Thursday, December 31, 2009

-----Digg 365----------------------------------------------------------



"Digg 365 surfaces the top ten stories on any given day, month and year. You can also see the top ten stories by category per year. Roll over the colored arcs to show display the months; clicking on it brings an outside arc to choose a specific day."


Try it out, see what happened on your birthday last year. This pic is mine... kinda boring.

-----Hitler's Secret Weapon---------------------

HITLER'S SECRET WEAPON

AdolfHitler has signed on.
DrSteinitz has signed on.

DrSteinitz: Mein Führer?
DrSteinitz: Mein Führer, are you there?
DrSteinitz: Type into sie keypad, bitte.
AdolfHitler: Hallo.
DrSteinitz: Ah! It works! Guten Tag, Mein Führer.
AdolfHitler: Was is das?
DrSteinitz: You wanted to know what we have been working on in our research laboratory. This is a demonstration of our latest development.
AdolfHitler: Can you read what I am typing?
DrSteinitz: Ja! We are having a conversation now. This is our secret weapon to win sie war, Mein Führer.
DrSteinitz: YOUR secret weapon.
AdolfHitler: Interesting.
DrSteinitz: It allows us to send messages instantly to each other over a communication network.
AdolfHitler: Communication network? You mean like a series of tubes?
DrSteinitz: Yes. If you wish.
DrSteinitz: What do you think?
AdolfHitler: Nein, we already have Morse code.
DrSteinitz: Ja, but this is much faster.
DrSteinitz: Und can Morse code do this? :)
AdolfHitler: How did you do that?
DrSteinitz: You like that? Das ist a little smiley face. We even made it look like der Führer mit der little mustache, ja?
AdolfHitler: Ja, das ist gut.
DrSteinitz: One of our engineers thought of it when he discovered that when you type in a colon and a right parenthesis it looks like a little smiley face lying on its side.
DrSteinitz: He is one of our brightest engineers.
AdolfHitler: It looks just like me. Except for the smiling.
DrSteinitz: We can remove the smile if you wish, Mein Führer.
AdolfHitler: How will this win sie war for Deutschland?
DrSteinitz: This new weapon allows our military to communicate more quickly on sie field, ja? Enemy coordinates, attack orders... all can be sent instantly.
DrSteinitz: This technology ist decades ahead of our enemies, Mein Führer.

Heydrich has signed on.

Heydrich: Hallo.
DrSteinitz: Ah, hallo! Reinhard Heydrich has joined us to demonstrate the integrated conference feature!
AdolfHitler: Hallo, Reinhard. Can you see what I am typing?
Heydrich: Ja, Mein Führer.
AdolfHitler: :)
DrSteinitz: Das ist gut, Mein Führer!
Heydrich: Mein Führer, I bring you news. Our spies indicate that the Americans are working on a bomb based on nuclear fission. If successful, it will be capable of destroying entire cities.
AdolfHitler: Do we have anything like that in sie works, Steinitz?
AdolfHitler: Steinitz?
AdolfHitler: Steinitz, are you there?
DrSteinitz: Hold on, bitte.
DrSteinitz: Ja. I'm afraid we have no such bomb in sie works, Mein Führer. We have been busy beta testing new smiley faces.
AdolfHitler: Schweinhund! You will be dead by nightfall.
DrSteinitz: haha
DrSteinitz: It's hard to tell when you're joking over this machine.
DrSteinitz: When we joke in the lab, we use "/sarc" to signify a joke.
DrSteinitz: Mein Führer, are you there?

AdolfHitler has signed out.

DrSteinitz: Heydrich, ist der Führer mad?

Heydrich has signed out.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Monday, December 28, 2009

-----Number Gossip-----------------------------------------------

Number Gossip: Enter a number and I'll tell you everything you wanted to know about it but were afraid to ask.





So I tried 24. Apparently it is Evil!


Common Properties of 24: Evil
The number n is evil if it has an even number of 1's in its binary expansion.





Also:


24 is the only number that is the product of all the numbers less than its square root
24 divides the difference between any two prime squares greater than three
Subtracting one from each of its divisors (except 1 and 2, but including itself) yields a prime number - 24 is the largest number with this property
24 is the smallest abundant factorial





Another random number tried:5648


Common Properties of 5648
Apocalyptic power
The number n is called an apocalyptic power if 2^n contains the consecutive digits 666 (in decimal).

liNk

Slow posting...

Since I'm only working 3 days in a two week period and most others aren't working as much either posts will be and have been slow during the holidays. I'm sure that Janurary 4th it will be back to normal.

Oh, and Re-Purposing an Item Monday is over, so any thoughts on a new idea?

-----Fixer Upper House for Sale-------------------------------



-----Crazy Household Items------------------------------------










Wednesday, December 23, 2009

-----Protect the Penguins!---------------------------------------



Awe, please do check for penguins, they are too cute!

-----World's Smallest Snowman------------------------------

The world's smallest snowman at just 0.01mm across - one fifth of the width of the average human hair. It is made of two tiny tin beads that usually used to calibrate electron microscope lenses. Built by the National Physical Laboratory.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009

-----Cute Picture Friday: Lynzi's Kitten---------------------


This is Lynzi's new kitten, Daisy. monkaaay thinks it's way cute enough to make Cute Picture Friday :).

Want a kitten? Here's a link!

-----Holiday Memos------------------------------------------------

Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 1, 2008
RE: Gala Christmas Party

I’m happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We’ll have a small band playing traditional carols… feel free to sing along. And don’t be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone’s pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!
Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Patty
------------------------------------------------------------------

Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 2, 2008
RE: Gala Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday’s memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on, we’re calling it our “Holiday Party.” The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment. Happy now?
Happy Holidays to you and your family,
Patty
-------------------------------------------------------

Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 3, 2008
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn’t sign your name.. I’m happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, “AA Only”, you wouldn’t be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody? And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.
REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.
Patty
----------------------------------------------------

Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
To: All Employees
DATE: October 4, 2008
RE: Generic Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees’ beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work? Meanwhile, I’ve arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men’s table. To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently because of concerns about confusion in the restrooms. Sorry. We will have booster seats for short people. Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food . The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first. There will be fresh “low sugar” fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply “no sugar” desserts. Sorry!
Did I miss anything?!?!?
Patty
-------------------------------------------------

Company Memo
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All F*%^ing Employees
DATE: October 5, 2008
RE: The F*%^ing Holiday Party

I’ve had it with you vegetarian pricks!!! We’re going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the “grill of death,” as you so quaintly put it, and you’ll get your f*%^ing salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I’ve heard them scream. I’m hearing them scream right NOW! The rest of you f*%^ing wierdos can kiss my *ss. I hope you all have a rotten holiday!
Drive drunk and die,
The B*tch from H*ll!!!
---------------------------------------------------

Company Memo
FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: October 6, 2008
RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party

I’m sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her recent nervous breakdown and I’ll continue to forward your cards to her at the asylum. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.
Happy Whatever!
Joan

submonkaaayed by mike :)

-----Friday Diversion: Multiple Fluid Simulation----------






The blue ones are lighter than the red ones and so they always are trying to find their way to the top. It's very fun, try all three mouse buttons.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

-----Abbott and Costello on computers---------------------

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’.

COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘w’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?> ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store.. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on ‘START’…………..

-----Google times four---------------------------------------------


This site divides your browser page in 4 rectangular frames and opens up Google.com in all 4 of them for starters. After this you can proceed with normal browsing on individual frames.
For when you REALLY need to look some stuff up!
Like after a bunch of "who was in that movie?" and "what is the name of that game?" and "what was that huge nuclear disaster called?" from your lunch time discussion, now you can come back to your computer and really multitask to find all those important answer from the google god to the fourth power. Would be better if there were a snazzy name for it like google god quad.
("The fourth power and the fourth-root. The reason why squares (x^2) are called that is that they can be thought of as the area of the square with side x. In the case of cubes the volume of a cube with side x, but from the 4th on there is not any analogy with the physical world that can be made, since we live in only a 3-dimensional space, there are however shapes in 4 dimensions called polytopes one of which is the hyper-cube but since we cannot visualize it and since there is no such thing as a hyper-volume in the real world then the names for the powers stop at 3."
interesting fact brought to monkaaay by yahoo answers.)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

-----Too Bad I Didn't Find This for Beer Week-----------


What beer should I drink flow chart.

According to this, Andy, you should be drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon. :)


Click the image to enlarge. Or click here for a larger picture.

-----Test Answers---------------------------------------------------











.
No good, not even funny. -1

-----Food Scupltures----------------------------------------------


-----Food Day: Christmas Cookies---------------------------

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookies

1 cup of water1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar1 tsp salt
1 cup or brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality.

Take a large bowl, Check the Cuervoagain, to be sure it is of the highest quality, Pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter In a large fluffy bowl.

Add one peastoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it’s best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try another Cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup Of dried fruit.

Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pry It loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who geeves A sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can Find.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall Over.

Don’t forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher.

Cherry Mistmas !


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

-----We Are Out of Forks at Work----------------------------


-----Funny Test Answers-----------------------------------------











CORRECT! +1 and +.5 for the little hearts

-----Family Photo Tuesday: Pests er I mean Pets-----

monkaaays!
really ... a skunk ...?




-----10 Unexpected Cleaners----------------------------------

10 unexpected cleaners

Use white bread to: Dust an oil painting. Gently dab a slice of white bread over the surface to pick up dirt and grime.
Use ketchup to: Remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware. Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery color in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.
Use oatmeal to: Scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water; rinse well.
Use rice to: Clean the inside of a vase or a thin-necked bottle. Fill three quarters of the vessel with warm water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Cup your hand over the opening, shake vigor-ously, and rinse.
Use tea to: Scour rusty garden tools. Brew a few pots of strong black tea. When cool, pour into a bucket. Soak the tools for a few hours. Wipe each one with a cloth. (Wear rubber gloves or your hands will be stained.)
Use glycerin to: Remove dried wax drippings from candlesticks. Peel off as much wax as possible, then moisten a cotton ball with glycerin and rub until clean.
Use club soda to: Shine up a scuffed stainless-steel sink. Buff with a cloth dampened with club soda, then wipe dry with another clean cloth.
Use hydrogen peroxide to: Disinfect a keyboard. Dip a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide to get into those nooks and crannies.
Use cornstarch to: Clean grease spills on carpets. Pour cornstarch onto spots and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming.
Use alcohol to: Erase permanent-marker stains from finished wood floors or solid-surface countertops. Pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and apply.

Monday, December 14, 2009

-----Caring Funeral Home----------------------------------------



"OMG dnt txt and drive...

We'd hate to be your new service provider."

-----Shop by Color Tool-------------------------------------------





Step 1 : move the mouse to play with colors





Step 2 : click a color to find products matching that color





Step 3 : buy cool stuff


From Esty which looks like a very cool website for shopping.




-----Customer Service Calls to God: 2 of 3---------

Support Rep:Thank you for calling God. My name is Todd. How may I assist you today?
Male Caller:Yes, I would like to submit a complaint. I recently--
Support Rep:Please hold.
("Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett plays over the line. The song fades out...)
Recording:Did you know that you can now pray to God online? Just log on to god-online.com/pray. It's free and easy. Try it today. ¿Sabías que puedes ahora rogar a dios en línea? Apenas señalar--
Support Rep:(Cuts in) Complaints. This is Janice.
Male Caller:Hello, Janice. I recently submitted a prayer to God asking that the Phoenix Suns win the divisional playoffs. And they were knocked out in the first round 4 to 1.
Support Rep:Can I get your ID number, sir?
Male Caller:83628. And I'm very upset because I had season tickets and we had a whole trip planned to--
Support Rep:I'm sorry, sir, but your account status doesn't cover frivolous prayers such as lotteries, stock portfolios or sporting events.
Male Caller:I see.
Support Rep:Would you like to upgrade to Evangelical?

liNk

Friday, December 11, 2009

-----Beer Week: Friday Interactive Post-------------------

The Friday Interactive post IS BROKEN :(

CHOOSE YOUR DRINK

HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH?

GIRL OR GUY?




SORRY THE BOOZE DEATH CALCULATOR SEEMS TO BE DISABLED :(

Created by Bar Stools

-----Beer Week: Friday Diversion: Bottle Caps Game--


Memory Game with bottle caps. Enjoy :)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

-----Beer Week: Beer on a Stick------------------

Pretty sure that the beer companies should be paying Beer on a Stick because probably 80% of beers on a stick probably get spilled all over the place meaning you'd have to buy even more beer for beer on a stick.

If you are interested in Beer on a Stick.... be ready to buy at least 10 as that is the minimum order at $2.50 each. OR you could buy 1,000... I would like to see who if anyone has ever bought 1,000 beer on a sticks.

-----Beer Week: How Hangovers Work Pt 4---------

Hangover Remedy Overview

The only fool-proof way to avoid a hangover, of course, is not to drink alcohol. But from a scientific perspective, researchers have found the following general regimen minimizes the symptoms of a hangover.

Before Drinking

  • Eat a full meal - A full stomach slows down the absorption of alcohol, giving the body more time to process the toxins. Fatty foods and carbohydrates increase this effect. Having food in the stomach also decreases stomach irritation, in turn reducing the likelihood that a drinker will vomit. (See Biology of a Hangover.)
  • Drink a glass of water - This ensures the body is hydrated before the diuretic effect takes hold.
  • Take multivitamins - This better prepares the body for the depletion of vitamins caused by frequent urination.

Before Drinking

  • Drink in moderation - Ideally, drinkers should limit themselves to one drink per hour because the body takes about an hour to process a single drink.
  • Drink a glass of water after every alcoholic beverage - In addition to helping keep a drinker hydrated, this will give the body more time to process the alcohol, dilute the toxins and reduce irritation of the stomach. A sports drink like Gatorade or Propel will also replenish electrolytes, salts and sugars lost in the urine.
  • Watch your drink choice - Drinkers generally fare better when they stick with one drink. Each new type of alcohol a drinker puts into his or her system makes the body work that much harder and puts that many more toxins in the body, leading to a more severe hangover. Here's a rundown of the major types of alcohol and their effects:
    • Beer has the lowest percentage of alcohol (4 to 6 percent), but it's also carbonated, which speeds up the absorption and can lead to toxin buildup.
    • Wine has a higher percentage of alcohol (7 to 15 percent) than beer, but it's usually not carbonated. White wine is safer than red or blush because it has fewer congeners. In general, the cheaper the wine, the higher the congener content and the worse the hangover.
    • Liquor has the highest alcohol content (40 to 95 percent) and therefore increases the likelihood of a hangover. Clear liquors like vodka, rum and gin are better bets than dark or sweet liquors like bourbon, scotch or tequila because they have fewer congeners. Generally, cheaper liquor will result in a worse hangover than more expensive liquor.

After Drinking

Before Bed

  • Take two aspirin with a full glass of water - The prostaglandin inhibitors in the aspirin can decrease hangover severity.

In the Morning

  • Take two more aspirin with a full glass of water - This has been shown to minimize headaches as well as decrease inflammation from leftover prostaglandin.
  • Take another multivitamin - Replenishing C and B vitamins in particular can help get rid of the rest of the toxins.
  • Eat breakfast - A meal that includes eggs (for the cysteine), a banana (for the potassium), and fruit juice (for the fructose) or a sports drink (for the electrolytes, sugars and salts) can get the body on the road to recovery. Keep in mind that caffeinated coffee, tea and soda will further dehydrate a drinker.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

-----Beer Week: Beer Logo Maker----------------


If you are having a beer party and need a logo to post on the invites, or give out as BUTTONS at your party - how cute - here is a beer logo maker. You can choose from Heineken, Budweiser or Corona Extra. Then just type the words you want and click Final Image. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

-----Beer Week: How Hangovers Work Pt 3---------

Food and Drink Remedies - Fact or Fiction?

Hangover remedies include everything from "a hair of the dog that bit you" (drinking a little more alcohol the next morning), to burnt toast and black coffee to an over-the-counter product like Chaser. Which of all the endless theoretical remedies actually have truth behind them?

Hair of the Dog

Contrary to popular belief, more of the "hair of the dog that bit you" only delays the inevitable. One of the reasons hangovers are so unpleasant is the liver is still processing the toxins left over from alcohol metabolism. Drinking more alcohol can make the symptoms seem to lessen at first but will only make the situation worse once the liver breaks the alcohol down, because it will have even more toxins to deal with.

Conclusion:

  • FICTION - Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Burnt Toast

At first, the burnt toast remedy may seem that it's actually based on scientific fact. The culprit behind this fictional cure is the carbon in the charred bread. Carbon can act like a filter in the body. While it's true that activated charcoal (which is a treated form of carbon) is used to treat some types of poisonings, it's not currently used to treat alcohol poisoning (something that is vastly different from a regular hangover).

The carbon/charcoal found on burnt toast is not the same as activated charcoal.

Conclusion:

  • FICTION - Prevention and Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Black Coffee

Coffee contains a high amount of caffeine, which is a stimulant and therefore helps fight fatigue. But when the caffeine wears off, a drinker may be even more tired than before. Coffee can help alleviate a pounding head because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it reduces the size of blood vessels. This counteracts the effect of the alcohol, which makes them swell, making the head hurt in the first place. Unfortunately, caffeine is also a diuretic like alcohol and can make a drinker even more dehydrated than before, thereby increasing the severity of the hangover. Overall, coffee isn't a good hangover cure.

Conclusion:

  • FICTION - Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Fried or Fatty Foods

Although eating fried or fatty foods the morning after will probably only irritate a drinker's stomach further, eating them before drinking can actually be helpful. Putting anything in the stomach prior to indulging in alcohol helps prevent a hangover, but fatty foods in particular stick to the stomach lining longer and therefore slow down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. While that might make it take longer to feel the alcohol's effects, it also gives the body more time to process the byproducts and will increase a drinker's chances of feeling decent in the morning. So much so, in fact, that a Mediterranean folk tactic is to take a spoonful of olive oil before drinking alcohol. Eating lighter food such as a fruit smoothie will provide energy and alleviate some symptoms by replenishing the electrolytes the body lost from dehydration.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Prevention
  • FICTION - Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Eggs

Eating eggs the morning after provides energy like any other food, which is the primary benefit. But eggs do also contain large amounts of cysteine, the substance that breaks down the hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde in the liver's easily depleted glutathione. Therefore, eggs can potentially help mop up the left-over toxins.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Bananas

Eating bananas the morning after a night of heavy drinking provides lost electrolytes like any food would, but it also specifically replenishes the potassium lost to alcohol's diuretic effect. Other potassium-rich foods such as kiwi fruit or sports drinks work just as well.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Water

Replenishing the body's water supply after a night of drinking combats dehydration, and it also helps dilute the leftover byproducts in the stomach. Adding salt and sugar to water helps replace the sodium and glycogen lost the night before. Non-caffeinated, non-carbonated sports drinks can achieve the same effect.

As a prevention method, drinking a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage slows down drinking, providing more time for the body to deal with the alcohol (the body can only process about three-quarters of an ounce of alcohol in an hour). Drinking a few glasses of water before going to bed helps fight dehydration after the body finishes breaking down the alcohol.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Prevention and Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Fruit Juice


The fructose -- fruit sugar -- in fruit juice helps to naturally increase the body's energy. Studies have proven that it also increases the rate at which the body gets rid of toxins such as those left over from alcohol metabolism. Fruit juice is also a good idea the morning after because it's high in vitamins and nutrients that were depleted the night before because of alcohol's diuretic effect. Vitamin supplements high in vitamins C and B are also effective.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Painkillers

Certain painkillers are more effective at combating a hangover than others. For instance, Excedrin can be helpful for a headache because it combines acetaminophen for the pain and caffeine to reduce the size of the pounding blood vessels; however, prolonged combination of alcohol and acetaminophen has been shown to cause liver damage, and caffeine is a diuretic.

Aspirin is a non-caffeinated pain reliever and is also in a class of anti-inflammatory drugs known as prostaglandin inhibitors. High levels of prostaglandin have been associated with increased hangover severity. In one study, participants who took a prostaglandin inhibitor before bed reported less of a headache and less nausea and thirst than those who had drank the same amount of alcohol but did not take the prostaglandin inhibitor before bed. If you have a sensitive stomach, though, beware -- taking aspirin after drinking can make your stomach hurt even worse.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Prevention and Remedy if non-caffeinated and acetaminophen-free

--------------------------------------------------

Over-the-counter Remedies

Hangover remedies such as Chaser, Sob'r-K Hangover Stopper, RU-21, Berocca and Rebound are highly varied both in price and ingredients, so their effectiveness varies accordingly. They're classified as dietary supplements, meaning:

  • They contain vitamins and minerals.
  • They don't require a prescription.
  • They're usually taken in pill form.

The manufacturers claim these products work because they make use of the effective filtering qualities of carbon to reduce the number of impurities the body has to process (see "Burnt Toast" in the last section for the science on that one). As for RU-21, marketed as a secret KGB pill, the manufacturer says specifically that it is not an anti-hangover pill but a supplement for detoxification. (By the way, its main ingredients -- dextrose, L-Glutamine and vitamin C -- can be found in high amounts in everyday foods). Rebound has the same ingredients as RU-21 plus a few other vitamins and oddities such as "young barley grass juice powder," but it's still basically a multivitamin. Berocca, again, is not a hangover cure -- it's simply a multivitamin that claims to increase energy naturally (through vitamins).

The secret to most of these purported "miracle cures" may in fact be the amount of water a drinker ingests when taking them. Many require taking a pill (or two) with a glass (or two) of water before drinking alcohol, and then continuing to take the pills over the course of the evening with full glasses of water, before bed with a full glass of water, and upon waking with a full glass of water. The hydration alone greatly improves the chances of having little-to-no hangover, and the vitamins in the pills just give it a little, albeit expensive, boost.

Conclusion:

  • FICTION - Prevention and Remedy

--------------------------------------------------

Time

The only complete cure for a hangover is time. No matter what a drinker does, the body still has to clean up all the toxic byproducts left over from the evening before. But the above factual remedies can help speed up the process.

Conclusion:

  • FACT - Remedy

-----Beer Week: Fun Facts-------------------------------------


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

-----Beer Week: How Hangovers Work Pt 2---------

Biology of a Hangover: Vasopressin Inhibition

W­hen alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and causes the pituitary gland in the brain to block the creation of vasopressin (also known as the antidiuretic hormone). Without this chemical, the kidneys send water directly to the bladder instead of reabsorbing it into the body. This is why drinkers have to make frequent trips to the bathroom after urinating for the first time after drinking.

According to studies, drinking about 250 milliliters of an alcoholic beverage causes the body to expel 800 to 1,000 milliliters of water; that's four times as much liquid lost as gained. This diuretic effect decreases as the alcohol in the bloodstream decreases, but the aftereffects help create a hangover.

The morning after heavy drinking, the body sends a desperate message to replenish its water supply -- usually manifested in the form of an extremely dry mouth. Headaches result from dehydration because the body's organs try to make up for their own water loss by stealing water from the brain, causing the brain to decrease in size and pull on the membranes that connect the brain to the skull, resulting in pain. [ew]

The frequent urination also expels salts and potassium that are necessary for proper nerve and muscle function; when sodium and potassium levels get too low, headaches, fatigue and nausea can result. Alcohol also breaks down the body's store of glycogen in the liver, turning the chemical into glucose and sending it out of the body in the urine. Lack of this key energy source is partly responsible for the weakness, fatigue and lack of coordination the next morning. In addition, the diuretic effect expels vital electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium, which are necessary for proper cell function.

Different types of alcohol can cause different types of hangover. In the next section, we'll look at the differences.

Biology of a Hangover: Congeners

Different types of alcohol can result in different hangover symptoms. This is because some types of alcoholic drinks have a higher concentration of congeners, byproducts of fermentation in some alcohol.

The greatest amounts of these toxins are found in red wine and dark liquors such as bourbon, brandy, whiskey and tequila. White wine and clear liquors such as rum, vodka and gin have fewer congeners and therefore cause less frequent and less severe hangovers. In one study, 33 percent of those who drank an amount of bourbon relative to their body weight reported severe hangover, compared to 3 percent of those who drank the same amount of vodka.

Because different alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, liquor) have different congeners, combining the various impurities can result in particularly severe hangover symptoms. Additionally, the carbonation in beer actually speeds up the absorption of alcohol. As a result, following beer with liquor gives the body even less time than usual to process the toxins.

Biology of a Hangover: Acetaldehyde

A product of alcohol metabolism that is more toxic than alcohol itself, acetaldehyde is created when the alcohol in the liver is broken down by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. The acetaldehyde is then attacked by another enzyme, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and another substance called glutathione, which contains high quantities of cysteine (a substance that is attracted to acetaldehyde). Together, the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and the glutathione form the nontoxic acetate (a substance similar to vinegar). This process works well, leaving the acetaldehyde only a short amount of time to do its damage if only a few drinks are consumed.

Unfortunately, the liver's stores of glutathione quickly run out when larger amounts of alcohol enter the system. This causes the acetaldehyde to build up in the body as the liver creates more glutathione, leaving the toxin in the body for long periods of time. In studies that blocked the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde (acetaldehyde dehydrogenase) with a drug called Antabuse, designed to fight alcoholism, acetaldehyde toxicity resulted in headaches and vomiting so bad that even alcoholics were wary of their next drink. Although body weight is a factor (see How Alcohol Works), part of the reason women should not keep up with men drink-for-drink is because women have less acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and glutathione, making their hangovers worse because it takes longer for the body to break down the alcohol.

Some of the most common hangover symptoms -- fatigue, stomach irritation and a general sense of illness all over -- can be further attributed to something called glutamine rebound. In the next section, we'll see what this aftereffect is all about.

Biology of a Hangover: Glutamine Rebound

After a night of alcohol consumption, a drinker won't sleep as soundly as normal because the body is rebounding from alcohol's depressive effect on the system. When someone is drinking, alcohol inhibits glutamine, one of the body's natural stimulants. When the drinker stops drinking, the body tries to make up for lost time by producing more glutamine than it needs.

The increase in glutamine levels stimulates the brain while the drinker is trying to sleep, keeping them from reaching the deepest, most healing levels of slumber. This is a large contributor to the fatigue felt with a hangover. Severe glutamine rebound during a hangover also may be responsible for tremors, anxiety, restlessness and increased blood pressure.

Because alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach, the cells that line the organ become irritated. Alcohol also promotes secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, eventually causing the nerves to send a message to the brain that the stomach's contents are hurting the body and must be expelled through vomiting. This mechanism can actually lessen hangover symptoms in the long run because vomiting gets rid of the alcohol in the stomach and reduces the number of toxins the body has to deal with. The stomach's irritation may also be a factor in some of the other unpleasant symptoms of a hangover, such as diarrhea and lack of appetite.

So now we know why alcohol causes hangovers. In the following sections, we'll look at the science behind the most common hangover "cures."

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