Rum is not
always sweet, all
rum is made from sugar. No, that does not mean it is
sweet. Yeast converts sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide
before it goes into the still. A white rum can be as dry as
any liquor. And aging in oak adds tannins and other wood
flavorings that can produce dark rum as flavorful as
Scotch.
Rum is not only best mixed with fruit juices. Rum
has traditionally been a cheap spirit, and so was often
mixed with cheap juices for frat parties. A good rum holds
its own in classic cocktails like a rum Manhattan or a rum
Old Fashioned. The finest aged rums are best appreciated
neat.
Rum is not just a Caribbean/West Indian spirit.
Rum’s commercial birthplace may have been the sugar cane
fields of the islands and the tropics, but prior to the
American Revolution, dozens of rum distilleries existed in
New England. Today, rum is a North American product, with
craft distillers making distinctive rums from Boston to
Hawaii.
Pirates did not always drink rum. Pirates drank whatever
they could plunder, and in the early days, that was chiefly
Spanish wine. Contemporary accounts of the dreaded Captain
Morgan do not
even mention rum. It was not until the late 17th and early 18th
centuries that pirates started to drink rum, concurrent with
the rise of the West Indian rum trade.
Aug 15, 2015
Buccaneers
An offshoot of the
name, ‘buccaneers’ of the Caribbean derived their name from
the Arawak Indian word buccan, referring to a wooden frame
used for smoking meats. The French changed this to boucan
and called the French hunters who used these frames to cook
and preserve feral cattle and the offspring of Columbus'
pigs on the island of Hispaniola boucaniers. English
colonists anglicized the word to buccaneers. This was
taken from my soon-to-be-released Bacon Orgazmia book.
Airline Lingo
A nonstop flight
takes off from one runway and does not land until it reaches its
final destination. A direct flight refers to a flight that does not require a
plane change, but does stop along the way to its
destination, sometimes more than once.
Reservation systems use a hierarchy. Nonstop flights get top priority, followed by direct flights, followed by “through” flights (which use one flight number, but involve a change of planes), followed by connecting flights.
Reservation systems use a hierarchy. Nonstop flights get top priority, followed by direct flights, followed by “through” flights (which use one flight number, but involve a change of planes), followed by connecting flights.
Cheese Posties
This is the name for a subscription
service that delivers grilled cheese sandwiches to your
door. The company was started by
Dave Rotheroe of London, UK who has a background in IT project management. It will begin shipping at the beginning of September.
Subscribers will be presented with a series of questions including ‘Sweet or savory?’ and ‘Are you vegetarian or gluten free?’ Cheese Posties will then determine which gourmet grilled sandwich to ship to them that week.
The actual sandwich will be delivered in a box, inside a vacuum-sealed pack with two slices of bread, cheese and, the condiments required to put together that particular creation. The package will also include a Teflon toaster bag. Prices were not listed. Sandwiches can be shipped to the US, UK, and Europe. Sounds like a fun idea and a great way send a unique gift to friends. Hey Dave, why not offer to substitute bacon weaves instead of bread.
Dave Rotheroe of London, UK who has a background in IT project management. It will begin shipping at the beginning of September.
Subscribers will be presented with a series of questions including ‘Sweet or savory?’ and ‘Are you vegetarian or gluten free?’ Cheese Posties will then determine which gourmet grilled sandwich to ship to them that week.
The actual sandwich will be delivered in a box, inside a vacuum-sealed pack with two slices of bread, cheese and, the condiments required to put together that particular creation. The package will also include a Teflon toaster bag. Prices were not listed. Sandwiches can be shipped to the US, UK, and Europe. Sounds like a fun idea and a great way send a unique gift to friends. Hey Dave, why not offer to substitute bacon weaves instead of bread.
Chinese Currency
With the recent devaluation of
China's currency, many articles have been written about the
Renimbi and the Yuan. Renminbi is the official name for the
currency, and Yuan
is the main unit of currency. This is akin to the British currency being
pound sterling and the units are pounds.
Seven Home Remedies That Work
Feeding a cold, even
when you are overfeeding it vitamin C supplements, is not supported by
science. However there are many other home remedies that have been proven to
work.
In three separate studies since 2001, scientists have directly measured a reduction in acid reflux in subjects who chewed sugar-free gum after a meal, designed to give them heartburn, versus those who did not. The saliva you secrete when chewing gum has a calming effect on acid reflux.
Oats have anti-inflammatory compounds that are effective when applied directly to the skin and can be applied as oatmeal or adding ground oats to a bath. Good for treating poison ivy, irritated skin, or itching due to eczema.
One way to reduce sunburn pain is cucumber. Use a food processor to turn it into paste, apply it to sunburned skin and leave it on until it dries.
In a small study published in the American Journal of Physiology, researchers induced nausea by spinning subjects in a large drum after a heavy meal. Ginger helped ease the nausea of the subjects. Try drinking ginger ale, eating a ginger candy, or dissolving a teaspoon of ginger powder in a cup of water or tea.
According to 2002 research in the Journal of Family Practice, nasal irrigation with a saltwater solution relieved the symptoms of sinus congestion and improved sinus-related quality of life. Add half a teaspoon of salt for every eight ounces of warm water. Use a neti pot or a squeeze bottle to pour the solution into your nostrils while leaning over a sink to catch the drainage.
Apple cider vinegar is an antibiotic and can be used to treat fungus. Soak toes or fingers in apple cider vinegar for twenty minutes twice a day until symptoms go away. It is also good to combat acne as it kills bacteria on your skin and shrinks blood vessels around the acne. Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar, and apply it to affected skin after washing.
According to a 2009 and 2011 studies, tart cherry juice that lists montmorency cherries in the ingredients increases melatonin levels in the body. Melatonin is a hormone instrumental in sleep regulation. Subjects in the studies reduced the amount of time it took to fall asleep and saw significant increases in sleep time and quality
In three separate studies since 2001, scientists have directly measured a reduction in acid reflux in subjects who chewed sugar-free gum after a meal, designed to give them heartburn, versus those who did not. The saliva you secrete when chewing gum has a calming effect on acid reflux.
Oats have anti-inflammatory compounds that are effective when applied directly to the skin and can be applied as oatmeal or adding ground oats to a bath. Good for treating poison ivy, irritated skin, or itching due to eczema.
One way to reduce sunburn pain is cucumber. Use a food processor to turn it into paste, apply it to sunburned skin and leave it on until it dries.
In a small study published in the American Journal of Physiology, researchers induced nausea by spinning subjects in a large drum after a heavy meal. Ginger helped ease the nausea of the subjects. Try drinking ginger ale, eating a ginger candy, or dissolving a teaspoon of ginger powder in a cup of water or tea.
According to 2002 research in the Journal of Family Practice, nasal irrigation with a saltwater solution relieved the symptoms of sinus congestion and improved sinus-related quality of life. Add half a teaspoon of salt for every eight ounces of warm water. Use a neti pot or a squeeze bottle to pour the solution into your nostrils while leaning over a sink to catch the drainage.
Apple cider vinegar is an antibiotic and can be used to treat fungus. Soak toes or fingers in apple cider vinegar for twenty minutes twice a day until symptoms go away. It is also good to combat acne as it kills bacteria on your skin and shrinks blood vessels around the acne. Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar, and apply it to affected skin after washing.
According to a 2009 and 2011 studies, tart cherry juice that lists montmorency cherries in the ingredients increases melatonin levels in the body. Melatonin is a hormone instrumental in sleep regulation. Subjects in the studies reduced the amount of time it took to fall asleep and saw significant increases in sleep time and quality
Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic, and Hygroscopic
Hydrophilic refers to
substances that absorb water. A hydrophilic substance will
bond, on a molecular level with water.
Hydrophobic materials hate water and repel it.
Hygroscopic refers to the ability of a material to absorb humidity from the air. A hygroscopic substance will actively attract and absorb water, without bonding. A hygroscope indicates changes in humidity.
Water is hydrophilic (mixes with more water easily) and oils or fats are generally hydrophobic and separate from water, forming an oily layer.
The suffix "philic" means loving or attracted to. The suffix "phobic" means fear or fearful.
Hydrophobic materials hate water and repel it.
Hygroscopic refers to the ability of a material to absorb humidity from the air. A hygroscopic substance will actively attract and absorb water, without bonding. A hygroscope indicates changes in humidity.
Water is hydrophilic (mixes with more water easily) and oils or fats are generally hydrophobic and separate from water, forming an oily layer.
The suffix "philic" means loving or attracted to. The suffix "phobic" means fear or fearful.
Aug 7, 2015
Medical Humor
My Medical Humor book is now available on Amazon Kindle for
E-book readers LINK
It has 'Search Inside' on for free previews.
It has 'Search Inside' on for free previews.
Happy Friday
Laughter is the best aphrodisiac.
I love to share my laughter to enjoy a special Happy Friday!
I love to share my laughter to enjoy a special Happy Friday!
National Presidential Joke Day
This “unofficial” US national
holiday is celebrated annually and began on August 11, 1984 when
President Ronald Reagan was doing a microphone test and made a joke
not realizing that the microphone was on. Am sure there are many
throughout history who qualify as presidential jokes.
Brown Sugar, White Sugar
To get sugar from plant form to
powder form takes much water. Water naturally dissolves sucrose,
even when it is still in the plant. boiling, either by turning up
the heat or exposing the water to a vacuum turns sucrose into
molasses. When it cools and is centrifuged the molasses turns into
brown sugar crystals, because the pure crystals will still be
covered with a thin layer of molasses.
Brown sugar, with its tiny bit of syrup has only slightly less concentrated sweetness, and 0.23 fewer calories per gram, than white sugar. This layer can be boiled farther and centrifuged again until it becomes naturally white sucrose crystals.
Cookies made with all white sugar spread wider. Cookies made with brown sugar do not spread as much. The hygroscopic brown sugar absorbs more liquid and keeps dough together.
Brown sugar, with its tiny bit of syrup has only slightly less concentrated sweetness, and 0.23 fewer calories per gram, than white sugar. This layer can be boiled farther and centrifuged again until it becomes naturally white sucrose crystals.
Cookies made with all white sugar spread wider. Cookies made with brown sugar do not spread as much. The hygroscopic brown sugar absorbs more liquid and keeps dough together.
Converting Temperatures Centigrade and Fahrenheit
An
easy conversion to remember is: Fahrenheit to Celsius: Subtract 30
and divide by 2. Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply by 2 and add 30.
(For exact conversions: Fahrenheit to Celsius : subtract 32 and divide by 1.8. Celsius to Fahrenheit : Multiply by 1.8 and add 32)
During 1742, Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius created a temperature scale which was the reverse of the scale now known as Celsius: 0 represented the boiling point of water, while 100 represented the freezing point of water. His scale was reversed in 1744. For scientific use, Celsius is the term usually used, with centigrade in common, but decreasing use.
Fahrenheit is a temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. The scale is usually defined by two fixed points: the temperature at which water freezes into ice, 32 degrees, and the boiling point of water, 212 degrees.
Today, the Fahrenheit scale is used primarily in the United States and some Caribbean countries. The rest of the world uses the Celsius scale. It does not matter which scale you use at this time of year where I live, it is just called HOT! In Antarctica it is COLD!
(For exact conversions: Fahrenheit to Celsius : subtract 32 and divide by 1.8. Celsius to Fahrenheit : Multiply by 1.8 and add 32)
During 1742, Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius created a temperature scale which was the reverse of the scale now known as Celsius: 0 represented the boiling point of water, while 100 represented the freezing point of water. His scale was reversed in 1744. For scientific use, Celsius is the term usually used, with centigrade in common, but decreasing use.
Fahrenheit is a temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. The scale is usually defined by two fixed points: the temperature at which water freezes into ice, 32 degrees, and the boiling point of water, 212 degrees.
Today, the Fahrenheit scale is used primarily in the United States and some Caribbean countries. The rest of the world uses the Celsius scale. It does not matter which scale you use at this time of year where I live, it is just called HOT! In Antarctica it is COLD!
Three Uses for Rosemary
Use Rosemary stalks to skewer meats
and vegetables as they actually contain the same oils and scents as
rosemary leaves.
Pick the thickest stalks, scrape off the leaves, and pierce them through a couple of inch-sized pieces of meat, lamb, chicken, or fish and it infuses flavor from the inside.
For more delicate fish, you could also layer a bunch of stalks to create a lattice and add some slices of lemon, then put the fish directly onto this homemade roasting rack for additional flavor.
Add rosemary stalks to a fireplace for a natural forest smell in your living room. In many complementary medicines, the smell of rosemary is said to give you more energy. It was also used by the ancient Romans as incense and by the Elizabethans to improve memory.
Pick the thickest stalks, scrape off the leaves, and pierce them through a couple of inch-sized pieces of meat, lamb, chicken, or fish and it infuses flavor from the inside.
For more delicate fish, you could also layer a bunch of stalks to create a lattice and add some slices of lemon, then put the fish directly onto this homemade roasting rack for additional flavor.
Add rosemary stalks to a fireplace for a natural forest smell in your living room. In many complementary medicines, the smell of rosemary is said to give you more energy. It was also used by the ancient Romans as incense and by the Elizabethans to improve memory.
Perseid Meteor Shower
On August 12 we get to see a great
display in the night sky. The Perseid meteor shower is considered to
be among the best of the annual meteor displays thanks to its high
rates. Observers can sometimes see up to 90 meteors an hour during
the shower.
Last summer, the moon was brilliant and presented a problem for those who wanted a dark sky to watch the shower. But in 2015, the moon will be a couple of days before new and will not rise until just before daybreak, leaving much of the night dark for prospective observers.
Last summer, the moon was brilliant and presented a problem for those who wanted a dark sky to watch the shower. But in 2015, the moon will be a couple of days before new and will not rise until just before daybreak, leaving much of the night dark for prospective observers.
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