Shave and a haircut, and a tooth extraction, and some bloodletting

I would venture to say that most people probably know what a barber pole looks like. You may even still have one hanging outside the local barber shop in your town. But, do you know what the barber pole represents? It’s history is quite shocking. The local barber shop hasn’t always been just a place for a shave and a hair cut.

In the Middle Ages barbers also performed surgery, tooth extractions, and bloodletting. French authorities drew a fine distinction between academic surgeons (surgeons of the long robe) and barber surgeons (surgeons of the short robe), but the latter were sufficiently accepted by the fourteenth century to have their own guild, and in 1505 they were admitted to the faculty of the University of Paris. As an indication of their medical importance, Ambroise Pare, The father of modern surgery and the greatest surgeon of the Renaissance, began as a barber surgeon.

The barber pole as a symbol of the profession is a legacy of bloodletting. The barber surgeon’s necessities for that curious custom were a staff for the patient to grasp (so the veins on the arm would stand out sharply), a basin to hold leeches and catch blood, and a copious supply of linen bandages. After the operation was completed, the bandages would be hung on the staff and sometimes placed outside as advertisement. Twirled by the wind, they would form a red white spiral pattern that was later adopted for painted poles. The earliest poles were surmounted by a leech basin, which in time was transformed into a ball.

One Interpretation of the colors of the barber pole was that Red represented the blood, Blue the veins, and
White the bandages. Which has been retained by the modern Barber-Stylist.There are others that hold the position that barber poles were originally red and white, and that the blue was added by Americans to match the colors of the American Flag and to quell it’s gruesome symbolism. Regardless of which is true, the barber pole today is representative of the tradition of going to get a haircut, a shave and good conversation.

Unfortunately, the barber pole has begun to slowly disappear into oblivion as we see the influx of quick cut joints, specialty salons and spas. So, if there is still a barber pole in your town, cherish it, for tomorrow it may be gone as are the roots of the barber pole itself.

The Barber Pole - TheVillageBarber.com

Barber’s Pole - Wikipedia.com

Is the vegan diet really healthy?

In my original post my position was that vegans could not live a healthy life. This position was due to misinformation. I have edited the post below to reflect my change of heart.

A comment on my blog entry yesterday on SPAM from the folks at Vegan.com has got me thinking. I have heard many things about the vegetarian lifestyle and what it means. Can you truly be a vegetarian and be healthy. Yes. But there is a difference in someone who considers them self to be a vegetarian and someone who is a vegan. The main difference is that vegans don’t consume any products that come from animals which includes honey, dairy, or eggs. This poses the question of whether a vegan can truly be healthy.

Let me start by saying that there are many people who live a 100% vegan lifestyle for the betterment of society, animals and the like. Though I may disagree with these people’s views, I can certainly respect their actions and choices, as they need to do what is right for their own morality. So, on that topic I respectfully agree to disagree. This post is about the health value of eating a vegan diet.

I’m sure there are many who call themselves vegans who are very healthy. But it is difficult to get all of the nutrients that the body needs and still be a true vegan. The biggest concern is the body’s need for vitamin B12, and unfortunately B12 is only found in animal tissue. It is not found in any plant. Though B12 is found in some yeasts and molds, some vegans do not include products made from these in their diets.  So how can you get B12 without consuming any animal products? Most “vegans” supplement their diets with B12 in the form of vitamins or other foods fortified with B12, those supplements contain yeasts or molds.

The body needs B12. One of the most important functions of Vitamin B12 is its ability to work together with Folic Acid in the production of DNA. Because of the way it is able to recycle certain enzymes, it plays a significant role in maintaining the proper functioning of cells, blood and nerves. An imbalance of either Vitamin B9 or B12 can negatively impact the way red blood cells divide and lead to a condition known as pernicious anemia.

Vitamin B12 also works to reduce levels of homocysteine, the amino acids that can damage artery walls and increase a person’s risk of developing heart disease. Vitamin B12 is also responsible for ensuring that nerve cells function properly. It’s also possible that Vitamin B12 can treat symptoms associated with a loss of calcium including osteoporosis and damage to the teeth. This vitamin may even be able to relieve some symptoms of depression. It is proven that mothers who do not obtain adequate vitamin B12 in their diet while breastfeeding can cause severe and permanent neurological damage to their infants.

Another concern in the vegan diet is protein. It is certainly possible to gain protein from vegetables and legumes, but it is very important to make sure that enough protein is included in the diet. This is mainly because animal based proteins are absorbed into the diet much faster than synthesized proteins and plant based proteins. Lack of protein can cause severe health issues which include growth failure, loss of muscle mass, a weak immune system, weakening of the heart and respiratory system and the most severe of health issues, death. There are also numerous issues with the lack of protein that are simply just undesirable, though not necessarily health issues, such as the loss of hair, weakness and lack of energy and decrease in sexual desire.

Although it isn’t still well studied- research shows that iron deficiency is more present in vegans than in the general population.  It is important to note that iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies that’s why many nutritionists and dietitians recommend a daily multivitamin. Because of how common iron deficiency is, it is extra important that vegans supplement. There is also evidence that vegans are at a higher risk for vitamin D, calcium and iodine deficiencies. Once again, bringing up the importance of supplementation. Iodine can be supplemented as easily as using iodized salt.

So, back to the question on whether or not you can live a healthy life as a vegan. The answer is yes, but beware. It is of the utmost importance for vegans to supplement their diet to insure proper nutrition. So for those unwilling to take additional supplements, the vegan lifestyle is not for you. Now before you jump on me, understand that I do believe that you can live a healthy life as a vegan, but what it boils down to is that you simply can’t be a vegan and be healthy without educating yourself thoroughly. To do so would simply be detrimental and foolish. I certainly welcome comments to the contrary.

Vegan Diet: Recipe for Disaster?- chetday.com

B12 Suplement Fact Sheet - National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supliments

Thinkquest Vegitarian Library - Thinkquest Library

Vegan.com - Vegan.com

Horray for SPAM! (the meat)

Today is a big day for birthdays in the food business. On May 16th, 1832, Philip Danforth Armour, the founder of Armour Foods was born. This also marks the birthday of every ones childhood favorite, Spaghetti-O’s. But the one birthday that stands out today is the birth of the food that everyone loves to hate, SPAM. On May 16, 1891, the canned bliss was born. I remember my first SPAM experience, and I remember saying to myself “what a great idea”. Who would have ever thought to chop up a ham into little pieces and then glue them all back together and put them in a can. Well, let’s look at that for a moment.

George A. Hormel created SPAM the same year that he founded his meat processing empire. The original name for SPAM was Hormel Spiced Ham. Up to this point it was very difficult to manufacture canned meat. Because of the breakdown of cell walls, canned meats would tend to come out dry  because the water would separate from the meat. This would leave the meat floating in a can full of water. Hormel realized that if he packed meat in geletin that it would keep its moisture and that the water would not separate. Hormel Spiced Ham did very well for a number of years, however in the 1930’s the gelatin encased meat started to lose market share. Hormel decided that Spiced Ham needed a facelift.

In 1937 Hormel decided on the name SPAM. The name SPAM was chosen as part of a contest. There is some debate as to why the name SPAM was chosen, but the most popular theories are based on the classic name Spiced Ham or possibly because the canned pork product is made of shoulder pork and ham. Well that and some salt for flavoring and preservation and geletin to suspend the product and to keep the meat moist. Contrary to popular belief, SPAM is made of only prime cuts of shoulder meat and ham and contains only wholesome meat. Well that and some salt for flavoring and preservation and geletin to suspend the product and to keep the meat moist. Nothing from the parts of a pig that a pig doesn’t want to admit a pig has. 

SPAM was 52 years old before the name was first used to describe unwanted email. Sean Radford, Hormel’s archives manager and SPAM museum curator says that this wasn’t easy for the company to handle.

“We have a product we really believe in, a product with a long and interesting history, and that product’s name was co-opted for something that a lot of people really hate — spam e-mails. So, sure, there was a lot of debate about how the whole situation should be handled,” said Radford.

“But Hormel decided pretty quickly that it was best to be dignified and gracious about the entire issue,” he said. “The company decided that instead of turning the lawyers loose we’d just assume that people can tell the difference between good canned meat and bad e-mail and that people wouldn’t confuse the two. All Hormel asks is that people not use uppercase letters when referring to spam e-mail. Spam — all uppercase letters — is our product.”

Regardless of your opinion of SPAM (the canned meat), there are millions of people who eat the product. Amazingly, over 150 million cans sold worldwide per year. And whether you like it or not, Hormel has a pretty good sense of humor about it’s product, as is evident by their web site. A joke to some and a delicacy to others, SPAM is a stapel in many households. Is it in yours?

Hormel’s Official SPAM Website - SPAM.com

SPAM Museum- RoadSideAmerica.com

My Mom Invented the Chocolate Chip Cookie!

When I arrived home last night from picking up sushi for my wife and I for dinner, I was informed that there was chocolate chip cookie dough in the refrigerator. As if one of Pavlov’s dogs, my mouth began to water just thinking about the moist, flavorful cookies to come with their melted chocolaty morsels. I could literally eat my weight in them, and probably did. The chocolate chip cookie is the shining example of comfort food. Many can remember their mothers chocolate chip cookies, and will swear that their mom made the best or even invented the cookie itself. The reality is though that as good as mom’s chocolate chip cookies are, she didn’t invent them. That distinction belongs to an Inn Keeper from Whitman, Massachusetts.

Ruth Graves Wakefield (1907-1977) graduated from the Framingham State Normal School Department of Household Arts in 1924. She was a dietitian and food lecturer until she and her husband purchased a travel lodge in Plymouth County Massachusetts, The Toll House Inn. Ruth Wakefield would prepare the recipes that would be used to feed the guests of the inn and had gained much notoriety for her desserts. Her very favorite cookie recipe was for Butter Drop Do cookies which required baking chocolate. One day when Ruth was out of baking chocolate all she could find to use was a bar of semi-sweet chocolate. She cut the bar into bits and added them to the cookie dough. To her surprise, the semi-sweet chocolate did not melt completely like the baking chocolate did. The chocolate pieces only softened and somewhat stayed intact. She served the cookies as they were and it was a hit. Interestingly enough, the chocolate bar that was used in the first batch of chocolate chip cookies was a gift from Andrew Nestle of the Nestle Chocolate Company, who just happened to have been a guest at the inn a few weeks earlier.

As the sales of the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie began to increase, so did sales for the Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate bar. Ruth Wakefield soon struck a deal with Andrew Nestle to include her recipe on the back of the chocolate bars. In return she received free chocolate for life. Still to this day, the recipe is found on the back of Nestle chocolate, specificaly chocolate chips.

There have been a number of famous chocolate chip recipes over the years, but none so famous as the Toll House recipe. Though your mother may have added her own special touch or have her own secrets for making chocolate chip cookies, you can thank Mrs. Wakefield for her accidental discovery of what has become a favorite today. And just to note, my Mom and Wife make the best chocolate chip cookies ever. Their secrets are safe with me (mainly because the couch isn’t very comfortable to sleep on).
The History of the Chocolate Chip Cookie- kitchenproject.com   

The Original Nestle Toll House Recipe- allrecipes.com

Holy smoke - How premium cigars are made

There is nothing better after a long, hard day at work than a great cigar. Though cigar smoking is a modern method of relaxation and a social activity, its origin dates back over 1000 years. It was started by the original native population of the islands in the Caribbean as well as the rest of Mesoamerica in as early as 900 AD. In fact, a ceramic vessel at a Mayan dig site in Uaxactun, Guatemala has been found, which was painted with the likeness of a man smoking a cigar. But just how are those little “sticks” of tobacco made. Though many cigars available today are machine made, the finest cigars are still rolled by hand. Cigars hail from many places around the globe, though mostly from places with warmer climates such as Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The most famous, and hardest to obtain, is the Cuban cigar. 

The hand rolled Cuban cigar is the benchmark of all cigars. It is made up of three components derived from two varieties of tobacco plants: the criollo and corojo. The components that make up the cigar include the tripa or filler in the center and a capoteor binder around the tripa, both of which are taken from the criolla plant. A cappaor wrapper is then stretched and rolled around the outside; this is taken from the corojo.

To begin with, tobacco leaves are stacked in three-feet-high pilones. The leaves are stored at temperatures not exceeding 95ºF (35ºC). The fermentation breaks down the resins and creates a uniformity of color. Leaves are then graded for size and color before a second fermentation.

After three weeks, the leaves are placed into bundles called tercios. They are put aside for a few months in cigar factories in order to age. Prior to rolling, the leaves are gently separated and lightly moistened with high-pressure water. The stems are removed and the remaining leaves are graded into size, color and texture.

The cigar filler is made up of three leaves – volado, seco and ligero, and throughout the process the progress of each is monitored. Once they have reached perfection, they are taken to the blending room, known as the liga. Great secrecy surrounds individual cigar blends.

The rollers known as torcedores sit at benches, seven or more to a row. They use a half-moon blade and a wooden board. Two to four leaves are combined with the binder and rolled into bunches, according to blend. After they are pressed in a wooden mold, they are wrapped and trimmed. They are then capped using leaf and a natural gum.

An expert torcedore can roll around 150 cigars per day. These are placed into bundles of 50 and checked for quality. The cigars are then placed in conditioning rooms for up to three weeks for the flavors to gel. The most respected and highest paid cigar factory workers are called escogedores, or color graders. They work at incredible speeds, grading the cigars according to color and texture.

There are 65 different shades in the cigar making process. Other workers arrange the cigars into boxes from dark on the left to light on the right. The cigars are then removed from the boxes and banded. The women who band the cigars are called anilladoras, and they use a simple measuring rule and gum. The cigars are then ready to be exported all over the world. Well not to the US (at least not legally) because of an embargo placed on Cuba.

To read more about the fascinating process of cigar rolling or the history of cigars, check out the links below.

The History of Cigars - TomTom Cigars (London)

Cigar Production Methods - about.com

 

Why do fire houses have dogs as mascots?

To help them find the fire hydrants. This is a joke that I heard on the radio on my way to work this morning. Funny, but nowhere near the truth. Dogs are often considered a staple in the fire department, specifically dalmatians. That brings up the question why do fire houses have dalmations as mascots? You might think that it is for companionship, and though that is a byproduct of having a dog around, it was not the original purpose.

It seems that many years ago, oh lets say the 17th, 18th and 19th century when the primary mode of transportation was the horse and carriage, that it was common for the dalmatian to run along side of the carriage to protect the horses and carriage as well as the passengers and their luggage. When other dogs would run up to try and scare the horses, the dalmatians (there were usually two) would jump into action. Amazingly the horses and dalmatianswould develop a very strong bond. It is because of this bond that dalmatians became the universal symbol for the fire department.

Fire departments would usually keep a dalmatian on hand to protect the fire house as well as the horses that were used to pull the pumper. That was not their only purpose though. In those days, insurance companies would usually pay those who put out a fire, and since the first one to the fire would be the one that would get paid, dalmations would fend off any one else that might try to get ahead of the fire department to put out the fire.

Here is where we get to the companion part. Once horse drawn fire equipment was replaced by mechanical, the dalmatian stayed on as a companion for the fire fighters at the station. Many fire stations across the US and England still have a dalmation around for companionship.

If you would like to read more about the history of the dalmatian in the fire department or more about the dalmatian breed, please follow the links below.

Dalmatian in Fire Fighting History - South Bay, WA Fire Department

Dalmatian History - American Kennel Club

It’s Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day. Ok, so we have all heard of it, but few fully understand the true reason for Earth Day and it’s origin. Some believe it is a day for tree hugging hippies to revel in mother earth, and others believe that it is a day devoted to thanking God for His beautiful creation. It can be said that Earth Day is whatever you want it to be. Whatever your beliefs, Earth Day is a day set aside by Americans to celebrate the environment in which we live and to remember what is necessary to preserve it.

Earth Day was founded (per sey) by Gaylord Nelson, a Senator from Wisconson and a long time conservationalist. He announced in 1970 that there would be a National Teach-In in schools across the country and the news wires and papers picked it up. Word spred and Earth Day was born.

Groundbreaking federal legislation followed the success of the first Earth Day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, followed by the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Part of these bills were the requirement that automobiles use unleaded gasoline, achieve a minimum number of miles-per-gallon of gasoline and be equipped with catalytic converters to reduce the amount of toxic fumes released by automobile exhaust.

Interestingly, there is no centralized group that organizes Earth Day, although there are some organizations that gather lists of events planned around the country. I have listed some of those organizations below as well as a link to a complete story on the origin of Earth Day.

Earth Day 2008 - The Nature Conservancy

Earth Day Network - Earthday.net

What is Earth Day? - America.gov

I went to Electoral College - How a President is Elected 101

Did you know that your vote doesn’t really decide who becomes President? It does indirectly, but you are really casting a vote to let someone else know who you want them to vote for. Many people don’t understand the current electoral system. And it can be a bit confusing. So, let me simplify it as much as I can.

When you vote for a presidential candidate you are really voting to instruct the electors from your state to cast their votes for the same candidate. For example, if you vote for the Republican candidate, you are really voting for an elector (delegate) who will be “pledged” to vote for the Republican candidate. The candidate who wins the popular vote in a state wins all the pledged votes of the state’s electors. In some states, those electors are required to vote for the candidate who received the popular vote. However some states do not require candidate loyalty and those electors can cast their vote for whoever they choose.

Some say that the current system is flawed because it allows for a candidate to win the vote of the people (popular vote) but lose the election. This is because in order for a candidate to win the election, he or she must receive a total of 270 electoral votes to become president. There are 538 in all. If a candidate were to win the popular vote in 11 of 12 states, they would receive enough electoral votes to win the Presidency. The 12 states are:

California
New York
Texas
Florida
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Ohio
Michigan
New Jersey
North Carolina
Georgia
Virginia

Has a candidate ever won the popular vote and not won the Presidency? Yes they have, but only three times in history.

In 1876there were a total of 369 electoral votes available with 185 needed to win. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, with 4,036,298 popular votes won 185 electoral votes. His main opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, won the popular vote with 4,300,590 votes, but won only 184 electoral votes. Hayes was elected president. 

In 1888 there were a total of 401 electoral votes available with 201 needed to win. Republican Benjamin Harrison, with 5,439,853 popular votes won 233 electoral votes. His main opponent, Democrat Grover Cleveland, won the popular vote with 5,540,309 votes, but won only 168 electoral votes. Harrison was elected president. 

In 2000 there were a total of 538 electoral votes available with 270 needed to win. Republican George W. Bush, with 50,456,002 popular votes won 271 electoral votes. His Democratic opponent, Al Gore, won the popular vote with 50,999,897 votes, but won only 266 electoral votes. Bush was elected president.

The electoral system that we currently use is lambasted by many opponents as unjust. It is set up, however, to insure that a candidate with only regional appeal or popularity doesn’t win. It has worked reasonably well for 200 years. So, regardless of how you feel about our current system of electing a president, I hope that you will go out and vote. Every vote does count, though maybe not in the way you would think.

To read more on the Electoral College please visit the links below.

How the Electoral College Works -Howstuffworks.com

The Electoral College: How It Works In Contemporary Presidential Elections - Congressional Report

 

Newspaper Headline Heads Article

Once in a while I stumble across something that simply makes me guffaw. It is amazing sometimes how negligent some newspapers can been when they write their headlines. Here are some actual headlines published in some papers across America. I have included my favorites as well as the links to many more.

• Blind Woman Gets New Kidney from Dad She Hasn’t Seen in Years
• If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last A While
• Half of U.S. High Schools Require Some Study for Graduation
• Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
• Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
• Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
• Patient At Death’s Door–Doctors Pull Him Through

If you enjoyed these, head on over to Witty Quotes Haven for more.

Witty Quotes Haven- wittyquoteshaven.com

Let’s see if I can make you yawn.

Have you ever wondered why yawns seem to be contagious? Scientists have many different theories, ranging from it being a inborn mimic response to changes in pressure in the room when someone yawns. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to suggest either of these theories. As a matter of fact, there is little to no response in the part of the brain that causes us to mimic behavior when a second person yawns in response to another. What causes us to catch a yawn is not known for sure, but there is evidence to suggest that it is linked to empathy.

In a study conducted by Steve Platek, a cognitive neuroscientist at Drexel University, may have revealed the real reason that yawns seem to be contagious. It appears according to Platek’s study that people with higher empathy are more prone to “catch” a yawn.  An MRI of people who were induced to yawn by looking at videos and listening to audio of other people yawning showed that the yawn response was linked to the area of the brain responsible for empathy. A new study actually shows that people with autism are generally not susceptible to contagious yawning. This is likely to be due to the fact that they are less likely to be in touch emotionally with the people around them.

Now I have to ask. Did you yawn while you were reading this? If so, it is likely that you are highly empathetic. Want to read more? Here are some links with more information.

Contagious Yawning - Howstuffworks.com

Yawn Contagion - NewYorkTimes.com