Learn Your Limes Part 2

The lime is famous for the role it played with 18th century English sailors. Scurvy was the plague of sailors until it was discovered that when they received a ration of one lime a day it stopped. Eating a lime a day earned them the nickname "limeys." While they knew it worked, it wasn't known why until scientists discovered vitamin C in 1923 and figured out that it was the vitamin, not the fruit itself that gave the protection.

This week, part two of a look at limes.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Logic, logic, logic. Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end."- Captain Spock, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryLearn Your Limes 2

Learn Your Limes Part 1

A squeeze of lime has virtually no calories, and brings a delicious accent to foods and vegetables. Whether in soft drinks, cocktails (where would the caipirinha, gin and tonic, margarita, mojito, and tequila shot be without lime?) or desserts (Key lime pie, made from the juice of the Key lime, is one of America’s favorite pies), limes are a popular ingredient in many foods.

There are numerous varieties, but in the US, we typically see only two, the Persian or Tahitian lime and the Key or Mexican lime.

This week, part one of a look at limes.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Fear exists for one purpose: to be conquered." - Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager, "The Thaw"

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Learn Your Limes 1

Fire Hydrant

Red, yellow, gold, orange, green, silver, white or some other color of the rainbow; with a valve, without a valve; one plug, two plugs, more plugs; wet barrel, dry barrel; fire plug, johnny pump. Whatever color it is, whatever shape it takes, whatever the internal design is, whatever it is called, a fire hydrant is still a fire hydrant.

This week, a look at fire hydrants.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Things are only impossible until they're not." - Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation, "When The Bough Breaks"

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Fire Hydrant

Onions and Influenza

We've talked about onions before. It is thought that bulbs from the onion family have been used as a food source for millennia. In Bronze Age settlements, traces of onion remains were found alongside fig and date stones dating back to 5000 BC.

In addition to being a food source, wide-ranging claims have been made for the effectiveness of onions against conditions ranging from the common cold to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases. They contain chemical compounds believed to have anti-inflammatory, anticholesterol, anticancer, and antioxidant properties such as quercetin. However, it has not been conclusively demonstrated that increased consumption of onions is directly linked to health benefits.

And nor do onions keep you from getting the flu. This week, a look at the myth of onions absorbing the influenza virus.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "In this galaxy there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all that, and perhaps more...only one of each of us." - Doctor Leonard McCoy, Star Trek: The Original Series, "Balance of Terror"

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Onion Fielded