Happiness does not
require validation.
Being happy is its
own validation, especially on a Happy Friday!
Sep 21, 2018
Autumn, Fall
Yikes, tomorrow September 22 at exactly 9:54 P.M.
EDT is the first day of Fall (as in
fall of the leaf) in the Northern Hemisphere. Autumn is also the
season that comes between summer and winter. Fall is the common
American and Canadian term for Autumn. Before both of those
terms, it was called Harvest.
Incidentally, September 1 is the beginning of Spring in Australia and New Zealand.
Incidentally, September 1 is the beginning of Spring in Australia and New Zealand.
Another History Lesson
The Brooklyn Bridge was being built during
'Custer’s Last Stand” at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
It took place at the same time that the world's first steel wire
suspension bridge, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, was under
construction.
The battle was fought between forces of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the United States Army. The defeat of US forces, led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876.
The Brooklyn Bridge still stands proud, having undergone major renovation works between 2011-2015, and carries roughly 150,000 vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians between Manhattan and Brooklyn each day.
The battle was fought between forces of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the United States Army. The defeat of US forces, led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876.
The Brooklyn Bridge still stands proud, having undergone major renovation works between 2011-2015, and carries roughly 150,000 vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians between Manhattan and Brooklyn each day.
What's in a Name, Pink Floyd
The name Pink Floyd came from their original
front man, Syd Barrett. Barrett was a big fan of blues artists
Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, so he took one name from each
of them and combined them into one name for the band. Early on
in their career, with little budget Pink Floyd would create
visual effects for their live shows in a number of cheap, but
effective ways. One of these ways was to cover their lights with
colored condoms.
White Meat vs. Dark Meat
The differences in color between white
meat and dark meat reflect the fact that different cuts of
chicken or turkey meat come from different types of muscle.
Dark meat cuts, such as the thighs and drumsticks come from frequently-used muscles needed for walking and standing. These muscles use more oxygen and contain more fat and iron. The iron in the muscles is located in a protein called myoglobin. The myoglobin gives dark meat its darker color.
White meat cuts, such as the breast, breast tenders, and wings, come from muscles that are used less frequently. These muscles primarily use a carbohydrate called glycogen for energy, and they do not need as much oxygen. There is less iron and myoglobin in these muscles, so the meat is lighter in color.
Experts note that there are also slight differences between white meat and dark meat in nutritional value. All chicken contains valuable protein, niacin, biotin, and vitamins B6 and B12, but dark meat tends to be slightly higher in calories due to the fact that it contains more fat. The extra fat in dark meat also gives it a stronger flavor and makes it juicier.
Dark meat cuts, such as the thighs and drumsticks come from frequently-used muscles needed for walking and standing. These muscles use more oxygen and contain more fat and iron. The iron in the muscles is located in a protein called myoglobin. The myoglobin gives dark meat its darker color.
White meat cuts, such as the breast, breast tenders, and wings, come from muscles that are used less frequently. These muscles primarily use a carbohydrate called glycogen for energy, and they do not need as much oxygen. There is less iron and myoglobin in these muscles, so the meat is lighter in color.
Experts note that there are also slight differences between white meat and dark meat in nutritional value. All chicken contains valuable protein, niacin, biotin, and vitamins B6 and B12, but dark meat tends to be slightly higher in calories due to the fact that it contains more fat. The extra fat in dark meat also gives it a stronger flavor and makes it juicier.
MJ Overdose - NOT
Marijuana is impossible to overdose on. The median lethal dose
(LD50) of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) is so high
and the methods of intake so dilute that it would take
impossible feats to have it occur.
While there are a couple of different and conflicting sources, one estimate placed it at 40,000 times as much as the dose needed to get high. For instance, with cannabis brownies you would die of sugar poisoning long before the THC got you. With smoking, you would need to smoke about 1,500 pounds in a duration of 15 minutes. This is contrasted with alcohol, where five to ten times the amounted needed to get you drunk can kill you.
While there are a couple of different and conflicting sources, one estimate placed it at 40,000 times as much as the dose needed to get high. For instance, with cannabis brownies you would die of sugar poisoning long before the THC got you. With smoking, you would need to smoke about 1,500 pounds in a duration of 15 minutes. This is contrasted with alcohol, where five to ten times the amounted needed to get you drunk can kill you.
Wordology, Toast
The word toast derives from the Latin word 'tostare' (to
scorch or roast). From Classical times it was common to flavor
wine by floating small pieces of toasted bread in it. Sometimes
these pieces would be flavored with spices; at other times the
carbon in the toast would mellow the wine.
The following guidelines apply specifically to toasting in Canada and the United States. Most people will lightly touch glasses when giving a toast, often saying "toast", "cheers" or a short phrase such as "to us". Toasting by raising the glass without touching is regarded by some as a slightly more sophisticated mode of behavior.
Except during formal occasions, it is not common to "propose a toast" in the more formal sense. However, when someone does make such a gesture, it is almost invariably met with approval regardless of the setting or the occasion.
If someone wants to propose another, this second toast should have a different focus than the first and be briefer than the first so as not upstage it. Subsequent toasts, if any, should even more succinct.
Americans and Canadians typically toast only once per gathering. Even lifting one's glass and saying "cheers" each time a new drink is poured is not impolite, but can get tedious.
The following guidelines apply specifically to toasting in Canada and the United States. Most people will lightly touch glasses when giving a toast, often saying "toast", "cheers" or a short phrase such as "to us". Toasting by raising the glass without touching is regarded by some as a slightly more sophisticated mode of behavior.
Except during formal occasions, it is not common to "propose a toast" in the more formal sense. However, when someone does make such a gesture, it is almost invariably met with approval regardless of the setting or the occasion.
If someone wants to propose another, this second toast should have a different focus than the first and be briefer than the first so as not upstage it. Subsequent toasts, if any, should even more succinct.
Americans and Canadians typically toast only once per gathering. Even lifting one's glass and saying "cheers" each time a new drink is poured is not impolite, but can get tedious.
Smart Devices Vulnerability
If you have smart home devices on your
home WiFi network, such as light bulbs, security cameras,
connected thermostat, etc., they might be vulnerable to hacking.
Here is a quick way to check if any of your devices can be found on the internet. Click on the link and it will check if your devices might be vulnerable. Not perfect, but it can provide an early warning. You can use it each time you add a new device. LINK
Here is a quick way to check if any of your devices can be found on the internet. Click on the link and it will check if your devices might be vulnerable. Not perfect, but it can provide an early warning. You can use it each time you add a new device. LINK
More Coffee Benefits
A review that combined the results of nine studies found that
drinking more coffee is associated with lower risk of cirrhosis.
In the review, drinking one cup of coffee per day was shown to
be linked with a 22% reduced risk for cirrhosis, a liver
disease. Two daily cups were associated with a 43% reduced risk,
three cups with 57% reduced risk, and four cups with 65% reduced
risk.
A review of more than 200 studies found that people who drank three or four cups of coffee per day were 19% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
One large review of studies found that every additional cup of coffee a person drinks per day was correlated with a 7% reduced risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
A meta-analysis of studies about coffee intake and brain health calculated that regular coffee drinkers were approximately 16% less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, or cognitive decline.
A large study of more than 500,000 European people found that during a 16-year period, men who drank three or more cups per day were 12% less likely, and women who did the same were 7% less likely to die from circulatory and digestive diseases and had healthier livers.
A review of more than 200 studies found that people who drank three or four cups of coffee per day were 19% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.
One large review of studies found that every additional cup of coffee a person drinks per day was correlated with a 7% reduced risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
A meta-analysis of studies about coffee intake and brain health calculated that regular coffee drinkers were approximately 16% less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, or cognitive decline.
A large study of more than 500,000 European people found that during a 16-year period, men who drank three or more cups per day were 12% less likely, and women who did the same were 7% less likely to die from circulatory and digestive diseases and had healthier livers.
JPG vs. PNG
Photos are commonly saved as JPG or JPEG. It is good to save
your photograph as JPG for altered colors, gradients, and
textures. JPG loses a bit of clarity each time it is copied, due
to compression, but is usually not noticeable.
Graphics and screenshots should be saved as PNG if the image contains pointed lines, clearly unconnected areas of flat colors and text. File compression for a PNG is lossless. Lossless compression retains all of the data contained in the file, within the file, during the process. This is important when you have images that are still in the editing process. PNGs are often used if size is not a concern and the picture is complicated because a PNG file holds more information than a JPG. Bottom line, JPG for Photos, PNG for Graphics.
Incidentally, JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, which created the standard. PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics.
Graphics and screenshots should be saved as PNG if the image contains pointed lines, clearly unconnected areas of flat colors and text. File compression for a PNG is lossless. Lossless compression retains all of the data contained in the file, within the file, during the process. This is important when you have images that are still in the editing process. PNGs are often used if size is not a concern and the picture is complicated because a PNG file holds more information than a JPG. Bottom line, JPG for Photos, PNG for Graphics.
Incidentally, JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, which created the standard. PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics.
Sep 14, 2018
Horn-Rimmed Glasses
Last week, September 7 was the birthday of Buddy Holly (Charles
Hardin Holley), an American music icon. It is a great surprise
that had only one number one hit, “That’ll Be The Day,” on the
American charts, although he had many songs that became classics.
Sadly he had a short career and died at age 22. Here is a look at
Buddy and the Crickets singing their hit song on the Ed Sullivan
Show. LINK
When he started out, he wore nondescript plastic and wire-framed glasses, but his eye doctor convinced him to switch to horn-rimmed models. The style name came from the fact that the original glasses were made from animal horns. Sometimes they were made from tortoise shells. Holly's and almost all are now made from thick plastic. Interesting to note you can still buy Buddy Holly glasses on Amazon and many other places.
When he started out, he wore nondescript plastic and wire-framed glasses, but his eye doctor convinced him to switch to horn-rimmed models. The style name came from the fact that the original glasses were made from animal horns. Sometimes they were made from tortoise shells. Holly's and almost all are now made from thick plastic. Interesting to note you can still buy Buddy Holly glasses on Amazon and many other places.
Wordology, Tarriff
Basically, a tariff is a tax levied by
governments to control the flow of products across borders and
making foreign manufacturers’ products more expensive. The purpose
is to increase demand for domestic products while reducing the
volume of imports. Tariff charges can be fixed price or a
percentage of the transaction price.
In the United States tariffs, also called duties or levies are collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at 328 ports of entry across the country.
Importers pay more for products by paying the tax on top of the product cost. They pass along the increased costs to businesses, which pass along the higher costs to shoppers.
Because a tariff is a tax, the government receives increased revenue as imports enter the domestic market. Domestic industries also benefit from a reduction in competition, since import prices are artificially inflated.
In the United States tariffs, also called duties or levies are collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at 328 ports of entry across the country.
Importers pay more for products by paying the tax on top of the product cost. They pass along the increased costs to businesses, which pass along the higher costs to shoppers.
Because a tariff is a tax, the government receives increased revenue as imports enter the domestic market. Domestic industries also benefit from a reduction in competition, since import prices are artificially inflated.
Organic and Cancer
There is a popular belief, helped by
bloggers with dubious expertise, that organic food and certain
other foods have “anti-cancer” properties. However, Michelle
McCully, the head of research interpretation at the World Cancer
Research Fund, one of the world’s leading authorities on diet
and cancer, says, “There is currently no strong evidence to
support the idea that organic foods offer added protection
against cancer compared to conventionally grown produce.” So,
once again folks - there is no silver bullet.
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