respublica

Headlines that make no sense

Here's a headline to a story I tried to read today and quickly realized I had no idea what the reporter was talking about. I hate it when that happpens.

Food Inflation Everywhere, But Not A Bit In CPI (Yet)

Good news for the Missouri Botanical Garden

The popular St. Louis attraction is listed in the top ten US public gardens, actually coming in at number 3.

Well deserved.

Number one is Coastal Maine Botanical Garden   2. Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. You can see the other 7 on a slide show by clicking here.

Technology and eye glasses

Back in 2006 there was news of the development of eyeglasses with flat lenses that can change their focusing power at the flick of a switch, allowing the wearer to change their focus from the horizon to something a few inches away in a split second.

Haven't heard of anyone owning a pair of these yet though.

Now we hear of Google Glass which is Google's attempt make wearable computing mainstream, and it's effectively a smart pair of glasses with an integrated heads-up display and a battery hidden inside the frame. Surf the web through your glasses!

We shall see how this goes over.

Tips for lots of things

The May issue of Consumer Reports has lots and lots of interesting pieces of advice for 101 different things ranging from food to tech cars and appliances. I can't link the stories because Consumer Reports does not flesh out their website unless you are a subscriber. Here are a few I found interesting:

"Never wash or rinse raw chicken in the sink. You'll splash germs around the kitchen and risk food poisoning." My question is "where do you wash raw chicken?" In the basement? 

"Vacuum filters need replacing twice a year or so. That will ensure adequate suction." I'm embarrassed to admit I did not know vacuum cleaners even had filters. Bags, yes.

"Your lawnmower will cut better if after each use you turn it on its side and rinse underneath." Whoa! I've cut grass for years and was always told to tip the handle down and raise up the deck, never turn it on the side because the gas/oil will run into parts of the engine you don't want it to go. 

Microfiber clothes do the best job of cleaning and dusting, even delicate camera lenses.

"No matter how fancy they look, dried plums are prunes. Don't pay extra for clever packaging.

Pet insurance generally costs more than it pays out.

Don't use cooking sprays on nonstick pans. They cause build up and actually cause food to stick.

"We haven't tested a deer or squirrel repellent that works well."

 

50 small ways to improve (customer) relationships

Many of these would apply very well to relationships in professions other than business.

 

The "Thank You Effect": 50 Small Ways to Improve Customer Service from Greg Meyer

Hey, aren’t these just a bunch of IKEA Lack shelves nailed to a wall?

A very funny piece on 15 Mid Century Modern Homes that Will Kill Your Children. If you watch any HGTV at all, you'll come across some of these architectural styles and the praises from people who own them. They are not meant for children. The floating stairs example of perfect. 

Flying across Jordan

President Obama and his official people as well as many newspeople went to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan yesterday. Head of The Associated Press' staff at the White House , Julie Pace, took this photo of the helicopters flying to that city.

The therapeutic effects of house cleaning

As a sidebar to a Wall Street Journal article on cleaning products, 5 therapeutic side effects of cleaning are laid out. 

1. Sense of Control: People feel they've accomplished something after scrubbing up the house

2. Achievement: Accomplished a goal

3. Exercise: House cleaning exersion is considered moderate exercise that helps reduce stress.

4. Taking care of the family: Feeling better after decluttering and cleaning as a benefit to family

5. Nostalgia: Some want to be like Mom.

An amazing WWII photo

A reindeer standing in the middle of a 1941 German bombing raid on Russia during WWII.

Yevgeny Khaldei, Mourmansk, Russia  Link goes to more of his WWII and beyond photos

Ten years ago today on the front page

Buzz Feed has compiled a slide show of newspaper front page stories of the day the US began the Iraq war using papers from every state in the Union. 

It's rather fascinating to see them, often the same image is used in many papers, but the St. Louis Post Dispatch rendering is pretty bad. The Chicago Sun Times, on the other hand, is very dramatic.