2010-01-31 - Nose bleeds

Tis the season for nosebleeds. Dry air outside, dry air inside, fighting people. Growing up I witnessed a lot of different methods and techniques on how to stop a nosebleed but never knew what was actually correct. I decided to ask the expert on the matter- the internet.

For starters, lean forward. You want the blood to drain out of your nose, not down your throat. Blood going down your throat will increase your chances of coughing, choking or gagging. Swallowing blood can make you nauseous. The combination of coughing and nausea could produce some obviously bad results. (Did you know you can swallow a pint of blood before you get sick?)

Your nose bleeds when the arteries in your sinus cavity rupture. This can happen if your sinuses get too dry or from extreme stress being put on the arteries. That and general trauma to the area.

Once you're leaning forward you need to apply pressure to stop the flow of blood. There are several places you can apply pressure- some will work better than others depending on what vessels are broken.

You can apply pressure between your upper lip and the gum. Press up towards your nose where there is a major artery. Some people roll up a piece of paper towel and put it up there almost like a mouth guard.

Another place is right below your nose, pressing up against the middle part of your nose. This is effectively pressing on the same artery as the above method, only from the outside.

You can also press right below the bridge of the nose, closer to your cheek bones than the tip of your nose.

With any of these locations, apply pressure for at least 5 minutes, while leaning your head forward. If that doesn't work, try for 10 minutes. If that doesn't work, you might need a doctor. In addition to those pressure points you can also apply pressure to the back of the neck. This is a major source of blood flow to the head so any restriction there will also restrict flow to the nose bleed. Don't choke yourself, slight pressure to the back of the neck is all you need. You can also use a cold compress in any of these locations. Cold causes blood vessels to constrict, therefore less blood flow.

Once the bleeding has stopped, let it heal. Don't blow your nose any time soon (12 hours or so) and don't pick at it. You can put a bit of vaseline to keep it from drying out again. Keep your head elevated above your heart when laying down to avoid any unnecessary pressure to the blood vessels.

2010-01-30 - How to remove blood stains

You never know when you might get blood stains on something. To get blood stains out of clothing it's best to act quickly before the stain sets. Blot with a wet rag or paper towel using cold water, or if possible rinse with cold water. Don't rub the stain because you'll just spread it around or work it into the fabric making it worse. Don't use hot water, and don't put it into the dryer until the stain is completely gone because the heat will set the stain.


For a stain that is already set in you should soak the item in warm water with detergent. Let it soak for about an hour or until the stain starts to lift. Blot and scrub if necessary - but be careful not to work it into the fabric. You can buy 'pretreatment' stain remover products as well. Put that on and then wash it as normal using cold or warm water, after soaking.

If you act fast cold water should be enough- get it early and it will be a lot easier.

Another option is using an amonia/water or hydrogen peroxide/water mix - make sure that this won't cause any discoloration to the item before you use it.

2010-01-29 - Dominant eye

This is something I was vaguely aware of. You obviously use both of your eyes to look at things- but you use one more than the other. You probably do it without thinking most of the time. You'll naturally use your dominant eye when looking through a camera lens or something similar. This is how you test to see which is your dominant eye:

Extend both of your arms out in front of your chest with your palms facing away from your body. Stick your thumbs out and overlap your hands by crossing your thumbs and finger tips, leaving a hole in the middle. It should look something like this guy.

Look through the hole and focus on a small object about 20 feet away.

Close one eye, and then the other. When you close your dominant eye the item will jump out of your field of vision (behind your hand). When you close your weak eye the item will be in relatively the same position it was with both of your eyes open.

Your dominant eye has no correlation to your dominant hand. I am right-handed and left-eye dominant. This isn't incredibly useful unless you're doing some corrective treatment with your eyes or you're learning to shoot a gun.

2010-01-28 - Treat a burn

The first part is identifying the type and severity of the burn.

First degree burn - Least severe burn. Only affects the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. The skin will look red and irritated - painful and possible swollen. A sunburn is a good example of a first degree burn.

Second degree burn- The first layer of skin is completely burned and is probably starting to fall off. The second layer of skin, the dermis, has been reached and is burned- closer to the nerves and therefore a lot more painful. This creates a lot more complications for treatment and healing.

Third degree burn - The burn has reached all the way to the third layer, the hypodermis and possibly even beyond that into the tissue beneath it. By this point the nerves have been completely destroyed and there will be no pain or sensation in the affected area. The skin will be charred and dry or leathery (gross).

Minor burns are easily treated and heal relatively fast. This is first degree burns and second degree burns within a certain amount of surface area. If any entire limb has second degree burns on it you need real medical attention. Your skin is the body's biggest barrier against bacteria and infection so when it's destroyed your body is exposed to infection.

To treat the burn, run it under cool water. Don't use cold water or hot water. Don't put ice on it. Don't put oil or butter or any other weird home remedy people have come up with. Run cool water on it until the pain goes away. It's better to leave the burn exposed to air to help it heal faster. You can apply some over the counter ointment or creme and take a pain reliever like ibuprofen. Infections aren't common with minor burns- but keep the burn clean and look out for blisters just in case.

A major burn is a lot more serious. This includes second degree burns covering a large area and third degree burns. It also depends on the location of the burn. More vital areas require more attention and specific treatment to ensure proper healing. You should go to the hospital for treatment for any burns on the face, neck, hands, feet, groin and large joints where healing is more difficult (knee, elbow).

For a major burn- call an ambulance or get to the ER. Don't try to peel off any burned clothing (unless it's still on fire). Removing it might tear tissue and cause bleeding. Don't run the burn under cool water. Apply a cool, wet compress to the area briefly and repeatedly. You want to reduce the temperature of the body and the tissue in that area. Do not use ice or cold water because it might damage the tissue further.

Cover the burned area with cool, moist and most importantly, sterile bandages. If possible, elevate the burned area above the heart to limit blood flow to the wound. Chances are the person will be going into shock due to the massive trauma and extensive nerve damage- so you want to reduce the chances of that happening and look out for signs of it. Someone going into shock: weak, fast heart rate, clammy skin, disorientation, nausea and even severe mood changes (becoming angry or combative). Stay with the person until you get to the hospital or emergency services reach you.

If it's a chemical burn you're going to need to know what kind of chemical it is to treat it properly. Most require thorough rinsing with water- but rinsing with water can be the worst thing possible with some chemicals. This is really specific and unless you're very knowledgeable of it- I'd leave it to the experts.

Again- like most of the first aid stuff I learn about- if it's a serious situation where someone's life or health is in danger- leave it to the professionals. Only act on these things if it's absolutely necessary and you know what you're doing.

2010-01-27 - Slow your heart rate

This is a cool trick my friend taught me. If you're prone to anxiety or panic attacks and your heart rate gets going and you want it to slow down, there is an easy way. The carotid artery is a major supplier of blood to the head and neck. It's hidden behind the sternocleidomastoid which is a muscle that runs from the sternum (sterno) and the clavicle (cleido) all the way to the jaw (mastoid). It's also known as the 'swimmmers muscle'- you can feel it bulge out when you turn your head side to side.

This is a really interesting part of the anatomy because it has a lot to do with your blood pressure and heart rate. Your body is able to change the blood pressure and heart rate depending on a lot of things- including your posture. If you are standing or sitting your muscles are in different amounts of tension and compression, telling your brain and heart how to behave.

You can lower your heart rate by simply massaging the sternocleidomastoid. This is kind of like a manual over-ride to the system. By massaging this muscle you start sending signals to the brain telling it to slow down the heart rate. Not sure why it does it- but it seems like a pretty cool thing to be able to do. I'm not really prone to anxiety or panic attacks- but if you are, give it a try and let me know how effective it is.

2009-01-26 - Get to know a cantaloupe

I always see people that look like they know what they're doing when picking out cantaloupes. People pinching, squishing, tapping, listening, smelling- I think they're just a bunch of phonies. Some fruit is pretty easy to tell whether or not it's ripe. Anything that changes color when it's ripe is pretty obvious- but what about things like cantaloupe?

Cantaloupe. That's a real money melon. This one has some really interesting tips. Apparently cantaloupes don't ripen any further after being picked- so buying a shitty one with hopes of it ripening on your kitchen table is not a good plan.

One way to identify a ripe cantaloupe is by smelling it. There are a few fruits that when they are ripe- their odor permeates the skin or rind of the fruit. If it doesn't smell delicious it probably won't taste very good either. Another way to check is by pressing on the end opposite of the stem. This should give a little. You don't want the whole thing to be soft because it'll probably just be mushy on the inside- past ripe.

You might look stupid smelling a melon in the grocery store- but a good cantaloupe is a good thing.

Fun fact: Cantaloupes are originally from Cantalupo- a village near Rome.

2010-01-25 - How to care for my teeth

I got a fucking cavity. Who gets cavities? Bull shit. I brush for like 10 minutes every time. I didn't know they were serious when they said I had to floss frequently! Now my dental hygiene is personal- I have a vendetta against bacteria.

Dentist says:

Brush

Floss

Mouthwash

The order isn't too critical- they all do different things- but this is what he said. Brush first to remove all of the big obvious stuff. Floss to get the places that the brush can't reach. Mouthwash to rinse out all the loose stuff and kill what ever bacteria you couldn't remove with the other two. It's not as important to get rid of all of the stuff every single time- but to make sure that stuff doesn't sit in one place for too long.

When drinking sugary drinks use a straw. This helps for the sake of cosmetics as well as health. You don't really want to bathe your teeth in sugar and dye so using a straw helps avoid that.

Tip for flossing- take out twice as much floss as you think you need. Wrap all the excess around one finger like a spool and unravel it as you go. You can't use a section of floss more than once or twice really- so the spooling method saves you some time. I started flossing every day and it's become pretty addictive.

This one is sort of cheating because it's nothing new really- but at least a clarification and justification of the order of brush/floss/mouthwash. A few spools of floss costs a lot less than a filling. Trust me.

2009-01-24 - Sew a button

This is an easy one but it's good to know. You'll need:

• Garment with missing button
• Button
• Needle
• Thread
• Match-stick

So to start off you need a length of thread about twice as long as your forearm. Most travel sewing kits have a few different color threads to pick from so just find one that matches.

Thread the needle and fold the thread in half so the ends meet. Tie a knot at one end and bring the needle to the other. Now you have a double-thick piece of thread.

Place the button where you want it and pass the needle through from the back (inside) up through a hole in the button. This way the knot at the end of the thread is on the inside and out of sight.

The next part is where the match-stick comes into play. You can't have the button super tight against the material- you need to leave enough space for another layer from when you actually button your shirt or what ever it is. A thicker material might require a thicker spacer- but for dress shirts a matchstick is sufficient. By putting the match-stick underneath the button you can leave a good size gap. Put the match-stick underneath and bring the needle through another hole and through the shirt. You can pull it tight around the match-stick.

Go through each hole repeatedly- typically making an X across the center of the button by connecting the four holes. Repeat until you have about two inches of slack left in the thread.

Cut the needle off of the thread and tie a knot on the backside of the button- trim any excess thread. When you take the match-stick out there should be enough slack behind the button so it's usable.

Not exactly difficult- but it helps to know a few tricks.

2010-01-23 - How to put out a fire

There are a number of ways a fire can start and different types of fires need to be dealt with in different ways. You can't just dump water on every type of fire- in some cases it can make things significantly worse. Obviously if the fire is out of control and spreading there isn't a lot you can do aside from get yourself to safety and call 9-1-1. If you have any doubt of your ability to stop the fire then call 9-1-1 to be on the safe side- and specify what kind of fire it is. You should still know how to manage the different kinds of fires just in case. I'll break it down by the type of fire and what you should do.

Electrical
You need to cut power to the circuit. If it's an appliance and you can safely unplug it- do that. if not, you need to find the circuit breaker and turn off power to that circuit.

If you have a class-C or "multipurpose ABC" fire extinguisher use that. It should be clearly labeled. If you're not sure what kind it is, don't use it. An ABC extinguisher is a chemical based extinguisher designed to handle electrical fires. If you use a compressed water extinguisher it could make it the fire worse or increase the chance of electrocution.

One common household item that can be used on electrical fires is baking soda. Any sodium bicarbonate (some powder detergents, baking soda) can be used to smother the fire.

Grease/oil
You'll typically encounter these while cooking. The best way to put it out is to cover it with a metal lid to starve the fire of oxygen. If you don't have anything metal to cover it with you can also use baking soda. Don't use water. Water separates from oil- goes under it- gets super heated into steam and explodes, spreading the oil/grease. That's bad.

This is a class B fire- so you need a class B or comparable extinguisher.

Gasoline/liquids
Similar to the grease and oil- don't use water on it. Smother it.

Organics/Trash

Think campfires. Water is acceptable in this situation as long as you have enough. You can also smother the fire with sand to starve it of oxygen.

Gas/propane grill

Turn off the gas supply immediately. If the fire is contained in the grill but out of control- turn the gas off first and deal with the grill after. As long as there is enough pressure in the tank to push gas out of the hose you should have time to turn it off. If the fire is allowed to creep up the hose and into the tank it will probably explode- which is bad.

Proper fire extinguisher technique:

Most extinguishers have diagrams and labels- but you're not going to read them if your kitchen is burning down. Aim for the base of the fire and use the extinguisher liberally. It's like a bad guy in a movie. Don't just walk away assuming he's dead when he's down- because he's going to get back up again. It's not like you need to save the rest of the extinguisher for later.

2010-01-22 - Tie a tourniquet

Tourniquets are definitely a last resort method of stopping bleeding. Depending on the type of wound you would typically apply direct pressure to it to stop the bleeding. You can also try elevating the wound to reduce bleeding. A tourniquet is an extreme measure to be taken only when absolutely necessary. If done incorrectly or unnecessarily it can do more harm than good.

A tourniquet is a device used to stop the flow of blood to a part of the body. It's used when there is extreme blood loss from an extremity and the person is in risk of bleeding out. It's usually a fabric or belt of some kind that can be tightened around the limb to cut off circulation.

When to use:
Only when absolutely necessary. If you think the person is at serious risk of dying from blood loss and you cannot get the bleeding to stop by any other means. Obviously if someone is really bleeding that much you should first call someone who knows what they're doing.

What to use:
Any non-stretchy fabric or other material with which you can tie a knot. To get the necessary pressure for some applications you will need a windlass, basically a crank to get more pressure than simply tying a knot.
You want a narrow, strong strip of fabric about an inch wide if possible. Anything larger you'll never get enough concentrated pressure to stop the bleeding and anything narrower you can start doing tissue damage and act more like a garotte wire. You can improvise a handle for the windlass out of a piece of pipe or broomstick or something comparable - as long as it's strong enough that it won't break while winding the tourniquet.

How to use:
Locate the wound. It should be pretty obvious if it's bleeding enough to require a tourniquet. You're going to apply the tourniquet "upstream" from the wound. You're trying to block off the flow of blood away from the body so you need to get between your heart and the wound. The points on this diagram are also where you should first attempt to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

Tie one knot around the limb. Make a second knot above that to insert the handle of the windlass. You'll definitely need a windlass for the leg because of the pressure coming out of the arteries down there. Remember- you're fighting a lot of pressure. The blood is circulated with an insane amount of force so it's going to have to be pretty tight to stop that circulation.

You'll know when it's tight enough because the bleeding will stop. It should be pretty obvious- like turning off a faucet. Once tight enough- secure the windlass in position so it doesn't loosen. Tie the end of the handle to the limb it's tying off.

Again- only use if completely necessary. It can save someones life- but it can also do a lot of damage. Any time you stop circulation to an extremity for an extended period of time it will start to damage the tissue. If not tight enough it will only apply pressure which can increase bleeding. If removed incorrectly it can cause a large amount of blood loss in a small amount of time (think: putting a kink in a hose and then letting it go) which can send the person into shock. Never remove a tourniquet- leave it for a professional.


info, info

2010-01-21 - Countries in South America

Growing up I was never really required to learn about world geography. We had to know the states and their capitals but anything beyond the borders wasn't totally necessary. I didn't even need to know too many for a world history class.

I feel like I should have a better knowledge of at least the capitals so when I hear about something happening in the world I know what they're talking about. South America is a good starting point because it's easy- starting off with Africa would be way too demoralizing.

Last year we all discovered Sporcle and it was pretty addictive. You could waste a ton of time on there with virtually no guilt because you were 'learning'. They do have some pretty good geography quizzes though, if you're interested. I used this one to learn the capitals and locations of all the countries in South America. I felt pretty bad about not knowing some of them- but at least I know them now. Give it a try.

2010-01-20 - How to tie a windsor knot

So this is another one of my grown-up skills I had to learn. I never really learned how to tie a tie officially. I sorta figured out a half windsor and that got me through life until now- but it was time for a real knot. I've tried using those terrible instructional videos online before- and those useless diagrams. Never really got good results.

After Pat donated a bunch of ties to me he felt obliged to teach me how to tie it properly. He showed me how in a few minutes and I just repeated it a few times. I tried again the next day just to make sure I remembered- and I'll probably have to do it periodically just to refresh my memory. Or I just need to find excuses to wear ties more often.

I'm not going to try to write out an explanation or instructions because they would be terrible and useless. Here's a crappy diagram.

2010-01-19 - TT - Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology - Theories of the Stress-Illness Link

This is something that I've always been interested in. I don't really ever feel stressed- but I know that between work and school and life in general I have to be experiencing some level of stress. By not admitting to the mental effects of stress it probably manifests itself physically.

What is probably more accurate is that as a result of a stressful life you start changing your habits and behavior. If you're really busy you probably don't have time to eat well, sleep well, relax, exercise or anything else associated with healthy living. In addition to that people pick up detrimental habits; smoking, too much caffeine, drinking. Because you stop doing healthy things and pick up unhealthy things- it's difficult to say whether or not stress and stress alone can really affect your health- or if it's just the behavior resulting from stress.

Stress can affect your body on many levels. The nervous system, hormone levels, brain activity are all subject the stress in your life. The one that is gaining a lot of interest is the immune system. Everything from the common cold to cancer is thought to be affected by stress. It's not really well defined but there have been a lot of connections made. One study linked stress to low anti-bodies in your secretory immune system. The secretory immune system is all of your mucosal surfaces- so when there aren't as many anti-bodies there you are more prone to viral infections. There are also a lot of pyschosomatic reactions as well as developing hypochondria which are the mental affects of stress.

There are definitely biological and chemical responses to stress- but I think a lot of it has to do with your behavior when you cope with stress. Next time your life gets a bit hectic try to remember that and keep yourself balanced. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy body.

2010-01-18 - MM - The Wall

The Wall

Pink Floyd

Released in 1979, Movie made in 1982

Track listing courtesy of Wikipedia

The Wall is impressive on many levels. It is amazing as an album and powerful in it's influence on the history of music. It wasn't the first rock opera ever but it is definitely one of the best and most iconic ever produced. The difference between a rock opera and a typical rock album is that there is a story being told throughout the album. The Wall, like many rock operas, is best when listened to in it's entirety like you would any other opera, play or movie.

The story becomes a lot more involved if you read about the origins and motivation for it. It was composed during a time where Pink Floyd was playing stadium concerts and feeling increasingly disconnected and isolated from the audience. This is something that most superstar status performers experience except it was likely combined with a lot of hard drugs which probably made it a little worse. The protagonist of the story is Pink and is based on the bassist and lyricist Roger Waters. Different parts of Pink's life are told throughout the album. He progresses from a troubled child to a famous/delusional rockstar. The Wall is a representation of the wall that Pink wants to build between himself and his audience to further his self-isolation.

Pink Floyd The Wall is the film adaptation of the album. The idea of making a movie of it existed before recording the album even began. Watching the film is an entirely different experience but is also considered one of the greatest modern musicals. It's the same music from the album with a bit of dialog added. I haven't watched it in years but I probably should just to see if I view it differently now.

Listen to it. Watch it.

2010-01-17 - Jump start a car

I feel like every time I'm in a situation where someone needs to have their car jump-started there is a little bit of confusion as to what goes where. Usually there is at least one person there who knows how to do it so it's not a big deal. It's something that I feel embarrassed that I don't know for sure how to do it- so I never really ask. I'm pretty sure I'd be able to figure it out without killing myself or exploding a battery- but I figured I'd take the time to learn how and not forget it.

I found this helpful guide from this helpful website. I think I'll be visiting them again for more man-stuff skills.

1. Make sure both vehicles are off.

2. Red cable (positive) to the positive terminal on the dead battery.

3. Red cable (positive) to the positive terminal on the good battery.

4. Black cable (negative) to the negative terminal on the good battery.

5. Black cable (negative) to ground on the dead car. Clean, unpainted metal surface somewhere in the engine compartment. Never connect to the negative terminal on the dead battery.

6. Start the car with the good battery and let it run for a few minutes.

7. Start the dead car.

8. Remove cables in the reverse order. Remove from ground. Remove from negative on good battery. Remove from positive on good battery. Remove from positive on dead battery.

9. Let the dead battery recharge by running the car for 30 minutes.

+dead, +good, -good, grounddead

grounddead, -good, +good, +dead

The guide also goes on to explain how to jump-start a standard vehicle by pushing/rolling down a hill if you're interested. I'll have to learn that one too.

2010-01-16 - Polish shoes

Old men know how to do man stuff. Anyone that's your grandfather's age probably knows how to take care of every garment and clothing item they own. I'm not saying everyone should know how to cobble their own shoes- but regular maintenance to increase the lifespan of your shoes is reasonable. I got a shoe polish kit for Christmas a couple of years ago but never really got around to using it. Considering I really only wear my polish-able shoes for job interviews, weddings and funerals they don't really get a lot of use and don't need too much upkeep. Not a necessity, but it doesn't hurt to spruce them up a bit.

Polish/shine kits are pretty cheap and it's easier to just buy a kit and have everything you need- but you can probably get by with a random brush and rag.

1 - Clean off any dirt using a coarse brush.

2 - Wrap a cloth around your index finger to apply polish with. The first coat is going to be a base layer more or less. You'll want to apply a generous amount to fill in all the large impurities and scuff marks. Coat it evenly and rub until a shine starts to come through. Move in a circular motion to avoid streak marks.

3 - Use a damp cloth to smooth out the polish. You'll notice it will immediately get dark and shiny. Don't use so much water that it beads up on the surface of the polish. I find that wetting the cloth and dabbing it on a dry cloth leaves just the right amount of water.

4 - Let it sit for a few minutes before trying the next coat. Usually by the time you're done with the second shoe you can start over with the first.

5 - Now you're going to apply a lighter coat to finish off the shine. Just dabbing the cloth in the polish is enough for this coat. Cover the surface evenly and rub until it just starts to shine.

6 - Repeat the finish with the wet cloth.

7 - Now use a buffing or softer cloth to buff it to the desired amount of shine. You can also use a soft brush to do this.

Not a difficult thing to do- just takes a little bit of patience. Don't be afraid to use enough polish and don't be afraid to work it into the leather. Knowing how to clean and treat your shoes can make them last a lot longer.

Courtesy of wikihow

2010-01-15 - Coffee using a French Press

This one is easy. I always saw the French Press as a really classy and simple method of making coffee. I like things with a very minimalist design- and I am a strong believer of the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' policy. The French Press has been around for over a hundred years with very few modifications.

All you need is boiling water and coffee. The coffee grounds need to be a little more coarse than the really fine stuff you use in most brewing machines. Really fine ground coffee will get through the mesh filter and you'll be drinking some grit.

A typical French press is a half liter or so- and needs 5 or 6 tablespoons of coffee grounds. Throw the coffee in, and add hot water. Ideal temperature for the water is right below boiling. Stir just to make sure the coffee isn't still all at the bottom. Wait a few minutes before pressing the piston down. The coffee needs time to brew before you try to separate the grounds from the water. Press down slowly- you should only need to do it once.

Brewing machines that use paper filters can sometimes take some of the flavor out of the brew by trapping some of the oils in the filter. French press doesn't do that. Coffee made in a French press should also be consumed shortly after brewing. Because it is never separated from the coffee grounds it will just continue to brew and become bitter if it sits too long.

The French press is fast, easy, portable and cheap. Buying ground coffee is about 7% of the cost of buying coffee by the cup.

2010-01-14 - How to make a chicken parm sub

I generally don't like to buy foods at restaurants that I can make at home. The chicken parm sub has been immune to that rule for long enough. I decided to try my best to compete with a pizza shop and make my own.

Ingredients:

eggs

milk

chicken

cheese (i used mozzarella- i guess it's not a chicken parm?)

bread crumbs

marinara sauce

bread

cooking oil

Step 1

Beat the eggs in a bowl with a little bit of milk

Step 2

Dip the prepped chicken in the egg/milk mixture

Step 3

Throw the egg covered chicken in the bread crumbs. I actually added some spices and pepper to the bread crumbs to kick it up a notch.

Step 4

Heat up a pan with some oil in it. Throw the breaded chicken in. Brown one side and then flip them. If both sides are browned they should retain a lot of the moisture. No it's not the healthiest way of cooking the chicken but it's really good. Cook until white all the way through (<10>

Step 5

Toast bread- it makes it more authentic. Toast the outside of the bread, not the inside.

Step 6

Assemble. Put the chicken on the bread. Add sauce. Add cheese. I find that pressing it down after assembly helps melt the cheese better.

I think that's about all there is to it. I thought it was pretty good. Need more bread crumbs- also I don't own a deep fryer. Toasting the bread makes a huge difference. My roommates said it was okay and it didn't make anyone sick- and it was all really cheap. I say this is a success.

2010-01-13 - How wool works

Anyone who goes hiking will tell you that wool is an absolute necessity. Wool is a ridiculous material. It wicks the sweat off your skin, it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It can even keep you warm when it's wet unlike most synthetic materials we can make. So how does wool work?

Wool has been used literally for thousands of years. It primarily comes from sheep but other animals from that family produce wool as well. Wool is sort of like hair or fur- only it has a different texture and grows differently. Wool is naturally crimped instead of straight so it creates a lot of additional air pockets between fibers- therefore more insulation. It grows in clusters, or 'staples', which give it strong elastic properties. If you really want to know how the structure of wool accomplishes that- check out this description. Basically the way fibers grow make them really good at naturally shedding water- simultaneously the core of each fiber can allow water to enter it to be sucked up, or wicked away from your skin. From there the fibers disperse the moisture and it evaporates. That same core when empty also creates an air pocket that acts as an insulator.

A really popular type of wool is Merino wool. The wool fibers are a lot finer than other wools so you can make clothing out of it that is still really soft while keeping all of the benefits of wool. It's softer and lighter but just as warm and handles moisture just as well. I just picked up an awesome scarf-type-thing and so far it works really well. It can be used as a scarf as well as a light weight head cover to keep the sun off of your head and neck. Wool is ideal for hiking in all seasons and especially good for long hikes. Wool naturally has anti-bacterial properties so they resist odor-causing bacteria in sweat. The wool fibers are covered in lanolin- an oil from the sheep's skin. Lanolin acts as a water repellent as well as the anti-bacterial agent in wool.

So it's stretchy, strong, warm, wicks sweat away which keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter and even helps you not smell bad. It really is an amazing material. I always 'knew' how great wool was- but I wish I had discovered it and started using it earlier.

2010-01-12 - Hot water in my shower

I was taking a shower and I noticed the water was too hot. I turned it down. Something I do every day- but how the hell does it work? I knew there was some sort of valve back there mixing hot and cold water and maintaining pressure. I use it every day and I don't know exactly how it works- I think I'm going to investigate a lot of stuff like this.

Gotta start somewhere- I won't go as far as the water treatment plant but lets start when the water comes into the building. This is easy for residential applications but when you start getting into buildings that are more than 5 stories tall it gets a bit more involved.

So the water comes in and for the cold water it's pretty straightforward. That gets pushed through the whole house just from water pressure from the source. The cold water also flows into the water heater where it is heated (electric, gas, oil). The tank is really just an extension of the line so the water pressure going into it is what you get out of it. The cold water enters the tank at the bottom and mixes in. The hot water rises to the top of the tank and is drawn from the top. When you run out of hot water that means the water level is too low for the pipe to draw anything out of it.

So now you've got your hot and cold water flowing to the shower with equal pressure. Mixing the two manually is pretty easy. Two knobs- one for each line- open each valve until you get the mix you want. So how do the single handle mixers in showers work? What kind of valve is in there?

So on a faucet for a sink this is a pretty typical arrangement. Front and back for on and off- and then the hot and cold water lines flow in on the sides. Push to the left- open the right. Push to the right- open the left. Push straight back and you open both the hot and cold equally to get a neutral mix. In the ones I could find it's a pretty neat spring plate/ball valve assembly to open and close the valves. For the shower it's a little different anatomy.

I couldn't find any diagrams anywhere to confirm my thoughts so here's the best I can do- if anyone knows for sure let me know.

When you start to turn the the valve it opens up the cold line first. I imagine there is some sort of drive screw so as you turn it out away from the wall it probably reveals the inlet for the cold water first. As you turn it further it gradually opens up the inlet for the hot water and mixes it. It makes sense- but it doesn't mean it's true. If anyone knows for sure how it works, let me know.

2010-01-11 - MM - Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - 1840-1893

Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13, "Winter Daydreams" - Composed in 1866

I. Allegro tranquillo (Dreams of a Winter Journey)

II. Adagio cantabile, ma non tanto (Land of Desolation, Land of Mists)

III. Scherzo: Allegro scherzando, giocoso

IV. Finale: Andante lugubre - Allegro maestoso

I kicked things off in a huge way. Everyone knows Tchaikovsky- The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, 1812 Overture and so on. Like a lot of other artists you can find some pretty great stuff beyond his most popular work. I was fortunate enough to grab this recording out of the media section at the library. While studying I would grab a few CD's from various genres and burn them to my computer. Sometimes obscure artists or albums are obscure for a reason- they aren't very good. This how ever was a pretty good discovery.

Winter Daydreams was the first of six symphonies, composed in 1866. I noticed certain themes or components that were really identifiable as Tchaikovsky- something I didn't expect I'd be able to do. I don't know the first thing about music when it comes to technical aspects- and I'm far from a classical music connoisseur. I don't even know where to begin explaining it- but certain parts you could just tell. It was like the music was of the same genetics as other works by him- certain traits more prominent than others. You can hear parts of the symphony that are reminiscent of the 1812 Overture- only maybe not as mature or fully developed. This makes sense chronologically because the 1812 Overture wasn't composed until 1880- by which point he sort of figured out his style.

So I got ready to listen to it almost like I was at a concert hall. Closed my door, dimmed the lights, turned off my phone and turned up my speakers. The symphony was powerful. The music is enough to bring out a wide range of emotion. I felt my brain trying to come up with words that could accurately describe the music. Another thing I noticed was the range of volume for the recording. Certain parts are very quiet while others are overwhelmingly loud. This is no accident- it's there for emphasis! That's right- a certain level of intensity- an element that has for the most part been lost in modern music.

After listening to just the music- and not having it used as a background for something- it makes you think about movies. Most movies would be absolutely nothing without the music. I still think that it's amazing that humans using relatively simple instruments can generate such an effect- and that a composer can create them is an entirely different amazing feat.

One thing I caught myself doing was trying to figure out which movement I like the most. They are pretty distinct- but that's not the point. That would be like listening to a song and saying you like the middle section of the song the most. You can- and yes it might sound different from the rest- but it's intended to be listened to as a whole item. But really the second movement is the best I think.

I like to imagine ol' Pete- what he would say if he knew that people all over the world were still listening to his work. Same for all the classic composers- and what is the modern equivalent? What artists will have that kind of influence and longevity? It's difficult to imagine anything modern will be able to do that.

In conclusion- it's an excellent symphony and I'm glad I took the time to really listen to it. I've got the recording if anyone is interested in listening to it.

Update 2 - musicmonday textbooktuesday

I've got some new ideas kids.

So I recently came to the conclusion that I never listen to music. I always hear music- several times a day. While I clean my room, while I prepare food, while I shower, while I walk, while I drive, while I study, while I read, while I chat, while I chill, while I work, while I party, while some people dance. I hear it- but I'm not really paying attention. When is the last time you listened to music just to listen to it- the way it was intended? Not just in the background- or getting in the way of conversation at a bar.

Introducing: Music Mondays.

I don't think I'll do it every Monday, or limit it to Mondays- but it's the only day that made alliteration work. When ever I have one of these listening sessions I'm going to listen to the music- the way it was intended to be listened to. Some musicians make albums with the entire album in mind- it's not always just a bunch of potential singles surrounded by filler tracks. A lot of modern music is designed with the chart topping single in mind and nothing else- but other classic albums should be appreciated and respected.

During these sessions there's no phones, no internets, no conversation or anything else that could serve as a distraction. Start to finish with my complete attention. Listening to music for the sake of listening to music.

___________________

Over the years I've acquired several textbooks from various sources in the hopes of someday getting around to reading them or at least using them for reference. When ever I move in and out of apartments I lug them with me- reminding myself of the fact that I never accomplished that goal. Books are meant to be read- not collect dust.

Introducing: Textbook Tuesdays

Yeah- alliteration again. So my goal is to grab one of my random textbooks on subjects that I have no knowledge of and to learn something. Read for an hour and summarize what I learned. 5-10 facts or ideas that I can take away from it. Then I won't feel so bad about carrying those things around all this time.

___________________

Tentative schedule:

2010-01-11 - MM - Tchaikovsky

2010-01-12 - TT - Abnormal Psychology

2010-01-13 - How temperature control on your faucet works

2010-01-14 - How to polish shoes

2010-01-15 - How to say 'get fucked' in 5 different languages (volunteers?)

2010-01-16 - How to make lasagna

2010-01-17 - How to tell time using the sun

Stay tuned.

2010-01-10 - How to treat hypothermia

Hypothermia isn't that big of a risk in Boston- most of the time- but it's still a good piece of knowledge to have while living in a part of the world where the weather tries to kill you on an annual basis.

Etymology: hypo, meaning below or under- thermo, meaning hot or heat. Hypothermia is a condition of a lowered core temperature. It's typically associated with the winter months but it's a real threat any time you're exposed to low temperature for an extended period of time. Camping and hiking or being exposed to the elements is enough- the risk increases with wet conditions and windy conditions.

Identifying hypothermia is easy if you know what to look for. It's also important to know when to look for it. Hypothermia has a lot of shared symptoms so be aware of the situation and your surroundings. Hypothermia sets in in different stages- as your core temperature lowers gradually your symptoms will progress. The really obvious ones are things like shivering, discoloration of skin (flow of blood to your extremities is limited as the body tries to maintain core temperature), lack of motor skills with your hands, *goosebumps, and fatigue. Once things start getting serious you get a whole new list of symptoms. Your breathing becomes quick and shallow, you may feel sick or at least definitely uncomfortable, you experience confusion and eventually slurred speech. When things get really bad you stop shivering and you have virtually no blood left in your extremities. Tissue starts dying and you have virtually no motor control anymore. One really neat symptom is called terminal burrowing- some primitive-brain survival technique.

Treating hypothermia is the hard part. Your primary objective is raising the core body temperature. If you suspect that hypothermia is a real possibility I wouldn't recommend using this guide or any other guide- go to a real doctor. That being said- this is how you treat it.

There are a few ways to get heat back into the body. If it's only a mild case of hypothermia you can rely on the body's natural heat generation to get back to normal. Remove any wet or exceptionally cold clothes. They should be dressed in warm, dry and well insulated clothes to increase the amount of heat being retained. It's also helpful if you can move them to a warm environment to make maintaining body temperature easier.

For a serious case you can add heat sources like hot water bottles or hot air in direct contact with the body. Heat should be applied to areas with a lot of blood flow- places like the neck, armpits and groin. A good place for their hands is actually in a warm person's armpits- just do it you baby. A hot shower is not advisable because chances are the person suffering from hypothermia won't be able to feel how hot the water is- increasing the chance of burning the already damaged tissue.

For something that is totally beyond home remedies you need to actually introduce warm fluids to the body intravenously- do not try at home.

The best thing you can do is just not get hypothermia. Don't worry about the other kids making fun of you for wearing a big coat with a hat and mittens- your mom is always right. Someone from Sweden once told me that there is no such thing as bad weather- just bad clothes. I don't agree 100% but I get what he was saying.

*Goosebumps - "...form, raising body hair on end in an attempt to create an insulating layer of air around the body (which is of limited use in humans due to lack of sufficient hair, but useful in other species)."- wiki - cool huh?

Sources: wiki, about

2010-01-09 - How to sharpen a knife

Learning proper knife care can extend the life of a blade by years. A good knife is worth the money so long as you treat it right. A dull knife is obviously less effective- and actually a lot more dangerous to use because you begin to use the knife with bad form. The more dull a knife is- the more force you need to use and that increases the risk of hurting yourself.

One of the oldest and most effective tools for sharpening a blade is the whetstone. It takes a lot of practice to get the technique down- but is well worth learning. The knife is one of the oldest and most useful tools. You can find uses for them everywhere; work, camping, gardening and the kitchen. I always have one handy- it helps when you need to MacGyver things. But what good is a knife if it's not sharp?

A whetstone will only run you a few bucks but it can save you a lot of money in the long run if you don't need to have someone else sharpen your blades. I used this helpful guide to get some of the basics of sharpening blades. I'm not going to regurgitate their instructions verbatim- but I'll address a lot of the key points I took from it.

Some things to consider are what you want from the sharpening. There are different ways to do it with different outcomes. You can get a really sharp edge that won't last very long- or sharpen with the longevity of the blade in mind. If it's a really good knife you're probably looking more for longevity- but it will take a bit more skill and patience to achieve that.

A whetstone typically comes with two sides- one side is for coarse work and the other side for fine sharpening. Start with the coarse side to get out any large defects and impurities. Hold the blade at a 22.5 degree angle (half of a 45 if that makes it easier to visualize) against the whetstone. Push the blade across the whetstone in a forward motion- simultaneously engage the entire blade from tip to the hilt in a rocking motion while maintaining the forward movement.

On the coarse side you'll be able to feel the stone catch the major impurities. Once you work them out you should be able to move the blade smoothly across the coarse side without it snagging on anything. Once all the big impurities are out- run it 10 times on each side of the blade- and then switch to the fine grit side. I like to use a damp paper towel to wipe the blade clean before switching to the fine side. While sharpening you generate both metal and stone debris that if carried over to the fine side can make a more jagged finish. Think of the fine grit side as more of a polishing surface- only for the finishing touches.

Repeat as necessary. The more coarse side will remove material faster so you can hone the blade- but be careful not to take too much material away while trying to get the right shape. Blades will wear down eventually and the more material you remove the faster that will happen. The fine side is more for finishing touches- not for major changes in shape.

Things to remember:

• 22.5 degree angle
• Grip the handle with one hand- apply downward and directional pressure to the blade with the other.
• It's called a whetstone, not a wetstone. Water can actually ruin the stone.
• It doesn't matter if you go forward or backward on the stone- so long as you are consistent with every pass. Never use a back and forth motion- pick a direction and stick to it.
• Get all the big impurities out using the coarse side- smooth it out with the fine side.
• After you finish sharpening the blade wipe it clean with a wet paper towel and dry it.
• Test the sharpness of the blade by running it down a piece of paper- if you did it right there will be a noticeable difference from when you started.

If anyone has anything they need sharpened let me know- I can use the practice.

2010-01-08 - Proper tie care/travel tips

I must be growing up or something. Due to Patrick's generosity my tie collection has grown significantly. Now I have almost enough ties to warrant a tie rack- but I don't think I'm ready for it. I could simply sling them over a hanger but that's not gonna work for a couple reasons. I don't wear ties often so they would be sitting there like that for months at a time- potential for creasing. There are way too many and they would likely fall off every time I went near them.

Solution: rolling. Rolling the tie for storage is a good way to save space and protect the tie. Simply grab the skinny end of the tie and loosely wrap it around your hand. Be sure to leave enough space so they can stay in a circular roll- and store them somewhere where they won't get crushed.

Rolling your tie is also a good way to prevent wrinkling while traveling. You can roll your tie and put it in a sock to keep it rolled up- or for extra protection put it inside of a shoe. If it's a silk tie you might want the extra protection of a rigid shoe.

In the event that your tie does become wrinkled during travel- a quick fix is leaving it draped over something in the bathroom and letting steam from the shower straighten it out.

Information

2010-01-07 - Cleaning mold with vinegar

This one is out of necessity. About a month ago I noticed a few black spots on the bathroom ceiling. I knew it was mold- but I was lazy. A couple of days ago I had to admit it had gotten pretty bad- imagine something that looks like an inverse Starry Night.

Originally I was just going to go to town on it with bleach and detergent and what ever chemicals the internet told me I should use. Then I went out for a few drinks with some people and got a better suggestion. I was discussing my exciting plans for the rest of the evening with them when someone recommended I use white vinegar and water. It's more of a 'green' approach to cleaning I guess and apparently works pretty well.

I mixed it 2 parts vinegar to 3 parts water. Sprayed the affected areas pretty thoroughly and started scrubbing. The mold came off with a little bit of work. I was impressed with how well it worked but didn't try anything else- so I can't really compare it to anything. I sprayed the area again and let it dry in hopes of preventing any regrowth. We'll see how it turns out- I'll have to make an update in a few days. Also- as expected it smelled like vinegar for a bit- still does.

So I got my vinegar and it seems to work pretty well - but why would you use it over any other cleaner or detergent or bleach? Well- most importantly it's effective. In addition to that it's cheap, and safe. Vinegar is a lot less harmful than bleach or other harsh chemicals- it's better for you and also the environment. It can be used on just about anything you need to clean. A quick search will give you tons of cleaning applications for vinegar.

I'm glad that I finally cleaned the ceiling but I really should have done it earlier. Mold is pretty gross- and it can cause all sorts of health problems if it gets bad enough. I suggest this quick, cheap and easy method of removing mold.

2010-01-06 - How to iron properly

This is another skill that I 'knew' how to do before. I was never officially taught how, just sort of figured it out well enough to get by. Part of it is due to not really owning nice clothes- and also due to the fact that I only need a well-ironed shirt a few times a year. I know it's not a really complex thing but there are certain intricacies I was unaware of.

"Divide and conquer"-Patrick. The first of several tips to ironing. I'm lucky enough to have a roommate who knows a thing or two about dressing well. He owns clothes that you can't just throw into a washer/dryer- clothes that you actually need to take care of. I see him ironing his shirts for work on a regular basis- a ritual that few people in the engineering discipline need to worry about. He was taught by his uncle and now that knowledge has been passed on to me.

Things I got from my lesson:

• Work on the item in sections.
• Once you start a section, finish it.
• Move the iron the length of the section you're working on, not the width.
• For resilient wrinkles, use steam. For belligerent wrinkles, use stream.
• If you end up using water- iron it until it's completely dry. Wet spots will wrinkle if they air dry.
• Never linger with a hot iron- but don't be afraid to press hard as long as you're moving.
• Don't be afraid to use the tip of the iron- it works just as well and you need it for the tighter areas.
• When doing the sleeves- or pants- remember you're ironing the front and back simultaneously. Any wrinkles on the back will be pressed through to the front so straighten out both sides before you start.
• On sleeves and pants- respect the seams that are there. Don't misalign them and make shadow seams- you'll look stupid.
• Don't screw with the yoke- leave it to the professionals. (the thing in the middle)

Just because I'm still a dumb college kid doesn't mean my shirts have to look like a dumb college kid ironed them. Now I can travel with nice shirts with confidence, knowing that if my shirts become wrinkled in transit I have the power to correct it. Had to learn some time. Thanks Pat.

Update 1

Off to a great start with the suggestions- here are a few I have received so far. Keep them coming!

Skills:

Learn how to drive a rear wheel drive vehicle in the snow

Split wood with an axe

Throw an axe

Surf

Straight shave

Cook various things

Knowledge:

Tensors (fuck you Josh)

Oceanography

Mutual Funds

How to draw chemical structures

How medicine works- basic pharmacology

Tentative schedule for the rest of the week:

2010-01-06 - Learn how to iron shirts and pants properly

2010-01-07 - Learn how to get rid of mold on a bathroom ceiling (necessity)

2010-01-08 - Learn how to get blood stains out of fabric

2010-01-09 - Learn how to polish shoes and boots

2010-01-10 - Learn how to treat hypothermia

2010-01-05 - How to get to Logan by car

GPS - duh. I've lived in Boston for four years now and I know my way around really well by just about every means of transportation other than car. It's something that I don't need to know how to do so I never cared to learn it. On the rare occasion that I need to go someplace by car I just use GPS like every other civilized human being. I don't like that. I feel that things like GPS are undeniably useful but at the same time incredibly bad for your brain. You don't need to think anymore and you don't need to remember anything anymore. I've been to Logan a number of times but still use the GPS as a crutch. It's not that hard to remember!

So last night we had to go from my apartment on Mission Hill to Logan. There are a few ways to get there and I've probably taken them all at one point or another. When it came time for directions I immediately went for the GPS and immediately got frustrated with myself. It's not that hard to find your way downtown- then to Storrow drive- and then there are about 100 signs that say 'Airport'. The GPS did more harm than good because I spent more time looking at it for directions than I did looking at signs and using common sense/sense of direction. I knew how to get there but I had more faith in the GPS than I did in my own memory. Another factor is that it's always more difficult to remember a route if you're not the person driving.. When you're using GPS it's basically the same thing; you're not actively looking for sites or signs or mental landmarks to retain for the next time you go there.

We got to the airport just fine and I made it a point to actually remember how I got there and vowed to never use GPS for such a short and simple trip again. GPS is great for uncharted territory or when you're lost- but for the sake of fighting off premature Alzheimer's I'm going to encourage you all to rely on your GPS less often. Back when we were kids people knew how to use maps and their heads and I think there's something to be said for that.