Growing Sprouts In 6 Easy Steps

A high source of protein and energy, beans are an important part of a healthy diet, especially if you're trying to loose weight. I like to grow sprouts from my beans, they are easy to grow, and make a healthy addition to any salad.

You can sprout many beans including; alfalfa, barley, broccoli, buckwheat, cabbage, fenugreek, garbanzo, green peas, lentils, mung beans, radishes, red clover, wheat, soy beans, sunflowers and more. Make sure that you always purchase beans, which have been packaged for sprouting, no other type will do.

Growing sprouts in a jar
The easiest method is to grow sprouts in a glass jar, any size will do. To provide plenty of fresh air, cover the top of the jar with muslin, cheese cloth or nylon mesh screen and secure with a rubber band. You can also buy specially sprouting lids designed for this purpose.

Step One: Soaking
In a litre jar, put 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of small seeds, and up to 1 cup of larger seeds, like green peas or garbanzor. Cover top of jar with cloth or sprouting lid and rinse the seeds in warm (not hot) water. Drain and refill so that water is about an inch above the seeds. Let the seeds soak 8-12 hours (overnight). Protect from light by covering with a dish towel or placing in a cupboard.

Step Two: Rinsing
Rinse 2 to 3 times per day for 3 to 4 days (depending on the temperature). After thoroughly draining the rinse water, lay the jar on its side to spread out the seeds. Do not expose to light. After 3 to 4 days the sprouts should be filling up the jar. Sometimes I keep doing this for 5 days, it depends on how you like your sprouts, experiment and see what you like.

Step Three: Removing Hulls
After 3 to 4 days the sprouts will have thrown off their hulls. To remove the hulls, place the sprouts in a bowl and run cool water over them. Most of the hulls will either float to the top or sink to the bottom making them easy to remove. (Note: not all seeds have hulls.)

Step Four: Harvesting
Rinse sprouts in cool water and remove any remaining hulls. Drain in a colander, but do not allow the sprouts to dry out. Place in an air-tight bag leaving room for air circulation.

If your sprouts need to develop chlorophyll or carotene there is one final step. (The seed package directions should tell you whether greening is necessary.)

Step Five: Greening
Once the hulls are removed, place the sprouts back into the sprouting jar or into a clear plastic airtight bag. Put the sprouts in indirect sunlight. It takes about a day for the chlorophyll and carotenes to develop. Once the sprouts are ready rinse, drain, and eat, or refrigerate.

Storing:
Sprouts will keep for about a week in the refrigerator if you rinse them once every day or two. Be sure to keep the sprouts from freezing as they are frost sensitive.

6 Sprouting Tips:
If you stick to these tips you'll never go wrong:

• Rinse often (2-3 times/day).
• Keep them moist, not wet.
• Keep them at room temperature.
• Give them air to breathe.
• Don’t grow too many in one container.
• Keep them in a dark place.

Happy Sprouting :-)

Cleaner Than Ever

I just got a new vacuum cleaner and washing machine, and I can't get over how much difference it has made. My vacuum cleaner died a while ago, and there was no saving it, so I've been making do. However the new vacuum was worth the wait, it is so awesome, it's 2450 Watts so it's pretty powerful, yet it's really tiny and light. It's no effort to use at all, and it's called a Purple Heart, so it suits me to a tea. :-)

The washing machine is amazing, the old one was still working but it had a number of problems. I didn't realise that having a better washing machine would actually clean the cloths better. This is the first nearly new machine I've ever had, so I had no idea. The washing is cleaner, fluffier, and softer than ever, I'm stunned.

I'm so much happier when I'm cleaning now, I feel like I can do the job properly, Woohoo...

Are You An Aspiring Artist?

If you've ever wanted to expand your artistic skills and develop your ideas in an helpful and learning environment perhaps you should cheek out ConceptArt.org.
ConceptArt, are a web based community of artists, whom have created an arena to showcase there work, learn, and meet other artists.

What amazed me was the atmosphere, I felt welcome, and like I could really learn from these people. There are all sorts of artists there, from 15-16 year olds trying to learn there craft to seasoned artists showing there work and helping others.

I like the way they have utilised the forum system in this community, most of the user input is in through the forums. There are different threads for different types of work, e.g. there are Artwork threads like; It's finally Finished, Sketchbooks, Critique Corner, Sketches and works in progress. Then there are activities like, the Challenge Arena, the DSG (Daily Sketch Group), and heaps of education and learning threads. As well as a lounge and information for artists in many different areas, including job listings.

It is amazing to look through the sketchbooks, and witness the progression of learning in some of the work. There are some truly talented people in this world.

If you are interested take your time to look around the site as there is a lot to take in. This is certainly a wonderful place to get some feedback, and learn more about your artistic side. Have fun ;-)

Flowering Fly Traps

Earlier this month I got a surprise when three green bulbs started growing from stems on my Venus Flytrap. I had no idea what these bony hand like shoots were.
I had no idea that Flytraps flowered, yet as the days went on the bony fingers began to open, and I could see the beginnings of delicate white flowers.

I just skimmed through the wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap, and it turns out that healthy Flytraps flower in spring. It seems that many Flytrap growers trim the flower stems early as flowering takes a lot of energy from the plant. However if flowering occurs, successful pollination will produce dozens of small, shiny black seeds.

Flowering has certainly taken a lot out of my little trappy. The flower steams are around three times as tall as the plant. Each one is thick and fleshy, and dominate the entire plant.
In order to flower, my trappy has gone through about 3 times his normal amount of water, and nearly all of his traps have died off. However the flowers look stunning, and the plant in general looks strong and healthy.

I have really enjoyed watching as my Flytrap has produced these stunning delicate flowers. I'm amazed by the results, and hope he can produce more next year. I can't wait to see the seeds appear, I'm wondering if I plant them would they grow?
I guess there is only one way to find out ;-)

Happy Unbirthday

I've decided once and for all that Unbirthdays are way better than birthdays. It was my birthday yesterday, and it wasn't fun, at all! So I'm all for unbirthdays :-)
At least on unbirthdays I get to celebrate with heaps of other people, rather than alone.
So to everyone who's birthday isn't the 28th November:
A Very Merry Unbirthday to You :-)

Alice in Wonderland (Disney) - Unbirthday Party.

9 Nuts For Your Health

While in the vegetable shop this morning, I brought some roasted nuts. All the way home, I wondered if there were any health benefits to all the nuts and seeds we eat. So I've done a little bit of research and I thought I would share my results with you.

Firstly a nut is a dried fruit with one (sometimes two) seeds, and there are many different types. Nuts can be high in calories and fat, yet they have many health benefits. Eating nuts is believed to reduce your risk of heart disease, lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations, plus nuts generally have a very low glycemic index (GI), therefore are helpful for patients with insulin resistance problems such as diabetes mellitus type 2.

I wanted to look at the Health benefits of 9 most common Nuts/Seeds, we have here at home:

1. Almonds:

• Are believed to induce high intellectual level and longevity.
• Are high in omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.
• Are believed to have anti-inflammatory, immunity boosting, and anti-hepatotoxicity effects.
• Contain the amino acid arginine, which inhibits tumour growth and boosts immunity.
• Elevate the blood levels of high density lipoproteins and of lowering the levels of low density lipoproteins.
• Lower your risk of heart attack and improve your bone strength.
• Per ounce (28.41g) provides: 7.5 milligrams (mg) vitamin E, 75 mg calcium, 81 mg magnesium, 211 mg potassium.

2. Peanuts:

• Are also one of the few foods naturally containing Coenzyme Q10, which is present in all human cells and responsible for the production of the body’s own energy.
• Are also one of the highest sources of vitamin B3, also called niacin and thus contributes to brain health, brain circulation and blood flow.
• Are a rich source of protein: roughly 30 grams per cup after roasting.
• Are a significant source of resveratrol, a chemical studied for potential anti-aging effects and also associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and reduced cancer risk.
• Are high in antioxidants.
• Are high in omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.

3. Pecans:

• Are a good low fat source of vitamin E and also have anti-cancer effects.
• Are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats.
• Are high in omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.
• Can lower the risk of gallstones in women.
• Contain plant sterols, which are known for their cholesterol-lowering ability.

4. Pine Nuts:

• Are a good source of dietary fibre.
• Contain (depending on species) between 10–34% of protein, with Stone Pine having the highest content.
• Pine nuts can be pressed to extract pine nut oil
  Pine Nut Oil:
• Boosts appetite suppressors up to 60% for four hours, as well as acting as an appetite suppressant itself.
• Can reduce LDLs, yielding further health benefits.
• Contains a high concentration of free radical scavengers, which help reduce oxidative damage that can lead to peptic ulcers or gastritis.

5. Walnuts:

• Are high in antioxidants and ALA, a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid.
• Are high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Can reduce the damaging effects of unhealthy fats on blood vessels.
• Contain ellagic acid: the cancer-fighting polyphenol antioxidant
• Help the arteries maintain their elasticity and flexibility
• May reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease by maintaining amyloid beta protein in the soluble form.

6. Flax or Linseed Seeds:

• Are high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Contain high levels of lignans, which may benefit the heart, possess anti-cancer properties and reduced growth in specific types of tumours.
• May benefit individuals with certain types of breast cancer.
• May lessen the severity of diabetes by stabilizing blood-sugar levels.

7. Pumpkin Seeds or Pepitas:

• Are a good source of iron, zinc, essential fatty acids, potassium, and magnesium.
• Are a good source of magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, iron, copper, protein, and zinc.
• Are high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Contain high levels of phytosterols, which are believed to reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response and decrease risk of certain cancers.
• One gram of pumpkin seed protein contains as much tryptophan as a full glass of milk.
• Promote prostate health, as components in pumpkin seed oil interrupt the triggering of prostate cell multiplication by testosterone and DHT.

8. Sesame seeds:

• Are high in omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.
• Are rich in manganese, copper, and calcium, and contain Vitamin B1 (thiamine) and Vitamin E (tocopherol).
• Contain phytosterols, which block cholesterol production.
• Contain powerful antioxidants called lignans, which are also anti-carcinogenic.
• Contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin, which are lignans.
• Have been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage.
• Nutrients are better absorbed if they are ground or pulverised before consumption.

9. Sunflower Seeds:

• Additionally, they are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.
• Are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium and zinc.
• Has a Calming affect on your nerves, muscles and blood vessels from the Magnesium.
• Has Anti-Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Benefits from Vitamin E.
• Selenium helps improved detoxification and cancer prevention.

Remember to eat all foods in moderation, items like nuts are no exception. I find having a mix of different nuts and seeds are handy, they're certainly better than a packet of chips, or a biscuit. There are some health concerns when eating nuts, if you would like to know more about these please see: Health Benefits and Concerns for Nuts and Seeds.

Serving Suggestions:
You can add your nuts to many dishes, here are a few serving suggestions for you:

• Add chopped nuts and seeds to your favourite hot or cold cereal.
• Add nuts and seeds to your favourite tuna, chicken or turkey salad recipe.
• Add your nuts and seeds to healthy sautéed vegetables.
• Add your nuts and seeds to your oatmeal raisin cookie, bread or granola recipe.
• Grind your nuts and seeds with fresh garlic, parsley and cilantro leaves. Mix with olive oil and lemon juice for a tasty salad dressing.
• Next time you make burgers, whether it be from vegetables, turkey or beef, add some ground nuts and seeds.
• Sprinkle your nuts and seeds on top of mixed green salads.

Have Fun, Stay Healthy :-)

It's Important to Stretch

I talked last night about the importance of warming up and cooling down when working out, strength training.

Stretching is not the only type of warm up, cool down activity that you can do. You can ride a bike, walk, jog, or jump rope. Personally I like to jump rope, and use a fitness ball.
However it is important that you stretch as well as one or more of these other exercises. Stretching can help prevent an injury, and post-exercise muscle soreness, as well as improve your range of motion (ROM).

I do the same stretching set before and after a work out. I like to do the set backwards in cool down, to keep me concentrating, and I prefer to go from Lying to Standing before then, Standing to Lying afterwards. Each stretch I do is held for a count of 30, and it's really important to focus on the area your stretching while your stretching it. This seems to intensify the stretch.

My stretching routing looks like this: (If your unsure of any of the stretches follow the links)

Position	Stretch
Lying Down	Groin Stretch
	Lying Tuck
Sitting	Groin Stretch
	Ham String Stretch
	Iliotibial Band Stretch
	Golfers Elbow Stretch Level 1
	Golfers Elbow Stretch Level 2
	Tennis Elbow Stretch Level 1
	Tennis Elbow Stretch level 2
Keeling	Chest Stretch
	Lat Stretch
	Cat Stretch
Standing	Calf Stretch
	Soleus Stretch
	Groin Stretch
	Ham String Stretch
	Quadriceps Stretch

Then the same but backwards for after my weight lifting routine.

If your would like to know more about stretching this is a nice document: Stretching and Flexibility - How to Stretch.
I love how fit, and healthy I'm feeling now. I have so much more energy and I feel great. Good luck, have fun, and stay healthy :-)

6 Week Workout Routine

I started a new workout routine yesterday. It's a nice little routine, working all of the major muscle areas. I'm going to use this workout for 6 weeks then I'm going to up the sets to three instead of two.
My new routine is split over two days, Day 1: Upper Body, Day 2: Lower Body, and Day 3: Off. Always remember how important it is to have a day off, this is when your muscles grow.

This is my new routine for anyone interested.

Day 1
Muscle Group	Exercise	Sets	Reps
Chest	Bench Press	2	12-15
	Incline Press	2	12-15
Upper Back	Lat Pull Down	2	12-15
	One-arm Dumbbell Row	2	12-15
	Heavy Shrugs	2	12-15
Shoulders	Dumbbell Shoulder Press	2	12-15
	Upright Row	2	12-15
	Dumbbell Lying Raise	2	12-15
Biceps	Barbell Curl	2	12-15
Triceps	Tricep Extension	2	12-15
Abdominals	Crunch	2	12-15
	Oblique Crunch	2	12-15
Day 2
Legs/Glutes	Squat	2	12-15
Quadriceps/Glutes	Front Lunge	2	12-15
Quadriceps	Leg Extension	2	12-15
Ham Strings	Lying Leg Curl	2	12-15
Lower Back	Back Extension	2	12-15
Calves	Calf Raise	2	12-15
Abdominals	Crunch	2	12-15
	Oblique Crunch	2	12-15

If you would like more information on strength training, or these exercises these sites have some awesome information:
Exercise Instruction & Kinesiology
Muscle Exercise Encyclopedia Instructions
Have fun and stay safe when exercising, and always warm-up and cool down before and after lifting weights ;-)

Imagining the Tenth Dimension

The following Youtube video is a thought provoking look at the way the dimensional layers work. I think it is very well explained and although not the accepted explanation of string theory is certain very interesting and well worth a watch.

Sunlight Around The World

I love this web page, it displays a world map showing current sunlight and cloud cover. It is updated hourly and I think it looks amazing.
You can find it here: Sun Light - hemispherical projection.

Motivation

Finding motivation from day to day can be very difficult. Recently I've been very unwell, my partner and I caught a nasty bug that's been going around. Illness quickly saps your energy and working-out (especially weight training) becomes impossible. When I started to feel better I really found it hard to get back into my routine, I didn't want to start working out again. I'm not sure why, I love the feeling, I just really struggled.

I'm back in the saddle now, and doing a split routine, 2 days on, 1 day off, upper body and abs one day and lower body and abs the second day. I just didn't think that it would take so much to start again. I really had to push to find that motivation. When you have a regular routine it just becomes something that you do, you don't really think about it, you just do it.

I remember when I first started, I was very unfit and fat, it took a lot to get me going. I just focused on how much I wanted it. How much I wanted to be able to run to the end of the street and not be worn out. To be able to play and mess around with my partner and not need to stop and have a breather. How I wanted to remove the fat from my body and be fit and healthy. How much I want to start my marriage feeling good about me, and my life.

I wouldn't give-up working-out, the energy that I have now is incredible. It seems strange that working-out would give you more energy but it does. It makes you feel fit and strong, your memory and concentration improve as well.

So even though the motivation can be hard to find at times it is very much worth the effort. I'm glad that I take 20 minutes to and hour out of my day to exercise. After a while it just becomes something that you crave, that you miss when you don't get to do it. That gives you so much more than you ever expected. Give it a go, find your motivation today.

Words for Boobs

My Finance played me this song today, it's so funny, I thought it was worth a mention. The artist Robert Lund has written a parody of the 1980's song "99 Luftballons" called "99 Words for Boobs". It's very well done, and very humorous, but probably not safe for work ;-)

Adding a Touch of Life to your Home

I have two new plants in my collection, one is of the Kalanchoe variety, and the other is a Scwarzkopf, or Black Tree.

The Kalanchoe is a flowering succulent, there where many different colours and types, yet I picked one which has flowers the same colour as the tips of it's leaves it looks so cool.
Kalanchoe pictured below:The Scwarzkopf is the most interesting plant I've ever owned, it moves and twists all day. It changes shape, moving so quickly that within ten minutes it can look like a completely different plant. It has the most wonderful rich purple leaves, I really Love it.
Scwarzkopf pictured at the top and below:

I'm starting to get a massive collection of succulents, I've got heaps on new cuttings in the garden which are doing really well too. I think it's amazing how something as simple as a few plants can brighten up a home so much.

Meat Eaters

The flies have only just started to annoy us again here in Launceston, as the weather is slowly starting to warm up. Yesterday I went into the back room, where all of my plants are, and one of the big traps where closed on my fly trap. On closer inspection I realised there was a massive fly in there, it's the biggest my trappy has ever caught. He has grow heaps since last year, and now he has caught the first fly of this season, woot!

I love carnivorous plants, I would love to acquire a Pitfall trap like a pitcher plant. Or a Flypaper Trap like a Sundew or a butterwort. They seem so much more sinister than the fly trap which hides it's prey while it eats it.

I'm certainly a weird one, that for sure ;-) So can anyone spot the leg of the fly in my trap?

Rice, What's the Difference?

At the supermarket yesterday I noticed a packet of brown rice, I wondered if there was any truth to how much healthier it claimed to be, so I decided to do some research, this is what I discovered.
Brown rice, also known as "hulled rice", is not milled or only partly milled rice. It is chewier than white rice and has a slightly nutty flavor. It has more nutritional value than white rice but by comparison decomposes more quickly.
White rice is rice which has been milled, having it's husk, bran and germ removed. This is done to extend the life of the grain, so that it can be shipped further and stored for longer.

The Milling process
The main difference between brown rice and white rice is the milling process, which affects the nutritional content. Milling is often referred to as "whitening" because the variety of rice may be identical, but milling removes the husk and the bran from the grain turning it from brown to white. After milling, white rice is polished, to give it a bright, white, shiny appearance.

Take a Grain of rice --> remove the outer layer (the husk) = Brown rice (bran layer) --> remove bran layer = White rice.

So what's lost in the milling process?

The process of removing the husk and the bran from the rice takes away some of the nutritional benefits of rice. For more information on the nutritional information please see the table below.

• During the milling and polishing process many vitamins and dietary minerals are lost. In "enriched" white rice some of these nutrients are added back in a chemical form, such as vitamins B1, B3, and iron, but the majority are lost.
• In removing the bran layer the oil is also removed, a recent study has shown that rice bran oil may help lower LDL cholesterol.
• Fiber and fatty acids are also lost in the process, one cup of brown rice has over three grams of fiber, while the equivalent white rice has less than one gram.
• Brown rice is reputedly easier to digest, because it contains more bran than it's white rice counterpart.

There is also a chemical difference between the two for more information please compare: White rice and Brown rice.

Table of Nutritional differences between Brown and White rice:

	Brown Rice (one cup)	White Rice (one cup)
Calories	232	223
Protein	4.88 g	4.10 g
Carbohydrate	49.7 g	49.6 g
Fat	1.17 g	0.205 g
Dietary Fiber	3.32 g	0.74 g
Thiamin (B1)	0.176 g	0.223 g
Riboflavin (B2)	0.039 mg	0.021 mg
Niacin (B3)	2.730 mg	2.050 mg
Vitamin B6	0.294 mg	0.103 mg
Folacin	10 mcg	4.1 mcg
Vitamin E	1.4 mg	0.462 mg
Magnesium	72.2 mg	22.6 mg
Phosphorus	142 mg	57.4 mg
Potassium	137 mg	57.4 mg
Selenium	26 mg	19 mg
Zinc	1.05 mg	0.841 mg

Cooking Brown Rice
Brown rice takes longer than white rice to cook, so you need to increase the amount of water slightly.

• To prepare brown rice, use 2 cups of water for each cup of brown rice, and salt to taste.
• Bring salted water to a boil, and stir in rice.
• Reduce heat to a minimal simmer, and cook tightly covered for 30-45 minutes or until all water has been absorbed into rice.

Note: Use slightly more water for sticky rice. Use slightly less water for fluffy.
Adding a couple tablespoons of yogurt helps to give brown rice the texture of white rice.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_rice
http://www.drlam.com/opinion/brown_rice_vs_white_rice.cfm
http://nutrition.about.com/od/healthyshopping/f/brown_white_ric.htm

Cleaning out the Cobwebs

Today I've been moving the non computer related posts from GeekyBits³ to here at Of Tea and Turtles (TnT). My apologies for any inconvenience that my cleaning may cause. I need to keep that blog purely for computer and technology related subjects, so I moved the other posts here.

I tried to keep the dates and comments on the posts as best I could, although there where a few posts that didn't play fair, most are in the original format. I have gone though them looking for broken links and I think I managed to get them all, yet if anyone spots one I would really appreciate it if you could let me know,
Thank You!!!

Life is pretty simple

"Life is pretty simple:
You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works.
You do more of what works.
If it works big, others quickly copy it.
Then you do something else.
The trick is the doing something else."

Leonardo da Vinci

Animé is safe

The happenings over the past week have once again reinforced to me that Animé is safe.

In Japan animé refers to all animation, elsewhere it refers to a subset of animation originating in Japan. A lot of animé is based on manga. Manga is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons.

What I mean by animé being safe is that the characters never let you down, they will never disappoint you or make human mistakes. It's safe to look up to the main protagonist in a comic book, or an animation. It's safe to treat these heroes as heroes.

Real life heroes turn out to be human. They make mistakes, they disappoint, they let you down.

For as long as I live Goku (The main protagonist in the DragonBall series) will never do something untoward. I will never question the way I think of him. I will never feel disappointment, nor sadness, nor fear from his actions. Humans frequently mess up, they are human after all.

It is safe for children to look up to cartoon heroes. They are less likely to be hurt or do hurtful things to others copying a cartoon hero. Yet real life heroes (especially bad ones) can really badly affect children, even later on in their lives.

Hero worship is a need that most humans seem to have. A need to believe in something greater than ourselves. A need to draw inspiration and faith from someone who's already achieved. A need to compare ourselves, and lives to others.
Yet at least if your hero is an animé hero it is much safer.

Fresh Glass of Water?

The other day I recieved a graphic example of how well my water filter works. I've had many people ask me why I filter my water, and there are many good reasons to do it. If I could afford to I would filter all of the water that comes into my home!

I have a Brita water jug, and all of our drinking water, including water for our plants, and the kettle goes through the jug. At the Brita (Australia) website there is a really good explanation as to why you would want to filter your water? if you would like more information.

A few days ago the council was working on our water pipes, and they turned off the water for about seven hours, when it came back on, it was not pretty. Pictured right, is how it looked after the tap had been running for about 10 minutes. I didn't want to wash my hands under that, let alone drink it. It has since slightly improved, although still a little orange, (I'm shuddering right now!)

I thought this was a perfect time to test the water filter, I should note: the filter needed changing, so it was on it's last legs at this stage.
Pictured Right the water before and Pictured Left the water afterwards. I was so impressed, this really made me see why my partner said that it was so important to have a water filter.
I get to have a fresh glass of water without all those chemicals and crap woohoo!!!

You can clearly see in this picture below the water at the top, out of the tap, and the water below, after being through the filter. I honestly don't know what I would do without my filter, it is amazing!

Slice Anyone?

We have a new kitchen appliance in our home, and it's wonderful. It has taken me a little while to get used to the way that it works, however now I can have fresh bread, pizza dough, cake mix or anything else I can imagine to mix, or cook in a Bread Maker.

Making your own bread, without a bread maker, can be a bit of a trial, it takes a long time, and the things that can go wrong are numerous, but it does save you a lot of money.

Now that we have a bread machine I don't have to worry, we can make a loaf of bread for between $0.75 and $1.25, (Considering the average loaf of bread is around $3 AUD I'm not whining) and it's really easy to use. It took me a bit of experimentation to discover what was the right mix of ingredients for my machine (each one varies), but now that I've worked it out it's really simple.

I certainly think that it is worth the money, and I wouldn't take it back. Not only is it easy and fun to make but the smell of fresh bread is amazing. The other big bonus is that I know Exactly what's in my bread, no preservatives or nasties just what I put in. I love it, and the birds seem to appreciate the leftovers too ;)

Below is my first ever loaf of bread from our bread maker...

The Newest Member of Our Cacti Family

I've been incredibly spoiled today, my partner brought another Cacti to go with out little family of plants. This is him in the picture.

I love him, he is very fluffy, and deceptively dangerous. He is an "Old Man Cactus" called "Cousin It", I think I'll call him "IT"!

The fine hair is to protect "IT" from sunburn. The stronger the the sunlight the better the hair will grow.

If he develops like my other cactus, the hair will get longer when he is happy as well.

He needs water when he is dry and once a month in winter. He also needs a slow release plant food, or liquid feed over 2 months (except in winter).

Everything is relative

I've been a little out of it lately, a lot has happened I guess. I felt the need to remind myself of how much human society matters in life's scheme, so I decided to look at the Powers of Ten website.

"Powers of Ten explores the relative size of things from the microscopic to the cosmic. The 1977 film travels from an aerial view of a man in a Chicago park to the outer limits of the universe directly above him and back down into the microscopic world contained in the man's hand. Powers of Ten illustrates the universe as an arena of both continuity and change, of everyday picnics and cosmic mystery. The film also demonstrates the Eameses' ability to make science both fascinating and accessible."

The following YouTube videos further explain the Powers of Ten:

This first video is a short film by Charles and Ray Eames for IBM: 'dealing with the relative size of things in the universe, and the effect of adding another zero'.

This video is a clip from the Imax film "Cosmic Voyage" with commentary by Morgan Freeman. It's not very good on the small screen, but you'll get the idea. Also it repeats, yet I didn't mind watching it twice ;)

And lastly the Simpson's opening sequence, a homage to IBM's Powers of Ten.

An Amazing Magic Trick

I'm a sucker for a talented magician, so I thought I would share another amazing magic trick with you, by Kevin James:

Aloes: flowering succulents

A couple of days ago my partner brought me a new plant to add to my collection (Pictured right). It is of the Aloe genus, which contains over 400 varieties.

I've just been doing some research on the genus and I've found some very interesting information.

All of the plants in the genus are flowering succulents, and are native to Africa. Most Aloes have rosettes of fleshy leaves.

The leaves are generally long and thick in the middle, tapering off to a point, with spiny edges and the color of the leaves varies from gray to bright green.

The flowers are frequently yellow, orange or red in color and tubular in shape.

Many Aloes have some amazing medical properties, and have been used in numerous ways over time. Aloes have been used in everything from drinks, and food to ointments, and hair styling gel. They are certainly a very amazing genus of plant.

Feeding the ants

I've had trouble with ants in my home many times, and now I've found a quick and easy solution.

First I went out and scouted their home. This doesn't take much effort just follow where the majority are coming from and are going too.

Then when I take the scraps out to feed the birds I leave a touch behind for the ants. They don't need a lot, anything sweet, sticky or rotten is perfect. I find little scraps of bread are highly sort after. Crumble them up really small and place it around the ants home.

They wont bother coming inside if there is a better feed closer to home. This has worked perfectly for us, perhaps it will work for you too, Good luck ;)

An Unusual Show

My partner asked me to watch this amazing YouTube video. I wanted to share it with you also.

Raymond Crowe is an Australian contemporary magician/unusualist. He has an interesting style, and I'm amazed by his skill, a truly a magical experience.

For more information on Ray Crowe please visit his website: Raymond Crowe : : unusualist.

What a Wonderful World, Ray Crowe's shadow puppet show:

In Memory of Pavarotti

The Maestro's sweet voice, brought hours of pleasure, laughter and tears to many thousands of people. His voice has filled the rooms of my home many times.
Luciano Pavarotti, passed away from cancer earlier this morning. He was 71 years of age, and his singing career lasted for over 4 decades.

"I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to."

Luciano Pavarotti October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007

Rest now Luciano, know that you made a difference in the world and your voice will live on though out time, you will never be forgotten.

Adieu maestro.

Wasting Time

I just managed to waste an hour playing games at the Simpson's Movie website.
I even made a Simpson's avatar, I can't believe it.

I know, a complete and total waste of time, it's not like me at all...

Do you like my avatar?

Simpson Pain

For about 3 days now, I've been plagued with my darling partner singing "Spider Pig" from the Simpson Movie.
Now he has found the video on YouTube, so I get to hear Homer sing it too, over and over and over...
The bloody thing gets in, I've caught myself singing it a number of times now.

I used to really like the Simpson's, well before I got Austar. Fox8 plays re-runs constantly, it's enough to give even the most avid Simpson's fan Simpson's hate!

So I thought that you all may like to join my pain, and have Spider Pig stuck in your head too, have fun:

A litre of yogurt for $1

I wrote a post in July talking about my yogurt maker. At the end of the post I commented on wanting to learn to keep the yogurt cultures going, then I could make my own yogurt, without having to buy the $3+(AU) sachets.

After a bit of experimentation I've done it. I can make a litre of yogurt for about $1(AU), and it's really easy to do:

Ingredients:
Powdered Milk
Filtered Water
45ml of Yogurt

Instructions:

1. Mix up 1 litre of powdered milk; following the instructions on powdered milk packet.
2. Place milk and 45ml of yogurt in the yogurt maker jar and shake well.
3. Place jar in yogurt maker, filled with boiling water for 6-12 hours.

*Notes:

• You can use ordinary milk out of a carton, I suggest boiling it to take out any impurities, also it will cost more than $1 for your yogurt.
• I find using a little less powder than the powdered milk packet suggests, makes the yogurt taste better.
  
• The yogurt can be any type you choose, the idea is to cultivate the yogurt cultures you desire. I chose to use the yogurt that I created using a sachet from: Easiyo

Sick and tired...

I just "love" being sick, my energy is so drained that moving seems almost impossible. I feel as though I falling behind on all my plans, and activities, as if I wasn't already far enough behind.
I guess I shouldn't expect any different; after all I haven't slept or eaten properly for a while now. Therefore my immune system is not exactly up to par. My partner is way worse than I am, he can barely sleep or eat as his throat is almost completely closed over.

To who ever thought that it was necessary to go outside and spreed your germs around: congratulations. You have infected at least two people, well done!
I don't understand your actions. I don't understand going out and passing around illnesses, yet it seems like it is the done thing, around Launceston at least.
Hopefully we'll be feeling a little better soon, (I've only been saying that for 4 days now).

I want to move out to the country, I'm sick of city life.
I want to be outside in the fresh air, away from all of the sheeple, spreading their germs, reacting, and following the man. Away from the shops telling me to buy every few minutes, away from the lights, the smell, the pollution, the disorder, the vehicles, the mess, the litter.
I just want to be in silence for a while, I want to go outside and lay on the grass and stair at the stars, I want to breathe the air from the trees. I want to grow a garden, have a compost heap, have chickens, and other animals. I want to feel the dirt beneath my finger tips, and know that I've done a hard days work.
Oh to taste freedom of the country again...

Of life and death

It happens to us all, the cycle of life catches us up, and we move on. I have been away for the past couple of weeks as a member of my family passed on.
My life has been turned upside down, given a little shake, and the ripples are still being felt.

I've had people around me die before, yet until now; I've never seen death.

It's a strange thing watching as someones body gives out, it changes you. Watching as they take their last breath. Feeling the energy dissipate from the body, leaving a shell. It's unlike anything I imagined. The realisation of how fragile life is, of how important it is to enjoy every moment, hits like a massive wave.

I feel the need to examine what is important, and to clear out the clutter. To have have fun, laugh, dance and sing, after all what else is there?.
I want to get to the end of my life saying "Wooohooo I made it!", not "Oh shit..."

Leave with no regrets...

A Quart, a Pinch, a Cup? Huh... WTF!

I find it confusing looking at different recipes online, depending on which region of the world they are from; different weights and measurements are used.
Today I found a number of helpful links, which have conversions for these measurements:

Cooking Weights and Measurements.

• Cooking weights and measures - Wikipedia
• Measurements and Conversion Table - Food Network
• Weights and measures conversion - Energy Australia
• Cooking Measurement Equivalents - Info Please
• Cooking Weights and Measures - The Cooking Index
• American Cooking: Weights and Measures, Including Oven Temperatures - Outside and Inside America

Temperature conversion

• Temperature conversion - Wikipedia
• Temperature Conversion - OnlineConversion.com
• Oven Temperatures - Hints and Things
• Oven Temperature · Cooking Conversion Chart - What's Cooking?

What Can Baking Soda do?

My massive collection of Bi-carb Soda (Baking Soda) Tips:

Cleaning

• Deodorise the whole house! Sprinkle carpets with Bi-carb Soda, leave a few minutes and then vacuum.
• For everyday freshness, fill a small container and leave in the fridge to absorb food odours. Replace every three months or so.
• Clean chopping boards, stainless steel sinks, ovens and rangehoods with food safe Bi-carb Soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. Rinse well and your whole kitchen will sparkle.
• In the bathroom: Bi-carb Soda will work a treat on bathroom surfaces too - bathtubs, tiles, floors, mirrors, screens and sinks.
• Keep your rubbish bin smelling fresh - periodically sprinkle Bi-carb Soda on the waste. On rubbish collection day, wash and deodorise the bin in a solution of Bi-carb Soda.
• Restore life to stained tea/coffee cups - apply to a damp cloth and rub away.
• Throw a handful of Bi-carb Soda into the bottom of the dishwasher mid-way between loads - this will eliminate odors and work double-duty as a gentle cleanser in the next wash cycle.
• Freshen sinks by slowly pouring half a cup down the drain together with warm tap water.
• Cleaning brass door knobs, window handles and ornaments.
• For a sparkling microwave, wipe over (inside and out) with a damp sponge sprinkled with Bi-carb Soda. Rinse well with water.
• Polish up the family silverware with a paste made from Bi-carb Soda and water. Rinse and dry well
• For stubborn oven grime, apply a paste of Bi-carb Soda and water to a warm oven, leave overnight and wipe off. For regular cleaning, apply paste to a cold oven, warm for 30 minutes and then rinse off.
• For dirty saucepans that don't respond to steel scourers, add cold water and one to two tablespoons of Bi-carb Soda and bring to the boil. When cool, finish off with steel wool.
• In a Stainless Steel sink add 1/2 cup Bi-carb to 1 gal of water and dip silver in water and wipe with sponge to remove tarnish. Works great! No more cleaning with silver polish.
• Remove corrosion from automobile battery cables. Paint it on and leave a thick layer. wait 5-10 minutes and flush with water.
• To clean oily stains from concrete and driveways, sprinkle over and scrub with a wet brush.
• Add half a cup to the laundry rinse cycle to give towels and linens a breezy freshness.
• Clean kids' toys by soaking or wiping down with a solution of Bi-Carb Soda and water. Rinse, dry and play.
• Freshen stuffed toys with a sprinkling of Bi-carb Soda. Wait 15 minutes, brush off and cuddle away.
• After the family BBQ, Bi-carb Soda will make light work of cleaning the grill. Just sprinkle on, scrub with a damp brush and rinse clean.
• Use Bi-carb Soda as a pre-soaker for soiled nappies, removing mold or stubborn stains. Dissolve 45 grams in a bucket of warm water, let soak, wash in hot soapy water and dry in the sun.
• As a whitener, add 2 teaspoons of Bi-carb Soda to half a bucket of cold water. Soak 30 minutes then wash as normal.
• Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rise the produce.
• Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better with soda added to the washing water.
• Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.
• To remove stubborn stains from marble, Formica or plastic surfaces, scour with a paste of soda and water.
• Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda solution. Rinse.
• Remove that bad smell from ashtrays with soda and water. Also Sprinkle a bit of dry soda in your ashtrays to prevent smoldering and reduce odor. (Or give up smoking)
• Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.
• Use to sweeten sour dishcloths.

Deodorizing

• Sprinkle Bi-carbon your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate food and pet odors
• After emptying the garbage, sprinkle some Bi-carbon the bottom of the garbage can; this will neutralize the food odors.
• Keep an open box of Bi-carb in the back of your refrigerator and in your pantry; replace every 2-3 months.
• Pour Bi-carb down your garbage disposal while running warm water.
• Smelly shoes? Pour in a little and leave 2-3 days to absorb.
• Safely deodorise your pet's bedding by sprinkling with Bi-carb Soda. Wait 15 minutes then vacuum.
• Between your dog's baths, try a dry freshen-up - Sprinkle Bi-carb Soda into their fur, rub and then comb or brush out.
• Deodorise your car - sprinkle Bi-carb Soda over upholstery and carpets, leave for 15 minutes and then vacuum.
• Sprinkle Bi-carb Soda into smelly gym bags or golf bags to deodorise and freshen.
• To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse.
• If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in Bi-carb and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away.

Health and Beauty

• Wash your face in Bi-carb soda to take off dead skin and old make-up. Add to your shampoo once in a while to really remove old hair spray and setting gels.
• Mix 2 tbl spoons Bi-carb in 8 oz glass of water, and drink. Helps with stomach aches and gas.
• For fresh, silky-smooth skin, dissolve half a cup in your bathwater to soften your skin.. Relax and soak it up !
• For a sparkling smile, brush teeth with a paste of Bi-carb Soda and water.
• Bi-carb is a great teeth whitener. Sprinkle a little on your toothbrush before the paste goes on.
• Mix three parts to one part water for a gentle facial scrub that won't strip oils from the skin.
• Putting 2 tbsp. of Bi-carb in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.
• Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.
• Take a soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.
• Take 1/2 teaspoon of Bi-carb in 1/2 glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
• Gargle with 1/2 tsp. Bi-carb in 1/2 glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.
• Used as a mouthwash, Bi-carb will also relieve canker sore pain.
• To relieve sunburn: use a paste of Bi-carb and water.
• Bug bites: use a poultice of Bi-carb and vinegar. It neutralizes the "sting" and provides relief instantly.
• Bee sting: use a poultice of Bi-carb and water. It neutralizes the "sting" and provides relief instantly.
• Windburns: moisten some Bi-carb and apply directly.

Cooking

• To make your own baking powder combine 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. This is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of commercial baking powder. If you are not using immediately, add 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch to absorb any moisture in the air and to prevent a premature chemical reaction between the acid and alkali.
• When scalding a chicken, add 1 tsp. of soda to the boiling water. The feathers will come off easier and flesh will be clean and white.
• Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.
• Add to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.

Other

• Bi-carb Soda will put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs. It will also work for car, grease or electrical fires.
• Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of Bi-carb on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.

Chasing Silence

My little brother sent me an email a few days ago, he asked a number of interesting questions, which I thought I would share with you all.

What Is Meditation?
Meditation is the art of silencing the mind. The art of living in the here and now.

Can I Benefit From Learning Meditation?
I think everyone can benefit from learning to meditate. It can enhance your life by;

• improving your concentration,
• reducing stress,
• alleviating anxiety,
• and helping you to gain a deeper understanding of your inner self.

Personally I love meditating, my inner turmoil floats away. The troubles of the world don't seem to drag me down as much.

Where do I start?
Learning to mediate takes practice, yet benefits can be seen early in the process.
I don't think learning to meditate has an ending, it's a journey, not a destination. Like most things in life you get out what your willing to put in. With meditation I find this to be doubly so.

Before you can mediate you first must learn to concentrate. Our minds are busy places, you need to learn to quiet the chatter. The first step is learning to focus on one thing.

Learning to Concentrate
Concentration Tip 1: Try placing a small dot on the wall, sit comfortably and focus on the dot. Don't get annoyed with yourself if you get distracted. Notice what distracted you, then place your focus back on the dot.

The same thing can be achieved with the flame of a candle or any other object. Practice this until you can easily concentrate on one thing.

Concentration Tip 2: Another method is repeating a word or phrase to yourself. Traditionally these words or phrases are known as mantras. Use of a mantra encourages the mind to focus on just one thought.
When you find your mind wandering, gently try to refocus your attention back to your mantra.
Practice this until you can easily concentrate on just your word or phrase.

Note: I know people who try to focus on their breathing. Personally I don't like this method, because I can control my breathing. Therefore instead of learning to concentrate, I learn to change my breathing patterns.

Conclusion
It may take a couple of weeks to be able to consistently think about one thing, but when you do you'll be amazed with the results.

Once you have learned to concentrate on one thing, you will find a natural progression into silencing your mind. This will take time, so first concentrate on learning concentration!

The following YouTube video has a good explanation on how to meditate.

I hope this helps you begin your journey into meditation. Have fun...

Thank You for the Song of the Day

My song of the day's words really make me think, I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do:

Thank You
By: Alanis Morissette

How bout getting off of these antibiotics
How bout stopping eating when I'm full up
How bout them transparent dangling carrots
How bout that ever elusive kudo

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

How bout me not blaming you for everything
How bout me enjoying the moment for once
How bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
How bout grieving it all one at a time

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

The moment I let go of it was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it was
The moment I touched down

How bout no longer being masochistic
How bout remembering your divinity
How bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How bout not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence

yeah yeah
ahh ohhh
ahhh ho oh
ahhh ho ohhhhhh
yeaahhhh yeahh

Changing The Song Of The Day

Google has announced that it's preparing fingerprinting on Youtube videos in September. Therefore I'm no longer going to represent my "Song of the Day" with a youtube video.
If I don't stop embedding them now I will have broken links everywhere by September.

It's ridiculous, when I think about it. The music publisher's and other company's are getting free advertising...

From now on the "Song of the Day" will just contain the lyrics, and perhaps a link.
I really apologise for not being able to represent the artists music the way it's meant to be heard.

Don't Forget The Sunscreen

Today's song of the day is one of my all time favourite pieces of music: Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen).

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
By: Baz Luhrmann

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

Dance and Sing

In our home the phrase "Dance and Sing" gets used on a regular basis. Without delving into a deep philosophical discussion, it can be hard to explain exactly what this means.

Today however, I stumbled across a short animation called "Music & Life". Animated by the people who bring you 'South Park'.
It highlights some of the philosophical thinking of a man named Alan Watts.

This animation brings home to me some of the meaning captured by the phrase "Dance and Sing". I hope you enjoy it as much as I did...

Watching Dragonball Online

Daz just found me the coolest link. I had to share it with any other Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT, fans out there:
DragonBall Stream

All of the Dragonball television series are awesome. I love animé in general. Yet there is something particularly special about Dragonball. It really draws me into the story, the characters are so real, and alive.

I don't ever have to suspend belief that Goku is really Goku the Super Saiyan. These characters are real. They are not actors that will go and play another role. I am never going to see Goku acting in another television show. He doesn't exist outside of the Dragonball shows. He IS Goku.

In animé this is the case with all of the characters. They only exist in the world of animation. I like real characters I find acting very hard to watch. I can read what the actors are really saying, it's just not real. Yet animé is real, and it always be.