Posted by Michelle on Feb 15, 2010 in
This N That I just found the best site ever! How many times have you been at the movies with your bladder about to burst because you didn’t want to miss the good part? This has happened to me and my pea sized bladder countless times. RunPee.com tells you the best time to go, how long you’ll have and even gives you a cue so you don’t have to watch the clock. We went to see Wolfman this weekend and I tested it and it was correct! And get this….there’s even an app for it, complete with a countdown clock! But please, please, look it up before the movie starts or sit on the back row. There is nothing more irritating that the glow of an iPhone in the theater.
Posted by Michelle on Nov 10, 2009 in
This N That (PhysOrg.com) — Scientists in Australia have identified a single gene that strongly influences whether you have curly or straight hair.
The study looked for genetic variations in people of European descent to identify any genes associated with curly and straight hair. People of European descent have 45% straight hair, 40% wavy, and 15% naturally curly hair. Professor Martin and colleague Dr Sarah Medland have previously found there is up to a 90% chance of inheriting the curly hair trait.
The scientists, from the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) in Brisbane identified the TCHH gene (trichohyalin) on chromosome one as the major gene controlling the curliness of hair. TCHH has been known for over twenty years to play a role in the development of hair follicles. It is expressed in the inner root sheath of developing hair follicles.
Leader of the team, Professor Nick Martin said that variations in the gene determine how straight or curly the hair is, but more work is needed to determine the exact variant that influences curliness. Professor Martin said a variation that causes a change in an amino acid is the most likely contender.
Hair morphology has been studied extensively in Asian populations, and research carried out in Japan last year determined the genetic basis for the straight, thick hair common in East Asian populations. The differences in the FGFR2 and EDAR genes found in Asia are thought to have originated after East Asian and European populations diverged. Much less is known about the genetic basis of straight and curly hair in Europeans.
The study analyzed data collected from a 30-year study of 5000 twins of European ancestry. The twins were asked whether their hair was curly, wavy or straight, and the researchers then tried to match the hair type against the data on the genomes of the twins.
The paper was published on November 5 in the online edition of the American Journal of Human Genetics. The research is likely to have applications in the cosmetics industry and in forensics, where the knowledge may help in identifications.
More information: Common Variants in the Trichohyalin Gene Are Associated with Straight Hair in Europeans, The American Journal of Human Genetics, 09 November 2009, doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.10.009
Tags: curly hair, gene
Posted by Michelle on Oct 20, 2009 in
This N That I remember not so long ago when I was all nice and sweet. I would go out of my way to help people and I had tons of patience. That has all gone out the window!
A woman came in to my place of employment last week and wanted to put up a flyer of her daughter that was an advertisement for a child beauty pageant which is ridiculous enough. I wouldn’t have let her post it but she was talking to a co-worker who was nicer than me. I wanted to strangle her as she was going on and on about how these pageants build “confidence” and “character”. I remember rolling my eyes and thinking, it builds the child’s confidence or yours? How could you parade your little girl around like a prized Pomeranian?
Very seldom does a day go buy that I don’t mumble under my breath “what a freaking idiot”. Is the world full of idiots or am I becoming intolerant? I am a very happy person but it seems that I have totally lost my patience for stupid people.
A girl came in today that wanted an application for “whatever position we had open”. She just moved to town and felt that she was qualified for anything we had, I assume. Keep in mind, I work in an office environment, not Burger King. She had a piercing in her face and a some tattoos. I immediately thought, “freaking idiot”. I had to step back and try to channel that nice person who didn’t judge people by their tattoos, or appearance in general. It was difficult but I think I found her, if only briefly.
I will try to be nicer but I can’t wait until that damn pageant is over and the Pomeranian flyer is taken down. Freaking Idiot.
Tags: child pageant, freaking idiot, mean, pomeranian, tattoo
Posted by Michelle on Apr 15, 2009 in
This N That Let me start off by saying, I keep an extremely clean house and have never seen any bugs in the house, not even flies.
Last night I saw an ant in the pantry, the little bitty ones. My husband and I gathered boxes and laundry baskets and cleaned all the food and small appliances out of our enormous pantry. I mixed up a solution of vinegar, borax, a little dish soap and water to clean the pantry shelves and floor. I had been meaning to do that for about a month now anyway. I did find lots of crumbs and some cereal on the back of shelves, my bad.
After I cleaned all the shelves and small appliances we put it all back and I was happy! As a precaution, I placed a paper towel soaked in the cleaning solution on each shelf and a small container of vinegar on a lower shelf.
This morning, I saw another ant and I went nuts! I cleared the pantry out again but before I put the food back, I got on line to see what kind of ‘ant cure’ I could find that was all natural and safe for the dogs. While searching, I even found people who LOVE ants and won’t even give advice on how to get rid of them. I didn’t ask but I looked around and was thinking about it when I saw a post that said ‘don’t even ask’. What a kook!
I saw an ant on the counter so I tested with cinnamon, I think he ate it. I tested with borax and he ran. So I trapped him in a 3″ diameter circle. He was running in circles for 10 minutes! If he went another 10 minutes, I was going to break out the video camera! Well, he finally crossed the line and died. I found another victim but he was stronger and kept crossing the line. So I made the borax barrier taller, didn’t help. I buried him in borax but he kept climbing out and running. I finally got him with my finger. lol I wish I had a magnifying glass.
I am getting obsessed and frustrated. I cannot find out where they are coming in and it is pissing me off. There aren’t a lot of them that I see at once, just 5 or 6. We had put banana peels and apple cores in the trash this morning so I put that in the garage and everything in the pantry is sealed so will they just go away if they can’t get to anything? Any suggestions would be appreciated!! Until then, the bottom of the pantry is sprinkled (heavily) with borax. Smells good though.
UPDATE!
I just read on wikihow that borax should be treated like a poison!!! I have just vacuumed the pantry and cleaned it again for the 3rd time in 12 hours. *heavy sigh*
Tags: borax, clean house, frustration, how to kill ants, poison, sadistic
Posted by Michelle on Apr 13, 2009 in
This N That I made the mistake a few years ago of telling my husband that I think he is so cute when he smokes a cigar. I quit smoking last year and hate the smell of cigarettes but I just can’t help but love it when he smokes a cigar, I just love it.
He is supposed to be smoking them outside but tonight he was standing in the living room and lit one up while giving me that “I’m so sexy” look. I started laughing as usual. We were enjoying a hardy laugh when the smoke detector went off. The dumb ass was standing right under it. LOL
Tags: cigars, smoke detector
Posted by Michelle on Apr 9, 2009 in
This N That All of you rude people who were never taught manners by mommy & daddy or maybe you are just to self-centered to care, listen up.
Movie Etiquette Guide
Shoes
If you’ve ever been told that your feet stink, if you suspect your feet may stink, if you’ve even smelled stinky feet, leave your damn shoes on! It is very offensive to those around you but we won’t bother to ask who stinks, because you wouldn’t fess up anyway.
Candy wrappers
Listen, I understand that you feel it is best to slowly, slowly tear the package open during loud parts of the movie but has it ever occurred to you that the wrapper is only inches from the person in front of you? PLEASE, go ahead and open it all at once. However, after you open your M&M’s DO NOT shove your fat fingers into the package to get out each and every piece of candy. Just pour out a few in your chubby hand and then shove them into your mouth. Each time you jam your fat fingers into the package, the person in front of you is distracted. I swear that some people just try to be as loud as possible.
Popcorn
There was a couple eating popcorn so loudly last week that I TRIED to eat popcorn with my mouth open and still couldn’t be as loud. I ended up moving to the other side of my husband instead of directly in front of them. All you have to do is chew with your mouth closed! Again, something mommy & daddy should have taught you.
Kids
Now that YOU are the mommy or daddy, teach your kids to STOP KICKING MY SEAT.
Talking
SHUT UP! Last night during the movie I found out from a couple 2 rows back that Randy’s girlfriend Jennifer was cheating on him with Mark while Randy was in Europe. Poor Randy was in Europe 4 days before Jennifer joined him and is still oblivious to her antics.
Also, if your friend, significant other or spouse really needs you to loudly explain the entire movie, maybe it is best that you wait for the DVD, is it really worth all that trouble? I am very guilty of leaning over to WHISPER something to my husband but I promise you, no one else around me can hear and I even hesitate to do that.
My Plea
I live by the golden rule, I have taught my children to live by the golden rule. Why can’t people be more aware of their surroundings and more considerate of others? How hard is it? I don’t want to give the impression that I have zero tolerance. Believe me, at least 2 of the above happens to us each time we go see a movie. I just can’t take it anymore! I want to have a good time and I want YOU to have a good time too but just think about the people around you and make an effort to be courteous.
The Solution?
Ok, now that I got that out of my system, what I am really looking for is a solution. In reality I would never address any one of these issues with the person. Well, that isn’t entirely true. I have been known to politely ’shhh’ someone but how do you all handle it? Do you move? What if the theater is crowded? Do you tolerate it? Anything would be of help. Until then, see you on the back row!
Tags: movie, movie etiquette, popcorn, stinky feet, theater
