Best Before...

Do you freak out when you see the words “use by” followed by a date, and that date was two years ago?

I must confess that I’m not alarmed by these statements. I have my own methods of checking for safe consumption. In the case of spices, I take a pinch between thumb and forefinger, mash and rub. If the green leaves release a strong odor of sage, then it’s okay to use in the stuffing. In the case of milk or left-over meat-loaf, I also trust my nose. If the condition of an egg is doubtful, I break it into a bowl. If the yolk stands upright, self-contained and a healthy yellow, then I use it.

Once I found a foil-wrapped slice of pizza in the back of the fridge. The pepperoni looked dry and brown, so I took a tiny bite. It tasted just fine, so I had it for dinner will no ill effects. Remember, food poisoning comes from contamination, not spoilage.

The actual words used as advice on products are “use by”, “sell by”, “best before”, or in the case of quinoa, “won’t be trendy after.” It’s a suggestion, not an ultimatum. A problem arises when people mentally insert the word “expiration” in place of the printed words before the date.

As to pharmaceuticals, I’m a bit more cautious. I once retrieved a half-empty tube of expensive eye ointment from the medicine cabinet that was more than one year past its date. I tossed it in the trash rather than take a chance, although my Scots blood screamed in protest. A veteran of the Vietnam War told me the Army gave him a perfectly effective aspirin that was left over from the Korean War. I was more than slightly skeptical. While I believe the aspirin was safe to swallow, I question its potential to affect a headache.

A new National Resources Defense Council and Harvard Law School study recommends eliminating sell-by dates because they are misleading. The dates were created by local and state organizations in the1970s. (I had successfully cared for mine and my family’s culinary needs for many years before that time.) They were established for the sole purpose of helping people know when the products are freshest – not safest, and it’s only a guess.

Because I know nothing about the National Resources Defense Council, I don’t take their word for anything.

But I do have a lot of faith in Harvard Law School students. If they say ignore the “sell by” dates, then let’s do it!

Thread with Brains

Do you want clothes that make a fashion statement or clothes that can save your life? 

Companies are weaving sensors right into the fabric of “smart clothes” to monitor a variety of personal vital signs. The business is expected to boom because of the convenience. Customers do not want another gadget to keep track of and these clothes are machine washable. What smart clothes can do for you:

• Monitor your baby – A company created by MIT grads is selling a $200 organic baby romper that monitors for warning signs of sudden death syndrome, sending an alert over wi-fi to parents’ phones.
• Track your workout – Sensoria’s $89 sports bra for women, or T-shirt for men, monitors calories burned, heart rate and respiration. Data is beamed to a smart phone as you exercise. In 2014, a $199 pair of socks will be available that tracks running statistics like weight distribution and pace, then suggests via an iPhone app how to improve performance.
• Detect breast cancer – one firm is testing a sports bra that screens breast tissue for cancer. If cancer is detected, a visit with your doctor and a mammogram would still be necessary, but early detection is a major plus.
• Prevent injuries – Reebok is offering a $150 skull cap aimed at preventing concussions by monitoring athletes’ head injuries in activities including football, boxing and skiing. 

However, obstacles and reservations do exist. Some researchers doubt the accuracy and utility of some smart clothes. Some consumers are deterred by the high costs. I personally buy five pairs of ankle socks for $10. I might not be persuaded to pay $199 for one pair no matter how smart they are.

“Smart clothes” is a recent concept that is growing and gaining acceptance. 

When they are comfortable, usable, intuitive and affordable, these garments will make peoples’ lives easier.

Bless the Little Children

When I was eight years old, I learned that my new school offered a wonderful activity – an Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the P.T.A. I’d never been on an Easter Egg Hunt. The note I carried home to my mother said each child should bring an Easter basket to hold their eggs. (Oh Happy Day, we would be allowed to keep the eggs we found!) We were all to meet Saturday at 2:00 PM at the city park.

The note also said that other siblings in the home were welcome to attend. Obviously, this meant that since I had no siblings at home, my three year old niece could participate. She had never been to an Easter Egg Hunt either.

During the afternoon, I caught a glimpse of her from time to time searching under trees and among the grass. I wondered if I should help her, then decided I needed to concentrate on finding eggs myself. After all, if she didn’t find many, I would share my bounty with her.

I passed up a few decorated boiled eggs. I could have a boiled egg anytime. My focus was on the pretty candy eggs of red, green, yellow and pink. We’d been told that there were some special chocolate eggs wrapped in foil. But I never found one of those.

Soon the P.T.A. ladies walked among us saying the hunt was over. All the eggs had been found.
I saw my niece standing beside my mother at the edge of the park, wearing a big smile and holding tightly to her basket. I was pleased to see her so happy. I joined them and began to count the eggs in both baskets.

Imagine my dismay when I realized my niece had twice as many eggs as I did – plus she had found two foil-wrapped chocolate eggs!

Irony

Definition: A combination of circumstances or a result that is the opposite of what is or might be expected or considered appropriate. 

Some ironic statements are funny – they make us smile. Others “hit the nail on the head” in ways that are upsetting or frightening. Some reveal that there are behavior and policies in our nation that defy logic and common sense.

Read the two following examples of irony and see if you smile in tolerance, or if you respond with fear or anger.

• Irony 1. We are told not to judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics. On the other hand, we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.
• Irony 2. The Food Stamp Program, administered by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is proud to be distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever to 47 million people in 2013. Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior asks us, “Please do not feed the animals.” Their stated reason for this policy is because, “The animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.”

Think about this, folks.

Quote for the day:
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

These Boots Are Made For Walking

A journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lau-tzu

When a new baby arrives in our family, the first thing I want to do is inspect the feet. There are two distinctly different foot categories in our gene pool. One is short, wide, with a high, thick instep and abbreviated toes. For these owners, we could throw away the shoes and let them wear the boxes. Strong and stable, these feet provide a solid, secure base for the athletes they belong to. They are at their happiest when barefoot. The other foot category, aristocratic and elegant, is often found on dancers and dreamers. Slender and flexible with toes that look a lot like fingers, these feet are often crammed into inappropriate sizes. This type may develop bunions, corns, hammer toes, etc. If shoes of the proper style and size are available, these feet do not like to be unshod.

Among our immediate family, we find five of the “fat-feet” shape and ten of the “skinny feet.” The two new great-grandchildren born last month have “skinny feet.” Neither category is “better” – just “different.” Special care must be exercised when buying shoes for either of these extremes.

At this point we stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving for Kepner-Scott Shoe Company in Orwigsburg, PA. Established in 1888 on the premise that all children deserved footwear that was flexible, breathable and comfortable, the company has distinguished itself for 125 years keeping tiny feet safe while walking, running and skipping. We have all worn shoes made by Kepner-Scott.

This company continues to produce leather shoes for toddlers and tykes, including babies’ first walking shoes, kid saddle oxfords, and black lace-up ankle boots for Amish children. Workers produce 200 pairs of shoes daily which retail for about $50.00 per pair. Made in sizes 0 to 3 for newborns to age 8, and in widths from B to EEE, the shoes’ uppers and lining are supple leather which provides support and comfort for tender young feet and toes. The owner of Sammi’s Shoe Box in Philadelphia has sold Kepner-Scott shoes since 1937 because of the beautiful workmanship. “The shoes are practically hand-made”, he says. “The company is a jewel.”

My family sends Kepner-Scott our sincere thanks and appreciation!

And The Earth Shook

As a cold, icy rain hit my area overnight, so did another earthquake.

Between November 1 and November 27, 15 quakes have hit North Texas and 14 of those have been in my home county. They ranged in magnitude from 2.6 to 3.6. Nineteen people reported to the U. S. Geological Survey that they felt “weak” to “light” shaking. A few reported that pictures fell from walls, windows rattled, and one reported cracks in the sheetrock. Most of the shaking has been in the early morning hours, and many complained of interrupted sleep. Geophysicists have said that it takes a 4.5 to 5.0 magnitude earthquake to cause damage.

Luckily for my home town, we have felt nothing. All the seismic activity has been in the northeastern part of the county, some 20 or so miles away from our home.

In barber shops, coffee houses and beauty salons, all the patrons say they know the cause of these quakes – it’s the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of the oil and gas wells in the vicinity.

Fact 1. There is extensive fracking in the area.

Fact 2. No definitive data exists to prove the claim.

In the interim, owners removed cherished pictures from the walls to the backs of closets, packed Granny’s priceless china and crystal from the china cabinet into sturdy boxes, and got on with the business of life. Folks here are far too busy to be concerned about a few minor earthquakes.

But there’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on!

---

Thought for the day:
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. - Thomas Jefferson