List Listed

Jason Gulledge on Flickr

We all have one in the family, the office, or in our circle of friends. The foodie, or as you may call it, the food fanatic. We’re talking the weirdo who owns over 200 cookbooks and bought a home with a second garage just to store them in. The friend who thinks buying pepper already grounded was accidentally left out of the 11 commandments and is certain she can taste the difference between olive oil from Italy and that in Napa Valley California.

You’re probably thinking of what to buy these nuts for Christmas. Christopher Lower at the Minneapolis Examiner, thankfully, has come to the rescue with 10 kitchen gadget suggestions for your fanatical foodie (as well as pictures of the strange gadgets, like the spoonula).

1. Spoonula. What the heck is a spoonula? A combination of a spatula and a spoon. Good for folding batters and cake mixes.

2. Pepper Grinder. Because no hardcore foodie would buy already grounded pepper from the store spice rack.

3. Cast Iron Skillet. Functionally, these provide better heat distribution to other metals. They may also be safer, as they won’t peel (thus getting into your food) like other non-stick surfaces. And who doesn’t have fun seasoning them? Grease, grease, heat, and repeat.

GET OTHER FOODIE GIFT IDEAS via The Examiner

Normanack on Flickr

So hopefully you already know how to have a baby, cause we’re not giving pointers on that. However, we did find some suggestions to remember when you’re trying to conceive, according to the UK Times Online.

1. Folic Acid intake is extremely important, as it decreases the chance of birth defects involving the neural tube, like spina bifida. 400 micrograms a day is recommended, and while this is available in supplements, you can also increase your intake of certain green vegetables that are high in folate, such as spinach, kale, and peas.

2. Patience, patience, patience. While you and your sweetie can’t wait to put a bun in the oven, nature has other plans on various levels. For example, if you’ve been taking the pill, it can take up to 3 months for fertility to fully return. And statistics show only 30 out of 100 couples trying to conceive will do so in one month and a little more than half in six months.

3. Get healthy. Being overweight or underweight can affect chances of conceiving. Don’t forget to get a dentist, if you don’t already have one as pregnancy can adversely affect teeth.

GET 7 REMAINING TIPS via Times Online

Editor B on Flickr

When you start to think of the top inventions or things that have changed your life, a mushroom usually isn’t one of them unless you went on some weirdo shiitake diet that made you drop 100 pounds. That’s another story.

However, fungi has played quite a role in our lives, and not just in terms of the portabella sandwich at the bar you desperately need after having more than a few drinks.

1. Statins: Have bad cholesterol? Statins were originally derived from two lovely fungi, Monascus ruber and Penicillium citrinum, to be exact.

2. Penicillin: Probably the most well know fungus. Has saved millions of lives and was probably one of the first medicines we were introduced to as children when we were sick. The Penicillium chrysogenum
derivative is a lot better to down in the pink, bubble gum flavor form.

3. Beer: Every college frat boy should bow down to the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer’s yeast), or Saccharomyces carlsbergensis (for lager making).

4. Athlete’s Feet: Just kidding. But still a fungus, thankfully or not.

LIST OF MORE FUNGI USES via BBC News

My Humors99

College traditions of your parents’ generation may have been tame, ranging from the wholesome spring fling to dances after the homecoming football games. Ah, those were the days when women were suppose to be in by 8pm as well. A lot has changed.

CollegeOTR presented a list of wacky college traditions which include anything from nudity to kissing the toe of a statue. And no, both aren’t included in the same tradition.

1. Dartmouth-The Ledyard Challenge. Students swim from the Ledyard Canoe Club on the New Hampshire banks of the Connecticut River across to the Vermont bank, then return by running naked to a particular spot on the Ledyard Bridge.

2. Wells College– During the morning of the last day of classes, seniors decorate a statue of Minerva on campus and after singing a song take turns kissing the statue’s toe.

3. Vassar College– Each year freshmen and seniors do what is called Serenading. And it’s quite a way to win someone over. Seniors walk dorm to dorm where freshman sing songs insulting the senior class and students throw condiments, ranging from chocolate syrup to water balloons filled with ketchup.

GET REMAINING TRADITIONS via My Humors 99

Cygnus921 on Flickr

New Year’s is coming and you’re going to want to eat and drink up to 2009. However all that partying can aggravate your acid reflux, putting heartburn right up there with hangover as a bad consequence of staying up drinking alcohol and stuffing yourself with Chex Mix while waiting for the Times Square ball to drop.

There are things you can do to prevent aggravating your existing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

1. Don’t forget your Tums. Or your Rolaids, Maalox or Mylanta. Whichever one likes you the best, they all can be taken with proton-pump inhibitors like Prilosec and Nexium, medicines that reduce the amount of acid in your digestive system. It’s a good idea to take them with big meals.

2. Don’t be a hog late at night. Yes, it’s tempting, but eating smaller meals throughout the day reduces your chances of experiencing pain in the middle of the night.

3. Limit alcohol and coffee late at night as well.

GET LIST FOR CONTROLLING GERD via FOX