A person wrapped up in
happiness makes a wonderful gift.
I love to get
wrapped up in happiness, especially on a Happy Friday!
Mar 29, 2019
Six Body Facts
The lining in a person's stomach is replaced every 4 to 5 days
to prevent it from digesting itself.
An adult human small intestine is about 18 to 23 feet long, which is about four times as long as an adult is tall.
Semen normally contains 1-8 billion sperm per fluid ounce (140-300 million sperm per millimeter).
Feet have about 500,000 sweat glands and can produce about a pint of sweat a day.
A human sneeze can travel about 100 mph or more.
The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime, enough to fill two swimming pools.
An adult human small intestine is about 18 to 23 feet long, which is about four times as long as an adult is tall.
Semen normally contains 1-8 billion sperm per fluid ounce (140-300 million sperm per millimeter).
Feet have about 500,000 sweat glands and can produce about a pint of sweat a day.
A human sneeze can travel about 100 mph or more.
The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime, enough to fill two swimming pools.
More Cancer Causing Myths Debunked
Dental fillings from years ago likely
have mercury in them, but they also have other metals, including
silver, tin, and copper. According to the American Dental
Association, the combination of these metals makes the fillings,
known as dental amalgams, completely safe. "It's important to
know that when combined with the other metals, it forms a safe,
stable material," the ADA says. Also the type of mercury used
in the fillings is not the same type (methylmercury) that has
been shown to cause health problems.
Sugar may do some bad things to your body, but does not cause cancer. This is true despite research suggesting that cancer cells consume more glucose (blood sugar) than normal cells. You actually need some sugar in your diet, because it is necessary for your immune system, according to Anton Bilchik, MD, chief of medicine and gastrointestinal research at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center.
Lucky Charms has an interesting list of ingredients, including trisodium phosphate. It is found in many food items and it is also in cleaning products and paint thinners. TSP is a leavening agent similar to baking soda (also in foods and cleaning products). The amounts in Lucky Charms (and other foods) are so tiny that there is no cancer threat.
You may have heard that candy canes contain the scary-sounding titanium dioxide, but that is just a pigment that turns candy canes (as well as sunblock and toothpaste) brilliant white. Titanium dioxide is not a known carcinogen.
Parents everywhere panicked when the news that Nutella could cause cancer came out. Nutella does contain palm oil which, when heated above around 400 degrees F, can be cancerous. The makers of Nutella say they never get their product that hot.
Sugar may do some bad things to your body, but does not cause cancer. This is true despite research suggesting that cancer cells consume more glucose (blood sugar) than normal cells. You actually need some sugar in your diet, because it is necessary for your immune system, according to Anton Bilchik, MD, chief of medicine and gastrointestinal research at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center.
Lucky Charms has an interesting list of ingredients, including trisodium phosphate. It is found in many food items and it is also in cleaning products and paint thinners. TSP is a leavening agent similar to baking soda (also in foods and cleaning products). The amounts in Lucky Charms (and other foods) are so tiny that there is no cancer threat.
You may have heard that candy canes contain the scary-sounding titanium dioxide, but that is just a pigment that turns candy canes (as well as sunblock and toothpaste) brilliant white. Titanium dioxide is not a known carcinogen.
Parents everywhere panicked when the news that Nutella could cause cancer came out. Nutella does contain palm oil which, when heated above around 400 degrees F, can be cancerous. The makers of Nutella say they never get their product that hot.
Six Strange US Laws
Any person who attempts to pass off margarine, oleo, or
oleomargarine as real butter is guilty of a simple misdemeanor
in the state of Iowa, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a
$625 fine.
In Alaska, it is illegal to give alcohol to a moose.
In Louisiana it is illegal to steal someone’s crawfish. Crawfish theft in excess of $1,500 can land the offender up to ten years in prison or a $3,000 fine.
In Minnesota, since 1971, it is considered a misdemeanor to operate, run, or participate in any activity where a pig is oiled up and released with the object of being recaptured.
In Nevada, it is illegal to use an x-ray device to determine someone’s shoe size.
In New York City, “altered” bagels (sliced, toasted, or served with cream cheese, etc.) carry an eight cent sales tax. Uncut bagels are tax exempt.
In Alaska, it is illegal to give alcohol to a moose.
In Louisiana it is illegal to steal someone’s crawfish. Crawfish theft in excess of $1,500 can land the offender up to ten years in prison or a $3,000 fine.
In Minnesota, since 1971, it is considered a misdemeanor to operate, run, or participate in any activity where a pig is oiled up and released with the object of being recaptured.
In Nevada, it is illegal to use an x-ray device to determine someone’s shoe size.
In New York City, “altered” bagels (sliced, toasted, or served with cream cheese, etc.) carry an eight cent sales tax. Uncut bagels are tax exempt.
Smart vs. Connected
It is easy to use the terms smart and connected
interchangeably, but the truth is they are not exactly the same
thing.
Connected devices have ports, antennae, and protocols that facilitate communication between a product and its operating environment. A connected device can share data directly with other devices or over a network. The data transmission can be one way or two way. Some wireless home speakers are solely connected, allowing you to play music from your smartphone via Bluetooth connection.
A smart device typically has an operating system that will let you connect with other information services, entertainment services or apps. For example a smart phone allows you to browse the internet and make calls, but it also lets you connect to apps. Smart thermostats are intelligent because they can make calculated decisions based on other system components, such as the owner's previous room temperature adjustments, built-in algorithms, and sensors.
Connected devices have ports, antennae, and protocols that facilitate communication between a product and its operating environment. A connected device can share data directly with other devices or over a network. The data transmission can be one way or two way. Some wireless home speakers are solely connected, allowing you to play music from your smartphone via Bluetooth connection.
A smart device typically has an operating system that will let you connect with other information services, entertainment services or apps. For example a smart phone allows you to browse the internet and make calls, but it also lets you connect to apps. Smart thermostats are intelligent because they can make calculated decisions based on other system components, such as the owner's previous room temperature adjustments, built-in algorithms, and sensors.
Real Bacon Bombs
During World War II, handing over cooking fat to the
government was doing your patriotic duty. The American Fat
Salvage Committee was created to urge housewives to save all the
excess fat rendered from cooking and donate it to the army to
produce explosives.
Fats are used to make glycerin, and glycerin is used to make things blow up. Homemakers were asked to give their bacon grease to the local butcher, who turned it into the government, because it was needed for the production of glycerin.
One pound of waste fat equaled 1/10 of a pound of glycerin.
1/10 pound of glycerin equaled 1/5 of a pound of nitroglycerine.
1/5 of a pound of nitroglycerine equaled 1/3 pound of gunpowder.
1/5 of a pound of nitroglycerine equaled ½ pound of dynamite.
“A skillet of bacon grease is a little munitions factory,” announced a booming voice in a Disney propaganda cartoon. “Every year two billion pounds of waste kitchen fats are thrown away, enough glycerin for ten billion rapid-fire cannon shells. Making a roast? Don’t throw out those lovely puddles of grease drippings, save them for our boys on the front line." Housewives were directed to strain their leftover fats and store them in a wide-mouth can. Once a pound or more was collected, the fat was to be handed over to any one of 250,000 participating butchers and retail meat dealers or 4,000 frozen food plants who would then turn the fat over to the army. The donor received four cents a pound for the fat.
Fats are used to make glycerin, and glycerin is used to make things blow up. Homemakers were asked to give their bacon grease to the local butcher, who turned it into the government, because it was needed for the production of glycerin.
One pound of waste fat equaled 1/10 of a pound of glycerin.
1/10 pound of glycerin equaled 1/5 of a pound of nitroglycerine.
1/5 of a pound of nitroglycerine equaled 1/3 pound of gunpowder.
1/5 of a pound of nitroglycerine equaled ½ pound of dynamite.
“A skillet of bacon grease is a little munitions factory,” announced a booming voice in a Disney propaganda cartoon. “Every year two billion pounds of waste kitchen fats are thrown away, enough glycerin for ten billion rapid-fire cannon shells. Making a roast? Don’t throw out those lovely puddles of grease drippings, save them for our boys on the front line." Housewives were directed to strain their leftover fats and store them in a wide-mouth can. Once a pound or more was collected, the fat was to be handed over to any one of 250,000 participating butchers and retail meat dealers or 4,000 frozen food plants who would then turn the fat over to the army. The donor received four cents a pound for the fat.
Peanut Butter and Alzheimer's
Came across this interesting information
about a test for Alzheimer's. The test involves a jar of peanut
butter and a ruler, and is performed under each nostril. If the
left nostril is significantly worse at detecting the smell of
peanut butter-than the right one, then it may be a sign of
Alzheimer's. The olfactory cortex (part of the brain that
processes smell) is the first area of the brain to deteriorate
in Alzheimer's.
Peanut butter is a smell that is not typically lost as people age.
Peanut butter is a smell that is not typically lost as people age.
Cannabis, Hemp vs. Marijuana
One type of cannabis is high in the
psychoactive cannabinoid THC, and low in the anti-psychoactive
cannabinoid CBD. This type is popularly known as marijuana.
Another type of cannabis is high in CBD and low in THC. Variants
of this kind are called industrial hemp. They are both from the
same species of plant, Cannabis Sativa L. They both have been
bred for various characteristics and now also look different
from each other. They both can be male or female or both, (in
monoecious species).
During 1971, Canadian research scientist Ernest Small published a book The Species Problem in Cannabis. Although Small recognized there was not a natural point where the cannabinoid content could be used to differentiate hemp and marijuana, he drew a random number regarding different Cannabis varieties. From then on, his 0.3% THC became the magic number that separated hemp and marijuana.
Dana Larsen is one of Canada’s most respected and well-known advocates for cannabis reform. In his book, Cannabis in Canada: An Illustrated History, Larsen explores this magic number separating hemp and marijuana. “Small’s arbitrary 0.3 percent THC limit has become standard around the world as the official limit for legal hemp,” writes Larsen. “Small clearly noted that among the hundreds of strains he experimented with, ‘plants cultivated for fibre [sic], oil and birdseed frequently had moderate or high amounts of THC’… thus the worldwide 0.3 percent THC standard divider between marijuana and hemp is not based on which strains have the most agricultural benefit, nor is it based on an analysis of the THC level required for psychoactivity. It is based on an arbitrary decision of a Canadian scientist growing cannabis in Ottawa.”
Incidentally, hemp seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. They have about a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is considered in the optimal range. Also regular consumption or use of commercially made hemp foods (such as seeds, cooking oil, cereals, milk, granola) or hemp products (lotions, shampoos, lip balms, etc.) will not show a positive result for THC on a drug test.
During 1971, Canadian research scientist Ernest Small published a book The Species Problem in Cannabis. Although Small recognized there was not a natural point where the cannabinoid content could be used to differentiate hemp and marijuana, he drew a random number regarding different Cannabis varieties. From then on, his 0.3% THC became the magic number that separated hemp and marijuana.
Dana Larsen is one of Canada’s most respected and well-known advocates for cannabis reform. In his book, Cannabis in Canada: An Illustrated History, Larsen explores this magic number separating hemp and marijuana. “Small’s arbitrary 0.3 percent THC limit has become standard around the world as the official limit for legal hemp,” writes Larsen. “Small clearly noted that among the hundreds of strains he experimented with, ‘plants cultivated for fibre [sic], oil and birdseed frequently had moderate or high amounts of THC’… thus the worldwide 0.3 percent THC standard divider between marijuana and hemp is not based on which strains have the most agricultural benefit, nor is it based on an analysis of the THC level required for psychoactivity. It is based on an arbitrary decision of a Canadian scientist growing cannabis in Ottawa.”
Incidentally, hemp seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. They have about a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is considered in the optimal range. Also regular consumption or use of commercially made hemp foods (such as seeds, cooking oil, cereals, milk, granola) or hemp products (lotions, shampoos, lip balms, etc.) will not show a positive result for THC on a drug test.
Mar 15, 2019
Happy Friday
When you look in the
mirror, pretend you are a coloring book and paint a great big
smile on your face.
I always like to paint on a smile, especially on a Happy Friday!
I always like to paint on a smile, especially on a Happy Friday!
Happy St. Patrick's Day March 17
Here are a few facts and a few myths
debunked.
Although Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he was actually born in Roman-occupied Britain in the fourth century to wealthy parents. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed it to Patricius after becoming a priest.
The young Maewyn was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Irish raiders who robbed his family home when he was only 16 years old.
St. Patrick did convert many pagans to Christianity, but the story of his driving all the snakes out of Ireland during his 40-day fast on a hilltop is not true. The legend of the snakes is likely a metaphor for St. Patrick’s having driven evil out of Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on the anniversary of Patrick’s death on March 17 in the fifth century. His followers in Ireland began to celebrate his feast day on that day during the ninth and tenth centuries, even though he was never formally canonized by a pope.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world.
Ireland’s prime minister gives the U.S. president an Irish cut-glass bowl filled with shamrocks, the three-leafed sprig that is one of the state’s emblems. The tradition dates back to 1952, when the first Irish ambassador to America, John Joseph Hearne, reportedly dropped off a box of shamrocks for Harry Truman
Members of the Order of St. Patrick actually used blue as their symbolic color. The shade: St. Patrick’s blue.
Leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day really are not related, aside from the fact that they are both Irish. Leprechauns didn’t become a staple of Irish literature until many years after St. Patrick’s famed journey through Ireland. There are no female leprechauns.
Incidentally, until 1961, there were laws in Ireland that banned bars to be open on March 17. Since the holiday falls during the period of Lent in the heavily Catholic country, the idea of binge drinking seemed a bit immoral. Also, Éirinn go Brách, means roughly "Ireland Forever."
Although Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he was actually born in Roman-occupied Britain in the fourth century to wealthy parents. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed it to Patricius after becoming a priest.
The young Maewyn was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Irish raiders who robbed his family home when he was only 16 years old.
St. Patrick did convert many pagans to Christianity, but the story of his driving all the snakes out of Ireland during his 40-day fast on a hilltop is not true. The legend of the snakes is likely a metaphor for St. Patrick’s having driven evil out of Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on the anniversary of Patrick’s death on March 17 in the fifth century. His followers in Ireland began to celebrate his feast day on that day during the ninth and tenth centuries, even though he was never formally canonized by a pope.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world.
Ireland’s prime minister gives the U.S. president an Irish cut-glass bowl filled with shamrocks, the three-leafed sprig that is one of the state’s emblems. The tradition dates back to 1952, when the first Irish ambassador to America, John Joseph Hearne, reportedly dropped off a box of shamrocks for Harry Truman
Members of the Order of St. Patrick actually used blue as their symbolic color. The shade: St. Patrick’s blue.
Leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day really are not related, aside from the fact that they are both Irish. Leprechauns didn’t become a staple of Irish literature until many years after St. Patrick’s famed journey through Ireland. There are no female leprechauns.
Incidentally, until 1961, there were laws in Ireland that banned bars to be open on March 17. Since the holiday falls during the period of Lent in the heavily Catholic country, the idea of binge drinking seemed a bit immoral. Also, Éirinn go Brách, means roughly "Ireland Forever."
Spring is Here
March 20 is the first day of Spring in the US. During early
spring, the axis of the Earth is increasing its tilt relative to
the Sun, and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the
relevant hemisphere. The hemisphere begins to warm
significantly, causing new plant growth to "spring forth,"
giving the season its name.
Four Factoids
Van Gogh did not actually cut off his ear. He cut off a small
part of his lobe in a fight with Paul Gauguin.
Over 50% of bottled water is tap water, so saying bottled water is better is less than half correct.
About 60% of beef raised in the US is Angus breed, so saying this place has Angus beef is just for advertising not quality.
Poison Ivy is not contagious. You cannot get it from someone who has it, you need to come in contact with the plant or sap from the plant.
Over 50% of bottled water is tap water, so saying bottled water is better is less than half correct.
About 60% of beef raised in the US is Angus breed, so saying this place has Angus beef is just for advertising not quality.
Poison Ivy is not contagious. You cannot get it from someone who has it, you need to come in contact with the plant or sap from the plant.
Laughing and Calories
A study was commissioned by the comedy channel
GO LD (Go On Laugh Daily) in Great Britain. Researchers, led by
Helen Pilcher, PhD, looked into the number of calories burned by
intense laughing and compared it to the calorie burn of other
daily activities (strength training, running, and vacuuming).
They found that intense laughter by itself is its own workout. An hour of it can benefit you as much as a half hour of hitting it hard at the gym. Laughing burns calories, but it can also boost total energy expenditure by up to 20 percent. One hour of laughter burns up to 120 calories, about the same as 18 to 27 minutes of weight training, 15 to 20 minutes of walking, or 40 minutes’ vacuuming (unless you have a Roomba).
They found that intense laughter by itself is its own workout. An hour of it can benefit you as much as a half hour of hitting it hard at the gym. Laughing burns calories, but it can also boost total energy expenditure by up to 20 percent. One hour of laughter burns up to 120 calories, about the same as 18 to 27 minutes of weight training, 15 to 20 minutes of walking, or 40 minutes’ vacuuming (unless you have a Roomba).
Skipping Breakfast
In a new study published in the British Medical Journal,
researchers report that breakfast may have no impact on weight
loss at all. In the study, a team of researchers from Monash
University in Melbourne, Australia, analyzed 13 randomized
controlled trials during the past 28 years. Of the trials, seven
examined the effect of eating breakfast on weight change, and
ten examined the effect on energy intake.
One of the arguments against skipping breakfast, weight-loss experts say, is that you will feel hungrier throughout the day and be more likely to overeat. The new study’s first finding was that people do not feel hungrier after skipping breakfast and do not overeat the rest of the day. The researchers’ second finding was that eating breakfast does not prevent overeating later in the day. The researchers also found that breakfast skippers weighed about a pound less on average compared to people who ate breakfast.
One of the arguments against skipping breakfast, weight-loss experts say, is that you will feel hungrier throughout the day and be more likely to overeat. The new study’s first finding was that people do not feel hungrier after skipping breakfast and do not overeat the rest of the day. The researchers’ second finding was that eating breakfast does not prevent overeating later in the day. The researchers also found that breakfast skippers weighed about a pound less on average compared to people who ate breakfast.
Six Inventions from NASA
Everyone’s famous handheld vacuum comes courtesy of
NASA after the agency partnered with Black & Decker to build
battery-operated tools for collecting samples from the moon’s
surfaces during exploration. The device was so good at
collecting samples that it was quickly adopted for use in
hospitals, industry, and your home.
Transcend Brac-kets come from NASA and are a high technology orthodontic innovation in which individual translucent brackets, especially designed for each tooth, work in concert with a thin metal connecting wire to gradually reposition teeth, mouth and jaws into proper alignment. Intended to meet a need for an orthodontic appliance that was aesthetically appealing yet as clinically effective as plastic or metal braces, Transcend Brack-ets are made of a very hard, shatter-resistant alumina with high strength and maximum translucency. The translucency allows light to pass through the ceramic material to the tooth, thereby causing the bracket to appear tooth-colored. The brackets do not stain, discolor, deform or bend.
In an effort to lighten astronauts’ suits and equipment, NASA developed suits with blow rubber molding. Not only did the material shave the 30-pound suits by a third, but the fireproof material also became the cushioning gel used in the soles of athletic sneakers.
Speedo’s Aqualab Speedo now considerd the most efficient swimsuit yet: the LZR Racer was invented by NASA.
Martek, a bioscience company, partnered with NASA to develop a nutritional supplement to sustain astronauts during long-duration space flights. Coincidentally, the supplement was made, in part, of microalgae high in DHA and ARA, two fatty acids important for infant development. When the partnership was over, Martek made a spin-off of the supplement, now found in nearly 95 percent of infant formula.
Radiant barrier technology was developed by NASA over 40 years ago to normalize temperatures aboard spacecraft and stations, but it was not until 2004 that it found a use in homes. The barrier can be applied to increase the efficiency of home insulation, further reducing heating and cooling bills.
Transcend Brac-kets come from NASA and are a high technology orthodontic innovation in which individual translucent brackets, especially designed for each tooth, work in concert with a thin metal connecting wire to gradually reposition teeth, mouth and jaws into proper alignment. Intended to meet a need for an orthodontic appliance that was aesthetically appealing yet as clinically effective as plastic or metal braces, Transcend Brack-ets are made of a very hard, shatter-resistant alumina with high strength and maximum translucency. The translucency allows light to pass through the ceramic material to the tooth, thereby causing the bracket to appear tooth-colored. The brackets do not stain, discolor, deform or bend.
In an effort to lighten astronauts’ suits and equipment, NASA developed suits with blow rubber molding. Not only did the material shave the 30-pound suits by a third, but the fireproof material also became the cushioning gel used in the soles of athletic sneakers.
Speedo’s Aqualab Speedo now considerd the most efficient swimsuit yet: the LZR Racer was invented by NASA.
Martek, a bioscience company, partnered with NASA to develop a nutritional supplement to sustain astronauts during long-duration space flights. Coincidentally, the supplement was made, in part, of microalgae high in DHA and ARA, two fatty acids important for infant development. When the partnership was over, Martek made a spin-off of the supplement, now found in nearly 95 percent of infant formula.
Radiant barrier technology was developed by NASA over 40 years ago to normalize temperatures aboard spacecraft and stations, but it was not until 2004 that it found a use in homes. The barrier can be applied to increase the efficiency of home insulation, further reducing heating and cooling bills.
Food Myth
To
minimize fat and calories, always remove the skin before cooking
chicken. Not true - the better way is to bake, broil, grill, or
roast poultry with the skin intact to preserve its natural
juices. Cook with the skin on and then remove before serving if
you prefer.
What's in a Name, Virgin
According to the company, Virgin was named to
reflect the experience Richard Branson and associates had when
starting the company. It was none, thus virgins.
Cell Phone Carrier Quality
RootMetrics gathered data on the four major
cell phone providers—Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile to
see which one had the best overall performance. They tested
call, data, and text reliability in all 50 states and across 125
of the most populated metropolitan markets. Sprint consistently
fell behind the other carriers in all metrics. Verizon came out
on top, T-Mobile took second place, and AT&T came in third.
In a similar study, J.D. Power collected data from over 30,000 customers on call quality, data quality, and texting for the major carriers in six regions. Sprint came in last in all of the regions except for the Southeast, where it tied for last with AT&T.
In a similar study, J.D. Power collected data from over 30,000 customers on call quality, data quality, and texting for the major carriers in six regions. Sprint came in last in all of the regions except for the Southeast, where it tied for last with AT&T.
International Happiness Day
Wednesday March 20 is International
Happiness Day. March 20 is the International Day of Happiness
and this year's theme is Happier Together, focusing on what we
have in common, rather than what divides us. Everyone wants to
be happy - and life is happier when we are together.
Mar 8, 2019
Happy Friday
"Everyone thinks of
changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." ~Leo
Tolstoy
You do not need to change the world to be happy, especially on a Happy Friday!
You do not need to change the world to be happy, especially on a Happy Friday!
Daylight Saving
This
weekend, 2am Sunday, March 10 is the time we in the US again
ignore nature and wield our clock hour hands up and set them
forward by an hour. The majority of other countries that also
observe the futile effort to control time wait until March 31
this year.
Less than 40% of countries in the world are still trying trying to catch sunshine in a bottle and save it until the end of the day in this semi-annual ritualistic snub of nature. The smart 60% of countries have said, Meh.
Less than 40% of countries in the world are still trying trying to catch sunshine in a bottle and save it until the end of the day in this semi-annual ritualistic snub of nature. The smart 60% of countries have said, Meh.
Detroit Celebrates 313 Day
March 13 is the day Detroit celebrates its zip
code and celebrates the city with parties and fun. If you are
there on that day, tip one for me. Another excuse to have some
fun and have some Detroit style pizza at Buddy's, or a Coney
Island hot dog, or some great ham from Ham Heaven or Liles. If
you are at home, have some pop and chips (Vernor's soda and
Better Made Potato chips).
Funny Words
Professor Chris Westbury's
newest psychology study is about farts. It is also about snots,
chortles, wienies, heinies and bozos; things that are wriggly,
jiggly, flappy, and slaphappy. That is because Westbury studies
funny words and, more specifically, what makes some words funny
and others not.
"As schoolboys of a certain age rediscover repeatedly, there is a sense in which simply uttering the word fart is a one-word joke," Westbury and Geoff Hollis, both professors at the University of Alberta in Canada, wrote in a study published Oct. 18 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General [Does It Fart? 10 Fascinating Facts About Animal Toots].
Westbury wondered, makes the word "fart" so funny? He already knew from a 2016 study he co-authored that part of a word's funniness could be explained by the popular theory of humor known as incongruity theory; the idea that something becomes funnier the more it subverts your expectations. In that study, students rated the funniness of several thousand meaningless, computer-generated words, or nonwords. The nonwords with surprising letter combinations that looked least like known English words, such as "snunkoople," "hablump" and "jumemo" were consistently rated funniest.
Dirty-sounding nonwords like "whong," "dongl," and "focky" also performed very well, suggesting that a word's perceived connotation played a role in humor, even for words that had no real meaning.
In their new study, Westbury and Hollis delved further into the relationship between word sounds, meanings and humor, this time, they started with a list of 4,997 common words previously compiled by a team of psychologists at the University of Warwick in the U.K. and scored with funniness ratings by a panel of 800 online participants. The Warwick psychologists found that words like "booty," "tinkle" and "nitwit" were consistently ranked as being very funny, while words like "pain," "torture" and "deathbed" were ranked as being decidedly unfunny.
They categorized words based on 20 different factors, including how long the word itself was, how positive or negative the word's meaning was, how common each letter or combination of letters was in English, and whether the word contained a crude or profane-sounding string of characters within it.
With these factors and the pre-existing humor scores for the words in the entire list, the researchers devised several different equations that could, theoretically, predict the humorousness of any given word. They tested two of their humor equations on a list of more than 45,000 words, then ranked the results in their new paper. One algorithm decided the top five funniest words on the list were:
1. Upchuck
2. Bubby
3. Boff
4. Wriggly
5. Yaps
The second equation, which was written with the help of a special data-modeling program Hollis and Westbury co-created in 2006, predicted the funniest words were:
1. Slobbering
2. Puking
3. Fuzz
4. Floozy
5. Cackling
The perfect funny word, the authors concluded, is "a short, infrequent word composed of uncommon letters," and has a meaning that is "human and insulting, profane, diminutive and/or related to good times."
"As schoolboys of a certain age rediscover repeatedly, there is a sense in which simply uttering the word fart is a one-word joke," Westbury and Geoff Hollis, both professors at the University of Alberta in Canada, wrote in a study published Oct. 18 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General [Does It Fart? 10 Fascinating Facts About Animal Toots].
Westbury wondered, makes the word "fart" so funny? He already knew from a 2016 study he co-authored that part of a word's funniness could be explained by the popular theory of humor known as incongruity theory; the idea that something becomes funnier the more it subverts your expectations. In that study, students rated the funniness of several thousand meaningless, computer-generated words, or nonwords. The nonwords with surprising letter combinations that looked least like known English words, such as "snunkoople," "hablump" and "jumemo" were consistently rated funniest.
Dirty-sounding nonwords like "whong," "dongl," and "focky" also performed very well, suggesting that a word's perceived connotation played a role in humor, even for words that had no real meaning.
In their new study, Westbury and Hollis delved further into the relationship between word sounds, meanings and humor, this time, they started with a list of 4,997 common words previously compiled by a team of psychologists at the University of Warwick in the U.K. and scored with funniness ratings by a panel of 800 online participants. The Warwick psychologists found that words like "booty," "tinkle" and "nitwit" were consistently ranked as being very funny, while words like "pain," "torture" and "deathbed" were ranked as being decidedly unfunny.
They categorized words based on 20 different factors, including how long the word itself was, how positive or negative the word's meaning was, how common each letter or combination of letters was in English, and whether the word contained a crude or profane-sounding string of characters within it.
With these factors and the pre-existing humor scores for the words in the entire list, the researchers devised several different equations that could, theoretically, predict the humorousness of any given word. They tested two of their humor equations on a list of more than 45,000 words, then ranked the results in their new paper. One algorithm decided the top five funniest words on the list were:
1. Upchuck
2. Bubby
3. Boff
4. Wriggly
5. Yaps
The second equation, which was written with the help of a special data-modeling program Hollis and Westbury co-created in 2006, predicted the funniest words were:
1. Slobbering
2. Puking
3. Fuzz
4. Floozy
5. Cackling
The perfect funny word, the authors concluded, is "a short, infrequent word composed of uncommon letters," and has a meaning that is "human and insulting, profane, diminutive and/or related to good times."
MiFi vs. WiFi vs. Mobile Hotspot
MiFi is actually a brand name used for a
portable broadband device that allows multiple end users and
mobile devices to share a 3G or 4G mobile broadband internet
connection and create an ad hoc network (mobile hotspot).
Novatel Wireless owns a registered trademark on the “MiFi” brand
name in many countries, but the term is used generically, like
Kleenex. It is a bit expensive, but you can think of it as
carrying around an internet connection in your pocket. Many
think these will be used to connect non-5G devices to the coming
5G network.
A MiFi box is great to have if you are in an area with no internet access. Most devices are about two by four inches. Depending on carrier, there may be an additional monthly fee to your phone bill. Some devices have their own connection that you can pay for by the day. MiFi boxes prices range from about thirty to a few hundred US dollars onetime cost.
WiFi is a wireless networking standard that various devices, such as smartphones, TVs, computers, etc., use to communicate with each other or the internet without actual wires connecting them. Smart TVs use WiFi to connect to the internet to provide streaming, like Netflix, Amazon Video, and more.
A mobile hotspot is created by a portable device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or MiFi box that provide wireless or Ethernet internet access for many devices including laptops, other smartphones, computers, etc. One way to think of it is as a compact, battery powered WiFi station that taps into cellular networks like a smartphone does and then wirelessly shares its data connection with other WiFi enabled devices.
Mobile hotspots eliminate the worry of conducting business or personal work over an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection, and mobile hotspots often have faster connection speeds than public Wi-Fi. I have a friend who uses his phone to create a hotspot so he can watch streaming TV on his laptop while riding (not driving) in his car.
Bottom line, MiFi and Hotspot are devices with a wireless connection that other devices can connect to using WiFi. WiFi is a standard of communication.
A MiFi box is great to have if you are in an area with no internet access. Most devices are about two by four inches. Depending on carrier, there may be an additional monthly fee to your phone bill. Some devices have their own connection that you can pay for by the day. MiFi boxes prices range from about thirty to a few hundred US dollars onetime cost.
WiFi is a wireless networking standard that various devices, such as smartphones, TVs, computers, etc., use to communicate with each other or the internet without actual wires connecting them. Smart TVs use WiFi to connect to the internet to provide streaming, like Netflix, Amazon Video, and more.
A mobile hotspot is created by a portable device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or MiFi box that provide wireless or Ethernet internet access for many devices including laptops, other smartphones, computers, etc. One way to think of it is as a compact, battery powered WiFi station that taps into cellular networks like a smartphone does and then wirelessly shares its data connection with other WiFi enabled devices.
Mobile hotspots eliminate the worry of conducting business or personal work over an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection, and mobile hotspots often have faster connection speeds than public Wi-Fi. I have a friend who uses his phone to create a hotspot so he can watch streaming TV on his laptop while riding (not driving) in his car.
Bottom line, MiFi and Hotspot are devices with a wireless connection that other devices can connect to using WiFi. WiFi is a standard of communication.
Windy City
Chicago’s nickname did not come from the weather, it was coined
by 19th-century journalists who were referring to the fact that
its residents were “windbags” and “full of hot air.”
Broadcast Auction for Antenna TV
During 2016 the US FCC decided to sell
some of the airwave spectrum to align the use of broadcast
airwaves with 21st century consumer demands for video and
broadband services. The idea was to ease congestion and open up
spectrum for the upcoming 5G wireless service. Bidding closed
during March 2017.
Since that time over the air (OTA) stations have begun transitions to new station numbers. It continues through 2019.
Dallas, for instance has a number of stations transitioning between April 2019 and June 2019. Dallas is also transitioning some stations to the new ATSC3 format. The way it is making the transition is grouping some stations together as sub numbers. No need to worry as any station that converts must still be available for five years as is (although the station number may change) after the change. Next year when you get your new whizbang ATSC3 converter box you will be able to see better live free TV with some 4K promised and interactive programming, plus many more features.
The bottom line is that if you are using an antenna for watching TV, it is a good idea to re-scan for stations every few months. It only takes a few minutes and you may find new stations. You may also discover why a few stations seemed to stop working, but are now working again.
Since that time over the air (OTA) stations have begun transitions to new station numbers. It continues through 2019.
Dallas, for instance has a number of stations transitioning between April 2019 and June 2019. Dallas is also transitioning some stations to the new ATSC3 format. The way it is making the transition is grouping some stations together as sub numbers. No need to worry as any station that converts must still be available for five years as is (although the station number may change) after the change. Next year when you get your new whizbang ATSC3 converter box you will be able to see better live free TV with some 4K promised and interactive programming, plus many more features.
The bottom line is that if you are using an antenna for watching TV, it is a good idea to re-scan for stations every few months. It only takes a few minutes and you may find new stations. You may also discover why a few stations seemed to stop working, but are now working again.
Mar 1, 2019
Happy Friday
Being a glutton for
happiness is not a disease, but a state of mind.
You cannot overdose on happy, especially on a Happy Friday!
You cannot overdose on happy, especially on a Happy Friday!
Twelve YouTube Facts
The YouTube.com domain was bought on Valentine’s Day, 2005.
2. The three YouTube founders - Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim used their money from eBay’s buyout of PayPal to fund YouTube’s Launch
2. Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in October 2006.
3. YouTube's first ad was broadcast in August 2007, just nine months after Google bought the site.
4. During June 2007; YouTube started rolling out localized versions of its site. People in different places would get different recommendations and features, as well as a localized top-level domain (for example, .com, .co .uk, .fr, etc.).
The first 10 countries to get their own YouTube site were the US, UK, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
5. There Are 98 Versions of YouTube
6. YouTube has been censored by more than 25 countries, including Germany, Finland, and Brazil.
7. YouTube’s annual revenue is about $22 billion. This has led Wall Street analysts to give the brand a value of more than $160 billion.
8. In any given month, 80 percent of North American adults aged between 18 and 49 watch at least one video on YouTube.
9. In the United States, YouTube reaches more 18 to 49-year-olds than any broadcast or cable TV network.
10. For many soccer fans, Brazilian forward Ronaldinho is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. Thanks to his worldwide popularity, his tricks video (produced by Nike) was the first video to hit one million views in October 2005.
11. Avril Lavigne’s hit Girlfriend was the first song to break 100 million views after its release in 2008.
12. During 2012, Gangnam Style was first to get 1 billion views.
2. The three YouTube founders - Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim used their money from eBay’s buyout of PayPal to fund YouTube’s Launch
2. Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in October 2006.
3. YouTube's first ad was broadcast in August 2007, just nine months after Google bought the site.
4. During June 2007; YouTube started rolling out localized versions of its site. People in different places would get different recommendations and features, as well as a localized top-level domain (for example, .com, .co .uk, .fr, etc.).
The first 10 countries to get their own YouTube site were the US, UK, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
5. There Are 98 Versions of YouTube
6. YouTube has been censored by more than 25 countries, including Germany, Finland, and Brazil.
7. YouTube’s annual revenue is about $22 billion. This has led Wall Street analysts to give the brand a value of more than $160 billion.
8. In any given month, 80 percent of North American adults aged between 18 and 49 watch at least one video on YouTube.
9. In the United States, YouTube reaches more 18 to 49-year-olds than any broadcast or cable TV network.
10. For many soccer fans, Brazilian forward Ronaldinho is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. Thanks to his worldwide popularity, his tricks video (produced by Nike) was the first video to hit one million views in October 2005.
11. Avril Lavigne’s hit Girlfriend was the first song to break 100 million views after its release in 2008.
12. During 2012, Gangnam Style was first to get 1 billion views.
Four Trademark Names
People continue to use X-Acto knife as a generic term.
However, it is a trademark term owned by Elmer’s Products, Inc.
It was intended to be used as a scalpel, but it could not be
cleaned well enough, so it became a hobby kit tool.
Inventor Caleb Bradham originally wanted to be a doctor, but started working in a pharmacy in North Carolina. In 1893, he concocted what he first called “Brad’s Drink,” a mix of water, sugar, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other flavors. Five years later, he renamed it Pepsi-Cola. He claimed the drink could help with digestion, or dyspepsia, the term from which Bradham adapted the name Pepsi.
When the fried chicken restaurant Chicken on the Run struggled after its grand opening in 1972, the founder reopened it as Popeye's. The name was not in reference to a spinach-loving sailor but to detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle from The French Connection.
Originally a crop-dusting service, Huff Dusters was renamed Delta after the Mississippi delta region it originally served. In 1929, the airline began operating passenger flights that could carry five passengers and a pilot.
Inventor Caleb Bradham originally wanted to be a doctor, but started working in a pharmacy in North Carolina. In 1893, he concocted what he first called “Brad’s Drink,” a mix of water, sugar, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other flavors. Five years later, he renamed it Pepsi-Cola. He claimed the drink could help with digestion, or dyspepsia, the term from which Bradham adapted the name Pepsi.
When the fried chicken restaurant Chicken on the Run struggled after its grand opening in 1972, the founder reopened it as Popeye's. The name was not in reference to a spinach-loving sailor but to detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle from The French Connection.
Originally a crop-dusting service, Huff Dusters was renamed Delta after the Mississippi delta region it originally served. In 1929, the airline began operating passenger flights that could carry five passengers and a pilot.
Six Popcorn Myths Debunked
Myth: Popcorn is junk food.
Fact: Popcorn is a whole grain, which makes it a good carb choice. Whole grains contain fiber, providing the roughage needed in a daily diet. Popcorn has no artificial additives or preservatives and is sugar-free.
Myth: Popcorn is high in fat and calories.
Fact: Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 35 calories per cup.
Myth: Popcorn is GMO.
Fact: There has never been, nor is there currently, any Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) popcorn or popcorn seed for sale in the world.
Myth: Popcorn contains gluten.
Fact: Popcorn does not contain wheat, rye, or barley gluten—the types of gluten most associated with gluten disorders. Note: Other ingredients in ready-to-eat or microwave popcorn may contain gluten, so consumers should read labels carefully if they are concerned; however, the popcorn kernel itself does not contain gluten.
Myth: Microwave popcorn contains diacetyl.
Fact: The flavoring additive diacetyl has not been used in microwave products since 2007. Diacetyl is a manufactured ingredient that also is found naturally at low concentrations in a wide variety of foods such as dairy, beer, coffee, honey and fruits. In food manufacturing, diacetyl is added to a wide range of foods: butter, cheese, milk, flour mixes, cookies, crackers, candy and confectionery products, chocolate and cocoa products, shortening, food oils, margarines, flavored syrups, potato chips, corn chips, ready-to-mix desserts, prepared frosting, and gelatin desert preparations.
Myth: Microwave popcorn contains PFOA.
Fact: PFOA, or perflourooctanoic acid, is sometimes used in grease-resistant coatings for paper, such as fast food wrappers, candy wrappers, and pizza box liners. Bag manufacturers have been addressing the issue of removing PFOAs since 2006, and confirm that the grease resistant coating in the majority of microwave popping bags is not produced with PFOA.
Fact: Popcorn is a whole grain, which makes it a good carb choice. Whole grains contain fiber, providing the roughage needed in a daily diet. Popcorn has no artificial additives or preservatives and is sugar-free.
Myth: Popcorn is high in fat and calories.
Fact: Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 35 calories per cup.
Myth: Popcorn is GMO.
Fact: There has never been, nor is there currently, any Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) popcorn or popcorn seed for sale in the world.
Myth: Popcorn contains gluten.
Fact: Popcorn does not contain wheat, rye, or barley gluten—the types of gluten most associated with gluten disorders. Note: Other ingredients in ready-to-eat or microwave popcorn may contain gluten, so consumers should read labels carefully if they are concerned; however, the popcorn kernel itself does not contain gluten.
Myth: Microwave popcorn contains diacetyl.
Fact: The flavoring additive diacetyl has not been used in microwave products since 2007. Diacetyl is a manufactured ingredient that also is found naturally at low concentrations in a wide variety of foods such as dairy, beer, coffee, honey and fruits. In food manufacturing, diacetyl is added to a wide range of foods: butter, cheese, milk, flour mixes, cookies, crackers, candy and confectionery products, chocolate and cocoa products, shortening, food oils, margarines, flavored syrups, potato chips, corn chips, ready-to-mix desserts, prepared frosting, and gelatin desert preparations.
Myth: Microwave popcorn contains PFOA.
Fact: PFOA, or perflourooctanoic acid, is sometimes used in grease-resistant coatings for paper, such as fast food wrappers, candy wrappers, and pizza box liners. Bag manufacturers have been addressing the issue of removing PFOAs since 2006, and confirm that the grease resistant coating in the majority of microwave popping bags is not produced with PFOA.
What's in a Name, Tom and Jerry
The Tom and Jerry drink has been a
Christmas party staple in the American Midwest for many years.
The drink begins with a frothy batter of separately beaten egg
whites and yolks folded together and mixed with sugar, vanilla,
and warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Cream of
tartar is occasionally added to ensure the beaten egg whites
maintain their stiff peaks. Drinkers add hot milk and rum or
brandy (or both) into cocktail mugs and drop the creamy batter
on top.
The Tom and Jerry origins are frequently traced back to a clever publicity stunt orchestrated by the British journalist Pierce Egan. The story goes that Egan added brandy to eggnog to create a signature cocktail to promote his 1821 book, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom.
No definitive records exist about the drink’s first appearance in the US, but in 1862, New York bartender Jerry Thomas published a recipe for a Tom and Jerry in his book, How to Mix Drinks Or The Bon-vivant’s Companion.
The Tom and Jerry origins are frequently traced back to a clever publicity stunt orchestrated by the British journalist Pierce Egan. The story goes that Egan added brandy to eggnog to create a signature cocktail to promote his 1821 book, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom.
No definitive records exist about the drink’s first appearance in the US, but in 1862, New York bartender Jerry Thomas published a recipe for a Tom and Jerry in his book, How to Mix Drinks Or The Bon-vivant’s Companion.
More Items Named After Real People
The Bowler hat (also Derby hat) was
created by Thomas and William Bowler. This was so the high top
hats of the Earl of Derby’s gamekeepers would not be hit by
branches while on horseback. This was also said to be a
compromise between social classes’ top hat and flat cap. Incidentally,
Dick Van Dyke inherited Stan Laurel’s bowler hat in 1965.
The term ‘Gerrymandering’ was derived from Gerry Elbridge, the governor of Massachusetts and salamander from an outline of a newly-defined district map. The outlined shape of a dragon in the form of a map pertains to a cartoon in the Boston Gazette in 1812. This awkward location that creates unusual shapes is suitable for voters in certain districts for political advancement.
Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in 1840; unfortunately, he was unsuccessful with the instrument. Luckily, a century later, the sax became popular with jazz musicians.
Jean Nicot de Villemain, a French ambassador who learned about tobacco on his trip Portugal. When he went home, he brought snuff, leaves, and seed with him and presented it to the royal court of France in the 1560s. The plant became a hit and so Jean was commemorated by having the plant named after him - nicotine. Only in succeeding centuries did nicotine come to mean chemical inside the tobacco plant.
Bloomers were named after Amelia Bloomer, a women’s rights supporter. She did not make the garments, but her efforts embodied her appearance of women.
The term ‘Gerrymandering’ was derived from Gerry Elbridge, the governor of Massachusetts and salamander from an outline of a newly-defined district map. The outlined shape of a dragon in the form of a map pertains to a cartoon in the Boston Gazette in 1812. This awkward location that creates unusual shapes is suitable for voters in certain districts for political advancement.
Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in 1840; unfortunately, he was unsuccessful with the instrument. Luckily, a century later, the sax became popular with jazz musicians.
Jean Nicot de Villemain, a French ambassador who learned about tobacco on his trip Portugal. When he went home, he brought snuff, leaves, and seed with him and presented it to the royal court of France in the 1560s. The plant became a hit and so Jean was commemorated by having the plant named after him - nicotine. Only in succeeding centuries did nicotine come to mean chemical inside the tobacco plant.
Bloomers were named after Amelia Bloomer, a women’s rights supporter. She did not make the garments, but her efforts embodied her appearance of women.
Google Tip
Most of us usually look for one search term at a time; first, we
look for "ohio," then we look for "history of aviation."
If you are not quite sure what you are looking for, Google can combine searches. Just add your search terms and separate them by "and or", such as ohio and or history of aviation.
If you are not quite sure what you are looking for, Google can combine searches. Just add your search terms and separate them by "and or", such as ohio and or history of aviation.
Interesting Body Facts
The adult body is made up of 100 trillion cells,
206 bones, 600 muscles, and 22 internal organs. Every square
inch of the human body has about 19 million skin cells. Every
hour about 1 billion cells in the human body must be replaced.
The cornea is the only part of the body with no blood supply – it gets its oxygen directly from the air.
The largest bone in the human body is the femur. It can support 30 times the weight of a person's body.
Embryos develop fingerprints three months after conception.
The average adult has five million pores on their body with approximately 20,000 on their face alone. Pores are critical in allowing skin to breathe and helping the body get rid of oils and toxins.
The cornea is the only part of the body with no blood supply – it gets its oxygen directly from the air.
The largest bone in the human body is the femur. It can support 30 times the weight of a person's body.
Embryos develop fingerprints three months after conception.
The average adult has five million pores on their body with approximately 20,000 on their face alone. Pores are critical in allowing skin to breathe and helping the body get rid of oils and toxins.
Seven Simple Ways to Stay Happy
Many books have been written about how to be
happy, but life is not that difficult.
Keep good company.
Shut up and listen.
Be kind to people.
Be curious.
Keep moving.
Do not keep score.
Do not make it harder than it needs to be.
Keep good company.
Shut up and listen.
Be kind to people.
Be curious.
Keep moving.
Do not keep score.
Do not make it harder than it needs to be.
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