A cape is connected to the mainland by a much larger mass of
land than a peninsula. Peninsulas are connected to the mainland
by a thin landmass.
An easy way to think
about the difference is that a peninsula is almost an island
while a cape is not. A cape is also surrounded by water on two
sides and a peninsula is surrounded by water on three sides.
Aug 1, 2020
Three Interesting Names
Figure showing a 5 in the dice is called a
quincunx. It is 4 points forming a rectangle or a square, and an
extra point in the middle.
The separation or gap that forms between two front teeth is called a diastema, and it can result from a disproportionate relationship between the size of your teeth and the size of your jaw.
We always called it a “division sign,” but in fact, this symbol is called an obelus.
The separation or gap that forms between two front teeth is called a diastema, and it can result from a disproportionate relationship between the size of your teeth and the size of your jaw.
We always called it a “division sign,” but in fact, this symbol is called an obelus.
Laughter
Humans laughed before they spoke. Some scientists believe that
laughter was used as a way for humans to relate to one another
millions of years before they developed the lung strength for
language. The mechanism of laughter is so ingrained in our
brains that babies as young as 17 days old have been observed
doing it. In fact, children born blind and deaf still have the
ability to laugh.
A Scientific Investigation, Robert R. Provine, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, describes an intriguing study about laughter and it did not take place at a comedy club. Provine and some graduate students listened in on normal conversations at local malls. They found that out of 1,200 "laugh episodes," only about 10 percent were generated by a joke. "Laughter really has a bonding function between individuals in a group."
A Scientific Investigation, Robert R. Provine, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, describes an intriguing study about laughter and it did not take place at a comedy club. Provine and some graduate students listened in on normal conversations at local malls. They found that out of 1,200 "laugh episodes," only about 10 percent were generated by a joke. "Laughter really has a bonding function between individuals in a group."
United Nations Languages
Despite having 193 member countries, the
United Nations only has six official languages. These are
Chinese, Spanish, English, Russian, and French, which also
happen to be the languages spoken in the founding members of the
organization. The sixth language, Arabic, was added in 1974 by
popular demand.
Happy Friday
Nurture your mind
with happy thoughts and your soul will be healed.
Happy thoughts are always welcome, especially on a Happy Friday!
Happy thoughts are always welcome, especially on a Happy Friday!
National Hot Dog Day, Jul 22
Industry groups, such as National Hot Dog and
Sausage Council in the USA, encourage, sponsor, and support the
events. The Council designates July as National Hot Dog Month;
National Hot Dog Day varies year to year, during 2020 it falls
on Wednesday, July 22. It is based on when the North American
Meat Institute hosts its annual Hot Dog Lunch on Capitol Hill.
(One site lists the day as July 23. Why not extend and enjoy
some hot dogs on both days this year).
Buying Ice
You can buy bags of ice at many Burger King, McDonald's,
Sonic, Dunkin', and Chik-fil-a when you do not want to make
a trip to the store. Many are the eight to ten pound size.
Just ask and it may save you some money and another trip.
Wordology, Vorfreude
It is
the joy you feel thinking about good things that will
happen. You probably already know the meaning of schadenfreude. Vorfreude
is its kinder, nicer cousin. Literally
"pre-joy."
Use Your Old Phone
I temporarily lost my cell phone last week and
was worried I might have an emergency. Then I remembered the
following. Old cell phones may not be able to use high-speed
data networks, you can’t call any other number, and can’t
receive calls, but you can call 911 in an emergency. Federal
law requires that cell phones must be able to call 911 at
all times. As long as an old cell phone is functional, it
can be used as an emergency phone.
Tip, if you cannot speak, call 911, wait for an answer, then use your telephone's keypad to "talk" to the dispatcher. Press 1 if you need police, 2 for fire, and 3 for an ambulance.
For landline service that has been discontinued, service is not required for land lines. There is no federal law that requires this. However, depending on your area, 911 may still be available. You may have 911 access on a land line if your area mandates a “soft” dial tone for emergency access. Some large carriers may also provide it. If you do not have a dial tone, you probably do not have this as a soft tone sounds the same as a regular tone, but you can always call 911 to test and explain why you called.
Incidentally, FCC rules require all wireless carriers and other providers of text messaging applications in the United States to deliver emergency texts to call centers that request them.
PS - A friend gave me an old cell phone to use as a backup, which I keep on my bed-stand. Problem solved. Nice to have friends.
Tip, if you cannot speak, call 911, wait for an answer, then use your telephone's keypad to "talk" to the dispatcher. Press 1 if you need police, 2 for fire, and 3 for an ambulance.
For landline service that has been discontinued, service is not required for land lines. There is no federal law that requires this. However, depending on your area, 911 may still be available. You may have 911 access on a land line if your area mandates a “soft” dial tone for emergency access. Some large carriers may also provide it. If you do not have a dial tone, you probably do not have this as a soft tone sounds the same as a regular tone, but you can always call 911 to test and explain why you called.
Incidentally, FCC rules require all wireless carriers and other providers of text messaging applications in the United States to deliver emergency texts to call centers that request them.
PS - A friend gave me an old cell phone to use as a backup, which I keep on my bed-stand. Problem solved. Nice to have friends.
Local News Online
Feeling a bit nostalgic for your old hometown news. There is a
site that has over 500 current local paper front pages
available for free reading. It also has links to websites from
those papers that have one. Interesting to see different takes
on stories from different locations. LINK
Canada vs. US Forests
During 2016, there were 65,575 wildfires in the
US, according to the National Interagency Fire Center
(NIFC). That year 5.4 million acres were burned.
During 2017, there were 71,499 US wildfires and about 10 million acres were burned. The number of acres burned in 2017 was higher than the 10-year average.
During 2018 there were 58,083 US wildfires according to the NIFC. About 8.8 million acres were burned in 2018.
During 2019, from January 1 to November 22, 2019 there were 46,706 US wildfires compared with 52,080 wildfires in the same period in 2018, according to the (NIFC). About 4.6 million acres were burned in the 2019 period, compared with 8.5 million acres in 2018.
Currently, forests cover about 749 million acres in the US. Wildfires in the United States burn an average of 7 million acres of land each year.
Our Canadian neighbors to the north boast 981 acres (396.9-million hectares) of forests, or nine percent of all of the forest area in the entire world, according to Natural Resources Canada. Less than 1 percent is logged annually. Currently, US forests cover about 749 million acres of the U.S.
During a typical year there are over 9,000 forest fires in Canada, burning an average of 6 million acres or 25,000 square kilometers.
During 2017, there were 71,499 US wildfires and about 10 million acres were burned. The number of acres burned in 2017 was higher than the 10-year average.
During 2018 there were 58,083 US wildfires according to the NIFC. About 8.8 million acres were burned in 2018.
During 2019, from January 1 to November 22, 2019 there were 46,706 US wildfires compared with 52,080 wildfires in the same period in 2018, according to the (NIFC). About 4.6 million acres were burned in the 2019 period, compared with 8.5 million acres in 2018.
Currently, forests cover about 749 million acres in the US. Wildfires in the United States burn an average of 7 million acres of land each year.
Our Canadian neighbors to the north boast 981 acres (396.9-million hectares) of forests, or nine percent of all of the forest area in the entire world, according to Natural Resources Canada. Less than 1 percent is logged annually. Currently, US forests cover about 749 million acres of the U.S.
During a typical year there are over 9,000 forest fires in Canada, burning an average of 6 million acres or 25,000 square kilometers.
Wordology, Bitter End
This term first appeared in Captain John
Smith's 1627 publication, Seaman's Grammar: "A Bitter is but
the turne of a Cable about the Bits, and yeare it out by
little and little. And the Bitters end is that part of the
Cable doth stay within boord." Basically, a bit is a post on
the deck of a ship to which rope is wrapped around. When a
rope is pulled out to the "bitter end," it means there is no
more rope left to be used.
Fingerprints Not Protected
our fingerprint is not protected
under the 5th amendment, so police in the US can force you
to unlock a phone with a fingerprint, but not a password -
from 2014, those tiny skin ridges we all share were at the
heart of a Virginia court case last week in which a judge
ruled that police, who suspected there was incriminating
evidence on a suspect’s smartphone, could legally force the
man to unlock his device with its fingerprint scanner. While
the Fifth Amendment protects defendants from revealing their
numeric passcodes, which would be considered a
self-incriminating testimonial, biometrics like fingerprint
scans fall outside the law’s scope.
“If you are being forced to divulge something that you know, that’s not okay,” said Marcia Hofmann, an attorney and special counsel to digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation. “If the government is able through other means to collect evidence that just exists, then they certainly can do that without stepping on the toes of the constitutional protection.” “The important thing is,” Hofmann said, “is it something you know, or something you have?”
“If you are being forced to divulge something that you know, that’s not okay,” said Marcia Hofmann, an attorney and special counsel to digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation. “If the government is able through other means to collect evidence that just exists, then they certainly can do that without stepping on the toes of the constitutional protection.” “The important thing is,” Hofmann said, “is it something you know, or something you have?”
Population Ages
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as of 2012, 50.5 percent
of the world's population were people under the age of 30.
Around 89.7 percent of those young people live in emerging
and developing economies like the Middle East and Africa.
People 60 years and older make up 12.3 percent of the global population.
Although the majority of the human population is currently under 30 years old, there are still plenty of older folks among us. In fact, 12.3 percent of people on Earth are 60 years old and older. That number is expected to reach 22 percent by 2050.
People 60 years and older make up 12.3 percent of the global population.
Although the majority of the human population is currently under 30 years old, there are still plenty of older folks among us. In fact, 12.3 percent of people on Earth are 60 years old and older. That number is expected to reach 22 percent by 2050.
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