Why Do We Like Hot and Cold Food?

You take bite of piping hot pizza and burn the roof of your mouth, or you suck down a frosty milkshake and get 'brain freeze.' (Yes I know heat can burn and cold can freeze.)

Why as humans do we enjoy hot food? Or why do we enjoy cold food?

Now I am not talking about why we cook food, some foods can not be eaten raw or uncooked. And that some foods require a heating process to amalgamate or coagulate into a final food.  Also I am not talking about food safety and that we have to keep certain foods at temperatures for spoilage reasons.  I also understand that some foods are easier to digest in a warm or cold state. I am asking why we like foods hot or cold?

Other species do not heat their dinner to a temperature to enjoy, or chill it as a treat. Is it solely because man has the ability to control and use fire? That we can refrigerate items?

I personally know that we can be temperature sensitive, that hot or cold things can bother an achy tooth.

Why do we like our foods at different temperatures? I am sure there have been studies done, but I want to know what everyone else thinks.

Binge Watching

With the nor'easter or bomb cyclone, or polar vortex or whatever they are calling it, I was trapped inside and with little else to do but wait until I mustered up enough insanity to go and clear snow, I discovered a British/Canadian series on Amazon Prime. The short description sounded interesting, so I gave it a go.

Holy shit!

Best seven and a half hours I have spent doing just one thing in a long time. Great story, great characters, great setting, and great cast...you just had to click and watch the next episode, you needed to know where the story was going, what was going to happen next to the characters. A quick bathroom break, grab a snack, and back to the series.

So lets back up a minute...the series is called "Tin Star."

Tim Roth and maybe Christina Hendricks are probably the only actors that you will recognize, the rest are well established English, Irish, and Canadian thespians, but all bring awesome performances to the little screen.

I do not want to give away the story, so no spoilers, but there is enough dysfunction and mind numbing plot to make Twin Peaks look like normal. This is not shot in that weird David Lynch style, it is actually shot very Hollywood formula. Just the twists and turns and the unraveling of the characters far exceeds anything Lynch has done in my opinion.

It is also laced with enough violence and sex, some of it on the macabre side, it keeps up with a Guy Ritchie film. If you have watched other cable series like Justified or Longmire, you are going to love this one.

I highly recommend this, so watch it and get back to me on your thoughts...

Another Milestone Post

So starts another year, as this blog did a number of years ago...

Since then I have posted 200+ times and the blog has been visited 5000+ times. Not bad for a blog of nonsense and mutterings. People are intrigued by my loosely fact checked opinions and what is going on in my mind. Suckers...

So here is to another year and thanks for the continuing support...

Low Battery

So the other day my cell phone started to lose power more rapidly each day, going through about half of it's life in about 8 hours. It is approaching about 18 months in age so I figured the battery was just getting tired and I may need to think about replacing it.

Yesterday, it went through half of it's charge in about 3 hours and I knew it was a definite sign that it needed to be replaced and soon as I have some travel coming up.

When I got home a quick interwebz search suggested that I check for updates first before replacing the battery. Sure enough a new update was available (released just a week or so prior). Following the instructions, I performed the dreaded software update and switched to a brand new OS for my phone (an Android).

After the upload (or download), I let the phone charge to 100%. Worked a full day and the phone has been off the charger for 10+ hours and I have only used 12% the charge...so for now a replacement does seem necessary.

Now here is my thought...are cell phones becoming sentient? Did it know it needed to be "re-educated?" Or are the manufacturers (and or carriers) pinging our devices to make them run poorly, so that we do the updates? Someone is controlling us....and it is unsettling.

No real issues with the new OS, but trying to get used to the "subtle" changes (improvements according to the developer).

Another Addition of Brain Smatterings

I had a conversation with a fellow blogger and she reminded me that I have not been blogging enough, so here is a conglomerate of things rattle around in my head...(I hope you are happy)

• HBM and Beard update: still have both, just trimmed everything even though I want it all longer and better. Just started to wax the 'stache again, even did a new run of homemade wax. Beard is now long enough that I really have to pay attention when eating food that requires no utensils or I am eating the beard too
• Frustrated with getting communication established with my daughter's school. I may be separated by distance, but that does not mean I am not active in her life. Do your job, because I am definitely going to try my best to make you do it.
• The country I am living in is going down fast, we have no strong leadership, and they are supported by people that are not awake enough to see what is happening. 
• Racism and bigotry is still alive, it is just now out of the closet once again. And I have friends that want to defend it via the 1st amendment. Maybe you people need to also look at the 5th and STFU, just saying...
• I bought a bicycle. This summer I have made a valiant effort of getting back into shape, round is a shape BTW, and have been good about getting out and exercising. I have tried running, but the knees are just not into it (too many years of officiating and long seasons of plate work), add in that I am over weight and old (once again too many years of plate work). So let me see if I remember how to ride a bike...what is that old colloquial?

'Nuff for now, until next time...

Colorado-isms

So far my travels to see my daughter has truly been an adventure. So here are some things I have come across while in Colorado so far...

• This is the land of the bearded, I have much competition, not that it is a competition.
• If you think following self involved people on the sidewalk is annoying, try downtown Aspen, they are now self involved wearing and walking in ski boots. (Raise the ante because some are carrying their skis and poles and have no special awareness)
• They do not use cardinal directions or map position here, up means up in altitude and down is down in altitude. I am used to down meaning south....so you go up to Aspen even though it is located south of Glenwood Springs.
• There are many old time cigar ads still on the sides of the buildings in Aspen, but it is not a cigar friendly town.
• The people here a very friendly and the locals know everyone and their business...
• Their idea of snow removal is a lot different then back east, roads are made passable and sidewalks are not salted, traverse with caution on both.

Will post more as I come across them.

Still More Random Thoughts Vol. 19 2016

I apologize for not posting anything in a while, so here is some random thoughts, ideas, observations, etc...

• I get that students with special needs need to be included with the population of all students in schools. It is great for everyone, but I have noticed that special need students spend about 2/3s of their time being pulled from the regular classroom environment for various interventional help. So how exactly is this including them in mainstream education? And I find this disruptive to the rest of educational environment.
• The beard and HBM survived the No Shave month.
• I am getting anxious to see my daughter for the upcoming holiday, so much so that I have started packing 12 days in advance. Usually I pack the night before any trip.
• I have also discovered that I will be able to tread the floorboards of one of my writing heroes. Woody Creek Tavern.
  

Hopefully I will have more to share soon...

Random Thoughts Vol 17 2016 Edition

It has been a while since I just spit out the dribble that has been bouncing around in my noggin, so without further ado here it is...

• It is that time of year when students start to take practice tests for the upcoming Common Core standardized testing. I sat in classroom the other day and watched the kids conjure up their own anxiety (I am sure this is more parent driven) over the practice test, then later in the day overheard a conversation from the same group of kids about staying up late and trying time and time again to unlock the next achievement in their latest video game, after they got home from their travel sport practice...if they can compete at highly competitive levels of sports and video games, they can handle the stress of a standardized test. IMHO
• No Shave November is still going well from last year...love living bearded and of course still doing the HBM.
• Yesterday (11/16/16) I got a picture from my daughter of her sitting by the pool (hot springs) in Colorado eating dinner in her bathing suit, today (11/17/16) they getting snow.
• Finishing up a project, I am happy with the outcome, and everyone involved is excited to see this phase come to close. They are also satisfied with the end result. Good job me.

Well that is it for now....

Brain Drops (aka Random Mutterings)

Time once again for some random thoughts (thinkings) to be shared, so sit back, relax and enjoy...

• Just when you think you know a person and truly like them, you find out they are a closet bigot. I respected this guy and his mind, then you discover he has this theory that the US is secretly run (and ruined) by Zionists.
• Pre-mature holiday decorations, as a protest I have randomly started to wear holiday ties to work to see if anyone will notice. A kind of social experiment...
• Avo has released a new cigar called the Syncro, a fantastic smoke and plays perfectly to my palate. To me it literally taste like a bowl of dry raisin bran.
• Life is good.
• People still care more about Benghazi and the "cover up", then they do about saving innocent lives here in the US.
• I need to motivate myself to motivate myself.

Carry on with your day...

Random Mutterings Vol. 9, Chapter 24

I have been busy this month, seems as if I don't have a moment to myself, and it looks like no break in the action for a while...come on October.

• The Pope is visiting and it seems that the uber-bible-thumbing-gun-toting-psuedo-patriots on the conservative side have their panties in a twist. Didn't the bible state that Jesus threw the money changers out? (I think that is one of the passages we are supposed to ignore.) 
• The 'stache is going great, trying to extend it on the sides, so going through a little change and grooming practices. Wider and longer here we come...
• There are too many dogmatic people in my life, and they just don't get it, seem to care, care to change, or are willing to learn. Maybe I am just more aware of it because of the obviousness of the first bullet in this post.
  
• In the sports world, some decisions have been lately that just blow my mind (see Tom Brady and Patriots, and recent red card of Gibriel for a confrontation with Diego Costa). At least the FA had the sense to review tape and suspend Costa for his punk actions (3 games, hear that Mr. Brady?). The NHL is doing the right thing in the handling of the charges against Kane and waiting to see the outcome of the allegations and system (which has turned into a cluster___).

Well that is all for now.

Casual Thoughts

Sorry I have not posted anything in over a month, but while I haven't been busy, the time just seems to fly by....

• The HBM is still going and just made another batch of homemade wax. Also the chin hair is getting long (and gray).
• The kids are back to school, the oldest starts his senior year in college and the younger one is in fourth grade. Where has the time gone?
• This summer has been cooler weather wise then it has in the past, the winter prediction is lots of snow and cold temperatures. Of course the idiots will continue to deny climate change.
• Speaking of idiots, have you seen the presidential race...

Hopefully more is to come...

Random Mutterings, Vo.l 2, Issue 317

Just another edition of what is rattling around in my head...

• Went to my godson's confirmation and was in an actually hall of worship, no lightning strikes or fire and brimstone, no one was smoted (smited?).  While I am a spiritual person, I just don't belief in or see the need for religion, but then again I don't see the need for political parties either.
• My HBM is still going, approaching 18 months of upper lip fashion. People are starting to come to me for advice.
• The Triple Crown has been accomplished once again in horse racing. Everyone is amazed that it has been done and the first time since 1978, but when you stop and think about the numbers, it is not that big of a deal. There have been 32 times that a horse (and owner/trainer/jockey) has been able to win the Triple Crown and it has been accomplished 12 times. That is over 33% and that is a good size percentage in my opinion.
  
• Life is good no matter what.

That is all...

Early May Mutterings (Musing, Thoughts and Guffaws)

Don't really have enough for a dedicated post, so here are some random snippets...

• Watched an old man attempt to kill his wife at the grocery store today. It may have not been on purpose but it was a good attempt. He pulled the car around to pick her up at the entrance, as she was getting in, his foot may or may not have slipped off the brake, allowing for the car to move forward and spinning her out the door and onto the ground. She was not hurt and was able to get up and into the car. If I was him, I would cook my own meals for the next couple of days just for safeties sake.
• Patriot nation is all quiet right now. Starting to see a pattern at least with the team, cheat and win a title, happened earlier with Spygate and now with Deflatgate. Wonder what their next "bending" of the rules will be?
• I brewed a LARGE batch of beer earlier this week, first time I have ever done a pale wheat style and with very little hops. Did have fun adding honey, maple sap, and some grapefruit bitters. Will know in a couple of weeks how it is.
• The weather has suddenly gotten nice and is almost too warm, the extreme jumps leave no one prepared for the warmer days. So much for any spring-like days, we just go from winter to summer.

That is all...

March 32nd, aka Lunar Leap Year

So I was in a 3rd grade classroom today, the students entered all wild up and ready for the hijinx that is associated with the traditions of April Fools' day.

But I had beaten them to the punch and had posted..

March 32nd, 2015

Lunar Leap Year

...on the board. They immediately tried to tell me it was wrong and they were onto my rouse of an April Fools' prank.

I quickly explained to the whole class That it was not and everyone had forgotten the Lunar Leap Year. I went on to tell them that it occurred every 40 years to balance out the lunar calendar similarly to the the other leap year that happens every 4 years.

They were slightly hooked, and you could see some believe starting to set in. So I explained some more about planet rotation and axial tilt, and orbital length. Explained some abstract concept about waxing and waning gibbous moons and their effects and how adding a day every forty years made up for the shift in tides and currents on earth. 

SOLD, they were now fully hooked....for about 5 minutes.

One astute individual looked on the computer and saw the date and the con was starting to unravel...until I explained that since personal computers have only been around and commonly used for about 20 years, the technology has not caught up to adjusting for Lunar Leap Year, but people were working on an app to correct it...game back on.

Even a few other teachers that stopped by the room confirmed the Lunar Leap Year and the students spent the date dating their papers...3/32/15. 

This lasted most of the day, until they needed to take out their planners and record their homework for the day...pat myself on the back for a well played swindle.

More Musings That Come Randomly

So this is my 99th post, meaning that my next will be a milestone. But I will not do the 100th as a post celebrating my 100th. I have been working on several posts, but I have not been happy with the overall writing or having trouble wrapping them up, so hopefully I will figure it all out.

In the meantime here are some musings...

• President Obama is still messing with gas prices, just noticed that the price has fallen a nickel in the past week. 
• The 'stache made a special appearance this past week, and had a great time, and impressed everyone it meet.
• I got to see my daughter start her horse jumping lessons, she has really taken to the sport and has a natural ability for it. Donations are being accepted to help support this endeavor.
• The conservative base in this country continues to boggle my mine. With unsanctioned letters to foreign leaders, accusation of secret emails by Hillary Clinton, to young leaders quitting for "extravagant" spending in decorating their office. 
• The NCAA selection committee is still a mystery, you can be the defending champion and lose in the finals of your conference tournament and still not make the national tournament. Then Yale who has not made the tournament in decades has one decent season in a weak conference and loses their conference tournament final and think they are being unjustly omitted from the national tourney and refuse an invite to the NIT, really?
• The weather in the NE continues to be crazy, going from teens one day to 50s the next, followed by threats of snow. Spring starts Friday, but only on the calendar.

Random Mutterings

Some more simple thoughts…

• The 'stache is getting ready to make an appearance as a special invited guest
• The weather continues to impound the northeast, to the point that my car is literally frozen TO my driveway. Now the puzzle to get it un-adhered without wrecking any thing.
• The weather has also brought a chest cold, just an annoying hacking cough and it is bad enough that it leaves me sore just from the coughing.
• Was in the classroom the other day and was "challenged" by a 3rd grade girl with outright disrespect. A third grade girl!!! 

Enough for now...

Random Musing, Opinions and Thoughts Vol. 173

I don't really have enough to write a whole piece, so here is another olio of brain drippings….

• I recently smoke an amazingly great cigar and it is affordable for most (sub $9). I usually do not pay much mind to the rankings the cigar rags produce each year (well maybe a little because it helps sales, and clientele like to smoke what is rated by the industry and what they are told is good). One of the polls had selected the EP Carrillo La Historia as the #2 cigar of the year. I have to tell you I was impressed within cigar, great construction, good draw, and the flavor profile is just where I like it with plenty of spice right from the initial lighting. Smoked it down to the nub and then some. The ranking is well deserved.
• Weather here still continues to be, how should I say, interesting, record snowfall levels and record cold, and all this has just driven the stupidity level of the people that live here in the northeast up another notch. I personally think the government should do something about these extreme conditions, but that would require passing regulation, reducing greenhouse gases, alternative energy use, and advances in science (along with a properly educated populace). We all know that is not going to happen…
• So I made a mistake with my taxes and the upcoming filing, after my divorce I forgot to change my withholding and now will owe the government this year, hard lesson to learn, but it happens. It is fixed so it will not happen again, I hope.

Until next time...

More Opinions (Observations)

Here is another edition of assorted opinions and/or observations.

• Facebook is suggesting I add more friends and has offered a list of suggested people. I looked at my page and saw that I have not added any new friends in a while, so FB is probably worried that I am not socializing enough. Thanks for looking out for me.
• Last weekend Dallas advanced because of a call (or lack of) by the officials, this week they are dispatched by a call reversal. Karma I guess, especially since Dez Byrant should have been flagged last week for entering the field of play arguing another flag without a helmet on- a clear violation, and now has a call go against him. 
• The weather today is a mix and area schools have cancelled (gambled). Good for safety of all, tough for the kids if they are in school come late June. If I knew I was going to be off today, I would have stayed up and watched the Golden Globes. I heard that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were funny (again). (I still think that Ricky Gervais, is still the best host of any awards show)
• It is interesting watching everyone show support for those slain at the hands of some extremists. That the world thinks these 'poor' cartoonists gave their life because they voiced their 'freedom of speech.' While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, certain prejudices come with consequences. Your bad mouthing is your right, but why the shock when you receive retaliation? I feel sorry for those that lost their lives and the families who had to bury a loved one. Once again Karma.
• I am also puzzled, but not surprised, by all the support the US is showing the French. The same country that openly shunned the US when we supposedly went after the extremists in 2003. We even changed the name of a popular food item because of it. Yes, I get the 'turn the other cheek' forgiveness, but where is that with the Muslims and Islamic religion? We can forgive the French, but continue our xenophobic ways with the rest? Glad I am agnostic and have a stronger moral base then the rest of the world.

Until next time…..

Check One Off the Unconscious Bucket List

I had my semi-annual eye exam this morning. When I left the house it was just a gentle flurry and the roads were still visible. As I drove, the precipitation turned into almost white out conditions, and the visibility dropped to about 50 yards and everything was coated in a slick white blanket. It was an eight minute drive.

My eye exam included having my eyes dilated and as they were putting the drops into my orbs, the synapsis in my brain connected and I realized that I was going to have to drive home…...with my eyes dilate…....in a snow storm.

Now being snow blind is not officially on my bucket list, and I would not go out of my way to get snow blindness. It certainly made the drive home a little bit more white knuckled (to be honest, everything was white) then it needed to be.

I made it home with incident (or accident).

I now know that I can handle being snow blind and function. I guess it is some kind of skill test and I can now add this to my toolbox.

Feeling adventurous, what else can I try?

It is back

Well my Mac is up and running again, now to piece all my stuff back together, find my copies of my applications, down load my recovered files, and see what is missing.

I still need to invest in some kind of back up, or two. May be a hard drive and a large thumb drive.  Any thoughts on this or suggestions?

Also trying to remember all the different log ins and passwords for various access to stuff, brain is not good for this...

Along with having to recreate the settings I like, the short cuts, the favorites, etc...

While my Mac was down, I had to use a PC system, that is not an easy thing to do. All the extra steps, the right clicks for some operations, the slower speeds of applications. Interesting world, the PCers live in. I will take Mac any day....