Month: February 2020

What I’m reading now and will be opening soon

Am still forced to spend a great deal of my time at home so reading is an essential pursuit. Have temporarily added HBO to my perennial NetFlix and Amazon Prime. Focusing on the series proprietary to that network. But reading is crucial. On hand from the Kindle Unlimited program: The Secret, Book & Scone Society … Continue reading What I’m reading now and will be opening soon →

Things you may not know about kittens

But before I go there, did you know a group of cats is called a glaring. So suitable somehow. 15 Facts About Kittens That Might Surprise Even Long-Time Cat Lovers by Amber King 3 Comments I’m pretty sure it’s a scientific fact that no human being can resist a kitten. Those little toes! The big … Continue reading Things you may not know about kittens →

As coronavirus moves toward U.S., our lack of preparation is showing

This is just an example of what the U.S. is not doing to prepare for the scale of contagion that may arrive with coronavirus. As usual with agencies and departments benefiting ordinary people, the budgets have been slashed, the scientific staff has been far more than decimated, and no forethought is being given to disasters … Continue reading As coronavirus moves toward U.S., our lack of preparation is showing →

Caffeine and aspirin — the two major drugs that we consume carelessly

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/02/13/caffeine-explained-michael-pollan-audible-audiobook/4746432002/ 5 things we learned about caffeine from Michael Pollan’s new Audible audiobook Chances are you’re a drug addict. It’s OK – most of us are. In fact, about 90% of people in the U.S. ingest your likely drug of choice. That drug, of course, is caffeine, the world’s most popular, most socially accepted psychoactive … Continue reading Caffeine and aspirin — the two major drugs that we consume carelessly →

How did the New York Times book list become the measure of success?

This question can be raised in many other field where a single measure has become predominant even where no longer the most relevant. For now (at least), the New York Times lists are decent measures of the overall book market despite not fully accounting for ebooks or for sales at independent booksellers. It's not a … Continue reading How did the New York Times book list become the measure of success? →

We’re living long enough to deal with the question of couple finances more than once

Next Avenue does a sterling job with tackling the issues that come with longer lives -- whether it's getting rid of the perpetually growing mound of stuff, or realizing even monogamists will have multiple relationships over their lifetimes. This is another of its excellent articles. 5 Money Mistakes Not to Make With Your Midlife Partner … Continue reading We’re living long enough to deal with the question of couple finances more than once →

Hemp (cannibis) might help bees

Am currently reading "The History of Bees" by Maja Lunde, a fictionalized account of what might happen if honeybees were to disappear. Makes stories like this even more relevant https://captain-planet.net/cannabis-could-help-restore-bee-populations/ Bees Love Cannabis And It Could Help Restore Bee Populations According to a new study, bees are fans of hemp. Taller hemp plants, it seems, … Continue reading Hemp (cannibis) might help bees →

Easy tricks for keeping avocados fresh

Several easy tips for keeping avocados on hand all the time without worrying about their becoming too ripe. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mums-awesome-trick-keep-your-21441423 Mum's 'awesome' trick will keep your avocados fresh and stop them going brown A mum who was fed up of her avocados going off found a genius solution to keep them ripe for up to a … Continue reading Easy tricks for keeping avocados fresh →

How to easily produce substitutes for dairy or almond milk

Don’t have a cow: the simple, sustainable guide to making your own oat milk Non-dairy milks have never been more popular. Here’s how to make them from oats, nuts and seeds – saving money as well as the planet Tom Hunt Fri 31 Jan 2020 07.41 EST Last modified on Fri 31 Jan 2020 08.05 EST Photograph: … Continue reading How to easily produce substitutes for dairy or almond milk →

Cuddling with your partner has the same positive impact as cuddling with your cat or dog

I'm vastly amused by this article given the huge body of material out showing the positive benefits of owning a cat or dog. Both of those animals do many things to please or entertain, but certainly one of them is to cuddle occasionally. With all the research showing how that benefits their human companions, how … Continue reading Cuddling with your partner has the same positive impact as cuddling with your cat or dog →

Did you realize streaming videos are a huge addition to carbon emissions?

The huge computer farms needed by Google, Amazon, and other large tech companies using the internet are facts of life. When one of these companies sets up solar energy supplies to produce the needed energy, people say "yay you." But what most of us don't consider is that the reason they need those huge complexes … Continue reading Did you realize streaming videos are a huge addition to carbon emissions? →