If (e:strip) is not about stalking people from my 3rd grade or shouting in clipped sentences, then what is it about for me? I just came to a conclusion that I don't use it enough or rather, I have set some artificial limits for what I want to write here. I was telling (e:Paul) that (e:strip) is like the Fedora of online technology. Why not make it the Fedora of my thoughts and life as well?
I think writing for an audience tempers all of my posts here. What if I didn't write for an audience and wrote exclusively for myself? I am going to try that experiment starting today. I want to be able to write whatever I am thinking about, whenever I am thinking about it here and include links and references in context to those thoughts along with my posts.
(e:Paul) already publishes most of his life on his journal. I think that is the true meaning of (e:strip) - to be able to come online and just document what is going on in your conscious and subconscious mind and not really worry about why you are driven to put it online. The alternate meaning of (e:strip) is to be able to electronically strip the clouds, the salt scales and the tartar away from your core thoughts and just put them here for reference and sometimes, increased clarity.
Of course, I will not put work-related writing here... That is reserved for my citation manager. :)
Tinypliny's Journal
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06/01/2011 11:20 #54394
Using e:strip to its potential...Category: e:strip
06/01/2011 09:40 #54393
Claritin Vs. Benedryl: Mechanism of ActionCategory: science
(e:Paul), (e:Terry) and I were discussing the relative merits of Claritin (Loratadine) in comparison with Benedryl (Diphenhydramine) in combating symptoms of allergy. Apart from remembering that Benedryl is a 1st generation antihistamine and that Loratadine is a 2nd generation antihistamine, I was sorry to note that I remembered nothing more about their pharmacology or specifics of how they differed from each other in their mechanism of action.
What follows is a dry account of the differences. Well... maybe not so dry because I am interested. :-)
Any allergic episode has two components: the early and late component. The early component is when the immunoglobulins (type E) recognize allergens, interact with the foot-soldier cells of the immune system. This interaction promotes the release of histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes from granules within not only mast cells, but also basophils, lymphocytes, and other reservoirs. Histamine then binds to receptors on nerves and blood vessels and leads to sneezing, tearing up, congestion and whatnots. Antihistamines compete with histamine for spots on the receptor and thus competitively reduce or completely block its action.
1st generation drugs such as diphenhydramine (Benedryl) also have additional anticholinergic, anti-serotonin, local anaesthetic, as well as sedative effects that might either provide a broader spectrum of relief from allergies or might just end up giving people more side effects (which explains the trippy experience I had.)
The late component of allergy is a plain inflammation reaction in the tissues mediated by immune cells called T-helper cells type-2 (Th2) and a host of cytokines (hormones/signalling molecules of the immune system). The inflammatory component feels exactly like a cold with the same reactions. In addition, the inflammatory component primes the immune response or "sensitizes" the immune system to even swifter allergy-induction in response to future allergens.
Loratadine (Claritin) not only binds to the histamine receptor, it also prevents the release of histamine as well as prostaglandins from mast cells - thus preventing "mast cell activation". Loratadine also has some effect on Th2 cells and suppresses some of the later inflammatory phase. It decreases the production of some of the late-phase cytokines. So it's not just an antihistamine. It also has none of the other wider receptor blocking effects of 1st gen antihistamines.
If you are inclined to read the nitty-gritties or how Loratadine acts on the immune system, here's a good review:
::READ PDF::
What follows is a dry account of the differences. Well... maybe not so dry because I am interested. :-)
Any allergic episode has two components: the early and late component. The early component is when the immunoglobulins (type E) recognize allergens, interact with the foot-soldier cells of the immune system. This interaction promotes the release of histamine, prostaglandins and leukotrienes from granules within not only mast cells, but also basophils, lymphocytes, and other reservoirs. Histamine then binds to receptors on nerves and blood vessels and leads to sneezing, tearing up, congestion and whatnots. Antihistamines compete with histamine for spots on the receptor and thus competitively reduce or completely block its action.
1st generation drugs such as diphenhydramine (Benedryl) also have additional anticholinergic, anti-serotonin, local anaesthetic, as well as sedative effects that might either provide a broader spectrum of relief from allergies or might just end up giving people more side effects (which explains the trippy experience I had.)
The late component of allergy is a plain inflammation reaction in the tissues mediated by immune cells called T-helper cells type-2 (Th2) and a host of cytokines (hormones/signalling molecules of the immune system). The inflammatory component feels exactly like a cold with the same reactions. In addition, the inflammatory component primes the immune response or "sensitizes" the immune system to even swifter allergy-induction in response to future allergens.
Loratadine (Claritin) not only binds to the histamine receptor, it also prevents the release of histamine as well as prostaglandins from mast cells - thus preventing "mast cell activation". Loratadine also has some effect on Th2 cells and suppresses some of the later inflammatory phase. It decreases the production of some of the late-phase cytokines. So it's not just an antihistamine. It also has none of the other wider receptor blocking effects of 1st gen antihistamines.
If you are inclined to read the nitty-gritties or how Loratadine acts on the immune system, here's a good review:
::READ PDF::
paul - 06/01/11 18:50
I usually take Claritin for months at a time in the summer with 0 usage for Sept through April. Do you think that's bad. I actually find my allergies tend to lessen this way rather than get worse. Like you said that phase of inflammation trains the allergies for next time.
I usually take Claritin for months at a time in the summer with 0 usage for Sept through April. Do you think that's bad. I actually find my allergies tend to lessen this way rather than get worse. Like you said that phase of inflammation trains the allergies for next time.
05/29/2011 22:09 #54383
Make coffee with broken coffeemakerCategory: eating in
My coffeemaker broke LONG ago and I didn't really want to get another coffeemaker because I drink so little coffee anyway. So usually I try one of the million ways of making coffee without a coffeemaker as documented on the net by various random people whose coffeemaker has suffered a fate similar to mine or who are between broken coffeemakers or out camping or don't drink coffee but want to make coffee for their visiting in-laws etc. etc. I think I must be up to at least the 50th way of making coffee without a coffeemaker since mine broke.
Anyway, I was walking down Elmwood when I saw a Melitta coffee-making funnel in a shop window.
I have seen the funnel before but this time as I walked home, realization finally dawned that it is just a glorified version of the average coffeemaker filter basket.
I threw away my coffeemaker framework away when it stopped working but I had re-purposed the filter basket for filtering out water from steamed chickpeas, kidney beans, navy beans, lima beans, edamame and other big beans. I just dug it out, put a paper coffee filter in it (any fine muslin cloth will work), poured in some coffee grounds, just-off-the-boil water and et voilà ! I have perfect coffee!
So don't throw those filter baskets away. They make even better coffee than your formerly working coffeemaker. Best of all, the cleanup is super easy. Just wash it as you would any other dish in the sink. No pores to unclog with vinegar etc. When not making coffee, you can always use it to filter water out from steamed big beans.
Anyway, I was walking down Elmwood when I saw a Melitta coffee-making funnel in a shop window.
I have seen the funnel before but this time as I walked home, realization finally dawned that it is just a glorified version of the average coffeemaker filter basket.
I threw away my coffeemaker framework away when it stopped working but I had re-purposed the filter basket for filtering out water from steamed chickpeas, kidney beans, navy beans, lima beans, edamame and other big beans. I just dug it out, put a paper coffee filter in it (any fine muslin cloth will work), poured in some coffee grounds, just-off-the-boil water and et voilà ! I have perfect coffee!
So don't throw those filter baskets away. They make even better coffee than your formerly working coffeemaker. Best of all, the cleanup is super easy. Just wash it as you would any other dish in the sink. No pores to unclog with vinegar etc. When not making coffee, you can always use it to filter water out from steamed big beans.
05/29/2011 13:01 #54379
Windmill Farm near BuffaloCategory: buffalo
I didn't know there was quite a big windmill farm somewhere near the Buffalo airport.
I thought the ones near the harbour were the only ones. I took these snaps before my flight was about to land at the Buffalo Niagara Airport. Does anyone know if this farm also contributes to our electricity supply or is this a private farm? How cool to be able to generate your own renewable energy...
I thought the ones near the harbour were the only ones. I took these snaps before my flight was about to land at the Buffalo Niagara Airport. Does anyone know if this farm also contributes to our electricity supply or is this a private farm? How cool to be able to generate your own renewable energy...
metalpeter - 05/30/11 14:13
I wish I had info on the windmill farm I like you thought it was only on the waterfront....
I wish I had info on the windmill farm I like you thought it was only on the waterfront....
tinypliny - 05/30/11 11:21
Wow - so it is real. :) Sometimes I can never locate things I see from the plane. For example, there is this crazy lake in Rochester that I can only ever see when the plane is hovering over the city (and it hovers a lot in Rochester because its a tiny airport and they have to wait for their turn to land). So, I have never met a single person who is actually sure of the location of the lake. It's beyond the Genesee river but no one knows exactly where... so it might be some rich person's lake on private property... but what makes it odd is there are not many rich folks on the wrong side of Genesee.
The fact that you have seen this windmill farm is somehow... comforting. :)
Wow - so it is real. :) Sometimes I can never locate things I see from the plane. For example, there is this crazy lake in Rochester that I can only ever see when the plane is hovering over the city (and it hovers a lot in Rochester because its a tiny airport and they have to wait for their turn to land). So, I have never met a single person who is actually sure of the location of the lake. It's beyond the Genesee river but no one knows exactly where... so it might be some rich person's lake on private property... but what makes it odd is there are not many rich folks on the wrong side of Genesee.
The fact that you have seen this windmill farm is somehow... comforting. :)
jbeatty - 05/30/11 09:37
I think this is just past East Aurora on 20A. It's really cool to drive past. Every hill you go over another windmill appears. There is also one farther out in Wayland past rochester
I think this is just past East Aurora on 20A. It's really cool to drive past. Every hill you go over another windmill appears. There is also one farther out in Wayland past rochester
05/29/2011 20:23 #54381
Make skype audio work in DebianCategory: linux
I am really tired of struggling with skype on Debian (and Crunchbang) to get its audio to work properly. If the microphone works the output doesn't work, if the output works, the microphone doesn't. I think I may have found a solution and I am posting it here so other frustrated souls can find it.
Install Pulseaudio if you only have ALSA. ALSA alone does NOT work with skype regardless of whatever people on the #Debian channel might think or tell you.
Install pulseaudio volume control
Run Skype.
Go to the Sound devices sections. Click on the Open PulseAudio Volume Control button. pavucontrol will open.
I think this will make your microphone as well as sound output work on skype. Test with skype test call to echo123.
Install Pulseaudio if you only have ALSA. ALSA alone does NOT work with skype regardless of whatever people on the #Debian channel might think or tell you.
- sudo apt-get install pulseaudio
Install pulseaudio volume control
- sudo apt-get install pavucontrol
Run Skype.
Go to the Sound devices sections. Click on the Open PulseAudio Volume Control button. pavucontrol will open.
- In every tab maximize ALL the volume sliders.
- Go to the configuration tab. Mine has two sections. One is called RV710/730. Turn this off in the dropdown menu below it.
- The other one is called "Internal Audio". Choose "Analog Stereo Duplex" in the dropdown menu.
- When you go back to the "Input Devices" tab now, you will see that there is an setting for "Internal Audio Analog Stereo". Crank this to 100%.
- In the "Output Devices" tab, choose the "Analog Output" port from the dropdown menu. Crank the front left as well as front right channel to the max 100%.
I think this will make your microphone as well as sound output work on skype. Test with skype test call to echo123.
I have decided not to worry about the non-existent audience anymore. It makes me breathe easier and just write. But now that I have made that decision, my brain is on a massive freeze and I have nothing to write about except work, which, I don't write about here! What a thing! I am hoping things will get better when I resume dancing and yoga (both of which are at an indeterminate break right now to complete dissertation and other work).
I've been wrestling and rasslin' with the very same questions as you. And I've not come up with a workable solution for me.
I tried doing the "my personal I" especially about my employment at RGIS in another place :::link::: but that didn't work either.
I think I am always too concerned about my audience for my own good.
And I am too concerned about quality (even though I'm not exactly sure what that means) to be immediate and improvisatory.
Sometimes blogging feels like segfault because I'm addressing something that isn't there.
Heh - yes, I tried the writing stream of consciousness title that (e:paul) suggested and totally could not hit the publish button because the post was so angst-ridden and totally uncool. When I say "everything", I guess I mean random everythings and boring everythings that I often forget if I don't record them... :)
That Being said Don't forget though that unless it is in private mode there will or may be a reader , this is more in terms of what you are willing to have out on the net......