Grab Bag “Give ‘Em the Finger”:

This is fascinating…. the body holds untold secrets, and I think we are barely scratching the surface.

The ratio of your ring finger to your index finger may well indicate a number of health and psychological traits.

I have been reading about this particular  discovery for over a year from multiple sources on the internet. Cambridge University has studied it in depth for athletic purposes.

Back in 2000 University of California Berkeley researchers studied this in relation to sexual preferences.

There hasn’t been a ton of noise since made about this gender preference association, so I’m assuming the research was more muddied than not.

While digit ratio is surely not an absolute predictor of gender identification or the absolute predisposition to any given disease, it might hold an indication that you should be more diligent about screening for particular health issues.

Here is an overview found on Dr. Mercola’s site:

For many decades, scientists have noticed an extraordinary link between the length of your ring and index fingers and a plethora of apparently unrelated traits.

Evidence is growing that this ‘digit ratio’ effect is real. Recently, strong evidence has emerged that men whose index fingers are longer than their ring fingers are significantly less likely to develop prostate cancer.

A long index finger correlates strongly with a lower risk of early heart disease and, in women, a higher risk of breast cancer and greater fertility. People with relatively long index fingers are also more likely to suffer from schizophrenia, allergies, eczema and hay fever.

To measure your digit ratio, measure from the lowest crease at the base of your index finger (2D… mine is 74mm) and ring finger (4D… mine is again 74mm) to the fleshy tip (when looking at your palm). Divide 2D by 4D. My ratio is 100. Yours may be lower or higher.

A high 2D:4D ratio (longer index finger) has been linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer and higher risk of early heart disease in men and greater fertility and breast cancer risks in women.

A low ratio (shorter index finger) signals greater fertility and aggression in men, along with an increased propensity toward sports or playing a musical instrument. Women with a low ratio are also more likely to be aggressive.

Research …. suggests that greater exposure to testosterone in the womb increases the chances of having a more “masculine” hand, i.e. one with a shorter index finger. This testosterone exposure is also thought to be responsible for the range of traits associated with a low 2D:4D ratio, such as greater aggression and risk-taking behavior.

Higher estrogen exposure in the womb, meanwhile, may lead to a longer index finger, or high 2D:4D ratio, and estrogen exposure is also linked to breast cancer and heart disease risk.

But truly, your life is what you make of it. Don’t be drawn to sad or happy conclusions by measuring your fingers :-)…

There is some compelling research showing that exposure to less than ideal hormone concentrations during critical developmental stages may alter not only the length of your fingers but also your personality and risk of developing certain diseases.

But there is a danger in resigning yourself to the fact that you are going to die early or act a certain way as a result of your genes predetermining your health. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth, as you have ultimate control over your genetic expression.

The new field of epigenetics has shown that the choice of which of your genes are “expressed,” or activated, is strongly affected by environmental influences.

It is actually the cell’s membrane — operating in response to environmental signals picked up by the membrane’s receptors — that control the “reading” of the genes inside. And your actions, lifestyle and even your thoughts make up these “environmental signals.”

A bit more about some of the research findings can be found here.

Grab Bag Ant-e Up:

I’m REALLY tired of the ants this year. The whole year has been absolutely RIFE with the little buggers.

I’m not fond of chemical sprays, but we had to resort to that just recently to try to get a handle on them. I just ran across this, and the next time we have a problem I think I’m gonna give this a try…. anyone out there had luck with this or anything similar?

Ant Trap

1 tsp. borax (borax is an natural laundry boosting powder available in the laundry section of the store, normally on the top shelf)
2 cups hot water
6 Tbsp sugar
folded paper towel
small shallow cup (like a creme burlee dish)

Dissolve borax in hot water. Stir in sugar. Dip the folded paper towel, using tongs, in the solution till completely saturated with solution. Cram the paper towel in the dish. Place in location where you have seen the ants. This solution will be eaten by the ants and taken back to the nest to share with the other ants and thus eradicate the entire nest. Keep away from children by placing on a countertop or cupboard, if possible.

Grab Bag Risk Factors:

I’m pretty sure that, at one time or another, we all attribute a lot of health issues to “the luck of the draw”… genetics failing on the job. Bad luck, right?

While some of us may be more predisposed to some illnesses than others, it’s ultimately REALLY important to remember the following information written up on BBC News… and remember it every single day (and I don’t think the news is any different here Stateside, either):

Nearly half of cancers diagnosed in the UK each year – over 130,000 in total – are caused by avoidable life choices including smoking, drinking and eating the wrong things, a review reveals.

Tobacco is the biggest culprit, causing 23% of cases in men and 15.6% in women, says the Cancer Research UK report.

Next comes a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in men’s diets, while for women it is being overweight.

“Looking at all the evidence, it’s clear that around 40% of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change.” said lead author Professor Max Parkin.

About 100,000 (34%) of cancers are linked to smoking, diet, alcohol and excess weight.

If there is actually anyone reading this that is a smoker, you’re an idiot.

Sorry…. I just can’t put it any other way.

For the rest of us, let’s squash that 40%. It’s time to get serious about eating more TRULY FRESH FOOD, drink less alcohol, drink more water, get adequate exercise (SOMETHING 5-6 days a week, and breaking a sweat/labored breathing at least 3 times a week). If all of the above still leaves you overweight, you’re eating too much at each meal/snack time.

So, Bah Humbug, risk factors…. be gone 🙂

Grab Bag Internet Inspiration Board:

Bookmark everything you love on the internet… with pictures!

For those who have ever stuck pictures, clippings, reminders, dreams, to-dos, memorabilia, and doodads of inspiration up on bulletin boards……

…. well, this is the ultimate cyber version of that, with lots more room for expansion than the old cork variety….

Click on either of the images above to go to Pinterest, your computer’s version of the best corkboard ever… make that corkboardS… as in plural.

You can “pin” any web page (needs to have at least one image on it to be meaningful), and make different categories for the things you love, want, dream, hate, admire, whatever 🙂 Great for Christmas and general gift lists, too!

Visit this page, and drag the “Pin It” button up to your toolbar. When you are ready to pin a picture and save it for later reference, you click on the Pin It button on your toolbar. Step two is selecting the picture you like best. Step three involves a box that pops up and asks where you want to store the pin in your boards, and asks for a description.

You can follow “pinners” that have nice collections you enjoy so you can be exposed to an ever-expanding collection of things you will probably really like and, if you wish, they can follow you as well.

So build all those virtual bulletin boards… and take those ticket stubs from the ‘Stones concert in ’74 and scan ’em, because you can upload your own images to Pinterest, too 🙂 Read about all the tips and tricks of Pinterest here.

Happy Pinning.

Thanks to Shelley G. for telling me about Pinterest!

Grab Bag Brain Game:

Type the letters and words on the blimps to make them disappear before they pass your plane.

(The sound is really annoying… I turned it off…)

AIRTYPER

Grab Bag Funny Stuff:

Great gift idea for the runners on your list…

Thanks to Pat M. for sending this in!