Life in Wisconsin: educational

Showing posts with label educational. Show all posts

Adding Salt. To Salt???

Isn't it ugly?
So tired of winter.

Hi all;

Or hi someone?

Anyone?

Oh, holy carp, but I swear I don't know how to blog anymore. (Heck with that, I barely even can type anymore either). hehehe

Life goes on.

It's has been a miserably l~o~n~g winter- My wonderful plow guy has just left once more, clearing the yard and the concrete of this godforsaken snow. I am happy to have him. A better description might be 'very fortunate'.

He is such a good man- a hard worker. Married to Big Sam's sister, he is Lady Valerie's uncle too.

I am freezing just from

♥♥♥ CLICK HERE to Read More! ♥♥♥

Trivia

Rating:
Category:	Other

From my email...

I am not sure if all of these are correct or not.
But I do now they are very interesting!

XOXO
Me

1. Q: Why are many coin banks shaped like pigs?
A: Long ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense orange clay called 'pygg'. When people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as 'pygg banks.' When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that resembled a pig. And it caught on.

2. Q: Did you ever wonder why dimes, quarters and half dollars have notches, while pennies and nickels do not?
A: The US Mint began putting notches on the edges of coins containing gold and silver to discourage holders from shaving off small quantities of the precious metals. Dimes, quarters and half dollars are notched because they used to contain silver. Pennies and nickels aren't notched because the metals they contain are not valuable enough to shave.

3. Q: Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes have buttons on the left?
A: When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right! Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. And that's where women's buttons have remained since.

4. Q. Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses?
A: In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.

5. Q: Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called 'passing the buck'?
A: In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a buck, from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to deal. If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility, he would 'pass the buck' to the next player.

6. Q: Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast?
A: It used to be common for someone to try to kill an enemy by offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink was safe, it became customary for a guest to pour a small amount of his drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it simultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would then just
touch or clink the host's glass with his own.

7. Q: Why are people in the public eye said to be 'in the limelight'?
A: Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and stage lighting by burning a cylinder of lime which produced a brilliant light. In the theatre, performers on stage 'in the limelight' were seen by the audience to be the center of attention.

8. Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use 'mayday' as their call for help?
A: This comes from the French word m'aidez - meaning 'help me' ï¿½ and is pronounced 'mayday.'

9. Q: Why is someone who is feeling great 'on cloud nine'?
A: Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud. If someone is said to be on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.

10. Q: Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'?
A: In France, where tennis first became popular, a big, round zero on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which is French for 'egg.' When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans pronounced it 'love.'

11. Q: In golf, where did the term 'Caddie' come from?
A. When Mary, later Queen of Scots, went to France as a young girl (for education & survival), Louis, King of France, learned that she loved the Scot game 'golf.' So he had the first golf course outside of Scotland built for her enjoyment. To make sure she was properly chaperoned (and guarded) while she played, Louis hired cadets from a military school to accompany her. Mary liked this a lot and when she returned to Scotland (not a very good idea in the long run), she took the practice with her. In French, the word cadet is pronounced 'ca-day' and the Scots changed it into 'caddie.'

Unvetted. Unscripted. Unintentional? Maybe...

The enlightenment of gaffes:
What we learn about politicians from their inadvertent mistakes
[from] Yahoo! News-

CLICK HERE

From the article:

"Not all gaffes are created equal.

Some gaffers like Sarah Palin expose their ignorance: "We've got to stand with our North Korean allies."
Some like Dan Quayle butcher slogans: "What a waste it is to lose one's mind."
Some just tell the truth where propaganda might be expected, as Mitt Romney did: "I'm not concerned about the very poor."

Do the click above to read more.

And as always, don't forget to scroll down to the comments- You know, those 'un~gaffes' - the terribly scripted, those that show the ignorance of [too] many.

XOXO

*put foot in mouth pic from here

Coffee- Hot Dreamsicles for Breakfast

Good Morning!

Before I blog...

Regular or decaf?

This is for everyone who might think that decaf coffee is better for you?

No reason to make that switch...
or is there?

Read on...

Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world.

Coffee addicts who switch to decaf for health reasons may not be as free from caffeine's clutches as they think.

Coffee addicts who switch to decaf for health reasons may not be as free from caffeine's clutches as they think. A study conducted by the researchers of University of Florida put forth that decaffeinated coffee is not entirely caffeine-free. Also, it is important to understand that there are a number of significant chemical compounds present in coffee, other than caffeine, which also have strong effects on the body. ">The common active constituents include chlorogenic acid, caffeol and diterpenes. Many health disorders that are aggravated by coffee are still affected by decaffeinated coffee, despite the lowered level of caffeine, due to these other phytochemicals that remain in decaf coffee even after the decaffeination process.

Coffee is highly acidic and it can stimulate the hyper-secretion of gastric acids. Coffee creates more reflux than caffeine added to water, suggesting that other components of coffee contribute to its aggravating effect. Decaf coffee has been shown to increase acidity to a greater degree than either regular coffee or caffeine alone due to the fact that decaffeinated coffee is made from Robusta beans.

This in result aggravates health problems such as acid reflux, GERDS and ulcers making people susceptible to the detrimental effects of high levels of acidity. Decaf coffee consumption has also been associated with a greater incidence of heartburn than drinking any other fluids. Therefore, quitting coffee may reduce stomach problems that are associated with the high acidity of decaf coffee.

Decaf coffee increases cholesterol and heart attack risk

Several studies have shown that decaffeinated coffee raises the risk for heart attacks similar to regular coffee in spite of the lowered levels of caffeine. A U.S. National Institutes of Health study suggested that drinking decaffeinated coffee increased the risk of heart disease. This study showed that the group drinking decaffeinated coffee experienced an 18% rise in non-essential fatty acids in the blood, which can drive the production of LDL cholesterol and an 8% rise in apolipoprotein B - a protein associated with cholesterol linked to cardiovascular disease.

Levels of LDL cholesterol, a strong predictor for heart attacks, increase after coffee drinkers switch from regular coffee to decaf coffee. These finding suggests that a phytochemical present in coffee other than caffeine is responsible for the subsequent LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B activity.

The fact is that caffeinated and decaf coffees are known to be made from different beans. Decaf coffee is often made from Robusta beans, which contain a much higher content of fats called diterpenes. Diterpenes are known to stimulate fatty acid production in the body. Thus, decaf coffee has proved more harmful effects on the heart as compared to regular coffee. Coffee oils other than caffeine have also been demonstrated to elevate liver enzyme levels, further inhibiting the liver’s ability to effectively regulate serum cholesterol.

Also, chlorogenic acid is found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. It is believed to raise plasma levels of homocysteine, which is associated with increased susceptibility of developing cardiovascular disease. Reducing intake of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may be important in controlling plasma homocysteine levels.

Decaf coffee may lead to osteoporosis

According to an osteoporosis expert of Creighton University in Omaha, there occurs a loss up to 5 milligrams of calcium for every six ounces of regular coffee that you drink. As little as 300 to 400 mg of caffeine a day doubles the risk of hip fracture.

Low bone density increases chances for developing osteoporosis. Metabolic acidity contributes to demineralization of the bones. The high acidity of decaf coffee increases the risk for developing osteoporosis. It alters bone cell function, increasing osteoclastic bone resorption and decreasing osteoblastic bone formation. Avoiding regular and decaf coffee and including 3-4 servings of calcium rich foods a day can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Decaf coffee leads to increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis

Decaffeinated coffee intake is independently and positively associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) onset. According to researchers from the American College of Rheumatology, older women who drink four or more cups of decaffeinated coffee a day are more than twice as likely to develop RA as regular coffee drinkers. Moreover, drinking more than 3 cups of tea per day is actually associated with decreased risk of developing RA.

Decaf coffee increases risk of glaucoma

Caffeine consumption may be harmful to people with glaucoma because it increases pressure within the eyeball. While caffeinated coffee more significantly increases intraocular pressure, decaffeinated coffee also causes a rise in levels of pressure within the eye. People at risk for developing glaucoma and those who already suffer from glaucoma should avoid anything that further increases intraocular pressure to avoid damaging their eyes.

Link to cancer and organ damage

The decaffeinated coffee is likely to contain the solvent methylene chloride that is used to remove caffeine from coffee. This process leaves small amounts of this chemical in the beans. Methylene chloride is a proven carcinogenic that is toxic to lungs, the nervous system, liver, mucous membranes, and central nervous system (CNS). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Ethyl acetate is an alternate solvent used to extract caffeine. As this chemical is in low quantities found naturally in fruit, companies often market coffee decaffeinated using this process as naturally decaffeinated. However, this is a chemical with serious health consequences.

From here.

When I have it, I'll have mine, regular, with cream and sugar please.

My Dreamsicle in a mug!

XOXO
Me

Another good one here:

There’s nothing like cup of hot steaming coffee to rejuvenate you after a long tiring day at work. Scientists have always known about the property of caffeine to stimulate the central nervous system.

Increased Coffee Consumption is Associated with a Reduction in the Risk of Depression

Very few studies have been carried out to establish any relationship between coffee and caffeine consumption and relief from depression.

A new research, which has been published... CLICK

Bone Scan- Dexa Scan Mania

--Clicking on pic should make it viewable--

Do you have bones?

As most of you know, (and among other things), I have been diagnosed with severe Osteoporosis.
And am now up to 28 fractures...

Has your doctor ever mentioned having a bone scan? (Especially if you are post-menopausal, or an over 60 male).

See why they might just "THINK" you need one- Do the click below! ↓↓↓

Bone Scan Mania: A 12 Year Drug Industry Con Finally Exposed.
« SpeakEasy

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2012/01/19/bone-scan-mania-a-12-year-drug-industry-con-finally-exposed/
or

www.blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2012/01/19/bone-scan-mania-a-12-year-drug-industry-con-finally-exposed/

From the article:

"... Nor do the bone drugs even prevent fractures–their intended purpose! By suppressing bone remodeling, they are supposed to stop bone loss. But since the bone is not being renewed, it becomes brittle, ossified and fractures. The thigh bones of patients on bisphosphonates have “simply snapped while they were walking or standing,” after “weeks or months of unexplained aching,” reported the New York Times in an article called “Drugs to Build Bones May Weaken Them.” Oops. Medical journals and patients on the web site askapatient have been reporting the fractures for years...

...it should be even more embarrassing that the con only surfaced when the biggest bone drug patents are expired so the drug companies don’t even care–because the big bucks are behind them."

The human skeleton is made from 206 bones which create a framework that supports and protects the body's soft tissues and organs.

Movement is the result of the muscles acting on the bones of the skeletal system. Muscles are connected to bones by tendons; bones are connected to each other by ligaments. The places where bones meet each other are called joints.

The main difference between the male and female skeleton is that females have a wider pelvis to allow for childbirth. Smaller diferences include a shorter, straighter clavicle in the female (resulting in narrow sloping shoulders), as well as a smaller skull and smaller, lighter bones.

The skeleton produces red blood cells from the bone marrow of certain bones and white cells from the marrow of other bones. The skeleton's bones also store minerals such as calcium.

Babies are born with 270 soft bones (about 64 more than an adult); many of these will fuse together by age twenty, into the 206 hard, permanent bones.

Click on a label at the right, or a link below, to find out more about each part of the skeleton.

***********************************************************

Bone Densitometry

Every day, physicians use radiography, or x-rays, to view and evaluate bone fractures and other injuries of the musculoskeletal system. However, a plain x-ray test is not the best way to assess bone density. To detect osteoporosis accurately, doctors use an enhanced form of x-ray technology called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). DEXA bone densitometry is today's established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). It is a quick, painless procedure for measuring bone loss. Measurements of the lower spine and hips are most often done.

The DEXA machine sends a thin, invisible beam of low-dose x-rays with two distinct energy peaks through your bones. One peak is absorbed mainly by soft tissue and the other by bone. The soft tissue amount can be subtracted from the total and what remains is a patient's bone mineral density.

The amount of radiation used is extremely small—less than one-tenth the dose of a standard chest x-ray.

More portable devices that measure the wrist, fingers or heel are sometimes used for screening, including some that use ultrasound waves rather than x-rays.

Osteoporosis involves a gradual loss of calcium, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break. The DEXA test can assess your risk for developing fractures. If your bone density is found to be low, you and your physician can work together on a treatment plan to help prevent fractures before they occur. DEXA is also effective in tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis or for other conditions that cause bone loss. Bone density testing is strongly recommended if you:

are a post-menopausal woman and not taking estrogen.
have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking.
are a post-menopausal woman who is tall (over 5 feet 7 inches) or thin (less than 125 pounds).
are a man with clinical conditions associated with bone loss.
use medications that are known to cause bone loss, including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs.
have type 1 (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis.
have high bone turnover, which shows up in the form of excessive collagen in urine samples.
have a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism.
have experienced a fracture after only mild trauma.
have had x-ray evidence of vertebral fracture or other signs of osteoporosis.

For more detailed information on this examination, visit RadiologyInfo.

From: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/index.cfm?bhcp=1

RadiologyInfo.org tells you how various x-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, radiation therapy and other procedures are performed. It also addresses what you may experience and how to prepare for the exams.

The website contains over 115 radiologic procedures and is updated frequently with new information.

All material on the RadiologyInfo.org website is reviewed and approved by experts in the field of radiology from the ACR and RSNA, as well as other professional radiology organizations.

All the info, plus more, can tell you why YOU are your own best doctor!

XOXO
Me

PS
My newest blog will be up shortly, but I am still clearing out my drafts folder

Crude, 101

As she writes,

Judy just told me….

“It’s really hard to take you seriously
when you’re sitting there with a bag on your head.”

I mean really, how rude…

ROTF!

Good Afternoon Everyone;

Gas station- Top management, and I slept with no one to get there. hehehe

Overhearing an interview on TV, with Alison Kozik inspired this.

She was replying to someone who thought that anyone, even/especially as President of the United States, can actually change gas/oil prices.

Memories From the Townline-

You would not believe the number of people that came into my office to tell me that I was charging too much for the gas!

Who? Me? hehehe But they weren't kidding!

I assured them that I had nothing to do with it, and calmly tried to explain the law of crude, (what was current a few years back).

What happens to change the prices on the signboard

Our supplier gave me their price (to the station), with each tanker delivery.

If necessary, I would adjust my price accordingly- Most often, this price reflected exactly what most nearby sellers were charging.

Oddly enough I was also threatened when I had posted our price to reflect ONLY the mandatory 6% mark-up.

All businesses are required to mark up accordingly, by law, in Wisconsin.

Admittedly, I do not know if the mandatory mark~up is 6% in other states- (might be higher, might be lower)?

A man from a local organization/corporation of stations came into my office, asked if I was the GM; - if I was, "Anne".

I was, (on both accounts). hehehe

Having lived in this area, and being in retail business for most of my adult life, I knew who he was. To this day I remain unimpressed. (True, dat). hehehe

He told me, in no uncertain terms, to raise my price to reflect what *their* company charged, then added his "or else" !

If you know me at all, you also know that I am not easily intimdated. I refused to do this; at least until I heard back from the owner.

The owner was very easily intimidated.

Too bad.

However...

In the meantime, I solds lots of gasoline... And when the tanker came again, the gas prices had gone down- (and viola!), were now to the point that my previous price was then stayed!

Earlier in the day, people had already seen the higher prices in Green Bay- so they STILL came to buy their gas from me.
Worked out quite nicely if ya ask me. hehehe

So how does the price of a gallon of gas come to be?
Who is responsible?
How and why?

AAA has told us that gas prices (at the pump) are up 27 cents in this one month.

Like it or not, this is not political.

No single person can dictate a change, upward, or down, to gas prices.

Prices are determined ONLY by supply and demand around the world.

While having some Great "Oz" ability to lower gas prices sounds GREAT in a campaign speech, gas prices are simply determined from higher oil prices.

Well, that and...

... Read on. hehehe

The Game is on. The field is slick...

The US is the biggest consumer of the worlds oil- but we are just one player in this very big game.

As long as demand continues to fluctuate, so do the prices of a barrel of crude oil.

Our ability, specifically The Presidents ability, to influence oil prices is very limited.

Crude oil prices are raising significantly and that's the biggest reason why we are paying more at the pump.

The suppliers set the price- No matter where it comes from-
The middleman - as a refiner- gets his $hare.
The delivery company/corp get their share.
The stations are forced to charge more because THEY are paying more.

Iran has threatened to close a major shipping lane in the Middle East.

If this happens, though it probably won't (my opinion)- But *if* this happens, the price of a barrel of crude oil will rise exponentially.

The threat alone, Wall Street, has also forced prices to rise. Unfortunately when the fear subsides, the price will not drop.

According to Ms Kozik, if we stop buying oil from the middle east, and drill here, it would STILL take decades to see a lower cost of crude oil.

We do not have enough oil for America's need? I think we do.

Getting [to] it will be a major problem- And every lawsuit from those with the simple tree~hugger mentality will also cause those oil prices to rise.

Save the nasty retorts- I use "tree~hugger" only to define the radical BS from some. (And you have to admit that SOME go waaaay tooooo far).

You already know that I have nothing against those that wish to save the woods. Remember, I always planted my own trees. I always had my own garden. Until.

This drilling is something that needed to be done in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

For now, it is still not too late.

Do you think there is nothing much anyone can do? You are wrong.

We need patience.
We need to turn down the thermostat.
We need to stop making stupid trips anywhere to pick up a forgotten gallon of milk, or a single package of smokes.
Hence, we need absolutely to make lists, and shop with them in hand.

Forgot to write it down?

Too bad. Do without.

Simply refuse to start your car to chase the damn do~over. Or walk!

Save for meds, and truly sick children, whatever it is, I promise you do NOT need it badly enough to warrant picking up the car keys.

Bottom line is, unfortunately, and regardless of who is president, (or what politicians CLAIM they will have the power to do), the REALITY is that they have very little influence over the price we pay.

2012.

It is an election year. the gas/oil prices have historically, always, risen during an election year-

Why would this year be any different?

Take it from someone who (mostly) loved retail/station management, our Mr. Gingrich is full of shit.

XOXO

PS
For those that missed my reply in my original post about Casey's surgery, she is alright.

Is Decaffeinated Or Decaf Coffee Healthy?

Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world.

Coffee addicts who switch to decaf for health reasons may not be as free from caffeine's clutches as they think.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world. Coffee addicts who switch to decaf for health reasons may not be as free from caffeine's clutches as they think. A study conducted by the researchers of University of Florida put forth that decaffeinated coffee is not entirely caffeine-free. Also, it is important to understand that there are a number of significant chemical compounds present in coffee, other than caffeine, which also have strong effects on the body. ">The common active constituents include chlorogenic acid, caffeol and diterpenes. Many health disorders that are aggravated by coffee are still affected by decaffeinated coffee, despite the lowered level of caffeine, due to these other phytochemicals that remain in decaf coffee even after the decaffeination process.

Coffee is highly acidic and it can stimulate the hyper-secretion of gastric acids. Coffee creates more reflux than caffeine added to water, suggesting that other components of coffee contribute to its aggravating effect. Decaf coffee has been shown to increase acidity to a greater degree than either regular coffee or caffeine alone due to the fact that decaffeinated coffee is made from Robusta beans.

This in result aggravates health problems such as acid reflux, GERDS and ulcers making people susceptible to the detrimental effects of high levels of acidity. Decaf coffee consumption has also been associated with a greater incidence of heartburn than drinking any other fluids. Therefore, quitting coffee may reduce stomach problems that are associated with the high acidity of decaf coffee.

Decaf coffee increases cholesterol and heart attack risk

Several studies have shown that decaffeinated coffee raises the risk for heart attacks similar to regular coffee in spite of the lowered levels of caffeine. A U.S. National Institutes of Health study suggested that drinking decaffeinated coffee increased the risk of heart disease. This study showed that the group drinking decaffeinated coffee experienced an 18% rise in non-essential fatty acids in the blood, which can drive the production of LDL cholesterol and an 8% rise in apolipoprotein B - a protein associated with cholesterol linked to cardiovascular disease.

Levels of LDL cholesterol, a strong predictor for heart attacks, increase after coffee drinkersswitch from regular coffee to decaf coffee. These finding suggests that a phytochemical present in coffee other than caffeine is responsible for the subsequent LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B activity.

The fact is that caffeinated and decaf coffees are known to be made from different beans. Decaf coffee is often made from Robusta beans, which contain a much higher content of fats called diterpenes. Diterpenes are known to stimulate fatty acid production in the body. Thus, decaf coffee has proved more harmful effects on the heart as compared to regular coffee. Coffee oils other than caffeine have also been demonstrated to elevate liver enzyme levels, further inhibiting the liver’s ability to effectively regulate serum cholesterol.

Also, chlorogenic acid is found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. It is believed to raise plasma levels of homocysteine, which is associated with increased susceptibility of developing cardiovascular disease. Reducing intake of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may be important in controlling plasma homocysteine levels.

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[My] Life in Wisconsin

Adding Salt. To Salt???

Trivia

Unvetted. Unscripted. Unintentional? Maybe...

Coffee- Hot Dreamsicles for Breakfast