Brabec Bulletin Tidbits on Life
May 19, 2025
The Benefits of Dark Chocolate
News from Kurt, The Cyber Guy
Why the Mona Lisa Has No Eyebrows
Found in a Library Book
Donald O’Connor in Make ’Em Laugh!
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The Benefits of Dark Chocolate
In 2011, new research published in the American College of Cardiology suggested that enjoying two chocolate bars per week could “meaningfully reduce” one’s risk of stroke. At the same time, WebMD Health News said it depended on the type of stroke, that those who ate the most chocolate were more protected from strokes caused by hemorrhage than those caused by blood clots.
In 2024, a note in Harvard Women’s Health Watch reported that eating dark chocolate regularly may lower the odds of developing diabetes. Again, the benefits were related to dark chocolate, not milk chocolate, which was linked to long-term weight gain that could contribute to developing diabetes.
In shopping for the best dark chocolate, the 2011 article suggested looking for Lindt’s 70% Cocao bar or Ghiradelli’s 72% Cacao. Today, Trader Joe’s offers five “Pound Plus” varieties, including one with 72% Cacao. But since I eat only two squares of chocolate a day and am not worried about heart attacks or diabetes, I buy their regular Dark and Sweet chocolate bars and have one square of each every evening about three hours before I turn out the light.
Note: Further searching revealed that eating 72% dark chocolate before bedtime might keep one awake or lead to nightmares, while sweet chocolate will result in restful sleep and sweet dreams. As for me, it’s not chocolate that causes my occasional insomnia or a rare nightmare, but going to bed with an unresolved problem still on my mind.
I recommend this article from John Hopkins Medicine, “The Benefits of Having a Healthy Relationship with Chocolate,” since it discusses four other medical benefits of chocolate.
News from Kurt, The Cyber Guy
If you’re trying to stay up on the latest technology, you might want to subscribe to the newsletter offered by Kurt, The Cyber Guy. His website offers news, tips & tricks, what you need to know about security, and more. I’ve subscribed to his newsletter; you might want to do the same. Here’s some news you might appreciate now: “FBI warns of dangerous new ‘smishing’ scam targeting your phone.”
Smishing is a variation of the age-old scam usually sent by email or as a phone call, except that this variation is sent to your phone as a text or short message service (SMS). The article linked to above includes two helpful phone graphics with sample messages to illustrate how easily anyone could be deceived and click the link in fear, and Kurt offers 6 ways you can protect yourself from all variations of smishing scams. Browse his site to be amazed by all the “tech stuff” you don’t know but might need.
Why the Mona Lisa Has No Eyebrows
It took da Vinci 16 years to paint the Mona Lisa, but why didn’t he give her any eyebrows? Until I stumbled across a little note I made about this fact and did some research, I had no idea that countless people on the internet have been discussing this question for years.
If you love a mystery and this great work of art, you’ll appreciate this short article, “What Happened to Mona Lisa’s Eyebrows?” Do you know that the world is in love with Mona Lisa? She receives so many letters that she has her own mailbox at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where she resides.
If you have nothing better to do with your time and want to pursue this topic further, you won’t believe how many people have been discussing this topic for years until you Google, as I did, “Who pointed out that Mona Lisa has no eyebrows?”
Found in a Library Book
Until I read this story in an issue of Writer’s Digest, I couldn’t have guessed the variety of items— besides bookmarks—that readers might have left in a book dropped into their library’s Book Return box.
Sharon McKellar, supervising librarian for teen services at the Oakland Library, started collecting items found in returned books in 2013. In a library post in 2023, she reported that 439 items had been cataloged on the website, with another hundred scanned but not yet shared, “plus another hundred or so in a box under my desk.”
I finally took a look at some of the collection categories, and maybe you have time to do the same. Book lovers have left such a variety of items that they are now displayed in Found categories of Notes, Art, Photos, Cards and Letters, Facts, Bookmarks, Creative Writing, Artifacts, and Found by Kids.
This paints an interesting picture of people’s lives everywhere, and I think Sharon McKellar has one of the most unusual jobs I’ve ever heard about.
Donald O’Connor in Make ’Em Laugh!
Since music has always been an important part of my life, I’ve seen all the great musicals ever filmed. My favorites were those in the 50s, and thanks to YouTube, we can see clips of many of the greatest singing and dancing numbers of that era, as well as those from the 30s through the 60s.
Here’s a favorite of mine from 1952. Donald O’Connor, who co-starred with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain, drew rave reviews for his brilliantly eccentric dance number, “Make ’Em Laugh.” According to his bio, the physicality O’Connor displayed in this strenuous dance routine was so intense that he needed to rest for three days after giving us his all. No one ever came close to doing what he did. Enjoy!
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