Smiles are catchy like yawns, but more fun.
It is infinitely more fun to throw a smile on a Happy Friday!
Oct 31, 2014
Time Change and Vote
Don't forget to change clocks back this Saturday night in most parts of the United States. The election is next week, November 4 and folks in the US can electorally choose to fall back or jump ahead. Get out and vote or do not complain for the next few years.
Happy Halloween
This Holiday makes me squirrelly
Twice as much chocolate is sold on Halloween as on Valentine's Day.
Here is a scary, but true thought - You are ten times more likely to get bitten by a person from New York than a shark.
Twice as much chocolate is sold on Halloween as on Valentine's Day.
Here is a scary, but true thought - You are ten times more likely to get bitten by a person from New York than a shark.
Wordology, Advesperate
to grow dark, to become night. On
Halloween we wait for the day to advesperate.
Idiot, Imbecile, Moron
We often hear these words during an
election cycle. Each of these words has a different meaning. The
medical definitions have been mostly abandoned and the words are now
used more in a pejorative sense, rather than diagnostic.
In psychology, an idiot has the least intelligence on the IQ scale, equivalent to someone who is mentally challenged. Idiot derives from the ancient Greek, 'idio', meaning “person lacking professional skill” or “mentally deficient person incapable of ordinary reasoning.” Those who have an IQ between 0 and 25 are considered idiots.
From Middle French imbécile, from Latin imbēcillus meaning weak or feeble, literally “without a staff.” An imbecile is considered equivalent to moderate retardation or moderately mentally challenged. People with IQs between 26 and 50 are considered imbeciles.
The word 'moron' was coined in 1910 by psychologist Henry H. Goddard and derived from the ancient Greek word 'moros', which meant 'dull'. Those who have an IQ between 51 and 70 are considered morons. A moron is the highest level of intelligence for someone who is mildly mentally challenged.
These terms were popular in psychology as associated with intelligence on an IQ test until the 1960s. They were then replaced with the terms mild retardation, moderate retardation, severe retardation, and profound retardation. Other factors besides IQ are now used in diagnosing these levels of mental deficiency.
Retarded comes from the Latin 'retardare', which means “to make slow, delay, keep back, or hinder.” The term retarded was used to replace the terms idiot, moron, and imbecile as these terms gradually became thought of as derogatory. Now 'retarded' is considered a derogatory term.
Many old words seem to pop up around election time as politicians seek to differentiate themselves, while preaching the same drivel. Even politician used to be a good word, which has now become thought of as derogatory.
In psychology, an idiot has the least intelligence on the IQ scale, equivalent to someone who is mentally challenged. Idiot derives from the ancient Greek, 'idio', meaning “person lacking professional skill” or “mentally deficient person incapable of ordinary reasoning.” Those who have an IQ between 0 and 25 are considered idiots.
From Middle French imbécile, from Latin imbēcillus meaning weak or feeble, literally “without a staff.” An imbecile is considered equivalent to moderate retardation or moderately mentally challenged. People with IQs between 26 and 50 are considered imbeciles.
The word 'moron' was coined in 1910 by psychologist Henry H. Goddard and derived from the ancient Greek word 'moros', which meant 'dull'. Those who have an IQ between 51 and 70 are considered morons. A moron is the highest level of intelligence for someone who is mildly mentally challenged.
These terms were popular in psychology as associated with intelligence on an IQ test until the 1960s. They were then replaced with the terms mild retardation, moderate retardation, severe retardation, and profound retardation. Other factors besides IQ are now used in diagnosing these levels of mental deficiency.
Retarded comes from the Latin 'retardare', which means “to make slow, delay, keep back, or hinder.” The term retarded was used to replace the terms idiot, moron, and imbecile as these terms gradually became thought of as derogatory. Now 'retarded' is considered a derogatory term.
Many old words seem to pop up around election time as politicians seek to differentiate themselves, while preaching the same drivel. Even politician used to be a good word, which has now become thought of as derogatory.
What's in a Name, Santa Fe
"Santa" can also mean holy, and
"fe" means faith, so Santa Fe = holy faith. The full name of the New
Mexico state capital is "Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco
de Asis," or "Royal Village of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of
Assisi."
Oatmeal, Porridge, Gruel, and Spurtles
Oats taken from the
farmer’s field are sieved in a rotating drum to remove impurities
like seeds, stalks, sticks, and stones. Then they are put into a
rotating drum to remove the husk. Finally, the oats are heat dried
to reduce the moisture content before being ground or crushed to
produce fine oatmeal.
Oatmeal is a product made by processing oats. In North America, oatmeal means any crushed oats, rolled oats, or cut oats used in recipes such as oatmeal cookies. It is also a name for a breakfast cereal made by cooking the oats. All oatmeal is porridge, but not all porridge is oatmeal.
Porridge made from oatmeal is also called oatmeal or oatmeal cereal. Porridge can be made with oats, rice, barley, cornmeal, brown rice, or basically any grain that is cooked, usually in water or milk. Similar dishes made with other grains or legumes often have other names, such as groat, polenta, grits, owsianka, or kasha. Since porridge was used as prison food for inmates in the British prison system, 'doing porridge' became a slang term for a sentence in prison.
Gruel is similar to porridge, but is made without milk and has a very thin consistency.
A spurtle is a Scottish kitchen tool used for stirring porridge.
Bonus - Pease porridge made from dried peas is another traditional English and Scottish porridge. It inspired the Mother Goose rhyme "pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.
Oatmeal is a product made by processing oats. In North America, oatmeal means any crushed oats, rolled oats, or cut oats used in recipes such as oatmeal cookies. It is also a name for a breakfast cereal made by cooking the oats. All oatmeal is porridge, but not all porridge is oatmeal.
Porridge made from oatmeal is also called oatmeal or oatmeal cereal. Porridge can be made with oats, rice, barley, cornmeal, brown rice, or basically any grain that is cooked, usually in water or milk. Similar dishes made with other grains or legumes often have other names, such as groat, polenta, grits, owsianka, or kasha. Since porridge was used as prison food for inmates in the British prison system, 'doing porridge' became a slang term for a sentence in prison.
Gruel is similar to porridge, but is made without milk and has a very thin consistency.
A spurtle is a Scottish kitchen tool used for stirring porridge.
Bonus - Pease porridge made from dried peas is another traditional English and Scottish porridge. It inspired the Mother Goose rhyme "pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.
Laptop Tip
Overcharging is not so much of a problem as most
modern laptops have circuitry that keeps the battery just under 100%
when it is plugged in. That means there is less chance of the
battery overheating and catching fire.
However, lithium-ion batteries, like the ones in newer laptops, last longest when they stay between 20% and 80% capacity. When they spend a lot of time above and below those percentages, it shortens the battery's life.
Also, a battery that is charging while the laptop is running will be hotter than usual. That also shortens the overall battery life.
So, if your laptop is always sitting the same place, it is a good idea to unplug it every now and then and let the battery take over. Or you can remove the battery totally and leave it plugged in all the time.
However, lithium-ion batteries, like the ones in newer laptops, last longest when they stay between 20% and 80% capacity. When they spend a lot of time above and below those percentages, it shortens the battery's life.
Also, a battery that is charging while the laptop is running will be hotter than usual. That also shortens the overall battery life.
So, if your laptop is always sitting the same place, it is a good idea to unplug it every now and then and let the battery take over. Or you can remove the battery totally and leave it plugged in all the time.
Leftovers Lite
While not usually nine days old, some foods
taste better the second time than when first cooked. Many people say
leftover pasta tastes great. Now an experiment has shown that it
also might be better for us.
Pasta is a form of carbohydrate and like all carbohydrates it gets broken down in our gut and then absorbed as simple sugars, which in turn makes your blood glucose quickly rise. In response to a surge in blood glucose our bodies produce a rush of insulin to get our blood glucose back down to normal as swiftly as possible, because persistently high levels of glucose in the blood are extremely unhealthy.
A rapid rise in blood glucose, followed by a rapid fall, can often make a person feel hungry again quite soon after a meal. It is true of sugary sweets and cakes and also true for things like pasta, potatoes, white rice, and white bread. That is why dieticians emphasize the importance of eating foods that are rich in fiber, as these foods produce a much more gradual rise and fall in blood sugars.
Cooking pasta and then cooling it down changes the structure of the pasta, turning it into something that is called 'resistant starch'. It is called that because once pasta, potatoes or other starchy food is cooked and cooled it becomes resistant to the normal enzymes that break carbohydrates down and release glucose that causes a blood sugar surge.
According to Dr. Denise Robertson, from the University of Surrey, if you cook and cool pasta down then your body will treat it much more like fiber, creating a smaller glucose peak. You will also absorb fewer calories.
A study was conducted and volunteers had three days of testing, spread out over several weeks. On each occasion they had to eat pasta on an empty stomach. The volunteers were randomized to eating either hot, cold, or reheated pasta on different days.
On one day they ate the pasta, freshly cooked and hot with a plain sauce of tomatoes and garlic. On another day they had to eat it cold with the same sauce, but after it had been chilled overnight. On a third day they ate the pasta with sauce after it had been chilled and then reheated.
On each of the days they also gave blood samples every 15 minutes for two hours, to see what happened to their blood glucose as the pasta was slowly digested. Eating cold pasta led to a smaller spike in blood glucose and insulin than eating freshly boiled pasta.
Cooking, cooling, and then reheating the pasta had an even smaller effect on blood glucose. It reduced the rise in blood glucose by 50%.
We can convert a carb-loaded meal into a more healthy fiber-loaded one without changing a single ingredient, just the temperature. Leftovers could be healthier than the original meal.
Pasta is a form of carbohydrate and like all carbohydrates it gets broken down in our gut and then absorbed as simple sugars, which in turn makes your blood glucose quickly rise. In response to a surge in blood glucose our bodies produce a rush of insulin to get our blood glucose back down to normal as swiftly as possible, because persistently high levels of glucose in the blood are extremely unhealthy.
A rapid rise in blood glucose, followed by a rapid fall, can often make a person feel hungry again quite soon after a meal. It is true of sugary sweets and cakes and also true for things like pasta, potatoes, white rice, and white bread. That is why dieticians emphasize the importance of eating foods that are rich in fiber, as these foods produce a much more gradual rise and fall in blood sugars.
Cooking pasta and then cooling it down changes the structure of the pasta, turning it into something that is called 'resistant starch'. It is called that because once pasta, potatoes or other starchy food is cooked and cooled it becomes resistant to the normal enzymes that break carbohydrates down and release glucose that causes a blood sugar surge.
According to Dr. Denise Robertson, from the University of Surrey, if you cook and cool pasta down then your body will treat it much more like fiber, creating a smaller glucose peak. You will also absorb fewer calories.
A study was conducted and volunteers had three days of testing, spread out over several weeks. On each occasion they had to eat pasta on an empty stomach. The volunteers were randomized to eating either hot, cold, or reheated pasta on different days.
On one day they ate the pasta, freshly cooked and hot with a plain sauce of tomatoes and garlic. On another day they had to eat it cold with the same sauce, but after it had been chilled overnight. On a third day they ate the pasta with sauce after it had been chilled and then reheated.
On each of the days they also gave blood samples every 15 minutes for two hours, to see what happened to their blood glucose as the pasta was slowly digested. Eating cold pasta led to a smaller spike in blood glucose and insulin than eating freshly boiled pasta.
Cooking, cooling, and then reheating the pasta had an even smaller effect on blood glucose. It reduced the rise in blood glucose by 50%.
We can convert a carb-loaded meal into a more healthy fiber-loaded one without changing a single ingredient, just the temperature. Leftovers could be healthier than the original meal.
Global Incidents
This site has a map showing real time
incidents around the globe. It is interactive and a bit scary to see
so many things going on that we never hear about on our
local-centric the news. LINK
Dalai Lama
This title as first given to the third Dalai
Lama, Sonam Gyatso, by Altan Khan. In order to help secure his rule
in Mongolia, Altan Khan agreed to let Sonam Gyatso convert Mongolia
to Buddhism.
Gyatso then proclaimed that Altan Khan was in fact the reincarnated of the great Khublai Khan, former ruler of China and Mongolia and grandson of Ghengis Khan, helping legitimize Altan Khan’s rule. The fourth Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso, the only Dalai Lama to be born outside of Tibet to date was the great grandson of Altan Khan.
The title Dalai Lama literally means 'The Ocean Lama' with the 'lama' coming from the Tibetan 'blama', meaning guru, mentor, teacher, wise-one.” So, it could be interpreted as 'Ocean of Wisdom'.
Gyatso then proclaimed that Altan Khan was in fact the reincarnated of the great Khublai Khan, former ruler of China and Mongolia and grandson of Ghengis Khan, helping legitimize Altan Khan’s rule. The fourth Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso, the only Dalai Lama to be born outside of Tibet to date was the great grandson of Altan Khan.
The title Dalai Lama literally means 'The Ocean Lama' with the 'lama' coming from the Tibetan 'blama', meaning guru, mentor, teacher, wise-one.” So, it could be interpreted as 'Ocean of Wisdom'.
Oct 25, 2014
Vodka Pie Crust Hack
Use vodka instead of
water when baking your next Holiday pie. Vodka is only 60% water, so
it forms less gluten, which makes for a more tender crust.
Six Quick Animal Facts
Armadillos found in
the US nearly always give birth to identical quadruplets.
The largest bat colony in the world in Bracken Cave, Texas has 20 million bats.
Dolphins can stay active for 15 days or more by sleeping with only one half of their brain at a time.
Elephants are pregnant for almost two years.
Guinea pigs are neither pigs nor from Guinea.
Koala bears are not bears, they are marsupials.
The largest bat colony in the world in Bracken Cave, Texas has 20 million bats.
Dolphins can stay active for 15 days or more by sleeping with only one half of their brain at a time.
Elephants are pregnant for almost two years.
Guinea pigs are neither pigs nor from Guinea.
Koala bears are not bears, they are marsupials.
Funeral Celebrants
Funeral Celebrant is an
interesting and relatively new profession. They can help plan a
festive or somber ceremony, and work with families to develop a
eulogy. Some celebrants perform a whole ceremony while some families
prefer to perform a ceremony themselves. Celebrant funerals are
funeral ceremonies that are a true celebration of the departed one’s
life.
Many people are choosing to forgo traditional funerals and cremation is growing as an alternative to funerals with half or more people now choosing it. Unlike funerals with the somber process of casket, service, and internment, the cremation process is more personal, less costly, as well as more positive and celebratory. Cremation typically costs less than one fourth the cost of a funeral (if not done by a funeral home). Most states have cremation societies, which can take care of paperwork for insurance, VA, Social Security, obituary, etc., having the body moved to a facility, and assist with all aspects of the process, just as a funeral director traditionally did.
Scattering of ashes is now the most popular thing to do with cremation ashes. Family and friends are having private memorials, scattering ashes, and having a party in the backyard. In fact, you can now buy a "Loved One Launcher", which is a CO2 cartridge filled tube, including confetti that launches ashes into the air. There are also personalized mementos containing bits of ash used in jewelry, lockets, pictures, action figures, and more. You can even get an urn that can be used as a birdhouse after the ashes have been scattered. Seems like an oxymoron with an action figure made of ashes.
Many people are choosing to forgo traditional funerals and cremation is growing as an alternative to funerals with half or more people now choosing it. Unlike funerals with the somber process of casket, service, and internment, the cremation process is more personal, less costly, as well as more positive and celebratory. Cremation typically costs less than one fourth the cost of a funeral (if not done by a funeral home). Most states have cremation societies, which can take care of paperwork for insurance, VA, Social Security, obituary, etc., having the body moved to a facility, and assist with all aspects of the process, just as a funeral director traditionally did.
Scattering of ashes is now the most popular thing to do with cremation ashes. Family and friends are having private memorials, scattering ashes, and having a party in the backyard. In fact, you can now buy a "Loved One Launcher", which is a CO2 cartridge filled tube, including confetti that launches ashes into the air. There are also personalized mementos containing bits of ash used in jewelry, lockets, pictures, action figures, and more. You can even get an urn that can be used as a birdhouse after the ashes have been scattered. Seems like an oxymoron with an action figure made of ashes.
Oct 24, 2014
Happy Friday
"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." Arthur
Rubinstein
It is doubly true when celebrating a Happy Friday!
It is doubly true when celebrating a Happy Friday!
Berserk, Pea, and Edit
A back-formation is a word
created by removing an element from an existing word. It can change
the word’s meaning or the part of speech.
Berserk is a back-formation from berserker, one of a band of ancient Norse warriors legendary for their savagery and reckless frenzy in battle.
Pea and plural peas are a back-formation of Middle English 'pease', which was a mass noun in wide use, like oatmeal.
Edit is a back formation of editor. Editor was in use for almost 150 years before edit. Edit arose because the word 'editor' sounds as if it should mean 'one who edits'.
Berserk is a back-formation from berserker, one of a band of ancient Norse warriors legendary for their savagery and reckless frenzy in battle.
Pea and plural peas are a back-formation of Middle English 'pease', which was a mass noun in wide use, like oatmeal.
Edit is a back formation of editor. Editor was in use for almost 150 years before edit. Edit arose because the word 'editor' sounds as if it should mean 'one who edits'.
Selfie Video
Skype has a new app that lets you take a
short movie and send it to anyone in your address book. Think of it
as a video instant message. LINK
Nobel Prizes 2014
The $1.1 million awards will be handed
out on Dec. 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel's
death in 1896.
MEDICINE
U.S.-British scientist John O'Keefe split the Nobel Prize in medicine with Norwegian couple May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser for breakthroughs in brain cell research that could pave the way for a better understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's.
PHYSICS
Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano of Japan and Japanese-born U.S. scientist Shuji Nakamura won the Nobel Prize in physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes, which promises to revolutionize the way the world lights its homes and offices, and already helps create the glowing screens of mobile phones, computers and TVs.
CHEMISTRY
U.S. researchers Eric Betzig and William Moerner and Stefan Hell of Germany won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for finding ways to make microscopes more powerful than previously thought possible, allowing scientists to see how diseases develop inside the tiniest cells.
MEDICINE
U.S.-British scientist John O'Keefe split the Nobel Prize in medicine with Norwegian couple May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser for breakthroughs in brain cell research that could pave the way for a better understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's.
PHYSICS
Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano of Japan and Japanese-born U.S. scientist Shuji Nakamura won the Nobel Prize in physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes, which promises to revolutionize the way the world lights its homes and offices, and already helps create the glowing screens of mobile phones, computers and TVs.
CHEMISTRY
U.S. researchers Eric Betzig and William Moerner and Stefan Hell of Germany won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for finding ways to make microscopes more powerful than previously thought possible, allowing scientists to see how diseases develop inside the tiniest cells.
Baseball Trading
Harry Chiti was traded for
himself. Chiti was a major league catcher who played from 1950 to
1962. On April 25, 1962, before he actually played a game for the
Indians, he was acquired by the expansion New York Mets team for a
'player to be named later'. He was sent back to the Indians on June
15, 1962 after 15 games and a .195 batting average.
Since Chiti was the 'player to be named later', he became the first player ever traded for himself. Three other players in history have been traded for themselves: Dickie Noles, Brad Gulden, and John McDonald. Chiti never played another major league game, spending two more years at Triple-A before retiring in 1964.
Since Chiti was the 'player to be named later', he became the first player ever traded for himself. Three other players in history have been traded for themselves: Dickie Noles, Brad Gulden, and John McDonald. Chiti never played another major league game, spending two more years at Triple-A before retiring in 1964.
Houseplants and Odors
People in office cubicles have put
photos of nature up on the walls or brought in green plants to help
personalize their space since cubicles were first invented.
The impact turns out to be more than just aesthetic. Adding a plant or two can boost productivity by 38% or more. Scientists at the University of Exeter conducted ninety experiments and found houseplants not only improve creativity (45%) and overall well being (47%), they also provide a boost to focus. As an added bonus, rooms filled with plants have an average of 50% to 60% less bacteria.
Environmental odors appear to impact how productive we are. As the most powerful of our senses, smell might have an impact. One corporation says to chop up some lemons. In studies, workers made 54% less errors when they smelled lemons, 33% fewer mistakes with jasmine, and 20% fewer with lavender.
The impact turns out to be more than just aesthetic. Adding a plant or two can boost productivity by 38% or more. Scientists at the University of Exeter conducted ninety experiments and found houseplants not only improve creativity (45%) and overall well being (47%), they also provide a boost to focus. As an added bonus, rooms filled with plants have an average of 50% to 60% less bacteria.
Environmental odors appear to impact how productive we are. As the most powerful of our senses, smell might have an impact. One corporation says to chop up some lemons. In studies, workers made 54% less errors when they smelled lemons, 33% fewer mistakes with jasmine, and 20% fewer with lavender.
Oct 17, 2014
Happy Friday
There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day.
This is especially true when celebrating a Happy Friday!
This is especially true when celebrating a Happy Friday!
Cell Phone Facts
Although Apple iPhone smart phones
generally receive the most publicity, they make up just 11.7% of
all world-wide smart phones.
Android has 84.7% market share according to Business Insider (August 15, 2014). The rest, to equal 100% are other brands.
The top 5 countries with the most active cell phones are: China, 1.2 billion; India, 904 million; US, 327 million; Brazil, 276 million; and Russia, 256 million.
A scientific study by the Mayo Clinic in 2005 proved cell phones cause no electromagnetic interference with hospital equipment.
Android has 84.7% market share according to Business Insider (August 15, 2014). The rest, to equal 100% are other brands.
The top 5 countries with the most active cell phones are: China, 1.2 billion; India, 904 million; US, 327 million; Brazil, 276 million; and Russia, 256 million.
A scientific study by the Mayo Clinic in 2005 proved cell phones cause no electromagnetic interference with hospital equipment.
Wordology, Idioms
Here are a few idioms that have
preserved words that we no longer use by themselves. They are
almost exclusively used in context, rather than stand-alone.
Eke is usually used as to 'eke out a living'. It comes from an old verb meaning to add, supplement, or grow. It is also the same word that gave us "eke-name" for additional name, which became "nickname."
Dint comes from the Old English where it originally referred to a blow struck with a sword or other weapon. It is now used as "by dint of something" where 'something' can stand for charisma, hard work, or anything you can use to accomplish something else.
Deserts, as in 'just deserts' comes from an Old French word for 'deserve', and it was used in English from the 13th century to mean that which is deserved. When you get your just deserts, you get your due.
Fro, as in 'to and fro' comes from the old English way of pronouncing from.
Kith, as in 'kith and kin' comes from an Old English word referring to knowledge or acquaintance. The expression "kith and kin" originally meant your country and your family, but later came to have the wider sense of friends and family.
Umbrage, as in 'take umbrage' comes from the French ombrage (shade, shadow), and it was once used to talk about shade from the sun. It took on various figurative meanings having to do with doubt and suspicion or the giving and taking of offense. To give umbrage was to offend someone, to "throw shade".
Shrift, as in 'short shrift' came from the practice of allowing a little time for the condemned to make a confession before being executed. In that context, shorter was never better.
Eke is usually used as to 'eke out a living'. It comes from an old verb meaning to add, supplement, or grow. It is also the same word that gave us "eke-name" for additional name, which became "nickname."
Dint comes from the Old English where it originally referred to a blow struck with a sword or other weapon. It is now used as "by dint of something" where 'something' can stand for charisma, hard work, or anything you can use to accomplish something else.
Deserts, as in 'just deserts' comes from an Old French word for 'deserve', and it was used in English from the 13th century to mean that which is deserved. When you get your just deserts, you get your due.
Fro, as in 'to and fro' comes from the old English way of pronouncing from.
Kith, as in 'kith and kin' comes from an Old English word referring to knowledge or acquaintance. The expression "kith and kin" originally meant your country and your family, but later came to have the wider sense of friends and family.
Umbrage, as in 'take umbrage' comes from the French ombrage (shade, shadow), and it was once used to talk about shade from the sun. It took on various figurative meanings having to do with doubt and suspicion or the giving and taking of offense. To give umbrage was to offend someone, to "throw shade".
Shrift, as in 'short shrift' came from the practice of allowing a little time for the condemned to make a confession before being executed. In that context, shorter was never better.
Hangar Hack
If your clothes keep slipping off the end of
hangars, wrap a rubber band toward each edge of the hangar and
clothes will stay put.
Advanced Technology
Thought for the day. Does technology
make us anti-social?
Before technology
After Technology
Nine Big Banana Facts
Eating two bananas can give you
enough energy for a 90-minute workout.
Bananas can fight against depression. This is because bananas contain a protein called tryptophan, which converts to serotonin. Serotonin helps you relax and can make you feel better.
Bananas contain Vitamin B6, which regulate blood glucose levels and can put you in a better mood.
The Vitamin B6 will also help fight nerves and stress.
Bananas are high in potassium and low in sodium, which helps fight against high blood pressure and prevent strokes.
Bananas can soothe heartburn because of the natural antacid effect it has on the body.
Bananas are high in fiber. This can help regulate bowel movements without resorting to laxatives.
The potassium in bananas helps you stay focused and alert.
The inside of banana peels can soothe mosquito bites. Bananas also taste good.
Bananas can fight against depression. This is because bananas contain a protein called tryptophan, which converts to serotonin. Serotonin helps you relax and can make you feel better.
Bananas contain Vitamin B6, which regulate blood glucose levels and can put you in a better mood.
The Vitamin B6 will also help fight nerves and stress.
Bananas are high in potassium and low in sodium, which helps fight against high blood pressure and prevent strokes.
Bananas can soothe heartburn because of the natural antacid effect it has on the body.
Bananas are high in fiber. This can help regulate bowel movements without resorting to laxatives.
The potassium in bananas helps you stay focused and alert.
The inside of banana peels can soothe mosquito bites. Bananas also taste good.
Dull, Bland, and Boring
Elizabeth Leighton of Aberfeldy, Scotland proposed a pairing of the Scottish town of Dull while passing through Boring, Oregon on a cycling holiday. Boring has a population of 12,000. Dull has a population of about 84.
During 2013, Dull entered into another partnership with the Australian town Bland. Seems the residents of Bland Shire in New South Wales want to cash in on humorous publicity by creating a trinity with Dull and Boring. Bland has a population of about 6,000.
Dull's name is thought to have come from the Gaelic word for meadow, but others have speculated it could be connected to the Gaelic word "dul" meaning snare. Bland was named after William Bland, the first person in the Australian Medical Association and was transported to Australia as a convict after he killed a man in a duel in Bombay. Boring was named after one of its first residents, W.H. Boring, a farmer and Union veteran who moved to Oregon after the Civil War.
During 2013, Dull entered into another partnership with the Australian town Bland. Seems the residents of Bland Shire in New South Wales want to cash in on humorous publicity by creating a trinity with Dull and Boring. Bland has a population of about 6,000.
Dull's name is thought to have come from the Gaelic word for meadow, but others have speculated it could be connected to the Gaelic word "dul" meaning snare. Bland was named after William Bland, the first person in the Australian Medical Association and was transported to Australia as a convict after he killed a man in a duel in Bombay. Boring was named after one of its first residents, W.H. Boring, a farmer and Union veteran who moved to Oregon after the Civil War.
Nutella Facts
Nutella is a great tasting spread. The
chocolaty nut spread was thought of as a great substitute for
peanut butter, but a recent study found out it is not much
different.
One tablespoon of Nutella contains 100 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 11 grams of sugar. One tablespoon of peanut butter has 94 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1.48 grams sugar. Generic cake frosting has 75 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 7.5 grams of sugar.
One tablespoon of Nutella contains 100 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 11 grams of sugar. One tablespoon of peanut butter has 94 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1.48 grams sugar. Generic cake frosting has 75 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 7.5 grams of sugar.
Bacon Brain Building
Bacon is full of an important
nutrient called choline, which helps increase intelligence and
memory and has been shown in University studies to help fight off
the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and other chronic
mental impairments. Bacon helps me to remember to eat more #bacon.
Oct 10, 2014
Happy Friday
“Life is sweet when you pay attention. When it doesn't seem sweet,
put a sticker on your nose and do a funky dance.” Whitney Scott
I have a sticker on my nose and am doing a happy dance on this Happy Friday!
I have a sticker on my nose and am doing a happy dance on this Happy Friday!
Happy Columbus Day
Monday is Columbus Day for most of the
US, but Seattle, WA., will be holding its first Indigenous Peoples'
Day. It makes little difference as Columbus Day is not an official
holiday in Washington. A councilman said it is, "About taking a
stand against racism." An opposing lawyer said people of Italian
descent are "deeply offended." "By this resolution you say to all
Italian-Americans that the city of Seattle no longer deems your
heritage or your community worthy of recognition." Seems like
politics never takes a holiday.
Bacon's Blood Balancing Bounty
Several university and
medical center studies have shown that including bacon as a regular,
moderate part of one’s diet naturally works to lower the body's
blood pressure and blood sugar levels, helping to prevent and / or
alleviate the effects of diabetes, as well as heart disease, stroke,
and heart attack.
Tips, Tipsy, Tipple, and Wingtips
The etymology of these
words is a bit different than the generally accepted (although
incorrect) stories that they come from acronyms.
Tip does not come from 'to insure prompt service'. It dates back to the 1600s and meant to give a small present of money. It was also used in thieves jargon about the same time, meaning 'to give, hand, or pass'. The meaning 'give a gratuity to' is first documented in the early 1700s. The incorrect acronym story came from an editorial in "Life" magazine from July 15, 1946, claiming the restaurant server's word tip "probably comes from a London coffeehouse custom of two centuries ago when the words 'To Insure Promptness' were written on notes to the waiter, with coins attached.
Tipsy comes from another definition of tip, from the 1300s meaning 'to knock down, topple, or knock askew'. Possibly from Scandinavian tippa 'to tip, dump'. Tipsy-cake from the 1800s was stale cake saturated with wine or liquor.
Tipple dates back to the 1500s, meaning 'sell alcoholic liquor by retail'. It is possibly from a Scandinavian source tipla 'to drink slowly or in small quantities'. The meaning of 'drink (alcoholic beverage) too much' is found in the 1550s. A tippler is a seller of alcoholic liquors.
Wingtips are totally unrelated to the above discussion, except that many businessmen who wear these shoes with a back-curving toe cap suggestive of a bird's wingtip often tipple after work and are tipsy by the time they go home.
Tip does not come from 'to insure prompt service'. It dates back to the 1600s and meant to give a small present of money. It was also used in thieves jargon about the same time, meaning 'to give, hand, or pass'. The meaning 'give a gratuity to' is first documented in the early 1700s. The incorrect acronym story came from an editorial in "Life" magazine from July 15, 1946, claiming the restaurant server's word tip "probably comes from a London coffeehouse custom of two centuries ago when the words 'To Insure Promptness' were written on notes to the waiter, with coins attached.
Tipsy comes from another definition of tip, from the 1300s meaning 'to knock down, topple, or knock askew'. Possibly from Scandinavian tippa 'to tip, dump'. Tipsy-cake from the 1800s was stale cake saturated with wine or liquor.
Tipple dates back to the 1500s, meaning 'sell alcoholic liquor by retail'. It is possibly from a Scandinavian source tipla 'to drink slowly or in small quantities'. The meaning of 'drink (alcoholic beverage) too much' is found in the 1550s. A tippler is a seller of alcoholic liquors.
Wingtips are totally unrelated to the above discussion, except that many businessmen who wear these shoes with a back-curving toe cap suggestive of a bird's wingtip often tipple after work and are tipsy by the time they go home.
A Few Drinking Terms
Speaking of tipsy, here are a few
more booze related terms. Two old words that I miss.
GROG-BLOSSOM, A word from the 18th century for the dilation of blood vessels caused by long-term over consumption of the drink—in an alcoholic's nose.
CRAPULENCE, This word, from the Latin root crapula, arose in the 18th century. It denoted intestinal and cranial distress arising from intemperance and debauchery. Put another way: If you get drunk, expect crapulence.
GROG-BLOSSOM, A word from the 18th century for the dilation of blood vessels caused by long-term over consumption of the drink—in an alcoholic's nose.
CRAPULENCE, This word, from the Latin root crapula, arose in the 18th century. It denoted intestinal and cranial distress arising from intemperance and debauchery. Put another way: If you get drunk, expect crapulence.
Electronic Swing
Normally, I extremely dislike
commercials and mute them at best or change channels. Have heard a
few lately that struck my fancy because of the background music. One
in particular had a track I remembered, but could not recall the
artist. As usual, I scoured the web to find out more information.
It was Parov Stelar, one of my new besties. His musical style is called Electronic Swing. The first YouTube video I remember from him 'All Night', complete with amazing dancing LINK.
Here is one with vocals from singer Cleo Panther (I think I love her) 'Nobody's Fool' LINK.
Here is one for the oldies, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to Parov's 'Booty Swing', with samples from 'Oriental Swing' LINK and a rousing live version LINK. These will get your toes a tappin.
It was Parov Stelar, one of my new besties. His musical style is called Electronic Swing. The first YouTube video I remember from him 'All Night', complete with amazing dancing LINK.
Here is one with vocals from singer Cleo Panther (I think I love her) 'Nobody's Fool' LINK.
Here is one for the oldies, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to Parov's 'Booty Swing', with samples from 'Oriental Swing' LINK and a rousing live version LINK. These will get your toes a tappin.
What's in a Name, Starbucks
Starbucks is named for
Captain Ahab’s first mate, Starbuck in the 1851 novel Moby-Dick.
The founders had considered naming it Pequod's, after Ahab’s ship.
Coffee related and true - The first webcam watched a coffee pot. It allowed researchers at Cambridge to monitor the coffee pot without leaving their desks. Well, call me Ishmael.
Coffee related and true - The first webcam watched a coffee pot. It allowed researchers at Cambridge to monitor the coffee pot without leaving their desks. Well, call me Ishmael.
New Internet Rumor Tracker
Emergent is a real-time rumor
tracker. http://www.emergent.info/about
It is part of a research project with the Tow Center for Digital
Journalism at Columbia University that focuses on how unverified
information and rumor are reported in the media. It aims to develop
and best practices for debunking misinformation. Kind of like a
"real time" version of Snopes.
You can view a list of rumors being tracked on the homepage, along with their current claim state (True, False, Unverified). Click on a story to visit a page that visualizes the sources reporting the rumor, and a breakdown of social shares per source. You can also click on individual articles on the story page to see specific revision and social share data about that article.
You can view a list of rumors being tracked on the homepage, along with their current claim state (True, False, Unverified). Click on a story to visit a page that visualizes the sources reporting the rumor, and a breakdown of social shares per source. You can also click on individual articles on the story page to see specific revision and social share data about that article.
Wordology, Crocodility
I love the way that word rolls off
the tongue. Crocodility is an ancient word for fallacious reasoning
See if you can follow this paradox. A crocodile snatches a young boy from a riverbank. His mother pleads with the crocodile to return him, to which the crocodile replies that he will only return the boy safely if the mother can guess correctly whether or not he will return the boy.
There is no problem if the mother guesses that the crocodile will return him. If she is right, he is returned; if she is wrong, the crocodile keeps him. If she answers that the crocodile will not return him, however, we end up with a paradox: if she is right and the crocodile never intended to return her child, then the crocodile has to return him, but in doing so breaks his word and contradicts the mother’s answer. On the other hand, if she is wrong and the crocodile actually did intend to return the boy, the crocodile must then keep him even though he intended not to, thereby also breaking his word.
The paradox is such an enduring logic problem that in the Middle Ages the word 'crocodilite' came to be used to refer to any similarly brain-twisting dilemma where you admit something that is later used against you.
See if you can follow this paradox. A crocodile snatches a young boy from a riverbank. His mother pleads with the crocodile to return him, to which the crocodile replies that he will only return the boy safely if the mother can guess correctly whether or not he will return the boy.
There is no problem if the mother guesses that the crocodile will return him. If she is right, he is returned; if she is wrong, the crocodile keeps him. If she answers that the crocodile will not return him, however, we end up with a paradox: if she is right and the crocodile never intended to return her child, then the crocodile has to return him, but in doing so breaks his word and contradicts the mother’s answer. On the other hand, if she is wrong and the crocodile actually did intend to return the boy, the crocodile must then keep him even though he intended not to, thereby also breaking his word.
The paradox is such an enduring logic problem that in the Middle Ages the word 'crocodilite' came to be used to refer to any similarly brain-twisting dilemma where you admit something that is later used against you.
My Blog Statistics
Interesting statistics
from last month show that the top five viewing countries to my
blog, in order were Ukraine, US, France, Russia, and UK. It has
been a very long time since US was not first on the list.
Thanks and welcome to my new best friends from Ukraine.
Oct 3, 2014
Happy German-American Day
It became Public Law 100-104 when
President Reagan signed it on August 18, 1987. The US celebrates
German-American Day on Oct. 6. It commemorates the date in 1683 when
13 German families from Krefeld, near the Rhine landed in
Philadelphia. These families subsequently founded Germantown,
Pennsylvania, the first German settlement in the original thirteen
American colonies. About 1 in 4 Americans claim part or full German
heritage.
Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is observed on October 3, when the official German holiday commemorates Germany's reunification in 1990, when East and West Germany once again became one country known as the Federal Republic of Germany die Bundesrepublik Deutschland).
German Pioneers Day is celebrated in Ontario, Canada on the day after Canadian Thanksgiving, second Monday in October. A law passed by the Ontario provincial Legislative Assembly in 2000 proclaimed the annual celebration of the German contributions to Canada on the day after Canadian Thanksgiving.
Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is observed on October 3, when the official German holiday commemorates Germany's reunification in 1990, when East and West Germany once again became one country known as the Federal Republic of Germany die Bundesrepublik Deutschland).
German Pioneers Day is celebrated in Ontario, Canada on the day after Canadian Thanksgiving, second Monday in October. A law passed by the Ontario provincial Legislative Assembly in 2000 proclaimed the annual celebration of the German contributions to Canada on the day after Canadian Thanksgiving.
National Pizza Month
It was first observed in the US during
October 1984. The observance was thought up by Gerry Durnell from
Santa Claus, Indiana and the founder of Pizza Today magazine. It is
also observed throughout much of Canada.
The US has about 63,000 pizzerias and 94% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month. About three billion pizzas are sold in the United States every year, plus an additional one billion frozen pizzas. That works out to about 100 acres of pizza per day, or 350 slices per second.
The US has about 63,000 pizzerias and 94% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month. About three billion pizzas are sold in the United States every year, plus an additional one billion frozen pizzas. That works out to about 100 acres of pizza per day, or 350 slices per second.
UPS 3D Printing
It has reached a new plateau. UPS is
now offering in-store printing of 3D objects for its customers. It
is the first nationwide retailer to offer 3D printing services
in-store. Other local and regional stores have been set up around
the country specifically to offer 3D printing with varying degrees
of success, but having a national brand offering the printing
service brings a shift from concept to mainstream.
UPS' experiment with in-store 3D printers worked and now has expanded the availability of 3D printing services to over 100 locations across the US, including Hawaii. Customers can print everything from accessories, architecture, functional prototypes, and one-of-a-kind gadgets.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/22/ups-3d-printer-expansion/
UPS' experiment with in-store 3D printers worked and now has expanded the availability of 3D printing services to over 100 locations across the US, including Hawaii. Customers can print everything from accessories, architecture, functional prototypes, and one-of-a-kind gadgets.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/22/ups-3d-printer-expansion/
Coupes, Flutes, and Tulips
During the 19th century,
champagne glasses were wide and shallow, not at all like the flutes
we use today. They were called 'coupes' and legend has it that they
were modeled after the shape of Marie Antoinette's left breast.
The coupe eventually gave way to the 'flute', the tall, narrow glasses out of which most of us currently our bubbly. The flute both displays and preserves champagne bubbles, and makes it easier to drink.
Many champagne lovers say the 'tulip' is the true way to enjoy the beverage. The glass is tall, but curves outward to within a couple inches from the mouth, then curves inward to the mouth. This design allows a little more space for swirling, and focuses the aromatics.
The coupe eventually gave way to the 'flute', the tall, narrow glasses out of which most of us currently our bubbly. The flute both displays and preserves champagne bubbles, and makes it easier to drink.
Many champagne lovers say the 'tulip' is the true way to enjoy the beverage. The glass is tall, but curves outward to within a couple inches from the mouth, then curves inward to the mouth. This design allows a little more space for swirling, and focuses the aromatics.
Fatfingers
Smaller and smaller keyboards have caused many
to mistype words. This is commonly called fat fingering the
keyboard. Now there is a site that can help, Fatfingers. The main
purpose of Fatfingers is to help people find items on Ebay that have
not sold, because the owner mistyped the word. Fun to try. I typed
in bicycle and found 1,643 results. LINK
Wordology, Schmoo
The origin of the word comes from Al Capp
and his cartoon Lil Abner. A Shmoo is a cuddly creature that desires
nothing more than to be a boon to mankind.
Shmoos are the world's most amiable creatures, supplying all man's needs. However, they reproduce so prodigiously they threaten to wreck the economy.
They require no sustenance other than air, have no bones, and reproduce asexually and prolifically. Shmoon (plural) are delicious to eat, are eager to be eaten, and taste like chicken. Nogoodniks are anti-Shmoo. They are Shmoo-shaped, but colored sickly green with yellow teeth, red eyes, and often had five-o’clock shadow, chomp stogies, and devour their friendly Shmoo cousins.
Since then, the word schmoo now has taken on other meanings. In socioeconomics, a shmoo refers to any generic kind of good that reproduces itself.
In microbiology, the cellular bulge produced by a haploid yeast cell towards a cell of the opposite mating type during the mating of yeast is referred to as a shmoo, due to its structural resemblance to the cartoon character.
In the field of particle physics, shmoo refers to a high energy survey instrument. Over one hundred white shmoo detectors were at one time sprinkled around the accelerator beamstop area and adjacent mesa to capture subatomic cosmic ray particles emitted from the Cygnus constellation. The detectors housed scintillators and photomultipliers in an array that gave the detector its distinctive shmoo shape.
In electrical engineering, a shmoo plot is the technical term used for the graphic pattern of test circuits. The term 'to shmoo means to run the test. Incidentally, there is no relationship between schmoo and schmooze.
Shmoos are the world's most amiable creatures, supplying all man's needs. However, they reproduce so prodigiously they threaten to wreck the economy.
They require no sustenance other than air, have no bones, and reproduce asexually and prolifically. Shmoon (plural) are delicious to eat, are eager to be eaten, and taste like chicken. Nogoodniks are anti-Shmoo. They are Shmoo-shaped, but colored sickly green with yellow teeth, red eyes, and often had five-o’clock shadow, chomp stogies, and devour their friendly Shmoo cousins.
Since then, the word schmoo now has taken on other meanings. In socioeconomics, a shmoo refers to any generic kind of good that reproduces itself.
In microbiology, the cellular bulge produced by a haploid yeast cell towards a cell of the opposite mating type during the mating of yeast is referred to as a shmoo, due to its structural resemblance to the cartoon character.
In the field of particle physics, shmoo refers to a high energy survey instrument. Over one hundred white shmoo detectors were at one time sprinkled around the accelerator beamstop area and adjacent mesa to capture subatomic cosmic ray particles emitted from the Cygnus constellation. The detectors housed scintillators and photomultipliers in an array that gave the detector its distinctive shmoo shape.
In electrical engineering, a shmoo plot is the technical term used for the graphic pattern of test circuits. The term 'to shmoo means to run the test. Incidentally, there is no relationship between schmoo and schmooze.
Coupons Site
Do you use coupons? This is a site that has
many coupons that you cannot find in the paper. Go ahead; get some
money off of your next purchase. LINK
What's in a Name, Viagra
The official name is Sildenafil
Citrate. Pharmaceutical chemists at Pfizer's research facility in
Kent, England originally conceived it as a treatment for
hypertension, angina, and other symptoms of heart disease. Clinical
trials during 1991 and 1992 revealed the drug was not great at
treating what it was supposed to treat, but eighty percent of male
test subjects were experiencing a side effect of erections.
It was finally approved by the US FDA in 1998 and the drug took US markets by storm as a treatment for penile dysfunction and became an overnight success. It and female Viagra now raise over two billion dollars a year.
It was finally approved by the US FDA in 1998 and the drug took US markets by storm as a treatment for penile dysfunction and became an overnight success. It and female Viagra now raise over two billion dollars a year.
Five Interesting Baseball Facts
Two brother
pitchers win every World Series game for the winning team: In the
1934 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Detroit
Tigers 4 games to 3. Jerome “Dizzy” Dean and his kid brother Paul
“Daffy” Dean won two games each, accounting for all four Cardinal
wins.
Pitching a no-hitter and homering twice: On June 23, 1971, Phillies Pitcher Rick Wise pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium and hit two home runs in the same game.
Making the final out in two no-hitters against the same pitcher: Harvey Kuenn made the final out of two no-hitters, both against Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax. On May 11, 1963, Kuenn made the final out of Koufax’s no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants. On September 9, 1965, Kuenn struck out to end Koufax’s perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.
Eddie Gaedel was 26 year old, 3 feet, 7 inch tall. He was signed by Bill Veeck to a Major League contract of $15,400 ($100 per game), which was the set minimum one could pay a little person performance act, per event. During his first (and last) game he walked. Eddie took his base, stopping to take a bow twice on his way, and was lifted for a pinch runner, Jim Delsing. Two days later, American League President Will Harridge voided Gaedel’s contract and he was out of a job. Further, Harridge officially banned midgets from being able to play in the American League. Although he only made $100 for the one game, it’s estimated he earned over $17,000 ($140,000 today) in the few weeks following his lone Major League at bat. Gaedel’s uniform had the number 1/8 on the back and it now sits in the MLB Hall of Fame.
Four more people in the history of Major League Baseball had only one plate appearance and drew a walk. The others were Dutch Schirick on September 17, 1914, with the Browns; Bill Batsch on September 9, 1916, with Pittsburgh; Joe Cobb on April 25, 1918, with Detroit; and Kevin Melillo on June 24, 2007, with the Oakland A’s.
Pitching a no-hitter and homering twice: On June 23, 1971, Phillies Pitcher Rick Wise pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium and hit two home runs in the same game.
Making the final out in two no-hitters against the same pitcher: Harvey Kuenn made the final out of two no-hitters, both against Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax. On May 11, 1963, Kuenn made the final out of Koufax’s no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants. On September 9, 1965, Kuenn struck out to end Koufax’s perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.
Eddie Gaedel was 26 year old, 3 feet, 7 inch tall. He was signed by Bill Veeck to a Major League contract of $15,400 ($100 per game), which was the set minimum one could pay a little person performance act, per event. During his first (and last) game he walked. Eddie took his base, stopping to take a bow twice on his way, and was lifted for a pinch runner, Jim Delsing. Two days later, American League President Will Harridge voided Gaedel’s contract and he was out of a job. Further, Harridge officially banned midgets from being able to play in the American League. Although he only made $100 for the one game, it’s estimated he earned over $17,000 ($140,000 today) in the few weeks following his lone Major League at bat. Gaedel’s uniform had the number 1/8 on the back and it now sits in the MLB Hall of Fame.
Four more people in the history of Major League Baseball had only one plate appearance and drew a walk. The others were Dutch Schirick on September 17, 1914, with the Browns; Bill Batsch on September 9, 1916, with Pittsburgh; Joe Cobb on April 25, 1918, with Detroit; and Kevin Melillo on June 24, 2007, with the Oakland A’s.
Pork Powered Protein
The protein found in
bacon is extremely valuable to maintaining our energy levels and a
fully functioning, healthy body, with a minimum nasty, waist, thigh,
and butt expanding, fat building carbohydrates.
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