I'm Chef and Pitmaster Rodney Scott, and This Is How I Eat

Are you a breakfast eater? I am somewhat of a breakfast eater. I dont eat breakfast all the time. I eat breakfast sometimes. Theyre not healthy all the time, but I do eat them. Are you a coffee drinker? I slowly became a coffee drinker in the last two years, maybe threeiced coffees, mostly. Not all of them are alwaysclean. One or two may have a little bit of Cask & Cream in there....

March 18, 2021 · 7 min · 1282 words · Corey Ayers

The Disease That Turns Muscles Into Bones

Their bones appear to have melted and fused together. The upper arms are welded to the ribcage, and the pelvis is fused to the thigs bones. Thin stalagmites of bone launch outward from everywhere. But the two specimens at the Mutter Museum have their bones naturally and completely fused into a contiguous piece. FOP is so rare that there are only about 700 known cases worldwide. The injured leg was put in a cast, but the fracture never healed properly....

March 18, 2021 · 2 min · 357 words · Sara Cannon

Weird Science and Animal Facts Your Kid Will Enjoy

So I found 25 of them for you. Granted, Im not scientist, but I did my best to verify that these are all true. A sneeze can travel up to 100 mph. (That beats a cheetah, which can only run approximately 50-80 mph.) Scientists believe it rains diamonds on Saturn and Jupiter. A polar bears skin is black (and its fur is hollow and transparent). A cloud can weigh over a million pounds....

March 18, 2021 · 2 min · 332 words · Jessica Mitchell

What Your VO2max Score Really Means

What is VO2max anyway? (Its measured in milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight.) (Thats why fitness trackers will often compare your score to others of your age and gender.) Is it accurate? Fitness trackers estimate your VO2max from the data they are able to collect. So, no, they arent as accurate as getting a VO2max test in a lab. The number may still be useful, though....

March 18, 2021 · 2 min · 218 words · Jesus Martinez

Why Big Tax Refunds Aren’t As Great as They Seem

While it feels nice to get a big tax refund every year, theres a danger of thinking of it as a bonus or reward for filing your taxes. Ideally, however, you want to be as close to zero as possible, as there are better uses for your money other than giving the IRS an interest-free loan every year. Why you dont want big refunds If you have fluctuating income and expenses, it can be difficult to know how much money to withhold for taxes every year....

March 18, 2021 · 3 min · 573 words · Jonathan Taylor

Guarapari’s Radioactive Beaches

Praia dos Padres, Guarapari. The background radiation level on Guarapari beach is about 20Sv per hour. In some spots it can be as high as 131 Sv per hour. To place that in context, a single chest X-ray can deliver 100 Sv. Von Welsbach was looking for thorium for his newly invented incandescent mantles. Monazite sand was quickly adopted as the thorium source and became the foundation of the rare-earth industry....

March 17, 2021 · 1 min · 128 words · James Velasquez

What to Do When Politics Affect Your Relationships

Not all advice need be professional. Luckily for you, Im that guy. Welcome back to Tough Love. Note: Im a columnist, not a therapist or certified healthcare professional. My advice should be interpreted with that in mind. If you have a problem with anything I say,file a complaint here.Now, let us begin. Dear Sam, So, my longtime partner identifies as Republican. Not MAGA-wearing, capitol-marching, Qanon-embracing, Trump-loving, but just a Republican....

March 17, 2021 · 2 min · 237 words · Jody Allen

Heroic War Pigeons

Radio sets were too heavy to carry into battle, and field telephone lines snapped easily. Two Swiss Army soldiers prepare a homing pigeon for dispatching. Photo: Swiss Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons Being a carrier pigeon was risky. Some of these pigeons became quite famous for their service. President Wilsons mortal remains in the Pentagon. She spent several months on the front lines delivering 12 messages in total. Her last delivery was the most important mission she ever flew....

March 16, 2021 · 2 min · 369 words · Nathan Lewis

How Girls Can Become Eagle Scouts

Heres how they did it, so it’s possible for you to do it, too. Nowtransgender youthwho identify as male are allowed to join the Scouts at any age. Why would girls want to join the Boy Scouts? If womens leadership is the goal, why do so many girls want to join the Boy Scouts? The simple answer is, theyre plain different. Additionally, theres an internationally establishedprestigethat comes with achieving Eagle Scout status....

March 16, 2021 · 2 min · 288 words · Veronica Collins

Is It Safe to Travel Yet?

Vaccines are becoming more available and coronavirus cases are dropping nationwide. The short answer is: not really. This is still true, and it will be the case as long as COVID is spreading in communities. The CDC hasa list of things to ask yourself before you go on a trip. If youre considering planning one, definitely go through the list and be honest with yourself about your answers. (Yes, even if you or others in your life are vaccinated....

March 16, 2021 · 2 min · 282 words · Gregory Valdez

The Real History of St. Patrick’s Day

Well, take off that stupid hat, lets get educated. Who was Saint Patrick? Thats right, Patrick wasnt Irishand his name wasnt Patrick, either. But well just call him Patrick since everybody else does. While innortheastern Ireland, Patrick learned the Irish language and culture before attempting to escape back to Britain. But Patrick wasnt very good at escaping apparently, because he was captured again. This time by the French. According to legend, Patrick used it to teach the Irish the concept of the Christian Holy Trinity....

March 16, 2021 · 2 min · 287 words · Carla Adkins

You Should Sous Vide Your Corned Beef

Pickled beef doesnt have quite the same ring to it, though, so well stick with the corn. I rubbed my unique spice blend all over that beef, then sealed it in a vacuum bag. (It just didnt feel likemeat.) Both beefs went into a 145-degree bath, where they stayed for a total of 48 hours. (Did I trust those instructions? No, but this corned beef was more a of a control than anything....

March 16, 2021 · 1 min · 156 words · Christina Kennedy

Home Electrical Projects You Can Totally Handle Yourself

Tackling electrical projects around the house can sound daunting if youve never tackled one before. But just because the job involves some wires, that doesnt mean you oughta call in the pros. Here are eight common electrical repairs and replacements that it’s possible for you to totally do yourself. No prior experience necessary. Most of what well discuss below involves replacing fixtures. If theres no power, these repairs are not only doable, but completely safe....

March 15, 2021 · 5 min · 859 words · Brandi Glover