The frog uses its webbed toes to glide between treetops. [Australian Museum: Jodi Rowley]. Photo courtesy: Asia Pacific News.
I have always loved frogs. I find them immensely fascinating - not to mention cute - so I am always interested when a new species is found. The above adorable fellow is a new species, discovered by an Australian scientist, in Vietnam named the Vampire Frog.
The vampire flying frog uses its webbed toes to glide between treetops; but, it earned its nickname because the frogs' tadpoles have strange black fangs.
Australian Museum scientist Dr Jodi Rowley, who found the frog, says it is the first time fangs have been discovered in a tadpole.
"We don't know of anything quite like this that's for sure, so we're taking a lot of time to work out why on Earth they have these fangs," Dr Rowley said.
"Maybe it's got something to do with what they eat.
"They breed in very small pools of water that are found in the holes in the trunks of trees, so maybe they eat something particularly strange up there."
I, for one, will be waiting for scientists to discover the meaning of these strange fangs.
Via Asia Pacific News
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Ancient Citadel, Metal Artifacts Unearthed in Peru
Metal artifact found in Cordillera de Colan. Photo courtesy: ANDINA / Alberto Pintado.
Rangers at the Cordillera de Colan Reserved Zone in Amazonas, northern Peru, have found what is believed to be an Inca citadel as well as some stone and metal artifacts during a routine patrolling in the Cajaruro district.
Biologist Leyda Gueiler said the metal artifact (pictured) seems to be a war shield while the stone ornaments were carved into the shape of leaves.
"This well preserved artifact is strong evidence that the ancient cultures in Amazonas did develop metalsmithing," said Gueiler.
As for the likely discovery of a citadel that dates back to Inca times, she said a team of archaeologists is to arrive in the area to examine the ruins which are still covered with vegetation.
The head of Cordillera de Colan Reserved Zone, Cesar Bartra, announced that the Regional Directorate of Culture in Chachapoyas has already been informed about these discoveries.
Stone leaf-shaped ornaments found in Cordillera de Colán in Amazonas. ANDINA / Alberto Pintado. Photo courtesy: andina
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Did You Know That...
The beverage that is most often consumed by people the world over is water. The second most commonly sipped liquid is tea.
In many countries, wedding rings are exchanged between a bride and groom as a symbol of their union. Another interesting custom regarding wedding rings is this: in some areas of India, women wear a toe ring known a bichiya. In other parts of India, iron bangles are worn by women (an arm ring?).
We all know that saying "Gesundheit!" or "Bless You" doesn't really help the common cold; but, it's every bit as effective as anything the medical profession has to offer.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Mistletoe Cures Cancer
Magical: Mistletoe's healing properties are being harnessed at a cancer unit in England. Photo courtesy: dailymail
According to folklore, mistletoe 'magic' may seal romance, bestow fertility and bring peace to warring spouses.
The plant has also been credited with the power of healing - an attribute currently being harnessed by a new outpatient unit at the independent Raphael Medical Centre in Kent, which offers integrated cancer care.
The centre uses mistletoe (known by its Latin plant name, viscum album) to combat undesirable effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, such as fatigue, nausea, weight loss, low mood and infections.
Advocates believe the herb boosts the immune system and may even help kill tumour cells - particularly breast, gynaecological, colo-rectal, pancreatic and lung cancer, along with lymphomas and leukaemia.
Results have been so promising that Professor Gene Feder, a GP and Professor of Primary Care at Bristol University, is initiating the UK's first pilot study.
From his GP experience he says: 'Patients receiving mistletoe during and after radiotherapy or chemotherapy appear to tolerate those treatments better. The university is planning a pilot double-blind randomised controlled trial, and hope to start recruiting in Bristol in April.'
Treatment is usually by injections - two a week for two years. Patients inject at home after initial treatment by medical staff to monitor effects.
Dr Maurice Orange MSc, who heads the integrated cancer care clinic at Raphael, explains: 'We look for inflammation at the injection site.
This may be itchy, tender or painful for a day or two. Like after-effects of a bee sting, redness indicates the body's immune response. For this treatment that's desirable. After weeks or months of treatment it settles down.
'Similarly, within 24 hours of an injection we expect patients to feel off-colour, fatigued, headachy with bodily aches and pains, and possibly raised body temperature - like mild flu, but lasting about 12 hours. Again it's a positive sign. The immune system is firing into action. Depending on reactions we adjust doses, increasing as patients get used to it.'
Dr Orange stresses that mistletoe is an adjunct to conventional cancer treatment. While patients sometimes want to avoid orthodox treatment, he sees his job as discussing best treatments, often referring patients to sympathetic oncologists.
One patient who believes mistletoe has been the kiss of life is Anne Marshall-Lee. Diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2009, the 51-year-old teacher from Manchester was advised to have a mastectomy.
She studied the debate about whether mastectomy is appropriate for her particular cancer - DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in situ - cancer in the breast ducts) which later progressed to invasive cancer. She declined a mastectomy.
Specialists ruled out lumpectomy, in which only the tumour is removed.
'When the surgeon at my local hospital returned from leave, he saw my records and asked if I'd like to be referred for mistletoe therapy. I hadn't heard of this, but after discussion felt very comfortable with the idea,' recalls Anne.
She started injections in March 2009 and her NHS consultant kept watch with biopsies and scans.
Two weeks ago an ultrasound scan left Anne jubilant.
'In the last six months the diseased area reduced by almost two inches,' reports Anne. 'I'm looking forward to further successes as treatment continues.'
The average cost of mistletoe therapy is £50 ($77 USD) a month.
Via dailymail
According to folklore, mistletoe 'magic' may seal romance, bestow fertility and bring peace to warring spouses.
The plant has also been credited with the power of healing - an attribute currently being harnessed by a new outpatient unit at the independent Raphael Medical Centre in Kent, which offers integrated cancer care.
The centre uses mistletoe (known by its Latin plant name, viscum album) to combat undesirable effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, such as fatigue, nausea, weight loss, low mood and infections.
Advocates believe the herb boosts the immune system and may even help kill tumour cells - particularly breast, gynaecological, colo-rectal, pancreatic and lung cancer, along with lymphomas and leukaemia.
Results have been so promising that Professor Gene Feder, a GP and Professor of Primary Care at Bristol University, is initiating the UK's first pilot study.
From his GP experience he says: 'Patients receiving mistletoe during and after radiotherapy or chemotherapy appear to tolerate those treatments better. The university is planning a pilot double-blind randomised controlled trial, and hope to start recruiting in Bristol in April.'
Treatment is usually by injections - two a week for two years. Patients inject at home after initial treatment by medical staff to monitor effects.
Dr Maurice Orange MSc, who heads the integrated cancer care clinic at Raphael, explains: 'We look for inflammation at the injection site.
This may be itchy, tender or painful for a day or two. Like after-effects of a bee sting, redness indicates the body's immune response. For this treatment that's desirable. After weeks or months of treatment it settles down.
'Similarly, within 24 hours of an injection we expect patients to feel off-colour, fatigued, headachy with bodily aches and pains, and possibly raised body temperature - like mild flu, but lasting about 12 hours. Again it's a positive sign. The immune system is firing into action. Depending on reactions we adjust doses, increasing as patients get used to it.'
Dr Orange stresses that mistletoe is an adjunct to conventional cancer treatment. While patients sometimes want to avoid orthodox treatment, he sees his job as discussing best treatments, often referring patients to sympathetic oncologists.
One patient who believes mistletoe has been the kiss of life is Anne Marshall-Lee. Diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2009, the 51-year-old teacher from Manchester was advised to have a mastectomy.
She studied the debate about whether mastectomy is appropriate for her particular cancer - DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in situ - cancer in the breast ducts) which later progressed to invasive cancer. She declined a mastectomy.
Specialists ruled out lumpectomy, in which only the tumour is removed.
'When the surgeon at my local hospital returned from leave, he saw my records and asked if I'd like to be referred for mistletoe therapy. I hadn't heard of this, but after discussion felt very comfortable with the idea,' recalls Anne.
She started injections in March 2009 and her NHS consultant kept watch with biopsies and scans.
Two weeks ago an ultrasound scan left Anne jubilant.
'In the last six months the diseased area reduced by almost two inches,' reports Anne. 'I'm looking forward to further successes as treatment continues.'
The average cost of mistletoe therapy is £50 ($77 USD) a month.
Via dailymail
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Man-Eating Giants Found in Nevada Cave
All photos courtesy: Salem-News
Depiction of Paiute braves fighting with the "red-headed giants".
There have been many stories about giants - Jack and the Beanstalk; Gulliver's Travel; the nephilim of biblical note; Goliath; and, so many more. Tales of giants are found all over the world; but, were usually dismissed as fairy stories.
This discovery in a Nevada cave may prove that giants did exist at one time.
The Paiutes, a Native-American tribe indigenous to parts of Nevada, Utah and Arizona, told early white settlers about their ancestors' battles with a ferocious race of white, red-haired giants. According to the Paiutes, the giants were already living in the area.
The Paiutes named the giants Si-Te-Cah that literally means “tule-eaters.” The tule is a fibrous water plant the giants wove into rafts to escape the Paiutes continuous attacks.
They used the rafts to navigate across what remained of Lake Lahontan. According to the Paiutes, the red-haired giants stood as tall as 12-feet and were a vicious, unapproachable people that killed and ate captured Paiutes as food.
Did giants roam the earth?
The Paiutes told the early settlers that after many years of warfare, all the tribes in the area finally joined together to rid themselves of the giants.
One day as they chased down the few remaining red-haired enemy, the fleeing giants took refuge in a cave. The tribal warriors demanded their enemy come out and fight, but the giants steadfastly refused to leave their sanctuary.
Frustrated at not defeating their enemy with honor, the tribal chiefs had warriors fill the entrance to the cavern with brush and then set it on fire in a bid to force the giants out of the cave.
The few that did emerge were instantly slain with volleys of arrows. The giants that remained inside the cavern were asphyxiated.
Later, an earthquake rocked the region and the cave entrance collapsed leaving only enough room for bats to enter it and make it their home.
Actual cave where remains of white, red-headed giants were found.
Hundreds of years later archaeologists explored the cavern near Lovelock, Nevada--the cave the Indians had described.
What the scientific researchers found was staggering: over 10,000 artifacts were unearthed including the mummified remains of two red-haired giants—one, a female 6.5-feet tall, the other male, over 8-feet tall.
Many of the artifacts (but not the giants) can be viewed at the small natural history museum located in Winnemucca, Nevada.
One of the mummified remains.
As the excavation of the cave progressed, the archaeologists came to the inescapable conclusion that the Paiutes myth was no myth; it was true.
What led them to this realization was the discovery of many broken arrows that had been shot into the cave and a dark layer of burned material under sections of the overlaying guano.
Among the thousands of artifacts recovered from this site of an unknown people is what some scientists are convinced is a calendar: a donut-shaped stone with exactly 365 notches carved along its outside rim and 52 corresponding notches along the inside.
But that was not to be the final chapter of red-haired giants in Nevada.
In February and June of 1931, two very large skeletons were found in the Humboldt dry lake bed near Lovelock, Nevada.
More giants have been unearthed in other states...
Via Salem-News
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Canada Gives Limited Approval to Enviropig.
Photo courtesy: Scott Bauer, ARS.USDA
Sometimes being Canadian doesn't feel so good. Canada has made a controversial move; and, I fear it is another giant step forward in the race to a world-wide diet made up entirely of GMOs. These piglets may look harmless enough; but, they are harbouring a dirty little secret inside those cuddly pink bodies. These piglets are genetically modified.
Canada has approved limited production of animals dubbed "enviropigs™," a genetically modified breed of pigs producing up to 65% less phosphorous in pig poo and urine. The genetic modification is so complete these pigs pass the ability to produce less phosphorous along to their young.
The very idea that a genetically modified animal rates the moniker "enviro-" points to the severity of the issue addressed by the science behind these pigs. It also raises the spector of nature run amok due to all these artifical changes to their physiology.
Phosphorous is a fertilizer found in animal and human wastes, which runs off or discharges to surface waters, where it spurs large algal blooms. The algae use up the oxygen in the water, leaving behind a "dead zone," an area of lake, river, or ocean where nothing can live due to the hypoxic (oxygenless) conditions.
How does the enviropig work (image in extended)? And does the dead zone problem justify permitting production of these "franken-pigs"?
This video is slightly over 11 minutes in length; but, gives a good overall view of gmos.
The genetic modification used by scientists at the University of Guelph, Ontario involves an enzyme known as phytase. Phosphorous plays an essential role in the growth of bones, construction of DNA and RNA, and in regulating cell and organ processes. But most of the phosphorous in a grain-based diet are bound up as organic complexes which pigs cannot digest. Supplementing pig diets with phytase, itself produced from genetically modified fungi Aspergillus Niger, has been advocated as an environmental protection measure.
Photo courtesy: Enviropig™, University of Guelph, Ontario
Scientists spent over a decade searching for the genetic secret to digestion of organic phosphorous. They found the genes in the DNA of Escherichia Coli bacteria. In order to ensure the segment of DNA could function in mammals, scientists paired the E. coli DNA with a DNA promotor from mice. The promotor takes care that the bacterial DNA is transcribed. In fact, early tests showed that the genetic modification not only enables pigs to produce phytase in their saliva, but the ability is inherited. Pigs in the eighth generation still have the gene, which has been transmitted unaltered to successive piglets.
Unlike some genetically modified strains, which are engineered or contractually designed so that farmers much purchase expensive new stocks every season, enviropiglets inherit the genetic advantage. Additionally, the cost of raising pigs is reduced because farmers do not need to supplement pig diets with phosphorous nor with commercially manufactured phytase. Waste treatment costs, to manage the phosphorous in manure, can also be saved.
Canada has approved only limited production of the Enviropigs, in controlled research environments. It will be years before meat from genetically engineered pigs could be available for human consumption. "This will be probably the most significant transgenic food to be approved. We're in new territory," Steven Liss, a spokesperson for the project, told National Geographic.
Are genetically modified pigs another "franken-food" risk that we need to fear? Certainly, management of the unintended consequences is an essential part of such science. Because phosphorous is a natural and essential mineral, the potential risks are less scary than some projected genes-run-amok scenarios. And given that phytase supplements rely today on genetic engineering, this step is a matter of scale, rather than principle. In the face of the potential damage dead zones cause in our eco-systems, no solution can be discarded without investigation.
Via TreeHugger
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Did You Know That...
When the late actor James Dean first went to college, he was in a pre-law course. Then he switched to drama at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). This move caused a lot of problems between James and his father.
The largest tree in the world is known as the General Sherman tree, which is a Giant Sequoia tree located in the Sequoia National Forest in California. Its base measures 36.5 ft. or 11.1 m.
Monday, October 18, 2010
McKinley & Co. Whiskey Found in Explorer's Shack
Insert your favourite whiskey on the rocks joke here. Photo courtesy: the lede
Three crates of Scotch whisky and two crates of brandy left beneath the floorboards of a hut by the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton in 1909, at the end of a failed expedition to the South Pole, have been unearthed by a team from the Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Al Fastier, who led the team, said the discovery of the brandy was a surprise, according to a news release posted online by the trust. The team had expected to find just two crates of whisky buried under the hut. The trust reported that that ice had cracked some of the crates and formed inside, “which will make the job of extracting the contents very delicate.”
Location of hut. Photo courtesy: the lede
Richard Paterson, a master blender for Whyte & Mackay, which supplied the Shackleton expedition with 25 crates of Mackinlay’s “Rare and Old” whisky, described the unearthing of the bottles as “a gift from the heavens for whisky lovers,” since the recipe for that blend has been lost. “If the contents can be confirmed, safely extracted and analyzed, the original blend may be able to be replicated.”
Mr. Paterson addressed the question of what the whisky might taste like in a post on his blog when the plan to dig it up was first announced, last year:
[W]hiskies back then — a harder age — were all quite heavy and peaty as that was the style. And depending on the storage conditions, it may still have that heaviness. For example, it may taste the same as it did back then if the cork has stayed in the bottle and kept it airtight.
But if the whisky is on its side, the cork may have been eroded by the whisky or air may have got in some other way — especially if the corks have been contracting and expanding with the temperature changes over the years and seasons.
The hut in Cape Royds, Antarctica, where the explorer Ernest Shackleton spent the winter of 1908 before making a failed attempt to reach the South Pole.The trust’s Web site has a detailed history of the failed expedition. Photo courtesy: the lede
The video shows the efforts to preserve the hut built as a base for the Shackleton expedition at Cape Royds, Antarctica, in 1908:
Via thelede
Three crates of Scotch whisky and two crates of brandy left beneath the floorboards of a hut by the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton in 1909, at the end of a failed expedition to the South Pole, have been unearthed by a team from the Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Al Fastier, who led the team, said the discovery of the brandy was a surprise, according to a news release posted online by the trust. The team had expected to find just two crates of whisky buried under the hut. The trust reported that that ice had cracked some of the crates and formed inside, “which will make the job of extracting the contents very delicate.”
Location of hut. Photo courtesy: the lede
Richard Paterson, a master blender for Whyte & Mackay, which supplied the Shackleton expedition with 25 crates of Mackinlay’s “Rare and Old” whisky, described the unearthing of the bottles as “a gift from the heavens for whisky lovers,” since the recipe for that blend has been lost. “If the contents can be confirmed, safely extracted and analyzed, the original blend may be able to be replicated.”
Mr. Paterson addressed the question of what the whisky might taste like in a post on his blog when the plan to dig it up was first announced, last year:
[W]hiskies back then — a harder age — were all quite heavy and peaty as that was the style. And depending on the storage conditions, it may still have that heaviness. For example, it may taste the same as it did back then if the cork has stayed in the bottle and kept it airtight.
But if the whisky is on its side, the cork may have been eroded by the whisky or air may have got in some other way — especially if the corks have been contracting and expanding with the temperature changes over the years and seasons.
The hut in Cape Royds, Antarctica, where the explorer Ernest Shackleton spent the winter of 1908 before making a failed attempt to reach the South Pole.The trust’s Web site has a detailed history of the failed expedition. Photo courtesy: the lede
The video shows the efforts to preserve the hut built as a base for the Shackleton expedition at Cape Royds, Antarctica, in 1908:
Via thelede
Sunday, October 17, 2010
10 Things You May Not Realize That Cannot Be Recycled
All pictures courtesy: ecosalon
If you live with a greenie, dramatic scenes can play out over the blue recycling bin. Styrofoam can be recycled, right? Hangers for sure. Why are you putting that pizza box in the trash? For the love of Al Gore, won’t anyone think of the cardboard? (And cue silent scream.)
As it turns out, throwing certain items into the recycling that you are utterly convinced can be recycled is actually worse for the environment. Oftentimes, bad items can taint an entire bin, resulting in the whole load going into a landfill. This largely depends on how well a city’s recycling facilities can sort. But it’s enough to throw a person into high anxiety with every trip to the waste bin.
Not to worry. Here’s a quick list of 10 surprising things on the “Do we or don’t we?” list. And always, if you’re in doubt about an item, check Earth911.com for a facility near you that may take your questionable trash bit.
Pizza Boxes: I know, I KNOW. It seems like these cardboard boxes are made for the recycling bins. But pizza boxes are often tainted with food and grease. Many items are recycled using a heat and water process, which is not problem for plastic and glass. But throw some cardboard soaked in oil into the process, and you’ve got a messy muck. Terry Gellenbeck is a solid waste administrative analyst for the City of Phoenix. As he told Earth911, “The oil causes great problems for the quality of the paper, especially the binding of the fibers. It puts in contaminants, so when they do squeeze the water out, it has spots and holes.”
Wet Paper: Paper fibers that have been soaked are shorter. This makes them less valuable to paper recyclers, who won’t collect and mill them.
Plastic Bottle Caps: Plastic bottle caps are considered less valuable on the market, so most recyclers won’t take them. Make sure you separate them from your plastic bottles. Also, you can check Earth911 to find a facility near you that does accept plastic bottle caps.
Juice Boxes: Check to see if your juice box is specially-processed for recycling. If it isn’t, you have to throw it in the trash. The plastic coating on much of the cardboard renders them unsuitable for recycling.
Plastic Bags: When recycling bins are sorted manually, workers cannot open plastic bags to see what is inside. It isn’t cost-effective and could be dangerous. So they get trashed. (Note: don’t put your plastic bottles and more in plastic bags.) You can often take your plastic bags back to the store for recycling “” and consult Earth 911 again for places that will take them.
Styrofoam: Another one that kills me, because how many times do we get handed Styrofoam containers we don’t want? But Styrofoam is a petroleum product and, more importantly, highly flammable. It’s considered a danger to most recycling centers. Again, Earth 911 may provide locations that will take it from you.
Wire Hangers: Most recycling centers are not set up to handle wire. However, experts agree that your local dry cleaner may take them. Often, they reuse them or send them to a scrap metal dealer. Sure, they get the cash, but you get the knowledge you’re not sending wire hangers into the great abyss.
Paper Napkins or Towels: Again, food contamination often takes these paper products out of the running. Try to use wash clothes or handkerchiefs instead.
Ceramics: You would think that your old coffee mug would find a home in your recycling bin. Alas, they are not accepted at most recycling centers. Consider giving them a second life with a houseplant or in your garden.
Heavily-Dyed Paper: When paper is recycled, it is heat-treated. So if something is heavily dyed, it has the same outcome as a blue sock or red t-shirt thrown in with your whites in the washing machine. Consequently, a lot of paper mills won’t take the results. (Pastels are okay.) Life can still be colorful, just a bit toned down!
Via ecosalon
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Just Because...
All of us love to see animals in costumes. Some of these costumes are very cute. This collection was originally entitled, "My Owner Is An Idiot!" When you see some of the costumes, you will wonder if the original title wasn't very fitting. This collection was blatantly stolen from Buzz Inn.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Rare Sea Turtles Saved
An oiled Kemp's ridley turtle. Photo courtesy: wildlifeextra.com
More than two dozen rare sea turtles who were cold, hungry and lost were rescued over the US Thanksgiving holiday after having washed ashore on Cape Cod, a spokesman for the New England Aquarium said. The Kemp's ridley species of turtles are being treated at an animal care centre south of Boston for hypothermia, dehydration, and malnourishment, aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse said.
Via Reuters
More than two dozen rare sea turtles who were cold, hungry and lost were rescued over the US Thanksgiving holiday after having washed ashore on Cape Cod, a spokesman for the New England Aquarium said. The Kemp's ridley species of turtles are being treated at an animal care centre south of Boston for hypothermia, dehydration, and malnourishment, aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse said.
Via Reuters
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Bride and Best Man Save Life at Wedding
Sorry! Looked for a photo of the bride and best man; but, couldn't find any. So, the story will just have to do.
A bride and best man are being credited with saving the life of an Australian woman who fell off a boat.
The woman was on a boat near Adelaide, 700 km northwest of Melbourne, on Saturday afternoon when she fell overboard. A wedding party was having photographs taken nearby and the best man immediately jumped in the water and pulled the unconscious woman to the beach, the website Adelaidenow.co.au reported.
The bride, a nurse, then started CPR. Emergency crews arrived on scene shortly after and took her to the hospital.
Shane Daw of Surf Live Saving told the website the bride and best man saved the woman's life.
Via QMI Agency
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Did You Know That...
The McIntosh apple is named after a man named John McIntosh, who discovered the apple tree in 1811 when he was cutting brush on his land in Dundela, Ontario, Canada.
The famed Canadian hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, played minor hockey in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario, when he was a kid. His goal scoring ability back then foreshadowed his future brilliant career. When he was 11 years old, he scored 378 goals during the winter season.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Not Since 1879
19.2 lb. newborn next to ordinary baby. Photo courtesy: Baby Lifestyles
A baby born in North Sumatra, Indonesia, arrived in the world weighing a whopping 19.2 pounds. That is still 3.92 pounds short of the world record of that of a baby born in 1879 weighing 23.12 pounds. Dr. Binsar Sitanggang said the baby had to be delivered by caesarean section; but, he was so big even that was difficult. The 24.4-inch-long baby was the 41-year-old mother's fourth child. The newborn had a strong appetite from the beginning and had a very loud cry.
"He's extraordinary," says Sitanggang.
A baby born in North Sumatra, Indonesia, arrived in the world weighing a whopping 19.2 pounds. That is still 3.92 pounds short of the world record of that of a baby born in 1879 weighing 23.12 pounds. Dr. Binsar Sitanggang said the baby had to be delivered by caesarean section; but, he was so big even that was difficult. The 24.4-inch-long baby was the 41-year-old mother's fourth child. The newborn had a strong appetite from the beginning and had a very loud cry.
"He's extraordinary," says Sitanggang.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Quotable Quotes
"There wouldn't be a sky full of stars if we were all meant to wish on the same one."
- Frances Clark
"I am comforted by life's stability, by earth's unchangeableness. What has seemed new and frightening assumes its place in the unfolding of knowledge. It is good to know our universe. What is new is only new to us.
- Pearl S. Buck
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Did You Know That...
The game of lacrosse originated with Native tribes in North America. Games would involve hundreds of players on each side and could last for several days.
Several important items were invented by Canadians: the zipper, Pablum, the paint roller and the snowmobile.
A man known as "Jackrabbit" Johannsen was one of the first Canadians to get fit; and, stay fit, through the sport of cross-country skiing. He lived to be 112; and, his real name was Herman Smith-Johannsen.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Cell Phone Mayhem
Photo courtesy: cleantechnica.com
When you add your children to your cell phone plan, you better explain what they can and can't do with the privilege. Ed Estarija, of Hayward, California, found that out the hard way after his 13-year-old son downloaded about 1.4 million kilobytes of data in one month. That was something the family's plan with the cell phone company didn't cover; and, Estarija received a bill for $22,000. To his great relief, Estarija said that, after media coverage of his problem the company agreed to waive the bill. He quickly suspended his son's account.
When you add your children to your cell phone plan, you better explain what they can and can't do with the privilege. Ed Estarija, of Hayward, California, found that out the hard way after his 13-year-old son downloaded about 1.4 million kilobytes of data in one month. That was something the family's plan with the cell phone company didn't cover; and, Estarija received a bill for $22,000. To his great relief, Estarija said that, after media coverage of his problem the company agreed to waive the bill. He quickly suspended his son's account.
Friday, October 8, 2010
A Very Special Girl
Le Trung and Aiko. Photo courtesy: sodahead
Most guys wish they had that "special girl" in their lives. Le Trung, of Brampton, Ontario, has Aiko, who is a walking, talking "fembot" - a female robot. The inventor says his fembot recognizes faces, says "Hello", and helps him pick what he's going to have for dinner.
"And she likes getting new clothes, just like any woman," he says. He hopes he can find a company to help him fiance further work on fembots with an aim of making them a useful tool to assist the elderly and invalids.
Most guys wish they had that "special girl" in their lives. Le Trung, of Brampton, Ontario, has Aiko, who is a walking, talking "fembot" - a female robot. The inventor says his fembot recognizes faces, says "Hello", and helps him pick what he's going to have for dinner.
"And she likes getting new clothes, just like any woman," he says. He hopes he can find a company to help him fiance further work on fembots with an aim of making them a useful tool to assist the elderly and invalids.
Labels:
Aiko,
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fembot,
Le Trung
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Slipping on Tie-ups
Photo courtesy: lifehacker
Do you have people in your family that have trouble with laces - toddlers, seniors, arthritis sufferers? Do you trip over your laces; hate tying them up; or, seem to break more than your fair share of laces? Whatever your reason for wanting self-tying shoes, read on.
This project is so simple, I can't believe it. It's possible to change all the shoes in the house in one afternoon.
All you really need for this project is a bit of elastic tubing, whether it be inner tube, surgical tube, bungee cord, or anything else you can find. Take the laces out so they can be used as a template. The tubing should be the same length as the laces; and, either trimmed to fit through the holes or a tubing that will fit the holes without adjustment.
Lace up the shoes with the tubing. Have the person's foot in the shoe as you make adjustments to the tightness required of the laces. Once all is comfy, say good-bye to having to deal laces ever again.
Then, you just need to take your shoe laces out, tightly lace up your shoes with the tube, and your shoes will stretch to fit your feet—no tying or long annoying laces required. Hit the link to see a few more pictures and detailed instructions for this incredibly simple hack.
Do you have people in your family that have trouble with laces - toddlers, seniors, arthritis sufferers? Do you trip over your laces; hate tying them up; or, seem to break more than your fair share of laces? Whatever your reason for wanting self-tying shoes, read on.
This project is so simple, I can't believe it. It's possible to change all the shoes in the house in one afternoon.
All you really need for this project is a bit of elastic tubing, whether it be inner tube, surgical tube, bungee cord, or anything else you can find. Take the laces out so they can be used as a template. The tubing should be the same length as the laces; and, either trimmed to fit through the holes or a tubing that will fit the holes without adjustment.
Lace up the shoes with the tubing. Have the person's foot in the shoe as you make adjustments to the tightness required of the laces. Once all is comfy, say good-bye to having to deal laces ever again.
Then, you just need to take your shoe laces out, tightly lace up your shoes with the tube, and your shoes will stretch to fit your feet—no tying or long annoying laces required. Hit the link to see a few more pictures and detailed instructions for this incredibly simple hack.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Eating Healthier For Le$$
Photo courtesy: Rodale
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the price of food staples, including grains, beef, coffee, cocoa, and sugar, have risen sharply in recent months. And retailers like Safeway Inc. and Kroger are indicating that they’ll be passing their suppliers’ price increases on to their customers. That’s sobering news, since most of us are already trying hard to stick to—or even slash—our grocery budgets. And rising prices can make it tempting to grab the cheapest food on the supermarket shelf—or buy from a fast-food dollar menu—without considering the toll that low-quality food can take on our health.
But there are ways to eat healthy and still keep your grocery bill from reaching stratospheric heights. For tips on saving money while food shopping, we turned to Karen Ansel, MS, RD, an American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokesperson who specializes in family nutrition, food preparation, and meal planning. Read on for her expert advice:
#1: Think naked. When you buy those pre-seasoned rice, couscous, or pasta mixes, you pay dearly for those seasonings. Instead of buying boxed mixes, make your own by mixing dried spices with your favorite grains or pasta. Not only will you save money, but you'll also slash sodium.
#2: Go vegetarian. Go vegetarian. Protein foods like meat, chicken, or fish are the most expensive foods on your grocery list. Instead of building your meal around protein, try grain- or bean-based dishes: A recent study found that grains, beans, and nuts give you the healthiest bang for your buck. In the study, people who eat the healthiest diets actually spent less than other people, if they included those staples on their menu. Dry beans and whole grains cost literally pennies per serving, so they help you save big—plus they're packed with fiber, something that most of us don't get enough of. Not ready to give up meat? Try it a few times or meals per week.
#3: Buy in bulk. Stocking up with foods bought in bulk can save you as much as 96 percent, according to the Bulk Is Green Council. Plus, you avoid excess packaging. But to really make it work, you need to know how to store your food until you need it.
#4: Don't toss those veggies. Think those scraps of leftover veggies aren't worth saving? Think again. Instead of tossing little bits of leftover veggies, use them for soups, add them to a single serving of pasta, toss them into a salad, or use them to fill an omelet. In fact, you can save a surprising amount of money by being careful about not wasting food. (Learn how to compost what you don't eat, and you'll spend less on lawn and garden care, too.)
#5: Skip the fortified foods. When you buy fortified foods, you’re paying up for those added nutrients, but in most cases they aren't even necessary. Case in point: Omega-3 fortified foods have hardly any omega-3s compared to what you'd need in a day, so you're much better off spending your money on foods like canned salmon that are naturally rich in omega-3s. Stick with whole, unprocessed foods that are naturally loaded with nutrients.
For more ADA-approved advice on eating well in an affordable way, try these suggestions:
• Buy bagged frozen vegetables and fruit. Since you can take out what you need and freeze the rest, nothing goes to waste.
• When buying produce, choose items with a longer shelf life, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and carrots.
• Freeze any bread that you won’t be using right away.
• Shop at farmer's markets that offer local, organic food. Going at the end of the market day can pay off with good deals; try negotiating prices with the vendors.
Via Rodale
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the price of food staples, including grains, beef, coffee, cocoa, and sugar, have risen sharply in recent months. And retailers like Safeway Inc. and Kroger are indicating that they’ll be passing their suppliers’ price increases on to their customers. That’s sobering news, since most of us are already trying hard to stick to—or even slash—our grocery budgets. And rising prices can make it tempting to grab the cheapest food on the supermarket shelf—or buy from a fast-food dollar menu—without considering the toll that low-quality food can take on our health.
But there are ways to eat healthy and still keep your grocery bill from reaching stratospheric heights. For tips on saving money while food shopping, we turned to Karen Ansel, MS, RD, an American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokesperson who specializes in family nutrition, food preparation, and meal planning. Read on for her expert advice:
#1: Think naked. When you buy those pre-seasoned rice, couscous, or pasta mixes, you pay dearly for those seasonings. Instead of buying boxed mixes, make your own by mixing dried spices with your favorite grains or pasta. Not only will you save money, but you'll also slash sodium.
#2: Go vegetarian. Go vegetarian. Protein foods like meat, chicken, or fish are the most expensive foods on your grocery list. Instead of building your meal around protein, try grain- or bean-based dishes: A recent study found that grains, beans, and nuts give you the healthiest bang for your buck. In the study, people who eat the healthiest diets actually spent less than other people, if they included those staples on their menu. Dry beans and whole grains cost literally pennies per serving, so they help you save big—plus they're packed with fiber, something that most of us don't get enough of. Not ready to give up meat? Try it a few times or meals per week.
#3: Buy in bulk. Stocking up with foods bought in bulk can save you as much as 96 percent, according to the Bulk Is Green Council. Plus, you avoid excess packaging. But to really make it work, you need to know how to store your food until you need it.
#4: Don't toss those veggies. Think those scraps of leftover veggies aren't worth saving? Think again. Instead of tossing little bits of leftover veggies, use them for soups, add them to a single serving of pasta, toss them into a salad, or use them to fill an omelet. In fact, you can save a surprising amount of money by being careful about not wasting food. (Learn how to compost what you don't eat, and you'll spend less on lawn and garden care, too.)
#5: Skip the fortified foods. When you buy fortified foods, you’re paying up for those added nutrients, but in most cases they aren't even necessary. Case in point: Omega-3 fortified foods have hardly any omega-3s compared to what you'd need in a day, so you're much better off spending your money on foods like canned salmon that are naturally rich in omega-3s. Stick with whole, unprocessed foods that are naturally loaded with nutrients.
For more ADA-approved advice on eating well in an affordable way, try these suggestions:
• Buy bagged frozen vegetables and fruit. Since you can take out what you need and freeze the rest, nothing goes to waste.
• When buying produce, choose items with a longer shelf life, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and carrots.
• Freeze any bread that you won’t be using right away.
• Shop at farmer's markets that offer local, organic food. Going at the end of the market day can pay off with good deals; try negotiating prices with the vendors.
Via Rodale
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