Jul 20, 2010
Birthday Cake Tip
Just saw this interesting idea to keep candle wax off of your next birthday cake. Slip a lifesaver on the bottom and it will catch any melting wax. You can leave the lifesaver on the cake when you remove the candle so you don't get your fingers in the icing.
Jul 16, 2010
Vitamin C
Linus Pauling, Nobel prize winner in chemistry touted that vitamin C was a cure-all for everything from preventing colds to curing cancer. He died of cancer in 1994. In spite of some other outrageous claims, vitamin C is still good for you, it just doesn't cure everything. Also, don't take the chewable kind, because it is ascorbic acid and will rot your teeth if you chew too much of it.
Common Cold
I 'caught a cold' a few weeks back, (actually it turned out to be pneumonia, contracted from a visit to the doctor and it is gone now). Anyway, it started me thinking about where the name 'common cold' came from.
The name "common cold" came into use in the 1500s, because its symptoms seemed to appear in cold weather. Of course, we now know that a common cold is not limited to cold weather. It seems more prevalent, because people spend more time indoors in close proximity to each other, sharing the virus.
It is difficult to catch a cold by eating something infected with cold virus. The secretions of the mouth tend to kill the virus and any that survive end up in the stomach where gastric juices quickly destroy them. Also, kissing a person with a cold will not cause you to catch it. The quantity of virus on the lips and mouth are miniscule.
There is no cure, due to the hundreds of varieties of viruses, but many medicines can mask the symptoms until it runs its course, usually a week or less. People are most infectious during the first 24 hours, even if the symptoms have not begun to show.
Zinc, echinacea, vitamin C, garlic, eucalyptus, honey, lemon, menthol, steam, hot toddies, alcohol, Zicam, chicken soup, and many other "cures" have been repeatedly tested and have been scientifically proven to not prevent or shorten the duration of a cold. At best they provide some physical relief. People believe these are effective because of the varied nature of colds. Some viruses only last a few days, while others last for weeks.
Flu shots are designed to prevent the most common type of virus and are effective for only that type. Antibiotics do not cure a cold as they work on bacteria and most colds are caused by virus. However, if it is bacterial, such as half of pneumonia strains, it does help. Bacterial pneumonia usually comes on suddenly and viral types take some time to develop.
Imagine a person with a four-day form of cold. If he does nothing he will be well in four days, but he immediately drinks a gallon of orange juice. A couple of days later he feels great and tells everyone that the vitamin C in the juice killed his cold. His story quickly spreads and everyone starts drinking orange juice. The vitamin C didn't cure it.
On the other hand, people who try a cure and find that it doesn't work aren't as likely to report it, because most folks do not brag about failures. Human nature and the variability of the cold virus create a situation where beliefs in cold cures persist in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary.
The name "common cold" came into use in the 1500s, because its symptoms seemed to appear in cold weather. Of course, we now know that a common cold is not limited to cold weather. It seems more prevalent, because people spend more time indoors in close proximity to each other, sharing the virus.
It is difficult to catch a cold by eating something infected with cold virus. The secretions of the mouth tend to kill the virus and any that survive end up in the stomach where gastric juices quickly destroy them. Also, kissing a person with a cold will not cause you to catch it. The quantity of virus on the lips and mouth are miniscule.
There is no cure, due to the hundreds of varieties of viruses, but many medicines can mask the symptoms until it runs its course, usually a week or less. People are most infectious during the first 24 hours, even if the symptoms have not begun to show.
Zinc, echinacea, vitamin C, garlic, eucalyptus, honey, lemon, menthol, steam, hot toddies, alcohol, Zicam, chicken soup, and many other "cures" have been repeatedly tested and have been scientifically proven to not prevent or shorten the duration of a cold. At best they provide some physical relief. People believe these are effective because of the varied nature of colds. Some viruses only last a few days, while others last for weeks.
Flu shots are designed to prevent the most common type of virus and are effective for only that type. Antibiotics do not cure a cold as they work on bacteria and most colds are caused by virus. However, if it is bacterial, such as half of pneumonia strains, it does help. Bacterial pneumonia usually comes on suddenly and viral types take some time to develop.
Imagine a person with a four-day form of cold. If he does nothing he will be well in four days, but he immediately drinks a gallon of orange juice. A couple of days later he feels great and tells everyone that the vitamin C in the juice killed his cold. His story quickly spreads and everyone starts drinking orange juice. The vitamin C didn't cure it.
On the other hand, people who try a cure and find that it doesn't work aren't as likely to report it, because most folks do not brag about failures. Human nature and the variability of the cold virus create a situation where beliefs in cold cures persist in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary.
Kerfs and Aglets
An aglet is the plastic cover at the end of shoelaces
Internet Privacy
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a draft last month to develop a voluntary identification system and set up a website to gather input from experts and Internet users about how it should be structured.
From the web site - The Nation faces sophisticated threats against the sensitive and confidential data of our citizens, industries and government. Securing identities in transactions and creating a trusted online environment has become a critical national priority, and the President’s Cyberspace Policy Review called for development of a strategy to address this issue.
"The technology that has brought many benefits to our society and has empowered us to do so much has also empowered those who are driven to cause harm," said White House cyber czar Howard Schmidt in a blog posting that outlined the need for better security online.
The plan, he said, envisions a future in which people would be able to get a secure identifier - such as a smart identity card or a digital certificate - from a variety of service providers. Customers could then use the card or identifier to prove who they are as they make their online transactions.
The draft plan is part of an administration effort to promote cyber-security among society as a whole. Lawmakers have introduced a number of bills aimed at furthering those goals. Oh, and about those jobs, crisis over!
From the web site - The Nation faces sophisticated threats against the sensitive and confidential data of our citizens, industries and government. Securing identities in transactions and creating a trusted online environment has become a critical national priority, and the President’s Cyberspace Policy Review called for development of a strategy to address this issue.
"The technology that has brought many benefits to our society and has empowered us to do so much has also empowered those who are driven to cause harm," said White House cyber czar Howard Schmidt in a blog posting that outlined the need for better security online.
The plan, he said, envisions a future in which people would be able to get a secure identifier - such as a smart identity card or a digital certificate - from a variety of service providers. Customers could then use the card or identifier to prove who they are as they make their online transactions.
The draft plan is part of an administration effort to promote cyber-security among society as a whole. Lawmakers have introduced a number of bills aimed at furthering those goals. Oh, and about those jobs, crisis over!
Scot Free
Many people think that getting off 'scot free' refers to Scottish people being tight with money, but word “scot” is an old Norse word which means payment, specifically a payment made to a landlord or sheriff. So this phrase means what most people think it means, but has no connection to the Scottish people. It just means to get off without having to pay.
Jul 13, 2010
Two More Google Search Tips
Type "google patents" in a search bar, and the first hit you get will take you to Google Patent Search. Google and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have struck an agreement, and you can now have access to more than 7 million patents, including drawings.
When searching for something and you only want current information, click on the 'search tools' on the left. It opens a list of other features, such as 'Past 24 hours', past week, etc. Try one, then click the search button again and it refines your search to whatever time you chose.
When searching for something and you only want current information, click on the 'search tools' on the left. It opens a list of other features, such as 'Past 24 hours', past week, etc. Try one, then click the search button again and it refines your search to whatever time you chose.
Four More Uses for Potatoes
We all know that potato chips and french fries are natures almost perfect food, (next to bacon, of course). There are also more uses for potatoes you may enjoy.
Potatoes hold heat well, so warm one up and wrap it in a dishcloth and you have a great hot compress. Put a potato in the freezer for a while and you have a cold compress.
Cut a potato and rub on your hands to remove those stains from fresh berries. It the stains are extra tough, add some lemon juice to the potato.
Press a piece of raw cut potato against a cooking burn and it will soothe and remove the sting.
Mix some room temperature plain mashed potatoes with lemon juice and some milk for a soothing facial. Leave on your face for about 20 minutes and then rinse off to reveal soft skin.
Cut a potato in half and press the cut surface of a potato into the sharp edges of a broken light bulb. Unscrew the broken bulb with the potato. Don't forget to throw away the used potato with the broken bulb.
Potatoes hold heat well, so warm one up and wrap it in a dishcloth and you have a great hot compress. Put a potato in the freezer for a while and you have a cold compress.
Cut a potato and rub on your hands to remove those stains from fresh berries. It the stains are extra tough, add some lemon juice to the potato.
Press a piece of raw cut potato against a cooking burn and it will soothe and remove the sting.
Mix some room temperature plain mashed potatoes with lemon juice and some milk for a soothing facial. Leave on your face for about 20 minutes and then rinse off to reveal soft skin.
Cut a potato in half and press the cut surface of a potato into the sharp edges of a broken light bulb. Unscrew the broken bulb with the potato. Don't forget to throw away the used potato with the broken bulb.
Siamese Twins
Did you ever wonder where the name Siamese Twins came from? Chang and Eng Bunker were conjoined twins born in Siam and their condition and place of birth became the name for this phenomenon. They were joined at the sternum by a small piece of cartilage and their livers were fused.
The two became American citizens and owned a plantation and slaves. In 1843, they married two sisters: Chang to Adelaide Yates and Eng to Sarah Anne Yates. Chang and his wife had ten children; Eng and his wife had twelve.
They eventually set up two separate households in White Plains, North Carolina and would alternate spending three days at each home. The twins died on the same day in 1874.
The two became American citizens and owned a plantation and slaves. In 1843, they married two sisters: Chang to Adelaide Yates and Eng to Sarah Anne Yates. Chang and his wife had ten children; Eng and his wife had twelve.
They eventually set up two separate households in White Plains, North Carolina and would alternate spending three days at each home. The twins died on the same day in 1874.
Six Brands That You Thought Were All American
Some common names in the US have non-American owners.
Henkel KGaA, Germany, owns Dial Soap
Arcapita, Bahrain, owns Church's Fried Chicken - (that's why they took bacon off the menu)
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, UK, owns Holiday Inn
Abu Dhabi Investment Council, UAE, owns the Chrysler building in NY
Seven & I Holdings, Japan, owns Denny’s and 7Eleven
Willis Group Holdings, UK, owns the former Sears Tower in Chicago, now officially called Willis Tower
InBev, Belgium, owns Budweiser.
Henkel KGaA, Germany, owns Dial Soap
Arcapita, Bahrain, owns Church's Fried Chicken - (that's why they took bacon off the menu)
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, UK, owns Holiday Inn
Abu Dhabi Investment Council, UAE, owns the Chrysler building in NY
Seven & I Holdings, Japan, owns Denny’s and 7Eleven
Willis Group Holdings, UK, owns the former Sears Tower in Chicago, now officially called Willis Tower
InBev, Belgium, owns Budweiser.
Bacon Found in Closet
Here is the headline, "Third-degree burns, stitches for South Bend brothers-in-law fighting over frying pan" Here is the LINK. I couldn't make this funny stuff up.
Jul 9, 2010
Going to Hell in a Handbasket
This phrase does not seem to be used anywhere but the US. It appears to come from the way criminals heads rolled into a basked when decapitated by a guillotine. The prisoner presumably was going directly to hell for his misdeeds.
Going Metric
Back when I was in grade school, they were going to change the country to the metric system and began to teach us meters, kilometers, etc., but somewhere along the way gave up. Actually, the metric system is easier to use, once you have learned it.
History shows that the US mint created the first decimal currency in the world in 1792. Congress first authorized the use of metrics in 1866 and in 1875 became one of the original seventeen signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 "to coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States." It also established the US Metric Board, which was dissolved in 1982. The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designated the metric system as the "preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce."
It is back. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued two publications calling for the amendment of labeling laws to allow the voluntary use of only metric units on some consumer products. It says that adoption of metric labeling will simplify domestic and international commerce.
So, the current Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), which has both, is recommended to be the Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation (UPLR), which has only one - metric. This time they forgot the 'first teach 'em in school' part.
Only 91.44 meters for a touchdown, hmmm. Hey, don't judge me until you have walked almost two kilometers in my shoes. It's 28 today, damn it's hot!
Comparisons:
* 1 gram is about the weight of a paperclip.
* 1 kilogram is a little more than 2 pounds.
* 1 liter is a little more than a quart.
* 1 kilometer is a little more than half a mile.
* 1 meter is a little more than a yard.
* 1 centimeter is a little less than half an inch.
* 1 millimeter is about the width of a pencil point.
Since we have decided to go with one unit of measurement, maybe we should consider going back to one language (English) on our packages. . .
History shows that the US mint created the first decimal currency in the world in 1792. Congress first authorized the use of metrics in 1866 and in 1875 became one of the original seventeen signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 "to coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States." It also established the US Metric Board, which was dissolved in 1982. The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designated the metric system as the "preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce."
It is back. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued two publications calling for the amendment of labeling laws to allow the voluntary use of only metric units on some consumer products. It says that adoption of metric labeling will simplify domestic and international commerce.
So, the current Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), which has both, is recommended to be the Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation (UPLR), which has only one - metric. This time they forgot the 'first teach 'em in school' part.
Only 91.44 meters for a touchdown, hmmm. Hey, don't judge me until you have walked almost two kilometers in my shoes. It's 28 today, damn it's hot!
Comparisons:
* 1 gram is about the weight of a paperclip.
* 1 kilogram is a little more than 2 pounds.
* 1 liter is a little more than a quart.
* 1 kilometer is a little more than half a mile.
* 1 meter is a little more than a yard.
* 1 centimeter is a little less than half an inch.
* 1 millimeter is about the width of a pencil point.
Since we have decided to go with one unit of measurement, maybe we should consider going back to one language (English) on our packages. . .
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