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."