What is Water and Why is it Good for You?

Go Ahead, Drink Up

Lets face it, water is life.  Almost everything on Earth needs it to survive especially humans.  Humans require a lot of water to survive.  Farm animals such as cows need the most out of any animal.  Whenever someone goes on a diet or wants to be healthier, the same advice is given which is "drink more water."  Since there is no reason for a normally healthy person not to drink water than this isn't bad advice. Some people will claim that you can drink to much water and run the risk of death.  This is shockingly true but would require someone to drink non-stop for several days while trying not to urinate.  This is very difficult to do.

The Science of Sugar and Your Body

Sweet, Sweet Sugar

These days sugar is everywhere.  It is the preferred sweetener for foods and drinks. Although advances have been made in sugar substitutes it still remains a heavily used additive.  It is common knowledge in this day and age that sugar in its refined form is generally bad for you and should be kept to a minimum but many people don't know why or know the mechanisms of how sugar behaves in the human body. Instances of diabetes has sky-rocketed and added sugar plays a big part in that rise.  One way to help yourself and others is knowledge so you can know what to do to regulate your sugar intake properly.

8 Harmless Animals That People Think Are Dangerous

Get Over Your Irrational Fear

Humans instinctively fear some animals especially if they look disgusting or dangerous.  Other animals like snakes people have grown to fear as well since some of the species can kill.

There are many animals that are harmless to humans and those ones are obvious, like house cats or worms.  Phobias for cats and worms exist in people but those are just phobias. For this list we have compiled animals that are assumed to be dangerous or could kill or seriously harm a human.  However, with these animals the opposite is true, either they can't kill or seriously harm a human.  A few even enjoy the company of humans.

So, for all the men out there that would normally go running scared away from one of these animals, next time you don't have to.

Most Harmful Substances Known to Man

What Will Kill You the Fastest?

There are a multitude of poisons and toxins in the world that can kill with ease but just how deadly are the deadliest of all.  Well, here is a list broken down into categories of the most harmful and of course deadly substances on Earth.

The Rise and Fall of the Baseball Card Industry

Early Days

Early in the 1900s the sport of Baseball was starting to gain in popularity.  Sporting goods stores came up with an idea to promote their products by including baseball cards with their merchandise.  The cards were usually black and white or sepia in colour.  One side of the card would have a picture, not a photograph, of a player and the reverse would have some advertisement for a store or a product.  People didn't care about the cards too much.  A father would buy something and get the card if they didn't have a child to give it to they would just throw it in the garbage.

History of Martial Arts: Pankration

The First Martial Art

Pankration is often overlooked as a martial art but is also considered the first martial art by many.  It is of Greek origins and was an organized system of unarmed combat that mixed striking and grappling.  Pankration was practised widely in Greece at the time, was taught to soldiers and was even in the ancient Olympic games.

The Life of Saint George

Why is Saint George So Important?

Saint George is a very important and well known Saint that appears in many places.  He is the patron saint of Anglicans, Ukrainians, the country of England and many other cities and cultures.  George was a soldier and warrior.  There are stories that even after his death body part of his were saved and taken into battle as good luck and sources of power.  The crusader army of Jerusalem was said to have at least one piece of Saint George that they used in battle.

Popular Alcoholic Drinks from the 1800's

Not Your Standard Vodka and Cranberry 

Many drinks of the time were rum based drinks.  Rum was part of the pay for sailors and rum was also produced in the Caribbean where a lot of sailing and piracy was going on.  Recipes of the time reflect the heavy use of rum.  Many drinks also included lime juice to help sailors consume more vitamin C to combat scurvy.

Traditionally, these drinks were served warm or heated because sailors wanted something comforting after working at sea which would have been cold and wet.   Times change however and alcoholic drinks are mostly served chilled and over ice. That being said I've tried to make a short list that has some diversity to it. Here they are.

A History Lesson on Faro

The Most Fascinating Card Game That's Not Played Anymore

For those who don't know Faro is a card game that was invented in France in the 17th century and played up until the early 20th.  At the time in France it was called Pharaon. Faro is a derivative of a another card game from France called Basset which was banned by Louis XIV in 1691.  Faro wasn't played for long before it was also banned.

The Cats of Ernest Hemingway

As Unique as Hemingway Himself

Ernest Hemingway was famous for being a writer but is known for many other things. Every hobby he had, places he went and seemingly everything he touched was made popular just by association.  He made Key West Florida famous, Marlin fishing and he was a very good chef too.  Most of these things most people already know about Hemingway but one more thing he made popular was his choice of pet which was his cats. His cats were unique just like himself in that they were all "Polydactyl" which meant they had multiple extra toes.

Inside of a Masonic Temple

Not too long ago there was a province wide program here in Ontario where every museum, attraction or historic building was open to the public free of charge. It lasted for only one day so I took advantage of it and hit up around 6 different places. I went to an old theatre, churches and one of the more interesting places was the local Masonic Temple. The members that were there were very friendly

History of Religion: Zoroastrianism

I was asked recently, "What was the religion in the middle east before Islam?". Most countries such as Egypt and India had a pantheon of Gods. Same with the Babylonians, Assyrians and Greeks. Zoroastrianism started in what is present day Iran by the Prophet Zoroaster. History tells that it started approximately 3500 years ago as a monotheistic religion.

History of Martial Arts: Judo

History and Founder

Judo is a martial art developed in Japan. Judo means "the gentle way" mainly because it involves very few striking techniques. The only striking techniques are found in one set of kata or pre-arranged form which is taught to very high level black belts. They are not used in practise or in competition. It was invented and developed by a man named Jigoro Kano. Kano was born in 1860 and

Introduction to the Periodic Table of Elements

More and more people these days are self described "science nerds" which is great, people should take an interest in science. Unfortunately, most people that describe themselves as science nerds are lacking in the basics and you need to know the basics when it comes to anything.

One of the most important things to know in most science fields is the periodic table of elements.