New research from 2016 finds that women who sunbathe are likely to live longer than those who avoid the sun, even though sunbathers are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer.
An analysis of information on 29,518 Swedish women who were followed for 20 years revealed that "Longer life expectancy among women with active sun exposure habits was related to a decrease in heart disease and non-cancer non–heart disease deaths, causing the relative contribution of death due to cancer to increase." Whether the positive effect of sun exposure demonstrated in this observational study is mediated by vitamin D, another mechanism related to UV radiation, or by unmeasured bias could not be determined.
"We found smokers in the highest sun exposure group were at a similar risk as non-smokers avoiding sun exposure, indicating avoidance of sun exposure to be a risk factor of the same magnitude as smoking," said Dr. Pelle Lindqvist, lead author of the Journal of Internal Medicine study. "Guidelines being too restrictive regarding sun exposure may do more harm than good for health." In other words, get out and enjoy some sunshine, just do not overdo it.
May 13, 2016
Pumpkin Power
The US Energy Department claims pumpkins are responsible for adding to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
According to the department, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the US end up in the trash, becoming part of the tons of municipal solid waste produced in the United States every year.
Municipal solid waste decomposes into methane, “a harmful greenhouse gas that plays a part in climate change, with more than 20 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide,” according to the department. We can all help by eating more pumpkin pie and munching pumpkin seeds.
According to the department, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the US end up in the trash, becoming part of the tons of municipal solid waste produced in the United States every year.
Municipal solid waste decomposes into methane, “a harmful greenhouse gas that plays a part in climate change, with more than 20 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide,” according to the department. We can all help by eating more pumpkin pie and munching pumpkin seeds.
Wordology, Winning Hands Down
In horse racing, a jockey who is winning by a wide margin does not need to whip his horse to go faster, and can win with his hands down. The phrase soon caught on outside the sporting world.
Sikhs
Many people in the US confuse Sikhs and Muslims. However, 99 percent of people wearing turbans in the US are Sikhs from India. There are about 700,000 Sikhs in the US today.
Sikhism is an Indian religion and the world’s fifth largest religion with 25.8 million adherents worldwide. Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service.
The word Sikh (pronounced 'seekh') means 'student', 'disciple', or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in 1469 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin and emphasizes service to humanity.
Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which they shun all that harms the body or the mind. This also means all intoxicants, tobacco, alcohol, or any mind altering drugs are forbidden.
Additional facts:
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam.
In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust, known as the Five Thieves, are believed to be particularly distracting and hurtful.
Sikhs have a baptism ceremony.
Sikhism does not have priests. Liturgical service employs people for a salary to sing hymns, officiate marriage, and perform services.
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban. The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice.
Women are not required to wear compulsory veil.
Religious ceremonies, or idol worship are of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.
Sikhs do not believe in converting people, but converts to Sikhism by choice are welcomed.
The morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day, starting in the early morning hours.
Sikhism is an Indian religion and the world’s fifth largest religion with 25.8 million adherents worldwide. Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service.
The word Sikh (pronounced 'seekh') means 'student', 'disciple', or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in 1469 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin and emphasizes service to humanity.
Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which they shun all that harms the body or the mind. This also means all intoxicants, tobacco, alcohol, or any mind altering drugs are forbidden.
Additional facts:
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam.
In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust, known as the Five Thieves, are believed to be particularly distracting and hurtful.
Sikhs have a baptism ceremony.
Sikhism does not have priests. Liturgical service employs people for a salary to sing hymns, officiate marriage, and perform services.
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban. The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice.
Women are not required to wear compulsory veil.
Religious ceremonies, or idol worship are of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.
Sikhs do not believe in converting people, but converts to Sikhism by choice are welcomed.
The morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day, starting in the early morning hours.
Lyft and Uber Size
There are more than 315,000 Lyft drivers operating in 195 cities around the world, according to UC Berkeley. Uber operates in 360 cities in 68 countries, with hundreds of thousands of drivers signing up globally each month.
Words That are Their Own Opposite
English is so much fun. Here are some words that are difficult to define without context.
Apology: A statement of contrition for an action, or a defense of one.
Bill: A payment, or an invoice for payment.
Bolt: To secure, or to flee.
Bound: Heading to a destination, or restrained from movement.
Buckle: To connect, or to break or collapse.
Cleave: To adhere, or to separate.
Clip: To fasten, or detach.
Consult: To offer advice, or to obtain it.
Continue: To keep doing an action, or to suspend an action.
Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment.
Dike: A wall to prevent flooding, or a ditch.
Discursive: Moving in an orderly fashion among topics, or proceeding aimlessly in a discussion.
Dollop: A large amount (British English), or a small amount.
Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them.
First degree: Most severe in the case of a murder charge, or least severe in reference to a burn.
Apology: A statement of contrition for an action, or a defense of one.
Bill: A payment, or an invoice for payment.
Bolt: To secure, or to flee.
Bound: Heading to a destination, or restrained from movement.
Buckle: To connect, or to break or collapse.
Cleave: To adhere, or to separate.
Clip: To fasten, or detach.
Consult: To offer advice, or to obtain it.
Continue: To keep doing an action, or to suspend an action.
Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment.
Dike: A wall to prevent flooding, or a ditch.
Discursive: Moving in an orderly fashion among topics, or proceeding aimlessly in a discussion.
Dollop: A large amount (British English), or a small amount.
Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them.
First degree: Most severe in the case of a murder charge, or least severe in reference to a burn.
Barding vs. Cauling
Barding is the wrapping of fat, such as bacon around meat to cover the meat in a layer of taste and texture. Cauling is the act of wrapping caul around meat and is similar to barding.
Since caul is thin, as opposed to the thicker layer of fat used in barding, a cauled dish has a delicately rendered layer of fat that can accent a dish without overtaking it, as bacon might. It can be kept frozen for a long time and should be brought back to room temperature before it is used.
Picture of Caul
US Mail Photography
The USPS has been photographing letters and packages sent in the US for tracking and security reasons since at least 2013. Under a pilot program called "Informed Delivery," the USPS is emailing to people photographs of the front side of their mail every morning before it is delivered to their home (not business).
PO Box users are not currently targeted as participants in the pilot. PO Box customers in certain Post Offices nationwide can use the existing Real Mail Notification ® service to receive a text-only message without images, via email, or SMS message. You can check with your local Post Office for more details.
The free service will send up to 10 black-and-white photos of mail per day. People who get more than that will be able to check their mail online in the same place they track their packages, according to the USPS fact page.
In 2015 the service was available in the New York City metro area, including the following three digit ZIP Code locations: NY: 100-119; CT: 066, 069. The service has been available in select ZIP Code locations in Northern Virginia since 2014 starting with the following three digits: 201, 220, 221, 222, 223, 226, 227. Expansion to other areas is being considered for 2016.
Great for finding those mailings physically delivered to the wrong house.
PO Box users are not currently targeted as participants in the pilot. PO Box customers in certain Post Offices nationwide can use the existing Real Mail Notification ® service to receive a text-only message without images, via email, or SMS message. You can check with your local Post Office for more details.
The free service will send up to 10 black-and-white photos of mail per day. People who get more than that will be able to check their mail online in the same place they track their packages, according to the USPS fact page.
In 2015 the service was available in the New York City metro area, including the following three digit ZIP Code locations: NY: 100-119; CT: 066, 069. The service has been available in select ZIP Code locations in Northern Virginia since 2014 starting with the following three digits: 201, 220, 221, 222, 223, 226, 227. Expansion to other areas is being considered for 2016.
Great for finding those mailings physically delivered to the wrong house.
May 6, 2016
Happy Friday
We must travel over the bridge of smiles to reach the land of happiness.
I stand on the bridge of happiness watching smiles flow by every Happy Friday!
I stand on the bridge of happiness watching smiles flow by every Happy Friday!
World Naked Gardening Day
Tomorrow, May 7 is World Naked Gardening Day - People are encouraged to tend to the various flora around or outside their home while in the nude. The event is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of May. Not too much fun in urban Texas where most neighbors have high fences.
Interesting Food Names
Menus need to convey the right kind of information about a dish as concisely as possible. Short descriptions are used as advertising elements to entice customers. Sautéed shrimp in garlic butter is a good basic description, while zesty garlic butter might make a dish seem even more delicious. Adjectives such as 'tasty', 'fresh', or 'hot' go a long way in persuading a customer to try something. Words that actually refer to taste, such as 'bitter', 'salty', or 'sour' are rarely used. Fanciful participles such as 'married', 'kissed', 'accented', and 'hand-crafted' suggest high quality cooking or ingredients without really saying anything substantive about the dish. Below are a few regional food descriptions.
Toad in the hole (sausages baked in a batter),
Ants on a log (raisins on peanut butter on a celery stick),
Devil/Angel on horseback (oysters/dates wrapped in bacon),
Bubble and Squeak (fried potato, cabbage, and more),
Pigs in a blanket (a sausage wrapped in dough or bacon)
Spotted Dick (a pudding with raisins and custard),
Hush puppies (deep fried cornbread balls),
Love in disguise (a Welsh dish of stuffed and boiled heart).
Incidentally, during 1972-73 the American Food for Peace Program sent tons of yellow corn from the United States to Botswana for distribution in schools as drought relief. The shamed and humiliated secondary school students in Serowe rioted, burned the headmaster’s car, and destroyed stockpiles of the corn. Seems only white maize is fit for human consumption there. Yellow is fed to animals.
Toad in the hole (sausages baked in a batter),
Ants on a log (raisins on peanut butter on a celery stick),
Devil/Angel on horseback (oysters/dates wrapped in bacon),
Bubble and Squeak (fried potato, cabbage, and more),
Pigs in a blanket (a sausage wrapped in dough or bacon)
Spotted Dick (a pudding with raisins and custard),
Hush puppies (deep fried cornbread balls),
Love in disguise (a Welsh dish of stuffed and boiled heart).
Incidentally, during 1972-73 the American Food for Peace Program sent tons of yellow corn from the United States to Botswana for distribution in schools as drought relief. The shamed and humiliated secondary school students in Serowe rioted, burned the headmaster’s car, and destroyed stockpiles of the corn. Seems only white maize is fit for human consumption there. Yellow is fed to animals.
New Endeavors
When starting something new, like a project or hobby, Google "things I wish I knew when starting x" and you will find tons of tips and tricks to keep you from making mistakes and help you get going quickly.
Asparagus
I read an email touting the cancer killing properties of asparagus last week. After looking on the web, found that it originated in 2006 and has been long since debunked, but still keeps floating around. Below are a few facts about cancer and asparagus that are true.
According to Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, "There is no evidence that certain foods alter the environment of an existing cancer, at the cellular level, and cause it to either die or grow."
The odor causing ingredient in asparagus has long been known. Benjamin Franklin stated in a 1781 letter to the Royal Academy of Brussels, “A few stems of asparagus eaten, shall give our urine a disagreable odour (sic).”
According to Carolyn O’Neil on Web MD, “Researchers believe that, during digestion, the vegetable’s sulfurous amino acids break down into smelly chemical components in all people.” Within 15 to 30 minutes of eating asparagus, the odor can be present.
In 2010, the genetic sequencing company 23andMe conducted a study in which they asked 10,000 customers if they noticed any scent in their urine after eating asparagus, and looked for genetic similarities among those who could not. This peculiarity appears to stem from a single genetic mutation, a switched base-pair among a cluster of 50 different genes that code for olfactory (sense of smell) receptors.
On a positive note of the benefits, women have long known that asparagus is a wonderful natural diuretic.
An easy way to oven-roast, preheat the oven to 450, mix trimmed asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in a single layer in a pan, or on aluminum foil for 10 – 15 minutes. I prefer foil, as it is easy to roll up and toss, no washing necessary.
It is best to store the stalks whole and unwashed, in a standing glass of water and place the glass on a refrigerator shelf with the tips sticking out. You can place the vegetable in a sealed plastic bag in fridge vegetable drawer if you will be using quickly. It is usually good for about five to seven days.
For a longer term option, asparagus may be frozen for 6-8 months, but should be cooked or blanched first and placed in freezer safe containers.
According to Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, "There is no evidence that certain foods alter the environment of an existing cancer, at the cellular level, and cause it to either die or grow."
The odor causing ingredient in asparagus has long been known. Benjamin Franklin stated in a 1781 letter to the Royal Academy of Brussels, “A few stems of asparagus eaten, shall give our urine a disagreable odour (sic).”
According to Carolyn O’Neil on Web MD, “Researchers believe that, during digestion, the vegetable’s sulfurous amino acids break down into smelly chemical components in all people.” Within 15 to 30 minutes of eating asparagus, the odor can be present.
In 2010, the genetic sequencing company 23andMe conducted a study in which they asked 10,000 customers if they noticed any scent in their urine after eating asparagus, and looked for genetic similarities among those who could not. This peculiarity appears to stem from a single genetic mutation, a switched base-pair among a cluster of 50 different genes that code for olfactory (sense of smell) receptors.
On a positive note of the benefits, women have long known that asparagus is a wonderful natural diuretic.
An easy way to oven-roast, preheat the oven to 450, mix trimmed asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in a single layer in a pan, or on aluminum foil for 10 – 15 minutes. I prefer foil, as it is easy to roll up and toss, no washing necessary.
It is best to store the stalks whole and unwashed, in a standing glass of water and place the glass on a refrigerator shelf with the tips sticking out. You can place the vegetable in a sealed plastic bag in fridge vegetable drawer if you will be using quickly. It is usually good for about five to seven days.
For a longer term option, asparagus may be frozen for 6-8 months, but should be cooked or blanched first and placed in freezer safe containers.
German Pedestrian Red Light Assistance
Distracted smartphone users are alerted when it is safe to cross the road, after a pilot traffic light system was launched in a German city. It embedded rows of LEDs into the pavement. They flash red when the crossing is closed to pedestrians. According to German television station, it became necessary after a 15-year-old girl, who was wearing earbuds and looking at her smartphone, was killed when she stepped in front of a tram.
"We have the additional lamps installed on two crossings that are especially frequented by the relevant target group," said the city's spokesperson.
The first two pavement traffic lights have been installed near the local university. They are aimed particularly at young people and commuters, who tend to be too consumed by their smartphones to look up at the conventional traffic lights system.
US lawmakers take a different approach and seek to ban texting while walking, because distracted walking leads to falls, and 9% "strike a motionless object."
"We have the additional lamps installed on two crossings that are especially frequented by the relevant target group," said the city's spokesperson.
The first two pavement traffic lights have been installed near the local university. They are aimed particularly at young people and commuters, who tend to be too consumed by their smartphones to look up at the conventional traffic lights system.
US lawmakers take a different approach and seek to ban texting while walking, because distracted walking leads to falls, and 9% "strike a motionless object."
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