Increasing of Suicide Rate in America

Sunday, May 8, 2022

It is surprisingly that suicide rate is increasing in recent years and a 30-year high in the USA.



Fig 01- Just for illustration (credit to Harvard Health)


In term of number, the suicide is 29,199 persons in 1999, and almost double (42,773 people) in 2014. Trending is continue until recently.


It is equal to 13 people in 100 thousand population. As reported by Tavernise (2016: U.S. Suicide Rate Surges to a 30-Year High. The New York Times) that increasing of suicide rate occurs in almost:

- all age groups (25 to 64 years old)

- racial (ethnic group)

- and sexes (both male and female).



Fig 02- Blooming in the spring


Quite surprising that suicide rate among the teenage girls (10 to 14 years old) had been three time higher in 2014 than 1999.



Fig 03- Crowd people, illustration only


Other facts that marriage rate is declining, but divorce rate is increasing. Especially for lower education people. It is believed that divorce may lead to suicide.



Fig 04 – Hibiscus in blooming


Many factors that may cause suicide among others are:

- less education (lower than high school)

- less economic well-being

- hopelessness

- distress due to job lost and financial trouble


Health problems may lead to suicide as well. Several of these problems may include:

- drug overdoses and alcohol poisoning

- liver diseases

- or in-curable chronic diseases.


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Have you Tasted Alligator Meat? - Part 2 – Sgn 7

Thursday, May 5, 2022

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Have you Tasted Alligator Meat? - Part 1 - Sign 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update 



Fig 01- Alligator filet, sold by Cajun Grocer, Louisiana


Alligator skin is made of keratin, a kind of durable leather. Then the skin is used for exclusive and expensive products such as:

- luggage

- handbags

- shoes

- belts



Fig 02- Seafood market in our city


Habitats of alligators have been attractive sites for ecotourism industry. We may see alligator in areas such as:

- ponds

- lakes

- canals

- rivers

- swamps

- bayous



Fig 03- Sausages sold in the seafood market


You might surprise that alligator meats are sold in the market:

- frozen meat sold in groceries include Walmart

- fresh meat could be found in seafood markets

- I believe you may find frozen meat through online stores


I saw the price for fresh alligator meat in one of seafood market called as Tony’s Seafood:

- tail meat is US$ 10.99 per pound

- whole meat is US$ 6.99 per pound.


Have you Tasted Alligator Meat?


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When Will We Have an Emperor in the Mars? - Part 2

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- When Will We Have an Emperor in the Mars? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update



Fig 01- One of Elon Musk tweets


Elon Musk (the founder, chief designer and CEO) of Spacex, the man who has a dream to be an emperor of red planet in his tweet since several years ago and again and again recently.


Spacex is a private company which has one of its missions to send human on the planet (Mars).


The ambitious schedule that the first human landing in 2016. Quicker than well known agency, NASA proposed.



Fig 02- A walking area, illustration



Fig 03- White azalea flowers



Fig 04- SpaceXStarship (credit to The Daily Express)


In fact, Elon Musk’s Spacex unsuccessful to test its “Straship prototype” several times. The recent failed was last March, 2021.


Next flight tests will be coming soon (next couple months) with new Straship prototype, called as SN 20.


However, Starship is designed to bring crews into Mars. Highly unlikely by 2026, four years from now.


Efforts is continued, and history will prove whether Elon Musk will be emperor or just his dream.


We wait and see!


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How Important to Wash Our Hand – Sign 8

Sunday, May 1, 2022

When I was a kid, I didn't know how important about hand washing. Just told by mom and teachers to prevent spreading of germs.


The following photos are found in the one of hospital toilets.



Fig 01- A lot of germs in the poop


It might be surprising that one gram of poop contains 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) germs.


At least, there are four type of bacteria live in the feces and relate to human health. They are:

- Salmonella

- Shigella

- Vibrio

- Escherichia coli (E. coli)



Fig 02- A restroom in the hospital


I guess you are very familiar with E. coli, because infection of this bacteria makes many produces are recall from market.



Fig 03- Fountain, just for illustration


I watch CNN few days ago that a US company in New Jersey recall raw ground beef about 120 thousand pounds (55 tons).



Fig 04- Ad from CDC to wash your hand


The beef was contaminated by E. coli. The bacteria might come from animal and human waste.


We always get inform this kind of contaminated to other agricultural produces and recall by market. Some of them are:

- eggs

- sprouts

- lettuce

- fruit

- raw milk

- raw flour


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Have You Tasted Fruits Called as Muscadine? - Part 2 – Food Variety 19

Friday, April 29, 2022

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Have You Tasted Fruits Called as Muscadine? - Part 1 – Food Variety 19 | Tanza Erlambang Update



Fig 01- Muscadine cocktail, sold by Walmart


It has been cultivated since 400 years ago, and able to grow from hot to cold climates in the states such as:

- Florida

- Texas

- Oklahoma

- New Jersey

- Delaware



Fig 02- Colorful paintings



Fig 03- Antique light, just for illustration



Fig 04- Muscadines are hanging over the branch


Unfortunately, it is reported that just 12 of 50 states sell Muscadines in the market, but not in regular basis.


There are “huge” opportunity both to grow and market this fruit. A good source of income for farmers.


Based on simple facts and economic estimation:

- new target markets will be no or less competition, and even to be expanded to nearby foreign markets such as Canada and Mexico.

- ten acres may produce 100,000 pound of Muscadines

- 100,000 pound means US$ 200,000.


Finally, have you tasted Muscadines? What do you think? Do you like it?


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Strange Looking Bird Called Guinean Cock of the Rock – Part 1

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

After seeing the beautiful bird picture at below (Fig 01), do you see the strange of critter?


What part?



Fig 01- Guianan Cock of the Rock (credit to eBird).


I myself did not observe mouth, look like “mouth less” animal for me.


It is because its feathers cover the beak (mouth). Interestingly that head is in form of crescent.


The bird is called Guianan Cock of the Rock with scientific name Rupicola rupicola.


John Latham, the English ornithologist was the first person to describe this bird in 1790.



Fig 02- Green, springtime



Fig 03- Wild flowers



Fig 04- Female Guianan Cock of the Rock was sitting on the nest
(credit to Flickr).


This Strange Looking Bird distributes in South America region include:

- Guyana

- Venezuela

- Brazil

- Columbia

- Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.


Size of bird is not big enough, 30 cm (12 inch) in length and 210 gram (7.4 oz) in weight. Male is bigger and has brighter feathers than female.


# To be continued to Part 2


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Have you Tasted Alligator Meat? - Part 1 - Sign 7

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

It is estimates about 5 million alligators in the USA. Then, you might wonder which states have the most alligator in America:

- either Florida or Louisiana?



Fig 01- Alligator meat and others


Just to let you know and comparison that alligator population in Louisiana and Florida is following:

- Louisiana has 3 million alligators

- Florida has about 1.25 million alligators


In Louisiana, the alligators are not only harvested as wild animals, but also from farming.


Farming produces much more alligators than hunted from wild. 400,000 farm raised and about 30,000 wild hunting alligators.



Fig 02- One of seafood markets in the city



Fig 03- Grocery, just for illustration



Fig 04- Alligator meat sold by Gator World.


Other states which have alligators in great numbers are:

- Georgia

- Alabama

- Mississippi

- North Carolina

- Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas


As you might know that alligators have economic benefits in industries. What part alligator is most valuable?


# To be continued to Part 2


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