According to Johns Hopkins University, a bout of radiating
pain in your head after eating cold food is known as cold
neuralgia or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. It is likely
caused by your body entering survival mode when it detects a
freezing temperature on the roof of the mouth: our system
constricts blood vessels in the palate to preserve our core
temperature. When they rapidly open back up, a pain signal is
sent to the brain via the trigeminal nerve. Since that nerve
leads directly to the midface and forehead, your face bears the
brunt of the referred pain from the mouth.
A brain freeze
typically lasts less than five minutes, but when your head is
throbbing, that can feel like forever. To minimize the pain, the
best strategy is to warm the palate up. You can do this by
pressing your tongue or a thumb against the roof of your mouth,
by drinking a warm liquid, or both. Covering your face and
breathing into your hands can also warm the air inside your
mouth that was chilled by the ice cream.
Jul 20, 2019
Wordology, Eke
If we see the word eke these days, it is when we "eke out" a
living, but it comes from an old verb meaning to add,
supplement, or grow. It is the same word that gave us eke-name
for additional name, which later became nickname.
Robocalls
During May, 2019 robocallers rang Americans' smartphones an
estimated 4.7 billion times, according to YouMail, a company
that makes an app that helps users block suspected spam calls.
That is nearly double the amount from two years ago, reflecting
the extent to which fraudsters have outwitted carriers such as
AT&T and Verizon, lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the
government's chief robocall cops, including the Federal
Communications Commission.
At Tufts Medical Center, administrators registered more than 4,500 robocalls between about 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 2018.
Testifying in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, it stressed robocalls represent a "serious threat" to the Tampa-based facility, which serves more than 60,000 patients each year. Over a 90-day period, robocallers rang more than 6,600 times using numbers that mimicked its own, which it estimated had consumed 65 hours of hospital response time. That came in addition to about 300 robocalls that appeared to be coming from numbers affiliated with the U.S. Department of Justice. Callers sought to swindle physicians into surrendering critical information that might make it easier for scammers to obtain prescription drugs fraudulently.
At Tufts Medical Center, administrators registered more than 4,500 robocalls between about 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 2018.
Testifying in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, it stressed robocalls represent a "serious threat" to the Tampa-based facility, which serves more than 60,000 patients each year. Over a 90-day period, robocallers rang more than 6,600 times using numbers that mimicked its own, which it estimated had consumed 65 hours of hospital response time. That came in addition to about 300 robocalls that appeared to be coming from numbers affiliated with the U.S. Department of Justice. Callers sought to swindle physicians into surrendering critical information that might make it easier for scammers to obtain prescription drugs fraudulently.
Robocall Popular Area Codes
The list from the app HIYA shows popular area
codes and number of unwanted calls. Looks like Texas is popular.
area code, area code region, estimated unwanted calls
214 Dallas, TX 210,590,643
817 Fort worth, TX 177,353,949
210 San Antonio, TX 167,494,351
512 Austin, TX 141,493,980
832 Houston, TX 125,617,537
404 Atlanta, GA 104,613,003
205 AL 98,239,446
area code, area code region, estimated unwanted calls
214 Dallas, TX 210,590,643
817 Fort worth, TX 177,353,949
210 San Antonio, TX 167,494,351
512 Austin, TX 141,493,980
832 Houston, TX 125,617,537
404 Atlanta, GA 104,613,003
205 AL 98,239,446
Veggie Cutting Tip
Place your cutting board in a sheet pan to keep your table clean
when dealing with messy veggies.
Five Canadian Inventions
Here are a few things many do not know were
invented in Canada.
Peanut Butter - Although American agricultural pioneer George Washington Carver is often credited for inventing peanut butter, the first patent for the spreadable substance was actually given to Montreal, Canada’s Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884.
IMAX - Canadian filmmakers Graeme Ferguson and Roman Kroitor first pioneered the technology of high-resolution images on huge screens at Montreal’s Expo ’67.
Hockey Mask - No surprise with this one. The hockey mask, which has helped keep many a goaltender’s face intact, was first worn regularly by Montreal Canadiens player Jaques Plante in 1959.
World Time Zones - Canadian railroad engineer Sandford Fleming came up with the idea of creating 24 time zones across the entire globe, which would form “international standard time.” In 1884 at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., his ideas were eventually adopted worldwide.
Trivial Pursuit - During 1979, Montreal Gazette picture editor Chris Haney and sports journalist Scott Abbott came up with Trivial Pursuit, which became the biggest phenomenon in game history, with over 100 million copies of the game sold.
Peanut Butter - Although American agricultural pioneer George Washington Carver is often credited for inventing peanut butter, the first patent for the spreadable substance was actually given to Montreal, Canada’s Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884.
IMAX - Canadian filmmakers Graeme Ferguson and Roman Kroitor first pioneered the technology of high-resolution images on huge screens at Montreal’s Expo ’67.
Hockey Mask - No surprise with this one. The hockey mask, which has helped keep many a goaltender’s face intact, was first worn regularly by Montreal Canadiens player Jaques Plante in 1959.
World Time Zones - Canadian railroad engineer Sandford Fleming came up with the idea of creating 24 time zones across the entire globe, which would form “international standard time.” In 1884 at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., his ideas were eventually adopted worldwide.
Trivial Pursuit - During 1979, Montreal Gazette picture editor Chris Haney and sports journalist Scott Abbott came up with Trivial Pursuit, which became the biggest phenomenon in game history, with over 100 million copies of the game sold.
Sashimi vs. Sushi
Sashimi is thinly sliced raw meat, usually fish, such as
salmon or tuna, that is served without rice. Sashimi always contains fresh raw meat or
seafood. Sashi mi ("pierced flesh" in Japanese).
Sushi is not raw fish, but rather vinegared rice that is mixed with other ingredients, which may or may not include raw fish. Raw fish is one of the traditional ingredients in sushi, but it may also be made without meat or with cooked seafood as long as it uses vinegared rice. Sushi ("it is sour" in Japanese).
Sushi is not raw fish, but rather vinegared rice that is mixed with other ingredients, which may or may not include raw fish. Raw fish is one of the traditional ingredients in sushi, but it may also be made without meat or with cooked seafood as long as it uses vinegared rice. Sushi ("it is sour" in Japanese).
Jul 12, 2019
Happy Friday
Smiles are beneficial
to the body, happiness to the soul.
I keep my body and soul happy with both, especially on a Happy Friday!
I keep my body and soul happy with both, especially on a Happy Friday!
National French Fry Day
July 13 National French Fry Day on July 13 is a
great opportunity to take the time to sample some golden-brown
potato slices. Estimates say Americans eat about 20 to 30 pounds
per person per year. survey of 1,000 Americans)
AMERICA’S ULTIMATE RANKING OF FAST FOOD FRIES
#1: McDonalds (35%)
#2: Chick-fil-A (13%)
#3: Five Guys (12%)
#4: Wendys (11%)
#5: Arbys (11%)
AMERICA’S ULTIMATE RANKING OF FAST FOOD FRIES
#1: McDonalds (35%)
#2: Chick-fil-A (13%)
#3: Five Guys (12%)
#4: Wendys (11%)
#5: Arbys (11%)
Bottled Water
Bottled water is now the largest beverage category by volume in
the US. Food & Water Watch explains that 64 percent of
bottled water comes from municipal tap water sources, sometimes
further treated and sometimes not.
The plastic that seals bottled water uses petroleum, which raises environmental concerns and causes a negative environmental impact. Discarded one-time-use plastic water bottles turn up everywhere and are more negative than plastic straws. The plastic used to make single-use water bottles also contains chemicals called endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A. BPA and other endocrine disruptors alter the way the body makes and uses certain hormones, which could have negative health consequences.
The plastic that seals bottled water uses petroleum, which raises environmental concerns and causes a negative environmental impact. Discarded one-time-use plastic water bottles turn up everywhere and are more negative than plastic straws. The plastic used to make single-use water bottles also contains chemicals called endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A. BPA and other endocrine disruptors alter the way the body makes and uses certain hormones, which could have negative health consequences.
National Yellow Pigs Day
July 17 is the day we celebrate Yellow Pigs Day (not
to be confused with national pig day in March). Yellow Pigs Day
is a mathematician's holiday celebrating yellow pigs and the
number 17. It is celebrated annually since the early 1960's,
primarily on college campuses, and primarily by mathematicians.
On campus, Yellow Pig Cake and Yellow Pig Carols, along with
parades and general revelry are tradition. The mythical yellow
pig has 17 toes, 17 teeth, 17 eyelashes, etc. Incidentally,
fear of the number 17 is called heptadecaphobia.
Robocalls Data
According to recent reports, 48 billion robocalls were made to
U.S. mobile phone users in 2018, with scams making up 40 percent
of all robocalls. Only 3 to 5 percent of people return these
calls which can net criminals thousands of dollars each.
Identity theft scams in particular have become increasingly
popular and potentially more lucrative for the bad guys.
Bird Migrations
We think humans travel far, but it seems some birds have us
beat and without planes or Uber. Of the nearly 10,000 species of
birds, about 19% (1,850 species) are considered to be migratory.
The 13-15 inch, 3.5 ounce Arctic Tern takes the prize for the
longest migration at an astounding 44,000 miles (71,000 km)
annually on average.
By tagging the birds, scientists learned the shortest migration was 36,900 miles (60,000 km) while the longest was 50,700 miles (81,000 km). For perspective, the circumference of the Earth is 24,901 miles (40,075 km).
This migration is completed annually at every life stage. The Arctic Tern can live for 35 years, so a single bird can potentially travel about 1.5 million miles (2.4 million km) in its lifetime.
During its migration, the Arctic Tern completes a round trip from Greenland, traversing the Weddell Sea and flying along the shores of Antarctica. The birds take a break at sea over the North Atlantic Ocean while they fuel up on food. Once this break is completed, the birds head down the coast of northwest Africa, around the Cape Verde Islands, then off the west coast of Africa towards Senegal.
Rather than traveling straight back along the path they came, they instead travel in a twisted ‘S’ shaped pattern through the Atlantic Ocean. Though this route adds many miles to their trip, the birds take advantage of the global wind system and use less energy, thanks to the wind currents.
By tagging the birds, scientists learned the shortest migration was 36,900 miles (60,000 km) while the longest was 50,700 miles (81,000 km). For perspective, the circumference of the Earth is 24,901 miles (40,075 km).
This migration is completed annually at every life stage. The Arctic Tern can live for 35 years, so a single bird can potentially travel about 1.5 million miles (2.4 million km) in its lifetime.
During its migration, the Arctic Tern completes a round trip from Greenland, traversing the Weddell Sea and flying along the shores of Antarctica. The birds take a break at sea over the North Atlantic Ocean while they fuel up on food. Once this break is completed, the birds head down the coast of northwest Africa, around the Cape Verde Islands, then off the west coast of Africa towards Senegal.
Rather than traveling straight back along the path they came, they instead travel in a twisted ‘S’ shaped pattern through the Atlantic Ocean. Though this route adds many miles to their trip, the birds take advantage of the global wind system and use less energy, thanks to the wind currents.
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