Most Americans think of Cinco de Mayo
as a celebration of Mexican independence, along the same lines as
the 4th of July, with many participating in the festivities merely
for an excuse to drink margaritas. However, Cinco de Mayo actually
commemorates a victory in battle against French occupying forces. In
the spring of 1861, A powerful French battalion swept across the
countryside until they were stopped in The Battle of Puebla at the
forts of Loreto and Guadalupe by a much smaller Mexican group on May
5th. Unfortunately, the following year, the French returned with
thirty thousand troops, took over Mexico, and installed Maximilian I
as Emperor.
While it is an important celebration in Puebla, in other areas of
Mexico it is somewhat less popular. Mexican Independence Day, a
completely separate holiday, is celebrated on September 16th.
Tequila is the national drink of Mexico, a potent spirit made from
the blue agave. Like champagne, which can only legally be produced
in the Champagne region of France, tequila must be derived from
agave grown only in very specific parts of Mexico. As the drink’s
popularity has continued to rise throughout the world, Mexico has
tried to maintain its control, claiming tequila is a “geographically
indicated product” under intellectual property rights law. It seems
other countries may soon be producing tequila, particularly China,
which has areas that mimic Mexico’s very specific climate and soil.
A common misconception about tequila is that the bottle should
feature a worm. This actually holds true only for mezcal, a similar
drink made from agave. The worm is actually the larva of a moth
called the Hypopta agavis that routinely infests agave. While there
are some who make the claim that the worm somehow improves the
flavor, it is more likely just a marketing ploy.
Sep 13, 2013
Sep 6, 2013
Happy Friday
Time is endless, but our slice of it is not.
Savor every morsel.
Prison Break
Brazil offers prisoners an option to take four
days off their sentence by reading a book and writing a report on
it. They can get a reduction of up to 48 days per year. This is
something every country should consider.
Kit Kat
It dates back to the 18th century, when mutton pies
called Kit-Kats were served at the political Kit-Cat Club. The
origins of today’s product go back to 1935, when a York based candy
maker, Rowntree’s trademarked 'Kit Kat'. The Kit Cat, as it was
called, was produced for a while, before being discontinued.
Eventually, it relaunched and was relabeled as “Rowntree’s Chocolate
Crisp” before being renamed to its modern title.
In the 1940’s Kit Kat was exported to Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In the 1970s, a new distribution factory was built in Germany to meet European demand and handle distribution. Agreements were established for Hershey to distribute in the US, and Fujiya to distribute in Japan. In 1988, Nestlé purchased Rowntree’s and Kit Kat with it. Nestlé has global control over the brand, except in North America, where Hershey has licensing rights to Kit Kat.
In the 1940’s Kit Kat was exported to Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In the 1970s, a new distribution factory was built in Germany to meet European demand and handle distribution. Agreements were established for Hershey to distribute in the US, and Fujiya to distribute in Japan. In 1988, Nestlé purchased Rowntree’s and Kit Kat with it. Nestlé has global control over the brand, except in North America, where Hershey has licensing rights to Kit Kat.
Eight Real People Inspired Food Names
We usually do not
think about how foods are named, but here are a few inspired by
their inventor, or other inspiration.
German Chocolate cake is named for an American, Sam German.
Boysenberry is named for Rudolph Boysen.
Eggs Benedict is named for Lemuel Benedict.
Tetrazzini is named for Louisa Tetrazzini.
Alfredo Sauce is named for Alfredo Di Lelio.
Nachos are name for Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya.
Clementine oranges named for Father Clément Rodier.
Chicken a la King named for E. Clark King.
German Chocolate cake is named for an American, Sam German.
Boysenberry is named for Rudolph Boysen.
Eggs Benedict is named for Lemuel Benedict.
Tetrazzini is named for Louisa Tetrazzini.
Alfredo Sauce is named for Alfredo Di Lelio.
Nachos are name for Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya.
Clementine oranges named for Father Clément Rodier.
Chicken a la King named for E. Clark King.
I.E. and E.G.
What “i.e.” and “e.g.” actually mean, you
start to see how they are distinct. Specifically, “i.e.” is an
abbreviation for the Latin “id est”, more or less meaning “that is”.
“E.g.” is an abbreviation for the Latin “exempli gratia”, meaning
“for the sake of example”, or the short version, “for example”.
As a general rule, if you can substitute in “for example” where you've used “e.g.”, you are probably using it correctly. Likewise, if you can substitute in “that is” where you are using “i.e.”, you are also probably using it correctly.
The key distinction, with “e.g.” you are stating one or more examples, with “i.e.” you are not talking about anything but what you specifically say.
It is a mistake to include an “etc.” after an “e.g.” list, because “et cetera” is implied, so it shouldn't be included at the end of such a list.
As a general rule, if you can substitute in “for example” where you've used “e.g.”, you are probably using it correctly. Likewise, if you can substitute in “that is” where you are using “i.e.”, you are also probably using it correctly.
The key distinction, with “e.g.” you are stating one or more examples, with “i.e.” you are not talking about anything but what you specifically say.
It is a mistake to include an “etc.” after an “e.g.” list, because “et cetera” is implied, so it shouldn't be included at the end of such a list.
They Never Said That
Sherlock Holmes Never Said,
“Elementary, My Dear Watson.”
Captain Kirk never said, “Beam me up Scotty.”
Darth Vader never said, “Luke, I am your father”.
They said things that were similar, but they never actually said those exact words.
Captain Kirk never said, “Beam me up Scotty.”
Darth Vader never said, “Luke, I am your father”.
They said things that were similar, but they never actually said those exact words.
What's in a Name, Movie Trailers
The first movie trailers
occurred at the end of the films. They were called “trailers”
because the advertisements would be spliced directly on the end of
the reels, so that the movie advertisement’s film trailed the actual
film.
The first known movie trailer to appear in a theater was in November of 1913. It was made by Nils Granlund, advertising manager of Marcus Loew theaters in the United States. The trailer was for the musical The Pleasure Seekers, which was shortly to open on Broadway. In this trailer, he included short clips of rehearsals of the musical. This idea caught on and trailers began appearing routinely after films. This was particularly the case with cartoon shorts and serials that would often end in climactic situations where you needed to watch the next episode in the serial or cartoon to see what would happen. Thus, these trailers, in particular those that advertised the next episode, made a lot more sense at the end of the serial than at the beginning.
Movie studios realized that full film advertisements would be more effective if they showed up before the movie, instead of after, and by the end of the 1930s the switch had been made. Despite the industry’s sincerest attempts over the last 60 or 70 years to get the name changed from “trailers” to some form of “previews”, among industry professionals and English speaking audiences “trailer” is still the generally used term. Recently the general public has begun to use 'previews'.
Of the ten billion videos watched online, movie trailers rank third, after news and user created videos.
The first known movie trailer to appear in a theater was in November of 1913. It was made by Nils Granlund, advertising manager of Marcus Loew theaters in the United States. The trailer was for the musical The Pleasure Seekers, which was shortly to open on Broadway. In this trailer, he included short clips of rehearsals of the musical. This idea caught on and trailers began appearing routinely after films. This was particularly the case with cartoon shorts and serials that would often end in climactic situations where you needed to watch the next episode in the serial or cartoon to see what would happen. Thus, these trailers, in particular those that advertised the next episode, made a lot more sense at the end of the serial than at the beginning.
Movie studios realized that full film advertisements would be more effective if they showed up before the movie, instead of after, and by the end of the 1930s the switch had been made. Despite the industry’s sincerest attempts over the last 60 or 70 years to get the name changed from “trailers” to some form of “previews”, among industry professionals and English speaking audiences “trailer” is still the generally used term. Recently the general public has begun to use 'previews'.
Of the ten billion videos watched online, movie trailers rank third, after news and user created videos.
Origin of Pills
Before the turn of the 20th
century, patients who needed medicine either took it as a liquid or
a hard pill. However, the liquids often tasted terrible and the
pills usually didn't even dissolve in patients’ stomachs. In 1875,
William Upjohn, a University of Michigan student began experimenting
with new pill formulas that would be more effective. He is the main
reason pills are now such a convenient means of medication.
Mountain Goats are Not
Mountain goats, found only in
North America, are an even-toed ungulate of the family Bovidae that
includes antelopes, gazelles, and cattle. It is the only species in
the genus Oreamnos. The name Oreamnos is derived from the
Greek term oros, "mountain," or, oreas "mountain
nymph". They are sometimes referred to as goat-antelopes.
They have woolly coats, cloven feet, and horns, but not the same kind as true goats. The fur is thicker and shaggier than that of a domesticated farm goat. Their hooves are specially built for climbing and descending mountain slopes A rubbery padding covers the bottom of their hooves and their horns are long and pointy.
They spend most of their time grazing and their diet includes grasses, herbs, sedges, ferns, mosses, lichens, and twigs and leaves from the low-growing shrubs in their high-altitude habitat.
They have woolly coats, cloven feet, and horns, but not the same kind as true goats. The fur is thicker and shaggier than that of a domesticated farm goat. Their hooves are specially built for climbing and descending mountain slopes A rubbery padding covers the bottom of their hooves and their horns are long and pointy.
They spend most of their time grazing and their diet includes grasses, herbs, sedges, ferns, mosses, lichens, and twigs and leaves from the low-growing shrubs in their high-altitude habitat.
Brussels Sprouts
If you hate the taste of Brussels
sprouts it might be due to your DNA. Brussels sprouts are among the group of cabbages grown for edible
buds. The leafy green vegetables are typically small, and look like
miniature cabbages. The Brussels sprout has long been popular in
Brussels, Belgium, and may have originated there.
In Europe, the largest producers are the Netherlands and Germany. Mexico tends to cultivate them in the Baja region from December through June.
Brussels sprouts have potent anticancer properties. Although boiling reduces the level of the anticancer compounds, steaming and stir frying do not result in significant loss.
Many people seem to not like Brussels sprouts. Scientists explain that there is a mutated gene possessed by about half of the population that prevents a person from tasting the bitter-tasting chemical used to grow Brussels sprouts. If a person does not possess this gene they can taste the chemical, thus making them much more likely to dislike Brussels sprouts. Apparently, I do not have that gene.
In Europe, the largest producers are the Netherlands and Germany. Mexico tends to cultivate them in the Baja region from December through June.
Brussels sprouts have potent anticancer properties. Although boiling reduces the level of the anticancer compounds, steaming and stir frying do not result in significant loss.
Many people seem to not like Brussels sprouts. Scientists explain that there is a mutated gene possessed by about half of the population that prevents a person from tasting the bitter-tasting chemical used to grow Brussels sprouts. If a person does not possess this gene they can taste the chemical, thus making them much more likely to dislike Brussels sprouts. Apparently, I do not have that gene.
Aug 30, 2013
Happy Friday
"There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience,
and that is not learning from experience."
I have learned from experience the joy of having a Happy Friday!
I have learned from experience the joy of having a Happy Friday!
International Bacon Day
Bacon Day is an official observance
held on the Saturday before Labor Day in the United States. (Labor
Day is traditionally the first Monday of September). This year is it
celebrated August 31. The first Annual Bacon Day was held about
2005. It's celebrated by having a bacon party and eating bacon in
every way imaginable.
Did you know that bacon is a cut of meat taken from the sides, belly, or back of a pig, then cured, smoked, or both? Meat from other animals, such as cow, lamb, chicken, goat, or turkey, may also be cut, cured, or otherwise prepared to resemble bacon, and may even be referred to as "bacon" too, although this is just wrong.
Wikipedia says "Bacon Day is the traditional day on which bacon lovers express bacon mania. This is typically exhibited during social gatherings during which participants create and consume creative dishes containing bacon, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts. All are welcome at a standard Bacon Day celebration, even vegetarians, with consumption of soy bacon or turkey bacon encouraged for inclusiveness."
Last year Bacon Day was celebrated in the US, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK, and more.
Did you know that bacon is a cut of meat taken from the sides, belly, or back of a pig, then cured, smoked, or both? Meat from other animals, such as cow, lamb, chicken, goat, or turkey, may also be cut, cured, or otherwise prepared to resemble bacon, and may even be referred to as "bacon" too, although this is just wrong.
Wikipedia says "Bacon Day is the traditional day on which bacon lovers express bacon mania. This is typically exhibited during social gatherings during which participants create and consume creative dishes containing bacon, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts. All are welcome at a standard Bacon Day celebration, even vegetarians, with consumption of soy bacon or turkey bacon encouraged for inclusiveness."
Last year Bacon Day was celebrated in the US, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK, and more.
Awesome Spoon
Lift Labs has developed patented spoon
technology that stabilizes tremors from Parkinson’s Disease to allow
patients to enjoy their meals again. According to Lift Labs website:
“The Liftware Spoon is the most practical and effective spoon for
people living with Essential Tremor, Parkinson’s, or other
disorders."
With Liftware, the spoon is kept steady using innovative Active Cancellation of Tremor technology. The Liftware Spoon will be available in September 2013.
With Liftware, the spoon is kept steady using innovative Active Cancellation of Tremor technology. The Liftware Spoon will be available in September 2013.
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