So, a couple of days ago I wrote a post about how putting a sponge in the microwave helps kill germs…… well……..

Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea this week — with sometimes disastrous results.

A team at the University of Florida found that two minutes in the microwave at full power could kill a range of bacteria, viruses and parasites on kitchen sponges.

They described how they soaked the sponges in wastewater and then zapped them. (Microwave zaps germs on sponges.)

But several experimenters evidently left out the crucial step of wetting the sponge.

“Just wanted you to know that your article on microwaving sponges and scrubbers aroused my interest. However, when I put my sponge/scrubber into the microwave, it caught fire, smoked up the house, ruined my microwave, and pissed me off,” one correspondent wrote in an e-mail to Reuters.

“First, the sponge is worthless afterwards so you have to throw it out instead of using it. And second your entire house stinks like a burning tire for several hours, even with windows/doors open,” complained another.

Aaron Hoover, a press officer at the University of Florida, said several other news organizations received similar complaints, although no one had complained directly to the university.

“We figured, ‘Wow, we better let people know right away that the sponge should be wet,”‘ Hoover said in a telephone interview.

The university issued the following advisory: “To guard against the risk of fire, people who wish to sterilize their sponges at home must ensure the sponge is completely wet. Two minutes of microwaving is sufficient for most sterilization. Sponges should also have no metallic content. Last, people should be careful when removing the sponge from the microwave as it will be hot.”

So today at work I was bored and thought I would hand paint.

Yah right, Like I could do that.

To see more of this guys work, click here.

Last night I was doing my dishes and it occurred to me that we use our dish clothes for a lot. I washed the dishes and cleaned the counter tops with the same cloth. Also, if there is water in the sink the dish clothes sit in the water… for days – that’s just nasty!!
I’m not a big “germaphobe” but since every person (and people visiting) seemed to come down with Norwalk two weeks prior, I am starting to re-think a couple of things.

So here is how to clean your household sponges and cloths.

Two minutes in a microwave oven can sterilize most household sponges, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

A team of engineering researchers at the University of Florida found that two minutes of microwaving on full power killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as spores, on a kitchen sponge.

“People often put their sponges and scrubbers in the dishwasher, but if they really want to decontaminate them and not just clean them, they should use the microwave,” said Gabriel Bitton, a professor of environmental engineering who led the study.

Writing in the Journal of Environmental Health, Bitton and colleagues said they soaked sponges and scrubbing pads in raw wastewater containing fecal bacteria such as E. coli, viruses, protozoan parasites and bacterial spores.

Then they used a common household microwave oven to heat up the sponges. It took four to 10 minutes to kill all the spores but everything else was killed after two, they said.
“The microwave is a very powerful and an inexpensive tool for sterilization,” Bitton said.

At least 76 million Americans get sick from food borne microbes every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 5,000 people die from them.

Kitchens are a common source of these illnesses.

A New York man is sewing two homeless people for over 1 million dollars. Knowing full well that the duo is unable to pay, the man is setting the stage for the argument of “what to do with the homeless.”

The case, which is being pushed by the store owner of a ritzy antic shop, is legit – I wouldn’t want anyone urinating, peddling and warming themselves on a heat vent out side of my store either. “Its bad for business” says the store owner.

I fully agree with him.

Here is a man who pays taxes and employees people for a living. Now, his livelihood is at risk because customers are scared away by gathering homeless people in front of his store. If you think of it, this man is a victim of the system he pays in to. It isn’t his fault these people are homeless but now it’s his burden when they camp in front of his store.

Now, I am sure there are many people who would shun at this man for being so heartless and mean. Even I will admit that suing the homeless is a little over the top but as an individual, it’s not his job to deal with this problem. He has no obligation to charity.

So what do you do? There are many programs out there for homeless people. Places they can stay and places to eat. The problem is bigger than that though I think. It has to be more than just giving them a place to shack up. What do we expect from the homeless? That they would get off their lazy ass and get a job like the rest of us? I’m sensing a little problem in the hiring process when the gentleman who slept in your garbage the night before is now asking to be hired.

The truth is; living in a society based on consuming for oneself where everyone is looked at to stand on their own two feet and chip in, doesn’t leave much room for the marginalized that can’t help themselves.

What to do with the homeless? Maybe the question should be re-coined; “what to do with us?”

I just love watching this guy.

In honor of Rachel writing her calculus exam this week, just in case she forgot her methods, this is a quick recap on how not to add numbers! (Please note – its 15 minutes long but is very informative).

There is allot of talk going on around the world about global warming. Whether it exists, how much do we contribute to it, how and if we can reverse its effects, what is and isn’t effecting it.
I watched a great movie the other night called “An inconvenient truth” by Al Gore. Gore, if you will recall lost to George W. Bush in 2001 for the presidency of the united States. Gore displayed allot of knowledge on the matter and I thought it was well educated and supported.

This brought to me the thought though; “What does the president of the united states believe about Global Warming?”
Well here, is his answer.

As much as I love the new NHL with its speed, scoring and technical play being more of the focus, some of me still loves a little scrap. So here is my solute to the Old NHL.

I have been working for Suncor for about a year-and-a-half now and in that time I have always just has one spot. It was an open layout setup that was shared with all the other IT people. This was great because it made for good and entertaining conversation.
The negative side of being in that area was that I was first line of contact for the refinery employees to IT because my office was the closest to the door. If someone needed a person, equipment or access to something they would ask me first and I would have to pass them on to the appropriate person. I was like the secretary for the IT department and it was the running joke here. Also, there is barley any room in IT and since my office was connected to the common area (printer, shelves and fridge) my office was always packed with boxes. It’s as though my office was the closet.

So I got moved. I have my own cubical now. It’s different and it’s quiet. It will take some time to get used to but I am sure I will come to like it. It’s not as social, which I guess is a good thing for productivity. I am excited to start decorating it though!!!!