Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 1 – Science 10

Fig 01- Honey can be contaminated by botulinum toxin bacteria

I'm still excited about botulinum toxin, since I know that botulinum toxin is a potent and deadly substance.

This substance produced by a kind of a rod bacteria that can exist in low or free oxygen, Clostridium botulinum.

Bacteria are very common throughout the world, they could be found in samples or contaminate of:

- water
- soil
- canned foods
- honey

It was many years ago, especially in the under developing countries, the toxin was a killer that hard to overcome.

Clostridium botulinum release toxin that able to kill human.

What are the symptoms of this toxin?

Fig 02- A traditional dish

Fig 03- A drink with chia seed

Fig 04- Meat products could be contaminated by bacteria.

The early of symptoms of this Botulinum lethal toxin could be many, but some of them are:

- fatigue
- weak
- blurry eyes
- and vertigo.

Following by difficult to swallow and speak, also vomiting and diarrhea or constipation.

Then it can radiate to weakness in the neck and arms, and muscle in lower part of body.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 2
- Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? - Part 1 – Science 7

A Memoir of Chasten Buttigieg – Part 1 – Reading 5

Fig 01- A memoir of Chasten.

Chasten Buttigieg is husband of Pete Buttigieg.

So, who is Pete Buttigieg?

Pete Buttigieg is US Secretary of Transportation under current Biden’s administration.

He was a US army veteran and former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

As a mayor from 2012 to 2020, Pete Buttigieg has succeeded to rebuild the South Bend city.

Some of his legacies are:

1) Stop shrinking city population due to many people fleeing the city

- population has been increased from 101,000 in 2010 to be 109,000 in 2020.

2) Reducing unemployment rate

- from 10% in 2012 to be below 4% in 2020

3) Booster business communities

- city has been developed so fast for business purposes

Fig 02- A city in America

Fig 03- Rose at backyard

Fig 04 – Pumpkins at farmer market

Fig 05- A pet on the street of American community

4) Creating affordable housings

- help poor communities to own a house
- give loan for repairing to whoever own houses

5) Increasing shelter capacity

- help homeless residents

6) Help neighborhood merchants

- these merchants are important, not only to support neighborhood but also big business such as new hotels.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- New Parents often Faced Depression – Part 2 - Healthy Life 15
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- Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 1
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Annual Christmas Parade in Our Neighborhood

Fig 01- A float at our neighborhood parade several years ago

Our city, Baton Rouge, have a lot of parades and festivals from January to December every year.

Some of the parades are:

- Mardi Gras
- Krewe of Oshum
- Annual Christmas parade
- Columbus day
- St Patrick day

You may read posting about Mardi Gras parade and its relate activities at previous postings:

- Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA
- Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana
- A Traditional Product of Louisiana – King Cake – Part 1
- A Traditional Product of Louisiana – King Cake – Part 2

Fig 02- A street at neighborhood

Our neighborhood through residents’ association administers annual Christmas parade.

Fig 03- A corner of town

Whoever may participate in the parade:

- no fee
- donate US$22 for portion of mandatory parade insurance.

Fig 04- Residents preparing for parade several years ago.

Parade routes just short distant, about 1.9 miles (3.km). Circling our neighborhood areas.

Fig 05- Just for illustration

Parade starts at 10.00 AM and complete promptly around noon, if weather conditions are good.

Fig 06- Wooden ginger man, illustration

Some parts of parade and festival area:

- floats
- cars
- music
- and other entertainment.

Interestingly, participants may rent a float with 25% discount price through our neighborhood association.

Have your neighborhoods organized any parades or festivals?

# Previous postings:

- Hurricane Ida Hit Our Neighborhood – Nature 11
- Will Wild Horses Able to Ride Out Hurricane? - Part 1 – Nature 12
- The Prodigy Kid - Marla Olmstead’s Paintings – Part 1 - Art 3
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- New Parents often Faced Depression – Part 1 - Healthy Life 15
- The Prodigy Kid - Marla Olmstead’s Paintings – Part 2- Art 3

Can Texting Make You Shopping More and Fat? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 17

Fig 01- Illustration of a shopping cart

You may read previous posting (part 1):

- Can Texting Make You Shopping More and Fat? - Part 1 - Healthy Life 17

Programs provide watching live events around us, state wide, nationally and even internationally.

We are also connecting to social medias include:

- blogger
- Facebook
- twitter
- Instagram
- Youtube
- TikTok
- Pinterest
- Snapchat
- and others.

Fig 02- Food with some fat content.

These activities may categorized as “sedentary,” and disturbing exercises of:

- running
- jogging
- and walking

Fig 03- Variety of cheese

It is because we are busy to check:

- messages
- taking photos
- and sending photos to social medias

Fig 04- Grocery at a shopping center

The question then: Can Texting Make You Shopping More and Fat?

The simple answer is yes!

Why?

Fig 05- Chocolate at a grocery

The reasons that texting and internet connecting cell phone prompt people to:

- Deviate from their shopping list.
- Tend to buy hedonistic products that unrelated to lists
- Tend to buy more, and tend to forget from original lists.

Fig 06- A corner at a shopping center.

Now days, the shopping malls may send distract messages to your smartphone to buy their attractive products.

If you are trapped by their interesting offers with discount sometimes, then you might ignore your own list.

It is suggested that you executed your plan first, then you may use your mobile phone later on.

What do you thinks?

# Previous postings:

- Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 1
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Overdosing Epidemic Caused 100,000 Died in the USA – Science 9

Fig 01- Urine drug test sold in Walmart, just illustration

Based on report by Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021) that overdosing drug use reaches 100,000 died from April 2020 to April 2021. The highest recorded ever.

There are many drugs are consumed overdoses, 10 of them caused death frequently.

These drugs include in the 3 categories, they are opioids, benzodiazepines and stimulants.

Opioids drugs are:

- fentanyl
- heroin
- oxycodone
- methadone
- morphine
- hydrocodone

Fig 02- One of medical centers to serve people health

Two benzodiazepines which are used overdoses:

- alprazolam
- and diazepam

Fig 03- Gnomen clature, illustration

Stimulant drugs are:

- cocaine
- and methamphetamine

Fig 04- One of rehabilitation centers for drug abuses

Drug abuses lead to dead has increased dramatically, about 30% compared to last year.

The question then, why so many people abused drugs in this year?

The simple answer and main reason due Covid 19 pandemic. People getting stress and stress:

- higher unemployment
- lock down

How about with your places or countries? Are there drug overdose problems?

# Previous postings:

- Birds Fly Over Our Backyard – Nature 10
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Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 5 – Food 9

Fig 01- Egg plants, illustration

You may read previous postings (Part 1, 2, 3 and 4):

- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 1 – Food 9
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 2 – Food 9
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 3 – Food 9
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 4 – Food 9

From previous postings, we may draw several conclusions:

1) Natural foods are foods that are extracted from plants and animals without chemically altered or synthesized.

# They are minimally processed and not contain specific additives, including:

- sweeteners
- food colors
- flavorings
- and antibiotics.

Fig 02- Pomegranates seeds

1) Whereas organic foods are produced, manufactured and controlled by certified organizations.

# In the USA, we have USDA to manage organic foods certification in order to comply with USA Organic Food Products Act

Fig 03- Asparagus, ready to cook

Organic foods are not necessary natural foods, vice versa, natural foods are not mean organic foods.

Fig 04- Fish with vegetables.

There are advantages and disadvantages of organic foods compared to natural foods, thus, organic food probably isn’t more nutritious and safer than natural food.

Finally, Organic and natural produced foods aren’t much different in terms of their benefit (advantages) to human being.

Fig 05- Illustration, dolls

References

Faber, S. 2016. Demand for Organic Food Growing Faster than Domestic Supply. Retrieved from organic consumer organisation.

Lange, SB. 2016. No scientific proof that organic food is healthier than non- organic food. Retrieved from sciennordic.

Merz, S. 2016. What is the Difference between Natural and Organic? Retrieved from https://www.kudolife.com..//

Organic Food. 2016. Difference Between Organic and Natural Food. Retrieved from organicfacts.

Valliant, M. 2014. 2014. Top 10 reasons why organic food is more expensive. Retrieved from hellawella.

Fig 06- Wild fruit in yard.

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