January 31, 2010
This evening, another reprieve from The Game, I took my meal off to have Moroccan food with a friend of mine. The food was so enjoyable! I had an appetizer of ground beef mixed with nuts and sultanas and lots of spices. So delicious! During dinner, my friend told me that she heard that spicy –as in hot – food can boost your metabolism. Interesting. Today’s question is: can spicy food increase your metabolism?
A: Capsaicin is the source of heat in chilli peppers and once consumed, raises the body’s temperature. This heat generation, does in fact increase metabolic rate which burns extra calories after a meal. Studies have shown that eating a spicy dish in a meal can increase a person’s metabolic rate by 8%, which is not significant enough to promote weight loss.
Studies have also determined that spicy foods increase the feeling of satiety and that capsaicin may work as an appetite suppressant.
A research study focused on a group of adult men and found that those who were served hot sauce with appetizers before a meal went on to consume on average about 200 fewer calories at lunch and in later meals than their peers who did not have anything with capsaicin. (Taken directly from The New York Times article)
Sources:
Diagnoseme.com: Spicy Food
The New York Times. Fitness and Nutrition. "The Claim: Spicy Foods Increase Metabolism". Anahad O’Connor. November 28, 2006.
Sunday
Saturday
Itchy & Scratchy
January 30, 2010
Saturday was filled with a lot of running around and trying to get things done. The brief periods of time that I spent at home, were used to get ready for the next outing. During my evening stop in, I noticed that one of my cats was “cotton balling” that is to say, itching intensely and causing his fur to come out in clumps. No need to be alarmed, it is just all of the fur that he would normally shed balling up and falling out at once – he is not going bald. But watching him scratch informed today’s question. Today’s question is: what causes an itch?
A: Itch, also known as pruitus, is an irritation or tingling sensation of the skin. Doctors and scientists have no definitive conclusion on what an itch is; however they have divided them into two categories: sensory itch and allergic itch. Sensory itch can be defined by a lack of skin rash and may be brought on by a variety of physical or chemical irritants.
Generally, itching is more severe when the skin is warm and there is an absence of distraction – this is why people tend to notice itching more at night. It is likely that itch is transmitted by lightly insulated or uninsulated pain receptors in the superficial skin.
Scratching relieves itch by sending an overwhelming signal to the pain neurons, which masks the itch sensation.
Sources:
Answers.com: Itching
MadSci Network: Medicine
Saturday was filled with a lot of running around and trying to get things done. The brief periods of time that I spent at home, were used to get ready for the next outing. During my evening stop in, I noticed that one of my cats was “cotton balling” that is to say, itching intensely and causing his fur to come out in clumps. No need to be alarmed, it is just all of the fur that he would normally shed balling up and falling out at once – he is not going bald. But watching him scratch informed today’s question. Today’s question is: what causes an itch?
A: Itch, also known as pruitus, is an irritation or tingling sensation of the skin. Doctors and scientists have no definitive conclusion on what an itch is; however they have divided them into two categories: sensory itch and allergic itch. Sensory itch can be defined by a lack of skin rash and may be brought on by a variety of physical or chemical irritants.
Generally, itching is more severe when the skin is warm and there is an absence of distraction – this is why people tend to notice itching more at night. It is likely that itch is transmitted by lightly insulated or uninsulated pain receptors in the superficial skin.
Scratching relieves itch by sending an overwhelming signal to the pain neurons, which masks the itch sensation.
Sources:
Answers.com: Itching
MadSci Network: Medicine
Friday
Eff! Why Eye?
January 29, 2010
I wrote a poem on Tuesday for my writing class. It wasn't actually for the class, but rather a warm up exercise to get the creative juices flowing. The thing was, I was so proud of it, I posted it on a social networking site. The poem was about the feelings I was experiencing during my divorce. It was certainly raw - but I received some backlash from it. Some people that knew my ex felt it was a bit trashy for me to post it publicly. Since this is my little corner of the world, I'm going to re post it.
A Letter to My Ex
To my ex-husband,
I hate you.
You made me feel angry.
I have learned that anger is an emotion that is secondary, stemming from fear and hurt.
I was hurt.
You shocked me by telling me that you preferred your own company to mine.
This made my heart ache.
It made me feel worthless.
It made me think that I was unimportant and that the last eight years had been a sham.
You squashed my dreams of beating the odds.
I wanted to be a parent and a grandparent with you by my side. I wanted to retire to the English seaside with you and sip tea and eat cream cakes.
You stole my dream of growing old with the one person who knew me best.
You may not have been perfect, but you were perfect for me.
I was fearful.
How was I meant to go on?
I had spent almost a decade with you, spanning nearly my entire twenties and two countries.
I didn't know how to date, how to relate to others romantically.
You were my life.
I have gathered what is left of my life and tried to create an identity solo.
This has been harder than expected.
It took me a long time to untangle me from you - and the journey continues.
My hope had been that I could replace you, but my relations with men have been bumpy to say the least.
The physical interactions that I used to employ in my teens and early twenties have left me feeling dirty and empty.
As I learn about who I am, I am trying to be okay with being alone without feeling lonely.
You forced me into this.
I resent it.
I hated not having a choice.
I hate that I am stigmatized by being divorced before I am thirty.
I hate that your choice has impacted so many other people.
I hate everything about my situation.
But, it is just temporary.
This too shall pass.
And perhaps, just perhaps, my hate will turn to gratitude.
Sincerely,
Your ex-wife
In defense, I made sure that he had a copy, so it was not been done behind his back. This is my true, unbridled, raw emotion and it's a tough pill to swallow. But this has been a real writing accomplishment for me - to write something that is completely uncensored. If you read it, I don't say a bad word about him or call him names, I am expressing my experience. I was careful to use a lot of 'I statement', which we learn in counselling techniques, allows people to express their feelings without placing blame. Today's question is: what is the value of 'I statements'?
A: 'I statements' are the essence of assertive language - they are powerful messages of impact and personal perspective. 'I statements' are useful and preferred because the accountability stays with the speaker. In order to effectively use this form of communication it is best to stick to a five step system.
I wrote a poem on Tuesday for my writing class. It wasn't actually for the class, but rather a warm up exercise to get the creative juices flowing. The thing was, I was so proud of it, I posted it on a social networking site. The poem was about the feelings I was experiencing during my divorce. It was certainly raw - but I received some backlash from it. Some people that knew my ex felt it was a bit trashy for me to post it publicly. Since this is my little corner of the world, I'm going to re post it.
A Letter to My Ex
To my ex-husband,
I hate you.
You made me feel angry.
I have learned that anger is an emotion that is secondary, stemming from fear and hurt.
I was hurt.
You shocked me by telling me that you preferred your own company to mine.
This made my heart ache.
It made me feel worthless.
It made me think that I was unimportant and that the last eight years had been a sham.
You squashed my dreams of beating the odds.
I wanted to be a parent and a grandparent with you by my side. I wanted to retire to the English seaside with you and sip tea and eat cream cakes.
You stole my dream of growing old with the one person who knew me best.
You may not have been perfect, but you were perfect for me.
I was fearful.
How was I meant to go on?
I had spent almost a decade with you, spanning nearly my entire twenties and two countries.
I didn't know how to date, how to relate to others romantically.
You were my life.
I have gathered what is left of my life and tried to create an identity solo.
This has been harder than expected.
It took me a long time to untangle me from you - and the journey continues.
My hope had been that I could replace you, but my relations with men have been bumpy to say the least.
The physical interactions that I used to employ in my teens and early twenties have left me feeling dirty and empty.
As I learn about who I am, I am trying to be okay with being alone without feeling lonely.
You forced me into this.
I resent it.
I hated not having a choice.
I hate that I am stigmatized by being divorced before I am thirty.
I hate that your choice has impacted so many other people.
I hate everything about my situation.
But, it is just temporary.
This too shall pass.
And perhaps, just perhaps, my hate will turn to gratitude.
Sincerely,
Your ex-wife
In defense, I made sure that he had a copy, so it was not been done behind his back. This is my true, unbridled, raw emotion and it's a tough pill to swallow. But this has been a real writing accomplishment for me - to write something that is completely uncensored. If you read it, I don't say a bad word about him or call him names, I am expressing my experience. I was careful to use a lot of 'I statement', which we learn in counselling techniques, allows people to express their feelings without placing blame. Today's question is: what is the value of 'I statements'?
A: 'I statements' are the essence of assertive language - they are powerful messages of impact and personal perspective. 'I statements' are useful and preferred because the accountability stays with the speaker. In order to effectively use this form of communication it is best to stick to a five step system.
- Use 'I' instead of 'You'
- Refer to the behaviour and not the person.
- State how the behaviour affects you.
- State what you need to happen.
- State that there is a consequence to their action.
Okay, perhaps my poem wasn't all blame free, but at the end of the day, I wrote about the things that I wanted for us and how I've been hurt by the situation. At the end of all of this, I think it has taught me a valuable literary lesson: true, unbridled emotion causes the most controversy, and controversy adds interest. I wrote another poem about someone else who broke my heart recently - it was full of old time imagery and symbolism - not one person has commented on it.
Sources:
Thursday
Wordscraper
January 28, 2010
This morning I received an e-mail from my friend that it was my turn on Wordscraper – which is the Facebook version of Scrabble. I have never been very good at Scrabble, my brain just lacks something that allows me to make words for points with little tiles. I know what you’re thinking, a person who is (a) attempting to become genius and (b) trying to improve her writing abilities, should not be admitting that. I suppose, like with everything, I will get better with practice. Today’s question is: what are some techniques for mastering Scrabble?
A: The first, and most obvious answer, is to improve your vocabulary. Many Scrabble masters become familiar with obscure or unusual words, which help to create words with awkward tiles. It is useful to know words that require many vowels as well as consonants to get rid of letters. It is also helpful to learn numerous two letter words - this allows players to increase their scores by making supplemental words from their main word. For example:
__Y
M O
A G
N A
Y
This player may have played the word YOGA, however they would also gain points for the words 'MO' 'AG' and 'NA'.
It is important for a player to know the game board, in order to take advantage of double and triple spaces. Use those spaces tactically, so not to give your opponent a chance to take advantage of them.
Arrange your tiles to make a word - preferably one that uses all seven letters. This is called a bingo and will add 50 extra points to a player's score. If a player does not have any tiles that will create words, it is suggested that they exchange tiles. It does result in missing a turn, but may allow for a higher word score.
Lastly, practice, practice, practice.
So, it seems that my tactic is good... I may not be a genius or have the ability to play Scrabble, but if I keep at it, who knows.
Sources:
ehow: How to improve your Scrabble game
Scrabble Help for the Average Game Player
Wikihow: How to improve your Scrabble score in 7 steps
This morning I received an e-mail from my friend that it was my turn on Wordscraper – which is the Facebook version of Scrabble. I have never been very good at Scrabble, my brain just lacks something that allows me to make words for points with little tiles. I know what you’re thinking, a person who is (a) attempting to become genius and (b) trying to improve her writing abilities, should not be admitting that. I suppose, like with everything, I will get better with practice. Today’s question is: what are some techniques for mastering Scrabble?
A: The first, and most obvious answer, is to improve your vocabulary. Many Scrabble masters become familiar with obscure or unusual words, which help to create words with awkward tiles. It is useful to know words that require many vowels as well as consonants to get rid of letters. It is also helpful to learn numerous two letter words - this allows players to increase their scores by making supplemental words from their main word. For example:
__Y
M O
A G
N A
Y
This player may have played the word YOGA, however they would also gain points for the words 'MO' 'AG' and 'NA'.
It is important for a player to know the game board, in order to take advantage of double and triple spaces. Use those spaces tactically, so not to give your opponent a chance to take advantage of them.
Arrange your tiles to make a word - preferably one that uses all seven letters. This is called a bingo and will add 50 extra points to a player's score. If a player does not have any tiles that will create words, it is suggested that they exchange tiles. It does result in missing a turn, but may allow for a higher word score.
Lastly, practice, practice, practice.
So, it seems that my tactic is good... I may not be a genius or have the ability to play Scrabble, but if I keep at it, who knows.
Sources:
ehow: How to improve your Scrabble game
Scrabble Help for the Average Game Player
Wikihow: How to improve your Scrabble score in 7 steps
Wednesday
The Great Fire
January 27, 2010
In order to balance The Game’s required daily exercise and my Wednesday night writing class, I walk to George Brown College from Yonge and Bloor. This evening was considerably colder than the past few weeks and I found that I walked more quickly. The accelerated pace meant that I was early for my class and I decided that I would take the last stretch, from St. James Cathedral, at a more leisurely tempo. As I strolled, I noticed a placard on the side of a furniture shop. Upon closer inspection, it commemorated the rebuild after the Great Fire of Toronto. I am familiar of the details of the Great Fire of London, partially because of high school history class and also from living there, but I was unaware of the details of the Great Fire of Toronto. Today’s question is: what are the circumstances surrounding the Great Fire of Toronto?
A: Well, whaddya know, Toronto actually experienced two great fires in its time. The first fire was in April 1894 (which is the plaque that I read) and burned through 16 city blocks – from Front Street East to Adelaide Street and from George Street to Church Street.
View Larger Map
The cause and origin of the fire is still unknown, although the Bruce Bell society suggests that it began in a stable on King Street in the early morning hours. Ironically, the city’s Water Company burned to the ground, and citizens had to run with buckets to and from the lake to douse the flames. Amazingly, only one person died in the fire, a man named Richard Watson, while trying to save his office.
St. James Cathedral and St. Lawrence Hall were reconstructed on the sits of the predecessors. The fire also lead to the introduction of new fire regulations, which are still in existence today..
The second Great Toronto Fire was in April 1904 – nearly 10 years to the day. The E. & S. Currie Building on the north side of Wellington Street, west of Bay was where the fire originated, however how it happened is still debated. Some say the source was faulty electrical wiring, others say it a stove was left on. Whatever the source, the fire quickly spread and by the end of it, one-hundred and twenty two buildings burned and 230 businesses were lost. Surprisingly, not one life was lost in the fire, but financial loss was estimated at 10-million dollars.
Interestingly, The Great Fire of 1904 was one of the first news events in Toronto to be filmed. George Scott, a local filmmaker, used his camera to film horse-drawn pumper trucks racing down Bay Street.
Sources:
Photos of the fire are courtesy The Toronto Archives (to be posted)
National Post. Back Story: Burning Questions about Toronto’s Great Fires. Barry Hertz. August 21, 2008
City of Toronto Archives: The Great Fire of 1904
The Toronto Star. The Great Fire of 1904. Adam Mayers. August 5, 2008
In order to balance The Game’s required daily exercise and my Wednesday night writing class, I walk to George Brown College from Yonge and Bloor. This evening was considerably colder than the past few weeks and I found that I walked more quickly. The accelerated pace meant that I was early for my class and I decided that I would take the last stretch, from St. James Cathedral, at a more leisurely tempo. As I strolled, I noticed a placard on the side of a furniture shop. Upon closer inspection, it commemorated the rebuild after the Great Fire of Toronto. I am familiar of the details of the Great Fire of London, partially because of high school history class and also from living there, but I was unaware of the details of the Great Fire of Toronto. Today’s question is: what are the circumstances surrounding the Great Fire of Toronto?
A: Well, whaddya know, Toronto actually experienced two great fires in its time. The first fire was in April 1894 (which is the plaque that I read) and burned through 16 city blocks – from Front Street East to Adelaide Street and from George Street to Church Street.
View Larger Map
The cause and origin of the fire is still unknown, although the Bruce Bell society suggests that it began in a stable on King Street in the early morning hours. Ironically, the city’s Water Company burned to the ground, and citizens had to run with buckets to and from the lake to douse the flames. Amazingly, only one person died in the fire, a man named Richard Watson, while trying to save his office.
St. James Cathedral and St. Lawrence Hall were reconstructed on the sits of the predecessors. The fire also lead to the introduction of new fire regulations, which are still in existence today..
The second Great Toronto Fire was in April 1904 – nearly 10 years to the day. The E. & S. Currie Building on the north side of Wellington Street, west of Bay was where the fire originated, however how it happened is still debated. Some say the source was faulty electrical wiring, others say it a stove was left on. Whatever the source, the fire quickly spread and by the end of it, one-hundred and twenty two buildings burned and 230 businesses were lost. Surprisingly, not one life was lost in the fire, but financial loss was estimated at 10-million dollars.
Interestingly, The Great Fire of 1904 was one of the first news events in Toronto to be filmed. George Scott, a local filmmaker, used his camera to film horse-drawn pumper trucks racing down Bay Street.
Sources:
Photos of the fire are courtesy The Toronto Archives (to be posted)
National Post. Back Story: Burning Questions about Toronto’s Great Fires. Barry Hertz. August 21, 2008
City of Toronto Archives: The Great Fire of 1904
The Toronto Star. The Great Fire of 1904. Adam Mayers. August 5, 2008
Tuesday
Photographic Memory
January 26, 2010
This past Saturday, my roommate and I went to our local coffee shop to chat, study and drink coffee. As we ordered, the woman behind the counter mentioned that it had been a long time since she has seen us. Indeed, it had been nearly two years. It surprised me that she remembered us. Today, the BBC had an article on individuals who have a capability to remember people they meet for only a brief period. The ability is called super recognition. The article also highlighted the flip-side, called face blindness. I took the test used to diagnose face blindness and scored 96% accuracy – the average person scores 84% - so by this standard, not only am I on the road to genius, I am also a super recogniser! Today’s question is: what is face blindness?
A: Face blindness, or Prosopagnosia, is an impairement in recognising faces. Prosopagnosiacs often have difficulty recognising friends, family and even themselves. The majority of sufferers have sustained some type of brain damage such as a head trauma or a stroke, however, it is estimated that approximately 2.5% of those afflicted may have inherited the condition. You may be interested to know that Jane Goodall suffered from this imparement.
Cecilia Burman, a woman living with face blindness, compares her ability to recognise faces with other people's ability to recognise stones. You can read her experience here (she does a much better job of drawing the comparison that I can).
Also, if you are interested in testing your ability to recognise faces, you can try the same test that I did here.
Sources:
This past Saturday, my roommate and I went to our local coffee shop to chat, study and drink coffee. As we ordered, the woman behind the counter mentioned that it had been a long time since she has seen us. Indeed, it had been nearly two years. It surprised me that she remembered us. Today, the BBC had an article on individuals who have a capability to remember people they meet for only a brief period. The ability is called super recognition. The article also highlighted the flip-side, called face blindness. I took the test used to diagnose face blindness and scored 96% accuracy – the average person scores 84% - so by this standard, not only am I on the road to genius, I am also a super recogniser! Today’s question is: what is face blindness?
A: Face blindness, or Prosopagnosia, is an impairement in recognising faces. Prosopagnosiacs often have difficulty recognising friends, family and even themselves. The majority of sufferers have sustained some type of brain damage such as a head trauma or a stroke, however, it is estimated that approximately 2.5% of those afflicted may have inherited the condition. You may be interested to know that Jane Goodall suffered from this imparement.
Cecilia Burman, a woman living with face blindness, compares her ability to recognise faces with other people's ability to recognise stones. You can read her experience here (she does a much better job of drawing the comparison that I can).
Also, if you are interested in testing your ability to recognise faces, you can try the same test that I did here.
Sources:
Monday
Which Way Home?
January 25, 2010
Last night I watched a documentary that affected me to the core. The film was called ‘Which Way Home?’ originally an HBO special presentation that was shown on CBC’s Passionate Eye. It documented the journey of children travelling on their own to escape the poverty of Central America and enter the United States illegally. I was especially heartbroken over a little 10 year-old named Jose, who had been travelling from El Salvador for nearly three years in the hands of smugglers. The smugglers were discovered and they abandoned Jose in Mexico, where he was detained and would be deported back to El Salvador. All of the children’s stories made me feel so sad, but Jose’s tear stained face and tiny shivering body made me ache for him – I could truly empathize that he was alone and frightened, as well as hopeless that he would be returning to his old life and never have the opportunity to get ahead.
These children could have been my family. My maternal family is Guatemalan and came from a life of poverty. It was only a couple of years ago when a family member admitted that they had made the journey with smugglers to escape the grime of Guatemala and find a better life in the United States. They took the same route as many of these children and were transported with a number of other migrants hoping to gain the prospect of having an education and finding sustainable employment. The crossing is dangerous and many die due to the harsh weather and travel conditions. Today's question is: what are the entry points used by migrants to cross into the US?
A: The border between Mexico and the United States stretches over California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The border is 2000 miles long, with 670 miles of fencing between the two countries.
The most popular location for immigrants to cross used to be in California. Some would make the crossing over the San Diego freeway, running the risk of being hit cars. This problem prompted the installation of signs informing drivers to stay alert and watch out for migrants in the road. Increased border control has made it more difficult to slip through without being noticed. Despite this, the state of California has the highest residence rate of unauthorized immigrants, approximately 25%.
The unfenced, rural mountainous and desert border between Arizona and Mexico has become a major entrance point for unlawful migration to the United States. Many try to cross the Sonoran Desert and the Baboquivari Mountain to a better life, however usually succumb to dehydration, hypothermia or heat stroke and perish on the journey. One of the major points of border guarding is at the trail called El Camino Del Diablo (literally translated to The Devil’s Walk); if migrants cross the border, the struggle to make it through the desert is a difficult and taxing.
Texas has the second highest rate of rate of illegal resident amongst its population. The Rio Grande is a natural boarder between Texas and Mexico and is heavily guarded. A number of migrants die by drowning, as the current is strong and drags individuals down in its undertow.
Sources:
Reuters: Factbox Illegal Immigration in the US
US Immigration Support: Illegal Immigration from Mexico
Wikipedia: Mexico-United States Border
Wikipedia: Migrant Deaths Along the Mexico-US Border
Wikipedia: Illegal Entry
Wikipedia: Illegal Immigration to the United States
Last night I watched a documentary that affected me to the core. The film was called ‘Which Way Home?’ originally an HBO special presentation that was shown on CBC’s Passionate Eye. It documented the journey of children travelling on their own to escape the poverty of Central America and enter the United States illegally. I was especially heartbroken over a little 10 year-old named Jose, who had been travelling from El Salvador for nearly three years in the hands of smugglers. The smugglers were discovered and they abandoned Jose in Mexico, where he was detained and would be deported back to El Salvador. All of the children’s stories made me feel so sad, but Jose’s tear stained face and tiny shivering body made me ache for him – I could truly empathize that he was alone and frightened, as well as hopeless that he would be returning to his old life and never have the opportunity to get ahead.
These children could have been my family. My maternal family is Guatemalan and came from a life of poverty. It was only a couple of years ago when a family member admitted that they had made the journey with smugglers to escape the grime of Guatemala and find a better life in the United States. They took the same route as many of these children and were transported with a number of other migrants hoping to gain the prospect of having an education and finding sustainable employment. The crossing is dangerous and many die due to the harsh weather and travel conditions. Today's question is: what are the entry points used by migrants to cross into the US? A: The border between Mexico and the United States stretches over California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The border is 2000 miles long, with 670 miles of fencing between the two countries.
The most popular location for immigrants to cross used to be in California. Some would make the crossing over the San Diego freeway, running the risk of being hit cars. This problem prompted the installation of signs informing drivers to stay alert and watch out for migrants in the road. Increased border control has made it more difficult to slip through without being noticed. Despite this, the state of California has the highest residence rate of unauthorized immigrants, approximately 25%.
The unfenced, rural mountainous and desert border between Arizona and Mexico has become a major entrance point for unlawful migration to the United States. Many try to cross the Sonoran Desert and the Baboquivari Mountain to a better life, however usually succumb to dehydration, hypothermia or heat stroke and perish on the journey. One of the major points of border guarding is at the trail called El Camino Del Diablo (literally translated to The Devil’s Walk); if migrants cross the border, the struggle to make it through the desert is a difficult and taxing.
Texas has the second highest rate of rate of illegal resident amongst its population. The Rio Grande is a natural boarder between Texas and Mexico and is heavily guarded. A number of migrants die by drowning, as the current is strong and drags individuals down in its undertow.
Sources:
Reuters: Factbox Illegal Immigration in the US
US Immigration Support: Illegal Immigration from Mexico
Wikipedia: Mexico-United States Border
Wikipedia: Migrant Deaths Along the Mexico-US Border
Wikipedia: Illegal Entry
Wikipedia: Illegal Immigration to the United States
Sunday
Rent
January 24, 2010
This evening, I met up with my friend to watch the musical Rent at the Cannon Theatre. I did not have any background or knowledge of the story, but went to be entertained by the music and the dancing. For those that don’t know, the story centres around a group of bohemians in Greenwich Village, New York facing the health and social issues of the 1980s. I loved it, especially the grittiness of it all. We did have a few comments including the disjointedness of the story, and the fact that the first act had a timeline of one week while the second documented the events of an entire year. But despite all of that, I walked away having really enjoyed myself. Today’s question is: what was the inspiration for Rent?
A: Rent began as a collaboration between Billy Aronson, a playwright, and Jonathan Larson, a composer, based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème. Larson began working on Rent and agreed with Aronson that if it Rent made it to Broadway, they would split the proceeds. Larson’s vision was to create a modern-rock opera.
In 1994, Rent was debuted for a three-week run at the New York Theatre Workshop and continued to be rehearsed and work shopped in preparation for its off-Broadway debut in 1996. One day before its official opening, Jonathan Larson died of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm.
Rent has gone on to critical acclaim and went on to win a number of awards, including the Tony for Best Musical. Additionally, the Broadway show ran for 12 years and became the 8th longest running show in Broadway history. It grossed almost $300 million. Rent was turned into a movie in 2005 featuring the likes of Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson and Taye Diggs (who is a beautiful, beautiful man!).
Sources:
Rent Musical
Rent the Broadway Tour
Wikipedia: Rent (Musical)
This evening, I met up with my friend to watch the musical Rent at the Cannon Theatre. I did not have any background or knowledge of the story, but went to be entertained by the music and the dancing. For those that don’t know, the story centres around a group of bohemians in Greenwich Village, New York facing the health and social issues of the 1980s. I loved it, especially the grittiness of it all. We did have a few comments including the disjointedness of the story, and the fact that the first act had a timeline of one week while the second documented the events of an entire year. But despite all of that, I walked away having really enjoyed myself. Today’s question is: what was the inspiration for Rent?
A: Rent began as a collaboration between Billy Aronson, a playwright, and Jonathan Larson, a composer, based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème. Larson began working on Rent and agreed with Aronson that if it Rent made it to Broadway, they would split the proceeds. Larson’s vision was to create a modern-rock opera.
In 1994, Rent was debuted for a three-week run at the New York Theatre Workshop and continued to be rehearsed and work shopped in preparation for its off-Broadway debut in 1996. One day before its official opening, Jonathan Larson died of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm.
Rent has gone on to critical acclaim and went on to win a number of awards, including the Tony for Best Musical. Additionally, the Broadway show ran for 12 years and became the 8th longest running show in Broadway history. It grossed almost $300 million. Rent was turned into a movie in 2005 featuring the likes of Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson and Taye Diggs (who is a beautiful, beautiful man!).
Sources:
Rent Musical
Rent the Broadway Tour
Wikipedia: Rent (Musical)
Saturday
Super Bad
January 23, 2010
I had another day off from The Game today and met up at Jack Astor's with a couple of friends. As I have the freedom to eat and drink what I like today, I indulged in a burger and fries washed down with a number of glasses of white zinfandel. I used to frequent Jack Astor's in my youth, one of the major draws was the brown paper they used as a table cloth and supplied crayons - and regardless of age, it provided endless hours of entertainment. This time, we were seated at the bar tables and didn't get any paper, but had a prime view of the large rolls that they used to cover the restaurant tables. After copious amounts of alcohol, my friend told us that he wanted to wrap himself up in the paper. I happily passed this information to the waitress, who agreed to give him a sheet if he let her draw on it. He agreed. She brought 2 crayons - one for me and one for her. She whispered to me that we will draw penises on his back. I agreed. He was quite upset when he learned what we had done. I blamed it on the syndrome that Seth has in the movie Superbad. Today's question is: does the dick drawing syndrome actually exist?
A: So, if you watched the above video, Seth (Jonah Hill) says that 8% of kids have this disease. However, this is nothing more than a funny, fictional syndrome made up by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg - the film's writers. Apparently they say so on the DVD special features.
In researching, there was the suggestion of Tourette's Syndrome, which is characterized by the presence of involuntary motor or vocal tics. The drawing of penises (or peni as I like to refer to them in the plural) has never been documented as a symptom, yet this does not conclusively prove that it is not Tourettes - although it is highly unlikely.
Also through researching, I came across a number of disorders and syndromes related to genitalia including one called Genital Retraction Syndrome. This is a belief that the penis (or nipples in females) are shrinking, retracting into the body or have disappeared altogether. There have been recorded cases of mass hysteria, where numerous male members of a population experience Genital Retraction Syndrome, which is called penis panic.
I leave you with one more video.
I had another day off from The Game today and met up at Jack Astor's with a couple of friends. As I have the freedom to eat and drink what I like today, I indulged in a burger and fries washed down with a number of glasses of white zinfandel. I used to frequent Jack Astor's in my youth, one of the major draws was the brown paper they used as a table cloth and supplied crayons - and regardless of age, it provided endless hours of entertainment. This time, we were seated at the bar tables and didn't get any paper, but had a prime view of the large rolls that they used to cover the restaurant tables. After copious amounts of alcohol, my friend told us that he wanted to wrap himself up in the paper. I happily passed this information to the waitress, who agreed to give him a sheet if he let her draw on it. He agreed. She brought 2 crayons - one for me and one for her. She whispered to me that we will draw penises on his back. I agreed. He was quite upset when he learned what we had done. I blamed it on the syndrome that Seth has in the movie Superbad. Today's question is: does the dick drawing syndrome actually exist?
A: So, if you watched the above video, Seth (Jonah Hill) says that 8% of kids have this disease. However, this is nothing more than a funny, fictional syndrome made up by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg - the film's writers. Apparently they say so on the DVD special features.
In researching, there was the suggestion of Tourette's Syndrome, which is characterized by the presence of involuntary motor or vocal tics. The drawing of penises (or peni as I like to refer to them in the plural) has never been documented as a symptom, yet this does not conclusively prove that it is not Tourettes - although it is highly unlikely.
Also through researching, I came across a number of disorders and syndromes related to genitalia including one called Genital Retraction Syndrome. This is a belief that the penis (or nipples in females) are shrinking, retracting into the body or have disappeared altogether. There have been recorded cases of mass hysteria, where numerous male members of a population experience Genital Retraction Syndrome, which is called penis panic.
I leave you with one more video.
Sources:
Mind Power New: 10 More Bizarre Mental Disorders
Wikipedia: Tourette's Syndrome
Friday
Kale Eatery
January 22, 2010
This evening, I met up with a friend I used to work with. I had initially asked if she would like to meet for the usual beer and wings, but she informed me that she was trying to get healthy in the new year. Instead she suggested that we try a new vegan place at Yonge and Eglinton called Kale Eatery. As I live with a vegetarian and love food, I was intrigued to try it - however I'm always left wondering what a vegan would eat. I feared brown rice and seaweed with seitan and tofu balls for dessert. I was pleasantly surprised and dined on delicious nutritional food and absolutely loved the herbal teas that they had on offer. Today's question is: what is a vegan?
A: Veganism is a lifestyle and diet that does not include any animal products. The vegan diet excludes anything that is derived from animals, such as meat, dairy products and even honey. Additionally, they avoid purchasing leather, silk or fur.
Vegan diets include fruits, vegetables, grains, beans/legumes, nuts and seeds.
Sources:
About.com: Vegetarian Food
Vegetarian Resource Group: Veganism in a nutshell
This evening, I met up with a friend I used to work with. I had initially asked if she would like to meet for the usual beer and wings, but she informed me that she was trying to get healthy in the new year. Instead she suggested that we try a new vegan place at Yonge and Eglinton called Kale Eatery. As I live with a vegetarian and love food, I was intrigued to try it - however I'm always left wondering what a vegan would eat. I feared brown rice and seaweed with seitan and tofu balls for dessert. I was pleasantly surprised and dined on delicious nutritional food and absolutely loved the herbal teas that they had on offer. Today's question is: what is a vegan?
A: Veganism is a lifestyle and diet that does not include any animal products. The vegan diet excludes anything that is derived from animals, such as meat, dairy products and even honey. Additionally, they avoid purchasing leather, silk or fur.
Vegan diets include fruits, vegetables, grains, beans/legumes, nuts and seeds.
Sources:
About.com: Vegetarian Food
Vegetarian Resource Group: Veganism in a nutshell
Thursday
F.L.A.B.B.
January 21, 2010
More reports from The Game – the above acronym stands for Fat-Loaded and Belly Bloaters. The list is quite long and contains all of the things that we know are bad for us; cakes, pastries, fried food and pop. On a participant’s day off, one is allowed to indulge in these F.L.A.B.B.-y treats, with the exception of pop.
My roommate likens her love for pop to my love for beer – I don’t need it, but I like it. However her love for Pepsi is far worse than my love for alcohol; she drinks more thank one can a day, where I as I have major regret if I drink every day – and it’s not because of the morning hangover, it’s because I know it’s not good for me.
I rarely drink pop. I don’t like the fizzing feeling in my mouth or the burning sensation at the back of my throat. I don’t like the effects it has on my teeth. And despite my love for muffins, I don’t like what it does to my waistline.
From participating in The Game, my roommate thinks that she’s lost 5 pounds because her pants are looser. I think her belly has shrunk because she isn’t consuming carbonated drinks anymore and that it has flattened her tum*.
Today’s question is: what effect does soda have on the body?
*My roommate never had a tum – she is, always has been, and always will be string thin.
A: Some of you may have received that e-mail with some scary facts about Coca-Cola. It has a list of things like: Coke can be used as a toilet bowl cleaner, that it will remove corrosion from a car battery or that a hazardous materials sign is required on trucks carrying Coke concentrate. According to http://www.howtocleananything.com most of the cleaning uses for Coke are true, and truckers have confirmed that they do have to put a hazardous materials badge on their trucks. Although in the wacky world of the Internet, there is also a rumour floating around that the U.S. highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident - which is just ridiculous.
In terms of health implications, let's start with the amount of sugar. A can of regular soda generally contains 40 grams of sugar - this is the equivalent of 10 teaspoons. Refined sugar contains no nutritional value and provides an increase in energy levels followed by a crash. Once the soda is consumed, the pancreas produce insulin to balance the amount sugar in the blood. An over production of insulin is linked to the depression of the immune system and may weaken the body's ability to fight disease. Not to mention sugar is a major contributor to weight gain and obesity,
Diet soda is no less detrimental to the body. Granted, it does not contain sugar, but instead is sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Many of these sweeteners have been found to be carcinogenic as well as increase the desire for sugar and junk food.
Soda also contains phosphorus, which is linked to a reduction of calcium and magnesium in the body. This become a worry for women who are vulnerable to low bone density and osteoporosis. Colas are the worst culprits because in addition to phosphorus, they contain caffeine which also depletes the body of calcium. Drinking 12 ounces of caffeine-containing soft drink causes the loss of about 20 mg of calcium, or 2 percent of the recommended consumption. Additionally, the combination of phosphorus and caffeine can contribute to stress, insomnia and severe anxiety in susceptible people.
Sources:
Helium Health and Fitness: The Effects of Soda on your Body
Liquid Candy: How Soft Drinks are Harming Americans' Health
Truth or Fiction: Coke vs. Water
Yahoo Health: What Soft Drinks Are Doing to your Body
More reports from The Game – the above acronym stands for Fat-Loaded and Belly Bloaters. The list is quite long and contains all of the things that we know are bad for us; cakes, pastries, fried food and pop. On a participant’s day off, one is allowed to indulge in these F.L.A.B.B.-y treats, with the exception of pop.
My roommate likens her love for pop to my love for beer – I don’t need it, but I like it. However her love for Pepsi is far worse than my love for alcohol; she drinks more thank one can a day, where I as I have major regret if I drink every day – and it’s not because of the morning hangover, it’s because I know it’s not good for me.
I rarely drink pop. I don’t like the fizzing feeling in my mouth or the burning sensation at the back of my throat. I don’t like the effects it has on my teeth. And despite my love for muffins, I don’t like what it does to my waistline.
From participating in The Game, my roommate thinks that she’s lost 5 pounds because her pants are looser. I think her belly has shrunk because she isn’t consuming carbonated drinks anymore and that it has flattened her tum*.
Today’s question is: what effect does soda have on the body?
*My roommate never had a tum – she is, always has been, and always will be string thin.
A: Some of you may have received that e-mail with some scary facts about Coca-Cola. It has a list of things like: Coke can be used as a toilet bowl cleaner, that it will remove corrosion from a car battery or that a hazardous materials sign is required on trucks carrying Coke concentrate. According to http://www.howtocleananything.com most of the cleaning uses for Coke are true, and truckers have confirmed that they do have to put a hazardous materials badge on their trucks. Although in the wacky world of the Internet, there is also a rumour floating around that the U.S. highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident - which is just ridiculous.
In terms of health implications, let's start with the amount of sugar. A can of regular soda generally contains 40 grams of sugar - this is the equivalent of 10 teaspoons. Refined sugar contains no nutritional value and provides an increase in energy levels followed by a crash. Once the soda is consumed, the pancreas produce insulin to balance the amount sugar in the blood. An over production of insulin is linked to the depression of the immune system and may weaken the body's ability to fight disease. Not to mention sugar is a major contributor to weight gain and obesity,
Diet soda is no less detrimental to the body. Granted, it does not contain sugar, but instead is sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Many of these sweeteners have been found to be carcinogenic as well as increase the desire for sugar and junk food.
Soda also contains phosphorus, which is linked to a reduction of calcium and magnesium in the body. This become a worry for women who are vulnerable to low bone density and osteoporosis. Colas are the worst culprits because in addition to phosphorus, they contain caffeine which also depletes the body of calcium. Drinking 12 ounces of caffeine-containing soft drink causes the loss of about 20 mg of calcium, or 2 percent of the recommended consumption. Additionally, the combination of phosphorus and caffeine can contribute to stress, insomnia and severe anxiety in susceptible people.
Sources:
Helium Health and Fitness: The Effects of Soda on your Body
Liquid Candy: How Soft Drinks are Harming Americans' Health
Truth or Fiction: Coke vs. Water
Yahoo Health: What Soft Drinks Are Doing to your Body
Wednesday
Genius?
January 20, 2010
Yesterday saw the revival of The English Connection, my regular Tuesday night trivia team at a Toronto pub. Our team is not at the top of the pack, but we've never come last. Last night I got to put the blogging and genius techniques into practice. One of the questions was "which religious event happens on the 6th day of January?" My Relationship Revelation entry explains the religious roots of the word epiphany before it was adapted as a literary term. The second question at the quiz was a multiple choice question that asked, "which of these celebrities did not perish in a plane crash?"
a) Rocky Marciano
b) Patsy Cline
c) Otis Redding
d) Jayne Mansfield
e) Ricky Nelson
f) Payne Stewart
In writing my Racks and Muffins entry, I briefly mention Jayne Mansfield. While doing the research on the history of female body image in the media, I went on to read more about Jayne's life and learned that she died in a severe car accident.
After my contribution to the team, I proceeded to drink a litre of White Zinfandel and don't remember many of the questions from the second half. However, I did stick the question sheet in my bag; so I will be adapting one of the questions so that I can at least learn something... well something more than, while participating in The Game and avoiding alcohol, it is not a good idea to drink a litre of wine on your day off. Today's question is: How many sectors was Berlin divided into post World War II?
A: I chose this questions because, first off, I still remember it and secondly, our team got it wrong. We wrote in that it was three, however the answer is four; Berlin was occupied by the United States, the British, the French and the Soviet Union post World War II.
Source:
Wikipedia: History of Berlin
Yesterday saw the revival of The English Connection, my regular Tuesday night trivia team at a Toronto pub. Our team is not at the top of the pack, but we've never come last. Last night I got to put the blogging and genius techniques into practice. One of the questions was "which religious event happens on the 6th day of January?" My Relationship Revelation entry explains the religious roots of the word epiphany before it was adapted as a literary term. The second question at the quiz was a multiple choice question that asked, "which of these celebrities did not perish in a plane crash?"
a) Rocky Marciano
b) Patsy Cline
c) Otis Redding
d) Jayne Mansfield
e) Ricky Nelson
f) Payne Stewart
In writing my Racks and Muffins entry, I briefly mention Jayne Mansfield. While doing the research on the history of female body image in the media, I went on to read more about Jayne's life and learned that she died in a severe car accident.
After my contribution to the team, I proceeded to drink a litre of White Zinfandel and don't remember many of the questions from the second half. However, I did stick the question sheet in my bag; so I will be adapting one of the questions so that I can at least learn something... well something more than, while participating in The Game and avoiding alcohol, it is not a good idea to drink a litre of wine on your day off. Today's question is: How many sectors was Berlin divided into post World War II?
A: I chose this questions because, first off, I still remember it and secondly, our team got it wrong. We wrote in that it was three, however the answer is four; Berlin was occupied by the United States, the British, the French and the Soviet Union post World War II.
Source:
Wikipedia: History of Berlin
Tuesday
Relationship Revelation
January 19, 2010
This post is actually a derivative from yesterday. I was sitting on the bus when I had a revelation. I've been really down over some of my failed dating attempts – I was seeing someone on and off (emphasis on the off) for a few months. In retrospect I was just a convenient neighbourhood shag to him, more than a potential for a relationship, but I cried a little when it came to an end. More recently, I was being pursued by someone who put on a real effort – songs, and emails, and indoor picnics, and compliments – so much that my head and my heart were swimming. I was scared that I opened myself up so quickly, as my instincts told me to take it slow – I’ve just come out of a five year marriage (and an on-again off-again shagfest) and wanted to gradually develop something more meaningful. However, after all his efforts and my swooning, he confusingly told me that it wasn’t working. I actually felt devastated and wasted tears on him too. I texted my friend with my epiphany and she suggested that I write about it. Today’s question: where did the word epiphany come from?
A: The text conversation went like this:
Me: I can’t believe that I spent a disproportionate amount of tears on someone I went on a few dates with in comparison to someone I spent 8 years with. / He [the most recent guy] treated me to a fantasy world. No one goes from meeting someone to acting the way he did so quickly. It should have been a red flag. / It was too intense. I feel silly for swooning, but it has taught me to move more slowly- just how I initially wanted to.
Her: It happens. But that is a good epiphany.
Her: Yai! You can do an entry on epiphany.
Me: Did you know it was James Joyce who coined that term?
So, I actually cheated a little on this one; I learned the answer before I wrote the question. However, you may be asking yourself, how I know this. I learnt it yesterday as I was doing the readings for my writing class. I came across that little tidbit of information and it stuck in my mind. Although here is a little more research that I did on the subject.
Epiphany is a term used in Christian theology to describe a manifestation of God’s presence. It is also a Christian celebration that happens on January 6th to mark three significant events where God was evident – the baptism of Jesus, the pilgrimage of the Wise Men to Bethlehem and the marriage miracle at Cana.
The word was adapted by James Joyce to denote a sudden revelation where the significance of a social or psychological experience is made clear. Many of Joyce's writings are built around such special moments of sudden insight.
Source:
Answers.com: Epiphany
This post is actually a derivative from yesterday. I was sitting on the bus when I had a revelation. I've been really down over some of my failed dating attempts – I was seeing someone on and off (emphasis on the off) for a few months. In retrospect I was just a convenient neighbourhood shag to him, more than a potential for a relationship, but I cried a little when it came to an end. More recently, I was being pursued by someone who put on a real effort – songs, and emails, and indoor picnics, and compliments – so much that my head and my heart were swimming. I was scared that I opened myself up so quickly, as my instincts told me to take it slow – I’ve just come out of a five year marriage (and an on-again off-again shagfest) and wanted to gradually develop something more meaningful. However, after all his efforts and my swooning, he confusingly told me that it wasn’t working. I actually felt devastated and wasted tears on him too. I texted my friend with my epiphany and she suggested that I write about it. Today’s question: where did the word epiphany come from?
A: The text conversation went like this:
Me: I can’t believe that I spent a disproportionate amount of tears on someone I went on a few dates with in comparison to someone I spent 8 years with. / He [the most recent guy] treated me to a fantasy world. No one goes from meeting someone to acting the way he did so quickly. It should have been a red flag. / It was too intense. I feel silly for swooning, but it has taught me to move more slowly- just how I initially wanted to.
Her: It happens. But that is a good epiphany.
Her: Yai! You can do an entry on epiphany.
Me: Did you know it was James Joyce who coined that term?
So, I actually cheated a little on this one; I learned the answer before I wrote the question. However, you may be asking yourself, how I know this. I learnt it yesterday as I was doing the readings for my writing class. I came across that little tidbit of information and it stuck in my mind. Although here is a little more research that I did on the subject.
Epiphany is a term used in Christian theology to describe a manifestation of God’s presence. It is also a Christian celebration that happens on January 6th to mark three significant events where God was evident – the baptism of Jesus, the pilgrimage of the Wise Men to Bethlehem and the marriage miracle at Cana.
The word was adapted by James Joyce to denote a sudden revelation where the significance of a social or psychological experience is made clear. Many of Joyce's writings are built around such special moments of sudden insight.
Source:
Answers.com: Epiphany
Monday
Communication starvation
January 18, 2010
Over the last few days, I have been finding random sticky notes on the subway that have quotes or short poems scrawled on them. The penmanship on them is different, and I’ve found them at different stations, so I assume that they were left there by different people; but I am curious as to where this trend has come from. I have done some Internet research and have not been able to find anything on the subject. This afternoon I made the decision that I would become part of this movement and wrote three quotes about communication on green Post Its with a green pen – signing them all (courtesy of MB). I was a little nervous to leave them, in fear that someone may say something about defacing TTC property – which technically would be unfounded as Post Its are easily removable. So, I held the note in the palm of my hand, and as I stood to get up for my stop, I discretely stuck it to the advert behind me; trying to look as if I was using it to help me stabilize myself. Now it was up to a member of the public to notice it. I tried to imagine the person to read it. As I conjured up the journey of my little sticky on the subway, it made me think of the incident on the London Underground, where a large group of people participated in a “silent disco”. Members of the public were instructed to meet at Victoria Station wearing their MP3 players, and at a specific time, everyone was meant to start dancing. What a sight! I also read an article on the BBC a couple of weeks ago about drop your trousers on the subway day – which as a worldwide phenomenon where people board the subway in their underwear, while acting completely normally. Today’s question is: what is a Flash Mob?
Over the last few days, I have been finding random sticky notes on the subway that have quotes or short poems scrawled on them. The penmanship on them is different, and I’ve found them at different stations, so I assume that they were left there by different people; but I am curious as to where this trend has come from. I have done some Internet research and have not been able to find anything on the subject. This afternoon I made the decision that I would become part of this movement and wrote three quotes about communication on green Post Its with a green pen – signing them all (courtesy of MB). I was a little nervous to leave them, in fear that someone may say something about defacing TTC property – which technically would be unfounded as Post Its are easily removable. So, I held the note in the palm of my hand, and as I stood to get up for my stop, I discretely stuck it to the advert behind me; trying to look as if I was using it to help me stabilize myself. Now it was up to a member of the public to notice it. I tried to imagine the person to read it. As I conjured up the journey of my little sticky on the subway, it made me think of the incident on the London Underground, where a large group of people participated in a “silent disco”. Members of the public were instructed to meet at Victoria Station wearing their MP3 players, and at a specific time, everyone was meant to start dancing. What a sight! I also read an article on the BBC a couple of weeks ago about drop your trousers on the subway day – which as a worldwide phenomenon where people board the subway in their underwear, while acting completely normally. Today’s question is: what is a Flash Mob?
A: A flash mob is a group of people who appear from out of nowhere, to perform predetermined actions for a short amount of time before quickly dispersing. Flash mobs are often organised through text messaging, social networking websites or viral emails.
The first flash mob was organised by Bill Wasik, the senior editor of Harper’s magazine, in May 2003. The target was a Claire’s Accessory Shop in Manhattan, however it was unsuccessful due to an invitee tipping off the police. The second attempt happened on June 3, 2003 at Macy’s department store, where all participants were instructed to meet in the rug department and gather around an expensive rug. More than 100 people attended and provided a back story that they lived together and were looking for a love-rug to anyone who asked questions. Wasik stated that he thought of the idea as “a stunt that would satirize scenester-y gatherings.”
Sources:
Stay Free Magazine: The Short Life of Flash Mobs
Time Magazine: The Mob Rules
Wikipedia: Flash mobs
Sunday
Nothing but net
January 17, 2010
This afternoon, I went with my brother and some of his friends to a basketball game. We went to see the Toronto Raptors play the Dallas Mavericks. I don't know much about the rules of the game, but I do know a little about the game's history. I know that it was invented by an Ontarian named James Naismith - but this is largely in part to the Heritage Canada commercials. I asked a lot of questions at the game, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Today's question is: where do the Toronto Raptors sit in the 2009-2010 standings?
A: Okay, okay; so today's question is a bit of a cop-out. But it's 365 random questions; I never said they were always going to be a good questions! I suppose I should really look into the rules of the game - but I chose this question because my brother was asking his friends where the Raptors sat in the standings - no one knew. I suppose no one was a real die hard fan!
The Raptors are 7th (out of 15 teams) in the Eastern Conference and 17th (of 30) overall. Including today's win, they are showing 21 wins and 20 losses.
This afternoon, I went with my brother and some of his friends to a basketball game. We went to see the Toronto Raptors play the Dallas Mavericks. I don't know much about the rules of the game, but I do know a little about the game's history. I know that it was invented by an Ontarian named James Naismith - but this is largely in part to the Heritage Canada commercials. I asked a lot of questions at the game, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Today's question is: where do the Toronto Raptors sit in the 2009-2010 standings?
A: Okay, okay; so today's question is a bit of a cop-out. But it's 365 random questions; I never said they were always going to be a good questions! I suppose I should really look into the rules of the game - but I chose this question because my brother was asking his friends where the Raptors sat in the standings - no one knew. I suppose no one was a real die hard fan!
The Raptors are 7th (out of 15 teams) in the Eastern Conference and 17th (of 30) overall. Including today's win, they are showing 21 wins and 20 losses.
Saturday
Knit one, purl one
January 16, 2010
Today was a very uneventful day. It was mostly spent indoors - cleaning, doing laundry and cooking - but my roommate's mother came for a visit. She brought with her some knitting needles and yarn to teach me the basics of how to knit. My former mother-in-law tried teaching me once, but I found it really difficult to hold the needles and ended up with a very wavy looking 'scarf''. But this time, I actually got it! As I meditatively began to knit, I remembered that my mother used to crochet little doilies and baby socks. I began to wonder why she never taught me - but that's not today's questions Today's question is: what is the difference between knitting and crocheting?
A: It turns out that the end product of both knitting and crocheting are essentially the same - a piece of fabric made of interwoven loops of yarn or thread. These fabrics can be used to create sweaters, slippers, hats or any number of things. The difference is in the tools used and process that the fabric is made.
Knitting
Knitting requires a minimum of two straight needles – some patters require a circular needle, such as socks, or can require four or five needles, for seamless garments. Knitting projects are started by a process called casting on. The stitches that are cast on are the first row of the project and subsequent stitches are made by wrapping the yarn over one needle and drawing the wrapped yarn through loops on the other needle.
Crochet
Crochet is done using one tool called a crochet hook. To begin the process, a slip knot is made, then a loop is pulled through beginning a chain stitch. A series of chains, creates a foundation row, which can be built upon to create a project.
I will keep knitting, and hopefully be able to create something more than a scarf this time. Perhaps, once I get the hang of it, I will then ask my mother to teach me to crochet, this will help me to compare the two crafts.
Today was a very uneventful day. It was mostly spent indoors - cleaning, doing laundry and cooking - but my roommate's mother came for a visit. She brought with her some knitting needles and yarn to teach me the basics of how to knit. My former mother-in-law tried teaching me once, but I found it really difficult to hold the needles and ended up with a very wavy looking 'scarf''. But this time, I actually got it! As I meditatively began to knit, I remembered that my mother used to crochet little doilies and baby socks. I began to wonder why she never taught me - but that's not today's questions Today's question is: what is the difference between knitting and crocheting?
A: It turns out that the end product of both knitting and crocheting are essentially the same - a piece of fabric made of interwoven loops of yarn or thread. These fabrics can be used to create sweaters, slippers, hats or any number of things. The difference is in the tools used and process that the fabric is made.
Knitting
Knitting requires a minimum of two straight needles – some patters require a circular needle, such as socks, or can require four or five needles, for seamless garments. Knitting projects are started by a process called casting on. The stitches that are cast on are the first row of the project and subsequent stitches are made by wrapping the yarn over one needle and drawing the wrapped yarn through loops on the other needle.
Crochet
Crochet is done using one tool called a crochet hook. To begin the process, a slip knot is made, then a loop is pulled through beginning a chain stitch. A series of chains, creates a foundation row, which can be built upon to create a project.
I will keep knitting, and hopefully be able to create something more than a scarf this time. Perhaps, once I get the hang of it, I will then ask my mother to teach me to crochet, this will help me to compare the two crafts.
Friday
Shedding a tear
January 15, 2010
Today was quite exciting. I was able to learn the basic techniques of pole dancing. It made me feel free and liberated - and was a spectacular workout. I thought about writing about the history of the pole or why women are likened to felines - as we were instructed to slink back to standing positions like a cat - but I can draw my own conclusions as to why felines and feminity go hand-in-hand. When I got in, I was required to eat (as per the rules of the game) so I began with the basics - olive oil and onions. As I peeled and chopped the onion I began to cry... and it wasn't from missing old life, which usually sparks a little bit of a cry fest... it was the onions. Today's question is: why do onions make you cry?
A: It is not the odor of an onion that makes you cry, it a gas that is released while cutting it. When slicing through an onion, the knife ruptures the cells causing an enzyme (allinase) to mix with the sulphur in the oinon. This produces sulfenic acid, which then gets converted by the LF-synthase enzyme into a gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which is also known as the Lachrymatory Factor (‘crying factor'). Once this gas reaches our eyes, it causes an irritation which causes the body to produce tears to wash the irritant away.
Sources:
Food-Info.net: Why do onions make you cry?
Mental_floss Blog: Why do onions make you cry?
Today was quite exciting. I was able to learn the basic techniques of pole dancing. It made me feel free and liberated - and was a spectacular workout. I thought about writing about the history of the pole or why women are likened to felines - as we were instructed to slink back to standing positions like a cat - but I can draw my own conclusions as to why felines and feminity go hand-in-hand. When I got in, I was required to eat (as per the rules of the game) so I began with the basics - olive oil and onions. As I peeled and chopped the onion I began to cry... and it wasn't from missing old life, which usually sparks a little bit of a cry fest... it was the onions. Today's question is: why do onions make you cry?
A: It is not the odor of an onion that makes you cry, it a gas that is released while cutting it. When slicing through an onion, the knife ruptures the cells causing an enzyme (allinase) to mix with the sulphur in the oinon. This produces sulfenic acid, which then gets converted by the LF-synthase enzyme into a gas called syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which is also known as the Lachrymatory Factor (‘crying factor'). Once this gas reaches our eyes, it causes an irritation which causes the body to produce tears to wash the irritant away.
Sources:
Food-Info.net: Why do onions make you cry?
Mental_floss Blog: Why do onions make you cry?
Thursday
Day Off
January 13, 2010
Today is my day off from The Game. The point is to relax from the strict eating schedule and rigid rules of The Game; the theory is that the day off prevents plateauing. So this morning, I fell back into my usual routine of rushing to get ready, putting on my make-up, running out the door, purchasing a bagel with cream cheese and a large coffee, and getting into work late. As I have described in a number of previous posts, coffee is something that I truly love, and having the freedom to drink it today caused a sense of euphoria. I'm high on caffeine, dizzy with the rich aroma and engulfed in the delicious bitterness of my first cup this week. Obviously, as this magical beverage is such a passion, I suppose you can guess that today's question will be related... Today's question is: which countries are the top 10 producers of coffee?
A: I thought that this would be an easy one; find the list, research the countries and voila! Little did I realize that each organization and website has different figures. I chose to base my research on the statistics provided by the International Coffee Organization's total production data.
I was also really surprised by the list of countries - I have drank Costa Rican, Kenyan and Jamaican varieties, but was shocked that they did not make the top 10 list. Although, I was quite proud that the Guatemalan's are there; perhaps I come from a long line of coffee farmers! Regardless, here is the list:
Statistics are based on 2008/2009 crop production.
Brazil (45 992 000 bags)
Brazil is the largest coffee producing country, supplying 1/3 of the world's coffee. Brazil produces both arabica and robusta beans, although notable varieties include Bahia and Bourbon Santos. Brazilian coffee is usually distinguished by a clear, sweet, mild to medium flavour.
Vietnam (16 000 000 bags)
Coffee production in Vietnam is considered to be the most rapid growing industry in the country. Vietnam specializes in robsuta production, but also grows arabica beans which were brought to the country by French missionaries in the 1860s. Vietnamese coffee is characterized by a light acidity and mild body, it is frequently used for blending.
Colombia (10 500 000 bags)
The best known coffee producer in the world, much of Colombia's economy relies on the production of coffee. Colombia’s coffee grows in the moist, temperate foothills of the Andes, which result in consistently good, mild coffees. The delicate, aromatic sweetness can be found in the notable Supremo.
Indonesia (8 638 000 bags)
Indonesia produces well known robusta beans from it's islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi. Indonesia's traditional process of warehousing the beans - aging them in it's warm, damp climate - produces a deep bodied flavour that cannot be matched by technology.
Ethiopia (6 133 000 bags)
Ethiopia is the origin of the arabica tree and is the top exporter of that variety of bean. One of the main growing areas is Kaffa, which is said to be where the name coffee derived. Ethiopian coffee tends to offer a bold, full flavoured, earthy cup.
Mexico (4 650 000 bags)
Although one of the top producers, Mexican coffee tends to be grown on small farms rather than large plantations. Mexico is the largest supplier of coffee to the United States. A cup of Mexican coffee can offer a wonderful aroma and a depth of flavor. It is a good bean for dark roasts and is sometimes used for blending.
India (4 372 000 bags)
Coffee production in India is strictly controlled by the Indian Coffee Board, which some claim reduces economic incentive and lowers quality. Indian coffee can be distinguished by complex aroma and sweet finish with undertones of fruit and earthiness.
Peru (3 868 000 bags)
Peruvian coffee is a sweet, fruity tasting coffee with a complex yet delicate aroma that is alive with floral scents and fruit notes. Many importers have focused on fair-trade beans from Peru as it operates many small farms.
Honduras (3 373 000 bags)
Honduras mainly grows arabica beans and retailers tend to use it as a blending coffee. Due to the rich soil, high altitude and temperate climate, Honduran coffee has a low acidity and a sweet flavour likened to that of caramel.
Guatemala (3 370 000 bags)
Today is my day off from The Game. The point is to relax from the strict eating schedule and rigid rules of The Game; the theory is that the day off prevents plateauing. So this morning, I fell back into my usual routine of rushing to get ready, putting on my make-up, running out the door, purchasing a bagel with cream cheese and a large coffee, and getting into work late. As I have described in a number of previous posts, coffee is something that I truly love, and having the freedom to drink it today caused a sense of euphoria. I'm high on caffeine, dizzy with the rich aroma and engulfed in the delicious bitterness of my first cup this week. Obviously, as this magical beverage is such a passion, I suppose you can guess that today's question will be related... Today's question is: which countries are the top 10 producers of coffee?
A: I thought that this would be an easy one; find the list, research the countries and voila! Little did I realize that each organization and website has different figures. I chose to base my research on the statistics provided by the International Coffee Organization's total production data.I was also really surprised by the list of countries - I have drank Costa Rican, Kenyan and Jamaican varieties, but was shocked that they did not make the top 10 list. Although, I was quite proud that the Guatemalan's are there; perhaps I come from a long line of coffee farmers! Regardless, here is the list:
Statistics are based on 2008/2009 crop production.
Brazil (45 992 000 bags)
Brazil is the largest coffee producing country, supplying 1/3 of the world's coffee. Brazil produces both arabica and robusta beans, although notable varieties include Bahia and Bourbon Santos. Brazilian coffee is usually distinguished by a clear, sweet, mild to medium flavour.
Vietnam (16 000 000 bags)
Coffee production in Vietnam is considered to be the most rapid growing industry in the country. Vietnam specializes in robsuta production, but also grows arabica beans which were brought to the country by French missionaries in the 1860s. Vietnamese coffee is characterized by a light acidity and mild body, it is frequently used for blending.
Colombia (10 500 000 bags)
The best known coffee producer in the world, much of Colombia's economy relies on the production of coffee. Colombia’s coffee grows in the moist, temperate foothills of the Andes, which result in consistently good, mild coffees. The delicate, aromatic sweetness can be found in the notable Supremo.
Indonesia (8 638 000 bags)
Indonesia produces well known robusta beans from it's islands of Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi. Indonesia's traditional process of warehousing the beans - aging them in it's warm, damp climate - produces a deep bodied flavour that cannot be matched by technology.
Ethiopia (6 133 000 bags)
Ethiopia is the origin of the arabica tree and is the top exporter of that variety of bean. One of the main growing areas is Kaffa, which is said to be where the name coffee derived. Ethiopian coffee tends to offer a bold, full flavoured, earthy cup.
Mexico (4 650 000 bags)
Although one of the top producers, Mexican coffee tends to be grown on small farms rather than large plantations. Mexico is the largest supplier of coffee to the United States. A cup of Mexican coffee can offer a wonderful aroma and a depth of flavor. It is a good bean for dark roasts and is sometimes used for blending.
India (4 372 000 bags)
Coffee production in India is strictly controlled by the Indian Coffee Board, which some claim reduces economic incentive and lowers quality. Indian coffee can be distinguished by complex aroma and sweet finish with undertones of fruit and earthiness.
Peru (3 868 000 bags)
Peruvian coffee is a sweet, fruity tasting coffee with a complex yet delicate aroma that is alive with floral scents and fruit notes. Many importers have focused on fair-trade beans from Peru as it operates many small farms.
Honduras (3 373 000 bags)
Honduras mainly grows arabica beans and retailers tend to use it as a blending coffee. Due to the rich soil, high altitude and temperate climate, Honduran coffee has a low acidity and a sweet flavour likened to that of caramel.
Guatemala (3 370 000 bags)
Guatemalan coffee has a very distinct flavour due to the volcanic soil and high altitude of the coffee plantations. Guatemalan coffee is medium to full bodied, with a spicy flavour and chocolaty undertones.
Sources:
Wednesday
Writing Wednesdays
January 13, 2010
A: George Brown was born in 1818 in Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1843, after managing a printing operation in New York with his father. In 1844 he founded The Globe newspaper (now known as The Globe and Mail after merging with other papers) to propagate the Reform notion of responsible government. Brown also used the newspaper to publish articles and editorials attacking the slavery movement in the Southern United States and was instrumental in the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada. Additionally, Brown used the newspaper to express his negative views on church-state ties.
As I have stated at the beginning of this blog, my goal for 2010 was to write more. In order to accomplish this, I started 365 Random Questions, but I also enrolled in a creative writing class at George Brown College. I am very excited! Most of the writing (with the exception of this) is quite bland - I summarize data, I type e-mails and I take minutes of provincial meetings - very dull. So, I'm looking forward to learning about techniques on how to get the stories in my head, out and onto paper. Thinking about the college I became curious about the college's namesake; I know that George Brown was a politician involved in confederation and that he has a statue outside of Queens Park, but I don't really know much more than that. Today's question is: who was George Brown?
A: George Brown was born in 1818 in Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1843, after managing a printing operation in New York with his father. In 1844 he founded The Globe newspaper (now known as The Globe and Mail after merging with other papers) to propagate the Reform notion of responsible government. Brown also used the newspaper to publish articles and editorials attacking the slavery movement in the Southern United States and was instrumental in the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada. Additionally, Brown used the newspaper to express his negative views on church-state ties. In 1851, George was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Canada representing the Reform party and focused on separating the church and state and the idea of representation by population (rep by pop). This drew strong opposition from the less populous, largely French-Catholic, Lower Canada. Amongst these strains, the Reform regime collapsed in 1854. In 1857, George reorganized the Clear Grit (Liberal) party and swept the Upper Canada elections later that year. Brown focused on building a federal union of the Canadas to remedy sectional divisions, however Parliamentary discussion quickly broke down on the topic. Brown offered to support a new government for constitutional change, and joined forces with Conservative leader John A. Macdonald, Alexander Tilloch Galt and George-Étienne Cartier to form a coalition to seek a federal union. He then put in motion the notion of Confederation, speaking at the Charlottetown and the Quebec Conferences. However, Brown later resigned from the coalition over government's opposition of pursuing a free-trade policy with the United States.
Despite his resignation, Brown continued to support Confederation and ran for the first federal elections in the fall of 1867. He was defeated by John A. Macdonald and left parliament to focus on The Globe newspaper. Brown was seen as an informal leader to the Liberal party and in 1874 was appointed as a senator.
George's death was a result of a tragic event. In March 1880, a dismissed Globe employee, George Bennett, shot Brown in the leg with a revolver. Initially thought to be a surface wound, later turned gangrenous, that resulted in his death 7 weeks later.
Sources:
Tuesday
Sly Stallone
January 12, 2010
It has been over a decade since I scaled a rock wall. I can remember in high school being taken on a field trip to try it out with all the jocks and fitness fanatics, yet surprised myself by having a great time. Rock climbing was fun and challenging, but it was not going to be something I pursued as a regular hobby.
Fast-forward to today, and I'm trying it again. A guy at work runs a lunchtime fitness session and has organized for a group of work colleagues to try it out as a team building and exercise activity. I'm actually quite excited to do it again and I mentioned to a friend that at then end of it I would recreate Cliffhanger the movie. This got me thinking (a) I've never seen that movie and (b) it sounded kind of crappy when it came out in theatres, what would possess Sylvester Stallone - the guy who played Rocky Balboa and Rambo - to do a mediocre film about rock climbing? But I realized that I was making a judgement on a movie that I know very little about. Today's question is: what is Cliffhanger about?
A: Cliffhanger was released in 1993 and stars Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow. The story begins at 4000 feet, Gabe Walker and some friends are moving from a mountain top to a helicopter via a steel cable. Suddenly, the equipment fails for one of the climbers, Gabe tries to save her, but she plummets to her death. Nearly a year later, Gabe returns to the town and is convinced to assist in a rescue on the same mountain range. The rescue mission turns out to be a hoax and is actually a plot by a group of thieves, lead by Eric Qualen, to recover three suitcases containing $100 million dollars. Insert lots of intense action sequences and good-versus-evil drama. The bad guys don't get the money and Gabe et al get rescued by the FBI. The end.
The film was nominated for three Oscars for best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. Cliffhanger later went on to win an ASCAP award for the Top Box Office Film. It was also screened at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and was generally praised by critics. Despite this, the movie was also nominated for four Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Worst Supporting Actress (Janine Turner) and Worst Screenplay. Cliffhanger is also in the Guinness World Book of Records for the costliest aerial stunt ever performed.
The film still seems a little plot thin to me, but I will be renting it so that I can substaniate my feelings. And just for the record - perhaps I will not be recreating Cliffhanger at the Rock Oasis tonight; 4000 feet seems a bit extreme.
Sources:
IMDB: Cliffhanger (1993)
Wikipedia: Cliffhanger (film)
It has been over a decade since I scaled a rock wall. I can remember in high school being taken on a field trip to try it out with all the jocks and fitness fanatics, yet surprised myself by having a great time. Rock climbing was fun and challenging, but it was not going to be something I pursued as a regular hobby.
Fast-forward to today, and I'm trying it again. A guy at work runs a lunchtime fitness session and has organized for a group of work colleagues to try it out as a team building and exercise activity. I'm actually quite excited to do it again and I mentioned to a friend that at then end of it I would recreate Cliffhanger the movie. This got me thinking (a) I've never seen that movie and (b) it sounded kind of crappy when it came out in theatres, what would possess Sylvester Stallone - the guy who played Rocky Balboa and Rambo - to do a mediocre film about rock climbing? But I realized that I was making a judgement on a movie that I know very little about. Today's question is: what is Cliffhanger about?
A: Cliffhanger was released in 1993 and stars Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow. The story begins at 4000 feet, Gabe Walker and some friends are moving from a mountain top to a helicopter via a steel cable. Suddenly, the equipment fails for one of the climbers, Gabe tries to save her, but she plummets to her death. Nearly a year later, Gabe returns to the town and is convinced to assist in a rescue on the same mountain range. The rescue mission turns out to be a hoax and is actually a plot by a group of thieves, lead by Eric Qualen, to recover three suitcases containing $100 million dollars. Insert lots of intense action sequences and good-versus-evil drama. The bad guys don't get the money and Gabe et al get rescued by the FBI. The end.
The film was nominated for three Oscars for best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. Cliffhanger later went on to win an ASCAP award for the Top Box Office Film. It was also screened at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and was generally praised by critics. Despite this, the movie was also nominated for four Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actor (John Lithgow), Worst Supporting Actress (Janine Turner) and Worst Screenplay. Cliffhanger is also in the Guinness World Book of Records for the costliest aerial stunt ever performed.
The film still seems a little plot thin to me, but I will be renting it so that I can substaniate my feelings. And just for the record - perhaps I will not be recreating Cliffhanger at the Rock Oasis tonight; 4000 feet seems a bit extreme.
Sources:
IMDB: Cliffhanger (1993)
Wikipedia: Cliffhanger (film)
Monday
BBC's Day in Pictures
January 11, 2010
Photo from BBC's Day in Pictures
Despite how busy I am at work, I always make time to read the news. I particularly like the CBC, but I also have a fondness for the Beeb; I especially love the BBC's Day in Pictures. There are usually fascinating photos that are posted from around the world. Today, the pictures included a landscape photo from Spain with the ground and the trees covered with snow, a picture of a man in India wrapped up warm in a blanket and a photo of a group of Japanese girls at a coming of age ceremony. In the photo, the girls are wearing beautifully coloured kimonos with fur collars; they have their hair and make-up done just perfectly; and they are all giving the V sign with their fingers. Today's question is: what is the meaning of the V sign in photographs?
Photo from BBC's Day in PicturesA. The first thing I must clarify, is that I did not mean the two fingers with palm facing the signer. Having lived in the UK, I understand this means the equivalent of showing your middle finger here in North America. There is a lengthy explanation involving the French, English archers and removal of extremities; this may be explored in a future post.
The V was popularized by Winston Churchill as a victory salute after WWII. In years to follow, it was also used by Charles De Gaulle and Richard Nixon. In the sixties, it was adopted as a sign of peace by hippies protesting the Vietnam war.
In recent years, it has become prevalent in East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and China. The use of the V has become a meme associated with Asian people and taking photos. The popularity of the V can be traced back to 1972; although there is no definitive answer as to who was the person to spread craze. The first theory points to a popular Japanese actor and singer named Junji Inoue. He was featured in a Konica commercial taking photos of people all giving the peace sign. According to Inoue, the idea for the sign was based on his perception of it's popularity in the United States. The second account is from the American figure skater Janet Lynn, who was competing in the 1972 Sapporo, Japan Winter Olympics. During her free style performance, she fell on the ice, but smiled through, and went on to win the bronze medal. Her cheerful face made her an overnight sensation with the Japanese. Lynn, a peace activist, was frequently shown in print media and on television flashing the peace sign and has been credited with popularizing it in Japan.
Sources:
Tyler Bell Blog: Origin of the Two Fingered Japanese Victory Salute
Sunday
Cake
January 10, 2010
Day three of The Game and I feel quite good. The lack of coffee is still on my mind, but I sufficiently caffeinated myself by having an afternoon cuppa tea and spent my "free calories" by putting a splash of milk in. As I sat to enjoy my tea, I picked up the President's Choice Insider Report magazine - essentially a flyer touting all of the new food products that President's Choice puts out. Turning the pages, my mouth began to water. I turned to the dessert page and my head nearly exploded with the gorgeous looking cakes, particularly the cream puffs (profiteroles). It's been ages since I've had a profiterole and I would have loved to have one with my tea - but why stop at one, I would have loved to have a whole pile of them! A whole pile of cream puffs, with spun sugar on them! A whole croquembouche for myself! But since I am committed to winning The Game, I decided that I would blog about a croquembouche instead of indulging in one. Today's question is: how does one make a croquembouche?
A: Croquembouche is from the French 'croque en bouche' meaning a crunch in the mouth. A croquembouche is a fancy, edible, structure made of choux pastry, filled with chantilly cream, held together by caramel and decorated with cheveux d'ange (spun sugar). The croquembouche was displayed on the medieval tables of French royalty and nobility, and is now a traditional cake for weddings, baptisms and communions.
As the answer to this question is in recipe form, it is difficult to research and summarize. So I have copied Laura Calder's recipe for croquembouche - Laura Calder hosts a cooking show called French Food at Home on the Food Network. I have never made one, so I cannot vouch for how good this recipe is. However, I have decided that as a celebration for completing The Game, I will make one for all of the participants and have them over for COFFEE and dessert!
Laura Calder's Croquembouche
Ingredients
Pastry
1 1/2 cups water
Pinch salt
3/4 cup butter
4 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Milk for glaze
Pastry Cream
2 cups milk
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
6 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch salt
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped
Croquembouche
1 recipe pastry cream
1 recipe baked choux balls
3 cups sugar
Directions
Pastry
1.Heat the oven to 375 F/190 C.
2.Put the water, salt, butter, and sugar in a roomy saucepan, bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the flour all at once, beating until it forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Return the pan to the heat for a minute or two and beat to dry it out a little. (Removing moisture will allow the paste to absorb more egg, which will ultimately make the puffs lighter.)
3.Remove the pan from the heat. Beat in the eggs, the equivalent of one at a time, until fully incorporated. (Do not try to add them at once because they can’t be incorporated quickly enough, it makes a total mess, and furthermore you may not need all of them.) After the third addition of egg, add only enough to make dough that will fall, glossy and heavy, from the spoon. Beat in the vanilla. Spoon the dough into a piping bag.
4.Mix a bit of milk into any remaining egg (if no egg left, use only milk). Have at the ready with a pastry brush for glazing. Pipe the dough into evenly-sized (about 1-inch/2.5 cm) balls on a non-stick baking sheet, leaving a good 2-inches/5 cm between them so they have room to expand. Brush the tops with the glaze and press the snouts down with a fingertip. Bake until puffed up, light, dry, and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, so they can breathe all around and will keep their shape and not go soggy.
Pastry Cream
1.Put the milk in a saucepan. Scrape the vanilla seeds into the milk and throw in the pod. Bring just to a boil, remove from the heat, cover, and set aside to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes.
2.Beat the yolks and sugar to pale thick ribbons. Gradually beat in the flour. Whisk the milk into the egg mixture in a thin stream. Add the flavouring and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. Strain and set aside to cool with a buttered piece of waxed paper on top to prevent a skin from forming. When cool, fold in the whipped cream.
Croquembouche
1.Put the pastry cream in a piping bag with a sharp tip. Poke the tip into the choux balls and fill with pastry cream.
2.Put the sugar with 1/2 water in a saucepan, dissolve, and boil to caramel (340°F). Dip the choux balls into the caramel and arrange in a circle. Continue dipping and build the balls up like a stone wall, preferable around an oiled cone (or flowerpot) to make a big tree. Spin some of the extra caramel around the tree. Set aside until ready to serve.
Sources:
Saturday
Coffee please!
January 9, 2010
It is the second day of The Game and I have spent the whole day planning, preparing and eating my healthy meals. I have also not had coffee in two whole days! If you know me, I LOVE coffee. If I had children, I'd give up my first born for a gorgeous, steaming, flavourful cup of that beautiful brown elixir. There is something about the smell and taste of a freshly brewed cup of coffee that makes me so happy - and perky. I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms - headache, fatigue and irritability (or stroppines) - which have made me declare that this game sucks! Which in turn, makes me, my teammates, and my opponents suckers. As I sent an e-mail to one of the other participants this morning, I ended it with "Enjoy your water, Sucker!" (How is that for some friendly trash talk?!) This had me wondering where that word came from; could it actually be from what I thought? Today's question is: what is the origin of the word sucker?
A: The word sucker first shows up in the 14th century as the word souker, meaning a 'young mammal that has yet to be weaned'. It was not until the 1830's that the word developed the meaning of someone who is easily deceived.
The word presumably arose by likening a naive person to a newborn animal, which is weak and defenceless.
I suppose my mind was really in gutter... I thought it would have been derived from something more derogatory. Well, I'm happy to hear it wasn't!
Sources
Take Our Word For It: Issue 13
The Mavens' Word of the Day
It is the second day of The Game and I have spent the whole day planning, preparing and eating my healthy meals. I have also not had coffee in two whole days! If you know me, I LOVE coffee. If I had children, I'd give up my first born for a gorgeous, steaming, flavourful cup of that beautiful brown elixir. There is something about the smell and taste of a freshly brewed cup of coffee that makes me so happy - and perky. I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms - headache, fatigue and irritability (or stroppines) - which have made me declare that this game sucks! Which in turn, makes me, my teammates, and my opponents suckers. As I sent an e-mail to one of the other participants this morning, I ended it with "Enjoy your water, Sucker!" (How is that for some friendly trash talk?!) This had me wondering where that word came from; could it actually be from what I thought? Today's question is: what is the origin of the word sucker?
A: The word sucker first shows up in the 14th century as the word souker, meaning a 'young mammal that has yet to be weaned'. It was not until the 1830's that the word developed the meaning of someone who is easily deceived.
The word presumably arose by likening a naive person to a newborn animal, which is weak and defenceless.
I suppose my mind was really in gutter... I thought it would have been derived from something more derogatory. Well, I'm happy to hear it wasn't!
Sources
Take Our Word For It: Issue 13
The Mavens' Word of the Day
Friday
Muffins and Racks
January 8, 2010
The fifties, repopularized curves and the hourglass shape. Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were pictures of perfection, revered for their beauty and achieved sex symbol status because of their shapely bodies. This trend of the busty woman continued until 1967 and the introduction of Twiggy. Twiggy was known for her short blond bob, extravagant eye lashes and her super skinny figure - at 5'6" she only weighed 91 pounds. Throughout the seventies and eighties, the trend for slimness continued, as well as showcasing models that were 5'8" and above. The 1990's introduced the supermodel; women like Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, who were all curvy, tall and slender. However, the nineties also saw a shift from the buxom model to the waif, heroin chic look of Kate Moss.
I caved. I am now part of The Game - winning myself the gift of good health at the end of four weeks. To begin The Game, each participant had to commit to fitness or weight loss goals and positive lifestyle choices.
My fitness goals are:
- Complete 50 consecutive push ups - I can do 10, so increase each week by 10.
- Run on the treadmill for 25 minutes (speed at 4.5, with an incline of 3) - at the moment I struggle to do 15 minutes, so increase each week by 2.5 minutes.
My lifestyle choices are:
- To read for pleasure everyday - either on my commute or before bed.
- Stop drinking coffee in the morning.
I know that I am overweight and could do with losing a few pounds, but I chose to do a fitness goal instead of a weight loss goal - partially because I don't own a scale, but also I would never choose to sacrifice my great rack for my muffin top... Honestly, who doesn't love a muffin?! And more importantly, who doesn't love a great rack?!
With that in mind, I thought of how the view of the ideal female body has changed over the years. Today's question is: what is the history of female body image in the media?
A: Before media influence, body image was based the ability to reproduce - men would choose women with a healthy level of body fat, as it was a visual representation of good estrogen levels and the sustenance for child bearing.
Evidence of fuller-figures as the ideal is evidenced through paintings. In the early-Renaissance Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" expresses the beauty and sensuality of a voluptuous woman. This trend continued into late-Renaissance and Baroque periods, where women were celebrated for their curvy figures and childbearing hips.
In the 1800's, with an increase in printed advertising, being plump was a sign of affluence. When resources were scarce, a full-figure represented the means to eat well and suggested probable health. During the late 19th century Lillian Russell was the most celebrated stage actresses and singer of operettas in America. She was considered to be the the most beautiful woman of the time, as a matter of public opinion and in the news media. Lillian, displayed the traditional womanly figure, wearing corsets to narrow her waist and enhance the bust of her ample proportions.
In the 1920's, French fashion dictated the ideal body shape. Coco Chanel and other designers popularized the garçonne - boyish - look, which focused on flattened breasts and straight waists. This era spawned the first dieting craze of the twentieth century.The fifties, repopularized curves and the hourglass shape. Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were pictures of perfection, revered for their beauty and achieved sex symbol status because of their shapely bodies. This trend of the busty woman continued until 1967 and the introduction of Twiggy. Twiggy was known for her short blond bob, extravagant eye lashes and her super skinny figure - at 5'6" she only weighed 91 pounds. Throughout the seventies and eighties, the trend for slimness continued, as well as showcasing models that were 5'8" and above. The 1990's introduced the supermodel; women like Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, who were all curvy, tall and slender. However, the nineties also saw a shift from the buxom model to the waif, heroin chic look of Kate Moss.
Recently, there has been an outcry about the super skinny model. The media are more conscious of their impact on young people. In 2006, fashion show organizers in Madrid, Spain turned away models who were considered underweight by medical personnel. The standard set by the Association of Model Agents (AMA) is 34"-24"-34'.
Sources:
Thursday
Lunch date
January 7, 2010
It's funny how life takes you on journeys and reacquaints you with people from your past.
A few weeks ago, I was on a date in a part of town that I rarely visit. On this date, I mentioned that I knew someone who lived in the area. As I pointed in the direction of where she lived, I bumped into her on the street. This was the perfect opportunity to reconnect; so today we had lunch. Erin and I filled each other in on the trials and triumphs of the last year. I always remember Erin as the "hip mom" devoted to her children, but still cool and liberal. I remember a number of years ago, her having to meet with her son's teacher quite regularly. He was a bright kid, but tended to be a bit of a class clown. It turns out that he has Asperger's Syndrome.
I know a little bit about Asperger, mainly from reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but I would like to learn a bit more about it. Today's question is: What is Asperger's Syndrome?
A: Asperger's Syndrome is one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. While there are similarities to autism, individuals with Asperger tend to be high functioning with large vocabularies. People with Asperger tend to have great difficulty with social interaction and communication. Unlike those with autism, they are not withdrawn, and tend to approach others but have difficulty knowing when to start or end a conversation. Individuals may also display difficulty understanding social cues such as gestures, facial expressions, personal space or tone of voice. Additional symptoms include sensory sensitivity, obsessive interests and a love of routine.
The cause of Asperger's Syndrome is unknown, although studies suggest that it may be genetic and show that it may be linked to structural abnormalities in the brain. Due to varying signs and serveries, it is usually difficult to diagnose Asperger's Syndrome. Sometimes individuals are misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, possibly because of similarities in the symptoms.
There is no cure for Asperger, however several treatments exist including communication and social skills training, cognitive behaviour therapy and medication. As this disorder causes difficulties socializing and communicating, it is sometime challenging for parents and families to cope. Support groups such as the Asperger's Parenting Network and the GTA Asperger's Group are good sources of information and encouragement.
Sources:
Aperger Syndrome Education Network (ASPEN)
The Mayo Clinic: Asperger's Syndrome
The National Autistic Society
Wikipedia: Asperger Syndrome
It's funny how life takes you on journeys and reacquaints you with people from your past.
A few weeks ago, I was on a date in a part of town that I rarely visit. On this date, I mentioned that I knew someone who lived in the area. As I pointed in the direction of where she lived, I bumped into her on the street. This was the perfect opportunity to reconnect; so today we had lunch. Erin and I filled each other in on the trials and triumphs of the last year. I always remember Erin as the "hip mom" devoted to her children, but still cool and liberal. I remember a number of years ago, her having to meet with her son's teacher quite regularly. He was a bright kid, but tended to be a bit of a class clown. It turns out that he has Asperger's Syndrome.
I know a little bit about Asperger, mainly from reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but I would like to learn a bit more about it. Today's question is: What is Asperger's Syndrome?
A: Asperger's Syndrome is one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. While there are similarities to autism, individuals with Asperger tend to be high functioning with large vocabularies. People with Asperger tend to have great difficulty with social interaction and communication. Unlike those with autism, they are not withdrawn, and tend to approach others but have difficulty knowing when to start or end a conversation. Individuals may also display difficulty understanding social cues such as gestures, facial expressions, personal space or tone of voice. Additional symptoms include sensory sensitivity, obsessive interests and a love of routine.
The cause of Asperger's Syndrome is unknown, although studies suggest that it may be genetic and show that it may be linked to structural abnormalities in the brain. Due to varying signs and serveries, it is usually difficult to diagnose Asperger's Syndrome. Sometimes individuals are misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, possibly because of similarities in the symptoms.
There is no cure for Asperger, however several treatments exist including communication and social skills training, cognitive behaviour therapy and medication. As this disorder causes difficulties socializing and communicating, it is sometime challenging for parents and families to cope. Support groups such as the Asperger's Parenting Network and the GTA Asperger's Group are good sources of information and encouragement.
Sources:
Aperger Syndrome Education Network (ASPEN)
The Mayo Clinic: Asperger's Syndrome
The National Autistic Society
Wikipedia: Asperger Syndrome
Tuesday
Hey Lucy
January 6, 2010
I started this post a day early because I know that I will come in stumbling with intoxication (and not the water variety) this evening. My friend, Gemma, informed me last week that Hey Lucy Cafe, a trendy cafe/bar in downtown Toronto, has opened up a sister location near her home. They are advertising $3.99 martinis on a Wednesday. I am an avid martini drinker; my preference is a dry gin martini, stirred or swirled, with a twist. I am not snobby about my alcohol - let's be honest, I'd drink almost anything - but I don't find a cloudy, ice-chip riddled martini that appealing. Some connoisseurs say that shaking a traditional martini bruises the gin. I wondered if that is just a bunch of balderdash or if it is a legitimate claim. Today's question is: can gin be bruised by shaking it with ice?
A: Gin, being a liquid, cannot be bruised.
The phrase "bruising the gin" is used to describe the cloudy appearance of a gin martini when shaken instead of stirred. The cloudy effect is a result of aeration and ice particles that are produced by shaking with ice. It is debatable whether "bruising" gin changes the taste and texture of the drink, yet martini enthusiasts suggest that a traditional martini that is shaken makes it taste sharper and reduces the smooth character of the cocktail. The alteration may be a result of a more even distribution of vermouth, as shaking will emulsify the two liquids.
A shaken martini is colder than one that is stirred, however purists prefer the bottle of gin, the vermouth and the mixing glass to be at room temperature. This is so, when stirred with ice, it becomes slightly diluted and enhances the floral aroma of the juniper - the main ingredient in gin.
Shaking verses stirring really comes down to a matter of preference. If one likes a cold, even flavoured martini and is not bothered about the cloudy appearance, then shaking is the way to go. If one prefers a delicate floral flavour with a smooth finish and a clear presentation, then it must be stirred.
To make a traditional martini the way I like it:
~ President Bartlett from the West Wing (as played by Martin Sheen)
Sources:
Interesting Thing of the Day: The Martini
That's the Spirit: Mixology, Shaken vs. Stirred
Wikipedia: Martini (cocktail)
I started this post a day early because I know that I will come in stumbling with intoxication (and not the water variety) this evening. My friend, Gemma, informed me last week that Hey Lucy Cafe, a trendy cafe/bar in downtown Toronto, has opened up a sister location near her home. They are advertising $3.99 martinis on a Wednesday. I am an avid martini drinker; my preference is a dry gin martini, stirred or swirled, with a twist. I am not snobby about my alcohol - let's be honest, I'd drink almost anything - but I don't find a cloudy, ice-chip riddled martini that appealing. Some connoisseurs say that shaking a traditional martini bruises the gin. I wondered if that is just a bunch of balderdash or if it is a legitimate claim. Today's question is: can gin be bruised by shaking it with ice?
A: Gin, being a liquid, cannot be bruised.
The phrase "bruising the gin" is used to describe the cloudy appearance of a gin martini when shaken instead of stirred. The cloudy effect is a result of aeration and ice particles that are produced by shaking with ice. It is debatable whether "bruising" gin changes the taste and texture of the drink, yet martini enthusiasts suggest that a traditional martini that is shaken makes it taste sharper and reduces the smooth character of the cocktail. The alteration may be a result of a more even distribution of vermouth, as shaking will emulsify the two liquids.
A shaken martini is colder than one that is stirred, however purists prefer the bottle of gin, the vermouth and the mixing glass to be at room temperature. This is so, when stirred with ice, it becomes slightly diluted and enhances the floral aroma of the juniper - the main ingredient in gin.
Shaking verses stirring really comes down to a matter of preference. If one likes a cold, even flavoured martini and is not bothered about the cloudy appearance, then shaking is the way to go. If one prefers a delicate floral flavour with a smooth finish and a clear presentation, then it must be stirred.
To make a traditional martini the way I like it:
- 2 oz. Bombay Sapphire gin
- Dash of dry vermouth
- Lemon peel
- Ice
- Cool the cocktail glass with ice water.
- Place ice, gin and vermouth in a cocktail shaker.
- Swirl gently.
- Dump out the ice water in the cocktail glass.
- Rub the lemon peel on the rim of the glass, to deposit the essential oils, then place the peel in the bottom.
- Strain the gin and vermouth over top of the lemon.
~ President Bartlett from the West Wing (as played by Martin Sheen)
Sources:
Interesting Thing of the Day: The Martini
That's the Spirit: Mixology, Shaken vs. Stirred
Wikipedia: Martini (cocktail)
The Game
January 5, 2010
Today I received an e-mail from a friend asking me to join The Game. The Game is a fitness and healthy lifestyle challenge that is played for four consecutive weeks. The goal is to gain points each week for completing certain healthy behaviours, such as eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, et cetera. One can receive 10 points for drinking three litres of water per day. Three litres seems like a lot to me; I am a regular water drinker and sometimes have difficulty with two litres, which is the recommended 8 glasses of 250 millilitres per day. This led me to think of the Californian woman who died in 2007 from participating in a "Hold your wee for a Wii" radio contest. Today's question is: how much water will lead to water intoxication?
A: Water intoxication, or overhydration, is caused by ingesting large quantities of water over a short period of time. Too much water lowers the concentration of salt in the blood, water then seeps into surrounding cells to balance the electrolytes in the body, which causes the organs to swell. If the brain swells, this can cause fatal results - which is what happened to Jennifer Strange, the victim of "hold your wee for a Wii". When the brain swells, it puts pressure on the skull and can damage vital regions that regulate body functions such as breathing.
It is recommended to drink between two to three litres of water per day, as adults receive additional hydration through food consumption. However, a healthy adult kidney is able to process up to 15 litres of water a day if drank in small quantities over a period of time.
It seems that my question has no clear-cut answer. The amount of water necessary for each individual is based on diet, exercise and environment; and the body is equipped to process a large amount of water. Water intoxication is based on two factors - volume and time - one will only experience this condition if too much liquid is consumed in too little time.
Sources:
About.com Chemistry: Water Intoxication and Hyponatremia
Associated Content: Water Intoxication: How Much Water is Too Much?
BBC: Why is too much water dangerous. January 15, 2007
Today I received an e-mail from a friend asking me to join The Game. The Game is a fitness and healthy lifestyle challenge that is played for four consecutive weeks. The goal is to gain points each week for completing certain healthy behaviours, such as eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, et cetera. One can receive 10 points for drinking three litres of water per day. Three litres seems like a lot to me; I am a regular water drinker and sometimes have difficulty with two litres, which is the recommended 8 glasses of 250 millilitres per day. This led me to think of the Californian woman who died in 2007 from participating in a "Hold your wee for a Wii" radio contest. Today's question is: how much water will lead to water intoxication?
A: Water intoxication, or overhydration, is caused by ingesting large quantities of water over a short period of time. Too much water lowers the concentration of salt in the blood, water then seeps into surrounding cells to balance the electrolytes in the body, which causes the organs to swell. If the brain swells, this can cause fatal results - which is what happened to Jennifer Strange, the victim of "hold your wee for a Wii". When the brain swells, it puts pressure on the skull and can damage vital regions that regulate body functions such as breathing.
It is recommended to drink between two to three litres of water per day, as adults receive additional hydration through food consumption. However, a healthy adult kidney is able to process up to 15 litres of water a day if drank in small quantities over a period of time.
It seems that my question has no clear-cut answer. The amount of water necessary for each individual is based on diet, exercise and environment; and the body is equipped to process a large amount of water. Water intoxication is based on two factors - volume and time - one will only experience this condition if too much liquid is consumed in too little time.
Sources:
About.com Chemistry: Water Intoxication and Hyponatremia
Associated Content: Water Intoxication: How Much Water is Too Much?
BBC: Why is too much water dangerous. January 15, 2007
Monday
The First Four Questions
Welcome to 365 Random Questions!
Today I had a brilliant idea on how to better myself and possibly increase my intelligence along the way. This afternoon, I received an article on how to think like a genius. I realized that I will never be a genius, but took some pointers from the article and decided that I would put it into practice. One of my goals for 2010 was to write more and I thought that I would keep a diary - but this seems juvenile to me. So, my brilliant idea is to review the activities of my day and come up with a related random question. Then, I will research the answer and post it here; combining one of the genius techniques with research and writing.
Now, it's the fourth day of January and I have four questions to catch up on...
January 1, 2010
The New Year began with an e-mail from a guy that I was seeing. The relationship only began a few weeks prior, although we knew each other for a couple of months. His courting efforts had me swooning and our interactions were so hot I'm surprised that neither of us spontaneously combusted! But that all came to an end on New Years day, when he sent me an e-mail explaining that he didn't think that we would work out as a couple. I was shocked and saddened. Today's question is: Can someone die of a broken heart?
A: Dying of a broken heart is a phrase often used to describe a person who dies after experiencing some form of grief - the loss of a loved one, a divorce, a break up, or rejection. Grief tends to be a psychological pain, yet can have many physical manifestations including the loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, feelings of hopelessness, or depression. If not properly dealt with, these reactions to grief can cause many health ailments, which may in turn lead to death - particularly in the elderly.
However, there is a medical term called stress cardiomyopathy which is brought on through intense emotional and physical stress and can cause rapid heart muscle weakness. The symptoms of stress cardiomyopathy are similar to a heart attack and can include chest pain, shortness of breath and heart failure. It is believed that the body releases a high level of adrenaline to cope with stress and the heart becomes overwhelmed with the sudden release of this hormone. The effects of adrenaline on the heart are usually temporary and reversible.
Although rare, it is possible for an individual to actually die of a broken heart.
Sources:
Answers.com - What does it mean to die of a broken heart?
John Hopkins Medicine - Frequently Asked Questions about Broken Heart Syndrome
Wikipedia - Broken Heart
January 2, 2010
Despite the previous day's events, I dusted myself off and went to celebrate my uncle's 50th birthday. The party was complete with Chinese food, Pictionary and excessive amounts of alcohol. Today's question is: In what year was the average lifespan for a male 50 years old in Canada?
A: Between 1900 and 1910.
Source:
Government of Canada Depository Services Program: Healthy Aging: Historical Trends in Life Expectancy
January 3, 2010
Recovering from too many gin and tonics was easy! It involved crepes, three cups of coffee and good company! To get to these hangover cures, I took the subway all over Toronto. However, on the way home, I experienced severe delays due to a fire at track level on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). Today's question is: What is the history of the subway in Toronto and have there been any notable fires over the years?
A:
The Yonge-University and the Bloor-Danforth Lines
The Toronto Subway opened in March of 1954 and ran from Union Station along Yonge Street to Eglinton Station for a total of 7.4 kilometers (just over 4.5 miles). Newspapers revered the underground train with reports that one could get from Eglinton to Front street in just 12 minutes. The TTC turned it's sights on building a line along Queen Street to alieviate traffic, however noted that the Bloor streetcars were carrying more passengers than the Queen Street transit. A bid to city hall was made for an East-West line to be built under Bloor Street, which would run from St. George, East along Bloor and Danforth Avenue, to Greenwood. However, before constuction could be started, there needed to be a connection point to the Yonge line. In 1963, a new extension was added running under University Avenue from Union to St. George. Three years later, in February 1966, the Bloor-Danforth line was opened, taking commuters from Keele Street to Woodbine Avenue. These make up the main lines of the Toronto Subway, extensions were added to ease commuter traffic and reach the outskirts of Toronto.
Expansions
In 1968, the Bloor-Danforth line was extend, both East and West to connect Keele to Islington, and Woodbine to Warden. More track was added to the Yonge line in 1973 and 1974 to reach further North and connect Eglinton to Finch. Nearly 10 kilometers of track was added to the Yonge-University line in 1978 to connect St. George station Northward to Wilson Station. In November 1980 (coincidentally, 12 days after I was born) the Bloor-Danforth Line was extended by one station in both directions. Islington went one stop further West to Kipling and Warden went one stop further East to Kennedy, adding room for commuter parking and bus terminals. In 1996, the same concept applied to the Yonge-University line and Wilson Station was extended North to Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West, becoming Downsview Station. The newest line was added in November 2002 extending Sheppard Station Eastward to Victoria Park.
Fires
Throughout the history of the Toronto Subway, there have only been three notable fires in which no one has been seriously injured or killed.
March 27, 1963: A six-car subway train was completely destroyed by fire. All passengers were evacuated.
October 15, 1976: Arson at Christie station caused significant damage, yet no one was injured.
December 8, 2000: A garbage train caught fire while en route through Old Mill station.
Sources:
Transit Toronto: The Built Subways
TTC Milestones
Wikipedia: Toronto subway and RT
Wikipedia: Toronto Transit Commission
January 4, 2010
Over the years I have struggled with chronic back pain due to scoliosis. I visited the chiropractor and have resolved to go regularly. Today's question is: What are the causes of scoliosis?
A: Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. When viewed from the front, the spine curves to the side and each vertebra twists onto the next like a corkscrew. Between 80 - 85% of cases are considered idiopathic, meaning with no known cause.
Studies are emerging to suggest that scoliosis may be genetic, however there are three confirmed causes.
Congenital Scoliosis
Congenital scoliosis is the malformation of the spine in utero. The spine grows crooked as a result of one side of a vertebra not fully forming or when the vertebrae do not section off normally.
Neuromuscular Scoliosis
This type of scoliosis affects children who suffer from neurological system disorders, such as spina bifida or muscular dystrophy. The spine curves due to weakened musculature in the trunk and a lack of support for the upper body.
Degenerative Scoliosis
Degenerative scoliosis happens in adulthood and occurs if the curvature went untreated in childhood. Disc degeneration, osteoporosis, herniated discs or spinal compression fractures can all contribute to this type of scoliosis.
Sources:
Personal experience
Spine Universe: Causes of Scoliosis
Today I had a brilliant idea on how to better myself and possibly increase my intelligence along the way. This afternoon, I received an article on how to think like a genius. I realized that I will never be a genius, but took some pointers from the article and decided that I would put it into practice. One of my goals for 2010 was to write more and I thought that I would keep a diary - but this seems juvenile to me. So, my brilliant idea is to review the activities of my day and come up with a related random question. Then, I will research the answer and post it here; combining one of the genius techniques with research and writing.
Now, it's the fourth day of January and I have four questions to catch up on...
January 1, 2010
The New Year began with an e-mail from a guy that I was seeing. The relationship only began a few weeks prior, although we knew each other for a couple of months. His courting efforts had me swooning and our interactions were so hot I'm surprised that neither of us spontaneously combusted! But that all came to an end on New Years day, when he sent me an e-mail explaining that he didn't think that we would work out as a couple. I was shocked and saddened. Today's question is: Can someone die of a broken heart?
A: Dying of a broken heart is a phrase often used to describe a person who dies after experiencing some form of grief - the loss of a loved one, a divorce, a break up, or rejection. Grief tends to be a psychological pain, yet can have many physical manifestations including the loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, feelings of hopelessness, or depression. If not properly dealt with, these reactions to grief can cause many health ailments, which may in turn lead to death - particularly in the elderly.
However, there is a medical term called stress cardiomyopathy which is brought on through intense emotional and physical stress and can cause rapid heart muscle weakness. The symptoms of stress cardiomyopathy are similar to a heart attack and can include chest pain, shortness of breath and heart failure. It is believed that the body releases a high level of adrenaline to cope with stress and the heart becomes overwhelmed with the sudden release of this hormone. The effects of adrenaline on the heart are usually temporary and reversible.
Although rare, it is possible for an individual to actually die of a broken heart.
Sources:
Answers.com - What does it mean to die of a broken heart?
John Hopkins Medicine - Frequently Asked Questions about Broken Heart Syndrome
Wikipedia - Broken Heart
January 2, 2010
Despite the previous day's events, I dusted myself off and went to celebrate my uncle's 50th birthday. The party was complete with Chinese food, Pictionary and excessive amounts of alcohol. Today's question is: In what year was the average lifespan for a male 50 years old in Canada?
A: Between 1900 and 1910.
Source:
Government of Canada Depository Services Program: Healthy Aging: Historical Trends in Life Expectancy
January 3, 2010
Recovering from too many gin and tonics was easy! It involved crepes, three cups of coffee and good company! To get to these hangover cures, I took the subway all over Toronto. However, on the way home, I experienced severe delays due to a fire at track level on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). Today's question is: What is the history of the subway in Toronto and have there been any notable fires over the years?
A:
The Yonge-University and the Bloor-Danforth Lines
The Toronto Subway opened in March of 1954 and ran from Union Station along Yonge Street to Eglinton Station for a total of 7.4 kilometers (just over 4.5 miles). Newspapers revered the underground train with reports that one could get from Eglinton to Front street in just 12 minutes. The TTC turned it's sights on building a line along Queen Street to alieviate traffic, however noted that the Bloor streetcars were carrying more passengers than the Queen Street transit. A bid to city hall was made for an East-West line to be built under Bloor Street, which would run from St. George, East along Bloor and Danforth Avenue, to Greenwood. However, before constuction could be started, there needed to be a connection point to the Yonge line. In 1963, a new extension was added running under University Avenue from Union to St. George. Three years later, in February 1966, the Bloor-Danforth line was opened, taking commuters from Keele Street to Woodbine Avenue. These make up the main lines of the Toronto Subway, extensions were added to ease commuter traffic and reach the outskirts of Toronto.
Expansions
In 1968, the Bloor-Danforth line was extend, both East and West to connect Keele to Islington, and Woodbine to Warden. More track was added to the Yonge line in 1973 and 1974 to reach further North and connect Eglinton to Finch. Nearly 10 kilometers of track was added to the Yonge-University line in 1978 to connect St. George station Northward to Wilson Station. In November 1980 (coincidentally, 12 days after I was born) the Bloor-Danforth Line was extended by one station in both directions. Islington went one stop further West to Kipling and Warden went one stop further East to Kennedy, adding room for commuter parking and bus terminals. In 1996, the same concept applied to the Yonge-University line and Wilson Station was extended North to Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West, becoming Downsview Station. The newest line was added in November 2002 extending Sheppard Station Eastward to Victoria Park.
Fires
Throughout the history of the Toronto Subway, there have only been three notable fires in which no one has been seriously injured or killed.
March 27, 1963: A six-car subway train was completely destroyed by fire. All passengers were evacuated.
October 15, 1976: Arson at Christie station caused significant damage, yet no one was injured.
December 8, 2000: A garbage train caught fire while en route through Old Mill station.
Sources:
Transit Toronto: The Built Subways
TTC Milestones
Wikipedia: Toronto subway and RT
Wikipedia: Toronto Transit Commission
January 4, 2010
Over the years I have struggled with chronic back pain due to scoliosis. I visited the chiropractor and have resolved to go regularly. Today's question is: What are the causes of scoliosis?
A: Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. When viewed from the front, the spine curves to the side and each vertebra twists onto the next like a corkscrew. Between 80 - 85% of cases are considered idiopathic, meaning with no known cause.
Studies are emerging to suggest that scoliosis may be genetic, however there are three confirmed causes.
Congenital Scoliosis
Congenital scoliosis is the malformation of the spine in utero. The spine grows crooked as a result of one side of a vertebra not fully forming or when the vertebrae do not section off normally.
Neuromuscular Scoliosis
This type of scoliosis affects children who suffer from neurological system disorders, such as spina bifida or muscular dystrophy. The spine curves due to weakened musculature in the trunk and a lack of support for the upper body.
Degenerative Scoliosis
Degenerative scoliosis happens in adulthood and occurs if the curvature went untreated in childhood. Disc degeneration, osteoporosis, herniated discs or spinal compression fractures can all contribute to this type of scoliosis.
Sources:
Personal experience
Spine Universe: Causes of Scoliosis
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)