The First Pressure Cooker

The first pressure cooker called the "ingester" was designed in 1679 by French physicist, Denis Papin. It blew up a year later.

Freezing Frogs

As the temperature drops, some animals move to a warmer climate, but wood frogs seek cover under leaves where they actually freeze and thaw with their surroundings. As the temperature drops below 32 degrees, ice crystals form right beneath the frog's skin. The normally slimy amphibian becomes slushy. In about three hours if the mercury continues to drop, ice enters the frog's arteries and veins. As a result, after twenty four hours, the heart and brain stop working, and its eyes freeze to a ghostly white. Up to 65% of the water in the frog's body becomes ice. The spectacular thing is that the frog isn't actually dead! As the temperature rises, the frog returns to its normal state in several hours.

Idling

10% of all of our fuel is wasted on idling. Parents leave their car running on average for two to twenty minutes waiting to pick up for their children, wasting gas, polluting, adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Termites

Termites are most active in the spring time.

First Women's Rights Convention

In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Coffin Mott organized the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York to fight for equal rights, but it wasn't until 1920 that women were allowed to vote in U.S. presidential elections.

Frozen Food Month

In the food industry, March is National Frozen Food month. Frozen foods is most affordable during this time of the year. Take advantage!

Mangrove Killifish

Scientists have discovered that mangrove killifish spends several months of every year living out of the water and inside trees. Living in rotten branches and trunks temporarily alter the creatures biological makeup, allowing them to breathe air. Their gills adapt to retain nutrients and water, while excreting nitrogen waste through their skin. These characteristics are reversed as soon as the creatures re-enter water life. Mangrove killifish are also the only vertebrate creature to reproduce without a mate because of their ability to develop female and male sexual organs and fertilize their eggs. Another type of fish that can breathe in air and water is the walking catfish of Southeast Asia.

Rabbits

Rabbits aren't capable of vomiting.

Unique Mona Lisa

A Japanese artist named Tadahiko Ogawa managed to replicate the Mona Lisa entirely out of toast in 1983.

Artichokes

Artichokes came to Europe from North Africa when the Moors invaded Spain. It's a type of flower bud.

Good Samaritan Law

Most states have Good Samaritan Laws that protects people who willingly give first aid without accepting anything in return. In most states, a layperson (citizen) has no legal obligation to help victims in emergencies.

Alternating and Direct Current

Most electrical appliances in use today convert the AC (alternating current) from the electrical socket and convert to DC (direct current) for use. This conversion wastes a lot of energy. DC isn't used in the socket but is the most efficient. This is because Thomas Edison pushed AC over DC and used fear to scare people into believing him by electrocuting elephants with DC electricity.

Milk the Spice Neutralizer

Milk is not only nutritious but contains a protein which cleanses burning taste buds so is ideal to have with spicy foods.

Lycopene

Lycopene, a phytochemical, is a highly regarded nutrient due to its powerful antioxidant properties. Its ability to reverse oxidative stress is suspected to be responsible for its cancer and heart disease fighting results. Harvard University research revealed that men who consumed 10 servings of tomato products a week minimized their chances of prostate cancer by as much as 45%. Research also suggests that lycopene can reduce your threat of developing other cancers such as colon, stomach, cervix, skin, and breast cancer. It's also suspected to prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease by lowering LDL levels, which are considered bad cholesterol. There's also some evidence suggesting that lycopene can reduce the risk of macular degenerative diseases, too. It's important to consume lycopene rich foods because our bodies don't produce the nutrient. Because lycopene is a carotenoid, a plant pigment, known to give certain produce a red color, you can find them in pink grapefruits, watermelon, guavas, and a variety of other foods. The ripest and reddest tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene. Contrary to logical conclusions, lycopene is most effectively absorbed into the body when it's cooked through. In its raw form, the nutrient is too large to be absorbed by the body. So, in order to obtain the lycopene benefits from tomatoes, use processed or cooked versions. For example, canned tomatoes, jarred salsa, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, sautéed fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato soup are all ideal sources of lycopene. Additionally, being a fat-soluble nutrient, lycopene becomes more readily available for absorption with the presence of dietary fats such as cheese or extra-virgin olive oil. It dissolves and carry into your bloodstream more effectively. I recommend consuming tomatoes lightly sautéed in extra-virgin olive oil, seasoned to taste with salt and pepper, and mixed with feta cheese.

Yo-Yo Dieting

Yo-yo dieting may increase the body's fat to lean tissue ratio. Women may lose considerable muscle tissue while dieting but tend to regain it as fat.

Benefits of Fish

It has been confirmed that consuming fish at least once a week has some benefits. It delays the aging process in your brain. It also increases brain function and cuts the risk of stroke. The rate of mental decline was reduced by 10-13% a year, compared to others who ate fish less regularly. The time decrease is the equivalent of being 3-4 years younger in age.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is, in fact, not a vitamin. It's a hormone called calcitrol. Our body produces it when we're exposed to the sun. The UVB light on your skin converts to 7-dehydrocholesterol which then turns into vitamin D, when the liver and kidneys activate it. This starts the process of regulating and enhancing the absorption of the minerals calcium and phosphorus in our body. It's important to not be deficient in "vitmain" D because it may cause a chronic imbalance and bone deterioration.

Zinc Deficiency

If you are deficient in zinc, you may have dulled taste buds. Another cause of dulled taste buds has to do with an enzyme deficiency. The more cooked food you eat, the more enzymes you kill off. Reintroducing raw food into your diet such as fruits and vegetables can stimulate your taste buds.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an ingredient found in many curries and American mustard responsible for adding colors and flavors to them. Curcumin is turmeric's medically active ingredient that shows evidence of anti-inflammatory and cancer protective effects. During the springtime, enjoy an unsweetened turmeric tea to reap its benefits. Many Asian and Indian cooking also uses this ingredient.

Laughter as Medicine

Laugh it up for your health. People who watched comedy films such as There's Something About Mary had better blood flow than those who watched something like Saving Private Ryan. Director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology, Michael Miller, MD., recommends 15 minutes of laughter a day.

Healthy Water Consumption

It has been proven that drinking 8 glasses of water a day may not be appropriate for every individual. To determine how much water you should consume daily, calculate your weight and divide it by 2. The answer you come up with is the amount of water you should consume in ounces. For example, if you weigh 100 lbs, divide that by two. Your answer will be 50, so you should drink 50 ounces of water a day. (Remember that 8 oz. is the equivalent to 1 cup). For those of you skeptical of this new study, consider this. A larger person has more sweat glands, so liquid is extracted from the body at a much more rapid rate than a smaller person with less sweat glands. A child's daily food consumption isn't equivalent and shouldn't be equivalent to that of an adult. Why should water consumption be any different?

National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month.

Ostrich

Ostrich is the fastest bird, and it has to do with the fact that they have two toes on each feet.

Benefits of Sex

Experts say that having sex two to three times a week can increase your longevity by cutting your risk of heart disease and stroke by half. This is because intercourse burns about 200 calories, which is the equivalent as running for 30 minutes. It may lower your blood pressure, adding two to three more years. A low blood pressure also aids in better quality sleep, strengthens your immunity, and releases heart protective hormones. Additionally, if sex is part of a happy marriage, research shows that you'll get another five years.

Benefits of Natural Light

During daylight hours, natural light is so efficient that it can be the equivalent of a dozen light bulbs.

Child Seating Safety in Vehicles

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child ride rear facing until 20 lbs. to one year of age in a vehicle.

Five Signs of Internal Bleeding

Here are the five signs and symptoms of internal bleeding:

Abdominal pain
Rapid, weak pulse
Discoloration of the skin (bruising) in the injured area
Nausea or vomiting
Vomiting blood
Soft tissue in the abdomen, for example, that's tender, hard, or swollen

Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron cookware is made from iron that's been melted and formed into pan-shaped molds or casts. They're made from the same base material used in engine blocks and building girders, so they're really sturdy.

Moon Time

A single day on the moon is the equivalent of 27.3 on earth. This is because the moon permanently faces us.

The Pill and Headaches

A report in the journal Neurology suggests that the Pill may cause splitting headaches. Experts blame the steep drop in estrogen the day after you take the last pill of the month. Estrogen protects the nervous system. So when levels drop, you're more vulnerable to different types of pain. If you experience headaches every month, try switching to Mircette. It's the only pill sold in the United States that weans you off estrogen gradually in the days before your period.

Toxic Plants

Some plants are toxic such as these: Amaryllis, azalea leaves, clematis, the berries and leaves of the English Ivy, foxglove, Holly berries, Hydrangea flower buds, the leaves, stems, and berries of mistletoe, and periwinkle.

Buddhism

Buddhism was created by a man named Siddhartha Gautama who left his wife and son to find the meaning of life. He meditated deeply under a tree after fasting and disciplining himself harshly didn't provide him with the answer he was seeking. It was then that he believed he found the truth. He taught that suffering is brought on by people's desires and that suffering can end and complete happiness can be found only by ending all desires. He gave his first sermon to the five wisdom seekers who journeyed with him and was renamed Buddha or the enlightened one. Buddha taught his followers to treat all living things with loving kindness and treat everyone equally.

Hinduism

The Nomadic people who entered northern India and other scattered people of the Indus River formed a new culture in northern India, and the religion Hinduism developed there, as well, beginning around 1500 B.C. They spoke the language of Sankrit and worshipped thousands of gods and goddesses.

Religion

Studies found that there are commonly sixteen reasons why people are attracted to religion. These are power, independence, curiosity, acceptance, order, saving, honor, idealism, social contact, family, status, vengeance, romance, eating, physical exercise, and tranquility.

Pomegranate Juice

Evidence reveals that pomegranate juice can stave off hardening of the arteries and possibly even reverse it! According to Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, pomegranate juice reduced the rate of cholesterol plaque buildup in mice by 30%. And heart cells treated with this juice revealed a 50% increase in the production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps fight plaque. There are a variety of tasty ways to take your medicine. There are more than 130 pomegranate products introduced in 2006.

First Evening Length Ballet

The first evening length ballet was performed by Maria Taglioni and called La Sylphide.

Don Perignon

Costco sells the most Don Perignon (superior quality champagne) on Valentine's day than any other day of the year.

February is National Grapefruit Month

RED GRAPEFRUITS are an excellent source of vitamin C, has 25 times the amount of vitamin A compared to white grapefruits, facilitates the body’s absorption of iron, has an abundance of antioxidants such as lycopene (the redder the grapefruit, the higher the lycopene content) known to lower risk of heart disease and some cancers (pancreas, lungs, and prostate), one grapefruit has 25% of your daily fiber needs (aids in healthy digestion), contains potassium and folate, ideal for pregnant women and may help relieve depression and memory loss.

Warm Grapefruit Tea Recipe

2 cups ruby red grapefruit juice
2-4 tbsp honey
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp whole allspice berries

In a medium pot, combine juice, honey, cinnamon, allspice, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat; strain and discard solids. Serve with a grapefruit segment or strip of zest.

Broiled Grapefruit

Halve a grapefruit, season it with brown sugar, and broil until slightly darkened.

Spinach Salad with Avocadoes and Red Grapefruits

Fill enough spinach to fill a deep bowl, chop up an avocado, and segments of one grapefruit all mixed together in a salad. Eat with dressing of choice.

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was an African American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave. He developed multiple products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans. His discoveries have significantly improved the agricultural production and the health of Southern farmers. Carver's invention included a rubber substitute, adhesives, food related stuff, dyes, pigments, and many more. Previously the main crop in the South was cotton.

AIDS

In 1982 American scientists named the mysterious new illness first seen the year before as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In 1985, African Americans made up a quarter for new AIDS cases. In 1990, a group of Haitian immigrants protested in New York against the racist stereotyping of Haitians as AIDS carriers. In 1994, the statistics of black AIDS cases surpassed that of whites for the first time. In 1995, AIDS became the leading cause of death for all 25 - 44 year old Americans today. There are 33 million people living with HIV worldwide more than a million of them are in the U.S. African Americans make up 12% of the population and account for a significant 49% of HIV cases.

Martin Luther King, Jr.,

Martin Luther King. Jr., (1929-1968) was one of the most influential African Americans and civil rights movement leaders. He graduated high school at the age of fifteen and continued his educational career with a doctorate in 1953. On December 1955, he accepted the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States. He led the bus boycott, which lasted 382 days. It was this boycott that resulted in the Supreme Court of the United States on December 21, 1956 to declare Negroes and whites to ride the bus as equals. His strength, courage, and commitment to the boycott didn't go without consequences. He was subjected to arrests, house bombs, and personal abuse. As President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization that advocated civil rights movements, the ideals came from Christianity and techniques from Gandhi. King traveled over six million miles and gave over twenty five hundred speeches where there was injustice. He also authored five books and numerous articles. He directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 participants. King consulted with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lydon B. Johnson and was arrested twenty times, assaulted at least four times, and eventually awarded five honorary degrees, named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963. King was also the youngest man to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize. On April 4, 1968, where he was to lead a protest, he was assassinated on his balcony's motel room. His efforts and accomplishments are still remembered to this day.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks (1913-2005), a tired seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama made an understandable and stubborn refusal to give her seat up to a white passenger on the bus on December 1, 1955, which changed the dynamics of civil rights. The white bus driver informed her that she was going to get arrest, and she graciously and courageously complied. Parks was arrested, fined for violating a city ordinance, and later outlawed racial segregation on public transportation. A seemingly stubborn defiance began the course of equality on buses. This incident led to the formation of the Montgomery Improvement Association led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., boycotting the bus, which lasted 382 days, attracting the attention of segregation and forcing change. History portrays Rosa Parks as a determined woman who's acts or, technically, lack of changed history, but she's done more for equality than refusal to move. She served as secretary of the NAACP and Adviser to the NAACP Youth Council and tried to register to vote a number of times when it was nearly impossible.

Dr. Charles Richard Drew

Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) was an African-American physician and medical researcher who developed improved methods of blood storage and preservation. His discoveries revolutionized the medical profession and saved many lives.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary

In 1870 Mary Ann Shadd Cary became the country's first black female lawyer and organized the Colored Women's Progressive Franchise, dedicated to women's rights.

Susie King Taylor

Susie King Taylor served as a Union Army nurse during the Civil War. She was also the first black nurse to publish a memoir of her war experiences, offering valuable insight into the workings of the first black regiment during the War.

Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad is a term that described a highly systemized, national secret organization that accomplished prodigious feats in stealing slaves away from the South. It aided fugitive slaves to escape to Canada or other free states. It was run by Northern abolitionists, both whites and free blacks. The metaphor first appeared on print in the early 1840s. The escaping slaves were referred to as passengers, stations represented their shelter, and guides such as Harriet Tubman were known as their conductors. Quakers were particularly prominent as conductors. However, experts note that the accuracy of these records are questionable, as details of the escapes became highly publicized and greatly exaggerated by the North and South, although for different reasons. I'm unsure which details are being referred to, but it is well-known that the Underground Railroad was an organization that helped slaves escape to freedom.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), an American abolitionist, was born into slavery. She escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 and returned more than a dozen times to help over 300 slaves escape to freedom. She became a speaker for anti-slavery lectures and served as nurse, cook, laundress, scout, and spy. In 1863 she participated in a raid that resulted in freeing more than 700 slaves.

Slavery

Slavery is the state of being owned by another person and having your freedom taken away from you. A slave is forced to work, historically dehumanized, mentally, physically, and sometimes sexually abused. Slavery is often associated with the suffering of Africans. The first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1615. In 1787 slavery was made illegal in the Northwest Territory, but slavery didn't come to an end until 1865 when the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States. Yet discrimination of blacks didn't end. Other forms of discrimination have been implemented throughout history and still exist today.

National Wear Red Day

February 2 is National Wear Red Day, which is the American Heart Association's nationwide movement that celebrates the energy and power we have as women and men to eradicate heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and causes nearly 500,000, that's half a million, deaths a year. 1 in 8 women, aged 45-64 has coronary heart disease. And this increases to 1 in 4 women over the age of 65. The good news is that heart disease can be largely prevented. Eating healthfully, visiting the doctor regularly, the participation of people across the nation, and the positive contributions the color red and the red dress has been linked with heart health.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. We have Carter G. Woodson, editor of the Journal of Negro History to thank for this annual celebration. It began in 1926 during the second week of February specifically to coincide the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two men who made an immense impact on the black population. Over time Negro History Week evolved into the Black History Month that we're all familiar with.

Round Door Knobs

Round door knobs in building are illegal in the United States.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones become fragile and prone to breakage. Women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease. Until the age of about 30, you build and store bone efficiently. In women, bone loss is accelerated after menopause when your ovaries stop producing estrogen, the hormone that protects against bone loss. Additionally, women who stop menstruating before menopause due to conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, or excessive exercise may also lose bone tissue and develop osteoporosis.

Koalas

Koalas aren't actually bears. They belong in the same family as kangaroos. They rarely hydrate themselves with water. Most of their fluids come from the eucalyptus leaves they eat regularly. A koala's sleep lasts for 19 hours a day.

Hypoxia

High altitudes produce stress on the human body such as hypoxia (reduced available oxygen), more intense solar radiation, cold, low humidity, wind (which amplifies cold stress), a reduced nutritional base, and rough terrain. Reproduction, in particular, at high altitudes affects increased infant mortality rates, miscarriage, low birth weights, and premature birth. An early study in Colorado reported that infant deaths are nearly twice as common above 8,200 feet (2,500 m) as at lower elevations. A common cause of fetal and material death is pre-eclampsia, a severe elevation of blood pressure in pregnant women after the twentieth gestational week.

Written Language

When language evolved into written work, clays and various types of paper surfaces were created. Soft clay tablets and a wedge-shaped tool were used by the Sumerians to record their pictographs, while the Egyptians created papyrus from a plant grown in the Nile region. Strips of papyrus were woven together, soaked, and pounded into a flat surface which was polished with a rock until a smooth finish was achieved. Hieroglyphics were painted or scratched into this surface with a brush or a pen. The Greeks, on the other hand, wrote on parchment made out of treated animal hides. While parchment was more durable than papyrus, it was far more expensive to manufacture. Finally, the Chinese developed the writing surface that we use today - paper. A combination of rags, tree bark, and various fibrous materials were soaked in tubs, pounded with mallets, pressed into sheets, and left to dry in the sun. This was around 100 B.C., but paper didn't become widely used in Europe for another thousand years.

Builders and Solvents

Builders and solvents are types of cleaning product ingredients. Builders are chemicals found in detergents and other cleaners that soften water by binding together minerals, so they don't interfere with the action of surfactants. Solvents are substances usually in liquid that dissolves other substances. They're great for cutting grease. Common household solvents include acetone, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, d-limonene, mineral spirits, naptha, and turpentine. Most organic solvents are toxic, but products may not use the word "solvent." Although it's likely that products will use one of the following words above.

Zero

The number zero was created by the Mayans around 500 A.D. Hindu astronomers n India also created a numeral for zero, but it took the rest of the world about 800 years later until the idea "zero" or "nothing" came into effect.

Caffeine

Caffeine is probably the world's most popular drug. It's basically a poison, a pesticide, used to keep pests away from coffee beans. And that's why decaffeinated beverages still contain trace amounts of caffeine because it's found in the plant. Caffeine reduces drowsiness and can enhance cognitive performance and vigilance such as improving problem solving, increase the capacity for physical work, and raise urine production. But at high doses, it creates tremors and anxiety. Long-tern effect can result in tolerance, as well as physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, fatigue, anxiety, shakiness, and cravings. It can last up to a week. Studies have indicated that caffeine may make it harder for women to become pregnant and increase the risks of miscarriages, stillbirths, and low birth weight babies. Moderate daily consumption may also lead to a slightly increased blood pressure.

Ants

Ants are one of the strongest insects in the world. They can carry 50 times their own weight! They're not very large to begin with so what they're carrying isn't too heavy, but, again, they're not very large to begin with.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world by area and is in the top ten for exporting oil.

Temporary IQ Decline

Researchers at the University of London Institute of Psychiatry have revealed that regular usage of the Blackberry can temporarily drop your IQ by 10 points! That's twice the negative effects that chronic use of marijuana can cause. The constant distraction of incoming emails, phone calls, and text messages prepares your mind for interruptions, dropping your concentration skills.

Dust Mites

Millions of people are allergic to dust mites. There can be as many as 30,000 of them in one ounce of dust! They love to live in beds, as they live off of our dead skin cells. At night when our body is repairing itself, we all shed.

Utility Expenses

For each degree you turn down your heat, you save 3% on heating costs. For each degree you raise the air conditioner, costs will be reduced by 3 - 4%. If you simply change the temperature by two degrees all year you can save approximately 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Dimes

A dime has 118 ridges.

"Vitamin" D

There's some controversy about whether "Vitamin" D is truly a vitamin or not. Technically, vitamins are nutrients our bodies can't produce on our own, but Vitamin D is synthesized and functions as a hormone. Exposure to the sun's rays is the best source. You can also get Vitamin D through fortified foods such as milk and cereal, but it'll only provide about 10% of your requirements. Sun exposure is the only adequate source. You should expose your hands, face, and arms to the sun for approximately 1/3 - 1/2 the time it takes for you to burn. Exposing yourself 2 -3 times per week is your best bet. It's also one of the fat soluble vitamins. In children, it promotes bone development and growth. In adults, vitamin D helps prevent osteoporosis and fractures. That's why calcium supplements also contain vitamin D; it helps with the absorption of calcium. It primarily regulates blood calcium levels. Some other benefits of Vitamin D are its anticancer effects it has on leukemia cells and breast, lung, cervix, and colon tumor cells. It's crucial to get your daily recommended amount through supplements as you get older because your body starts to synthesize a decreased amount as you age. From birth to the age of 50, the adequate intake is 5 micrograms per day. For people aged 51 - 70, it becomes 10 micrograms a day. For anyone 71 and older, it rises to 15 micrograms a day. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets, a childhood condition that weakens the bones and skeleton. In adults, a deficiency may lead to osteomalacia, not to be confused with osteoporosis. It's also known as soft bones, and it leaves you prone to fractures of the hip, spine, and other bones. Don't overdo it, though, as high supplement doses can be toxic, but only with supplements. You can't overdose with sun exposure. Overdosing can lead to hypercalcemia, which is a highly concentration of calcium in the blood. It slows down your kidneys' ability to concentrate urine. That leads to excessive thirst and a constant need to pee. Other symptoms are depression, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Avocados

Avocadoes contain enzymes called chitins. In select individuals, this enzyme can cause an allergic reaction. Particularly those who are sensitive to latex are prone to this. Studies have shown a significant connection between latex allergies and allergic reactions to avocadoes. Avocadoes receive a treatment using ethylene gas to speed the ripening process, and this gas increases the presence of allergenic enzymes. People who have an allergic reaction to latex should avoid eating avocadoes in any form, whether it's in raw form or cooked. If, however, you still desire to eat avocadoes, there has been some evidence suggesting that cooked avocado is preferable for allergy sensitive individuals. Cooking it can deactivate the enzymes that are likely to be responsible for cross-reaction with latex.

Studying Effectively

Scientific research has revealed the best way to study effectively.

Minimize Visual Distractions: Avoid competition for your eyes' attention by focusing on your study material. If you can study by a window, so you can take advantage of natural light which is ideal.

Eliminate Noise: Noise can be one of the most serious obstacles for effective studying. Finding a quiet place to study may seem like such a challenge, but it's worth the effort.

Turn Down the Loud Music: Even though some people are convinced that music can stimulate studying, it's quite the opposite. Classical music, in particular, is more disruptive than people realize. Classical music is quite elaborate with sometimes as many as 30 instruments. On a subconscious level, our brains try to define and distinguish each instrument that's being played. As simple as studying and listening to music can seem, it's still multi-tasking. Bouncing between the music and your books expends energy that you can put to better use if you focus on one thing, rather than splitting your attention.

Reduce Distractions: If sitting by the computer will tempt you to check your email or go online, study somewhere else.

Try the Spider Technique: You'll find that if you hold a vibrating tuning fork close to a spider's web, the spider will react, but after repeated exposure, the spider will ignore the vibrations. Try implementing the same philosophy the next time you're studying near distractions. Train yourself to ignore your surroundings.

Find the Right Light: The best light for studying is bright, even, and stable. For studying, at least 2,500 lumens is ideal. That's the equivalent of two standard 100-watt bulbs (1,750 lumens each). Shadows in your work area caused by glare will tire your eyes. Remove the glare by shielding your lamp with a shade and by using a light-colored, nonglossy blotter on your desk. A constant flicker will break your concentration, so if you use a fluorescent light, try a double or triple tube lamp. If you're using conventional (incandescent) light, make sure the bulb is screwed in properly.

Use a Pencil to Catalyze Concentration: Whenever you're working to learn, study with a pencil in hand, and use it. If you're reading, for example, take breaks between several paragraphs and briefly take notes in your own words. This method allows you to retain information you've learned more effectively.

Find the Right Chair: Use a comfortable, well-cushioned chair. A chair that promotes good body posture will reduce fatigue and maintain a good level of concentration.

Use a Bookstand: A book stand that holds books in a tilted position is a practical study equipment. It removes the strain of continually holding the book open. The angle also reduces glare and neck strain, which can interfere with your concentration.

Keep Other Study Equipments Nearby: What a waste it is to break your concentration once you have a flow going because you have to grab another study tool. Keep all study tools close by such as a dictionary, a calculator, a clock, a calendar, paper, notebooks, paper clips, tape, rubber bands, pencils, pens, erasers, index cards, highlighters, books, etc.

Put Stray Thoughts on a Worry Pad: Remember that the goal is to stay focused on your studies. Be careful with this method, as it can be counterproductive. When stray thoughts linger in your mind, put them to rest temporarily by writing them down. So, you can continue studying.

Tire Safety

Do the following to ensure safe tires: Rotate tires every six to eight thousand miles to encourage even tread wear. Be sure to check for tread depth by simply placing a penny upside down in your tire's tread. If you can see the top of Abe's head, it's time for a new set of tires. If your tire valve caps are cracked or missing, have them replaced. It's best to inspect your tires including your spare each month and before a road trip. Look for cuts, punctures, and signs of uneven tire wear, which may be a sign of a more serious problem. Incorrect tire pressures are one cause of uneven wear patterns. Refer to your owner's manual or manufacturer's sticker located on the door jam for the correct pressure. It's also possible that your tires may be out of balance or need alignment.

Pendulum Clock

In 1656, the first pendulum clock was invented by Christian Huygens. This made clocks more accurate. In 1504, the first portable time piece was invented in Numerberg, Germany by Peter Henlein, but it wasn't very accurate at this time.

Gasoline Powered Lawn Mowers

Gasoline powered lawn mowers are responsible for about 5% of all air pollution throughout the United States. This is because gasoline powered lawn mowers aren't regulated under the same law, so they aren't required to have catalytic converters like cars are. As a result, they spew a lot of different pollutants to the atmosphere.

Brain and Mind

The scientific study of the relationship between brain and mind began in 1861, when Broca, in France, found that specific difficulties in the expressive use of speech, aphasia, consistently followed damage to a particular of the left hemisphere of the brain. This introduced cerebral neurology, making it possible to map the human brain, ascribing specific powers - linguistic, intellectual, perceptual, etc. - to equally specific centers in the brain over the decades.

White Trails Left Behind From Jets

The white trail left behind from jets are man-made clouds. At low altitudes, the air is able to absorb large quantities of water. But, at high altitudes, water has a tendency to come out of the air, which can form a cloud. But this only happens if the air contains small particles such as dust on which the water can condense. It also helps the process if the air is agitated.

Color TV

NBC was the first TV station to go on color TV. The peacock icon is a representation f that, all the colors of the rainbow.

Braille

Braille, the language and form of reading for blind people, was invented by a French boy named Louis Braille. He became inspired when he was twelve years old when a former soldier visited the school to share an invention called "night writing," a code of 12 raised dots that let soldiers share top secret information on the battlefield. It was too complicated for soldiers to understand, but it was easy for Louis. He trimmed it down to 6 dots by the time he was 15. He published the first braille book in 1829. In 1837, he expanded it by including symbols for math and music. The public was skeptical about the usefulness of braille, and it was used worldwide until 1868 when a group of British men, now known as the Royal National Institute for the Blind, took up the cause.

National Radon Action

January is National Radon Action month. The Environmental Protection Agency urges people to test their homes. Radon is a cancer causing natural radioactive gas that you can't see, smell, or taste. Its presence in your home is a health hazard and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It claims more than 20,000 lives yearly. For more information, please go to http://www.epa.gov/radon.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a dangerously toxic gas especially since it's odorless and colorless. Low levels of exposure imitates side effects similar to the flu such as headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and fatigue, but high levels can lead to death before even realizing that it's entered your home. Carbon monoxide comes from several sources such as gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood burning furnaces, or fireplaces and motor vehicles. To keep you and your family safe, install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal close to sleeping quarters. If the alarm goes off, silence the alarm, turn off any possible sources, ventilate your home, and call a qualified professional.

Moon

A single day on the moon is the equivalent of 27.3 on earth. This is because the moon permanently faces us.

Emus

Emus are the second largest bird in the world after ostriches. Emu eggshells are very dark green and usually hard. Most birds have one feather per shaft, but emu feathers come in two feathers a shaft.

Fingerprints

*This is my second fact for the day to make up for the missed fact for yesterday.

No two people have the exact fingerprint. And fingerprints remain unchanged throughout a person's life. There are eight fingerprint pattern types: plain arch, tented arch, ulnar loop, radical loop, plain whorl, central pocket loop, double loop whorl, and accidental whorl.

Leonardo Fibonacci

An Italian mathematician named Leonardo Fibonacci created a system to describe patterns he found in nature through a number series known as Fibonacci numbers. The series starts like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 . . . . To create this pattern, each number (except for the first number, number 1) is added to the number to its left. The sum becomes the next number in the series. 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 1 = 3, 3 + 2 = 5, and so forth.

The Preamble

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity to ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.

Order of Presidential Succession

1. The Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President pre tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6. Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
8. Secretary of the Interior
9. Secretary of Agriculture
10. Secretary of Commerce
11. Secretary of Labor
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs

The 3 Branches of Government

1. Legislative

-Congress
-Senate House of Representatives
-Government Agencies

2. Executive

-President
-Vice President
-Office of Vice President

3. Judicial

-Supreme Court
-Court of Appeals
-District Courts
-Other Courts