Trivia & Miscellaneous

[Daniel E.]

https://ucdintegrativemedicine.com/2017/07/enjoy-hot-dogs-plant-based-way/

The origin of the vegetarian hot dog is not clear but appears to date back as far as the 1940s when a meatless hot dog was manufactured to meet the dietary needs of the Seventh Day Adventists...

However, the popularity of veggie dogs really started to take off a few decades later when they were featured as a staple at Grateful Dead concerts, thanks to Gene Baur, a plant-based aficionado and the president/co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, an animal rescue organization started in 1986.

Baur and his partner would follow the Grateful Dead tour with his VW van, selling vegan hot dogs to Deadheads from morning to midnight. The fans nicknamed him the ‘guy with the veggie dog stand’ while the oft-cited invitation to ‘meet you at the meatless hot dog stand’ became part of the Grateful Dead legend.

 

[Daniel E.]

 

[Daniel E.]

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-31/rattlesnakes-myths-busted

Rattlesnake bites can be fatal, but rarely. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people per year are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States, but only five of them die each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 10% to 20% of rattlesnake bites, the creatures do not release venom, probably because they don’t see the human as prey, said Dr. Cyrus Rangan, assistant director with the California Poison Control System.

In venomous bites, a victim’s chance of surviving can drop if they have an allergic reaction to the venom, or if a fang reaches directly into a vein or artery, sending the poison flowing throughout their body, he said.

Most commonly, snake bite victims are men between 18 and 25 years old who are intoxicated and “doing something very stupid,” like trying to pick up the snake, Rangan said.

Todd said the snakes usually aren’t to blame: “Apparently the real issue is testosterone poisoning or alcohol use, not the snakes themselves.”

 

[Daniel E.]

 

[Daniel E.]

https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8851-backyard-hen-feed-growing-in-pet-food-and-treat-market

In APPA’s survey of 10,090 current pet owners, 10% reported owning backyard chickens, which equated to approximately 10 million U.S. households.

Eight out of 10 hen households reported considering their poultry to be pets.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

My brother used to keep chickens in England. He used the eggs but they were basically pets.

He scared the bejeesus out of me back then. He had a learner's permit (L plates in England) so I went with him as a licensed driver so he could get more practice. We're zooming nicely along an English village road when he suddenly yanked the wheel and almost put us in the ditch. I asked what the hell he did that for and he said he saw a chicken and swerved to avoid it. I tried to explain that I'm all for being kind to and trying to protect animals of any kind but when you're driving 60 mph and it's us or them, please choose us. I have to admit, I was so shaken by that experience that I took the wheel and drove home.

 

[Daniel E.]

That reminds me of a deadly scene on TV on HBO's Succession. They swerved off the road and into the water to save a deer.

 

[Daniel E.]

Thousands of Taco Bell Fans Sign Petition to Keep Mexican Pizza on the Menu
Sept 4, 2020
Newsweek

Taco Bell has announced more cuts to its menu, with the axing of the Mexican Pizza leading to a social media backlash and even a petition signed by thousands of fans.

The latest round of cuts comes after Taco Bell removed multiple items from its menu in August, including the Nachos Supreme and Beefy Fritos Burrito. This time around, there are far fewer items leaving the menu, but that doesn't mean that fans are any less upset.

Taco Bell is getting rid of its Mexican Pizza, Shredded Chicken items (Shredded Chicken Soft Taco, Shredded Chicken Burrito, and Shredded Chicken Quesadilla Melt), and Pico de Gallo...

However, while fans will be sad to see it go, Taco Bell said that removing the pizza from its menu will help the environment as the packaging accounts for more than 7 million pounds of paperboard material per year in the U.S...

Mexican Pizza fans can sign the petition to try to change Taco Bell's mind—otherwise, they have until November 5 to make the most of their favorite item.

 

[Daniel E.]

Prison food in Japan:

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Better than the grass soup the soldiers got in Letters from Iwo Jima

 

[Daniel E.]

https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-travis-scott-campaign-is-a-brilliant-marketing-ploy-2020-9

Right now, McDonald's franchisees — who own and operate 95% of the McDonald's locations in the US — are pushing for a simplified menu. The chain pared down its menu during the pandemic, cutting salads and all-day breakfast. Franchisees are pushing back against many of these items returning to the menu.

 

[Daniel E.]

 

[Daniel E.]

https://www.isabeleats.com/calabacitas-recipe/

Calabacitas (which translates to “little squash” in English) is a Mexican dish made from sauteed zucchini or squash, corn, tomatoes and peppers. It's often served as a side dish, but is substantial enough to be served as a main vegetarian meal alongside some homemade flour tortillas.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

That sounds delicious! Unfortunately, due to a medical condition, I can no longer eat some of the ingredients.

Corn I can’t eat currently. Not sure about peppers - I haven’t tried those recently.

 

[gooblax]

I don't know if I've ever eaten squash. I've certainly never purchased it. Does it taste/feel the same as zucchini?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

No. There are several varieties of squash and I hate them all. They are sort of like giant versions of zucchini but less tasty.

Even though Zucchini is in the squash family, to me it has a very different taste and texture. One way I like to cook it is sauteed with butter and garlic. Yummy.

 

[gooblax]

I used to hate zucchini because I only knew it mushy and overcooked. It wasn't until my old housemate cooked it properly one time that I realised it could actually be good.

 

[Daniel E.]

11 Foods That Are Good for Your Liver

Studies have shown that drinking coffee protects the liver from disease, even in those who already have problems with this organ...

Tea is widely considered to be beneficial for health, but evidence has shown that it may have particular benefits for the liver. One large Japanese study found that drinking 5–10 cups of green tea per day was associated with improved blood markers of liver health.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Drinking coffee is also negatively correlated with a diagnosis of colon cancer, interestingly enough. Of course, lots of coffee drinkers still get colon cancer and in a strange quirk once they do they are advised to limit or curtail coffee drinking because it weakens the effect of chemotherapy.

 

[Daniel E.]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/historical-facts-time_n_4832325

Betty White is older than sliced bread.

Sliced bread was introduced in 1928 by inventor Otto Frederick Rohwedder. Before this moment, bread was sold in whole loaves as bakers didn't trust sliced bread could stay fresh. Betty White was born in 1922 and spent her early years not eating sliced bread.