A Chemist who Loves to Cook – Part 1 - Reading 11

The bright orange color with a cute illustration of this book was attractive and charming, “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus.

It seems a serious reading following the word “lessons” even more “in Chemistry”.

Image 1- Book cover of Lessons in Chemistry

I was so excited to read this novel, what the chemistry things in this book. This book is the first edition (2022), 386 pages, published by Doubleday.

If you are thinking, this book will challenge you about your memory of some chemistry courses from schools, it could be the chemistry language for salt and water.

Moreover, this is a fabulous book about a bright chemist lady who recognize as a famous cooking show “Supper at Six”

Image 2- Purple flower in the summer

The story back to year 1961. The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a Chemist. She works in the research center, Hasting Research Institute, that dominance by male.

At work she met Calvin Evans, a brilliant, lonely, Noble Prize nominated guy.

Image 3- Just for illustration

Garmus, the author, portrayed how the first time Elizabeth had conversation with Evans in the Chemistry Lab.

Image 4- A house in the city, illustration

From here, we also know how the Chemistry Lab in the past with all the graduates, beakers, and Bunsen burners.

It is a lovely first meeting between the two scientists. Elizabeth needs some beakers for her chemistry research, then finally she gets them in Evans’ room.

Evans does not know that she is also a scientist until he walks down to her room, then asks her about his beakers, but she ignores him, and she keeps busy doing her job with Bunsen burner.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Snow Storm in Our City Baton Rouge – Nature 2
- Snowy Owl Re-Appearing after Hiding for 130 years – Nature 3
- Paris in the Eyes of Vincent Van Gogh - Art 1
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Scan and Go at Walmart Shopping Center

First time when I came to Walmart, the biggest super center in the USA about 17 years ago, where each counter has own cashier, no automatic scanning at all.

Image 1- Self Scanning Machine

Then, there are a few self scanning, but there is someone to take care payment either by credit card or cash or even by cheque.

Since 4 years ago, 2018, almost all counters of Walmart groceries are automatic.

We take care ourselves, from scanning the goods, put and arrange in the plastic bags and do payment.

The payment by credit or debit card only. No cash payments or cheques.

Image 2- Medical drugs sold in Supermarket

Actually, the self scanning system is not new, first invented by Howard Schneider and applied by the supermarket, called the Price Chopper in New York in 1992.

Image 3- Chocolate, sold in Walmart

Then automatic machines were copied by many supermarket across America since 1997.

Image 4- No cashiers anymore

In addition to automatic check out, the Walmart offers shopping through online system.

We can order everything from computer devices to electronics to prescription drugs to tools and equipments to grocery items in order to avoid crowd in the checkout lines.

Then, we could pick up after the store completed our orders.

This is new thing for me. Quite difficult to adjust for me at first. However, technology changes can’t be avoided, we must face of its.

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana
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Injured Hawk on the Street then Fly Away – Nature 29

We just found a hawk lying down on the street nearby our neighborhood. We don’t know why.

Image 1- Bird on the street

We think that there are several possibilities that why hawk is lying down on the street, some of them:

1) Hawk hits running car
2) Catching preys, then hit ground
3) Avoiding predators, then hit ground

As you might know, some predators that attacked hawk are:

- eagles
- owls and bigger hawks

Image 2- Red and Pink tulips.

Honestly, we don’t know what real causes of the hawk lying down on the roadside of our neighborhood.

Image 3- Beautiful flowers

We saw that the bird was probably injured, we then touch the hawk. After observing carefully, we thought the bird is only stunned even though it looked very weak or dead

Since its try to fly from our hand, as soon as we throw it to the air. The hawk come strong, and sure it fled away.

The bird disappeared from our eyes just in several minutes. However, we don’t know whether the bird suffered from brain injury and internal bleeding despite initially flying off.

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Nobody Can Replace a Mama's Love – Cardiovascular - Part 1
- Nobody Can Replace a Mama's Love – Cardiovascular - Part 2
- Important of Microorganisms in Food Industry – Healthy Life 1
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Wild Flowers in the Backyards – Nature 1

Crape Myrtle Blooming in the Summer – Nature 28

We know that many flowers blooming in the spring, but some flowers include Crape Myrtle blooming in the summer.

Image 1 – Red Crape Myrtle

Almost all houses in our neighborhood grow this kind of flower, sure with different colors.

We recognize at least four colors both in our neighborhood areas and nearby roads:

- red
- white
- purple
- pink

Image 2- Tend to pink color

Image 3- Purple color

Image 4- White of Crape Myrtle

Image 5- Crape Myrtle on the roadside

Based on internet searching, one author, John Barrat (2018: Crape myrtle trees aren’t native to the U.S., but hungry native birds still find them tasty) reported that this flower is come from Asia.

The origin of Crape myrtle from countries such as:

- China
- Korea
- and other hot temperature areas.

Since temperature of our city, Baton Rouge, LA could reach F 100 (C 38) degree, it is not surprising this flower grow very well.

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Knock Out to Understand Human Diseases – Part 2 – Science 14

You may read the previous posting (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Knock Out to Understand Human Diseases – Part 1 – Science 14

Image 1- chrysanthemums

The knockout will result in disrupt of targeted gene. Since mouse is closely related to humans, thus, it is favorite animal for knockout experiments, especially with regard to genetic questions that relate to human physiology.

At the firt Image (Please see Part 1: Knock Out to Understand Human Diseases – Part 1 – Science 14), we can see how to target gene.

The introduce specific gene modification in mice by the use of embryonic stem (ES) cell, then produced knockout animal (mice).

Image 2- Alaska Pollock, just for illustration

Image 3- Banana, illustration only

As described by Hansson (2007: ADVANCED INFORMATION. Gene modification in mice.) that knockout have become absolutely important in medical research.

Then, through targeting (removing) a specific gene, we can find out what happens once it is gone.

It is lead to new understanding of normal development and disease processes, then identified new avenues for medical therapy which benefits to human being in the near future.

Just to let you know that Hansson, GK was the Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine 2007

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Buy One Get One Free of Frappuccino – Part 1

Our city, Baton Rouge, LA, locates at deep south of USA experienced very hot temperature during summer season, especially from June to August every year.

Image 1- The offer of Frappuccino, buy one get one free

The temperature was around 30⁰ C to even as high as 41⁰ C, we feel like living in the desserts of Middle East or somewhere else.

It is interesting to find “cool” areas such as public libraries or Barnes & Nobel coffee shop.

Quite attractive that Barnes & Nobel coffee shop also books store where we can do reading while drinking icy beverage.

Image 2- Coffee shop at Barnes & Noble bookstore

Image 3- A little garden

I just ordered a kind of new beverage for me, called as Frappuccino. Surprisingly, buy one get one free.

Frappuccino, I think a beverage with 3 combines that are coffee, icy and specific ingredients. Blending altogether.

I think it is an awesome deal.

The offer started from June 19^th until July 22. It seems to attract customers for hot summer.

Uniquely, the deal for 4 hours only, happy hours from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM every day.

# To be continued to Part 2

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- Do You Know American Native Ginseng?
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Could Avocado Reduce Metabolic Syndrome? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 21

You may read the previous posting (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Could Avocado Reduce Metabolic Syndrome? - Part 1 – Healthy Life 21 

Image 1- Half cut of avocado.

Since they boost metabolism, thus these two type of fats may reduce risk of:

- heart disease
- stroke
- and type 2 diabetes.

It is believed that the avocado could improve our immune system to fight of micro pathogens.

Image 2- Sunset seen from a port in our city

Image3- Pile of avocados in the grocery

Avocado is good quality of diet, and very delicious for me. We consume this fruit at least twice a month. They are sold in many groceries include Walmart and Mexican grocery.

It riches in nutrition as well. In generally speaking, the fruit contains:

- 20 vitamins, some of them are A, C, E, K, B6.
- minerals (magnesium, potassium)
- antioxidants (carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin)

Have you ever tasted avocado?

Do you like its?

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