Oldest Monks In The United Kingdom

In the 1880s, in Somerset, United Kingdom, a group of archaeologists unearthed the ruins of a cemetery attached to Beckery Chapel, which was a medieval monastery from the Middle Ages.  Since its finding, the cemetery has been hailed as the oldest monk cemetery in the UK. 

The dig site at Beckery Chapel

 


About two hundred years later, during an excavation in the 1960s, archaeologists found around 60 bodies in the ruins. Only one was a woman, which supports the claim that this was indeed a monastic cemetery. 



To properly date the skeletons, they knew they would have to wait for technology to advance a little more, so the age of the remains was guestimated.  

In 2016, the remains were finally carbon dated and they were from medieval times around 406 AD to 544 AD. 

Archaeologists had expected the graveyard to be as old as the chapel but further excavation showed that the chapel was far older than the skeletons and much older than the dates that had been in place since the 1880s. 


The finding of the monk skeletons made them among the oldest monks in the United Kingdom. The graveyard also showed signs that the monastery was in use for quite some time. 


From the 7th to the 9th centuries, the public was allowed to be buried in the cemetery. Then at the end of the 9th century, the Vikings overran Somerset making Beckery Chapel unusable.  This explains why there were no more monks after 544 AD.


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QUOTE OF THE DAY

History of Oleomargarine

For those of you who are too young to remember when oleomargarine made its first appearance in your house, this one is for you!  Perhaps you recognize "margarine" but not the "oleo" part. Oleomargarine is artificial butter. It is made from the yellow, tasteless and odorless oil that is obtained from beef suet. Oleomargarine was shortened to "margarine" shortly after it became available in the United States in 1851.

1930's advertisement said margarine was nourishing
but there was little truth to that.

In 1869, Napoleon III sponsored a contest where he asked French citizens to invent or create an affordable butter substitute that was less perishable than real butter. He had a good reason.  France was going through a butter shortage and Napoleon III wanted a cheaper but buttery tasting product to feed French troops and a product that lower classes would be able to afford.  

1940's British advert for Margarine

Hippolyte  Mege-Mouries, a French chemist, won the contest.  He was well-known to Napoleon III. He was working at la Ferme Impériale de la Faisanderie, which was Napoleon III's private farm in Vincennes near Paris.  Formerly he worked as a pharmacist for royal supported Hotel Dieu Hospital in Paris where he was published in medical journals, most notably, his findings of experiments that reduced the side effects of a syphilis medication. 


Mege-Mouries was no stranger to obtaining patents. He held patents for effervescent tablets, for techniques in papermaking, for sugar refining, and for the tanning of leather using egg yolks.  


He had been experimenting with margaric acid, a new fatty acid discovered in 1813 by Michel Eugene Chevreul, his former teacher. 

He mixed processed beef tallow with skimmed milk and created his product which he called "oleomargarine."  As requested, it was less perishable than butter and far cheaper. The oil is placed in churns, with one-fifth of its weight of sour milk and churned until an emulsion is formed, a red-orange dye is added to give it the right color. It is then cooled and salted like common butter. It is estimated four thousand tons (eight million pounds) have been consumed in this country in 2018. 

Taste so much like butter
that you can't tell the difference!

Mege-Mouries received a prize for winning the contest and he used it to open his own manufacturing company outside of Paris.  However, there were no more shortages of butter and butter manufacturers were back to enjoying high sales of their product which was exported to England and other countries. Mege-Mouries felt his sales suffered because butter exports eliminated the need for people to buy oleomargarine. 

In 1951, the W.E. Dennison Company received U.S. Patent 2,553,513 for a method to place a capsule of yellow dye inside a plastic package of margarine. After purchase, the capsule was broken inside the package, and then the package was kneaded to distribute the dye. Around 1955, the artificial coloring laws were repealed, so that margarine could now be legally sold with coloring so it looked like butter.





This next part might make you reconsider or at least cut down how much margarine you consume when you see how it is processed.

How Margarine Is Processed 

 With all the hype about eating heart healthy and the pros and cons of butter and margarine, the following sites might be of interest to you.

https://www.ourheritageofhealth.com/the-history-of-margarine-and-why-butter-is-better/

http://blog.fit-fresh.com/butter-vs-margarine-whats-difference/

https://bigpictureeducation.com/lovely-spread

https://wellnessmama.com/2193/never-eat-vegetable-oil/


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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Infant Seat for Flying

Infant seat attached to overhead compartment 1953

Back in 1953, BOAC supplied skycots, a hammock type of carrier, that clipped onto the lip of the overhead baggage compartment just above the heads of the parents sitting in the seats below.  Skycots were supplied free to parents of infants who were not able to crawl or turn over yet.  

Although the child had to be held in the arms of a parent for liftoff and landing, for the duration of the airplane trip, the child lay snug and secure in the skycot above them. Its scoop-like sides evidently were all that was needed to keep the child from falling out.  

So I guess they didn't have any turbulence back then?

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

Airplane Food

your sense of taste is altered on an airplane

You can't taste sweetness or saltiness nearly as well on an airplane due to altitude and pressure, as well as a lack of humidity. Cabin air also decreases your ability to smell, and tasting is as much about your nasal passages as it is your taste buds. Even the noise that jet engines produce can impact your tongue.



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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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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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