Aug 13, 2009
Cornucopia
Now that fall is approaching, I thought it is time for a definition. In Greek mythology, Amalthea was a goat who raised Zeus on her breast milk. When her horn was accidentally broken off by Zeus while playing together, this changed Amalthea into a unicorn.
The god Zeus, in remorse, gave her back her horn. The horn then had supernatural powers which would give the person in possession of it whatever he or she wished for. This gave rise to the legend of the cornucopia, or horn of plenty.
The original depictions were of the goat's horn filled with fruits and flowers: deities, especially Fortuna, were depicted with the horn of plenty. The cornucopia was also a symbol for a woman's fertility. Current pictures show it as a woven basket, I guess because goat's horns are not so easy to find these days.
Speaking of Horn of Plenty
Another stupid study - August 10th, 2009, The US Food Stamp Program may make users fat, according to a new nationwide study that followed participants for 14 years. Researchers found that the average female user of food stamps had an increase in weight of 5.8 pounds.
In 2008 about 28 million people, or almost 1 in 11 residents, received benefits from the food stamp program in a given month.
This study compared nearly 4,000 survey participants who used food stamps with almost 6,000 survey participants who did not. They looked at Body Mass Index (BMI) and food stamp use among the participants from 1989 to 2002.
The study also found that people's weight increased faster when they were on food stamps than when they were not, and increased more, the longer they were in the program.
The researchers took into account income and a variety of other factors, including race and education, that may have also affected the weight of survey participants, outside of the use of food stamps. Even after the various controls, the link between food stamp use and higher weight remained clear, especially for women.
Male food stamp users, both white and black, did not have significantly higher BMIs than those not in the program.
Results showed BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps. In addition, the study found the longer participants received food stamps, the fatter they became.
"Every way we looked at the data, it was clear that the use of food stamps was associated with weight gain," a researcher said. The study appears in the current issue of the journal Economics and Human Biology. Our government at work again, tax dollars to study a tax dollars program with ludicrous results. Do ya think it might be the food they buy with the stamps and not the stamps? Why not study how some people can remain on food stamps for 14 years? Hey, let's eliminate obesity, stop the free food stamp program!
In 2008 about 28 million people, or almost 1 in 11 residents, received benefits from the food stamp program in a given month.
This study compared nearly 4,000 survey participants who used food stamps with almost 6,000 survey participants who did not. They looked at Body Mass Index (BMI) and food stamp use among the participants from 1989 to 2002.
The study also found that people's weight increased faster when they were on food stamps than when they were not, and increased more, the longer they were in the program.
The researchers took into account income and a variety of other factors, including race and education, that may have also affected the weight of survey participants, outside of the use of food stamps. Even after the various controls, the link between food stamp use and higher weight remained clear, especially for women.
Male food stamp users, both white and black, did not have significantly higher BMIs than those not in the program.
Results showed BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps. In addition, the study found the longer participants received food stamps, the fatter they became.
"Every way we looked at the data, it was clear that the use of food stamps was associated with weight gain," a researcher said. The study appears in the current issue of the journal Economics and Human Biology. Our government at work again, tax dollars to study a tax dollars program with ludicrous results. Do ya think it might be the food they buy with the stamps and not the stamps? Why not study how some people can remain on food stamps for 14 years? Hey, let's eliminate obesity, stop the free food stamp program!
Quotable
An expert is a person who persuades the government to spend money it doesn’t have, to learn something nobody wants to know.
Steampunk
Many probably have not heard of steampunk. These gadgets are modern equivalents of old-looking objects, many with practical uses. It is a sub-genre of fantasy and speculative fiction that denotes works set in an era or world where steam power was still widely used, usually the 19th century, but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, like Jules Verne. Here is a modern working steampunk USB drive.
It is amazing to see how much time some folks dedicate to create these odd contraptions. To see more steampunk pictures, try this site.
National ID Cards
You have probably read that the new healthcare bill includes a provision for a national ID in the US. Here is a disturbing fact about that kind of technology from the UK. Its National ID Card was hacked In 12 Minutes. I personally don't think anyone can make an unhackable ID card.UK National ID cards are currently being used by foreign nationals who are working in the UK. The card features a built in microchip which, according to the Government, makes the ID cards ‘unforgeable’, the problem is that a hacker was able to hack the chip in under twelve minutes using just an ordinary laptop and a mobile phone.
He was able to create a cloned card, change the information on the cloned card, and add a message to the card which could be read by police officers when they scan the card, the message read, ‘I am a te**orist – shoot on site’. (my asterisks) I seem to remember that national ID cards started in Germany in the 1930s to identify all good German citizens. I don't remember if cards created a furor, or they were created by a fuhrer or both. . .
Quotable
About the only consolation the average taxpayer has is that you don’t have to pay taxes on the amount you think you’re worth.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
The Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of JFK, died on August 11, 2009. She was born in July, 1921.
As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver led the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide for more than three decades.
Her vision and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of special athletes across globe. Their lives, and those of future athletes, are forever impacted. Her legacy lives on through the acts of courage demonstrated by every athlete. I belong to a group that is honored to give out medals at local and regional Special Olympics each quarter and it is a great thrill to see the joy on their faces. It's one of those wonderful volunteer things that you get way more out of it than you put in.
As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver led the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide for more than three decades.
Her vision and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of special athletes across globe. Their lives, and those of future athletes, are forever impacted. Her legacy lives on through the acts of courage demonstrated by every athlete. I belong to a group that is honored to give out medals at local and regional Special Olympics each quarter and it is a great thrill to see the joy on their faces. It's one of those wonderful volunteer things that you get way more out of it than you put in.
Quotable
Today’s opportunity: -
To care enough to dry a tear,
To dare enough to volunteer,
To live that others may be blessed,
To give our talents and our best.
To care enough to dry a tear,
To dare enough to volunteer,
To live that others may be blessed,
To give our talents and our best.
Cool Camera Projector
Nikon is introducing the first combined digital camera and built-in projector and it should be available in September 09.
The Coolpix S1000pj has a 12.1 MP high-resolution capacity with a 5x zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD display, wireless remote and a 10 lumens projector that will display 5 to 40-inch images of pictures with sound. The display distance is 10-inches to 6 feet.
The image resolutions include a 4000 x 3000 High setting with a range of settings for PCs, TVs, wide-screen displays and normal displays.
Included in the package is a stand, wireless remote, rechargeable Li-On battery for about 220-shots or 1-hour projector mode, a battery charger, USB cable, audio/video cable, wrist strap and CD-ROM software suite. A SD/SDHC slot is included, but the memory card and AC adapter is optional.
Nikon believes size does matter. It measures 4-inches by 2.5-inches with a depth of 0.9-inches and weighs 5.5-ounces. It is light-weight, highly portable and literally turns on a dime to project images on a screen or wall. Price will be about $500. Want to know what to get me for Christmas?
Quotable
from 260 BC,
Tao bears love;
Love bears restraint;
Restraint bears acceptance;
Acceptance bears the World;
All things begin with love and end with restraint, but it is acceptance that brings harmony.
Tao bears love;
Love bears restraint;
Restraint bears acceptance;
Acceptance bears the World;
All things begin with love and end with restraint, but it is acceptance that brings harmony.
Aug 6, 2009
American Medical Association
As of 2005, latest numbers I could find, the AMA represented 15% of the physicians in the US. (30% of that number are medical school students, residents, or fellows.) Gone are the glory days when it represented the majority of physicians, but for some reason, it still has political clout through its lobbying efforts.
Next time someone tells you the AMA approves, remember that means only 15% of doctors approve.
Next time someone tells you the AMA approves, remember that means only 15% of doctors approve.
Quotable
Today’s state-of-the-art medical technology makes it almost impossible for your doctor not to find something wrong.
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