Beans, corn, bell peppers, peas,
eggplant, pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes are all fruits.
That is because, botanically speaking, fruits are the part of
flowering plants that contain the seeds and are the means by which
such plants disseminate those seeds. So even nuts are fruits.
Grains, which are really over-sized seeds are also fruits.
Also, botanically speaking, vegetables are all the other parts of
the plant, including the leaves (e.g. lettuce and spinach), roots
(e.g. potatoes and carrots), bulbs (e.g. onions and garlic), flowers
(e.g. artichokes, broccoli, and cauliflower), and stems (e.g.
rhubarb and celery). Also, botanically speaking, some spices, such
as allspice and chilies, are fruits.
If it is from a plant and has seeds (or would have seeds if it
wasn't genetically engineered or cultivated to not have them, as
with seedless grapes), it is a fruit; if it does not naturally have
seeds, it is a vegetable.
The reason we learn peppers, corn, and cucumbers are vegetables and
are found in the veggie section is due to tradition. Culinary
traditions (with no scientific value) tell us the part of the plant
we are eating does not matter, taste does. Fruits are generally
sweet tasting and vegetables are more savory and less sweet. Fruits
are also typically served as part of dessert or as snacks, and
vegetables are often part of the main dish.
Scientific classification system makes a clear dividing line between
fruits and vegetables, while the culinary system of classification
is much more ambiguous. Not to be outdone, The United States
Supreme Court entered the debate and gave a legal verdict about
whether a tomato should be classified as a vegetable or a fruit.
They decided unanimously, in Nix vs. Hedden, 1883, that a tomato is
a vegetable, even though it is a botanical fruit. I use a much
more simple method - If I like it, it's a fruit, if I do not like
it, it's a vegetable.
Sep 13, 2013
Nestlé
Henri Nestlé, started his company as a pioneer in
the baby food industry. He was was likely inspired by his family’s
history as 7 of his 13 siblings died before reaching adulthood.
Nestlé sold the company to his business associates and retired just seven years after he founded the company. Though the name “Nestlé” has since gone on to be associated with many different products, mostly chocolate based products and other sweets, the only Nestlé to be involved with the company left when their only product was baby formula.
Nestlé sold the company to his business associates and retired just seven years after he founded the company. Though the name “Nestlé” has since gone on to be associated with many different products, mostly chocolate based products and other sweets, the only Nestlé to be involved with the company left when their only product was baby formula.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is really just that- the
pressure at which blood moves around the body in your arteries. The
easiest and least invasive way to test the pressure is to
momentarily stop the flow of blood and then slowly allow it to begin
again. The pressure at which it begins to flow is the highest
pressure the blood exerts on your artery walls.
Medical professionals do this by using a blood pressure meter known as a Sphygmomanometer. They encircle a limb, usually an arm, with a balloon-like device known as a blood pressure cuff. While pumping the cuff up, they use a stethoscope to listen for a heart beat past where the cuff is cutting off blood flow. When they no longer hear the heart beating, they slowly release the pressure while watching the pressure gauge.
When they start to hear the heart beat again, this is the top number of blood pressure, known as systolic pressure. They continue to release the pressure until they once again, no longer hear the heart beating, this is the bottom number of blood pressure, known as diastolic pressure. Together these numbers tell them two things: the pressure that is inside arteries between heartbeats (the bottom number) and the pressure inside arteries when the heart squeezes (the top number).
Different disease processes like coronary artery disease can cause higher than normal blood pressure. Lower than normal blood pressures can be a sign of other disease processes, like shock caused by infection. The difference between top and bottom numbers, or a change in that difference, can also point to specific problems like too much fluid around the heart, not allowing it to work properly.
Combining this information with a person’s heart rate can also tell numerous other things that could be happening. If you have been in a car accident and have a lower than normal blood pressure and higher than normal heart rate, you could be bleeding internally. If you were in another car accident and have an extremely high blood pressure and a low heart rate, you could be bleeding in your brain. High blood pressure is not a disease or illness in and of itself. It is merely a symptom for other problems.
Medical professionals do this by using a blood pressure meter known as a Sphygmomanometer. They encircle a limb, usually an arm, with a balloon-like device known as a blood pressure cuff. While pumping the cuff up, they use a stethoscope to listen for a heart beat past where the cuff is cutting off blood flow. When they no longer hear the heart beating, they slowly release the pressure while watching the pressure gauge.
When they start to hear the heart beat again, this is the top number of blood pressure, known as systolic pressure. They continue to release the pressure until they once again, no longer hear the heart beating, this is the bottom number of blood pressure, known as diastolic pressure. Together these numbers tell them two things: the pressure that is inside arteries between heartbeats (the bottom number) and the pressure inside arteries when the heart squeezes (the top number).
Different disease processes like coronary artery disease can cause higher than normal blood pressure. Lower than normal blood pressures can be a sign of other disease processes, like shock caused by infection. The difference between top and bottom numbers, or a change in that difference, can also point to specific problems like too much fluid around the heart, not allowing it to work properly.
Combining this information with a person’s heart rate can also tell numerous other things that could be happening. If you have been in a car accident and have a lower than normal blood pressure and higher than normal heart rate, you could be bleeding internally. If you were in another car accident and have an extremely high blood pressure and a low heart rate, you could be bleeding in your brain. High blood pressure is not a disease or illness in and of itself. It is merely a symptom for other problems.
Calories
Nutrient labels on food products in the United
States list their percentages based on a 2000 calorie per day diet.
However, energy requirements can vary significantly based on age,
sex, weight, height, physical activity, and base metabolic rate,
ranging between 1000 to 4000 calories.
Another number on labels is the portion, or suggested serving size, which is also arbitrary and should be looked at closely. A package stating 90 calories on the front might show 90 calories per serving with three servings, so 270 total calories.
The Merck Manual states 1,600 calories per day are needed for young children and sedentary women; 2,000 for active adult women and sedentary men; and 2,400 for active adolescent boys and young men. These values are also a bit arbitrary, because the average person uses different amounts of energy almost daily. One day you might go for a hike and the next sit on the couch watching football. One month you could lose 5 pounds and increase your base metabolic rate in the process. The next month with the same caloric intake gain 10 pounds and decrease your base metabolic rate. Bottom line, the numbers are arbitrary and should be used with caution.
Another number on labels is the portion, or suggested serving size, which is also arbitrary and should be looked at closely. A package stating 90 calories on the front might show 90 calories per serving with three servings, so 270 total calories.
The Merck Manual states 1,600 calories per day are needed for young children and sedentary women; 2,000 for active adult women and sedentary men; and 2,400 for active adolescent boys and young men. These values are also a bit arbitrary, because the average person uses different amounts of energy almost daily. One day you might go for a hike and the next sit on the couch watching football. One month you could lose 5 pounds and increase your base metabolic rate in the process. The next month with the same caloric intake gain 10 pounds and decrease your base metabolic rate. Bottom line, the numbers are arbitrary and should be used with caution.
Mexican Independence
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.
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 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.
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