About outing sprouts

There’s great rivalry between Tasmania’s south and its north. Each has its own big city (well, big for Tasmania), its own beer brand, and its own football competition. Likewise Melbourne and Sydney are rivals. And, I suspect, a similar process explains why Canadians decry being mistaken for Americans. Me? The only ways I can tell them apart is by looking for an explanatory flag or maple leaf; and by the pronunciation of out words, e.g. out, about. And sprout. Segueing along, I’m into sprouting. Darling Meg started me off when she was here in October. It’s really easy [1, 2]. And it’s fun to watch the sprouts sprout; and then lengthen day-by-day to become a delicious tangle. I use a jar that contained olives in its previous life; and I cover the jar’s opening with a square of muslin held on by a rubber band. I started by sprouting mung beans. Then Sweetheart Vivienne bought me a sprouting mix of various beans and seeds – for a dollar. Meg says that each day’s liquid runoff’s highly nutritious. So far I haven’t been courageous enough to drink even a drop of it. Rather I pour it on the herb garden. Also, sprouting can be done all year round. So what’s not to like? It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s nutritious, it’s perennial, and it’s inexpensive. Give it a try. You won’t regret it. And if you’re a Canadian, telling people about it will ensure you’re not mistaken for an American.

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. It’s something different. All items – except number 8 – are links emailed to me during November.

1. Sprouting’s so much fun; and so nutritious. Currently I’m sprouting chickpeas. [1] H/t Sweetheart Vivienne.

2. Beautiful and functional design can’t be beaten. Pity so little makes it into commercial production. [2] H/t darling Meg.

3. This Atlantic article titled ‘Caring for Your Introvert’ is exactly me. 100%. So much so, it’s scary. [3] H/t Chrows25.

4. Mark Twain’s quote: ‘A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes’ is in the first paragraph. It’s a favourite of my beloved’s. [4] H/t Sweetheart Vivienne.

5. I don’t think I’ve ever made bagels. This recipe should initiate a remedy. [5] H/t Sue & Craig.

6. But I’ve baked Turkish bread (aka pide). From this recipe. Yum. [6] H/t darling Kate.

7. A startling Age article about the environmental implications of keeping pet dogs. [7] H/t Sweetheart Vivienne.

8. Thursday 18th November was my late parents’ 67th wedding anniversary. [8] H/t darling sister Sue.

I hope you had as much fun reading this week’s compendium as I had compiling it.

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium – again with a strong health/medical slant. This week…

1. more evidence confirmed the major health benefits of walking [1a, 1b]. Walking less increases obesity. Big time. And thus diabetes.

2. speaking of diabetes, its control was improved when unstable diabetics were buddied up with other unstable diabetics [2]. Doesn’t surprise me. Humans are herd animals.

3. treehugger ran a piece about seed sprouting; and sprouters [3]. It’s good the two spruiked sprouters are glass and not plastic, eh darling Meg.

4. in the USA, the FDA approved Botox to prevent frequent migraine [4a, 4b]. Those treated will feel better. And they’ll look better too – or not.

5. JAMA reported a randomised controlled trial of 17,000 postmenopausal women showing those taking hormone replacement therapy had 25% higher breast cancer incidence and 300% higher breast cancer mortality than those taking placebo [5]. Hippocrates said: ‘Primum non nocere’, i.e. first, do no harm.

6. the Herald Sun revealed Victoria has about 800 publicly-paid spin doctors, i.e. more than the total number of MICA paramedics, orthopaedic surgeons and forensic police [6]. Ho hum.

7. Grammar Girl explained that as a noun, it’s blonde for women and blond for men. But adjectivally, it’s blond for women and men [7]. I didn’t know this – until now.

8. on our farm, the baby lambs and kids have started arriving [8]. So far, including two sets of triplets – one of lambs, one of kids.

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.