Random Facts & Useless Knowledge

No rabbits, mice or frogs died or were harmed in the writing of this blog. This was not always the case in pregnancy tests. In fact, the history of pregnancy tests involves barley, wheat, wine, urine and sacrificial mice, rabbits and frogs. Sounds like a bad party.

It all started in ancient Egypt. An Egyptian woman would urinate on wheat and barley seeds to determine if she was pregnant. If barley seeds germinated, paint the room blue, while germinating wheat would bring out the pink. I assume no one ate the bread.

The Middle Ages would have some lucky person mix a woman’s urine with wine and study the urine for smell, clarity, consistency and taste. What a hang over! I’m sure people were lining up for that job.

Things were a little fuzzy from this point on, but in the 20th century some genius discovered the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. Since no one could say that, they called it hCG for short. Significant amounts of hCG were found in pregnant women, so a test could be developed that would react with this hormone.

During a late night in a lab after some wine chasers, someone thought that injecting urine from a pregnant woman with this hcg into young rabbits, mice or frogs would be a good idea, since that would determine if a woman was pregnant or not. The unfortunate by-product of this was that the rabbit, mouse or frog would have to be sacrificed to see if the hCG would stimulate the animals ovaries.

After protests from the forest animals, new tests were developed that would allow a urine sample to be mailed off to a lab to determine pregnancy. Today, testing is often accomplished with a home pregnancy test.

It is now safe to eat the bread, drink the wine, and watch the animals frolic in the forest.

Acne is an infection of the skin caused by oils from hair follicles blocked by dead skin cells that allow bacteria to grow rapidly, causing skin inflammation. The effects of acne can be scars, skin that is overly sensitive to contact and low self-esteem.

The direct cause of acne is still under research, but many believe it is due to hormone changes, stress and bacteria.

Acne treatments are sold over the counter, by way of a perscription from a doctors office or even natural remedies.

Each persons acne case is unique, so consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

Follow the link to view a natural remedy. CLICK HERE

How can you make money while spending money? Opening a traditional IRA will allow you to invest money for retirement, while lowering your financial impact at tax time. For example, if a husband and wife invest $10,000 in an traditional IRA, they will save $2,000 in tax payments. Certain rules will apply and tax laws can change, so be sure to talk to a financial advisor about what would be best in your situation.

Placing money in a Money Market Account will usually yield a larger dividend than a traditional savings account. Your money will usually be accessible for emergencies and will allow you to pay end of year expenses like taxes.

Using a traditional IRA and Money Market Account is a smart way to invest your money for the future.

Remember that investing money has its risks and rewards. Consult with a financial advisor about what would be the best course of action for your situation.

Records, LP (Long Playing Record), vinyl record, vinyl or album are all names for the flat disc with a spiral groove that became popular in the 1900’s until they were replaced by digital media in the late 1980’s. They finally left the main markets in 1990 when CDs took the lead in sales. Records are now back and are becoming increasingly popular again.

LPs can contain a total of 60 minutes of music, but most hold less. They are made of vinyl plastic that allows for greater flexibility and color combinations on the record itself. Vinyl records come in all genre of music from jazz, blues, rock, classical and many more. Several progressive modern artists as well as older groups are releasing new music vinyl records.

What does the future hold for LPs? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure. That warm fuzzy sound that a music vinyl record can produce
is back.

To find out where you can purchase vinyl record albums, CLICK HERE now.

Fat, sometimes called Adipose Tissue, is all over our bodies. Most people look at fat as a nuisance or hindrance to their “perfect” body image. Fat,however, does have important functions for our bodies. It protects essential organs, stores fuel and energy for emergencies, helps regulate and control chemicals throughout the body that manage brain function, the immune system and metabolism.

While fat does have its benefits, it also can have a negative effect on our bodies if we accumulate too much. Problems can include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, joint pain and high blood sugar to name a few. These can lead to stroke, heart disease, a lower quality of life style and diabetes.

How can you safely lose weight? Be wary of diets that restrict you too much. For example, low fat, low calorie and low carb diets can actually cause your body to slow down its fat burning process, take away your energy and may even be harmful to your health.

What diet works? Look for a diet that offers variety, a support group or online help and encouragement to guide you and one that does not look at food as the enemy. To be successful, create a regular exercise program like walking, don’t compare yourself to others, don’t set goals that are unrealistic and above all be patient.

Also, remember to always consult your doctor before starting your diet and exercise program.

You can do it! Hang in there! Tomorrow is a new and bright day.

To learn more about losing weight, CLICK HERE NOW.