurt competition.
The browser, developed by the Mozilla Foundation, has quickly become a favorite with web surfers since its launch in 2004.
Last year, the foundation set a new Guinness world record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours when the third version of Firefox was downloaded more than eight million times.
Mozilla developers are currently working on the fourth iteration of the software, and earlier this week, it showed off screenshots of the next version of the browser, Firefox 4.0. I have been using it almost exclusively since it came out. It is great and offers many free add-ons.
Mouth Gag - (1880s-1910s)
This handy dandy, wooden, screw-shaped mouth gag would be inserted into an anesthetized patient's mouth to keep the airway open.
Top Ten Movies
Do you know the highest grossing movies of all time? The top four each grossed over a billion dollars - and probably another billion in popcorn.
Title, Gross Dollars (millions), Year Released
2 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $1,119.1 2003
3 Pirates of the
4 The Dark Knight $1,001.9 2008
5 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $974.7 2001
6 Pirates of the
7 Harry Potter and the Order of the
8 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers $925.3 2002
9 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace $924.3 1999
10 Shrek 2 $919.8 2004
Finders Keepers
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the saying "Finders keepers (losers weepers)" dates as far back as the early 19th century, recorded as, "No halfers-findee keepee, lossee seekee."
Almost 150 years later, Elvis Presley put it to music in 1963 when he sang "Finders keepers, losers weepers. The loser has to pay the score."
Almost 150 years later, Elvis Presley put it to music in 1963 when he sang "Finders keepers, losers weepers. The loser has to pay the score."
What's the Matter
27 Jul 09 - Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminum by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. ‘Transparent aluminum’ previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.
An international team, led by Oxford University scientists, report that a short pulse from the FLASH laser ‘knocked out’ a core electron from every aluminum atom in a sample without disrupting the metal’s crystalline structure. This turned the aluminum nearly invisible to extreme ultraviolet radiation.
''What we have created is a completely new state of matter nobody has seen before. We have turned ordinary aluminum into this exotic new material in a single step by using this very powerful laser. For a brief period the sample looks and behaves in every way like a new form of matter." said Professor Justin Wark of Oxford University’s Department of Physics, one of the authors of the paper.
The discovery was made possible with the development of a new source of radiation that is ten billion times brighter than any synchrotron in the world. The FLASH laser, based in Hamburg, Germany, produces extremely brief pulses of soft X-ray light, each of which is more powerful than the output of a power plant that provides electricity to a whole city.
The Oxford team, along with their international colleagues, focused all this power down into a spot with a diameter less than a twentieth of the width of a human hair. At such high intensities the aluminum turned transparent.
Whilst the invisible effect lasted for only an extremely brief period – an estimated 40 femtoseconds (A femtosecond is one millionth of a nanosecond or 10 to the minus 15th of a second. For comparison, a millisecond is one thousandth of a second).
Professor Wark added: ‘What is particularly remarkable about our experiment is that A report of the research, ‘Turning solid aluminium transparent by intense soft X-ray photoionization’, is published in Nature Physics.
An international team, led by Oxford University scientists, report that a short pulse from the FLASH laser ‘knocked out’ a core electron from every aluminum atom in a sample without disrupting the metal’s crystalline structure. This turned the aluminum nearly invisible to extreme ultraviolet radiation.
''What we have created is a completely new state of matter nobody has seen before. We have turned ordinary aluminum into this exotic new material in a single step by using this very powerful laser. For a brief period the sample looks and behaves in every way like a new form of matter." said Professor Justin Wark of Oxford University’s Department of Physics, one of the authors of the paper.
The discovery was made possible with the development of a new source of radiation that is ten billion times brighter than any synchrotron in the world. The FLASH laser, based in Hamburg, Germany, produces extremely brief pulses of soft X-ray light, each of which is more powerful than the output of a power plant that provides electricity to a whole city.
The Oxford team, along with their international colleagues, focused all this power down into a spot with a diameter less than a twentieth of the width of a human hair. At such high intensities the aluminum turned transparent.
Whilst the invisible effect lasted for only an extremely brief period – an estimated 40 femtoseconds (A femtosecond is one millionth of a nanosecond or 10 to the minus 15th of a second. For comparison, a millisecond is one thousandth of a second).
Professor Wark added: ‘What is particularly remarkable about our experiment is that A report of the research, ‘Turning solid aluminium transparent by intense soft X-ray photoionization’, is published in Nature Physics.
Lance Armstrong
He was born Lance Edward Gunderson, 18 September 1971 in Plano, Texas, USA. His name was changed when he was adopted. His ancestors have been in the US since the 1600s. In 1992, Lance Armstrong finished last in the San Sebastian Classic, his first race as a professional. Then went on to win the Tour de France seven times, before taking a few years off.
Armstrong willingly took a backseat to Contador and put the team before his own needs assisting the 26-year-old Spaniard in winning the Tour de France this July. Armstrong put his aspirations for a eighth Tour victory on the backburner, but most certainly has his eyes on the prize in 2010.
Armstrong willingly took a backseat to Contador and put the team before his own needs assisting the 26-year-old Spaniard in winning the Tour de France this July. Armstrong put his aspirations for a eighth Tour victory on the backburner, but most certainly has his eyes on the prize in 2010.
Kaiser Permanente EHR
How much does it cost to implement the new EHR (Electronic Health Records) systems that are demanded by the government? One group, Kaiser Permanente took 7- years to switch to EHR system and it cost $4.2 billion so far to implement an electronic health records system at all facilities. It is not finished yet. Numbers for EHR implementations are not included in the CBO estimates of cost for the healthcare bill.
Quotable
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. A true patriot must always be ready to defend his country against its government.
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