Umbalo-Gong

Santa and Banta fly to the south sea islands to study the natives. They go to two adjacent islands and set to work. A few months later Santa takes a boat over to the other island to see how Banta is doing. When he gets there, he finds Banta standing among a group of natives.
"Greetings! How is it going?" says Santa.
"Wonderful!" says Banta, "I have discovered an important fact about the local language! Watch!"
He points at a palm tree and says, "What is that?"
The natives, in unison, say, "Umbalo-gong!"
He then points at a rock and says, "And that?"
The natives again intone, "Umbalo-gong!"
"You see!", says the beaming Banta, "They use the SAME word for 'rock' and for 'palm tree'!"
"That is truly amazing!" says the astonished Santa, "On the other island, the same word means 'index finger'!"

After having failed his exam in “Logistics and Organization”, a student goes and confronts his lecturer about it.

After having failed his exam in “Logistics and Organization”, a student goes and confronts his lecturer about it.Student, “Sir, do you really understand anything about the subject?”Professor, “Surely I must. Otherwise I would not be a professor!”Student, “Great, well then I would like to ask you a question. If you can give me the correct answer, I will accept my mark as is and go. If you however do not know the answer, I want you give me an 'A' for the exam.”Professor, “Okay, it's a deal. So what is the question?”Student: “What is legal, but not logical, logical, but not legal, and neither logical, nor legal?”Even after some long and hard consideration, the professor cannot give the student an answer, and therefore changes his exam mark into an 'A', as agreed.Afterwards, the professor calls on his best student and asks him the same question.He immediately answers, “Sir, you are 63 years old and married to a 35 year old woman, which is legal, but not logical. Your wife has a 25 year old lover, which is logical, but not legal. The fact that you have given your wife's lover an 'A', although he really should have failed, is neither legal, nor logical.”

Wife's Lover

After having failed his exam in “Logistics and Organization”, a student goes and confronts his lecturer about it.Student, “Sir, do you really understand anything about the subject?”Professor, “Surely I must. Otherwise I would not be a professor!”Student, “Great, well then I would like to ask you a question. If you can give me the correct answer, I will accept my mark as is and go. If you however do not know the answer, I want you give me an 'A' for the exam.”Professor, “Okay, it's a deal. So what is the question?”Student: “What is legal, but not logical, logical, but not legal, and neither logical, nor legal?”Even after some long and hard consideration, the professor cannot give the student an answer, and therefore changes his exam mark into an 'A', as agreed.Afterwards, the professor calls on his best student and asks him the same question.He immediately answers, “Sir, you are 63 years old and married to a 35 year old woman, which is legal, but not logical. Your wife has a 25 year old lover, which is logical, but not legal. The fact that you have given your wife's lover an 'A', although he really should have failed, is neither legal, nor logical.”

What is the Most User Friendly Linux Distribution?

Linux is an open-source operating system designed to compete with Microsoft Windows for a share of the ever-growing computer market. Because Linux is an open-source OS it has been developed by many different groups into several different incarnations. Some flavors are free, others are not. Some are designed for UNIX geeks while others are geared towards the average user. So which Linux distribution (“distro”) is the most user friendly? Online opinion polls and reviews as of mid 2007 narrow it down to two clear and very popular choices.

First up for friendliest Linux distribution is Ubuntu. This OS comes with a built-in suite of applications including a word processor, spreadsheet program, graphics editor, email client, FireFox™ Web browser, games and more. Ubuntu is 100% free and the website promises free updates every six months to keep your system current. This Linux distribution has a built-in catalog of software applications that are also free and available with the click of a button. To make Ubuntu even more attractive users can exchange, open and edit many common Window file formats with friends, such as Word documents and Windows music or graphics files.

Neck-and-neck with Ubuntu is the Linux distribution PCLinuxOS. Aside from matching Ubuntu in areas previously mentioned, a nice feature of this OS is that it is available as a Live CD, bootable without installation on to the system. When used as a Live CD, user configuration files can be saved to a memory stick. Alternately, PCLinuxOS can be installed to the hard drive. Both Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS have familiar point-and-click interfaces with solid reputations for recognizing and installing drivers for most common hardware. Users with advanced graphics cards might find themselves doing a bit of Googling for support.

Despite progress towards friendlier versions of Linux, one complaint common among inexperienced users of Linux is difficulty with installing new software. While Linux distributions come with programs pre-installed, ability to load new software is of course, key. Users might find this more challenging than what they’re used to.

Another Linux distribution, Linspire, aims to address this issue by providing a special plugin that should allow a user to visit a specific website, click on the desired Linux software package and sit back while the site performs the installation process for the user. This Linux distribution OS is not free, however, priced at just under $50 US Dollars (USD). Linspire is based on a different business model than free flavors of Linux, offering what it hopes to be a hassle-free OS at a lesser price than Windows operating systems. Whether the plugin will be successful and serve as a persuasive selling feature for Linspire remains to be seen, as the feature was still upcoming as of mid-August 2007.

There are many sources for support if you are curious to try a Linux distribution package. Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS are both free to download. If you would like to try a Live CD there is typically a minimum charge for materials and shipping. If you have a dial up connection you might want to request a CD be mailed to you, as distribution files are quite large.

What is Piccalilli?

Piccalilli is a pickled condiment which classically includes an assortment of chopped vegetables in a thick mustard sauce, which turns the piccalilli bright yellow. This condiment is especially popular in Great Britain, where it is often readily available at restaurants and grocers, and it also appears in places like India, where there is a long tradition of Anglo-Indian cuisine. It is also possible to make piccalilli at home, for those who have experience in pickling and canning.

The ingredients used in piccalilli can be quite varied, depending on regional tastes. Typically vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and cauliflower are common, and other vegetables may be added as well. Mustard and turmeric are common spices, and piccalilli can also include things like chilies for an extra spicy kick. This condiment can be used on sandwiches, mixed with other condiments to make dressings and sauces, and used to dress an assortment of foods.

Like other pickled foods, piccalilli is designed to keep for an extended period of time at room temperature in a sealed container, providing a source of vegetables even in the winter or in remote regions where farming opportunities are limited. Once opened, a container of piccalilli must typically be refrigerated, although heavily preserved versions made in the traditional style can be stored at room temperature after opening.

This condiment is pickled in a mixture of vinegar salt, and sugar which gives it a salty tang. As a general rule, low amounts of sugar are used; just enough to cut the acidity, without making the piccalilli sweet, although there are sweet versions of this popular condiment. People have been making piccalilli since at least the 18th century, as numerous cookbooks attest, and it is believed to be heavily influenced by Indian cuisine.

There is some dispute as to the best piccalilli recipe, with most people preferring the version they were introduced to first. Some cooks like to cook the vegetables in their piccalilli really well, producing a rather mushy condiment, while others prefer finely shredded but still crisp vegetables to give the condiment some crunch. Spicing is also highly variable; cooks who make their own would do well to remember that spicing intensifies with aging.

What are the substitutes for an Egg?

Egg substitutes have made it possible for the cholesterol-conscious to still enjoy foods that contain eggs. Additionally, some egg substitutes even allow egg allergy sufferers to eat foods made with eggs. Of course, there are several different types of egg substitute products on the market today. The reason for going with a substitute rather than the real thing will affect which type of egg substitute should be chosen.

One of the main advantages of the available substitutes for eggs is that the yolk is completely missing from the mixture. This is important for those who want to lower cholesterol levels, as most of the cholesterol found in eggs is in the yolk. However, the egg white is retained for one type of substitute for eggs. In the liquid and frozen type, the egg white is combined with other ingredients to create a taste and texture that is not unlike an egg. For egg allergy sufferers, this type of egg substitute is not safe.

Typically, the frozen substitute will employ such ingredients as skim milk, tofu, yellow food coloring, artificial egg flavorings, and some form of starch. Often, the frozen substitutes for eggs work very well for scrambled eggs, cakes and pies, and as a binder in breakfast casseroles. The shelf life of frozen and liquid substitutes for eggs is considerably shorter than real eggs, but the health benefits are often well worth the difference.

The second common form of egg substitute is the powdered egg. With no egg whites included, powdered egg substitutes have a much longer shelf life. Generally, the package does not require refrigeration, although it is a good idea to store powdered eggs a cool dry cupboard and in an air-proof container. Like their liquid counterparts, powdered egg substitutes also contain starch and artificial flavorings and colorings. Yeast extract is also added in powdered eggs, along with natural gum to provide an egg texture when the powdered mix is combined with water. Powdered substitutes for eggs work very well for scrambled eggs, omelets, and in recipes.

Both forms of egg substitutes are pasteurized, and often are available at supermarkets. Many restaurant supply stores will carry larger bags of the powdered egg mix, while supermarkets often favor smaller containers of the frozen liquid substitutes for eggs. While both alternatives are more expensive than eggs, they do make it possible for persons who cannot eat or wish to avoid the use of eggs to still enjoy all their favorite foods without