Bugs may be a pain to us, but they feel no
pain. Pain is officially defined as, "An unpleasant sensory and
emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage". It is experienced differently by each person and organism.
Because of this it is extremely difficult to describe just how an
animal experiences pain.
To study how an animal experiences pain, argument-by-analogy is
applied. This means if the animal reacts in a similar way to how we
would, we believe they are experiencing pain. An example might be if
a dog is pricked with a pin and runs away, as a human would.
Insects have no capacity to feel pain. Nociceptors are what carry
the feeling of pain to the brain. These are essential to experience
pain, yet insects and crustaceans have never been found to have any
nociceptors. This means most of these animals are unable to feel any
sort of pain. Most insects do not possess nociceptors. I knew
when I squished them they were not yelling.
Mar 8, 2013
Enlightening Idea
A multicolored interactive night light
that comes with removable glow balls. The Glo Nightlight's balls
will glow for 30 minutes, fading out while changing color. If you
place the balls back to its place, they will start glowing again.
The base is designed to charge the balls and they will not get warm
or break.
It has three stems each holding a glowing ball. The base charges the balls up so at night, you can remove them and place them anywhere a little light is needed. It is 8.2 x 8.5 x 9.8-inch, made of BPA-free, Phthalate-free, PVC-free and includes a 9v power adapter and the low energy LED base. Cost is about $80 on the web.
It has three stems each holding a glowing ball. The base charges the balls up so at night, you can remove them and place them anywhere a little light is needed. It is 8.2 x 8.5 x 9.8-inch, made of BPA-free, Phthalate-free, PVC-free and includes a 9v power adapter and the low energy LED base. Cost is about $80 on the web.
Wordology, Buttload
A buttload is a real unit of
measurement or unit of volume that is used for wines, ales, ciders,
and other alcoholic beverages.
A butt is defined to be 2 hogsheads, which in the US is 63 gallons, so a butt is 126 gallons. A hogshead (corruption of the word oxhead) traditionally was two barrels and a hogshead of beer or ale is 54 gallons.
This has no relation to boatload, which is "the cargo that a vessel carries or is capable of carrying". A boatload might be about 54,107,280 gallons. It should also not be confused with butt that is a target for practicing archery, a part of the anatomy, or any other of the many definitions for butt.
A butt is defined to be 2 hogsheads, which in the US is 63 gallons, so a butt is 126 gallons. A hogshead (corruption of the word oxhead) traditionally was two barrels and a hogshead of beer or ale is 54 gallons.
This has no relation to boatload, which is "the cargo that a vessel carries or is capable of carrying". A boatload might be about 54,107,280 gallons. It should also not be confused with butt that is a target for practicing archery, a part of the anatomy, or any other of the many definitions for butt.
Obsidian Knives for Surgery
Obsidian is a type of volcanic
glass that has an extremely sharp edge when filed down. Some of the
finest examples of blades made out of obsidian were discovered in
Mesoamerica over 2,500 years ago. Dr. Don Crabtree re-discovered the
ancient technology about twelve years ago, and along with other
surgeons, believes there might be a place for obsidian blades in
current medicine. Blades produced by Dr. Crabtree have been used in
experimental microsurgery with excellent results.
The prismatic glass blade is infinitely sharper than a honed steel edge, and these blades can be produced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. When used in experimental surgeries on animals, the blades yield comparable and even better healing than cuts made with traditional scalpels.
The prismatic glass blade is infinitely sharper than a honed steel edge, and these blades can be produced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. When used in experimental surgeries on animals, the blades yield comparable and even better healing than cuts made with traditional scalpels.
Why Milk is White
Milk is 87% water and 13% solids. It
consists of about 5 percent lactose, 3.7 percent fats and 3.5
percent proteins. Casein is the most common protein and makes up
about 80% of the proteins in milk. Also, casein's molecular
structure is very similar to that of gluten. This is why many gluten
free diets also are casein-free. It is the combination of casein and
fats that give milk its color.
The color white results from all the wavelengths of visible light being reflected into the eye. Casein and certain fats reflect wide ranges of wavelengths, causing milk to appear white. Fat free milk appears a bit bluish due to reduction of fats reflecting light.
The pasteurization process that kills microorganisms in milk, also destroys the Vitamin C content, as well as significantly diminishes various other health benefits of milk.
The color white results from all the wavelengths of visible light being reflected into the eye. Casein and certain fats reflect wide ranges of wavelengths, causing milk to appear white. Fat free milk appears a bit bluish due to reduction of fats reflecting light.
The pasteurization process that kills microorganisms in milk, also destroys the Vitamin C content, as well as significantly diminishes various other health benefits of milk.
Mar 6, 2013
Frozen and Canned Fruit
Have you ever wondered if the
benefits of frozen or canned fruit are equal to fresh fruit?
Frozen fruit can be equal, or even nutritionally superior to fresh fruits. As a general rule, fruits are at their nutritious best when they are left on the vine for the longest possible time, so ideally we pick and eat them right away when they are at their ripest. When you buy whole fruits that are not in season, chances are they were harvested before they were fully ripe and left to ripen off the stem on their way to the market. Frozen fruits have the advantage of staying on the stem longer and freezing them at their peak locks in their nutrients.
Canned fruits, like frozen are usually harvested when they are fully ripe and very nutritious. It is important to check how the fruit was prepared and packed. Some canned fruits are packed in sugary heavy syrup and adding sugary calories. Fortunately canned fruit comes in several varieties, including light syrup and the best is packed in its own juice.
Frozen fruit can be equal, or even nutritionally superior to fresh fruits. As a general rule, fruits are at their nutritious best when they are left on the vine for the longest possible time, so ideally we pick and eat them right away when they are at their ripest. When you buy whole fruits that are not in season, chances are they were harvested before they were fully ripe and left to ripen off the stem on their way to the market. Frozen fruits have the advantage of staying on the stem longer and freezing them at their peak locks in their nutrients.
Canned fruits, like frozen are usually harvested when they are fully ripe and very nutritious. It is important to check how the fruit was prepared and packed. Some canned fruits are packed in sugary heavy syrup and adding sugary calories. Fortunately canned fruit comes in several varieties, including light syrup and the best is packed in its own juice.
Stainless Steel
Next time you enjoy your dinner with a
rust-free fork remember to thank 20th century arms manufacturers for
hiring Harry Brearly, an English metallurgist, to develop a non
rusty gun barrel.
Shortly after testing his creation on various corrosives, one of which was lemon juice, he realized that it would also be perfect for cutlery.
Shortly after testing his creation on various corrosives, one of which was lemon juice, he realized that it would also be perfect for cutlery.
National Potato Chip Day
Next week, March 14 is National
Potato Chip day for 2013. Flavors you might enjoy include: a pretty
bizarre sampling of crisp flavors. Their latest flavor additions are
Lincolnshire sausage and brown sauce, sour cream and spring onion,
and Birmingham chicken balti.
The brand of chips, which goes under the name Lay's in the United States, also produces crisp flavors: char-grilled steak, cheeseburger, steak and onion, smoky bacon, roast chicken, prawn cocktail, pickled onion, tomato ketchup, BBQ rib, Worcester sauce, cheddar cheese and bacon, sweet chili chicken, and flame grilled steak. Also, Cajun herb and spice, Chile Limon, chipotle ranch, classic BLT, dill pickle, garden tomato and basil, sweet southern heat barbecue, tangy Carolina, Parmesan and Tuscan herb, southwestern ranch, creamy Mediterranean herb, spice rubbed BBQ, Maui onion, jalapeno, mesquite BBQ, and spicy cayenne and cheese.
Beer Chips company boasts potato chips made with beer. According to inventorspot.com, that same company is responsible for the Chip Shots: Margarita and Salt Potato Chips.
A company named Route 11 in Virginia produces some sea-inspired chips. An account is set up on Amazon where crab and chip lovers can unite and purchase Chesapeake Crab Potato Chips.
The brand of chips, which goes under the name Lay's in the United States, also produces crisp flavors: char-grilled steak, cheeseburger, steak and onion, smoky bacon, roast chicken, prawn cocktail, pickled onion, tomato ketchup, BBQ rib, Worcester sauce, cheddar cheese and bacon, sweet chili chicken, and flame grilled steak. Also, Cajun herb and spice, Chile Limon, chipotle ranch, classic BLT, dill pickle, garden tomato and basil, sweet southern heat barbecue, tangy Carolina, Parmesan and Tuscan herb, southwestern ranch, creamy Mediterranean herb, spice rubbed BBQ, Maui onion, jalapeno, mesquite BBQ, and spicy cayenne and cheese.
Beer Chips company boasts potato chips made with beer. According to inventorspot.com, that same company is responsible for the Chip Shots: Margarita and Salt Potato Chips.
A company named Route 11 in Virginia produces some sea-inspired chips. An account is set up on Amazon where crab and chip lovers can unite and purchase Chesapeake Crab Potato Chips.
My Two Favorite Foods Combined
Two of nature's most perfect
foods combined into one. Hard to believe it took this long to come
up with this treat for the ages.
Bacon flavored potato chips. It makes for a Happy Friday!
Bacon flavored potato chips. It makes for a Happy Friday!
Mar 1, 2013
Wordology, Ossicone
Ossicones are the nubs that stick out
on the heads of Giraffes and male Okapi. They remain covered in skin
and fur and are never shed, unlike other antlers and horns.
Ossicones consist of cartilage that has turned to bone. In a young
animal, ossicones are porous, with clusters of bony tissue
interrupted by blood vessels and folded skin. As the animal ages its
ossicones grow denser and more compact.
Both male and female giraffes have a pair of these hair-covered horns, but males use these to roughhouse with each other as they are growing up. As males mature, other calcium deposits can form near these horns, making it appear they have up to five horns.
Both male and female giraffes have a pair of these hair-covered horns, but males use these to roughhouse with each other as they are growing up. As males mature, other calcium deposits can form near these horns, making it appear they have up to five horns.
Tech and Food
Not sure how practical, but interesting to
see. These are real products and great for those working lunches.
Split keyboard and plate.
Noodles and Phone
Phone and Coffee to go
Hey, is that a banana in your ear? Banana handset for phone
Split keyboard and plate.
Noodles and Phone
Phone and Coffee to go
Hey, is that a banana in your ear? Banana handset for phone
Tiger Facts
The final Bali tiger is thought to have been
seen back in 1937, the last-remaining Caspian tiger was found in the
1950s, and the Javan tiger went extinct sometime in the 1980s. The
six subspecies that have survived include: the Bengal tiger, the
Indochinese tiger, the Malayan tiger, the Sumatran tiger, the
Siberian tiger, and the South China tiger.
Between 1998 and 2000, nearly twenty percent of the Sumatran tiger population was killed. The South China subspecies is also listed among the ten most endangered animals in the world. The Siberian tiger has recently been discovered as genetically identical with the extinct Caspian variety, meaning that human intervention over the past century is the only reason we ever thought they were different.
Between 1998 and 2000, nearly twenty percent of the Sumatran tiger population was killed. The South China subspecies is also listed among the ten most endangered animals in the world. The Siberian tiger has recently been discovered as genetically identical with the extinct Caspian variety, meaning that human intervention over the past century is the only reason we ever thought they were different.
Rosemary for Memory
Scientists have found that aromas can
profoundly affect people's cognitive abilities. In a 2003 study,
psychologists asked 144 volunteers to perform a series of long-term
memory, working memory, and attention and reaction tests. Some
subjects worked in a scent-free cubicle, some in a cubicle infused
with essential oil from rosemary, and the rest worked in cubicles
scented with lavender oil.
Those in the rosemary-infused cubicles demonstrated significantly better long-term and working memory than those in the unscented cubicles. Also, those exposed to the smell of rosemary reported feeling more alert than the control (scent-free) group.
Participants working in the lavender cubicles reported feeling less alert and those in the lavender-scented cubicles performed worse than the others in tests of working memory.
If you need your brain to perform at its best, you can try placing a rosemary plant on your windowsill. Research also shows that eating chocolate may improve memory and cognition, because it is rich in antioxidants called flavanols.
Those in the rosemary-infused cubicles demonstrated significantly better long-term and working memory than those in the unscented cubicles. Also, those exposed to the smell of rosemary reported feeling more alert than the control (scent-free) group.
Participants working in the lavender cubicles reported feeling less alert and those in the lavender-scented cubicles performed worse than the others in tests of working memory.
If you need your brain to perform at its best, you can try placing a rosemary plant on your windowsill. Research also shows that eating chocolate may improve memory and cognition, because it is rich in antioxidants called flavanols.
Oil Imports
The five countries that supply the most oil to
the US (during 2011), in order, are Canada 133.8 million tonnes
(sic), South America 111.2, Saudi Arabia 95.5, Nigeria Africa 68.3,
and Mexico 59.8. Taken from a series of 36 maps that explain the
world. LINK
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