Why do we need leap year?

Just happened to think about what today is... It's leap year, we should all be jumping for joy.

The Gregorian calendar, which now serves as the standard calendar for civil use throughout the world, has both common years and leap years. A common year has 365 days and a leap year 366 days, with the extra, or intercalary day ~ designated as February 29. A leap year occurs every four years to help synchronize the calendar year with the solar year, or the length of time it takes the earth to complete its orbit about the sun, which is about 365¼ days.

The length of the solar year, however, is slightly less than 365¼ days—by about 11 minutes and 14 seconds. To compensate for this discrepancy, the leap year is omitted three times every four hundred years.

In other words, a century year cannot be a leap year unless it is divisible by 400. Thus 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years, but 1600, 2000, and 2400 are leap years.

In Coming Call

This just tickles my funny bone every time I think of it. In Coming Call - gimme a break....

Quite a while back the battery on my portable phone bit the dust. So on my monthly toilet paper run to Wal-Mart, I added a battery to my list. Upon checking those out, I realized it was just as cheap or cheaper to buy a whole new phone. Simple math... a battery cost as much or more than a new phone. I love the concept of supply and demand, it really works. So to the new phone section I went. I'm thinking well, if I have to get a new phone I might as well get one that lets me know who is calling. My friends who have those always rant and rave about that feature. If they so choose, they don't have to answer the phone and on the other plus side, they know who is calling or at least the phone number being called from -- did that make sense. The prices were very reasonable and I bought one in the "middle" price range. It had buttons that do this and buttons that do that, I was quite impressed.

When I got home, I read the directions and it says you have to contact your local phone company to start the "service". That should have been a dead give-a-way so I called the phone company. I am told in order to have that service of knowing who will be calling, it will be an additional $8 + per month on my phone bill. I say "I don't think so." I already have my long distance disconnected to save on that expense, why would I add something that I really don't need. So now when my super duper phone rings with all those added buttons on it, I have a message that says 'IN COMING CALL' well dah, what else would it be. :o)

What is Pulmonary Hypertension

This is a little something I found on the web a while back, sorry I can't give the credit where it is due but I didn't copy as to where I got it from... must have had a PH moment. A more updated version of what we are use to seeing.

What is pulmonary hypertension?

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disorder in which the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrowed, making it difficult for blood to flow through the vessels. As a result, the blood pressure in these arteries -- called pulmonary arteries -- rises far above normal levels. This abnormally high pressure strains the right ventricle of the heart, causing it to expand in size. Overworked and enlarged, the right ventricle gradually becomes weaker and loses its ability to pump enough blood to the lungs. This could lead to the development of right heart failure.

Pulmonary hypertension occurs in individuals of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds although it is much more common in young adults and is approximately twice as common in women as in men.

Why do the pulmonary arteries narrow?

Scientists believe that the process starts with injury to the layer of cells that line the small blood vessels of the lungs. This injury, which occurs for unknown reasons, may cause changes in the way these cells interact with the smooth muscle cells in the vessel wall. As a result, the smooth muscle contracts more than normal and narrows the vessel.

What are the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension?

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension do not usually occur until the condition has progressed. The first symptom of pulmonary hypertension is usually shortness of breath with everyday activities, such as climbing stairs. Fatigue, dizziness, and fainting spells also can be symptoms. Swelling in the ankles, abdomen or legs; bluish lips and skin, and chest pain may occur as strain on the heart increases. Symptoms range in severity and a given patient may not have all of the symptoms.

In more advanced stages of the disease, even minimal activity will produce some of the symptoms. Additional symptoms include irregular heart beat (palpitations or strong, throbbing sensation), racing pulse, passing out or dizziness, progressive shortness of breath during exercise or activity, and difficulty breathing at rest. Eventually, it may become difficult to carry out any activities as the disease worsens.