Fingernails grow about 3.5 mm
per month and toenails grow about 1.6 mm per month on average. The
exact rate at which your nails grow depends on several factors, such
as age, sex, diet, exercise, etc. Nails also grow faster in summer
when it is warmer. Fingernails can be seen on babies after the tenth
week of pregnancy.
Nails consist of many different parts. The visible part is known as
the nail plate and below that is the nail bed. The white, half-moon
shaped part at the base is called the lunula or distal matrix. The
tissue over the top of the matrix is called the cuticle, and the
soft tissue directly over the cuticle, is called the eponychium.
Ninety percent of nail growth comes from the matrix. Pressure within
the matrix forces dead karatinized cells out. Speed of growth is
caused be blood supply and it seems the increased activity of our
fingers vs. our toes causes more blood supply to our fingers which
leads to faster growth.
The longest fingernails ever recorded on a women belonged to Lee
Redmond of Las Vegas. After growing for 30 years, they measured a
combined length of 28 feet 4.5 inches. Unfortunately, she lost her
fingernails in a car accident in February 2009.
Clean trimmed nails are more noticeable to the beholder than the
owner.
Feb 15, 2013
Texas Sized Hoax
During the oil boom of 1919, Wichita
Falls, Texas, was desperate for office space. Developer J.D. McMahon
offered to build a 480″ highrise downtown.
Investors loved his offer and poured in the money. The building turned out to be four stories tall. The disgruntled investors double-checked the blueprints and discovered the problem. McMahon had promised a building 480 inches (40 feet) tall, not 480 feet. He delivered on his promise and by the time of their discovery, he was long gone with the rest of the money.
Investors loved his offer and poured in the money. The building turned out to be four stories tall. The disgruntled investors double-checked the blueprints and discovered the problem. McMahon had promised a building 480 inches (40 feet) tall, not 480 feet. He delivered on his promise and by the time of their discovery, he was long gone with the rest of the money.
Good Penmanship Saves Lives
Poor penmanship is
responsible for up to 61 percent of medication errors and more than
1.5 million patient injuries per year, according to a recent report
from the National Academies of Sciences' Institute of Medicine.
Electronic scripts go a long way in reducing these errors. Until all orders are electronic you might want to ask the doc to tell you the name and print it so you do not become a bad statistic.
Electronic scripts go a long way in reducing these errors. Until all orders are electronic you might want to ask the doc to tell you the name and print it so you do not become a bad statistic.
Laughter is Natural
Laughing is extremely difficult to
control consciously. Most people cannot laugh on command.
Laughter almost always occurs during pauses at the end of phrases. It requires the coordination of many muscles throughout the body. A good hardy laugh is like a full body workout. It gives your diaphragm, abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles a workout.
If you want an easy way to trim a few pounds, watch a funny movie or share a good joke with friends. If you need some new material, try some of my humor books.
Here is another good way to burn calories. When you kiss someone for a minute, you both burn about 2.6 calories. According to that math, that is about 156 calories an hour. I am available for testing the theory.
Laughter almost always occurs during pauses at the end of phrases. It requires the coordination of many muscles throughout the body. A good hardy laugh is like a full body workout. It gives your diaphragm, abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles a workout.
If you want an easy way to trim a few pounds, watch a funny movie or share a good joke with friends. If you need some new material, try some of my humor books.
Here is another good way to burn calories. When you kiss someone for a minute, you both burn about 2.6 calories. According to that math, that is about 156 calories an hour. I am available for testing the theory.
Redhead Facts
Redheads, when compared to blondes or
brunettes are more than twice as likely to avoid going to the
dentist. The same genetic variant that explains their hair also
makes them more resistant to local anesthesia, such as Novocaine and
they might need as much as twenty percent more as reported in
Journal of the American Dental Association.
Researchers report that, on average redheads are also more sensitive to heat and cold and three times more susceptible to skin cancer than the rest of us.
Other disorders, all backed by studies, that disproportionately affect redheads include: Parkinson’s disease, Endometriosis, and Tourette’s syndrome.
At a recent seminar on hair color and health, Scottish researcher Jonathan Rees reported that throughout history the “ginger gene” may have “played a big role” in protecting many redheads from rickets (soft, weak bones triggered by vitamin D deficiency).
Unlike blondes and brunettes, their natural red hair retains its original color longer than any other hair color, although eventually it tends to turn blond, and ultimately white. On average, redheads have thicker hair, but fewer strands (about 90,000), compared to blondes (110,000) or brunettes (140,000).
The world’s highest rate of redheads is found in Scotland, where an estimated 13 percent of Scots, about 650,000 people have red hair compared to 4 percent of Europeans and less than 2 percent of the global population, according to STV News. In the US, there are an estimated 6 million redheads. Unrelated hairy fact - The leaders of Russia have been alternately bald then hairy since 1881 through the first Putin leadership.
Researchers report that, on average redheads are also more sensitive to heat and cold and three times more susceptible to skin cancer than the rest of us.
Other disorders, all backed by studies, that disproportionately affect redheads include: Parkinson’s disease, Endometriosis, and Tourette’s syndrome.
At a recent seminar on hair color and health, Scottish researcher Jonathan Rees reported that throughout history the “ginger gene” may have “played a big role” in protecting many redheads from rickets (soft, weak bones triggered by vitamin D deficiency).
Unlike blondes and brunettes, their natural red hair retains its original color longer than any other hair color, although eventually it tends to turn blond, and ultimately white. On average, redheads have thicker hair, but fewer strands (about 90,000), compared to blondes (110,000) or brunettes (140,000).
The world’s highest rate of redheads is found in Scotland, where an estimated 13 percent of Scots, about 650,000 people have red hair compared to 4 percent of Europeans and less than 2 percent of the global population, according to STV News. In the US, there are an estimated 6 million redheads. Unrelated hairy fact - The leaders of Russia have been alternately bald then hairy since 1881 through the first Putin leadership.
Feb 12, 2013
Blood Type Defined
Blood consists of red and white blood
cells, platelets, and plasma (the goop in which everything sits).
Antigens and various proteins float in the plasma and on red blood
cells. An antigen is any substance that causes the immune system to
produce antibodies to fight intruders.
The ABO grouping system refers to genetically-determined individual differences in the presence of two antigens (A and B), which stimulate the production of different antibodies. Type-O blood has both the antibodies produced in type-A and type-B, whereas type-AB has neither.
In 2004 researchers from University College London proposed that the presence of certain bacteria and intracellular viruses may have put evolutionary pressure on certain antigen-producing genetic mutations. In populations where viruses prevailed, gene O dominated. Those with bacteria-heavy environments found themselves more likely to have A or B type.
The major blood groups were not known until the early 1900s. Before then blood transfusions sometimes were fatal, because the different blood groups are incompatible. In 1940, experiments on Rhesus monkeys revealed additional antigen factors now known as positive or negative "Rh factors." This led to the types "O positive" or "AB negative." Since then, hundreds of other less-significant antigen differences have been identified, most of which do not lead to transfusion problems.
The ABO grouping system refers to genetically-determined individual differences in the presence of two antigens (A and B), which stimulate the production of different antibodies. Type-O blood has both the antibodies produced in type-A and type-B, whereas type-AB has neither.
In 2004 researchers from University College London proposed that the presence of certain bacteria and intracellular viruses may have put evolutionary pressure on certain antigen-producing genetic mutations. In populations where viruses prevailed, gene O dominated. Those with bacteria-heavy environments found themselves more likely to have A or B type.
The major blood groups were not known until the early 1900s. Before then blood transfusions sometimes were fatal, because the different blood groups are incompatible. In 1940, experiments on Rhesus monkeys revealed additional antigen factors now known as positive or negative "Rh factors." This led to the types "O positive" or "AB negative." Since then, hundreds of other less-significant antigen differences have been identified, most of which do not lead to transfusion problems.
Wordology, Breaking the Ice
Originally this phrase
literally meant to break ice, like ice breaker ships that would make
a path for other ships to follow.
During the late 17th century, the phrase took on the current meaning of forging a path through an awkward silence or awkward social situation.
About this time, ice-breaker also became common. It is a mechanism, such as a party game to break up socially awkward situations and to get people talking.
During the late 17th century, the phrase took on the current meaning of forging a path through an awkward silence or awkward social situation.
About this time, ice-breaker also became common. It is a mechanism, such as a party game to break up socially awkward situations and to get people talking.
Sperm Study
Here is another of those studies that makes us
wonder who thinks up this stuff. The British Journal of Sports
Medicine, looked at the lifestyles of 189 healthy men between the
ages of 18 and 22, during a three-month period to establish a link
between environmental factors and semen quality. Its finding - men
who watch more than 20 hours of television a week risk halving their
sperm count.
It said, while regular, vigorous exercise was shown to boost sperm count, excessive television-watching can counteract the positive effects of physical activity and can have a major impact on a man’s ability to reproduce.
Another study by researchers at the University of Sheffield and Manchester compared the lifestyles of 939 men with poor sperm quality with 1,310 men with normal sperm quality. It found “little evidence” that a high BMI, excessive alcohol consumption or recreational drugs were contributing factors to sperm quality. It also found that wearing boxer shorts rather than tighter underwear was linked to higher sperm levels. There was even evidence that high levels of physical activity might have a detrimental effect on quality and quantity.
Dr George Chavarro from the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School at Public Health, senior author of the recent study said, “In general, very little is known about what influences sperm count.” Too bad for us their fathers didn't watch more TV.
It said, while regular, vigorous exercise was shown to boost sperm count, excessive television-watching can counteract the positive effects of physical activity and can have a major impact on a man’s ability to reproduce.
Another study by researchers at the University of Sheffield and Manchester compared the lifestyles of 939 men with poor sperm quality with 1,310 men with normal sperm quality. It found “little evidence” that a high BMI, excessive alcohol consumption or recreational drugs were contributing factors to sperm quality. It also found that wearing boxer shorts rather than tighter underwear was linked to higher sperm levels. There was even evidence that high levels of physical activity might have a detrimental effect on quality and quantity.
Dr George Chavarro from the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School at Public Health, senior author of the recent study said, “In general, very little is known about what influences sperm count.” Too bad for us their fathers didn't watch more TV.
Describing Brains
This five minute video is a humorous
look at the differences between male and female brains. A fun
diversion. LINK
Feb 8, 2013
Happy Friday
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
I have learned to live for a Happy Friday and hope for another next week.
I have learned to live for a Happy Friday and hope for another next week.
Super Camera
DARPA has released more details on the
ARGUS-IS, a 1.8-gigapixel camera that will be attached to unmanned
drones to spot targets as small as six inches at an altitude of
20,000 feet. The camera – which is one of the highest resolution
systems in the world – can view ten square miles of terrain at a
time and zoom in on targets with surprising clarity.
The camera uses 368 five-megapixel camera sensors aimed through a telescopic array to pick out birds in flight and humans on the move on the Earth’s surface. ARGUS stands for Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System.
The camera uses 368 five-megapixel camera sensors aimed through a telescopic array to pick out birds in flight and humans on the move on the Earth’s surface. ARGUS stands for Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System.
Wordology, Wenis
It is pronounced wee nis. The skin on
the end of your elbow. It is also the name of an Egyptian pharaoh of
the fifth dynasty.
Bubble Wrap
It was invented by two engineers Al Fielding
and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes in 1957. They were trying to
create a textured wallpaper. They started out by sealing two shower
curtains together in such a way that it would capture air bubbles
which would make the textured appearance for their wallpaper. The
wallpaper idea didn't sell. They tried to find another use for their
product and tried to use it as greenhouse insulation. This idea
wasn't popular either.
Three years later Frederick W. Bowers, a marketer at Sealed Air, which makes Bubble Wrap, came up with the perfect use for the product. IBM announced their new 1401 computer and Bowers got the idea that Bubble Wrap could be used as a packaging material to protect the computer while it was being shipped. He then pitched the idea to IBM and it began purchasing Bubble Wrap to protect their 1401 and other fragile products.
About $400 million worth of Bubble Wrap is sold annually. Bubble Wrap can be used as a cheap burglar alarm by placing it on the floor in front of a door.
Three years later Frederick W. Bowers, a marketer at Sealed Air, which makes Bubble Wrap, came up with the perfect use for the product. IBM announced their new 1401 computer and Bowers got the idea that Bubble Wrap could be used as a packaging material to protect the computer while it was being shipped. He then pitched the idea to IBM and it began purchasing Bubble Wrap to protect their 1401 and other fragile products.
About $400 million worth of Bubble Wrap is sold annually. Bubble Wrap can be used as a cheap burglar alarm by placing it on the floor in front of a door.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)