A quick read, but you might get hooked by all the related sites of weird plants, exotic animals, etc. LINK A fun diversion to explore the unusual around us.
May 4, 2011
Unusual Plants and Trees
The website name describes what you will see, '15 Eccentric Endangered Trees, Plants, and Flowers'. Great pics of unusual living things from around the world. Here is the welwitschia mirabilis, which usually has only two leaves, but they curl around into an unusual clump. It can live for a thousand years.
A quick read, but you might get hooked by all the related sites of weird plants, exotic animals, etc. LINK A fun diversion to explore the unusual around us.
A quick read, but you might get hooked by all the related sites of weird plants, exotic animals, etc. LINK A fun diversion to explore the unusual around us.
Some Illuminating Thoughts
On Jan. 1, 2012, 100-watt incandescent bulbs will start disappearing from store shelves.The front of the new bulb labels will list energy cost and lumens, which can vary widely even for bulbs consuming the same amount of energy or wattage. Lumens already appear on bulb packaging, but we often overlook the fine print.
The back will list the bulb's expected life span, energy consumption and its "light appearance," or color, which is measured on a temperature scale known as Kelvin (K). Lower Kelvin numbers mean the light is more yellow; higher Kelvin numbers mean it's whiter or bluer. The traditional incandescent, which gives off a warm, soft and almost yellowish light, has a temperature of about 2,700 to 3,000K — similar to most halogens. LEDs' temperatures range from 3,300 to 5,000K while CFLs can be quite warm (2,700K), neutral or cold (6,500K).
For kitchens and work spaces, where a brighter and whiter light is desired, look for bulbs marked 3,500 to 4,100K. For a cooler, bluish light akin to daylight, good for reading, look for bulbs with 5,000 to 6,500K.
For CFLs, the back label also notes that the bulbs "contain mercury" which, in high enough doses, can cause tremors, mood swings, headaches and insomnia. (CFLs have, on average, 4 milligrams of mercury, while older thermometers have about 500 milligrams.) No mercury is released unless the bulb breaks. Besides being expensive, I have tried them in my ceiling fans and about one in four burns out within a few months. The new label lists a government website for tips on how to clean up broken pieces and dispose of the bulbs. This is very scary stuff.
Here is a link to a Youtube explaining the new CFL bulbs LINK This Texas congressman is not happy. If these bulbs are really that good, we would have already bought them and they would not have to be forced on us.
The back will list the bulb's expected life span, energy consumption and its "light appearance," or color, which is measured on a temperature scale known as Kelvin (K). Lower Kelvin numbers mean the light is more yellow; higher Kelvin numbers mean it's whiter or bluer. The traditional incandescent, which gives off a warm, soft and almost yellowish light, has a temperature of about 2,700 to 3,000K — similar to most halogens. LEDs' temperatures range from 3,300 to 5,000K while CFLs can be quite warm (2,700K), neutral or cold (6,500K).
For kitchens and work spaces, where a brighter and whiter light is desired, look for bulbs marked 3,500 to 4,100K. For a cooler, bluish light akin to daylight, good for reading, look for bulbs with 5,000 to 6,500K.
For CFLs, the back label also notes that the bulbs "contain mercury" which, in high enough doses, can cause tremors, mood swings, headaches and insomnia. (CFLs have, on average, 4 milligrams of mercury, while older thermometers have about 500 milligrams.) No mercury is released unless the bulb breaks. Besides being expensive, I have tried them in my ceiling fans and about one in four burns out within a few months. The new label lists a government website for tips on how to clean up broken pieces and dispose of the bulbs. This is very scary stuff.
Here is a link to a Youtube explaining the new CFL bulbs LINK This Texas congressman is not happy. If these bulbs are really that good, we would have already bought them and they would not have to be forced on us.
Apr 29, 2011
Happy Friday
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.
I always dream about living for a Happy Friday!
I always dream about living for a Happy Friday!
St. Pauli Girl Beer
Interesting facts for the beer aficionados in the crowd. St. Pauli is the famous red light district of Hamburg, Germany. In 1977, St. Pauli Girl Beer started to choose a spokesmodel to represent the beer brand and appear on the popular St. Pauli Girl poster.
In 1999, they started using Playboy magazine playmates as the girl (the 2008 St. Pauli Girl is Irina Voronina). Here's the gallery of St. Pauli Girls from 1977 to 2007. There were actually a few that were not blond. Don't worry, it is PG. LINK
In 1999, they started using Playboy magazine playmates as the girl (the 2008 St. Pauli Girl is Irina Voronina). Here's the gallery of St. Pauli Girls from 1977 to 2007. There were actually a few that were not blond. Don't worry, it is PG. LINK
Bacon Cologne
Last year I mentioned bacon perfume for the woman who has everything - and sure to help her catch a man.
Now it is finally here, bacon cologne (pronounced bac own) for men and women. Bacon classic is a blend of spicy maple, with bacon. Bacon gold is spicy citrus with bacon. Wow, what a great idea for those days when you do not have time for breakfast. Just think of it, citrus for her and maple for him or the other way. Anyway, here is the LINK, because you know you want it! This is sure to be a much wanted stocking stuffer for the holidays. Mmmm.
Now it is finally here, bacon cologne (pronounced bac own) for men and women. Bacon classic is a blend of spicy maple, with bacon. Bacon gold is spicy citrus with bacon. Wow, what a great idea for those days when you do not have time for breakfast. Just think of it, citrus for her and maple for him or the other way. Anyway, here is the LINK, because you know you want it! This is sure to be a much wanted stocking stuffer for the holidays. Mmmm.
More Beer News
A British brewery said it has created the world's first beer laced with Viagra in honor of the royal wedding. The Brewdog brewery said the beer, called Royal Virility Performance, contains the same amount of Viagra in three bottles as one erectile dysfunction pill. It said only 40 bottles will initially be sold when it is released today, April 29, the day of the wedding, but will make more if the batch is successful.
It said several bottles of the beer, which bear labels reading "Arise Prince Willy" and "Celebrate Big Willy Style" have been sent to Prince William as gifts for the night of his wedding to Kate Middleton.
It said several bottles of the beer, which bear labels reading "Arise Prince Willy" and "Celebrate Big Willy Style" have been sent to Prince William as gifts for the night of his wedding to Kate Middleton.
Police and Prison Jargon
Clink was the name of a prison which was on Clink Street in London. That is how we came up with the phrase, 'to be thrown in the clink.'
The police force in London was established by Sir Robert Peel. For a time policemen were called 'Peelers' or 'Bobbies men' and that was shortened to the current term for British police, bobbies.
The police force in London was established by Sir Robert Peel. For a time policemen were called 'Peelers' or 'Bobbies men' and that was shortened to the current term for British police, bobbies.
Billionaires
Maybe the old saying about the rich getting richer is no longer true, at least in the US. Brazil, Russia, India, and China produced 108 of the 214 new billionaires in the recent Forbes list of richest people. These four nations are home to one-in-four members, up from one-in-ten five years ago. Before this year, only the US had ever produced more than 100 billionaires. China now has 115 and Russia 101. The US used to have one in two, now it has one in three billionaires and it is down 56 billionaires from 2008 peak. So sorry, I didn't see your name on the list either.
Apr 26, 2011
Encyclopedia of Life
This site plans to out Google Google. It plans to eventually have a page for every species of life on earth. The site has a very long way to go, but is making an interesting start. If you are interested in the creatures around us, take a look. It has been updated since the last time I mentioned it. LINK
Cheap Wine is Good Wine
A survey was recently taken with 578 drinkers at the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The participants sampled a variety of red and white wines in a blind taste test with prices ranging from about $6 to $50. The results concluded that people could only tell the difference between cheap and expensive white wines 53% of the time, and 47% of the time for red wines. 50% average is equal to a guess.
This backs up a study from a few years ago, which showed that individuals who are unaware of the price do not derive more enjoyment from more expensive wine. That survey of 6,000 blind tastings showed that the correlation between price and overall rating is small and negative, suggesting that individuals on average enjoy more expensive wines slightly less. Bottom line - wine does not have to be expensive to taste good.
This backs up a study from a few years ago, which showed that individuals who are unaware of the price do not derive more enjoyment from more expensive wine. That survey of 6,000 blind tastings showed that the correlation between price and overall rating is small and negative, suggesting that individuals on average enjoy more expensive wines slightly less. Bottom line - wine does not have to be expensive to taste good.
What's in a Name
You have all seen those little cardboard thingies that are put around a coffee cup from Starbucks and other coffee places. Did you know there is actually a name for them? They are called zarfs. A zarf was originally a metal chalice keep your hot coffee from burning your fingers. The fancy cup holder has morphed into the modern-day cardboard sleeve that comes wrapped around your hot coffee cup. Next time you are in Starbucks, ask them if the zarf is free. It might be fun to watch the reaction from your barrister...
Cuss to Ease the Pain
No need to feel bad about it, says a 2-year-old study from the journal NeuroReport that's been making the rounds this week. Swearing actually helps reduce the pain you feel.
Researchers from Keele University in Staffordshire, England, asked test subjects to put their hands in icy cold water, and see how long they could stand to keep them immersed. (This is a common practice to test pain, because it leaves no mark and does no physiological harm.)
They then had the study participants either say a swear word or a neutral word. They found that those who invoked foul language were able to withstand the pain better than those who kept it clean.
The researchers think that swearing induces a flight-or-fight response, and thus, "nullifies the link between fear of pain and pain perception."
This doesn't mean you should let loose indiscriminately, though. The effect worked best for people who did not swear often.
Researchers from Keele University in Staffordshire, England, asked test subjects to put their hands in icy cold water, and see how long they could stand to keep them immersed. (This is a common practice to test pain, because it leaves no mark and does no physiological harm.)
They then had the study participants either say a swear word or a neutral word. They found that those who invoked foul language were able to withstand the pain better than those who kept it clean.
The researchers think that swearing induces a flight-or-fight response, and thus, "nullifies the link between fear of pain and pain perception."
This doesn't mean you should let loose indiscriminately, though. The effect worked best for people who did not swear often.
Apr 22, 2011
Happy Friday
The spoken word, past life, and neglected opportunity can not be called back.
Speaking in the present, I live for the opportunity to have a Happy Friday!
Speaking in the present, I live for the opportunity to have a Happy Friday!
Fun Uses for Eggs
Egg whites can be used in place of white glue for children's projects. Egg whites can be mixed with the other ingredients to make paper mache.
Cascarones, pronounced kas-ka-ron-ez, are a Mexican tradition used for Easter and other celebrations. It is an egg shell filled with confetti used to crack over someone's head and shower them with the confetti inside. Great fun and and always a surprise.
The Japanese are masters at carving intricate designs and pictures in egg shells, while the Ukrains dye elaborate designs using wax and dye.
How about a plant starter. cut the tops off of egg shells and put them back in the carton. Fill with potting soil, add a seed, some water, and you have useful plant starters, complete with tray.
If you have way too much time or way too much money, you can make or buy a Faberge egg.
There are thousands of other uses, but thought i would provide a few, just for fun.
A school in Seattle this year had the political audacity to call Easter eggs, 'spring spheres'. It didn't work, when the person brought in eggs, the children all said, "oh, Easter eggs." Eggzactly!
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