Tammy Levent

Tofu is a healthy and versatile food that now can be enjoyed in liquor form. Researchers in Singapore have discovered a way to use the liquid left over from the processing of Tofu, making a tasty alcoholic beverage. The drink contains about 7 percent alcohol and has a reported sweet, floral taste that can be enjoyed by health conscious alcoholic beverage drinkers.

Key Takeaways:

• Grad students in Singapore are trying to make use of liquid left over when soy milk is coagulated into tofu curds by turning it into an alcoholic beverage.
• Tofu is extremely popular but many of its by products go to waste.
• This new drink which uses Tofu leftovers as a base for an alcoholic drink is called “Sachi” and is currently being made available in China.

“The result? A slightly sweet drink, the pale color of straw, with an alcohol content of around 7 to 8 percent and what Chua described as “fruity and floral” notes.”

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tofu-alcohol-wine-sachi-soybeans-fermentation

Real estate marketing can be started by yourself by buying and flipping houses. The appeal is that one can become a small business owner, with all its perks, and earn $100,000 dollar in return, or more. The author highlights the benefits and briefly explains them, but in the end is advertising his success and the book he has written. He will tell you his story in the book.

Key Takeaways:

• Running of the Balls in Pigeon Forge, TN, is a downhill race where you are chased by a huge inflated ball
• The ball, known as a Zorb, has a person inside it to help control it and move it down the slope
• The race feels like a mix between the Running of the Bulls and the boulder scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

“It’s a race to the finish line to avoid being pummeled by this giant zorb.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNpbWoWlcKU

U.S. states honor individuals with various titles. A Kentucky Colonel is a title bestowed by the governor with the most notable being KFC’s Colonel Sanders. Tennessee, New Mexico, and Georgia also award the title of Colonel. Rhode Island bestows the title of Commodore while Texas and Nebraska have the honorary rank of Admiral. In Indiana, a person can become the Sagamore of the Wabash. In other states, individuals become members of special orders such as North Carolina (Long Leaf Pine), South Carolina (Palmetto), and Delaware (First state). Finally, there is the Arkansas Traveler which is only awarded to visitors.

Key Takeaways:

• Knighting is strictly a thing for the UK, but the US has its own interesting “titles” to give out
• One of the more famous is “Colonel” only available for civilians in Kentucky and handed out by the governor
• Commodore, Lieutenant Colonel and Sagamore of the Wabash rank among the more colorful possible titles here in the states.

“Perhaps the most poetic of the high honorary titles awarded by U.S. states is that of the Arkansas Traveler, a name based on a popular folk tale.”

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sagamore-commodore-colonel-ceremonial-title-honorary

Diddy has had many names over the years so when he announces a new name people aren’t as shocked by it. They figure it’s par for the course. He was joking about a new name, though. He didn’t really plan to change it to Brother Love this time even though that’s what he told his fans.

Key Takeaways:

• According to Page Six, Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and Just Plain Old Diddy are still the names of that guy from yesterday who said his name was Brother Love
• The name was taken from a former WWE wrestler who went by the same name.
• Diddy released a Twitter statement explaining the “change” and sang a bit too

“The object turned out to be a Spalding basketball, relatively unmarred on the top but covered below in a thick beard of goose barnacles—it could be a close relative of Cast Away’s Wilson.”

http://dlisted.com/2017/11/07/brother-love-is-no-more-diddy-was-only-joking-about-that-name-change/

A man who routinely sails across the sea comes across a basketball floating on the surface of the ocean, only the top half exposed. As he looks at it he realizes nothing out of the ordinary until he removes it from the sea to see the lower half has barnacles attached to it extending approximately 3 feet downward. After capturing a quick photo with the spaulding basketball the man returns it to the sea where it rightly belongs.

Key Takeaways:

• While no Wilson Volleyball, a barnacle covered Spalding basketball was found at sea.
• Gilbert is a commercial skipper specializing in line-caught, sustainable fishing, and was sailing out of Poole, Dorset, when she spotted the ball.
• The author explained that things can be found, including the time he personally found a lone surfboard put in the deep ocean.

“The object turned out to be a Spalding basketball, relatively unmarred on the top but covered below in a thick beard of goose barnacles—it could be a close relative of Cast Away’s Wilson.”

https://api.atlasobscura.com/articles/found-basketball-lost-sea-flotsam-jetsam-sailing

Before the technological revolutions that seemingly shrunk the world, Prague, like many other industrial cities, relied on its own local time. Though the column has been gone for nearly a century, the meridian line is still visible. Keep an eye out for a thin brass strip flanke d by plaques on either side, written in Latin and Czech. Loosely tranlated into English. Though the meridian is no longer a marker of high noon, it’s a subtle reminder of a time when the sun’s shadow was a vital tool in tracking the hours within a day.

Key Takeaways:

• To determine high noon, the city used a shadow cast by a Marian column that fell directly upon the meridian of 14°25’17″ East each day.
• Though the column has been gone for nearly a century, the meridian line is still visible.
• Loosely translated into English, they say, “Meridian, according to which time in Prague was determined.” They were placed alongside the time strip in the 1990s.

“To determine high noon, the city used a shadow cast by a Marian column that fell directly upon the meridian of 14°25’17″ East each day.”

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/prague-meridian

The Idaho Potato Commission has retired it’s travelling 6 ton travelling potato replica and a woman in Boise, plans to refurbish it to rent as an Airbnb. It will still be used to promote the state’s chief crop as it will be a roadside attraction, set next to a freeway exit. The finished project should be ready for rentals by the spring of next year.

Key Takeaways:

• On Oct. 25, IPC’s board agreed to donate the original potato to Wolfe, who plans to convert it into a 200-square-foot (18.5-square-meter) “potato motel,” which she’ll locate in Boise for Airbnb vacation rentals.
• IPC President and CEO Frank Muir believes Wolfe’s plan will grant the potato a new life as a roadside attraction, raising awareness about the Idaho brand for years to come.
• This will be added to people’s lists to come to Idaho to see the world-famous potato that traveled across America,” Muir said.

“On Oct. 25, IPC’s board agreed to donate the original potato to Wolfe, who plans to convert it into a 200-square-foot (18.5-square-meter) “potato motel,” which she’ll locate in Boise for Airbnb vacation rentals.”

https://skift.com/2017/11/04/giant-idaho-potato-replica-is-becoming-an-airbnb-rental-after-years-on-the-road/

Recently, the city of Paris banned cars for an entire Sunday. While the French capital has experimented with car-free time periods in the past, this was the first time that the entire city was handed over to pedestrians, cyclists, roller-bladers, and ramblers for a full day. Residents, visitors, and tourists were strongly encouraged to explore the City of Lights exclusively on foot or by non-motorized means. The streets were still open to emergency vehicles, buses and taxis.

Key Takeaways:

• Pedestrians are being encouraged to stroll the City of Light as the French capital banned cars throughout the city for a d
• Paris has experimented in the past with car-free days, but Sunday marked the first time the entire city was handed over.
• Thousands reclaimed the boulevards, and many were thrilled to experience the city without the combustion engine.

“Pedestrians are being encouraged to stroll the City of Light as the French capital banned cars throughout the city for a day.”

https://skift.com/2017/10/01/paris-bans-cars-for-a-day-and-people-take-over-the-boulevards/

Basically there are five regions – North, West, Central, Southern, and East. North Africa has an Arab/Islamic culture rather than a sub-Saharan African culture. Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt have colorful markets, lots of old mosques and architecture, Roman ruins, desert trips, and Egypt of course has the pyramids and tombs. If you want to see wildlife, the major safari parks are in East Africa and Southern Africa, especially Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.

Key Takeaways:

• The diverse continent has no shortage of inspiration for stories to consume during your travels
• “Out of Africa,” portrays what we love about traveling Africa, which in many places is still untamed.
• There’s plenty of other stories to inspire, horrify and give you a true sense of what Africa is to the people that live there.

“The connection that Lawrence forms with the matriarch of the herd will transform the way you perceive animal intelligence and emotion.”

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-books-africa-travel/

Richard Branson hosted the Obamas for a ten day vacation on his private island and shares the experience in his new book. The couple enjoyed the beautiful scenery and beaches, as well as the night life. Pictures are included with the brief narrative about the vacation where fun was had by all.

Key Takeaways:

• Richard Branson recently hosted the Obama family and talked about their exploits on his island.
• Besides the very photographed kite surfing, the president and his family enjoyed talking and even dancing on the bar.
• This story is another charming reminder of the joy we felt about our president and his they needed to relax after 8 long years.

“Barack and Michelle made a point of going over to them, inviting them into the group and dancing with them. They made time for everybody.”

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-branson_us_59e0f49ce4b04d1d5181799e?section=us_travel