Proper Storage For Carrots

Keep carrots out of direct sunlight

Carrots can become waterlogged or even rot if they are left in the refrigerator for too long. Store carrots away from direct sunlight in a place with low moisture, like a countertop away from the kitchen window or door.

Store carrots away from direct sunlight

 If you have already cut up a bunch of carrots to serve that night for dinner, place them in a container of cool water, enough just to cover them. Put the container in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.  

If you want to use them the next night for dinner, cook them first, cool, then refrigerate. Use within 24 hours or flash freeze them to use within 3 months.  


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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Polish humor

Proper Storage For Bread

The Bread Goes In The Breadbox

Leaving your bread in the refrigerator dries it out. At cold temperatures, your bread will turn stale, dry, and tasteless. Also, bread acts as a kind of sponge and it will soak up whatever odors are lingering around your fridge. 

To be safe, store leftover bread in a breadbox. If you don't have one, haunt the flea markets and garage sales and you can get one pretty cheap (under $5).  Mine is made of oak and I store breakfast pastries, bread, crackers, and cookies in the breadbox and they never go stale.  You can forgo the breadbox and store your bread in your microwave. Just be mindful that it is in there so you don't forget.  

The bread box will keep moisture from escaping from the bread.  


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QUOTE OF THE DAY

The Beatles Refused To Play To Segregated Audiences

Before they were BIG, they had a lot of demands in their contracts

Many stars make demands or requests of the management of the different places they perform.  Sometimes the requests are easy to fill, sometimes they aren't and sometimes they are so far out there, the venues won't oblige.

 A Beatles contract and rider from a 1965 concert at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California came up for auction in September 2011.  The Beatles made several demands of the Cow Palace  - electricity and running water in the trailer, and that the dressing rooms would have four cots, mirrors, an ice cooler, a TV and clean towels.  Their salary was $40,000 for the concert.

They wanted a minimum of 150 uniformed police for protection and they also wanted a special drumming platform for Ringo.  All of this was doable.

But the Cow Palace saw one more demand that they did not fulfill and that was the Beatles refused to play to a segregated audience, meaning they didn't want their audience to be separated by color. They wanted to play to everyone.  This was 1965 at the height of the civil rights movement.

You can read about the event and the crowd of 17,000 people who broke through the security barrier and caused the Beatles to stop playing until the venue was secure again.



The contract was signed by their manager, Brian Epstein. The contract and rider were expected to auction for about $5,000 by Nate D Sanders Auction on September 20, 2011. 


 A little research shows a news article from 2008 stating that the original 1962 contract between Beatles and their new manager Brian Epstein sold for £240,000 which in US money comes to $302,697.

Another article shows the Beatles contract from 1965 concert at the Cow Palace sold for $10,780, exceeding the expected $5,000 projection.

You can read more here:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/sep/15/beatles-refused-play-segregated-audience


 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The World's Tiniest Diamond Heist

A New York City gem dealer almost immediately discovered that the diamond thief was an ant because he had traveled only a few feet away.  The dealer filmed as the ant managed to steal one diamond, which is almost as big as he is, from a pile of very small diamonds that we can see on the desk. The camera zooms in and follows the ant carrying his glittering booty across the table. 


It's an interesting but short video, 47 seconds. Take a look. 

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Household Items That Are Poisonous To Pets

Pet owners treat their pets like their children but when they bring a new pet into their home, sometimes they don't bother to child-proof their house to make it safe for their pet.

How safe is your house for your pet?

Are your everyday household items put out of his reach?

When was the last time you pet-proofed your house?

Do you feed your pet "table food?"

The most common household items in your pantry, basement, and garage that are not a threat to humans, can be toxic to your pet.   Here is a room by room review, but each is only a partial list.

BATHROOM
Medications - both prescription and over-the-counter drugs
Caffeine pills
Drain and toilet cleaners
Bleach
Ammonia
Lime and rust removal products
Cough drops
Toothpaste
Q-tips
Deodorant
Shampoos and conditioners
Mouthwash
Toilet brush (used)
Room air fresheners
Plastic shower curtain liners (loosened)

ATTIC AND BASEMENT
Mothballs
Insecticides
Rodenticides
Paint
Rodent droppings




LAUNDRY ROOM
Detergent
Fabric softeners
Bleach
Dryer sheets
Lint
Detergent Pods
Rodent droppings

 


KITCHEN
Nuts - macadamia, peanuts in shells, etc)
Chocolate
Raisins and currants
Grapes
Caffeinated products (coffee, tea, cocoa)
Chicken bones
Table salt
All cleaning products
Steel wool
Kitchen sponges
Fatty scraps
Used oil containers
Onions
Chives
Garlic
Unbaked yeast dough

GARAGE AND SHED

Fertilizers
Mothballs
Bone meal and other products used to treat gardens
Compost
Lawn food
Glue
Weed killer
Sharp objects
Antifreeze
Windshield washer fluid
Motor oil
Gasoline
Ice melting products
Grub and snail baits
Rodenticides
Paint
Antifreeze
Windshield washer fluid
Motor oil
Gasoline

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Is Chocolate The New Superfood?

Many books and magazines call chocolate the new Superfood claiming that it can lower blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease, and promote better memory, among other things. 

It is true that dark chocolate has more beneficial qualities than light chocolate and white chocolate.  

A universal serving size still has not been established after all these years. 

We do know that eating a lot of it will promote tooth decay, cause acne and make us gain weight. Some people who are already at risk for developing kidney stones will continue to get them because of eating too much chocolate.  Bingeing on chocolate can cause anxiety, diarrhea, and irritability.

Quercetin is a flavonol found in chocolate. Flavonols are plant-based nutrients and quercetin is a potent antioxidant that protects your cells against damage by free radicals.   

But chocolate is loaded with sugar and other additives.  Any benefits that you think you would be getting from eating chocolate are canceled out by the sugar and other additives.   


Are all forms of chocolate good for you?

If the chocolate you eat has been processed, the processing method could strip the flavonols from the chocolate, which would leave no nutrients and no health benefits.  


Whenever surveys and studies are mentioned in an article, the studies are most likely funded by the chocolate companies themselves, namely Mars Company whose operating budget can easily fund dozens of studies. Each study usually has an ulterior motive to produce a positive outcome.  Therefore the studies will find as many good reasons as possible to say that chocolate is good and healthy so that people will keep buying it.  

Like a drug.

Just because chocolate has some health benefits, do you think that chocolate has earned the title of Superfood?  Use comments to voice your opinion.


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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Is The Shroud of Turin Authentic?

The Shroud of Turin is believed by many religions to be the burial cloth of Jesus. 

The Shroud of Turin

At this time, the shroud is at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Italy.  it's a good size shroud - 14 feet by 4 feet - and there is no mistaking that there is an image of on it of a man with crucifixion wounds.


In 1988 scientists carbon dated the shroud and determined that it was actually created between 1260 and 1390 AD, but most people just refused to admit that the relic was a hoax.



In 2018, forensic teams tested the bloodstain patterns. Only one wound was considered to be "real" - the spear wound on the chest.  


The rest of the wounds were inconsistent and none matched the patterns one would expect to see from someone who had been hanging on a cross for hours and hours before being placed in a grave. 


The blood droplets on the right hand could only happen if the person's arm were at a 45-degree angle. The forearm stains show vertical arm positions. For someone to hold their arms in the same position at the same time is physically impossible.


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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Health Benefits Of Fennel Essential Oil

The following statements are not proven facts. Use them as a guideline, but not as medical advice.

The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of fennel essential oil has been used to heal wounds, reduce and prevent spasms in the gut, relieve gas and constipation, treat digestive issues, and aid in weight loss.

Fennel Essential Oil has lots of benefits

1 - Heals Wounds  
The essential oil of fennel has certain compounds which contribute to its antiseptic properties and protects wounds from becoming septic. Fennel essential oil is also effective in preventing incisions from becoming septic, particularly after surgeries, Caesarian deliveries, and other serious wounds.


2 - Relieves Spasms  
Spasms are abnormal contractions occurring in respiratory tracts, intestines, muscles, or nerves. The spasms can cause continuous coughing, hiccups, acute pain and a pulling sensation in the intestines, cramps, muscle pulls, convulsions, or epileptic attacks. If not treated in time, a patient may have acute pain in the intestines or breathing difficulties. Fennel essential oil has a relaxing effect on nerves, muscles, intestines, and the respiratory system and it pacifies spasmodic attacks, giving quick relief.


3 - Eases Bowel Movements  
Fennel essential oil acts similar to purgative but is a little milder on the intestinal peristaltic motion. Fennel oil can help to clear the bowels and constipation. It protects the stomach from infections and ulcers and maintains the normal function of digestive acids and bile secretions.  Fennel oil is very good for people with chronic gas trouble. It helps gases escape from the intestines and can keep additional gas from forming.  


4- Kills Worms 
Fennel essential oil is an effective worm destroyer. It kills the worms and their spores in the intestines and the excretory tracts. This is great for children who frequently suffer from parasitic worms and can prevent malnourishment or stunted growth.


5 - Stimulates Urination - Diuretic
Fennel oil increases the frequency of urination and the quantity of urine, helping to not only remove excess water, sodium, uric acid, bile salts, and other toxic elements from the body but also lowering blood pressure, cleansing the kidneys and reducing fat. 

A word of caution: if you are not suffering from swelling or accumulation of water in the body, then you should drink more water when taking fennel oil since going to the bathroom so much can cause dehydration.

6 - Menopause and Menstruation 
Women with irregular, obstructed or painful menstruation can benefit from using fennel essential oil. Not only does it help to clear obstructed menses and make them regular, but it also gives relief from the other symptoms associated with periods such as headaches, pain in the abdominal area, dizziness, and mood swings. It can also help to prevent untimely or premature menopause.

7 - Promotes Lactation 
For lactating mothers, fennel essential oil can increase the amount of milk by boosting the production of estrogen. This benefits the baby as well as the mother and also protects the baby from flatulence, indigestion, and gas, which are very common in infants.

8 - Laxative  
Fennel oil is a good laxative and benefits those who have both chronic and acute constipation. However, unlike synthetic laxatives, it has no side effects and it can be used regularly.


9 - Healthy Spleen  
The spleen plays a vital role in our body governing the production of lymphocytes and red blood cells. Fennel oil helps to maintain the spleen.


Unproven Benefits

Fennel oil reduces obesity, wrinkles on the skin, and can be used to treat insect bites and colic, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, hiccups, dyspepsia, rheumatism, and excess cellulite.


Word of Caution: 
An organic component called trans-anethole, present in fennel essential oil, boosts the production of the estrogen hormone.  Although this is beneficial for lactating mothers, it is harmful to pregnant women and women with breast or uterine cancer or tumor, since excess estrogen is the main cause of such cancers. 


ALERT: In heavy doses, fennel essential oil may have narcotic effects and can result in convulsions, hallucinations, and mental imbalance. People suffering from epilepsy or with a history of that condition should avoid using fennel essential oil.


Fennel oil blends well with these oils: Sandalwood, Lavender, Geranium, and Rose.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Tact

Queen Victoria's Assassins

Queen Victoria 's would-be assassins all gave different reasons - but most did it for the Fame. 


But that fame worked both ways - for them and for Victoria. 


The attempts on her life and her response to them made Victoria better known and better liked. Victoria said, “It is worth being shot at, to see how much one is loved.” 

It was a shot of much-needed good Public Relations for a throne whose previous monarchs had been unpopular.

None of the would-be assassins made it into the history books like John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln’s murderer. 


All of them lived for many years after trying to kill the Queen.  They came from nowhere, were in the public eye for a short time following their attempts, then disappeared back into obscurity.

Most of them pleaded insanity at their trials which helped to strengthen how future insanity pleas were legally prosecuted.  

After the assassination attempt by Roderick MacLean in 1882 by firing a revolver at her in a train station, Victoria made sure the legal definition of insanity well defined.

Only one attempt on Victoria’s life actually injured her, and it was the only one not made with a gun. 

In 1850, an ex-soldier named Robert Pate hit her over the head with an iron-tipped cane while she was in the courtyard of her home, leaving the Queen with a black eye, a welt and a scar.  

However, she appeared two hours later in Covent Garden to prove that she was well and that her injury wouldn’t stop her from seeing her subjects.

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Quote of the Day

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The Deadly Dare

In 2010 Sam Ballard, a 20-year-old aspiring Australian rugby player, was at a party with friends. He was dared to swallow a live slug from the garden, and Sam took the dare. His friends later said he seemed unaffected because he didn't get sick or act any differently after swallowing the slug.  

Slugs are not meant to be eaten

A few days after swallowing the slug, Sam started getting pains in his legs. He was vomiting and he complained of dizziness.  His family took him to the hospital where he only got worse and worse. After doctors ran tests, it turned out that it wasn't just any old slug that he swallowed. 


This one had a parasite called rat lungworm which the slug probably picked up from eating rat droppings. 


Rat lungworm infection can progress into bacterial meningitis, causing symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, weird sensations in arms and legs, brain damage and, eventually, paralysis.  


Within a few hours after arriving at the hospital, Sam lapsed into a coma. He was placed in a nursing home because he required 24/7 care.    While in a coma, Australia's National Disability Insurance cut off his benefits. 


His family took his story to the media and they requested donations to pay for his care. The donations trickled in. When Sam finally woke up from coma 420 days later, he learned his career aspirations to be a rugby player were crushed because he was permanently paralyzed from the neck down.  

After much media publicity, the Australian government reversed their decision but they only approved him for half the money of what his previous benefit had been. 

On the left, Sam Ballard at present day. On the right, Sam Ballard during his heyday.

After 8 years of dealing with seizures, infections, paralysis, pressure sores and other symptoms, Sam Ballard died on November 2, 2018, at age 28. 


Your takeaways from this story: 

1 - Teach your children to use common sense when accepting a dare.  

2 - If the dare calls for eating something that isn't on your regular diet, don't do it. 

3 - Never eat, swallow or handle anything that could be carrying a parasite - like slugs, snails, land crabs, freshwater shrimp, or frogs to name a few.  

4 - Don't eat or handle vegetables that are grown in a slug's environment.  

5 - Wash your hands often if you come into contact with any of the above mentioned.

6 - Inspect your eating utensils and make sure they are thoroughly clean when they have been in contact with frogs, snails, slugs, etc. 


Sources: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/05/young-rugby-player-ate-slug-mates-dare-now-hes-dead



The boys who dared Sam
https://www.mamamia.com.au/sam-ballards-life-changed-after-slug/



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QUOTE OF THE DAY

You've got to take a chance

Legally Married To A Dead Person

A person can legally marry a dead person in France and it's legal! This type of marriage is called a posthumous marriage or necrogamy. Similar forms of marriage are also permitted in Sudan and China.

Legally marrying the dead is called necrogamy

During World War I, there were women who used a proxy to marry soldiers that had died weeks earlier. For civilians, posthumous marriage originated in the 1950's, when 400 people were killed in France after a dam broke. 


André Capra was killed in the disaster and he was engaged to Iréne Jodart.  Irene pleaded with French President Charles de Gaulle to let her continue with her marriage plans even though her fiancé had died. She had huge support from the media and within months, she was allowed to marry her dead fiancé. 

After the dam tragedy, France’s parliament made these marriages legal with their own law and since then, literally hundreds of women have formally filed for as postmortem marriages.


As with anything, there are Rules:

1 - Anyone in France who wants to file for posthumous marriage must send a request to the President of France, who forwards it to the Justice Minister, who forwards it to the prosecutor for the surviving member’s district.


2 - If the couple had originally planned on getting married and if the family of the deceased approves, the prosecutor sends the application back to the President. One out of every four applicants for posthumous marriage is rejected.


3 - Examples of ways to legally show good intentions are for the man to have posted banns (official wedding announcements) at the local courthouse or written permission from a soldier's commanding officer.


4 - Requests also include records that show a serious cause for the marriage - such as the birth of a child or the death of the fiancé.


5 - Pregnancy alone or a letter that promises marriage is not enough, partly because such letters have a reputation for being illegitimate.


6 - The marriage date always goes back to the day before the deceased spouse died.


7 - Even if the couple were engaged and had published banns, a posthumous marriage won't automatically happen, partly because living engaged couples can (and do) change their minds at the last minute.


8 - A posthumous marriage can also be denied based on the testimony of a trustworthy individual. The judge’s role is to make sure that the paperwork has been properly filled out. The judge cannot change or question the authority of the documents.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Miners Transportation System

Miners Transportation System
Young employees taking a joy ride

Kimberly Diamond Mine in the Northern Province of South Africa was the diamond epicenter back in 1869 until it finally shut down in 1914. Workers devised this system to transport workers to the dig site.

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