Flowers of Redbud Trees Near by My Walking Path

The flowers of Redbud tree

As of my previous post, we walk for 35 minutes almost every day, and walking under the tree for health advantage purposes (What are Health Benefits to Walk under the Trees? | Tanza Erlambang Update).

Actually, we may found many interesting things under the trees, include critters, flowers and weeds.

We saw red flowers few days ago, after searching through internet, we believe the red or pink flowers belong to the tree called Western Redbud with scientific name Cercis occidentalis.

The tree is blooming as one of signs from nature that early spring is coming. Yes, the weather is quite comfortable in our place in the February, about F 47 (C 8) degree during night, and F 70 (C 21) degree during day time.

Redbud tree is suitable for small yard

It is said there are two type of redbud trees

- Western redbud

- Eastern redbud

The Western redbud is suitable for warm temperatures, and grow well in California and Arizona.

While Eastern tree (Cercis canadensis) could be seen from eastern to north USA, even go through Canada.

Comparison between Redbud and another tree

Redbud is not so tall tree, about 3.1 m to 5.5 m (10 to 18 feet) tall. Strong tree because could resistant to drought and specific fungus such as “oak root” fungus.

The plant may grow reasonable fast, the rate from 61 cm to 91 cm (24 inches to 36 inches) per year. The first flowers are produced at 3^rd year of age, from February to April each year.

Have you ever seen the beautiful flowers of Western or Eastern redbud in your areas?

What is “Shinouri” Style Used by Women in Japan?

A Japanese girl with “shinouri” style

I always saw Japanese girls with traditional dress, Kimono, especially in tourism objects when I was in Japan.

However, I rarely saw women with face of “shinouri” style walking on the streets or public spaces.

What is “Shinouri” Style Used by Women in Japan? I believe that there are 3 possible answers:

- painted in white as a general translation

- traditional white makeup

- powdery makeup

Japan women in 9^th century, about 1200 years ago used shinouri style as a fashion to identify themselves as a woman who comes from rich families.

Girls seen with “shinouri” style walking on the street

It is a symbol of social status. Then the style is worn by two prominent professionals:

- geisha's

- traditional stage actors or actress

Yes, we may find out to see the women with shinouri style in public spots if we know where and when.

Women with powdery makeup could be seen in places called as “hanamachi.” It means flower town, but, actually a “geisha” district.

Districts are found in almost cities across Japan. The bigger cities, the more geisha districts.

The biggest city in Japan, Tokyo has 6 geisha districts:

– Shinbashi

- Yoshicho

- Hachioji

- Mukojima

- Kagurazaka

- Asakusa

If we lucky enough, we may spot women with painted face in the evening when they come out from their apartments to appointment places such as restaurants and tea houses.

Have you spotted women with powdery face in any places?

Lipid metabolisms and Insulin Effect – Diabetes 20

Illustration of lipid metabolims (credit to 123RF).

We talked about carbohydrate metabolism in the previous post (Effect of Insulin on Metabolic Rate - Diabetes 19 | Tanza Erlambang Update). This post will discuss little bit about Lipid metabolism.

You might forget what lipid is. Yes, it is organic compound: fatty acid and all of its derivatives.

In daily life, examples of lipid may include:

- cooking oil (natural oils)

- waxes (substance which produced by bees to construct honeycomb as an example)

- steroids (material to form hormone, vitamin D and bile salts in the body).

Lipid metabolism is important, because its to breakdown the lipid into cells (smaller chain fatty acids).

These smaller fat cells either stored (source of energy) or synthesize (for specific use). It is crucial to have synthesis process, where fats are constructed to be cell membranes (plasma membranes).

Source of Lipid in daily life (credit to SlideServe)

What hormones regulate lipid metabolism? 3 key hormones are:

- insulin

- leptin

- adiponectin

Insulin affects on both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In respect to lipid metabolism, insulin help synthesis process, include glycogen synthesis.

In the liver, insulin could stimulate glycogen synthesis. Two goals of this kind of synthesis:

- manage blood glucose level

- provide energy need

Thus, we may understand the relationship between lipid metabolism and insulin, then relationship to diabetes.

Lower insulin production causes lower lipid metabolism rate, then increase blood glucose level, or the process is vice versa. 

City Library Paintings Gallery from Grade 12 Students

A girl and butterfly, painted by a 12^th grade student

I may see painting displays on the wall of my city library. Librarians replace paintings of gallery regularly based on:

- classic painting

- popular collections

- style of paintings

- artist ages (students)

- amateur or professional artists

- themes such as addiction, farming society or city developments

When I came to library recently, I saw paintings of students, from kindergarten to high school.

Self portrait, painted by a high school student

There are almost 100 paintings of students, hanged on the library entrance wall, then I chose three of them for this post only.

It is because I think that the paintings are “excellent” compared to their peers. The paintings were created by 12^th grade students from different high school a cross our city.

A dog, painted by student of 12^th grade

Might be the same with other cities in America, our city school system provides a program for recognized talented students in the filed of visual arts, theater and music.

Specific classes are provided to these talented students in order to:

- develop skill

- increase knowledge

- grow as professional artists

- give an opportunity to show their arts to public

I believe the program for the talented students have excellent results. 

Have your cities or countries with similar program? 

Bandit, a Special Need Dog Found His Perfect Adopters

Bandit with his wheelchair (credit to Mother Nature Network)

I never saw a dog with wheelchair in my life. The dog called Bandit with his wheelchair is heartbreaking story for me.

“Jail Dog” in Gwinnett county, Georgia is a program to give opportunity for selected inmate to train homeless dogs. The program has been started in 2010.

After training, the dog usually to be:

- obedience

- friendly

- trust

- compassion

- patience

- love

- understanding

Bandit with his adopt parent, Darrel Rider 

(credit to BanditRider jdp)

Then, hundreds of trained dogs are ready for adoption by carefully selected potential adopters or owners.

In case of Bandit that He has no “permanent” adopters for long time, almost 6 years. It is due his special need which require a lot and tough cares.

Four different adopters returned his back to the Jail Dog Program and many potential adopters feel scary.

Darrel Rider and his wife, Sue “fall in love” with Bandit because Bandit is like a human, cute and friendly.

Darrel Rider himself use wheelchair. The last inmate who take care Bandit believed that Bandit and Darrel family is “a perfect match.”

Have you seen a dog with wheelchair around?

What is the Most Way Character Die in Shakespeare Plays?

Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare plays

(credit to TheaterJones)

We may have known that there are 4 categories in Shakespeare plays:

- history

- comedy

- romance

- tragedy

In tragedy, Shakespeare seems to follow the tradition in which the plays are characteristics by plenty of death.

The bloodiest play is called “Titus Andronicus,” tragedy about “murder, mutilation, incrimination and rape” when a Roman general back to Rome.

The question then, What is the Most Way Character Die in Shakespeare Plays?

There are two sources to answer this question: first source said there are 100 death, and another said that 74 death in all Shakespeare’s plays.

Both sources mentioned the way of death was majority by stabbing.

In cases of 74 death, the top 5 ways character die are following:

- by stabbing, 30 cases

- by beheading, 5 cases

- by poisoning, 4 cases

- by stabbing and poisoning, 3 cases

- by baking into pie, 2 cases

Other ways of dead include drowned, smothered by pillow, lack of sleep, shame, hanging, grief, dismemberment then fire and indigestion.

Did you watch any categories of Shakespeare's plays? What is category do you like?

Why is Grass Feed Beef Good for Heart? - Heart 5

Grass feed cattles (credit to Healthline)

The words “Grass Feed Beef” refer to cattle which consume grass regularly. It is believed as a natural way to get fresh and healthy food for cattle.

The grass feed cattle produce meat with higher nutrients such as:

- Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

- Antioxidant

- Vitamins (A and E)

- Creatine

- Carnosine

We might not know function of CLA, Creatine and Carnosine. CLA relates to improvement of immune system.

Carnosine and Creatine are not well known, but crucial nutrients to improve brain and muscles functions. 

Brain needs some specific nutrients from meat, just for illustration

(credit to Diagnosis.Diet).

Generally, grass feed beef contains Omega-3s which would work in the body to:

- lower blood pressure

- reduce inflammation

- reduce triglycerides

Together with lower unhealthy fats, Omega-3s (1600 mg for men and 1100 mg for women daily) may improve health of cardiovascular, and reduce risk of heart diseases.

Experts said that supplement of Omega-3s is not effective. We should consume meat regularly, especially from grass feed cattle.

Have you tried to consume grass feed beef? What do you think compared to grains feed beef?