No one wants bugs of any kind in their home. Especially if you are having guests or when you are celebrating the 4th of July tomorrow. To ensure no spiders or wasps or other bugs are coming in out of the heat try this.
A good friend is a treasure: someone with whom you can spend all your time with and still have fun; someone who listens to your problems and shares their own; and, perhaps most importantly, someone who can tell you when you’ve made a mistake without causing a rift. bOur closest friends feel like family — they’re there through thick and thin, without judgment.
These relationships are so cherished that in 1935, the U.S. Congress decided to dedicate a national holiday to celebrate the closest friendships we have, our best friends. They settled on June 8, an often warm and breezy day when friends can get together outdoors and enjoy themselves. Apologies for missing this very important day but we ask, kindly, that you accept it today!
Some great quotes coming up that we are sure you can al relate to.
In 1711, legendary English poet Alexander Pope composed one of his most famous works, An Essay on Criticism. Less of an essay and more of a lengthy poem, the piece features some of the greatest phrases in the English language, including “fools rush in” and “a little learning is a dangerous thing.” But it’s line 525 that has truly stood the test of time for its elegant simplicity in summarizing an undeniable truth: “To err is human.”
Milk plays a major part in human life — even for the most dedicated of vegans. Homo sapiens are biologically wired to be raised on our mother’s milk; the substance protects against short- and long-term illnesses while also sharing the mother’s antibodies with the newborn. Milk has also been the backbone of entire empires, and the substance even describes the very galaxy in which our planet resides. Here are seven amazing facts about milk (and its tasty plant-based alternatives) that’ll make you appreciate that carton in your fridge in a whole new way.
Milk Is Mostly Water
Although milk tastes much different than the H2O that comes out of the tap, the beverage is mostly water. Whole milk, for example, I s87% water, and the other 13% contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Because of its high water content, milk is also a good hydration source during hot summer days. For all the talk of different milk types (whole, 2%, or skim), the difference in water content is only 3% at most.
Protein and Fat Content Is What Makes Milk White
Milk looks white because it’s reflecting all the wavelengths of visible light, and the combination of reflected colors creates white. The particles in milk — including the protein casein, calcium complexes, and fat globules – scatter light, much as light scattering on snow makes it appear white. Sometimes milk can have a slight yellow hue caused by a cow’s diet — the pigment carotene, found in carrots and other vegetables, can cause color variations — and the vitamin riboflavin can also cause a yellowish-green hue. Skim milk, which is low in fat content, can sometimes be a bluish color because casein scatters blue slightly more than red.
Humans Are the Only Mammals That Drink Another Animal’s Milk
Humans stand alone as the only mammals that drink the milk of another mammalian species. This is due to our history of animal husbandry, along with a genetic mutation that allows some humans to retain the enzyme lactase which breaks down milk’s lactose sugar in the digestive system — beyond infancy. However, this mutation is not found in the majority of the 8 billion Homo sapiens on planet Earth — in fact, 68% of us experience some form of lactose malabsorption.
Although humans stand alone when it comes to mammals, some other species do drink milk from other animals. The red-billed oxpecker is known to steal milk from the udders of impala, and shorebirds such as seagulls have similarly swiped milk from the teats of elephant seals.
Milk Helped Build the Mongol Empire
The horse tribes of the Eurasian Steppes were one of the first cultures to adopt dairying, some 5,000 years ago. Because their vast plains weren’t fertile ground for agriculture, these nomadic tribes instead relied on animals and their milk for sustenance. Because they received much-needed calories from horse’s milk, these tribes could travel across land more quickly and maintain larger empires than their neighbors.
One of the remaining mysteries of milk’s importance in this era of human history is that 95% of Steppe people today lack the gene variant for digesting lactose, yet the population still gains a large portion of their calories from dairy products. One theory is that the microbiome found in the gut of Mongolians has somehow adapted to a millennia-long, dairy-heavy diet.
Dairy Milk Was Revolutionized by Bacteriology
In 1857, French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, discovered that microorganisms in the air caused lactic acid fermentation, aka the souring of milk. Pasteur also discovered (after a request from Emperor of France Napoleon III) that certain microbes caused wine to go bad, but by briefly heating the libation to around 140 degrees Fahrenheit, those microbes died off, leaving behind a sterilized (or as it would be later known, “pasteurized”) liquid that would stay fresh for longer.
Pasteurization for milk wasn’t introduced until 1886, but it was a game-changer, as diseases introduced via contaminated milk killed scores of infants in the 19th century. With the introduction of pasteurization, that number dropped significantly.
Plant Milks Have Been Around for 5,000 Years
For years, dairy producers have sued alternative milk companies for using the word “milk” on their packaging — but history is not on their side. Evidence suggests that Romans had a complex understanding of the word “milk,” as the root of the word “lettuce” comes from “lact” (as in “lactate”). Many medieval cookbooks make reference to almond milk, and the earliest mention of soy milk can be found on a Chinese stone slab from around the first to third century CE. However, coconut milk has the longest history; archaeologists have recovered coconut graters among relics from Madagascar and Southeast Asia that date back to around 3000 to 1500 BCE.
Our Galaxy’s Name, “Milky Way,” Comes From a Greek Myth
The galaxy is home to hundreds of billions of stars, and stretches for truly mind-boggling distances. If you traveled the speed of light, it’d still take you 200,000 years just to cross its entirety. Its Western name — Milky Way — comes from a Greek myth in which the queen goddess Hera, while nursing the hero Heracles, pulled away her breast and sprayed her divine lactation across the cosmos. In fact, the root of the word “galaxy” is the Greek gála, meaning “milk”. The Romans also referred to the cosmos in Latin as Via Lactea, or“Road of Milk.” However, other cultures use different names to represent the great expanse of the starry sky. China, for example, calls it “銀河,” meaning “silver river,” and Sanskrit’s “Mandākinī” roughly means “unhurried.”
We dare say that there is nary a person who has not heard of the name “Einstein”. Here we have six facts about Albert Einstein that might surprise you.
It’s summer! More time at the pool and potentially more house guest. Either way that can means towels will be involved. But whether you keep pool towels for your guests or just like to keep a basket or rack of extra towels for your house guests, we have a simple way to “roll” those towels and make them look neat and inviting.
It’s easy to lose track of items in the back of a dark pantry, which is why expiration dates can be so helpful in determining when to toss old foods. However, the “best by” dates we rely on aren’t always a true picture of how long a food is shelf-stable.
Food dating is mostly a voluntary process for grocery manufacturers, who often just estimate when their products will no longer be at their best quality. Luckily, there are some foods — like the six listed below — that are safe to keep using even if their expiration date has long passed.
“June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” as the song goes, and it’s one of the most fascinating months on the calendar.
Filled with holidays and long days in the U.S., the month is known best for the arrival of summer, and it is long awaited by the many sun lovers among us.
Here are a few fascinating facts about the month of June, from its ancient Roman moniker to its role as host to the newest national holiday in the U.S.
It’s that time of year when we enjoy time in our gardens or pools, at picnics and BBQs, for hikes and evening walks….unfortunately it’s also that time of year that mosquitos enjoy us enjoying those things!
Summer and warmer weather is on the way. In some places it’s already arrived. That means we will all be drinking more iced and chilled beverages. Whether you like cold brew coffee, iced tea, or fruit infused water we have a great find for you today!
The war created prime conditions for poppies to flourish in Flanders and north-west France (and Gallipoli). Continual bombardment disturbed the soil and brought the seeds to the surface. They were fertilized by nitrogen in the explosives and lime from the shattered rubble of the buildings.
Here we are again at the weekend when there is a national holiday to commemorate Memorial Day! We found some little-known facts about this Day which we would like to share with you.
We read this week that lots of the Royals were at the Chelsea Flower Show, a once-a-year “very British” function! We also read that Catherine, Princess of Wales, when asked for an autograph, explained that she is now allowed to give autographs but, instead, she did a very sweet thing.
This weekend is Memorial Day. Whether your celebration menu includes hot dogs and hamburgers, BBQ, or fried chicken, this simple and delicious side will be a perfect addition.
Both the quality and quantity of our sleep have a profound impact on our health, and the way we spend the last few moments of the day before we drift off to sleep can impact the entire night’s rest.
Some of our favorite foods are grown in our own states or local communities. But many of them come from places all over the world. Hazelnuts, coconuts, pineapples and so many other favorites come to your market from places you may not expect. We have list of some favorite foods and where the leading producers of them originate thanks to interestingfacts.com. You might find some surprises here.
For nearly a century, the Hollywood sign has been an emblem of the film industry — a glittering embodiment of the L.A. dream, emblazoned high atop Mount Lee in Griffith Park. An iconic photo-op spot in the City of Angels, the Hollywood sign represents the fame, fortune, and glamor many seek out in the entertainment and film industry. A symbol that looms this large over a town is bound to break a few expectations, so here are five things you probably didn’t know about one of California’s most famous landmarks.
Looking back over the years of all the gifts our children have made or bought for us, without question it is the cards and notes, the sweet words of love and affirmation that mean the very most.
In 1970, when Hollywood Reporter film critic Todd McCarthy first met Taylor, he was stopped in his tracks by “a pair of eyes unlike any I’ve ever beheld, before or since; deep violet eyes of a sort withheld from ordinary mortals.”
If you happen to be of Mexican decent you know the today is Dia de la Madre (Mother’s Day). In Mexico Mother’s Day is always May 10th regardless of what day of the week it is. In America, Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday in May, which this year is this Sunday, May 14th.
Novels and opening voiceovers from dramatic movies and shows have been known to allude to “the smell of danger”. But is that just a metaphor or is it a real thing? Actually there are times when you can smell danger and may not have even known that is what it was.
After waiting for more than 70 years to fulfill the role for which he was born, tomorrow King Charles III will be coronated. But what is the purpose of a coronation if he is already King?
Why Coronation Quiche of course! The is a dish that has been created for the King and Queen Consort and will be recreated and eaten all over the United Kingdom on Saturday when at the “Big Lunch” events people celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Charles was a little boy and, just like any other little boy, loved toy cars! But he was not just like any other little boy as he was born to a Princess and was, himself, a Prince!
Queen Camilla’s ultimate style moment is almost here, but what can we expect to see on the big day? The Coronation?
Queen Camilla is about to have the style moment of her life as she prepares for the coronation.
On May 6, Camilla will be crowned Queen alongside her husband King Charles at Westminster Abbey, wearing a recycled crown and a ruby ring that dates back to 1831, but what else can we expect to see her wear on coronation day?
The Crown
Camilla will be wearing Queen Mary’s Crown, albeit with some alterations. The inclusion of the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, which belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth (she often wore them as brooches), is the first clue that her coronation style could nod to the late Queen. For a more modern look, Camilla might also choose to remove the arches of the Garrard piece by wearing it as a circlet, just like Queen Mary did for the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
The Dress
Queen Camilla will reportedly wear an outfit designed by royal favorite Bruce Oldfield for the coronation. The British couturier, who was once a go-to for Princess Diana, has been in Camilla’s inner style circle for over a decade and it was his black and silver two-piece design she chose to wear to her first state visit as Queen Consort to Germany last month. While there is a sense of a more low-key ceremony, the dress will almost certainly include symbolic embroidery to represent Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
The Earrings
The crown won’t be the only sparkly element to Camilla’s outfit. The coronation earrings, which were commissioned for Queen Victoria in 1858 and have been worn by every Queen Consort at their coronation since, would be the perfect accessory. However, Camilla doesn’t have pierced ears, and according to a Vogue interview last year that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
“The grandchildren will try to persuade me, but, nothing’s going to pierce my ears,” she said.
Could Garrard, the jewelry house who initially made the earrings, fashion them into clip-ons for the occasion? Or could Camilla break with tradition and wear something from her own personal collection?
The Necklace
While the earrings might prove tricky, the Queen will almost certainly wear the Coronation Necklace. Originally made for Queen Victoria, its coronation debut came in 1902 when Queen Alexandra wore it to King Edward VII’s coronation and it’s been worn at every ceremony since.
The 22.48-karat diamond pendant at its center is known as the Lahore Diamond and was given to Queen Victoria in 1851. Queen Elizabeth wore it to her own coronation in 1953 and for several formal occasions after.
The Ring
Made for Queen Adelaide in 1831 by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, Camilla will wear the Queen Consort’s Ring for the historic ceremony. Featuring a ruby in a gold setting, flanked by 14 diamonds and smaller rubies around the band, the ring has been used by three prior Queen Consorts; Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
The Shoes
Just like Queen Elizabeth, who wore her favorite go-to brand Rayne for her 1953 coronation, Camilla will want a pair of trusty heels she knows she can rely on for the two-hour ceremony. A huge fan of British brand, Sole Bliss (she has worn their Ingrid style with its almond-shaped toe and two-inch block heel over 80 times!), founder Lisa Kay says she would be overjoyed to get the commission. “It’s been a great source of pride seeing Her Majesty wear our shoes over the last five years and the coronation would be the cherry on the top!” she says.
The Coronation promises to be quite the affair!
Grateful to be able to share these details which were originally written by Monique Jessen of Yahoo.
Most people think that it is only the average everyday person who sometimes works up the courage to ask a celebrity for an autograph. Sometimes it’s an actor or sports figure, or a famous musician whose autograph is sought out by someone. But did you know that sometimes one famous person might admire another enough to seek out their signature on a card or photo?
Yes, the ZIP code in the title is for none other than Beverly Hills! Most of us know that, to be sure! But, do we know what the acronym ZIP stands for?
To you sometimes start your day or your week feeling tired or down? Even when you’ve had a good sleep it can happen. These words of wisdom might explain why.
Most homemakers know that keeping an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator will help to absorb and eliminate foul odors. But getting rid of bad smells is just the beginning.
Dolphins are some of the most beloved creatures on the planet. After all, what isn’t to like about these seafaring cetaceans? They’re highly intelligent. They make adorable noises. They’re friendly to humans. They even like to surf. But beyond these crowd-pleasing theatrics, dolphins also boast impressive physiological capabilities and exhibit an array of mind-boggling behaviors. Here are six fascinating facts you may not know about them.
This week both Passover and Easter are being celebrated. As is often the case they fall within the same week. Every spring, Jews celebrate when God led their ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. The commemoration begins with a seder (Hebrew for “order”), a ceremony full of symbolic foods and rituals. Over the following week, Jews may eat matzo, a flat cracker that doesn’t have leavening (yeast, baking powder, or baking soda which is often the Biblical symbol for sin), and strictly avoid leavened flour products like bread and cookies. (Other dietary restrictions during Passover also apply for some Jews, depending on their culture.) The restriction against leavened foods honors the fleeing slaves who didn’t have time to wait for their bread to rise, and ate it flat instead. Christians see that flat bread without leavening is symbolic of Jesus who was also “without sin”.
The seder story comes from the second book of the Old Testament, Exodus, a Latin word that means “exit” or “departure”. It is a story of miracles, acts of bravery, and deliverance from oppression that has inspired people for centuries.
We came across a quote we had to sit on for a minute to let the full weight of it sink in. Today seems like a good time to share it with you our chums.
Many of you will recognize the name, Shel Silverstein, as being a profound children’s author. We so agree and share some quotes from a few of his books. They surely apply to adults as well!
So often when we have family gatherings we miss the opportunity for the children, or younger adults even, to know more about their grandparents or their family history. We can get caught up in the activities and preparations of the holiday or event and miss the treasure that is right there with us…our own family history.
Every year there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who lose one of their limbs. Many of them, sadly, are our veterans. It is a difficult loss for anyone who must have a leg taken off for any reason.
Some philosophical theories are so powerful, they shape the way we think and act without us even noticing. Yet understanding the different philosophies can be daunting. Over the past two millennia, there have been dozens of movements, doctrines, and various “isms,” often described in dense and complex academic texts.
After several years of lack luster gowns and more funky dress and suit styles at Hollywood’s big night, last night was a return to more traditionally glamorous attire at the 95th Academy Awards.
You may have noticed that there has been a lot of discussion lately on social media about the best way to clean these trusty work horses of the kitchen… wooden spoons.
Known fondly as the “People’s Princess,” the late Princess Diana occupies the pantheon as one of the most beloved members of the British royal family ever. Thanks to her kind and compassionate nature and outspoken advocacy for humanitarian causes, Diana was heralded as a relatable, empathetic royal who cared deeply about the human condition.
During Mad Men’s first season, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) gave his protégé, Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), his slogan-writing secret: “Just think about it. Deeply. Then forget it. And an idea will jump up in your face.”
Yesterday was the final day of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and celebrate they did. Colorful and joyful and all sorts of other things, THIS is Mardi Gras!
Once the U.S. finally secured its independence from Great Britain with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the new country had to invent lots of things from scratch, including its form of government, its rules and laws, and even what to call its leader.
It’s Presidents Day as you are surely aware. So today we want to share with you a fun way to help your children, or help yourself for that matter, identify and know a bit more about each of the former gentlemen we have called Mr. President.
Breakfasts seems to come in all sorts of different ways. Some people don’t have any breakfast at all; others have a quick glass of juice and a cup of coffee; still others sit down to a large breakfast that takes them through the day.
Joy does not arrive with a fanfare, on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life.Joy sneaks in, as you pour a cup of coffee, watching the sun hit your favourite tree, just right.
Few monuments capture the public imagination quite like pyramids. These feats of engineering teach us about cultures that lived long before us — not just their art and innovations, but their everyday lives.
Just how old is the earliest pyramid? How did Egyptians start building their iconic smooth-sided pyramids? What are we still discovering within them? From the towering Great Pyramids of Giza to the complex stepped pyramids of Mesoamerica, these seven facts reveal just how mind-blowing pyramids really are.