The word "tantalize" comes from the plight of the mythological Tantalus, son of Zeus who so offended the gods by stealing ambrosia that he was condemned in the afterlife to an eternity of hunger and thirst. He was made to stand in a pool in Tartarus, the Underworld zone of punishment. Each time he reached down for the water that beckoned to his parched lips, it drained away. Overhanging the pool were boughs laden with luscious fruit, but each time Tantalus stretched to pluck a juicy fruit, the boughs receded from his grasp.
Its meaning is to cause someone to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc. It also means to tease or torment by presenting something desirable to the view. but continually keeping it out of reach.
May 20, 2016
May 13, 2016
Happy Friday
"Optimism is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking the
tartar sauce with you."
I am optimistic that today will be a very Happy Friday!
I am optimistic that today will be a very Happy Friday!
More Sun, Longer Life
New research from 2016 finds that women who sunbathe are likely to live longer than those who avoid the sun, even though sunbathers are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer.
An analysis of information on 29,518 Swedish women who were followed for 20 years revealed that "Longer life expectancy among women with active sun exposure habits was related to a decrease in heart disease and non-cancer non–heart disease deaths, causing the relative contribution of death due to cancer to increase." Whether the positive effect of sun exposure demonstrated in this observational study is mediated by vitamin D, another mechanism related to UV radiation, or by unmeasured bias could not be determined.
"We found smokers in the highest sun exposure group were at a similar risk as non-smokers avoiding sun exposure, indicating avoidance of sun exposure to be a risk factor of the same magnitude as smoking," said Dr. Pelle Lindqvist, lead author of the Journal of Internal Medicine study. "Guidelines being too restrictive regarding sun exposure may do more harm than good for health." In other words, get out and enjoy some sunshine, just do not overdo it.
An analysis of information on 29,518 Swedish women who were followed for 20 years revealed that "Longer life expectancy among women with active sun exposure habits was related to a decrease in heart disease and non-cancer non–heart disease deaths, causing the relative contribution of death due to cancer to increase." Whether the positive effect of sun exposure demonstrated in this observational study is mediated by vitamin D, another mechanism related to UV radiation, or by unmeasured bias could not be determined.
"We found smokers in the highest sun exposure group were at a similar risk as non-smokers avoiding sun exposure, indicating avoidance of sun exposure to be a risk factor of the same magnitude as smoking," said Dr. Pelle Lindqvist, lead author of the Journal of Internal Medicine study. "Guidelines being too restrictive regarding sun exposure may do more harm than good for health." In other words, get out and enjoy some sunshine, just do not overdo it.
Pumpkin Power
The US Energy Department claims pumpkins are responsible for adding to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
According to the department, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the US end up in the trash, becoming part of the tons of municipal solid waste produced in the United States every year.
Municipal solid waste decomposes into methane, “a harmful greenhouse gas that plays a part in climate change, with more than 20 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide,” according to the department. We can all help by eating more pumpkin pie and munching pumpkin seeds.
According to the department, most of the 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced in the US end up in the trash, becoming part of the tons of municipal solid waste produced in the United States every year.
Municipal solid waste decomposes into methane, “a harmful greenhouse gas that plays a part in climate change, with more than 20 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide,” according to the department. We can all help by eating more pumpkin pie and munching pumpkin seeds.
Wordology, Winning Hands Down
In horse racing, a jockey who is winning by a wide margin does not need to whip his horse to go faster, and can win with his hands down. The phrase soon caught on outside the sporting world.
Sikhs
Many people in the US confuse Sikhs and Muslims. However, 99 percent of people wearing turbans in the US are Sikhs from India. There are about 700,000 Sikhs in the US today.
Sikhism is an Indian religion and the world’s fifth largest religion with 25.8 million adherents worldwide. Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service.
The word Sikh (pronounced 'seekh') means 'student', 'disciple', or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in 1469 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin and emphasizes service to humanity.
Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which they shun all that harms the body or the mind. This also means all intoxicants, tobacco, alcohol, or any mind altering drugs are forbidden.
Additional facts:
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam.
In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust, known as the Five Thieves, are believed to be particularly distracting and hurtful.
Sikhs have a baptism ceremony.
Sikhism does not have priests. Liturgical service employs people for a salary to sing hymns, officiate marriage, and perform services.
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban. The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice.
Women are not required to wear compulsory veil.
Religious ceremonies, or idol worship are of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.
Sikhs do not believe in converting people, but converts to Sikhism by choice are welcomed.
The morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day, starting in the early morning hours.
Sikhism is an Indian religion and the world’s fifth largest religion with 25.8 million adherents worldwide. Sikhs believe in one God, equality, freedom of religion, and community service.
The word Sikh (pronounced 'seekh') means 'student', 'disciple', or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in 1469 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin and emphasizes service to humanity.
Sikhs have no food taboos except those that stem from one simple injunction – a life of moderation in which they shun all that harms the body or the mind. This also means all intoxicants, tobacco, alcohol, or any mind altering drugs are forbidden.
Additional facts:
Sikhism is a distinct religion, separate from Hinduism and Islam.
In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust, known as the Five Thieves, are believed to be particularly distracting and hurtful.
Sikhs have a baptism ceremony.
Sikhism does not have priests. Liturgical service employs people for a salary to sing hymns, officiate marriage, and perform services.
Sikhs cover their uncut hair with a turban. The Sikh turban represents a commitment to equality and justice.
Women are not required to wear compulsory veil.
Religious ceremonies, or idol worship are of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.
Sikhs do not believe in converting people, but converts to Sikhism by choice are welcomed.
The morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day, starting in the early morning hours.
Lyft and Uber Size
There are more than 315,000 Lyft drivers operating in 195 cities around the world, according to UC Berkeley. Uber operates in 360 cities in 68 countries, with hundreds of thousands of drivers signing up globally each month.
Words That are Their Own Opposite
English is so much fun. Here are some words that are difficult to define without context.
Apology: A statement of contrition for an action, or a defense of one.
Bill: A payment, or an invoice for payment.
Bolt: To secure, or to flee.
Bound: Heading to a destination, or restrained from movement.
Buckle: To connect, or to break or collapse.
Cleave: To adhere, or to separate.
Clip: To fasten, or detach.
Consult: To offer advice, or to obtain it.
Continue: To keep doing an action, or to suspend an action.
Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment.
Dike: A wall to prevent flooding, or a ditch.
Discursive: Moving in an orderly fashion among topics, or proceeding aimlessly in a discussion.
Dollop: A large amount (British English), or a small amount.
Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them.
First degree: Most severe in the case of a murder charge, or least severe in reference to a burn.
Apology: A statement of contrition for an action, or a defense of one.
Bill: A payment, or an invoice for payment.
Bolt: To secure, or to flee.
Bound: Heading to a destination, or restrained from movement.
Buckle: To connect, or to break or collapse.
Cleave: To adhere, or to separate.
Clip: To fasten, or detach.
Consult: To offer advice, or to obtain it.
Continue: To keep doing an action, or to suspend an action.
Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment.
Dike: A wall to prevent flooding, or a ditch.
Discursive: Moving in an orderly fashion among topics, or proceeding aimlessly in a discussion.
Dollop: A large amount (British English), or a small amount.
Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them.
First degree: Most severe in the case of a murder charge, or least severe in reference to a burn.
Barding vs. Cauling
Barding is the wrapping of fat, such as bacon around meat to cover the meat in a layer of taste and texture. Cauling is the act of wrapping caul around meat and is similar to barding.
Since caul is thin, as opposed to the thicker layer of fat used in barding, a cauled dish has a delicately rendered layer of fat that can accent a dish without overtaking it, as bacon might. It can be kept frozen for a long time and should be brought back to room temperature before it is used.
Picture of Caul
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