Potato/Tomato/Spinach Soup for Colds

I got a cold recently and made a great soup. First, fry up some leaks then add some garlic. Use butter or olive oil but I used butter.

 Once they are starting to brown take them out but leave the bits on the bottom of the pot.

 Throw some water and potatoes in then stir to get the yummy bits off the bottom of the pot. Potatoes should be cut in smaller pieces. Boil for 10-15 minutes until soft.

 Add cans of tomatoes to roughly equal the volume of potatoes and water. Get the good cans of tomatoes with lots of vitamins and not the crappy ones. If feeling not so sick, try roasting fresh tomatoes in the oven or on the BBQ for bonus flavor.

 Then using a mixing wand, blend it all up. Throw in the fried leeks and garlic. Also add a large amount of chopped spinach. Let cook on medium for 10 minutes or longer to boil off some of the water.

If you are feeling fancy, add a dollop of butter or olive oil when serving. Can also add brown rice for something more filling when serving.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 19 December 2018

Major Information Site: Cool little site with lots of info from statistical data.

Antibiotic Trojan Horse: The antibiotic binds to Iron then is brought home to the bacteria. Healing ensues!

Water Exoplanets more Common: Research on astronomical data revealing that up to 35% of exo-planets may be made up of predominantly water on the surface.

Why people believe in Conspiracy Theories: In this one small study, schizotypy, dangerous world beliefs, and enhanced receptivity to lies all contributed to acceptance of conspiracies. Go figure!

Harvesting CO2 for useful items: Imagine harvesting CO2 to produce furniture, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other products! Smart people at Rutgers university have.

Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing: A study has shown that when helping someone whom is suffering, its best to just be with them and not agonizing over what to say because it will generally be the wrong thing.

More Accurate Carbon Dating: Two Chinese Stalactites that are 54000 years old have lots of quality carbon ratios (carbon 12 and 14). They are chopping it thinly, analyzing it, and using the results as a benchmark to estimate the age of items going back 54k years!

Haynes - Apollo 11 Owners' Workshop Manual

I recently finished the Haynes Apollo 11 Owner's Workshop manual. Haynes is known for their detailed books on makes of cars for repairing and caring for them. Several years ago they branched out into non-standard vehicles and lifestyle books, and have made them for the Space Shuttle, Millennium Falcon, Star Trek Enterprise, and many more.

There is great written detail and wonderful archival photos of the space program from its beginnings to the Apollo program.

I have one for the Space Shuttle and Millennium Falcon and am looking forward to those ones in 2019.