Feb 14, 2020
Happy Valentine's Day, February 14
It is celebrated worldwide and named
after Saint Valentine. The first Valentine's Day was in the year
496. Emperor Claudius II executed two men, both named Valentine,
on Feb. 14 in different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their
martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the
celebration of St. Valentine's Day. Having a particular
Valentine's Day is thought to have originated from a Roman
festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February, officially
the start of their springtime. Incidentally, Cupid did not
come along until the 14th century.
Coronavirus Update
US confirms 15th case on Feb 13. The World Health Organization,
February 11 proposed an official name for the illness caused by
the new coronavirus: COVID-19. The acronym stands for
coronavirus disease 2019, as the illness was first detected
toward the end of 2019.
The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that the new name makes no reference to any of the people, places, or animals associated with the coronavirus. The goal was to avoid stigma. (In other words, a politically correct name)
The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that the new name makes no reference to any of the people, places, or animals associated with the coronavirus. The goal was to avoid stigma. (In other words, a politically correct name)
How do You Pronounce That
English is a delicious language that is sometimes
confusing in spelling and grammar terms, but also in
pronunciation.
Tour Depending on who you ask, you could either embark on a "tore" of a city, or you could embark on a "toor" of a city. Both Merriam-Webster and the Macmillan Dictionary advise you to pronounce it as "toor," but that is not to say that "tore" is wrong.
Lawyer The researchers behind the Harvard Dialect Survey discovered that while most Americans pronounce the word "lawyer" in such a way that the first syllable rhymes with "boy," Southerners emphasize the "law" in lawyer so the first syllable makes a "saw" sound.
Marry/Merry/Mary If you were to say the sentence "I feel merry about marrying Mary," would your pronunciations of "marry," "merry," and "Mary" sound different? Most Americans will find that these words come out to sound exactly the same, but if you are from a big city in the Northeast, then it is probable that the way you sound out each word differs, with "marry" taking on the same vowel as "cat," "merry" taking on the same vowel as "pet," and "Mary" taking on the same vowel as "fair."
Caught/Cot Do you hear a difference in pronunciation between the words "cot" and "caught"? If so, you probably did not grow up on the West Coast or in the Midwest. In the Harvard Dialect Survey, researchers found that the majority of people from these regions pronounced these words in the same way. People on the East Coast and in the South, meanwhile, tend to pronounce them distinctly differently.
Envelope Most people pronounce the first syllable in the word "envelope" like "pen," but some people pronounce the first syllable like "on." That is because the English word originates from the French word for envelope, which favors 'on'.
Aunt Some people, especially Southerners, see the word "aunt" and pronounce it no differently than the word's homonym, 'ant'. Others, particularly those in the Boston area, pronounce the word so that it rhymes with 'daunt'.
Almond The various pronunciations of the word "almond" originate back to when many people were emigrating from Europe to the United States, bringing with them their native languages and thusly their own versions of various words. So, call it an al-mond, an am-end, or an ahl-mend.
Salmon Given how many Americans are not native English speakers, it is no surprise that so many are saying the word "salmon" with a distinguishable 'l' sound. In languages like Spanish and Italian, the 'l' in salmon is very much heard, and that often carries over into pronunciations for people who are learning English as a second language. There is only one correct pronunciation, and it involves no 'l' sound.
Pecan Whether you pronounce the word "pecan" as pee-can, or puh-kahn is complicated. When the National Pecan Shellers Association polled Americans about how they pronounced the name of the nut, they found that there were divides not just among regions, but within them as well. A Washington Post survey concluded that there was no single pronunciation of the word designated for each area, with 45 percent of Southerners and 70 percent of Northeasterners favoring "pee-can."
Tour Depending on who you ask, you could either embark on a "tore" of a city, or you could embark on a "toor" of a city. Both Merriam-Webster and the Macmillan Dictionary advise you to pronounce it as "toor," but that is not to say that "tore" is wrong.
Lawyer The researchers behind the Harvard Dialect Survey discovered that while most Americans pronounce the word "lawyer" in such a way that the first syllable rhymes with "boy," Southerners emphasize the "law" in lawyer so the first syllable makes a "saw" sound.
Marry/Merry/Mary If you were to say the sentence "I feel merry about marrying Mary," would your pronunciations of "marry," "merry," and "Mary" sound different? Most Americans will find that these words come out to sound exactly the same, but if you are from a big city in the Northeast, then it is probable that the way you sound out each word differs, with "marry" taking on the same vowel as "cat," "merry" taking on the same vowel as "pet," and "Mary" taking on the same vowel as "fair."
Caught/Cot Do you hear a difference in pronunciation between the words "cot" and "caught"? If so, you probably did not grow up on the West Coast or in the Midwest. In the Harvard Dialect Survey, researchers found that the majority of people from these regions pronounced these words in the same way. People on the East Coast and in the South, meanwhile, tend to pronounce them distinctly differently.
Envelope Most people pronounce the first syllable in the word "envelope" like "pen," but some people pronounce the first syllable like "on." That is because the English word originates from the French word for envelope, which favors 'on'.
Aunt Some people, especially Southerners, see the word "aunt" and pronounce it no differently than the word's homonym, 'ant'. Others, particularly those in the Boston area, pronounce the word so that it rhymes with 'daunt'.
Almond The various pronunciations of the word "almond" originate back to when many people were emigrating from Europe to the United States, bringing with them their native languages and thusly their own versions of various words. So, call it an al-mond, an am-end, or an ahl-mend.
Salmon Given how many Americans are not native English speakers, it is no surprise that so many are saying the word "salmon" with a distinguishable 'l' sound. In languages like Spanish and Italian, the 'l' in salmon is very much heard, and that often carries over into pronunciations for people who are learning English as a second language. There is only one correct pronunciation, and it involves no 'l' sound.
Pecan Whether you pronounce the word "pecan" as pee-can, or puh-kahn is complicated. When the National Pecan Shellers Association polled Americans about how they pronounced the name of the nut, they found that there were divides not just among regions, but within them as well. A Washington Post survey concluded that there was no single pronunciation of the word designated for each area, with 45 percent of Southerners and 70 percent of Northeasterners favoring "pee-can."
Refrigerator Tip
Finding food in the back of the fridge is tough, because we are
already bent down at an awkward angle, just to peer in. Pick up
one or more half cooking sheet pans or large clear plastic bins
and use them to line the bottoms of shelves. One quick pull and
you can see everything on the shelf. No reason every shelf can't
be as convenient as the veggie bin. Also great for spills, pull
out, wipe down, done. Measure the shelf before you go shopping
so you get maximum coverage.
Flu and Cold
The flu, also called influenza, is a viral respiratory illness.
A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that invades the cells
of your body and makes you sick. The flu is often confused with
another virus, the common cold, because of the similarity in
symptoms, which can include a cough, sore throat, and stuffy
nose. However, flu symptoms also include fever, cold sweats,
aches throughout the body, headache, exhaustion, and even some
gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Part of flu potency is from the virus changing so quickly that the body is rarely prepared for the next season’s strain. “The antibodies we have built up no longer recognize the virus, so we lose our immunity.
During the last five years researchers have come up with a way to stem the tide of infection and it revolves around the ways that sneezes linger in the air. Cold air can carry less water vapor before it reaches the dew point and falls as rain. While the weather outside may seem wetter, the air itself is drier as it loses the moisture. A stream of new research has shown that these dry conditions seem to offer the perfect environment for the flu virus to flourish.
Lab experiments have looked at the way flu spreads among groups of guinea pigs. In moister air, the epidemic struggles to build momentum, whereas in drier conditions it spreads quickly. Comparing 30 years’ worth of climate records with health records, Jeffrey Shaman at Columbia University and colleagues found that flu epidemics almost always followed a drop in air humidity.
When we sneeze we expel a mist of particles from our nose and mouths. In moist air, these particles may remain relatively large, and drop to the floor, but in dry air, they break up into smaller pieces, eventually becoming so small that they can stay aloft for many hours. The result is that in winter, you are breathing a cocktail of dead cells, mucus, and viruses from almost anyone who has sneezed in the area.
Part of flu potency is from the virus changing so quickly that the body is rarely prepared for the next season’s strain. “The antibodies we have built up no longer recognize the virus, so we lose our immunity.
During the last five years researchers have come up with a way to stem the tide of infection and it revolves around the ways that sneezes linger in the air. Cold air can carry less water vapor before it reaches the dew point and falls as rain. While the weather outside may seem wetter, the air itself is drier as it loses the moisture. A stream of new research has shown that these dry conditions seem to offer the perfect environment for the flu virus to flourish.
Lab experiments have looked at the way flu spreads among groups of guinea pigs. In moister air, the epidemic struggles to build momentum, whereas in drier conditions it spreads quickly. Comparing 30 years’ worth of climate records with health records, Jeffrey Shaman at Columbia University and colleagues found that flu epidemics almost always followed a drop in air humidity.
When we sneeze we expel a mist of particles from our nose and mouths. In moist air, these particles may remain relatively large, and drop to the floor, but in dry air, they break up into smaller pieces, eventually becoming so small that they can stay aloft for many hours. The result is that in winter, you are breathing a cocktail of dead cells, mucus, and viruses from almost anyone who has sneezed in the area.
Two National Anthems
New Zealand is one of only three countries that have two
official (and of equal standing) national Anthems. The first is
God Save the Queen (the English National Anthem) and the other
is God Defend New Zealand. The other two countries with two
anthems are Denmark and Canada which both have a Royal Anthem
and a State anthem.
Space Odyssey
People reference Apollo 11's mission to the moon as a pinnacle of
scientific achievement. In 1969, NASA scientists successfully sent
explorers through space to walk on the moon, and brought them back
safely. It would
take another year before a man named Bernard Sadow applied for a
patent for a suitcase with wheels on it and sold it at Macy's.
Incidentally, after returning from the moon, astronauts from Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins had to go through customs. According to documentation, they declared things like moon rocks, moon dust, and other lunar samples.
Incidentally, after returning from the moon, astronauts from Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins had to go through customs. According to documentation, they declared things like moon rocks, moon dust, and other lunar samples.
Internet Service Box
Have you ever heard a beep from the internet box where
your connection comes into the house, probably located in the
basement or garage. It usually shows a red light and says
'replace battery' or 'battery low'. Turns out the battery is
just for the in-house phone line and provides a few hours backup
to make landline calls in case of power failure.
The battery also provides a few minutes of backup for internet service. That is not enough to even finish watching an ad. If you call, your service provider will tell you to replace the battery (at your expense, and preferably from them). There is a button for 'silence alarm'. Press and hold it for a few seconds and the alarm will temporarily stop. If you do not have a landline phone, you can disconnect the battery.
A recent study confirmed about only 6.5 percent of US homes have just a landline. About 30+ percent have a landline and mobile phone service. Mobile phones are not affected by home power failure.
If you want to replace the cable box battery, they can be purchased at Walmart, Amazon, Lowes, etc. and cost between 18 and 50 dollars. For the vast majority, the fix is to unhook the battery and eliminate the beep. It is cheaper, simple to do, and you can find instructions online. You are welcome.
The battery also provides a few minutes of backup for internet service. That is not enough to even finish watching an ad. If you call, your service provider will tell you to replace the battery (at your expense, and preferably from them). There is a button for 'silence alarm'. Press and hold it for a few seconds and the alarm will temporarily stop. If you do not have a landline phone, you can disconnect the battery.
A recent study confirmed about only 6.5 percent of US homes have just a landline. About 30+ percent have a landline and mobile phone service. Mobile phones are not affected by home power failure.
If you want to replace the cable box battery, they can be purchased at Walmart, Amazon, Lowes, etc. and cost between 18 and 50 dollars. For the vast majority, the fix is to unhook the battery and eliminate the beep. It is cheaper, simple to do, and you can find instructions online. You are welcome.
Locusts vs. Grasshoppers
There are many stories in the news lately
about the deadly locust invasions, especially in Africa. Locusts
belong to the same order as grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets
- the Orthoptera (derived from the Greek words orthos meaning
straight or rigid and ptera meaning wing).
Grasshoppers congregate in huge swarms that can do severe damage to crops. These swarming grasshoppers are called locusts. There are more than 20,000 species of grasshoppers known to science, but only about a dozen of these transform into locusts and produce damaging swarms.
Locusts and grasshoppers are the same in appearance, but locusts can exist in two different behavioral states (solitary and gregarious), and most grasshoppers do not. When the population density is low, locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers. However, when locust population density is high, individuals undergo physiological and behavioral changes, known as phase polyphenism, and they form gregariously behaving swarms of adults.
In addition to changes in behavior, phase change may be accompanied by changes in body shape and color, and in fertility, physiology, and survival. These changes are so dramatic in some species that the swarming and non-swarming forms were once considered to be different species. The scale of population increase and migrations also distinguish those species known as locusts from grasshoppers.
Locusts are large herbivorous insects that can be serious pests of agriculture due to their ability to form dense and highly mobile swarms. They are species of short-horned grasshoppers that periodically form large populations in dense migrating groups, where individuals differ in several characteristics from those living separately. A locust has longer and stronger wings and a smaller body than a grasshopper.
Grasshoppers congregate in huge swarms that can do severe damage to crops. These swarming grasshoppers are called locusts. There are more than 20,000 species of grasshoppers known to science, but only about a dozen of these transform into locusts and produce damaging swarms.
Locusts and grasshoppers are the same in appearance, but locusts can exist in two different behavioral states (solitary and gregarious), and most grasshoppers do not. When the population density is low, locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers. However, when locust population density is high, individuals undergo physiological and behavioral changes, known as phase polyphenism, and they form gregariously behaving swarms of adults.
In addition to changes in behavior, phase change may be accompanied by changes in body shape and color, and in fertility, physiology, and survival. These changes are so dramatic in some species that the swarming and non-swarming forms were once considered to be different species. The scale of population increase and migrations also distinguish those species known as locusts from grasshoppers.
Locusts are large herbivorous insects that can be serious pests of agriculture due to their ability to form dense and highly mobile swarms. They are species of short-horned grasshoppers that periodically form large populations in dense migrating groups, where individuals differ in several characteristics from those living separately. A locust has longer and stronger wings and a smaller body than a grasshopper.
Happy Friday
But what is happiness
except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?
~Albert Camus
Happiness and harmony are important, especially on a Happy Friday!
Happiness and harmony are important, especially on a Happy Friday!
Pizza Facts
If
you did not get enough pizza during the big game, Feb 9 is
another opportunity to celebrate. In fact, there are 10
different pizza days during the year. National Pizza Day is
celebrated Feb 9. This observance began in October 1984, and was
created by Gerry Durnell, the publisher of Pizza Today magazine.
Here are a few pizza facts.
Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36% of all pies ordered.
Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year. Add another 1 billion of frozen pizzas.
17% of all US Restaurants are pizzerias.
Antica Pizzeria, the first Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.
Gennaro Lombardi, the first Pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City.
Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year.
Here are a few pizza facts.
Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36% of all pies ordered.
Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year. Add another 1 billion of frozen pizzas.
17% of all US Restaurants are pizzerias.
Antica Pizzeria, the first Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.
Gennaro Lombardi, the first Pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City.
Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year.
Dial 211
There
is another service akin to 411 and 911 in the US. The Federal
Communications Commission reserved the 211 dialing code for
community information and referral services. It intended the
code as an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number
that would enable a critical connection between individuals and
families in need and the appropriate community-based
organizations and government agencies. Currently, active 211
systems cover all or part of 50 states.
Calling 211 provides the following resources:
Basic Human Needs Resources – including food and clothing, shelters, housing, utility assistance.
Disaster Response and Recovery – works with the emergency management team during a disaster to offer support and place for dissemination of information.
Mental Health and Health Resources – including counseling, support groups, drug and alcohol treatment, health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, clinics, and hospitals.
Employment Support – including job training, employment services, transportation assistance, and education programs.
Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities – including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation and homemaker services.
Children, Youth and Family Support – including child care, after school programs, educational programs for low income families, family resource centers, and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.
Volunteer Opportunities and Donations – Individuals who wish to donate time, goods or money to community organizations.
Calling 211 provides the following resources:
Basic Human Needs Resources – including food and clothing, shelters, housing, utility assistance.
Disaster Response and Recovery – works with the emergency management team during a disaster to offer support and place for dissemination of information.
Mental Health and Health Resources – including counseling, support groups, drug and alcohol treatment, health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, clinics, and hospitals.
Employment Support – including job training, employment services, transportation assistance, and education programs.
Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities – including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation and homemaker services.
Children, Youth and Family Support – including child care, after school programs, educational programs for low income families, family resource centers, and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.
Volunteer Opportunities and Donations – Individuals who wish to donate time, goods or money to community organizations.
Coronavirus vs. Other Outbreaks
Although there seems to be world panic
according to the media, the virus appears not be as deadly as
reports would have us believe. The number of confirmed cases of
the virus worldwide numbered 14,637 and the total confirmed
deaths stood at 305 as of midday Feb. 2, according to data
collected and mapped by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for
Systems Science and Engineering. As of Feb 5, a Wisconsin
coronavirus case brings total infected in US to 12.
To put the risk in more context, the current US flu season has killed 54 infants so far, according to CDC. In the U.S. alone, the flu has already caused an estimated 19 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Common coronavirus symptoms can include:
— Fever
— Dry cough
— Shortness of breath
— Aching muscles
— Fatigue.
Less typical coronavirus symptoms:
— Phlegm buildup
— Headache
— Hemoptysis
— Diarrhea.
Symptoms atypical for coronavirus:
— Runny nose
— Sore throat.
A runny nose and a sore throat are typical signs of upper respiratory infection. Therefore, those who have bouts of sneezing or get the sniffles likely have the flu or a common cold. As the new coronavirus generally affects the lower respiratory tract, most of those infected exhibit a dry cough, shortness of breath or pneumonia, but not a sore throat.
Last week, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations announced a $12.5 million effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus, split among three firms. In the best-case scenario, immunologist Barney Graham of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease told Science magazine, a vaccine would be ready for testing in people by next summer.
To put the risk in more context, the current US flu season has killed 54 infants so far, according to CDC. In the U.S. alone, the flu has already caused an estimated 19 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Common coronavirus symptoms can include:
— Fever
— Dry cough
— Shortness of breath
— Aching muscles
— Fatigue.
Less typical coronavirus symptoms:
— Phlegm buildup
— Headache
— Hemoptysis
— Diarrhea.
Symptoms atypical for coronavirus:
— Runny nose
— Sore throat.
A runny nose and a sore throat are typical signs of upper respiratory infection. Therefore, those who have bouts of sneezing or get the sniffles likely have the flu or a common cold. As the new coronavirus generally affects the lower respiratory tract, most of those infected exhibit a dry cough, shortness of breath or pneumonia, but not a sore throat.
Last week, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations announced a $12.5 million effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus, split among three firms. In the best-case scenario, immunologist Barney Graham of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease told Science magazine, a vaccine would be ready for testing in people by next summer.
Wordology, Quit Rent
Most quit rents are relics of medieval agreements. A few
examples include: Some English landowners must produce a variety
of quit rents: a bucket of snow on demand, three red roses, a
small French flag, a salmon spear. Some rents only kick in if
the king or queen visits: the renter must provide the crown with
a bed of straw, in another the renter must offer a single white
rose.
There is a quite recent one in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA. It started when the city imported a bridge from London (which had spanned the Thames river) and was auctioned off in the late 1960s. Robert McCulloch, Lake Havasu City’s founder, bought the bridge, and by the early ’70s, the bridge had been reinstalled in Arizona.
As a gift to London, during the dedication ceremony, McCulloch offered an acre of Arizona land and years later, when the city wanted to use that land for a visitor’s center, London agreed to lease it back to Lake Havasu. They settled on a token quit rent: a Kachina doll (a carved Hopi figure representing an immortal being).
There is a quite recent one in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA. It started when the city imported a bridge from London (which had spanned the Thames river) and was auctioned off in the late 1960s. Robert McCulloch, Lake Havasu City’s founder, bought the bridge, and by the early ’70s, the bridge had been reinstalled in Arizona.
As a gift to London, during the dedication ceremony, McCulloch offered an acre of Arizona land and years later, when the city wanted to use that land for a visitor’s center, London agreed to lease it back to Lake Havasu. They settled on a token quit rent: a Kachina doll (a carved Hopi figure representing an immortal being).
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