Zoonotic

It's a bad time to be an armadillo.  In fact, it's a bad time to be friends with an armadillo, especially according to the latest findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.  Roughly 20% of the U.S. armadillo population are infected with leprosy.

The last time I thought about leprosy was when I saw Ben Hur, and discussions of the recently charted trend admit that it is commonly considered an ailment from "biblical times" (additional discussion of this term will be relegated to another, much longer, blog rant).  Leprosy can be transmitted from armadillo to human, and there has been an influx of examples, especially in the Southern part of the country, that demonstrates as much.  This makes leprosy zoonotic, meaning that it is a disease that can be transferred one one species to another.  Other examples of zoonosis include rabies, Lyme disease and ringworm.  About 150 cases of armadillo related leprosy have been documented, and caught soon enough, a typical round of antibiotics addresses the symptoms.  So, not that with that armor shell and all they had an especially cuddly image to maintain, but it's definitely a bad press day for the armadillo; although, they seem generally to be taking it in stride and have yet to lose their heads over it.

Nuclear

In 1986, the USSR was still an Eastern European entity, and this blog never existed (because this blogger was 5yro (and blogging wasn't yet cool (yes, I just called blogging cool; deal with it))).  So, all the references to Chernobyl got this blog thinking that some further digging might be educational.  Especially in light of the "New Safe Confinement" (NSC) structure slated to send a steel rainbow of preventative safety over the existing Chernobyl nuclear sarcophagus.

Scientific American  cites the new structure's dimensions as being taller than the Statue of Liberty, extending 3 footfall fields, and weighing more than 29,000 metric tons.  That's a significant structure.  It's significant because it is designed to entomb the site of what is referred to as the "worst nuclear disaster in history".  The current structure, known as the "Shelter Object" (a less glamorous name than its anticipated replacement), is composed of 7,000 metric tons of metal and 400,000 metric tons of concrete.  Don't let those hefty figures throw you though; the structure was erected so rapidly in response to the disaster that, subsequently, it's assembled much like a house of cards.  Cue the NSC.

Fire up the time machine: on April 26, 1986 at 1:23am, a catastrophic power increase elicited an explosion at the core of reactor four at the Chernobyl plant.  This resulted in dispersing huge amounts of radioactive fuel and core materials into the atmosphere.  One blast lead to another; a highly combustible graphite moderator was ignited (bad news); significant "excitation" occurred...at about his point the "SCRAM" alert goes off which is the emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor.  Thus, "fallout" has initiated; fallout being the bright red term for "residual radiation hazard".  Fast forward 25 years (yes, it's the anniversary of), and it's time for NSC to keep all that potential residual radiation hazard on lock-down.  Any questions?  (Let's hope so.)

Toxic

California Watch reported at the end of last year that one of the most hyped up beauty crazes may be synonymous with super high levels of a potent carcinogen.  It's no beauty secret that women are notorious for extreme measures when it comes to beauty and seeking products for aesthetic perfection.  So, when the Brazilian Blowout trend (a solution that salons began to implement for extreme hair straightening) peaked not so long ago, women were chomping at that bit faster than a Sister could say a rosary.  The Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology at Oregon Health & Science University discovered the prayer answering solution was less than pure.  In fact, the solution, which is mixed up in a North Hollywood facility, was found to contain 10% formaldehyde.  Yeah, the same stuff that fetus kitties with six legs and the monster eyeballs are floating in.  That's the stuff that's been seeping into countless women's heads in the name of straight hair. 

The President of the company, Devin Semler, must really like straight hair because he was unwilling to acknowledge the toxicity.  In fact, Mr. Semler was quoted as saying that he is "unable to control every bottle..."  Apparently, the chain of command works differently at President Semler's company.  No word yet on whether a more conclusive response is forthcoming from the mail room.

Coincidentally, Mr. Semler also runs a tequila company and is affiliated with Malibu Family Wines, which distributes Saddlerock and Semler labels, which begs the question of whether Mr. Semler can control every one of these bottles, (and it may be fair to assume they have quite the extended shelf life).  It will be interesting to see how Mr. Semler chooses to preserve his image in light of the assorted agencies seeking answers and running tests on the potential cancer in a bottle he's been brewing up. 

Life sometimes can be toxic.
Toxic:  --adjective
  acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous

Fickle

This week's current (very relative and just as fickle as any other preferences) Favorites Of No Particular Denomination Or Theme:

The combo: Eggs and wine.  (Better as dinner than breakfast.)

The vegetable: Arugula, this perky lettuce holds strong for its second week.  (Augments the eggs better than it does the wine (the wine can stand alone).)

The song: The White Lies latest single, "Bigger Than Us".

The juice: Any scandal that a Conde Nast pub reports on.  (The "Wired" article on crazy murderous Amy Bishop is a nascent example and a sage reminder that scientists earned the moniker "mad" for a reason.)

The animal: Anything with antlers.  (Seems like antlers may be going the way of the waffle maker...a very clever device of cabin-settings past.)

The bonus: As a sixth (i.e., the asterisk), tall, balding, > middle age men who can do yoga better than you can.  (It seems inappropriate to say any more.)

So, Reader, once again, the challenge is extended: take the pick your current five random favorite things challenge.  See what you like this week (but let's keep tall, balding > middle age men doing yoga like Gandhi* out of it).
 
Life sometimes can be fickle.
Fickle: --adjective
  not constant or loyal in affections

*This blog can no better confirm than it can deny whether Gandhi was a yogi, but this blog is pretty sure he was not tall, and entirely positive that he was balding.

Antiseptic

A significant factor in an acute bacterial infection is the act of the bacteria attaching to the tissue.  In conjunction with the attachment of the bacteria, there is also the formation of "biofilms" which are described, in lay-blogger's terms, as "slime".  Plaque build up on teeth is an example of a biofilm.  So, when biofilms establish their slimy presence in affiliation with certain bacteria, like streptococci, it helps to protect the bacteria, namely from antibiotics, thus enabling the invading bacteria to be more persistent and viable.  (Anyone feel like meeting for lunch at the gym?)

It's been professed for a long time, that honey has all sorts of antiseptic properties.  Recently, Manuka honey (Manuka being a particular type of plant and also a region of the Australian provinces, named after the plant-->whereby one could fairly assume there are Manuka plants aplenty downunda), has made headlines as an especially effective form against major bacteria like the aforeshoutout to strep and the ever well publicized MRSA.  Honey can deter bacteria's attachment to tissue.

This blog has absolutely attempted honey face mask regiments which inevitably begs the question of visitors, "Hey, Bloggie, what's that bottle of honey doing in your bathroom."  Look, Reader, let's not get sticky.  Anyhow, this blog is all in favor of some capital to open a "Honey House" where one might enjoy a honey bath (in lieu of the long out of style mud bath).  There could be all variety of sweet treats to indulge in while bathing and, obviously, many take home products. 

Just saying, when honey vats start popping up at your local spas, yet again (albeit sans modesty), you  heard it here first.

Life sometimes can be antiseptic.
Antiseptic: --adjective
  free from or cleaned of germs and other microorganisms

Painted

This blog attempted to spruce up the kitchen this weekend with a painting project.  Well, apparently one's painting is only as good as one's taping.  If nothing else, it gives this blog an activity to do this weekend as well.  Alas; oh well.  The touch up efforts do have good paint vibes in effect; effectually, this blog sat down beside a professional house painter this morning at blogger's fav Sbux.  Super cool Scottsman chatted up blogger from the favelas of Rio to his tenure as a professional footballer for Australia to...well, of course, house painting.  Blogger also encountered a semi-regular Sbux cohort who loves art.  This gave way to getting to share the most exciting thing this blog has seen since the fresh avocado that landed in blogger's salad last week.  It is a brand new mural in Culver City off of McManus Ave.

It is Lichtenstein-esque, complete with his signature style dots, and is, in fact, a spoof on Lichtenstein's original piece (depicted below):

Fellow Sbux art fan matched my Blackberry mural pic with a Blackberry art mural pic, saying he'd seen the mural going up on Melrose by the "guy" who did the Obama Hope picture.  Blogger is incredulous, "You mean Shepard Faiery?!"  Art fan could not match enthusiasm, "I don't know." (For the blog record, yes, Shepherd Faiery.)  Outside Barracuda, Fairey did an American Flag mural.

The close-up of the stars is especially cool, and super S.F. esque...

Perhaps blogger should commission a mural for said spruce-needing kitchen.  Shepard, are you reading this?

Life sometimes can be painted.
Painted: –adjective

  reproduced or represented in paint

Sanitary

There are a number of things this blog would never turn down (that's an extensive list for another posting), but among those irresistible entities is pizza.  If it starts with a p and ends with a couple cheese topped "z's", it's headed to a better place (i.e., this blog's stomach).

Yesterday, being a Sunday, was declared an indulgence day which meant pizza was acquired.  Frozen or fresh, there's no discriminating (of course, not all is ever created equal when it comes to life's pleasures, but that lesson, too, is for another posting).  Trader Joe's makes a frozen pizza margherita with mozzarella and grana cheese, so this blog acquired one and popped it in the oven.  Natural conclusions occurred (i.e., the pizza was destroyed).

Upon disposal of the packaging two observations were made of the back of the box that hadn't been made prior to indulgence.  #1) the script boasted "product of Italy".  ...down with that...[check!] #2) the pictures boasted what would be assumed to be pizza makers (in Italy) doing what they do best, making pizza.  Yet, these four pictures are surprisingly disturbing.  The "pizza makers" are wearing all manners of sanitary apparel, as if prepared for precision surgery; there are hairnets, mouth masks, gloves (full, up to the elbows) and lab coats.  Seriously.  Here's where the blog becomes confounded.  Sure, it's nice to know that there were no stray Italian hairs in my pizza's dough, but my appetite is gone (so is the pizza though, by default of order of operations (eat then examine)).  Indeed, none of the script on the back of the box references these super hygienic Italians, so...yes, let's just get it out there.  It looks a lot like the Judge right before he dunked Roger in the toon emulsifying "dip".

Not sure if one should be afraid of or reassured by all of these "pictured" precautionary methods.  Delivery may just be the more appropriate future maneuver for indulgence days.

Life sometimes can be sanitary.
Sanitary: –adjective

  of or pertaining to health or the conditions affecting health, especially with reference to cleanliness, precautions against disease, etc.

Squirrely

Especially after having lived in San Francisco, which is heavy on bums and pigeons alike, I've long wondered whether bums are ever inclined to catch and cook a pigeon.  I suppose it's a delicacy somewhere, like anything, and it probably, as the saying goes, "tastes like chicken". 

On my way to work (i.e., my counter desk at Sbux) this morning, I noticed fresh squirrel roadkill.  Serendipitously, squirrel was on the BBC's reporting menu as well.  In fact, it's on an Edinburgh bistro's menu.  The BBC reported that the Spoon Cafe serves gray squirrel meat because it is ethical, citing that the squirrel delicacy is prepared "free-range", and the meat doesn't travel far.

A note, dear reader, on squirrel images: they are all adorable.  I suspect the Spoon Cafe is not a restaurant that employs pictures of the meals on its menu.  Forks up!

Life sometimes can be squirrely.
Squirrely: --adjective
  eccentric; flighty [this blog would add the obvious, "of or pertaining to squirrel, especially the meat"]

Current

Current (very relative and potentially entirely passing) Favorites Of No Particular Denomination Or Theme:

The lyric: "This light looks good on you."

The vegetable: Arugula, much to be said for this perky lettuce.  Goes well with everything; already bite size; adds a splash of European to any dish.

The snack: Roasted seaweed.  Despite extreme apprehension bordering on revulsion prior to purchase, I ate the entire package in the car on the way home from the market.  It's high in Vitamin C, but it will leave sticky green chunks on your teeth.

The visual: Back-sides of waves.  A view from a pier affords the "dorsal" half of a wave.

The animal: Anything on four legs that looks like a fox but isn't actually a fox.  Hey, it's been said...fox is the new black.

So, Reader, take the pick your current five random favorite things challenge.  It's amazing how quickly preferences can pass or be replaced, so in the sense of relative relationship to oneself, a weekly top five could potentially be an interesting/amusing indicator of mindset, or, like this blogger you may just be a mixed bag of...yourself, and that's cool too. 
Life sometimes can be current.

Current:–adjective

  passing in time; belonging to the time actually passing