Oct 12, 2012
Wordology, Naked and Nude
Naked implies unprotected or
vulnerable or without clothes. It also describes something that is
without embellishment, as in the 'naked truth' or without aid, as in
'seen by the naked eye'. Nude means one thing, unclothed.
Moon Size
Did you ever wonder how large the moon is. Here
is a picture comparing it to the United States.
Plastic Hanger Fix
If you have clothes slipping off of
plastic hangers, put a few dobs of hot glue along the top and let it
dry, to provide some traction. Your clothes will no longer slip off
the hangers.
Oct 9, 2012
Flu Season
It is that time of year again when the flu
bugs invade and many people get the flu or a cold. Most viruses last
a week or less, while others last for weeks. There is no cure, due
to the many varieties of viruses.
The name “common cold” came into use in the 1500s, because its symptoms seemed to appear in cold weather. Of course, we now know that a common cold is not limited to cold weather. It seems more prevalent, because people spend more time indoors in close proximity to each other and sharing the virus.
Good news, kissing reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby lowering blood pressure and optimizing immune response. Also, kissing a person with a cold will not cause you to catch it. The quantity of virus on the lips and mouth are miniscule.
Zinc, echinacea, vitamin C, garlic, eucalyptus, honey, lemon, menthol, steam, hot toddies, alcohol, Zicam, chicken soup, and many other “cures” have been repeatedly tested and have been scientifically proven to not prevent or shorten the duration of a cold. At best they provide some physical relief.
Flu shots are designed to prevent the most common types of virus. Most are effective for only those types.
Antibiotics do not cure a cold as they work on bacteria and most colds are caused by virus. However, if it is bacterial, such as half of pneumonia strains, it does help. Bacterial pneumonia usually comes on suddenly and viral types take some time to develop.
The name “common cold” came into use in the 1500s, because its symptoms seemed to appear in cold weather. Of course, we now know that a common cold is not limited to cold weather. It seems more prevalent, because people spend more time indoors in close proximity to each other and sharing the virus.
Good news, kissing reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby lowering blood pressure and optimizing immune response. Also, kissing a person with a cold will not cause you to catch it. The quantity of virus on the lips and mouth are miniscule.
Zinc, echinacea, vitamin C, garlic, eucalyptus, honey, lemon, menthol, steam, hot toddies, alcohol, Zicam, chicken soup, and many other “cures” have been repeatedly tested and have been scientifically proven to not prevent or shorten the duration of a cold. At best they provide some physical relief.
Flu shots are designed to prevent the most common types of virus. Most are effective for only those types.
Antibiotics do not cure a cold as they work on bacteria and most colds are caused by virus. However, if it is bacterial, such as half of pneumonia strains, it does help. Bacterial pneumonia usually comes on suddenly and viral types take some time to develop.
Smaller is Better
Here’s a challenge: envision a trillionth of something. You might
think of one penny compared to 10 billion dollars.
Now you can add one more thing to the list, thanks to researchers in Zurich: a picometer, or a trillionth of a meter, is around the smallest distance that humans can resolve with a microscope. A team from IBM has refined their method to precisely measure the structural details of a single molecule. That is 3 picometers or 0.000000000003 meters. That’s one-hundredth the diameter of an atom.
Now you can add one more thing to the list, thanks to researchers in Zurich: a picometer, or a trillionth of a meter, is around the smallest distance that humans can resolve with a microscope. A team from IBM has refined their method to precisely measure the structural details of a single molecule. That is 3 picometers or 0.000000000003 meters. That’s one-hundredth the diameter of an atom.
Money Diet
A few years ago, baseball pitcher Curt Schilling started to get a bit pudgy. When the Boston Red Sox re-signed
him to a one-year deal with $8 million before the 2008 season, it
included a clause in which Schilling could pick up an extra $2
million if he made weight at six random weigh-ins over the course of
the season.
Schilling picked up a $333,333 check each time he didn’t tip the scales too far.
Schilling picked up a $333,333 check each time he didn’t tip the scales too far.
Safety Glass Origin
In 1903 Edouard Benedictus, a French
scientist, dropped glass flask and it did not shatter.
The pieces of glass were broken, but they stayed in place and maintained the shape of the container. Upon investigation Benedictus found the flask had originally contained a solution of cellulose nitrate, a liquid plastic that had evaporated.
This was the first type of safety glass developed, a product which is now frequently used in car windshields, safety goggles, doors, stairs, bank protection shields, and more.
The pieces of glass were broken, but they stayed in place and maintained the shape of the container. Upon investigation Benedictus found the flask had originally contained a solution of cellulose nitrate, a liquid plastic that had evaporated.
This was the first type of safety glass developed, a product which is now frequently used in car windshields, safety goggles, doors, stairs, bank protection shields, and more.
Oct 5, 2012
Happy Friday
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the
soul.
You can see it on my face that I maintain the enthusiasm for having a Happy Friday!
You can see it on my face that I maintain the enthusiasm for having a Happy Friday!
Five Handy Kitchen Tips
Keep your onions in the
refrigerator. A chilled onion is easier to chop, and causes fewer
tears.
If you use seltzer instead of tap water or milk, you get fluffier pancakes, waffles, and scrambled eggs.
To freeze berries, spread them on a pan or plate and freeze, then take out and put into freezer bags. That way they stay separate and not in one big lump.
Keep milk fresher for longer by adding a dash of salt into the carton right after opening it for the first time.
Take your eggs out of the refrigerator and let sit out so that when you begin breakfast the eggs are at room temperature. They cook better and make especially fluffy omelets. For other dishes, eggs separate better when cold but whip better when warmed.
If you use seltzer instead of tap water or milk, you get fluffier pancakes, waffles, and scrambled eggs.
To freeze berries, spread them on a pan or plate and freeze, then take out and put into freezer bags. That way they stay separate and not in one big lump.
Keep milk fresher for longer by adding a dash of salt into the carton right after opening it for the first time.
Take your eggs out of the refrigerator and let sit out so that when you begin breakfast the eggs are at room temperature. They cook better and make especially fluffy omelets. For other dishes, eggs separate better when cold but whip better when warmed.
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