Are All Sanitizer Brands Good for You? – Virus 21

Fig -01- One of well known brands sold in supermarket

Hand sanitizer is one of items which are empty from stores at the early and peak of Covid 19 pandemic.

It seems that we may find it easily in many stores now. I noticed the price quite higher compared to before pandemic.

Some well known brands in the market are:

- Purell

- Equate

- Casey Jones

- Hoosier hand sanitizer

- MCMC hand sanitizing

- New Holland hand sanitizer

- Scully’s hand sanity

- Dr Brite hand sanitizer

Fig – 02 - Equate is one of made in USA brands

What are hand sanitizer brands good for you?

My own opinion that the brand is not important, the most crucial is whether the brands follow the recommendation and guidelines from two prominent agencies:

- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Fig – 03 - Active ingredient, disposable wipe for germs

CDC recommend to use either soap or hand sanitizer. The sanitizer should contain certain amount of ethanol or isopropanol:

- 60% ethanol

- 70% isopropanol

FDA guidelines for using of ethanol or isopropanol are quite higher, between 75% to 95%.

The agency also recommend using of active ingredients such as:

- hydrogen peroxide

- glycerine

Be careful with wood alcohol called as methanol. This alcohol is poison to skin, and could be fatal if consumed by kids.

There are about 75 brand names have been recalled, because they are toxic sanitizers and misled consumers.

If you wonder, please go to FDA website to get full list of dangerous brands of hand sanitizers.

Finally, what brands of your hand sanitizer?

Have you Tasted Red Pear? - Food Variety 1

Two red pears in the bowl, ready to consume.

We just visited farmer market last week, and we noticed red pears on the shelf. Honestly, our first time to see the red pears.

By Googling, we know there are three varieties of this red pear:

- Starkrimson

- Red bartlett

- Red s’Anjou

Unfortunately, we did not know the variety of red pear which we bought. However, one of variety called as Red s’Anjou was from Oregon, USA.

By searching through internet, no red pear in Europe. The above 3 varieties could be found in Canada. Other varieties are:

- Red sensation

- Reimer red

Red pears sold in the farmer market

It is reported that there are at least two varieties of red pear in Australia:

- Red s’Anjou

- Red Sensation

Moreover, the red pears come to the market between August and December in the USA, especially in our neighborhood farmer market.

I don’t know the harvest seasons in the Canada and Australia. I guess from late August to late fall.

In respect to taste, I think, after ripe that red pears have soft texture, juicy and sweet compared to green pears.

Do you know the red pear? Have you tasted it? What do you think?

Should We Use Pepper Seed to Feed Wild Birds? - Gardening and hobby 5

Fig 01- Green peppers have seeds for birds

We may try to attract wild bird by bird feeders to come to our backyard. In fact, we are able to invite hummingbirds with sugary solution.

Please read previous post:

- Attracting Hummingbirds by Suitable Feeder at Backyard 

Our neighborhoods use mainly commercial bird foods bought in groceries (pet shops).

The problem with the commercial bird foods is a good meal for other wild animals such as:

- squirrels

- raccoon

- rats

Some friends told that wildlife may ride the feeders without giving a chance to birds to consume a single bite.

Fig 02 - A wild bird crossed the neighborhood street

Other animals include deer and bears are interesting with feeders as well. And, even bears able to breaking the feeders to deplete all foods.

Fig 03 - Bell pepper, just for illustration

Few neighbors suggested to use pepper seed to feed wild birds. Most birds love these seeds.

They observed that other animals did not touch the pepper seed. The following animals are avoiding the seed:

- rodent

- squirrels

- raccoon

Should We use Pepper seed to feed wild birds? Yes, I will try this kind of bird food by next spring.

Do you have any special foods to invite wild bird?

Can Dogs Detect Infected Patients with Covid 19? – Virus 20

 

A dog in the middle of street, just for illustration only.

As we might all know that dogs are “excellent” to use their sense. It is fact that dogs have smell capability 10,000 times more than human to detect crucial substances include:

- blood

- illegal electronic devices

- explosive devices

- illegal drugs

In medical world, dogs are trained to diagnosed diseases such as cancer. They success to recognize cancer types such as:

- skin cancer

- bladder cancer

- breast cancer.

By understanding that diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and even malaria may cause specific odors, thus dogs may help to detect the diseases.

Dogs are standing under the tree in our neighborhood.

Scientists have trained dogs to help them to detect patients infected with corona virus (Sars Cov 2).

Dogs are projected to be able to detect the Covid 19, even the patients have no symptoms.

Researchers from University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany have good primary result:

- dogs can be trained to sniff out virus (Sars Cov 2) infection

- dogs may determine who got infected by virus or virus free persons through smelling the saliva

- the accuracy (success rate) is 94%

Just for comparisons, the available tests and methods have accuracy ranging from 84% to 100%.

Hence, 94% accuracy of detection by using dogs is “not bad,” at least for early warning purposes.

Then, suspect infected patients may be examined by more accurate devices furthermore.

What do you think?

Roses in the Late Summer - Gardening and hobby 4

Fig – 01. Red and light pink roses

Roses disappeared from our garden now, they are blooming quite longer, could be months (more than 20 weeks), from mid Spring to to late Summer or early Fall.

In nature, roses have less than 10 colors, but breeders develop more than 60 colors or combined colors recently.

Our backyard has 4 different colors only, they are:

- pink

- red

- white

- yellow

It is said that colors respect to certain symbols. Pink symbols of joyful, Red refers to love, White to pure and Yellow symbols of friendship.

Fig – 02. Yellow rose, lonely flower

In case you may not know, the price of rose is between US$ 1.5 to US$ 8 per flower, depend on where we buy.

Fig – 03. White flower symbol of purity

Wholesale price is quite cheaper compared to retail price. Wholesale at least 20% cheaper.

The price depends very much on the:

- supply and demand

- quality

Fig – 04. Pink rose, quite popular color

We think that it is easy to take care the Roses. We do the following:

- growing under the sun

- using good (organic) fertilizer

- watering regularly

- using organic mulch

Organic mulch is mixed of material include grass clippings, shredded bark, pine needles, sawdust and wood chips. The functions mulch are:

- improve quality of soil

- discourage weed growing around our flower plants

Do you have or love Rose flowers? What color?

Can Fish in the Tank Improve Your Health? - Gardening and hobby 3

Fish in the tank

Million Americans, and their number are growing well year by year to have fish in the tank as a pet.

There are many list of most popular freshwater fish, I just quote 10 fish (my source is: 19 Most Popular Freshwater Fish for Your Aquarium):

- Beta fish

- Fancy guppy fish

- Mollies

- Angelfish

- Rasboras

- Rainbow fish

- Plecostomus

- Swordtail platy

- Corydoras catfish

- Neon tetra

Koi, ornamental fish in the small pond

In case of Neon tetra, this is a good fish for aquarium. We may finds this fish at almost aquarium shops (please see my previous post: Why Neon Tetra Fish is Good For Aquarium? | Tanza Erlambang Update) with advantages:

- reasonable price.

- easy to handle

- beautiful

- lively and peaceful fish

Moreover, Can Fish in the Tank Improve Your Health?

Yes, our health may improve by looking aquarium fish. It is said that some health advantages:

- lower stress

- make more sleep

- feel better

- lower heart rate

- lower blood pressure

- body will function better

Do you have fish as a pet? What is aquarium size do you have?

Measuring Oxygen Level in the Blood - Virus 19

Pulse Oximeter (Credit to Insider)

We always hear and familiar with the word “ventilator,” a life saving device during current pandemic Covid 19.

Why Covid 19 patients need ventilator?

You might know that it is because low concentration of oxygen level in the blood, and the fact that virus drown the lung, thus lung can’t inhale and exhale air in normal ways.

How we can say our oxygen level is normal?

There are two common available methods:

1) Measurement of PaO2 (partial pressure of oxygen dissolved).

- the normal reading is 80 mm Hg

2) Measurement of Oxygen saturation or pulse Oxygen (SpO2).

- the normal level of oxygen is 95% to 100%

The lawn mower, just for illustration

You may have medical device called Pulse Oximeter to measure Oxygen saturation or pulse Oxygen at your home.

Oximeters are available in many stores or Pharmacy such as Walgreen, CVS, Target, Walmart or Amazon.

Prices of Pulse Oximeter are ranging from US$ 4.77 to US$ 299. Quite reasonable for me if price is about US$ 19.99.

Moreover, in case your Pulse Oxygen level below 90%, it is mean the oxygen level is not normal.

In addition to lower pulse oxygen level, people should go to hospital and need treatments when they face with conditions of:

- serious illness

- difficult to breathing

Do you think that should you have this kind of medical device available at your home?

Attracting Hummingbirds by Suitable Feeder at Backyard

 

A hummingbird feeds on sweet water, just for illustration

The hummingbird is one of beautiful and unique birds, many people love and have tried to attract it to come to their own yards.

It is estimated that there are about 340 species hummingbirds in the nature. Unfortunately, no hummingbirds are found in these following regions:

- Europe

- Africa

- Asia

- Antartica

Yes, the birds are found in America continent only, from South to Alaska. They are living in very wide variety areas:

- Desert

- Forest

- Below sea level areas

- Higher mountains with more than 16,000 feet (5,000 m) height.

Pictures of hummingbirds, illustration only

We have plenty of hummingbirds living in our neighborhood. It is reported at least there are 12 kinds.

Some of well known species are:

- Rufous hummingbird

- Ruby throated hummingbirds

- Spot Anna

- Black chinned hummingbirds

- Broad tailed hummingbirds

There are plenty ways to attract hummingbirds to visit our gardens. However, we use bird feeder as other people do.

First, we make solution of nectar (likely nectar) with mix of:

- 1 part of solution is sugar.

- 4 part of solution is water

Then, find the perfect spot. The location of feeder is eye-catching spot for birds. Usually in the bright place with little bit shades.

Do you love hummingbirds or any birds? 

Mustang Car Fun Club in Our City

Mustanger in neighborhood

We knew that “Mustanger” refers to people who take care wild mustangs (Western plain wild horses of America) about 19^th century.

Now, the word of “Mustanger” is used to people who are member of Mustang Car Fun Club.

There are thousand of members across America, and there are clubs almost in every big cities in the USA.

The goals of the club are to:

- preserve the popularity of Mustang

- keep existing of Mustang car in the market .

We saw “Mustanger” farewell parade in our neighborhood recently. A lot of different type of Mustang, old and new cars for the parade.

One of old Mustangs

Everyone may become the club member, if they have Mustang car. The cost of membership is US$ 30 per year.

A Mustang car, just for illustration only

There are many activities of club include monthly meeting, local show and yearly travel to regional or national car show.

Moreover, some benefit of membership:

- getting list of Mustang activities all over the world

- receive windshield decals

- discount on buying of new Ford cars, include Mustang

- can become certified judges on Mustang shows

- may elect and run local or national board of directors

Do you know about Mustang Car Fun Club in your City or country? Have you seen show or parade of Mustang car?

BinaxNOW - Quick, Cheap and Accuracy of Covid 19 Test – Virus 18

Card and application for an antigen test (credit to Alere)

We talked about tools or instruments for testing of Corona virus on several previous posts:

- Is there Affordable Kit to Detect Corona Virus? - Virus 2

- The Fastest Test with RT-PCR Technology Based – 5 Minutes Result - Virus 7

- Should We Get Covid-19 Antibody Test to Avoid Lock-down? - Virus 10

What are important different between the available test methods?

1) Old Fashion PCR test

- this “Polymerase Chain Reaction” test is based on detection of virus (SARS Cov2) genetic sequences.

- using expensive and complicated instruments, and run by professional.

- take several days to know the result

Beautiful cat, just for illustration

2) Antibody test

- after exposing to SARS Cov2 virus, the antibodies may be detected in the blood.

- the same with PCR test in term of expensive, complicated machine and long hours result to know

3) “BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card”

- this is a new test based on detection of antigen on Corona virus or detection of molecular structure of antigen on Corona virus surface.

- simple, quick result and very cheap.

The “BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card” is created by Abbott Laboratories, and has been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The card, credit card size is accompanied with nasal swab and extraction reagent. Nasal swab is stuck to card, then connect to mobile (Cell Phone) application called as Navica.

Result can be seen in 15 minutes with cost US$ 5 only. The accuracy of test is 97.1% to 98.5%.

We may show our test results to enter public buildings such as schools, offices and even groceries. Make everybody convenient.