TIDBITS® COUNTS TO THE NUMBER FIVE
by Kathy WolfeThis week, Tidbits counts to five to bring you the facts on this prime number.
• What exactly is a prime number? It’s one that is only divisible by itself and the number one!
• The Latin and Greek languages give us many words related to the number five. The Latin word for five, “quintus,” is the root for the word “quintet,” a group of five musicians. Quintuplets are a group of five babies, while in card games, a “quint” is a sequence of five cards in the same suit. The Greek word for five is “pente,” and we derive our words “pentagon” and “pentagram” for polygons from this root. A pentadactyl has five fingers and a pentad is a period of five years. The Torah, or Pentateuch, the Five Books of Moses, consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Bible.
• According to the Chinese, every significant thing on Earth comes from five elements –metal, fire, earth, wood, and water. The Five Elements Theory, which first appeared around 770 BC, declares that the world changes according to these five “generating or overcoming relationships.” Everything that occurs in the universe is the result of those interactions. turn the page for more!
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NUMBER FIVE (continued):
• Most species of starfish have five appendages, or rays, an example of pentamerism. The five rays branch out from a central disk, with the end of each arm equipped with a microscopic eye, known as an ocellus, organs that help the creature differentiate between light and dark, as well as detecting movement.
• There are five Great Lakes, large interconnected freshwater lakes that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The five, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, contain 21% of the world’s surface fresh water by volume. Their total surface covers 94,250 sq. miles (244, 106 sq. km), about the size of the United Kingdom. Only one of the five, Lake Michigan, is located entirely within the United States, while the others form a boundary between the U.S. and Canada.
• What enables the body to identify the five basic tastes of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory)? The chemical compounds in different foods interact with specialized protein receptor cells in the taste buds on your tongue, which in turn send the information to your brain.
• What does it mean to “plead the fifth”? In the U.S. legal system, this phrase refers to the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, an amendment ratified in 1791. It protects a person from being “compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” When a witness is called to testify, pleading the fifth signals their intentions to invoke the amendment’s protections ahead of their testimony if he/she feels that statements might be negative or be used against them. The prosecution is not allowed to comment on the decision, and the jury is prohibited from drawing any unfavorable conclusions or equating the witness’s silence with guilt.
In this issue of TidbitsMOV our girl Tammy Tidbits is hiding.
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NUMBER FIVE (continued):
• Several popular musical groups have incorporated the number five into their name. The 1960s band, The 5th Dimension, had memorable hits with “Up, Up and Away” and “Age of Aquarius.” Originally named The Versatiles, they changed their name in 1966, wanting something more up-to-date. It was five people and the dimension was about music. The English pop rock group, The Dave Clark Five, who formed in 1958 in London under the leadership of drummer Dave Clark, had big hits with “Glad All Over” and “Bits and Pieces.” Clark began the band as a side project to raise money for his soccer team. He wasn’t even a musician – he bought a drum set and taught himself to play them. The band was the first British rock band to tour the U.S., and appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” more than any other band. The Jackson 5, composed of five brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marion, and Michael, was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, managed by their father Joe. Their first break was winning the talent show at the city’s Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1966. A deal with Steeltown Records followed in 1967.
• The symbol of the Olympic Games was created by the co-founder of the International Olympic Committee, Pierre de Coubertin, in 1913. The five interlocking rings represent the number of inhabited continents represented by Olympians – Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and Europe. The five colors, blue, yellow, black, green, and red, were chosen because every nation’s flag includes at least one of the colors. The rings were interconnected to symbolize a unified group of athletes.
• French designer Coco Chanel released her famous perfume Chanel No. 5 in 1921 on May 5, the fifth day of the fifth month.
NUMBER FIVE (continued):
• The strengths of hurricanes and tornadoes are measured on wind scales. Hurricanes rated as Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale are those with sustained winds of at least 157 mph (252 km/hr). The scale was developed in 1971 by engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson. Very few types of structures survive a Category 5 hurricane, only those of solid concrete or steel frame construction located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) inland. Nearly all trees are uprooted or snapped. Tornadoes are measured on the Enhanced Fujita scale, also first developed in 1971. A Category 5 is one with winds above 200 mph (322 km/hr). Except for heavily-built structures, virtually all buildings are destroyed, cars are hurled up to thousands of yards away, framed houses are blown away, and even the grass is ripped from the ground. The most recent Category 5 tornado occurred in Moore, Oklahoma, in May, 2013, with winds estimated at 210 mph (340 km/hr), a storm that killed 26 and injured 212.
• All major north-south interstate highways in the U.S. end in 5. The westernmost interstate running through California, Oregon, and Washington is I-5. Progressing eastward, the roads are numbered increasingly higher, ending with the easternmost I-95 along the east coast, running from Florida all the way to Maine.
• The pentathlon tournament in the modern Olympic Games consists of five different events – fencing, freestyle swimming, equestrian jumping, cross country running, and pistol shooting. Swedish athletes have captured the gold more times than any other nation.
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The family comedy act of the Marx Brothers consisted of five brothers, Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo. the group appeared in 14 movies from 1905 to 1949, with their ost famous "Duck Soup." Five of their feature film are included in the American Film Institute's Top 100 comedy films. After the group disbanded in 1950, only Groucho continued to a successful television career.
Affordable,
Sustainable,
and
Simply Delicious: Canned Salmon for Budget-Conscious Cooks
Here's a stellar pantry staple I don't write about often enough, so let's dive into some canned salmon.
There's no doubt that salmon is among the healthiest of foods. Yet fresh salmon is expensive, seasonal and sometimes hard to find, particularly salmon that's wild caught rather than farmed. So, while we wait for fresh salmon to go on sale, canned salmon is an affordable choice for the frugal and fabulous pantry. It's crucial to scrutinize salmon labels for quality. Farmed salmon, raised in crowded pens with antibiotics and toxins, poses health risks. Avoid Atlantic salmon, which is farmed due to overfishing. Opt instead for wild-caught Alaskan pink salmon, sustainably harvested in well-managed fisheries. Not only is it ethically sound, but also budget-friendly.
If you've never tried canned salmon, here's what you should know. Canned salmon comes in two varieties: with the skin and bones (less expensive) and without (more expensive).
If you buy salmon with the skin and bones, there's a tiny little drawback. Namely, skin and bones. You're getting a section of the whole fish (scales and organs removed) then pressure cooked right in the can. The bones are soft and completely edible, in fact, they're highly nutritious. You can choose to eat everything in the can, or you can pick out the skin and bones, leaving only the fillets.
If you or your family feel squeamish about the
bones, I suggest you remove the obvious bits and add a handful of slivered almonds to any recipe using canned salmon to completely camouflage any remaining bones.
Canned salmon is so versatile; you can make sandwiches, salads, chowders, pasta and more. But a family favorite is salmon patties crisp on the outside, tender on the inside and bursting with flavor. This adaptable recipe also makes awesome burgers or little appetizer cakes.
SALMON PATTIES
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Total Time: 1 hour
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup green onion, minced, divided 1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon Old Bay seafood seasoning
1/2 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup celery, finely minced
2 eggs
1 (14.75 ounce) can pink salmon
1 tablespoon slivered almonds, optional
1 3/4 cups panko breadcrumbs, divided 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil, for frying In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, half (1/4 cup) of the green onions, lemon zest and juice, Old Bay and soy sauce. Reserve about 1/2 cup of this mixture to use as a dipping sauce or spread later. Into the remaining mayo mixture add celery, remaining green onion, beaten eggs and salmon. For this purpose, I remove the skin and bones, but it's your choice. Add the almonds, if desired. Stir to combine. Thoroughly fold 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs into this mix. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a shallow bowl, combine the remaining panko and every-
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thing bagel seasoning.
When you're ready to cook your patties, place a skillet on medium-low heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil.
Divide the mixture and form 4 or 6 patties. Press each patty into the panko mix, covering all sides. The patties are sticky until they're coated, then they're much easier to work with. Place into the heated skillet in batches. Cook on the first side for 4 minutes before carefully flipping over until fully cooked. Repeat with remaining patties, adding oil as needed. Serve with the reserved dipping sauce or as a burger with the usual accompaniments.
So, next time you're stocking your pantry, I hope a few cans of salmon find their way back upstream to your shelf.
***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Enjoy a salmon burger, a delicious and budget-friendly meal option.
PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com
BEAUTIFUL BODY: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
It’s all about communication. That’s the job of the body’s nervous system! This week, Tidbits communicates the following facts about the body’s billions of nerve cells.
• As the body’s inner means of communication, the nerve cells take in information via the body’s sense of touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. The brain then interprets these sensory signals, allowing a person’s body to interact with the surrounding environment and prepare for action.
• The nervous system has two parts – the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The CNS includes the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, the main organs of the nervous system, with about 100 billion nerves in the brain and 13.5 million in the spinal cord. All the body’s other nerves are part of the PNS.
• Two main types of cells make up the system, neurons and glial cells. The neurons communicate with other cells via synapses, membrane-to-membrane junctions that allow signals to pass from one neuron to the next. Neurons are programmed to perform different functions. Sensory neurons deliver electrical signals from the outer parts of the body, such as glands, muscles, and skin, into the central nervous system. Motor neurons do the opposite, carrying signals from the CNS to the outside parts. Receptor neurons sense the environment – light, sound, touch, and chemicals – and convert it into electrochemical energy. Interneurons send messages from one neuron to another.
• Because neurons can’t replace themselves, nerve damage is often permanent. We also lose neurons as we age. By the time we turn 75, 10% of our neurons are gone, resulting in the brain shrinking about 1 to 2 grams every year due to neuron loss. (Continued page #7)
Dr. Bob Says…
ONLY
903 Wash Blvd.
Cat Walking -Beneficial or Not?
DEAR PAW'S CORNER: I have a neighbor who puts both of her cats on leashes and walks them through the neighborhood each day. Shouldn't they be outside on their own, prowling and doing cat stuff? Sign me Concerned Cat Mom in Providence, Rhode Island DEAR CONCERNED: As long as the cats aren't distressed by the leash, I don't see a problem.
Some cats are completely uninterested in exploring the world outside, and some are downright fearful of it. And that's totally fine. Others, however, want to be outside every chance they get.
Letting cats wander outside puts them at risk of being struck by a car, attacked by wildlife or feral cats, or contracting an illness. Cats can be a menace to other creatures, so much so that there's evidence they are impacting the bird population. Songbirds are already under threat from climate change and bird flu (which spreads just as easily among wild birds as it does on chicken farms), so adding another predator to the list is not a good thing.
Putting a cat on a leash (and in a harness, rather than a collar) is a great way to help them explore while keeping them safe. It's also helpful when taking your cat on long car trips they can stretch their legs safely at rest stops.
For those who'd like to try walking their cat, buy a harness that fits your cat. Cats won't like the harness at first; put it on and just let them get used to it while you hold the leash loosely. Make it a positive experience with lots of treats. Once they start exploring comfortably with the harness on, walk around with them, guiding them. Don't tug on the leash or drag them. Pick them up if they won't move, but always keep it positive.
Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
(continued):
• Glial cells provide support and nutrition and participate in signal transmission. Glial cells are from the Greek word for “glue,” and one of their most important functions is to hold neurons in place as well as provide insulation for them, along with removing dead neurons.
• The body has both voluntary and involuntary nervous systems. The voluntary, or somatic, system controls things that a person is aware of and can consciously control, such as moving various body parts. The involuntary, or automatic, systems takes care of those things that the body doesn’t consciously control – breathing, regulating the heart rate, metabolism, and other vital body processes. During physical activity, the involuntary system causes the heart to beat harder and faster, and opens up airways for easier breathing. It stimulates digestion, helps the body relax, and detects environmental changes that will impact the body.
• The sciatic nerve is the longest, largest nerve in the body. It starts at the base of the spine, runs through the gluteus muscles, and down the back of the thighs and lower legs. This nerve’s functions are two-fold – it helps the muscles in the body’s legs and feet move, and helps a person feel sensations in the legs. At the nerve’s origin, it’s about ½ an inch (1 cm) wide, but as it extends down the legs, it widens slightly to its thickest point of just under an inch (2 cm) in diameter, about the size of a penny. It splits into two main branches at the knees, with one branch running from the outer part of the knee to the outer part of the foot, and another funning down the back of the calf to the heel and sole of the foot. People with sciatica can experience great pain or discomfort as this nerve gets pinched or compressed.
* Soak your metal tools in Coca-Cola when they get gummed up. It does a great job of loosening the gunk, and after a few hours in a Coke bath, you can almost just brush stuff right off.
Makes you wonder about drinking it, but whatever works!
* If you get the Sunday newspaper, you likely get coupons. Perhaps there are others who would enjoy any coupons you don't use rather than your recycling them. Ask your neighbors and friends.
* To make a cottage cheese dip, blend it in your food processor until smooth and add your dip flavoring packet or season with flavors as you would sour cream.
* "You can use a thermos to keep soup warm as a lunch option. Just get a clean funnel for use in the kitchen. You can use it to add soup to the thermos. It makes a good alternative to mix up your lunch options, especially in cold weather. Before you fill the thermos with your hot food, fill
it with boiling water and let it sit for a good five minutes. Then empty out the water just before filling. The food will stay hot longer." E.D. in Wisconsin
* If you have a smartphone (or just a cellphone that takes pictures), here's a novel way of keeping track of printed information: Snap a quick pic. This works for store hours (get the store name in the picture with the hours), receipts, sales advertisements for reference when shopping and much much more. You can delete the photo when you are done.
* If you have a tablecloth that is stained, you might be able to salvage it into napkins or a table runner. You can edge it with a pretty and complementary fabric to spice things up a little.
Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
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