"Laughter is the tonic,
the relief, the surcease for pain." ~Charlie Chaplin
I always enjoy a good laugh, especially on a Happy
Friday!
Mar 30, 2018
Happy Easter
This
year, Easter falls on April Fool's Day, April 1. Beware uncooked
decorated eggs and other silly surprises. Think positive
thoughts and enjoy the day.
Doctor's Day
Today is National Doctor's Day in the US. It began on March 30,
1933 and is a holiday that honors physicians for the work they
do for their patients, the communities they work in, and for
society as a whole. It is their hard work and devotion that
keeps us healthy and this day thanks them for doing that. Be
nice to your doctors, they keep you well.
Small Forks
Consider
this for your Easter dinner. A study in the Journal of Consumer
Research found that when diners were given smaller forks with
which to eat their meals, they ended up eating less. According
to the researchers, smaller forkfuls of food lead diners to,
“feel they are not making much of a dent in consuming their
food, and, hence, satisfying their hunger.”
Dilly Dilly
Contrary to some recent internet descriptions for the Budweiser
commercial, dilly dilly is not new. Versions of the song date
back to at least the 1700s. Below typical version (name back
then was 'Lavender's Blue', from1849.
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green,
When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen:
Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so?
'Twas mine own heart, dilly dilly, that told me so.
Other versions from the 1940s were sung by Burl Ives and Dinah Shore. In addition, this is my favorite version from 1959 'Lavender Blue' by Sammy Turner. LINK
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly, lavender's green,
When I am king, dilly dilly, you shall be queen:
Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so?
'Twas mine own heart, dilly dilly, that told me so.
Other versions from the 1940s were sung by Burl Ives and Dinah Shore. In addition, this is my favorite version from 1959 'Lavender Blue' by Sammy Turner. LINK
Myth, Flaming Removes Most Alcohol
Many of us have cooked with
alcohol, whether wine or straight alcohol for flaming dishes.
There is a persistent myth that cooking removes the alcohol
making it safe for alcoholics and children.
However, it is difficult to remove alcohol from food by cooking. Setting fire to alcohol in the pan actually reduces the total alcohol percentage by only 25%. In other words, when you add a cup of brandy to a pan and set it alight, once the flames go out you still have the equivalent of 3/4 of cup of brandy left behind with the alcohol intact. If you want to reduce the alcohol to five percent you need to cook for 2.5 hours.
Information comes from the 'Modernist Cuisine Book 1 History and Fundamentals'. The full six volume set contains 2,438 pages, which detail the history of cuisine and explain the science of cooking. The team comprises scientists, research, and development chefs.
However, it is difficult to remove alcohol from food by cooking. Setting fire to alcohol in the pan actually reduces the total alcohol percentage by only 25%. In other words, when you add a cup of brandy to a pan and set it alight, once the flames go out you still have the equivalent of 3/4 of cup of brandy left behind with the alcohol intact. If you want to reduce the alcohol to five percent you need to cook for 2.5 hours.
Information comes from the 'Modernist Cuisine Book 1 History and Fundamentals'. The full six volume set contains 2,438 pages, which detail the history of cuisine and explain the science of cooking. The team comprises scientists, research, and development chefs.
Mickey Mouse Myth
Most people believe that Walt Disney
drew Mickey Mouse. He did not draw his most famous creation.
Mickey Mouse was his idea, and he provided the voice, but the
pancake ears, the red shorts, etc., are the creation of Ub Iwerks,
Disney’s favorite animator.
Light vs. Regular Beer
Most light beers contain
about 100 calories, while regular only contains about 145
calories. Budweiser regular has 143 calories and Bud Light has
110, not much difference. According to Wikipedia,
Budweiser Light has 3.5% ABV per 12 US fl oz (355 mL) and
Budweiser regular is 5.0% ABV. It is made with up to 30% rice in
addition to hops and barley malt.
Light beer has been brewed to be lower in alcohol, lower in calories, or lower in both, depending on the brand. Low-carb beer has only been brewed to remove carbohydrates, but can have the same alcohol content. Most light beers are made from a process made possible in 1964 with the commercial introduction of amyloglucosidase. This enzyme makes all the dextrins fermentable. Brewers generally add water to adjust the alcohol content to slightly below that of a regular beer.
Bottom line, with less alcohol, many tend to drink more light beer, negating any calorie reduction benefits, and costing more money in addition to consuming amyloglucosidase.
Light beer has been brewed to be lower in alcohol, lower in calories, or lower in both, depending on the brand. Low-carb beer has only been brewed to remove carbohydrates, but can have the same alcohol content. Most light beers are made from a process made possible in 1964 with the commercial introduction of amyloglucosidase. This enzyme makes all the dextrins fermentable. Brewers generally add water to adjust the alcohol content to slightly below that of a regular beer.
Bottom line, with less alcohol, many tend to drink more light beer, negating any calorie reduction benefits, and costing more money in addition to consuming amyloglucosidase.
Library Seeds
Many libraries around the US now give
out plant, herb, and vegetable seeds for free. Seeds change by
region to accommodate local climate. For instance, a seed
lending library is available at the Dallas library. Library
card holders may check out seeds donated by commercials
growers and Dallas gardeners. Users are encouraged to replace
seeds in the fall with those from their own harvest, but it is
not a requirement.
Among the seed available in Dallas, are vegetables, such as round baby carrots, leaf lettuces, French mesclun, yellow squash, pole beans and pumpkins. Available flowers included nasturtiums, zinnias, cleome, amaranth, white bishop's lace, purple coneflower, poppies, cosmos, foxgloves, moonflowers and morning glory.
Among the seed available in Dallas, are vegetables, such as round baby carrots, leaf lettuces, French mesclun, yellow squash, pole beans and pumpkins. Available flowers included nasturtiums, zinnias, cleome, amaranth, white bishop's lace, purple coneflower, poppies, cosmos, foxgloves, moonflowers and morning glory.
Wordology, FOMO
According to the Urban Dictionary,
fomo is "fear of missing out". The fear that if you miss a
party or event you will miss out on something great. Anxiety
that an exciting or interesting event may currently be
happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social
media website.
Happy Friday
Happiness
cannot hide from a broad smile.
Wake up with a smile every day, especially on a Happy Friday!
Wake up with a smile every day, especially on a Happy Friday!
US Behind in Broadband
In telecommunications, broadband is wide
bandwidth data transmission which transports multiple signals
and data traffic types. The medium can be coaxial cable, optical
fiber, radio or twisted pair. In the context of internet access,
broadband is used to mean any high-speed internet access that is
always on and faster than dial-up access. In other words,
broadband is cable and internet.
According to a recent study, the five leading countries for broadband communications infrastructure are South Korea, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands. The U.S. is #18.
In addition, US is #18 for broadband access and affordability. The top five are South Korea, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, and Norway.
The US is #13 for average fixed broadband connection speed. The top five are South Korea, Norway, Sweden, China and Switzerland.
According to a recent study, the five leading countries for broadband communications infrastructure are South Korea, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands. The U.S. is #18.
In addition, US is #18 for broadband access and affordability. The top five are South Korea, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, and Norway.
The US is #13 for average fixed broadband connection speed. The top five are South Korea, Norway, Sweden, China and Switzerland.
World's Most Popular Fruit
Over 100 billion bananas are consumed worldwide
each year. India, China, Brazil, and Indonesia account for half
of that consumption.
Bananas make up approximately 75% of the annual tropical fruit trade. In fact, they are the world's most exported fruit. The world's top banana exporter is Ecuador, while the United States imports the most bananas.
Bananas grow in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Classified botanically as a berry, bananas grow on large plants that look like big bushes. The name "banana" comes from the Arabic word "banan," which means finger.
Bananas make up approximately 75% of the annual tropical fruit trade. In fact, they are the world's most exported fruit. The world's top banana exporter is Ecuador, while the United States imports the most bananas.
Bananas grow in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Classified botanically as a berry, bananas grow on large plants that look like big bushes. The name "banana" comes from the Arabic word "banan," which means finger.
Cement, Concrete, Gunite, and Mortar
Although the terms cement and
concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an
ingredient of concrete. Concrete is basically a mixture of
aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or
crushed stone; the paste is water and Portland cement.
Cement is a fine binding powder, which is never used alone. It is made most commonly of limestone, clay, shells, and silica sand. These materials are crushed and then combined with other ingredients (including iron ore), and then heated to about 2,700 F. This material, called Clinker, is ground into a fine powder. It is used to make both concrete and mortar.
Both mortar and concrete are widely used building materials. They cannot be substituted for each other without compromising the integrity of a build.
Concrete is much stronger and more durable than mortar. Because it needs a low water to cement ratio, it is much thinner when mixed, making it difficult to use as a bonding element. Concrete is used in structural projects and is often reinforced with steel rebar to maintain its structural integrity. It is best used for support, such as beams, walls, or other building foundations. Its unique characteristic is that it starts out as a simple, dry mixture, becomes a liquid flexible material capable of forming into any mold or shape, and ends up as a hard-as-rock material.
Gunite is a very durable mixture of cement, sand, and water that is sprayed on a surface under pneumatic pressure. It is used for tunnels, underground structures, slope stabilization, structural repairs, and swimming pools. Gunite or shotcrete material is mortar or small-aggregate concrete applied using a wet or dry process.
Mortar is used to hold building materials such as brick or stone together. It is composed of a thick mixture of water, sand, and cement. The water is used to hydrate the cement and hold the mix together. The water to cement ratio is higher in mortar than in concrete in order to form its bonding element. When mixed, it is a much thicker substance than concrete, making it ideal as a glue for building materials like brick.
Bottom line, a hydrated cement mixture forms the base of all three materials, the rock chipping in cement makes it much stronger for use in structural projects, and mortar is thicker, which makes it a better bonding element.
Incidentally, the name Portland cement comes from Joseph Aspdin, who first produced cement during the 1800s in England. He thought its color was like the color of stone from quarries on the island of Portland off the coast of England.
Cement is a fine binding powder, which is never used alone. It is made most commonly of limestone, clay, shells, and silica sand. These materials are crushed and then combined with other ingredients (including iron ore), and then heated to about 2,700 F. This material, called Clinker, is ground into a fine powder. It is used to make both concrete and mortar.
Both mortar and concrete are widely used building materials. They cannot be substituted for each other without compromising the integrity of a build.
Concrete is much stronger and more durable than mortar. Because it needs a low water to cement ratio, it is much thinner when mixed, making it difficult to use as a bonding element. Concrete is used in structural projects and is often reinforced with steel rebar to maintain its structural integrity. It is best used for support, such as beams, walls, or other building foundations. Its unique characteristic is that it starts out as a simple, dry mixture, becomes a liquid flexible material capable of forming into any mold or shape, and ends up as a hard-as-rock material.
Gunite is a very durable mixture of cement, sand, and water that is sprayed on a surface under pneumatic pressure. It is used for tunnels, underground structures, slope stabilization, structural repairs, and swimming pools. Gunite or shotcrete material is mortar or small-aggregate concrete applied using a wet or dry process.
Mortar is used to hold building materials such as brick or stone together. It is composed of a thick mixture of water, sand, and cement. The water is used to hydrate the cement and hold the mix together. The water to cement ratio is higher in mortar than in concrete in order to form its bonding element. When mixed, it is a much thicker substance than concrete, making it ideal as a glue for building materials like brick.
Bottom line, a hydrated cement mixture forms the base of all three materials, the rock chipping in cement makes it much stronger for use in structural projects, and mortar is thicker, which makes it a better bonding element.
Incidentally, the name Portland cement comes from Joseph Aspdin, who first produced cement during the 1800s in England. He thought its color was like the color of stone from quarries on the island of Portland off the coast of England.
Two Cool Tips
To correct misspelled words, press the Ctrl key and hit
backspace to eliminate the whole word. Beats backspacing to
delete each letter individually.
Finding shiny objects. If you drop something shiny, like an earring, or change, turn off the lights and use a flashlight. It should shine and stand out from its surroundings.
Finding shiny objects. If you drop something shiny, like an earring, or change, turn off the lights and use a flashlight. It should shine and stand out from its surroundings.
Essential Oils
Essential
oils are not essential to our lives, but they are essential.
The name means 'essential' in the sense of 'containing the
essence' or as in pure essence. Essential oils are made from
pure extracts of the plant, which makes them healthier to burn
in an oil burner and generally non-toxic as opposed to fragrance
oil which is only scented with the plant's essence.
Poo Paper
Researchers presented their results at the 255th National
Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
The idea for the project germinated on Crete, where Alexander Bismarck, Ph.D., noticed goats munching on summer-dry grass in the small village where he was vacationing. "I realized what comes out in the end is partially digested plant matter, so there must be cellulose in there," he recalls.
After working with goat manure, Bismarck, who is at the University of Vienna, Austria, his postdoc Andreas Mautner, Ph.D., and graduate students Nurul Ain Kamal and Kathrin Weiland moved on to dung from horses, cows and eventually elephants.
The supply of raw material is substantial: Parks in Africa that are home to hundreds of elephants produce tons of dung every day, and enormous cattle farms in the U.S. and Europe yield mountains of manure, according to Mautner.
The researchers treat the manure with a sodium hydroxide solution. This partially removes lignin, which can be used later as a fertilizer or fuel, as well as other impurities, including proteins and dead cells. To fully remove lignin and to produce white pulp for making paper, the material has to be bleached with sodium hypochlorite. The purified cellulose requires little if any grinding to break it down into nanofibers in preparation for use in paper, in contrast to conventional methods.
"You need a lot of energy to grind wood down to make nanocellulose," Mautner says. But with manure as a starting material, "you can reduce the number of steps you need to perform, simply because the animal already chewed the plant and attacked it with acid and enzymes. You inexpensively produce a nanocellulose that has the same or even better properties than nanocellulose from wood, with lower energy and chemical consumption," he says.
The dung-derived nanopaper could be used in many applications, including as reinforcement for polymer composites or filters that can clean wastewater before it is discharged into the environment.
The idea for the project germinated on Crete, where Alexander Bismarck, Ph.D., noticed goats munching on summer-dry grass in the small village where he was vacationing. "I realized what comes out in the end is partially digested plant matter, so there must be cellulose in there," he recalls.
After working with goat manure, Bismarck, who is at the University of Vienna, Austria, his postdoc Andreas Mautner, Ph.D., and graduate students Nurul Ain Kamal and Kathrin Weiland moved on to dung from horses, cows and eventually elephants.
The supply of raw material is substantial: Parks in Africa that are home to hundreds of elephants produce tons of dung every day, and enormous cattle farms in the U.S. and Europe yield mountains of manure, according to Mautner.
The researchers treat the manure with a sodium hydroxide solution. This partially removes lignin, which can be used later as a fertilizer or fuel, as well as other impurities, including proteins and dead cells. To fully remove lignin and to produce white pulp for making paper, the material has to be bleached with sodium hypochlorite. The purified cellulose requires little if any grinding to break it down into nanofibers in preparation for use in paper, in contrast to conventional methods.
"You need a lot of energy to grind wood down to make nanocellulose," Mautner says. But with manure as a starting material, "you can reduce the number of steps you need to perform, simply because the animal already chewed the plant and attacked it with acid and enzymes. You inexpensively produce a nanocellulose that has the same or even better properties than nanocellulose from wood, with lower energy and chemical consumption," he says.
The dung-derived nanopaper could be used in many applications, including as reinforcement for polymer composites or filters that can clean wastewater before it is discharged into the environment.
Shipping Someone
The Urban Dictionary's definition of shipping is a term used
to describe fan fictions that take previously created characters
and put them as a pair. It usually refers to romantic
relationships, but it can refer platonic ones as well. Think of
“shipping” as short for “relationSHIP”.
JPG vs. HEIF
Have you noticed some pictures on i devices and in Windows 10
now have an extension of HEIF (High Efficiency Image File
Format), instead of JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)?
It is a new designation for pictures and supports bonus features, such as it can accommodate live photos, bursts of photos, 3D scene data useful for special effects, audio, and more. As a container, HEIF can actually accommodate multiple compression technologies. When used with HEVC video compression, the resulting files are called HEIC images.
It compresses the file size to roughly half the size of JPG files to save space. The quality is reported to be identical.
Apple is using is also using it as a new standard, so you will be seeing more of these picture file types. Incidentally, it is usually pronounced heef.
It is a new designation for pictures and supports bonus features, such as it can accommodate live photos, bursts of photos, 3D scene data useful for special effects, audio, and more. As a container, HEIF can actually accommodate multiple compression technologies. When used with HEVC video compression, the resulting files are called HEIC images.
It compresses the file size to roughly half the size of JPG files to save space. The quality is reported to be identical.
Apple is using is also using it as a new standard, so you will be seeing more of these picture file types. Incidentally, it is usually pronounced heef.
Mar 16, 2018
Happy Friday
Smiles are like music to soothe a happy soul.
I love a good tune, especially on a Happy Friday!
I love a good tune, especially on a Happy Friday!
Happiness is Contagious
A joint venture study by Harvard University
and the University of California at San Diego, followed 5,000
people over a 20-year period. The family, coworkers, and
neighbors of these individuals were also followed, involving at
least 50,000 people in the process. The researchers determined
how happy the participants were by administering standard
happiness assessments, where subjects responded to statements,
such as "I feel hopeful about the future," "I feel I am just as
good as other people," and "I am happy."
According to the results, if a friend who lives within a mile of you gets happy, your chances of happiness increase by 25 percent. If that happy friend lives closer to you, you have a 42 percent chance of being happy yourself, showing that proximity to happy people makes a difference. In fact, neighbors of happy people feel the effect more than family members do. Siblings who live close to a happy sibling increase their likelihood of happiness by 14 percent, while next-door neighbors of the happy individual have a 34 percent benefit, even if the neighbors are not friends. The happiness effect lasts up to a year. "We know it's not a 'birds of a feather flock together' effect," said one of the study authors, Nicholas A. Christakis of Harvard University.
Your happiness can affect the happiness of someone you have never met. However, work colleagues seem immune to the benefit. Partners and spouses are less receptive than friends, with only an eight percent benefit from a happy spouse. Good news the researchers found was that while happiness spreads, unhappiness does not spread as much.
"You would think that your emotional state would depend on your own choices and actions and experience," said Dr. Christakis. "But it also depends on the choices, and actions, and experiences of other people, including people to whom you are not directly connected. Happiness is contagious."
Happiness has a significant impact on health. All of which means that it pays to live next to healthy, happy individuals. This study indicates that when you do something right for yourself, the ripples of that positive choice extend farther out into the world than you might have thought.
According to the results, if a friend who lives within a mile of you gets happy, your chances of happiness increase by 25 percent. If that happy friend lives closer to you, you have a 42 percent chance of being happy yourself, showing that proximity to happy people makes a difference. In fact, neighbors of happy people feel the effect more than family members do. Siblings who live close to a happy sibling increase their likelihood of happiness by 14 percent, while next-door neighbors of the happy individual have a 34 percent benefit, even if the neighbors are not friends. The happiness effect lasts up to a year. "We know it's not a 'birds of a feather flock together' effect," said one of the study authors, Nicholas A. Christakis of Harvard University.
Your happiness can affect the happiness of someone you have never met. However, work colleagues seem immune to the benefit. Partners and spouses are less receptive than friends, with only an eight percent benefit from a happy spouse. Good news the researchers found was that while happiness spreads, unhappiness does not spread as much.
"You would think that your emotional state would depend on your own choices and actions and experience," said Dr. Christakis. "But it also depends on the choices, and actions, and experiences of other people, including people to whom you are not directly connected. Happiness is contagious."
Happiness has a significant impact on health. All of which means that it pays to live next to healthy, happy individuals. This study indicates that when you do something right for yourself, the ripples of that positive choice extend farther out into the world than you might have thought.
World Happiness Report
The United States has dropped four spots in the latest World
Happiness Report ranking. It has now dropped to 18th spot (from
14th) in the annual ranking, which is published by the
Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a United Nations
initiative.
The new report lists 156 countries by their happiness levels. The rankings are based on results from Gallup World Poll surveys. Researchers used factors including income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, and generosity to measure happiness.
Finland was ranked number one, with Norway second, and Denmark third. Rounding out the top ten are Iceland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and Australia.
The new report lists 156 countries by their happiness levels. The rankings are based on results from Gallup World Poll surveys. Researchers used factors including income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, and generosity to measure happiness.
Finland was ranked number one, with Norway second, and Denmark third. Rounding out the top ten are Iceland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and Australia.
Caffeine
Caffeine is an odorless alkaloid. It is a natural ingredient
that is found in the green coffee bean. It is also found in a
number of other plants, including tea, cocoa, kola, guarana, and
yerba mate. Caffeine, used by people is the largest psychoactive
stimulant, which speeds up the central nervous system.
Caffeine affects all of us differently. Where some might be able to fall asleep soon after drinking coffee, some might not.
Recent international studies have shown that caffeine has demonstrated protective effects against Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease when consumed in moderation.
Caffeine enters your blood stream through the lining of your mouth, throat, and stomach. Your stomach contents can account for different effects of caffeine. It can take up to forty-five minutes for the majority of caffeine to be absorbed and the effects can last up to three hours.
A cup of coffee contains 98.6% water, which means 1.4% of that cup is dissolved coffee solids. Caffeine is 1.2% of that 1.4% coffee.
Incidentally, the US, drinks the most coffee, 400 million cups per day.
Caffeine affects all of us differently. Where some might be able to fall asleep soon after drinking coffee, some might not.
Recent international studies have shown that caffeine has demonstrated protective effects against Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease when consumed in moderation.
Caffeine enters your blood stream through the lining of your mouth, throat, and stomach. Your stomach contents can account for different effects of caffeine. It can take up to forty-five minutes for the majority of caffeine to be absorbed and the effects can last up to three hours.
A cup of coffee contains 98.6% water, which means 1.4% of that cup is dissolved coffee solids. Caffeine is 1.2% of that 1.4% coffee.
Incidentally, the US, drinks the most coffee, 400 million cups per day.
Coffee Bean Types
The two species of
coffee beans most widely cultivated commercially are Coffea
arabica (Arabica) and Coffea canephora (Robusta).
The
coffee that most are accustomed to is made from arabica beans
which typically have better flavor. Arabica comprises about 75-80% of world
production.
Estimates of caffeine content average about 1% for Arabica beans and 2% for Robusta beans by weight.
Starbucks advertises that it only uses arabica beans, Even though its coffee consistently is rated with higher caffeine than Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, etc.
There are a number of techniques in brewing coffee: concentrate brewing, Turkish or Greek, vacuum brewing, percolating, the French press (also called press pot or plunger coffee), and drip or filter coffee. Assuming that the brewing method stays the same, the finer you grind coffee, the more caffeine it will release.
Temperature is also an important factor. Proper coffee extraction happens between 195-205 degrees, however most drip brewers only reach about 190 degrees. Espresso machines usually brew at near boiling temps. With French press coffee, you have total control over the temperature with the option of pouring boiling water (212 degrees) over the grounds. Water temperature can vary by brewing method, with the hotter the water, the better the extraction. With better extraction comes better tasting coffee and caffeine extraction.
Brewed coffee requires that the water is in contact with the grinds for a long time, this leads to a higher caffeine concentration. Espresso actually has the lowest caffeine content at 100 mg per 2 ounces. However, if you consider the amount of caffeine per ounce, espresso has more caffeine than drip coffee. Coffee brewed in the French press has 107.5 mg per 7 ounces. Drip brewed coffee is highest, with 145 mg of caffeine per 7 ounce cup. Generally, for brewed coffee, two tablespoons of ground coffee is used per 6 fluid ounces of water.
Light, medium, and dark flavors are an indicator of flavor strength, with the dark roasts having the boldest tastes. The darker the beans, the longer they have been roasted. The loss of caffeine from light to dark is minimal, regardless of what many web sites show.
Factors, in addition to brewing process that affects the amount of caffeine: variety of coffee bean, roast level, temperature of water, amount of coffee, brew time, grind level, and beverage size.
Bottom line - longer brewing time, fine ground, robusta equals more caffeine.
Shorter brewing time, course ground, arabica, (light, medium, or dark roast) equals less caffeine.
Estimates of caffeine content average about 1% for Arabica beans and 2% for Robusta beans by weight.
Starbucks advertises that it only uses arabica beans, Even though its coffee consistently is rated with higher caffeine than Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, etc.
There are a number of techniques in brewing coffee: concentrate brewing, Turkish or Greek, vacuum brewing, percolating, the French press (also called press pot or plunger coffee), and drip or filter coffee. Assuming that the brewing method stays the same, the finer you grind coffee, the more caffeine it will release.
Temperature is also an important factor. Proper coffee extraction happens between 195-205 degrees, however most drip brewers only reach about 190 degrees. Espresso machines usually brew at near boiling temps. With French press coffee, you have total control over the temperature with the option of pouring boiling water (212 degrees) over the grounds. Water temperature can vary by brewing method, with the hotter the water, the better the extraction. With better extraction comes better tasting coffee and caffeine extraction.
Brewed coffee requires that the water is in contact with the grinds for a long time, this leads to a higher caffeine concentration. Espresso actually has the lowest caffeine content at 100 mg per 2 ounces. However, if you consider the amount of caffeine per ounce, espresso has more caffeine than drip coffee. Coffee brewed in the French press has 107.5 mg per 7 ounces. Drip brewed coffee is highest, with 145 mg of caffeine per 7 ounce cup. Generally, for brewed coffee, two tablespoons of ground coffee is used per 6 fluid ounces of water.
Light, medium, and dark flavors are an indicator of flavor strength, with the dark roasts having the boldest tastes. The darker the beans, the longer they have been roasted. The loss of caffeine from light to dark is minimal, regardless of what many web sites show.
Factors, in addition to brewing process that affects the amount of caffeine: variety of coffee bean, roast level, temperature of water, amount of coffee, brew time, grind level, and beverage size.
Bottom line - longer brewing time, fine ground, robusta equals more caffeine.
Shorter brewing time, course ground, arabica, (light, medium, or dark roast) equals less caffeine.
Snooze Your Facebook Friends
After
all that caffeine, maybe you need a snooze. Facebook
has a feature that you can shut down a friend's
posts for thirty days. They will not be notified. Great
for someone who is inundating everyone with the latest adventure,
vacation, election, new baby, new car, etc.
When you see a post in your feed from a friend, whom you want to snooze click or tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post. In the menu that opens, click or tap the option that says Snooze [Name] for 30 days. You can also snooze your friend's friends the same way. Think of it as temporary relief. Also, if you change your mind, you can unsnooze. I have not found the option in my feeds, but many say it works great.
You can do the same procedure if you decide to unfollow someone. Unfollowing a friend is permanent, until you go to their page and change it. Also, it does not notify them either way.
When you see a post in your feed from a friend, whom you want to snooze click or tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post. In the menu that opens, click or tap the option that says Snooze [Name] for 30 days. You can also snooze your friend's friends the same way. Think of it as temporary relief. Also, if you change your mind, you can unsnooze. I have not found the option in my feeds, but many say it works great.
You can do the same procedure if you decide to unfollow someone. Unfollowing a friend is permanent, until you go to their page and change it. Also, it does not notify them either way.
Jelly Bean Winner
Easter is coming and one of the popular treats
for Easter is jelly beans. A new survey by
CandyStore.com says it surveyed over ten years of sales data and
over 12,000 people to reach its standings of favorite jelly bean
flavors by state and then an overall winner and new jelly bean
champion.
Cherry jelly beans are favored by five states, black licorice jelly beans are favored by seven, and the winner, butter popcorn is favored by ten. The overall winner by count is also butter popcorn. The sweet and salty flavor beat last year’s winner, (my personal favorite) black licorice.
Cherry jelly beans are favored by five states, black licorice jelly beans are favored by seven, and the winner, butter popcorn is favored by ten. The overall winner by count is also butter popcorn. The sweet and salty flavor beat last year’s winner, (my personal favorite) black licorice.
Saving Money in a Hospital
If you need to go to the
hospital, voluntarily or otherwise, be sure that you, or whoever
is with you tells Admitting or Check-in that you do not want to
be seen by "out-of-network" physicians or staff.
I recently had a very expensive surprise of multiple doctor bills from consultant physicians, who were not in my network. I had no way of knowing until I started receiving bills. By then it was too late to fight the charges. Adding insult to injury, at least two of them came in and spoke to me (no medical service provided), offering their services after discharge. I was billed for a consultation - for them to sell their services to me. Grrr!
Caveat Emptor.
I recently had a very expensive surprise of multiple doctor bills from consultant physicians, who were not in my network. I had no way of knowing until I started receiving bills. By then it was too late to fight the charges. Adding insult to injury, at least two of them came in and spoke to me (no medical service provided), offering their services after discharge. I was billed for a consultation - for them to sell their services to me. Grrr!
Caveat Emptor.
TV Compensates for Bad Quality
Just like with current TVs,
which upscale the low quality cable pictures, 4K TVs upgrade the
same pictures to an even higher quality.
However, until the US catches up with other countries and really delivers at least HD quality, we will all continue to buy TVs to compensate for the cable companies unwillingness to upgrade the signal. It is no wonder Netflix, and Amazon Prime are doing so well. They deliver quality pictures to let our 4K TVs show how awesome watching TV can be.
However, until the US catches up with other countries and really delivers at least HD quality, we will all continue to buy TVs to compensate for the cable companies unwillingness to upgrade the signal. It is no wonder Netflix, and Amazon Prime are doing so well. They deliver quality pictures to let our 4K TVs show how awesome watching TV can be.
Mar 9, 2018
Happy Friday
Joy
lives on the corner of happiness and smiles.
There is no stop sign for happiness and smiles on a Happy Friday!
There is no stop sign for happiness and smiles on a Happy Friday!
Daylight Not Saving
This weekend March 11, Sunday morning 2am for most of the US.
This is that
fretful time of year where we declare that the sun and the moon
and the stars are out of alignment with our laws. Since it has
proven futile to change the universe to our bidding, we are
compelled to change our clocks forward by an hour for a few
months until we take up the battle again in the fall and change
them back to once more align with the universe. This is our
government version of Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football.
Picture of three types of DST observing countries.
Picture of three types of DST observing countries.
Pi Day
Pi Day
was invented by physicist Larry Shaw and the first Pi Day
celebration was held at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988.
In 2009 the US Congress officially recognized March 14 as Pi Day
in the United States. The 6-trillionth, 8-trillionth,
9-trillionth and 10-trillionth digits of pi, are all fives.
Innies and Outies
Scar tissue development. "Inny" and "Outie" belly buttons are
not caused by where the umbilical cord is cut (contrary to a
popular misconception). It is dependent on how scar tissue
develops as the remaining tissue dries and falls off. This
process is random, though "inny" tends to be a more common
result.
Coffee Beans, Light vs. Dark Roast
Caffeine
is extremely stable during the roasting process. A change in
caffeine depends on how you measure your coffee.
There is an estimated ninety bean difference between a pound of dark and light roast coffee, with the dark roast higher. During the roasting process, a bean loses its mass. The density of the bean changes; beans that are roasted longer are less dense. That is why you have more beans by mass of dark roasts.
If you measure your coffee by scoops, light roasted coffee will have more caffeine, since the beans are denser than a darker roast. However, if you weigh your scoops, darker roasts will have more caffeine, because there is less mass. Depending on how ground coffee is measured, there is only a minimal variance in caffeine content with dark and light roasts. Unlike Marijuana, people have died from caffeine overdose.
There is an estimated ninety bean difference between a pound of dark and light roast coffee, with the dark roast higher. During the roasting process, a bean loses its mass. The density of the bean changes; beans that are roasted longer are less dense. That is why you have more beans by mass of dark roasts.
If you measure your coffee by scoops, light roasted coffee will have more caffeine, since the beans are denser than a darker roast. However, if you weigh your scoops, darker roasts will have more caffeine, because there is less mass. Depending on how ground coffee is measured, there is only a minimal variance in caffeine content with dark and light roasts. Unlike Marijuana, people have died from caffeine overdose.
Two Car Part Inventors
Early automobiles had tillers, similar to the tillers used
to steer boats. The tiller was attached to a simple mechanism that
made the car’s front wheels turn when the tiller was pushed to the
left or right. During 1894, a French engineer named Alfred
Vacheron modified his Panhard runabout, replacing the tiller with
a wheel attached to a shaft that went through the floor of the
vehicle at a nearly vertical angle, where it attached to a
mechanism that turned the front wheels.
Packard likely came up with the glove box. An article in a 1900 edition of The Horseless Age magazine describes the Model B: “The body of the carriage shows the best possible coach work and upholstering, and the aim has been to get rid of the ‘horse wanted’ appearance. The leather dash is not used, but instead a boot or box forms part of the body. In this is ample space for parcels, waterproofs, etc.” Other automakers soon started adding compartment-like features in place of old-fashioned dashes. The modern-looking glove compartment, with a drop-down door, first appeared during the 1920s.
Packard likely came up with the glove box. An article in a 1900 edition of The Horseless Age magazine describes the Model B: “The body of the carriage shows the best possible coach work and upholstering, and the aim has been to get rid of the ‘horse wanted’ appearance. The leather dash is not used, but instead a boot or box forms part of the body. In this is ample space for parcels, waterproofs, etc.” Other automakers soon started adding compartment-like features in place of old-fashioned dashes. The modern-looking glove compartment, with a drop-down door, first appeared during the 1920s.
Costco Ink Refills
Bring any supported, empty
cartridges to the Photo Center at your local Costco. Your
cartridge will be refilled while you shop. The system cleans,
refills, and tests your cartridge. Receive your quality inkjet
refill in an hour. Cost varies by location, but is cheaper than
new cartridges.
Download, Sideload, and Upload
Many get these
confused, but is easy to tell the difference once you
understand.
The term "sideloading" is very similar to the more common terms "downloading" and "uploading," and it is much easier to understand what sideloading means if you are already familiar with those terms. Sideloading does not make use of the internet, it requires you to use some other method to transfer files. This can be accomplished with a physical connection between the two devices, like a USB cable, or via a wireless method like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. If the mobile device has a memory card slot, sideloading can also involve copying files from a computer to an SD card and then inserting the card into the mobile device.
Downloading involves transferring a file from a remote location, like the internet, to a local device like your computer. Uploading is the opposite, since it involves transferring a file from a local device, like your computer, to a remote location like a file hosting service on the internet.
Bottom line, Think of the internet as a cloud. You upload to the cloud and you download from the cloud. Think of another device sitting beside yours. You sideload from it.
The term "sideloading" is very similar to the more common terms "downloading" and "uploading," and it is much easier to understand what sideloading means if you are already familiar with those terms. Sideloading does not make use of the internet, it requires you to use some other method to transfer files. This can be accomplished with a physical connection between the two devices, like a USB cable, or via a wireless method like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. If the mobile device has a memory card slot, sideloading can also involve copying files from a computer to an SD card and then inserting the card into the mobile device.
Downloading involves transferring a file from a remote location, like the internet, to a local device like your computer. Uploading is the opposite, since it involves transferring a file from a local device, like your computer, to a remote location like a file hosting service on the internet.
Bottom line, Think of the internet as a cloud. You upload to the cloud and you download from the cloud. Think of another device sitting beside yours. You sideload from it.
Keyboard Cleaners
Clear tape, the kind you find in the
office or use to wrap presents is an ideal choice, since it is
thin and easy to manipulate. Sticky notes work too.
Cleaning your keyboard with tape is fairly simple. Tear off an inch of tape and fold it in half so that the non-sticky sides are facing together and the sticky sides are facing outward. Slip the tape underneath the edges of the keys and rub back and forth a few times. Pull the piece of tape out and prepare to be disgusted at the amount of grunge. Repeat until all of your keys are clean.
Cleaning your keyboard with tape is fairly simple. Tear off an inch of tape and fold it in half so that the non-sticky sides are facing together and the sticky sides are facing outward. Slip the tape underneath the edges of the keys and rub back and forth a few times. Pull the piece of tape out and prepare to be disgusted at the amount of grunge. Repeat until all of your keys are clean.
Mar 2, 2018
Happy Friday
Smiles are like Spring to
Winter.
Your smile will warm up everyone, especially on a Happy Friday!
Your smile will warm up everyone, especially on a Happy Friday!
Amazon Fire TV Screensaver
If you or someone you know has an
Amazon Fire TV you likely came across the beautiful landscape
pictures that show as the screensaver. I was wondering about
some of them and came across this site LINK
that shows each of the 182 pictures, along with a description.
Incidentally, if you have a fire TV and an Amazon Prime membership, you can upload your own photos for free and watch them on the big screen, and/or use them to replace the generic screensaver.
Incidentally, if you have a fire TV and an Amazon Prime membership, you can upload your own photos for free and watch them on the big screen, and/or use them to replace the generic screensaver.
Accent vs. Dialect
The words "dialect" and "accent" are often used interchangeably,
but they have different meanings. An accent might be described
by muddling up the difference between words people use and the
sounds they make, their pronunciation. It is the distinct way
that a group of persons or even one particular individual speaks
with distinctive phonetics and phonology. Groups sharing an
identifiable accent may be defined by any variety of common
traits, such as regional, the socio-economic status of its
speakers, their ethnicity, their caste or social class, their
first language (when the language in which the accent is heard
is not their native language), etc. In the US, think Boston, New
Orleans, etc. For example, the Southern accent might refer to
the pronunciation of the vowels like fire to 'fahr' or stress
shift like 'po lice versus po 'lice.
A dialect is a variation in the language itself and not only in the pronunciation. Dialect is a type of language that is derived from a primary language. A dialect is a variety of language differing in vocabulary and grammar as well as pronunciation. Dialects are usually spoken by a group united by geography or class. It is a geographically or ethnically restricted form of a language characterized by a combination of distinctive phonetics (individual sounds), phonology (sound system rules), syntax, grammar, and vocabulary. The major native dialects of English are often divided by linguists into three general categories: British Isles dialect, North America dialect, and those of Australasia.
If someone from India were to move to London and start speaking English, we would refer to the speech as foreign accented speech, not a dialect.
A dialect is a variation in the language itself and not only in the pronunciation. Dialect is a type of language that is derived from a primary language. A dialect is a variety of language differing in vocabulary and grammar as well as pronunciation. Dialects are usually spoken by a group united by geography or class. It is a geographically or ethnically restricted form of a language characterized by a combination of distinctive phonetics (individual sounds), phonology (sound system rules), syntax, grammar, and vocabulary. The major native dialects of English are often divided by linguists into three general categories: British Isles dialect, North America dialect, and those of Australasia.
If someone from India were to move to London and start speaking English, we would refer to the speech as foreign accented speech, not a dialect.
IRS Scams
This
time of year in the US there are many IRS scams due to tax
season. If you receive an IRS scam call or a fraudulent tax
refund call, never return a phone call from someone claiming to
be with the IRS. Instead, individuals should call the IRS
directly at 800-829-1040, and businesses should call
800-829-4933.
The US Department of Justice says the IRS never discusses personal tax issues through unsolicited emails or texts, or over social media. Always be wary if you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the IRS who says you owe money.
If you receive an unexpected and suspicious email from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
The US Department of Justice says the IRS never discusses personal tax issues through unsolicited emails or texts, or over social media. Always be wary if you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the IRS who says you owe money.
If you receive an unexpected and suspicious email from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
Four Google Tips
If you are searching and want to eliminate a word, put a minus
- sign before it as in "cowboys -dallas" (without the quotes).
It will get you the information about cowboys, but very few
results about the football team.
Use an asterisk * to search and find the word you cannot remember, such as the "* of march" (without the quotes) returns results for the ides of March.
Looking for pictures, type in your search then click images on the top row. It will load your page with (mostly related) pictures. If you want animated pictures, click on search tools and choose "animated pictures".
The Google tool I use most is to filter by time. After you type in your search, click Tools, click "Anytime", then choose the time period. Many sites become outdated over time, and it is important to get the latest information. At the very least, choose "Past Year" for more recent information.
Use an asterisk * to search and find the word you cannot remember, such as the "* of march" (without the quotes) returns results for the ides of March.
Looking for pictures, type in your search then click images on the top row. It will load your page with (mostly related) pictures. If you want animated pictures, click on search tools and choose "animated pictures".
The Google tool I use most is to filter by time. After you type in your search, click Tools, click "Anytime", then choose the time period. Many sites become outdated over time, and it is important to get the latest information. At the very least, choose "Past Year" for more recent information.
Monkey and Banana Myth
Monkeys actually prefer leaves and insects rather
than bananas. In fact, bananas are not healthy for monkeys.
Bananas are too sweet for them. The UK has banned them from its
zoos. They love eating ripe fruits, seeds, vegetables, honey,
and flowers.
Incidentally, goats do not eat tin cans.
Incidentally, goats do not eat tin cans.
Draught Guinness
Draught or draft Guinness is special. There is a precise,
elaborate, and time-consuming art-form of pouring the perfect
pint of Guinness beer. Bartenders around the world are given
instructions for the proper pouring process, including details
about the type of glass used, the angle the glass is held at
during the different states of pouring, the precise length of
time the pint must be left to settle, and the force with which
the draught Guinness is poured from the tap.
During the 1950s, Guinness scientist Michael Ash was tasked with solving the 'draft problem'. At the time, dispensing a draft pint of Guinness was very complicated, and the company was losing market share to draft lagers in Britain that could be easily dispensed with CO2. “The stout was too lively to be dispensed with CO2 only,” Brady said. “Ash worked on the problem for four years, working long hours day and night, and became a bit of a recluse apparently. A lot of doubters at the brewery called the project ‘daft Guinness'.”
Then Ash attempted dispensing the beer with plain air. It worked. The secret ingredient, he discovered, was nitrogen. The air we breathe is 78 percent nitrogen. Today, a Guinness draft contains 75 percent nitrogen. Not only did the discovery make dispensing the beer easier, it created a creamy mouthfeel that has been the signature of Irish stouts since.
Nitrogen forms tighter bubbles than carbon dioxide when put under pressure in a solution and has a different appearance and texture. The bubble is a pocket of released gas that becomes trapped inside of a thin membrane of beer. There are many more little bubbles in a nitrogen pour.
Incidentally, Draught Guinness, as it is known today, was first produced in 1964. Bottled Draught Guinness was formulated in 1978 and launched into the Irish market in 1979.
During the 1950s, Guinness scientist Michael Ash was tasked with solving the 'draft problem'. At the time, dispensing a draft pint of Guinness was very complicated, and the company was losing market share to draft lagers in Britain that could be easily dispensed with CO2. “The stout was too lively to be dispensed with CO2 only,” Brady said. “Ash worked on the problem for four years, working long hours day and night, and became a bit of a recluse apparently. A lot of doubters at the brewery called the project ‘daft Guinness'.”
Then Ash attempted dispensing the beer with plain air. It worked. The secret ingredient, he discovered, was nitrogen. The air we breathe is 78 percent nitrogen. Today, a Guinness draft contains 75 percent nitrogen. Not only did the discovery make dispensing the beer easier, it created a creamy mouthfeel that has been the signature of Irish stouts since.
Nitrogen forms tighter bubbles than carbon dioxide when put under pressure in a solution and has a different appearance and texture. The bubble is a pocket of released gas that becomes trapped inside of a thin membrane of beer. There are many more little bubbles in a nitrogen pour.
Incidentally, Draught Guinness, as it is known today, was first produced in 1964. Bottled Draught Guinness was formulated in 1978 and launched into the Irish market in 1979.
Live to 90 With Booze
If you want to live into your 90s, booze actually
beats exercise, according to a long-term study. The research,
led by University of California (no surprise) neurologist
Claudia Kawas, tracked 1,700 nonagenarians enrolled in the 90+
Study that began in 2003 to explore impacts of daily habits on
longevity.
Researchers discovered that subjects who drank about two glasses of beer or wine a day were 18% less likely to experience a premature death. Meanwhile, participants who exercised 15 to 45 minutes a day, cut the same risk by 11%.
“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity,” Kawas stated at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Austin, Texas.
Other factors were found to boost longevity, including weight. Participants who were slightly overweight, but not obese, cut their odds of an early death by 3%. “It’s not bad to be skinny when you are young, but it is very bad to be skinny when you’re old,” Kawas noted in her address.
Also, subjects who kept busy with a daily hobby two hours a day were 21% less likely to die early, while those who drank two cups of coffee a day cut that risk by 10%.
Researchers discovered that subjects who drank about two glasses of beer or wine a day were 18% less likely to experience a premature death. Meanwhile, participants who exercised 15 to 45 minutes a day, cut the same risk by 11%.
“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity,” Kawas stated at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Austin, Texas.
Other factors were found to boost longevity, including weight. Participants who were slightly overweight, but not obese, cut their odds of an early death by 3%. “It’s not bad to be skinny when you are young, but it is very bad to be skinny when you’re old,” Kawas noted in her address.
Also, subjects who kept busy with a daily hobby two hours a day were 21% less likely to die early, while those who drank two cups of coffee a day cut that risk by 10%.
God's Aging Plan
Related to the above, most seniors never get enough exercise.
In His wisdom God decreed that seniors become forgetful so they
would have to search for their glasses, keys and other things,
thus doing more walking. And God looked down and saw that it was
good.
Then God saw there was another need. In His wisdom He made seniors lose co-ordination so they would drop things, requiring them to bend, reach, and stretch. And God looked down and saw that it was good.
Then God considered the function of bladders and decided seniors would have additional calls of nature, requiring more trips to the loo, thus providing more exercise. God looked down and saw that it was good.
God saw that the knights of the round table were getting weak, so he took the wheels off the chairs, thus causing them to actually pull on chairs before sitting down to stuff their faces. God looked down and saw that it was good.
So if you find as you age, you are getting up and down more, remember it is God's will. It is all in your best interest even though you mutter under your breath.
Then God saw there was another need. In His wisdom He made seniors lose co-ordination so they would drop things, requiring them to bend, reach, and stretch. And God looked down and saw that it was good.
Then God considered the function of bladders and decided seniors would have additional calls of nature, requiring more trips to the loo, thus providing more exercise. God looked down and saw that it was good.
God saw that the knights of the round table were getting weak, so he took the wheels off the chairs, thus causing them to actually pull on chairs before sitting down to stuff their faces. God looked down and saw that it was good.
So if you find as you age, you are getting up and down more, remember it is God's will. It is all in your best interest even though you mutter under your breath.
Calculate Anything
We all need to calculate things from time to time. Here is a
site that has almost 400 different free calculators. There are
calculators for business, health, finance, statistics,
construction, and more. LINK
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