What I Learned Today

The news on eReaders...

2011-10-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2011/10/wegotscrewed.html

Cows for FREE?!?!

2011-10-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

I was browsing the web and all that it has to offer. I came across this website, kinda like etsy or ebay. People can sell whatever they want. Like 32 slightly used foam egg cartons. I first thought, wow people will try to sell everything they have, just to make some extra cash. Then i thought, well sometime farmers n such may use them to store their chickens eggs. Ok. Then, as I'm deep into the site, I now realize they also give things away, like kittens. Cuz you can't take money for an animal. But then I see a cow that is being given away. Now that, I could see charging for. In the older times, people used to sell livestock as a living. They produce many things for us. So, to give it away. Wow. And there are a lot of animals they are giving away too. With Free shipping!! Am i losin' it, or is this site not real?

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/oldbaloo?apply_coupon=29410&first_item=25635728&item_sort_options[filter_category_id][]=99
Scroll down a little to see the cows. :-)

Sugar Daddy site

2011-10-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

I was watching "The Dr.s" and there was a story about a new mascara that you never need to remove. I was intrigued. As I waited for that part of the segment to come on, I was blown away about the next thing I saw. A website for sugar daddy's. Not the all famous caramel lollipop manufactured by Tootsie Roll. But a man or woman with lots of money to throw around, who would give you some for the pleasure of your company. There is an actual website for this. Check it out...I had to. :-)

http://www.sugarsugar.com/

P.S. The mascara bit was totally not worth the wait, you need to have a treatment applied by a doctor and it only lasts for 2 weeks. Plus each treatment cost $50-$70!!! No thank you.

Indiana Schools Can Stop Teaching Cursive?

2011-07-23T09:57:00.001-07:00

EDUCATION

Typing Beats Scribbling: Indiana Schools Can Stop Teaching Cursive

By: KAYLA WEBLEY

Topics: CURSIVE, CURSIVE HANDWRITING, EDUCATION, HANDWRITING,INDIANA, INDIANA CURSIVE, INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Shanna Baker / Getty Images

Who still writes in cursive?

That age-old writing method you might never have used since fourth grade will no longer be taught in Indiana schools come fall, thanks to a memo from school officials. Instead, students will be expected to become proficient in keyboard use.

Seems like a smart move as being able to type efficiently is a vital skill in today's world, as opposed to knowing how to write cursive, which — like being able to churn butter and knowing how to hitch a horse to a wagon — is no longer needed.

But it might not mean the end of cursive entirely in the state. The directive from the state's Department of Education allows schools to decide for themselves whether to continue teaching cursive or disband the archaic practice altogether.

NewsFeed has just one question: How will Indiana's students know how to sign their name?

Google+

2011-07-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Google. and subsequently, everything attached to google. Gmail,. Maps, Shopping, Books, Analytics, Earth, Blogger, Apps...the list goes on. So I was very excited when I heard from another friend about Google+. You can check it all out here.
https://plus.google.com/up/start/?continue=https://plus.google.com/&type=st&gpcaz=d006e36c

I believe Google+ is still in BETA phase and you may need and invitation to get in. If you are interested in an invite, leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do.

Pelvic Pain

2011-06-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have recently had excrutiating pain in my pelvic region. Went on WebMD and found an interesting theory.

Endometriosis.

http://women.webmd.com/endometriosis/slideshow-endometriosis-overview

The controversy about Mr. Rogers

2011-06-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Today, I changed my screensaver. I mentioned to a co-worker that it reminded me of the make-believe characters on Mr. Rogers.

She then told me she heard at a party that Mr. Rogers always wore sweaters because he had sleeves of tattoos. I couldn't let this rest. I looked all over the internet trying to find something. I found an article about how he DID have tattoos and he was also a child molester. BULL!!! After extensive research I have come up with this.

He did not have tattoos...watch the video

He was not a child molester...watch the video

While looking at these videos, I cam across this one, which really pissed me off.

So, I stopped my research.

That's all. Just wanted to put the rumors to rest. Thanks.

Out with the food pyramid--

2011-06-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

When the USDA last week unveiled a new plate logo to replace its iconic food pyramid, some specialists in data presentation said the new image was too slimmed down.

The food pyramid, introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1992, spelled out how many servings of various food groups should be included in Americans' daily consumption, with the biggest components at the base of the pyramid. MyPlate, the USDA's new logo, strips away much of the information and data, instead depicting a plate divided into sections labeled vegetables, fruits, grains and protein. The vegetables and grains sections of the plate both are slightly larger than a quarter-plate, and fruit and protein sections are a bit smaller. A circle off to the side signifies dairy intake. None is labeled with percentages and amounts.

UPI

People who present data for a living say that the USDA's new plate icon is stuck uncomfortably in between an abstract icon and a graphic that conveys quantitative information.

The plate is intended to help reverse high obesity rates by spurring consumers to eat the right amount of food in healthy proportions. Whether people will get the message is unclear.

"On its own this graphic is pretty light fare," says Jeremy Shellhorn, assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. "As an information graphic, it simply doesn't give us much information."

The gripe of Prof. Shellhorn and others who present data for a living is that the new, multicolor plate icon is stuck uncomfortably in between an abstract icon and a graphic that conveys quantitative information. For instance, the different sizes of plate segments suggest relative proportions of food groups that should fill up consumers' plates, but USDA officials say these aren't meant to indicate actual proportions. And indeed they don't: According to USDA recommendations, a man age 31 to 50 is supposed to consume six ounces of protein daily, such as a six-ounce fish fillet—which would be dwarfed on a plate by the recommended seven units of grain, such as seven slices of bread or three and a half cups of cooked rice.

The USDA counters that the old pyramid conveyed too much information. "The intent was to get every piece of nutritional advice on the icon," Robert C. Post, deputy director of the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion," says of the pyramid. "That, I think, is too complicated. We can't get proportionality, balance, variety, portions and physical activity in one icon. One icon cannot do it. It is just an impossible task."

Instead, Dr. Post hopes that the new icon will catch Americans' attention and lead them to the website ChooseMyPlate.gov designed around the icon, where they can learn the suggested daily amounts from each food group. The icon itself "suggests proportions, because it has the uneven segments, but it isn't the end of the story on proportions," Dr. Post says.

While the USDA hopes that consumers will get all the details from its website, some nutritionists doubt many consumers will take that step after seeing the logo. "The people who will look at the website are the ones who need it least," says Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.

Proportions, it turns out, are tricky to standardize on an icon when USDA nutritional recommendations vary according to age and gender. For example, a man between age 19 and 30 needs 60% more grains than a girl between 9 and 13 does, the USDA says. But both groups should have three cups of dairy daily.

The Numbers Guy Blog

A Full Plate of Suggestions for USDA

Also complicating matters: Some foods are difficult to categorize. Consider ice cream. It is listed at ChooseMyPlate.gov among the foods that contribute the most empty calories for Americans. But one and a half cups of ice cream also are listed elsewhere on the site as counting for one of the three daily cups of dairy most people need. "This is not a good idea," says NYU's Prof. Nestle, noting the large number of calories in ice cream. And on the accompanying website, quantities of recommended food generally are listed in ounces or cups, not in calories, which some nutritionists say would make more sense.

Michael Wirth, assistant professor of new media design at Queens University of Charlotte, N.C., acknowledges the tough task faced by the USDA, which was seeking a design that could connect with consumers of all ages and multiple languages. But he would have preferred that the image included more data. "I wasn't sure if the actual slices…meant anything," Prof. Wirth says.

Some designers, though, say the simplicity is a virtue in this case. "The important concepts are easy to grasp and to remember," says Marcia Lausen, director of the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Art and Design. "Specific data is an additional help for those seeking exact information, and it can be easily accessed online. Most of us, when eating, cooking, or food shopping, are not thinking statistically."

Carpenter Bees

2011-06-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

If you have an infestation of carpenter bees, you will most likely see signs such as piles of wood dust below a porch roof or awning or you may see bees flying around in swarms. (They do not sting anyone.) You may see holes in wood where they make their nest and burrow deep into the wood. It is important to get rid of carpenter bees before they cause damage to your home. Many times people do not want to go with harsh chemicals, so home remedies can be very helpful.

Blocking holes
- For those who do not like the ill side effects that go with insecticides, closing up the holes of the nest is helpful. This would involve plugging all the entrances to the nest by using such things as caulk. Putty also will work well for this. Carpenter bees are good at burrowing their way into things but they will not burrow out of their nest, so by sealing the holes, you can put an end to the nest for good.
Use a Vacuum
- If the nest is pretty a new one, this will work well. The best time to do this would be in the evening hours, when the bees can be found in the nest and moving about more slowly. New nests may have around 20 bees with a queen, so it can be easy to stir up the nest with something like a stick, then vacuum up the bees as they come out.
Bee Sprays
- Before you call in the professionals, try the store-bought sprays. This is one of the more traditional methods used. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product completely and wear the right protective gear such as goggles and clothes to protect your skin. Spray the product right into the nest when you believe the bees are all inside. It is a good rule of thumb to repeat the process a second time to be sure that you got all of the bees.
Preventive Measures
- Be sure to replace any damaged wood once the bees are gone. Fill any holes with putty so that you will not have a new family of bees taking up residence. Check frequently for any new holes that may come up and plug the holes as quickly as you can.
Vinyl Siding
- One of the best ways to keep carpenter bees away from your home is to have your home protected with vinyl siding. This eliminates the wood that they like. If that is too expensive, paint the wood regularly.

I have a niece!!!!

2011-05-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

The Diva Cup

2011-05-25T15:51:00.001-07:00

Dryer Fires

2011-05-25T15:37:00.001-07:00

House Fire Caused By Dryer - More amazing videos are a click away