old life blog

I Will Survive!

2009-04-08T17:02:00.002-05:00

The Average Survival Situation. —A few years ago in the Arizona desert an older couple made a wrong turn in their car and got turned around on a road near the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. —Their car got stuck in blow sand and the wife decided to walk to the interstate – that was in view. —She was found less than three days later within one mile of the road.—Dead from hyperthermia and dehydration. —Her husband, who had stayed with the car was found alive but was too far gone to save. —A survival kit and a little preparation could have kept them alive.

Typical SAR Victim:
Improperly Clothed.
Lack of Rest.
Lack of Adequate Water
Hyper or Hypothermia.
Too ambitiousPoor
Physical conditional or lack of motivation.
Inadequate or improper food.
Little to no planning.
An itinerary that is confusing or unknown to others.
Inability to recognize environmental, physical, or mental threat.
No preparation for adverse weather.
Lack of compass or lack of familiarity of terrain.
“It can’t happen to me!”

What Will KILL you:
Anxiety and fear.
Pain and Injury.
Illness
Thirst and hunger
Wetness
Fatigue and Sleep depravation.
Boredom
Loneliness
Complacency and the desire for comfort.
Stubbornness.
Promises
Get-home-itis.

Make sure when preparing a Survival Kit that it is:
Relevant to the environment.
Lightweight and Portable.
Waterproof.
Durable and Dependable.
Complementary to your physical fitness and expertise levels.
Able to meet a wide variety of reasons – the basics.
Comprised of multiple use components.
Panic proofed.
Comprised of components that can be easily purchased or made.
Affordable yet effective.
Field tested – use it or lose it.
Simple.

Survival Kit Components:
 Two Good Freezer Bags. Tincture of Iodine. Space Blanket. Roll of Dental Floss (non waxed – without the case). Colored Surveyor’s tape. Pea-less brightly colored whistle.  Wax coated matches.  Disposable butane lighter.  Magnesium block fire-starter  6 or so Cotton Balls soaked in P.J. A compass and a small back up compass. Small first aid kit. Credit Card sized Fresnel lens. Flashlight with AA batteries and Extra Batteries. Carbon Steel knife with a lanyard.  Clear Plastic Drinking Tube. Heavy Duty Space Blanket. Collapsible one to two gallon water container Two 55 gallon trash bags – heavier the better.  Wool or synthetic watch cap. Homemade first aid kit. 100 feet of 550 cord. Signal Mirror. 7.5 minute topographical map of the area you are going to. Two Candy or nutrition bars Medications or eye glasses. Bandanna or two.

Some Additional Considerations: —Sanitation supplies (sanitary napkins, T.P.).—Water Bottle wrapped in duct tape.—100 dollars in 20’s.—Insect Stuff.—Single Candle.—Fishing kit —Trapping wire

Our Example Survival Situation.
—Claire decides to do a little Geo Caching near Waller Texas. A simple 20 minute drive or so from the campus.—She grabs her LIFE program Survival kit that she won and added to and heads for the door with her GPS.—After getting one Geo Cache she decides to get another Geo Cache that was not planned. —She drives to within walking distance of the Geo Cache and walks 3 miles into the woods to find her cache. —After finding her cache with the sun starting to go down she turns to head out – and badly sprains her ankle. —She checks her cell phone – no bars.

The 72 Hour Clock Starts.
—In this case Claire can drag herself from her location within 72 hours. So rescue, although it would be nice, is not necessary – but she needs to live. —Temp tonight will be 42 tonight.—She left word at home where should would be – but with darkness approaching – she will likely not be found for up to 24 hours. —What does Claire need to do?—Maintain Body Temperature —Get water.—Signal for help.—Claire Busts out her kit – let’s see what she can do with this stuff!

Rock On! To First Aid.
—The first and more important thing in a Survival Situation is the Rock On attitude!—Positive Attitude does more to save lives than anything else. —What is in your head will save you more than what is in your kit!—However, having a kit can ease your mind. —First Aid:—The knife allows her to get a walking stick, and a splint stick.—Her first aid kit allows her to get a little pain relief (Ibuprophen)—Duct Tape from her water bottle allows her to support her ankle with or without her splint stick.

Fire.
—Unless Claire really got sweaty before she went down – she needs to get fire more than water at this point. —The human body can live 3 days without water in ideal circumstances. She will get hypothermic without fire or shelter. —Fire:—Her knife allows her to get wood, squaw wood, and tinder. —Although standing dead is her best bet at this point.—Her lighter, PJ Cotton Ball, Matches, or Mag block all can help het get fire.—She needs, however, to not get sweaty gathering wood. Wet makes her colder and can kill her.

Shelter – Portable and Not.
—If it is getting dark – she has a flashlight and extra batteries. —She should also have this at hand for signaling – as well as the whistle.—If she gets cold as she is gathering firewood – she has the 55 gallon trash bags to make a sort of pancho. —This does not ‘breathe’ however and she needs to move slowly and deliberately. —She also has the wool hat and the space blanket should she get really cold. —The head releases the most heat – the hat should be on all night. —Her bandanna can go over her neck or face to retain more heat.—Her knife allows her to cut pine bows and limbs to start a debris shelter style hut.—Her 55o cord will help secure this.

Through the night.
—Claire may have a cold night – but she will live.—She will need 5 times more wood than she thinks she needs – and if she can’t hobble fast enough – will need to collect more before the night is over.—She uses both tarps, her spare shirt, and her trash bags to retain heat. —Her knife will allow her to feel a little more safety against the ‘boogie man’ noises.—She also knows she is in control – without her knowledge and kit – she would likely die tonight. —Her nutrition bars will begin to be rationed to make her feel a little more energy.

In the morning and water.
—Claire checks her map (her GPS batteries died in the night) and knows a stream is near her (within 100 yards), Gladdish Creek. —She uses her compass at first light (using her back up to remove confusion) to navigate to the water. —She fills her 1 gallon container and water bottle and uses her iodine to purify both (5 drops per quart – or 10 if it is icky).—She also uses a bandanna to filter the solid debris. —She uses her 550 cord and knife to make a carrying strap. Know some simple knots!

Signaling. —Claire uses her knife and cuts green bows on her fire and her whistle when she thinks she hears traffic (the road is three miles away) and keeps her signaling mirror handy. —With smoke rolling, and her whistle blasting – she feels proactive. —Party On!—She sees an airplane overhead and attempts to signal him. —She thinks she gets some beams of light on the plane – but does not seem to see recognition from the pilot.—Party on!

Improvement and a Plan. —As the day wears on Claire is improving her shelter, adding to her firewood, and making a plan. —She is not confident that she will be found today so she will make the long walk out tomorrow. —A little plant recognition could help supplement her caloric intake. Without it – she is depending on her energy bars. —She stays under shelter and rests when she can. It will be almost 80 today and she does not want to get heat exhaustion or sweat too much toward night fall. —She rigs her space blanket to shield the suns rays during the day using the 550 cord and the knife. —As night begins to fall – Claire makes another trip to the stream, fills up all of her water, and her ziplock bags and hunkers down for the night. —Her fire is good, her shelter is good, she has a plan and her ankle is beginning to get a bit stronger.
Rescued. —She hears voices calling for her faintly around nightfall. She adds the lightest and hottest burning tinder to the fire, grabs her flash light, and begins to blast on her whistle. —Three blasts at a time and three flashes at a time in the direction of the voices. —Within minutes she is found by her husband who found her car (with SAR help) because of her note at home and is carried out. —Because of a little planning, a little know how, and her ROCK ON attitude – she has only a sprained ankle and a SWEET story to tell!

March 4 - A Good Night’s Sleep

2009-03-04T15:38:00.003-06:00

A Good Night’s Sleep
Does Mr. Sandman Affect Your Health?
Presented by Lee Ann Harry, RN, BSN
Patient Educator

This presentation is for educational purposes only & is not meant to substitute for or replace the advice of your personal physician who may know the details of your individual health

Why Is Sleep Important To Health?
-Sleep is not the passive, dormant state that it was thought to be prior to the 1950’s
-Sleep is a highly complex activity
-Much research conducted since then by sleep experts, psychologists, Longevity Institutes.
Sleep affects daily functioning, physical health, mental health, & the rate of aging

The Way You Feel
-How do you feel when you get a good night’s sleep?
-How do you feel when you:
--have not allowed yourself enough “pillow time
--have not been able to fall asleep easily
--have been awakened by someone or something many times
--have tossed & turned
--have awakened & not been able to get back to sleep?

That Tired Feeling…..
-Is your body’s way of telling you that it is not able to keep up with the rebuilding & repairing of body tissues, & manufacturing hormones & bio-chemicals that occurs only during sleep.

How Much Sleep Do We Need?
The research indicates that:
-School age children (5 to 12) need 10-11 hours
-Teens (13 to 17) need 8.5 to 9.25 hours
-All adults need 7 to 9 hours daily, including the elderly

How Much Are We Now Sleeping?
-60% women fall short of 7-9 hours/daily
-Almost half (46%) of older adults receive fewer than 7 hours of sleep each night
-A 2001 National Sleep Foundation poll reported that 7 in 10 people said they have frequent sleep problems

What Aspects of Health Are Affected By Our Sleep Deprivation?
-Daily Functioning
-Mental Health
-Physical Health
-Rate of Aging

Lack of Sleep Affects Daily Function & Performance
-Can make it hard to concentrate & reason
-Can increase your risk of falling
-Can increase your risk of having an accident, especially a car accident

The Mind
-Brain remains very active during sleep
-REM – dreaming sleep restores the mind, reboots it, & clears out irrelevant information
-Consolidates the memory, improves judgment, promotes learning & concentration, boosts mood, speeds reaction time, sharpens problem- solving & accuracy – all leading to better performance in whatever you are doing!

Brain
-Sleep loss impairs thinking & memory
-Too little sleep can prompt personality changes as well as depression.
-It is linked to higher rates of hostility

Alcohol
-A lack of sleep magnifies alcohol’s effects on the body. A sleep deprived person will become much more impaired than a well-rested one after imbibing.

The Body
-It is deep sleep that restores the body

Cardiovascular
-Poor sleep in women is linked to higher levels of fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6
-Insufficient sleep increases your chance of strokes, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, congestive heart failure
-Studies show that adults who sleep 5 or fewer hours per night are about 40% more likely to have a heart attack than those who sleep 8 hours…sleeping 6 hours can cut the rate in half
-Specific mechanisms remain unclear

Stroke
-700,000 people suffer a stroke yearly
-158,000 result in death
-Most of the rest are left with some varying degree of disability affecting their quality of life
-Estimated direct & indirect cost in 2004 was $53.6 billion
-Sleep apnea is associated with a three-fold increase in stroke risk

Blood Pressure
-Blood pressure levels drop when you sleep, so the less you rest, the higher your blood pressure will be over the course of the day
-Research shows that 24% of middle aged adults who slept less than five hours per night developed high blood pressure, compared with 12% of their peers who slept seven to eight hours a night
-Treating sleep apnea is associated with a reduction in blood pressure

Obesity
-Women who slept 5 or fewer hours a night were 32% more prone to major weight gain (33 or more pounds) & 15% likelier to become obese over 16 years than those who got 7 hours a night – even though the 7-hour sleepers ate more calories
-Women who slept no more than 6 hours faced a 12% higher likelihood (Nurses Health Study)
-How much one sleeps profoundly affects hormones (grehlin & leptin) that regulate hunger. Sleep loss has been linked to bigger appetite, which can lead to extra pounds, putting the chronically sleep deprived at greater risk of obesity
-When we are tired our bodies are stressed & we make more of the chronic stress hormone cortisol which is linked to weight gain especially around the middle

Diabetes
-Sleep deprivation may impair your body’s ability to metabolize blood sugar and put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Research has shown that among young healthy men, only four hours of sleep for six nights in a row was enough to create a temporary prediabetic state.
-Poor sleep in women is linked to higher levels of fasting insulin, glucose

Sensitivity To Pain
-Link between REM sleep (a stage of sleep that occurs periodically throughout the night & produces vivid dreams) and sensitivity to pain
-Threshold for pain is higher when research participants allowed to sleep 8 hours uninterrupted or when slept for 9.5 hours and were woken up for brief periods during non-REM stages of sleep

Immune System
-Lack of sleep can weaken your immune system

Your Body Is Rebuilding During Sleep
-HGH – Human growth hormone is produced & released during our deepest stages of sleep. It helps heal tiny muscle tears that occur naturally during the day. As we age HGH declines, along with amount of time we spend in deep sleep. Chicken/egg?

Why Are We Not Sleeping?
The Sleep Thieves!

Medical Illness
-Sleep apnea
-Pain, ie injury, chronic, fibromyalgia – chicken/egg?
-Hormonal fluctuations & imbalances, ie PMS, pregnancy, menopause, andropause
-Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
-Allergies, Asthma, COPD
-Heart Disease
-GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
-RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) or muscle spasms
-ADHD
-Hyperthyroidism & Hypothyroidism
-Incontinence
-BHP (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
-Weak adrenal function
-Snoring
See your healthcare practitioner to treat underlying cause

Psychiatric illness
-Anxiety, depression
-Bipolar
See your healthcare practitioner to treat underlying cause

Substances
-Caffeine
-Nicotine
-Alcohol – Excess use of alcohol tends to fragment sleep & result in wakefulness a few hours after intake, also increases the risk for sleep apnea & RLS (restless leg syndrome)
-Some nutrients such as carnitine, B vitamins, certain herbs
-Cocaine, amphetamines, sedatives

Medications
-Certain anti-depressants; ie fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutron)
-Steroids
-Diuretics
-Thyroid hormones
-Beta-blockers, Beta-agonists
-Theophylline
-Many others

Major Life Changes
-Having a baby
-Separation or divorce,
-Retiring, moving in with a child,
-Loss & grief
-Moving
-Seek help from a counselor if you are not able to settle down after a little time
-Most common is……..the strain & stress of modern life

Which Of These Statements Are True For You?
There aren’t enough hours in the day to get done what I need to do, so I will give up some hours of sleep.
OR
You are doing too much if you can’t find the time to sleep!

I don’t have time for more sleep; my job is very demanding & important.
OR
Please put your health before your career or it will happen anyway when you crash from your poor sleeping habits

I do not want to sleep more because I feel like I am missing out on life.
OR
If you do not get enough sleep, you will shorten your life span & quality of life by ending up with a chronic degenerative disease of aging

I feel better when I don’t sleep too much; I feel more tired if I sleep longer than 6 hours.
OR
Not letting your body shut down & rest at night indicates that you may be staying awake to squeeze your adrenal glands for stress hormones that may feel good for the moment, but not long run. Feeling more tired after sleeping more than 6 hours indicates you are already sleep-deprived

I catch up on sleep during the weekend & on my vacation.
OR
It is better to get the right amount of sleep each night than try to play “catch-up” & you cannot make up a year of sleep deprivation in one vacation.

I have health conditions that keep me from needed sleep
-Seek medical attention and treat the root of the cause
-Avoid sleep medications
--Side effects
--Don’t allow the deeper stages of sleep
--Complications
--Potential for dependence
--Rely on prescription medications only when all else fails.

I really try to sleep more but can’t fall asleep easily or wake up & can’t go back to sleep.
-May require medical attention
-First, check out suggestions for sleep hygiene

Sleep Hygiene-See Handout! (coming soon…)
-Good sleep hygiene depends on good sleep habits
-Don’t deprive yourself of the sleep you need – remember:
“Everything seems a little brighter after a good night’s rest!”

February 2009

2009-02-28T22:00:00.000-06:00

February 4 — Hangzhou: The Finest and Most Noble City in the World According to Marco Polo - Professors Carolyn Ho and Bobby O'Brien will examine the economic and social importance of this China city's past and present.

February 11 — Chocolate Time - Biology Professor Maria Florez concocts some special chocolate formulas for health and happiness. Happy upcoming Valentine's Day in HSC 105.

February 18 — Voodoo Dolls - Celebrate Mardi Gras (February 24) by making a voodoo doll and learn the beneficial effects this doll can have on your health and spirituality. Krissy Conn reveals the true nature of this ancient African life-affirming practice.

February 25 — Under the Looking Glass: Growing Up in the White House - History professors Sandra Harvey and Alex Smith uncover the lives of children of the presidents. Trivia: Mrs. Grover Cleveland had the first child born to an incumbent president. (American First Ladies, 167)

Feb 11 - Chocolate!!

2009-02-11T15:23:00.002-06:00

Yum Yum!
We learned that in small quantities the dark chocolate has some health benefits.
Just remember
- the darker the better / higher % cocoa
-small portions, but count that in your calories still

The delicious recipes will be posted here as well, make sure to look back for those.

February 11 — Chocolate Time - Biology Professor Maria Florez

2009-02-11T10:14:00.000-06:00

Chocolate pots of cream (adapted from The Zuni Café Cookbook, by Judy Rodgers)
· 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
· ¾ cup heavy cream
· ¾ cup whole milk
· 2 Tbsp. sugar
· 4 egg yolks
Preheat oven to 300° . Place a small bowl over, but not touching, simmering water. Place chopped chocolate and ½ cup cream in bowl, stirring occasionally until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, warm remaining ¼ cup cream, milk, and sugar. Stir just until sugar is dissolved. Remove saucepan from heat. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks then slowly stir in warm milk mixture. Pour egg mixture through a strainer set over the melted chocolate/cream mixture. Stir to combine.

Divide the mixture among four 4- to 6-ounce ramekins or custard cups. Place cups at least one inch apart in a 9” x 13” x 2” baking dish. Place pan on oven rack and then add hot water to baking pan until it reaches about ½ inch beneath the lip of the cups.

Bake until the custard is just set at the edges but quite soft in the center (about 45 min). Because the eggs will continue to cook after you pull the custards from the oven, and because the chocolate will harden as it cools, begin checking for doneness after about 40 min. To check, lift one of the chocolate pots and tilt it; the center of the custard should bulge out slightly. Remove the pots from the oven; let cool. Cover each with foil or plastic wrap, making sure the covering doesn’t tough the top of the dessert, and refrigerate at least 2hr or up to 3 days. Texture is best just hours from the oven.

Tyler’s cracked earth cake (see http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chocolate-cracked-earth-flourless-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html)
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 stick unsalted butter
9 large eggs, separated
1tsp vanilla (added based on review comments)
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
2 cups heavy cream, cold (for whipped cream)
Confectioners' sugar (for dusting)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Put the chocolate and butter into the top of a double boiler (or in a heatproof bowl) and heat over (but not touching) about 1 inch of simmering water until melted. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a mixing bowl until light yellow in color. Whisk a little of the chocolate mixture into the egg yolk mixture to temper the eggs - this will keep the eggs from scrambling from the heat of the chocolate - then whisk in the rest of the chocolate mixture. Add vanilla.
Beat the egg whites in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form and fold into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the cake is set, the top starts to crack and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, approximately 40 minutes (depends on your oven and the pan you use). Let stand 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan. While the cake is cooking, whip the cream until it becomes light and fluffy.
Serve at room temperature dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped with whipped cream.

Chocolate & Walnut Purses (see http://www.puffpastry.com/recipedetail.aspx?recipeID=23997&rc=183)
· One puff pastry sheet
· 6oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate
· ¼ cup chopped walnuts
If using frozen pastry then thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature for 30min. Refrigerated pastry should rest at room temperature for 5-10min before using. Preheat oven to 400° . Mix chopped chocolate and walnuts. Unfold pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll into a 12” square. Cut into 9 (4”) squares. Place about 2tbsp of the chocolate mixture in the middle of each square. Brush the edges of the square lightly with water. Fold corners of pastry to the center on top of filling and twist tightly to seal. Fan out corners.

Place 2” apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15min or until golden. Remove from baking sheet and allow to cool on wire rack for 10min. Powder with confectioner’s sugar.

February 4 — Hangzhou: The Finest and Most Noble City in the World According to Marco Polo

2009-02-04T13:13:00.006-06:00

West Lake: the jewel of Hangzhou

Ten Scenic Spots in West Lake (西湖十景)
1.Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring (苏堤春晓)
2.Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer (曲苑风荷)
3.Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn (平湖秋月)
4.Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter (断桥残雪)
5.Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset (雷峰夕照)
6.Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds (双峰插云)
7.Orioles Singing in the Willows (柳浪闻莺)
8.Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond (花港观鱼)
9.Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon (三潭映月)
10.Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill (南屏晚钟)

Hangzhou: Lingyin Buddhist Temple (靈隱寺)

Hangzhou: Capital of Silk and Tea Trade

Recommended Books on China:
-Marco Polo From Venice to Xanadu by Laurence Bergreen
-Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250-76 by Jacques Gernet
-Inner Quarters: Marriage and the Lives of Chinese Women in the Sung Period by Patrica Ebrey
-Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler
-Nixon and Mao: The Week That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan
-China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World by Ted C. Fishman
-Out of Mao’s Shadow: The Struggle for the Soul of a New China by Phillip Pan

China - Study Abroad
-HIST 2321 World History + CHIN 1411 Beginning Chinese I
-On-Campus and Overseas
-International College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Beijing
-Week 1 – CyFair campus; classes and orientation
-Weeks 2 – 3: Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (classes and field trips)
-Week 4: 4 days in Beijing, China; return to HoustonWeeks 5-6: CyFair campus; classes and final exams

Contact Information:
Carolyn HoProfessor of ESOL and Chinese at Lone Star College-CyFairOffice: Technology Center (TECH) 100-A. Phone: 281-290-3257 or carolyn.ho@lonestar.edu

Robert O’Brien Professor of History at Lone Star College-CyFair Office: Technology Center (TECH) 200-I. Phone: 281-290-3257 or robert.obrien@lonestar.edu

Katalin FountainCoordinator for International Education at Lone Star College-CyFairOffice: Learning Commons (LRNC) 246. Phone: 832-482-1055 or katalin.fountain@lonestar.edu

January 2009

2009-01-30T16:18:00.000-06:00

January 7 — When Bad Things Happen to Good Food Choices - Lee Ann Harry, nurse educator from Balanced Health and Wellness, will reveal the effects of food toxicities and how to avoid them.

January 14 — Hook ‘Em or Gig ‘Em? - Explore the sometimes mystifying world of the language of sports with expert sports writer, Barb Wagner, author of Longhorn Lingo. A must for the upcoming Super Bowl.

January 21 — Yeast in the Air - Learn how to cultivate and make your own delicious sourdough bread with baker extraordinaire, Catharina Laporte. Come prepared to taste and take home some sourdough starter in HSC 105.

January 28 — Tough Times Money Wellness - Hal Lynde, Captain Cash of radio 94.5 FM, and Kurt Poe, financial planners both from Morgan Keegan, advise us during these financially trying times. Celebrate Financial Wellness Month. For more information about Mr. Lynde, go to http://hal.lynde.mkadvisor.com/.

SOURDOUGH – Yeast in the Air!

2009-01-21T12:10:00.002-06:00

SOURDOUGH – Yeast in the Air!

To make your own sourdough starter,

You will need:
½ cup unsweetened pineapple juice
½ cup whole grain wheat flour or whole grain rye flour (use the freshest and most organic flour you can get your hands on)
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups water

The pineapple juice may sound like a strange ingredient, but it is what makes this recipe work so well. The juice creates an acidic environment that prevents bad bacteria from taking over and causing spoilage during the fermentation period. Many alternate recipes (and purists) use only water.

DAY ONE: Mix 2 Tablespoons whole grain flour and 2 Tablespoons pineapple juice. The mixture should be a thick slurry. You may need to add more or less juice because different flours absorb different amounts of liquid so it is normal to have it vary. Stir well, cover. Stir vigorously at least 3 or 4 times over the next 24 hours. (stirring multiple times is very important to the process) Ideal room temperature would be between 72 and 80 degrees, but don't worry too much if it is not.

DAY TWO: Add 2 Tablespoons whole grain flour and 2 Tablespoons pineapple juice. Stir well and cover. Stir vigorously at least 3 or 4 times over another 24 hours. You may, or may not start to see small bubbles at this point.

DAY THREE: Add 2 Tablespoons whole grain flour and 2 Tablespoons pineapple juice. Stir well multiple times over the next 24 hours. DAY FOUR: Stir mixture and measure out 1/4 cup--discard the rest. To the 1/4 cup, stir in 1/4 cup unbleached AP flour and 1/4 cup water. Stir multiple times over the next 24 hours. REPEAT Day 4 until mixture expands to double its size and smells yeasty.
Store the starter in the refrigerator when you are not using it. See feeding instructions (below) to keep it alive. Feeding the Starter
Either use or discard all but about 1/2 cup of the starter ---THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT to maintain a healthy starter!

Feed the remaining ½ cup starter with 1 cup flour and ½-¾ cup of water (Hydration approx 60%). Stir vigorously. Return to the refrigerator. If you forget to feed it for a few weeks, it probably will be fine but may take several feedings to get it back up to par.

Catharina’s Basic Bread Recipe

There are plenty of recipes out there for sourdough (on the web) or you can pick something up at the library --- but I will give you my favorite and easiest instructions to get started. For this entire process temperature is relatively important --- it should be about 72 – 84F --- otherwise the sourdough beasties won’t do their thing.

Take
2 cups of flour (white bread flour to start off)
1 cup plus a couple of tbspns water
A couple of heaped tbspns of the sourdough starter
Mix this together in a large plastic or glass container with a lid. Mark the side of the container so that you know the level of the starter.
Leave the mixture out for 8 – 12 hours (overnight) --- it should double in size and be very foamy and stringy. (this process is called the first fermentation)

Take this fermented mixture (is should be approx 18oz) and mix together with
2 cups of water
5 ½ - 6 cups of flour
1 tbspn salt.

Knead by hand for 12 -17 mins or in a Kitchenaid on speed ‘3’ for approx 6 minutes. When you are done kneading the bread will be able to pass the ‘windowpane test’ --- take a small chunk of the dough and stretch it out and hold it up to the light and you should be able to see light through it – like a window pane.

When kneading is complete, place the dough in an oiled or greased bowl, cover with oiled cling film, and allow it to double. This will take about 2 ½ hours. (this is called the second fermentation)

Gently Divide the dough into two and allow it rest (covered with oiled cling film) for 30 mins.

Gently Shape the dough into a floured tin or a basket (for shaping), cover with oiled cling film and allow it to proof for another 2 hours (this is called proofing). I use three lengths of wood and a rice floured dishcloth to create little ‘cloches’ for my dough to proof in – but my dad just uses baking pans.

Heat your oven to 450F degrees (real hot) with the rack in the bottom third --- the baking technique can be quite complicated with sprintzing the oven for steam etc --- but I just place another pan in the oven and add water to it (for steam) when I place the loaf in. Slash to loaves (with a razor blade or similar) to give them room to ‘spring’ while cooking. Cook for 30 mins. Check for doneness by knocking on the bottom of the loaf for a hollow sound.

Allow to cool (this is important because the bread is really still cooking inside), then EAT!!!

Catharina’s Favorite Sourdough Books

The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread (Hardcover)
by Peter Reinhart (Author), Ron Manville (Photographer). Publisher: Ten Speed Press (December 2001)

Crust & Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers (Paperback) by Peter Reinhart (Author). Publisher: Ten Speed Press (August 2006)

The Bread Bible (Hardcover) by Rose Levy Beranbaum (Author). Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (October 2003)

Bread Alone: Bold Fresh Loaves from Your Own Hands (Hardcover) by Daniel Leader (Author), Judith Blahnik (Author). Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; 1 edition (November 19, 1993)

Artisan Baking (Paperback) by Maggie Glezer (Author). Publisher: Artisan (October 1, 2005)

World Sourdoughs from Antiquity: Authentic recipes for modern bakers (Paperback)
by Ed Wood (Author). Publisher: Ten Speed Press; Revised edition (October 1996).

When Bad Things Happen to Good Food Choices

2009-01-07T16:21:00.005-06:00

8 foods that account for 90% of all allergic or sensitivities reactions:

Milk
Eggs
Soy
Wheat (glutten - has a correlation )
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Fish
Shellfish

Suggestions to help with sensitivities:
Rotate food you eat. Try to wait 4 days before eating the same food again.
Eat only foods to which you are not sensitive.
Eat whole uncomplicated foods.
Diversify your diet; think rainbow; do not eat the same meal every day
Keep a food diary, include symptoms.
Design a plan that works for you.

Allergy vs. Sensitivity or Intolerance
-these are abnormal responses to a food that is triggered by your immune system.

Sensitivity
-Reaction can take place several hours or even days later
-Symptoms are more of a chronic nature

Allergy
-Immediate reaction
-Can be life threatening

For more information visit Balanced Health and Wellness
www.balancedhealthandwellness.com

December

2008-12-30T11:56:00.000-06:00

December 3, 2008 Color Me Beautiful - Get ready for the holiday season with a color makeover from hair to skin tone analysis with expert beauty consultant, Lisa Allison.

December 10, 2008 Wrap a Gift/Save the World - Tracy Williams and Rose Botkin reveal how to make beautifully wrapped gifts in an environmentally friendly way.

December 17, 2008 A Ukrainian Holiday Celebration - How do Ukrainians celebrate the season? Learn how to make Russian/Ukrainian tea cookies and pierogues with Melanie Metzger. Find out about the traditional Sviata Vechera or Holy Evening dinner. HSC 105

A special performance Thursday Dec. 18 at 3:30!
Here We Go a Wassailing and a Madrigal Feast with
The I Cantori Singers from Langham Creek High School.
Join us for some Renaissance vocal music, history, wassail and hearty fare.
First floor of the library near the Technology Entrance.
No class Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. LIFE resumes on January

November

2008-11-30T11:49:00.001-06:00

November 5, 2008 Medicine of the Future Baylor College of Medicine’s Tony Elam, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, reveals amazing medical breakthroughs from imaging to enomic
research. Celebrate National Radiologic Technology week Nov. 2 – 8.

November 12, 2008 The White Man’s Indian: Native Americans in Film Professor Matthew Turner takes us on a tour of how Native American culture has been portrayed in the movies.

November 19, 2008 Explore Your World: When Photography and Maps Merge Geotagging is he
process of merging digital photography and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to create maps of photographs. Buck Buchanan gives hands-on demonstrations of new technologies breaking boundaries. GIS Lab TECH 114

No class Nov. 26

October

2008-10-30T11:53:00.001-05:00

October 1, 2008 Collecting Antiques - Vanessa Gerondale of "Chippendale Eastlake" in the Heights gives us a primer on how to choose antiques and find hidden treasures.

October 8, 2008 Hot Tamale! - Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and discover the culinary art of making tamales with Paula Gonzales. HSC 105

October 15, 2008 Taking Sides - What are the issues facing the nation this November? Professor Jim Brown presents some of the vital issues and you can vote using amazing new technology – clickers! And let’s talk about election war stories. Just what is an hanging chad?

October 22, 2008 Art of Montage - Artist Tony Kram demonstrates how the artist composes an artwork using existing artifacts and objects in a collage. Win an original work of art!

October 29, 2008 Skull Beads and other Adornments - Create skull beads and learn about the Day of the Dead with the mistress of the bead, Melissa Savage.

September 2008

2008-09-30T09:20:00.002-05:00

September 3 — Herbal Medicine - Dr. Mary Chen is back to share the secrets of ancient Chinese herbal medicine which precede modern medicine by millennia. Stay to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the college. The ceremony is 2 - 4 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Main Stage.
September 10 — You're Fired! - Get in your survival-of-the-fittest mode and learn how to start a fire without the convenience of matches. Jason Moulenbelt, professor and survival buff, gives this workshop where you will learn to spark a flame four different ways without matches or a lighter. TECH 124 Advanced Manufacturing Center
September 17 — Hangzhou, China - It is the finest and most noble city in the world according to Marco Polo. Professors Carolyn Ho and Bobby O'Brien will examine the economic and social importance of this Chinese city's past and present.
September 24 — What's the Word, Hummingbird? - Professors Tim Sebesta and Clay White give the scoop on all things hummingbird. Just how fast are those wings?

August 2008

2008-08-31T09:13:00.001-05:00

August 6 — You Scream, I Scream Ice Cream! - Learn about the history of iced confections, unique ways to create them, and how to savor their flavor. Monica Norem leads the way.

August 13 — Yard Wise Seminar - Make your back yard an environmental model using simple earth-friendly methods and materials. Herman Sanders of Watershed Protection Group joins us.

August 20 — Mindfulness - Discover the restorative powers for health and spirit of mindful breathing with Barbara Morrison of Texas Yoga Center. And this too will pass.

August 27 — Make and Bake with Krissy - Create several exquisite and deceptively simple clay flowers. Krissy Conn lends her artistic flair to the process.

August 13 - Yard Wise Seminar

2008-08-13T08:39:00.003-05:00

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Harris County Watershed Protection Group
Speaker: Herman Sanders
(713) 290-3000
http://www.cleanwaterways.org/
Physical Address:
9800 Northwest Frwy., Suite 305,
Houston, TX 77092

Watersmart Landscapes: Beauty without Waiste
Speaker: Carol Brouwer
County Extention Agent - Horticulture
(281) 855-5600
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort

Soil Testing
http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/
~ $17
~ 6in depth various samples.
Make sure to dry out before sending.

I Scream, You Scream

2008-08-06T23:59:00.008-05:00

3 Question Survey Results!

1. How do you like to eat your ice cream?
On a stick 2 7%
In a cup or bowl 18 67%
In a cone 7 26%
Total 27 100%

2. How many ice cream cartons are usually in your freezer?
0 9 33%
1 12 44%
2 3 11%
3+ 3 11%
Total 27 100%

3. How often have you made homemade ice cream?
Never 4 15%
Once in my life 5 19%
A few times 14 52%
Frequently 4 15%
Total 27 100%

July 2008

2008-07-31T21:09:00.001-05:00

July 2 — Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation - "Joseph J. Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evident were actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic." (Amazon.com) Alex Smith leads a discussion of this fascinating book. Check it out at the library!
July 9 — Milles Feuilles or Napoléons? - Oh the magic of French pastry. Explore your taste buds with Francophile Georges Detiveaux. La fête du quatorze juillet is Monday: French Independence Day has never tasted so sweet!
July 16 — JFK's Ghost - Learn why the assassination continues to haunt us. Emphasis will be on the murder case and on retired LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman's claim of "a major clue that has been ignored for forty years - a breakthrough that will change the debate over the assassination." Professor Allen Vogt from Lone Star College-North Harris presides.
July 23 — Gardening for Year-Round Color - Learn the secrets to accent your garden with color using annuals and perennials with master gardener Freddye Kelly.
July 30 — Dog Days of Summer-What's for Dinner? - Create cool, light, and refreshing fare with ease and finesse. Learn how with Chef John from HEB Cypress Market in LRNC 131 (NOTE: room change).

July 30 — Dog Days of Summer-What's for Dinner?

2008-07-30T11:30:00.003-05:00

To get in touch with HEB cooking connection to find out about classes offered, please call: 281-758-1100.

Easy Black Bean Salad
prep time:10 minutes
serves 6-8

2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of mixicorn, drained (can use regular corn too)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup of cilantro, chopped (can substitute for Italian parsley)
1/2 jar roasted red pepper and onion relish (or dip)
1/2 cup of feta, crumbled
1/4 cup red onion, chopped small (can substitute for scallions if prefer)

Mix all of the ingredients together.
Season to taste and let rest 1 hour before serving. Serve with raspberry glazed pork tenderloin for a great dinner.

Southwest Caesar Salad
Prep time : 15 minutes
Serves 4-6
1/2 cup star chefs truly authentic caesar dressing
1 tablespoon adams reserve southwest rub
(If you plan to add meat, you can use the rub on the meat instead)
1 bag hearts of romaine lettuce
2 medium-size tomatoes, cut to preferred style
1 avocado
1/2 can whole kernel corn
1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
Optional: croutons and Parmesan cheese for garnish
you can also use tortilla chip strips in stead of croutons

-Combine dressing and rub together in a medium size salad bowl. Drain corn. Rinse and drain beans; place in bowl with dressing.
-Chop tomatoes into bite size pieces. Cut avocado in half; discard seed; then cut into wedge and discard peel.
-Toss lettuce, tomatoes and avocado with dressing, corn and beans. Top with croutons and cheese, if desired, and serve.
*You can also make this a dinner salad by adding grilled chicken to it, or other preferred meat.

July 23 — Gardening for Year-Round Color

2008-07-23T11:59:00.003-05:00

Top 10 landscape perennials

Common Name / Scientific Name / Exposure

Baby Sun; Sunray Moonbeam; Zagreb / Coreopsis gandiflora / Sun
Daylily / Hemerocallis spp. / Sun or Semi-Shade
Goldstrum Rudbickia / Rudbeckia X Goldstrum / Sun
Perennial Hibiscus / Hibiscus X mosheutos / Sun

(Rose Mallow, Mallow Rose, Swamp Mallow). Grown primarily for its large flowers (six to 12 inches wide), the plant forms a large (three to eight foot) shrub. White, pink and red hibiscus are available. The plant is actually a herbacious perennial and will overwinter. Do not confuse this Hibixcus with K. syruacus (Althea), a woody deciduous shrub common in the landscape or with H. rosa-sinensis (Chinese Hibiscus), a tropical hibiscus which is not hardy. The Moy Grande, Flare and Lord Baltimore are highly recommended for full sun locations, wet or dry.

Purple Coneflower / Echinacea angustifolia / Sun
Garden Canna / Canna X Gerneralis / Sun or Shade
Turk's Cap / Malvaviscus drummondii / Sun or Shade
'Texas Gold' Columbine / Aquilegia Hinckleyana / Shade
Firebush / Hamelia patens / Sun
Perennial Verbena / Verbena X hubrida / Sun

Flowers and Color for All Seasons
1. Designing with Plants
2. Painting with Plants
3. Patio Gardening
4. Vertical Gardening
5. Buterfly Gardening

Fall Planted Spring-Flowering Annuals

Spring Planted Summer-Flowering Annuals

The Southern Garden
Table of Landscape Plants

May 2008

2008-05-31T23:59:00.005-05:00

May 7 — Better Living Through Sonography - See the amazing new technology to peer into your very own arteries without any pain. Professor Jose Rodriguez demonstrates how and whether you need to screen for stroke.
May 14 — Calls of the Wild - Birdsong is a magical part of nature. Come to this hands-on workshop by Professor Tim Sebesta on how to identify our feathered friends by their song.
May 21 — Tracing your Genetic Lineage - Dr. Brian Shmaefsky, biology professor from Lone Star College-Kingwood, reveals his ancient ancestral roots via the Genographic Project hosted by the National Geographic Society.
May 28 — Curry Flavor: Secrets behind Curry with Professor Padmaja Vedartham - What is the history of curry and why is it so hot? Taste the exotic flavors of Indian/South Asian food and learn some easy, healthful cooking tips and techniques. Celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month in HSC 105 (Kitchen).

Animoto

2008-05-02T10:03:00.001-05:00

Join us Wednesdays 10 - 11 am

April 2008 Schedule

2008-04-30T23:59:00.000-05:00

April 2 — Real Estate Looky Loo - See the amazing new technology to peer into your neighbor’s real estate and valuations with Susan Green. Arm yourself to challenge your next homestead appraisal.
April 9 — Harris County History - Theresa Chang, Harris County District Clerk, delves into some local history through the award winning display of historical records and images. See how history is preserved for the generations to come.
April 16 — Arts of India with Rahda Atluri - Come prepared to make your own artistic creation inspired by the ancient Indian arts.
April 23 — And Not a Drop to Drink - You may think there’s water, water everywhere, but not so fast! Find out about protecting our waterways with the Harris County Watershed Protection Group.
April 30 — Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Learn about past elections and let the mud slinging begin. Alex Smith, history professor, delights with hidden scoops about politics at its worst. (or best?)

Suggestions!

2008-04-30T12:58:00.000-05:00

Any ideas for new programs?
Post a suggestion!
Or send an email to lifelibrary@gmail.com.

Claire Gunnels,
LIFE COP,
Chair of Programming

April 2 - Real Estate Looky Loo

2008-04-02T13:23:00.002-05:00

Websites for real estate envy

Houston Sites:
Harris County Appraisal district www.hcad.org
Houston Area Realtors www.har.com
Chronicle real estate www.choron.com/realestate
Zillow www.zillow.com
Swamp lot swamplot.com
Houston architecture information forum www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif
Flood plains tropical storm Allison recovery project maps2.tsarp.org/tsarp

Out of town shopping:

www.realtor.com

Just for fun:
www.architecturealdigest.com/resources/estates
haute living
www.hauteliving.com/category/blog
realestalker
realestalker.blogspot.com
la.curbed.com
curbed.com

March 2008 events

2008-03-31T23:59:00.000-05:00

March 5, 2008 Original Artwork Revealed
Our own artist and master instructor Tony Kram
creates a pastel work of art before your very eyes.
You may be the lucky winner of this unique piece.

March 12, 2008 Ukrainian Easter Eggs Olia Palmer,
librarian from Lone Star College-North Harris, shares
her Ukrainian heritage by giving us the history and
the art of decorating pysanky (Ukrainian Easter
Eggs). Celebrate Women’s History.

March 19, 2007 Chanson française with Georges
Detiveaux. In celebration of the semaine nationale
de la Francophonie, Monsieur Detiveaux is back with
great songs from the French-speaking world. Venez
chanter avec nous!

March 26, 2007 The Katy Prairie
Come learn the why and how of the interesting and
unusual landscaping at Lone Star College-CyFair.
Start your adventure in Library 131 for a multimedia
slide show by Cindy Crow and bring your walking
shoes for an environmental tour by our own Phi
Theta Kappa International Honor Society students.

February 2008 Schedule

2008-02-29T23:59:00.000-06:00

February 6 — Playing the Blues - Get down with Jason Moulenbelt and learn how to play the harmonica. Yes, the harmonica! Celebrating African-American History Month.
February 13 — Hearts and Chocolate - Dell Burditt looks at the heart as an iconic symbol of many things from love to health.
February 20 — What Handwriting Reveals - Susan Green and Claire Gunnels discuss the book, Sex, Lies, and Handwriting by Michelle Dresbold. Can your handwriting change your life? A Joint ALL program.
February 27 — American West in Film - Break through the stereotypes and learn how Hollywood depicts our American West. History and Film Professor Bobby O'Brien presides.

January 2008 Schedule

2008-01-31T23:59:00.000-06:00

January 2 — No Session
January 9 — Yoga on My Mind - Learn basic skills and techniques of the meditative process of this ancient art with Barbara Morrison of the Texas Yoga Center. A joint Wellness Committee program.
January 16 — NASA - It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Learn from two former NASA historians, our own Sandra Harvey and Rob Coyle, just what NASA is and why you might care.
January 23 — Captain Cash - It's Financial Wellness Month and Hal Lynde of radio 94.5 FM gives tips for saving you money! A joint program with our Children's Department.
January 30 — Bioinformatics and Nanobots - Discover the profound impact of the intersection of science and information technology. Professor Larry Loomis-Price of Montgomery College's Biotechnology Department reveals a brave new world. Care to program your DNA?

November - January 2, 2008

2007-12-31T10:15:00.000-06:00

November 7 — Arrows to Wampum - From mighty Indian chiefs to the bravest of the braves, learn about our indigenous forebears from history professors Alex Smith and Sandra Harvey.

November 14 — The World is Flat - Geography Awareness Day celebrates why geography keeps us connected. Go global with Buck Buchanan in Tech GIS Lab 114.

November 21 — No Session

November 28 — Toast of the Town - Jeff Sauls of Cy-Fair Toastmasters conducts a mini workshop on how to speak with confidence and exercise leadership skills in your everyday environment. A Joint FSEC/LIFE Professional Development Program

December 5 — The Skinny on Metabolic Resistance - Dr. Mary Alavi of Balanced Health and Wellness has the new millennial answer to the age old question: How do you maintain energy and combat weight gain? Joint program with the Wellness Committee.

December 12 — Party Pot Luck - Join the library staff, the Friends of the Library and our Academy for Lifelong Learning for some food and games.
( For the pot luck, you can just come and enjoy or bring a favorite dessert or side dish. Turkey will be served!)

December 19 — No Session

December 26 — No Session

January 2 — No Session

NOTE: LIFE resumes January 9, 2008

December 12 - Party Pot Luck

2007-12-12T09:20:00.000-06:00

Please send the recipes for the dishes everyone brought to the pot luck, so that they may be shared with everyone here. Thanks for coming everyone. We had a lot of fun.

Here is the recipe for the corn casserole.

1 can cream style corn

1 can regular corn, undrained

3 or 4 eggs (depending on size), lightly beaten

1/2 cup of oil (I use corn oil or canola)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 onion, finely chopped

Pinch of salt

1 package of Jiffy Corn muffin mix

Use corn undrained. Add beaten eggs, oil,salt and onions. Mix with Jiffy mix and 1/2 cup of the cheese.

Pour into a lightly grease 9"X13" dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

This is so easy to make and is great to bring to pot-luck dinners.

December 5 - The Skinny on Metabolic Resistance

2007-12-05T09:02:00.000-06:00

Dr. Mary Alavi of Balanced Health and Wellness returned for a fantastic program.

Her clinic's website is www.balancedhealthandwellness.com

located at 16125 Cairnway / Suite 110 / Houston, TX 77084

Phone: 281.855.2273
Fax: 281.855.0710

November 28 - Toast of hte Town

2007-11-28T09:10:00.000-06:00

Toastmasters International has location all over the place.
To find a location best for you visit www.toastmasters.org
You can also email them at tminfo@toastmasters.org.

One of the books that was recommended:
"Speak Up with Confidence" by Jack Valenti

November 14 - The World is Flat

2007-11-14T10:22:00.000-06:00

GIS Day 2007
L.I.F.E. Presentation Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
(found at http://faculty.nhmccd.edu/bbuchanan/gisday2007.html )

The World is Flat - Geography Awareness Day celebrates why geography keeps us connected. Go global with Buck Buchanan in Tech GIS Lab 114.

Geography Awareness Week 2007 November 11-17
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction/
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/11/google-earth-promotes-geography.html
http://www.google.com/educators/gaw2007.html

GIS Day 2007 Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
http://www.gisday.com/

Metaverse: The term metaverse comes from Neal Stephenson’s 1992 novel Snow Crash, and is now widely used to describe the vision behind current work on fully immersive 3D virtual spaces.

Current applications no longer claim to be the Metaverse. However, many are inspired by the vision and are exploring the potential of a 3D immersive virtual space from many angles. For example:

The Croquet Project takes the metaverse metaphor as a starting point for a new form of operating system, that is built for the increasing power of modern computers, and does not have its foundations in the limitations of the previous century.

Google Earth is coming from the area of GIS and satellite imagery to build virtual structure on top of real earth data (cf downtown Tokyo).

Photosynth

Blaise Aguera y Arcas created Seadragon (acquired by Microsoft in 2006), the visualization technology that gives Photosynth its amazingly smooth digital rendering and zoom capabilities. Photosynth itself is a vastly powerful piece of software capable of taking a wide variety of images, analyzing them for similarities, and grafting them together into an interactive three-dimensional space. This seamless patchwork of images can be viewed via multiple angles and magnifications, allowing us to look around corners or "fly" in for a (much) closer look.

Simply put, it could utterly transform the way we experience digital images.

Video: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRwOFLWVg8A
Microsoft Live Labs Photosynth: http://labs.live.com/photosynth/

Photo Tourism Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgBQCoEfiMs
University of Washington Photo Tourrism Project: http://phototour.cs.washington.edu/

Perceptive Pixel: Multi-touch interface

Jeff Han unveiled the genius of multi-touch interface design. Han’s intuitive "interface-free" computer displays -- controlled by the touch of fingertips -- will change forever the way you think about computers. At TED 2006, the audience whistled, clapped and gasped audibly as Han demoed (for the first time publicly) his prototype drafting table-cum-touch display, developed at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. The demo included a virtual lightbox, where he moved photos by fingertip -- as if they were paper on a desk -- flicking them across the screen and zooming in and out by pinching two fingers together, as well as a Google Earth-like map that he tilted and flew over with simple moves.

Viedo: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ENumwMohs
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGDNFpOMcA
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfFwgPuEdSk
Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6379146923853181774
Perceptive Pixel: http://www.perceptivepixel.com/

Stephen Lawler: Look! Up in the sky! It's Virtual Earth!

Stephen Lawler, from Microsoft, takes us on a tour through the company's new Virtual Earth project, which is, basically, an attempt to turn the entire planet into an interface to the web. Collecting and synthesizing massive amounts of data -- bird's-eye views, street-level photos, 3D wireframes -- the Virtual Earth team are building a world of possibilities. Bonus: This talk may explain the mysterious vans with cameras on top that you might have seen cruising up and down your street.

Video: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/139
Microsoft's Virtual Earth: http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/

May 2007 Academy for Lifelong Learning Presentation
http://faculty.nhmccd.edu/bbuchanan/ges.html

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading
Inspired talks by the world's greatest thinkers and doers
http://www.ted.com/

October 2007

2007-10-31T23:56:00.000-05:00

October 3 — Shelling at the Seashore - Beautiful and unique treasures await you on the beach. Grab a bag or bucket and (re)discover shell collecting as a hobby or competitive sport! Monica Norem, born on Galveston Island, presides.

October 10 — Un Cafecito, Por Favor - The organic coffee industry never tasted this good. Learn about some new approaches to growing coffee that are considered very bird friendly while sipping on our shade-grown coffee from Café Altagracia in the Dominican Republic. Starring Clay White and Tim Sebesta, professors extraordinaire.

October 17 — Steal this Book - Downloadable books are here for free at your library. Learn how to get these audio books at your fingertips in library computer lab 203.

October 24 — How Quilts Bind the Community - Discover quilting with Patricia Plunk. View the AIDS Memorial Quilt in the library from October 22–29 whose mission is to foster healing, heighten awareness, and inspire action.

October 31 — Halloween Party - Autumn foods with Tony and Sheldon. Now that’s scary in HSC 105.

October 31 - Halloween Party

2007-10-31T10:42:00.000-05:00

These were the dishes that were served:
Crunchy Garbanzos
Dry Jack Crisps
Cantaloupe Slivers
Chicken Alouette
Pumpkin-Pear Soup
Artichoke-Parmesan Phyllo Bites
Open-Faced Sandwiches of Herring, Apple, and Chives

If you are interested in the recipe for any or all of these, photocopies can be made for you upon request. Please Ask.

October 24 - How Quilts Bind hte Community

2007-10-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

Oct 17 - Steal This Book

2007-10-17T10:24:00.000-05:00

Device/Software Requirements

HCPL’s Downloadable eMedia

http://hcpl.lib.overdrive.com

What do I need to use HCPL’s Digital Media Catalog?

Personal Computer
Library card
Free software
Internet access
Audio device

Software requirements

Windows Media Player Version 9 or higher (version 11 recommended)
Microsoft® Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Windows 2000 (Professional or Server), Windows Millennium Edition (ME), Windows XP (Home, Professional, Tablet PC, or Media Center Edition), Windows Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate Edition)
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 (or newer)
Overdrive Media Console (http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc/download.asp)

Audio Device Requirements

To use Audio Books on a device, the device must play DRM-protected content in the .wma format, and either support the bit rate of 32kbps or be able to transcode 32kbps files to a supported bit rate.
To use Music on a device, the device must play DRM-protected content in the .wma format, and the device must either support the bit rate of 64kbps or be able to transcode 64kbps files to a supported bit rate.
To use Video on a device, the device must play DRM-protected content in the .wmv format, and the device must either support the bit rate of 500kbps or be able to transcode 500kbps files to a supported bit rate.

Known Compatible Devices (selected)

See complete list at http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/Compatibledevices.asp

Coby MP-C353, MP-C652, MP-C654, MP-C7055, MP-C7057, MP-C854, MP-C856, MP-C945
Creative MuVo NX 128, MuVo TX FM 128, Muvo V100, Jukebox Zen USB 2.0, ZEN, ZEN MicroPhoto 8GB, ZEN Nano Plus, ZEN Portable Media Center*, ZEN Stone, ZEN Stone Plus, ZEN Vision:M*
Dell Axim X51v Pocket PC*
HP iPAQ hx2495 Pocket PC*
iRiver T10** , iRiver T30**
** with the firmware update available at: http://www.iriveramerica.com/support/mtpupdate
Philips GoGear Jukebox HDD1630 6GB
Rio Carbon
Samsung BlackJack*
Samsung YP-F1x, YP-T8x, YP-U2J
Sandisk Sansa c140, Sansa e130, Sansa e250, Sansa m230, SDMX1-256, SDMX1-512 (Note that the e200 Series expansion slot does not support OverDrive Media. OverDrive Media files must be transferred to the main memory of the device.)

* This device supports OverDrive Video in addition to OverDrive Audio Books and Music

Known Incompatible Devices

See complete list at http://www.overdrive.com/resources/drc/Incompatibledevices.asp

Archos Pocket Video Recorder
Brookstone TinyTunes MP3 Player
iPod
Mach Speed Technologies 1GB Trio MP3 Player
Microsoft Zune
Motorola RAZR
Panasonic SV-SW30V
Phillips SA1100/37
Rio Cali
Samsung YP-T7J
SanDisk Sansa e140
Sony NW-S205F

How much storage space do I need on my device?

Each ‘Part’ of an Audio Book is approximately 15 –18 MB in size. A ten part audio book will require approximately 180 MB (10 x 18 MB) of storage.

Storage Capacity	Hours / Parts
128 MB	7 hours / parts
256 MB	14 hours / parts
512 MB	28 hours / parts
1 GB	56 hours / parts
2 GB	112 hours / parts
10 GB	560 hours / parts
20 GB	1120 hours / parts

Audio-to-go in 3 Easy Steps!

HCPL’s Downloadable eMedia

http://hcpl.lib.overdrive.com

1 Find a Book

http://hcpl.lib.overdrive.com
Search for items
Select item(s) you would like to check out. Click “Add to cart” or “Place on Hold”
Click on “My Cart” to check out item(s) you’ve selected.
Click on “Proceed to Checkout”
Click on “Confirm Checkout”
Start downloading your title(s)!

Note: if you have a slow internet connection, you may want to download one part at a time. You can get transfer the downloaded part to your audio device and start listening while you’re waiting for the other parts to download!

2 Install Free Software

If you haven’t installed all the necessary software, you will need to do so at this time. The link to download the appropriate software will be located next to the title in your cart.

3 Transfer file from computer to audio device

Attach your device to the computer
In the Overdrive software, click on the title you would like to transfer and then click on “Transfer”
Select the part(s) you would like to transfer and click on “Next.” Overdrive will start transferring the file to your audio device.
Click on “Finish.”
Disconnect your audio device and start listening!

Downloaded titles will automatically expire at the end of their checkout periods. The file, however, will remain on your computer or your audio device until you delete it. If you need to keep an item longer, you can check out the item again and then download a small file that will reactivate the title on your computer and your audio device.

If you have questions or technical issues, send a message to: ipac-catalog@hcpl.net. Include as much information you can, such as library cards number, steps to reproduce the problem, text of any error messages, software information (browser version, operating system, etc.)

More Shade Grown Coffee Info

2007-10-10T14:37:00.000-05:00

It does not look like Starbucks serves shade grown coffee. You can buy it from their website.

Organic Shade Grown Mexico by Starbucks® Coffee

This light-bodied coffee with bold acidity and a crisp, refreshing finish comes from hundreds of small farms in the Southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

More about this coffee:
Chiapas farmers, near the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, are protecting the biodiversity of the last remaining cloud forest in Southern Mexico through organic and traditional shade growing coffee plants.

http://www.starbucksstore.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=313018

Here is another link for coffee in Texas. This one is great!

http://www.songbird.org/cgi-bin/cc_select.pl?state=TX – This link is the best one by far!

Oct 10 - Un Cafecito, Por Favor

2007-10-10T09:19:00.000-05:00

Coffee Facts

-2/3rds world production exported from Latin America and Caribbean

-3rd most common import in US behind oil and steel

-US consumes 1/3rd of the world’s coffee

-Revenues exceed 10 billion a year, just behind oil

Traditional method

Grown under canopy of forest in shade or partial shade

Current method

Sun tolerant hybrid coffee plants, planted in cleared field (monoculture)

The Impacts

The Good

-Sun coffee has 3x the yield!

The Bad

-Less flavor

-Less biodiversity*

-Requires fertilization

-Requires insecticides

-Requires herbicides

-Requires fungicides

-Increases soil erosion

-Creates toxic run-off

-Not sustainable*

Biodiversity

-Shade coffee fields have 2/3rds the bird diversity compared to pristine forests

-Full Sun monocultures have less than 1/10th

-Shade coffee fields have as many as 40 species of trees that make up the canopy

-Full Sun monocultures have no trees

Just a Few Birds that Winter in Shade Coffee Plantations

Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Traill's Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-green Vireo
Barn Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Golden-cheeked Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Mourning Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole

-Bird Friendly Coffee - Certified as shade-grown and organic by an independent inspector. Coffee that comes from farms in Latin America that provide good, forest-like habitat for birds.

-Rainforest Alliance Certified – Goods produced using farm and forestry methods that are good for the people and the planet. Goods derived from farms and forests where water, soil and wildlife habitat are conserved, where workers are treated well, where families have access to education and health care and where communities benefit.

- Fair Trade Certified - Empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By guaranteeing minimum floor prices and social premiums, Fair Trade enables producers to invest in their farms and communities and protect the environment.

Shade Grown/Organic Coffee Vendors

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Coffee/

http://www.cafecristina.com/

Coffee Traders, Inc.
1400 East 4th
Austin, TX 78702
Contact: RC Beall
512-326-4333
512-326-2813 (Fax)
hbeall@texascoffeetraders.com
http://www.texascoffeetraders.com

Lola Savannah, Ltd.
1701 Commerce
Houston, TX 77002
Contact: Rebecca Smith
713-222-9800 or 888-663-9166
713-222-9802 (Fax)
lola@lolasavannah.co
http://www.lolasavannah.com

Wild Bird Center
8436 Denton Highway, Ste 206
Watauga, TX 76148
Contact: Maureen Hall
817-514-8804
watauga@wildbird.co
http://www.wildbird.com/wat

Specialty Coffee LC
1401 S. Rendon, New Orleans, LA 70125
work504.827.0878

Kaladi Bros. Coffee/Colorado
1730 East Evans Ave., Denver, CO 80210
work720-570-2166

Bisbee Coffee Company
PO Drawer B, Bisbee, AZ 85603
work520-432-7931

CoffeeAM.com
100 Londonderry Court Suite#112, Woodstock, GA 30188
work678-494-1915

Tradewinds Coffee Co., Inc.
5500 - 106 Atlantic Springs Road, Raleigh, NC 27616
work800-457-0406

Perk’s Coffee House
49 S Court St, Athens, OH 45701
work740-594-7375

Randy Lemmon’s Gardenline

http://www.ktrh.com/pages/gardenline.html

October 3 - Shelling at the Seashore

2007-10-03T08:27:00.000-05:00

To find out information from this presentation, please visit the Shelling for Fun blog at

http://shellingforfun.blogspot.com/.

September 2007

2007-09-27T09:31:00.000-05:00

September 5 — Call of the Wild - Semper paratus, Always Ready, is our guide, and so is Professor Jason Moulenbelt where we each create a survival wrist band and learn how to use it.

September 12 — Rockin' on the Prairie Live - Clap your hands and slap your thighs to this live performance of Blues meets Motown. Maestro Thomas Meloncon directs this Precinct One musical extravaganza. Joint Program with the Academy of Lifelong Learning Center in the ARTS Recital Hall 102.

September 19 — Clayton Library Comes to Cy-Fair College - Sue Kaufman, Manager Clayton Library, Houston Public Library, presents tips on how to research our forebears using Houston's world famous genealogical collection in library computer lab 203.

September 26 — Presidential Assassins and Funerals with Alex Smith and Sandra Harvey - Don't miss this historical journey into the intricacies and minutiae of macabre presidential happenings.

Sept 19 - Clayton Library comes to Cy-Fair College

2007-09-19T08:25:00.000-05:00

Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research

Your key to your family history

Sue Kaufman, Manager

5300 Caroline St / Houston, TX / 77004 / 832-393-2600

http://www.houstonlibrary.org/branches/cla_home.html

Internet sites mentioned in presentation

www.geni.com

Social networking genealogy site. You load your information and relative are asked to invite

www.houstonlibrary.org

To access Ancestry.com you must be in an HPL location

To access HeritageQuest you must have a HPL Powercard to use from home

www.hcpl.net

To access Ancestry.com you must be in an HCPL location

To access HeritageQuest.com you must have a HCPL Knowledge Card to use from home

www.familysearch.org

The website of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (LDS – Mormons)

At this site you can search events, pedigree charts, and LDS library catalog.

www.usgenweb.com

A geographic driven

www.cyndislist.com

This is a directory to genealogical societies on the web

http://www.houstonlibrary.org/branches/cla_home.html

Clayton Library home page – click on the “Following Pages” link for more information and databases

Next Reads:

Click on “Readers Connect @ HPL” from the library home page. Choose the Next Reads icon. Click the subject newsletters you would like to subscribe to. You will be guided through the sign up process

September 5th - Call of the Wild

2007-09-05T08:20:00.000-05:00

Today we made survival bracelets with Jason Moulenbelt. If you would like more information check out Jason’s survival bracelet blog: http://www.tfgear.blogspot.com/.

Titles of survival book soon to come…

In the mean time here is one website I just noticed that has some survival information: http://www.captaindaves.com/guide/intro.htm#contents

In case you did not finish your bracelet here is a reminder of how to do the cobra knot.

The cobra knot:

Take your ‘starter’ side (see below to determine starter side) and go under the double center line. Still with the same rope lay it over the other single rope. Now switch ropes. Take the new single rope and go over the double rope and into the loop made from the first rope. Make sure when you pick up the new single rope that you are not undoing the cross over that starter rope did. (click on a picture to enlarge it)

Pictures modified from http://stormdranespbtutorial.blogspot.com/ blog site.

How to determine which side to start with:

When you look at the bracelet from the underside (or what will be the inside when it is done) you will see one side has a hump and the rope under it is going away from you. The other side is a loop (not a hump) which the rope comes out of and towards you. The ‘starter’ side will be the one that is coming towards you and opposite the hump side.

For the very first knot you can begin with either side.

August 2007

2007-08-31T17:56:00.000-05:00

August 1 — Gaming for Grownups - Patsy Brautigam enlists her Net-Generation son to demonstrate the mental and physical benefits of video games for all ages.

August 8 — Tangerine Trees and Marmalade Skies - Get into the seventies with Melissa, Rose and Tracy. Tie dye your white tee shirt and start feeling groovy.

August 15 — How do Artists Compose a Painting? - Learn the basics of composition with art instructor and artist Tony Kram.

August 22 — Face First with Balanced Health - Dr. Mary Alavi is back with some innovative ways to look your best. It’s not just for women anymore!

August 29 — Tulipmania - We won’t scare you with talk of the tulip crash in Holland, but Freddye Kelly will share sights from her trip to Holland and give tips on planting and storing bulbs.

Tulipmania with Freddye Kelly

2007-08-29T11:44:00.000-05:00

Here are two references Freddye recommended in her hand out:
1. Flowering bulbs: Culture and Maintenance by Diane Relf and Joyce Latimer. Virginia Extension. Publication Number 426-201, Revised 2004.
2. Bulbs. Arizona Master Gardener Manual. Arizona Cooperative Extension. 1998.

Harris County Cooperative Extension
http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort

The Harris County Master Gardener Association.
http://hcmga.tamu.edu/

The two plants that were given away were Cannas and Crocosmia. The first on is the one that was a hard thick stalk cut down, and the second is the one that was kind of like a spider grass with several long thin leaves.