Mar 9, 2020
Time Tales
Cleopatra was alive closer to the invention of cell phone than
to construction of great pyramid, but the woolly mammoth was
around during the pyramid building. Shakespeare and Pocahontas
lived during the same time.
Mar 1, 2020
Happy Friday
"Among those whom I
like or admire, I can find no common denominator,
but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." ~ W. H. Auden
Cannot be a better day to laugh than today, especially on a Happy Friday!
but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." ~ W. H. Auden
Cannot be a better day to laugh than today, especially on a Happy Friday!
National Pig Day
March 1 is National Pig Day. Pigs are some of the cleanest
animals around, refusing to excrete anywhere near their living
or eating areas when given a choice. Pigs are smarter than any
other domestic animal. Their ability to solve problems, like the
pig I.Q. test on The Joy of Pigs, is well-documented, and they
are considered by animal experts to be more trainable than dogs
or cats. To scientists, pigs are unique as one of the only large
mammals that exists, in one form or another, in every part of
the world. Potbellied pigs were first imported into the United
States from Vietnam during 1985. I presume this means eating bacon is
like eating smart food!
Pilates Origin
Pilates initially was not intended for weight loss, but to stay
alive in internment camps.
At the dawn of World War I, the British government was suspicious of young German residents. To control the immigrant population, the British arrested many of them and placed them in camps on the Isle of Man. One of these camps, Knockaloe, interned 23,000 prisoners. Conditions were grim. Many inmates reported “barbed-wire disease,” a mental weariness similar to depression.
Joseph Pilates thought he had the cure for his fellow inmates’ blues. He believed that exercise could strengthen the German’s resolve. He crafted a rudimentary workout machine by re-configuring bed-frames. The contraption stretched and built muscles even while lying in bed. After the war, the equipment became the Pilates Cadillac. His product worked and none of the prisoners who used Pilates’ equipment died during the influenza outbreak of 1918. After a successful tour in America, Pilates became a guru for health enthusiasts around the world.
At the dawn of World War I, the British government was suspicious of young German residents. To control the immigrant population, the British arrested many of them and placed them in camps on the Isle of Man. One of these camps, Knockaloe, interned 23,000 prisoners. Conditions were grim. Many inmates reported “barbed-wire disease,” a mental weariness similar to depression.
Joseph Pilates thought he had the cure for his fellow inmates’ blues. He believed that exercise could strengthen the German’s resolve. He crafted a rudimentary workout machine by re-configuring bed-frames. The contraption stretched and built muscles even while lying in bed. After the war, the equipment became the Pilates Cadillac. His product worked and none of the prisoners who used Pilates’ equipment died during the influenza outbreak of 1918. After a successful tour in America, Pilates became a guru for health enthusiasts around the world.
Wordology, Shaka
If you have ever been to Hawaii or seen a movie about surfing,
you probably saw a distinctive hand gesture. Curl the middle
fingers, extend the thumb and pinky, wag them back and forth,
and you have a shaka. It is basically a way to let the world
know how laid-back you are, and it is also an endorsement of
peace and goodwill.
According to Hawaiians, though, the symbol is far from peaceful. Originating in the early 20th century, the gesture was invented solely to mock a man who had suffered a horrifying industrial accident.
Hamana Kalili made his living working in the Kahuku Sugar Mill until his hand got caught in a sugarcane press. He lost the three middle fingers of his right hand and was no longer able to work, so he got a job guarding the train that delivered cane to the factory.
It was a lucky break, or at least it would have been if not for the local teens. They would often jump on the trains mid-trip to ride from town to town, and Kalili’s job was to stop these dangerous stunts. The resentful teens invented the shaka to mock their fingerless nemesis and silently signal each other when he was nearby. It is pronounced like Shocka.
According to Hawaiians, though, the symbol is far from peaceful. Originating in the early 20th century, the gesture was invented solely to mock a man who had suffered a horrifying industrial accident.
Hamana Kalili made his living working in the Kahuku Sugar Mill until his hand got caught in a sugarcane press. He lost the three middle fingers of his right hand and was no longer able to work, so he got a job guarding the train that delivered cane to the factory.
It was a lucky break, or at least it would have been if not for the local teens. They would often jump on the trains mid-trip to ride from town to town, and Kalili’s job was to stop these dangerous stunts. The resentful teens invented the shaka to mock their fingerless nemesis and silently signal each other when he was nearby. It is pronounced like Shocka.
Pill Identifier
Have you ever found a pill in the bottom of a drawer or on
your counter and not known what it was? Maybe you threw a daily
supply of pills for a trip and forgot which was which. There is
a web site that can help. You fill out a few characteristics and
the site will tell you what the pill is.Very clever. I tried a
few and it worked. LINK
What's in a Name, Bowler
English nobleman Edward Coke went to a
London-based hat-making company, requesting a hat that was
better suited for the gamekeepers who worked on his family
estate, because top hats were often knocked off by tree branches
when they were on horseback. In response, the company's Thomas
and William Bowler came up with the sturdy and stout piece of
headgear that we know as the Bowler hat.
Incidentally, the fedora hat originated in 1891 after the stage play Fedora. Princess Fedora, the cross dressing heroine of the play, wore a center creased and soft, wide brimmed hat and this is how the fedora hat came to be. Also, the trilby hat name also comes from a play, an adaptation of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby, performed in London, a hat of this style was worn and so the trilby hat was born.
Incidentally, the fedora hat originated in 1891 after the stage play Fedora. Princess Fedora, the cross dressing heroine of the play, wore a center creased and soft, wide brimmed hat and this is how the fedora hat came to be. Also, the trilby hat name also comes from a play, an adaptation of George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby, performed in London, a hat of this style was worn and so the trilby hat was born.
Four More Uses for Meat Tenderizer
Relieve Bug Bites/Stings – Meat
tenderizer can offer some relief from itchy and painful insect
bites and stings. It is a staple in some prepper medicine
cabinets. It is an analgesic of sorts with pain-numbing
powers. Just mix it with water, and make a paste if you are
bitten or get stung. It will help soothe the irritation while
calming inflammation. The Journal of the American Medical
Association states “This proteolytic enzyme of meat tenderizer
probably breaks down the venoms and kinins injected by the
insect.”
Burn Remedy – To use meat tenderizer to heal burns, make a soothing paste out of it using water. Meat tenderizer is the instant relief that sits in your pantry, but belongs in your medicine cabinet.
Stain Remover – Get out tough stains using meat tenderizer, but avoid using meat tenderizer on silk or wool. You could ruin the fabrics. You should be able to tackle blood stains, perspiration stains, and milk stains using it.
Muscle Aches – Interestingly enough, the ingredient bromelain in meat tenderizer is a plant compound and an antifibrotic enzyme that breaks down scarification in muscles to help with muscle tension and pain. It can help soothe aching and sore muscles.
People who have allergies, such as bee allergies or latex allergies, or other sensitivities, should follow their normal protocol and discuss its use with a physician before using a meat tenderizer for first aid. Likewise, if you have issues with sodium, refrain from using meat tenderizers as they typically have high sodium content.
Burn Remedy – To use meat tenderizer to heal burns, make a soothing paste out of it using water. Meat tenderizer is the instant relief that sits in your pantry, but belongs in your medicine cabinet.
Stain Remover – Get out tough stains using meat tenderizer, but avoid using meat tenderizer on silk or wool. You could ruin the fabrics. You should be able to tackle blood stains, perspiration stains, and milk stains using it.
Muscle Aches – Interestingly enough, the ingredient bromelain in meat tenderizer is a plant compound and an antifibrotic enzyme that breaks down scarification in muscles to help with muscle tension and pain. It can help soothe aching and sore muscles.
People who have allergies, such as bee allergies or latex allergies, or other sensitivities, should follow their normal protocol and discuss its use with a physician before using a meat tenderizer for first aid. Likewise, if you have issues with sodium, refrain from using meat tenderizers as they typically have high sodium content.
Facebook Blue
Facebook’s blue color scheme is for Mark Zuckerberg’s benefit.
The Facebook founder suffers from red-green colorblindness, and
blue is the color he can see best.
Feb 23, 2020
Happy Friday
Chasing happiness is
futile. Stand still and it will find you.
Stand still, look in the mirror, and happiness will smile back, especially on a Happy Friday!
Stand still, look in the mirror, and happiness will smile back, especially on a Happy Friday!
Wordology, Henge
The word henge is a backformation from Stonehenge, the famous
monument in Wiltshire, England. A henge is a prehistoric
enclosure in the form of a circle or circular arc defined by a
raised circular bank, and a circular ditch usually running
inside the bank, with one or more entrances leading into the
enclosed open space. Henges were probably used for ritual
purposes or for marking astronomical events, as solstices and
equinoxes. Due to the poor defensive utility of an enclosure
with an external bank and an internal ditch, henges are not
considered to have served a defensive purpose.
The alignment of henges is a contentious issue. Popular belief is that their entrances point towards certain heavenly bodies, but henge orientation is highly variable and may have been more determined by local topography than by desire for symbolic orientation.
Stonehenge is not a true henge as its ditch runs outside its bank, although there is a small extant external bank as well. The term was first coined in 1932 by Thomas Kendrick, who later became the Keeper of British Antiquities at the British Museum. Concentrations of henges occur over much of Britain.
Stonehenge was in private ownership until 1916, when it was bought on the spur of the moment by Sir Cecil Chubb, the owner of a local lunatic asylum, as a present for his wife. Three years later she gave the site to the nation. Over the centuries nearly half of Stonehenge has been quarried away for building stone. Before 1900, visitors to Stonehenge were handed chisels so that they could provide themselves with a souvenir.
Carhenge, which replicates Stonehenge, consists of the circle of cars, 3 standing trilithons within the circle, the heel stone, slaughter stone, and 2 station stones and includes a “Car Art Preserve” with sculptures made from cars and parts of cars. Located just north of Alliance, Nebraska, Carhenge is formed from vintage American automobiles, painted gray to replicate Stonehenge. Built by Jim Reinders as a memorial to his father, it was dedicated at the June 1987 summer solstice.
The alignment of henges is a contentious issue. Popular belief is that their entrances point towards certain heavenly bodies, but henge orientation is highly variable and may have been more determined by local topography than by desire for symbolic orientation.
Stonehenge is not a true henge as its ditch runs outside its bank, although there is a small extant external bank as well. The term was first coined in 1932 by Thomas Kendrick, who later became the Keeper of British Antiquities at the British Museum. Concentrations of henges occur over much of Britain.
Stonehenge was in private ownership until 1916, when it was bought on the spur of the moment by Sir Cecil Chubb, the owner of a local lunatic asylum, as a present for his wife. Three years later she gave the site to the nation. Over the centuries nearly half of Stonehenge has been quarried away for building stone. Before 1900, visitors to Stonehenge were handed chisels so that they could provide themselves with a souvenir.
Carhenge, which replicates Stonehenge, consists of the circle of cars, 3 standing trilithons within the circle, the heel stone, slaughter stone, and 2 station stones and includes a “Car Art Preserve” with sculptures made from cars and parts of cars. Located just north of Alliance, Nebraska, Carhenge is formed from vintage American automobiles, painted gray to replicate Stonehenge. Built by Jim Reinders as a memorial to his father, it was dedicated at the June 1987 summer solstice.
What's in a Name, Smart Alec
The insult is dismissively applied to those
who think they know everything. The real Alec was not.
Alec Hoag was a prominent criminal in 19th century New York. Hoag’s wife, Melinda, disguised herself as a prostitute. While the johns were distracted, Alec pilfered through their pockets. Because Melinda could be easily identified and to keep the business flowing, the police received a portion of the profits from the stolen goods.
Hoag improved upon his scheme with a move called “the panel game.” In the middle of a tryst, Alec again took the valuables out of the discarded clothes of the unsuspecting mark. He then barged in the room accusing the man of sleeping with his wife. The adulterer would pick up their clothes and escape without thinking of their missing items.
Eventually, Hoag made enough that he thought he no longer need law enforcement’s help. They disagreed. Alec and Melinda were quickly arrested. Mocking him, the police ironically referred to him as “smart Alec.” The phrase entered the lexicon shortly after.
Alec Hoag was a prominent criminal in 19th century New York. Hoag’s wife, Melinda, disguised herself as a prostitute. While the johns were distracted, Alec pilfered through their pockets. Because Melinda could be easily identified and to keep the business flowing, the police received a portion of the profits from the stolen goods.
Hoag improved upon his scheme with a move called “the panel game.” In the middle of a tryst, Alec again took the valuables out of the discarded clothes of the unsuspecting mark. He then barged in the room accusing the man of sleeping with his wife. The adulterer would pick up their clothes and escape without thinking of their missing items.
Eventually, Hoag made enough that he thought he no longer need law enforcement’s help. They disagreed. Alec and Melinda were quickly arrested. Mocking him, the police ironically referred to him as “smart Alec.” The phrase entered the lexicon shortly after.
Bacon Powder
This is a new one and I need to try it. Powders are a new
addition to menus and are flavors that are dried to a dust and
then sprinkled or served alongside food as a garnish. In some
restaurants they are served as an entire course on their own.
The main method for preparing powders is to mix a liquid of some
type with maltodextrin. This is then processed in a food
processor until it becomes a powder.
An incredibly tasty powder is made from rendered bacon fat and maltodextrin. It melts in your mouth while filling it with an intense bacon flavor. What more could anyone want to eat? Yumm!
Bacon powder is a great way to add flavor and texture to different dishes, such as sprinkled over New England clam chowder at the last minute to add a visual treat and a flavor that melts through the dish.
Bacon Powder Ingredients: 60% rendered bacon fat, 3g salt, 40% tapioca maltodextrin. Heat the rendered bacon fat until it becomes a liquid. Pour it into a bowl large enough to comfortably hold it. Whisk in the salt. Begin to whisk in the tapioca maltodextrin. Once it begins to thicken and clump you can add it in more slowly and you may have to start using a fork to incorporate the maltodextrin as whisks will often fill with the paste. Continue to add tapioca maltodextrin while mixing until it forms the texture you want. The actual amount will also depend on the quality and type of bacon fat you use. Wait at least 20 minutes before serving. Of course you can also just buy the powder, which I am planning to do.
The home-made powder will last for several hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator for several days. When you are ready to serve the bacon powder simply spoon or sprinkle it over popcorn, burgers, veggies, fried chicken, or another favorite dish. Think of it as an all the flavor with none of the fat ingredient.
An incredibly tasty powder is made from rendered bacon fat and maltodextrin. It melts in your mouth while filling it with an intense bacon flavor. What more could anyone want to eat? Yumm!
Bacon powder is a great way to add flavor and texture to different dishes, such as sprinkled over New England clam chowder at the last minute to add a visual treat and a flavor that melts through the dish.
Bacon Powder Ingredients: 60% rendered bacon fat, 3g salt, 40% tapioca maltodextrin. Heat the rendered bacon fat until it becomes a liquid. Pour it into a bowl large enough to comfortably hold it. Whisk in the salt. Begin to whisk in the tapioca maltodextrin. Once it begins to thicken and clump you can add it in more slowly and you may have to start using a fork to incorporate the maltodextrin as whisks will often fill with the paste. Continue to add tapioca maltodextrin while mixing until it forms the texture you want. The actual amount will also depend on the quality and type of bacon fat you use. Wait at least 20 minutes before serving. Of course you can also just buy the powder, which I am planning to do.
The home-made powder will last for several hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator for several days. When you are ready to serve the bacon powder simply spoon or sprinkle it over popcorn, burgers, veggies, fried chicken, or another favorite dish. Think of it as an all the flavor with none of the fat ingredient.
More Google Facts
Google searches 30 trillion web pages, 100 billion times a
month.
Google HQ rents 200 goats from California Grazing to mow its lawns and fields.
Type solitaire or pacman in the Google search box, and a screen with the game will appear under the box.
Google processes more than 2.3 million searches per second, or about one hundred Billion searches per month.
Over 60% of Google searches happen on mobile.
Google HQ rents 200 goats from California Grazing to mow its lawns and fields.
Type solitaire or pacman in the Google search box, and a screen with the game will appear under the box.
Google processes more than 2.3 million searches per second, or about one hundred Billion searches per month.
Over 60% of Google searches happen on mobile.
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