Is Autumn Favorite Season in the USA?

Leaves start to change their colors

I thought Spring is the most favorite season for Americans, yes, it was before 2019, long time ago.

Survey done by Gallup (2005), about 16 years ago, indeed, It was Spring as the most lovely season in the USA.

Then, what is the most favorite season now?

Autumn or Fall season.

Based on survey by YouGov (2019), the percentage of people love Fall season is the highest than other seasons.

The result of survey is following:

- Fall 40%

- Summer 27%

- Spring 19%

- Winter 10%

- Don’t know 4%

We might wonder: why?

Color changed of leaves

Each one has own reasons to favor Fall season. For me, Fall is when temperature lower down, after long hot summer. I am waiting very much this season.

Some reasons why people love Fall season, just for examples:

1) A lot of festivals, some of them:

- Halloween

- Thanksgiving.

2) Foods and fruit

- pies

- seafood seasons

- apple harvest

3) Beautiful colors. We may see beautiful colors of leaves everywhere:

- red

- orange

- yellow

4) Temperature, not cold and not hot.

Finally, what season do you like?

Spring or Fall? Why?

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- Is Remdesivir a Potential Drug Against Covid-19? - Virus 11

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Banana Spiders in our Neighborhood - Gardening and Hobby 21

Fig 01- Yellow spider on the webs

We do not know whether the present in a quite abundance of yellow spiders in the some neighbor’s yards relate to hurricane or not.

This yellow spider called as banana spider, and some people called its as garden spiders.

There 11 species of banana spiders, our state species called with scientific name as Trichonephila clavipes.

Other important species include:

- Cupiennius cubae

- Cupiennius foliatus

- Cupiennius getazi

- Cupiennius granadensis

- Cupiennius remedius

- Cupiennius salei

- Cupiennius valentinei

- Cupiennius vodou

Fig 02 – Spiderwebs on the green leaves

Fig 03- Banana spider crawling down

As reported by the Sun Sentinel, Florida (2018), the banana spiders are not venomous.

The spiders are seen in some places in certain seasons. They can not kill people, just painful. Actually, they are not aggressive, but friendly.

In addition to USA, the yellow spiders are spreading in the Latin America, include:

- Guatemala

- Colombia

- Venezuela

- Brazil

- Guyana

- Ecuador

- Mexico

- Panama

- Costa Rica

Have you seen banana spiders in the garden or in nature?

What seasons they are abundant?

We Saw Dozens of Hummingbirds after Hurricane - Gardening and Hobby 20

Fig 01- Hummingbird flies near a feeder

Our state, Louisiana has two hummingbird migration visits every year:

- Spring migration

- Fall migration.

We saw dozens of hummingbirds visit our backyard after hurricane Ida. It is might be Fall migration.

About hurricane Ida hit our areas have been posted previously:

- Hurricane Ida Debris Piles in the Neighborhood

As reported by Baton Rouge Audubon Society (2021), we may find the following species of hummingbirds in our city or neighborhood:

- Anna's

- Allen's

- Buff bellied

- Calliope

- Black chinned

- Broad tailed

Fig 02- A little hummingbird

Fig 03- A hummingbird flies around

In normal time, we always see two beautiful species of hummingbirds in our backyard:

- Rufous

- Ruby throat

Some of our neighbors said that they saw at least 6 species of hummingbirds visited to our neighborhood every year. It is included very rare species called as:

- broad billed

How many species of humming have you ever seen?

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A Low Carbohydrate Food – Diabetes 26

Fried rice with low calories

Many grains in the commercial markets are considered as high calories diet. These grains include:

- rice
- wheat
- oats

As suggested by Butler, N (MedicalNewsToday, 2018) that American should consume 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day.

About 1,100 calories must come from carbs which equal to 275 gram carbohydrates per day.

However, diabetes patients should eat much lower calories contents of foods, it is about 1,200 to 1,600 calories per day.

Since rice is one of higher calories foods, and should be avoided or limited, hence, unfortunate for many million of diabetic people around the globe, especially diabetic patients from Asian countries who eat rice as main source of energy.

Wild fruit, illustration only.

Sure, food intake management could be done to make blood sugar level under control.

Bird Eye is a brand well known for freezing foods in the package. The brand is own by several companies now:

- Conagra Brands (United States)
- Nomad Foods (Europe)
- Simplot (Australia)

The brand then develop called a “cauliflower rice” which contain:

- low carbohydrates
- high fiber
- antioxidants
- vitamins

Its may be alternative to real rice, and good for diabetic people.

# Previous postings:

- What is Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 1
- What is the Relationship between Eggs and Diabetes? - Diabetes 2
- Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Persons Produce Less Insulin? - Diabetes 3
- Could Medicines Affect on Pancreas to Produce Insulin? - Diabetes 4
- Effect of Metabolic on Beta Cells in the Pancreas - Diabetes 5

Hurricane Ida Debris Piles in the Neighborhood

Fig 01- Debris on roadside and grass

As you might know that Hurricane Ida just hit Louisiana about 11 days ago, then travel to several states in the USA.

In addition to our state, other states hit by Ida include:

- Mississippi

- Alabama

- Pennsylvania

- New Jersey

- New York

Economic lost was estimated about US$ 95 billion due to this hurricane, and recorded as one of costliest hurricanes in the USA.

Death toll was estimated at least 60 people, and might be rises after counting process is finished.

Our neighborhood in Baton Rouge, LA was hit hard by this hurricane. Leaves and branches scattered everywhere.

Fig 02- A tree fall down

Fig 03- Branches and leaves scatter on the road

Fig 04- A falling tree and branches in the neighborhood.

Neighbors did do hard work to collect debris, then pile its on the:

- sides of curb (drainage)

- grass

- yard

No, we can not put our debris on the street, it is because debris will block traffics, and in many cases can cause damage to passing cars.

Unfortunately, we didn’t know when trucks will pick our debris, it will leave dead grass patches.

Hope, everything goes well in coming days.

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What is a Fiber Painting or Fiber Art? - Art 2

Fig 01- A beautiful bird with crown.

I just saw from a distance that there is “paintings” exhibition in the library. When I approach, a notice said: “An exhibition of mixed media fiber art.”

What? What is Fiber Painting or Fiber Art Means?

I know about fiber arts and watch about it several times in the TV, but I never see in personal of fiber painting.

I tried to search in google about fiber art and fiber painting. I got some information about a fiber, fiber art and fiber painting.

Two type of fibers, natural and man made fibers. Most known natural fibers are:

- Linen

- Cotton

- Wool

- Silk

Fiber art is fine art which utilized fiber (either natural or man made) to form any kinds of arts.

Fig 02- Several types of guitars

Fiber painting is painting which using techniques of sewing, weaving, stitching, dyeing and other traditional techniques to create any style of painting.

Fig 03- Diving activities

Some examples of synthetic fibers are following:

- Spandex

- Acrylic

- Polyester

- Nylon

- Rayon

- Polyethylene

Fig 04- Several fiber paintings are hanging on the wall

The base materials for fiber paintings could be laces, trim, threads and yard. The results like other painting, then, hanging on the wall.

I think fiber paintings are great, no different with painting as I know. They are so beautiful. Highly aesthetic values.

Like other paintings, fiber paintings have style too. They are grouped based on such as concepts, medium and techniques.

This kind of painting is getting broader audiences recently, because this art form are:

- Easy to understand

- Using familiar stuffs

- Techniques are moderate, not difficult

Do you know about “fiber painting?”

Have You Tried Jalapeno Cheese Poppers? - Food Variety 14

Fig 01- Jalapeno chili, sold in many groceries.

You might know Jalapeno, Capsicum annuum, quite hot spicy for me, but medium compared to other chilies for many people.

Some hotter chilies than Jalapeno:

- Serrano
- Red Habanero
- Cayenne peppers

Almost all groceries across USA sell Jalapeno with reasonable price

I always see this pepper and used it for cooking while peppers in green color.

They could turn red when ripen. Both red and green can be eaten.

The red is less spicy and grassy.

Sure, Jalapeno has several health benefits, the most important one that Jalapeno may be used for migraine relief due to it contains the capsaicin.

Other health benefits are anti inflammatory, improve our immune system and improve our nervous system.

Research has been done to use Jalapeno as an anti cancer drug.

Fig 02- Spicy vegetable for illustration

Fig 03- Jalapeno cheese poppers

We just went to a grocery, and the first time, we noticed a Jalapeno Cheese Popper.

We bought several of poppers to try their taste.

Since I like cheese, the taste of poppers is not bad, a quite delicious.

It seems that chef uses cheddar cheese inside poppers. I think the cheddar cheese is quite sharper.

Fine shred of cheddar was fit in the hallow of a half jalapeno chili, and then insert inside popper. Cheese makes smell delicious.

Have you tried Jalapeno Cheese Poppers?