Brazilian Football Club Employs Fans’ Mothers as Stewards to Curb Violence

Bom Dia! How's it going, eh? Been to any soccer/football matches lately? Not here, that's for sure. They'd have to shovel three to four feet of snow off the field before anyone could play...not to mention the seats! Anyway, help yourself to a warming mug of coffee (remember...it's good for you!) and a virtual treat. On the subject of football...

In a bid to curb violence among football fans, a Brazilian club employed the hooligans’ own mothers as stewards for a match held last Sunday. Sport Club do Recife hired and trained around 30 mothers for the derby against known rivals Nautico. 

The moms were put to work patrolling the pitch and were dressed in orange vests with the words ‘Segurança Mae’ on the back, Portuguese for ‘Security Mom’.

In recent years, the city of Recife has become one of Brazil’s footballing hotbeds, with hooligans causing problems at almost every match of their home team. “

The idea was to make the most fanatical supporters aware and help in some way to bring peace to stadiums,” said Aricio Fortes, vice-president of Ogilvy, the PR company that came up with the idea. “At the end of the day, no one wants to fight in front of a mother, especially his own.”

What a good idea! Let's hope more teams/stadiums get into the act! "Hey, don't throw that bottle or you'll go straight to your room without supper for a month!"

See ya, eh!

Bob

Happy Year of the Goat!

Gong Hey Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year, eh! Glad you could make it to the celebration. Help yourself to a mug of Chinese coffee and a Chinese doughnut (Pa-tong-go) which is a foot long and quite tasty! And, yes, the Chinese do produce coffee in their southern Yunnan Province. Both Nestle and Starbucks are already there. But, I digress...

Chinese New Year is one big festival.The world’s largest annual human migration is now well underway as 2.8 billion trips are made across China in what is known as chun yun, when students, migrant workers and office employees living away from home will make the journey back to celebrate with their families.

Chinese New Year is the longest national holiday in China, spanning a total of fifteen days, and New Year’s Day is the most important date in the Chinese calendar.

The first three days of the new year are a statutory holiday but usually most people will have the time from New Year’s Eve to the sixth day of the new year off from work.

Although China has used the Gregorian calendar since 1912, Chinese New Year is based on the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, and it falls on the second new moon after winter solstice - somewhere between 21 January and 19 February, meaning it changes from year to year.

It is pronounced “Gong Xi Fa Cai” in Mandarin and “Gong Hey Fat Choy” in Cantonese, although both are written the same way.

Roughly a sixth of the world will celebrate it (That’s more people than the audiences on Jerry Springer and Dr Phil combined!)

As well as being celebrated in China itself, celebrations occur in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and all countries where there are significant Chinese populations.

London and San Francisco both claim to host the largest celebrations outside of Asia, and smaller celebrations occur in most Western countries. (I think Toronto with its six + Chinatowns might be up there in the top few, no?)

Wish people a happy new year by saying “Xin Nian Kuai Le” in Mandarin or “San Nin Faai Lok” in Cantonese.

Goat or sheep?

2015 is the year of the goat, but you may see it referred to as the “Year of the Sheep” too.

The confusion stems from the Chinese character “yang”, which can translate in colloquial Chinese as either sheep or goat.

Those born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003 are goats, who can count their lucky colours as brown, red and purple.

Their characters are supposedly kind and peaceable, while their best months are supposedly August and November and their lucky flowers are primroses and carnations.

Children will sleep with money under their pillow and will be given red envelopes filled with money to bring happiness and good fortune. The envelopes themselves are good luck, as well as the contents, and some children will sleep with their envelopes under their pillow for up to seven days to increase their luck.

A common misconception is that everyone receives money from everyone else as part of Chinese New Year celebrations. In fact, only people who are not married receive the red packets of money (hong bak) and only those who are married give them out.

Dinners, parades, dragon dances, reunions and gift exchanges are all part of Chinese New Year celebrations.

Red clothing and elements are essential for Chinese New Year, as the mythical monster at the centre of the New Year, Nian, was supposedly scared of the colour red and fireworks, which have also become a key part of New Year celebrations.

Cleaning the house on the twentieth day of the second lunar month before the New Year, and subsequent house decorating, are both major rituals in the run up to New Year.

Each day has its own celebration: while on Day 2 it is traditional to visit friends and relatives, on Day 3 people tend to stay at home as it is not seen as auspicious to socialize.

The final day, Day 15, sees the Lantern Festival, where red Chinese lanterns are released into the sky.

So now you know, eh! If you live anywhere that celebrations are going on (such as Thailand) be prepared to lose some sleep. Lots of fireworks and music. Fireworks can start pretty early in the morning, too!

Enjoy a year of happiness, good health, prosperity and less snow shovelling than this year!

See ya, eh!

Bob

PS: I didn't know that goats climbed trees, did you?

Put Your Thinking Cap On...Really!

Well hey there! Wonderful to see you as always. What'cha been up to? Just brewed a new pot of coffee. I see you have your mug there so fill 'er up. Grab yourself a virtual doughnut, muffin or pastry as well, why don't'cha? Say...remember the old expression about "putting your thinking cap on"? Well now you can...

Up until a few weeks ago, the proverbial thinking cap only had a figurative meaning, but apparently science has finally managed to catch up. A couple of American scientists have created a real thinking cap that could help people learn and make decisions quicker.

This unique device is the brainchild of psychology professor Geoff Woodman and Ph.D. student Robert Reinhart of Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and works by sending very low electrical shocks to the brain when worn. The duo claim that the electrical stimulation of certain parts of the brain could make the wearer learn new skills and make better decisions.
Indeed, studies performed on the human brain have revealed that negative voltage spikes occur in the medial-frontal cortex of the brain, milliseconds before we make a mistake. Woodman and Reinhart figured that a part of the brain can influence learning and decision making, helping us avoid the same mistakes later.

I think it would be a good idea for governments to give a 'thinking cap' to every student, don't you? Perhaps a few teachers as well...and politicians for sure. What about the military? Hold on a dang minute here... soon everyone will have one and then someone will come up with a new and improved version and...then someone else will say the caps are not fashionable so all sorts of refinements will be made...colours...fur-trimmed caps...team logos...caps with peaks so guys can wear them backwards to show they aren't working...

See ya, eh!

Bob

Safer enroute than when you get there!

G'day to you. I hope you and your ticker are well today and planning to stay that way for a long time to come. Not directly related but I just heard on the news last night about a new study showing that coffee (in moderation) is good good for slowing down the onset of heart attacks and Alzheimer's so belly up to the coffeepot; pour yourself a refreshing mug of dark nectar and grab a virtual treat while you're about it. Further on heart attacks...

It turns out that a person having a heart attack is usually safer to be in an ambulance headed to a hospital than to already be a patient in a hospital, according to a study by University of North Carolina researchers. 

It takes longer, on average, for non-ER hospital staff to comply with hospital protocols in ordering and evaluating tests (nearly three hours, according to the study) than it does for ER (and ambulance) staff, who treat every case of cardiac symptoms as life-threatening. 

Overall, according to a February Wall Street Journal report, the study found the mortality rate for heart-attack victims treated in emergency rooms is 4 percent, compared to 40 percent for patients already admitted for other reasons and then suffering heart attacks. [Wall Street Journal, 2-3-2015]

Well now that's not very comforting, is it? I don't know if Canadian experience is the same or not and between you and me, I hope I never have to find out.

See ya, eh!

Bob

8 Years Later, the Dog Came Home

Hey, it's doggone good to see you, y'know! Glad you could make it without getting lost in the great cyberworld out there. Help yourself to a mugful of coffee and a virtual muffin, why don't'cha! Speaking of getting lost, though, I thought you'd like this story about Petunia...

After Petunia finished eating, the Pruitts let her out of their Fredericksburg, Virginia home. That was a few days after Thanksgiving 2003, the day the American Staffordshire terrier disappeared without a trace. The family feared the worst. With a chip in her ear, Petunia would surely have been returned — unless she had been killed or scooped up for a dogfighting ring.

Eight years later, Meg Eden called the Pruitts from California. The wildlife biologist had been had been walking her dogs in the Spenceville Wildlife Area in central California. She saw the stray and took the friendly dog home for the night.

The next day, Eden took the dog to the Yuba County Animal Care Services. Staff scanned the dog and discovered Petunia had a microchip in her ear, with contact information for Kristin Pruitt. They called her surprised owners in Virginia and made arrangements for the now 11-year-old dog to fly home for the holidays.

Petunia was hungry and thirsty, but in good shape when she was found. She has no way of telling the story of eight lost years, but her adventure is the best possible advertising for microchips. About the size of a grain of rice, the tiny implants are inserted under the skin. Coded with identifying information about the dog and its owner, they allow shelters to reunite families with their pets.

As for Petunia, it appears she has a yen for adventure. Writing about her eight-year sojourn for the Washington Post, Susan Svrluga wrote: “She does seem to be the kind of dog who loves to wander, Kristen Pruitt said. Sometimes, Petunia will stop outside and just stare off into the woods.”

She has a gypsy soul, by the sound of it. I know people like that... in fact, people sometimes wonder about me... not that I'm planning to go anywhere at the moment and there's no way I'm letting anyone put a microchip in my ear though come to think of it, I read somewhere that Microsoft has a patent on a microchip that goes in your arm and can power three devices such as your watch, smartphone and tablet!

See ya, eh!

Bob

Pickle Juice...Who Knew???

Well hot dilly dang! There you are! Thanks for clicking by today. Hope everything is ticking along for you... especially your ticker. Need a ticker boost? Try an espresso to kick yourself into high gear!  Add a virtual doughnut or megamuffin into the mix and you’ll be all set. Say...do you like pickles? Me? I love them...especially dills! And speaking of dill pickles, here are a whole slew of things you can use pickle juice for... Thanks to Deirdre Taylor for the following pickle-vital information...we are first cousins once removed if I have my family genealogy correct.

Post-Workout Drink:
Forget coconut water. Athletes swear by pickle juice's scientifically proven benefits to exercise recovery. In one 2010 study, pickle juice halted post-workout muscle cramps in 85 seconds. That, plus its electrolyte-restoring powers has even yielded Pickle Juice Sport - a dill-flavoured sports drink. But really, most athletes stick to good old Vlasic (or Straub’s if you’re a Montrealer)!
 
PMS Remedy:
For those same reasons, pickle juice is widely used as a cure for menstrual cramps. It may also prevent you from eating four bags of potato chips in one day. Not that we ever did that. That was a friend.
 
Potato Pick-Me-Up:
Add a heavy splash of pickle juice to a pot of simple boiled potatoes for a fantastic side dish. The flavours absorb so perfectly you won't want to add salt, butter, sour cream, or anything to these taters once you're done. Making potato salad? Skip the mayo, and toss with veggies and pickle juice for a much healthier (and more flavourful) version.
 
Pickleback Shot:
Odds are you've seen this cocktail on a bar menu sometime in the last couple years (lore has it they were first sold out of a London food truck in 2011). Perhaps you scoffed or called it a fad, but the truth is bartenders claim this to be the perfect complement to whiskey, instantly soothing the taste buds and aftershock of a rough liquor. Order one, and you will order five. For bonus points, follow that up with a Pickletini.
 
Hangover Cure:
If you can stomach it on a hangover tummy, pickle juice is a known folk remedy that actually works. It replenishes your depleted sodium levels and helps to assist in rehydration. In many countries, people even take a shot of pickle juice before going out to help prevent dehydration in the first place.
 
Vinegar Replacement:
Pickle juice works in place of vinegar in salad dressing, soups, or virtually any recipe. It is essentially vinegar on steroids.
 
Heartburn Cure:
Along with its flavour-boosting benefits, pickle juice seems to have the same health effects as straight-up vinegar. Particularly effective as a heartburn soother, pickle juice may also help to avoid blood-sugar spikes if taken with a meal.
 
Bloody Mary Booster:
On the not-as-healthy-but-just-as-important side of the spectrum, pickle juice is absolutely dynamite in a Bloody Mary. When its hangover-killing benefits combine with a little hair of the dog, nothing could make your Sunday morning any greater. Except cronuts (Cronut is a croissant-doughnut pastry).
 
Cleaning Agent:
Food industry insiders have been using pickle juice to clean blackened copper pans for years. It also works well as a grill cleaner, making those charred, crusted-on bits much easier to scrape off.
 
Dill Pickle Bread:
Make this. Make it now. Recipe at the end of this post!*
 
Pickle Popsicles:
True, you can buy these on pickleaddicts.com (actual, real thing), but you can also just pour some of this glorious nectar into pop molds, paper cups, or ice-cube trays and make your own savory summer snack.
 
Re-Pickler:
Or maybe you just want some more pickles? Empty your vegetable drawer and throw some onions, carrots, peppers, whatever, into the jar of leftover pickle juice. Let them sit for a few days and BOOM: new pickles!
 
Meat Tenderizer & Marinade:
Pickle juice has amazing meat-tenderizing abilities and, as a marinade, will add a ton of flavour to your meats, without the extra calories in heavy sauces or marinades. It works exceptionally well on chicken - some claim a skinless breast soaked overnight in pickle juice will taste like fried chicken when cooked, and we say that is voodoo but we're okay with it. Try it on cuts of pork and beef, too.
 
Fish Poacher:
There is very little in this world that sounds more healthy-boring than poached fish. But, add your pickle juice to the poaching water and you will never look back.
 
Weed Killer:
The high vinegar and salt content of pickle juice has made it a longtime favourite with gardeners. Dump it on dandelions, thistle, and virtually all common weeds that crop up around your home. Bonus, it's pet-friendly and you probably already have it in your fridge!
 
Recipe Add-On:
We lost track of all the things you can add pickle juice to, but some favorites include: BBQ sauce, hummus, chicken salad, mac 'n' cheese, gazpacho, deviled eggs, vinaigrette, borscht, beet salad, salsa, bean dip, and meatloaf.
 
Hiccup Stopper:
We've found little scientific evidence backing up this claim (and, frankly, we're glad the scientists are working on other things), but many, many people claim that the number-one cure for hiccups is a small glass of pickle juice. Given how well this stuff works on everything else in the world, we believe it.

Wowzie! Does everything but the dishes, eh! Might even work on them come to think of it. As a matter of fact, we do have a couple jars of pickles in the fridge. I’ll definitely be trying some of the above and, if you do, please let me know what you think so I can share your thoughts with our millions (I wish) of other readers out there!

See ya, eh!

Bob

*Dill Pickle Bread Recipe:
Yields: 1 large loaf
Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup lukewarm dill pickle juice (110 degrees F.)*
1 large dill pickle, finely chopped
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons instant active dry yeast
* NOTE: Can use 1/2 cup dill pickle juice and 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F.)

Preparation:
Place all ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select dough setting and press start. Depending on how big your pickle is and how much juice is in the pickle, (Excuse me but you may want to rephrase that!) you might need to add additional flour. Check the dough (don't be afraid to open the lid). It should form a nice elastic ball. If you think the dough is too moist, add additional flour (a tablespoon at a time). The same is true if the dough is looking dry and gnarly. Add warm water (a tablespoon at a time).

When dough cycle has finished, remove dough from pan and turn out onto a lightly oiled surface. Form dough into an oval, cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

After resting, turn dough bottom side up and press to flatten. Fold dough into an envelope by folding the top 1/3 of the way to the bottom. Then fold the bottom a 1/3 of the way over the top. Then press dough with the palm of your hand to make an indentation down the center of the dough and fold the top completely to the bottom, sealing the seam with the palm of your hand.

Place on a baking pan dusted with cornmeal or covered with a Silicone Baking Mat; cover and place in a warm spot to rise for approximately 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Oven Rising: Sometimes I use my oven for the rising. Turn the oven on for a minute or so, then turn it off again. This will warm the oven and make it a great environment for rising bread. If you can't comfortably press your hand against the inside of the oven door, the oven is too hot. Let it stand open to cool a bit. 

Cool or Refrigerator Rise: If I don't have the time to wait for the rise to finish or I know that I will be interrupted before the completed rise, I do a cool rise. A cool rise is when the dough is place in the refrigerator and left to rise slowly over night approximately 8 to 12 hours. I usually do this after the first rise and the dough has been shaped into a loaf. 

After dough has risen, slash the bread with a very sharp knife making three 1/2-inch deep diagonal slashes. Brush the top of the bread with cold water and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until nicely browned.