"Success in anything is through happiness." ~ Maharishi Yogi
I am always happy to succeed in having a Happy Friday!
Sep 18, 2015
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Saturday September 19 is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. There is a Facebook page, Twitter account, and much more on the web. Look for the Facebook option to change your words to pirate talk. Here are a few pirate words to get you started.
Duffel is a sailor's personal belongings and the bag that carries them. It is named after the Flemish town of Duffel that produced the woolen cloth which the bags were made of.
Avast comes from the Dutch phrase 'houd vast' which meant 'hold fast' or 'stop'. Over time it became 'hou vast' and later 'avast'
Poop deck originates from the French word for stern, la poupe. The poop deck is technically a stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern cabin, also known as the 'poop cabin'. In sailing ships, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew and sails.
Duffel is a sailor's personal belongings and the bag that carries them. It is named after the Flemish town of Duffel that produced the woolen cloth which the bags were made of.
Avast comes from the Dutch phrase 'houd vast' which meant 'hold fast' or 'stop'. Over time it became 'hou vast' and later 'avast'
Poop deck originates from the French word for stern, la poupe. The poop deck is technically a stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern cabin, also known as the 'poop cabin'. In sailing ships, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew and sails.
Opt Out
Many companies drop cookies
on our computers and store information
about sites we go to, things we 'like' on
Facebook, and more. This site link below
will check your computer and let
you know which companies are looking at
your info. It provides an option to opt
out. The process just takes a few
minutes. If you are like me
and hate all the
tracking and bombarding me with ads,
this is
worth the time. LINK
Genetics vs. Genomics
The words
genetic and genomic are often used interchangeably. However, they have different and
specific meanings.
Genetics is the study of heredity. It is the study of how inherited traits are passed from one generation to the next through the genes, and how new traits appear by way of genetic mutations or changes. These traits may be characteristics like eye or hair color.
Genomics is a more recent term that describes the study of all of a person's genes (the genome). Genomics is defined as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques.
The main difference between genomics and genetics is that genetics looks at the functioning and composition of a single gene and genomics addresses all genes and their inter relationships in order to identify their combined influence on the growth and development of an organism.
Genetic information is stored in the molecule DNA. Gene refers to a specific sequence of DNA on a single chromosome that encodes a particular product. Humans have many thousands of genes, spaced across the entire set of DNA.
The word genome encompasses the entire set of genetic information across all 23 chromosome pairs, including all genes, as well as gene-modifying sequences, and everything in-between.
In the context of clinical and research settings, "genetic" testing refers to the examination of specific bits of DNA that have a known function.
Genomic testing looks for variations within large segments across the entirety of genetic material, both within and outside known functional genes. It looks at groups of genes and how active they are, such as how a cancer is likely to grow and respond to treatment.
All the genes make up the genome. Both are important because understanding more about diseases caused by a single gene using genetics and complex diseases caused by multiple genes and environmental factors using genomics can lead to earlier diagnoses, interventions, and targeted treatments.
Genetics is the study of heredity. It is the study of how inherited traits are passed from one generation to the next through the genes, and how new traits appear by way of genetic mutations or changes. These traits may be characteristics like eye or hair color.
Genomics is a more recent term that describes the study of all of a person's genes (the genome). Genomics is defined as the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques.
The main difference between genomics and genetics is that genetics looks at the functioning and composition of a single gene and genomics addresses all genes and their inter relationships in order to identify their combined influence on the growth and development of an organism.
Genetic information is stored in the molecule DNA. Gene refers to a specific sequence of DNA on a single chromosome that encodes a particular product. Humans have many thousands of genes, spaced across the entire set of DNA.
The word genome encompasses the entire set of genetic information across all 23 chromosome pairs, including all genes, as well as gene-modifying sequences, and everything in-between.
In the context of clinical and research settings, "genetic" testing refers to the examination of specific bits of DNA that have a known function.
Genomic testing looks for variations within large segments across the entirety of genetic material, both within and outside known functional genes. It looks at groups of genes and how active they are, such as how a cancer is likely to grow and respond to treatment.
All the genes make up the genome. Both are important because understanding more about diseases caused by a single gene using genetics and complex diseases caused by multiple genes and environmental factors using genomics can lead to earlier diagnoses, interventions, and targeted treatments.
Flag Trivia
Two countries have flags that do not contain the colors red,
white, or blue. They are Jamaica and Mauritania (11th
largest country in Africa).
Android vs. Apple Phones
Android continues
to dominate the smartphone market, in
spite of Apple advertising
domination.
Autumnal Equinox
The Autumnal or Fall Equinox is a
floating date around September 22-23 that marks the first day of
autumn, when day and night are of equal lengths. The sun crosses
the equator moving southward (in the northern hemisphere). The
Autumnal Equinox marks the beginning of shorter days and longer
nights and the passage into winter. On this day, the sun rises
directly in the east and sets directly in the west; the sun will
begin to rise at the South Pole after six months of darkness, to
bring six months of daylight; and the zenith passes directly
overhead on the equator, so the sun casts no shadows. For
centuries, friends have gathered to celebrate the day and
strengthen their spirits in preparation for the passage into
winter.
8K TV
We do not even have much content for 4K TVs and now
Sharp has announced an 8K, 85 inch LV-85001 for just US $133,000.
In fact broadcast testing of 8K is not scheduled to begin until
2016.
8K is 7680 x 4320, which is 104 pixels per inch at the 85-inch size; the contrast ratio is 100,000:1 with viewing angles of 176 degrees. It will be available October 31, 2015.
When I first got into the technology business, hardware was always lagging behind need. Seems during the past ten years technology is leading, and searching for content and relevance before its typically ultra-short life cycle ends. Thank goodness for early adopters, who take the arrows and pay the big bucks so we can enjoy later.
8K is 7680 x 4320, which is 104 pixels per inch at the 85-inch size; the contrast ratio is 100,000:1 with viewing angles of 176 degrees. It will be available October 31, 2015.
When I first got into the technology business, hardware was always lagging behind need. Seems during the past ten years technology is leading, and searching for content and relevance before its typically ultra-short life cycle ends. Thank goodness for early adopters, who take the arrows and pay the big bucks so we can enjoy later.
Sep 11, 2015
Bacon Orgazmia
The stars have aligned and my latest (50th) book Bacon Orgazmia is
now available on Amazon. More
information about bacon than has been allowed to be known
about any subject
since the beginning of the known universe.
LINK
LINK
Suffix Ough
English is such a fun language.
There are seven ways to pronounce the suffix 'ough'
- dough doe
- tough tuff
- hiccough hiccup
- bough bow
- ought awt
- cough coff
- through thru
Five Peanut Butter Facts
Grand Saline, Texas, holds the
record for the largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which
weighed in at 1,342 pounds.
More than half of the American peanut crop is used to make peanut butter and the US is the world’s third-highest peanut-producing nation, after China and India.
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
Peanut butter sales were confined to regional markets until the development of hydrogenation in the 1920s. Hydrogenation stops the separation of peanut oil and solids by raising the melting point so that peanut butter is a solid at room temperature.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the top of your mouth.
More than half of the American peanut crop is used to make peanut butter and the US is the world’s third-highest peanut-producing nation, after China and India.
It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
Peanut butter sales were confined to regional markets until the development of hydrogenation in the 1920s. Hydrogenation stops the separation of peanut oil and solids by raising the melting point so that peanut butter is a solid at room temperature.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the top of your mouth.
Children's Logic
A virgin forest is a forest where the
hand of man has never set foot.
The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom.
The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom.
The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom.
The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom.
Heteronym, Homograph, Homonym, and Homophone
A homograph is
a word that has the same spelling as another word, but has a
different meaning, such as lead (to go in front of) and lead (a
metal). The ending –graph means drawn or written, so a homograph has
the same spelling.
Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different, such as above or bow (tied with ribbon)
bow (of a boat).
A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word, but is spelled differently and has a different meaning, such as to, two, and too. The ending –phone means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation.
A homonym means either a word that is spelled like another, but has a different sound and meaning (homograph) or a word that sounds like another, but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone).
OR
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another, but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone), like by (near) and buy (to purchase).
Strictly speaking both homographs and homophones are homonyms, but homonyms can be either or both a homograph and homophone. Heteronyms are always homographs, but homographs are not always heteronyms.
Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different, such as above or bow (tied with ribbon)
bow (of a boat).
A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word, but is spelled differently and has a different meaning, such as to, two, and too. The ending –phone means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation.
A homonym means either a word that is spelled like another, but has a different sound and meaning (homograph) or a word that sounds like another, but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone).
OR
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another, but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone), like by (near) and buy (to purchase).
Strictly speaking both homographs and homophones are homonyms, but homonyms can be either or both a homograph and homophone. Heteronyms are always homographs, but homographs are not always heteronyms.
Poisonous vs. Venomous
If you bite it and you die, it is poisonous.
If it bites you and you die, it is venomous.
If it bites you and you die, it is venomous.
Cling Wrap Hack
Did you ever come across a bowl which
plastic wrap never seems to cling to? Here is an easy fix, put your
finger in water and run it across the outside surface and rim of the
bowl. Plastic wrap has a substance much like gelatin that becomes
sticky on contact with water and this quick trick takes advantage of
that reaction.
Wordology, Justiciable, Moot, and Unripe
Justiciability is
one of several criteria that the United States Supreme Court use to
make a judgment. In order for an issue to be justiciable (liable to
be tried in court) by a United States federal court, all of the
following conditions must be met.
The parties must not be seeking an advisory opinion.
There must be an actual controversy between the parties, meaning that the parties cannot agree to a lawsuit where all parties seek the same particular judgment from the court (known as a friendly suit); the parties must each be seeking a different outcome.
The question must be neither unripe nor moot.
An unripe question is one for which there is not yet at least a threatened injury to the plaintiff, or where all available judicial alternatives have not been exhausted.
A moot question is one for which the potential for an injury to occur has ceased to exist, or where the injury has been removed.
The parties must not be seeking an advisory opinion.
There must be an actual controversy between the parties, meaning that the parties cannot agree to a lawsuit where all parties seek the same particular judgment from the court (known as a friendly suit); the parties must each be seeking a different outcome.
The question must be neither unripe nor moot.
An unripe question is one for which there is not yet at least a threatened injury to the plaintiff, or where all available judicial alternatives have not been exhausted.
A moot question is one for which the potential for an injury to occur has ceased to exist, or where the injury has been removed.
Twinkies Facts
They were invented in 1932 by James Alexander
Dewar. The first Twinkie held banana cream, though banana rationing
during World War II forced the switch to vanilla cream, now the
official Twinkie flavor.
Top Ten Books
From the New York Times 2015
| 41 | George W. Bush |
| 10% Happier | Dan Harris |
| 13 Hours | Mitchell Zuckoff |
| America | Dinesh D'Souza |
| Blood Feud | Edward Klein |
| Capital in the Twenty-First Century | Thomas Piketty |
| David and Goliath | Malcolm Gladwell |
| Duty | Robert M. Gates |
| Flash Boys | Michael Lewis |
| Hard Choices | Hillary Rodham Clinton |
| Humans of New York | Brandon Stanton |
| Killing Patton | Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard |
| One Nation | Ben Carson with Candy Carson |
| The Future of the Mind | Michio Kaku |
| Things That Matter | Charles Krauthammer |
| Thrive | Arianna Huffington |
| Uganda Be Kidding Me | Chelsea Handler |
| Unbroken | Laura Hillenb |
| What If | Randall Munroe |
| Yes Please | Amy Poehler |
Sep 4, 2015
Happy Friday
Life is like a book, it needs a good opener, compelling middle, and
appropriate ending.
I always have a compelling day when celebrating a Happy Friday!
I always have a compelling day when celebrating a Happy Friday!
Happy International Bacon Day
International Bacon Day or
Bacon Day is an unofficial observance held on the Saturday
(Tomorrow, Sep 5, 2015) before Labor Day in the United States. Last
year Bacon Day was celebrated in the US, Australia, Canada, South
Africa, Switzerland, and the UK.
Some groups also celebrate National Bacon Day on December 30. Bacon day celebrations typically include social gatherings during which participants create and consume dishes containing large quantities of bacon, including bacon-themed breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and drinks. Yes, I unapologetically celebrate both, because bacon deserves more than one holiday per year.
Some groups also celebrate National Bacon Day on December 30. Bacon day celebrations typically include social gatherings during which participants create and consume dishes containing large quantities of bacon, including bacon-themed breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and drinks. Yes, I unapologetically celebrate both, because bacon deserves more than one holiday per year.
Happy Labor Day
Labor Day Labor Day is a US federal holiday
and all government offices, schools and organizations and many
businesses are closed. Labour Day in Canada is celebrated on the
same day. It is traditionally the first Monday of September and was
originally organized to celebrate various labor associations'
strengths of and contributions to the United States economy.
Usually, it is a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor
Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips
or hold outdoor events. Why not have a Labor Day and Bacon Day
party to celebrate both at the same time. I'll bring the bacon.
Wordology, Used and Used
These two words are a type of
heteronym and homograph. They are spelled alike, but are pronounced
different and have different meanings.
The first word is an adjective that means previously used or owned, such as a used car. It also means showing wear, as used clothes and utilized for a reason, as an often used tool.
The second definition means accustomed to, and is pronounced yoost, as in, I am not used to being accused.
The first word is an adjective that means previously used or owned, such as a used car. It also means showing wear, as used clothes and utilized for a reason, as an often used tool.
The second definition means accustomed to, and is pronounced yoost, as in, I am not used to being accused.
Pablo Picasso's Real Name
Pablo Diego José Francisco de
Paula Juan Nepomuceno MarÃa de los Remedios Cipriano de la SantÃsima
Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (This name uses Spanish naming customs: the
first or paternal family name after Trinidad is Ruiz and the second
or maternal family name is Picasso.)
What's in a Name, Haskell Library
It is a building straddling Vermont, US and
Canada border. Step through the front door of the Haskell Library
and you are in the United States. Walk across the carpeted floor to
the circulation desk and you are in Canada, but if you sit on the
couch, you are back in the United States.
The 106-year-old Romanesque building, which straddles the border, has enjoyed an informal immunity from border restrictions through the years.
The 106-year-old Romanesque building, which straddles the border, has enjoyed an informal immunity from border restrictions through the years.
Medical Errors
The thing we see cited among the top causes
of death is medical errors, also known in the literature as
“preventable adverse events.” That means when medical personnel do
the wrong thing, or fail to do the right thing, or do the right
thing, but do it wrong. This can often take the form of
misdiagnosis, or miscommunication between various healthcare
providers, or between providers and patient. Medical errors are the
third leading cause of death in America.
John Tyler, President
The tenth US president, John Tyler (1841-1845)
was the first US born president. He was born in March 29, 1790, in
the State of Virginia, US. The treaty of Paris establishing USA as a
new country was signed in September 3, 1783. Although the previous
presidents were born in what is now the US, it was a British colony
until that date.
V8 Juice Ingredients
The eight juices in V8 are tomato,
spinach, celery, carrot, beet, lettuce, watercress, and parsley.
Aug 28, 2015
Google Birthday
Next week September 5, 2015, Google will
celebrate its 17th birthday. Seems like the company has been
around much longer.
It is worth about US $367Billion. In such a few short years,
it has profoundly changed the internet and the world. How
appropriate to celebrate a birthday on International Bacon
Day - Both are ubiquitous.
Flash Drives Getting Smaller
The NAND (not and) flash
technology that Toshiba introduced in 1989 (130nm or nanometers),
making thumb drives, SSDs, (solid state drive) and smartphone
memory, has finally reached a development dead end. Toshiba and
other major manufacturers of 15 nm NAND flash are stopping new
development and focusing development on 3D NAND.
For comparison, a strand of human DNA is 2.5 nm in diameter, and there are 25,400,000 nanometers in one inch. 1 centimeter = 10,000,000 nanometers.
Intel says it will be able to fit 1TB (terabytes) on a card just two millimeters thick in an object half the size of a postage stamp.
A square inch drive with a Terabyte of capacity can contain more bits than the Milky Way has stars (about 200 billion to 400 billion stars as estimated by astronomers). Obviously, when it comes to computers, size matters and smaller is better. Incidentally, My blog spoke of terabytes in 2010 LINK
For comparison, a strand of human DNA is 2.5 nm in diameter, and there are 25,400,000 nanometers in one inch. 1 centimeter = 10,000,000 nanometers.
Intel says it will be able to fit 1TB (terabytes) on a card just two millimeters thick in an object half the size of a postage stamp.
A square inch drive with a Terabyte of capacity can contain more bits than the Milky Way has stars (about 200 billion to 400 billion stars as estimated by astronomers). Obviously, when it comes to computers, size matters and smaller is better. Incidentally, My blog spoke of terabytes in 2010 LINK
Nine Old Snack Foods
Marshmallows have been around since
ancient Egypt, and were often used to soothe sore throats By the
19th century, French confectioners began whipping the marshmallow to
the shape we know.
Pretzels are widely considered to
be the world’s oldest snack food It is believed the modern
pretzel’s predecessor was first made in the 6th century by an
Italian monk, who used it as a treat to reward his youngest church
attendees. The word “pretzel” is from the Latin word “pretzola,”
which loosely translates to “little reward.”
Archeologists reporting finding popcorn ears that they can date all the way back to being snacked on some 5,600 years ago. Native Americans would throw popcorn ears right on a fire, in order to pop out kernels. ( I bought popping corn ears at Bass Pro and popped in microwave. Fun to watch the thing fill up with popcorn and spill out when the door was opened.)
Necco Wafers were first manufactured in 1847 and Oliver Chase invented a cutting machine that allowed the slices to be made so thin.
Cracker Jack most likely began in 1871 Chicago, IL when German immigrant Frederick William Rueckheim started cooking up and selling his own type of popcorn. By 1896, Cracker Jack was being produced for commercial sales.
In 1897, Pearle Bixby Wait trademarked the powdered gelatin dessert, called Jell-O.
Triscuits were first invented in 1903 in Niagara Falls, NY. Triscuits were originally larger, but shrunk down to their current size in1924.
The first Sunshine Hydrox cookie was made in 1908 and was followed by its Oreo competitor in 1912. The difference between Hydrox and Oreo is that Hydrox is a bit more crispy and less sugary, and the original Hydrox was Kosher. Hydrox are supposed to become available again this year, but have yet to find them for sale.
Archeologists reporting finding popcorn ears that they can date all the way back to being snacked on some 5,600 years ago. Native Americans would throw popcorn ears right on a fire, in order to pop out kernels. ( I bought popping corn ears at Bass Pro and popped in microwave. Fun to watch the thing fill up with popcorn and spill out when the door was opened.)
Necco Wafers were first manufactured in 1847 and Oliver Chase invented a cutting machine that allowed the slices to be made so thin.
Cracker Jack most likely began in 1871 Chicago, IL when German immigrant Frederick William Rueckheim started cooking up and selling his own type of popcorn. By 1896, Cracker Jack was being produced for commercial sales.
In 1897, Pearle Bixby Wait trademarked the powdered gelatin dessert, called Jell-O.
Triscuits were first invented in 1903 in Niagara Falls, NY. Triscuits were originally larger, but shrunk down to their current size in1924.
The first Sunshine Hydrox cookie was made in 1908 and was followed by its Oreo competitor in 1912. The difference between Hydrox and Oreo is that Hydrox is a bit more crispy and less sugary, and the original Hydrox was Kosher. Hydrox are supposed to become available again this year, but have yet to find them for sale.
Natural Causes
According to the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. A natural cause of death is anything that
isn’t a non-natural cause of death. When people kill themselves, are
killed by someone else, or die as the result of an accident, that is
considered non-natural. Any other cause is “natural.”
Accidents accounted for two-thirds of all non-natural deaths in 2013 (most recent results available). The most common type of accident was accidental poisoning, at 20 percent of all non-natural deaths, followed by motor-vehicle accidents at 18 percent of all non-natural deaths, and falls at 15 percent.
Suicide, by whatever means accounted for more than twice as many deaths as homicide. Firearms specifically are used in almost twice as many suicide deaths (21,175) as homicide deaths (11,208).
Accidents accounted for two-thirds of all non-natural deaths in 2013 (most recent results available). The most common type of accident was accidental poisoning, at 20 percent of all non-natural deaths, followed by motor-vehicle accidents at 18 percent of all non-natural deaths, and falls at 15 percent.
Suicide, by whatever means accounted for more than twice as many deaths as homicide. Firearms specifically are used in almost twice as many suicide deaths (21,175) as homicide deaths (11,208).
Wordology, Dishes, Plates, and Platters
A food dish
is generally something that food is eaten or served from. It can
also mean the food served or contained on a dish, such as, "I wish I
had that bacon dish."
A food plate tends to refer specifically to a flat dish that is suitable for holding food that does not have a high liquid content. It can also mean the food served or contained on a plate, such as, "I ate that whole bacon plate."
A food platter is a large shallow usually oval dish or plate, used for serving food.
It is also a course of a meal, usually consisting of several different foods served on the same plate, such as a bacon platter.
Although size does not matter for plates and dishes, some people refer to small as dish and larger as plate. Size does matter for platters, which are larger.
Bottom line, all plates are not platters and all platters are not plates, but all plates and platters are dishes.
A food plate tends to refer specifically to a flat dish that is suitable for holding food that does not have a high liquid content. It can also mean the food served or contained on a plate, such as, "I ate that whole bacon plate."
A food platter is a large shallow usually oval dish or plate, used for serving food.
It is also a course of a meal, usually consisting of several different foods served on the same plate, such as a bacon platter.
Although size does not matter for plates and dishes, some people refer to small as dish and larger as plate. Size does matter for platters, which are larger.
Bottom line, all plates are not platters and all platters are not plates, but all plates and platters are dishes.
Heinz Ketchup
In Israel, Heinz ketchup must now be called 'tomato
seasoning' because it does not have enough tomato in it to be called
an actual ketchup product. The Health Ministry said that since Heinz
does not contain at least 10% tomato solids, it can not legally be
called ketchup. Heinz's local importer, Diplomat, is working with
the Health Ministry to legally change the definition of ketchup from
containing 10% to 6% tomato solids. In the meantime, English labels
may still retain the term ketchup.
Organic and Taste
Research in 2013 showed that most people
do not know what 'organic' really means. It found people prefer food
labelled with ethically named terms like 'organic,' 'fair trade,"
and 'locally produced' and they actually report that it tastes
better, even if the label is totally fake.
The research combined the results of a 4,000-person survey conducted across eight European countries with three experimental studies. Participants were presented with a selection of apple juices, breakfast biscuits, and chocolates. The foods presented were identical, but some were labelled as ethically produced while others were not. For people who had reported that eating ethically is important to them, they not only preferred the mislabeled food, they also thought it tasted better.
The research supports the results of a small Swedish study from 2013 that found people think the same coffee tastes better when they are told it is organic. Sounds like more proof of 'perception is reality'.
The research combined the results of a 4,000-person survey conducted across eight European countries with three experimental studies. Participants were presented with a selection of apple juices, breakfast biscuits, and chocolates. The foods presented were identical, but some were labelled as ethically produced while others were not. For people who had reported that eating ethically is important to them, they not only preferred the mislabeled food, they also thought it tasted better.
The research supports the results of a small Swedish study from 2013 that found people think the same coffee tastes better when they are told it is organic. Sounds like more proof of 'perception is reality'.
Scooby-Doo
The crime solving dog Scooby-Doo first appeared in 1969 in the series 'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?'. The character has since been the star of ten television series and twenty films and is still in demand.
Scooby-Doo was originally called 'Too Much'. Then Fred Silverman, who approached Hanna and Barbera with the idea of making a cartoon about a rock group that solves mysteries. He was inspired by the Frank Sinatra song 'Strangers In The Night', a hit record which included the lyrics ‘scoobie-doobie-do’ and the name was changed.
Scooby-Doo was originally called 'Too Much'. Then Fred Silverman, who approached Hanna and Barbera with the idea of making a cartoon about a rock group that solves mysteries. He was inspired by the Frank Sinatra song 'Strangers In The Night', a hit record which included the lyrics ‘scoobie-doobie-do’ and the name was changed.
Aug 21, 2015
Happy Friday
Speak in a way that others love to listen to you and listen
in a way that others love to speak to you.
I always listen first then speak about having a Happy Friday!
I always listen first then speak about having a Happy Friday!
Happy Just Because Day
Each year on August 27, it is
National Just Because Day and you can celebrate this day
any way you choose, “just because.”
It is an unofficial national holiday created by Joseph J. Goodwin from California, in the late 1950′s. It began as a family holiday and has grown into an annual celebration across the United States.
Today is a chance to do something without rhyme or reason. It could be that there is an outfit at the mall that you are admiring; buy it, just because. Maybe you want to go fishing; do it, just because. Take the rest of the day off, just because. The possibilities are endless.
It is an unofficial national holiday created by Joseph J. Goodwin from California, in the late 1950′s. It began as a family holiday and has grown into an annual celebration across the United States.
Today is a chance to do something without rhyme or reason. It could be that there is an outfit at the mall that you are admiring; buy it, just because. Maybe you want to go fishing; do it, just because. Take the rest of the day off, just because. The possibilities are endless.
Wordology, Want, Wont and Won't
The first two words
are pronounced the same, but mean two different things.
Want means ‘desire something’ or ‘wish for something': I want to stay here, he wants to speak, etc.
Wont means in the habit or tendency doing something, or of a characteristic of something. such as, “Tomorrow will be quiet, as Sundays are wont to be” or "He writes every day as he is wont to do."
Neither should be confused with the contraction of will not. Won't is used to express the future and meaning 'will not' as in, I won’t be here tomorrow.
Want means ‘desire something’ or ‘wish for something': I want to stay here, he wants to speak, etc.
Wont means in the habit or tendency doing something, or of a characteristic of something. such as, “Tomorrow will be quiet, as Sundays are wont to be” or "He writes every day as he is wont to do."
Neither should be confused with the contraction of will not. Won't is used to express the future and meaning 'will not' as in, I won’t be here tomorrow.
Cancer and Chemotherapy Facts
Not usually a positive
topic, but it is nice to get a few facts and dispel some myths.
There are over 200 different types of cancers and 200 different types of cells in the human body with all of these having the potential to become cancerous. All types are a result of unregulated cell growth. The result is excessive tissue, known as tumors. These tumors can be localized, or they can spread to surrounding areas through your lymphatic system or your blood stream.
Normal healthy cells divide and die as they should. The average number of times normal healthy cells divide is known as the Hayflick Limit. It was named after Dr. Leonard Hayflick, who in 1965 noticed that cells divide a specific number of times before the division stops. The average was between 40-60. If you took every cell in your body, at the time you were born, and accounted for all the cells they would produce and so on, multiplied that number by the average time it takes for those cells to die, you get what is known as the ultimate Hayflick limit, or the maximum number of years you can theoretically live, 120 years.
Chemotherapy, by definition is "a chemical that binds to and specifically kills microbes or tumor cells." It is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. It is usually systemic treatment, meaning that the drugs flow through the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body. Chemotherapy is generally given in cycles: a treatment period is followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period, etc.
It is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available and can be used alone or in combination. Chemotherapy treatments carry risks of side effects, some mild and treatable and others which can cause serious complications.
Most chemotherapy cannot differentiate between abnormal cancer cells and normal healthy cells. Because of this, cells that multiply rapidly can also be affected by chemotherapy. Not all chemo drugs will make you lose your hair. Some people have mild thinning that only they notice and some show no loss. Hair loss includes eyelashes, eyebrows, underarms, legs, and even pubic hair. Whether you lose hair depends upon the medication, dosage, combinations, and individual sensitivity. Hair loss happens because the chemotherapy affects all cells in the body, not just the cancer cells. The lining of the mouth, digestive tract (that is why many have nausea and vomiting as side effects), stomach, bone marrow, and the hair follicles are especially sensitive because those cells multiply rapidly just like the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy can also decrease in production of white blood cells (causing immune-suppressed), and inflammation of the digestive tract. Other areas that can be affected include, kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs. Luckily, many healthy cells repair themselves during or shortly after therapy.
There are over 200 different types of cancers and 200 different types of cells in the human body with all of these having the potential to become cancerous. All types are a result of unregulated cell growth. The result is excessive tissue, known as tumors. These tumors can be localized, or they can spread to surrounding areas through your lymphatic system or your blood stream.
Normal healthy cells divide and die as they should. The average number of times normal healthy cells divide is known as the Hayflick Limit. It was named after Dr. Leonard Hayflick, who in 1965 noticed that cells divide a specific number of times before the division stops. The average was between 40-60. If you took every cell in your body, at the time you were born, and accounted for all the cells they would produce and so on, multiplied that number by the average time it takes for those cells to die, you get what is known as the ultimate Hayflick limit, or the maximum number of years you can theoretically live, 120 years.
Chemotherapy, by definition is "a chemical that binds to and specifically kills microbes or tumor cells." It is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. It is usually systemic treatment, meaning that the drugs flow through the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body. Chemotherapy is generally given in cycles: a treatment period is followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period, etc.
It is most often used to treat cancer, since cancer cells grow and multiply much more quickly than most cells in the body. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available and can be used alone or in combination. Chemotherapy treatments carry risks of side effects, some mild and treatable and others which can cause serious complications.
Most chemotherapy cannot differentiate between abnormal cancer cells and normal healthy cells. Because of this, cells that multiply rapidly can also be affected by chemotherapy. Not all chemo drugs will make you lose your hair. Some people have mild thinning that only they notice and some show no loss. Hair loss includes eyelashes, eyebrows, underarms, legs, and even pubic hair. Whether you lose hair depends upon the medication, dosage, combinations, and individual sensitivity. Hair loss happens because the chemotherapy affects all cells in the body, not just the cancer cells. The lining of the mouth, digestive tract (that is why many have nausea and vomiting as side effects), stomach, bone marrow, and the hair follicles are especially sensitive because those cells multiply rapidly just like the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy can also decrease in production of white blood cells (causing immune-suppressed), and inflammation of the digestive tract. Other areas that can be affected include, kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs. Luckily, many healthy cells repair themselves during or shortly after therapy.
Vikings
Vikings believed that a giant goat whose udders
provide an endless supply of beer was waiting for them in Valhalla
(Viking Heaven).
How to Stop Hiccups
Hiccups are caused by a spasm in the
diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates your thorax
(including your lungs and heart) from your abdomen (including your
stomach and intestines). When you breathe in, your diaphragm
contracts and pulls down and becomes flat in order to make room for
more air in the lungs. When you breathe out, your diaphragm expands
and forces air out of your lungs.
During a hiccup, your diaphragm spasms causing you to take a quick breath in. This breath in is then interrupted by the epiglottis closing and causing a “hic” sound. (FYI, the epiglottis is a flap that covers the space between the vocal cords).
It is possible to stop them within 60 seconds or so by swallowing a teaspoon filled with dry sugar. Specialists believe the abrupt sweetness on the tongue overloads the nerve endings in the mouth and blocks the hiccup spasm.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and also found on Medicine.net showed when a spoonful of granulated sugar is eaten, it was found to be effective in 19 out of 20 patients.
During a hiccup, your diaphragm spasms causing you to take a quick breath in. This breath in is then interrupted by the epiglottis closing and causing a “hic” sound. (FYI, the epiglottis is a flap that covers the space between the vocal cords).
It is possible to stop them within 60 seconds or so by swallowing a teaspoon filled with dry sugar. Specialists believe the abrupt sweetness on the tongue overloads the nerve endings in the mouth and blocks the hiccup spasm.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and also found on Medicine.net showed when a spoonful of granulated sugar is eaten, it was found to be effective in 19 out of 20 patients.
Fur and Hair
There is no difference between fur and hair;
it is all just hair. Most refer to animal hair as fur, while
referring to our own hair as just hair. However, hair and fur are
chemically indistinguishable, both made up of keratin.
Human hair does not grow forever nor does animal hair/fur, although the length of the growing cycle can be longer or shorter for both. Various mammals have different growth cycles for their hair than humans do. Cat hair seems to stop growing at a relatively short length, similar to the growth rate and length of the hair on a human’s arms and legs.
The maximum length of hair on various parts of a body is entirely determined by genetics and varies widely from person to person and animal to animal.
A cat’s whiskers are just hair, though these hairs are attached to special nervous system connections allowing them to work as sensory receptors.
A Porcupine's quills are extremely enlarged hairs.
Incidentally, shaving does not make your hair grow back thicker, stronger, or faster. It has been proven by numerous studies that shaving has absolutely no effect on hair growth rate or shape
Human hair does not grow forever nor does animal hair/fur, although the length of the growing cycle can be longer or shorter for both. Various mammals have different growth cycles for their hair than humans do. Cat hair seems to stop growing at a relatively short length, similar to the growth rate and length of the hair on a human’s arms and legs.
The maximum length of hair on various parts of a body is entirely determined by genetics and varies widely from person to person and animal to animal.
A cat’s whiskers are just hair, though these hairs are attached to special nervous system connections allowing them to work as sensory receptors.
A Porcupine's quills are extremely enlarged hairs.
Incidentally, shaving does not make your hair grow back thicker, stronger, or faster. It has been proven by numerous studies that shaving has absolutely no effect on hair growth rate or shape
Google Translate
I recently received an email in French
and needed to translate it. Went to Google, and typed in the word
translate. The first result showed two boxes next to each other.
The first box had a caption 'enter text' the second was 'English'.
I pasted the text into the first box and it detected French and
populated the second box with the English equivalent. The second
also had a microphone icon. When I pressed it, a female voice
correctly read aloud the English text. The amazing thing to me was
that the translated text was so accurate. Not something we use
everyday, but nice to know it is available when we need it.
Aug 15, 2015
Happy Friday
"Without love, intelligence is dangerous; without intelligence,
love is not enough." ~Ashley Montagu
I have the intelligence to always love a Happy Friday!
I have the intelligence to always love a Happy Friday!
National Rum Day
We celebrate National Rum Day on August 16 in
the US. The origin of
the word rum is unclear. The name may have derived from
rumbullion meaning "a great tumult or uproar". Some claim that
the name is from the large drinking glasses used by Dutch
seamen known as rum rummers. Other options include
contractions of the words saccharum, latin for sugar, or
arôme, French for aroma.
In current usage, the name used for rum is often based on the rum's place of origin. For rums from Spanish-speaking locales the word ron is used. A ron añejo indicates a rum that has been aged and is often used for premium products. Rhum is the term used for rums from French-speaking locales, while rhum vieux is an aged French rum.
Go ahead and sip a bit of rum all day long. Or start today and make your own spiced rum.
1 (750-mL) bottle light Rum
1 Vanilla bean
3-inch slice Orange peel, white pith removed
1 Cinnamon stick
2 Allspice berries
4 Cloves
6 Black peppercorns
pinch ground nutmeg
1 slice fresh ginger, about the size of a quarter
Add all the ingredients to a wide-mouthed, airtight container and seal. Let stand for about two days and taste. Strain the spices out and re-bottle the liquid.
Note - some lower-quality commercial products tend to overplay the vanilla—cut back on that and the other flavors emerge nicely.
In current usage, the name used for rum is often based on the rum's place of origin. For rums from Spanish-speaking locales the word ron is used. A ron añejo indicates a rum that has been aged and is often used for premium products. Rhum is the term used for rums from French-speaking locales, while rhum vieux is an aged French rum.
Go ahead and sip a bit of rum all day long. Or start today and make your own spiced rum.
1 (750-mL) bottle light Rum
1 Vanilla bean
3-inch slice Orange peel, white pith removed
1 Cinnamon stick
2 Allspice berries
4 Cloves
6 Black peppercorns
pinch ground nutmeg
1 slice fresh ginger, about the size of a quarter
Add all the ingredients to a wide-mouthed, airtight container and seal. Let stand for about two days and taste. Strain the spices out and re-bottle the liquid.
Note - some lower-quality commercial products tend to overplay the vanilla—cut back on that and the other flavors emerge nicely.
Four Rum Myths Dispelled
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.
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.
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.
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