Loving Gold; Vacuuming; Drinking Beer; Jumping Rope; Promoting a Penguin; Becoming a Superager

It's 32 degrees and raining.  I just went out in the car and had to scrape ice off the windshield.  Best not to be driving tonight.

Family

Great news for my family.

MyHeritage told me about a cousin I did not know I had.  On my biological father's side.

Tomorrow we learn the gender of my soon to be grand child.

How about some "rambling?"

Today's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!

I always learn something from this show.  Today was special because Tom Hanks served as the emcee.  Yes, the same Tom Hanks of cinematic fame. (Remember, you need to consider that what I am writing may turn out to be "false news"..  be careful.)

Trump's Gold  Fetish

I think there was a reference to hacked emails that talked about Mr. Trump's love of gold and gold toilet bows was mentioned.  This caused someone to echo something said during confirmation hearing on Mr. Pompeo.  Supposedly he said: "I take these leaks seriously."

Great Invention

Someone in Norway or Sweden has invented "Vacuum Shoes."  Why not?  Elaine likes the idea that you can walk around the  house, getting exercise, while scooping up cat hair.

Beer-lovers' Boon

The Pang Pang Brewery in Sweden has developed beer to drink while you take a shower.  Be careful though, because it has a 10% alcohol content, and could make you slip on your soap.

Jumping Rope

I'm not sure of this, but I think someone mentioned that a bakery somewhere made a video of bakery employees stretching out bread dough and using it to play "Jump Rope."

Lost and Found

A taxi driver in Scotland told police that he drove a depressed man to the edge of the sea and left him off.  He was afraid that the man may have committed suicide by drowning.  The Coast Guard went into immediate alert mode and spent a few hectic hours searching the sea for the man.  After the fog came in, they had to give up their search, so they went to the local pub for chips and ale.  Guess who they bumped into at the pub?

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Penguin Promotion

My German newspaper reported this.  A penguin named Sir Nils Olav was recently promoted to "Brigadegeneral" at the Edinburgh, Scotland zoo.  Nils Olav was knighted in 2008.  He is a mascot for the "King's Guard"..  and takes part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

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Superagers

Lisa Feldman Barrett wrote about "Superagers" in the New York Times edition for New Years Day 2017.

Neurologist Marsel Mesulam coined the term "Superagers" for those senior citizens whose memory and attention is on a par with healthy, active twenty-five-year-olds.

How do you become a "Superager?" Work hard at something, physical or mental.   Critical brain regions increase when persons engage in difficult tasks.   Lisa says: "You can ....help keep these (brain) regions thick and health through vigorous exercise and bouts of strenuous mental effort."

Lisa also says that "The Marine Corps has a motto that embodies this principal: 'Pain is weakness leaving the body.' That is, the discomfort of exertion means you're building  muscle and discipline. Superagers are like Marines."

She suggests that we make New Year's Resolutions to take up challenging activities, like learning a foreign language, taking an online college course, or mastering a musical instrument.

Work that brain! Become a Superager, regardless of your calendar age!

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