Thursday 3/24/22
Celebrate International Day for Achievers, National Cheesesteak Day, Chocolate Covered Raisins, and Cocktail Day.
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Madeleine Albright, the first female US secretary of state and who helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War, has died. She was 84 years old.
Albright was a central figure in President Bill Clinton's administration, first serving as US ambassador to the United Nations before becoming the nation's top diplomat in his second term. She championed the expansion of NATO, pushed for the alliance to intervene in the Balkans to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing, sought to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons, and championed human rights and democracy across the globe.
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The Oscars are this Sunday and though not affiliated with the Academy Awards, Distinctive Assets’ “Everyone Wins” gift bags tend to generate a fair share of headlines every year because people want to know who gets them (acting and directing nominees) and what’s inside (free stuff!). All nominees are presented with swag worth about six figures.
It’s worth mentioning that the contents include plots of land in Scotland from Highland Titles, and per the company, the gifts allow the new owners to officially be called Lords and Ladies of Glencoe. Also in the same neck of the woods, recipients will receive an all-inclusive stay at Turin Castle in Scotland.
Other highlights include the world’s first Flavor Wrapped Popcorn Kernels from Opopop, salad-infused skin care from Byroe (including Bitter Green Essence Toner, Tomato Serum and Salmon Cream), Ariti gold-infused olive oil, candles, teas, film production-related pins & accessories by The Film Pin Society.
Exploding Kittens originals, Tree by Melina Sempill Watts. Posh Pretzels, Fudgiest Brownies Ever from Wunderkeks, and so much more!!!!!!
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What was the point of these studies?
• Scientists at Birkbeck College in England discovered that dogs can “catch” yawns from people. A 29-dog study found that after they made eye contact with a yawning person, 21 of the dogs yawned as well.
• University of London researchers discovered that as male college professors ascend the academic ladder they are more likely to grow beards.
• French physicists looked into why when dry spaghetti is bent, it breaks into lots of smaller pieces, instead of cleanly in half.
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An online poll recently asked people to name the best cereal to eat without milk. Do you have a favorite that you snack on?
Over 150,000 people voted, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch was named the best "dry cereal" to eat without milk. Honey Nut Cheerios was next, and then Cookie Crisp. (personally, I love Frosted Mini Wheats)
Here are a few more cereal stats
1. What's the best kind of milk to use? 2% got the most votes, followed by whole milk . . . and soy or almond milk. Only one in nine people think skim milk is best.
2. Do you pour the cereal in your bowl first, or the milk first? 6% of us go milk-first.
3. What's the best fruity cereal? Froot Loops got the most votes. Fruity Pebbles was a close second.
4. What's the best chocolatey cereal? Cocoa Puffs, followed by Cocoa Pebbles.
5. What type of cereal leaves behind the best milk? The three that got the most votes were Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Frosted Flakes.
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If you asked 10 people for the cure for hiccups, there's a chance you'd get 10 different responses. So does anything work consistently?
CNN recently asked doctors about a slew of different "hiccup cures," and it's possible that everything works. At least a little.
Here's a breakdown of the science behind hiccups and all the silly cures:
For starters, hiccups are sudden spasms of the diaphragm muscle near the stomach. They send a message to your brain to close a flap in your throat again and again. Stopping them ideally involves the diaphragm, the "vagus nerve," and the "phrenic nerve."
1. Holding or Taking a Breath. Forcing any kind of unnatural breathing can be beneficial because it's activating the diaphragm and the phrenic nerve. In a way, this "tricks" your body, and makes it "forget" about the spasm.
2. Drinking Water. The remedies involving drinking in different ways can be effective because swallowing triggers the vagus nerve and adding something a little complicated while drinking like standing on one leg or drinking from the wrong side of the glass can also distract your brain from the hiccups.
3. Downing a Spoonful. Eating a spoonful of sugar or peanut butter could also work because those things don't go down easy, they require suction, which stimulates the swallowing muscles and the vagus nerve.
Suction can also explain why plugging your ears might also work.
4. Sucking on a Lemon. Citrus and acidic or sour things also activate the vagus nerve.
5. Scaring Someone or Thinking About Cows. These seem too silly to be backed by science, but they can. Being scared is another trigger for the vagus nerve and even though cows have nothing to do with hiccups, it puts your concentration somewhere else.
That combination of concentration and distraction can help "reset the brain to stop the hiccups."
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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Today is National Cheesesteak Day - Facts!
The sandwich that became the cheesesteak originally didn’t have cheese at all.
Whiz is cheesier than you think. (food-service grade Cheez Whiz used by restaurants has more real cheese)
A “Philly taco” is a cheesesteak rolled up in a slice of pizza.
There’s a cheesesteak cheesecake
And it’s surprisingly good. The cake is built on a crushed cracker crust, and made of a cream cheese and provolone base. It’s topped with steak, onions, and peppers (Whiz is optional). “The best part of it is the peppers,” said Craig LaBan. “It gives it a nice crunch.”
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