'Bang for your buck' means 'value
for the money spent' or 'excitement for the money spent' and is
based on the slang meaning of bang (excitement ) and buck (money).
Finland had one of the highest-ranked education system for many
years, but came in #2 in 2013, behind to Japan. The UK #3 in 2013;
Canada #7; Estonia #17 and the United States #18, out of 200
countries considered.
Japan spends an average of $10,596 per student and Finland $10,157.
The US spends $15,172 per student, the highest of any country and
2.5 times more per student than #17 ranked Estonia. The US does
not appear to be getting a bang for its bucks.
Feb 15, 2014
What Causes Tornadoes
The first four months of the year
brings risk for tornadoes in the southern US. From April through
June, the biggest tornado threat shifts to the Plains, Upper
Midwest, and Great Lakes. The main tornado risk then stays along the
northern tier of the country through much of summer, while tropical
storms and hurricanes increase back in the South as they move
inland. These are followed in November and December with more
chances of tornadoes moving back to the South.
About ninety percent of US twisters occur in a 300-mile wide corridor extending from West Texas to Canada. Warm, moist surface winds blow up from the Gulf of Mexico, while cool high-altitude winds blow over the tops of the Rockies. The cool air wants to sink while warm air wants to rise. However, the mountain air causes a temperature inversion, which prevents the warm surface air from rising. It is like clamping the lid on a pressure cooker. The surface weather systems build up a big head of steam until they break through the inversion and shoot up to towering heights and the violent updrafts and downdrafts lead to form tornadoes. Tornadoes occur most frequently in the central plains of the US. Australia has the second most tornadoes each year.
About ninety percent of US twisters occur in a 300-mile wide corridor extending from West Texas to Canada. Warm, moist surface winds blow up from the Gulf of Mexico, while cool high-altitude winds blow over the tops of the Rockies. The cool air wants to sink while warm air wants to rise. However, the mountain air causes a temperature inversion, which prevents the warm surface air from rising. It is like clamping the lid on a pressure cooker. The surface weather systems build up a big head of steam until they break through the inversion and shoot up to towering heights and the violent updrafts and downdrafts lead to form tornadoes. Tornadoes occur most frequently in the central plains of the US. Australia has the second most tornadoes each year.
Google Site Search
Did you know that Google has a feature
that allows you to search a specific site for information. Here is
how it works: To search a single website -
1. Type "site:" into the Google search bar (without the quote marks).
2. Type the name of the website you want to search without the "http://" and the "www."
3. Type the search term you are looking for.
For example, use Google to search my blog for peanuts, you would type this - site:shubsthoughts.blogspot.com peanuts
1. Type "site:" into the Google search bar (without the quote marks).
2. Type the name of the website you want to search without the "http://" and the "www."
3. Type the search term you are looking for.
For example, use Google to search my blog for peanuts, you would type this - site:shubsthoughts.blogspot.com peanuts
Feb 7, 2014
Happy Friday
Those who wake up in the morning and think, 'this is going to be the
best day of my life' usually make it so.
I always wake up thinking that. It makes for a special Happy Friday!
I always wake up thinking that. It makes for a special Happy Friday!
Be Positive Stay Healthy
A recent study analyzed data on
3,199 people, 60 and older, including their attitudes about how much
they enjoyed life, problems they had with basic daily functions such
as dressing and bathing, and how mobile they were.
About 21 percent were deemed to have a high level of enjoyment about life, 56 percent a medium level and 23 percent a low level of enjoyment. In an eight-year span, problems with day-to-day tasks generally increased and mobility declined. About 4 percent of those most upbeat about life developed two or more new functional impairments, compared with 17 percent of those who enjoyed life the least. People assessed as enjoying life at a medium or low level were about 80 percent more likely than their happier counterparts to have developed mobility and functional problems.
There is growing evidence that optimistic people not only tend to live longer, but may enjoy physical benefits as well. As the song says, "Don't worry. Be Happy!" (Bobby McFerrin with Robin Williams and Bill Irwin)
About 21 percent were deemed to have a high level of enjoyment about life, 56 percent a medium level and 23 percent a low level of enjoyment. In an eight-year span, problems with day-to-day tasks generally increased and mobility declined. About 4 percent of those most upbeat about life developed two or more new functional impairments, compared with 17 percent of those who enjoyed life the least. People assessed as enjoying life at a medium or low level were about 80 percent more likely than their happier counterparts to have developed mobility and functional problems.
There is growing evidence that optimistic people not only tend to live longer, but may enjoy physical benefits as well. As the song says, "Don't worry. Be Happy!" (Bobby McFerrin with Robin Williams and Bill Irwin)
Ten Amazing Body Facts
Origin of the Bra
Wearing a
specialized garment to support a woman’s breasts dates as far back
as the 14th century BC in Greece where women wore a band of wool or
linen that was wrapped across the breasts and tied or pinned in the
back.
It is not clear who was the first to invent the modern bra, as numerous patents in various nations were filed in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. However, Caresse Crosby, born Mary Phelps Jacob, invented her design in 1910 and was among the first to patent her 'backless brassiere'. She got the idea for her bra when she was just 19 years old and going to a ball. Her dress for the evening was a sheer gown. She, with the help of her maid, took two handkerchiefs and some ribbon and sewed them together to make something like a modern day bra, so she could have support, but not need to wear a corset.
Frederick Mellinger, founder of Frederick’s of Hollywood, introduced a padded bra, a push-up bra, a front hook bra, and more colorful bras. The most expensive bra in history, valued at $15 million, was modeled in 2000 by Gisele Bundchen and made from red satin and hand-cut Thai rubies and diamonds.
Corsets dominated the undergarments of wealthier women in the Western world for centuries, until WWI required quite a bit of metal. In 1917, the US War Industries Board asked American women to help their 'men win the war' by not wearing or buying corsets. During the war it is estimated that they freed up around 28,000 tons of steel that could be used for other types of heavy lifting.
It is not clear who was the first to invent the modern bra, as numerous patents in various nations were filed in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. However, Caresse Crosby, born Mary Phelps Jacob, invented her design in 1910 and was among the first to patent her 'backless brassiere'. She got the idea for her bra when she was just 19 years old and going to a ball. Her dress for the evening was a sheer gown. She, with the help of her maid, took two handkerchiefs and some ribbon and sewed them together to make something like a modern day bra, so she could have support, but not need to wear a corset.
Frederick Mellinger, founder of Frederick’s of Hollywood, introduced a padded bra, a push-up bra, a front hook bra, and more colorful bras. The most expensive bra in history, valued at $15 million, was modeled in 2000 by Gisele Bundchen and made from red satin and hand-cut Thai rubies and diamonds.
Corsets dominated the undergarments of wealthier women in the Western world for centuries, until WWI required quite a bit of metal. In 1917, the US War Industries Board asked American women to help their 'men win the war' by not wearing or buying corsets. During the war it is estimated that they freed up around 28,000 tons of steel that could be used for other types of heavy lifting.
Who Were Procter and Gamble
William Procter was a
candle maker from England, and James Gamble was a soap maker from
Ireland. They settled in Cincinnati and met when they married
sisters, Olivia and Elizabeth Norris. They began business as Procter
and Gamble, October 31, 1837. Their first product was a floating
soap called Ivory.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the company sponsored a number of radio programs. As a result, these shows often became known as 'soap operas'.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the company sponsored a number of radio programs. As a result, these shows often became known as 'soap operas'.
Disposable Diaper Double Duty
Procter
and Gamble may have developed disposable diapers, but now they have
found a new life. Diapers keep baby bottoms dry because they absorb
liquids. They can also be used in planters. Cut strips of unused
diapers and place on the bottom of the pot before adding soil. They
absorb water and keep plants hydrated longer as they slowly release
the water to the soil on top.
Porcelain, Fine China, and Bone China
Exported Chinese
porcelains were held in such great esteem in Europe that in the
English language china became a synonym for porcelain.
Bone china is made from cow bone ash and other ingredients. The addition of animal bone ash gives bone china a warm color, while fine china is a brighter white. Bone china has a translucent quality compared to fine china. Fine china is made the same way, replacing bone with kaolin clay.
Spone china - American artist Charles Krafft replaced cow bone ash with human bone ash, retrieved from a crematorium.
Porcelain is fired at a higher temperature and is much harder. Porcelain gets its name from old Italian porcellana (cowrie shell) because of its resemblance to the translucent surface of the shell. The raw materials are finely ground, cleaned, formed in a mold, and then fired.
If the temperature is high the finished product is more durable and known as porcelain. If it’s fired at a lower temperature it becomes fine china. Fine china is much softer than porcelain, making it suitable for plates and cups. Porcelain is strong enough and durable enough for a wide range of products, such as electrical insulators and toilets. Bottom line, all china is porcelain, but not all porcelain is china.
Bone china is made from cow bone ash and other ingredients. The addition of animal bone ash gives bone china a warm color, while fine china is a brighter white. Bone china has a translucent quality compared to fine china. Fine china is made the same way, replacing bone with kaolin clay.
Spone china - American artist Charles Krafft replaced cow bone ash with human bone ash, retrieved from a crematorium.
Porcelain is fired at a higher temperature and is much harder. Porcelain gets its name from old Italian porcellana (cowrie shell) because of its resemblance to the translucent surface of the shell. The raw materials are finely ground, cleaned, formed in a mold, and then fired.
If the temperature is high the finished product is more durable and known as porcelain. If it’s fired at a lower temperature it becomes fine china. Fine china is much softer than porcelain, making it suitable for plates and cups. Porcelain is strong enough and durable enough for a wide range of products, such as electrical insulators and toilets. Bottom line, all china is porcelain, but not all porcelain is china.
What's in a Name, Harvard
Harvard was founded mainly
by a bequest from John Harvard, along with his extensive library in
1636. The iconic statue of him is really not him, because they could
not find a real picture of him so the artist had another person sit
in. That guy was a student, Sherman Hoar.
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