A new and novel use for nanomaterials is ready to revolutionize food preservation. The coating is made of a thin film of nanoscale bits of clay, the same kind used to make bricks, mixed with polymers, but looks transparent. When viewed under an electron microscope, the film even looks like bricks and mortar.
The nanobrick film was recently unveiled at the National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society. It is claimed to be as impervious to air as glass is.
Snack makers have long experimented with packaging materials to keep food fresh longer. Most of the packaging processes are meant to keep out oxygen. Some examples include soda bottles coated with silicon oxide and chip bags lined with foil.
The new material would be layered onto an existing plastic package, improve its strength, and block oxygen, while still letting you see inside. Another interesting use might be to help basketballs and footballs stay inflated longer than existing balls. Of course they wouldn't need to use it for packaging bacon, it never lasts that long on the shelf.
Apr 15, 2011
Seven Wonders of the World
A global poll determined the new seven wonders of the world and they are: the 'Christ the Redeemer' statue in Rio de Janeiro; the Colosseum in Rome; the Taj Mahal in India; the Great Wall of China; the ancient city of Petra, in Jordan; the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru; and the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá, in Mexico. Interesting how our tastes have changed, such as the Colosseum, in its glory, was not considered good enough for the old list, but not that it is ruins, it is a wonder.
The old seven wonders of the world: The Great Pyramid of Egypt, Giza; the Colossus of Rhodes, Greece; the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt; the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq; the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Turkey, and the Temple of Artemis, Turkey.
Now you can see the wonders in all their breathtaking glory at National Geographic. LINK
The old seven wonders of the world: The Great Pyramid of Egypt, Giza; the Colossus of Rhodes, Greece; the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt; the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq; the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Turkey, and the Temple of Artemis, Turkey.
Now you can see the wonders in all their breathtaking glory at National Geographic. LINK
Soda Can Fizz
Here is a little tidbit that can be very handy around the holiday or anytime. You have seen how soda fizzes out all over if you drop a can or bottle. If someone shakes a can, it makes it difficult to open without making a mess. Here is a trick to prevent that from happening. Tap the side of the can and you can open it without fear of making a mess. LINK
Apr 8, 2011
Happy Friday
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
I am always prepared for the opportunity to have a Happy Friday!
I am always prepared for the opportunity to have a Happy Friday!
Do Stuff Faster
Interesting collection of videos that show how to do ordinary things faster. Some are very practical. LINK
Plastic Computer Chips
A plastic processor and printed memory show that computing doesn't have to rely on inflexible silicon.
Silicon may run the computers that surround us, but the rigid inflexibility of the semiconductor means it cannot reach everywhere. The first computer processor and memory chips made out of plastic semiconductors suggest that, someday, nothing will be out of bounds for computer power and we are getting closer every day.
Researchers in Europe used 4,000 plastic, or organic, transistors to create the plastic microprocessor, which measures roughly two centimeters square and is built on top of flexible plastic foil. "Compared to using silicon, this has the advantage of lower price and that it can be flexible," says Jan Genoe at the IMEC nanotechnology center in Leuven, Belgium.
The processor can so far run only one simple program of 16 instructions and run at a speed of six hertz, on the order of a million times slower than a modern desktop machine. Organic transistors have already been used in certain LED displays and RFID tags, but have not been combined in such numbers, or used to make a processor of any kind until now.
Making the processor begins with a 25-micrometer thick sheet of flexible plastic, like what you might wrap your lunch. A layer of gold electrodes are deposited on top, followed by an insulating layer of plastic, and the plastic semiconductors that make up the processor's 4,000 transistors. In the future, such processors could be made more cheaply by printing them. This may prove to be the future of chip technology, but personally, I still like my chips made from potatoes.
Silicon may run the computers that surround us, but the rigid inflexibility of the semiconductor means it cannot reach everywhere. The first computer processor and memory chips made out of plastic semiconductors suggest that, someday, nothing will be out of bounds for computer power and we are getting closer every day.
Researchers in Europe used 4,000 plastic, or organic, transistors to create the plastic microprocessor, which measures roughly two centimeters square and is built on top of flexible plastic foil. "Compared to using silicon, this has the advantage of lower price and that it can be flexible," says Jan Genoe at the IMEC nanotechnology center in Leuven, Belgium.
The processor can so far run only one simple program of 16 instructions and run at a speed of six hertz, on the order of a million times slower than a modern desktop machine. Organic transistors have already been used in certain LED displays and RFID tags, but have not been combined in such numbers, or used to make a processor of any kind until now.
Making the processor begins with a 25-micrometer thick sheet of flexible plastic, like what you might wrap your lunch. A layer of gold electrodes are deposited on top, followed by an insulating layer of plastic, and the plastic semiconductors that make up the processor's 4,000 transistors. In the future, such processors could be made more cheaply by printing them. This may prove to be the future of chip technology, but personally, I still like my chips made from potatoes.
Pub Sign
In the pub at Royal Hotel in Pilgrims Rest, South Africa, hangs a board engraved WYBMADIITY. Each time a customer asks what this means, the bartender says, “Will you buy me a drink if I tell you?”
Ralphs
In 1872, 22-year-old bricklayer George Albert Ralphs lost an arm in a hunting accident and was forced to find a new occupation. Ralphs took a job at a grocery store in downtown Los Angeles and saved enough money to open his own store with his brother two years later. Ralphs Bros. Grocery provided lodging for farmers who came to Los Angeles to sell their crops, enabling its founders to establish a good relationship with some of their main suppliers. By 1928, Ralphs, had 10 cash-and-carry stores. As it grew over the next several decades, it opened bakeries, creameries, and floral departments in its stores. In 1978, it introduced a line of Plain Wrap products, an alternative to name-brand items. Today, Ralphs is the largest subsidiary of Kroger.
Mobile Phones
1983, Motorola's DynaTAC (Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) 8000X was the world's first commercially-released mobile phone, with a price tag of $3,995 equivalent to $8,772.59 in today's dollars. DynaTAC and Droid below, not according to scale.
Motorola spent 15 years and over $100 million developing the technology. The DynaTAC 8000X allowed 30 minutes of talk time, took 10 hours to charge, weighed 1.75 lb., and stood 13 in. high. It is fun to watch old movies and see characters use the large bulky phones and wonder how old is that. It is younger than you think.
Motorola spent 15 years and over $100 million developing the technology. The DynaTAC 8000X allowed 30 minutes of talk time, took 10 hours to charge, weighed 1.75 lb., and stood 13 in. high. It is fun to watch old movies and see characters use the large bulky phones and wonder how old is that. It is younger than you think.
Artificial Lungs
Growing new body parts has always been more science fiction than science reality, but that balance may quickly be shifting, at least in the lab. Relying on more sophisticated biosimulators that can better mimic body conditions, researchers have re-created the delicate architecture of a rat lung accurately enough for it to assume 95% of a normal lung's inhaling and exhaling functions.
The key to their respiratory success was starting with a skeletal rat-lung template, including a matrix of blood vessels and collagen and other connective tissue, then seeding it with stem cells and nutrients to generate lifelike tissue that exchanged oxygen and carbon dioxide just like normal lung tissue. The ultimate goal is to replace enough human lung tissue to aid patients with emphysema or lung cancer.
The key to their respiratory success was starting with a skeletal rat-lung template, including a matrix of blood vessels and collagen and other connective tissue, then seeding it with stem cells and nutrients to generate lifelike tissue that exchanged oxygen and carbon dioxide just like normal lung tissue. The ultimate goal is to replace enough human lung tissue to aid patients with emphysema or lung cancer.
Apr 5, 2011
Many More Uses for Toothpaste
You probably have heard that toothpaste is a good cleaner for getting crayons off a wall, or cleaning scuffs from your running shoes, and polishing chrome. It can also help clean stains from a carpet and it is also a good idea to keep an old toothbrush for that application.
An old standby is to use toothpaste to clean water rings from wood tables. It also works as an excellent jewelry cleaner.
Back when all walls were all white, it was great to fill in nail holes in walls, especially when moving out of an apartment.
Now you can add more to your list. Use it to clean the bottom of your iron (I know some of you still use irons). Toothpaste is great for removing scuffs from leather, just rub gently and wipe. Use a dab of toothpaste, not the gel kind, to erase scratches from your iphone or a dvd. Just add a very small bit to a cotton swab or soft cloth and gently rub in a circular motion across the scratch. It is also good to clean a watch face or glasses. The key is to rub softly so you do not mar the surface and rinse with a clean damp cloth.
I have heard it stops itches from bug bites, but have not tried it for that. Use it to rub out small scratches in your car. Works like rubbing compound. Of course the best use for toothpaste is to clean your teeth. . .
An old standby is to use toothpaste to clean water rings from wood tables. It also works as an excellent jewelry cleaner.
Back when all walls were all white, it was great to fill in nail holes in walls, especially when moving out of an apartment.
Now you can add more to your list. Use it to clean the bottom of your iron (I know some of you still use irons). Toothpaste is great for removing scuffs from leather, just rub gently and wipe. Use a dab of toothpaste, not the gel kind, to erase scratches from your iphone or a dvd. Just add a very small bit to a cotton swab or soft cloth and gently rub in a circular motion across the scratch. It is also good to clean a watch face or glasses. The key is to rub softly so you do not mar the surface and rinse with a clean damp cloth.
I have heard it stops itches from bug bites, but have not tried it for that. Use it to rub out small scratches in your car. Works like rubbing compound. Of course the best use for toothpaste is to clean your teeth. . .
NATO
This week in In 1949, representatives of 12 nations gathered in Washington to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, creating the NATO alliance. (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) It now has 28 members.
NATO, headed by Admiral James Stavridis, US Navy, with operations led by Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, officially took over aerial and naval operations in Libya. The North Atlantic Council, has approved the alliance's operations for up to three months.
NATO, headed by Admiral James Stavridis, US Navy, with operations led by Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, officially took over aerial and naval operations in Libya. The North Atlantic Council, has approved the alliance's operations for up to three months.
Maple Bacon Coffee
Here is something you do not see everyday, maple and bacon flavored coffee. it's only ten bucks a pound. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds like a goodie. The site says: "The delicious flavors of sweet maple syrup and the aroma of crisp country bacon combine in this coffee brew to produce a taste you'll jump out of bed for!" Mmmm!
Facebook Statistics
It is amazing how Facebook has been growing by over a hundred million users each year for the past few years. Of course, along with that fame comes click scams and apps that steal your friend list with their email and phone numbers, ripe for the plucking. It is much more fun than scary, so enjoy, just be sure to review your security settings and do not click on anything that seems to good to be true. Here is a LINK to how people are scammed by Facebook applications and ads. Here is another LINK that shows the amazing growth from 2004, when it began to now. See ya on Facebook. . .
Apr 1, 2011
Happy Friday
The dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.
My dreams and hopes always lead me to the reality of a Happy Friday!
My dreams and hopes always lead me to the reality of a Happy Friday!
Laughter
What a better way to start April Fools day than with a discussion of laughter. It's true - laughter has many healthy benefits for us and that's no joke. For instance, Laughing for just 15 minutes a day burns enough calories to lose up to 5lbs of fat over a year. A big belly laugh uses about the same energy as walking more than half a mile, according to the US study in the International Journal of Obesity.
Laughing makes the heart beat faster and works many different muscles.
Researchers measured the number of calories expended by 45 adults as they watched different TV programs, including nature and comedy shows. Bouts of laughter when watching a funny show used up to 20% more energy than at rest.
Work already suggests that laughter is good for the heart and immune system, and appears to help ease pain. Dr Shevach Friedler, even found humor increased the chance that fertility treatment would be a success in patients seeking IVF. He said, "Laughter has a physiological effect as well as a psychological one. It is an intuitive human trait. We do not learn it. It's in our genes. If we retain this in our genes then probably it has beneficial effects." OK, go play a prank today and have a good belly laugh, it is good for your heart and soul. Be careful about that fertility thing. .
Laughing makes the heart beat faster and works many different muscles.
Researchers measured the number of calories expended by 45 adults as they watched different TV programs, including nature and comedy shows. Bouts of laughter when watching a funny show used up to 20% more energy than at rest.
Work already suggests that laughter is good for the heart and immune system, and appears to help ease pain. Dr Shevach Friedler, even found humor increased the chance that fertility treatment would be a success in patients seeking IVF. He said, "Laughter has a physiological effect as well as a psychological one. It is an intuitive human trait. We do not learn it. It's in our genes. If we retain this in our genes then probably it has beneficial effects." OK, go play a prank today and have a good belly laugh, it is good for your heart and soul. Be careful about that fertility thing. .
Speed
We have become so accustomed to speed for our internet play time that we get upset when things slow down. All Internet Service Providers (ISP) do not measure their speed equally.
ISPs are the big name companies, like Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc., that offer you service and provide an on-ramp to the internet and email from your phone or wireless access for your laptop, or iPad. They tout claims of 3G (3rd generation cellular wireless), 4G (4th generation), etc., but the claims are not truly living up to the legal descriptions of those services. For instance, the original ITU-R requirements of data rates approximately up to 1 Gbits ( 1 gigabit = a billion bits per second) for 4G systems. Average phone users get speeds of about 1Mbps (1 thousandth of a Gbits) and the minimum is 400Mbps.
Bottom line, don't believe any of the hype. All providers these days are good enough, unless your are a power user and download large amounts of data or play games with users around the world. Be happy that, for the most part, we no longer have to rely on dial-up service for our home PCs.
Here is a site where you can test your speed. LINK It takes about 30 seconds and you can see how your home system compares to others. Below are my results with Verizon FIOS.
Google's internal studies show that introducing a delay of 100 to 400 milliseconds (thousandth of a second) when displaying search results led users to conduct up to 0.6 percent fewer searches.
ISPs are the big name companies, like Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc., that offer you service and provide an on-ramp to the internet and email from your phone or wireless access for your laptop, or iPad. They tout claims of 3G (3rd generation cellular wireless), 4G (4th generation), etc., but the claims are not truly living up to the legal descriptions of those services. For instance, the original ITU-R requirements of data rates approximately up to 1 Gbits ( 1 gigabit = a billion bits per second) for 4G systems. Average phone users get speeds of about 1Mbps (1 thousandth of a Gbits) and the minimum is 400Mbps.
Bottom line, don't believe any of the hype. All providers these days are good enough, unless your are a power user and download large amounts of data or play games with users around the world. Be happy that, for the most part, we no longer have to rely on dial-up service for our home PCs.
Here is a site where you can test your speed. LINK It takes about 30 seconds and you can see how your home system compares to others. Below are my results with Verizon FIOS.
Google's internal studies show that introducing a delay of 100 to 400 milliseconds (thousandth of a second) when displaying search results led users to conduct up to 0.6 percent fewer searches.
Google Transparency
Here is a new feature from Google. It tells how many government requests it gets from around the world to remove content from services, or provide information about users of services and products, or shut down sites. It shows by country for six month increments. Sensitive government requests are not shown, due to national security concerns. Not surprisingly, the US seems to top the list for numbers of requests. LINK Personally, I am tired of the 'transparency' word. What ever happened to plain old 'truth' and 'honesty'.
LifeSavers
I'll bet most of you believe that life savers got the name because the candy resembles the life savers on boats, but that is not true. LifeSavers got their name because of their serendipitous resemblance to miniature donuts. If one of these delectable confections was accidentally inhaled and/or lodged in the throat, the hole in the middle would allow air to enter and exit the lungs, thus circumventing suffocation. They would, in fact, "save your life."
The candy was invented in 1912 by a chocolate maker named Clarence Crane. Stores typically cut back on their chocolate orders during the summer because the candy would melt on the way to the store. Clarence decided to make a different kind of candy that would be easier to transport during the hot weather. He found a druggist with a pill-making machine that he could use. When the machine malfunctioned and punched a hole in the center of each mint (the original flavor), Clarence realized that he had a revolutionary product on his hands.
The candy was invented in 1912 by a chocolate maker named Clarence Crane. Stores typically cut back on their chocolate orders during the summer because the candy would melt on the way to the store. Clarence decided to make a different kind of candy that would be easier to transport during the hot weather. He found a druggist with a pill-making machine that he could use. When the machine malfunctioned and punched a hole in the center of each mint (the original flavor), Clarence realized that he had a revolutionary product on his hands.
Video Cameras
In 1956, Ray Dolby, Charles Ginsberg, and Charles Anderson invented a video camera (records electronic images) that was the first machine to record both image and sound. The machines sold for $75,000 each and only sold to large TV networks until the 80's. The first commercial color video camera to utilize a completely solid-state image sensor called a charge-coupled-device (CCD) was developed by Sony in 1980.
Now we make homemade movies with an HD Video camera or hand-held camcorder (videocamera recorder) that can easily fit in any pant pocket.
Now we make homemade movies with an HD Video camera or hand-held camcorder (videocamera recorder) that can easily fit in any pant pocket.
Mar 29, 2011
Tally Ho
A few hundred years ago, as the Englishmen were out on a hunt, they would yell out "Tallio, hoix, hark, forward". Which came from a long French phrase not worth spelling out. The cry is meant to encourage the hunting dogs and get them moving, kind of like saying giddyup to a horse. Mercifully, it has been abbreviated to simply "Tally-ho."
Spam a Lot
Have you ever wondered how much spammers make and how many spam emails are sent out? UC San Diego and the International Computer Science Institute wondered too, so they hijacked a botnet to find out. The team intentionally infected eight computers with a middleman virus, software they found that was relaying instructions between a botmaster computer and the network of computers it had secretly turned into spam-sending zombies. That is how many viruses work.
They changed the orders for their own research. Instead of sending people to the botmaster’s website, spam ads instead funneled them to a site built by the team. It looked like an authentic Internet pharmacy, but didn't take orders, it just gave an error message. The team used the info to calculate an estimate of how much money the spammer grossed per day.
Interesting statistics from the spam experiment - 23.8% of messages were actually delivered, of those, .0127% of people responded, and 2.66% went to the site to buy something for an average price $100. In all, they infected just 550 PCs which each sent out an average number of 1.7 million emails per day. The average daily take was about $7,000. Annual take $2.55 million.
Considering that spammers infect much higher numbers of PCs and some mail out many more than 1.7 million messages, and they do it 7 days a week, it begins to quickly add up. If you just did five times that amount, it comes to $12.8 million a year. Not too bad for a few lines of code and letting all the others do your mailing.
They changed the orders for their own research. Instead of sending people to the botmaster’s website, spam ads instead funneled them to a site built by the team. It looked like an authentic Internet pharmacy, but didn't take orders, it just gave an error message. The team used the info to calculate an estimate of how much money the spammer grossed per day.
Interesting statistics from the spam experiment - 23.8% of messages were actually delivered, of those, .0127% of people responded, and 2.66% went to the site to buy something for an average price $100. In all, they infected just 550 PCs which each sent out an average number of 1.7 million emails per day. The average daily take was about $7,000. Annual take $2.55 million.
Considering that spammers infect much higher numbers of PCs and some mail out many more than 1.7 million messages, and they do it 7 days a week, it begins to quickly add up. If you just did five times that amount, it comes to $12.8 million a year. Not too bad for a few lines of code and letting all the others do your mailing.
What's in a Name
When George Lucas was mixing the American Graffiti soundtrack, he numbered the reels of film starting with an R and numbered the dialog starting with a D. Sound designer Walter Murch asked George for Reel 2, Dialog 2 by saying "R2D2". George liked the way that sounded so much he integrated that into one of his other projects, Star Wars.
Denny's Made Up Name
My buddy, John Chapman sent this LINK to me. Seems Denny's has come up with Baconalia to describe a bunch of new dishes containing bacon, including bacon meatloaf, bacon maple sundae, and more. They call it a bacon love-fest. Mmmm, time for breakfast.
Mar 26, 2011
Happy Friday
You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.
I plan to plop down in my favorite chair, have a good belly laugh, and prepare to have a Happy Friday!
I plan to plop down in my favorite chair, have a good belly laugh, and prepare to have a Happy Friday!
Blue Roses
In some cultures, blue roses traditionally signify a mystery, or attaining the impossible, or never ending quest for the impossible. They are believed to be able to grant the owner youth or grant wishes. Historically, this symbolism derives from the rose's meaning in the language of flowers common in Victorian times.
The color blue is also traditionally associated with royal blood, and thus the blue rose can also denote regal majesty and splendor. In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love.
Due to the absence in nature of blue roses they have come to symbolize mystery and longing to attain the impossible with some cultures believing that the holder of a blue rose will have his wishes granted. In 2004, researchers used genetic modification to create blue pigmented roses, but they were a bit dark and leaned more to lavender. Recent work using cloned pigments from Irises, along with depressing the production of cyanidin has produced a mauve colored flower, with only trace amounts of cyanidin. Genetically modified blue roses are patented and currently being grown in test batches by Suntory Ltd., Japan
The color blue is also traditionally associated with royal blood, and thus the blue rose can also denote regal majesty and splendor. In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love.
Due to the absence in nature of blue roses they have come to symbolize mystery and longing to attain the impossible with some cultures believing that the holder of a blue rose will have his wishes granted. In 2004, researchers used genetic modification to create blue pigmented roses, but they were a bit dark and leaned more to lavender. Recent work using cloned pigments from Irises, along with depressing the production of cyanidin has produced a mauve colored flower, with only trace amounts of cyanidin. Genetically modified blue roses are patented and currently being grown in test batches by Suntory Ltd., Japan
Five Ways to Find Someone on the Web
There are a dwindling number of sites that provide name or phone number info for free. Seems we all need to make a living. There are a few interesting sites that provide more information about you than you might like to see. One of them is 123people.com. Type in your name and it spits out a host of information, like pictures, addresses, comments you may have posted on the web, facebook and myspace account info, plus much more. Worth a visit.
Scam callers are an increasing problem but there are a few sites to report the information and you can use them to see if anyone else complained about a particular number. One site Identifycallers lets you post comments and read others comments.
Whitepages.com and yellowpages,com offer name to number and number to name lookups for people or businesses, just as the paper versions do.
Addictomatic is another site that offers a wealth of information, mainly from blogs, tweets, YouTube, Yahoo, facebook, etc., but not personal info, such as address, phone.
Scam callers are an increasing problem but there are a few sites to report the information and you can use them to see if anyone else complained about a particular number. One site Identifycallers lets you post comments and read others comments.
Whitepages.com and yellowpages,com offer name to number and number to name lookups for people or businesses, just as the paper versions do.
Addictomatic is another site that offers a wealth of information, mainly from blogs, tweets, YouTube, Yahoo, facebook, etc., but not personal info, such as address, phone.
Kroger's
Barney Kroger used his life’s savings of $372 to open his first store, The Great Western Tea Company, in 1883 in downtown Cincinnati. (Remember A&P, it was the great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. It started in 1869.)
By 1902, Kroger had opened 40 stores and renamed it the Kroger Grocery and Baking Company. Less than 20 years later, the company had grown to more than 5,000 stores nationwide. Kroger’s stores featured bakeries and were among the first to combine meat markets and grocery stores under one roof.
He advertised regularly in newspapers and started a private-label line of goods to sell in his stores, including sauerkraut and pickles made by his mother. Kroger retired in 1928, but the company continued to grow and remained a pioneer in the industry. In 1972, Kroger was reportedly the first grocery retailer to test an electronic scanner. Today, Kroger has sales of more than $70 billion.
By 1902, Kroger had opened 40 stores and renamed it the Kroger Grocery and Baking Company. Less than 20 years later, the company had grown to more than 5,000 stores nationwide. Kroger’s stores featured bakeries and were among the first to combine meat markets and grocery stores under one roof.
He advertised regularly in newspapers and started a private-label line of goods to sell in his stores, including sauerkraut and pickles made by his mother. Kroger retired in 1928, but the company continued to grow and remained a pioneer in the industry. In 1972, Kroger was reportedly the first grocery retailer to test an electronic scanner. Today, Kroger has sales of more than $70 billion.
Laughter as Medicine
The old adage "laughter is the best medicine" has proved its worth among children coping with pain, according medical experts in the US, who found laughter helped children relax, which had a major impact on how they dealt with and accepted pain.
They believe the healing power of humor can reduce pain and stimulate immune function in children with cancer, Aids, or diabetes and in children receiving organ transplants and bone marrow treatments. Their study reinforces practices adopted by UK hospitals, where laughter is used as a tool to make hospital wards a friendlier place.
Dr Margaret Stuber, who led the US research, said, "We think laughter could be used to help children who are undergoing painful procedures or who suffer from pain-expectation anxiety. In the future, patients watching humorous videos could become a standard component of some medical procedures."
They asked 21 children aged eight to 14 to put their hand into cold water and found the whole group tolerated the temperature longer while watching a funny video.
Those who laughed most remembered less of the pain and hormone tests on their saliva showed their stress levels were lower after laughing.
Dr Stuber said: "Rx Laughter's goal is to ease ill children through some of these medical procedures and minimize the traumatic effects that children experience. The US study, Rx Laughter, is a collaboration between the entertainment industry, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
"In some instances laughter may even reduce the amount of anesthesia necessary."
Distraction therapy
Hospitals in the UK have recognized the power of laughter and some use "clown doctors" to go into children's wards and inject a bit of fun. The team of 10 clown doctors visit about 30,000 children and their families every year at hospitals in London, Manchester and Cambridge.
Humorous videos, especially cartoons, are already used in anesthetic rooms at Manchester Children's Hospital. They have found the videos help the children relax before going into the operating room. Go ahead and have a great laugh today. it's good for you.
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They believe the healing power of humor can reduce pain and stimulate immune function in children with cancer, Aids, or diabetes and in children receiving organ transplants and bone marrow treatments. Their study reinforces practices adopted by UK hospitals, where laughter is used as a tool to make hospital wards a friendlier place.
Dr Margaret Stuber, who led the US research, said, "We think laughter could be used to help children who are undergoing painful procedures or who suffer from pain-expectation anxiety. In the future, patients watching humorous videos could become a standard component of some medical procedures."
They asked 21 children aged eight to 14 to put their hand into cold water and found the whole group tolerated the temperature longer while watching a funny video.
Those who laughed most remembered less of the pain and hormone tests on their saliva showed their stress levels were lower after laughing.
Dr Stuber said: "Rx Laughter's goal is to ease ill children through some of these medical procedures and minimize the traumatic effects that children experience. The US study, Rx Laughter, is a collaboration between the entertainment industry, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
"In some instances laughter may even reduce the amount of anesthesia necessary."
Distraction therapy
Hospitals in the UK have recognized the power of laughter and some use "clown doctors" to go into children's wards and inject a bit of fun. The team of 10 clown doctors visit about 30,000 children and their families every year at hospitals in London, Manchester and Cambridge.
Humorous videos, especially cartoons, are already used in anesthetic rooms at Manchester Children's Hospital. They have found the videos help the children relax before going into the operating room. Go ahead and have a great laugh today. it's good for you.
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Penicillin
Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming's desk was often littered with small glass dishes filled with bacteria cultures scraped from boils, abscesses, and infections. Fleming allowed the cultures to sit around for weeks, hoping something interesting would turn up.
One day, he decided to clean the bacteria-filled dishes and dumped them into a tub of disinfectant. He soon noticed a dish in the tub, which was still above the surface of the water and cleaning agent. As he did, Fleming suddenly saw a dab of fungus on one side of the dish, which had killed the bacteria. The fungus turned out to be a rare strain of penicillium that had drifted onto the dish from an open window.
Fleming began testing the fungus and found that it killed deadly bacteria, yet was harmless to human tissue. However, he was unable to produce it in any significant quantity and didn’t believe it would be effective in treating disease, but he wrote up the findings in a paper he presented to the scientific community. A decade later, another team of scientists followed up on his lead. Using more sophisticated techniques, they were able to successfully produce one of the most life-saving drugs in modern medicine.
One day, he decided to clean the bacteria-filled dishes and dumped them into a tub of disinfectant. He soon noticed a dish in the tub, which was still above the surface of the water and cleaning agent. As he did, Fleming suddenly saw a dab of fungus on one side of the dish, which had killed the bacteria. The fungus turned out to be a rare strain of penicillium that had drifted onto the dish from an open window.
Fleming began testing the fungus and found that it killed deadly bacteria, yet was harmless to human tissue. However, he was unable to produce it in any significant quantity and didn’t believe it would be effective in treating disease, but he wrote up the findings in a paper he presented to the scientific community. A decade later, another team of scientists followed up on his lead. Using more sophisticated techniques, they were able to successfully produce one of the most life-saving drugs in modern medicine.
Mar 22, 2011
Wayback Machine
If you are interested in what a particular web site used to look like, you can use the Wayback Machine website to help. It shows a calendar and you pick the date you wish to see what the site looked like. I mentioned this last year, but thought it was worth mentioning again.
Some get around it and the pages are no longer available. For instance, I was looking up some info from the Obama campaign where he answered questions that were sent in. The pages have all been replaced with a page that sends you to the whitehouse.gov site. LINK Seems the answers from back then might not be the same today and we might be confused. However, I did manage to find a way to the original site by another means.
Some get around it and the pages are no longer available. For instance, I was looking up some info from the Obama campaign where he answered questions that were sent in. The pages have all been replaced with a page that sends you to the whitehouse.gov site. LINK Seems the answers from back then might not be the same today and we might be confused. However, I did manage to find a way to the original site by another means.
Sortie and Sally
The papers have been mentioning that the military has been making many sorties over Libya. A sortie is an offensive military mission. The term was used originally to mean an attack from a fortress, but now most commonly used to describe a single mission by a single military aircraft. it can also be called a sally, which is an action to burst forth (sally forth). Sortie was first used in the 1700s and comes from the French, sortir, to go out.
More on Sally and Sally forth - Sally ports" were a feature of castles and fortresses, a closely-guarded opening in the wall of a castle designed to mount quick attacks on whatever enemy army might be besieging the castle. A "sally," from the Latin "salire" meaning "to jump," was originally a sudden rush out of a besieged position, a lightning attack designed to surprise the enemy. The troops would sortie from the Sally Port. A good soldier does not sally slowly.
More on Sally and Sally forth - Sally ports" were a feature of castles and fortresses, a closely-guarded opening in the wall of a castle designed to mount quick attacks on whatever enemy army might be besieging the castle. A "sally," from the Latin "salire" meaning "to jump," was originally a sudden rush out of a besieged position, a lightning attack designed to surprise the enemy. The troops would sortie from the Sally Port. A good soldier does not sally slowly.
Sally Forth Comics
There were two comic strips named Sally Forth. Sally Forth was a syndicated comic strip from the sixties and seventies about a voluptuous female soldier, targeted at overseas US servicemen. A second, unrelated strip, started in the eighties (and still being produced) was about a sarcastic, American, middle-class mother at home and work. Her name was a takeoff to describe her adventures.
Dirty Dishes
A change in dishwasher detergents that became final in 2010 may cause some changes in your kitchen. The new formulas lack phosphates, chemicals that are bad for the environment, but good for cleaning. Check the package and try something new for a change. Your old cleaner may not have been reformulated to replace the cleaning power of the old ingredients. Does your old cleaner seem as effective as it used to? Do you seem to use more to get those dirty dishes clean?
Consumer Reports, in September 2010, generally scored tablets and packets higher than cheaper powders and gels, but it said new products are still evolving. Rinse aids help, and are often combined with detergents in the newer products. If you spot spots, it's time to change.
Consumer Reports, in September 2010, generally scored tablets and packets higher than cheaper powders and gels, but it said new products are still evolving. Rinse aids help, and are often combined with detergents in the newer products. If you spot spots, it's time to change.
Mar 18, 2011
Voice Mail
Do you remember answering machines? They were a precursor to voice mail systems of today. In 1986, Scott Jones and Greg Carr started Boston Technologies, and began working on a system where you could dial a number and find out stock information. One good idea led to another and the pair thought they could provide people with built in voice mail.
Until 1988, all phone companies besides AT&T were legally banned from providing voice mail. When the ruling was reversed, the pair approached several telecom companies and got financial backing. Within 3 months, their ideas were realized. Voice mail is slowing in popularity with some age groups due to text messaging, but is still a staple of the telecommunications industry. I don't think voice mail will be replaced for a while.
Until 1988, all phone companies besides AT&T were legally banned from providing voice mail. When the ruling was reversed, the pair approached several telecom companies and got financial backing. Within 3 months, their ideas were realized. Voice mail is slowing in popularity with some age groups due to text messaging, but is still a staple of the telecommunications industry. I don't think voice mail will be replaced for a while.
Iodine and Nuclear Fallout
There has been a run on iodine pills in Hawaii, Finland, and some European countries where people are expecting trips to Japan or are worried about Nuclear fallout.
Iodine may be used in radioiodine-contamination emergencies, such as nuclear accidents, to "block" the thyroid's uptake of radioiodine.
Potassium iodide was approved in 1982 by the US FDA to protect the thyroid glands from radioactive iodine from accidents or fission emergencies. In the event of an accident or attack at a nuclear power plant, or fallout from a nuclear bomb, volatile fission product radionuclides may be released, of which 131I is one of the most common by-products and a particularly dangerous one due to thyroid gland concentration of it and this may lead to thyroid cancer. By saturating the body with a source of stable iodide prior to exposure, inhaled or ingested 131I tends to be excreted.
Potassium iodide’s value as a radiation protective (thyroid blocking) agent was demonstrated at the time of the Chernobyl nuclear accident when Soviet authorities distributed it in a 30 km zone around the plant. The purpose was to protect residents from radioactive iodine, a highly carcinogenic material found in nuclear reactors which had been released by the damaged reactor.
Potassium iodide cannot protect against any other causes of radiation poisoning, nor can it provide any degree of protection against dirty bombs that produce radionuclides other than isotopes of iodine. Also, using common table salt is not an effective substitute. Even with that, salt supplies have been almost completely depleted in stores around Japan.
Iodine may be used in radioiodine-contamination emergencies, such as nuclear accidents, to "block" the thyroid's uptake of radioiodine.
Potassium iodide was approved in 1982 by the US FDA to protect the thyroid glands from radioactive iodine from accidents or fission emergencies. In the event of an accident or attack at a nuclear power plant, or fallout from a nuclear bomb, volatile fission product radionuclides may be released, of which 131I is one of the most common by-products and a particularly dangerous one due to thyroid gland concentration of it and this may lead to thyroid cancer. By saturating the body with a source of stable iodide prior to exposure, inhaled or ingested 131I tends to be excreted.
Potassium iodide’s value as a radiation protective (thyroid blocking) agent was demonstrated at the time of the Chernobyl nuclear accident when Soviet authorities distributed it in a 30 km zone around the plant. The purpose was to protect residents from radioactive iodine, a highly carcinogenic material found in nuclear reactors which had been released by the damaged reactor.
Potassium iodide cannot protect against any other causes of radiation poisoning, nor can it provide any degree of protection against dirty bombs that produce radionuclides other than isotopes of iodine. Also, using common table salt is not an effective substitute. Even with that, salt supplies have been almost completely depleted in stores around Japan.
Corn Flakes
They were also the first to add a goodies in the cereal box to boost sales, a Funny Jungleland Moving Picture Booklet was first in the early 1900s. Battle Creek is still home to Kellogg and hosts a major Balloon Festival every year. I'll bet you didn't know the name of the corn flake mascot, since 1959, is Cornelius (Corny) Rooster.
Exabytes
From bites to bytes - Last year, manufacturers shipped 5.1 exabytes of storage devices. An exabyte is a quintillion bytes, or a thousand trillion. Below are some more interesting tidbits about exabytes and the internet.
* In 2004, global monthly Internet traffic passed 1 exabyte for the first time and six years later, it is estimated at 21 exabytes per month, or 252 exabytes per year.
* Mobile data traffic is growing faster than non-mobile traffic, has tripled each year for the past three years, and is projected to rise another 26-fold to about 75 exabytes per year by 2015. (The top 1 percent of mobile data subscribers generate over 20 percent of mobile data traffic,)
* Non-mobile internet traffic has averaged 151% growth each year since 1997.
* By 2013, annual global internet traffic will reach two-thirds of a zettabyte or 667 exabytes.
* Global mobile data traffic will reach over two exabytes per month by 2013.
* It is estimated that there was 988 exabytes of data created last year, 2010. That is over 18 million times the amount of information contained in all the books ever written.
* In 2004, global monthly Internet traffic passed 1 exabyte for the first time and six years later, it is estimated at 21 exabytes per month, or 252 exabytes per year.
* Mobile data traffic is growing faster than non-mobile traffic, has tripled each year for the past three years, and is projected to rise another 26-fold to about 75 exabytes per year by 2015. (The top 1 percent of mobile data subscribers generate over 20 percent of mobile data traffic,)
* Non-mobile internet traffic has averaged 151% growth each year since 1997.
* By 2013, annual global internet traffic will reach two-thirds of a zettabyte or 667 exabytes.
* Global mobile data traffic will reach over two exabytes per month by 2013.
* It is estimated that there was 988 exabytes of data created last year, 2010. That is over 18 million times the amount of information contained in all the books ever written.
Bytes in Perspective
Below is the sequence of names for describing digital information - Think of a byte as a letter or number, such as 1 or T. A kilobyte is exactly1,024 bytes, but common usage rounds it to a thousand. One page of text is about one kilobyte.
Here are some more comparisons to give you a sense of scale - A terabyte is roughly a trillion bytes and our national debt is measured in trillions of dollars. One terabyte can hold about 3.6 million images or about 300 hours of good quality video. A terabyte can hold 1,000 copies of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Ten terabytes can hold the total printed collection of the Library of Congress. We are adding about a terabyte of information to the internet roughly every minute of every day.
kilobyte (kB) 103
megabyte (MB) 106
gigabyte (GB) 109
terabyte (TB) 1012
petabyte (PB) 1015
exabyte (EB) 1018
zettabyte (ZB) 1021
yottabyte 1024
There are more names going up to ten to the 63rd power, but only those above have so far been approved. I have a friend who is so old, he remembers plain old bytes, now we have moved from Kilobytes to Exabytes. Hope to be around for the Yottabyte revolution.
Here are some more comparisons to give you a sense of scale - A terabyte is roughly a trillion bytes and our national debt is measured in trillions of dollars. One terabyte can hold about 3.6 million images or about 300 hours of good quality video. A terabyte can hold 1,000 copies of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Ten terabytes can hold the total printed collection of the Library of Congress. We are adding about a terabyte of information to the internet roughly every minute of every day.
kilobyte (kB) 103
megabyte (MB) 106
gigabyte (GB) 109
terabyte (TB) 1012
petabyte (PB) 1015
exabyte (EB) 1018
zettabyte (ZB) 1021
yottabyte 1024
There are more names going up to ten to the 63rd power, but only those above have so far been approved. I have a friend who is so old, he remembers plain old bytes, now we have moved from Kilobytes to Exabytes. Hope to be around for the Yottabyte revolution.
How to Make a Book
This YouTube shows the way books used to be made, all by hand and machines. We have come a long way from those days and modern machines spit books out one-at-a-time on demand. New printing presses act more like high speed copiers. There is no paper and no process from digital book to hard copy book. The video, in old news style, is nine minutes and takes you from typing a manuscript to a mechanically finished book. Interesting to watch. You may remember from a previous Friday Thoughts why paper and pages are the size they are.
Mar 15, 2011
Kinect
This revolutionary technology is mostly unknown to people that do not play computer games. Kinect uses a 3D camera and motion recognition software to let people play videogames on the Xbox 360 using natural body movements and voice commands instead of hand-held controllers. Watch for many hackers developing cool ways to use this gesture sensing technology for interacting with computers.
Microsoft tells us that sales of the gesture-sensing Kinect for the Xbox 360 videogame console makes it the fastest-selling consumer electronics device ever and it has sold more than 10 million standalone Kinect games worldwide.
Microsoft sold an average of 133,333 Kinect units per day between the day of its launch on November 4 and January 3. No other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span. Amazing that profoundly changing technology comes out as a game first. Move over Apple, Microsoft has a hit.
Microsoft tells us that sales of the gesture-sensing Kinect for the Xbox 360 videogame console makes it the fastest-selling consumer electronics device ever and it has sold more than 10 million standalone Kinect games worldwide.
Microsoft sold an average of 133,333 Kinect units per day between the day of its launch on November 4 and January 3. No other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span. Amazing that profoundly changing technology comes out as a game first. Move over Apple, Microsoft has a hit.
If I had my Druthers
Have you ever thought about what a 'druther' is? This is an American phrase that began popping up in the late 1800s. It's short for 'would rather' or I'd rather'. It means 'If I had my choice'. It is usually used in the plural, but can be singular.
There was a Johnny Mercer song: If I had my druthers, I'd druther have my druthers, than anything else I know. Also, John Denver: If I had my druthers I'd go fishin, Find myself a lake and a lazy day, If I had my druthers I'd quit wishin, Get off the old caboose get on my way. If I had my druthers, I would rather read some of Shubnell's books.
There was a Johnny Mercer song: If I had my druthers, I'd druther have my druthers, than anything else I know. Also, John Denver: If I had my druthers I'd go fishin, Find myself a lake and a lazy day, If I had my druthers I'd quit wishin, Get off the old caboose get on my way. If I had my druthers, I would rather read some of Shubnell's books.
Searching in a Kayak
Kayak.com is an interesting meta-search engine. Kayak itself sells nothing, but what it does do is find airline prices and information. That's something that had been limited to Priceline, Orbitz, etc., and the airline sites.
When you log onto Kayak.com, you are presented with a simple search form that asks where you wish to travel. You can search for one-way or round-trip trips, as well as multi-city itineraries. Clicking the "Search multiple sites" button starts the action.
The results page graphic shows airline websites being scanned for their up-to-the-moment information. Kayak has the ability to go to nearly all of the airline databases, extract their information and reformat it into something understandable. The animated display also shows you an interim status of specific airlines that are being scanned at that moment.
When Kayak is done, you are presented with an ordered list of flights that meet your search criteria. The default is to sort them by price, from the most economical to the very expensive, but can change the sequence as you desire. It has many other cool features and can also help with hotels, cars, etc. A great alternative that is not beholding to any airline.
When you log onto Kayak.com, you are presented with a simple search form that asks where you wish to travel. You can search for one-way or round-trip trips, as well as multi-city itineraries. Clicking the "Search multiple sites" button starts the action.
The results page graphic shows airline websites being scanned for their up-to-the-moment information. Kayak has the ability to go to nearly all of the airline databases, extract their information and reformat it into something understandable. The animated display also shows you an interim status of specific airlines that are being scanned at that moment.
When Kayak is done, you are presented with an ordered list of flights that meet your search criteria. The default is to sort them by price, from the most economical to the very expensive, but can change the sequence as you desire. It has many other cool features and can also help with hotels, cars, etc. A great alternative that is not beholding to any airline.
Mar 11, 2011
Happy Friday
Humility is a virtue all men preach, few practice, and yet everybody is content to hear.
I don't preach, I practice and am always content with having a Happy Friday!
I don't preach, I practice and am always content with having a Happy Friday!
Laughter Competition
The United States' first-ever laughing championship takes place tomorrow, Mar 12, in San Luis Obispo, CA. A few dozen gigglers, guffawers, snigglers, and chortlers will laugh it up in hopes of winning the coveted title of "California's Best Laugher."
The contestants will compete in events, such as "Best Diabolical Laugh" and "Most Contagious Laugh" and face off in "Laughter Duels" to see who can make the other person crack up most.
It's part of a serious effort by Albert Nerenberg to raise awareness of the power of laughter. He says, "When two people laugh together, there is a limbic lock. Their brains actually merge and they're on the same frequency."
We all know laughter is good for you mentally and physically, but, wow, a 'limbic lock'. It almost sounds lewd. I looked it up and found - The immediate, involuntary reaction involves the most direct communication possible between people – brain to brain – with our intellect just going for the ride. It actually causes a physical sensation.
The contestants will compete in events, such as "Best Diabolical Laugh" and "Most Contagious Laugh" and face off in "Laughter Duels" to see who can make the other person crack up most.
It's part of a serious effort by Albert Nerenberg to raise awareness of the power of laughter. He says, "When two people laugh together, there is a limbic lock. Their brains actually merge and they're on the same frequency."
We all know laughter is good for you mentally and physically, but, wow, a 'limbic lock'. It almost sounds lewd. I looked it up and found - The immediate, involuntary reaction involves the most direct communication possible between people – brain to brain – with our intellect just going for the ride. It actually causes a physical sensation.
Cold Weather Balm
It is almost time to put away the lip balm as spring is here. It is OK to sneak a rub in the summer as you slather your lips in this bacon balm. Make your man love you even more. Mmmm!
Flexi Straws
Did you ever think about how they came up with this little device? Joseph Friedman was sitting at his brother's soda shop, watching his daughter drink a milkshake. She was struggling to drink her beverage through a straight paper straw, but she was short and could hardly reach the end.
He thought about how he could help and inserted a screw into the straw. He then wrapped and tightened floss around the straw to create a ribbed texture. When he took the screw out, the straw naturally bent over the rim of the glass and his daughter was able to drink with ease. He patented his idea in 1937 and started his own company to produce the straw. The rights to the flexible straw were eventually sold to the Maryland Cup Corporation, which now sells about 500 million of them every year.
He thought about how he could help and inserted a screw into the straw. He then wrapped and tightened floss around the straw to create a ribbed texture. When he took the screw out, the straw naturally bent over the rim of the glass and his daughter was able to drink with ease. He patented his idea in 1937 and started his own company to produce the straw. The rights to the flexible straw were eventually sold to the Maryland Cup Corporation, which now sells about 500 million of them every year.
What's in a Name
Nintendo - The three words “Nin” “ten” “do” is Japanese for “we do all that we can, as best as we can, and await the results.” Nintendo is a motto and company name all in one.
Iodine
In the early 19th century, Bernard Courtois had a factory that produced saltpeter (potassium nitrate), which was a key ingredient in ammunition, and thus a hot commodity in Napoleon’s France. On top of that, Courtois had figured out how to fatten his profits and get his saltpeter potassium cheaply. He collected the seaweed that washed up daily on the shores, burned it, and extracted the potassium from the ashes.
One day, while his workers were cleaning the tanks used for extracting potassium, they accidentally used a stronger acid than usual and strange clouds billowed from the tank. He noticed dark crystals on all the surfaces that had come into contact with the fumes. He had them analyzed and discovered previously unknown element, which he named iodine, after the Greek word for “violet.”
Iodine is plentiful in saltwater and concentrated in seaweed. It was soon discovered that goiters, enlargements of the thyroid gland, were caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. Eventually, in addition to its other uses, iodine his routinely added to table salt. Of course you know that they also put in other ingredients to keep the salt from clumping like it used to. For you old timers, rice in the shaker is no longer needed. Check the container next time you buy salt to see if it is iodized.
One day, while his workers were cleaning the tanks used for extracting potassium, they accidentally used a stronger acid than usual and strange clouds billowed from the tank. He noticed dark crystals on all the surfaces that had come into contact with the fumes. He had them analyzed and discovered previously unknown element, which he named iodine, after the Greek word for “violet.”
Iodine is plentiful in saltwater and concentrated in seaweed. It was soon discovered that goiters, enlargements of the thyroid gland, were caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. Eventually, in addition to its other uses, iodine his routinely added to table salt. Of course you know that they also put in other ingredients to keep the salt from clumping like it used to. For you old timers, rice in the shaker is no longer needed. Check the container next time you buy salt to see if it is iodized.
Nike Swoosh
The Nike swoosh was created in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student University student, and purchased by Nike for $35, based on the $2 per hour he was paying her. In 1983, Knight gave Davidson a diamond Swoosh ring and an envelope filled with Nike stock to express his ongoing gratitude.
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