If you live in Americas, Europe and Africa the full moon falls on December 31, 2009, and is called Blue Moon. Blue Moon because it is a second full moon in December; thus the definition of the blue moon being two full moons in one month. The name has nothing to do with the color of the moon. This also will be a 13th full moon in 2009. The next full Blue Moon can be expected on December 31, 2028, 19 years from now. In other parts of the world like New Zealand, Australia and most of the Asia, this full moon falls on January 1st, 2010. In this case, those parts of the world will have two full moons in January 2010.
The lunar eclipse will be visible primarily from the Eastern Hemisphere.
Why not get your camera ready and get some nice pictures if the weather permits, otherwise, you will have to wait another 19 years.
Here are few of my posts on moon photography.
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 1: Moon Calendar & Weather Conditions
Tips and guides on lunar cycle and checking weather conditions.
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 2: Digital Equipment Required
Suggestions on what equipment you may need.
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 3: Digital Camera Settings
General settings to help you get nice close up pictures of the moon.
Edit Posts Error bX-mcgjci in Blogger
Its been days now and I cannot still get into my Edit Posts on one of my blogs. bX-mcgjci error keep flashing front of my face every time I click on Edit Posts. Theories are that this error is google account related. However, I am not sure if it is account related, since all my other blogs are working perfectly fine. Blogger issue- definitely, but why they are not looking into this problem, no body knows. This is what you get when using free services, and after all there must be more serious issues they are working on.There is one workaround suggested I tried. Create a new gmail account, and then a new blogger account. In your blog, the one not working, assign admin privileges to the new account. Confirm by accessing a new account. To access Edit Posts you need to be logged in the new account. If you want to still be recognized among your blogger friends, ensure to create very similar id, because the new account id will be displaying for commenting.
However, if you need to just post your post, and you don't access the old posts, then you can do this. Create your post that is 100% proof, go to Create New and post. If you screw up, to edit you can still access the post from your blog, pending you have the little pencil image under the post. Remember, you always need to be logged into your account to access it. Same with commenting.
This is another workaround this issue.
Go to Layout > click on Blog Posts > Click on Edit > In the Configure Blog Posts ensure that the 'Show Quick Editing' is checked [a pencil].
To display Archives on your Blog go to Layout > Add Gadget > Click on Blog Archives to activate.
Now you are all set to access your posts from your blog [not edit mode]. On the Archives click on the post you want to edit, then on the bottom of the post you should have a pencil to edit your post.
Lastly ensure to back up your posts. Go to Settings > Basic tab > Export Blog. The backup posts can be imported back to other blogs.
Lastly, let's hope google blogger team will look into this issue as soon as possible.
Start Toilet Training Early - Less Diapers
Here are some of the things about toilet training I learned:
[1] Toilet training can be very slow process for some children even when they start early toilet training. Holding may be an issue and as well as limited communication.
[2] Patience, consistency and discipline are the three key words. Children are in the process of learning, so give them some time. Toilet training is not the only thing they are learning in their lives. Children learn from repetition, therefore asking and bringing them to the toilet even when they don't want is the key. At that age children already know how to say - yes or no, so they will tell you. In addition, when toilet training is priority, you probably will have to give up some of your other chores.
[3] Children like to imitate, therefore sometimes bringing them when you are in the washroom may be not a bad idea after all. Be a model.
[4] Children that have dry diaper through the night are ready for toilet training.
[5] Children must be comfortable sitting upward in order to go on their toilet. In addition, it may be more comfortable for them when their feet are flat on the ground. More support and more balance.
[6] Sitting on the toilet and waiting may be sometimes a long process, therefore, bring some toys for them to play. Remember, children have short attention span.
[7] Children like to say good bye to their stool - then let them. However, ensure that they don't have any toys in their hands when you are flashing the toilet, because it may end up being flashed too. In my case, my son used ot get very excited and throw toys around - for fun of course.
[8] Do not wait when your child is 2 years or older. At that age children are more vocal, and know what they want. It may be harder to sit them down on the toilet.
[9] At the age of two most of the children already walk, and when they are going to washroom, mostly it may be in standing up position, therefore, it may be harder for them to go in the sitting down position.
[10] In the worst case scenario, don't get stressed out too much - it cannot be good for you or your child. Eventually all children will go to washroom on their own. Some take longer and some take faster. But still don't wait, start early, plus you will definitely save on diapers.
BOOKS TO READ:
Read More ... in Blogger Blogspot is Now Available
Finally the 'Read More...' or called by blogspot 'After the Jump' feature is now available. I have not tried it yet but I will. Here is excellent guide by Google for you to read how to do this modification. Yes it requires little modification to the template. Ensure to back it up, and do yourself a favor, just create a test blog to install and test drive this feature. Never know, you may like or not. Before I conclude this post, you have to run new post editor. This can be changed in Settings > Basic, and scroll down to see the options.
News: Scientists Discovered A Rare New Bird Species
I thought this may be an interesting read. We don't realize, but scientists continue to discover new things on this planet Earth, just like this new bird species, a rare bald bird. Here you can read more about it: Animals, Newfound Bird Is Bald; By Clara Moskowitz, LiveScience Staff Writer; posted: 29 July 2009 09:00 pm ET.
Best Treatment for the Cradle Cap - All Natural
I have done some research on the cradle cap when I found some on my baby's head. I didn't actually find it visually - I actually experienced funny odor. This is when I noticed yellow residues attached to my baby's scalp. Since I have been very cautious using excessive soaps and creams on my baby, I was looking for natural way to cure it. I wasn't able to cure the cradle cap immediately, but it did work on the end. I used the virgin olive oil. After every water bath, I would smear my baby's head with the virgin olive oil. In the morning I would gently brush off from the head. I would repeat this for three days in the row. What olive oil does, it loosens the yellowish residue so it can be brushed off. However, I noticed that would go away for a week or two; therefore I would repeat the treatment. I read it somewhere that all it is a baby dandruff, and it will come back, and it can go on until child is a five years old. The nice thing about the olive oil is that it is harmless to your child, and you can use it all the time. Unfortunately, you need to time treatments in the way that your baby or child is home for few days, otherwise, hair may be a bit oily. Since my baby's hair is very fine, it was hardly noticeable. Next day after last day of treatment, I would wash my baby's hair with a gentle shampoo. Just so you know results may vary, and you can come up with your own application of virgin olive oil, some may need more days, and some less.
Facts About Calcium
CALCIUM
- is an essential ingredient for all growth.
- is the main component of the bones in the human body, and it is stored in the trabeculae part of the bone, up to 98% of it.
- is also main component of the teeth.
- the reminder is in the circulation around the tissues in the body fluids to facilitate blood clotting, maintaining easy passage through cell wall and tissue wall.
- also keeps the enzymes to work properly.
- shortage results in lack of sleep, and getting tired easily.
- can also drain from the bones in young people, thus the pseudo-rheumatism.
- amount entering blood is controlled by parathyroid gland; note if this gland is damaged then levels of calcium in the blood may decrease.
- intake can be lessen by excessive consumption of the fats and its accumulation.
- shortage in the body, then avoid from your diet the following: chocolate, cocoa, foods containing oxalic acid such spinach and rhubarb.
- can be found in almonds, hazelnuts, beans, soy beans, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce, onions, turnip-tops, watercress, apricots, figs, gooseberries, grapes, lemons, lime, oranges, bran, buttermilk, cheese, milk, sour milk, yogurt, maple sugar, herring, sardines.
- can also be found in herbs: arrowroot, carrageen moss, chamomile, chives, cleavers, colts foot, dandelion leaves and root, flax seed, horsetail grass, nettle,
- in herb plants is in higher levels in the green outer leaf.
- is destroyed by use of artificial fertilizers.
- lack, then you will not be able to absorb Vitamin C.
- content is higher in the goat milk than the cow milk.
- in the milk is destroyed by the pasteurisation process.
- combines with starch to form solids which are not absorbed in the bloodstream and lymph, therefore avoid eating calcium rich foods with carbohydrates, especially with carbohydrates that are more starchy.
- is an essential ingredient for all growth.
- is the main component of the bones in the human body, and it is stored in the trabeculae part of the bone, up to 98% of it.
- is also main component of the teeth.
- the reminder is in the circulation around the tissues in the body fluids to facilitate blood clotting, maintaining easy passage through cell wall and tissue wall.
- also keeps the enzymes to work properly.
- shortage results in lack of sleep, and getting tired easily.
- can also drain from the bones in young people, thus the pseudo-rheumatism.
- amount entering blood is controlled by parathyroid gland; note if this gland is damaged then levels of calcium in the blood may decrease.
- intake can be lessen by excessive consumption of the fats and its accumulation.
- shortage in the body, then avoid from your diet the following: chocolate, cocoa, foods containing oxalic acid such spinach and rhubarb.
- can be found in almonds, hazelnuts, beans, soy beans, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce, onions, turnip-tops, watercress, apricots, figs, gooseberries, grapes, lemons, lime, oranges, bran, buttermilk, cheese, milk, sour milk, yogurt, maple sugar, herring, sardines.
- can also be found in herbs: arrowroot, carrageen moss, chamomile, chives, cleavers, colts foot, dandelion leaves and root, flax seed, horsetail grass, nettle,
- in herb plants is in higher levels in the green outer leaf.
- is destroyed by use of artificial fertilizers.
- lack, then you will not be able to absorb Vitamin C.
- content is higher in the goat milk than the cow milk.
- in the milk is destroyed by the pasteurisation process.
- combines with starch to form solids which are not absorbed in the bloodstream and lymph, therefore avoid eating calcium rich foods with carbohydrates, especially with carbohydrates that are more starchy.
Facts About Vitamin D
Vitamin D contribute to the healthy heart.
Vitamin D works with phosphorus to burn sugar.
Vitamin D provides stability to our nervous system.
Vitamin D is necessary to help your body absorb and use the Calcium.
Vitamin D can be very easy destroyed by frequent shower baths; especially avoid alkali soaps.
Vitamin D deficiency results in early tooth decay, bone deformation, rickets, and weakness of the muscles.
Vitamin D deficiency in elderly people usually results in thinning of the bones.
Vitamin D can be obtain from the sunlight, however, tanning obstructs the Vitamin D absorption.
Vitamin D from sunlight can also be blocked by use of sunscreen.
Vitamin D can be found in butter, margarine, cheese, kidneys, cod liver oil, halibut liver oil, mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna.
Vitamin D works with phosphorus to burn sugar.
Vitamin D provides stability to our nervous system.
Vitamin D is necessary to help your body absorb and use the Calcium.
Vitamin D can be very easy destroyed by frequent shower baths; especially avoid alkali soaps.
Vitamin D deficiency results in early tooth decay, bone deformation, rickets, and weakness of the muscles.
Vitamin D deficiency in elderly people usually results in thinning of the bones.
Vitamin D can be obtain from the sunlight, however, tanning obstructs the Vitamin D absorption.
Vitamin D from sunlight can also be blocked by use of sunscreen.
Vitamin D can be found in butter, margarine, cheese, kidneys, cod liver oil, halibut liver oil, mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna.
Facts About Vitamin C
Vitamin C consumed will be not be properly absorbed if you have deficiency of Calcium.
Vitamin C is essential for individuals who are on the protein rich diet.
Vitamin C is not toxic if consumed in large dosages.
Vitamin C intake must be increased by smokers because each cigarette reduces its effectiveness.
Vitamin C is found in broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, kale, turnip-tops, watercress, red chillies, rose-hips, strawberries, blackcurrants, melons, and citrus fruits.
Vitamin C can be very easily destroyed by cooking - high heats.
Vitamin C deficiency leads to easily bruised muscles and other internal injuries.
Vitamin C deficiency can also lead to brittle bones, and stiffness.
Vitamin C is the first aid for a upcoming cold or flu.
Vitamin C is essential for individuals who are on the protein rich diet.
Vitamin C is not toxic if consumed in large dosages.
Vitamin C intake must be increased by smokers because each cigarette reduces its effectiveness.
Vitamin C is found in broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, kale, turnip-tops, watercress, red chillies, rose-hips, strawberries, blackcurrants, melons, and citrus fruits.
Vitamin C can be very easily destroyed by cooking - high heats.
Vitamin C deficiency leads to easily bruised muscles and other internal injuries.
Vitamin C deficiency can also lead to brittle bones, and stiffness.
Vitamin C is the first aid for a upcoming cold or flu.
'An apple a day keeps the doctor away.'
Where are Ears on the Birds, Fish, Spiders, Crickets, Moths, Snakes and Leopard Gecko
Ear location can be different for different species. Majority have ears on their heads, and some don't have ears but have sensors that function like ears. Let's find out then were are some ears located.
Birds have ears located on the side of their head behind the cheek patch. They lack the external part of the ear. It does not resembles animal like ear at all, as a matter of fact it looks like a small slit or a hole beneath the feathers. Fish same like birds, do not have external ears. The ears of the fish are located inside skull with no real connection to the outside. Spiders and crickets have their sensory capability on their legs. Moths have something equivalent to the eardrum and mounted in the middle of their thorax. Snakes in fact do not have ears. To survive they rely on vibrations, heat, and motion.
Lastly let me present you with fascinating fact and unique characteristic of the Leopard Gecko's ears. Their ears go right through their head. Check it out for yourself, just shine a light through their ears.
Got a Stiff Body - Tendons Which Hold the Bone and Muscles Together Need Physical Stretch
This is actually interesting thing to know. Our body muscles are attached to bones by tendons. When a muscle contracts it actually pulls on the tendons, where then tendons pull on the bone and cause the movement, like walking or exercising.Two things you should know about the above fact.
Tennis elbow is the inflammation of the tendons in the elbow. A repeated strain on the elbow will produce this injury.
Secondly, as we age tendons become stiff and that is why it is harder for us to do things when we are older. Therefore, it is important to exercise all the time. Remember stretching is not only for the muscles, but more so for the tendons. With regular stretching you can avoid tendons injury by keeping them nice and elastic. Same applies to the muscles.
Good To Know: Apple Seeds May Be Poisonous
Something I didn't know, and I found out recently. But how would that be, I ate or swallowed so many. I am in fact seed eater, I eat all seeds I see. I don't know but looks like I have personal addiction. Well, after learning about apple seeds being potentially poisonous I think the era of seed eating for me is over. As a matter of fact, over for all the seeds. I guess I will have to look into other sources of high fibre foods.However, kidding aside this is what I found. The apple seeds are not harmful if you swallow one or two. The trick is to swallow them, and not to chew them. Apple seeds when chewed apparently release toxin called cyanide [cyanogenic glycoside]. However, human body can detoxify small amounts of cyanide compounds, but large amounts can be lethal. Therefore, keep away from children, and believe or not pets.
Characters, Text Are Not Displaying Correctly in Google Chrome and FireFox
You may have this issue once you install your Google Chrome or FireFox browser. The text is not that smooth anymore in those browsers as it appeared to be in your Internet Explorer. I came across this issue also. It was bothering me, because text was more digitized or anti-aliased [fonts too fuzzy to read], meaning not smooth and not good quality. I also noticed that same quality text appeared on my Desktop and everywhere else but the Internet Explorer. For some reason Internet Explorer has permanent setting for smooth text. With few settings adjustments I was able to fix the quality of the text in the Google Chrome, FireFox and everywhere else on my computer. However, I noticed the disadvantage - changing from screen to screen takes now a bit longer, computer slows down.
The fix for this is very simple. Go to your desktop, right click and select Properties. In Properties click on the Advanced tab, and on the right bottom corner select button Effects [Properties > Advanced tab > Effects]. Once in the Effects window, check the the 'Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts: ClearType', and click OK. All set now.
However if you still have this issue, there may be another setting to adjust. Got to My Computer, right click on Properties, then select Advanced tab, Select first option Performance and click on Settings, select Visual Effects tab, and ensure that the 'Smooth edges of screen fonts' is checked off, and if not then check it, and then Apply, OK, OK again and you are done. [My Computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Performance Settings > Visual Effect tab].
The fix for this is very simple. Go to your desktop, right click and select Properties. In Properties click on the Advanced tab, and on the right bottom corner select button Effects [Properties > Advanced tab > Effects]. Once in the Effects window, check the the 'Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts: ClearType', and click OK. All set now.However if you still have this issue, there may be another setting to adjust. Got to My Computer, right click on Properties, then select Advanced tab, Select first option Performance and click on Settings, select Visual Effects tab, and ensure that the 'Smooth edges of screen fonts' is checked off, and if not then check it, and then Apply, OK, OK again and you are done. [My Computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Performance Settings > Visual Effect tab].
The Great Canadian Invention Series: Pablum Baby Food or Cereal
Time to feed your baby solid food. What are you going to feed her or him? Or do you have any ideas for breakfast for babies. Let me give you one suggestion, how about baby pablum - another great Canadian invention. Did you also know that Bobby Orr, Margaret Atwood, Margaret Trudeau and Anne Murray had pablum baby cereal for breakfast when they were infants. Well, I did not. The pablum baby food story started with three doctors working at the SickKids Hospital at Toronto back in 1930s who were concerned about the nutritional value of baby's daily diet. Back then cereals were part of the baby's diet, but there was not enough vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy growth and development. First, the nutritional biscuit for children was invented which was fortified with vitamins. After intensive research and testing in that area this lead to invention of the pre-cooked highly in the nutritional value cereal called pablum. It was based on the wheat meal, oatmeal, cornmeal, wheat germ, bone meal, dried brewer's yeast and alfalfa, and so it is now.
Cooking Tip: Baked Asparagus Recipe
This is how I prepare my asparagus - I bake it. It is the easiest method. Simply, wash the asparagus bunch. Take cookie try, spray with cooking spray Pam. Place all asparagus on the tray, and then give one nice spray with Pam again. If you want to you can also sprinkle with sea salt on top, but you don't have to, because baked asparagus already tastes good. Set your oven on 400 F and bake for 20-25 minutes, and then serve.
Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site - Operation aborted
After one Microsoft automatic update everything just went wrong with my Internet Explorer 8. I am vivid blogger and I visit my blogger friends regularly. The problem I started to have was that some blogs posts would not display. But the main issue I got with many blogs I visited I kept getting an error: 'Internet Explorer cannot open site http://sitename.blogspot.com. Operation Aborted.' When I clicked OK, I get 'Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage'. This is just too many 'cannot' message for a bad day already.
Just to give some answers to those who wants to be Internet Explorer troopers, here is the fix link from Microsoft. The answer is simple, upgrade to Internet Explorer 8. Okay what did I just write, my Internet Explorer is 8. But then they also ask to contact web owner to do modification, okay last thing I want to do is to bother someone with issues like that.
How to Take Picture of the Moon - Digital Camera Tips and Guides
Sometimes information can be buried between the blog posts, therefore here are summarized links to the three posts on how to take pictures of the moon, especially if you looking to take close up pictures. They focus on the environment around you, digital equipment requirements and settings.
Tips and guides on lunar cycle and checking weather conditions.
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 2: Digital Equipment Required
Suggestions on what equipment you may need.
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 3: Digital Camera Settings
General settings to help you get nice close up pictures of the moon.
Suggestions on what equipment you may need.
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 3: Digital Camera Settings
General settings to help you get nice close up pictures of the moon.
Above moon photo courtesy of My Only Photo blog.
“I like to think that the moon is there even if I am not looking at it” ~ by Albert Einstein
Reusable Grocery Shopping Bags - The Next Green Trend But May Be Not The Cleanest One
I been using reusable grocery shopping bags for almost a year now, and did some observations. Probably out there someone thought about it too, but I will spill out my opinion here about reusable shopping bags. I personally absolutely love them. Sometimes I forget to bring them to the store, but that's just a bad habit I got to stop. This used to be a good habit when I lived in Europe. There were no such things as shopping plastic bags; as a matter of fact plastic bag was a novelty and been reused many times by many people. However, this may be old news now since it happened over twenty years ago.Plastic bags have been used here in North America very commonly, but with the recent green trend everywhere, the message is clear - they must go, and stores are going to charge customers for them. Not so good for consumers of course. However, over many years we already knew that the plastic shopping bags were not good for the environment, therefore lot of manufacturers been working on the solution to produce biodegradable plastic shopping bags, bioplastics. We may not notice but some of the supermarkets carry them. However, this is not a point of this post.
The point is that because we reuse these bags, groceries we carry may contaminate them. What is the solution? Easy, wash them. But then this becomes again the green issue, more energy more natural resources consumed. If not cleaned then the potential health issues, and more health care costs associated with it. But there is always a way to do things right.
Firstly let me outline what foods can potentially contaminate the reusable bag, and let me give you simple suggestions to keep those bags clean.
The following are foods that can easily contaminate the reusable bag:
[1] Dairy Products - no matter how much care there is taken, there always will be milk, yogurt or sour cream leak.
[2] Eggs - sometimes they do break, or we do not notice the broken ones until we arrive home.
[3] Vegetables - there are many of us out there just grabbing broccoli or cabbage without bagging them.
[4] Fruit - yes many times I do grab a watermelon without slipping a produce bag on it, but face it some of them just don't fit.
[5] Meat - those packages are not leak proof, a worst contamination you could get, especially from the poultry.
[6] Chemicals - all kinds of cleaning products may cross contaminate with food, as we never really know which bag we use for what.
Here are my suggestions to keep your reusable bag clean.
[2] Eggs - sometimes they do break, or we do not notice the broken ones until we arrive home.
[3] Vegetables - there are many of us out there just grabbing broccoli or cabbage without bagging them.
[4] Fruit - yes many times I do grab a watermelon without slipping a produce bag on it, but face it some of them just don't fit.
[5] Meat - those packages are not leak proof, a worst contamination you could get, especially from the poultry.
[6] Chemicals - all kinds of cleaning products may cross contaminate with food, as we never really know which bag we use for what.
Here are my suggestions to keep your reusable bag clean.
[1] Get a reusable bag that is more synthetic plastic surface. That way it can be wiped easily with a soap water or vinegar.
[2] Now many stores sell reusable bags, then buy different ones and dedicate them for different food categories. For example, this bag for dairy products, this for cleaning products.
[3] Always bag your fruits and vegetables in thin plastic bags usually located in the produce area. For anything big as watermelon, may be get a carton box to carry it, or just get a grocery bin.
[4] And as stated in three, you can always get the grocery bin which is much easier to clean. Note canvas bags may be worst for contamination.
Lastly I think that charging for plastic bags by stores is a real cash grabs. It would be nice if that money was dedicated to further green developments or given to charitable organizations. After all they used to be free. What do you think?
[2] Now many stores sell reusable bags, then buy different ones and dedicate them for different food categories. For example, this bag for dairy products, this for cleaning products.
[3] Always bag your fruits and vegetables in thin plastic bags usually located in the produce area. For anything big as watermelon, may be get a carton box to carry it, or just get a grocery bin.
[4] And as stated in three, you can always get the grocery bin which is much easier to clean. Note canvas bags may be worst for contamination.
Lastly I think that charging for plastic bags by stores is a real cash grabs. It would be nice if that money was dedicated to further green developments or given to charitable organizations. After all they used to be free. What do you think?
Corn Fed, Grain Fed Versus Grass Fed American Beef
I thought I post about something I read about corn or grain fed cattle versus grass fed cattle. It is interesting because it tells you that we, including all other living creatures on this planet Earth been designed to eat certain foods only - meaning our digestive system is designed for particular foods. Introducing processed food to our or animal digestive system can actually cause potential problems in the later food chain. I don't know how many of you know, or at least I didn't know, but the conventional American cattle is corn or grain fed, as oppose to grass fed cattle. Note that the cattle is designed to graze, therefore, when fed with corn and grain the cow's stomach becomes very acidic environment attracting bacteria like E.coli. The beef from grass fed cattle is much leaner and has more the omega-3 fatty acids than the today's conventional beef. To conclude, you may want to consider then the grass fed beef, which is also classified as organic beef. 
The Great Canadian Invention Series: Mashed Potato Flakes and Other Instant Food Processes
It was Dr. Edward Asselbergs from the Canada Department of Agriculture in Ottawa who in 1961 develop a process for making instant mashed potato flakes that tasted like real homemade version of mashed potatoes. From this idea Dr. Asselbergs moved to make instant meat, chicken, fish and cheese products. If you interested Google Patent search engine is excellent for listing all kinds of patents, and here what I found for mashed potato flakes: PREPARATION OF DEHYDRATED COOKED MASHED POTATO Patent number: 3260607 Issue date: Jul 1966 Inventor: Asselbergs et al.In addition, it was Dr. W. H. Cook from the Canadian National Research Council, a Director of the Applied Biology Division who came up with several methods to meet the emergency food requirement for troops during World War II. His invention was a special refrigerated storage system used to transport close to 20% of the perishable foods to Britain. He also devised an improved process for drying whole egg powder.
Interesting Video to Watch: The Truth about Pandemics
To follow up on my last post about the swine flu, here are some other interesting findings about current outbreak of swine flu or H1N1 flu.Video: The Truth about Pandemics from Livescience.com where Dr. Siegel explains why we sometimes panic too much about pandemics, and how media and the government escalates these issues.
On the other hand here is a very interesting claim about the H1N1 flu or swine flu of which I am not surprised about, Claim: Swine Flu Possibly Created in the Lab, Submitted by Robert Roy Britt posted: 13 May 2009 12:58 pm ET, Livescience.com.
In addition, I found this article Pandemics and Pandemic Threats since 1900, an article outlining major pandemics that occurred since 1900 and some major pandemic threats. This article is from PandemicFlu.gov site, another great site to explore and educate yourself:
‘PandemicFlu.gov provides comprehensive government-wide information on pandemic influenza and avian influenza for the general public, health and emergency preparedness professionals, policy makers, government and business leaders, school systems, and local communities.’; Source: About Us, PandemicFlu.gov site.
To conclude this post I want to add one more link, a link to the Canadian site where you can find very useful information about fighting flu, protecting yourself, and the most recent status of the flu in your area or province – FightFlu.ca. Yes, protect yourself, and protect others.
Asparagus Season: Why the White Asparagus is White and the Green Asparagus is Green?
Did you ever wonder why white asparagus is white, or looks really pale from his friend green asparagus? I will then try to provide you with simple answer in here, however, let me start with the green asparagus.
Green asparagus, as any other green plant contains substance called chlorophyll. The pigment in the chlorophyll absorbs all other colors in spectrum and reflects the green light. Whenever the light is reflected, the human eye can see it. Same as for the red apple, or the orange carrot, the red and the orange colors are reflected and transmitted to our eyes.
A side note, a pigment is something that absorbs the certain colors in the light spectrum. Whatever is not absorbed is then reflected into our eyes.
So what happened to the poor white pale asparagus? Nothing really, it is grown in the dark and deprived from the sunlight. The blockage from the sunlight makes the asparagus white. No light to absorb or reflect. The process used to make the white asparagus is called process of etiolation, meaning that the plant is grown in partial light or completely without the light.
Green asparagus, as any other green plant contains substance called chlorophyll. The pigment in the chlorophyll absorbs all other colors in spectrum and reflects the green light. Whenever the light is reflected, the human eye can see it. Same as for the red apple, or the orange carrot, the red and the orange colors are reflected and transmitted to our eyes.
A side note, a pigment is something that absorbs the certain colors in the light spectrum. Whatever is not absorbed is then reflected into our eyes.So what happened to the poor white pale asparagus? Nothing really, it is grown in the dark and deprived from the sunlight. The blockage from the sunlight makes the asparagus white. No light to absorb or reflect. The process used to make the white asparagus is called process of etiolation, meaning that the plant is grown in partial light or completely without the light.
What’s in the News: Swine Flu is Not Pig Related Flu
Misconception or not, the swine flue most likely originated from pigs, but the strain infecting people now is now strain that spreads among humans. You cannot get this virus from eating pork. However do not eat under cooked pork. Always cook well to destroy harmful bacteria and parasites like Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spiralis. Recommended temperature for pork is 170-175 F.Here is one of the best explanations I found on the Internet which is worth reading.
Swine flu: Questions and Answers from GlobeandMailThis Really Has Nothing to Do With Pigs Any More; this is a human flu that has mutated from the host species. You can't get it from eating pork. Influenza viruses are not food-borne; by ANDRÉ PICARD, Tuesday's Globe and Mail, April 28, 2009 at 4:29 AM EDT
So now you know, but this news scares me a bit, Flu May Be Echo of 1918 Pandemic written by Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News Service, April 27, 2009. If you know anything about the Spanish flu from 1918 that killed millions and millions of people, this is not funny. Or other reading about this can be found here: A history of virus: Swine Flu Outbreak is No Plague Yet; Posted April 27, 2009, 2:08 PM by Shane Dingman, National Post.
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: April 28, 2009
Bloggers Social Networking Resources – More Traffic to Your Blog
Want more exposure for your blog, your website, or just you? Then here is my assembled list of social network places which you can join so you can find more friends, find your old friends, make friends, share stories, photos, videos, news or more. However, I am going to tell you now, pick few only. Definitely you will not be able to maintain them all. I think it can really become addictive and you can spend hours and hours without accomplishing anything or accomplishing everything. So here we go, all I could find is listed below, and if you have any I have not listed here please share. Not to offend anyone, I put this is list in the alphabetical order.A
Advogato - is an online community site for developers of free.
B
Bebo – is a social network web site.
BlackPlanet – is an online social networking site targeted especially for the African American community, as the name speaks for itself.
BlinkList – is an online link manager.
BlogCatalog – is a blog networking platform.
Blogger – is a blog publishing platform from Google.
BlogLines – is a web based news aggregator for reading syndicated feeds using the RSS and Atom.
Buzz – is currently re-buzzing; check-in in the near future.
C
CafeMom - is an ad-supported social networking website for mothers.
ClassMates – is a social school networking platform.
CoolPhotoBlogs – is a social networking web site for blogging photographers.
D
Delicious – is the biggest database of bookmarks in the universe that can be shared among users. DesignFloat – is a social media web site for design industry.
Digg – is a social news website where content from anywhere on the Internet is shared by link submission; voting and commenting makes stories more popular.
Diigo – is a research tool and a knowledge-sharing community.
DZone – is a free link sharing community for developers.
E
Eons – is a social networking site for baby boomers.
F
FaceBook – is a social networking for friends, family, and co–workers, to stay connected and to communicate.
FreeWebs – is a free web hosting company hosting personal and business related.
Friendster – is a social network service.
G
Google Bookmarks – is a free online bookmark storage service which is available to Google accounts; this service allows bookmarking favorite websites, adding labels, tags and notes.
H
Hi5 – is a social networking web site.
I
InterNations - is an international social network service.
J
Jaiku - is a social networking, micro-blogging and life streaming platform from Google.
L
LibraryThing - is a social cataloging web application for storing and sharing personal library catalogs and book lists.
LinkedIn – is a business oriented social networking platform mainly used by professionals.
LiveJournal – is a blog publishing platform from Microsoft.
Loaded Web – is a social networking platform for bloggers by geographical location.
M
MiGente – is an online social networking site targeting Latino community.
Mixx – is a social media web site for submitting or finding content based on interest and location; a combination of social networking and bookmarking.
Multiply – is a social networking service which allows the users to share media such as photos, videos and blog entries.
MyChurch - is a Christian social network.
MySpace – is an international social interactive networking website where users gather with network of friends, share their personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos for teenagers and adults.
myYearbook – is a social networking site.
N
Nasza Klasa – is an online social school networking web site for Polish community.
Nature Blog Network – is a network of bloggers associated with nature.
Netvouz – is an online social bookmark manager.
Newsvine – is a social news website.
Nexopia.com - is a Canadian social networking website.
O
Orkut – is a social network service from Google.
P
Propeller – is a social news aggregator operated by AOL-Netscape.
R
Reddit – is a social news website where users can post links to content on the Internet.
S
StumbleUpon – is a social news website where users can post links to content on the Internet.
SlashDot – is a technology related news website which features user-submitted and editor-evaluated current affairs news with a touch of ‘nerdy’ slant.
SquiDoo – is a topic sharing web site.
T
Tagged – is a social networking web site.
Technorati – is a blog related search engine tracking popular stories and link relationships.
ThisNext – is a social portal of great product recommendations and personalized shopping suggestions.
Twitter – is a social networking for friends, family, and co–workers, mainly to stay connected and to communicate.
TypePad – is a blog publishing platform for professionals and small businesses.
W
WordPress – is a blog publishing platform from WordPress.
X
Xanga – is a website that hosts weblogs, photo blogs, and social networking profiles.
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: April 27, 2009
Useful Cooking Tip: Cooking Meat, Turkey, Chicken and Vegetables Clean
We all know that when we do cook red meat, turkey or chicken in the water, all kinds of stuff is generated, especially blood residues from red meat and foam from the turkey or chicken. Veggies just in general have sprays and other stuff on them. Well, the best way to take that at least partially is to change the first water all together. Simply take smaller pot and pre-boil red meat, turkey, chicken or vegetables for few minutes. In parallel, fill other pot with desired amount of water and start heating up. Once pre-boiled, drain water and rinse your meat or veggies with fresh water to remove any unwanted residues. Preferably use filtered water. Once this is done, just place it in the fresh water and cook as you wish.For cleaning red meat, turkey or chicken for BBQing or broiling, always rinse with white vinegar. Don't be afraid to rinse the ground meats also. Don't just rely on the heat to kill all the bad stuff.
The Great Canadian Invention Series: Why the McIntosh Apple is called McIntosh?
The McIntosh apple was discovered in 1811 by John McIntosh on a little farm Dundas County, Ontario, Canada. John McIntosh found a group of trees growing wild on this farm, and since the apples then where part of farmer’s nutritious diet, he moved all of them closer to his farm house. To his and other farmer’s surprise one of the trees was producing juicy, crispy and very fragrant apples. However, it was only one apple tree that was bearing them. Branches of that one apple tree were grafted to other apple tree, a technique where branch from one fruit are transplanted into another tree. The result was successful. And this is how the McIntosh apple became the most popular apple in Canada started by the McIntosh family.Are You Ready to Make Your Own Apple Sauce?
Yes you are because it is very simple. Get your ingredients, the McIntosh apples – as many as you wish. Peel, slice or dice all the apples, and cooked them in covered pot until mushy – low heat please. Serve warm or cool, with ice cream, yogurt, or oatmeal.
Blogger Blog Posts to eBook Publishing or Conversion Idea, a Proposal to Google Team
The Blogger or web blog was a great invention and implementation. We bloggers around the world can now communicate, share our stories, share our photography, share our hobbies, write fiction & novels, educate, connect with others and have fun. And yet we need more – we want to publish our posts electronically or in print - that is make eBooks.Proposal: Blogger Posts to eBook Publishing
In here I would like to propose a project to Google Blogger Team - Blogger Posts to eBook Publishing – the online software which downloads Blogger posts into text & image type template ready for printing or digital publishing in PDF format eBook. There are similar tools like that already, but I have only found one book making software which allows downloading of posts from Blogger, WordPress, LiVEJOURNAL(TM) and TypePad®, into the textbook format eBook. However, there are limitations – conversion to PDF [Portable Document Format] is very poor, a format that is very universal and widely used by many thus called portable.
Background Research: Current Available Book Making Software on the Market
I spent endless minutes to search for book making software that would allow me to publish my Blogger posts into eBook. The following listed below are excellent tools, however, they do not offer much of a flexibility to create PDF eBooks from the blog posts. They are free software, however, you must purchase created eBook through their service.
Blurb BookSmart(TM)
Software – free download
Layout Types - portfolio, photo book, wedding, guestbook, cookbook, yearbook, journal, text & photos, text only, poetry, blog to book, blank and more.
Output Formats – BookSmart(TM) format, PDF with watermark, uses PDF convertor, however very little detail provided how to.
Comments – despite of very lame conversion to PDF format, software is excellent and highly recommended.
Web Site – http://www.blurb.com/
MyPublisher
Software – free download
Layout Types – photo book, calendar, cards
Output Formats – MyPublisher format
Comments – recommended, however, no blog to book feature, and no option to save as PDF format; also a bit slow
Web Site – http://www.mypublisher.com/
PhotoInPress BookDesigner
Software – free download
Layout Types – photo book with text
Output Formats – BookDesigner format and ability to print to PDF [Adobe Distiller]
Comments – very basic software
Web Site – http://www.photoinpress.ca/
Lulu
Software – online, must register
Layout Types – anything you can imagine
Output Formats – must find out
Comments – excellent online book making or other
Web Site – http://www.lulu.com/
Have I done my homework? I think I did, unless I didn’t use correct keywords to search for book making software. However, don’t be surprised with Blurb SmartBook(TM), they offer some amazing formats and layouts if you want to publish, print and share your content.
View an example of my eBook I manually created in MS PowerPoint – Story Blob Stories
Process Flow from File/Blogger Post to eBook
[Step 1] Run Google Book Making Software
[Step 2] Choose Book Size & Style
[Step 3] Create Cover Page, back and front, and insides
[Step 4] Choose Layout [text only, text & images]
[Step 5] Choose Theme
[Step 6] Upload Content from My Computer or Blogger
[Step 7] Insert Page Numbering, Additional Footer Information, Header
[Step 8] Edit (Change Layouts of Individual Pages, Insert more text, Insert images, Page Numbering, Footer, Header)
[Step 9] Generate Table of Contents
[Step 10] Generate Index, Tags, or Keywords
[Step 10] Save as PDF
Optional Processes for Selling and Printing
[Step 12] Submit to Google Bookstore
[Step 13] Find Local Printer
[Step 14] Request Print Copy
Libraries [optional]
[1] Library of Preset Layouts / Ability to Create from Scratch
[2] Library of Preset Themes / Ability to Create from Scratch
[3] Library of Fonts
[4] Library of References – add references database to be used in the eBook
Benefits
[1] One happy blogger – me, and probably many more out there.
[2] Reduced shipping / international charges to the end customer because ability to find local printer.
[3] Due to better printing equipment for end customers, printing companies are closing down. This may open new on demand printing options to small printing companies.
Conclusion
To summarize all above, the request is simple, ‘idiot proof’ book making software, reliable, fast and automated that has ability to pull out files from My Computer / Blogger and generate an eBook, just like Blurb SmartBook(TM). However, in my case I rather pay for the software, than have free software and pay for each print. We are nearly digital society, so let’s save some trees, thus digital copies, or print copies on demand.
Dear Blogger Team:
I hope you can review my proposal and consider adding this item to your project list. Should you need any help, you know where I am. As you can see this is not a new concept, however, may be excellent new addition to Google Labs. Thank you.
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: March 10, 2009
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 3: Digital Camera Settings
We know that weather is going to be good and you went out and spend thousands of dollars on your new digital camera equipment, now you need to know settings on your camera to take nice close up photo of the moon.This tutorial is very simple. All you need to know is how to change metering mode and exposure on your camera. Refer to your manual. However, this is what you need to look for.
If you have SLR camera, then the camera most likely has three metering modes: evaluative [square brackets with circle with dot in the middle], partial [square brackets with circle without a dot] and center-weighted average metering [just a bracket without a circle and dot].
For taking photo of the moon you will need to set your camera to partial metering mode. This mode is effective when the background is much brighter than the subject or darker, in our case it is darker, and the moon is brighter. The partial metering mode covers fewer than 10% of the viewfinder area at the centre. These modes are usually changed using knobs on the camera, at least in my case on my Canon EOS 20D.If you have point-and-shoot camera, than most likely you have the following three metering modes that are usually changed using menus: evaluative [square brackets with circle with dot in the middle], center-weighted average metering [just a bracket without a circle and dot] and spot [square brackets with circle without a dot] metering. The spot metering in point-and-shoot camera is same as partial metering in SLR. This is in reference to Canon EOS 20D and Canon PowerShot SD600. The spot metering meters the area within the spot AE point at the centre of the LCD monitor.
In addition to all above you need to find out on your camera how to adjust the exposure. Standard exposure level is when the level mark is in the middle or at zero.
Easy Digital Camera Settings for Taking Photo of the Moon
[0] Set your camera to Programmed Mode P where Av and Tv is automatically adjusted, however, still letting you set all the parameters as asked below. You can do it manually, but why not take the advantage of the camera’s intelligence and save yourself a time. Do not try Fully Auto Mode.
[1] Set up your camera on the tripod or stable object to support your arms.
[2] Set to ISO 200. You do not need higher than that, as the moon is already very bright. Higher ISO will make photo grainy.
[3] Set or ensure that the AF focal point is on the centre of the view finder.
[4] Set the metering mode to Partial on SLR or Spot on Point-and-Shoot. A very important setting, otherwise, the moon will be one big bright ball.
[5] Set focal length to 300mm or 400mm. This is if you have any of the lenses with that focal length, or set to maximum on your lens.
[6] Set Exposure to -1. You may want to experiment with this depending how bright the moon is, some times you may go as low as -2.
Note the Following
Av the Aperture priority mode - is the lens opening
Tv the Shutter priority mode - is the shutter speed
In the P Programmed mode these are adjusted automatically.
REFERENCES
[1] Moon Photography: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip
[2] A Bit of Knowledge: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip For SLR Digital Cameras
[3] How to Take a Picture of the Full, Half or Crescent Moon? – Part 1: Moon Calendar & Weather Conditions
[4] How to Take a Picture of the Full, Half or Crescent Moon? – Part 2: Digital Equipment Required
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: March 03, 2009
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 2: Digital Equipment Required
Now that you have scheduled an appointment with the moon and checked with the weatherman for sky conditions, you are ready to take photos. However, do you know what digital equipment is required to take photos of the moon. As a matter of fact, you have to realize that to take close up pictures of the moon you will require certain level of digital equipment.What Equipment is the Best for Taking Pictures of the Moon?
Depending what results you are looking for, close up picture of the moon or moon part of the landscape – this will determine what equipment you will need. For landscape results you can try shooting with simple point-and-shoot digital camera. However, for close up picture of the moon you will need digital camera with a zoom lens. Best results you can achieve with 75-300mm or 100-400mm telephoto lens with your SLR* or DSLR* camera. It is also possible to get some photos with point-and-shoot camera that has at least 12x optical zoom [Canon PowerShot S5IS 8.0MP with 12x Optical Zoom], and in addition you can incorporate a digital zoom. Remember, digital zoom is not actual zooming; it is done by camera’s software - interpolation and cropping of the image.
*SLR & DSLR – Single-Lens Reflex & Digital Single-Lens Reflex
Interesting reading on the photographer’s dream lens: The World's Largest Telephoto Lens
Another piece of equipment may be necessary is the tripod. If possible get a well structured one to eliminate vibrations. Usually with larger lenses vibration is not avoidable. The vibration usually occurs on each camera click – it is the pushing force with your finger on the camera that will cause this vibration. Then you probably need a trigger. There are wireless triggers on the market that may be available for your digital camera. However, if you are cheap and do not want to spend anymore money on your equipment, simply try to rest your camera on something stable, or if you get good at, you can rest your elbows on something, hold on to the lens and click. Something I got good at, and eliminated lengthy preparation and set up for the moon photography. I just take my camera, find comfortable resting place and shoot.
Moon Photography Equipment Summary
[1] Digital SLR Camera or Digital Point-and-Shoot Camera with at least 12x optical zoom
[2] Lenses with at least 75-300mm or 100-400mm, or more focal length [Canon, Nikon, Sigma]
[3] Tripod or other stable support
REFERENCES
[1] Moon Photography: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip
[2] A Bit of Knowledge: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip For SLR Digital Cameras
[3] How to Take a Picture of the Full, Half or Crescent Moon? – Part 1: Moon Calendar & Weather Conditions
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: February 19, 2009
REFERENCES
[1] Moon Photography: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip
[2] A Bit of Knowledge: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip For SLR Digital Cameras
[3] How to Take a Picture of the Full, Half or Crescent Moon? – Part 1: Moon Calendar & Weather Conditions
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: February 19, 2009
How to Take Photos of the Moon? – Part 1: Moon Calendar & Weather Conditions
Soon as the skies are clear and the moon is very clear, full moon, half moon or crescent moon, people around the world get their digital or conventional cameras to take pictures. However, they yet to find out at the time of developing that all you can see is just a bright round object on the black sky. This is in fact a good start. The fact that you took your camera and wanted to take a picture of the moon is an excellent first step. Now let see, what you can do better.What Weather is the Best for Taking a Photo of the Moon?
It does not take a genius to figure out that you need clear skies in order to take pictures of the moon. However, don’t be disappointed when there are clouds, because sometimes the wind does a little help. In a matter of time, wind can move clouds out of the way, and there is the moon you want to snap a photograph of. It happened to me many times, and sometimes with clouds being on the way, the photo can be even more spectacular. But if there is no wind then you are in bad shape and you will have to wait for the next time.
When you are looking for taking pictures of the moon, it is a good idea to get yourself ready ahead. Check out the lunar cycle for the moon phases, and check out the weather forecast. Then you need to find out where on the sky the moon is going to be and when. Yes location is important, last thing you need is that you cannot see the moon because it is behind the buildings, and when it emerges out of them, the clouds show up – yes some times bad luck can follow us.
Let’s repeat then, you will need lunar cycle calendar, local weather forecast, location on the sky, location from the ground and the time. Don’t be surprised if you see sometimes moon during the day, as I was. I thought that moon was only for the nights.
Excellent resources to start: Kalendar 365 and Sky View Cafe
For weather you can always drop by The Weather Network or in the Google search type ‘weather your location’.
Read Part II: How to Take a Picture of the Full, Half or Crescent Moon? – Part 2: Digital Equipment Required
REFERENCES
[1] Moon Photography: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip
[2] A Bit of Knowledge: How To Take Photos of the Moon - Handy Tip For SLR Digital Cameras
Document Release: 1; Document Last Modified: February 25, 2009
Nutritious Bananas Not Just for Adults But For Babies Especially
Bananas, a world’s most popular fruit is a very nutritious fruit full of vitamins and minerals, and let’s not forget it is also a very tasty fruit on its own or in baking or cooking. Everyone, adults, toddlers, babies enjoy it, and let’s not forget the monkeys.What Do We Know about Banana’s?
I am not going to give you everything here about bananas, but you should know that bananas likely came from Malaysia. It is hard to believe, because I always thought they came from South America. However, since it is a very popular fruit consumed, it is also highly cultivated fruit in most tropical areas around the world.
Nutritional Value of the Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium, and are obviously recommended to patients who are low on potassium. Go figure. However, if you are pregnant then most likely your baby is consuming all your nutrients during pregnancy; potassium is one of them that will deplete and you will know it by getting sometimes a charley horse in your legs. Therefore, you have that one banana or two. However, watch out in some cases bananas can cause constipation – moderation is the key. Let us not forget the fiber, protein, carbohydrates and sodium. Now, you can see how this can be an excellent fruit for malnourished children. In addition to make this fruit even more nutritious, it contains vitamin A, B, C and few minerals like Calcium, Magnesium along with small traces of Zinc and Iron.
What Is a Connection between Bananas and Monkeys?
This for a life of me I couldn' answer, and here is one answer I found on the ezine: Monkeys and Bananas. I hope it is true, and if it is I have nothing to do with it.
How to Eat Banana?
Yes you are probably saying, who doesn't know how to eat bananas. Well, if you already know, here are few tricks I did learn over the years. First, in order for the banana to ripe nicely keep them in one bunch, if you you want to preserve them longer, take them apart. But remember when you pick them avoid bruised ones. Another interesting trick someone told me one day is to peel banana from the bottom, and all the strings will go away with it. So much for fun peeling my banana, they had to ruined it. So not you know how to eat banana, so go banana.
How to Feed your Baby Banana?
Finally, something related to the title of this post. I started to give banana to my baby at age of 4 months. Just a little bit, not even a full baby spoon. This was for my baby to learn how to eat with the spoon. I did some research, and I found that you don't have to cook bananas before giving them to babies. However, I am one of those paranoid mothers, so I would always steam them in the steam of the boiling water. When feeding baby I would lightly scrape surface of the banana to generate mashed banana. It works very well, you don't really need any equipment to do that.
Important Note: 'Nitrates and vegetables. Some types of strained vegetables and fruits - including spinach, beets, turnips, carrots, green beans, mixed vegetables and bananas - contain nitrates, and should therefore not be given to infants younger than 4 months...In sufficient concentrations, nitrates can cause these children to develop methemoglobinemia, a condition in which blood cells do not transport oxygen efficiently.' [1]
Things People Say about Bananas
‘On a traffic light green means go and yellow means yield, but on a banana it's just the opposite. Green means hold on, yellow means go ahead, and red means where the hell did you get that banana at...’ once said by Mitch Hedberg, an American Comedian, 1968-2005.
‘Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana’ once said by Groucho Marx, an American Comedian, Actor and Singer, 1890-1977.
‘Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana’ once said by Bill Gates, an American Entrepreneur and Founder of Microsoft Co., b.1955.
And the last one, ‘Monkeys throwing bananas at keyboard could have written a better post’, the best one I have seen and you can read it about yourself.
Time to Frame the Banana
No I am not talking about putting a banana to jail. I am talking putting a nice picture of a banana on your wall. Hopefully you have learn something new here about bananas, therefore we should feel like we own something to bananas so why not framing nice banana picture on your kitchen wall? Here are some of the best photos of the bananas I have seen on Internet, some free and some for purchase.
Fotosearch.com
Crestock.com
Time to Go Banana
Here you can find banana humor. I am sure some of them are composed images, but they are darn funny. Read more...
REFERENCES
[1] 'Better Baby Food', 2nd Edition, Your Essential Guide to Nutrition, Feeding & Cooking for All Babies & Toddlers, by Diana Kalnins, MSc, RD, and Joanne Saab, RD, The Hospital for Sick Children, pg 46.
Document Release: 1; Document Last Modified: March 16, 2009
Safety First for Babies – When Buying Books for Babies, Toddlers and Children in General
As we walk into any bookstore, or any other place that sells books for children, we get overwhelmed with the range of colourful attractive children books. Putting the attractiveness aside, we must also look at safe books for babies. What I mean by safe book is the printing and design of the book. Aside note that many books now don’t even specify the age this book is intended to. I guess the publishers worry that if they will specify the age, then only mothers with child in that age range will buy this book. This is my opinion, and I say that because I have seen book from publishers that specialize in children’s books, and they do tell you the age of the child.
Let’s talk about books for babies. Yes, we do want to read books to our babies. We want them to touch the book and feel it. However, one thing parent must always do is not to leave a child unattended with the book. Babies when they start teething they will grab books and believe or not chew on it. As a parent you tell me if the printing ink is nutritious for your baby – no it is not. Watch out especially for the books made of fabric, or hard books that may be painted.
The next factor that may be unsafe for children are books with those things that have flip flaps. They are cool and very entertaining for you baby or toddler, but all you have to do is always be around your child. Sometimes they may come off very easy and the book becomes a choking hazard if unattended baby will consume it. Lastly the books with round corners are much better than the books with sharp corners. The pictures of the books below are the two examples. The sharp corners become dangerous especially when flipping pages, often may scratch babies face or even poke.
So next time you shop for a book for your baby, you may want to consider the above points.
Let’s talk about books for babies. Yes, we do want to read books to our babies. We want them to touch the book and feel it. However, one thing parent must always do is not to leave a child unattended with the book. Babies when they start teething they will grab books and believe or not chew on it. As a parent you tell me if the printing ink is nutritious for your baby – no it is not. Watch out especially for the books made of fabric, or hard books that may be painted.
The next factor that may be unsafe for children are books with those things that have flip flaps. They are cool and very entertaining for you baby or toddler, but all you have to do is always be around your child. Sometimes they may come off very easy and the book becomes a choking hazard if unattended baby will consume it. Lastly the books with round corners are much better than the books with sharp corners. The pictures of the books below are the two examples. The sharp corners become dangerous especially when flipping pages, often may scratch babies face or even poke.
So next time you shop for a book for your baby, you may want to consider the above points.
 | Peak-a-Baby is a book where the corners are rounded. Excellent book to be introduced at age of 2 months. |
 | Ten Little Ladybugs is a book where the corners are sharp. This book can be recommended for older babies, but please do not leave your baby alone with this book. |
REFERENCES
[1] Peak-a-Baby by Karen Katz, A Lift-The-Flap Book
[2] The Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth, Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: February 17, 2009
Blogging What to Expect – Things You Should Know Before You Start Blogging
What is Blogging?Blogging simply is a way of communicating to the world. You can write an email to many of your friends or colleagues, but with blogging you can write to the whole world or to the public of your choice. Technically blogging is short for web log, and is a form of personal or business journal updated frequently and broadcast publicly. It is similar to the discussion board, however, in the blogging world the blogger writes a post, moderates and converses with its visitors. Whereas, on the discussion board all users can communicate with each other and anyone can start the topic, however, don’t be surprise that there is a human guard that monitors your behavior. Needles to say if you are blogger, you are that guard and a writer. Bottom line you are in control. Frankly I don’t see much of a difference, but blogging is more fun because you are definitely the star.
How Do You Start Blogging?
Simple, you can choose blog provider of your choice, Blogger or WordPress- are the two most common free blogging platforms on the whole Internet, at least for now, and at least the ones I know. Sign up is very easy and fast, in a matter of seconds, providing that you know the following: name for your blog and address for your blog. Basic templates are available for you to start blogging immediately; however, you will find that with time you will get an itch to customize your blog template by using third party providers. But let’s not go there yet.
What Happens Next After Your Blog is Created?
What are you waiting for – start writing, linking useful information, show off your pictures, but blog responsibly by providing your original information. Your writing, your ideas, your pictures – bottom line do not copy others stuff without giving them a credit or asking for a permission. Simple as it sounds, if you don’t have visitors or commentators what is the use of blogging. Yes in order to be successful blogger you need visitors to comment on your published articles or pictures, and that is how you start going to other bloggers blogs and comment. Believe or not the professional bloggers that really care about their visitors will visit your blog back, and that is how your blogging virtual friendship starts. But this is only one small thing you can do to increase traffic to your blog. Other you may want to investigate social networking platforms that have database of many bloggers. Simple sign up can lead to your blog discovery. Also remember there are many silent bloggers that just read and go – a visitor counter may be a good idea to have on your blog then.
Blogging Techniques That Will Make Your Visitors Come Back Over and Over Again
I have been blogging for more than two years now, and I have seen many different ways of blogging with others. These are successful techniques that will get you a nice bunch of regulars to your blog. These techniques may be very time-consuming, but if you have nothing to do but blog, then they are rewarding, and your blog will definitely be recognized. Here how you can blog with your visitors.
- Double Commenting Technique: A visitor comments on your blog post. You comment back. Answer their question if asked; thank them for visit and comment on your blog. Let them know that you will be visiting them soon.
- Single Commenting Technique: A visitor comments on your blog post. You go to their blog and comment back. On their blog you answer their questions that were asked on your blog, thank them for a visit and comment on their post.
You have choice between the two, and obviously the first one is a more time-consuming one, which I have been doing. However, the first one usually guarantees to have your post topic flow on your blog and not scattered all over the other blogs, and probably more virtual blogger friends.
Before You Know It You Are Blogging All Day – Facing an Addiction
Typical blogger behavior after a while is to complain that too much time is spend on blogging, family is abandon, your lower bottom is getting bigger, you have migraines, not sleeping well, too excited – but you continue to blog, blog and blog. And then finally you shut down your blog, and your blogging career is over. These are typical signs of blogging addiction and failure in blogging world. Remember, blogging is free, and should not be stressful, you should be in control – and don’t feel bad if you did not blog for a while or take frequent brakes. If your posts are professional, entertaining and original, your virtual blogger friends will not forget you, and will be visiting you back, soon as they see you posting again.
Recognize Blogging Addiction
- You start complaining in your posts about being tired of blogging.
- You spend more than 2 hours of blogging a day.
- For some, if you post everyday and you don’t have time.
- You stopped cooking for loved ones, you miss your favorite shows, and you miss family visits.
- You close down your blog angry, others convince you to come back and you repeat above steps over again.
- You start creating more blogs than you can handle – yes blogging platform allow more than one blog to be created by one user.
Word of advice if you come back to blogging second time ensure to recognize your bad blogging habit. Recognize that you have been addicted to blogging and now set your limits, there is always a second chance.
Set Your Limits
The easiest way to blog is simple word – moderation. Let me emphasize again – moderation, that is blog when you can or allocate set time for blogging. Set your limits up front, tell the bloggers what are your limits and all will be fine. For example, tell yourself and everyone that you will have one post a week on the scheduled day of the week; and you will allocate sometime to visit and read other blogs; and as a result you are a happy blogging camper.
REFERENCES
[1] Image Courtesy of Microsoft Office Online, Clip Art Gallery
Document Release: 0; Document Last Modified: February 16, 2009
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