Mar 29, 2019

Cannabis, Hemp vs. Marijuana

One type of cannabis is high in the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, and low in the anti-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD. This type is popularly known as marijuana. Another type of cannabis is high in CBD and low in THC. Variants of this kind are called industrial hemp. They are both from the same species of plant, Cannabis Sativa L. They both have been bred for various characteristics and now also look different from each other. They both can be male or female or both, (in monoecious species).

During 1971, Canadian research scientist Ernest Small published a book The Species Problem in Cannabis. Although Small recognized there was not a natural point where the cannabinoid content could be used to differentiate hemp and marijuana, he drew a random number regarding different Cannabis varieties. From then on, his 0.3% THC became the magic number that separated hemp and marijuana.
Dana Larsen is one of Canada’s most respected and well-known advocates for cannabis reform. In his book, Cannabis in Canada: An Illustrated History, Larsen explores this magic number separating hemp and marijuana. “Small’s arbitrary 0.3 percent THC limit has become standard around the world as the official limit for legal hemp,” writes Larsen. “Small clearly noted that among the hundreds of strains he experimented with, ‘plants cultivated for fibre [sic], oil and birdseed frequently had moderate or high amounts of THC’… thus the worldwide 0.3 percent THC standard divider between marijuana and hemp is not based on which strains have the most agricultural benefit, nor is it based on an analysis of the THC level required for psychoactivity. It is based on an arbitrary decision of a Canadian scientist growing cannabis in Ottawa.”

Incidentally, hemp seeds are a good source of polyunsaturated and essential fatty acids. They have about a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, which is considered in the optimal range. Also regular consumption or use of commercially made hemp foods (such as seeds, cooking oil, cereals, milk, granola) or hemp products (lotions, shampoos, lip balms, etc.) will not show a positive result for THC on a drug test.

Mar 15, 2019

Happy Friday

When you look in the mirror, pretend you are a coloring book and paint a great big smile on your face.

I always like to paint on a smile, especially on a Happy Friday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day March 17

Here are a few facts and a few myths debunked.
Although Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he was actually born in Roman-occupied Britain in the fourth century to wealthy parents. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed it to Patricius after becoming a priest.

The young Maewyn was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Irish raiders who robbed his family home when he was only 16 years old.

St. Patrick did convert 
many pagans to Christianity, but the story of his driving all the snakes out of Ireland during 
his 40-day fast on a hilltop is not true. ­ The legend of the snakes is likely a metaphor for St. Patrick’s having driven evil out of Ireland.

St. Patrick’s Day falls on the anniversary of Patrick’s death on March 17 in the fifth century. His followers in Ireland began to celebrate his feast day on that day during the ninth and tenth centuries, even though he was never formally canonized by a pope.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world.

Ireland’s prime minister gives the U.S. president an Irish cut-glass bowl filled with shamrocks, the three-leafed sprig that is one of the state’s emblems. The tradition dates back to 1952, when the first Irish ambassador to America, John 
Joseph Hearne, reportedly dropped off a 
box of shamrocks for Harry Truman

Members of the Order of St. Patrick actually used blue as their symbolic color. The shade: St. Patrick’s blue.

Leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day really are not related, aside from the fact that they are both Irish. Leprechauns didn’t become a staple of Irish literature until many years after St. Patrick’s famed journey through Ireland. There are no female leprechauns.


Incidentally, until 1961, there were laws in Ireland that banned bars to be open on March 17. Since the holiday falls during the period of Lent in the heavily Catholic country, the idea of binge drinking seemed a bit immoral. Also, Éirinn go Brách, means roughly "Ireland Forever."

Spring is Here

March 20 is the first day of Spring in the US. During early spring, the axis of the Earth is increasing its tilt relative to the Sun, and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the relevant hemisphere. The hemisphere begins to warm significantly, causing new plant growth to "spring forth," giving the season its name.

Four Factoids

Van Gogh did not actually cut off his ear. He cut off a small part of his lobe in a fight with Paul Gauguin.

Over 50% of bottled water is tap water, so saying bottled water is better is less than half correct.

About 60% of beef raised in the US is Angus breed, so saying this place has Angus beef is just for advertising not quality.

Poison Ivy is not contagious. You cannot get it from someone who has it, you need to come in contact with the plant or sap from the plant.

Laughing and Calories

A study was commissioned by the comedy channel GO LD (Go On Laugh Daily) in Great Britain. Researchers, led by Helen Pilcher, PhD, looked into the number of calories burned by intense laughing and compared it to the calorie burn of other daily activities (strength training, running, and vacuuming).


They found that intense laughter by itself is its own workout. An hour of it can benefit you as much as a half hour of hitting it hard at the gym. Laughing burns calories, but it can also boost total energy expenditure by up to 20 percent. One hour of laughter burns up to 120 calories, about the same as 18 to 27 minutes of weight training, 15 to 20 minutes of walking, or 40 minutes’ vacuuming (unless you have a Roomba).

Skipping Breakfast

In a new study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers report that breakfast may have no impact on weight loss at all. In the study, a team of researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, analyzed 13 randomized controlled trials during the past 28 years. Of the trials, seven examined the effect of eating breakfast on weight change, and ten examined the effect on energy intake.

One of the arguments against skipping breakfast, weight-loss experts say, is that you will feel hungrier throughout the day and be more likely to overeat. The new study’s first finding was that people do not feel hungrier after skipping breakfast and do not overeat the rest of the day. The researchers’ second finding was that eating breakfast does not prevent overeating later in the day. The researchers also found that breakfast skippers weighed about a pound less on average compared to people who ate breakfast.

Six Inventions from NASA

Everyone’s famous handheld vacuum comes courtesy of NASA after the agency partnered with Black & Decker to build battery-operated tools for collecting samples from the moon’s surfaces during exploration. The device was so good at collecting samples that it was quickly adopted for use in hospitals, industry, and your home.
Transcend Brac-kets come from NASA and are a high technology orthodontic innovation in which individual translucent brackets, especially designed for each tooth, work in concert with a thin metal connecting wire to gradually reposition teeth, mouth and jaws into proper alignment. Intended to meet a need for an orthodontic appliance that was aesthetically appealing yet as clinically effective as plastic or metal braces, Transcend Brack-ets are made of a very hard, shatter-resistant alumina with high strength and maximum translucency. The translucency allows light to pass through the ceramic material to the tooth, thereby causing the bracket to appear tooth-colored. The brackets do not stain, discolor, deform or bend.
In an effort to lighten astronauts’ suits and equipment, NASA developed suits with blow rubber molding. Not only did the material shave the 30-pound suits by a third, but the fireproof material also became the cushioning gel used in the soles of athletic sneakers.
Speedo’s Aqualab Speedo now considerd the most efficient swimsuit yet: the LZR Racer was invented by NASA.
Martek, a bioscience company, partnered with NASA to develop a nutritional supplement to sustain astronauts during long-duration space flights. Coincidentally, the supplement was made, in part, of microalgae high in DHA and ARA, two fatty acids important for infant development. When the partnership was over, Martek made a spin-off of the supplement, now found in nearly 95 percent of infant formula.


Radiant barrier technology was developed by NASA over 40 years ago to normalize temperatures aboard spacecraft and stations, but it was not until 2004 that it found a use in homes. The barrier can be applied to increase the efficiency of home insulation, further reducing heating and cooling bills.

Food Myth

To minimize fat and calories, always remove the skin before cooking chicken. Not true - the better way is to bake, broil, grill, or roast poultry with the skin intact to preserve its natural juices. Cook with the skin on and then remove before serving if you prefer.

What's in a Name, Virgin

According to the company, Virgin was named to reflect the experience Richard Branson and associates had when starting the company. It was none, thus virgins.

Cell Phone Carrier Quality

RootMetrics gathered data on the four major cell phone providers—Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile to see which one had the best overall performance. They tested call, data, and text reliability in all 50 states and across 125 of the most populated metropolitan markets. Sprint consistently fell behind the other carriers in all metrics. Verizon came out on top, T-Mobile took second place, and AT&T came in third.

In a similar study, J.D. Power collected data from over 30,000 customers on call quality, data quality, and texting for the major carriers in six regions. Sprint came in last in all of the regions except for the Southeast, where it tied for last with AT&T.

International Happiness Day

Wednesday March 20 is International Happiness Day. March 20 is the International Day of Happiness and this year's theme is Happier Together, focusing on what we have in common, rather than what divides us. Everyone wants to be happy - and life is happier when we are together.

Mar 8, 2019

Happy Friday

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." ~Leo Tolstoy

You do not need to change the world to be happy, especially on a Happy Friday!

Daylight Saving

This weekend, 2am Sunday, March 10 is the time we in the US again ignore nature and wield our clock hour hands up and set them forward by an hour. The majority of other countries that also observe the futile effort to control time wait until March 31 this year.

Less than 40% of countries in the world are still trying trying to catch sunshine in a bottle and save it until the end of the day in this semi-annual ritualistic snub of nature. The smart 60% of countries have said, Meh.