Veterans Day, or Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day (Veterans Day, falls on the same date in the U.S.) is a day set aside by the Commonwealth countries to remember and honour the men and women who have died in war and military operations.

退伍军人节退伍军人纪念日(Veterans Day)是美国联邦假日,定于11月11日。这是美国比较重要的一个全国性节日,人们借此向退伍军人、特别是参加过历次战争的退伍军人表达敬意。

11月11日在英国以及加拿大英联邦国家也是一个纪念日。这一天被称为“Remembrance Day”,中文有时被翻译为“國殤紀念日”或“悼念日”。法国比利时也在这一天纪念“休战日”。[1]

Continue reading Veterans Day, or Remembrance Day

Difference between a cold and H1N1 flu symptoms

H1N1症状同普通感冒症状的比较。

H1N1 flu is about to be upon us and we need to be on top of information regarding it. Here is a comparison to the normal cold symptoms .

Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Symptom Cold H1N1 Flu
Fever Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.
Coughing A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.
Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.
Chills Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.
Tiredness Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.
Sneezing Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.
Sudden Symptoms Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the  H1N1 flu.
Chest Discomfort Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

芦笋尿

车里总是备着一本闲书,孩子们睡着,我陪着的时候消遣用的。目前放着的是《怎么把仓鼠做成化石》,NewScientist 出的科普书之一,更出名的一本叫《企鹅为什么不冻脚》。前一阵子,悠悠睡着了,我打开翻到一篇“Aromatic pee”,芳香的尿。讲的是吃芦笋后,尿尿会有股浓重的怪味的现象。这篇让我觉得特别有趣,因为它印证了个人经验。

到德国后,我多次发觉尿尿有点怪味。说怪,因为它不寻常,其实我觉得是股香味。刚开始以为泌尿系统出了问题。出现数次之后,才把这股尿香与芦笋联系起来。德国人喜欢吃芦笋,每年到了那个季节,市场上到处都是芦笋,我们也比较爱吃。

按照书上的说法,芦笋含有的某些物质,在人体内会被分解出一些硫化物来,人体不需要,肾脏就把它们迅速排出体外。有意思的是,有研究结果说,虽然所有人都会排出这种气味,但不是所有人都能闻到,和基因有关。英语里有个词 Asparapee,如果闻不到,理解起来就比较难。

转自桑林志

夏令时开始和结束的时间

2009到2015年,美国,加拿大夏令时起始时间表。

2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March(三月第二个周日的凌晨2点开始夏令时)
to
2 a.m. on the First Sunday of November. (十一月第一个周日的凌晨2点结束夏令时)

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2009 March 8 November 1
2010 March 14 November 7
2011 March 13 November 6
2012 March 11 November 4
2013 March 10 November 3
2014 March 9 November 2
2015 March 8 November 1

U.S. and Canadian Holidays 2010-2015

2010到2015美国及加拿大的法定节假日

Name Date
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
New Year’s Day, U.S & Canada Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) Jan. 18 Jan. 17 Jan. 16 Jan. 21 Jan. 20 Jan. 19
Chinese/Lunar New Year Feb. 14
(Year 4708)
Tiger
Feb. 3
(Year 4709)
Rabbit
Jan. 23
(Year 4710)
Dragon
Feb. 10
(Year 4711)
Snake
Jan. 31
(Year 4712)
Horse
Feb. 19
(Year 4713)
Ram
Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12
Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14
President’s Day, U.S (Observed) Feb. 15 Feb. 21 Feb. 20 Feb. 18 Feb. 17 Feb. 16
Family Day, Canada (Alberta) Feb. 15 Feb. 21 Feb. 20 Feb. 18 Feb. 17 Feb. 16
Ash Wednesday Feb. 17 Mar. 9 Feb. 22 Feb. 13 Mar. 5 Feb. 18
Orthodox Lent Begins Feb. 15
Washington’s Birthday, U.S Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22
St. Patrick’s Day Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17
Spring Equinox Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20
Palm Sunday Mar. 28 Apr. 17 Apr. 1 Mar. 24 Apr. 13 Mar. 29
Daylight Savings Time Begins, U.S & Canada Mar. 14 Mar. 13 Mar. 11 Mar. 10 Mar. 9 Mar. 8
Jewish Passover
Pesach
Mar. 30 Apr. 19 Apr. 7 Mar. 26 Apr. 15 Apr. 4
Good Friday (Holiday in Canada) Apr. 2 Apr. 22 Apr. 6 Mar. 29 Apr. 18 Apr. 3
Easter Sunday Apr. 4 Apr. 24 Apr. 8 Mar. 31 Apr. 20 Apr. 5
Easter Monday (Holiday in Canada) Apr. 5 Apr. 25 Apr. 9 Apr. 1 Apr. 21 Apr. 6
Orthodox Easter Sunday May 1 Apr. 24 Apr. 15 May 5 Apr. 20 Apr. 12
Cinco de Mayo May 5 May 5 May 5 May 5 May 5 May 5
Mother’s Day May 9 May 8 May 13 May 12 May 11 May 10
Victoria Day, Canada May 24 May 23 May 21 May 20 May 19 May 18
Memorial Day, U.S May 31 May 30 May 28 May 27 May 26 May 25
Flag Day, U.S. June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14
Father’s Day June 20 June 19 June 17 June 16 June 15 June 21
Summer Solstice June 21 June 21 June 20 June 21 June 21 June 21
St. Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec) June 24 June 24 June 24 June 24 June 24 June 24
Canada Day, Canada July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1
Independence Day, U.S July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4
Civic Holiday, Canada Aug. 2 Aug. 1 Aug. 6 Aug. 5 Aug. 4 Aug. 3
Labor Day, U.S Sep. 6 Sep. 5 Sep. 3 Sep. 2 Sep. 1 Sep. 7
Labour Day, Canada Sep. 6 Sep. 5 Sep. 3 Sep. 2 Sep. 1 Sep. 7
Grandparent’s Day Sep. 12 Sep. 11 Sep. 9 Sep. 8 Sep. 7 Sep. 13
Fall Equinox Sep. 23 Sep. 23 Sep. 22 Sep. 22 Sep. 23 Sep. 23
Jewish New YearRosh Hashanah Sep. 9 Sep. 29 Sep. 17 Sep. 5 Sep. 25 Sep. 14
Yom Kippur Sep. 18 Oct. 8 Sep. 26 Sep. 14 Oct. 4 Sep. 23
Columbus Day, U.S Oct. 11 Oct. 10 Oct. 8 Oct. 14 Oct. 13 Oct. 12
Thanksgiving Day, Canada Oct. 11 Oct. 10 Oct. 8 Oct. 14 Oct. 13 Oct. 12
Halloween Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31
Daylight Savings Time Ends, U.S & Canada Nov. 7 Nov. 6 Nov. 4 Nov. 3 Nov. 2 Nov. 1
Election Day, U.S Nov. 2 <NONE> Nov. 6 <NONE> Nov. 4 <NONE>
Veteran’s Day, U.S Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11
Remembrance Day, Canada (Alberta) Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11
Canada’s National Child Day Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20
Thanksgiving Day, U.S Nov. 25 Nov. 24 Nov. 22 Nov. 28 Nov. 27 Nov. 26
Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9 Dec. 21 – Dec. 28 Dec. 9 – Dec. 16 Nov. 28 – Dec. 5 Dec. 17 – Dec. 24 Dec. 7 – Dec. 14
Winter Solstice Dec. 21 Dec. 22 Dec. 21 Dec. 21 Dec. 21 Dec. 22
Christmas Eve, U.S & Canada Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24
Christmas Day, U.S & Canada Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25
Boxing Day, Canada Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26
New Year’s Eve Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31
Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Date