Local Property Tax for Funding Our City Transport System

We talked about transport systems in the city of Baton Rouge where funding comes from several include local property tax:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : CATS Transport System in Our City Baton Rouge, LA

Image 1- Electric bus (credit to Fuels Fix)

Local Property Tax is a tax of resident properties in the city or state. Our city property tax is quite lower, 0.61% only.

Previously, commuter in Baton Rouge was operated by private company, Railway and Lighting Company with mule-driven trolley cars, then upgraded with electric cars.

From pure private company evolved to current system. The name changes as well, namely “from the Baton Rouge Bus Company to Metro Transit to the present-day Capital Area Transit System.”

Image 2- One of streets in the morning

Image 3- No passengers yet

Since 1999, CATS served for people almost every day in a year. Available:

- seven (7) days a week
- and 363 days a year

I myself take CATS sometimes. I love to hear the conversations between passengers, topics could be anything:

- from politics to economy
- from social to current events in the city
- and to private things.

In addition, there are a lot of jokes and funny things.

# Previous postings:

- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 3 – Food 9
- A Traditional Product of Louisiana – King Cake – Part 2
- Do You Know Ghost Orchids? - Part 1 – Nature 14
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 4 – Food 9

GUTSY WOMEN of Hillary and Chelsea – Part 2 – Reading 10

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : GUTSY WOMEN of Hillary and Chelsea – Part 1 – Reading 10

Image 1- Women's right Champions Nadia Murad. the Noble Peace Prize 2018.

There are 103 women from the old time to the last young girl. All of 103 women divided into 11 categories (chapters).

In the first chapter, Early inspirations, started with women the most inspire them Dorothy Rodham and Virginia Kelly, both are Chelsea grandmothers.

Followed by Harriet Tubman who lived in shadow of constant violence, cruelty, and racism.

Image 2- Colorful of flowers

She was a part of Underground Railroad and she is credited with bringing hundred of slaves to freedom.

Image 3- Colorful painting

In the chapter Education Pioneers, there are many of them, the first one is Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz from Mexico (at the time Mexico was a part of Spain),

Image 4- Yellow flowers bloom

In the chapter of Earth Defenders, one the most interesting is a very young girl Greta Thunberg.

Image 5- Pride of Barbados bloom

The Healers: Besides Nightingale and Betty Ford in this interesting chapter, there are also:

- Dr. Gao Yaojie, a retired Chinese gynecologist
- obstetrician-gynecologist Dr Hawa Abdi from Somalia
- Flossie Wong-Staal, Chinese molecular biologist.

In the chapter of Storytellers, there are 7 women, e.g. Maya Angelou, Mary Beard, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, Ali Stoker, Amani Al-Khatahbeh.

The last chapter is Women's Right Champions. The last persons wrote by Hillary, Nadia Murad. the Noble Peace Prize 2018.

# Previous postings:

- The Disease that Kills 28.4 million People – Part 2- Cardiovascular 2
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 2 – Food 9
- The Disease that Kills 28.4 million People – Part 3 - Cardiovascular 2
- A Traditional Product of Louisiana – King Cake – Part 1

Rose breasted grosbeak Comes to Our Neighborhood – Nature 23

This migration bird visit our neighborhood rarely, even some neighbors never seen it for long time.

Luckily, we have seen Rose breasted grosbeak in late spring of this year. The birds visited some neighbor’s feeders.

Image 1- Rose breasted grosbeak sitting on the feeder

The birds live and breed during spring and summer seasons in many American states and even in Canada.

In the fall and winter, then, Rose breasted grosbeak return to the south in the countries or regions such as:

- Mexico
- Central America
- South America
- and the Caribbean

Image 2- Bougainvillea flowers, illustration

Image 3- Wild yellow flowers

Image 4- Sweet bird, Rose breasted grosbeak

We believe, Rose breasted grosbeaks migrate from Mexico, then go up to the North America and Canada.

Some of them stop by in our state then breeding. This bird love to breed in areas such as:

- woodlands
- forest edges
- and in the parks

Our neighborhoods have less trees in recent years, hence its might be reason why this bird not seen quite a while.

# Previous postings:

- What is Knockout Animals ? - Part 2- Science 8
- The Disease that Kills 28.4 million People – Part 1- Cardiovascular 2
- Organic Vs Natural Foods – Part 1 – Food 9

Summer is a Perfect Time to Ride a Motorbike

This month temperature is around 86* F (30* C) in our city, Baton Rouge, LA. The hottest day around July to August could reach 104* F (40* C), but quite rare in the middle of day.

Image 1 – Motorbike ready to run.

For some people, especially in my neighborhood in respect to motorbikes, it is a good time to:

- ride a motorbike
- buy a new motorbike
- sell a secondhand motorbike
- etc

There are 5 famous motorbike brands in my city, and neighborhood. What are they?

Image 2- Motorbike stand on the front house

Image 3- Honda motorbike from left side

Image 4- Honda shadow motorbike

Image 5- Ready to ride

Top 5 brands in my areas (neighborhood) are: Harley-Davidson, BMW, Ducati, Honda and Kawasaki

These brands come from 4 well known countries in term of automotive relate industries: USA (Harley-Davidson), Germany (BMW), Italy (Ducati) and Japan (Honda and Kawasaki)

The above 5 photos (Image 1 to Image 5) show Honda Shadow with specifications: colors of black and chrome, 750cc engine, and year 2001.

Finally, do you love to ride motorbike?

What brand you favor?

# Previous posting:

- When should I get the Botox Cosmetic? - Part 2 – Healthy Life 16
- Outlawed - An Epic Western Novel – Part 1 - Reading 4
- What is Knockout Animals ? - Part 1- Science 8
- Outlawed - An Epic Western Novel – Part 2 - Reading 4

Differences of Shale Oil, Crude Oil and Fracking – Science 12

I wonder when listening about “fracking” during US presidential campaigns in 2020.

Then, I tried to find out what fracking is.

Image 1- Location of Shale Oil and Crude Oil

(credit to Petroleum Management)

Fracking is the method to drill oil and gas by using high pressure to make fracture in the shale formations.

Shale formation is below surface, could be near to more than one thousand feet (300 meter more).

Layer thickness may from few meters to hundred meters, then, from here the shale oil is extracted.

Image 2 – Wild flowers under tree

Two effect of fracking technique, bad and good sides.

1) Bad sides if lack of safety rules:

- poison groundwater and surface water
- disturb wildlife

Image 3- Mold on the leaves

2) Good effects:

- could replace coal for energy sources, hence decrease air pollution.
- increase energy security

Moreover, as you might know that conventional or crude oil is closer to surface (please see image 1).

In term of cost production, crude oil is cheaper than shale oil. As mentioned by Investopedia (2022), the cost comparison is following:

1) crude oil cost between US$ 20 to US$ 31, and even lower US$ 10 per barrel in Saudi Arabia.

2) Shale oil cost between US$ 46 to US$ 58 per barrel.

# Previous postings:

- The Surprising Fact - Cooked Shrimps are Cheaper than Raw Ones – Part 1 - Food 8
- When should I get the Botox Cosmetic? - Part 1 – Healthy Life 16
- The Surprising Fact - Cooked Shrimps are Cheaper than Raw Ones – Part 2 - Food 8

In what chromosomes are the gene mutation related to Alzheimer's Disease? - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 5

You may read previous posting (Part 2):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : In what chromosomes are the gene mutation related to Alzheimer's Disease? - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 5

Image 1. Chromosome 19 

 (Image from US National Library of Medicine)

Despite of the late onset Alzheimer's dementia causes are still unknown, but the scientists tend to say that it could be by a combination of:

- lifestyle
- environmental
- and genetic.

The specific genes that directly cause the late onset Alzheimer's disease is from Chromosome 19 (Please see Image 1).

Image 2- Walking Iris

Image 3- Red flower, just illustration

The genetic marker of Alzheimer's disease on chromosome 19 is APOE. The mutation in this chromosome cause increases Apolipoprotein E (APOE) that plays a big role in memory ability in aging.

For the early onset Alzheimer's disease comes about a person between thirties and mid-sixties is caused by genetic mutation.

The mutation was in the any one of number of different of single gene in any chromosome with number 1, 14, and 21.

In my opinion, this is one of interesting parts to understand Alzheimer's disease.

Isn’t it?

# Previous postings:

- Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? - Part 1 – Science 7
- Traditional Books versus Electronic Books for Children – Part 1 – Reading 3
- Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? - Part 2 – Science 7
- Traditional Books versus Electronic Books for Children – Part 2 – Reading 3

What are Health Benefit of Eating Mango? - Part 2 – Health Life 19

You may read previous posting (Part 2):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What are Health Benefit of Eating Mango? - Part 1 – Health Life 19

Image 1- Mango sold in Walmart grocery.

As fruits, mango rich in vitamin. Sure, it also contains carbohydrate and minerals. Let’s see the contents:

- Vitamin (C, A, B6 and E)
- Iron
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Gallotannins
- Mangiferin
- Antioxidants
- Protein
- Low calories and fats

Image 2- Walking or jogging path at neighborhood

Image 3- Little sago palm trees for sale

Image 4- Mango trees in Florida, USA

Result of internet searching that mango has some health benefits:

- Improve immune system
- Help heart health
- Stimulate digestive health
- Lower cholesterol level and Improve skin health

My own reasons to eat mango:

- It could improve my health (improve immunity) during winter
- Make me feel fresh, especially mango juice during hot summer

Do you like to eat mango? What is your reason?

# Previous postings:

- Recreational Fishing in the Louisiana – Part 1 – Nature 13
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- Recreational Fishing in the Louisiana – Part 2 – Nature 13
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