Could not resist this bit of history from the
climate groupies. We only had until the year 2000 before
disaster would strike. Seems these dates change like the dates
for the doomsayers predicting the end of the earth. As each date
passes, another ominous warning and another 'disaster' date is
set.
"U.N. Predicts Disaster
if Global Warming Not Checked, PETER JAMES SPIELMANN June 30,
1989
UNITED NATIONS (AP) _ A
senior U.N. environmental official says entire nations could be
wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels if the
global warming trend is not reversed by the year 2000. Coastal
flooding and crop failures would create an exodus of eco-
refugees, threatening political chaos, said Noel Brown, director
of the New York office of the U.N. Environment Program, or UNEP.
He said governments
have a 10-year window of opportunity to solve the greenhouse
effect before it goes beyond human control. As the warming melts
polar icecaps, ocean levels will rise by up to three feet,
enough to cover the Maldives and other flat island nations,
Brown told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday."
Jul 12, 2019
More YouTube Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting tidbits to
one-up your friends.
- YouTube is the
second largest search engine in the world. It processes more
queries than Bing and Yahoo combined. (It also means Google
owns the world’s two most popular search engines).
- Ten years of new
video is uploaded every day with 72 hours of newly uploaded
video every minute.
- The first
Spanish-language video on YouTube to amass more than 1 billion
views was Enrique Iglesias’ reggaeton song, Bailando.
- The only non-music video in the most watched YouTube videos of all time is a Russian-language version of an episode of children's TV show, Masha and The Bear. It has been watched 3.4 billion times and counting.
- In total, 17
different videos have held the record for being the most
watched video on YouTube. The current holder is Luis Fonsi’s
hit, Despacito LINK
with over 6 billion views. (Gangnam Style has only a bit over
3 billion views)
- The YouTube Rewind 2018 video is universally disliked with 15 million downvotes in its first month.
- Of the 7 billion videos available, more than 20 percent of videos are switched off within the first 10 seconds of playback.
- We watch four
billion hours of video every month—that is 456,621 years
worth.
Wordology, Philematology
Researchers discovered two out of three
people tilt their heads to the right when kissing. Doctors say
it strengthens our immune system and slows down the ageing
process.
- Just thinking about a kiss increases the flow of saliva, which in turn loosens plaque.
- A normal kiss burns
6.4 calories per minute and an average kiss lasts 12 seconds.
- People kiss in 90
percent of the countries worldwide. How and why differs from
one country to the next. Three cheek kisses are a standard
welcome in France, while in Japan; people only kiss if both
parties want sex.
- Germany ranks second
with four kisses per day behind Sweden on the list of
countries that are stingy kissers.
- People in France and
Italy kiss an average of seven times per day.
- It is forbidden to kiss women in public on a Sunday in Michigan and Connecticut.
Samsung Note Emergency SOS Feature
I had a chance encounter with an
SOS feature was not aware of. Was trying to increase volume
while on a call and rapidly pressed the "On/Off" button three
times by accident. It activated the feature.
The phone took a back picture, forward picture, captured my location, and sent all the info to my phone emergency contacts, along with SOS text. All this activity took place while I was on a call and did not notice anything happening. Imagine my emergency contact's surprise (and fear) and mine.
It is a great feature and should be more widely discussed. Having the ability to picture surroundings and provide location could be a life saver in many situations. PS - warn your emergency contacts before you test it.
The phone took a back picture, forward picture, captured my location, and sent all the info to my phone emergency contacts, along with SOS text. All this activity took place while I was on a call and did not notice anything happening. Imagine my emergency contact's surprise (and fear) and mine.
It is a great feature and should be more widely discussed. Having the ability to picture surroundings and provide location could be a life saver in many situations. PS - warn your emergency contacts before you test it.
Wordology, Gerrymander
The US Supreme Court recently ruled that it
has no authority to decide cases that challenge partisan
gerrymandering, a practice in which political parties draw
Congressional districts to increase votes in their favor.
By redrawing the borders of electoral districts, members of a given political party can cram the opposition’s supporters into as few precincts as possible, thus grabbing a disproportionate amount of power.
The tactic gets its name after a one-time vice president. Elbridge Gerry was born on July 17, 1744. He was a native of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
In 1787, with the war over, Gerry took part in the Constitutional Convention and was the person who moved to include a Bill of Rights.
Early in 1812, Democratic-Republican legislators laid out new districts which shoehorned most Federalist Party supporters into a handful of precincts. Due to this redesign of maps, Federalist candidates for the state Senate earned 1602 more votes than their Jeffersonian opponents did. Yet, because of these new precincts, the Democratic-Republican Party nabbed 29 seats to the Federalist’s 11.
Districts now came in all manner of irregular shapes. Particularly infamous was one such division in Essex County. This squiggly precinct looked like a mythical salamander. Thus, the name “Gerrymander” was born.
By redrawing the borders of electoral districts, members of a given political party can cram the opposition’s supporters into as few precincts as possible, thus grabbing a disproportionate amount of power.
The tactic gets its name after a one-time vice president. Elbridge Gerry was born on July 17, 1744. He was a native of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
In 1787, with the war over, Gerry took part in the Constitutional Convention and was the person who moved to include a Bill of Rights.
Early in 1812, Democratic-Republican legislators laid out new districts which shoehorned most Federalist Party supporters into a handful of precincts. Due to this redesign of maps, Federalist candidates for the state Senate earned 1602 more votes than their Jeffersonian opponents did. Yet, because of these new precincts, the Democratic-Republican Party nabbed 29 seats to the Federalist’s 11.
Districts now came in all manner of irregular shapes. Particularly infamous was one such division in Essex County. This squiggly precinct looked like a mythical salamander. Thus, the name “Gerrymander” was born.
National Bikini Day
July 5 is National Bikini Day and celebrates the anniversary
of the invention of the two-piece bathing suit. Due to its
risqué design, the bikini was slow to be adopted, but it
gradually gained acceptance when film stars began to wear
bikinis on public beaches and in their films. Incidentally,
it is named after hydrogen bomb testing that was conducted at
Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific during World War II.
July 4th Celebration Beginning
After the members of the Second Continental
Congress approved and signed the Declaration of Independence in
1776, John Adams wrote about the occasion in a letter to his
wife Abigail: "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by
succeeding Generations as the great anniversary Festival." He
suggested that it should "be commemorated as the Day of
Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty." and "It
ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games,
Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one end of
this continent to the other from this time forward forever
more."
Adams was talking about July 2, 1776, when the document was approved and signed, and not July 4th, when it was formally adopted by the Continental Congress. For the remainder of his life, Adams considered July 2 to be America's true Independence Day, and he was so upset when the Fourth became the accepted holiday that he refused to participate in any celebrations on that date.
Adams was talking about July 2, 1776, when the document was approved and signed, and not July 4th, when it was formally adopted by the Continental Congress. For the remainder of his life, Adams considered July 2 to be America's true Independence Day, and he was so upset when the Fourth became the accepted holiday that he refused to participate in any celebrations on that date.
Suntan, Sunscreen, Sunblock
Suntan lotion is for tanning. It only blocks
enough UV light to prevent sun burns, but enough to get a more
tan complexion with enough sun exposure.
Sun screen is a more casual protection. It blocks more UV light than suntan lotion, but is a light enough formula that it does not alter the appearance of skin while it is on.
Sun block is a formula which blocks significantly more UV light; however it tends to go on very thick. The smell of it also tends to linger even after you rub it in. This formula is ideal for being in full sun, such as when on the beach.
Check this LINK for SPF information.
Sun screen is a more casual protection. It blocks more UV light than suntan lotion, but is a light enough formula that it does not alter the appearance of skin while it is on.
Sun block is a formula which blocks significantly more UV light; however it tends to go on very thick. The smell of it also tends to linger even after you rub it in. This formula is ideal for being in full sun, such as when on the beach.
Check this LINK for SPF information.
Pontefract Liquorice Festival
Every July, the town celebrates its leading
role in England’s love affair with licorice (known as
“liquorice” in the country), in particular through the “Pomfret”
or Pontefract cake. Created in 1760, these black, coin-shaped
“lozenges” were made of cooked licorice sap and could be
dissolved in water. Once used to treat ailments and sweeten
other medicines, the cake eventually became better known as a
snack toward the end of the 19th century. Licorice-based fashion
is a big part of the annual festival, which began in the 1990s,
with some years featuring all kinds of wearable confectionery,
including dresses, licorice-lined boots, and even a licorice
jewelry-making station. For those who might not be interested in
candy-coated fashion, the town also provides free travel on the
“Liquorice Land Train” to Pontefract Castle, where people can
take a tour. For the tried and true licorice lovers, the
festival features a vast array of classic licorice savory snacks
such as licorice-laden Yorkshire pies and sausage rolls.
Futures Vs. Options
Futures contracts require the transaction specified by the
contract must take place on the date specified. Futures
contracts are agreements to trade an underlying asset at a
future date at a predetermined price. Both the buyer and the
seller are obligated to transact on that date. Futures are
standardized contracts traded on an exchange where they can be
bought and sold by investors.
Options give the buyer of the contract the right, but not the obligation to execute the transaction. Options can be exercised at any time before they expire. There are two types of options: call and put options. Call options give the buyer a right, but not the obligation to buy the underlying asset at a predetermined price before the expiry date. A put option gives the option-buyer the right to sell the security.
Both options and futures contracts are standardized agreements that are traded on an exchange such as the NYSE or NASDAQ or the BSE or NSE. There is daily settlement for both options and futures, and a margin account with a broker is required to trade options or futures. Investors use these financial instruments to hedge their risk or to speculate. The underlying assets for both futures and options contracts can be stocks, bonds, currencies, or commodities.
One of the key differences between options and futures is that options are optional. The option contract itself may be bought and sold on the exchange, but the buyer of the option is never obligated to exercise the option. The seller of an option is obligated to complete the transaction if the buyer chooses to exercise at any time before the expiry date for the options.
Options give the buyer of the contract the right, but not the obligation to execute the transaction. Options can be exercised at any time before they expire. There are two types of options: call and put options. Call options give the buyer a right, but not the obligation to buy the underlying asset at a predetermined price before the expiry date. A put option gives the option-buyer the right to sell the security.
Both options and futures contracts are standardized agreements that are traded on an exchange such as the NYSE or NASDAQ or the BSE or NSE. There is daily settlement for both options and futures, and a margin account with a broker is required to trade options or futures. Investors use these financial instruments to hedge their risk or to speculate. The underlying assets for both futures and options contracts can be stocks, bonds, currencies, or commodities.
One of the key differences between options and futures is that options are optional. The option contract itself may be bought and sold on the exchange, but the buyer of the option is never obligated to exercise the option. The seller of an option is obligated to complete the transaction if the buyer chooses to exercise at any time before the expiry date for the options.
Microwaves Revisited
Microwaving changes the molecular structure of food. It has
been scientifically proven that microwaving changes the
molecular structure of food. This is called cooking.
There are two kinds of radiation: (1) ionizing, the high-energy kind produced by nuclear bombs, radioactive elements, etc., and (2) non-ionizing, the relatively low-energy type we encounter every day in the form of light, heat, and radio waves. Microwaves are located between radio and heat (infrared) as non-ionizing.
Microwave heating is different from conventional heating because, microwaves only affect molecules having polarity or positive and negative ends, which rotate rapidly back and forth as the microwaves pass through. A common type of polar molecule is water, which is distributed fairly evenly throughout many foods.
Infrared energy warms up almost any molecule it passes through. While ordinary heat gets absorbed by the outer layer of a food and only slowly penetrates to the interior, microwave energy passes through most of the food as though it were transparent and heats up mainly the water, and to a degree fats and sugars, which in turn heat up everything else. The food thus cooks mostly uniformly. Yes, microwaved foods are still safe to eat.
There are two kinds of radiation: (1) ionizing, the high-energy kind produced by nuclear bombs, radioactive elements, etc., and (2) non-ionizing, the relatively low-energy type we encounter every day in the form of light, heat, and radio waves. Microwaves are located between radio and heat (infrared) as non-ionizing.
Microwave heating is different from conventional heating because, microwaves only affect molecules having polarity or positive and negative ends, which rotate rapidly back and forth as the microwaves pass through. A common type of polar molecule is water, which is distributed fairly evenly throughout many foods.
Infrared energy warms up almost any molecule it passes through. While ordinary heat gets absorbed by the outer layer of a food and only slowly penetrates to the interior, microwave energy passes through most of the food as though it were transparent and heats up mainly the water, and to a degree fats and sugars, which in turn heat up everything else. The food thus cooks mostly uniformly. Yes, microwaved foods are still safe to eat.
Food For Flying
Here is an updated list of foods you can take through airport
security. Cakes, Pies, Sandwiches, Apples, Bananas, Oranges,
Sliced Fruit, Firm Cheese, Meat, Candy, Gum, Brownies, Cookies,
Pastries, Granola Bars, Pretzels, Chips,
Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers, and Fries. Even though an item is
allowed to pass through security with you, it does not mean it
will not be given a review. For instance, cakes and pies are
permitted as carry-on items, but could require additional
screening.
Equinox vs. Solstice
You could
almost think of them as opposites. The word "solstice" comes
from the Latin roots "sol," meaning sun, and "sistere," meaning
"stationary." That refers to the fact that during a solstice,
the sun rises and appears to stop in the middle of the sky for a
while before it sets. As a result, the summer solstice is the
longest day of the year.
If you are on the opposite side of the globe from that sunny standstill, you would experience a winter solstice, the longest night of the year. The winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and on June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and on December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere.
The word "equinox," comes from the Latin roots "aequus," meaning equal, and "nox," meaning night. On the equinox, day and night last for exactly the same amount of time. Spring equinox means spring has arrived. The vernal equinox happens about March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and September 23 in the Southern Hemisphere. The autumnal equinox occurs near September 23 in the Northern Hemisphere and March 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Picture the Earth as it circles the sun. Our planet does not sit directly upright as it rotates; its axis of rotation is actually tilted by about 23.4 degrees, always pointed in the same direction in space. In the same way you get more sun on your shoulders if you are sitting up in your beach chair than you will if you are lounging flat, some areas of the Earth get more sunlight depending on where its axis is pointing. That, in turn, depends on where the planet is in its revolution around the sun.
For example, when it's the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is at a point in its revolution where its axis points away from the sun and the Northern Hemisphere gets the least amount of sunlight. If you were standing at the North Pole, you wouldn't get any sunlight at all. The Southern Hemisphere, on the other hand, would get its biggest helping of sunlight all year, making it the summer solstice there. In Antarctica, the sun never sets during this period.
Whereas the Earth's axis is tilted directly toward or away from the sun during a solstice, it's tilted directly askew from the sun during an equinox. To use the sunbathing example again, it's as if you rotated your body parallel to the towel clockwise you get the same amount of sun on your front and back as if you had rotated the other way. At this time, the sun is directly above the equator, and that means that day and night are of equal length. But not for long: A new season is upon you, which means shorter nights (or days!) and more (or less!) sunlight to enjoy.
If you are on the opposite side of the globe from that sunny standstill, you would experience a winter solstice, the longest night of the year. The winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and on June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and on December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere.
The word "equinox," comes from the Latin roots "aequus," meaning equal, and "nox," meaning night. On the equinox, day and night last for exactly the same amount of time. Spring equinox means spring has arrived. The vernal equinox happens about March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and September 23 in the Southern Hemisphere. The autumnal equinox occurs near September 23 in the Northern Hemisphere and March 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Picture the Earth as it circles the sun. Our planet does not sit directly upright as it rotates; its axis of rotation is actually tilted by about 23.4 degrees, always pointed in the same direction in space. In the same way you get more sun on your shoulders if you are sitting up in your beach chair than you will if you are lounging flat, some areas of the Earth get more sunlight depending on where its axis is pointing. That, in turn, depends on where the planet is in its revolution around the sun.
For example, when it's the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is at a point in its revolution where its axis points away from the sun and the Northern Hemisphere gets the least amount of sunlight. If you were standing at the North Pole, you wouldn't get any sunlight at all. The Southern Hemisphere, on the other hand, would get its biggest helping of sunlight all year, making it the summer solstice there. In Antarctica, the sun never sets during this period.
Whereas the Earth's axis is tilted directly toward or away from the sun during a solstice, it's tilted directly askew from the sun during an equinox. To use the sunbathing example again, it's as if you rotated your body parallel to the towel clockwise you get the same amount of sun on your front and back as if you had rotated the other way. At this time, the sun is directly above the equator, and that means that day and night are of equal length. But not for long: A new season is upon you, which means shorter nights (or days!) and more (or less!) sunlight to enjoy.
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