Laughter increases a sense of
well being and doctors find that people who have a positive
outlook on life tend to fight diseases better than negative
people. Laugh a little or laugh a lot, it is all good.
1. Laughing lowers blood pressure, which reduces risk of strokes
and heart attacks.
2. It reduces stress hormone levels and cuts the anxiety and
stress impacting your body.
3. It tones your abs by expanding and contracting stomach muscles.
4. It improves cardiac health and burns a similar amount of
calories per hour as walking at a slow to moderate pace.
5. It boosts T cells to help you fight off sickness.
6. Laughing triggers the release of endorphins, which can help
ease chronic pain and make you feel good all over.
Jun 12, 2015
Jun 5, 2015
Happy Friday
"He who laughs, lasts." - Mary Pettibone Poole
I plan to laugh and last a long time, especially while celebrating every Happy Friday!
I plan to laugh and last a long time, especially while celebrating every Happy Friday!
Happy National Doughnut Day
National Doughnut Day is
celebrated on the first Friday of June each year. (Doughnut is the
dictionary spelling, but donut is becoming more acceptable each
year.)
National Doughnut Day started on June 7, 1938 when a young military doctor by the name of Morgan Pett was sent to a military base. On his way there he stopped at a bakery and picked up eight dozen doughnuts. When he arrived at the base he started helping many wounded soldiers, and would give them a free doughnut. One man he helped was a Lieutenant General by the name of Samuel Geary. Samuel Geary decided to make a fund raiser with Morgan Pett to give every wounded soldier, and the needy a doughnut. This fund raiser was later joined with the Salvation Army. Many donut shops still give out free donuts on this day.
In honor of the day Krispy Kreme, with no purchase necessary, will hand out a free donut of choice to each customer.
Dunkin Donuts (which began the new spelling) will give out one free donut with the purchase of any beverage.
Incidentally, International Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day is widely recognized as June 8.
National Doughnut Day started on June 7, 1938 when a young military doctor by the name of Morgan Pett was sent to a military base. On his way there he stopped at a bakery and picked up eight dozen doughnuts. When he arrived at the base he started helping many wounded soldiers, and would give them a free doughnut. One man he helped was a Lieutenant General by the name of Samuel Geary. Samuel Geary decided to make a fund raiser with Morgan Pett to give every wounded soldier, and the needy a doughnut. This fund raiser was later joined with the Salvation Army. Many donut shops still give out free donuts on this day.
In honor of the day Krispy Kreme, with no purchase necessary, will hand out a free donut of choice to each customer.
Dunkin Donuts (which began the new spelling) will give out one free donut with the purchase of any beverage.
Incidentally, International Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day is widely recognized as June 8.
The Real D-Day
When Allied troops stormed the beaches at
Normandy. It was a turning point of WWII, and not a day the world
will soon forget. According to the National WWII Museum, June 6th,
1944 wasn’t the only “D-Day.” The term was used for any important
operation. “D-Day” was the day of the operation itself, and the
days leading up to and after the operation were indicated with “+”
and “-”. So the “D” is a variable. If June 6th, 1944 was “D-Day”
then June 1st, 1944 was “D-5″, and June 8th was “D+2.”
Since the variable references a specific day, “D” in “D-Day” essentially stands for “Day.”
The Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins says the French meaning of the D is “disembarkation,” and it also quotes a letter from Eisenhower’s executive assistant, Brigadier General Robert Schultz, in 1964 who responded to a letter to Eisenhower asking to clarify the meaning of “D-Day.” Schultz wrote, “Be advised that any amphibious operation has a ‘departed date’; therefore the shortened term ‘D-Day’ is used.”
D-Day has become synonymous with June 6th, 1944 because of the significant impact that particular operation had on World War II and world history.
Since the variable references a specific day, “D” in “D-Day” essentially stands for “Day.”
The Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins says the French meaning of the D is “disembarkation,” and it also quotes a letter from Eisenhower’s executive assistant, Brigadier General Robert Schultz, in 1964 who responded to a letter to Eisenhower asking to clarify the meaning of “D-Day.” Schultz wrote, “Be advised that any amphibious operation has a ‘departed date’; therefore the shortened term ‘D-Day’ is used.”
D-Day has become synonymous with June 6th, 1944 because of the significant impact that particular operation had on World War II and world history.
Oregon Owns Water
According to Oregon water laws, all
water is publicly owned. Therefore, anyone who wants to store any
type of water on their property must first obtain a permit from
state water managers.
A rural Oregon man was sentenced in 2012 to thirty days in jail and over $1,500 in fines because he had three reservoirs on his property to collect and use rainwater.
Oregon law that says all of the water in the state of Oregon is public water and if you want to use that water, either to divert it or to store it, you have to acquire a water right from the state of Oregon before doing that activity. The law states that the city of Medford, Oregon holds exclusive rights to “all core sources of water.”
A rural Oregon man was sentenced in 2012 to thirty days in jail and over $1,500 in fines because he had three reservoirs on his property to collect and use rainwater.
Oregon law that says all of the water in the state of Oregon is public water and if you want to use that water, either to divert it or to store it, you have to acquire a water right from the state of Oregon before doing that activity. The law states that the city of Medford, Oregon holds exclusive rights to “all core sources of water.”
Car Tire Colors
Car tires were initially off white, due
to the natural color of the rubber used. Pure vulcanized rubber is
soft and wears out very quickly and tends to heat up and deform
under load. Tire makers mixed zinc oxide in with the rubber that
added temperature stability and hardness, and which made the tires
bright white in color.
As the benefits of adding carbon black to the compound became known, that additive was used just on the tread portion, while the side of the tire remained the natural color, the original whitewall tires. Adding carbon black made the tires darker, and they lasted four to five times longer.
Binney & Smith began selling their carbon black chemicals to Goodrich Tire Company (now Michelin). Binney & Smith would later switch to making school products, and, eventually, re-name their company after their most popular product, Crayola Crayons.
There are a few tire manufacturers that make specialty color tires, mostly for car shows, and during 1961, Goodyear Tires introduced an experimental tire that was illuminated from the inside. Small incandescent bulbs were mounted inside the tire through holes inside the rim and the tire was made from a single piece of synthetic rubber. The synthetic rubber was created much thinner than a regular tire to allow for the light to penetrate the rubber. Due to the strict laws regarding the manufacturing of street-legal tires and the obvious hazard of having fragile glass inside them, Goodyear’s illuminated tires never actually saw mass production.
As the benefits of adding carbon black to the compound became known, that additive was used just on the tread portion, while the side of the tire remained the natural color, the original whitewall tires. Adding carbon black made the tires darker, and they lasted four to five times longer.
Binney & Smith began selling their carbon black chemicals to Goodrich Tire Company (now Michelin). Binney & Smith would later switch to making school products, and, eventually, re-name their company after their most popular product, Crayola Crayons.
There are a few tire manufacturers that make specialty color tires, mostly for car shows, and during 1961, Goodyear Tires introduced an experimental tire that was illuminated from the inside. Small incandescent bulbs were mounted inside the tire through holes inside the rim and the tire was made from a single piece of synthetic rubber. The synthetic rubber was created much thinner than a regular tire to allow for the light to penetrate the rubber. Due to the strict laws regarding the manufacturing of street-legal tires and the obvious hazard of having fragile glass inside them, Goodyear’s illuminated tires never actually saw mass production.
Ant Life Facts
Spring is here and the ants have become
active. The life of an ant starts from an egg. If the egg is
fertilized, the progeny will be female; if not, it will be male.
All females, except the queen are workers who feed the babies,
take out the trash, and forage for food and supplies, and defend
the nest. Males have one job, to mate with the queen.
Males can deliver 5 to 6 million sperm, which the queen can store and use for the rest of her life. The queen can produce a few thousand eggs a day and up to a million or more during her lifetime. She also decides which eggs to fertilize.
Queen ants can live for up to 30 years, and workers live from 1 to 3 years. Males, however may survive for just a few weeks.
Incidentally, there are an estimated 22,000 species of ants. Also, all male ants have a grandfather, but no father, and their grandfather had only a grandfather, but no father.
Males can deliver 5 to 6 million sperm, which the queen can store and use for the rest of her life. The queen can produce a few thousand eggs a day and up to a million or more during her lifetime. She also decides which eggs to fertilize.
Queen ants can live for up to 30 years, and workers live from 1 to 3 years. Males, however may survive for just a few weeks.
Incidentally, there are an estimated 22,000 species of ants. Also, all male ants have a grandfather, but no father, and their grandfather had only a grandfather, but no father.
The Real William Shakespeare
A true, only known, actual
portrait of William Shakespeare was recently found in a botany
book. He was presumed to be about 33 at the time.
Botanist and historian Mark Griffiths claims in the new issue of Country Life Magazine that he has identified the “first and only known demonstrably authentic portrait of the world’s greatest writer made in his lifetime.” It was discovered on the title page of a 16th century botany book called “The Herball” by John Gerard.
Botanist and historian Mark Griffiths claims in the new issue of Country Life Magazine that he has identified the “first and only known demonstrably authentic portrait of the world’s greatest writer made in his lifetime.” It was discovered on the title page of a 16th century botany book called “The Herball” by John Gerard.
Recipes and Rx
Retail prescription drugs in the US are
over $200 billion annually. The origin of the Rx symbol comes from
medieval time as an abbreviation for a form of the Late Latin word
recipere meaning 'to take' or the imperative form of recipe,
meaning 'take'.
By the late 1500s it came to mean medical prescription. This meaning lasted until the mid-1700s, when it was also applied to food preparation.
Physicians typically begin their directive with the command recipe, abbreviated to Rx. Other abbreviations used in the medical field for charting are “dx” (diagnosis), “sx” (signs and symptoms), and “hx” (history). Incidentally, females in the US fill almost fifty percent more prescriptions per capita than males.
By the late 1500s it came to mean medical prescription. This meaning lasted until the mid-1700s, when it was also applied to food preparation.
Physicians typically begin their directive with the command recipe, abbreviated to Rx. Other abbreviations used in the medical field for charting are “dx” (diagnosis), “sx” (signs and symptoms), and “hx” (history). Incidentally, females in the US fill almost fifty percent more prescriptions per capita than males.
May 29, 2015
Happy Friday
Don't hold on to life. Grab the reins and ride it like crazy.
I always have a great ride, especially on a Happy Friday!
I always have a great ride, especially on a Happy Friday!
Pinch Bum Day, Oak Apple Day, Shick Shack Day
Monarchists
would wear oak leaves on May 29 for Oak Apple Day, also known as
Pinch-Bum Day. It is called 'Oak Apple Day' in memory of the time
when the king hid in an oak tree following the Battle of Worcester.
"Parliament had ordered the 29 of May, the King’s birthday, to be for ever kept as a day of thanksgiving for our redemption from tyranny and the King’s return to his Government, he entering London that day." The official holiday was abolished in 1859, but continues to be fondly celebrated in many parts of the commonwealth.
In parts of England where oak-apples are known as shick-shacks, the day is also known as Shick-Shack Day.
It is traditional for monarchists to decorate the house with oak branches or wear a sprig of oak on 29th May. The oak is the national tree of England. It is also traditional to drink beer, dance, and eat plum pudding. (An oak apple is also known as an oak gall. It is caused by the larvae of a cynipid wasp. The gall look like an apple.)
Those who do not participate can have their bum pinched. Since few recognize or celebrate this holiday, have some fun by finding your favorite person and pinch their bum today - men and women can participate.
Incidentally, Everest, the world's tallest mountain was conquered at 11:30 a.m. on 29 May 1953. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, become the first explorers to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which at 29,028 feet above sea level is the highest point on earth.
"Parliament had ordered the 29 of May, the King’s birthday, to be for ever kept as a day of thanksgiving for our redemption from tyranny and the King’s return to his Government, he entering London that day." The official holiday was abolished in 1859, but continues to be fondly celebrated in many parts of the commonwealth.
In parts of England where oak-apples are known as shick-shacks, the day is also known as Shick-Shack Day.
It is traditional for monarchists to decorate the house with oak branches or wear a sprig of oak on 29th May. The oak is the national tree of England. It is also traditional to drink beer, dance, and eat plum pudding. (An oak apple is also known as an oak gall. It is caused by the larvae of a cynipid wasp. The gall look like an apple.)
Those who do not participate can have their bum pinched. Since few recognize or celebrate this holiday, have some fun by finding your favorite person and pinch their bum today - men and women can participate.
Incidentally, Everest, the world's tallest mountain was conquered at 11:30 a.m. on 29 May 1953. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, become the first explorers to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which at 29,028 feet above sea level is the highest point on earth.
Obscura Day
May 30 is Obscura Day and the day to celebrate
the hidden wonders of the world. There are more than 150 events in
39 states and 25 countries, all on a single day, and all designed to
celebrate the world's most curious and awe-inspiring places. Be
careful, you could get lost for hours at the Atlas Obscura site. LINK
Types of Potato Chips
The United Kingdom and Ireland,
crisps are potato chips which are eaten cold, while chips are
similar to french fries and are served hot. Americans, Canadians,
Australians, Indians, New Zealanders, many Europeans, and those in
the West Indies use chips. Many other countries also call them
chips. People in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland call them
Kartoffelchips. The Japanese call them chippu.
In Ireland, the word Tayto is synonymous with potato chips after the Tayto brand and can be used to describe all varieties of chips, including those not produced by Tayto. In fact, the word has become a genericized trademark.
Seasonings have come into vogue around the world and now potato chips have such flavorings as dill pickle, ketchup, barbecue, salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion, and ranch dressing. There are wasabi chips, poutine, maple bacon, Jamaican jerk chicken, cheddar and lemon-lime, Greek feta and olive, Ballpark hot dog, and barbeque baby back ribs, among others.
In Germany they have red paprika and ready salted along with sour cream and onion, cheese, oriental, chakalaka, currywurst, red and white with tomato ketchup and mayonnaise. The Japanese have pizza-flavored chips along with nori and shiyo, consommé, wasabi, soy sauce and butter, garlic, plum, barbecue, pizza, mayonnaise, and black pepper. Chili, scallop with butter, teriyaki, takoyaki and yakitorie.
There are prawn cocktail, Worcester sauce, roast chicken, steak and onion, smoky bacon, lamb and mint, ham and mustard, barbecue rib, tomato ketchup, sausage and ketchup, pickled onion, Branston pickle, and Marmite.
You can also find Thai sweet chili, roast pork and creamy mustard sauce, lime and Thai spices, chicken with Italian herbs, sea salt and cracked black pepper, turkey and bacon, caramelized onion and sweet balsamic vinegar, stilton and cranberry, mango chili, and American Cheeseburger, English roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
If you like them hot, you can find Mexican limes with chili, salsa with mesquite, Buffalo mozzarella tomato and basil, mature cheddar with Adnams broadside beer, Soulmate cheeses and onion, crawtator, Cajun dill, voodoo, and Creole onion.
In Ireland, the word Tayto is synonymous with potato chips after the Tayto brand and can be used to describe all varieties of chips, including those not produced by Tayto. In fact, the word has become a genericized trademark.
Seasonings have come into vogue around the world and now potato chips have such flavorings as dill pickle, ketchup, barbecue, salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion, and ranch dressing. There are wasabi chips, poutine, maple bacon, Jamaican jerk chicken, cheddar and lemon-lime, Greek feta and olive, Ballpark hot dog, and barbeque baby back ribs, among others.
In Germany they have red paprika and ready salted along with sour cream and onion, cheese, oriental, chakalaka, currywurst, red and white with tomato ketchup and mayonnaise. The Japanese have pizza-flavored chips along with nori and shiyo, consommé, wasabi, soy sauce and butter, garlic, plum, barbecue, pizza, mayonnaise, and black pepper. Chili, scallop with butter, teriyaki, takoyaki and yakitorie.
There are prawn cocktail, Worcester sauce, roast chicken, steak and onion, smoky bacon, lamb and mint, ham and mustard, barbecue rib, tomato ketchup, sausage and ketchup, pickled onion, Branston pickle, and Marmite.
You can also find Thai sweet chili, roast pork and creamy mustard sauce, lime and Thai spices, chicken with Italian herbs, sea salt and cracked black pepper, turkey and bacon, caramelized onion and sweet balsamic vinegar, stilton and cranberry, mango chili, and American Cheeseburger, English roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
If you like them hot, you can find Mexican limes with chili, salsa with mesquite, Buffalo mozzarella tomato and basil, mature cheddar with Adnams broadside beer, Soulmate cheeses and onion, crawtator, Cajun dill, voodoo, and Creole onion.
Affronts and Aspersions
An affront is an insult,
indignity, or something offensive. As a verb, it means to insult or
offend. Affront comes from comes from French affronter "to face, to
brave, to confront". It can be used in a sentence as, "These laws
are an affront to our free speech."
Aspersion comes from aspergere "to sprinkle on, spatter" based on ad- "(up) to, on" and sparger "to strew, scatter." An aspersion means a spattering or sprinkling, especially of holy water. It also means that which bespatters or besmirches someone's character, slander, defamation of character. People usually use the term 'cast aspersions', as in spatter someone with metaphorical mud.
Incidentally, Asperger's syndrome is named for Hans Asperger and totally unrelated to the word or word root above.
Aspersion comes from aspergere "to sprinkle on, spatter" based on ad- "(up) to, on" and sparger "to strew, scatter." An aspersion means a spattering or sprinkling, especially of holy water. It also means that which bespatters or besmirches someone's character, slander, defamation of character. People usually use the term 'cast aspersions', as in spatter someone with metaphorical mud.
Incidentally, Asperger's syndrome is named for Hans Asperger and totally unrelated to the word or word root above.
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