New Year Traditions Around the World

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!
~Edward Payson Powell

Oshogatsu (Japan)
The New Year is an important holiday in Japan - it is the time of renewal. Bonenki (Forget-the-year) parties take place throughout December to say good-bye to problems of the preceding year. Hard feelings are put aside and grievances are forgiven. It is a time to prepare for a new beginning. New Years day in Japan is a joyous day, and is spent with family. Most homes and businesses are decorated with kadomatsu and there is a traditional feast.



Learn more about Japanese New Year traditions here, and here.

幸せ新しい年

Hogmanay (Scotland)
"Auld Lang Syne," the popular New Year's song, originated in Scotland. It was transcribed and refined by Scotland's most famous poet, Robert Burns. In Scotland the traditional New Year celebration is Hogmanay. The Scots traditionally clean the house and settle debts on the last day of the year. The fireplaces in homes particularly are cleaned.

A main Hogmanay tradition is "First Footing." Immediately after midnight, neighbors visit each other to wish happy new year. Symbolic gifts are exchanged - coal to ensure warmth, shortbread to ensure food security. It is considered particularly good luck if the initial first foot in to your house is a tall, handsome man.

Learn more about Hogmanay here.

Nochevieja (Spain)
People stay home until midnight on New Year's Eve, and when the clock strikes twelve, it is traditional to eat 12 grapes - one on each stroke.




Ano Viejo (Ecuador)
Ecuador celebrates New Year's by burning an effigy that represents the bad from the previous year and is wished forgotten so it does not recur in the new year. The effigies are displayed before being burned at midnight. Current events are often the inspiration for the effigies.



Another Ecuadoran tradition that is common in most of South America is wearing underwear of a certain color. Red underwear is worn to attract love in the coming year. Wearing yellow underwear on New Year's Eve is supposed to bring wealth and good luck.

Learn more about Ecuadoran New Year.

feliz año nuevo

Bisperas ng Bagong Taon (Philippines)
On New Year's Eve in the Philippines, before the clock strikes 12 the doors are opened to allow good luck to enter (also open windows, cupboards, drawers, etc.).  Everyone makes as much noise as they can  banging pots and pans, revving engines in cars and trucks, fireworks and fire crackers, whistles - all the noise scares away evil spirits. At exactly midnight, children jump as high as they can.



Filipinos dress in polka dots on New Year's Day, polka dots symbolize prosperity. Pockets are filled with coins to be jingled to attract wealth.  The house is cleaned on the last day of the year. On New Year's day, do as little work as possible and do not spend money. There is also the traditional search for 12 round fruits.

New Year Celebration in the Philippines

masaya bagong taon

Verizon (correctly) Decides that Fee to Pay A Bill is a BAD Idea

So the unwanting soul
sees what's hidden,
and the ever-wanting soul
sees only what it wants.
~Lao Tzu

Before I even had a chance to blog about how stupid Verizon was being to want to charge people to pay bills, they reversed the very poor decision. The so-called "convenience fee" - $2 for one time phone or online payments is false at best, and greedy at worst. One should never charge people who are trying to give one money.

24 hours after announcing the new fee, Verizon reversed the decision. Good. It is nice to know that large corporations will still listen to consumers once in awhile. I'm not entirely sure that the decision was based solely on the reaction of Verizon customers - apparently the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) said they were planning to look into the action of Verizon.

So, good job Verizon, I guess.

There have been other companies that have made poor decisions that had to be walked back this year:

• Bank of America and the infamous Debit Card Fee (I blogged about it here) 
• Netflix and the Qwikster fiasco
• Hewlett-Packard, though I don't think anyone really knows what they have decided to do

 Note: I am a Verizon customer, and I was going to start mailing checks even though I rarely make one time payments. It's just that irritating fees, based on sheer greed tend to piss me off.

Pinterest The Online Pinboard - Organize and Share with Pinned Pics!

Pinterest has emerged as one of top sites pinpointing social networking and media trends in 2011.
~Rachel King

Pinerest is a the new social network that is primarily images. You create boards, and pin images of things that are interesting to you. You can easily organize images you find on the web (or take yourself). Humor, fashion, architecture, food, shoes -any category that is interesting to Pinterest members - are filled with images and brief comments. If you like something you see, you can repin or like the image. Check it out here.




It is apparently still in an invite only stage. It doesn't take long after requesting the invite to get access.

Note: A personal favorite Pinterest board.

Something else I learned: I have already picked up several new recipes, and DIY ideas from browsing different Pinterest categories.

Charles Edward Ives: American Composer

Optimistic, idealistic, fiercely democratic, he unified the voice of the American people with the forms and traditions of European classical music.
~The Charles Ives Society

I heard a Charles Ives piece for the first time today - Sonata No. 4 Children's day at the Camp Meeting. It was played beautifully by Dawn Wohn, violinist, and Ellen Hwango, pianist. The piece was very lively, discordant in places, and certainly elaborate.



Ives was born in Danbury Connecticut in 1874, the son of a bandmaster. He had music lessons from an early age but after graduating from college pursued a career in insurance. He was quite successful in insurance, but continued composing music until 1925. His collection is prolific, comprised of 114 songs, 4 symphonies, and much more (including the sonata I heard today).

His music was largely ignored in his lifetime (he died in 1954). His experimenting with compositions was not compatible with the musical standards of the time.  His major orchestral works were extremely complex, required unexpected combinations of instruments often in large numbers. Ives wanted to be popularly accepted, but had no intention of compromising his music (that is one of the reasons he chose a career in insurance).

His music gained some notice in the 1940s when Lou Harrison edited and promoted Ives' Symphony No. 3. The piece won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1947. Ives, unimpressed by the honor,  gave the prize money to Harrison.

Note: I did not particularly care for the piece, it was discordant to my ear - this is no comment on the artists performing the work, they did a fantastic job. Also playing a Mozart piece immediately following only served to highlight how much classical music varies, and why Mozart is loved by all, and I never heard of Charles Ives until today.*

Something else I learned:  Ives is now currently regarded as an American Original, a composer working in a uniquely American style.

*I am not a music critic! The comments in the note are purely my opinion.

Aluminum is the Third Most Abundant Element in the Earth's Crust

Name: Aluminum
Type: Metal
Density @ 293 K: 2.702 g/cm³
Symbol: Al
Atomic weight: 26.98154
Atomic volume: 9.98 cm³/mol  

Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen and silicon). It is never exists as a sole element, but is always bonded with another element, making extraction necessary. This was not easily or efficiently possible until the 1880s when 2 processes were invented to extract aluminum from aluminum oxide and from bauxite.

The first of these aluminum extraction methods is the Hall Herout Method which involves dissolving aluminum oxide. This was discovered in 1885. The Bayer Method, discovered in 1889 extracts aluminum from bauxite. With these 2 discoveries, aluminum became cheap and readily available.It is now widely used as foil which we frequently use in the kitchen and as soda containers.




There are other uses for aluminum:

• It is used in jet fuel
• Electrical wiring is sometimes made from aluminum or a combination of aluminum and copper
• Baseball bats are often made out of aluminum
• Parts for cars, planes, boats, and bicycles are made from aluminum
• Street lights are made from aluminum

Aluminum absorbs heat very quickly. Aluminum foil heats up very fast in the oven, but because it is so thin, it quickly loses the heat. That is why it can be handled even when immediately removed from the oven.

Note: Most of the world refers to aluminum as aluminium.

Something else I learned: The Hall Heroult Method of aluminum extraction was discovered simultaneously, yet separately by a scientist in France and a scientist in the US.

Boxing Day: Origins, Traditions, and Explanations

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
~Traditionally a Christmas song

The Feast of Stephen (St. Stephen's Day) is on December 26. The first clue that can be found to boxing day is in this song. The song was officially published in 1853, but music originates some 300 years earlier, in Finland.

King Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia in the 10th century. He was, based on the lyrics of this song, a good guy. St. Stephen's Day, the 26th of December, Boxing day, originated as a day of charity - a day when the English have traditionally given charity to the less fortunate.

Our good king, Wenceslas is not the origin of Boxing Day, he is just a good song. There are a couple of theories as to the origins of Boxing Day.

The first: Historically in England during Advent, Anglican parishes had a box for churchgoers to put monetary donations in. The day after Christmas, the boxes were opened and the contents distributed to the poor. That is why it is called Boxing Day.

Another: The day after Christmas was the day that the aristocracy distributed presents (boxes) to servants and employees.  Since the gifts were in boxes, the day was called Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is a national holiday in England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong (there are other countries that celebrate the holiday but where it is not recognized as a national holiday). Whatever the origin of the holiday, Boxing Day now bears no resemblance to the initial charitable day it once was. It has become a day similar to the USA Thanksgiving - a day to laze about, eat plenty, and watch a sporting event on TV.

If you wonder about Good King Wenceslas - he was assassinated by his brother Boleslaw (rhymes with coleslaw I guess).

Note: We have a Boxing Day celebration in our family. (That British son thing, you recall.)  We get together, eat some good food, exchange gifts. There are no sporting events of note on 26 Dec. so no TV.

Something else I learned: Boxing Day has become something of a black Friday equivalent. Interesting evolution for a day that was once about charitable giving.

Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas... is not an external event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart.
~Freya Stark 

The way Christmas is celebrated in a few countries around the world. 

In Finland:
Finns believe that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle (he probably does!)  There is a theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of Finland, near where they say that Father Christmas lives.


Finns celebrate 3 holy days of Christmas - Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. During these clebration days they eat special holiday foods. They have Christmas trees and church services. They also visit graveyards and place lit candles on the graves of loved ones - this is reportedly quite pretty as Christmas in Finland is always white.

Sauna, of course, is a part of the Christmas tradition. People go there before the festive holiday dinner. After dinner: Presents!

Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta!

In France:
Christmas Eve is the special time in the French celebration of Christmas. In cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth is re-enacted in cathedral squares. Most French homes display crèches. After fasting all day there is a feast (le reveillon) held after midnight mass. The menu includes a yule log cake, poultry, ham, salads and wine.

Saints (santons) for Christmas crèches:


Children leave their shoes outside or on the hearth so that Father Christmas can fill them with gifts.

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année!

In Japan:
Despite the fact that very few Japanese people are Christian, most homes have Christmas trees decorated with origami ornaments. They enjoy gift giving so this is what they clebrate. Japanese Christians do not celebrate Christmas as a family day or a day of feasting. They spend the day helping others, especially those that are ill or in hosptials.

The use of lights during the holiday celebrations is very popular in Japan.

There is Hotei-osho, a Santa-like Buddhist monk that brings presents for children. He reportedly has eyes in the back of his head.

メリークリスマスと新年あけましておめでとうございます！

In Russia:
Russia observed Christmas in similar fashion to current Western tradition until the revolution in 1917. After that, Christmas and other religious celebrations were banned. In 1992, Christmas was again celebrated openly. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, so Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.Christmas Eve is celebrated with all night Masses, and a fast is observed until the Mass is ended. Christmas Eve dinner is generally meatless, but the Christmas day feast includes many traditional foods.



During the holiday season priests visit individual homes with vessels of holy water. The water is sprinkled in each room in hope of happiness and good fortune for the coming year. Children also carol frequently in Russia on Christmas and are rewarded with sweets.

Светлого Рождества и счастливого нового года!

In Egypt:
Approximately 15% of Egypts poulation is Christian. They belong mostly to the Coptic Orthodox Church. During the Holy Nativity fast, which precedes Christmas by 40 days, they eat no meat procucts except fish. This time period is called Kiahk.

Christmas Bazaar in Egypt:

On Christmas Eve, Christian Egyptians go to church wearing new clothes. After the Mass, they eat a meal of bread, rice, and boiled meat. On January 7, Christmas day in Egypt, people visit friends and share cake and beverages.
عيد ميلاد سعيدوسنة جديدة سعيدة

What the Heck is Cheese Curd and Why Would I Eat It on a Sandwich?

Cheese is milk's leap towards immortality.
~Cliff Fadiman

Cheese curds are a byproduct of the cheese making process. Curds are small bits of solids that separate from the whey in milk when the milk is curdled (the first step in the cheese making process). Most of the curds are then shaped and aged, making them full-fledged cheese.

Cheese curds can be exempted from the rest of the processing and consumed fresh. The flavor is mild and milky. The consistency is somewhat rubbery, and there is apparently a "squeak" associated with eating fresh cheese curds. Some cheese curds are flavored (spiced, garlic, ranch, etc.)

A bag of fresh cheese curds:


I don't know what has caused the sudden popularity surge of grilled cheese curd sandwiches (though I suspect it is rooted somewhere in Wisconsin). Up until a coworker ordered one at a restaurant the other day, I had never even heard of such a thing. She said it was tasty, and then suggested I learn what the heck it is for my blog. This one is for you Laura! :-)

Cheese curd recipes.

Note: Cheese curds are best when they are very fresh. 

Something else I learned: Cottage cheese is curd that comes from skim milk cheese processing.

***UPDATE*** 12-30-2011: I saw a bag of cheese curd available at my local grocery store today. That is the first time I have ever seen it in the cheese section. There was no date on it, and I know from my research that the curds are best when they are very fresh - otherwise I might have bought some and tried a recipe or two.

The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams

I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.
~Scarlett O'Hara

That sweet potato scene was so very memorable. Yes, it was sweet potatoes, not yams. It turns out there is a difference!

Sweet Potatoes:

• Grow in the Southern United States
• Grow in the ground
• Are orange or yellow with orange flesh

Yams:

• Grow in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Grow on vines
• Are black or brown and have off-white, purple, or red flesh

Yams and sweet potatoes are not even related vegetables. Yams contain more natural sugar than sweet potatoes, thus are sweeter of flavor. Sweet potatoes are tubers with elongated ends. Yams can grow up to a seven foot length!

A succinct comparison of sweet potatoes and yams.

Note: I love sweet potatoes and prepare them in many ways. After learning about the differences between sweet potatoes and yams (mainly seeing images) I am not sure that I have ever actually had a yam.

Something else I learned: The word yam comes from an African word, which means "to eat."

You Can Buy A Play ATM Machine for Your Kids

The kids who use this thing can do so by touching the display directly with their fingers or with a stylus and are offered their own ATM card and PIN code. Moreover, they're capable of carrying out quite a few important transactions, including here checking their account balance, making deposits or even withdrawing funds.
~Toy ATM ad

I had never heard of this toy before. They seem to be quite popular, if the Google search results are any indication. There are a couple of hundred results for a "toy ATM" search and all the links are to sites you can buy this toy from.




According to advertisers, this is a wonderful toy that will teach children all about money management. I don't know - I personally am uncomfortable introducing kids to the usage of fake credit card type toys at such an early age. Put the card in the slot, money comes out! Isn't that kind of how we end up going in to debt?

Note: This toy is an awful lot of ugly plastic for $86.48 +shipping.

Something else I learned: If you say you are going to post something new on your blog every day, people expect you to post something new on your blog EVERY day! *waves to blog followers and readers* I have a generous amount of time off work so I think I am back on track.

Taking a Holiday Break

I have found that it is extremely challenging to try to keep up with my blog while trying to prepare for Christmas. I will be absent for at least a few days and will pick up again as soon as time permits.

Thank you for your understanding and patience! And Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, I hope you enjoy whatever you are celebrating this time of year!

Does the Higgs Boson (A.K.A. The God Particle) Exist?

A Higgs Boson walks into a catholic church and the priest says “you can’t be in here”. The Higgs Boson says “but you can't have mass without me.”
~Geek Humor

Today was, I thought, the day we would learn whether or not the Large Hadron  Collider proved or disproved the existence of the Higgs Boson particle. I see nothing in the news, though there has been a lot of hype leading up to this.

I did do some research and learned quite a bit about the Higgs Boson particle and the Large Hadron Collider (remember it from 2009? - it was going to create a black hole that would engulf the earth.) I will have to update this post further tomorrow.

The Higgs Boson is a particle that is a particle suggested to exist to explain mass given to particles (protons, neutrons, etc) made up of massless relatively massless elementary particles (quarks). The Higgs particle has yet to be observed, but the Large Hadron Collider, under construction at CERN near Geneva, Switzerland, will be capable of collision energies of 14 TeV, should prove or disprove the existence of the Higgs Boson. The LHD is slated to begin operation in May 2008.

Most Popular 2011 Facebook Status Trends

More than 800 million people worldwide use Facebook, its founder Mark Zuckerburg announced in September, and nearly half of all Americans have accounts.
~the News



A collection of Facebook stats of 2011. Status trends, music, movies, and t.v.

Most of it is expectedly smh - thought the top 2 acronyms were completely new to me, tbh. The top shared stories also held a few surprises. Titanic is still one of the most discussed movies? What?

Here is the link to the newly released 2011 Facebook statistics:
Facebook Reveals 2011′s Most-Popular Status Trends

Something else I learned (which I am sorry to say I cannot unlearn):  Beyonce’s Baby Bump Inspired More Tweets Per Second Than Steve Jobs’ Passing

The Nintendo 3DS Is Back On Track, Says Nintendo

That makes sense.
~the Third Strike Guy

Initially a disappointment, Nintendo's 3DS (a 3-D handheld videogame console) is now selling better. The new found momentum of the 3DS is spurred, in part, by deep price cutting - by 40% in August 2011 (the console was released in February 2011).  The main reason that Nintendo can now brag about over 4 million units sold, however, is that there are finally some decent games available for play on it.

Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land ushered to market by Shigeru Miyamoto have had a huge impact on 3DS sales. Sales of these games rate among the best in Nintendo's history. Miyamoto, the legendary game developer, led the modern video game era with games such as Donkey Kong, Mario, and Zelda. He acknowledges that the titles should have been released at the same time the 3DS was launched.

Note: No glasses are required to play 3-D games on the the 3DS.

Something else I learned: 3D technology can be visually stressful.

The Norovirus, A.K.A. The Cruise Ship Bug Vaccine

Norovirus is not generally life-threatening
~Dr. Julie Gerberding President of Merck Vaccines

An experimental vaccine for the norovirus is in the testing stages. Norovirus, implicated by the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal as  caused by poor restroom cleaning,  may soon be preventable by vaccination. According to Dr. Thomas Hooton (professor at University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine) the norovirus spreads like wildfire.  Hundreds of people can get sick in just a few days, he pointed out. "If a food handler contaminates the food on a cruise ship, it spreads like crazy. There is bad diarrhea and bad vomiting, and if they are not cleaned up properly, it can stick to surfaces and spread from person to person," Hooton said.

Clearly, there is a tremendous need for prevention. And prevention apparently means vaccination, not clean toilets or proper food handling.

Note: Personally I prefer hygienic measures to eliminate the spread of norovirus on cruise ships or other contained areas that serve food. A vaccine that  prevents you from becoming ill if you eat s**t? I think that should make you sick.

Wild Genets as Exotic Pets

Should Wild Animals Be Kept as Pets? Consider the risks to human health and safety, animal welfare, and the environment.
~The Humane Society of the United States

Genets look kind of like cats with a long raccoon tail. Sort of. Genets have pointed noses and long whiskers. They have long bodies (16 to 24 inches, 15 to 20 inch tail) and big ears. Their fur is brown or gray with spots or completely black. They share many characteristics with cats, but are only distantly related. They are quite cute and playful and can be kept as pets.

There are ten different types of genets:

• Abyssinian genet
• Angolan genet
• Small-spotted genet
• Johnston's genet 
• Panther genet
• Servaline genet
• Haussa genet
• Large-spotted genet
• Giant genet
• Aquatic Genet (A.K.A. the fishing genet. See video here.)

In the wild genets are nocturnal, but may roam in the daytime during the rainy season. They hunt in trees (birds and eggs), and on the ground (burrowing rodents and other prey). Genets are solitary, and do not group with others except for mating. Genets are from central, eastern Africa.  Genets can be found in a variety of habitats including arid to semi-arid regions as well as forested areas. The small spotted Genet is most often found in arid regions while the large spotted Genet is tolerant of most habitats including the densely forested regions of eastern Africa.

The Small Spotted Genet (Common or European Genet) has become a popular exotic household pet. (State laws vary on keeping exotic pets.) As pets genets do not tend to tear, claw or bite the furniture but they do climb. They will seek to reach the highest place in any location. They are generally cautious in disposition, easily frightened and skittish. Genets do not bond with groups, usually just a few people and can coexist with other household pets including cats and dogs. They will eat hamsters, gerbils, and other small mammals.

A genet needs plenty of room to roam. They will escape through open doors or windows if not closely attended. They have an independent nature and do not respond well to small confining places. Genets can be trained to use a litter box. They are clean pets and groom themselves. Classified as a carnivore, genets are not really  picky about what they eat, cat food (canned or dry), meat, even fruit.

Something else I learned: It is legal to own a genet as a pet in Michigan.

Traditional Scandanavian Rya Rugs

rya rug
(noun) rya, rya rug
a shag rug made in Sweden
~Dictionary

Rya rugs made from hand-knotted wool are traditional Scandinavian rugs. The first Rya rugs (dating from the 1400s) were coarse, heavy outerwear used by fisherman instead of fur. As time progressed rya rugs gained prestige and honor and were frequently a part of a bride' trousseau (18th century).

Eventually rya rugs were replaced by quilted coverings and became strictly ornamental. These later (but still antique) rugs became distinctly "Northern" in appearance and expression.Simple patterns, scenes from a daily existence, and personal vignettes became rya rugs.  Marta Maas-Fjetterstom, a Swedish carpet designer gave a renewed and attractive aesthetic to this type of weaving.

Rya rugs, due to simplicity and eye pleasing character are now desirable pieces in contemporary decorating. Rya rugs from the early 20th century are immensely popular and sought after. The particular flavor of design and the impeccable craftsmanship made these rugs works of art in their own right.

Note: The rya rugs look like latch hook rugs.

Something else I learned: On Ebay they call latch hook rugs from the 70s "Vintage Mid-Century Modern Danish Rya Rug ." They want a lot of money for them too!

Red Cross Wants Geneva & Hague Conventions Applied to Video Games

Some one set us up the bomb
~Japanese-to-English translation from the game Zero Wing

The International Committee of the Red Cross wants to have the Geneva and Hague Conventions applied to video games. They are concerned it seems about the effect of war games on gamers.  Most video war games and first person shooters do tend to flout the conventions. (So do plenty of governments, even signatories of both.)

The 31st meeting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (last week) discussed many issues including videogames and the effect they have on the public. The video game panel investigated games that depict modern warfare explored the possibility of applying the Geneva Conventions to videogames. The description for the discussion is: While the Movement works vigorously to promote international humanitarian law (IHL) worldwide, there is also an audience of approximately 600 million gamers who may be violating IHL in the virtual world. Exactly how videogames influence individuals is a hotly debated topic, but for the first time, Movement partners discussed our role and responsibility to take action against violations of IHL in video games.

When will the cries of "Violent video games are destroying the world" stop? Everyone reading this either is or knows someone who plays these violent killing games. I could not say that everyone reading this is or knows a real violent killer. Okay, anecdotal evidence is not conclusive and does nothing to further the conversation.

Manhunt 2, one of the most violent games available. This image was about the mildest I found:

So yes, it looks extremely violent and while I've never played it, I'm going to guess it does not adhere to the Geneva Convention. Even with the Geneva Conventions in place it would be unacceptable for very young players due to the level of violence alone. (Use the ratings as a guideline! I reccommend it.)

So please read these Video Game Myths. Highlights:

• Juvenile violent crime in the United States is at a 30-year low
• No research has found that video games are a primary factor or that violent video game play could turn an otherwise normal person into a killer
• Almost 60 percent of frequent gamers play with friends
• Even primates make distinctions between play fighting and actual fighting

Note: I think it is important for the Red Cross and every one else to remember video games are not the real world and attempting to apply real life rules to games seems patently silly.

Something else I learned: The percentage of women playing games has increased. Women  outnumber men playing Web-based games. Efforts in the mid-90s to build games that appealed to girls made inroads. The Sims game was successful in attracting many female players that had not played games previously. (I played that one!)

Kepler-22b, An Earth-like Planet 600 Light Years From Home

I don't believe that there are aliens. I believe there are really different people.
~Orson Scott Card

Although discoverd by NASA's Kepler telescope over 2 years ago, new research suggests that Kepler 22b is the planet most similar to earth yet found. The planet has average temperatures of 72°, and has the correct atmospheric conditions to support life. It is in a "habitable" position in relation to a star very similar to the sun. Scientists believe not only is the planet habitable, it may well be inhabited.

 

Note: I find stories like this very cool!

Something else I learned: The Kepler telescope watches 155,000 stars that exist in the so-called habitable zone of stars that resemble our sun. The telescope watches for small drops in the brightness of the stars which would be caused by the rotation of planets around the star.

EU Bans Claim that Water Can Prevent Dehydration! Wait...What?

Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.
~Edgar Allan Poe

Producers of bottled water are now forbidden by law from making the claim and will face a two-year jail sentence if they defy the edict, which comes into force in the UK next month.

EU bans claim that water can prevent dehydration!
Brussels bureaucrats were ridiculed yesterday after banning drink manufacturers from claiming that water can prevent dehydration!

Great headline! Further research reveals: In 2008, German scientists Dr Andreas Hahn and Dr Moritz Hagenmeyer submitted an application to the European Food Safety Authority  (EFSA) requesting the right to make the claim ”regular consumption of significant amounts of water can reduce the risk of development of dehydration and of concomitant decrease of performance” on labels of bottled water.

 I don't think that is exactly the same thing. I understand that decreased performance would be concomitant with dehydration, but drinking water prevents dehydration specifically, and dehydration is the cause of decreased performance. So, despite the fact that yes, it is silly to ban claims that water prevents dehydration, that does not give sellers of bottle water to make carte blanche statements about how well you will perform if you drink water.

Double learned today: Context matters, and don't take all things at face value just because you read a news headline. How does the song go? "People say believe half of what you see, some or none of what you hear."

Something else I learned: In pure scientific terms there is a significant distinction between dehydration and being in a state of dehydration.

How Did Cats Become Domesticated?

Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words, and the president of the sovereign chiefs and the governor of the holy Circle; thou art indeed...the Great Cat.
~Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes

Domestic cats are descended from Felis sylvestris, a wildcat of the middle east. Felis sylvestris translates to "cat of the woods." The common wisdom is that cats, unlike other domestic animals, more or less domesticated themselves. When people started storing food, wild cats found a ready food source: the rodents that were drawn to the food stores. The cats were encouraged to stay and guard the food supply. The cats we today call our pets are the descendents of the cats that adapted to this environment.

Felis sylvestris, rawr:

The  domestication of cats occurred far earlier than the civilization of ancient Egypt. The first depiction of a cat wearing a collar appeared on Egyptian art  in a tomb during the Old Kingdom (2500-2350 BC) and cats were the most commonly mummified animal in Egypt. They appear frequently in Egyptian art and drawings.

Current archeological evidence places the domestication of cats around 10K years ago in the fertile crescent region when wheat and barley were also domesticated. An intentional cat burial was discovered next to a human burial dating 9500-9200 years before the present on the island of Cypress.

Animal domestication is defined as the process of developing the mutually useful relationship between animals and humans. Apparently the Egyptians were the first to get this right - cats hang around, and humans worship them. This relationship has largely endured.

Note: For some reason cats were demonized in Europe during the middle ages. They somehow developed a reputation for association with witches and the devil. They were killed in large numbers. The depletion of the cat population very likely contributed to the spread of the plague.

Something else I learned: Cats are the most popular pet in the world. One third of American homes have feline members, and more than 600 million cats live among humans worldwide.

Giant Weta - The World's Largest Insect

If you want to study one of these strange organisms, you had better have a good justification. It's not good to study gene organisation in some obscure insect that no one's ever heard about.
~Thomas R. Cech

Giant wetas are the largest insect species in the world. A couple of days ago, the largest ever giant weta was found and photographed on Little Barrier Island in New Zealand, the only known place where giant wetas still live. This particular giant weta weighs 71g (about 2.5 oz) - about as much as three mice and more than a sparrow.

Some giant weta facts:

• Giant wetas average 6" length and have  a 7" wingspan.
• They cannot fly.  
• Their antennae are usually twice their body length 
• They are nocturnal.
• The giant weta species has existed for 190 million years and has remained mostly unchanged in appearance.
• Giant weta are an endangered species.
• The Maori name for giant weta is wetapunga or "god of the ugly things."

Giant wetas are slow moving creatures and eat mainly the leaves of the trees they live in. They cannot fly or jump, or bite and rely on a heavy exoskeleton and stealth for defense. They can also make a hissing sound when disturbed.

They have a long life cycle for an insect, taking 18 months to reach maturity and living 6 months beyond that. They mate close to the end of their lifecycle. Giant weta eggs are laid in the soil - the female must leave the tree to lay them. The nymphs will moult 10 times before reaching adulthood.

Giant wetas thrived all across New Zealand before the arrival of humans and the mammals they brought with them. Polynesian rats in particular became predators of giant wetas. Between being eaten by rats and deforestation, the habitat of the giant weta has greatly decreased. This has earned them endangered status and there are conservation efforts being made to save the giant weta.

Note: I showed this story and picture to my kids, now they want a giant weta for christmas!

Something else I learned:Some people do not freak out when they are holding an insect the size of a rat in their hand.

Bolon Yaxche Mayan God: Guardian of the Dark Rift in the Galactic Centre

...people hear about the so-called end date of the Mayan calendar, and today some people have even created the illusion that the Mayan calendar was designed only to point out this end date. In reality, there is nothing to indicate that the ancient Maya who developed the Long Count calendar had any interest in what would happen as this calendar came to an end. Instead what the ancient Mayan scriptures talk about is its beginning. The exact date for this beginning was apparently based on the day of the year, August 11, when the sun was in zenith in Izapa...
~Carl Johan Calleman 

The Mayan Calendar is mythologized through varied interpretations that extend well beyond the popular "the world will end in 2012." Maybe not, as it turns out (I hope so though, because my sister has an awesome party planned!). According to Sven Gronemeyer (a "German expert") the inscriptions on the Mayan calendar actually describe the return of Bolon Yokte The Mayan Lord of Creation. Read article

"The Mayan calendar marks the end of a 5,126 year old cycle around December 12, 2012 which should bring the return of Bolon Yokte, a Mayan god associated with war and creation."
~Mayan experts

According to Mayan religion:
August of 3114 BC was the start of a new age and when the creation Lord was reborn.  Bolon Yokte K’u, is closely associated with war, conflict, the underworld and is a god that is often present during Creation events. His image and the date 3114 BC appear on the Vessel of the Seven Lords. 3114 BC is the beginning of the 13-Baktun cycle we are currently in. The beginning of the next 13- Baktun cycle occurs on December 21, 2012, the so-called end of the Mayan Calendar.

Bolon Yokte as depicted on the Vessel of the Seven Lords:

Legible text, according to recent translations by David Stuart, reads: “At the end of 13 Baktuns, on 4 Ahau 3 Kankin, 13.0.0.0.0; something occurs when Bolon Yokte descends.”  The occurring "something" is illegible. However, the creation lord Bolon Yokte is depicted. So 2012, most popularly thought of as the end of the world, is more likely to be a creation or recreation of the world.

Bolon is the name given to the nine gods of the underworld, and Yaxche (Yokte) is the Mayan sacred tree of heaven "under which good souls rejoice." Bolon Yokte is also referred to as the Mayan God of Judgement and the Diety Attending the World renewal. Bolon Yaxche is a mysterious god to many researchers of the Mayan religion and calendar. Not sure where the "Guardian of the Dark Rift in the Galactic Centre" came from, but I think every religion should have one.

Note: The calendar and other artifacts left by the Mayans have been subjected to westernized misinterpretations. I don't think the world will end in 2012. Do you?

Something else I learned: There seem to be a lot of people taking this "world ends on December 21, 2012" very seriously.

Neti Pot

Today I learned what a Neti Pot is. That is all I have to say about that.

Turning in Found Money - Who Does It?

Fort Collins police are honoring three teenage girls who turned in more than $1,100 in stolen cash they found in a field near their homes.
~Denver News

A google search for "Turning in Found Money" yields results similar to the above story and also links to the "What if you found $5K in a wallet with no identification in a parking lot?" type of question. There are no news headlines about teens being honored for finding $35 and turning it in. Nor does anyone seem to ask "If you found $13 in a wallet with no identification what would you do?"

Honor and ethics/morality it seems, are defined by the amount of $ in question. That does not make sense to me. 3 teenage girls are cited as deserving honor for doing the right thing. I am glad they did the right thing. I am sorry that it is newsworthy as it implies that most people would NOT do the right thing. Would they be in the news if they found a $20 bill and managed to track down the struggling mother of 3 that really needed that money to buy gas to get to work all week? That seems as newsworthy as any story about finding money. I have not read that story in the news. Have you?

Most people, it seems would keep the $20 and chalk it up to good luck. Yet it's possible that they could be helping someone far more by reuniting them with $20 than the "over $1k" that we base the newsworthy honors on. 

Many companies require prospective employees to take pre-employment tests. On such tests you will be asked questions like "If you found $20 in the parking lot when you were rounding up carts, you would:" and there is a multiple choice selection. Out of 4 choices, 2 are reasonable choices: a) would pocket the cash, or b) would turn the cash in to my superviser. c) and d) are variations of the same.

What is the correct answer? Most people, in any number of surveys, say they would pocket the cash. A job applicant wants to answer correctly. The question seems to set you up as a thief or a liar. There is no guide to answering pre-employment test questions readily available on line.

Note: If I find a penny, I pick it up and keep it. A stray penny is good luck.

Something else I learned: Most people do not find $53k in a wallet lacking identification in random parking lots,

Poetry Again - Arthur Henry Hallam "Written at Caudebec in Normandy"

WHEN life is crazy in my limbs,
And hope is gone astray,
And in my soul’s December fade
The love-thoughts of its May,
One spot of earth is left to me
Will warm my heart again:
’T is Caudebec and Mailleraie
On the pleasant banks of Seine.

The dark wood’s crownal on the hill,
The river curving bright,
The graceful barks that rest or play,
Pure creatures of delight,—
O, these are shows by nature given
To warm old hearts again,
At Caudebec and Mailleraie
On the pleasant banks of Seine.

The Tuscan’s land, I loved it well,
And the Switzer’s clime of snow,
And many a bliss me there befell
I nevermore can know:
But for quiet joy of nature’s own
To warm the heart again,
Give me Caudebec and Mailleraie
On the pleasant banks of Seine.
~Arthur Henry Hallam

Poet Arthur Henry Hallam (1811-1833) was a central figure in a group of intellectuals known as the Cambridge Apostles, a (now famous) secret society. Alfred Tennyson was a member of the same group. Hallam died suddenly at the age of 23 and was the subject of Tennyson’s poem In Memoriam." Hallam is thus remembered mainly as a footnote to Tennyson, but left a substantial amount of his own poetry.

The above poem caught my eye because of the title "Written at Caudebec in Normandy." Caudebec is a family name (although my ancestors have not actually been traced to the village of Caudebec). I like the poem too.
"But for quiet joy of nature’s own
To warm the heart again,"
It makes me wish to visit there. 

Note: I am going to learn more about the Cambridge Apostles.

Something else I learned: Tennyson named his son Hallam.

The Cactus Classification Controversy

People trample over flowers, yet only to embrace a cactus.
~James Joyce

There are 2000 different types of cacti categorized. There is no consensus on the correct way to classify them. Cacti vary greatly in appearance and behavior. It is common to refer to any succulent plant as a cactus, but that is not correct. While all cacti are succulent, not all succulent plants are cacti.

All the cacti belong to the Cactaceae plant family. There are certain characteristics used to group these plants. Features unique to cacti are fleshy stems that perform the functions of leaves, and the spines which are believed to be leaves modified to protect. The occurrence of photosynthesis in the stem, not leaves also differentiates cacti from other plants. Another defining characteristic of cacti is that they produce aereoles. The areolas can appear in different places on the cactus, depending on the specie. Aereoles are composed of two connected perpendicular buds from which new arms, flowers or spikes grow.

Cactus plants were classified amateurs and professionals alike until around 1984 when the International Cactaceae Systematics Group (ICSG) began to attempt a standardization of cacti classification.  The group published a (now out-of-print) book: The New Cactus Lexicon, Volumes I and II: Descriptions and Illustrations of the Cactus Family (Major new handbook on cacti, looks set to become the standard reference for all naturalists and scientists with an interest in the Cactaceae), and as far as I can tell, has never been heard from again.

The process of classifying cacti remains an inexact science. Cacti are plentiful, varied, interesting and often beautiful to behold. That is not disputed.

Note: This much is established: Cactus is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Caryophyllales, family Cactaceae

Something else I learned: All cacti originated in the Americas except Rhipsalis baccifera which is native to Madascar.

Mt Baker in Washington State - The Snowiest Place on Earth

And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror. But when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again.
~Bram Stoker

Mt. Baker in Washington State averages over 600" of snow a year and holds the world record snowfall in a season of over 1,000".

Note: Mt Baker is the location of a ski resort (unexpected, right?)

Something else I learned:The snowiest place on earth is determined by locations where snow fall can be, and is, accurately measured.

What's wrong with Thorium as an Energy Source?

One ton of thorium can produce as much energy as 200 tons of uranium and 3.5 million tons of coal, ~Carlo Rubbia, Nobel laureate 

Thorium is a metal more abundant in nature than uranium - it is actually a waste-product of rare-earth metal mining and has no current commercial use. Thorium is an efficient fuel source and all thorium has the potential to be used as fuel. Uranium has to be refined before it can be used to produce energy.

Thorium was used in reactors in the early 1960s. It's use was eventually replaced by uranium to meet the growing call for plutonium. Thorium fission does not create the plutonium byproduct of uranium fission, and the waste that is produced by by Thorium fission is far less radiotoxic than that of uranium and plutonium.

What if we could build a nuclear reactor that offered no possibility of a meltdown, generated its power inexpensively, created no weapons-grade by-products, and burnt up existing high-level waste as well as old nuclear weapon stockpiles? And what if the waste produced by such a reactor was radioactive for a mere few hundred years rather than tens of thousands? It may sound too good to be true, but such a reactor is indeed possible, and a number of teams around the world are now working to make it a reality. What makes this incredible reactor so different is its fuel source: thorium.
Source (a very good article - I highly recommend reading it in it's entirety)

Are Thorium reactors the answer to alleviating our dependence on fossil fuels? It is suggested that use of thorium could alleviate our complete depedence on fossil fuels in 5 years time. Cleaner, safer, and cheaper... Thorium sounds like the way to go.

Some interesting articles:

• A Nuclear Reactor in Every Home
• Can Thorium Generate Safe and Cheap Nuclear Power?
• Thorium: the element that could power our future
• Is Thorium the Biggest Energy Breakthrough Since Fire? Possibly.

Note: I did not find any negative articles about thorium. That doesn't mean there is no down side, just that no one is talking about that yet.

Something else I learned: Thorium was discovered by a Swedish chemist, in 1828.

What to do with the Turkey Giblets after Thanksgiving: Turkey Alycot Bearnaise

giblets: (jĭbˈlĭts)
plural noun
The edible heart, liver, or gizzard of a fowl

"Edible" is a matter of opinion. I came across this article/recipe while searching for another recipe (that has nothing to do with giblets!). The name Turkey Alycot Bearnaise sounds delicious, so I followed the link.  Imagine my surprise!

For those of you not filling up on leftovers, there is a way to use those giblets besides in the stuffing or gravy.

Note: I fed them to the cats as I do every year. It gives them something to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving - I am Cooking Today, Please Enjoy These Thanksgiving Quotes

Here are a few pearls of Thanksgiving wit, wisdom and poetry.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder

Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. 
~Cicero

O Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.
~William Shakespeare

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude.  Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. 
~Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. 
~Author Unknown

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. 
~Aesop

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. 
~William Arthur Ward

I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.
~Jon Stewart

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
~Author Unknown

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. 
~William Shakespeare

Turkey: A large bird whose flesh, when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude. 
~Ambrose Bierce

Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for - annually, not oftener - if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians.  Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side, consequently on the Lord's side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments. 
~Mark Twain

The Underwater Museum in Cancun - A Growing Coral Garden

The coral applies the paint. The fish supply the atmosphere. The water provides the mood.
~Jason de Caires Taylor

Hundreds of life-size human statues 27 feet beneath the surface. The new underwater museum in the National Marine Park of Cancun hosts 400 sculptures called The Silent Evolution. The main goal of the museum is to promote the growth of the coral reef.  The natural reefs are in need of a period of rejuvenation after being damaged by hurricanes. 750,000 visitors a year also take a toll on the reef. The museum is intended to draw their attention.



Note: I have never scuba dived, but I might give it a try to see this.

Something else I learned: In the Karakum Desert (northern Turkmenistan), engineers drilling for natural gas found a cavern filled with gas. To contain the gas' release, they set fire to it, expecting it would burn out in a few days. That was in the 70s. The fiery pit, called "The Gates of Hell" by locals, is still burning.

Neo Luddites - Same as the Old Luddites

We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.
~Carl Sagan

Technology, so the "radical traditionalists" say, is not neutral. This seems to be the main talking point of the neo Luddite movement.  Neo Luddites think technology should not be so brazenly embraced without considering the impact it may have on society and community. There is of course nothing wrong with that, except that such societal introspection will never happen, and neo Luddites want to take it to extremes.

Consider this: "If you accept the existence of automobiles, you also accept the existence of roads laid upon the landscape, oil to run the cars, and huge institutions to find the oil, pump it and distribute it. In addition, you accept a sped-up style of life and the movement of humans through the terrain at speeds that make it impossible to pay attention to whatever is growing there." Source

I disagree with most or all of this. I think most people would. Not that cars don't have an (often negative) impact on the world, but that somehow "not cars" would be a more desirable alternative. I like, enjoy, and appreciate technology in all it's forms. I have been fortunate to live in a time when technology is radically transforming society and the world as a whole. I find it exciting!

An exceptionally good article on this subject: Rage Against the Machines

Note: Luddites  and neo Luddites take their name from Ned Ludd. Whether he intended to start a wave of anti-technology protests, or was just angry with his boss, he became the symbol of the anti-progress protests in England during the Industrial Revolution.

Something else I learned: There are people in the world that embrace "primitivism" - they want to live in some utopian "before technology" when things were basic and simple. I know this because one of them posted about it on the internet.

Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost More Than Last Year

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.
~Erma Bombeck

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) estimates the cost to make a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people in 2011 is $49.20. Last year the cost was $43.47. The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk. The list purportedly includes sufficient quantities to serve 10 people and provide leftovers. (Not my family!) I wonder where they shop and how big that turkey is?*

Note: Here is a Turkey Dinner Calculator to estimate how much turkey you will need. It said I needed 22 pounds of turkey and 38 cups of stuffing, so it may not be the most accurate tool on the internet.

Something else I learned: Turkey is a favorite loss leader item at grocery stores.

*UPDATE: It is a 16 lb turkey. No way would that feed the group that comes to my house for dinner! Not even including a ham!

The Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony Shared a Meal with the Wampanoag Indians in 1621

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
~Native American Saying

There is so much contradictory information about what did and did not happen on Thanksgiving, and why we celebrate the way we do that it becomes nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction. There is documentary evidence that Chief Massosoit of the Wampanoag tribe and 90 of his men got together with Governor Edward Winslow and ate for four days. Probably not turkey, and probably not at tables laden with food.

But therein lies the basis of the holiday we celebrate today.

Note: Giving thanks for that which we are grateful is, in my opinion, a good thing to set a day aside for. That we eat some good food and share time with people we love makes it even better.

Something else I learned: 46 million turkeys will be consumed on Thanksgiving.

National Unfriend Day - Delete "Fake Friends" from Facebook

Half of the the people in this country are on Facebook and many of those people have hundreds, if not thousands of friends … If you have ten friends in your life then you’re doing very well.
~Jimmy Kimmel

November 17 (sorry I'm late) was National Unfriend Day. I can't believe I missed it! I probably would not have unfriended anyone anyway - I know or am related to nearly all of my Facebook friends - and the added few are entertaining in some way or another.

Pizza is a Vegetable

It's an important victory.
~Corey Henry, spokesman for the American Frozen Food Institute

Pizza is now counted as a vegetable in school lunches.The House of Representatives passed a bill that allows 2 tablespoons of tomato paste on pizzas to be counted as a vegetable. It is kind of reminiscent of when ketchup (ketchup ingredients:tomato concentrate, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, salt) was declared a vegetable. Most school lunches no matter what is on they tray now include a couple of packs of ketchup. Meets the requirement for vegetable, right?

The reason the "pizza is a vegetable" is worse however, is because it is not only dubbing 2 tablespoons of watered down tomato paste and high fructose corn syrup a vegetable, it is wrapping it in processed, bleached flour (pesticide laden and low in nutritional content) and processed cheese food (high in calories and fat, low in nutritional value),  and more high fructose corn syrup.

Notice, there are no veggies on this:

Mmmm...remember these? Looks nutritious, doesn't it? I don't know why school lunch pizzas always have to be rectangular. Both of my kids started off their school lunch days excited about pizza Fridays until about 2nd grade, when they realized it really didn't taste good at all. From 3rd grade on, based on the urgent pleas of my kids, I began packing their lunches.

Note: I like packing lunch for my kids, that way I know what they are eating (and not eating).

Something else I learned: In 1910, bleach white flour was declared unfit as human food by the Federal Western District Court of Missouri.

The Vampire, A Poem by Rudyard Kipling

Oh the years we waste and the tears we waste
And the work of our head and hand,
Belong to the woman who did not know
(And now we know that she never could know)
And did not understand.
~Rudyard Kipling

When I think of Rudyard Kipling Just So Stories is the very first thing that comes to mind, and then I start singing ♫♪♪♪ "Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities, forget about your worry and your strife..." ♪♪♫

Kipling has a vast array of work, most of which I have not read, yet I never pegged him for a vampire type. The poem was inspired by a Philip Burne-Jones painting.

Read the poem in it's entirety. It goes better with the painting - you get more a feel for what the poem is about. It's a rather misogynistic bit of poetry. But I do like the rhythm and the parentheticals, Kipling characteristics that have always delighted me as a reader.

Note: The Cat That Walked By Himself and The Elephant's Child are awesome Just So Stories.

Something else I learned: Der Vampir written by Heinrich August Ossenfelder in 1748 is wiely accepted as the first ever poem about a vampire.

Second note: After a lunch discussion today about sparkly vampires vs the more traditional sort I was supposed to be learning something about vampire sex today - but I got sidetracked. Hey! It's always good to learn a new poem, isn't it?

Daniel by Elton John

Daniel my brother, you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
~Bernie Taupin, Elton John

The song Daniel by Elton John is certainly a haunting melody. The lyrics are elusive, but seem to be filled with meaning. If we sing along convincingly enough, we almost grasp it...

The song is actually about a fictional blind Vietnam vet. The final verse of the original song was omitted due to radio play time constraints. The final verse also apparently explained what the song was about.

Note: I have been unable to find the omitted verse anywhere.

Soapnuts for Skin Care, Laundry, Dishes, Shampoo and More!

My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
~Erma Bombeck

Soapnuts are the dried shell of the fruit of Chinese Soapberry trees (also known as sapindus trees). The shells contain saponin, purported to be as effective a cleaner the chemical laden cleaners we use around the home. It is a natural surfactant, reducing the surface tension of water.  Apparently the chemicals in household detergents are manufactured surfactants.

The Sapindus Mukorossi trees have the highest saponin content. These trees grow wild in North India and the berries have historically been used medicinally. It is now primarily known for it's cleaning properties. Some uses for soapnuts include: laundry detergent, dishwasing detergent, fruit rinse, jewelry cleaner, and shampoo.

Soapnuts are natural, organic, nd environmentally safe. They can be used 2-4 times (for laundry). 

Note: I have got to try this! I will let you know if it works.

Buffalo: It's What's for Dinner

Buffalo Meat is Extremely Healthy!
Buffalo meat is naturally flavorful and healthy, in fact if you didn't know, you would think you were eating the most flavorful Beef steak or burger you have ever had.
~The people who sell buffalo meat

At the store the other day picking up my thanksgiving turkey, I window shopped the meat department while the butcher found me the biggest turkey in the store. I saw some really brown hamburger and thought, "Eww gross! How can they sell that?" A closer inspection revealed that it was actually bison meat. I asked the butcher about it and she explained that bison is much leaner than hamburger, tastes similar, but is not really the same flavor.

I haven't eaten beef for years, but that doesn't mean I don't crave a burger from time to time. So I picked up an (almost) pound of the gound bison meat - Expen$ive! - to give it a try. I prepared it in the style of a really fancy hamburger - mixed with egg yolk, steak sauce, a pat of butter in the center.

Served up on a toasted bun, with lots of mayo, onions, and tomato, it looked much like the burgers I used to eat. "Do you want a little burger with your tomato?" It was with mouth watering anticipation that I took the first bite... hm. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't overwhelmingly delicious either. I am not running out to buy more anytime soon.

Note: Buffalo meat is so healthy and nutritious I wish I did love it. B vitamins, potassium, Iron, and selenium, low fat and sodium!

Something else I learned: Buffalo burgers, as well as elk and wild boar burgers are on the menu at Fuddruckers.

Bonus Post for Today: Those Kulula Emails with the Silly Planes

As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.
~Kulula Flight Attendant

I have received the Kulula Airlines email a few times now. I am always skeptical of anything I receive in my email. I admit the pictures and quotes included are quite amusing and I thought, very humorous if true.

So today I went and looked it up on Snopes: Kulula. Turns out it is true. Which makes me happy for some reason.

Rosining a Cello Bow

Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.
~Pablo Casals

My son plays the cello. I have absolutely no musical talents whatsoever, so I am very proud that my son already, even after only a few months, can make such lovely noise on his cello. I do everything I can to help and encourage him. So today I learned how to rosin his bow.

It's not the hardest thing in the world to do, but if you are not a musician, it is not something you do regularly. These are the proper steps:

1. Make sure your hands are clean
2. Select a rosin (I just used the one we have - rosin selection: something to learn)
3. Tighten the bow to "ready-to-play" tension
4. Slide the rosin from bottom to top across the bow hairs several times
5. Test: Bow should make pleasant music without to much effort. If not, apply more rosin until the bow glides easily across the strings

 

Note: The above video was helpful in that it provides some indication of how tight the cello bow should be.

Something else I learned: Rosin can leave residue on the string and cello which should be wiped off after playing so it does not build up and become difficult to remove.

It's HTML5, Not Flash for Mobile Apps

Any Flash developers who still think that their work is in any way acceptable to the wider open web community are sadly mistaken.
~Tweet

Most people probably didn't know, and really don't care but the HTML5 v Flash competition for mobile app dominance has been every bit as intense as Beta v VHS or Bluray v HD. With this weeks announcement by Adobe that it will discontinue development on mobile browser Flash, and refocuses efforts on HTML5 indicates the winner.



Why is HTML5 better than Flash?

• Does HTML5 Really Beat Flash? The Surprising Results of New Tests
• HTML5 And Flash: Why It’s Not A War, And Why Flash Won’t Die
• Viewers Seem To Like HTML5 Video Better Than Flash
• Is HTML5 better than Flash?

Just a couple of weeks ago I began learning to write mobile apps in Flash. I am glad I did not invest too much time! But I know now that I can proceed with learning using HTML5 because once these battles are resolved there is no going back. (Remember laser disks? I didn't think so.)

Note: Tomorrow's post is sure to be "The new thing I learned today is HTML5."

Today I Learned How to Play Angry Birds

Something about the visceral, primal thrill of hurling disgruntled birds at houseproud pigs has struck a chord.
~Mark Brown

Yes, the premise is silly. So is the game. I needed something to keep me distracted from a very annoying person on a conference call, so I downloaded the app on my phone. I got the idea from a coworker who always makes it through these meetings with an (until now) inexplicable calm.

So far, I am not very good at the game. I only made it through the first ten levels of level 1.  I am also not very good at playing games on my phone at work, as I neglected to mute my phone before starting the game. ♪♫ ♫♪ ♪♪♪ My coworker and I laughed (silently) and he quickly muted the phone while I turned off the game. Oops!

It did make the meeting much more pleasant. I catapulted my angry birds and listened only vaguely to the discussion, making an occasional comment, "Okay," "Sounds good," "What?"

Note: This trick for making conference call meetings enjoyable cannot always be deployed. This instance is a rare time when only I and my fellow bird hurler are in the meeting at our location. But we do it twice a week. Maybe by this time next week i will be on a new level!

Something else I learned: Some of the birds have special abilities which are activated by tapping.

The Newest Sports Bar Spectator Sport: Video Game Competition

I thought I'd come here for a quiet beer after a crazy day at work
~17-year veteran of the bar

Geeks Beat Jocks as Bar Fight Breaks Out Over Control of the TV. Clever title, and true, even if a little misleading. 

It may seem weird that gamers would gather in groups at bars to watch video game tournaments, but there is precedent. I may be revealing a bit of my age here but I first learned of video games at bars. Asteroids, Pacman- those were the machines replacing pinball. I never really cared for pinball, but I did enjoy spinning that tiny little arrow shaped space ship in circles and shooting at the little asteroids.  The Ms. Pacman table game was probably my favorite. I wasn't bad at it either!

I digress...

Video game competitions are no less intense to gamers than football rivalries or World Cup competitions. Gamers, like any other fans, enjoy watching the competitions. There is an additional layer of entertainment when viewing with a group of like-minded fans - some cheering for one skilled player, some cheering for the other. 

Note: High tier video game competitions have large payoffs - 50K in the Starcraft competition referenced in the above posted article.

Something else I learned: The video game competition nights at bars are called "Barcraft."

Fingernails on a Chalkboard and Other Sounds That Make Us Cringe

Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation.
~Jean Arp

When fingernails scratch on the chalkboard, the pitch frequency of the sound is between 2000 and 4000 hertz. The human ear is most sensitive to this frequency because of the anatomy of the ear canal.

A study revealed that the physical reaction many of us feel when we hear the nails on chalkboard sound has learned elements to it as well. See the study overview here. I did listen to the audio file on the linked page, and I have to say that the recorded fingernails on the chalkboard did not bother me nearly as much as the image of nails on a chalkboard.

There are various sounds that set people's teeth on edge. It seems to be an individual sort of thing. There are certain sounds that drive me to distraction (and sometimes the edge of sanity!). Nearly everyone I know can't stand fingernails on a chalkboard. I cannot find an explanation as to why some people cannot stand the sound of styrofoam, a fork scraping across a plate - or my own personal sound aversion: certain types of fabric or material that have a smooth/highly grooved surface when scratched make me shudder.

I was unable to find a definitive answer. Maybe everyone suffers a little from misophonia - a form of decreased sound tolerance.

Note: It seems like sound aversions could be related as much to texture as sound.

Something else I learned: it may actually be mid-range frequencies that are the worst for people to hear.

Яндекс (Yandex) - The Most Popular Russian Search Engine

The world became more enticing
wider – then they were in motion.
~Aleksándr Blok, Russian Poet

The vast majority of visitors to this blog are, by far, from the United States. That is no surprise, it is an English language blog written by an American blogger.  The thing that is a surprise (to me, anyway) is that the next largest group of visitors I have, according to my blog stats, come from Russia.

приветствую моих гостей из России!

Shortly after launching this blog, I noticed there was traffic from Russia, and I vaguely wondered how they were getting here. A little digging reveals that the traffic is sent from Yandex ( Яндекс) a Russian Search Engine.

Launched in 1997, Yandex is the biggest search engine in Russia. They have 64% of search traffic in Russia compared to Google's 22%.  Yandex earns high praise for it's ability to create algorithms that work with the complexities of the Russian language.

Note: the name Yandex is derived from the phrase "yet another indexer."

Something else I learned: Yandex had an extremely successful IPO on the NASDAQ in May 2011.

Commenting Out in CSS

blockquote {
display:block !important;
padding:10px 20px;
text-align:justify;
font-family:Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif;
}

blockquote p {
font-style:italic;
color:#0;
display:inline;
}
blockquote p:before,
blockquote p:after {
color:#0;
line-height:0;
font-size:5em;
}
blockquote p:before {
content: open-quote;
padding-right:10px;
vertical-align:-27px;
}
blockquote p:after {
content: close-quote;
font-size:5em;
line-height:.3;
vertical-align:-37px;
}
~Geek Humor


Put /* */ around the entire section that needs to be commented out.

Example: /*this gets commented out*/

I have never had cause to comment anything out on a style sheet, so when someone asked me how today, I looked it up and now I know!

Note: There is a lot more about Cascading Style sheets (CSS) I need to learn.

Something else I learned: You can get free CSS templates.