What's Inside a Cup of Coffee?

Posted on Wired.com

Caffeine
This is why the world produces more than 16 billion pounds of coffee beans per year. It's actually an alkaloid plant toxin (like nicotine and cocaine), a bug killer that stimulates us by blocking neuroreceptors for the sleep chemical adenosine. The result: you, awake.

Water
Hot H₂O is a super solvent, leaching flavors and oils out of the coffee bean. A good cup of joe is 98.75 percent water and 1.25 percent soluble plant matter. Caffeine is a diuretic, so coffee newbies pee out the water quickly; java junkies build up resistance.

2-Ethylphenol
Creates a tarlike, medicinal odor in your morning wake-up. It's also a component of cockroach alarm pheromones, chemical signals that warn the colony of danger.

Quinic acid
Gives coffee its slightly sour flavor. On the plus side, it's one of the starter chemicals in the formulation of Tamiflu.

3,5 Dicaffeoylquinic acid
When scientists pretreat neurons with this acid in the lab, the cells are significantly (though not completely) protected from free-radical damage. Yup: Coffee is a good source of antioxidants.

Dimethyl disulfide
A product of roasting the green coffee bean, this compound is just at the threshold of detectability in brewed java. Good thing, too, as it's one of the compounds that gives human feces its odor.

Acetylmethylcarbinol
That rich, buttery taste in your daily jolt comes in part from this flammable yellow liquid, which helps give real butter its flavor and is a component of artificial flavoring in microwave popcorn.

Putrescine
Ever wonder what makes spoiled meat so poisonous? Here you go. Ptomaines like putrescine are produced when E. coli bacteria in the meat break down amino acids. Naturally present in coffee beans, it smells, as you might guess from the name, like Satan's outhouse.

Trigonelline
Chemically, it's a molecule of niacin with a methyl group attached. It breaks down into pyridines, which give coffee its sweet, earthy taste and also prevent the tooth-eating bacterium Streptococcus mutans from attaching to your teeth. Coffee fights the Cavity Creeps.

Niacin
Trigonelline is unstable above 160 degrees F; the methyl group detaches, unleashing the niacin—vitamin B3—into your cup. Two or three espressos can provide half your recommended daily allowance.

Currently Listening To: Datarock - Most Beautiful Girl

Astrology Chart

Here is my version of a chart that Lady Lore did a few weeks back. Fun things to play with. Very unaccurate to me, however.

Rising Sign is in 22 Degrees Gemini
Extremely active by nature, you like to get around, meet people and do different things. Very restless, you just can't seem to stay put. You need to be involved in several projects at once in order to keep your mind stimulated. You like to read books and to write letters and to talk -- constantly. Seemingly ageless, you will always appear to be much younger than you really are. Very adaptable and inquisitive, you are always open to new ideas and experiences. A "jack-of-all-trades", you are lively and versatile. Because of the high nervous tension that you always seem to have, athletic activity would be a good way for you to burn off energy. But be careful of a tendency to experience things only superficially -- try to dig in and absorb things at a deeper level.

Sun is in 06 Degrees Gemini.
You have a quick, bright and agile mind, but an extremely short attention span. You love the external, kaleidoscopic aspects of life, but you tend to avoid (and even fear) deep, close emotional involvements. As such, you seem to enjoy travel and sightseeing and generally being "on-the-go." You get quite listless when things around you become static and dull, but your excitement returns whenever you are stimulated by a new idea. Chatty, inquisitive and quite playful, you enjoy practical jokes and games in general. Your moods change quickly and often -- you are very restless and constantly in motion. You are known for your versatility and adaptability. Your vivaciousness enlivens any social gathering.

Moon is in 27 Degrees Aquarius.
Very freedom-oriented, you must always be able to do what you wish, no matter what. You become stubborn and recalcitrant when others try to force you into a mold. You are a true democrat -- you are not a follower, but you enjoy being with those who are like-minded. You appreciate emotional self-control -- you practice it yourself and you look for it in others. You solve problems, including emotional ones, with your brains and intellect, not your feelings. Try to be tolerant of those who have powerful and obvious emotional responses -- not everyone is as objective, cool, dispassionate and detached as you are.

Mercury is in 18 Degrees Taurus.
A slow and careful thinker, you like to present ideas visually and concretely. Abstractions are quite difficult for you to understand. For you, everything must be practical and useful in order to merit your attention. You are a perfectionist -- you enjoy being skillful enough to handle the dexterity required of fine craftsmanship. Cautious and conservative in your thinking, you are very slow to change your opinions. You are more apt to respond to an appeal to your feelings than to an appeal to logic or reason.

Venus is in 07 Degrees Cancer.
You like to be very close to other people. You need emotional support yourself and are willing to give it to others. When you feel unloved and insecure, you can be very jealous and possessive. You are not interested in casual or superficial relationships -- only deep emotional involvements interest you. Your faithful devotion is one of your greatest gifts, but be careful not to become too dependent on others. Learn to stand on your own two feet and demand your own rights once in a while.

Mars is in 21 Degrees Leo.
You are a very proud person. Strong, bold, courageous and self-possessed, you love to be the one to initiate significant actions. When people expect a lot of you, you respond positively and will work hard in order to maintain their respect. But when your dignity or pride is threatened, you tend to become sarcastic, arrogant and domineering. Try not to take any challenge or resistance that you meet as a personal affront. You are very stubborn about your right to live your life according to your own principles.

Jupiter is in 08 Degrees Cancer.
You must be emotionally secure in order to grow and develop. You are happiest when your family and community support and nourish you and boost your morale. Whether your childhood experiences of love and emotional dependability were positive or negative will set the tone for your emotional growth and stability as an adult. When you feel at ease with yourself, you are able to offer assistance to those who need a helping hand.

Saturn is in 24 Degrees Leo.
Extremely self-reliant, you set very high standards of conduct and decorum for yourself, and you expect others with whom you associate to be that way, too. It is important that you had a strong father figure or role model early in life to mold your life course and direction. When you feel that those around you are unworthy or behaving badly, you withdraw, preferring solitude rather than associating with those who might besmirch your reputation.

Uranus is in 13 Degrees Scorpio.
You, and your peer group, demand to confront life at its deepest and most meaningful levels. Very compulsive and obsessive in your approach to everything, you will avoid anything that is casual or superficial, especially when it comes to relationships. You will seek out and explore new methods of healing as well as different ways to deal with deep-seated emotional problems.

Neptune is in 17 Degrees Sagittarius.
You, and your entire generation, are heavily involved in investigating and idealizing foreign and exotic intellectual systems and religious philosophies. The most extreme ideals will be pursued with gusto. You will be at the forefront of humanitarian attempts to improve the lot of those who are in need of assistance. You will be comfortable with the concept of the "global village."

Pluto is in 14 Degrees Libra.
For your entire generation, this is a time of radical changes in society's attitude toward marriage and interpersonal relationships. There is a general fear and awe at the power inherent in making emotional or contractual commitments -- they will not be entered into lightly.

N. Node is in 03 Degrees Libra.
You find it very difficult to be comfortable being alone -- you would much prefer to be in an environment where many people are working together toward common goals. Your charming and sincere approach to others assures your popularity -- you have the gift of being able to ease tensions just by your mere presence. You're the perfect "team player" willing to sacrifice your own importance so that the group goal can be accomplished. Be careful, however, not to become overly dependent on your interactions with others -- you have personal private needs that should not be neglected.

Currently Listening To: Ken Ishii - Iceblink (Main Mix)

Five More

Five more lost, and with that I lost a total of around 46 pounds. A significant amount of blubber, that is. I set the new goal on the WiiFit.

Since within the next 6 months it will be colder out and with all the major eating events coming within that time frame, I have decided to set a goal of 20 more pounds within that time. That will carry me to about April. A year since I have started loosing weight. By that time, hopefully the weather will be getting warmer and the days will be back to getting longer. Many walks outside again.

I did manage to get a walk outside today for a short two miles. It was raining during that time too, but since I have been walking that route since May, it is a Very fast walk for me now.

If I keep it up hopefully I will be getting in short jogs during my lunch breaks next year sometime.

What is Forty Pounds?

Good question as I clean out the cat box I look to the side of the container of new litter. 40 pounds of mostly a clay absorbant compound. Coincidentally that is the amount of weight I lost. So i Pick up the still unopened container and carry it up stairs with me to stand on the scale with me.

As I go up the stairs I realize that I was carrying THIS amount of weight around with me the whole time. The extra stress on my body of this not to insignificant amount of weight.

I weight myself on the scale while holding the kitty litter. Low and behold, it's my old weight of back near the beginning of this year.

It makes me thing of how far I have come in such a short amount of time. I don't know If I am going to make the 80lb goal this year, but I know I am well on my way now.

Currently Listening To: Trüby Trio - New Music

The Day Thus Far

Attempting to fight the sleep as I scroll through this massive XLS file here, correcting irregularities. The rain falls rhythmically on the window-pane inviting me to just shut my eyes for a few minutes. The sound of Marc Antoine's guitar even further sets the mood that this is supposed to be a relaxing day. However, there is too much to be done today and not a moment to loose.

I pick my lighter self up from the chair and get another cupful of "Juan Valdez's Obsidian Elixir of Vitality". I try to think of what way I want to walk today since I may be able to beat the rain again today. The weight-loss has been going very well and I have lost another three pounds in the past week. Yes, I may just reach my end of the year goal of being weighing a healthy 80 pounds less, and even if I don't, I know I will be a significant way there.

The cup of coffee gets finished and I long to have the lunch-hour come, oh yes, I will be walking.

Currently Listening To: Marc Antoine - Cubanova

One More Pound

Lost one more pound this week. I ate a lot of extra crap this week that I shouldn't have, but I still lost one pound so that isn't too bad. I also lost out on quite a few walks with the cruddy weather.

Another Five Pounds Gone

Since my last post I have lost another five pounds (2.5 in the past week). I am doing well in making progress toward my goal.

I have changed a bit on what I am eating. I am looking more at what I am eating and trying to get the most nutrients into a meal as possible without going overboard. I am also cutting back on the tasty snacks. I have not stopped eating cookies, however. Those I cannot live without =p

I have also got out for at least a 30 minute walk every day, sometimes more. Once at work at lunch-time, then again in the evening with the dog. I am trying to think of more exercises I could add to my daily or weekly routine but don't know where to begin as of yet. Until I figure that out, I will stick with just walking.

My BP has dropped by a significant amount. What was fairly close to the borderline is now in a very safe range.

Got the Wii Sports Resort game on Sunday, have been playing that and having a good time when possible. I have been flying the island in the sea-plane. Shooting targets with a long-bow and also been throwing discs for dogs to catch. I just wish you could customize the dog like the Mii. Overall it has been a fun game to play for the Wii.

Currently Listening To: Gerardo Frisina - Gods of the Yoruba

Lost 20 Pounds

The last few months I have been focusing pretty good on loosing weight. I have been taking walks on my lunch break and also been eating better stuff (and tastier stuff in most instances). Without giving up too much at all. If I see chocolate, I'll eat it still. I just get in extra walk.

So it worked out pretty good and I am down 20 lbs. A good marker but only one toward my goal of loosing a total of 80.

As a result, I haven't had as much time to hit up this blog, but who the hell cares anyways? I'm kickin' ass here!

Any gaming goin on with me lately? Yes some gaming. The Sims and also playing some classics on the Wii and some new games too.

Currently Listening To: Bomb the Bass - Bug Powder Dust

Random Music Album Cover Meme

1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random... Read More”
or click en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations"
or click www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together.

Currently Listening To: Robby J.C. Sound - Side Long Harlem

Whats Wrong With CLI?

Nobody Appreciates a good Command Console Window anymore, except maybe a Linux-Nazi. I drink my coffee and lament that fact.

Currently Listening To: Röyksopp - The Girl and the Robot

Gimme Back That Filet-O-Fish

Gimme That Fish

Currently Listening To: Gimme Back That Filet-O-Fish

Because Everything is Better With Bacon on Top

Mmmmmm...
Currently Listening To: Little Dragon - Twice

Surver Says Warlock

D&D Home Page - What Class Are You? - Build A Character - D&D Compendium

Q is for

My friend at over at Not A Mean Girl is playing the Alphabet game! It’s really simple. You make a list of your favorite words that start with your assigned letter. I asked for a letter assignment and I was given “Q”. So… Here we Gooooooo

Quarter
Quadrangle
Quart
Quiet
Quote
Quick
Quaff
Quill
Quit

If you would like a letter assignment to play along… shout it out in the comments!

Currently Listening To: James Cohn - Strutting Butterflies

Brain Implosion Averted

It only takes a good night’s rest. I feel a little more at peace in my head and my heart. After-all, everything is alright with me. It is possible that I am sub-consciously just trying to inject some chaos into my life unnecessarily.

It all came about while looking through my journal entries over the past year or so. I was searching for journal entries about my little one and how I have changed as a person over this very short period of time. It was alarming to me how much I changed what I didn't want to. After all I am or maybe even was a selfish person who really didn't want to deal with this great responsibility. I felt it wouldn't be fair that I wouldn't be able to make sacrifices for her. If you have a kid you understand. You just do it automatically for them. How can you do that automatically? It's mind boggling

That's what made me think that I truly have it all and what else could be missing?

That led to me looking up what I have done less of this year and of course. With a journal it's all there: Stuff you forgot, stuff you push out of your mind to keep yourself sane, People who slighted you...

Then for some reason I tried to re-evaluate my decision on whether I was Atheistic, Agnostic or could I really accept in any sort of system of monotheistic/polytheistic beliefs. THAT was like trying to jam a 5.25" floppy in a 3.5" drive by folding it. Needless to say that floppy exploded, but I didn't need it anyways. I decided to dump trying to tackle a concept that bizarre by myself.

It's definitely a pile of spaghetti to work through, and probably eat afterward.

I do like to personal journal a lot. So much at work that I began my personal journal. I never realized how powerful of a tool this is for me. I shall keep it encrypted to stop it from falling into the wrong hands. =O

Currently Listening To: Thievery Corporation - Focus on Sigh

Darvin A to Z

A - Age: 28

B - Bed size: Queen

C - Chore you hate: Cleaning drow blood off my short-swords

D - Dad's Name: -

E - Essential start your day item: Coffee

F - Favorite movie line: "I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"

G - Gold or Silver: Gold

H - Height: Six-two

I - Instruments you play(ed): Keyboard

J - Job title: Database Extraordinaire

K - Kid(s): Yes

L - Living arrangements: I live in a fantasy world.

M - Mom's name: -

N - Nicknames: None printable on a G rated blog.

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: (nil)

P - Pet peeve: clutter

Q - Quotes you like: "I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's work, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!'" - Howard Beagle (Network 1974)

R - Right or left handed: Left

S - Siblings: Ugh... yes.

T - Time you wake up: When i need to get to work

U - Umbrella...do you have one?: Yes

V - Vegetable you dislike: Broccoli

W - Ways you run late: getting out the door with a baby is hard

X - X-rays you've had: teeth

Y - Yummy food you make: Burritos and other TexMex Favorites

Z - Zodiac: Gemini

Currently Listening To: MF Doom - Fig Leaf Bi-Carbonate

A Letter I Wrote

Just finished writing a letter to my dauter on her first. I probably won't publish it, because it is pretty personal. It is really a reflection back to about about 20 or so months ago and is part of my private journal.

Currently Listening To: Tosca - Fuck Dub

44 Things About Me

44 Things about you! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 44
things about your friends, and let them learn 44 things about
you!

1. Do you like blue cheese?
If its not crappy

2. Have you ever been drunk?
You betcha.

3. Do you own a gun?
A 44. I want a medieval crossbow.

4. What flavor of Kool-Aid was your favorite?
I concur with Ryan... Purplesaurus Rex FTW!

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Yes. So I don't go unless I am really sick. If everyone did the same, we would'nt have ridicules health care premiums.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
I think I could go to Costco and get one and a drink for $1.50

7. Favorite Christmas movie?
Hmmmmm.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee

9. Can you do push ups?
Push-ups are alright, but I would rather have my sherbet in a bowl.

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
Tissot watch.

11. Favorite hobby?
Beer and Coffee

12. Do you have A.D.D.?
And S.U.B.T.R.A.C.T.!

13. What's your favorite shoe?
Whatever I'm wearing

14. Middle name?
-

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
Money, Work, Lunch

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Coffee, Water, Artificially sweetened cola flavored carbonated beverage.

17. Current worry?
Pirates

18. Current hate right now?
Lack of time to game... The time sink is worth it though.

19. Pepsi or coke?
Coffee

20. How did you bring in the New Year?
With friends that I haven't seen for a long time.

21. Where would you like to go?
Brazil, Ireland, UK, Spain, Hawaii, the toilet.

22. Name three people who will complete this?
Anybody

23. Do you own slippers?
Yes, but they need fixed. Probably some Epoxy or fishing-line would do.

24. What color shirt are you wearing right now?
Black and Pinstripe

25. Do you like sleeping on Satin sheets?
No, but it is interesting to see the dog and cat slide across them.

26. Can you whistle?
Oi

27. Favorite color?
Blue no... AAAAAAAAAAAAH

28. Would you be a pirate?
I AM A PIRATE YE LANDLUBBER!

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Mainly Super Mario

30. Favorite Girl's Name?
=p

31. Favorite boy's name?
Jack

32. What's in your pocket right now?
Wallet, Keys, Cellphone, Utility Knife

33. Last thing that made you laugh?
My little one

34. Best bed sheets as a child?
I had some blue ones and some white ones. I guess they were alright, or they were cheap.

35. Worst injury you've ever had as a child?
None

36. Do you love where you live?
Too damn cold.

37. What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
Locomotive Conductor/Operator, Archeologist

38. Who is your loudest friend?
Depends on how much Tex-Mex is in them.

39. How many dogs do you have?
One Dog, One Cat, One Bunny

40. Does someone have a crush on you?
Heavy Lourde

41. What is your favorite movie?
Monty Python: The Quest for the Holy Grail

42. What is your favorite candy?
Twix

43. Favorite Sports Team?
Penguins

44. What song do you want played at your funeral?
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

I Need to Escape

I don't know how, but I feel I need to just escape this life of mine. Where would I escape to though. All this dark cold weather.

I need something tropical. Pity there are no real good jobs in the tropical areas. I guess unless I work in a resort. And I know I don't like working with people. I am pretty certain that all the IT jobs in awesome hotels like that are constantly filled.

Mm.. It's nice to dream.

Oh... for my wife's birthday, in case anybody was curious what I got her, I got her some books and a gift card. I got here a 15 dollar gift car to Starbucks and the first two novels in the House of Night novel series. It seemed like something she would really enjoy since she liked the Twilight series. She read Twilight before it even became that popular. Has all the Hard-covers.

300th Post! It took a while to get here. I should post more but...

Currently Listening To: Air - Cherry Blossom Girl

Got Gift

Finally got gift for my wife for V-day. I ordered us an ice-cream cake. I also got our little one a baby toy. Wanted to save some cash considering the birthdays are coming up.

Currently Listening To: Datarock - Night Flight to Uranus