If you are considering eating cockroaches, don’t microwave them! They are so fatty that they explode in the microwave. You just don’t want the mess.
Which is not to say you shouldn’t eat them. According to the EntoMove Project, the cockroach nutritional profile, per mg/100g, (3.53 oz) is 19 g protein, 10 g fat, calcium 38, iron14, zinc 32, potassium 224, niacin 44, magnesium 50, B12 237 mcg.
Current research on this topic is non-comprehensive. It is likely that insects are a regular part of the diet in countries not listed above particularly in South America, Africa, and southern Asia. Many traditional cuisines are often more accepting of the idea of insects as a protein source.
And it isn’t just cockroaches. In many cultures around the world, insects are a traditional and nutritious part of the diet. This practice, called entomophagy, is common in regions where insects are abundant, sustainable, and rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Here are some cultures and regions where eating bugs is more common.
Latin America
Chapulines in Mexico
Mexico: Insects like chapulines(grasshoppers), escamoles(ant larvae), and gusanos de maguey (maguey worm) are popular, especially in Oaxaca and central Mexico. Cooks often toast chapulines with chili and lime and serve them as snacks or added to tacos.
Colombia:Hormigas culonas (big-bottomed ants) are a delicacy, particularly in Santander. People often toast them to eat as a crunchy snack.
Brazil: In the Amazon, indigenous communities eat tucum (palm weevil larvae) and suri(palm beetle larvae).
Southeast Asia
Cambodian fried tarantulas
Thailand: In markets and street food stalls, you can find insects like crickets, silkworm pupae, water beetles, and bamboo worms. They are often fried or roasted and seasoned with spices.
Laos:Khao tom mat (ant egg soup) and deep-fried insects are common snacks.
Nigeria: In some regions, rising livestock feed prices are leading people to raise palm weevil larvae and grasshopper as alternatives to chickens and cattle.
Australia and Oceania
Indigenous Australians: Traditionally ate honey ants, witchetty grubs (larvae of cossid moths), and bardi grubs (larvae of palm weevils). People most often eat these raw or only lightly cooked.
Dora Napaljarri Kitson, hunting for Witchetty grubs (Ed Gold)
Papua New Guinea:Sago grubs (larvae of the sago palm weevil) are a delicacy, often eaten raw or roasted.
East Asia
Inago and hachinoko
China: In many provinces, including Yunnan and Guangxi, people eat insects like silkworm pupae, cricket, bee larvae, and water beetles. Cooks often stir-fry them or use them in soups.
Japan:Inago(grasshoppers) and hachinoko(bee larvae) are traditional foods, often boiled in soy sauce.
South Korea:Beondegi(silkworm pupae) is a popular street food, steamed or boiled and seasoned with spices.
Middle East
Oman and Yemen: During swarms, locusts and desert locusts make a very handy addition to many dishes, often roasted or fried.
Why Do These Cultures Eat Bugs?
Fried insect vendor in Thailand
Nutritional Benefits: Insects are high in protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins (like B12), and minerals (like iron and zinc).
Sustainability: Insects require far less land, water, and feed compared to traditional livestock, making them an eco-friendly protein source.
Cultural Tradition: In many regions, eating insects is a long-standing practice tied to local ecosystems and food security.
Availability: Insects are often abundant in tropical and subtropical regions, making them a reliable food source.
In many cultures, insects are recognized/consumed for their medicinal as well as nutritional properties.
Bottom Line: Are you open to exotic and beneficial foods?
For one thing, you can’t live without it! Fortunately, it’s a hard worker. It beats over 100,000 times per day, pumping about 1.5 gallons of blood every minute. (Over the course of a day, that adds up to over 2,000 gallons.) The right side of your heart pumps blood into your lungs. The left side of your heart pumps blood back through your body, delivering that oxygen to cells. Other than the cornea, every cell in the human body gets blood from the heart. There are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body—enough to go around the world twice—in order to reach all those cells. Strong as it is, things can go awry. Heart disease is the number 1 cause of death in the United States.
Metaphors of the Heart
Even without understanding the biology, the heart has taken its place at the heart of human culture.
Take language, for example. Think metaphors. Those involving the heart quickly and efficiently convey whole worlds of meaning.
King Richard the Lion Hearted of England
The heart of the matter A heart of gold Heart of stone Cold hearted (or warm hearted) Heart of a lion/lion hearted Take heart Heartless Wearing one’s heart on one’s heart sleeve Heart ruling your head Heart and soul Pour out your heart Set your heart on something Speak from the heart Break your heart/broken hearted Win someone’s heart To have a big heart The heart of the city
Yes, such metaphors are very useful in spoken discourse. If you use them in writing, however…cliché.
Hearts in Song
There are approximately a gazillion songs involving hearts. Those that come easily to my mind include:
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” (RIP, Bonnie Tyler)
Heart Over Mind Heartbreak Hotel Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band Your Cheatin’ Heart Heart and Soul You Gotta Have Heart
The usefulness of heart in such ways owes much to the symbolism. A heart is one of the most universally recognized symbols, carrying deep emotional, spiritual, and cultural meanings across history and societies. Here are some of its most common symbolic interpretations:
What could be more romantic than an anatomically accurate heart necklace?
Love and Romance
The heart is most strongly associated with love, both romantic and unconditional.
It represents passion, desire, and emotional connection.
In Western culture, people often use the heart symbol (❤️) to express affection, attraction, or deep care for someone or something.
Life and Vitality
Historically, the heart was seen as the center of life and soul in many ancient cultures.
In Egyptian and Greek traditions, the heart was believed to be the seat of the soul, emotions, and intelligence.
The phrase “follow your heart” suggests trusting your instincts and inner wisdom.
Anahata, the heart chakra
Compassion and Kindness
A heart symbolizes compassion, empathy, and kindness.
Acts of charity or volunteerism are often described as “giving from the heart.”
The heart chakra in Hindu and Buddhist traditions represents love, healing, and spiritual connection.
Courage and Strength
The phrase “a lion-hearted person” refers to someone who is brave and strong.
In medieval times, the heart was a symbol of heroism and valor.
Health and Healing
The heart is a medical symbol for health, vitality, and the circulatory system.
It represents resilience and recovery, especially in contexts like heart disease awareness (e.g., the red dress symbol for heart health).
Spiritual and Mystical Meanings
In Christianity, the heart symbolizes faith, devotion, and the divine love of God.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a prominent symbol in Catholic iconography, representing divine love and mercy.
In Taoism, the heart is seen as the center of balance, harmony, and inner peace.
The Egyptians believed a person’s deeds, good and bad, resided in their heart, which would be tested after death to determine their afterlife.
Unity and Connection
Two intertwined hearts often symbolize unity, partnership, or marriage.
The heart can also represent global unity, as seen in movements like “We Are the World” or environmental campaigns.
Transformation and Growth
The heart is a symbol of personal growth, healing, and renewal.
It represents the idea that love and pain can lead to transformation.
Nature and the Earth
The heart shape appears in natural forms like leaves, seeds, and rivers, symbolizing nature’s nurturing power.
It is often used in eco-friendly and sustainability movements to represent care for the planet.
Art and Creativity
The heart is a universal motif in art, literature, and music, representing beauty, emotion, and human experience.
Cultural Variations
In China, the heart is associated with the idea of “xin” (心), which encompasses both the physical heart and the mind, representing thought and emotion.
In some Native American traditions, the heart is a symbol of truth, sincerity, and harmony with nature.
In Japanese culture, the heart (“kokoro” or “shin” 心) represents the core of one’s being.
Modern Uses
Emojis: The heart emoji (❤️) is used globally to express love, friendship, or appreciation.
Tattoos: Heart tattoos often symbolize love, loss, or remembrance.
Brands and Logos: Many companies use the heart symbol to convey care, trust, and emotional connection (e.g., healthcare, non-profits, and food brands).
Some heart information is (in my mind) interesting but not obviously important.
Other information can raise red flags about stress and danger. For example, the most heart attacks occur each year on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas and New Year’s Day are close behind. More heart attacks happen on a Monday than any other day of the week. The more you know….
Bottom Line: Hearts are important physically, metaphorically, and symbolically.
A few days ago, I noticed that my right leg is bigger than my left: thighs, knee, calf, top to bottom. The only surprise here is that—having lived in this body for decades—I hadn’t noticed this sooner.
I’m right-handed (along with 85-90% of people worldwide), and I noticed early on that the fingers on my right hand are longer than on the left, and every time I buy shoes, I’m reminded that my right foot is bigger than the left. My right hand and arm are stronger than the left as well. I assumed that these things all go together.
Wrong!
Athletic Unevenness
It turns out that such definite “right-sidedness” is because I am not athletic! According to research, for people who play sports, even right handers have bigger left legs. Whether a layup, a pitch, or throwing a ball, the primary plant leg is going to be the left. According to what I read, amateur to professional, almost every right handed athlete has a stronger left leg. (The same is true of right-handers who do weight-training.)
Just for the heck of it, I asked (step-grandson) Cash about his handedness and thigh size. He’s over 6’5” tall and a great basketball player, although only a high school junior. He’s right-handed and reported that, previously unnoticed, indeed his left leg is bigger, even at the young age of 17.
On the other hand, handedness is usually related to eye dominance. True to expectation, my right eye is dominant. (If you don’t know which is your dominant eye, and want to, consider which eye you tend to use for one-eye tasks such as a viewing through a telescope or aiming a rifle.)
On the third hand, eye dominance is not related to the strength of vision in each eye but rather to the brain’s preference for processing visual information from one eye over the other. In my case, my left eye has better vision.
A yoga-teaching friend of mine noted that slight differences in leg length are common. In the extreme, this is related to scoliosis. But even less extreme cases are reflected in hip flexibility.
Facial Asymmetry
Size, strength, and vision aren’t the only asymmetries in our bodies. Most of us don’t typically consider that our faces aren’t symmetrical, but it’s so. Bilateral features in the face, such as left and right eyes, ears, and lips, often show some asymmetry.
Decades ago, a classic psychology experiment determined that if photographs are manipulated to produce pictures of symmetrical faces made from two left sides or two right sides, people always, and easily, chose one photo as more attractive. Conclusion: people really do have “a better side”!
In general, symmetry is more pleasing than asymmetry. In my face, the most noticeable differences are more hairs in my right eyebrow and deeper wrinkles on the left side. I trust the former is noticeable only to me, but the latter is obvious. I attribute it to sleeping on my left side from as far back as I can remember until I had breast surgery for cancer in 2014.
Body variations in symmetry is often observed in wrists, breasts, testicles, and thighs. I already mentioned my right thigh. My right wrist is bigger, as was my right breast prior to 2014.
Fortunately I am relatively symmetrical, in spite of all the exceptions I’ve admitted to. That is to say, no one looking at me would think “lopsided.”
I say fortunately because research has found multiple factors that are associated with symmetry. It can indicate developmental stability, and also suggest genetic fitness. This can further have an effect on mate attraction and sexual selection! Physical health is also associated with greater symmetry. According to Wikipedia, multiple other factors can be linked to asymmetry, such as intelligence and personality traits.
Asymmetrical bodies are common and usually harmless, often due to genetics, posture, natural aging, and—as noted above—exercise.
Muscle Memory
Years of practice allow most bodies to walk without thinking about the mechanics
Thinking about repetitive movement as it relates to body asymmetry (thigh size and athletic movements, as I already mentioned) led me to think of muscle memory. Muscle memory is moving in a particular way without thinking about it. This type of memory comes from repetition or practice—doing the same task over and over in the same way. Many movements involved with bathing, playing an instrument, eating, driving, dancing, etc., rely on muscle memory.
Along with all this other self-examination, I’ve been considering what I think of as my personal muscle habits. The first thing that came to mind is that on a frequent walk from my house, about 200 steps along, I climb a set of three steps. I happened to notice that, regardless of whether I’m strolling or hurrying, I always ascend the first step with my right foot first. Having noted that, I checked: I always mount stairs right foot first.
Similarly, I always put pants on right leg first. I virtually always put dangle earrings on left ear first, whereas stud earrings are right ear first.
My house is dotted with area rugs, and the fringe is scuffed in the same place on each rug, testimony to an habitual gait—or possibly habitual foot-dragging!
Why write a blog about my lopsided body? Because your body is probably asymmetrical, too. Think about it!
Bottom Line: If you focus on your body, it might surprise you!
I originally posted this blog entry in July 2024, “Better Know Your Body” but so much information deserves a second look!
Everybody has one. But how much do you really know about it?
Skin
Let’s start with your largest and most visible organ: skin. When it comes to skin, we tend to notice attractiveness, color, roughness, and wrinkles. But skin is functional as well as ornamental. It keeps everything on the inside from coming out. In addition, it also helps keep us at the right temperature, helps us with touch and sensation, allows us to move without restriction (not too tight or too loose), heals and regenerates constantly, and much more.
You probably aren’t average, but these “average” data will give you an idea of how you compare.
Skin by the Numbers
If you are average, your skin weighs 6-9 or 7.5-22 pounds, depending on your source. According to the NIH Library of Medicine, skin makes up approximately 1/7 of your body weight.
The entire surface of your skin is replaced every month, which put another way means you have about 1,000 different skins in your life! This skin renewal every 27-28 days involves sloughing off the old.
Your skin constantly sheds dead cells, about 30,000 to 40,000 cells every minute! (That’s nearly 9 lbs. per year. On the low end, other sources say you slough off roughly 1.5 pounds of dead skin a year, equal to about 3 ½ cups of sugar.)
Dead skin comprises about a billion tons of dust in the earth’s atmosphere. Indoors, the oil on dead skin cells helps to remove ozone, leaving the air cleaner!
Some sources estimate that more than half of household dust is actually dead skin, others say 70%, but much depends on number of people, pets, etc.
Passengers
Your skin is home to more than 1,000 species of bacteria.
Your face is host to bugs (demodex folliculorum) too tiny to see. Hairlines, eye sockets, and lashes are favorite hiding places. If they get out of control, they can cause skin problems or eye infections.
About 2,400 germs call the belly button home. The average person has 67 different species of bacteria in their belly button.
Weird Skin
Scar tissue is different from normal skin because it lacks hair and sweat glands.
Some of the nerves in your skin are connected to muscles instead of the brain, sending signals (through the spinal cord) to react more quickly to heat, pain, etc.
The color of human skin is determined by the level of pigment melanin that the body produces. Those with small amounts of melanin have light skin while those with large amounts have dark skin.
Genital skin is darker than other skin: nipples, anus, and genitals are more sensitive to sex hormones acting on melanocytes. The contrast increases during puberty and pregnancy.
Your blood makes up about eight percent of your body weight.
Laid end to end, an adult’s blood vessels are between 9,000 and 19,000 kilometers long! This includes veins, arteries, and communicating little capillaries that move between both.
Your heart beats around 100000 times a day, 36500000 times a year and over a billion times if you live beyond 30.
Inside your bones are tiny tubes filled with blood vessels called osteons. They are to bones what rings are to trees. The percentage of large osteons increases with age.
When you’re too hot—or you lose your cool—your nerves send signals to open millions of glands, allowing sweat to flow. It pools by your armpits, palms, feet, head, and private parts.
Earwax is actually a type of sweat! A recessive gene can cause earwax to be dry and flaky rather than viscous and sticky.
Germs love to swim, so they thrive in sweat. Sweat on its own doesn’t smell bad. It’s the bacteria that mix with it.
What we eat directly affects urine and feces. For example, you might notice red or pink after bingeing on beets. Or changes in your urine after eating asparagus. (Note: although asparagus affects the chemistry of everyone’s urine, some people are able to smell it and others aren’t—whether their own or someone else’s.)
Your brain is the fattiest organ in the body, approximately 60% by dry weight. It needs essential fatty acids to perform adequately.
The brain uses over a quarter of the oxygen used by the human body.
Your brain is sometimes more active when you’re asleep than when you’re awake. Humans have a stage of sleep that features rapid eye movement (REM). REM sleep makes up around 25% of total sleep time and is often when you have your most vivid dreams.
Everyone is familiar with forgetting, but additionally, our brain re-writes memories each time we think of them, slowly altering or twisting them over time.
Muscles
The word “muscle” comes from Latin term meaning “little mouse“, which is what Ancient Romans thought flexed bicep muscles resembled.
Your heart is the only muscle that doesn’t get tired.
Gluteus maximus is the Latin name for the largest muscle in your body, your behind. You have two of them, one for each cheek. These powerful muscles serve as a cushion when you sit down, but when flexed tight, they keep you upright.
Few muscles are as hard-working as the tongue. By day, it twists to form the sounds you speak and pushes around the food you eat. While you sleep, your tongue moves saliva down your throat.
The strongest muscle in the human body is the jaw (masseter). A healthy jaw can close teeth with a force of up to 200 pounds, according to the Library of Congress.
Eyes
Your eyes can get sunburned. The symptoms include headache, eye pain and redness, tearing, blurred vision, twitching, and feeling gritty. Sunglasses can prevent sunburn, and symptoms typically resolve themselves after 48 hours.
Your eye is your fastest muscle. The orbicularis oculi is capable of contracting in less than 1/100th of a second.
Infants blink only once or twice a minute while adults average around 10.
Women blink 19 times per minute compared to 11 per minute for men. This may relate to estrogen levels, which can make the cornea more elastic, changing how light waves travel through the eye.
You blink more when talking and less when you are reading. This is why you get tired when reading.
Only two percent of the population have green eyes. The largest concentration of green-eyed peoples is in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Europe. All races (Asian, African, Caucasian, Pacific Islanders, Arabic, Hispanic, and the indigenous peoples of the Americas) can have green eyes.
All babies are born with blue or brown eyes. Green eyes can take between six months and three years to appear in children.
By three months, our eyes are the same size that they will ever be as the corneas have reached their full width. Human eyes grow rapidly in the womb and for the first three months after birth.
GI Tract
Your sense of smell is around 10000 times more sensitive than your sense of taste.
On average, your intestines are 25 feet long from end to end. Your small intestine is over 20 feet. And while your large intestine is wider around, it’s only about 5 feet in length.
Your intestines are always moving, a continuous wavy motion called peristalsis. Or when vomiting, reverse-peristalsis.
Stomach acid can melt metal—at least certain metals, such as zinc. Digestive juices in the gut contain hydrochloric acid. They rank just below battery acid on the pH scale.
Your Asymmetrical Body
The two sides of your face are not alike. If you take a photo of your face and divide it down the middle, then replicate each half, the faces look different enough for people to judge one face better looking than the other!
Almost everyone is stronger and more dexterous on one side of their body than the other. Research indicates somewhere between 85% and 90% of the population is right-handed; almost everyone else favors their left hand. Only about 1% of the population is naturally ambidextrous, but it is possible to train one’s non-dominant side to greater strength and ability.
Body Bits and Pieces
All humans share about 99.9% of our DNA with other humans. For comparison, we share 98% with pigs, and 60% with bananas! (thednatests.com)
The extra skin on your elbow, known scientifically as olecranal skin or colloquially at the weenus, is basically nature’s Silly Puddy because there are fewer sensory neurons located there. That means you can keep kneading it all day long, and as hard as you want.
Adult lungs have a surface area of around 70 square meters!
Human teeth are almost as hard as opal. Diamonds have a hardness of 10; teeth are at 5.
You are about 1cm taller in the morning when you first get up than when you go to bed. This is because during the day the soft cartilage between your bones gets squashed and compressed.
Some penises “grow” more than 4 centimeters when aroused. I found nothing about any relationship between this and any aspect of sexual functioning.
Vaginas range from 2.7 to 3.1 inches. The depth while aroused ranges from 4.3 to 4.7 inches.
Men are more sensitive to caffeine; women are more sensitive to alcohol.
Your fingernails grow three times faster than toenails, explained by the hands having more blood pumping through them. The fingernails on your dominant hand grow faster. In colder weather, nails grow more slowly.
During pregnancy, one’s sense of smell improves dramatically, possibly the body’s attempt to avoid exposing the fetus to danger.
A human’s scent also changes during pregnancy. Other humans can’t usually detect it, but pets might!
Our bodies give one nostril a break while the other is active – we just don’t know we do it. We naturally tend to alternate breathing from one nostril then the other, which helps keep the air we breathe moist so as not to irritate our lungs.
Every new cell is reproduced from the template of our DNA. Therefore, it’s not surprising that this DNA template gets worn away and errors occur as we age. But the aging body is beyond the scope here!
Bottom Line: Know your body well as a path to taking good care of it!
Blood is so important that it has escaped the confines of the body and pops up everywhere, in symbolism, metaphors, and superstitions.
Fallacies About Blood
In many ancient cultures, where blood was seen as the essence of life—sacrificing blood (animal or human)—was believed to sustain the gods, the land, or the community. In ancient paganism, such sacrifices were offered to gods like Moloch, Aztec deities, or the Greek Fates to ensure fertility, harvests, or protection.
It was once believed that blood was the same as life, and as such, drinking blood was the equivalent of a transfusion today.
Ma’at weighing the heart of the deceased against the Feather of Truth, determining a soul’s guilt or innocence in the Egyptian Book of the Dead
Cannibalism, as a tribal rite, was based on a similar belief, that the blood of another was his life and soul. The practice of drinking the blood of the bravest foes was to acquire their courage, cunning, and other distinctive traits.
Royalty and the super rich literally had blue blood. This was based on the fact that those who did not labor in the sun, and therefore weren’t tan, had veins that showed more prominently blue. (Indeed, some creatures have blue blood—e.g., horseshoe crabs—but humans aren’t among them.) Historically, Royal Blood meant that royalty were of divine or pure lineage, untouched by commoners. Bloodlines determined inheritance, legitimacy, and power.
Transfusion bag
People of different races have different blood, and transfusions across ethnic groups are dangerous if not deadly.
A baby gets blood from the mother. In fact, the fetus creates its own blood entirely, in utero.
Bloodletting
Bloodletting in the 1860s
As far back as the Ancient Egyptians, doctors have attempted to treat patients by adjusting fluids inside the body. In particular, medical theories held that sweating and bloodletting were effective treatments for everything from headaches to gout. Hippocrates believed menstruation was a spontaneous form of bloodletting. Talmudic, Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Islamic medical texts all contain detailed instructions of the practice.
Galen created very specific charts of the best locations to cut or place leeches to achieve specific health benefits, encouraging patients to take their “cure” into their own hands! Cutting the vein in the right hand might cure liver problems, while cutting the vein in the left hand could cure spleen trouble.
Diagram of where to bleed for specific health concerns
He also believed that the heart created blood and sent it to the organs and extremities, where it was used up. Having too much would cause it to stagnate, leading to illness. For centuries, doctors throughout Europe and the Middle East thought it purged toxins, balanced bodily chemistry, and boosted immunity.
Bloodletting remained a common medical practice through the 19th Century. Textbooks from 1923 still recommended treating patients with strategic bleeding.
It still shows up in our language. “Bloodletting” is now a euphemism for simmering tensions in a community erupting into violence.
Bloody Language
A subject so entwined with human history and sensibilities is bound to show up in our language.
Blood in Metaphors
Blood feud: People of one bloodline/clan are born enemies of another.
In cold blood: To do something cruel or violent deliberately and without emotion.
Hematohidrosis, a rare medical condition, causes a patient to sweat actual blood.
Blood, sweat, and tears: A lot of effort and hard work, often involving suffering.
Blood runs cold: To feel a sudden shock or horror.
Flesh and blood: Someone’s family or relatives; also used to describe human limitations or weaknesses.
Blood boils: To become extremely angry.
Bad blood: Strong feelings of hatred or anger between people.
New blood: New people joining a group or organization, bringing fresh ideas.
Roman gladiators from a Third Century mosaic
Blood sport: A sport involving the hunting or killing of animals, or a violent competition.
Blood money: Money earned through dishonest or violent means; also refers to money paid to a killer as compensation for a murder.
Bloodcurdling: Extremely frightening or shocking.
Blood brother: A very close friend; historically, mingling a few drops of blood from two people in a cup of wine and both drinking it sealed the bond. More recently, two people nick their thumbs or wrist veins and press them together to seal the bond. (“Brothers” could also be women, though this was much less common.)
Lady Macbeth by Gabriel von Max
Blood on one’s hands (e.g., Lady Macbeth’s famous line, “Out, damned spot!”) symbolizes moral stain or unresolved guilt.
Bloodstained: Covered or marked with blood, often implying violence or guilt.
In one’s blood: innate, as of a skill or quality. The same as “XXX runs in the family.”
Blood is thicker than water: Family relationships are stronger than other relationships.
In some initiation rites (e.g., fraternities, secret societies, or rites of passage), blood may symbolize commitment, loyalty, or rebirth into a new social or spiritual state.
Bloody Proverbs
Blood is inherited and virtue is acquired.
None so keen at the hunting of wolves as the dog with wolf blood.
Who grudges his blood to a blade had better earn his living behind the plow.
You cannot get blood from a stone/turnip
Good blood will never lie.
Men’s skins have many colors, but human blood is always red.
Like blood, like means, and like age, make the happiest marriage.
Marrying in the blood is never good.
Noble and common blood is of the same color.
If blood is spilt on you before breakfast, you will shed blood before nightfall.
The human body contains about 5 liters (1.3 gallons) of blood, which circulates through the body 3 times every minute on average! It transports oxygen, nutrients, and hormones, fights infections, regulates body temperature, and removes waste products.
Bottom Line: Blood is so important that it’s everywhere!
People of a certain age will remember this week’s title from a feature segment on Art Linkletter’s radio and television program, House Party. Linkletter hosted the segment on the program’s CBS adaptation from 1959 to 1967. Sometimes amazing, sometimes outrageous, often surprising, always humorous.
It’s in that spirit that I offer this week’s blog. I thank Mariann Fitzpatrick for sharing this years ago. I have no idea where she got it. But it purports to be from a first-grade school teacher. She presented each of the 26 kids in her class with the first part of a well-known proverb and asked them to finish it. Here are the other 25.
I’ve been writing a weekly blog for a gazillion years, but this week I struggled to find a topic that engaged me. Why?
It wasn’t a brain freeze. That would be brief: not coming up with the right word, answer, name, etc. A synonym would be drawing a blank: being unable to recall a required piece of information (or failing to find something).
Nor was it Net Brain: this is a syndrome I discovered when I worked at the American Psychological Association. While not an official diagnosis, it’s a handy one: it’s when something just falls out of your consciousness. Examples include missing an appointment (or any commitment). Briefly stated, you forgot.
Could it be a case of Beach Brain? An idle mind, also known as being “out to lunch” (when that isn’t literal). An example would be losing track of a conversation, movie plot, or whose play it is during mah jong.
My mental wanderings led me to think about other words and phrases we use to summarize disfunction.
FUBAR: f****d up beyond all recovery/remedy/recognition/etc. Also, utterly botched or confused. No, that doesn’t fit my situation; it clearly assumes that something has been done!
Procrastination isn’t apropos, either. I didn’t put off thinking about it, I just couldn’t make progress.
Unfocused? Synonyms for unfocusedinclude muddled, bewildered, dazed, scatterbrained, confused, bemused, senile, negligent. Well, senility could be the root cause, but I refuse to consider it.
Having difficulty making decisions is one symptom of depression, but only one out of dozens of psychological, physical, and social symptoms. So, not depression.
I know of two words for suddenly forgetting something “right on the tip of your tongue” derived from the river Lethe in Greek mythology. If you are suddenly unable to remember a word that you definitely know you know, you are experiencing lethologica. When your brain suddenly refuses to supply the name of a familiar person, that’s lethonomia.
Bottom Line: I don’t know why I struggled so much this week, but I do know the outcome: I’m giving up!
A friend recently mentioned that her niece is obsessed with space and has been excitedly following everything Artemis II she can find. Maybe she’ll become part of the space program someday. Many astronauts have shown a lifelong passion for space, often showing interest in astronomy, space exploration, or science from a young age.
Neil Armstrong: The first person to walk on the Moon, Armstrong was fascinated by flight and space from childhood, inspired by the early days of aviation and space exploration.
Sally Ride: The first American woman in space, she developed an interest in physics and space science early on, inspired by the possibilities of space travel.
Mae Jemison: The first African American woman in space, Jemison was passionate about science and space from an early age, motivated by her love for learning and exploration.
Chris Hadfield: Known for his social media presence from the International Space Station (ISS), Hadfield was inspired by space exploration throughout his life and pursued a career as an astronaut with great enthusiasm.
Yuri Gagarin: The first human in space, Gagarin was drawn to aviation and space as a young man, inspired by the possibilities of human flight.
Common Children’s Passions
It isn’t just space, of course. Children often become passionate about activities that stem from their inherent talents and strengths.
Running, swimming, biking, team sports, or just playing outside can be a source of excitement and energy for many kids. The Williams sisters began playing tennis at very young ages, with Serena starting around three years old, Venus around age four, coached by their father Richard Williams.
Pretending to be superheroes, explorers, or characters from stories fuels creativity and social skills.
Music and Poetry
Drawing, painting, crafting, music, dance, and storytelling often capture children’s imaginations, allowing them to express themselves and experiment with ideas. Mozart began playing the keyboard and violin and composing music at the age of five.
Cellist Yo Yo Ma began violin lessons at age four and performed Bach Concertos in his first concert at age five at the University of Paris.
British singer Adele developed a passion for voices when she was four years old and published her first track when she was just 17.
Reading and Writing
Books and stories open new worlds and ideas, often igniting a love for reading and learning. Research indicates that reading fiction enhances empathy in children.
The poet Alexander Pope was a child genius, known for translating major works and writing epics in his early teenage years. He was 12 years old when he wrote his first major piece entitled Ode on Solitude. When he was 21 years old, he published Pastorals.
Terry Pratchett started writing as a child and published his first short story in his school magazine at age 13. He was only 15 at the time of his first commercial publication, “Business Rivals.”
Constructing with blocks, LEGO, or other materials sparks passion in kids who enjoy problem-solving and hands-on creation. The LEGO company partners with schools to encourage children’s building passions and STEAM programs.
Kautilya Pandit, an Indian prodigy who demonstrated remarkable engineering skills at a young age, including building models of bridges and other structures. His achievements in engineering concepts at a young age are remarkable.
Science and Biology
Many children are fascinated by animals, plants, and the outdoors. This can include pets, wildlife, insects, and exploring natural environments like parks or gardens.
Charles Darwin showed an early interest in natural history, collecting beetles and other specimens as a child. His curiosity about the natural world grew during his youth, eventually leading to his groundbreaking work on evolution.
From a young age, Jane Goodall was fascinated by animals and Africa. She began observing and studying chimpanzees as a teenager, which developed into her lifelong career in primatology and conservation.
Rachel Carson’s early fascination with marine life led to her influential environmental writings.
Some children develop an early passion for science, asking questions about how things work, conducting simple experiments, or exploring technology. One of my granddaughters put herself to sleep by mentally solving math problems to the base six instead of base ten. Will she become a famous mathematician? It doesn’t matter!
Supporting Children’s Passions
Supporting children’s passions matters—even when it has nothing to do with career achievements.
Encouraging children’s passions nurtures confidence, curiosity, and resilience. It also helps children develop skills aligned with their interests, which can grow into lifelong hobbies or activities.
Nurturing children’s passionate interests is like watering a young seedling, helping it grow into a strong, vibrant tree. And like any tree, it takes time!
Here are some ways to encourage and support children’s enthusiasms.
Create a Supportive Environment
Provide resources: Books, tools, materials, or access to classes related to their interests.
Designate a dedicated space: A cozy corner or area where they can explore freely.
Celebrate curiosity: Show genuine interest and ask questions about what excites them.
Encourage Exploration and Experimentation
Allow freedom: Let children try different activities without pressure to excel immediately.
Value the process over results: Focus on learning and joy rather than just outcomes.
Support mistakes as learning: Help them see failures as stepping stones, not setbacks.
Be an Active Participant
Engage together: Join in their activities occasionally to deepen connection and show support.
Find role models: Introduce them to people or stories that inspire their passion.
Encourage sharing: Help them express their interests through presentations, art, or storytelling.
Balance Passion with Well-being
Respect their pace: Avoid pushing too hard; let their interest evolve naturally.
Encourage social connections: Foster friendships with peers who share similar passions.
Promote diverse experiences: While focusing on passion, encourage trying other activities to develop well-roundedness.
Long-Term Support
Set realistic goals: Help children set achievable steps to deepen their skills.
Provide opportunities: Enroll them in clubs, camps, or competitions aligned with their interests.
Recognize growth: Celebrate milestones and progress to build confidence. By nurturing children’s passions with patience and encouragement, you help cultivate not only skills but also confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Remember that such passions emerge spontaneously, and can be anything. For example
Taekwando
Ballet
Dragons
Dinosaurs
Construction equipment
Etc., etc., etc.
Bottom Line: Children’s passions reflect their natural curiosity, creativity, and desire to explore the world around them. Encouraging them promotes lifelong learning.
The minimum age to vote in federal, state, and local elections is 18 years old. The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, standardized the voting age for federal and state elections.
In 2019, a federal law raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and vaping products to 21.
Driving Age Limit
The minimum age limit for driving varies by state, by vehicle use, and by level of supervision.
A driver must be 16 years old in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana for a full driver’s license. South Dakota and North Dakota drivers can get a learner’s permit at 14 and drive their parents’ car at 15. The age limit is 16.5, 17, or 18 in other states, though most states allow a learner’s permit at 15-16.
Some states offer “hardship licenses” for teens who can prove they need the ability to drive independently earlier than their peers. The family may rely on the teen to drive siblings, to go to school, to work in a family business (such as a farm), or for long-term medical reasons.
Driving Farm Vehicles
There is no specific federal age limit for driving farm vehicles on private farmland.
Many states allow youth as young as 14 or 16 to operate farm machinery on private property or on public roads under certain conditions (e.g., with supervision or during harvest season). South Dakota and Kansas permit 14-year-olds to drive farm vehicles with parental permission.
Generally, children under 12 are prohibited from driving farm tractors on public roads, but they may be allowed on private property under supervision. Some states have specific child labor laws for agriculture that allow minors aged 10 or 11 to work and operate certain farm equipment outside school hours under prescribed conditions, reflecting a recognition of agricultural work as a special case.
On public roads, the minimum age to drive farm equipment is often 16, aligning more closely with standard driving laws. However, many states have exemptions for farm use that allow younger drivers to have very limited public road use.
Age of Consent for Sex
Thirty states legally allow individuals aged 16 and older to consent to sexual activity, though some may have close-in-age exemptions or additional conditions that vary by state.
Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Texas, and Wyoming require teens to be 17 years old.
Age 18 is the law in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Marriage Age Limit
The minimum legal age for marriage is a bit complicated in the US, depending on the state and certain special circumstances. The trend has been to adjust the general marriage age downward and to raise the age for women to that of men. Until 1971, approximately 80% of states had a general marriage age of 18 for women, while for men the general marriage age was 21 in approximately 85% of states. In the U.S., 315,000 girls under the age of 18 were married between 2000 and 2021.
The minimum age at which a person can marry, with or without parental consent or other authorization, is set by each state and territory, either by statute or where the common law applies.
General Marriage Age
The general marriage age (lacking authorization for an exception) is the age of majority, 18 years of age in all states except two. In Nebraska, the general marriage age is 19. In Mississippi, the general marriage age is 21.
Alabama has them switched: the general marriage age is 18 while the age of majority is 19.
Underage Exceptions
When at least one of the marriage partners is under the general marriage age, the marriage is typically allowed with parental or judicial consent or both. The minimum underage marriage age, when all mitigating circumstances are taken into account, commonly ranges from 15 to 17.
As of April 2026, four states do not set any minimum age for marriage: California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
Hawaii and Kansas allow teens to marry at age 15 with parental and judicial approval.
Sixteen states completely ban underage marriage: Connecticut, Delaware , Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Michigan, Rhode Island, Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, and Missouri.
Many states include age gap specifications in their laws around marriage age. People over a certain age (20, 21, or 22) cannot marry a person under the age of majority.
Gambling
The age limit varies by state and type of gambling, generally 18 or 21 years old.
The states that allow legal gambling at the age of 18 are Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, and Washington.
In the U.S., lotteries, bingos, some tribal casinos, horse-racing, and sports betting are often allowed at 18. Casino table games and slot machines typically require players to be 21 or older.
Employment Age Limit
The minimum age for most non-agricultural work under federal child labor laws is 14, with restrictions on hours and types of work. Much like driving farm vehicles, the age limits for working on a farm come with many nuances and exceptions. The youngest workers—typically those aged 14 and 15—have the most restrictions.
Jobs with the Lowest Age Limit (14 or 15)
Office and Clerical Work
Cashiering and Sales (not operating heavy machinery)
Bagging and Carrying Out Customers’ Orders
Clean-up Work (floors, tables, and equipment, with restrictions on hazardous chemicals)
Kitchen Work in Restaurants (minors are still not allowed to cook with dangerous equipment like fryers or ovens)
Library and Museum Work (shelving books or guiding visitors)
Delivering Newspapers (with some state-specific rules)
Key Restrictions for Young Workers
Cannot operate heavy machinery or power-driven equipment (with some exceptions like cash registers)
Limited to working outside school hours
Limited work hours on school days and during the school year (e.g., max 3 hours on school days, 8 hours on non-school days)
Work permitted only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (extended to 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day)
Jobs Not Allowed for the Youngest Workers
Manufacturing or mining
Construction or excavation
Operating motor vehicles or power-driven machinery (See farm children for exception)
Cooking with open flames or fryers
Working in warehouses or loading/unloading trucks
For 16- and 17-year-olds, more jobs open up, including some with power-driven machinery, but hazardous jobs remain prohibited.
Entertainment
Macaulay Culkin
The rules around children employed in entertainment are again full of exceptions and nuance. The US has come quite a long way since Judy Garland was given amphetamines and forced to work 72 hour shifts while filming The Wizard of Oz. Laws in different states mandate things like rest breaks, having an educator and guardian on site, trust funds, on-set conditions, and total hours worked for young performers.
In recent years, legislators have been grappling with the thorny issue of how to classify children who earn money for parents filming them in the home and posting online. If a parent’s primary income derives from documenting a child’s activities, tantrums, and play, which laws should protect the welfare of that child?
Purchasing Firearms
Age limits around purchasing firearms varies by type of gun and from state to state. The minimum age to purchase handguns from licensed dealers is 21 years old. However, many states allow people to purchase rifles and shotguns is 18 years old.
Despite this, based on reports from more than 297,000 adolescents in the U.S. ages 12 to 17, about 4.6 percent of teens carried handguns in 2019. Carrying a handgun is become significantly more common.
Boys reported carrying at a rate four times higher than girls — 6 percent versus 1.5 percent. Still, gun-carrying became twice as common among girls by the end of the study.
Watching R-Rated Movies
There is no federal law, but theaters typically require R-rated moviegoers to be 17 years old or accompanied by an adult.
Not in theaters? Nearly three-quarters of teens aged 13 to 17 have seen pornographic content online, with many exposed before their teen years.
Upper Age Limit
But minors aren’t the only ones affected by age limits. Several areas of life become illegal — or bureaucratically more difficult — for people above a certain age.
Some careers, including airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and some state judges have mandatory retirement ages. These tend to be careers that require fast reflexes or high mental engagement.
Other careers bar participants from joining past a certain age. Many law enforcement agencies will not accept new recruits if they are 30 or 40 years old. The various branches of the military have different limits on the age of new recruits. New Marines must be 28 or younger, but new members of the Army National Guard can be 42.
Most states will not allow a person to attend public schools past age 19, 20, or 21.
Driving is not illegal past a certain age, but states may require more regular and rigorous testing. Texas requires drivers over age 79 to renew their license in person and drivers over age 85 to renew their license every two years. Drivers in Maine over age 65 must renew their license every four years, complete with a vision test.
While there is no age cap on jury service, it is significantly easier for people above age 65 to request an age exemption.
Unofficial Upper Age Limits
Oscar Swahn
There are many areas of life that, though not barred to people above a certain age, become more difficult.
In the workplace, older employees may face age-based discrimination, particularly when trying to find a new job. This is especially prevalent in the tech sector, though it is very difficult to prove.
The individual bodies governing each sport in the Olympics determine qualifications, including age limits, if any. Many sports require participants to be above a certain age. At the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, age limits ranged from 13 for skeleton sledding to 21 for biathlon. There is no official upper age limit, but the physical demands of most sports practically restrict competition at the highest level to young adults. Oscar Swahn , a Swedish shooter, holds the record for being the oldest Olympic participant (age 72 in the 1920 Olympics) as well as the oldest medalist (he was 64 when he won gold in the 1912 Olympics).
Youth hostels may restrict residents above age 35 or 40, but this is often waived if an applicant appears laid-back and capable of clambering into an upper bunk.
Lego packages include a suggested age range to indicate the difficulty of building. Classic sets of non-specific bricks are marked as suitable for ages 4-99. Perhaps people lose the ability to enjoy Lego when they turn 100!
Bottom Line: Even within the United States, if you want to be legal, check relevant laws by state and activity.
It’s everywhere! What was once outdated, a thing of the past, is experiencing a resurgence of popularity. Younger generations are exploring things familiar to their grandparents. The trend seems to be driven by nostalgia and/or a desire to “unplug.”
Food Goes Around and Comes Around
Why the comeback? This trend is rooted in a desire for comfort, authenticity, and sustainability. Many of these dishes are inherently plant-forward, use whole ingredients, and minimize food waste—aligning with modern values of mindful eating.
Nostalgic recipes draw chefs and home cooks with their versatility and affordability, making them perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to festive gatherings. The America We Remember channel on YouTube has many videos explaining nostalgic recipes.
The revival of old-fashioned foods often blends nostalgia with modern twists. Beloved classics are making a comeback, inspired by grandma’s kitchen and retro kitchens alike.
Comforting Casseroles & One-Pot Meals
Many people are reimagining these low-mess meals with healthier ingredients or gourmet touches. Once staples of mid-century dinner tables, these dishes are now celebrated for their simplicity and heartwarming appeal. Home cooks and chefs alike seek to recreate the cozy, soul-satisfying meals of yesteryear.
Wedge salad: iceberg lettuce gets respectable again (here because I didn’t want it to stand alone!)
Salisbury steak
Cream-based soups (like Cream of Mushroom or Chicken) are also reappearing on menus
Chili dogs, often elevated with artisanal buns, house-made chili, or organic dairy
Fondue
Retro Desserts with a Modern Twist
Wacky Cake (a Depression-era wonder made without eggs or milk)
Jell-O molds are becoming popular again for their playful, creative potential, which people often feature in themed dinner parties
Chocolate-chip cookies baked from scratch, with bakers experimenting with heirloom recipes and high-quality ingredients
Classic Drinks & Snacks
Orange Julius, a mall staple from the ’80s and ’90s, with modern versions blending retro flavors and fresh ingredients
Jolt Cola, with “all the sugar and twice the caffeine!”
Old Fashioned
Negroni
Cosmopolitan
Bars are reporting increased demand from both older fans reliving their youth and younger generations eager to experience the retro drink.
Vodka-based drinks such as Appletinis and French Martinis are also making a comeback, embraced for their simplicity and versatility.
Food and Wine has named the “Guilty Pleasure” cocktail trend featuring drinks like Cosmos, Lemon Drops, and Lychee Martinis as the 2025 Drink Trend of the Year, reflecting a broader appetite for fun, indulgent, and nostalgic flavors.
Games Go Around and Come Around
Younger generations are re-discovering the excitement of playing games with someone IRL (in real life). A mix of nostalgia, accessibility, and innovation is driving the retro game revival.
Monopoly is the most popular board game, with over 275 million copies sold since 1935. Worldwide, there are over 500 million players. It also holds the Guinness World Record for having the most people playing at once (over 900!). Monopoly’s lowest popularity occurred during World War II when the war effort eliminated metal tokens and disrupted the game’s production in many countries. In 2025, 37% of U.S. consumers reporting playing it. The Pop Culture Hall of Fame inducted Monopoly as a Brand for 2025.
Mahjong is gaining popularity among young people, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, becoming a trendy social activity and a way to build community. Over the past year, interest has surged, partly driven by social media content and a desire to connect in person rather than online. Events like mahjong nights in cities such as San Francisco are drawing young crowds, blending tradition with modern socializing. Even interior designers are noticing the trend, with more requests for mahjong tables in home projects. The game’s nostalgic appeal, especially for young Asian Americans, has also contributed to its rising popularity.
Classic Games Reimagined
Many older games have been re-released with updated components, streamlined rules, or digital integrations, making them more appealing to today’s audiences. Additionally, the rise of board game cafes, streaming platforms, and social media has reintroduced these titles to new generations.
Chess, both as a game and a digital experience, is experiencing a renaissance in 2026, driven by the fusion of AI, esports, and the timeless appeal of strategy. The integration of AI into chess has not only enhanced how players learn and improve but also reignited global interest in the game as a digital sport. Magnus Carlsen, the world-renowned chess champion, has publicly stated that chess is “made for the digital age,” emphasizing its adaptability and relevance in today’s tech-driven world.
Catan (Settlers of Catan), Codenames, Dungeons and Dragons, Ticket to Ride, War of the Ring, Root, Dixit, and Azul are all seeing similar adaptations.
Card Games Going Digital
Card games are experiencing a resurgence, both in digital and physical formats.
Classic card games are benefiting from streamlined interfaces and the ability to play online, making them more appealing to both nostalgic players and younger audiences. Even retro and party-style card games are seeing a revival, blending nostalgia with modern accessibility.
The rise of digital card games is being driven by their convenience and accessibility, allowing players to enjoy quick matches that fit into busy schedules. This trend is reflected in the growing popularity of titles like Pokémon TCG and Hearthstone, which continue to attract new and returning players.
The physical trading card game (TCG) market is thriving, with a projected value of $11.8 billion by 2030, up from $7.8 billion in 2025, signaling robust growth and renewed interest.
This comeback isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about adaptability. Digital card games, in particular, align with the way people play today, offering bite-sized experiences that fit into modern lifestyles.
Puzzles
Puzzles of all sorts are attracting new fans as a preferred way to unwind and reconnect with tactile, screen-free activities.
Vintage and wooden jigsaw puzzles are making a comeback, especially among seniors, due to their emotional and mental benefits.
Round wooden puzzle designs and 3D puzzles are also gaining popularity in 2025.
Hobbies Go Around and Come Around
This retro movement is often referred to as Granny hobbies. According to an NBC video, as social media fatigue grows among Gen Z, many are turning to “old fashioned” hobbies as a way to disconnect from screens and spend more time offline doing traditional crafts. “Grandma hobby” lovers embrace the homemade: décor, meals, and vintage household items.
The appeal lies not just in nostalgia but in the tangible joy of creating something with your hands and the mental health benefits of slowing down. Young people are turning to old-school hobbies to get off their phones.
Fashion Goes Around and Comes Around
Processed with VSCO with aga1 preset
According to my reading, fashion is embracing nostalgia in 2026, with vintage styles from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s leading the trends, but occasionally going back even farther.
Some of the most likely vintage trends include pillbox hats, shell jewelry, tassels, bold animal prints like leopard and tiger, plus vibrant colors such as cobalt blue.
The 1970s are particularly popular, with flared skirts and boho chic.
Trends from the 1980s are reappearing: bold patterns, layered accessories, and statement outerwear. Chocolate brown is a key color, reflecting a broader movement toward rich, earthy tones and expressive designs.
Fashion houses predict that corset tops, especially those from designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, are predicted to be big in 2026. Tassel necklaces and vintage-inspired handbags, such as those from Louis Vuitton, are also expected to be everywhere, offering a touch of retro glamour.
