Teach It Tuesday: U.S.'s Smartest Cities

I have to share this

One more reason that Raleigh > Charlotte

:-)

Teach it Tuesdays: Spell Check...

Thanks to MS Office and phones that complete our words, an increasing number of Americans can't spell for s**t. Unfortunately, I am included in this number.

On yesterday's post I spelled what should have been "their" (as in the possessive) "there" (as in the noun.) This is really sad coming from a former spelling bee champion (it was elementary school but still.)

This is an interesting article about the "lost art" of spelling. http://www.audiblox2000.com/learning_disabilities/spelling_problems.htm

Teach It Tuesday: Toes

Earlier this week I was late to a meeting at work and there weren't enough chairs so I sat on the floor. During the meeting (of course as I was paying attention to everything going on in the meeting) I starting looking around at the only thing I could see: people's feet.

As I looked around I noticed something: Everyone's big toe was shorter than their second toe. And on some people's feet their big toes were really short, like even with their third toe short.

Now on my feet my big toe and second toe are the same size and if anything my big toe is a little bit longer. I know that some people have longer second toes (like my Manfriend) but I didn't realize I was so outnumbered. This got me looking into what the toe length variation means, genetically and otherwise and this is what Google told me:

• If your big toe is longer than you second, your feet are better built for athletics, particularly sprinting.
• Italians (like Y.M.), Greeks and other people from the Mediterranean region tend to have a longer second toe. Same goes for people of Celtic descent.
• Speaking of Italians...Some Italian folklore says that if you have a longer second toe you are a dominant personality and will be the "boss of the family." (Mob or otherwise...)
• A Des Moines University study of children born in the US and UK showed that those who were born with longer second toes made better grades in school and did well in aptitude tests.
• The same study says that people with longer second toes are highly disproportionally represented in death rows and in psychiatric facilities for the criminally insane.
• More than 90% of the adult population have a longer big toe than second toe. (Although apparently they don't work at my job...)
• And even though it is the most common "foot architecture" to have a longer big toe, it (like having white skin) is a recessive trait.

Go ahead. Look at your feet.

I know you want to. :-P

Teach It Tuesday: My new "favorite" foods

I went to the doctor a couple weeks back and after some blood test was told that I have high cholesterol. I expected it to be a little high from my awesome college eating habits, but didn't expect it to be as high as it was...especially since I'm in my mid 20s.

Luckily because I am in my mid 20s, there's changes I can make now to get it back down where it should be and keep it there without medication or too much worry about long lasting damage. In honor of my cholesterol enlightenment, here are some facts about it that I hope will help you all out.

• Your cholesterol should be under 200mg/DL and your triglyceride level should be under 150 mg/dL.
• One of the main sources of cholesterol in the human diet is animal fats (especially in red meat and eggs.)
• Foods that are high in saturated and/or trans fat are usually also high in cholesterol.
• Cholesterol is required to built and maintain cell membranes but your body creates cholesterol on its own, so you don't have to eat it to get enough of it.
• A person with normal cholesterol levels should limit themselves to 300mg of cholesterol a day to remain healthy. Those who need to lower it (like me) should stick to 200mg or less.
• If you want to lower your cholesterol, foods that are high in soluble fiber will help a lot.

This is the "increase these in your diet list" from my doctor:

• Soy products
• Red wine
• Oatmeal
• Almonds
• Fish
• Garlic

High cholesterol can lead to a higher risk of heart disease because cholesterol will sit on the walls of your arteries like spackle, making it difficult for blood to flow properly. Ewww.

Here's an additional source for more information: American Heart Association

Teach It Tuesday: Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds

I have quite a few people in my life that have pet allergies and quite a few that are pet owners, which can cause a clash when trying to have events or company.

E shared a list of Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds with me as we were looking to see if our friends would have a reaction to the newest addition to their family. Here's the abbreviated version (of dogs I've actually heard of):

Bearded Collie
Bolognese
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Greyhound
Goldendoodle
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Maltese
Poodles
Poodle hybrid
Pomeranian
Schnauzers
Scottish Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

For a more complete list and the reason each breed is hypoallergenic go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds


So will there be a problem? Nope, the little addition is a Pomeranian. :-)

Edit: Too bad Y.M.'s furry child is not on the list...and sheds enough to make a floor length coat every three days. Thank goodness for the Dyson.

Teach It Tuesday: "Did You Know"

I put this as an entry to the McKinney blog (http://www.fivewords.mckinney.com/) but I decided to share it with all of you as well.





My how things have changed...

Teach It Tuesday: Stretch Marks...yay...

I'm back from my blogging hiatus.

It's February and the holiday hangover is long gone and it's time to start thinking about getting ready for bathing suit season. I know a lot of my friends are concerned about stretch marks as they have either lost or gained weight rapidly in our post-collegiate lives.

Here's a link from wikiHow on how to get rid of them. I'm a fan of doing #2 with the cocoa butter.

Good luck people.

Teach It Tuesday: Presidential Knowledge

In honor of the inauguration of our 44th president I thought some random presidential knowledge was appropriate.

• The U.S. President serves as both the head of state and the head of government. (In the U.K. the Queen is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.)
• Obama is the 5th youngest president elected.
• Because of the 22nd amendment the longest a person could be president is 9 years 364 days.
• When the Obamas got home from the inauguration 93 people had put all of their belongs away for them so that when they got back after the festivities their new home was ready for them.
• The plane that George W flew out of Washington on is "Executive One" instead of "Air Force One" since he's no longer the President.
• Even though Obama's oath wasn't taken until 12:07ish, he became President at noon because of the way the 20th amendment is written.
• There have been 56 inaugural parades in Washington, D.C.

Every wonder how much the Pres makes? Here you go, courtesy of Wikipedia

DATE Salary In 2008 Dollars

September 24, 1789 $25,000 $566,000
March 3, 1873 $50,000 $865,000
March 4, 1909 $75,000 $1,714,000
January 19, 1949 $100,000 $875,000
January 20, 1969 $200,000 $1,135,000
January 20, 2001 $400,000 $471,000

There's your knowledge for the day.

And if you live in North Carolina, I hope you had a happy snow day. :-)

Teach It Tuesday: Resolution #6

Note: Sorry for the delay in sending. I drafted but did not schedule this posting.

My Teach It Tuesday Resolution: I have decided to go back to school.

No, I'm not talking about getting my MBA (for now at least,) I'm talking about taking classes at the local community college. Taking classes is a good way to keep your brain exercised, learn new things, and meet new people. Last year Lil Lisa and I took graphic design to keep our brains from rotting and it was a lot of fun and only $55.

This year my plan is to take 2-3 classes, one that's in my profession, one domestic, and one totally random one. I'll let you know how it goes.

Teach It Tuesday: Qwerty

Look at your keyboard.

Ever wondered why the keys are in that order? Ever even thought about it? I bet you are now...

Here's the answer:
In the 1860s Carlos Glidden and Samuel W. Soule were trying to create a typing machine. The found that when the keys were placed in alphabetical order the arms that printed the letters onto the paper would crash into each other, especially with speedy typists. They tried many configurations and discovered if the most used letters were operated by the pinky fingers it slowed the speed of the typing and prevent the arms from hitting each other and jamming. Also the four row configuration meant the hands had to move around more and therefore also slowed down the speed at with which one could type.

In the age of computers this logic doesn't matter anymore but it's ingrained in use that this is the way keyboards should look and so things will remain that way.

And that my friends, is why it so hard much harder to go from IMing on your computer to texting on a 9 button keypad... and why your Blackberry has a QWERTY keyboard.

Teach It Tuesday: Cured Ham

In the spirit of the holidays, here's this week's "Teach It" random answer.

Question:
What disease did "cured ham" actually have?

Answer:
Ham has the ability to get Clostridium botulinum, a deadly microorganism. Curing the ham with salt and potassium nitrate inhibits the growth of this microorganism, therefore “curing” the ham and making it so it can’t infect you.

Hope you had a good Tuesday.