Health News: Here’s some Handy Tips to Combat the Carriers of West Nile Virus – Mosquitos

                     Good Day Humboldt County!

I’ve seen some mosquitos lately and naturally my mind shifts into semi-panic mode: BEWARE! West Nile Virus carriers at twelve o’clock high! Thankfully, as far as I know there’s been no cases reported in Humboldt County, but when I was down in San Bernardino recently there were documented cases showing up in nearby Fontana.

I don’t know where you are while you’re reading this, but if you even suspect there’s mosquitos nearby don’t take any chances. Defend yourself:

                                          Threat Level Keeps Rising for West Nile Infection

A glorious summer day is an invitation to be outside for hours on end -- but constant swatting, slapping, and scratching from a mosquito attack can ruin even the best days -- not to mention mosquitoes can also carry dangerous diseases like West Nile Virus. Studies have shown certain factors make some people more prone to bites than others, including being pregnant, having an elevated body temperature, or having Type O blood, but just about everyone suffers a bite now and then. If you're convinced that you just have sweeter blood than everyone else, follow these simple rules to keep mosquitoes from bugging you.

         Why Mosquitos Bite You More Than Your Friends

               Choose Chemical-Free Repellents

The easiest way to banish bugs is with repellent, but you don't want to douse yourself with DEET every day, do you? Safer alternatives include oil of lemon eucalyptus, a major mosquito enemy. Try the brand "Repel," which uses the fragrant oil to ward off bites.

                    Natural Chemical-Free Repellants

                                                                 Time Your Outings

Stay indoors during dusk and dawn -- that's when many breeds of mosquito are at their peak biting time. You can see the sunrise just fine from your window.

                            Toss the Kiddie Pool

Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water, so make sure to clean out the pool often. And watch your back (and front, and sides) near any ponds or lakes.

                               How Safe Is Your Backyard?

                                         Wear White

Dark colors attract the bugs like no other -- supposedly because they look like the dark fur of animals they normally prey on. Wear light, bright colors to make yourself less attractive to feeders.

                                       Avoid Flowery Perfumes

Sure, it's nice to smell like a rosebush, but at the price of dozens of bites? Mosquitoes love nectar from flowers almost as much as they do humans, so stick with a less floral fragrance for the summer.

                               How Odors Affect Your Health

                                     Steer Clear of Beer

Mosquitoes have been shown to prefer beer drinkers over those who drink water. It's not confirmed if the extra biting also happens with other alcohols -- but just to be safe, keep the bottles indoors. Via Healthy Living

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Forever New: Scientists find out how nature makes colors that never fade

                     Good Day Humboldt County!

There’s so much negative news today I thought a change of pace might be nice.

Scientists have found nature's way of creating color that never fades, a technique they say could replace pigments used in industry with natural plant extracts in products from food coloring to security features in banknotes.

Layers of cellulose that reflect specific wavelengths of light — "structural color" found in peacock feathers, scarab beetles and butterflies — make a particularly intense blue in the Pollia condensata plant, scientists say. Samples of the fruit in plant collections dating back to the 19th century had not lost any shine or intensity, they found. (Read the story here)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Court rules that L.A. can't destroy homeless people's property

A panel of the 9th Circuit Court says that under the 4th Amendment, Los Angeles can seize some unattended possessions but must notify the owners.

Up to 7,000 people congregate in downtown Los Angeles' skid row each day, says an attorney representing the homeless. A federal appeals court ruled that even when warned of cleanups, homeless people have a right not to have their belongings seized. (Wally Skalij / LA Times - Read story here)

Bad News for Folk who like Egg Yolk: Study Warns Eating the Whole Egg is as Dangerous as Smoking

            Good Day Humboldt County!

I’m not sure I can digest the fact that something I’ve been eating for 62-years is suddenly going to kill me. I like to ignore studies like this, but I think it’s only right that I share this information and let you judge. 

 I’m trying to imagine what warning labels would look like on cartons of eggs. The graphics shown here could be a blueprint for cartons of eggs in October. “Boo-Ware! Of Egg Yolks!”

“Just as you were ready to tuck into a nice three-egg omelet again, comforted by the reassuring news that eggs are not so bad for you, here comes a study warning that for those over 40, the number of egg yolks consumed per week accelerates the thickening of arteries almost as severely as does cigarette smoking.

The study, published Tuesday in the journal Atherosclerosis, measured the carotid wall thickness -- a key indicator of heart disease risk -- of 1,231 patients referred to a vascular prevention clinic, and asked each to detail a wide range of their health habits, from smoking and exercise to their consumption of egg yolks. Just as smoking is often tallied as "pack-years" (the number of cigarette packs smoked per day for how many years), egg-yolk consumption was tallied as "egg yolk years" (the number of egg yolks consumed per week times the number of years they were eaten).” (Read the rest here)

Question of the Day: Why does coffee never taste as good as it smells?

              Good Day Humboldt County!

What’s more stimulating than the smell of coffee in the morning? Nothing, as far as I’m concerned.

The smell of freshly ground coffee beans gives me the strength to crawl out of bed in every morning.

I always wondered why when drinking the coffee it didn’t taste as good as it smelled. Well, I found out why: 

“ For many it is the first highlight of the day, just when you need it most: the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the house first thing in the morning. But scientists claim to have solved the mystery of why coffee never tastes as good as it smells.

The act of swallowing the drink sends a burst of aroma up the back of the nose from inside the mouth, activating a “second sense of smell” in the brain that is less receptive to the flavor, causing a completely different and less satisfying sensation.

In contrast, some cheeses smell revolting but taste delicious because their whiff seems more pleasant to us when passing out of the nose than in, experts explained. Speaking at the British Science Festival in Aberdeen Prof Barry Smith, of the University of London, said: “We have got two senses of smell.

“One sense is when you inhale things from the environment into you, and the other is when the air comes out of you up the nasal passage and is breathed out through the nose.” The phenomenon is down to the fact that, although we have sensors on our tongue, eighty per cent of what we think of as taste actually reaches us through smell receptors in our nose.” (Read the rest here)

Time for me to walk on down the road…

AS IT STANDS: A look back at the Republican National Convention

                         
                   By Dave Stancliff/For The Times-Standard
It was disturbing to watch two delegates thrown out for throwing peanuts at a black female CNN camera operator and shouting, “This is how we feed animals!” at the Republican National Convention.
I think I heard strains of “Dixie” playing (…old times there are not forgotten), but won’t swear to it.
 I didn’t see a unified Republican Party.
Convention Chairman John Boehner wasn’t exactly Mr. Popular. When he called for a voice vote on the rules it sounded like the “Nayes” won it, but Boehner ruled “The Ayes have it” and all the rules went through.

 Chaos erupted, but the dog-and-pony show went on despite early mention of minority reports sent to the Chair that would have offered an alternate version of the rules. However, no minority reports were voted on. It was as though no opposition had ever existed. Boos and fury followed. The unsatisfied Maine delegation walked out in disgust.

  A floor fight was narrowly avoided  and alternate delegates threatened to spark a mass rebellion by supporters of Texas Congressman Ron Paul, as well as opponents of the proposed rules.

 Chris Christie, a increasingly popular conservative politician and keynote speaker at the RNC, made no mention of his “New Jersey Comeback.”
Here’s why: when Christie took office in Jan. 2010 unemployment in New Jersey was 9.7 percent. It dropped to 9.0 percent earlier this year, but has since ballooned to 9.8 percent – the highest it’s been in 35 years.
Out of all the speakers, all the proclamations, and all the political rhetoric at the convention, one topic concerned me the most; war. Romney suggested that we might have to attack Iran. He also said he wants “a military so strong no one would dare attack us.” What Romney didn’t say was that our wars are causing our huge national debt.
The thing about that statement is no one would dare attack us now. The implication was that we are weak and he wants to beef up our military for more interventions into other countries. I find that unacceptable and fear mongering.
Unlike past Republican conventions, there was little talk of foreign policy. There was a  good reason for that. Recent polls show Obama holds a considerable lead in that subject.
Romney’s short campaign tour overseas, where he managed to seriously “tick-off” our  British allies during the Olympics, was a preview of his speaking skills abroad.  
 I found it ironic that the theme of the second night was: “We Built It,” in response to a speech earlier this year by Obama that was taken out of context. The night revolved around the bogus theme (lie) with testimonials from selected small business owners vetted by GOP convention organizers.

I was mildly surprised to see that Paul Ryan was named Romney’s Vice-President. He has a past history similar to Romney’s, as he’ll flip flop on political positions like an acrobat. His acceptance speech was full of lies (a Ryan trademark). 
For a detailed analysis go to http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/aug/11/fact-checking-paul-ryan/ and http://www.politicususa.com/5-biggest-lies-paul-ryans-rnc-acceptance-speech.html).
I wonder how Romney is going to square his quotes on abortion (he’s repeatedly told reporters there should be some exceptions) with the GOP Party platform announced during the convention which states, “No more abortions regardless of the reason.”
  Lots of tea party luminaries were featured, and rightly so, as they are taking over the Republican Party. 
 Romney’s acceptance speech on the last night was preceded by mystery guest Clint Eastwood, who proceeded to ramble on to an empty chair for 12 minutes before miming, “Make my day” and shuffling off. The audience exploded in nervous relief while convention organizers scrambled to adjust the schedule, since Dirty Harry used twice the time allotted to him.

Clint was right when he said Obama disappointed people by not getting us out of Afghanistan. The speech was, however, one of his more bizarre performances. He still stole the show.
Romney’s speech was full of  rhetoric and nostalgia. As usual, no detailed plans were given, only vague future promises. The only thing he and Ryan  really scored political points on was the fact that so many people are unemployed. They promised jobs - 12 million of them if they get elected.
As It Stands, perhaps the saddest footnote of all regarding the convention was that a spin-off reality show, “Honey Boo Boo,” drew more viewers than the convention on the final night.

WEBSITE carrying this column:

1) GOP Convention

Insect Power: Remote-control tech turns Cockroaches into Beasts of Burden

I’ve always assumed that cockroaches would someday be the only living thing on the planet. Until that happens however, scientists have harnessed the disgusting little things with a high-tech backpack that allows them to remotely control where they scurry.

While the concept may sound terrifying, anyone buried alive under rubble in an earthquake will shout for joy at the sight of one of these bugs. The shout will be relayed to rescue teams. (Story here)

Coca-Cola sees big profit in little drops despite risk to other units

Coca-Cola’s newest drink won’t come in a bottle or a can. Also, people will only need a squirt or two to quench their thirst.

In the coming weeks, the world’s largest beverage company is introducing its Dasani Drops, which can be squeezed into water for some on-the-spot fruity flavor. Coca-Cola is betting that there’s big potential for growth.

Coca-Cola says the drops will boost consumption of water, whether it’s tap water or bottled. Ideally, of course, people would use the drops with its Dasani water, which already saw sales volume rise 13 percent in the first half of the year, according to industry tracker Beverage Digest.

Overall consumption of bottled water has also been growing, although at a much slower pace than in the early 2000s, according to Beverage Digest, which reported last week that Coca-Cola planned to introduce the drops.

The drops may hurt Coca-Cola’s other units, however. The company also makes enhanced waters, such as Vitaminwater Zero. (Read story here.)

A look back at some of the most humorous Quotes & Jokes from the Democratic National Convention

                     Good Day Humboldt County! 

 True axiom: politicians provide easy fodder for ridicule. Sometimes they even tell funny jokes and quotes about each other. The Democratic National Convention was a good place to pull to joke around and drop pithy quotes books this year.

Oh! The games these kids play…    

                                    President Obama – Quotes
"You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can't visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally."

“They want your vote, but they don't want you to know their plan. And that's because all they have to offer is the same prescription they've had for the last thirty years: 'Have a surplus? Try a tax cut. Deficit too high? Try another. Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!'"

"If you're sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me, so am I."

Bill Clinton – Quotes

"In Tampa, the Republican argument against the president's reelection was actually pretty simple — pretty snappy. It went something like this: We left him a total mess. He hasn't cleaned it up fast enough. So fire him and put us back in."

Read More...

Jimmy Fallon – Jokes

"The Democrats are going all out to top last week's Republican Convention. In fact, I heard they're going to have Clint Eastwood yell at a couch."

Conan O’Brian – Jokes

"If you're a donor to President Obama's campaign, you were promised exclusive access to Joe Biden - and for an extra $10,000 absolutely no access to Joe Biden."

Jay Leno – Jokes

“What a different four years makes. At the lastDemocratic Convention the theme was 'hope and change' this time it's 'hope you don't make a change.'" 

Read more DNC jokes...

Time for me to walk on down the road…

Odd News Alert! What happened to the missing silver SpongBob coins!

ODD BREAKING NEWS…

“When Peregrine Financial Group collapsed in July after revelations its chief executive allegedly stole client money for years, it was not just customer assets of the futures brokerage that went missing.

Some 76 sets of silver coins sporting the image of cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants were also unaccounted for, according to a note buried deep in a filing by Peregrine Financial's bankruptcy trustee late Thursday. Thirty-nine ounces of gold were also missing.” (read the rest here)

The Toxic Avenger: All you ever wanted to know about cult films and more

                            Good Day Humboldt County!

There’s a lot of categories under cult films so let’s just dive right in and start with Troma's Intentionally-Trashy Cult Films:

 Troma Studios, founded in the early 1980s, has either produced or distributed some of the most astonishing, sleazy, gross-out, tasteless movies ever made - revitalizing the entire horror/sci-fi genre with campy comedy. One of their most successful, bad taste, low-budget cult films, a spoof of heroic monster films, was director Michael Herz' and Lloyd Kaufman's The Toxic Avenger (1984). The B-film was about a weakling who was transformed into a vengeful, rampaging, crime-fighting creature after tumbling into green radioactive waste. It was so well-received that it was followed by three sequels about the mutant super-hero: The Toxic Avenger, Part II (1989), and The Toxic Avenger, Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989), and Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV (2000). It even spawned a light-hearted Saturday morning cartoon called The Toxic Crusader, about someone named Toxie - who was exposed to toxic chemicals, and his other mutant friends who fight crime.

Film titles from Troma tell all - their iconoclastic films are deliberately manufactured to be silly, offensive, absurd, and harsh, and venturing toward lurid sexploitation, although many have become gore-fest cult favorites of the midnight movie crowd: Jim Mallon's parody slasher film Blood Hook (1986), Class of Nuke 'Em High (1986) - a combination teen-sex comedy and slime monster film (followed by two sequels: Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991) and Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid (1995)), Surf Nazis Must Die (1987) - about violent rival gangs fighting for beach turf, Fortress of Amerikkka (1989), Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1991), Tromeo and Juliet (1996) - a perversion of the Shakespearean story, and Terror Firmer (1999) - a 'film within a film' based in part on director Kaufman's 1998 book about his career with Troma, All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger. GO HERE TO CONTINUE READING ABOUT MORE CULT FILMS.

Time for me to walk on down the road…