For hundreds of years, Royal Navy seamen lined up in galleys from the poles to the tropics to receive their regulation lunchtime tot (about eighth to half pint) of rum, but 40 years ago, the tradition was ended. On 31 July 1970, known in the navy as Black Tot Day, free rum was retired from navy life.
By 1970, the rum bosun's daily doling out of of rum at midday, diluted with water (grog) for junior ratings, neat for senior - was a reasonably gentlemanly affair. A grog was a mixture of two pints water and a half pint rum. The Admiralty took away the rum because it was concerned it would hinder sailors' ability to operate increasingly complex weapons systems and navigational tools.
Beer had been the staple beverage of the Royal Navy until the 17th Century, used as a self-preserving replacement for water, which became undrinkable when kept in casks for long periods. As the horizons of the British Empire expanded, the sheer bulk of beer, the ration for which was a gallon per day per seaman, and its liability to go sour in warmer climates, made it impractical to take on long voyages. Wine and spirits started to take the place of beer place until 1655, after the capture of the island of Jamaica from Spain, the navy introduced rum.
Until 1740 the daily ration was half a pint of neat rum, twice a day. Sailors would check their rum had not been watered down by pouring it onto gunpowder and setting light to it, from where the term "proof" originates. By volume, 57.15% alcohol has been calculated as the minimum required for it to pass the test.
Alcoholic proof in the United States is defined as twice the percentage of alcohol by volume . Consequently, 100-proof whiskey contains 50% alcohol by volume; 86-proof whiskey contains 43% alcohol, etc.
Aug 20, 2010
Dentristy is Old
The Indus Valley Civilization has yielded evidence of dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000 BC. This earliest form of dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with bow drills operated by skilled bead craftsmen. The reconstruction of this ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective. Cavities of 3.5 mm depth with concentric grooves indicate use of a drill tool. Ouch!
Aug 17, 2010
New Uses for Silica Gel
Here are several great suggestions for using these packs around the house. They can be found in all sorts of packaging, vitamin bottles, and even new shoes. Some kitty litter is now made with silica to aid absorption. Some folks even use it for the same purposes as listed below.
Silica gel is a desiccant, a substance that absorbs moisture. The silicate is actually a very porous mineral with a natural attraction to water molecules. Manufacturers utilize the gel to keep goods from spoiling, molding, or degrading due to humidity. The gel itself is nontoxic and most silica found in food and household items looks like tapioca beads and is benign unless combined with certain chemicals.
Here are a few interesting uses for the stuff:
* Put packs in your ammo cans and gun cases/safes to keep dry.
* Protect personal papers and important documents by putting some gel wherever these are stored.
* Keep with photos to keep them from humidity. Tuck a small envelope in the back of frames to protect important hanging photos.
* Store in camera bags and with film. It will also absorb moisture to keep lenses from fogging.
* Leave a couple packs in a tool box to prevent rusting.
* Use it to aid in drying flowers.
* Place with seeds in storage to prevent molding.
* Slow silver tarnishing by using the gel in jewelry boxes or with silverware.
* Cut open the packs and saturate the beads with essential oils to create potpourri.
* Use in luggage while traveling.
* Put some in your closet in leather goods to help them stay dry.
* Add to video tape collections to help keep them dry.
Silica gel is a desiccant, a substance that absorbs moisture. The silicate is actually a very porous mineral with a natural attraction to water molecules. Manufacturers utilize the gel to keep goods from spoiling, molding, or degrading due to humidity. The gel itself is nontoxic and most silica found in food and household items looks like tapioca beads and is benign unless combined with certain chemicals.
Here are a few interesting uses for the stuff:
* Put packs in your ammo cans and gun cases/safes to keep dry.
* Protect personal papers and important documents by putting some gel wherever these are stored.
* Keep with photos to keep them from humidity. Tuck a small envelope in the back of frames to protect important hanging photos.
* Store in camera bags and with film. It will also absorb moisture to keep lenses from fogging.
* Leave a couple packs in a tool box to prevent rusting.
* Use it to aid in drying flowers.
* Place with seeds in storage to prevent molding.
* Slow silver tarnishing by using the gel in jewelry boxes or with silverware.
* Cut open the packs and saturate the beads with essential oils to create potpourri.
* Use in luggage while traveling.
* Put some in your closet in leather goods to help them stay dry.
* Add to video tape collections to help keep them dry.
Microsoft Word Tip
Don't know if you write large documents in Word, but this works even for short documents. The next time you open a document that you have saved, hold down the shift key and press the f5 key. This will take you back to the last spot you typed in the document before it was closed or saved.
Oyster Herpes
Is nothing free from the effects of global warming? True - National Geographic has found that a new strain of herpes in oysters is supposedly caused by global warming.
The new strain, which is named Ostreid herpesvirus 1 μvar, was first detected in 2008 among breeding Pacific oysters in France. Since then, the virus has wiped out 20 to 100 percent of oysters in the French beds, and this year it appears to have spread to United Kingdom waters too. They say it infects the shellfish during breeding season.
Although reasons behind the recent emergence of herpes in oyster beds across Europe are still a mystery, many researchers have not been surprised to find a correlation with global warming. Hmmm. Does that mean the 20% that didn't get infected were ugly. And what the heck are Pacific oysters doing in France? Maybe those Pacific oysters that caught herpes were just too promiscuous.
The new strain, which is named Ostreid herpesvirus 1 μvar, was first detected in 2008 among breeding Pacific oysters in France. Since then, the virus has wiped out 20 to 100 percent of oysters in the French beds, and this year it appears to have spread to United Kingdom waters too. They say it infects the shellfish during breeding season.
Although reasons behind the recent emergence of herpes in oyster beds across Europe are still a mystery, many researchers have not been surprised to find a correlation with global warming. Hmmm. Does that mean the 20% that didn't get infected were ugly. And what the heck are Pacific oysters doing in France? Maybe those Pacific oysters that caught herpes were just too promiscuous.
Edison Sounds
Here is an interesting site LINK that has some recordings from 1899 forward. Interesting funny bits, songs, educational lessons, etc. Fun diversion for the nostalgically inclined., brought to you by the National Park Service and Thomas Edison's recordings.
Ceasar Salad
Caesar Salad is not named for the Roman Emperor, but is named after Caesar Cardini, a Mexican restaurateur in Tijuana, Mexico. On the weekend of July 4th in 1924 Caesar served finger foods by placing garlic-scented leaves on platters. He eventually started shredding the leaves into smaller pieces and it evolved into a salad. The salad became famous when it was a big hit for Hollywood stars who visited Tijuana. Soon it was added to the menus of many famous restaurants such as Romanoff’s and Chasen’s.
Aug 13, 2010
Ketchup, Catchup, or Catsup
Ketchup appears to be the original term which is derived from the Chinese condiment ke-tsiap, a pickled fish sauce. A version in Malaysia then became kechap and ketjap in Indonesia.
The word ketchup was first mentioned in Charles Lockyer’s book of 1711, An Account of the Trade in India: “Soy comes in Tubbs from Jappan, and the best Ketchup from Tonquin; yet good of both sorts are made and sold very cheap in China”.
The modern version of ketchup saw many changes before tomatoes finally became a main ingredient in the late 1700′s. In the 1800s, ketchup was also known as tomato soy.
F. & J. Heinz Company began selling tomato ketchup in 1876. Heinz brought the preferred term to the forefront with what is one of the most successful versions of the condiment. Heinz once offered ketchup in various colors, including purple.
The confusion about names started even before Charles Lockyer wrote about it, since there is an entry dated 1690 in the Dictionary of the Canting Crew which gives it as catchup. Catchup was used much more in North America than in Britain, but catchup is not used much these days.
The term catsup first appeared in a quote by Jonathan Swift in 1730: “And, for our home-bred British cheer, Botargo (fish relish), catsup, and caveer (cavier)”.
Hunt's goes three ways by having Hunts Catsup (east of the Mississippi), Hunts Ketchup (west of the Mississippi), and Hunts Tomato Cornchops (in Iowa only).
The term catsup has since been used by major manufacturers, but most eventually changed to ketchup. Catsup is an acceptable spelling used interchangeably with ketchup. However, ketchup is the way you will find it listed in the majority of cookbooks.
The word ketchup was first mentioned in Charles Lockyer’s book of 1711, An Account of the Trade in India: “Soy comes in Tubbs from Jappan, and the best Ketchup from Tonquin; yet good of both sorts are made and sold very cheap in China”.
The modern version of ketchup saw many changes before tomatoes finally became a main ingredient in the late 1700′s. In the 1800s, ketchup was also known as tomato soy.
F. & J. Heinz Company began selling tomato ketchup in 1876. Heinz brought the preferred term to the forefront with what is one of the most successful versions of the condiment. Heinz once offered ketchup in various colors, including purple.
The confusion about names started even before Charles Lockyer wrote about it, since there is an entry dated 1690 in the Dictionary of the Canting Crew which gives it as catchup. Catchup was used much more in North America than in Britain, but catchup is not used much these days.
The term catsup first appeared in a quote by Jonathan Swift in 1730: “And, for our home-bred British cheer, Botargo (fish relish), catsup, and caveer (cavier)”.
Hunt's goes three ways by having Hunts Catsup (east of the Mississippi), Hunts Ketchup (west of the Mississippi), and Hunts Tomato Cornchops (in Iowa only).
The term catsup has since been used by major manufacturers, but most eventually changed to ketchup. Catsup is an acceptable spelling used interchangeably with ketchup. However, ketchup is the way you will find it listed in the majority of cookbooks.
Ketchup Tidbits
Unopened bottles of ketchup may be stored up to one year in a cool, dry place. Once opened, you may store it in a cool environment, away from sun and/or heat, for about 1 month. For longer shelf life after opening, refrigeration is recommended.
The world's largest ketchup bottle is proudly displayed in Collinsville, Illinois on top of a water tower. It stands 170 feet tall.
Ketchup can be used to clean copper utensils, because the acid removes tarnish and shines it.
One tablespoon of ketchup has 16 calories and no fat.
Those who dunk into a well of ketchup are methodical and trustworthy, but may also be control freaks who are afraid of change. Ambitious people drop their sauce in the middle of their food. Creative types squirt and swirl their sauce in thin lines, but deep down are impatient. Those who dot their ketchup are friendly, but live conservatively and dream of adventure holidays. Smotherers are the life and soul of the party, while artists who draw faces and words on their food have an easy-going approach to life. Gourmets who keep ketchup in a cruet appear charming, but deep down may be snobbish.
On average, each person consumes about three bottles of ketchup a year.
The world's largest ketchup bottle is proudly displayed in Collinsville, Illinois on top of a water tower. It stands 170 feet tall.
Ketchup can be used to clean copper utensils, because the acid removes tarnish and shines it.
One tablespoon of ketchup has 16 calories and no fat.
Those who dunk into a well of ketchup are methodical and trustworthy, but may also be control freaks who are afraid of change. Ambitious people drop their sauce in the middle of their food. Creative types squirt and swirl their sauce in thin lines, but deep down are impatient. Those who dot their ketchup are friendly, but live conservatively and dream of adventure holidays. Smotherers are the life and soul of the party, while artists who draw faces and words on their food have an easy-going approach to life. Gourmets who keep ketchup in a cruet appear charming, but deep down may be snobbish.
On average, each person consumes about three bottles of ketchup a year.
Reign or Rein
Many people presume 'free reign' to means a person has the 'royal' power to do anything they want.
Actually, the correct phrase is 'free rein'. It comes from the days before cars, when horses were used for transportation. When navigating a steep or winding path, the rider would relax the reins so the horse could pick the safest path on its own.
Actually, the correct phrase is 'free rein'. It comes from the days before cars, when horses were used for transportation. When navigating a steep or winding path, the rider would relax the reins so the horse could pick the safest path on its own.
Checks Going Away in UK
Paper checks, or Cheques (as they spell it) are scheduled to be phased out by October 2018, according to the BBC. The board of the UK Payments Council has set the date in a bid to encourage the advance of other forms of payment.
The first cheque was written 350 years ago and the decision will be greeted with disappointment by some small businesses and consumers.
The target date for the closure of the system that processes cheques has been set for 31 October 2018, after the board described the payment method as in "terminal decline".
However, there will be annual checks on the progress of other payments systems and a final review of the decision will be held in 2016. "The goal is to ensure that by 2018 there is no scenario where customers, individuals or businesses, still need to use a cheque," the Payments Council said in a statement.
Personal cheque payment volumes reached a peak of 2.4 billion in 1990, and have since fallen steadily to 663 million in 2008.
The first cheque was written 350 years ago and the decision will be greeted with disappointment by some small businesses and consumers.
The target date for the closure of the system that processes cheques has been set for 31 October 2018, after the board described the payment method as in "terminal decline".
However, there will be annual checks on the progress of other payments systems and a final review of the decision will be held in 2016. "The goal is to ensure that by 2018 there is no scenario where customers, individuals or businesses, still need to use a cheque," the Payments Council said in a statement.
Personal cheque payment volumes reached a peak of 2.4 billion in 1990, and have since fallen steadily to 663 million in 2008.
Alcohol and Arthritis
Drinking alcohol can not only ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it appears to reduce disease severity too, research suggests.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield asked two groups of patients with and without the disease to provide details of their drinking habits. They found that patients who had drunk alcohol most frequently experienced less joint pain and swelling.
In the study, 873 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared to 1,004 people who did not have it. Both groups were asked how often they drank alcohol in the month running up to the start of the study. Patients completed a detailed questionnaire, had X-rays and blood tests, and a nurse examined their joints. The patients in the study did not drink more than the recommended limit of 10 units of alcohol a week.
It's possible that the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of alcohol may play a role in reducing the severity of symptoms, according to Dr James Maxwell consultant rheumatologist.
Patients who drank alcohol most frequently had less severe symptoms than those who had never or infrequently drunk alcohol. X-rays showed there was less damage to their joints, blood tests showed lower levels of inflammation, and there was less joint pain, swelling, and disability in those patients, the researchers found.
The study showed non-drinkers were four times more likely to develop RA than people who drank alcohol on more than 10 days a month. Previous studies have shown that alcohol may reduce the risk of developing the disease initially.
However, they do not yet understand why drinking alcohol should reduce the severity of RA, and people's susceptibility to developing it, but there is some evidence to show that alcohol suppresses the activity of the immune system, and that this may influence the pathways by which RA develops.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield asked two groups of patients with and without the disease to provide details of their drinking habits. They found that patients who had drunk alcohol most frequently experienced less joint pain and swelling.
In the study, 873 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared to 1,004 people who did not have it. Both groups were asked how often they drank alcohol in the month running up to the start of the study. Patients completed a detailed questionnaire, had X-rays and blood tests, and a nurse examined their joints. The patients in the study did not drink more than the recommended limit of 10 units of alcohol a week.
It's possible that the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of alcohol may play a role in reducing the severity of symptoms, according to Dr James Maxwell consultant rheumatologist.
Patients who drank alcohol most frequently had less severe symptoms than those who had never or infrequently drunk alcohol. X-rays showed there was less damage to their joints, blood tests showed lower levels of inflammation, and there was less joint pain, swelling, and disability in those patients, the researchers found.
The study showed non-drinkers were four times more likely to develop RA than people who drank alcohol on more than 10 days a month. Previous studies have shown that alcohol may reduce the risk of developing the disease initially.
However, they do not yet understand why drinking alcohol should reduce the severity of RA, and people's susceptibility to developing it, but there is some evidence to show that alcohol suppresses the activity of the immune system, and that this may influence the pathways by which RA develops.
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