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

Blond Is Not Blonde

Blond/blonde is a rarity in the English language because while both blond and blonde refer to light colored hair, the spelling difference denotes a masculine and a feminine form. Blond refers to a male light haired person, and blonde to a female light haired person. The word, and it's gender distinction, come to English from the French.

Feminine or masculine brownies?

Who cares?

Something else I learned: Blond/blonde in Spanish is Spanish it would be rubio and rubia.

Fruits and Vegetables Are Healthy and Nutritious. Do They Also Make You Beautiful?

It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.
~ Lewis Grizzard

Fruits and vegetables come in a plethora of vivid colors and are a source of numerous vitamins, minerals, and natural substances that may help protect against chronic diseases. They are a natural source of energy and they taste good! The benefits of fruits and vegetables are well documented, but it turns out it gets even better. Eating fruits and vegetables can make you hot!

A recent study finds that eating produce heightens red and yellow skin tones which increases perceived attractiveness (the study was conducted primarily on white people). The organic pigments (carotenoids)  that give color to fruits and vegetables also provide color to human skin when consumed. The study showed that redder or yellower skin caused by produce consumption were rated as more attractive than subjects who consumed less produce.



The study: You Are What You Eat: Within-Subject Increases in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Confer Beneficial Skin-Color Changes

Note: The researches intend to expand the study with non-white people but expect the results will be the same.

Something else I learned: The most abundant carotenoids in the US diet are beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, lycopene, lutein, beta-crpytoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin.

Cotopaxi - by Frederic Edwin Church

Igor Stravinsky 20th Century Composer Was Not Tall

I am an inventor of music.
~Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky, a Russian composer born in St Petersburg in 1882 was advised by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov to study music. Stravinsky studied with Rimsky-Korsakov until 1908 (when Rimsky died). Stravinsky composed The Firebird in 1910.

Stravinsky Conducts Firebird:


The Works of Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Note: Igor Stravinsky was 5'2".

Something else I learned: The Firebird = AWESOME! 

Funniest Joke in the World (Scientifically Proven!)

A couple of guys are out hunting in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy’s voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?”

According to the LaughLab in collaboration with the British Science Association, that is the funniest joke in the world. It is very funny. According to the LaughLab this joke works across many different countries, appeals to men and women, and young and old. Many jokes submitted to the LaughLab for this study received higher ratings from certain groups of people, but this joke had universal appeal. Jokes are funny for different reasons – they can make us feel superior, reduce emotional impact of anxiety-provoking events, or surprise us. The two hunters joke does all three.



Note: The 2nd funniest joke: Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are out camping. They pitch their tent and go to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night Holmes wakes Watson up and says: "Watson, look up at the stars, and tell me what you deduce ." Watson replies: "I see millions and millions of stars." Holmes says: "And what do you deduce from that?" Watson replies: "Well, if there are millions of stars, and if even a few of those have planets, it’s quite likely there are some planets like Earth out there. And if there are a few planets like Earth out there, there might also be life." Holmes says: "Watson, you idiot, someone stole our tent."

Videogames Can Change A Person's Brain (for the Better!)

Playing videogames is good for you. Lengthy sessions of intense game play can lead to effective multitasking, quicker and more accurate decision making, creativity, and can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Learn more...




Note: Video games account for a huge amount of consumer entertainment dollars spent (over $25 billion in 2010). It's about time they start looking for the upside! 

Something else I learned: WoW players collectively have spent as much time playing the game-  about 50 billion hours - as humanity spent evolving as a species.

Chinook Pidgin -Tsinuk Wawa - Trade Language on the West Coast

konoway tillicums klatawa kunamokst klaska mamook okoke huloima chee illahie" - Chinook pidgin meaning "everyone was thrown together to make this strange new country."
~from the poem Rain Language

Chinook, a pidgin language used for trade along the Washington state coast was derived from the language of the Native American tribe of the same name. History has it that the pidgin form of the language developed because the Chinook were too arrogant to teach it to anyone else. Chinook pidgin (or jargon) became widely used once Europeans arrived in the area. The Chinook language died out early in the 20th century, but there are still remnants of Chinook pidgin in American vocabulary.

Chinook pidgin which flourished from 1858 to 1900, was a combination of English, French, Chinook and Nootka (another Native American tribe of the Northwestern coast) and other Salishan languages (the collective languages of Northwestern coast tribes). It was necessitated and facilitated by the fur trade.

Tyee Lake in Concrete, Washington:


Tyee is the Chinook Pidgin word for Chief. And that is a beautiful lake!

Note: Learn more about Chinook pidgin - including numerous examples and translations.

Something else I learned: "Mucky-muck," a word I've used to describe bosses and other important people (usually derisively) is actually from a Chinook pidgin phrase: hayo makamak, literally meaning "plenty to eat."

Last Day to Save Yourself From Google's New "Privacy" Policy!

Gizmodo provides a helpful guide to clearing your web history before their new privacy policy goes into effect (March 1st).  The new policy affects data going forward as well as data they have collected in the past. Clearing your web history now and preventing collection of it in the future is a good way to limit the amount of information gathered about you by Google.

 Note: Once you have cleared your web history the history is paused - you don't need to do anything else to stop web history information from being collected. You actually have to unpause it to allow the data gathering. I have no intention of enabling it!

Nation-wide Strike in India

Millions of workers from trade unions and organizations in India participated in a nation wide strike in response to soaring prices of essential commodities, and the government's 'anti-labour' policy.  The strike took place peacefully with the exception of a few incidents of stones thrown at buses.

Video

Wild Parrots Spreading to San Francisco Suburbs

Much talking is the cause of danger. Silence is the means of avoiding misfortune. The talkative parrot is shut up in a cage. Other birds, without speech, fly freely about.
~Saskya Pandita

The wild parrots of San Francisco's Telegraph Hill are fleeing to the suburbs. 100 or so of the birds have been spotted in Brisbane, a small city 10 miles south of San Francisco. It is likely that the birds migrated in search of food. They have been seen feeding on juniper and hawthorn berries.



The playful birds can still be found around the northern edge of San Francisco, where they have become a tourist draw. Native to South America, the first wild parrot of San Francisco was likely an escapee from a pet importer.

Note: The parrot population in San Francisco is referred to as feral.

Something else I learned: The city of San Francisco passed an ordinance in 2007 prohibiting feeding the parrots.

Solar Tornadoes On the Surface of the Sun (Video)

Tornado-like eruptions of super-hot plasma were captured on video by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which is constantly recording high-definition videos of the sun. The video shows hot plasma spinning across the sun in early February.



Solar tornadoes are not the windy phenomenon that we know on Earth. They are driven by the magnetic fields of the sun.The plasma particles are being pulled by various magnetic forces causing them to swirl in a way that looks like a tornado.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is part of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) Program. The program is designed to study and understand causes of solar variability and how it impacts the Earth. SDO launched on February 11, 2010, and is on a 5 year mission to study the energy of the sun and how it influences the weather in space. Every day SDO gathers a huge volume of data. The collected data is available for viewing by anyone who wants to see it. The SDO website has an up-to-date-picture of the sun on the home page.

Note: The SDO mission is very cool.

Something else I learned: A solar cycle is the period of time between the highest and lowest number of sunspots. he suns magnetic poles reverse approximately every 22 years with two eleven years periods in which the number of sunspots wax and wane. We are currently in Solar Cycle 24 which began in 2008.

How Many Delorean Cars Were Made?

Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean?
~Marty McFly

No one knows for sure. 8500-9200 is the generally accepted number range of actual Deloreans produced. DeLoreans were made for 1 1/2  years (mid 1981 to the end of 1982).

I've Been Through the Vineyards with a Moth with No Name

Heard it through the grapevine
~Proverb, Song Lyric, Common Saying

An unnamed moth first discovered in Italy in 2006 has been eating it's way through the Chardonnay leaves in vineyards. It is not an unknown species, it is just one that has no name. It is quite common in North America (I've never seen one!) and is of the leafminer moth species.

Using already existing information, entomologists were able, by examining the moth's genetic code, to identify the type of insect it is, and to confirm that it is an unnamed moth. It is now being called Antispila oinophylla - not to be confused with Antispila ampelopsifoliella (a leafmining moth that feeds on Virginia Creeper). The taste this moth has for grape leaves is what distinguishes it from other moths. It exhibits a preference for Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Muscat grape leaves.

Abstract of the study:  Antispila oinophylla new species (Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae), a new North American grapevine leafminer invading Italian vineyards: taxonomy, DNA barcodes and life cycle

Note: Leafminers are a little studied species of moth.

Something else I learned: The phrase "through the grapevine" originated with the telegraph system invented by Samuel Morse. The system required  telegraph wire to be installed. The wires were held in place above the ground by poles placed at regular intervals. The wires and poles resembled the method used to train grape vines, thus the telegraph lines became known as "the grapevine."

Interdental Fricatives in American Dialect

Interdental: Describes a sound which is articulated by placing the tongue between the teeth. Examples of interdental sounds are as in thick and as in this.


Fricative: Describes a sound which is articulated with almost a complete closure, but with just enough of an opening to create turbulence in the airflow. Examples of fricative sounds are /f/ as in fat, /v/ as in vat, /s/ as in sip, /z/ as in zip, and /S/ as in ship.

In English dialects worldwide (Cockney, African-American, Cajun, and southern US) and English spoken as a second language, a typical interdental fricative pattern would involve onset stopping (this~dis) and coda place change (teeth~teef). Located at the beginning of a word, the interdental fricative th is pronounced t (thin/tin).  Located in the middle or at the end of  word, the interdental fricative th is pronounded f or v (bath/baf/bavs, bother/bovver).

The sound of speech comes from breathing - we shape our tongues and mouths in the appropriate fashion to make the sounds we wish to convey (speech). The sound we make is release with breath through the nose or mouth, if the sound is voiced or voiceless (e.g., the th in "thigh" is voiceless, in "thy" it is voiced). Interdental fricatives are the result of how we interpret the way to make these sounds.

Learn about Phonology .

Note: I wish I had grown up to be a phonologist. I wonder if it's too late to change careers again? 

Something else I learned: Interdental fricatives are common in Newfoundland.

Threading a New Sewing Machine

So much fabric, so little time! Or, sew much fabric!
~Unknown

As ye sew, so shall ye rip.
~Unknown

It may seem that threading one sewing machine is much like threading another. While true in principle, the reality is a bit different. Especially if you consider I've not sat at a sewing machine for 10 years, and the last time I did I was using an antique Singer machine. When I say antique I mean built in 1928. My olde Singer was a very basic machine.

I got a new machine over the weekend. It is also a Singer, so there is at least that similarity. I picked up the antique machine a few years back and it is what I learned to sew on. It was the only machine I've ever used, until now.

You can imagine my consternation:

After a few trials and errors, I managed to get it threaded and working! I only had to rethread it twice, and troubleshoot the tension a few times.  If there is one thing I love on my new machine that was absent from my old one - it is the automatic needle threader! What a genius invention!

Note: I became a professional and a prize winning seamstress using my old Singer.

A story on the side: I purchased my new sewing machine at one of the large discount retail stores (NOT Walmart). The cashier was an older gentleman - late 60s, probably. He was amazed and delighted by the sewing machine. "A sewing machine!" he exclaimed. "I didn't know anyone still sewed! Oh! And It's a Singer!" It made me smile.

Presidents Day Myth

Celebrate presidents day the way our forefathers intended: buy a mattress!
~Unattributed

Holidays designated by Congress are Federal holidays, not National holidays. A national holiday would bind all 50 states. Federal holidays apply only to federal employees and the District of Columbia.

As far as President's day... well, there is actually no such official thing, federally or otherwise. Until 1968 there were 2 presidential holidays in February, George Washington's birthday on the 22nd and Abraham Lincoln's on the 12th. Lincoln's was never a federally designated holiday, but some states did treat it as a legal holiday.

1968 was the year of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill at which tie Washington's "birthday" became the third Monday in February. The federal holiday is still legally known as Washington's birthday. There have been attempts to make the holiday an official observance of all US presidents, but so far that has not occurred.



Note: My son has the preceding Friday and the Monday holiday off, and the four days is called "Great Americans Weekend."

Something else I learned: George Washington's false teeth were made of hippopotamus ivory, not wood.

Interracial Marriage Since Loving vs Virginia

Mr. Cohen, tell the Court I love my wife, and it is just unfair that I can't live with her in Virginia.
~Richard Loving

15% of marriages in the US in 2010 were of mixed race couples. Mixed race marriages were largely illegal in the United States until the mid 20th century. In 1958, Mildred and Richard Loving, a black woman and white man got married in Washington DC. They were from Virginia, but it was illegal for them to be married in their home state. In 1959 they were sentenced to a year in jail, but were given a suspended sentence on condition they leave the state.



They moved to DC, but in 1963 they filed to have the judgement vacated on 14th amendment grounds because they wanted to return home to Virginia. After a long and rocky road, their case came before the Supreme Court in 1967. The court decided in favor of the Lovings, thereby striking down the anti-miscegnation laws still on the books in 16 remaining states.

Today, 80 to 90 percent of people under age 30 find interracial marriages acceptable. 30 percent of people over 65 find interracial marriages not acceptable. There was no information about people between 30 and 65 available for review.

Interracial marriages have more than tripled in the last 30 years.A  very good article containing the statistics regarding interracial marriage in the US in the last 30 years. From the article:

• The proportion of mixed race couples, regardless of the date of marriage, stood at a record rate of 8.4 percent in 2010, compared with 3.3 percent in 1980.
• Only 11 percent of Americans believe mixed marriages are negative, and 44 percent think they make no difference.
• Fifteen percent of all US marriages were among mixed race couples in 2010, up from 6.7 percent in 1980

After Loving vs Virginia - South Carolina kept it's unenforceable anti-miscegnation law untouched until 1998. Alabama moved into the 20th century at the birth of the 21st removing the ban on interracial marriage in 2000.

Note: Michigan never had anti-miscegnation laws.

Something else I learned: Maryland codified the first anti-miscegenation statue in 1661 (it was a colony then, not a state).

The Farthest You would Ever Have to Drive To Get To McDonald's in the US

If you can't find the next McDonald's, I'll find the next McDonald's. But it's vital to be with people who with looking for 'em, because they do exist. They are created.
~Jim Cramer

If you live in the United States (lower 48) the farthest you would ever have to drive to sate a Big Mac attack is 145 miles (only 107 if you can fly)! It is that far in only the most dire of locations i.e. in the middle of absolutely nowhere, where no one lives anyway.

Here is visualization of McDonald's locations in the lower 48:



The accompanying article: How Far Can You Get From McDonald's?

Note: I guess that is how they manage to sell billions of burgers.

Something else I learned:There are 10 McDonald's within 20 miles of my home. McDonald's Locator if you want to see how many are near you.

Mini-Meleon Chameleon: Brookesia micra, Tiny Reptiles

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.
~John Muir

The mini-meleon is the smallest chameleon in the world. 4 new species of the tiny reptile were discovered a couple of days ago on a small islet just off Madagascar. The species is named Brookesia micra.

Each of the 4 new lizard species are similar in appearance, and a genetic analysis was conducted to confirm that they were indeed four distinct species. The genetic differences between the species were described as "remarkable, " suggesting separation from each other occurred millions of years ago. Each of the species inhabit a mere few miles of territory. Scientists believe the small ranges of the species make them especially sensitive to habitat disturbance.

The mini-meleon is about 3 centimeters in length. That is about the extent of the information available at the moment. There are some adorable pictures:






Note: My kids are not the only ones that are going to want one of these!

Something else I learned: Trist is the French word for sad.

Turkey Does Not Make Us Sleepy: The L-tryptophan Myth

We should all get together and make a country in which everybody can eat turkey whenever he pleases.
~Harry S. Truman

There are high levels of L-tryptophanin turkey meat. High levels of L-tryptophanin are found in other poultry, cheese, yogurt, fish, and eggs too. There is more Tryptophan in chicken! For L-tryptophan to actually make you sleepy, it needs to be eaten with an empty stomach, with no other types of amino acids or protein. There is a lot of protein in turkey, and how often does anyone eat just turkey?



There is a sleep connection to turkey. The body uses tryptophan in a multi-step process to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate sleep. Big meals can cause sleepiness especially if the meal includes a plethora of carbohydrates. Carbohydrate calories stimulate the release of insulin, which triggers the uptake of most amino acids from the blood into the muscles except for tryptophan.

With other amino acids out of the bloodstream, tryptophan can make its way to the brain to produce serotonin more easily. Without an insulin surge, tryptophan would compete with all the other amino acids as they make their way to the brain. And not enough tryptophan would make it to the brain because other basic amino acids are far more plentiful in food.

Note: I still plan to take a nap after Thanksgiving dinner.

Wednesday Bonus Post! Don't You Ever Interrupt Me While I'm Reading a Book

I love this video!

Is Your Doctor Lying To You? 1 in 10 Lie to Patients

A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.
~Frank Lloyd Wright

A recent survey says that 1 in 10 doctors have knowingly lied to a patient. The survey further reveals that 50% of doctors admitted to describing a patients prognosis in a more positive manner than warranted, 1/3 did not completely agree with disclosing medical errors, and 40% do not feel any obligation to disclose financial ties to drug or medical device companies. So even the 9 in 10 that don't lie may not be completely honest.

The survey respondents were not asked why they lied, or given a chance to explain the lies. Most of the articles I've read on this subject go on to guess about why doctors might lie to patients. The researches feel stated that dishonesty can make patients "less able to make health care decisions that reflect their values and goals."



Note: It is possible that the survey respondents were lying when they answered the survey questions.

Something else I learned: 400 shades of lipstick found to contain lead.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tools and Resources

Some resources I have found for use with SEO:

• Insights for Search
• Keyword Tool
• Webmaster Tools
• List of 50 SEO Resources
• My good friend Joe

I am trying to move a page up in search results, so have been trying to learn about optimization. Probably the most I've learned has been from the friend mentioned above - it is really helpful to have an expert to consult!

SAP: Systems, Applications and Products Enterprise Resource Planning

We shape our environments, then our environments shape us.
~Winston Churchill

The first thing I learned was that SAP is an acronym for Systems, Applications and Products (not swearing and pain as has been reported by some). I had to look this up myself online because either it is assumed that everyone knows what SAP stands for, or no one knows but they are afraid to ask because they think everyone assumes they know. We are getting SAP at work, and I attended the introductory training where no one told me what SAP stands for.  I will never use the software in my position, but I am glad I got a look at it.



Enterprise Resource Planning (which is what SAP is for) is a general set of plans and actions designed to manage important business practices. This usually covers accounting. There are other applications for most ERP software solutions.

Note: Enterprise Resource Management is ERM.

Something else I learned: SAP is a German Software company

Roast Duck For Dinner - Cooking Water Fowl

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.
~Douglas Adams

Today I cooked a duck. I have never done that before. It was not particularly difficult - basically I roasted it at 375° for about 2 hours (it was a five pound bird).  I put some lemon quarters, shallots and some thyme in the cavity and rubbed it with salt and pepper before putting it in the oven. I didn't want to get too fancy, because I wanted to be sure to get the flavor of the duck.


I prepared whipped sweet potatoes and exotic fruit salsa as sides. And some cornbread. All in all, it was a tasty foray into trying something new, but I don't feel compelled to rush out and buy more ducks to eat.

Note: Everyone said duck is very greasy. It is.

Electric Cello - Who Knew?

Whoever heard of an electric violin, electric cello or, for that matter, an electric singer?
~Andres Segovia

I knew there was such a thing as an electric cello. I just had never seen one before. I went with my son to a concert this evening, and saw something I had never seen before. "What the heck is that?" I thought. I couldn't figure out if it was more a knee guitar that was played with a bow, or a knee violin. I certainly couldn't hear the deep plaintive notes I expect from a  cello over the 42 or so violins that were also playing.



The player was petite, and did not sit whilst playing. She stood the whole time, and the instrument rested on her knee. It was plugged in to an amplifier, but could not be isolated as a distinct sound.

So now I know what it is. I wish I could hear one played without any accompaniment to determine what it sounds like. It certainly doesn't possess the beauty of a good old fashioned cello.

Note: This is a very expensive instrument!

Mood-boosting Bacteria Found in Dirt - Mycobacterium vaccae

They also leave us wondering if we shouldn't all be spending more time playing in the dirt.
~Neuroscientist Dr. Christopher Lowry

Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacteria found in dirt, stimulates the immune system and boosts the production of serotonin, a mood-regulating brain chemical. M vaccae has been used as a vaccine against tuberculosis, and is being tested as a treatment for cancer patients and in asthma sufferers to control the allergic reactions and help ‘rebalance’ the immune system.

Studies on mice led by neuroscientists at the University of Bristol suggest the bacteria may have applications as a treatment for depression. A chance observation by oncologist Mary O'Brien who was trying an experimental treatment for cancer that involved inoculating patients with Mycobacterium vaccae led to the University of Bristol study. When the inoculation was administered there were fewer cancer symptoms, and an improvement in patients' emotional health and mood.

 The study also lends support to the "hygiene hypothesis"  - that exposure to common bacteria from a young age helps balance the immune system and  make us less vulnerable to disease.


The study: Identification of an immune-responsive mesolimbocortical serotonergic system: Potential role in regulation of emotional behavior

Note: The initial discovery of  the antidepressant qualities of M vaccae was 10 years ago.

Something else I learned: Stress free mice enjoy swimming.

Tech Dorks Secretly Wear Amazing Socks -Flamboyantly Colored, Audaciously Patterned

If at first you don't succeed; call it version 1.0
~Uncredited Nerd

Today's techies (nerds, geeks, dorks, etc), according to the New York Times Fashion section, are wearing flamboyantly colored, audaciously patterned socks. Socks, they say, are acceptable as "flair" in a male dominated environment because no one really notices - men, it seems, don't look at each others feet. Quote the Shawshank Redemption: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a mans shoes?" (Or socks?)



A search for nerd socks seems to confirm the NYT article. Nerd socks are abundant. And some of them are very cool, not dorky at all!

Note: Hello Kitty socks are not dorky or nerdy at all!

Something else I learned:  "gullible" is defined in the dictionary as "those who wear nerdy socks." Really!

Finally Figured Out How to Use Dreamweaver to Update Via FTP

Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Ooh dream weaver
I believe you can get me through the night
Ooh dream weaver
~Gary Wright

(The relevance of today's quote can be parsed a couple of different ways. What you read in to the quote depends on whether or not you've ever had to create a webpage with a deadline. Besides, it's a great song!)

I am dabbling in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for a client as of today. That means sweeping changes to the existing site. The page in question is not on a CMS, so no quick and easy template changes to make global updates. Cute FTP is okay for the occasional update, but I will probably be working on this site daily for a little while. So, the time has obviously come for me to get my server setup with Dreamweaver.

Open Dreamweaver. On the Files pane, select Remote Server from the dropdown.


A window will open asking for your FTP username and Password. You also have the option to name your connection on this window. After entering your information, test the connection to be sure it works. You are now ready to get and put files! It was just that easy!

Note: Most of the sites I work on are on Content Management Systems, so there was never a pressing need to figure this out until now.

Something else I learned: It is really easy to forget the user name and password you gave to a client for Google Analytics if you don't write it down somewhere.

The Romanian Government Just Collapsed Due to Austerity Outrage

Do not put your spoon into the pot which does not boil for you.
~Romanian Proverb

The Prime Minister (Emil Boc) and his cabinet resigned "to defuse political and social tension." President Traian Basescu  appointed Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu (the only Cabinet member unaffiliated with a political party)  as interim prime minister to serve until a new government is approved. The resignations came as the Romanians begin to feel the effects of the austerity cuts.

"Austerity" is the popular European buzzword that means drastic cuts in spending that most severely affect those largely NOT responsible for the economic crises. In Romania, sales taxes jumped from 19% to 24%. Government workers took a 25% pay cut. These types of cuts are unpopular in the countries in which they are taking place.

According to the Dictionary:
Austerity refers to being strict, serious, and inflexible or to being very moral and refraining from carnal pleasures. (noun)

1. A very strict teacher would be an example of a person with austerity.
2. The puritan way of life with few luxuries and a strong moral code is an example of a life of austerity.

Protests in Romania in January:


Some links to articles about the collapse of the Romanian Government:

• Romania's government collapses after protests (AP)
• Emil Boc announces Government steps down to "ease social tension" in Romania (HotNews.ro)
• Romania, IMF Agree on $664 Million Tranche as Economy Slows (Bloomberg) 

Note: I had to search for news about the collapse of the Romanian government. There were no headlines on my usual news searches.

The History of Football - Walter Camp, the Father of American Football

Academe, n.: An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught. Academy, n.: A modern school where football is taught.
~Ambrose Bierce

Walter Camp was born in 1859. He studied medicine at Yale from 1876 to 1882, where he played in the first Yale-Harvard rugby game in 1876. From that point on, he influenced the game so as to bring about an evolution to American football. He played for the Yale team until 1882 and is known historically as the Father of American Football.

He helped organize and plan the game and served on the rules committee until his death. He contributed to the establishment of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and authored a number of books about football (he also penned several novels).



Walter Camp is credited with the following changes in the evolution of rugby in to American football:

• The line of scrimmage
• 11 players on a team
• Undisputed possession of the ball by one side, until it is given up through a series of violations
• Created the quarter-back and center positions
• The  forward pass
• The numerical assessment of goals
• The safety, interference, penalties, and the neutral zone
• In 1912 a touchdown increased in value to six points and a field goal decreased to three points

In 1906, the game of football was under intense scrutiny due to the necessity of physical force. As leader of the American Football Rules Committee, Camp helped oversee the adoption of  certain changes including the forward pass. The new pattern of play added to the popularity of the game and was crucial to the continued play of the game.

Note:The first attempt to write down the rules of American football was in 1876.

Something else I learned: In 1823 William Ebb Ellis, a rugby player in England was the first person noted for picking up the ball during a soccer game and running with it.

NASA Releases Rare Image of Earth

The latest image is focused on the East, showing Africa, Saudi Arabia and India. Compiled by a NASA Goddard scientist, the image has the perspective of a viewer looking down from 7,918 miles above the Earth’s surface.



High-Res Image of Earth: The Other Side

Homemade Fresh Pasta for Ravioli

Life is too short... I'd much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 0.
~Sophia Bush

Today I learned that making you own pasta is not difficult at all! I know it seems strange that I have never made my own pasta before, as I am a gourmet cook, but Italian is not a common cuisine in my kitchen. Now that I know how easy it is to make my own fresh pasta, and how tasty it is, perhaps I will be changing that up a little bit.

I have been trying to perfect a mushroom stuffed ravioli that I have enjoyed at a local restaurant. I decided to try again today, but didn't have anything to stuff the mushrooms in to. I found a recipe that seemed very straightforward, so decided to give it a try.

3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
5 eggs
3 tbsp olive oil
1 egg yolk

Prep: Use the dough hook on mixer. Put flour and salt in the bowl. At medium speed, add eggs 1 by 1. drizzle in olive oil.  Form a ball with the dough, knead lightly, and let rest for 30 minutes. Use a pasta roller or rolling pin to roll dough very thin. I was making ravioli, so I brushed the rolled dough with the egg yolk and fashioned my raviolis.

Making the raviolis:


Before cooking (I still need some work on the shaping, but I am satisfied with this as a first attempt):


Mushroom stuffed ravioli in cream sauce with parmesan reggiano and prosciutto:


Note: It was a lovely dinner with parmesan chicken and a glass of red wine.

Something else I learned: You don't have to have a pasta roller to make fresh pasta. I did it on the counter with a rolling pin.

Amazon Fungus Breaks Down Polyurethane - Plastic Eating Mushroom!

Because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget us.
~Henrik Tikkanen

Pestalotiopsis microspora, a fungus discovered by Yale students in the Ecuadoran jungle, can eat and survive on plastic. This is the first fungus ever found to be able to live on plastic alone in an anaerobic environment. Plastic has been filling landfills for decades without meaningful biodegradation. Perhaps the newly discovered fungus is the answer to this dilemma.



The students have published their findings on the fungus and the decomposition of plastics. The research provides hope that the fungi might be able to live and thrive at the oxygen deprived bottom of plastic filled trash heaps.

Abstract of the students published findings.

Note: Plastics can take centuries to decompose.

Something else I learned: Roseanne Barr hopes to be the Green Party presidential nominee.

Discarded Pythons Eating Everglades Mammals to Extinction

I'd like to see a total ban, but I know that is unlikely. It isn't easy to fight a billion-dollar industry. As long as there are people to buy, exotic animal dealers will cheerfully sell, no matter what the impact is on wild populations or on the animals -- or humans.
~Melissa Kaplan

Exotic pet owners, tired of caring for their pythons are releasing them in Florida where the snakes are finding a comfortable home in Everglades National Park. The pythons are wreaking havoc on the local mammal populations. Once commonly seen in the Everglades, marsh rabbits and foxes, opossums, and white-tailed deer are sighted up to 99% less frequently.

Burmese pythons are native to Asia, but have become popular as exotic pets. A snake that grows up to 15' length, weighs 200 pounds, and has the digestive system to match its size is sure to be a great pet, right? And! They live for 20 years or more! Everglades National Park personnel have captured or killed 1,825 pythons since 2000.

Burmese pythons were recognized as an established species in the Florida Everglades in 2000. Since then sightings of raccoons have declined by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and bobcats by 87.5%. Rabbits are no longer seen at all. There were no declines at all in python-free areas.

Even alligators are not safe.

There is no clear path to freeing the everglades from the python infestation. The snakes are difficult to find in the vast wilderness of the Everglades. Extermination or suppression does not appear to be possible.

Note: An attempt is underway to ban the importation of pythons.

Something else I learned: Most of the coastal plains of the southern US is a suitable habitat for Burmese pythons.

Covering a Floor in Pennies Would Cost $1.44/ Square Foot

Pink Slime (ammonium hydroxide) Removed from Fast Food Burgers (McDonald's)

Why would any sensible human being want to put ammonia-filled meat into their children's mouths? ~Geral Zirnstein, microbiologist

Just this week McDonald's and other fast food chains said that they will no longer use "pink slime." Pink slime is beef trimmings or similar products which are considered "unfit for human consumption" until treated with ammonia. Yummy!

McDonald’s drops use of ‘pink slime’ ammonium hydroxide in hamburger meat.

The first Boat Designed Specifically as a Lifeboat was Tested on the River Tyne in 1790

The Original, a 30 ft long shore based lifeboat was tested in England in 1790.  Although boats had previously been pressed in to service as rescue vehicles, the Original was the original boat built specifically for rescue.

In 1789 a ship ran aground in a storm at the mouth of the River Tyne. There were stranded men in sight of shore, but no one was willing to risk what was deemed a suicidal attempt to rescue them. A reward was offered on the heel of the tragedy to anyone that could design a reliable rescue boat.  William Wouldhave won the challenge.  Wouldhave's design was used to build the Original, which carried nearly 800 pounds of cork for buoyancy.

Note: Lifeboats as known today - boats carried on large ships attached with davits were not part of sea travel before the late 19th century.

Something else I learned: There is a Wouldhave lifeboat Monument and Memorial at Pierhead in South Shields.

Unusual Number of Snowy Owls in Michigan This Winter

He respects Owl, because you can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right.
~A. A. Milne 

Snowy Owls, normally inhabitants of the Arctic tundra have been spotted in Michigan frequently this winter. There are usually a few of the 2 foot tall snowy white birds spotted this far south annually, but this year there have been an abundance of sitings. The likely reason for the irruption is that lemmings (main source of food for snowy owls) were plentiful last year, leading to an increase in the population. The plethora of young owls is now heading farther south in search of food.

Most of the birds that are being spotted throughout the state are young owls. They do not have much experience with humans so they are not particularly frightened when they see one (or more). This makes them patient subjects for birders to snap photos. The owls are spotted on the ground, perched on poles, and often are seen at airports - the wide open space reminding them of their tundra home.



In Michigan, they mostly eat small voles, mice and rabbits. The young owls may not be very good at hunting yet, and will end up starving. Experts stress the importance of letting the owls feed themselves. Humans will not help by feeding them, as the birds will have to fend when they return to the tundra.

Note: Snowy owls are federally protected, and a special permit is required to possess one.

Something else I learned: Snowy owls are most active in the daytime. They don't perch in trees. Head out early in the day when the birds are waiting to hunt if you are hoping to spot one.

Japanese Lunch Boxes, Bento

In Japan, a packed meal is called obento. Bento boxes (Japanese lunch boxes) have internal dividers and stacked layers. The food that is packed into the bento box is healthy and tasty, but also of great importance is that it be packed attractively. Japan has always placed great emphasis on food presentation, and packing lunches is no exception.

The approach to bento box preparation is artistic. Bento boxes are intended to be aesthetically pleasing and to make the food enticing. Sometimes the presentation is intentionally fun, or adheres to the Japanese culinary rule that all meals should contain five colors, or is kyaraben (character based).

Starbucks Will Sell Beer and Wine in Some Southern California Shoppes

Starbucks says they are going to start putting religious quotes on cups. The very first one will say, 'Jesus! This cup is expensive!'
~Conan O'Brien

Starbucks is planning to add beer, wine and food to the menus in outlets in Atlanta and Southern California. The extended menu is already available in several stores in the Portland Oregon area. It also intends to make the additions to Chicago area cafes by the end of this year.



The move has proved successful at the Oregon locations, with shares up over 40% from last year. Extended food and beverage options, and later hours of operation are an attempt to boost sales. Already a popular breakfast and lunch destination, Starbucks is hoping to garner more afternoon and evening sales.

There is currently no plan to serve alcohol at all Starbucks locations.

Note: I wonder how expensive the alcoholic beverages will be?

Something else I learned: Burger King now offers beer at new Whopper Bar restaurants.

Silkies, Silkie Bantam, Black Chickens

The Silkie chicken is a chicken that is black-pigmented right down to its bones. It is an old breed of chicken, with an Asian pedigree. In China, Silkies are believed to have healing powers, particularly in the treatment of female complaints.

Silkies are soft, hairy-feathered fowl. Their feathers are not barbed, and look more like silky fluff than feathers.


It is unlikely that you will find black chickens at the local grocery. Asian markets are more likely to have it. Silkies available in the US come from Canada. There the birds are slaughtered by Buddhists, exempting them from USDA inspections.


A Silkie ready for cooking looks very much like any other chicken ready for the pot. Except for the color.  The black chicken does not lose color, so if you cook a black chicken, you also serve a black chicken.

A search for black chicken recipes seems to return a lot of soups, although black chickens can apparently be treated just like regular chickens.

Note: I've decided. If I find a black chicken, I will buy it and cook it. I'm going make chicken salad with it.

Something else I learned: Besides being black, Silkies have 5 toes on each foot (most chickens have 4).