Friday, 2 December 2022

White Hominy Pearls Tossed with Coconut Shreds – Part 1 – Food 32

It was 710 days ago, the new virus to be a “breaking news” when we were ready to celebrate the Rat Year of the Chinese New Year.



Image 1- White Hominy Pearls, sold by Walmart

Then I posted about this new coronavirus:

It is over two years since this type of virus, then we called it Covid-19, came up and spread.

Today, the viruses are still hanging around in this world, even many of us got booster vaccines (third times vaccinated).



Image 2- Just for illustration



Image 3- The colder weeks and we “stay in our bubbles”

The viruses do not want away from us. They developed and becoming new strains instead of leaving us.

At the beginning, the new strains were more virulent than their original, and we have to be aware.

About two years ago “A physician from Baton Rouge, Dr O'Neal, warns us not to get out in the next couples of weeks. He encouraged us to stay in our bubbles”.

# To be Continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

Wednesday, 30 November 2022

Black Cobra Chili Plants – Food 31

We used to have several kinds of Chili plants in our yard. Just few are Red chili, Jalapeno and hybrid chilies.



Image 1- Fruit with black color

A Black Cobra Chili plant is our new project for fun now. It seems the plant grows well in the backyard, and reach maturity about 90 days or more, depends on many factors include:

- weather (temperature).
- using of fertilizer
- some diseases

Strange and interestingly that fruits color was black at the beginning (please see at Image 1), then the color changes to red after few weeks.



Image 2- Plant height in inches

In my mind that It is a kind of “adorable” and ornamental plant when color of fruit is at black stage.



Image 3- A Black cobra chili plant crawling up



Image 4- Eastern garter, black snake with little white dots, illustration.

Sure, chili (fruit) of black cobra chili is edible, and yes, quite spicy compared to other several chilies such as:

- Jalapeno
- Serrano.
- and Chipotle

In term of Scoville Heat Units (SHU), the unit to measure spiciness (hotness) of chili shows that black cobra chili is in the range of 20,000 to 40,000 SHU scale.

Have you tasted Black Cobra chili? If yes, do you like it?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 26 November 2022

Learning Process Based on My Own Experienced – Part 1 – Science 28

During my human medicine study at a college, one of courses was Pathophysiology class (BIOL-4310).



Image 1- Learning process level of Bloom’s Taxonomy 
(credit to Cehdclass)

The last session of the class was the student presentation. I chose pathophysiology of shock from the list of assignment.

Before presentation we were assigned to do research from the journals with the peer reviews, and then we write certain pages of term paper about the assigned topic.

The professor would check the paper before we present it and give some feedback, include comments, suggestions and recommendation for further improvement.



Image 2- Neighborhood, just illustration

Whenever, everything in the "the right tracts", the topic then was ready to be presented.



Image 3- Wrap, Illustration only

Shock is a manifestation of pathological condition rather than diseases as many people know.

I understand that diagnosis and management of shocks are require extensive knowledge and clinical experience.

At the beginning, I identified and retrieved my knowledge in Anatomy and Physiology class about how does our heart work (remembering level).

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous posting:

Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Paintings of Elementary School’s Students - Art 9

Our city, Baton Rouge has a program to select talent students in paintings. The students come from Elementary, Middle and High Schools.



Image 1- Painting of grade 1

Then, our city school system hires professional artists, usually local artists to train and improve students' skill in paintings.

They have a kind of “summer camp” to learn how to be a professional painting artist.

The goal off course, students may reach skill at level of:

- local
- national
- or even international



Image 2- A painting of grade 3 student



Image 3- A cat, painting of grade 5 student

Paintings are regularly shoen on the wall of city library entrance, hence people may see and observe the paintings.

As you may see, images 1, 2 and 3 are paintings from elementary school students of grade 1, 3, and 5 consecutively.

Which one do you think the best?

There are price tags on some paintings, the cost vary from just US$ 25 to couple hundred bucks.

I do not know how many people really interest and then buy the paintings, even price is quite reasonable.

Moreover, some best paintings will be shown in the commercial places such as banks, hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.

Is there any kind of talent programs for painting in your city or place?

Tuesday, 22 November 2022

Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 11

You may read the previous post (part 1):

- Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 11



Image 1- Part of the book

Because the countries very close to the ocean, so fish is one of their main sources of protein.

You know that there are 22 countries around Mediterranean sea, some of them are: Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Malta, Monaco, Turkey, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt and Israel.

Those people in the areas also drink red wine in daily basis but always in moderation in term of quantity.



Image 2- Myrtle flowers, illustration



Image 3- Play soccer, illustration

It is also the back way how the people around that areas eat and life. They like to eat together, share their meal, and engage in many daily routine activities altogether.

About the Mediterranean diet is also explained by Dr. Marwan Sabbagh in his book, The Alzheimer's Prevention Cookbook, Recipes to Boost Brain health.

This cookbook is based on evidence of the nutrition. The “science to table” plan that can reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease or any other forms dementia: “Eat Smart, Stay Sharp”

# Previous postings:

Monday, 21 November 2022

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?

Sunday, 20 November 2022

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:

The Eggs of Apple Snail on the Rock of Lake - Nature 145

When we visit  lake by the capitol of our city, we saw plenty of pink things like worms around the lake. Image 01 - Eggs on the rock We took...