House Guru

From this source:

The price of tea in the Middle East is expected to rise in the coming months, according to experts of the Dubai Tea Trading Center (DTTC).

In a statement released recently, DTTC said the price hike stemmed from a drop in tea harvest following droughts in the growing countries and the drop in the use of fertilizers in 2008, due to their increasing price as a result of the rise in oil prices.

Three countries--India, Sri Lanka and Kenya--account for 60% of the global production of tea. All three suffered weather problems, and fertilizer prices went up in all three countries because of the sudden increase in the price of oil. Tea production dropped about 20% in each of these countries.

Consumers all over the world will be pinched by this price rise. Not only is tea popular all over the world, recently many health experts and gurus have been lauding the health properties of tea, increasing its appeal a notch higher.

Fortunately, tea in sealed storage containers can stay fresh a very long time. People reading the news here can prepare for the coming price spike by buying a year's supply in advance. For the most part tea is quite affordable, so putting away a good supply of tea is a proposition within the economic reach of most people. Special precautions are probably not necessary. Kept in a cool, dry place for a long time does not harm the taste of most tea.

From this source:

Burning candles made from paraffin wax –– the most common kind used to infuse rooms with romantic ambiance, warmth, light, and fragrance –– is an unrecognized source of exposure to indoor air pollution, including the known human carcinogens, scientists report.

Environmentalists want to kill romance.

After spending several hundred thousand dollars of taxpayers' money to do this study, the authors admit that occasional candle burning--even in unventilated rooms--is not a serious problem. They go on to say that burning paraffin wax candles in unventilated rooms for years and years just might be a bad thing, maybe, sort of. With the money these researchers pocketed for this nonsense study they can go out and buy more expensive candles and laugh all the way to the bank.

From this source:

The nation's home foreclosure epidemic may be taking its toll on Americans' health as well as their wallets. Nearly half of people studied while undergoing foreclosure reported depressive symptoms, and 37 percent met screening criteria for major depression, according to new University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine research published online this week in the American Journal of Public Health. Many also reported an inability to afford prescription drugs, and skipping meals. The authors say their findings should serve as a call for policy makers to tie health interventions into their response to the nation's ongoing housing crisis.

This study follows the pattern of typical studies ginned up to encourage more government intervention into people's lives. The pattern is usually as follows: find a problem that most people recognize as a problem, find some casualties, suggest that some kind of new program will reduce the casualties, advocate the creation and funding of the new program. Stir and repeat.

As everyone knows, going through hard times, such as foreclosure or the loss of a job or spouse, cause some people to feel bad. In this case, the bad feelings are identified as depression--sometimes minor, sometimes major. But note the ginning up of the statistics. This study reports that less than half the study participants reported 'depressive symptoms.' What are depressive symptoms? For the purpose of studies such as this a depressive symptom could be something as simple as checking off a box on a questionnaire that asks if you feel bad. Truly, simple as that. If you feel bad after receiving a foreclosure notice you demonstrate a depressive symptom.

Actually, come to think of it, who doesn't show a depressive symptom after receiving a foreclosure notice? It is an odd person indeed who doesn't show at least some signs of depression after receiving a foreclosure notice. Which raises another question: How in the world did less than half the participants in this study NOT show depressive symptoms after receiving a foreclosure notice. Is this study trying to imply that most people are so dense that even a threat to their homes doesn't get them to notice and react?

The next step, after getting a warning foreclosure notice and reacting by feeling bad (or not reacting, which most people in this study seem to do) is action. This study found that people who show depressive symptoms tend to not be able to afford prescription drugs and tend to skip meals. We'll leave the meals aside for a moment, since we have no baseline data. Are people who receive foreclosure notices over- or underweight? Is the loss of a meal good or bad for their health? Is there a correlation between obesity and foreclosure? We don't know and won't speculate here. Let's just say that skipping a meal or two or three is not a serious issue for most Americans. Until proven otherwise, the inclusion of the loss of meals in this study seems trivial and/or unnecessary.

Prescription drugs. Is it any wonder that people in an economic crisis such as foreclosure tend not afford or choose not to afford prescription drugs? If they can't afford the roof over their head is it likely they'll have spare change to afford prescription drugs? Two things can be said about the affordability of prescription drugs.

One, many, if not most, prescription drug manufacturers have programs to make their drugs available at low or no cost for people in economic tough straits. All a person in economic trouble need do is apply to the manufacturer's program. Manufacturers are very willing to ride in on a white horse and help people in trouble. In fact, it makes a lot of sense to apply to these programs because they very often make the drugs available for free. That kind of makes it better for people to be poor than to be average economically. The poor often get for free from manufacturers something that can cost the average person quite a bit.

Two, more and more studies have been published recently which indicate that most prescription medications for depression don't work. They do not do much better than placebos (sugar pills). There has been quite a bit of debate recently about the effectiveness of prescription depression medication, so not exposing more people to them might be a very good thing. Over the counter medication, alternative medications (such as herbal and ayurvedic) may work just as well as those expensive prescription drugs. This question is up in the air at this period of time. So encouraging something that might do more harm than help (at the very least, might do more economic harm to the buyer in foreclosure tough times) is questionable medicine.

Of course, the linked article suggests new, expansive, expensive government-funded programs to 'solve' this problem--the problem of cheering up the fewer than fifty percent of the population going through foreclosure who feel bad. There is zero evidence that programs such as the kind of thing recommended in the linked article work. There is zero evidence that people want this kind of government-sponsored intervention in their lives, especially during weak moments. There is no evidence how much such programs cost and how much they will add to the tax burden, thus causing even more people to be unable to afford housing because their money is being siphoned off for these unproven but sure to be elaborate and expensive programs.

Suggestion: be wary of advocates of expensive new programs that attempt to treat problems that people have dealt with for centuries in the past be their own means. Some people want to take away your liberty to line their pockets in the guise of their 'doing good.'

An ebook on the topic of crickets is available here.

Crickets are not usually thought of as hazardous. In most places they are nuisances at worst. In some places they are welcome. Their chirping is appreciated by many. They are sometimes caged and kept as pets in some parts of Asia.

They can cause problems. They can destroy certain fabrics, especially silk and woolens. If they sneak into a home in large numbers they can devour a wardrobe quickly. For that reason, many people try to control them, as this ebook demonstrates.

For those of you comfortable with the Fahrenheit temperature scale, there is an interesting relationship between cricket chirps and temperature. Count the number of chirps in 40 seconds and add the number 40 to determine the temperature. It's true.

A very slick, well-written ebook on investing in Indian real estate written by a major American bookkeeping firm Deloitte can be found by clicking here. The book is very encouraging. Unfortunately it was written in 2007, so it missed most of the unfortunate economic circumstances which we are presently in the midst of. But I am sure there is much useful information in this ebook that makes it worth reading nevertheless.

Someone had the bright idea of installing solar powered lighting in Indian homes. A description of this experiment in ebook form can be found here.

Many people believe citronella candles keep mosquitoes away. This belief doesn't hold up under close inspection.

Citronella candles are a coomon item in many homes. They are burned to repel mosquitos and other flying insects. But careful research shows that the kinds of candles most people use do not work. They are too weak to keep mosquitos away.

Oil of citronella does repel mosquitoes. But it takes a lot more oi than is found in almost all candles. In fact, most citronella candles are no more effective than any other kind of candle in keeping mosquitoes at bay.

The most effective insect repellent is a the chemical DEET, which is found in most commercially available insect repellent products. The chemical has been available for several decades and has not been found to be harmful to humans in most of its applications.

Other products which work better than citronella candles include topically applied (that is, spread on the skin) oil of lemon eucalyptus and insecticide foggers. NEEM seed oil or neem oil has also been found to be more effective than DEET by researchers in India.

There is also a simpler solution to the problem of keepingmosquitoes away: fans. Mosquitoes are not very strong. They have trouble flying in heavy breezes. Fans usually create breezes too strong for mosquitoes to fly in.

An additional benefit of fans is that they push away the body odors and the carbon dioxide that usually attract mosquitoes. If the mosquitoes can't find you, you're much safer. And happier.

From this source:

Food scientists at The Ohio State University wanted to see if cooler water could kill bacteria on dirty dishes like E. coli and salmonella. The study found that even when dishes were washed in cooler temperatures, it still cleaned enough bacteria away to levels accepted in the [US] food and drug administration's food code.

This news sounds good to the lazy housekeeper. But beware: there are many strings attached to the findings of this study.

The study does not show that a quick rinse of the dishes in cold water after use is all one has to do. There are still other preparatory steps that must be taken to keep dishes and household utensils clean.

Food that sticks onto dishes can be a breeding ground for bacteria. If the dishes are left in the sink for a long time after use, some food particles can stick to the dishes. That is not good, and cannot easily be washed away with either cold or hot water. Dishes should be rinsed clean soon after use. Soap is always helpful. A thorough washing soon after use is the best recommendation.

New research has yielded a way to turn the throwaway kernels in mangoes into a natural food preservative that could help prevent Listeriosis outbreaks. (Credit: iStockphoto/Robert Lerich)
A very welcome and simple use for mango seeds has been found. From this source:

[A Canadian researcher]Christina Engels has found a way to turn the throwaway kernels in mangoes into a natural food preservative that could help prevent Listeriosis outbreaks like the one that killed 21 Canadians last year.

One of the constituents of mango seeds [or pits, as they are sometimes called] is the chemical tannin. Tannin has many uses, as anyone who makes preserves knows. It is useful to destroy certain bacteria, including Listeria, which is a deadly bacteria that recently caused a number of reported deaths in Canada. Who knows how many deaths it has caused in India.

The researcher who did this study claims commercial manufacturers can produce the antibacterial agent from large quantities of mango pits. Whether this also can be done by typical, average mango eaters in small quantities has yet to be determined. If such a process can be created and becomes popular it will be very welcome in India.

Credit: iStockphoto/Shane Shaw
From this source:

An estimated 200 people die each year in the U.S. after being struck by lightning. An extremely brief but intense hit delivers more than 10 million volts and is fatal in about 30 percent of cases.

There are a few tips about lightening that home owners should know:

Most lightening occurs at the beginning of a storm.

The best place to seek shelter when lightening is a danger is within a structure such as a home. Standing under trees can be dangerous. Lightening strikes tall objects such as trees and conducts electricity to the people under the trees.

Using a cell phone can be dangerous during a lightening storm. Cell phone use outdoors during a lightening storm is extremely dangerous. Other metallic objects, such as wristwatches and wire-rimmed glasses, are also dangerous when the wearer or holder of the object is outdoors during a lightening storm.

The mildest physical damage from a lightening strike is in the ears. Tympanic membranes can be blown out, causing deafness. More deadly damage is also common. Serious heart damage from a lightening strike is common--often resulting in death.

If you ride out the lightening storm by remaining indoors for the duration it is safest to wait until about thirty minutes after the last thunder clap before returning outdoors.

Even if a person is indoors during a lightening storm, avoid contact with landline phones and electrical equipment and their cords. Do not wash hands, take a shower, wash dishes, or do laundry--household plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity. Keep away from windows and doors. Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls.

Proper electric conducting resources should be in place in any house or structure. That means well-planned lightening rods and similar features. Nothing guarantees 100% survival during a lightening storm. But good insulation and lightening rods increases survival chances dramatically.

Climbing bars showing lead-based paint in India. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center)
From this source:

Although lead content in paint has been restricted in the United States since 1978, University of Cincinnati (UC) environmental health researchers say in major countries from three continents there is still widespread failure to acknowledge its danger and companies continue to sell consumer paints that contain dangerous levels of lead.

The study tested paint samples from countries all over the world. Unfortunately, the level of lead found in all samples was too high. Exposure to these levels is an abiding danger to everyone. it is especially dangerous to young children, who sometimes innocently eat paint chips.

The samples of paint from Asian countries fared poorly in the test results. This should be a red caution flag to Indian parents who are tempted to use paint to cover the walls of their childrens's rooms and toys. It takes very special effort for these parents to find paint with safe levels of lead.