Local Coffee Shop in Our City, Baton Rouge

I believe that you recognize “Starbucks” as one of American coffee shops which is well known worldwide.

Image 1- One of coffee shop chains

In many developing countries, drinking coffee in Starbucks shops is identical to “modern and even hedonism life.”

To attract more customers, Starbucks shops adapted local designs, and provide local products and tastes.

However, here in the USA, we have our own “famous” coffee shops in our city with local coffee brand and flavors.

When I was a college student, love to drink at the local coffee shop with name “Coffee Call,” especially on Friday and Saturday night.

Image 2- Few customers only

Image 3- Online customers to get services

Image 4- One employee doing his job

On those days, coffee shop opens whole night, so we may come in the early night and stay until early morning.

What interesting for me, may be to some other guests as well that we could drink coffee as many cups as we wish, and we just need to pay one cup.

Yes, pay one cup for let’s say drink 3 cups or 4 cups. Sure, the price is much cheaper compared to well known brand, Starbucks.

How about with coffee shop in your city or places?

Leprosy is One of the Oldest Ancient Diseases - Part 1 - Healthy Life 27

Leprosy is one of ancient diseases that still exist in the some part of the world, even in this modern human lifestyle.

Image 1- Miniature roses 1

When I was kid, I saw several men and women who have Leprosy in the developing country about 1980’s.

This prehistory disease could be the oldest recorded ancient disease as reported by Hurst, YS (2019) in the book with title: No Matter Where the Journey Takes Me: One Man's Quest for a Leprosy- Free World).

Paleontologists conduct many studies about the disease that plagued humankind throughout the history.

Image 2- Pumpkin, illustration only

They believe the root of this disease long long time ago, “likely stem back millions of years”.

Image 3- Miniature roses 2.

Untreated disease of leprosy can cause deformities in the face and extremities that may lead to:

- Disability
- Stigmatization
- and Mortality.

Like Covid-19, leprosy is transmitted by close contacted. They are a droplet precaution.

Coughing and sneezing of an infected person can spread the disease to the healthy persons, especially when they are in the small together.

# To be continued to part 2

# Previous posting:

- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 2 – Nature 16

Pickle Eggs in the Neighborhood Market – Food 30

I am familiar with salted egg and used to love it. I didn’t aware of pickle eggs until I saw them in the farmer market at our neighborhoods.

Image 1- Pickle eggs in the jar

In general speaking, based on my own knowledge that the differences of pickle and salted eggs:

- salted eggs made from duck eggs
- chicken eggs are used for pickle eggs.

Off course, some people make pickle or salted eggs from other eggs their like such as geese, birds and even alligator’s eggs.

Image 2- One brand of Pickled eggs in the market

Image 3- Quail eggs sold in Walmart

My neighbors told me that in Louisiana, there was a special dish called as “a Cajun pickle egg” that was alligator pickle eggs. But, this kind of practice is not common, and might not exist anymore as far as I know.

I saw quail pickle eggs in the market, and it seems start to favor in recent days. From internet sources, the quail eggs are good but not “superior” compared to chicken eggs.

Have you ever consumed pickle eggs?

What do you think?

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- Sweet Chocolate Candies and a Yummy Book – Part 1 – Reading 8

What is Brain Plasticity? - Part 2 – Brain Plasticity 1

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- What is Brain Plasticity? - Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 1

Image 1- Just for illustration

Our brain has many parts in which each part has its own functions or authorities. There is a part to control movement of right-hand motions (maneuvers) as a simple example.

If there is disturbance to control movement due to gene, thus we can understand why people use their left hand skillfully.

In current understanding that interrelation between sense, cognition and memory is so close.

 Image 2- A green field, illustration only

Let’s say if we have weakness in a sense that will affect to cognition and memory, and then, even if one got deterioration will affect other senses as well.

Image 3- Yard decoration, illustration only

They are so interdependence. We can see older people who easy to forget a little thing.

It is fact that their senses (feeling, hearing, seeing) not well function anymore, thus they are less able to store their experience images, then get trouble to recall those images after a while.

# Previous posting:

- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 1 – Nature 16

Reference

Banks, D. (2016, April 4). “What is brain plasticity and why is it so important?” Retrieved from “theconversation.”

Cooper Hawks Love to Come to Bird Feeders – Nature 44

A Cooper hawk is one of hawks found in our state, Louisiana. They live in the edges of woods or forests.

Image 1- Cooper hawk sitting on the fence

We may see Cooper hawks fly around our neighborhood recently. This hawk is common, not include as a rare critter.

From several sources, the raptors active to hunt their prey during dawn and sunset as their favorite hunting times.

However, these hunting times don’t apply at our neighborhood. We usually see Cooper hawks chasing their prey around 9 AM in the morning until afternoon. It seems daylight hunter.

Image 2- Cooper hawk perching over the bird feeder

Image 3- Hawk starting to fly away

Interestingly, we always see Cooper hawk visit our bird feeders. We then wonder: why?

After a while we find the answers:

1) Cooper hawk knows that small birds come to feeders.

- so, these small birds are good and easy preys to catch
- prey of Cooper hawks may include doves, woodpeckers and quails

2) My guess that bird feeders as their source of food as well.

Have you ever seen Cooper hawks? Where?

# Previous posting:

- “The Madness of Crowds” and Omicron – Reading 7

Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 3 - Food 27

We talked about cashew trees which grow in tropical areas and some benefits of cashew trees products at previous posts.

Image 1- Cashew fruit

You may read previous posts (part 1 and 2) at following:

- Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 1 - Food 27
- Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 2 - Food 27

The cashew tree does not grow in our neighborhood (around here at my house).

Luckily, we can enjoy the seeds, either, raw, roast, or any kind of cooked cashew seeds.

We are still able to get the benefits of seeds from the cashew tree.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Cashew peanuts

Beside seeds, the cashew milk is also available here. I got cashew milk from Silk. I was looking for Soy milk, but I had met Cashew milk. This milk is new for me, so I took it for a try.

This cashew milk has luxurious creaminess. From the box I learn that this milk has no cholesterol and no saturated fat. The cashew milk has 50% more Calcium than dairy milk.

This milk is a quite thicker than dairy whole milk and soy milk. The richer creamy looks good for my smoothies. Now, I have a plan to make smoothies this weekend.

Do you like smoothies, and what milk do you prefer?

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- Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to You and Yours

May Tomato Increase Our Brainpower? - Science 27

I always eat tomatoes, not daily, but at least one a week. I love its taste, and know that tomato is good for health.

Image 1- Tomatoes, one of healthy foods

By reading articles, one of them is written by Jerajani, D (2022: 5 Everyday Foods That Are Good for Brain Health!). it is said that tomatoes could improve our brainpower.

Other excellent foods for brain health are:

- spinach
- dark chocolate
- whole grain
- avocado

Image 2- Slices of tomato on Omelet

Just to let you know, we have talked about Avocado as “super food” at previous posts:

- Could Avocado Reduce Metabolic Syndrome? - Part 1 – Healthy Life 21
- Could Avocado Reduce Metabolic Syndrome? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 21

Image 3- Tomatoes in the bowl

Then, I myself wonder that: What is brainpower? And why is tomato good for brain health?

Brainpower could be mean as brain ability and capacity in respect to mental, learning, intelligence, comprehend and understand.

Tomato is good for brain health because tomatoes contain two important antioxidants that are beta-carotene and lycopene.

These two antioxidants are needed to prevent brain damage and protect brain cells.

Finally, do you like tomatoes?

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