Saturday, June 28, 2008
What do these 2 things have in common?
Dan and I were discussing today what we still needed to get for Jack. I told him we don't need to get a little tub or anything because they just take up space and are not needed, and my great mom already taught me how to bathe a baby without one. Dan's response: "Well if you did need something couldn't we just use the colander and just rinse him in that?"..... Men.
Nations Best Plumber 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Mixer
THE BEST HOT COCOA EVER
Not many people can claim "the best ever" or "the worlds best," and I of course can not claim that in total absolution so lets downsize that a tad : ANYONE WHO CAN COUNT ON SNOW FOR HALLOWEEN'S BEST HOT COCOA EVER. There that seems pretty reasonable, and I do think a lot of us can claim as much. So if you are like me and have to make hot cocoa in bulk and need something better than the packaged junk here you go!
HOT COCOA
10 2/3 cups instant nonfat dry milk
6 ounce jar powdered non dairy creamer
2 cups powdered sugar
16 ounce can instant chocolate drink mix
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Put in airtight container. Store in cool dry place for up to 6 months.
So there you have it! I know the timing on this may seem a bit off, but don't worry if you forget about this recipe come fall time I will most likely be reposting this one to help warm your frozen toes.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Dusty College Paper - Nutrition (Why to take it easy on meat...especially for men)
Alright people, time for another educational segment. This is my reasoning why we all need to take it easy on our meat (especially red meat) consumption, among other reasons of course. Also why diets such as the Mediterranean diet are so successful for health (not just for losing weight). And for people like my loving husband Dan, one reason why we eat spaghetti with no meat, hamburger helper with corn instead of meat etc.
A serious concern due to iron toxicity is Hemosiderosis, which is when the body has too much iron storage. Chronic hemosiderosis is known as hemochromatosis, this allows more dietary iron to be absorbed than usual. Once iron is absorbed, there is no physiologic mechanism for excretion of excess iron from the body other than blood loss (i.e., pregnancy, menstruation or other bleeding) and desquamated cells. With no excretion the normal amount of iron, approximately 1-2 mg, is used or lost by desquamated epithelia. Hence, any excess iron above 2 mg is literally trapped in the body. When iron absorption exceeds the storage capacity of ferritin molecules, unbound iron may promote free-radical formation in cells, resulting in membrane lipid peroxidation and cellular injury. This resulting iron over-load can seriously damage and impair major tissues of the body such as: the liver and the heart. It can also result in diabetes, arthritis, and discoloration of the skin. The majorities that are subject to these kinds of toxicities are: men, chronic excessive alcohol consumers, and individuals that are genetically at risk for hemochromatosis. The reasoning being men usually consume more iron, and they do not loss blood monthly by menstruation. Chronic alcohol abusers usually have an impaired liver which may result in a hyper-absorption of iron. Those who have a genetic risk for hemochromatosis have excess iron build up over the span of many years. After several decades of increased iron absorption non-specific symptoms (i.e., fatigue, weakness, arthralgia) develop, followed by advanced conditions (i.e., arthritis, cirrhosis, liver cancer). Symptoms usually appear after 15–20 g of iron has accumulated in the body. Those who are genetically prone may suffer from complications of and HFE gene mutation. The HFE gene codes for a transmembrane glycoprotein that modulates iron uptake. This protein is highly expressed in intestinal cells at the site of dietary iron absorption. Recent studies suggest that loss of a functional HFE protein leads to increased iron uptake in the intestinal epithelial cell, which results in increased dietary iron absorption.
Ballero, B., JJ Strain, and MJ Sadler, ed. Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition.
Harcourt Brace and Company Publishers, 1999.
Grodner, Michele, Sara Long, and Sandra DeYoung. Foundation and Clinical
Applications of Nutrition.
Kutsky, Roman J. Handbook of Vitamins, Mineral and Hormones. 2nd Edition. New
Calling All Mothers
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Jack's Ultrasound
Plea from a Starving Pregnant Lady
- You have the most amazing recipe for rice and shredded chicken cooked in a crock pot. If you get time could you post exactly what the recipe is? I promise all my readers (all 3 of you) that when you eat this you will never ever think of becoming a vegetarian again.
- You also happen to have a delicious recipe for crock pot roasts. Yes, i do know that once you told me how to make it, and really I promise I have tried and tried to make it, but it always comes out wrong and nasty and dry. A delicous roast that falls apart with a fork and that savors that sweet onion essence.... What i really need to know is the specifics of this one. What kind of roast? how big? how much of each ingredient? how long to cook? is the meat thawed first? yadda yadda yadda
Dusty College Papers - Art History
pieces clearly demonstrate how the changes from each era relate to varying notions about art
and its uses during those specific periods. A prime example is analyzing the changes in sculpture
and its meaning from the Romanesque period of the twelfth century to the seventeenth century.
The beginning of the twelfth century marked the clearance and survival of the first millennium. Prior to the millennium much fear was generated of the second coming and the end of life. After the survival, a mass religious rebirth spawned. This included a wave of faith and pilgrimage, and undertaking to remove the Muslims, and more intensive religious activity. Hence, an enormous amount of churches and cathedrals were built to house pilgrims. Unfortunately the religious outlook was somewhat pessimistic, and dark. This is best displayed in Last Judgment, a tympanum on the Saint Lazare Cathedral at
During the Gothic period the religious atmosphere seemed to lighten up, and an overall optimistic perspective on religion, a true revival. The early gothic style is fashioned in Beau Dieu, a trumeau statue of the central doorway on the west façade, of the Amiens Cathedral. Here the idea is seen as a loving beautiful God. Christ is the old pantacrator, giving the blessing gesture. Although he is still not contrapossto, Christ does seem to be more open and contain expression and meaning in comparison to Romanesque. But a sculpture that more fully emphasizes the expression of art and learning during the Gothic period is the Virgin and Child of Notre Dame. Mary is sculpted as the Queenly Madonna and is dressed with the appearance of a French queen. Her body is more relaxed and is elongated with a hip thrust to support Christ, also know as the gothic sway. She serves as an important symbol of guidance and protection. This all shows the more loving delightful positive feeling of religion, and how art was used in a positive way to enhance learning and security. This statue shows more expressive feeling and is also more convincing.
Moving into the Renaissance we can see a great leap of innovation once again. With Donatello’s David, we see that the relaxed classical contrapposto stance has been rediscovered; also his proportions are of Greek origin. Most importantly is that David is the first nude figure since ancient times. This specific nudity is seen as bold and heroic, not frail and vulnerable like before. His body shows hints of anatomical interest. While the story of David and Goliath is biblical, David is also a symbol of the independent Florentine republic. This statue shows many of the details and expression of the renaissance, artists were once again using art to evoke the senses, while still having political and religious value. In the High renaissance Michelangelo’s David, is as captivating as Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman sculpture. Although larger than life his nude body shows understanding of movement and anatomy. His emotion is in his body and his Hellenistic looking face. This evokes the senses and awareness of what he is doing and what he might be seeing.
Into the seventeenth century we can now experience baroque art. By now all technique is mastered, and artists are involved in involving the viewer. In Gernini’s The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, our senses are evoked by the technique of using other sources of lighting, the rods of light coming with the angel and the sensation that the sculpture is hovering. We ourselves our wrapped up as if in Teresa’s drapery and can understand the sense of some kind of erotic emotion. Bernini has blurred the lines of seeing a real view point, it is not ideal because what matters is the viewer.
Overall, the length from the Romanesque to the baroque is remarkable. A complete revival of the senses, statues move from solely being a religious and rigid use, to being provocative, incredible technique, and used in learning and teaching as well.