Conventional Fruit Labels
Four digits starting with 4

Organic Fruit Labels
Five digits and starts with number 9

Genetically Modified Fruits
Start with the digit 8

So next time you go shopping, remember these critical numbers and know how to avoid purchasing inorganic and GMO fruits. Shop Safe :
This is good to know because stores aren’t obligated to tell you if a fruit has been genetically modified.

So if you come across an apple in the store and it’s label is 4922, it’s a conventional apple grown with herbicides and harmful fertilizers.

If it has a sticker 99222, it’s organic and safe to eat.

If it says 89222, then do not buy! It has been genetically modified (GMO).

Technorati Tags: apple, fruit, health, organic

1 — every match at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay was played in one city: Montevideo.

2 — Sweden’s Jan Olsson, wearing No. 2, was the defender that Dutch star Johan Cruyff famously bamboozled with his inventive “Cruyff Turn” at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.

3 — Brazil’s Pele is the only player to win three World Cups: in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

4 — the number of players who recorded two hat tricks at the World Cup: Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis (both in 1954), France’s Just Fontaine (1958), West Germany’s Gerd Muller (1970) and Gabriel Batistuta (one in 1994 and one in 1998).

5 — Russia’s Oleg Salenko scored a tournament-record five goals in one game during a 6-1 win over Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

6 — Paolo Rossi was the top scorer at the 1982 World Cup in Spain with six goals, leading Italy to its third title.

7 — the number of days the World Cup trophy went missing when it was stolen prior to the 1966 Cup in England. A dog named Pickles, being taken out for a walk by his owner in South London, discovered the trophy wrapped in some newspapers at the bottom of some bushes a week after it was taken.

8 — Scotland has qualified for the World Cup on eight occasions. All eight times it failed to advance beyond the first round.

9 — Mexico lost a record nine straight games at the World Cup (1930, 1950-58).

10 — the number of minutes left in extra time of the 2006 World Cup final when France’s Zinedine Zidane head-butted Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

11 — Turkey’s Hakan Sukur scored 11 seconds into the game against South Korea in 2002, the quickest goal in World Cup history.

12 — Austria and Switzerland teamed up for the highest-scoring game in World Cup history in 1954 when they combined for 12 goals. Austria won 7-5.

13 — the number of teams that participated in the first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay.

14 — German star Gerd Muller, regarded as one of the top strikers in the history of soccer, scored 14 career goals at the World Cup.

15 — the number of goals Brazil’s Ronaldo scored at three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2006), a tournament record.

16 — Russian referee Valentin Ivanov brandished 16 yellow cards (tying a tournament record) in a second-round match at the 2006 World Cup in Germany between Portugal and the Netherlands.

17 — the age of Brazil’s Pele when he became the youngest player ever to score at the World Cup, in 1958 in Sweden.

18 — England’s Geoff Hurst is the only player in World Cup history to net a hat trick in the final, the first of his three goals against West Germany in 1966 coming in the 18th minute.

19 — Lucien Laurent scored for France in the 19th minute against Mexico in 1930, becoming the first player to score a goal at the World Cup.

20 — the 20th World Cup will be staged in 2014 in Brazil.

21 — the four European teams that competed at the first World Cup (Romania, Belgium, France and Yugoslavia) set sail for Uruguay on June 21, 1930.

22 — North Korea took a shocking 3-0 lead after only 22 minutes against Portugal in the quarter-finals of the 1966 World Cup, only to see the Portuguese storm back to win the game 5-3.

23 — Uruguay’s Alcides Ghiggia was 23 when he scored the winning goal against Brazil in the 1950 World Cup decider at Rio’s Maracana Stadium. Years later, Ghiggia famously said: “Only three people have ever silenced 200,000 people at the Maracana with a single gesture: Frank Sinatra, Pope John Paul II and me.”

24 — the number of consecutive passes made by Argentina before midfielder Esteban Cambiasso scored against Serbia and Montenegro during the first round of the 2006 World Cup.

25 — Germany’s Lothar Matthaus has played in a tournament record 25 games at the World Cup.

26 — on May 26, 1928, at its Amsterdam conference, FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, announced plans to stage a World Cup tournament independent of the Olympics. Two years later, the first World Cup was held in Uruguay.

27 — Hungary scored the most goals by one team at a single tournament, finding the back of the net 27 times in 1954 in Switzerland.

28 — Hungary entered the 1954 World Cup as the favourites, having gone undefeated in their previous 28 games (24 wins, four draws) in international play, before losing to West Germany in the final.

29 — 1929 was the year in which FIFA awarded Uruguay the right to host the first World Cup.

30 — the number of referees who will work the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They’ll come from 28 countries.

31 — Australia defeated American Samoa 31-0 in 2001, the largest margin of victory ever in a World Cup qualifying game.

32 — the number of teams the tournament expanded to (from 24) in 1998 in France.

33 — Ireland asked FIFA to let it enter the 2010 World Cup as the tournament’s 33rd team after Thierry Henry’s infamous handball helped France qualify for the competition at the expense of the Irish. Their request was denied.

34 — born in Buenos Aires, Luis Monti is the only person to have played in two World Cup finals for different countries, representing Italy in 1934 after playing for Argentina four years earlier.

35 — the height (in centimetres) of the World Cup trophy presented to Uruguay after it defeated Argentina in the final of the first World Cup, in 1930.

36 — Polish legend Zbigniew Boniek was the 36th player in World Cup history to record a hat trick, scoring three past Belgium in 1982. Regarded as one of the best players of his era, Boniek was suspended for the semifinals that year against Italy, which easily won 2-0.

37 — the minute in which Guillermo Stabile scored to give Argentina a 2-1 lead in the 1930 World Cup final. Uruguay came from behind to win 4-2.

38 — Joe Gaetjens scored in the 38th minute for the U.S. against England in the first round of the 1950 World Cup. The Americans went on to win 1-0, registering the greatest upset in tournament history.

39 — Gary Lineker, one of only two English players to score three goals in a game at the World Cup, recorded the 39th hat trick in tournament history in 1986.

40 — Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff was 40 when he became the oldest player ever to win the World Cup, at the 1982 tournament in Spain.

41 — as in 17 years and 41 days, the age of Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside when he became the youngest player to appear at the World Cup, in 1982.

42 — the age of Cameroon’s Roger Milla when he became the oldest player to score and play at the World Cup, in 1994 in the United States.

43 — the average attendance (per game) at the World Cup: just over 43,000 fans.

44 — the gap in years between Italy’s second World Cup title (in 1938) and third (in 1982).

45 — Italian legend Giuseppe Meazza scored over 50 goals during his international career, with his 45th coming against Brazil in the semifinals of the 1938 World Cup. Famously, Meazza was set to take a penalty shot against Brazil when the elastic holding up his shorts snapped. Undaunted, Meazza held up his shorts with his left hand while scoring from the spot to give Italy a 2-0 lead. Meazza’s shorts fell down around his waist after he scored.

46 — the aftermath of the Second World War caused the cancellation of the 1946 World Cup.

47 — Germany’s Miroslav Klose was the 47th player in history to record a hat trick at the World Cup, in 2002 against Saudi Arabia. Amazingly, all three goals were scored on headers.

48 — number of hat tricks recorded in World Cup history.

49 — Spain has played 49 games at the World Cup, the most of any nation that has not won the tournament.

50 — the 1950 World Cup was the only tournament not to have a final game. Instead, the winner was determined via a four-team round robin after Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and Sweden won their respective first-round groups. Uruguay defeated hosts Brazil 2-1 in the final game of the round robin to win the World Cup.

51 — the minute in which Argentina’s Diego Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

52 — the age of Vittorio Pozzo at the time he led Italy to World Cup glory in 1938. Pozzo is still the only coach to win two World Cup titles.

53 — the oldest referee in a World Cup game was George Reader of England, who was 53 when he took charge of the Brazil-Uruguay World Cup finale in 1950.

54 — the minute in which Argentina’s Diego Maradona scored his famous “Goal of the Century” goal against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

55 — with Brazil sitting on a slender 2-1 lead over Sweden in the 1958 final, a 17-year-old Pele took control of the game in the 55th minute when he scored a stunningly breathtaking goal. Standing in a crowd in the penalty area with his back toward goal, he trapped a high pass with his chest, knocked the ball over his head while being marked by a defender, whirled around and volleyed it past Swedish goalkeeper Karl Svensson.

56 — Uruguay’s Jose Batista was red carded a mere 56 seconds into a first-round game against Scotland at the 1986 World Cup, the fastest ejection in tournament history.

57 — the legendary Alfredo di Stefano of Argentina acquired Spanish citizenship and played four World Cup qualifying matches for Spain in 1957, but the team failed to qualify. Di Stefano is considered the greatest player never to have played at the World Cup.

58 — Brazil’s Mario Zagallo became the first man to win the World Cup as a player and a coach. He won his first title while playing for Brazil in 1958.

59 — Poland’s Ernst Wilimowski became the first player in World Cup history to score four goals in a single game when he netted four times against Brazil in a first-round match in 1938. His second goal was scored in the 59th minute.

60 — in 1960, FIFA was in the midst of selecting the host nation when a catastrophic earthquake and the ensuing tsunami rocked Chile. Thousands were killed, and the country was devastated. Strangely, though, this did not weaken Chile’s application to stage the World Cup, and the South American nation held the tournament two years later.

61 — English referee Graham Poll mistakenly showed Croatian defender Josip Simunic three yellow cards during a first-round game against Australia in 2006. Poll cautioned Simunic the first time in the 61st minute.

62 — six players, including Brazil’s Garrincha, finished tied as the tournament top scorers in 1962 in Chile with four goals each.

63 — Soviet star Lev Yashin, considered the greatest goalkeeper ever to play the game, made 63 saves (according to several statisticians) during his three World Cup appearances.

64 — record number of World Cup victories registered by Brazil.

65 — the first player to be expelled in a World Cup final was Pedro Monzon of Argentina in 1990, when he was sent off against West Germany in the 65th minute.

66 — Portugal’s Eusebio was the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup in England with nine goals.

67 — minute in which Argentina’s Claudio Caniggia scored against Italy in the semifinals of the 1990 tournament, ending Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga’s record shutout streak at 517 consecutive minutes.

68 — Archie Gemmell scored one of the most famous goals in World Cup history in the 68th minute of a first-round game against the Netherlands. Gemmell elegantly slalomed his way through the Dutch defence before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed and into the back of the net to give Scotland a 3-1 lead.

69 — minute in which Hungary’s Laszlo Kiss scored the first of three goals against El Salvador in 1982 en route to recording the quickest ever hat trick at the World Cup (eight minutes).

70 — Mexico became the first nation outside of Europe and South America to host the World Cup, in 1970.

71 — as in one hundred and seventy-one, the most amount of goals scored at a single World Cup, in 1998 in France.

72 — number of years after the inaugural World Cup in 1930 that the tournament was held in Asia (in 2002 in Japan and South Korea) for the first time.

73 — minute in which Jaime Ramirez opened the scoring in Chile’s 2-0 win over Italy in the first round of the 1962 World Cup, a match that was later dubbed “the battle of Santiago” because several fights broke out between players.

74 — in what is regarded as one of the greatest games in World Cup history, Paolo Rossi scored a hat trick to lift Italy to a 3-2 win over Brazil in 1982 in Spain. Rossi’s third goal was scored in the 74th minute.

75 — number of nations that have played at the World Cup.

76 — Cuba and Indonesia last played in the World Cup in 1938, which means when 2014 Cup rolls around, it will have been 76 years since their previous World Cup appearance — a tournament record in futility.

77 — minute in which Hungary’s Laszlo Kiss scored his third goal against El Salvador in 1982, becoming the only substitute in World Cup history to record a hat trick.

78 — Argentina was the last South American country to stage the World Cup, in 1978.

79 — Uruguay’s Alcides Ghiggia scored the winning goal of the 1950 final against Brazil in the 79th minute to lead his country to its second World Cup title and famously silence the 200,000 fans who packed Rio’s Maracana stadium.

80 — number of minutes that Austria and Germany played against each other without pressing forward during their first-round match in 1982. Germany scored in the 10th minute to take a 1-0, and both teams knew that if the game finished that way, they would both move on to the next round at the expense of Algeria, which played the day before.

81 — Yugoslavia embarrassed Zaire 9-0 at the 1974 World Cup in one of the most lopsided games in tournament history. Dusan Bajevic finished off the scoring in the 81st minute.

82 — Silvio Piola scored in the 82nd minute of the 1938 World Cup final to cap off a 4-2 win for Italy over Hungary in France. In doing so, Italy became the first team to repeat as champions.

83 — Hungary hammered El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, tying the record for the most lopsided result in World Cup history. Hungary’s Tibor Nyilasi scored the last goal of the game in the 83rd minute.

84 — Germany’s Helmut Rahn scored the winning goal against Hungary in the 84th minute of the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. The game, forever known as “the miracle of Berne,” saw the Germans win their first World Cup in one of the most dramatic finals ever.

85 — Andreas Brehme scored the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 World Cup final in Italy, converting from the penalty spot in the 85th minute against Argentina.

86 — Mexico became the first repeat host when it staged the World Cup for the second time in 1986.

87 — minute in which Roberto Baggio scored the winning goal for Italy against Spain the quarter-finals in 1994.

88 — minute in which Roberto Baggio scored against Nigeria in the second round of the World Cup to help Italy stave off elimination. Baggio went on to score the winner in extra time to help the Italians move on to the next round.

89 — a thrilling quarter-final match at the 1998 World Cup between the Netherlands and Argentina was settled in the 89th minute when Dennis Bergkamp calmly controlled a 50-yard pass in the air from teammate Frank de Boer, sidestepped Argentina defender Roberto Ayala and hammered the ball into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Carlos Roa.

90 — Germany’s Karl-Heinz Schnellinger scored in the 90th minute of the 1970 semifinals to tie the score 1-1 against Italy, sending the game, regarded by many critics as the greatest in World Cup history, into extra time. The Italians went on to win 4-3.

91 — how old Nelson Mandela will be when the 2010 World Cup kicks off June 11 in South Africa. Mandela played a pivotal role in bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time in the tournament’s history.

92 — both Brazil and Germany have played in a record 92 World Cup games.

93 — 93,000 spectators packed Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario to watch Uruguay defeat Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final in 1930.

94 — more than 3.5 million fans attended all 52 games of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, still the single tournament attendance record.

95 — as in 1995, the year in which a study conducted by the Engineering Department at Oxford University concluded that Geoff Hurst’s controversial winning goal for England n the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany did not cross the goal-line entirely.

96 — temperature (in Fahrenheit) in Leon, Mexico, at the time of kickoff when Canada made its World Cup debut against France in 1986. Canada lost 1-0.

97 — Germany’s Karl-Heinz Rummenigge entered the 1982 semifinals against France in the 97th minute and went on to score two goals — including one in the penalty shootout — to lift his country to a dramatic come-from-behind victory in one of the most thrilling games in World Cup history.

98 — Bora Milutinovic is the only man to coach five different countries at the World Cup history, including Nigeria in 1998.

99 — minute in which England’s Paul Gascoigne earned a yellow card against Germany in the semifinals in 1990, which led to his famous teary reaction.

100 — current age of Argentina’s Francisco Varallo, the only person who is still alive to have played in the first World Cup in 1930.

Technorati Tags: fact, fifa, football, soccer, sport, world cup

1. Use Fluorescent Light-bulbs
We use lights every night, so why not go green? Fluorescent light-bulbs use far less energy then the standard bulbs, which means less carbon emissions and a lower energy bill. It’s a win-win situation.

2. Clean Your Air-conditioner’s Filter
A lot of people use their air-conditioner almost everyday. When the filter gets clogged with dust, it makes the unit work harder to intake air. This could be responsible for up to 10% of the power your air-conditioner uses, so by doing this,you’re not only saving the environment but, your money as well.

3. Plant a Tree/Trees
Planting a tree is one of the best ways you can continually help the environment. Although one tree does not help a lot in terms of reducing carbon levels (around 25lbs a year) if you plant 5 trees and they are each around for 10 years, you’ve helped get rid of 1,250lbs of carbon, which is not bad at all.

4. Walk, cycle or take public transport.
Whether it be walking, cycling, taking mass transit, or carpooling, you will heavily reduce your carbon emissions. If you choose to walk/run/cycle, then you will also gain fitness, which is always a good thing.

5. Use a Cloths line, Not Dryer
What better way to cut carbon emissions then to stop using a whole appliance? Even though your clothes may not be as soft, you still get the bonus of reducing your carbon output by around 2,000lbs a year, and the electricity bill savings are bound to make up for the flaws of clotheslines.

6. Install a low-flow shower head
This is not really a hard thing to do, and it reduces the energy used by the hot water system, as you are using less water. Additionally, your should see a fair improvement in your water bill. Purchasing the shower head may be slightly expensive, but the government in your area usually has some sort of incentive for you to do so.

7. Turn off Appliances When You Are Not Using Them
This couldn’t be any simpler. When your appliances are on stand-by mode, they continue to leech a small amount of electricity. So you are basically being charged for electricity you haven’t used. Remember, if you see the red light, Turn it off.

8. Shop With a Reusable Bag
The plastic bags that we get at the shops are a major hazard to our environment, and although they may not really contribute to carbon emissions, I thought this was a good tip anyway. Instead of buying plastic that can kill marine animals, or having the bag take 100s of years to deteriorate, why not just use a reusable bag. You can carry a lot of groceries with just the one bag, and they are easier to carry then plastic bags (not plastic to cut into your fingers) 9. Lower The Brightness of Your Computer Screen

Here we go, something that you can do right now! Most people like to have their screen at full brightness, but it is usually not necessary, and by lowering your screen brightness, you can save a substantial amount of energy. Changing your brightness is simple, and can usually be done with a few clicks of the button on your monitor.

9. Lower The Brightness of Your Computer Screen
Here we go, something that you can do right now! Most people like to have their screen at full brightness, but it is usually not necessary, and by lowering your screen brightness, you can save a substantial amount of energy. Changing your brightness is simple, and can usually be done with a few clicks of the button on your monitor.

10. Wash Clothes In Cold Water
Another heating-related tip, there is really no need to wash your clothes with hot water unless they are very dirty. Your power bill will thank you due to your hot water system not having to produce extra hot water, and you will notice no difference.

This information was in The New York Times  several weeks ago as part of their “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.  Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?  Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.   (WOW)

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool?  Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!   (DOUBLE WOW)

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.  Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?  Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes?  Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber sliced rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11.. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints?  Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?  Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won’t leave streaks and won’t harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Technorati Tags: cucumber, facts, health

Today, we know garlic is an excellent herb for creating and maintaining overall health, but it also has many lesser known, but powerful qualities. For example, many people don’t know that it’s a naturally powerful antibiotic. This natural antibiotic is effective against toxic bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Available in pills, capsules, liquid and actual raw cloves, garlic is one of the most popular healthy herbs around today.

Garlic helps platelet stickiness or aggregation to help reduce blood coagulation, and promote heart health.

The antioxidant properties of garlic help scavenge harmful free radicals, which can damage LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood stream.

Garlic also promotes increased bile production to help reduce levels of fat in the liver. Garlic pills also help ward off coughs and colds.
The positive effect of garlic on your circulatory system is extremely well documented and it has been proved to:

• lower blood pressure
• decrease platelet aggregation
• lower serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol ( the bad type) levels
• increase serum HDL-cholesterol (the good type) and fibrinolysis (the process through which the body breaks up blood clots.)

Plus it stimulates the production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessel walls, a substance that helps them to relax.

As a result of these beneficial actions garlic helps to prevent arteriosclerosis and thereby reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Two or three cloves a day have cut the risk of subsequent heart attacks in half in heart patients.

One reason for these beneficial effects may be garlic’s ability to reduce the amount of free radicals in the bloodstream. According to a study published in Life Sciences, a daily dose of 1 ml/kg body weight of garlic extract for a period of 6 months resulted in a significant reduction in oxidant (free radical) stress in the blood of arteriosclerosis patients. It’s positive effect on the circulatory system improves blood flow throughout the body so has even been hailed as a cure for impotence!

Technorati Tags: diseases, garlic, health, heart, medical

White chocolate contains cocoa butter, a product of the cocoa bean that is also used to produce chocolate. The cocoa butter, which does have a faint chocolate flavor is combined with milk, sugar and often other flavoring ingredients such as vanilla in order to create the creamy confection known as white chocolate.

In order to be labeled chocolate (as defined in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration) a product must also contain cocoa solids from chocolate liquor. Chocolate liquor is not alcohol. Rather, it is the thick liquid produced when fermented, dried and roasted cocoa beans are shelled, then ground. This ground up inner bean is known as chocolate liquor and is the key ingredient in all of the chocolates on the market except for white chocolate.

When the chocolate liquor is pressed, the fat can be removed from it. This fat is called cocoa butter, and it is the primary ingredient in white chocolate. In plain chocolate, the cocoa butter is reblended with the cocoa solids from the separation process in order to make unsweetened chocolate. It may also be sweetened and blended with additional ingredients such as milk to make the chocolate confection we commonly eat. However, with white chocolate the cocoa butter is not reunited with the cocoa powder. Instead, sugar and milk are added to create the final treat. Since the caffeine in chocolate is found in the cocoa solids and not the cocoa butter, white chocolate does not contain any caffeine.

Just like regular chocolate, white chocolate is then heated, cooled and processed to attain the desired consistency, texture and sheen. This processing is known as conching and tempering. The final product may then be placed into molds in order to attain the final shape in which the chocolate will be marketed. White chocolate has gained popularity in recent years and is often used in baking and candy making, either alone or in conjunction with other chocolates. Since the creamy white color and the mellow flavor of white chocolate provide a nice contrast to other chocolates, they are often paired for both visual appeal and flavor.

White chocolate chips can be found routinely next to the semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips in the grocery store baking aisles. Gourmet treats such as chocolate dipped strawberries are regularly available in white chocolate varieties.

Since white chocolate labels are not currently standardized, some manufacturers market products that do not even contain cocoa butter as white chocolate. Usually, these candies contain vegetable oil and lack the rich and creamy flavor that “real” white chocolate boasts. It is important to check package labels to ensure you purchase the best white chocolate since both product types may be labeled similarly.

The cocoa butter used to make white chocolate is a very stable fat and has a long lifespan without spoiling. It contains several natural antioxidants and it has a shelf life of several years. It is also used in products other than chocolate and white chocolate, such as soaps, moisturizers and other skin care products.

Technorati Tags: chocolate

1. The word “toast,” which means wishing good health originated in ancient Rome. A piece of toasted bread was literally dropped into wine back then.
2. The soil of one of the vineyards in France is considered so precious that it is mandatory for workers to scrape the soil off their shoes before they leave.
3. Anyone under the age of 21 should be careful of taking out trash bags in Missouri. If you are under 21 and the garbage contains an empty bottle of alcohol, you can be charged with illegal possession of alcohol.
4. Most people think that drinking alcohol raises the body temperature. Alcohol actually lowers the body temperature.
5. Here is a little surprise : The national anthem of United States “The Star Spangled Banner,” was written to the tune of a drinking song.
6. Although “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” is considered to be the shortest sentence that includes all the letters of the alphabet, alcohol lovers came up with one of their own “Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.”
7. Most vegetable and almost all fruits contain a small amount of alcohol in them.
8. The first Thanksgiving Day didn’t include mashed potatoes, turkey and all other foods that we usually eat on this particular day. However, there was beer, brandy, gin and wine.
9. Bourbon, the official drink of United States takes its name from Bourbon County in Kentucky.
10. The pressure in a champagne bottle is 90 pounds per square inch, that is three times the pressure in automobile tires.
11. Adolf Hitler was one of the world’s best known abstainers from alcohol.
12. Sir Winston Churchill was one of the world’s heaviest drinkers.
13. The longest permanent bar is 405 feet and 10 inches. It is located in Ohio. Some suggest that the longest bar is in Illinois which is 684 feet.
14. The first recruiting station of the U.S. Marines was a bar.
15. The world’s oldest known recipe is for beer.
16. It is illegal to run a “tab” in Iowa (source that we used says running a “tab” in Iowa is illegal. Iowa residents say it is legal. We will go with Iowa residents and rule this one out)
17. United States has the highest minimum drinking age in the entire world.
18. The alcohol content of a typical beer, wine or spirits are virtually identical. To a breathalyzer, a drink is a drink is a drink.
19. Brandy, rum and whisky can be either aged too long or not long enough.
20. It is estimated that there are 49,000,000 (forty-nine million) bubbles in a bottle of champagne.
21. Human body produces its own supply of alcohol naturally, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
22. Beer started selling in bottles starting 1850 and in cans starting 1935.
23. In the 1600’s thermometer used to be filled with brandy instead of mercury.
24. The term “Dipsomania” refers to abnormal cravings for alcohol.
25. There is a cloud of alcohol in the outer space which is enough to make four trillion-trillion drinks.
26. It is illegal to feed alcohol to Moose in Alaska and fish in Ohio.
27. In some European countries McDonald’s serves alcohol. Some parents like to drink alcohol while kids munch on fries and chicken nuggets. McDonald’s decided they needed all the customers they can get.
28. Many high school cafeterias in Europe serve alcohol to students who choose to drink
29. Distilled spirits such as brandy, gin, rum, tequila, etc. contain no carbohydrates, no fats and no cholesterol of any kind.
30. A mixed drink that contains carbonated drink is absorbed into the body more quickly than straight shots.
31. Abraham Lincoln held a liquor license and operated several taverns.
32. All spirits (unlike beer and wine) are originally clear and colorless. The golden brown and other colors are achieved due to the aging process.
33. The French Wine “Fat Bastard” is banned in Ohio and Texas. (although the articles we referred to suggested that this was true, many readers have said that you can buy “Fat Bastard” in Texas)
34. Here is another one we found that relates to Texas : Texas state law prohibits taking more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
35. The BATF (Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco and Firearms) prohibits the use of word “refreshing” to describe any alcoholic beverage.

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

Technorati Tags: health, liver

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power..

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

Technorati Tags: brain, health

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can’t live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French f ries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

Technorati Tags: cancer, health, hotdog

1. In 2006, there were 13,470 fatalities in crashes involving an alcohol impaired driver (BAC of .08 or higher) – 32 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year.
2. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was four times higher at night than during the day.
3. As in previous years, in 2006, males comprise a majority, about 81 percent, of all drivers involved in fatal crashes with a BAC=.08+.
4. The 13,470 fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes during 2006 represent an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 39 minutes.
5. On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes. In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in drunk driving related crashes.
6. Fifty to 75 percent of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.
7. Alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost the public an estimated $114.3 billion in 2000, including $51.1 billion in monetary costs and an estimated $63.2 billion in quality of life losses. People other than the drinking driver paid $71.6 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill, which is 63 percent of the total cost of these crashes.
8. About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
9. Over 1.46 million drivers were arrested in 2006 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers in the United States.
10. A first time drunk driving offender on average has driven drunk 87 times prior to being arrested.

Technorati Tags: alcohol, driving, drunk

Dimensions and Sizes

• Average dimensions of the adult brain: Width = 140 mm/5.5 in, Length = 167 mm/6.5 in, Height = 93 mm/3.6 in.
• How much does human brain weigh? At birth our brains weigh and average of 350-400g (about 4/5 lbs), as adults the brain averages 1300-1400g (about 3 lbs).
• If Stretched out the cerebral cortex would be 0.23 sq. m(2.5sq.ft), the area of a night table.
• Total surface area of the cerebral cortex is 2,500 cm2 or 2.69 sq.ft.

Composition

• The composition of the brain = 77-78% water, 10-12% lipids, 8% protein, 1% carbs, 2% soluble organics, 1% inorganic salt.
• The breakdown of intracranial contents by volume (1,700 ml, 100%): brain = 1,400 ml (80%); blood = 150 ml (10%); cerebrospinal fluid = 150 ml (10%).
• The cerebellum contains half of all the neurons in the brain but comprises only 10% of the brain.
• The cerebral cortex is about 85% of the brain.
• Percentage of total cerebral cortex volume = frontal lobe 41%, temporal lobe 22%, parietal lobe 19%, occipital lobe 18%.
• There are about 100 billion neurons in the human brain, the same number of stars in our galaxy.
• The left hemisphere of the brain has 186 million more neurons than the right hemisphere.
• 750-1000ml of blood flow through the brain every minute or about 3 full soda cans.
• In that minute the brain will consume 46cm3 (1/5 cups) of oxygen from that blood.
• Of that oxygen consumed, 6% will be used by the brain’s white matter and 94% by the grey matter.

Times

• The brain can stay alive for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. After that cells begin die.
• The slowest speed at which information travels between neurons is 416 km/h or 260 mph, thats as “slow” as todays supercar’s top speed (the Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron clocked at 253 mph).
• 10 seconds is the amount of time until unconsciousness after the loss of blood supply to the brain.
• Time until reflex loss after loss of blood supply to the brain, 40-110 seconds.
• During early pregnancy the rate of neuron growth is 250,000 neurons a minute.

Other Fun Facts About The Human Brain

• Results from cognitive tests show 30% of 80-year-olds perform as well as young adults.
• Your brain is about 2% of your total body weight but uses 20% of your body’s energy.
• The energy used by the brain is enough to light a 25 watt bulb.
• More electrical impulses are generated in one day by a single human brain than by all the telephones in the world.
• How much does human brain think? 70,000 is the number of thoughts that it is estimated the human brain produces on an average day.
• After age 30, the brain shrinks a quarter of a percent (0.25%) in mass each year.
• Albert Einsteins brain weighed 1,230 grams (2.71 lbs), significantly less then the human average of 1,300g to 1,400g (3 lbs).
• Each year Americans consume 50 billion aspirin tablets or 15.5 million tons.
• 89.06 is the percentage of people who report normally writing with their right hand, 10.6% with their left and 0.34% with either hand.

Technorati Tags: brain, fun facts

The H1N1 flu virus — swine flu to you — is causing illness around the world and is likely to do so for some time to come. As a result, you or people around you may become ill. If so, you need to recognize the symptoms and know what to do.

Here are some points from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms

Common symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, and vomiting. Nearly all persons with flu will have at least two of these symptoms.

The high risk groups for H1N1 flu are not known at this time but it’s possible that they may be the same as for seasonal influenza. People at higher risk of serious complications from seasonal flu include people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and people who are immunosuppressed (e.g., taking immunosuppressive medications, infected with HIV).

Avoid contact with others

If you are sick, you may be ill for a week or longer. You should stay home and avoid contact with other persons, except to seek medical care. If you leave the house to seek medical care, wear a mask or cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. In general you should avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness.

You can spread the flu to others starting 1 day before you have symptoms to at least 7 days after you become ill (children can be up to at least 10 days).

Available treatment

It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed. Be aware that if the flu becomes widespread, there will be little need to continue testing people, so your health care provider may decide not to test for the flu virus.

Antiviral drugs can be given to treat those who become severely ill with influenza. These antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) with activity against influenza viruses, including H1N1 flu virus. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional.

There are two influenza antiviral medications that are recommended for use against H1N1 flu. The drugs that are used for treating H1N1 flu are called oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). As the H1N1 flu spreads, these antiviral drugs may become in short supply. Therefore, the drugs will be given first to those people who have been hospitalized or are at high risk of complications. The drugs work best if given within 2 days of becoming ill, but may be given later if illness is severe or for those at a high risk for complications.

Emergency warning signs

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Protect yourself

• Stay informed. Health officials will provide additional information as it becomes available.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Keep away from other household members as much as possible. This is to keep you from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
• Learn more about how to take care of someone who is ill in “Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home”
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other social distancing measures.

Technorati Tags: flu, H1N1, medical, Swine Flu

• Clean your hands regularly.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly.
• Use alcohol-based handrub if you don’t have immediate access to soap and water.

How do I wash my hands properly?

Washing your hands properly takes about as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice,
using the images below.

Source from World Health Organization (WHO)

Technorati Tags: H1N1, health, infection, Swine Flu

1. How do symptoms of swine flu differfrom other types of flu?

None, really, although this flu might include gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting), as well as the usual respiratory symptoms. The basic symptoms for swine flu are similar to the seasonal flu we are vaccinated for each year, which may include:

• Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Stuffy nose
• Chills
• Headache and body aches
• Fatigue

2. If I felt flu-like, how would I know if I had swine flu?

You wouldn’t really, nor would your physician know for sure without a respiratory specimen taken within the first 4-5 days. The specimen would then be sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The cases so far in the US have been relatively mild compared to the illness described in patients in Mexico. We do not yet know why the US cases have been milder.

The important point is to call your doctor if you think you have the flu. Prescription anti-viral drugs such as TamiFlu or Relenza can be called in by your doctor. Unless you are:

• exceptionally ill with flu-like symptoms
• are chronically ill
• immune-suppressed
• quite elderly
• or have a very young child, under age 2.

It is best not to report to the hospital, clinic or doctor’s office, where you could risk spreading the disease. Again, call your doctor first to get instructions as to what you need to do next.

3. How long are people contagious?

Adults are potentially contagious for the length of time one has symptoms, up to 7 days following the beginning of illness. The “shedding stage” of the virus is during the first 4-5 days of illness. Children can be considered contagious longer, up to 10 days. The initial incubation period is 24-48 hours.

4. Is there medication for this?

Yes, Tamiflu or Relenza have shown to be effective against these recently reported strains of swine flu. Altogether, there are four anti-viral drugs that we commonly use to treat various strains of flu.

5. Can I start taking medicine for it now, just in case I get it later?

That is not presently advised. Preventative medication might be advised for very special circumstances where a person had to expose themselves to potentially ill people during an epidemic (which we do not yet have here). Such people might include ER workers. An outbreak in a nursing home, for instance, might lead to protecting all the other residents with a drug like TamiFlu.

For the general public, the current answer is no to prophylactic (preventative) use with anti-viral medications. Its coverage time is limited.

Do not confuse over-the-counter “cold and flu” preparations for anti-flu medications that require a prescription.

6. Are the symptoms in children different from adult symptons?

Though the basic symptoms are similar, the signs of potentially life-threatening complications differ.

The CDC advises those with these symptoms to seek emergency care immediately: Emergency warning signs in children are:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or interacting
• Being very irritable
• Fever with a rash Emergency warning signs in adults are:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

7. Is there a vaccine?

Not yet, but the CDC has this current strain of virus and will consider whether to add it to next year’s flu vaccine as time goes on.

8. If I took the swine flu vaccine in the swine flu scare during the 70s, would that cover me? What about this year’s flu shot I just took?

We don’t know yet. Previous vaccines could be expected to afford only partial, incomplete protection at best.

This new strain of the swine flu virus (H1N1) actually has a mixture of swine and avian components (not to be confused with the deadly avian flu of Southeast Asia).

9. Can I catch it from pigs?

No. This strain is one that is communicable through human-to-human contact. It is a mutated form of a swine virus.

10. Can I catch it from eating pork?

Absolutely not! Swine flu is not transmitted by food. It is not a so-called foodborne illness. Bacon, ham and other pork products are safe to eat, assuming they are prepared properly. An internal temperature of 160 degrees for cooked meat will kill any bacteria or virus.

Swine flu is transmitted by airborne droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough; or from germs on hands, or germ-laden surfaces. Eating pork will not give you swine flu any more than eating chicken will give you bird flu.

11. How does it cross from a pig to a human?

The swine virus mutates so that it can infect humans and be spread by humans.

12. Can it kill me?

Deaths have been reported from the Mexico City outbreak. So far the cases in the US have been mild and there have been no deaths as of this writing (Monday, April 27) We do not know all the factors geographically and demographically that may contribute to the mildness or severity of this flu. But, like seasonal flu, there is the potential for serious outcomes.

13. Why the big concern if the regular flu kills 35,000 people a year, which is why we are all encouraged to get a flu shot?

This is a new flu strain that our bodies have not been exposed to before. The flu strains that the CDC creates a vaccine for each year all have the potential to cause great harm, especially in elderly, pediatric and chronically ill patients.

This particular flu strain has struck seemingly healthy, young adults, with some resulting in death in Mexico. It also appears to be quite contagious. We will know more about this strain in the coming days.

14. How is it different from avian (bird) flu?

Avian flu so far has had difficulty infecting humans unless they are exposed intensely to birds, because the virus has not mutated in a way that makes it transmissible by humans to other humans. This virus has origins genetically from both pigs and birds, and the big difference from the avian flu is that this swine virus can be transmitted readily from human to human.

15. Is this just another scare that will go away like bird flu?

Bird flu is a theoretical threat and will need a mutation to be able to be transmitted among humans to become a serious threat. The present “swine/avian” virus clearly has already caused a major outbreak in Mexico City and San Luis Potosi, Mexico and has spread to places in the US (California, New York, Texas, Kansas and Ohio).

What is not clear yet is whether this virus will result in a so-called pandemic—worldwide spread with major outbreaks — or whether it will fizzle out. But, even if it fizzles out, there is logical concern that it might re-emerge next flu season.

16. Should I cancel my vacation to Mexico?

At this writing, the situation is very fluid, changeable. I suggest checking frequently with the CDC Web site for possible Travel Alerts. I probably would not travel to Mexico City for a vacation that could easily be rescheduled, if for no other reason than the city has tried to limit access to crowded or public places where transmission might be facilitated. That does not sound like a very pleasant vacation to me!

Having said that, there are more than 4,000 flights to Mexico from the US and none have been cancelled as of this writing. However, some international airports in Europe and Asia are stepping up precautions and issuing alerts. Again, check the CDC’s Travel Alerts page.

17. What if I’m on a plane? Should I wear a mask?

Not necessary. The air on a plane is filtered. Transmission might occur if someone sitting close to you coughs or sneezes on you. The newer designs of aircraft airflow keep the air in a top-down flow, not forced air from front to back. However, if you do have a respiratory illness, it might be best not to travel.

18. How long does the germ live on surfaces, like on my desk if someone sneezes in my office?

Influenza virus survives only minutes on inanimate objects or hands, so these are very inefficient ways to spread the illness. Influenza is most easily spread by droplets that come into contact with our mucus membranes such as when someone coughs or sneezes in our faces.

If we shake hands with an infected person who has just wiped their nose and then we rather quickly rub our nose or eyes with our own hand, then we could get the flu. So, good hand washing does play a role in diminishing the spread of the disease.

19. Other than hand washing and covering my mouth if I sneeze or cough, what can I do to take care of myself and others?

If you are ill, stay home. Control your sneezes and coughs. If you cough into your hand, remember the virus could be live on your hand at least for a few minutes, so wash your hands before touching anyone else. If you get symptoms suggesting the flu, call your doctor, who can call in a prescription for medication to treat the flu.

Resist going to the doctor’s office or a hospital ER for influenza symptoms unless you are seriously ill. You do not want to spread the disease to others.

20. What else can I do?

Keep in touch with the most recent CDC messages through the following links:

www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info.htm
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/whatsnew.htm

Go to the sources of verifiable information such as WHO (World Health Organization) or the CDC.

Most important, be alert, not panicked.

“There is a huge difference between preparedness and paranoia”, says Dr. Robert Emery, occupational health expert at the UT School of Public Health at Houston. “Although we’re dealing with a new strain of flu, a set of universally applicable preventive measures exist that can be employed right away by everyone to help stop the spread of this disease”

Proper hand hygiene:

There’s a right way and useless way to wash hands — and wash away — micro-organisms. The object is to break down the protective membranes of germs, dislodge them from your hands and let them go down the drain. Plain soap in the right hands is strong stuff.

• Lather well with a bar of soap or squirt a coin size of liquid soap in the palm of your hand.
• Vigorously rub your hands together, soap up between your fingers, AND your wrists, front and back for 15 seconds. Sing the first chorus of any song you know and that’ll take you through the 15 seconds.
• Rinse under warm, RUNNING water. Remember, the object is to dislodge germs. The force of water is key.
• Dry thoroughly your hands with a disposable towel or under the blower, again, rubbing your hands together.
• Discard the towel.

If you’re using alcohol-based gels as hand cleansers:

• Put a dime-sized amount in one hand:
• Vigorously rub your hands together and in between your fingers until the GEL IS DRY—about 30 seconds.
• DO NOT touch your face!

Once your hands are clean, do not touch your face, nose, eyes or lips. Rubbing your eyes and nose provides a freeway for micro-organisms and good breeding ground once they’ve arrived.

Cover your cough

If you must cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue, your sleeve or your hand.
• Throw the tissue away in a waste basket. Do not leave discarded tissues on your desk or other surfaces.
• Then, wash you hands thoroughly.
• The throw-it-away part is essential. Micro-organisms live a life span from a few seconds to days on inanimate surfaces such as desks, table tops, faucets…tissues. If your tissues are scattered on your coffee table, they then are in contact with community surfaces. Both the tissues and the surface it sits on can spread germs to the person who touches the coffee table.

If you begin to feel ill: feverish, achy, have a dry, painful cough, sore throat, go home from school or work and call your health care provider for further instructions.

If you feel sick with flu-like symptoms and you care for the very young or the very elderly or the chronically ill, inform your health care provider when you call their office.

If you have recently traveled to Mexico or to one of the areas worldwide that has reported a swine flu outbreak, inform your health care provider. He or she may prefer to treat you with prescription anti-viral medications from home, or may request that you come in for a visit. Follow instructions from your health care providers.

Technorati Tags: flu, H1N1, health, Outbreak, swine, Swine Flu

DVT is Deep Venous (Vein) Thrombosis, more commonly referred to as “economy class syndrome” in the media. Of late, DVT has gained accelerated notoriety in the world’s press as the general public’s awareness of the problem has became more prevalent.

The link between DVT and long haul air travel was first introduced in medical journals in the 1950s which highlighted the potential risk long periods of immobility during long haul flights presented.

Even today, there remains a great deal of ignorance surrounding DVT, despite the fact that more people are flying than ever before.

First and foremost, DVT is not a problem restricted to air travellers, and anyone travelling for prolonged distances by car, bus or train are at equal risk.  There is, in fact, no real evidence to suggest that air travel is responsible for an increased likelihood for DVT over any other situation where the condition may be arising.

In short, DVT is a result of extended periods of immobility (flights lasting in excess of five hours) which can lead to the development of a blood clot.

DVT is most common in the lower limbs, whereby pain, swelling and discoloration of the affected region may occur. The leg may also show a congestion of superficial veins.

Unfortunately, these are only general symptoms and in the majority of cases, symptoms are hard to initially discern.

Clinical diagnosis of DVT is difficult, and a specialist is usually required to confirm diagnosis, as the symptoms of DVT can closely match a number of other medical conditions.

In extreme cases, a pulmonary embolism may occur, which is the result of small pieces of the clot detaching and being carried through the blood stream to the heart and lungs.

The product of an extensive clot in the leg, this may happen several days or hours after the formulation of the clot. This may result in chest pains, shortness of breath and even sudden death.

Our blood clots naturally as a means of protection against the severe blood loss from damage to veins and arteries. Blood is supposed to clot only when it is outside the blood vessel, however, in abnormal cases, the blood can clot while still in the blood vessel.

Technorati Tags: DVT, flight, health, Travel

Here are some Friday-the-13th facts:

• According to Smithsonian Magazine “fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month.”

• Fear of Friday the 13th dates back to Nordic Mythology. Many of their thirteenth Gods met with violent deaths, such as Loki, the trickster.

• Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.

• Lizzy Borden uttered a total of 13 words at her trial.

• There were 13 original colonies.

• A witches coven consists of 13 members.

• Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper (although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).

• Hotels rarely have a room number 13. Usually it is called 12a or 14. Same with floors of buildings and the elevators without a #13 button. Highways sometimes will skip exit 13 altogether also.

• There are 13 steps leading to the gallows.

• 13 knots in a hangman’s noose.
• 13 feet which the guillotine blade falls.

• The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l’Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.

• 13 people, Christ and his 12 disciples, were in attendance at the last supper. This is where the Christian belief ties in, making Friday a believed unlucky day, as the crucifixtion occurred on a Friday.

• Certain ocean liners will be held in dock until after midnight to appease passenger’s fears on Friday the 13th.

• British study concluded that even though there were less cars on the road on Friday the 13th (as compared with other Fridays) more accidents were reported.

• Trisadekaphobia is the technical name for fear of Friday the 13th.

• Apollo 13, 1970, the 13th mission launched from pad #39 (13 x 3), mission was aborted, after an explosion occurred in the fuel cell of their service module. The rocket had left launcing pad at 13:13 CST and the date was April 13th.

• Epluribus Unum has 13 letters.

• The US Seal has 13 stars, bars, feathers in the eagle’s tail, 13 bars in one claw, 13 olive branches in the other.

• A “quatrorzieme” is a professional 14th guest hired by the French who had only 13 guests in attendance for dinner, who felt that was unlucky.

• A baker’s dozen consists of 13 for a reason! So the story goes a witch near Albany, NY demanded 13 items every time she came in to a particular bakery, and one day the old baker could not afford her extra biscuit. She sneered some strange words at the man, and he suffered terrible luck from then on, until he brought her another 13 rolls. After that life was once again easy for the baker and word spread around town. The custom is still sometimes practiced today.

Technorati Tags: 13th, friday, fun facts

Neither first three digits on the barcode nor does any part of the    Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)  have anything to do with country of origin, according to GS1 US, an organization that provides “integrated solutions that improve our customers’ supply chains across industries” by “establishing and promoting global standards and tools for collaborative commerce.”

The “Universal Product Code” (UPC) and barcode system is the means of marking products that is recognized all over the world.   Depending on how old a product is, the numbers on a barcode  can vary from 6 to 12 or more numbers.  The most common UPC  in the US was the twelve number Type A UPC code or UCC-12 but after 2005 systems had to be updated to support  the EAN/UCC-13 code which has been standardized globally.

The numbering system of the barcode, according an internet UPC database website that was created by a hobbyist called “UPCDATABASE.COM”, consists of the numbers being “broken down into four groups”.

The UPC Code begins with a single digit to define the number system of the UPC Code that is being used.

This is followed by the manufacturer code which is issued by the Uniform Code Council (UCC) and consisting of five digits.

Next in line are five digits that define the specific product and these are issued by the manufacturer.

Finally there is a single last digit which is called the Check Digit.

By performing a series of calculations with the numbers from a certain order on the UPC Code the check digit tells what number must be added to the sum of that calculation to make it a multiple of 10.

Bar code items starting with 471 are Made in Taiwan like this one:

Technorati Tags: barcode, UPC

Many travellers are prone to a number of minor medical problems when flying, the majority of these are a product of the change in air pressure within the flight cabin.

It is easy to forget, given the ease of travel today, that the most basic of flights essentially flings your body around the globe at both high speed and altitude into a different time zone.

It’s no surprise then that occasionally your body undergoes minor forms of discomfort. Although these are far from life-threatening, they can upset the start or end of your trip. We have detailed the most common minor medical problems associated with flying below.

1. Air pressure

When at altitude within the aircraft, cabin pressure in the body’s cavities expands slightly. This commonly occurs in the ears and sinuses, which may lead to slight ear ache. If you suffer from tooth decay, then small cavities may exist with the teeth which can result in severe pain. To relieve this pain, try taking paracetamol before and during the flight as a pain killer.

2. Air Quality

Air quality within aircraft cabins can be poor as the air conditioning frequently recycles the air inside the cabin. If filters are not entirely effective, bacteria can spread as people cough and sneeze within the cabin leaving passengers with minor colds and coughs.

3. Dehydration

A common problem of all flights is dehydration, as the air is not always properly humifidified throughout the cabin. Travellers may suffer from the drying of the mucus of the mouth and nose, which normally act as a protective barrier to bacteria and viruses.

To prevent dehydration, try drinking water as regularly as possible throughout the flight, don’t rely on getting enough water on the flight, and carry on a large bottle of water for yourself Dry skin is a further side effect of this dehydration, flying with a good moisturizer reapplied regularly to reinvigorate your skin a good idea, so that you arrive looking refreshed, rather than drained.

4. Immobility

Extended periods of immobility can lead to swollen feet, aching joints and muscles and stomach pain from indigestion. The best remedy to these problems, is simply to keep moving throughout the flight, get up and walk around the cabin as regularly and as often as possible.

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The secret to having a comfortable flight depends on the following:

1. Getting the seat you want
2. Next to the person/people you want
3. Getting a nice relaxed meal and drink inside you whilst you watch a cracking film
4. Being able to shut yourself off into your own comfort zone
5. On long flights getting some good kip
6. And on long flights getting yourself awake and refreshed at the right time

A bad flight is:

Sitting in a middle seat between a mother and a young baby and an incessant talker who happens to have a job/life/personality that is of no interest to you. Your beer is kicked over by the baby, you get the meal option that no one else wanted (all the steak went immediately), the screen was too far away to see (Three Men and a Baby was also showing - great!), sleep was not an option with the endless drivel from the most boring man in the world and the screaming wee bubs with stuff coming out of each orifice… so you exit the plane  schtinking  and full of ming. Not good.

A good flight is:

Aisle or window, next to a backpacker/model, being served first, a relatively empty flight, a good film which you can watch undisturbed, the ability to snuggle yourself into the corner/model for a great kip and a quick refreshing wash down about an hour before you get off.

Things to do Prior to the Flight

• Avoid any last minute anxiety attacks stressful journeys as a result of delays.  Check roads are clear en route to the airport and that trains/coaches are running on time.
• Accommodate large walking distances at airports, crowded foyers and the fact that you need to check into international departures at least two hours prior to flight departure time.
• Save your arms and legs, by using one of the many free luggage trolleys dotted about the airport.  If you are struggling ask for assistance from the airport staff.
• Keep your mind active when waiting to board the flight by reading a book or magazine, this will combat nervous energy.
• Before getting on board the flight, go for a quick brisk walk to de-stress, reinvigorate your body and  get the blood pumping around your body which can help reduce the risk of DVT.
• Avoid dehydration by bringing plenty of water with you.  Drink it regularly before and during the flight.  Intensive moisturizing cream is useful to prevent dry skin.

Things to do During the Flight

• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks during the flight as they will lead to dehydration and tiredness.
• Avoid eating a heavy meal during and before the flight as this can lead to an upset stomach given your relative immobility during the journey.  Try to consume light snacks like a fresh salad instead.
• Keep moving throughout the flight, get up and walk about for 5  10 minutes every hour.  Stretch regularly in your seat and avoid sitting with crossed legs.
• Tense and relax you leg muscles and place them on the foot rest as often as possible.  Jiggle your legs in a seat position, and try doing a peddling motion   anything to keep your legs moving throughout the flight.  Immobility can lead to DVT (Deep Venous (Vein) Thrombosis).
• Try pressing the balls of you feet hard down against the floor or foot-rest, as this can also help increase the blood flow in your legs, and therein reduce blood clotting which leads to DVT.
• Wear elastic in-flight socks which can prevent DVT.
• When taking off and landing, try sucking sweets or swallowing.  This will help equalize the pressure in your sinuses and prevent ear and sinus pain.
• Always carry all medication as hand luggage and have to hand in the case of an emergency.
• It is a good idea to carry a document outlining any allergies or special medical conditions on your person, in the event of an emergency.  Remember, not everyone reads English, so if say you are flying from Mexico to Argentina, it is worth getting a translated version in Spanish.

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