Use Vodka in Surprising Ways!

Money, like vodka, turns a person into an eccentric.
~Anton Chekhov

I want to say first that I am skeptical of many of the items on this list. I have not tried any of them. For the most part, I tend to use vodka the traditional way, on the rocks with some olives. I find it hard to believe that dousing a blouse with vodka will make it smell good enough to wear to work...

The list:

• Odor remover
• Keep cut flowers fresh (this one I may try sometime)
• Bug repellant spray
• Soothe stings of jellyfish
• Add body to hair (this one I may also try, some weekend when I am not going anywhere)
• Stain remover (again, worth a try)
• Use with lavender as a fabric softener when ironing
• Weed killer (may try - seems like a waste of vodka though)
• Remove mold and mildew
• Mouth wash (now there is an idea...)
• Topical tincture
• Ease poison ivy rash
• Metal polish
• Remove sticky tags and labels

Learn the details of Vodka, the miracle booze!

Note: I am not endorsing any of these suggestions. If I do try any, I will update this post with my findings.

Something else I learned: Low quality vodka is served chilled because colder vodka hides the true taste.

2,000+ US High Temperature Records Broken or Tied in March (So Far)

A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate the world and ourselves.
~Marcel Proust

More than 2,000 high temperature records have been tied or broken since March 1, and more are expected to be broken for the next couple of days. Temperatures are 20-30° above average in many areas. 44 records were broken and  67 tied previous records on a single day (March 15).



Forecasters are predicting the warmer temperatures are here to stay and that the time to break out the shorts and sunscreen is upon us.

New Custom Blended Cologne for the Pope

An adult faith does not follow the waves of fashion and the latest novelties.
~Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict has ordered a custom-blended eau de cologne from perfume maker Silvana Casoli - just for him. The papal fragrance mixes hints of lime tree, verbena and grass though Casoli refused to release the full list of ingredients that had gone into the scent.  Made exclusively for the Vicar of Jesus Christ, Casoli says, "I would not ever repeat the same perfume for another customer."

The current Bishop of Rome has a reputation for appreciating some of the finer things in life.  Gucci sunglasses, Prada shoes, and of course that red hat. A spiffy dresser, to be sure.

The name of the perfume, if it has one, has not been made public. A few suggestions:

• Heaven Scent
• Confessions
• Abstinence
• Please add your suggestions in the comment section!

Note: I wonder what kind of commercial would sell the papal perfume?  Think about perfume commercials...

Something else I learned: There is an online forum devoted solely to papal fashion.

Soda Bread Not Irish‽ What‽

A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle.
~Irish Saying

Soda bread was not invented by the Irish. The first reference to soda bread is credited to American Indians. The Irish have, however, made soda bread an Irish tradition. Not so much by choice as out of necessity.

During times of poverty and famine in Ireland hard flour - the type that is needed to use with yeast to make it rise, was largely unaffordable. The wheat that grows in the Irish climate is soft wheat which is low in gluten. The acidic properties of bicarbonite soda and sour milk (buttermilk) work to create a reaction that leavens bread made with soft flour. 

Here is the soda bread recipe I made today:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375°
Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and 1/2 cup butter. Stir in buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and slightly knead. Form dough and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk and brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes. It turned out okay. It looked terrible, but tasted fine!

Note: That is an interrobang in the title - a combined question mark and exclamation mark for when on or the other will not do.

National Museum of Dentistry

Americans may have no identity, but they do have wonderful teeth.
~Jean Baudrillard

There is a National Museum of Dentistry.  It is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and boasts such exhibits as Queen Victoria's dental instruments, and an historic display of toothbrushes.  The museum also displays George Washington's dentures (made not of wood, but of hippopotamus ivory).

Note: The Dentistry Museum is located in Baltimore.

Something else I learned: George Washington had only 1 tooth of his own at the time of his inauguration as President.

What is the Ides of March and Why Should I Beware It?

Caesar: Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March.
Caesar: What man is that?
Brutus: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
~Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

In Roman times the Ides of March was simply March 15. "Ides" comes from the earliest Roman calendar which was somewhat complex. It utilized 3 days of each month as reference points:

• Kalends (1st day of the month)
• Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October; the 5th in the other months)
• Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October; the 13th in the other months)

The remaining days of each month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3 would be V Nones—5 days before the Nones. This convoluted method of time keeping was used in the Julian calendar as well and into the Middle Ages and Renaissance.



Note: "What are the eyes of march" appears as a related search if you type "the ides of march julius caesar" in to Google search.

Something else I learned: The festival of Lupercalia was held in Ancient Rome on February 15. The festival celebrated the founding of the city of Rome.

Encyclopaedia Britannica to Cease Printing Encyclopedias

This is probably going to be a collector's item. This is going to be as rare as the first edition, because the last print run of our last copyright was one of the smallest print runs.
~Jorge Cauz, 50, president of Encyclopedia Britannica

Lucky you! You can buy a set of these highly prized volumes for only $1395 - a real bargain considering the president of the company is sure the set will be collectible because no one wants to buy it... Wait a minute. What?

Encyclopaedia Britannica was founded in Scotland in 1768. The company has been located in Chicago since 1935. The last set was printed in 2010 and approximately 8000 of those have been sold, leaving 4000 of the 32 volume 129 lb sets available for sale.

Sales declined from $650 million in 1990 to $405 million in 1995. In 1996, after 60 years of selling door-to-door, Encyclopedia Britannica stopped the practice completely and dramatically, laying off it's entire US and Canada sales force.

Note: The company will continue to be a source of facts and knowledge on the internet where most of their business has already shifted.

Something else I learned: There are 6 types of volcano eruptions classified by size and shape. The types are: Icelandic, Hawaiian, Strombolian, Vulcanian, Pelean, and Plinian