Listicles

The listicle (not to be confused with icicle or testicle) is my new word (new to me mostly) for the end of this year, or at least very close to the end. The listicle is a short-form of writing that uses a list as its thematic structure (aka list format articles) and I have actually written quite a few in this blog, unbeknownst to me at the actual time of writing. The truth is that I really like lists and I make them all the time for all kinds of purposes. I make grocery lists. I have a life list of every type of bird I've ever seen including where and when I spotted them. I make lots of lists about crocheted hats, the kinds I sell the most of and the hats people have ordered and I still need to make. I make lists of hats I’ve shipped with the dates and destinations. When I get ready to travel I make a list of things that I need to pack so I don’t forget the important stuff. Listicles are a little more than just a list however. Each item listed in a listicle comes with a brief description or summary, and although these don’t go in depth there is enough information for the reader to decide whether or not they want or need to know more, and of course with all the search engines out there the reader can. From 10 rookie mistakes to avoid at the gym to the 10 best island getaways for 2015, listicles abound. I figure I’ll keep reading and writing many more of them in 2015. 

Good Night Bedbugs!

Good night, sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite, is something I've

 said countless times to my kids and grandkids at bedtime often followed by their response, if they do we’ll bite ‘em back! Well it appears that there’s a promising new trap coming soon to the market that may help us say a final good night to bedbugs! A team of biologists have finally found out what combination of pheromones to use to lure bedbugs into a trap before they take to your bed and their favorite late night snack, you! It took two years for the team to find the molecule histamine that attracts bedbugs to human skin and keeps them there due to a composition that sends them a signal of safe haven. This histamine combined with two other compounds from previous research was used to create the concoction that works in the bait and switch traps soon coming to market (commercially available as soon as next year, which last I looked is only a few days away!) Too bad, so sad bedbugs, I won’t be singing your national anthem anymore (to the tune of our national anthem), Oh say can you see, any bedbugs on me. If you do, take a few, cuz I saved them just for you! Happy New Year and many better nights of sleep to everyone else!

Potato Extracts

My husband played the word potato for 31 points in our ongoing game of Words with Friends today. My older daughter ate the last of the hash brown potato casserole today. I read about the difference between yams and sweet potatoes in the latest edition of Hobby Farms magazine too. All this (and I’m swearing off French fries for New Year’s) is nudging me to blog about potato extracts. A daily dose of potato extract (derived from 30 potatoes -yes, 30- that’s a lot of spuds!) could be a solution for preventing both obesity and type 2 diabetes. The testing that arrived at the aforementioned conclusion was done on mice. In fact investigators fed mice an obesity-inducing diet for 10 weeks. The results soon appeared on the scale: mice that started out weighing on average 25 grams put on about 16 grams. But mice that consumed the same diet but with a potato extract gained much less weight: only 7 more grams. The culprits (or obesity fighting heroes) in the potato extract are polyphenols. Polyphenols are also found in other so-called super foods (fruits, like blueberries, and vegetables) that we eat. Despite the fact that potatoes are cheap to produce, and already part of the basic diet in many countries, it takes an awful lot of potatoes for each suggested dose of potato extract. Nevertheless if the trials are eventually designed for humans, I will be interested to find out if the extract works to prevent obesity and diabetes. Maybe now I’ll be able to put potatoes out of my mind. 

Tis the Season for Random Acts of Kindness

Originally I planned to sum up my progress on my pledge to perform random acts of kindness at the actual end of this year, but this is the season of giving so I figure it fits. The nice thing about random acts of kindness is that they don’t have to cost much if anything at all. In 2013 I pledged to do a bunch and fell way short of my goal. Despite that (and embarrassed by it too) I decided that I would do better for 2014 and I have. I surpassed my goal and I learned that giving is its own reward. Performing small random acts of kindness has been my way of making a positive impact (however small) on my world. I haven’t made much of a dent in the big problems I read about in the news everyday but I don’t doubt that the small differences I make, like tiny ripples in a puddle that keep moving forward, might join with others to impact the future in a positive way. Being on the receiving end of a random act of kindness is pretty nice too. I can say this because I have been there too. I haven’t got any proof that any random act of kindness performed by me has ever been paid forward but that doesn't matter because random acts of kindness are given without conditions. I invite you to try performing a random act yourself. Hold a door open for someone, leave some change in for a cause at the dollar store or even just a penny for the person in line that might be a penny short, share a meal with a senior, or volunteer somewhere. You’ll be glad you did. As for 2015, I pledge to be mindful and keep my eyes and heart open to opportunities for performing random acts of kindness and in that way do my part in making 2015 a happier new year.

Why did the chicken wake up on the wrong side of the fence?

This is like the age old question about chickens crossing the road. And as I figure chickens really do cross the road for reasons unbeknownst to me, I may as well relate how my very own Extra Crispy woke up one morning on the wrong side of the fence and found herself unhappily separated from her flock-mates, Original Recipe and Peaches. My worry about her becoming a snack for the neighbors pit pooch (a good reason for the fence in the first place) or an owl (we have great horned ones roosting nearby too) was immediate when I went out at the crack of dawn I did my usual chicken count (yes, after they've hatched) and noticed her absence right away. Fortunately I did not discover a pile of feathered remains as Original Recipe and Peaches pointed the way, since birds of a feather do actually flock together (even when separated by a chicken wire fence) and I spotted the girl that flew the proverbial coop and landed on the wrong side of the fence right where my rabbit hutch abuts. Under the hutch huddled two concerned hens clucking out loud about their sister’s predicament and poor Extra Crispy clucking right along, seemingly oblivious. So with a handful of chicken feed and my own sister to run interference I ventured into the neighbor’s back yard. The pit pooch never made an appearance (but he gets along with my dog, Fred, so even if he had I was hopeful and prepared with a dog biscuit in my pocket anyway) and that was a good thing. Extra Crispy was an easy catch and quickly returned to the right side of the fence where she has happily awakened every day since.

Phytoceramide Advanced!

This was the title of the latest junk email I deleted, but then I got to thinking about it. How did the makers advancing this product know how wrinkly and aged I am? They claim this is better than Botox which I have never used so there can be no hacked record of that. Of course it could be a plot by the North Korean hackers but it seems even more than their Sony Pictures hack, pretty far fetched. Then I heard on the radio Maroon 5’s song, Animals, especially the part in the lyrics that goes…Maybe you think that you can hide-I smell phytoceramide-just like animals, animals…at least I think that’s how it goes. Now I’m having trouble getting that earworm out of my wrinkled old head and I’m wondering who changed the station from the oldies too. I think it’s time for phytoceramide to retreat! I’m glad I deleted that email and I’m planning on staying away from daytime Dr. Oz and his infomercials too!

Hot Honey

Hot Honey is apparently a new thing and all the latest buzz in culinary circles. Some are even calling it the new sriracha. And you may have been thinking I am referring to my husband (he says hope springs eternal) but in this case I am not. This hot honey is created by bees. I tasted it this weekend at the St. Marys Community Market and I think our local honey man Dan is on to something wonderful. He used ghost peppers to bring the heat to his local honey and that heat sneaks right up on you after you taste the sweet. I tried drizzling some Dan’s hot honey on a peanut butter and apple sandwich and boy did it liven my lunch up. I also put it on cornbread fresh from the oven and it was the perfect compliment. I can only imagine how delicious hot honey will taste on wings, at least until I make my next foray to the commissary for some chicken. In the meantime if you find you like to add a little sweet hot zing to your menu like I do, I recommend you try some of Dan’s Hot Honey. 

Low Hanging Fruit

When I think of low hanging fruit, especially around this time of year right in my own neighborhood, you may have guessed it, I think of citrus. Orange is not only my favorite color, it’s also the color of the fruit that’s ripening in yards all around town. The last couple of cold snaps we've

 had just makes this local low hanging fruit even sweeter. I find it the perfect complement to an early morning walk.

Now for the other low hanging fruit that I read about on the news. Apparently because actual low hanging fruit (on actual trees) is more easily obtained by children and the vertically challenged (myself included) the phrase low hanging fruit has become synonymous with targets or goals which are easily achievable and which do not require a lot of effort. In the news a Republican was accused of going after low hanging fruit when she tweeted off some negative comments regarding our President’s daughters and their dress and demeanor during the annual pardoning of the turkeys during the recent Thanksgiving holidays. This rather than taking on higher hanging fruit like the President’s policy on immigration, Obamacare, or even the President himself fits better with the more recent definitions of the phrase low hanging fruit.

I guess ironically enough in an offbeat kind of way, I have finally found some common ground with Republicans via low hanging fruit.   

To Pee or Not to Pee! (for many that is the question)

I’ll admit that after reading about the women of India’s plight, I couldn't get the modified version of the Beastie Boys’ song out of my head…We gotta fight, for the right, to POTTY! The problem facing women in India, included in the 2.6 billion others in the same situation, is a lack of toilets. That’s it, 2.6 billion people on our planet don’t have a pot to…well you can finish that thought. Public urination for men isn't a big deal in India, apparently the men just face a wall, tree, or shrub and let go with the flow. For women needing to find a place to go is more complicated. So women have to hold it and may only find relief twice a day. As a former educator, I considered myself an expert at holding it but in some places (in India especially) the schools have no facilities at all and to add insult to injury, the public toilets for women are pay toilets. According to the men running these facilities, the women use more water since the men’s urinals don’t flush and the women’s potties do. So therefore women have to pay and more often than not the toilets are not sanitary and the women are forced to face rats, filth, and sometimes rapists. The last pay toilet I came across was at Harrod’s in London (cost in 1999-one pound) and it was nothing like the toilets in Mumbai, where there are 3,536 public restrooms that women share with men, and not one women’s-only facility. In a typical Mumbai slum, there might be six bathrooms for 8,000 women. Sometimes those bathrooms have collapsed, have dogs or rats living in them, or simply have no water. Next time I find myself digging through my purse for a tissue because I've inadvertently entered a stall with no TP, I am going to reconsider even considering a complaint. 

Google Spoon

I thought Google Glasses were pretty cool and innovative though I've never seen anyone actually wearing or using them. Now Google, via Liftware by Lift Labs, a start-up bought out by and funded by Google, actually, has come up with a spoon that senses how a hand is shaking and makes instant adjustments to stay balanced. The technology uses hundreds of algorithms to allow people with essential tremors and Parkinson's disease to eat without spilling. These spoons are helping these folks improve the quality of their lives by allowing them to self-feed. This may seem like a simple thing to some but in the big picture of movement disorders it is a pretty big thing. It isn't a cure, but rather an adaptive strategy for making something as simple as feeding one’s self, a skill many of us without essential tremors and Parkinson's disease take for granted, possible. The special spoons can be purchased for $295 but for the person regains their eating independence they are priceless.  

Balloons-Do they burst when filled with helium and released?

This is the question I pondered today as I and about a dozen friends watched balloons we’d released (biodegradable ones, I didn’t want to choke any sea turtles or dolphins) with notes attached for a dear friend that recently passed away. I overheard someone saying that when the balloons reach a certain altitude they burst and I was skeptical, skeptical enough to look it up. This is what I found. As the balloon rises, the air in the atmosphere gets thinner. At some point in altitude probably around 28,000 feet, the air pressure inside the balloon becomes greater than the air pressure outside the balloon. When that happens the balloon does go POP! Wind currents can play a part as well and may have since it was a rather blustery, nor’easter-y kind of day today. Cold air can cause the balloon to become stiff sooner than its maximum stretching point and hence burst earlier too. We watched our notes fly high and away against the steely gray of the cloudy skies today until they were specks too small to distinguish from the floaters in my old eyes and definitely too small to tell whether or not they burst. Regardless, I have faith that the thoughts we carefully penned and attached to our balloons found their destination, a place with Green Grass and High Tides forever.

Sushi Surrogates!

Save the Sushi was my original title for this blog post but I didn’t want to mislead anyone into thinking it was about how to store left overs. Sushi’s source is actually the rosy, fatty "chu-toro" from the upper part of the bluefin tuna’s belly. The bluefin tuna is a fish that in the Pacific appears on the red list, meaning threatened with extinction. In the Atlantic the number of bluefin has been recovering rather than declining but still has quotas attached to prevent overfishing. Researchers in Japan, where 60 to 80% of all bluefin tuna are consumed largely in sushi, are attempting to use mackerel as surrogates for bluefin that could be farmed or even released since these bluefin would not be genetically modified. They are stressing that this is not genetic modification and have already succeeded in using surrogate technology to produce tiger puffer fish, the poisonous "fugu" used in sashimi and hotpot, using smaller grass puffer fish. They've also produced trout spawned by salmon, and companies that import rare and tropical fish also are interested in their technology. They do this by extracting reproductive stem cells from the discarded guts of tuna shipped by cold delivery from fish farms and inserting them into mackerel fry so tiny they are barely visible. Under the right conditions, the tuna stem cells migrate into the ovaries and testes of the mackerel, and the mackerel, the researchers hope, when mature, will spawn tuna. So sushi lovers, commercial fishermen, and conservationists take heart. Maybe we can all find common ground with this new technology.

Ways to Add Years to Your Life

Did you know the average lifespan for us is 78.7 years? This blogger will reach that number in about fifteen years. Recently our family lost a good friend who was even further away from that number than me, twenty years short of the average lifespan. I wonder why we sometimes wait until we lose someone to consider our own mortality. These are a couple of reasons why I decided to click on an article about ways to add years to my life. Some of these ways were a surprise to me, like the fact that running 5 to 10 minutes each day even slowly (rather than the mileage goals I set for myself) makes a big difference by reducing the risk of death from heart disease. Others were things I already knew about (adopting a furry four legged companion or getting good sleep) and even better already do, like starting my day off with coffee. Happiness matters too so maybe watching funny You Tube videos isn't a total mismanagement of my time, along with snacking on nuts or enjoying a sip of wine (light alcohol consumption). These are not just okay but good for me. I also found a few areas that I can definitely improve on, including sitting (in front of this computer) less and flossing more. I guess my point this time might be to commit to not taking life (and health) for granted. This life can be fleeting, so take time to appreciate it and take purposeful steps to develop habits that can add years to yours. I am. 

Selling Hats on a Cold Day in GA

So I don’t think today was cold because of any polar vortex. We just had you run of the mill November nor'easter with wind, no rain. It was just plainly cold outside and you might figure that would make it a banner day for selling crocheted hats. It wasn't. Maybe it was because of the few that braved the cold to come out to the Community Market, most were already dressed for it including hats. There were a couple of guys in shorts and more than a few folks still out and about in flip flops, but no one seemed anxious to stay for any length of time up on the pavilion. In the summer the vendors up there (me included) welcome the breeze off the river and invite shoppers and browsers up into nature’s ‘air conditioning’ but the shoppers weren't having any of that today. Instead everyone was on speed browse and out of there quick, heading back toward the sunny side of the street. It would have been a good day to turn the A/C off but Mother Nature wasn't having any of that either! The A/C has been off in my house for a few weeks and even though I haven’t turned the heater on in the house, I have pulled out all the quilts and a couple of blankets. And today I didn’t sell a single hat…but there’s always next weekend.

Back on the Road

Instead of packing up this computer, as I should be since I have everything else packed and ready to go, I am sitting here typing out a few parting thoughts before I get on my way back to the states. I've been here in the Bahamas, specifically on AUTEC, for a whirlwind of a week. The timing of this trip was planned essentially for the annual craft fair and I made hats, sold hats, took orders, and made and delivered more hats. Yes, even in the Caribbean a hat can be a welcome accessory. I lost a good friend in the states while I was away and somehow I have a long history of being out of the country when someone dear to me passes away, but that seemingly strange phenomenon might be for another blog. I took a header onto concrete while out running and the resulting major black eye has definitely been getting some looks. I've probably not been such major topic of island scuttlebutt since I wore my Dick’s Wings T-shirt to bingo a while back. But back to topic, the day I am mulling over is already in the past but has been sticking in my mind nevertheless, Veteran’s Day. I read so many tributes and messages of thanks to our veterans and serving military on social media and TV, some reminding me that we could thank our heroes every day, but we choose especially honor them on Veteran’s Day. Here on the island there was no ceremony this Veteran’s Day, like there has been in the past. I did hear many greetings that included Happy Veteran’s Day and my veteran had the day off from work which we happily spent together. But the lack of even a short moment of recognition by the people that run the show here, the Navy and the PAE contractor, cast a cloud over my day. I remain grateful (to the folks here also that may have felt left out) that I am still afforded freedoms won and maintained by so many men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to serve our country and preserve our freedom. 

Cat + Café = Catfe

Yep, you are reading this equation correctly and for cat lovers this may be the happiest math equation yet. Catfes originated in Taiwan where cats from the streets are allowed to wander in and out, were elevated to chic in Japan like at the Calico Cat Café in Tokyo, spread to Europe to include the Katzencafe in Berlin and La Gatoteca in Madrid, and have finally crossed the Pacific. The first permanent catfe in the USA, Cat Town Cafe is located in Oakland, California.

The rationales for catfes are numerous. In Tokyo it's hard to keep pets because the apartments are so small. So new arrivals to the city, that used to keep cats, and now can't, can find their way to the cat cafe for cat therapy. This works for cat lovers with family members that have cat allergies, pet prohibitive lease agreements, or just plainly hate cleaning out the litter box, yet love a nice cup of coffee or tea time with the relaxing purr of a friendly feline.

I’m writing this blog with my sister in mind because she is truly a “cat lady” who has rescued and neutered many a cat. Combining the catfe concept with cat rescue and adoption would be right up her alley, speaking figuratively, of course, especially if the coffee sales would cover the cost of cat food. Would you frequent a catfe? 

Salt Poisoning

As much of a health kick as I've been on you might guess I’d be blogging about how bad salt is for our bodies and blood pressure, but I’m not! The salt poisoning I’m referring to here is happening to farmland all over the world every day. It happens where farmland is irrigated (which is lots of farmland) and to recognize it I think about any houseplant I've killed in the past. Over time salt from the watering builds up and leaves a white crust on top of the soil in the pot. Yep, by that time the plant is usually dead or well on its way because this salt crust is toxic to plants. Think of this same salt crust extending over the planet’s agricultural fields and you have a better idea of the extent of this problem. A report, Economics of Salt-Induced Land Degradation and Restoration, puts the annual economic cost of lost crop production due to salt at $27.3 billion and the problem is compounded when you consider world demand for food is set to increase by 2/3s by mid-century. Land can be rehabilitated, flushed, and even more importantly protected. That’s what needs to happen.

Chocolate Does Make the Memories Sweeter

Flavanols found in cocoa beans (Yes! Chocolate!) and other foods do provide a boost for older people’s memories. The test, at Columbia University, was first done with rodents and deemed successful. Next came the human trials. Nineteen volunteers, aged 50 to 69 drank 900 milligrams of cocoa flavanols in water or milk every day for three months. The control group drank ten milligrams for the same time period. Before and after memory tests were conducted using abstract shapes for shape recognition because recognition times are known to lengthen by 220 milliseconds per decade. The high flavanol group reacted on average as though they were three decades younger. For me that would put me in my thirties. Maybe then I could remember where I put my car keys, or cell phone, or ear buds, you get the picture. But the really big bonus would be the chocolate (picture me smiling at the thought). Of course there is a catch, the number of chocolate bars it would take to add up to 900 milligrams of flavanols each day is (I am sad to say) health prohibitive. Oh well, a girl can dream…and hopefully find her ear buds eventually too. 

Tobacco Free Town

Westminster, Mass., population 7,700, might become the first (as far as anyone knows) tobacco free town. On Wednesday the local Board of Health will hear public comment on a proposed regulation that could make them the first municipality in the United States to ban sales of all tobacco products within town lines. The U.S. Surgeon General has already said that if tobacco use continues unabated, 5.6 million American children who are younger than 18 today will die prematurely because of smoking and this town is poised to start the change that ends that statistic right now. A local convenience store owner for whom 5% of his sales are tobacco products is against the tobacco ban and is being backed by the New England Convenience Store Association. He has a petition with 800 signatures against the proposed ban. David Sutton, a spokesman for Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Inc., owner of the nation's biggest cigarette maker, Philip Morris USA, called the proposal a "bad policy" that will harm local employers, no surprise there. But what if what might harm local businesses in the short term helps children in the longer run. It will be interesting to see how this proposal ends up.

Craft Fair Fun in the Sunny Bahamas

Lots of baskets, pottery, carved wood statues, and a few crocheted hats too, changed hands today at the annual fall craft fair at AUTEC on Andros. I had a table in a sunny spot on the lawn so it was a good thing my chair had its own attached umbrella. When in doubt, bring your own shade. It was nice seeing folks that had bought hats from me at last year’s fair and even nicer when they wanted another hat this year. I also had fun teaching some future crocheters the basics. My pupils were a pair of eight year old girls and another that was thirteen. As quickly as the older girl caught on, I figure I’ll have some good crocheted hat competition at next year’s fair. I also made friends with their grandmother, the basket seller at the table beside mine. My favorite bus driver’s wife was at the fair too and we perused some You Tube videos on making wire wrapped rings and such. All in all it was a profitable day for me at the craft fair and it was especially nice to see friends and make new friends too. 

Medical Device Forensics or How to Foil the Perfect Murder

If your pacemaker or defibrillator, two wirelessly operated medical implants should be tampered with to cause your demise, might you be considered hacked to death? Although there has never been a proven instance of what would obviously be the perfect murder, it is possible because these devices have no safeguards against hacking and are vulnerable to just such a scenario. I’m not talking about something out of a Stephen King novel, here either, it could happen and cyber-hacking of medical devices with intent to harm is enough of a credible threat to have come under the scrutiny of the government. The good thing is that the medical device manufacturers are now working hard behind the scenes to stop this possibility from happening. This includes creating changes in the software on new devices that in a post mortem, will automatically look at the logs to see if the device carried out a series of actions that suggest a lethal attack. The existing devices will need some kind of software patch to accomplish the same thing. The thing to note here (to me anyway) seems to be that making the devices unhackable doesn't appear to be an option but at least one can feel better assured knowing that forensic medicine specialists, working with their colleagues in digital security, are working on software that would prove a lethal implant hack has been carried out and foil the perfect murder.

A Site for Sore Eyes
My husband returned for a week and although I like to believe it’s because he wants to be with me (which he assures me he does), there is also business to take care of as well. In this case, he had developed a cataract and in his job on the island, vision is a principle asset. Fortunately for us, Seaside Ophthalmology is relatively close by in Brunswick, Georgia with a satellite office in Kingsland. We've had the opportunity to use them before and know from the experience they are the “go to” ophthalmologists. In case you didn’t know, a cataract is formed by proteins bonding on the lens of your eye. In my husband’s case, it caused him to feel like he was looking through frosted glass and if left alone will continue to get progressively worse. An ophthalmologist, unlike an optometrist which most people refer to as an “eye doctor”, deals with the health and diseases of the eye. Dr. Angela Scott, our ophthalmologist, performs cataract surgery and replaces the frosted lens with a new clear lens; restoring vision to the affected eye. The whole operation took less than an hour; not because it was easy but because Dr. Scott and her staff are very proficient, efficient, and organized. No pun intended but they have the whole operation down to a science. Her clinic has two facilities, one for examination and one for surgical procedures including a pre-op/post-op area and an operation theater that has state of the art equipment. I had taken a bag full of  “to do” crochet projects but only got one done and they were calling me to drive my husband home. Although I’ll be keeping an eye on him, I’m confident that thanks to Dr. Scott and Seaside Ophthalmology, my husband will be confidently saying, “Here’s looking at you, Sweetheart!”

Old Navy and a Sailor’s Submarine

In this post Old Navy refers to my husband (retired, not the retail store) and the Sailor is his potcake pup. Both are visiting the states this week and for Sailor this has been a week of firsts, her first time flying, her first time eating a burger from McDonald's, her first time seeing a submarine (the sail of the George Bancroft at least), her first time seeing a squirrel (she stood on the back of the loveseat and then tried scratching the window to get at the squirrel). It’s also been the first time Sailor’s been up close and personal with chickens and to her credit she didn’t chase them. She walked after them, not stalked, and never got close enough to sniff them. She was indifferent to our rabbit and he was indifferent to her. It’s been Sailor’s first time in a house with more than two rooms and she’s tried to push open or scratch open every door. She has eaten one red fuzzy slipper and plain old dry dog food. She has chased and terrorized my two cats, climbed on all of the furniture, and even stood on the recliner so she could see herself in the living room mirror. I wonder if she’ll tell her buddy Eddie about all the fun she’s had or just that she had a ‘ruff’ time on the flight to and from the states when she gets back home on the island.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia nervosa is not an official eating disorder, and by that I mean it isn’t yet included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V, the standard reference manual for psychiatry, but many health experts believe it should be categorized as one. Orthorexia nervosa is characterized by an unhealthy fixation on healthy eating. Folks with it abstain to the point of obsession from artificial colors flavors or preservatives; pesticides or genetic modifications, fat, salt, sugar, animal or dairy products, gluten, or any other ingredient considered unhealthy. This kind of obsession can lead to nutritional shortfalls, social isolation and sometimes depression. Of course not everyone who tries to eat a healthy, clean diet will develop orthorexia nervosa but because of societal messages about perfectionism there are more incidences of this kind of problem. Eating disorders may start off as benign healthy eating patterns that progressively become more restrictive, rigid, and problematic but positive things (like eating healthy) can flip into negative disorders.

So after reading all this, and reflecting on my most recent doctor visit I get why the concern with how easy it might be to go over the edge on clean eating. I have really been working toward clean eating for almost a year now but I won’t turn my nose up at an occasional piece of birthday cake. Basically I am probably not a likely candidate for orthorexia nervosa. I’m also not addicted to exercise and I don’t know what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V, the standard reference manual for psychiatry term for that is either.

Georgia Potcake Dawg!

Nope, this is not a recipe this time, the so called Georgia potcake I am referring to here is none other than my husband’s very own Royal Bahamian Potcake named Sailor who along with her master is visiting GA. Potcakes get their name from the left over peas and rice caked in the bottom of the pot and thrown away only to be scavenged by the island’s feral dogs. Sailor was born on Andros Island, Bahamas, but she is feral no more. This week she’s having fun being a Georgia Dawg. Along with getting along with her new pack mate Fred and a meet and greet with Sarah, Sailor got her first visit to a dog park, the Tommy Casey Memorial Dog Park in St. Marys. She spent a lot of time reading the pee-mail and running free. She also got a chance to check out Crooked River State Park, specifically the Semper Virens trail that she might’ve enjoyed more if she wasn't always in such a hurry to keep up with her pal, Fred. The weather was perfect for dog walking but this morning’s crisp fall air is an even bigger change. The sound of the wind in the pine trees, yes, it is blustery here too, woke her early and like all pups the chill in the air calls for a little extra friskiness. The last hurdle for her here will be coming to terms with my two cats. So far she is interested and they are not. We’re also looking forward to watching the annual Georgia-Florida game later with a nice cup of hot chocolate. Go Dawgs!

Turn It Up! (Innovative iPhone Amplifiers)

His

Hers

Funny thing how people separated by great distances sometimes stumble upon similar ideas. My husband, who is always on the lookout for interesting blog ideas found this cool way to turn up the volume when you play your favorite jam on your iPhone. Lately I have been enjoying Weird Al’s Mandatory Fun on mine but regardless of your taste in music this trumpet iPhone amplifier is pretty classy and uses no electricity either. These devices, like the one pictured here, are made from salvaged trumpets and other brass instruments, with assorted machine parts and they’re designed to amplify and direct the music (or other sounds) played through your iPhone and iPad. Here is a similar idea I found. Using a paint roller cover and 2 plastic cups from your local Dollar Tree you can make a cheap iPhone amplifier. The how-to you tube video I watched was in Spanish but it needed no translation since the concept is pretty simple. Yep, so back to the like minds (or as we sometimes say-great minds) coming up with similar ideas at the same time, well we may have like minds but we are miles apart!

 

Street Harassment

After becoming the million and one-th viewer of Hollaback!’s, the nonprofit dedicated to ending street harassment, you tube video currently trending and then reading some of the comments I decided I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add my point of view, two cents, or what have you. This post comes on the heels of my last post about Fat Girl Costumes, no less. The women in the video who spent 10 hours walking the streets of New York is just a regular sized girl wearing regular clothes, nothing ‘provocative’ and she doesn't acknowledge any of the attention she receives as she follows her videographer who is wearing a hidden Go Pro video camera needless to say, unbeknownst to the rest of the world and specifically the girl’s street harassers. The girl is the recipient of more than 100 harassments which include catcalls, verbalized comments, and several short stalking periods but not all are shown in the video. None of the comments were simple good mornings or good evenings. That’s a quick summary in case you aren’t one of the more than one million and one viewers and might have missed this on social media or the Today Show or wherever this is being shown. The comments I read were quite interesting and point up to me the difference in how men and women basically view the subject of street harassment. Several commenters state that what Hollaback! labels as street harassment are simply compliments but I tend to agree with one of the Hollaback! founders, who says (and I am paraphrasing here) that hearing comments about your body every five minutes makes you change the way you walk down the street, because women are often not hearing these ‘compliments’ the way the complimentors may be intending them. I wave and say good morning to everyone I cross paths with on my walks and bike soirees around my small town of St. Marys, GA and I feel pretty sure that any words of encouragement I pass on to other joggers and walkers don’t fall into the street harassment category. As you may also guess, I am not a recipient of street harassment either.

Fat Girl Costumes at Walmart

Here is another reason I just plainly cannot stand Walmart. On their website yesterday they advertised a fat girl costumes category for Halloween. With the actual photos of the costumes the labels used the more PC term, plus sized. But seriously, who wants to be a fat female vampire for 30 bucks or a fat diva or witch for $50. For that matter who would want to dress up as an emaciated any of the above? Not to mention did you notice the prices for these costumes are seriously outrageous too? Then there is the whole issue of body image. The emphasis on this and photo shopped images through various advertising venues, billboards, and all kinds of TV and electronic media is tough enough on young girls and even old girls (like me) these days. The truth is there is a lot of variety in the sizes and shapes of the human body, and that is how it is supposed to be. Ever consider that perhaps your imperfection is perfection for you? Regardless, I am not going to Walmart on line or in person for any kind of costume ever. This latest stuff even though it was quickly removed from the website cinched it for me. I’d rather save my money and dress up as Robin William’s Mrs. Doubtfire or Martin Lawrence’s Big Mama with clothes out of my own closet! 

Volcanoes, Hawaii, and the Moon

What do Hawaii and the moon have in common? The answer is volcanic activity.

Right now in Hawaii, Mount Kilauea is sending lava in a different than usual direction (the opposite of where it was flowing when I last visited the big island), toward Pahoa village, a historic former sugar plantation consisting of small shops and homes with a population of about 800 people, a populated area that may soon need to be evacuated. The leading edge of the flow is about 110 yards wide and spreading, and is only 100 yards from the nearest residential property there. Walking out on the lava field as tourists was fun when my husband and I were there a few years ago but having lava creeping toward my home would be another story.

The moon, a place I have yet to visit, and our planet’s natural satellite, isn't just a dead rock orbiting us out in space. It may still have some fire at its core. Dozens of small rocky formations spotted by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter were laid down by lava more recently than researchers originally believed, as recently as only ten million years ago. These rock formations suggest that as far as volcanic activity goes, the moon is not yet dead.

Non Scale Health Victories

So I am continuing to work on improving my health and fitness level and I came across an interesting article about alternative ways to assess health, alternatives to using my nemesis, the scale. Even though there is a big emphasis on obesity which of course is measured in pounds these days, there is more to being healthy than just your weight. There’s more than one way to measure success. It's not just a number on the scale. Here are some things that say more about your health than the scale, sleep, movement, social interaction, and the mirror. Think about the amount of sleep you get, 7 good hours each night is what you need. Then consider whether or not you sit for prolonged periods. If you do you need to move more. Think of social interaction as the opposite of loneliness. Research shows that loneliness leads to unhealthy habits like drinking and overeating. Social interaction has been found to be a stress reducer too. And lastly, the mirror, it matters because you can use it to see how your body weight is distributed and whether you have lean muscle or too much fat. If it is hard to look at yourself honestly in the mirror then snap a selfie or better yet a belfie (a photo of your own belly) with your phone and don’t send the photo to the trash can. Use it for motivation. It won’t change until you do. Let how your clothes fit and feel help you realize the positive impacts of exercise and healthy eating on your body. I’m going to drop a towel over my scale and work focusing on other ways to measure my health and fitness. 

Muscle Metabolics

Yes, I have been on a health kick lately, but here is something I didn’t know about muscles. Your body’s muscle is a huge metabolic organ. What? I thought muscle was what moves my body parts, (and gets sore when I exercise), and it does, but muscle’s role in our health is so much more than that. Muscle consumes glucose so if there isn't enough muscle to use up the glucose, diabetes here we come. Muscle is also the only place in our bodies where we store amino acids, the building blocks of protein. When someone without enough muscle falls ill there isn't enough in reserve to call on in order to help them get well.

Muscle is especially important as we age since we tend to lose muscle mass with age. As muscle strength in the elderly decreases the odds of falling and breaking a hip goes up. A study in the UK showed that one in every three folks that fracture their hip dies in the next 12 months. The double whammy is that person with the broken hip who was losing muscle mass due to aging probably loses even more muscle due to being bedridden for several weeks after their fall. It’s a vicious circle of circumstance and all the more reason for people in my age group to should work to and maintain good muscle health. I had been told by my doctor how important doing weight bearing exercise is for my bones but now I realize it matters to my muscles too. This is all the more reason to consider adding some kind of (light) weight training to my weekly exercise routine.

Every Dog Has Its Day

Every dog has its day usually means everyone has a chance to be successful during some period in their life. I agree with this sentiment but am taking a more literal approach to this idiom by mentioning the dogs that recently took down the latest White House fence jumper. Hurricane and Jordan, two Secret Service Belgian Malinois dogs are the ones to thank this time. They kept the latest jumper from reaching the White House by stopping him basically at the wrong side of the fence. A Belgian Malinois can run up to 30 miles an hour and spends about 20 weeks in training for this kind of work, with police, the military, or Secret Service. Hurricane and Jordan were kicked and punched by the jumper that they cornered but after being checked out by their vet they quickly returned to duty. These two heroes, Hurricane and Jordan, certainly had their day and will, like most dogs trained to serve and protect, work until they are around ten years old.

Closer to home, a couple of weeks ago a St. Johns County Sheriff Department K-9 named Baron was killed in the line of duty. His killer, wanted on a felony warrant for selling cocaine, drowned Baron in shallow water during a police chase. He is now facing an additional third degree felony for killing a dog that's a K-9 officer. Baron had his day too. It’s just a sad one for his handler and the entire community he served.

Sheet Technology (I need this!)

I've been noticing lots of articles involving a given number (of things) and what to do or not do with that number. For example, one thing you should never say to your child, or 7 management lessons from The Walking Dead, that kind of thing. For the most part I just pass on by not bothering to click until today when I spotted an article on 57 life changing upgrades for every room in your house. LIFE CHANGING capitalized itself in my head, this I figured I had to check out and so I did. 57 nearly mindless clicks later the one thing I found that might change my life - temperature control sheets. The cost of these Outlast sheets starts at $150. The makers use technology originally developed for NASA and in current use by the Army in combat clothing in the sheets. Tiny capsules in the fabric absorb heat when you get hot and release it when you get cold. I cannot say how many times I find myself throwing my leg out from under the covers when I get too hot at night and then minutes later pulling my leg back under and tucking the same covers up and over my shoulders to my chin when I get too cold, now that the cooler weather has descended. Lots of folks who like to sleep with the bedroom windows open at night (including me) would probably find these sheets very useful, and yes, perhaps even life changing, especially during this winter’s next polar vortex.

Tracking Dementia

Have you seen a sign on the highway announcing a Silver Alert? I have and I've had to explain the difference between silver and amber to my grandkids. Silver alerts often involve elderly drivers that are lost and suffering from dementia. People with dementia like to travel whether in a car or on foot and this tendency which often results in the sufferer getting lost, can be hard on caregivers. Some folks with dementia become less verbal and cannot ask for help but there is a new GPS system for tracking them that (using satellites) can accurately pinpoint their location to within ten meters. The person wears a locator on a lanyard or necklace. Then a boundary is set and if the person crosses the boundary a message is automatically sent to the caregiver’s cell phone. 70% of people with dementia that wander away on foot are found within a mile of their starting point. The center where the Mind Me people man the computers that pinpoint where the Mind Me users are and map where they've been are invaluable. The Mind Me system using GPS tracking is a really interesting use of technology that has given back some freedom to people suffering from dementia and has freed many of their caregivers from constant worry.  

What’s New under the Sun?

The answer is the aptly named photovoltaic concentrating generator, the Sunflower. It’s a 10 meter high sun tracking dish (flower shaped) that can transported in a single shipping container to any location and it’s an all in one machine. The Sunflower turns solar energy into electricity and heat and produces clean drinking water in the process. It’s light weight because the solar mirrors are made of metallized foil like some candy wrappers or potato chip bags. In coastal areas the Sunflower is designed to drive a low temperature desalinator and produce 2,500 liters of fresh water per day. In inland areas the Sunflower will drive a water purifier. From 10 hours of sunlight the Sunflower will deliver 12 kilowatts of electricity and 20 kilowatts of heat. Airlight Energy of Biasca, Switzerland has the licensed patents on this technology and will be field testing it in seven remote sites by 2016 with the intent to put the Sunflower on the market by 2017. And that’s what’s new under the sun.

Stand with the Flow of the Game

This is not the R.E.M. song, Stand, it’s a rule for NFL football fans at football stadiums, EverBank Field specifically. Apparently standing and cheering can interfere with other ticket holders’ ability to enjoy the game from their seats. According to the rule it is okay to stand and cheer with the flow of the game, just not okay to stand continuously. The officials have even gone as far as dedicating several “Standing Encouraged” sections for those who prefer to stand. But if you are a fan that stands excessively and not in the appropriate area you may be subject to ejection without refund and potential loss of ticket privileges for future games. On another note I also found out recently that there is Wi-Fi at EverBank Field and there were as many as 8,000 people using it during the last football game. Maybe the people that can’t see because of the excessive standers could stream the game on their smartphones so they don’t miss any of the action. Then of course I am talking about the Jaguars and they seem to be pretty much out of the action this year again so far. But if you know me you may also know I’m a Cubs fan, so I’m still ever hopeful!

Nursing Home Sprinkler Systems Lacking

This is not a blog about run of the mill plumbing problems or the plumbing problems sometimes associated with old age (depends on whether or not you are old enough to get the meaning on the second issue above), but rather about the lack of fire protection sprinkler systems in nursing homes to protect the elderly, many with limited mobility which precludes them from escaping from a burning building. According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 97% of nursing homes in this country have met the sprinkler system requirement, but 385 homes, homes for 52,000 elderly people in 39 states are not in compliance. This just adds to the scariness of old age for me, because the original requirement was implemented in 2003 after 16 residents of a nursing home in Hartford, Connecticut and another 15 in Nashville, Tennessee perished in structure fires. Five years later in 2008 another five year extension for compliance for retrofitting older facilities was given but now there should be no excuse for noncompliance. The estimated costs were in the $200,000-$400,000 range and that doesn't seem outrageous when you consider the cost of nursing home care. Please take time to find out whether or not a nursing home is in compliance with federal safety guidelines for fire safety when choosing a place for your loved ones.  

AP History Coursework Review Causing Protests

Students, parents, and teachers are keeping up the protests against a conservative Board of Education’s plan to review and ultimately change an Advanced Placement (AP) history course to suit their conservative views. The push by the board seems to be toward promoting patriotism and downplaying social disorder. I’m thinking the controversy every year about celebrating Columbus Day vs Columbus’ actual impact on Native Americans and their culture but it’s more than just that. The board’s approach to the curriculum review, including having students on the committee, hasn’t satisfied the protesters. They seem like a pretty savvy group to me. As a former educator I can say from firsthand experience that despite student, parent, and teacher input the BOE usually gets and implements their way. Case in point would be every new school year’s calendar. Despite all the voting on tentative calendar choices A, B, C, or D, we always ended up with choice E. None of the above, this being the BOE’s choice, usually completely different from the choices we were given. But back to the history course review, I hate the idea that history, like statistics, can be skewed and slanted to favor the opinions or needs of any group. It seems like this is true though and the criticism of the course by the Republican National Committee and the Texas State BOE speaks volumes as these protests are taking place Colorado. 

Contemplating the Earth’s Navel

Got this blog topic from my husband and actually I’m kind of glad the suggestion wasn't about navel lint or contemplating his own navel. If you know him you will get my meaning here. There actually is a place that is considered the navel of the Earth and it is in of all places, Siberia. The town adjacent to the navel is Mirny which built up around the Mir diamond mine, the second largest excavated hole on our planet. On a side note, the largest excavated hole is in Utah-the Bingham Canyon copper mine. But back to the navel of the Earth…the Mir diamond mine operated for 54 years and produced over 2 tons of diamonds per year at its operational peak. That’s a lot of navel lint! The mine is now closed but there remains the navel, 525 meters deep and 1.2 kilometers wide. Air space over the navel is closed (Hint, hint dear husband!) due to unverified reports of helicopters being sucked towards the mine. The largest diamond was found there in 1980 and weighed in at an amazing 342.5 carats…that’s two and a half ounces weight wise for the metrically challenged. Quite a find, though probably a bit too large for adorning a bellybutton these days.

Ebola Tries to Make a Local Appearance

After a long weekend of hat selling, I finally turned on the TV and computer and all over the news and even Facebook is Ebola in the USA. A person in Jacksonville has turned himself or herself in for observation with flu like symptoms and possible contact with someone else traveling from West Africa. This immediately sent a ripple of fear across my Facebook feed but apparently this local patient doesn't meet CDC Ebola testing criteria, so false alarm. I have a feeling there will be plenty more of them. Deaths from Ebola is already well into the thousands outside the US, within our borders the number is 1. Now a nurse that was caring for the 1 has been hospitalized with Ebola. She is a young woman and I sure hope she beats Ebola. They doctors know who she contracted it from, so now the trick will be to figure out where the procedure for preventing caregivers from contracting it failed. In the meantime all of her belongings are being cleaned or incinerated. She does have a dog and unlike the case of a dog in Spain with an Ebola victim owner that was put down, this dog has a chance to live too. It remains unclear whether or not dogs can carry or transmit Ebola. For now it looks like it’s a pretty scary world out there for man and man’s best friend.

Found an Odd Obsolete Object in my Driveway

I walked out my front door last Saturday morning and there it was. Despite the fact that I hadn’t seen anything quite like it in the last couple of years I recognized it right away. Some memories are like that, lingering in the back of your mind, waiting to pop back into the present at the drop of a hint. It was early and foggy out yet I still I gave a quick look up and down the street before bending over to retrieve it. I tossed it on the bench in our entry way and went on to the kitchen to make some coffee without giving it another thought…until today. On my way to the throne I grabbed it of the bench, pulled it out of the plastic bag, and unrolled it. I noticed right off that last weekend’s headlines seemed a bit less sensational than the stuff that had been trending on MSN and such, as of late. There were live butterflies in a butterfly enclosure in Brunswick for CoastFest. A 12 year old boy saved his four siblings and mother from a fire that destroyed their home. Dancers, Bikinis, and Football, Too featured info and opinion on the Jaguars’ new swimming pools and other entertainment at EverBank Field during their last home game. A woman from Brunswick, Katrina Elkins, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to police officers and was sentenced to five years in prison. Ok, I may as well admit it, I miss the old obsolete paper copy of the news, newspaper, especially the Sudoku, the Crossword, and the Jumble.

Grab a Little (or large) Cup of Happiness

Good news! There has been a lot of talk lately about the closing of The Thirsty Monkey, but I am here to put those rumors to rest. The Thirsty Monkey has new owners (a last minute reprieve) and yes, coffee lovers, you will still be able to go grab a little (or large) cup of happiness there! I stopped by and got my usual medium roast and it was wonderful. I also got my coffee card punched too so I am happily working toward another free cup in the near future. If you have had a hankering for pumpkin spice latte (especially before or after you visit or even just pass by the adjacent pumpkin patch), they make a yummy one at The Thirsty Monkey too. One of the new owners is a dear friend, Andrea Hilt of local movie theater fame. She has done so much for our community (providing popcorn for all those class parties for my students over the years, for one thing), so please come out and support her in this new venture. If you already are a regular at The Thirsty Monkey, I know I’m preaching to the choir but if you haven’t stopped out there, now is the time to check them out. They are located just past the light at Walmart betwixt the Honda place and Kings Bay Flowers and enjoy a cup of happiness!

Coffee Lover Gene

If you know me or my husband, you probably know we have this gene. Researchers have analyzed genetic data from 120,000 coffee drinkers of European and African-American ancestry and they have found not one, but eight places on the human genome linked to coffee drinking. In the past only two locations had been identified as links so this new data gives more credence to the idea that there is a coffee lover gene, that and further evidence that a hit of caffeine is what motivates regular coffee consumption. Drinking coffee is linked to a couple of things that make drinking coffee favorable in my opinion, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and Parkinson's disease. The truth is I just really like coffee so much that I never go a day without it. And then there are two more newly identified genes involved in how the body processes caffeine, the POR and ABCG2. These encode proteins involved in caffeine metabolism. For our children that don’t love coffee (and there are a couple of them too) they definitely have an affinity for caffeine. That may be a genetic predisposition we’ve passed on to them since the love of coffee and its caffeine and the love of caffeine (however you get it) are closely linked. Sorry to cut this short but that’s it, I need to end this post here and go grab a cup of coffee J