Listen hard, speak soft, and laugh with reckless abandon.
This is always my motto, especially for enjoying a Happy Friday!
Sep 25, 2015
Johnny Appleseed Day
On Saturday Sep 26 we celebrate the guy who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia. He became an American legend while still alive, due to his kind, generous ways, his leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance he attributed to apples.
National Drink Beer Day
It is celebrated on Monday, September 28, 2015. Not to be confused with National Beer Day an unofficial holiday in the United States celebrated every year on April 7, celebrating the day in 1933, the first day in 13 years, that people could legally buy, sell, and drink beer.
The best way to celebrate Drink Beer Day is to gather a group of friends for a beer tasting at home or at your favorite pub. Be sure to check for promotions and giveaways that might be going on in your area.
The best way to celebrate Drink Beer Day is to gather a group of friends for a beer tasting at home or at your favorite pub. Be sure to check for promotions and giveaways that might be going on in your area.
What's in a Name, Starbucks
Seems
appropriate when
talking about coffee to add this tidbit from Starbucks. “The name,
inspired by
Moby Dick evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring
tradition of
the early coffee traders. Our mission to inspire and nurture the
human spirit.”
During 1971, when Starbucks was first coming to
be, it was
searching for a way to capture the seafaring history of coffee and
Seattle’s
strong seaport roots. The owners read old marine books. They found
a 16th
century Norse woodcut of a twin-tailed mermaid, or Siren. There
was something
about her – a seductive mystery mixed with a nautical theme that
was exactly
what the founders were looking for. The logo was designed around
her, and their
long relationship with the Siren began. Lofty goals, a mermaid,
and coffee are
all good ways to start a Friday.
Stumptown
Stumptown is one of several
nicknames for
Portland, Oregon. In the mid-19th century, the city's growth led
residents to
clear much land of trees quickly, but the tree stumps were not
immediately
removed. In some areas, there were so many stumps that people
would jump from
stump to stump in order to avoid the muddy, unpaved roads.
The nickname is used in the names of several
local
businesses, including Stumptown Coffee Roasters, an independent
coffee roaster
and retailer located in Portland; StumpTown Kilts, a maker of
men's and women's
modern kilts; Stumptown (comics), a creator-owned detective
fiction comic book
series set in Portland.
Portland-based Stumptown Coffee offers its
cold-brew coffee
on nitro at Stumptown Cafes and wholesale to businesses that it
distributes to.
It looks like a beer, has the creamy mouth feel of a stout, and is
available at
the bar.
Austin, Texas-based Cuvee Coffee Roastery’s
Black and Blue
has a cold-brewed coffee that mimics the frothiness of a Guinness
the same way
they do it in Dublin: with nitrogen. It is the first to make the
coffee
available in widget cans. When opened, these cans agitate their
contents and
produce a creamy texture in much the same way a can of Guinness
does.
In Vitro vs. In Vivo
We hear these terms in the medical
context, but they can be confusing. In vivo, (within the living)
means within the body and in vitro, (within the glass) means outside
of the body, such a test tube.
Krispy Kreme Dog
A hot dog is being offered to fans
at Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball games this season.
The “Krispy Kreme Donut Dog” is placed between a glazed Krispy
Kreme donut, packed with bacon and topped with raspberry jelly.
Contact Juggling
Contact juggling is a form of object
manipulation that focuses on the movement of objects in contact
with the body. It involves the rolling of one or more objects
without releasing them into the air. It is divided into three main
techniques: Body rolling means manipulating one or more
props around the hands, arms, and other parts of the body.
Palm spinning means manipulating one or more balls in the open hand so that at least one ball is in motion. Balls may be in both hands or transferred between hands to form graceful and fluid patterns, including rotating a pyramid made of four or five balls in one hand.
Isolation refers to the manipulation of a ball so that it appears to be suspended in place, creating the effect that the ball is still while the performer moves around the ball.
I placed this three minute video link of a master juggler at the end, so you did not get distracted from the rest of the interesting tidbits above. LINK
Palm spinning means manipulating one or more balls in the open hand so that at least one ball is in motion. Balls may be in both hands or transferred between hands to form graceful and fluid patterns, including rotating a pyramid made of four or five balls in one hand.
Isolation refers to the manipulation of a ball so that it appears to be suspended in place, creating the effect that the ball is still while the performer moves around the ball.
I placed this three minute video link of a master juggler at the end, so you did not get distracted from the rest of the interesting tidbits above. LINK
Cutting Phone Lines
Seems like old wired telephones may
be going the way of the Edison light bulbs, in favor of newer
technology. AT&T and others are trying to cut the cord on the
old analog telephone system that has been used for generations,
with a coordinated campaign to change telecommunications law,
state by state.
In Illinois, the industry wants to rescind a state requirement that it maintain those copper-wire networks. In terms of just residential phone lines that use traditional telephone technology, just 1.3 million are left in Illinois today. At the same time, the number of wireless subscribers in Illinois has climbed from about 5.6 million in 2001 to about 12.8 million by the end of 2013.
Some major carriers, including AT&T, are designated in the current law as “carriers of last resort,” meaning they are obligated by law to maintain those copper analog landlines within their service areas. The companies say it is a matter of giving consumers what they want, cell phones, broadband, and other 21st-century digital options instead of keeping their capital tied up in the telecom equivalent of a horse-and-buggy system.
In 2011, Missouri eliminated its previous “carrier of last resort” obligation on carriers in St. Louis County, St. Louis, and Kansas City. In 2014, Michigan joined more than 30 other states that have passed or are considering laws that restrict state-government oversight and eliminate "carrier of last resort" mandates, effectively ending the universal-service guarantee that gives every US resident access to physical wire-line telephone service.
In Illinois, the industry wants to rescind a state requirement that it maintain those copper-wire networks. In terms of just residential phone lines that use traditional telephone technology, just 1.3 million are left in Illinois today. At the same time, the number of wireless subscribers in Illinois has climbed from about 5.6 million in 2001 to about 12.8 million by the end of 2013.
Some major carriers, including AT&T, are designated in the current law as “carriers of last resort,” meaning they are obligated by law to maintain those copper analog landlines within their service areas. The companies say it is a matter of giving consumers what they want, cell phones, broadband, and other 21st-century digital options instead of keeping their capital tied up in the telecom equivalent of a horse-and-buggy system.
In 2011, Missouri eliminated its previous “carrier of last resort” obligation on carriers in St. Louis County, St. Louis, and Kansas City. In 2014, Michigan joined more than 30 other states that have passed or are considering laws that restrict state-government oversight and eliminate "carrier of last resort" mandates, effectively ending the universal-service guarantee that gives every US resident access to physical wire-line telephone service.
Sep 18, 2015
Check My Book
Please stop by Amazon and check my latest book, Bacon Orgazmia. It will make you Happy. "Peek Inside" coming soon.
LINK
LINK
Happy Friday
"Success in anything is through happiness." ~ Maharishi Yogi
I am always happy to succeed in having a Happy Friday!
I am always happy to succeed in having a Happy Friday!
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Saturday September 19 is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. There is a Facebook page, Twitter account, and much more on the web. Look for the Facebook option to change your words to pirate talk. Here are a few pirate words to get you started.
Duffel is a sailor's personal belongings and the bag that carries them. It is named after the Flemish town of Duffel that produced the woolen cloth which the bags were made of.
Avast comes from the Dutch phrase 'houd vast' which meant 'hold fast' or 'stop'. Over time it became 'hou vast' and later 'avast'
Poop deck originates from the French word for stern, la poupe. The poop deck is technically a stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern cabin, also known as the 'poop cabin'. In sailing ships, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew and sails.
Duffel is a sailor's personal belongings and the bag that carries them. It is named after the Flemish town of Duffel that produced the woolen cloth which the bags were made of.
Avast comes from the Dutch phrase 'houd vast' which meant 'hold fast' or 'stop'. Over time it became 'hou vast' and later 'avast'
Poop deck originates from the French word for stern, la poupe. The poop deck is technically a stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern cabin, also known as the 'poop cabin'. In sailing ships, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew and sails.
Opt Out
Many companies drop cookies
on our computers and store information
about sites we go to, things we 'like' on
Facebook, and more. This site link below
will check your computer and let
you know which companies are looking at
your info. It provides an option to opt
out. The process just takes a few
minutes. If you are like me
and hate all the
tracking and bombarding me with ads,
this is
worth the time. LINK
Genetics vs. Genomics
The words
genetic and genomic are often used interchangeably. However, they have different and
specific meanings.
Genetics is the study of heredity. It is the study of how inherited traits are passed from one generation to the next through the genes, and how new traits appear by way of genetic mutations or changes. These traits may be characteristics like eye or hair color.
Genomics is a more recent term that describes the study of all of a person's genes (the genome). Genomics is defined as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques.
The main difference between genomics and genetics is that genetics looks at the functioning and composition of a single gene and genomics addresses all genes and their inter relationships in order to identify their combined influence on the growth and development of an organism.
Genetic information is stored in the molecule DNA. Gene refers to a specific sequence of DNA on a single chromosome that encodes a particular product. Humans have many thousands of genes, spaced across the entire set of DNA.
The word genome encompasses the entire set of genetic information across all 23 chromosome pairs, including all genes, as well as gene-modifying sequences, and everything in-between.
In the context of clinical and research settings, "genetic" testing refers to the examination of specific bits of DNA that have a known function.
Genomic testing looks for variations within large segments across the entirety of genetic material, both within and outside known functional genes. It looks at groups of genes and how active they are, such as how a cancer is likely to grow and respond to treatment.
All the genes make up the genome. Both are important because understanding more about diseases caused by a single gene using genetics and complex diseases caused by multiple genes and environmental factors using genomics can lead to earlier diagnoses, interventions, and targeted treatments.
Genetics is the study of heredity. It is the study of how inherited traits are passed from one generation to the next through the genes, and how new traits appear by way of genetic mutations or changes. These traits may be characteristics like eye or hair color.
Genomics is a more recent term that describes the study of all of a person's genes (the genome). Genomics is defined as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques.
The main difference between genomics and genetics is that genetics looks at the functioning and composition of a single gene and genomics addresses all genes and their inter relationships in order to identify their combined influence on the growth and development of an organism.
Genetic information is stored in the molecule DNA. Gene refers to a specific sequence of DNA on a single chromosome that encodes a particular product. Humans have many thousands of genes, spaced across the entire set of DNA.
The word genome encompasses the entire set of genetic information across all 23 chromosome pairs, including all genes, as well as gene-modifying sequences, and everything in-between.
In the context of clinical and research settings, "genetic" testing refers to the examination of specific bits of DNA that have a known function.
Genomic testing looks for variations within large segments across the entirety of genetic material, both within and outside known functional genes. It looks at groups of genes and how active they are, such as how a cancer is likely to grow and respond to treatment.
All the genes make up the genome. Both are important because understanding more about diseases caused by a single gene using genetics and complex diseases caused by multiple genes and environmental factors using genomics can lead to earlier diagnoses, interventions, and targeted treatments.
Flag Trivia
Two countries have flags that do not contain the colors red,
white, or blue. They are Jamaica and Mauritania (11th
largest country in Africa).
Android vs. Apple Phones
Android continues
to dominate the smartphone market, in
spite of Apple advertising
domination.
Autumnal Equinox
The Autumnal or Fall Equinox is a
floating date around September 22-23 that marks the first day of
autumn, when day and night are of equal lengths. The sun crosses
the equator moving southward (in the northern hemisphere). The
Autumnal Equinox marks the beginning of shorter days and longer
nights and the passage into winter. On this day, the sun rises
directly in the east and sets directly in the west; the sun will
begin to rise at the South Pole after six months of darkness, to
bring six months of daylight; and the zenith passes directly
overhead on the equator, so the sun casts no shadows. For
centuries, friends have gathered to celebrate the day and
strengthen their spirits in preparation for the passage into
winter.
8K TV
We do not even have much content for 4K TVs and now
Sharp has announced an 8K, 85 inch LV-85001 for just US $133,000.
In fact broadcast testing of 8K is not scheduled to begin until
2016.
8K is 7680 x 4320, which is 104 pixels per inch at the 85-inch size; the contrast ratio is 100,000:1 with viewing angles of 176 degrees. It will be available October 31, 2015.
When I first got into the technology business, hardware was always lagging behind need. Seems during the past ten years technology is leading, and searching for content and relevance before its typically ultra-short life cycle ends. Thank goodness for early adopters, who take the arrows and pay the big bucks so we can enjoy later.
8K is 7680 x 4320, which is 104 pixels per inch at the 85-inch size; the contrast ratio is 100,000:1 with viewing angles of 176 degrees. It will be available October 31, 2015.
When I first got into the technology business, hardware was always lagging behind need. Seems during the past ten years technology is leading, and searching for content and relevance before its typically ultra-short life cycle ends. Thank goodness for early adopters, who take the arrows and pay the big bucks so we can enjoy later.
Sep 11, 2015
Bacon Orgazmia
The stars have aligned and my latest (50th) book Bacon Orgazmia is
now available on Amazon. More
information about bacon than has been allowed to be known
about any subject
since the beginning of the known universe.
LINK
LINK
Suffix Ough
English is such a fun language.
There are seven ways to pronounce the suffix 'ough'
- dough doe
- tough tuff
- hiccough hiccup
- bough bow
- ought awt
- cough coff
- through thru
Five Peanut Butter Facts
Grand Saline, Texas, holds the
record for the largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which
weighed in at 1,342 pounds.
More than half of the American peanut crop is used to make peanut butter and the US is the world’s third-highest peanut-producing nation, after China and India.
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
Peanut butter sales were confined to regional markets until the development of hydrogenation in the 1920s. Hydrogenation stops the separation of peanut oil and solids by raising the melting point so that peanut butter is a solid at room temperature.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the top of your mouth.
More than half of the American peanut crop is used to make peanut butter and the US is the world’s third-highest peanut-producing nation, after China and India.
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
Peanut butter sales were confined to regional markets until the development of hydrogenation in the 1920s. Hydrogenation stops the separation of peanut oil and solids by raising the melting point so that peanut butter is a solid at room temperature.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the top of your mouth.
Children's Logic
A virgin forest is a forest where the
hand of man has never set foot.
The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom.
The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom.
The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom.
The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom.
Heteronym, Homograph, Homonym, and Homophone
A homograph is
a word that has the same spelling as another word, but has a
different meaning, such as lead (to go in front of) and lead (a
metal). The ending –graph means drawn or written, so a homograph has
the same spelling.
Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different, such as above or bow (tied with ribbon)
bow (of a boat).
A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word, but is spelled differently and has a different meaning, such as to, two, and too. The ending –phone means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation.
A homonym means either a word that is spelled like another, but has a different sound and meaning (homograph) or a word that sounds like another, but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone).
OR
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another, but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone), like by (near) and buy (to purchase).
Strictly speaking both homographs and homophones are homonyms, but homonyms can be either or both a homograph and homophone. Heteronyms are always homographs, but homographs are not always heteronyms.
Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different, such as above or bow (tied with ribbon)
bow (of a boat).
A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word, but is spelled differently and has a different meaning, such as to, two, and too. The ending –phone means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation.
A homonym means either a word that is spelled like another, but has a different sound and meaning (homograph) or a word that sounds like another, but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone).
OR
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another, but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone), like by (near) and buy (to purchase).
Strictly speaking both homographs and homophones are homonyms, but homonyms can be either or both a homograph and homophone. Heteronyms are always homographs, but homographs are not always heteronyms.
Poisonous vs. Venomous
If you bite it and you die, it is poisonous.
If it bites you and you die, it is venomous.
If it bites you and you die, it is venomous.
Cling Wrap Hack
Did you ever come across a bowl which
plastic wrap never seems to cling to? Here is an easy fix, put your
finger in water and run it across the outside surface and rim of the
bowl. Plastic wrap has a substance much like gelatin that becomes
sticky on contact with water and this quick trick takes advantage of
that reaction.
Wordology, Justiciable, Moot, and Unripe
Justiciability is
one of several criteria that the United States Supreme Court use to
make a judgment. In order for an issue to be justiciable (liable to
be tried in court) by a United States federal court, all of the
following conditions must be met.
The parties must not be seeking an advisory opinion.
There must be an actual controversy between the parties, meaning that the parties cannot agree to a lawsuit where all parties seek the same particular judgment from the court (known as a friendly suit); the parties must each be seeking a different outcome.
The question must be neither unripe nor moot.
An unripe question is one for which there is not yet at least a threatened injury to the plaintiff, or where all available judicial alternatives have not been exhausted.
A moot question is one for which the potential for an injury to occur has ceased to exist, or where the injury has been removed.
The parties must not be seeking an advisory opinion.
There must be an actual controversy between the parties, meaning that the parties cannot agree to a lawsuit where all parties seek the same particular judgment from the court (known as a friendly suit); the parties must each be seeking a different outcome.
The question must be neither unripe nor moot.
An unripe question is one for which there is not yet at least a threatened injury to the plaintiff, or where all available judicial alternatives have not been exhausted.
A moot question is one for which the potential for an injury to occur has ceased to exist, or where the injury has been removed.
Twinkies Facts
They were invented in 1932 by James Alexander
Dewar. The first Twinkie held banana cream, though banana rationing
during World War II forced the switch to vanilla cream, now the
official Twinkie flavor.
Top Ten Books
From the New York Times 2015
| 41 | George W. Bush |
| 10% Happier | Dan Harris |
| 13 Hours | Mitchell Zuckoff |
| America | Dinesh D'Souza |
| Blood Feud | Edward Klein |
| Capital in the Twenty-First Century | Thomas Piketty |
| David and Goliath | Malcolm Gladwell |
| Duty | Robert M. Gates |
| Flash Boys | Michael Lewis |
| Hard Choices | Hillary Rodham Clinton |
| Humans of New York | Brandon Stanton |
| Killing Patton | Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard |
| One Nation | Ben Carson with Candy Carson |
| The Future of the Mind | Michio Kaku |
| Things That Matter | Charles Krauthammer |
| Thrive | Arianna Huffington |
| Uganda Be Kidding Me | Chelsea Handler |
| Unbroken | Laura Hillenb |
| What If | Randall Munroe |
| Yes Please | Amy Poehler |
Sep 4, 2015
Happy Friday
Life is like a book, it needs a good opener, compelling middle, and
appropriate ending.
I always have a compelling day when celebrating a Happy Friday!
I always have a compelling day when celebrating a Happy Friday!
Happy International Bacon Day
International Bacon Day or
Bacon Day is an unofficial observance held on the Saturday
(Tomorrow, Sep 5, 2015) before Labor Day in the United States. Last
year Bacon Day was celebrated in the US, Australia, Canada, South
Africa, Switzerland, and the UK.
Some groups also celebrate National Bacon Day on December 30. Bacon day celebrations typically include social gatherings during which participants create and consume dishes containing large quantities of bacon, including bacon-themed breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and drinks. Yes, I unapologetically celebrate both, because bacon deserves more than one holiday per year.
Some groups also celebrate National Bacon Day on December 30. Bacon day celebrations typically include social gatherings during which participants create and consume dishes containing large quantities of bacon, including bacon-themed breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and drinks. Yes, I unapologetically celebrate both, because bacon deserves more than one holiday per year.
Happy Labor Day
Labor Day Labor Day is a US federal holiday
and all government offices, schools and organizations and many
businesses are closed. Labour Day in Canada is celebrated on the
same day. It is traditionally the first Monday of September and was
originally organized to celebrate various labor associations'
strengths of and contributions to the United States economy.
Usually, it is a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor
Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips
or hold outdoor events. Why not have a Labor Day and Bacon Day
party to celebrate both at the same time. I'll bring the bacon.
Wordology, Used and Used
These two words are a type of
heteronym and homograph. They are spelled alike, but are pronounced
different and have different meanings.
The first word is an adjective that means previously used or owned, such as a used car. It also means showing wear, as used clothes and utilized for a reason, as an often used tool.
The second definition means accustomed to, and is pronounced yoost, as in, I am not used to being accused.
The first word is an adjective that means previously used or owned, such as a used car. It also means showing wear, as used clothes and utilized for a reason, as an often used tool.
The second definition means accustomed to, and is pronounced yoost, as in, I am not used to being accused.
Pablo Picasso's Real Name
Pablo Diego José Francisco de
Paula Juan Nepomuceno MarÃa de los Remedios Cipriano de la SantÃsima
Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (This name uses Spanish naming customs: the
first or paternal family name after Trinidad is Ruiz and the second
or maternal family name is Picasso.)
What's in a Name, Haskell Library
It is a building straddling Vermont, US and
Canada border. Step through the front door of the Haskell Library
and you are in the United States. Walk across the carpeted floor to
the circulation desk and you are in Canada, but if you sit on the
couch, you are back in the United States.
The 106-year-old Romanesque building, which straddles the border, has enjoyed an informal immunity from border restrictions through the years.
The 106-year-old Romanesque building, which straddles the border, has enjoyed an informal immunity from border restrictions through the years.
Medical Errors
The thing we see cited among the top causes
of death is medical errors, also known in the literature as
“preventable adverse events.” That means when medical personnel do
the wrong thing, or fail to do the right thing, or do the right
thing, but do it wrong. This can often take the form of
misdiagnosis, or miscommunication between various healthcare
providers, or between providers and patient. Medical errors are the
third leading cause of death in America.
John Tyler, President
The tenth US president, John Tyler (1841-1845)
was the first US born president. He was born in March 29, 1790, in
the State of Virginia, US. The treaty of Paris establishing USA as a
new country was signed in September 3, 1783. Although the previous
presidents were born in what is now the US, it was a British colony
until that date.
V8 Juice Ingredients
The eight juices in V8 are tomato,
spinach, celery, carrot, beet, lettuce, watercress, and parsley.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)