One Hump or Two?

Camels are one of those animals that most everyone easily recognizes because of their unique appearance,but that isn't their only difference. Camels are firstly known for their reputation as a beast of burden and their ability to survive up to 21 days without water. They have also long been milk producers and at times the sole source of nutrition for their masters when traveling the desert terrain.Unlike other milk producing animals,extreme weather conditions do not interfere with their ability to produce milk,they are also adaptable feeders,able to digest dry matter and a broad range of plants and bushes. If those were the only differences between camels and other animals they would still stand alone,but the properties of their milk is as unique as the animal itself. The first notable thing about camel milk is it doesn't curdle,but that is far from the only difference. The milk contains a protein that is similar to insulin and is still being tested as an alternative,but the list goes on. The lactose intolerant can digest it,it is thought to prevent certain cancers and is being tested on autistic people with good results. Though it isn't readily available in all locations it can be obtained online.

Invisibility

Most people consider at some time in their lives how handy it would be to have the power of invisibility. I'm here to tell you it isn't all that you may have imagined,in fact most of the time it is downright annoying. I have heard throughout my life that women of a certain age become invisible,especially to the male of the species but I have found not only am I invisible to males (mostly younger) I am no longer visible to approximately 90% of the population. It has become so powerful that it is starting to effect my surroundings. Earlier this year I arranged to have my house painted once the weather was suitable but apparently they were unable to find my house again to start the job due to visibility problems? In the last year as my image grows dimmer people fail to see me on the sidewalks,often bumping into me and a couple of times nearly running over me in crosswalks. To drive the point home while I was out for a walk yesterday a gal hit and run my vehicle,when caught and confronted she answered "I thought it was a curb." Maybe this is the beginning of the end? my image will continue to grow dimmer until it ceases to exist at all? But to look on the lighter side,an invisible person no longer needs to concern themselves with their appearance (since they are no longer seen),if you are inclined to do something disgusting in public,like picking your nose...go right ahead! They can't see you anyway! For any of you who doubt my sincerity on this matter,please reference the photo below.

Nosing Around

Let's start today with a few nose idioms: cut off your nose to spite your face,follow your nose,keep your nose out of my business,having your nose out of joint,hard-nosed,no skin off my nose,keep your nose clean,keep your nose to the grindstone,lead by the nose and seeing further than the end of your nose. Now that I have you fixated on noses let me tell you about an unusual animal. The Amazon River dolphin is the only known animal to use their blowhole,which to them is a nostril,for having non-reproductive nasal sex. They will perform this act with either male or female dolphins. Kind of makes a person wonder what dolphins are really chattering about. The moral of the story is...don't look down your nose at other species!

Spiders (Really!!)

As chance would have it after using "Spiders" as a blog title,I find myself actually wanting to write about spiders. A lot of people have a fear of spiders,I am not one of them. I subscribe to the adage,"If you want to live and thrive,let the spider run alive." Since I'm still alive it seems to be working! It makes me wonder about my cat's life though as he considers them big game,but with the nine life thing going on,he should be okay. In my nearly continual quest for unusual facts I came across spiders and other organisms named for famous people. I'm still trying to find out how some of these people (the living ones) feel about this somewhat dubious honor. For example,Aptostechias angelinajolieae,is a rather unattractive specimen named for the attractive Angelina Jolie. David Bowie had Heterpoda davidbowie,Neil Young myrmeklaphilia neilyoungi,Aptostichus stephincolberti for Stephen Colbert,Calponia harrisonfordi Harrison Ford (I think I read he has a big fear of spiders),Pachygnatha zappa,Frank Zappa. The list is quite extensive and personally (in most cases) I didn't notice any resemblances!

Spiders

No silly,spiders are not the topic of today's blog,spiders are the answer to the question posed at the end of yesterday's blog.
Today I want to present an odd fact I found looking for the particulars of yesterday's blog. The zealous Elvis (hey,that rhymes!) fans among us probably already know this information so feel free to take a pass on reading further. Elvis Presley was fascinated with law enforcement,and was made an honorary officer by many police departments. His collection of badges,guns and patches is on display at Graceland. The most notable of these is the badge he received from President Nixon in 1970. Elvis wrote a six page letter to Nixon and made a spur of the moment visit to the White House in pursuit of becoming an honorary Federal Agent-at-Large for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (kind of ironic considering his own personal drug usage). Not only wouldn't a spur of the moment visit to the White House get the green light today,neither would the gifts Elvis presented to the President,family photos and a Colt 45 pistol. How the times have changed!

Nostalgia

I know there must be at least a few of you readers that think I live my life in the past,let me assure you that isn't the case. Many times I quite innocently see or think about things from the past with a new eye,and often this fresh look leaves me with questions. One of the questions is why did 45 RPM records have larger holes than 33 1/3 RPM? (Yes, for those of you wondering I still have both a turntable and some old 45s and several 33s,though they are seldom used). The answer is relatively simple,the larger holes made them easier to use on the jukebox spindles,kind of like having a larger hole in a sewing needle. Here is a bit of bonus trivia for you,outside the US 45s were often pressed with the smaller holes used for LPs,but they could be punched out if desired. It is also said that it was a competitive issue between RCA and Columbia,they didn't want to share the same formats. Now for the extra points!! Does anyone remember what the inserts that went into the 45s were called? Check back tomorrow for the answer!

Not a Laughing Matter!

I was thinking about people I know that now have to wear diapers or pads and am thankful (for more than one reason) that I am not one of them. What do you suppose people in the past used for adult diapers? I don't recall being aware of the problem when I was a kid,no memory of aunts,or my mother's friends that seemed to have a problem,though it must have existed. As a teen and into my 20s I worked as a nurse's aide,and as to be expected with some of the severe medical conditions many of the patients were incontinent,but very few were mobile enough to use diapers. Still,these were sick or disabled people,not someone you would bump into at the store with adult diapers in their shopping cart! It seems as I am veering off the point,so getting back to it...Was it so top secret,or kept under wraps as it were,that I was never aware of anyone with the problem? or were there stealth diapers? Embarrassing as it must be it is hard to imagine not noticing or even over hearing something about it. Of course the merciless teasing that was common when I was young may have been enough of a deterrent to keep it a life long secret!