Curious Minds

What is a Scrub?

2011-04-05T16:44:00.002+08:00

The crisp white nurse uniform and caps are the norms of ice age and as time change, so does the clothing worn by medical professionals. Nowadays, seldom you see and find hospitals, nursing facilities and even doctors’ offices wear those traditional fitted dress.

Scrub clothing or more known as medical scrubs have become the uniform at work and in almost all medical facilities. It is the clothing of choice that offer convenience and is more comfortable to wear by the staff. The appeal of wearing colored and printed scrubs that are more contoured to the body presents a more fashionable look without jeopardizing the ability to work around in performing their duties. One factor that prompts several facilities to switch to colored uniforms is the high possibility and chance of spoiling with patient’s blood and bodily substance.

And today’s nursing scrubs came in many designs, patterns, colors and prints. Fashion has significantly infiltrated the uniform of many healthcare industries. The new trends of medical scrubs that are decorated with cartoon characters help ease and make pediatric patient feel comfortable. Yet, it still does not totally remove and replace the traditional and classic white nursing uniform which signifies purity and cleanliness to a sterile environment.

Japanese Blood Typing

2011-02-02T15:15:00.004+08:00

Source: Phlebotomist

Air Quality

2011-01-31T15:23:00.000+08:00

Source:Online College Degrees

What Causes Sinkholes?

2010-11-02T11:14:00.002+08:00

A sinkhole is simply a big hole on the surface of the Earth. It naturally occurs in many parts of the world. Those that are deep underwater are called blue holes. Its mainly caused by the erosion or dissolution of underlying ground. A long process triggered by one or many things underground such as collapsing caves, ground water circulation, and even broken sewer pipes.

One of the latest sinkholes appeared in Schmalkalden, Germany November 2010. It is 40 meters wide, and 20 meters deep. Fortunately, there were no reports of missing or injured people. Only a car was taken by the hole while leaving the rest of the houses that surrounds it intact. The exact reason is unknown, but it was speculated that the area had cavities underneath that resulted from broken rock formations.

One very notable type of sinkholes is the black hole that exists in South Andros and the Grand Bahama Islands. Seen from above as a black river, scientists were surprised that the upper levels are actually very clear. And the rest below were made of black muddy substance. Later it was known that this substance actually contained a huge amount of organisms that feed on sulfur and light!

Treating ADHD With Rx Drugs

2010-09-29T23:41:00.001+08:00

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder you will know the effects that this illness can have on your life. ADHD is a medical condition that is associated with a short attention span and hyperactivity. This illness can cause people to struggle in school due to poor concentration. It can also lead to behavioral problems and mood swings. There are a few rx drugs that are available for treating this condition.

There is a wide range of treatments available to people that have ADHD. How a person will react to each treatment is unpredictable. The best way to see if a medicine is right for you is to monitor the medication that your doctor has prescribed. It is important that you take note of how your body is responding to the medication. If you are having side effects, you should let your doctor know. He or she may be able to provide a different medication that does not have side effects.

The research that scientists have done into these drugs show that ADHD drugs work for most sufferers. People that take their medication find that they are more functional in their work as they have good concentration and a longer attention span.

If your doctor has prescribed this medication to you there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First, you should follow the dosage and timing instructions very carefully. If you feel as though your body is not responding to the drug or you are starting to develop an addiction, contact your doctor immediately. They will be able to decide if you should continue taking the drug or try something new. Do not stop taking the drugs without the consent of the doctor or you may start to feel symptoms of withdrawal.

Why was the Postcard Invented?

2010-09-29T23:39:00.000+08:00

In modern times, postcards seem like such a commonplace item, it’s strange to think of a time when they didn’t exist. These days we have customizable postcards and even e-cards! But postcards were actually invented back in a time where letter writing was the only option for communication. People did not have FaceBook, Twitter, email, cell phones or any other type of easy communication. Therefore, the postcard became quite the commodity for communication.

The invention of the postcard is attributed to a man named Emanuel Hermann in Austria in 1869. It is said that he created them in order to increase post office business and help customers by reducing the postage cost and time of writing a letter. The original postcard was much more plain than the ones we recognize today – they were pre-stamped, cardboard with no decoration, only a handwritten message from the sender. Eventually the postcard came to display various sorts of art and photography, as well as different styles and fonts.

But the postcard truly took off during WWI. They proved to be an excellent way for civilians back at home to communicate with soldiers across the seas. And since the soldiers were incredibly busy, postcards relieved the burden of having to write an entire letter. Pre-printed postcards were available to the soldiers to let family and loved ones at home know what was happening. They had messages like “I am well” or “I have been wounded” that told the most basic things they needed to say. The civilians at home found emotional or funny postcards to send to cheer up their troops.

When WWI was over, postcards lost a bit of their appeal, especially since postage went up for sending them in many countries. There are still a large number of people who collect When WWI was over, postcards lost a bit of their appeal, especially since postage went up for sending them in many countries. There are still a large number of people who collect vintage war postcards.

How to prepare for the GMAT

2010-09-29T23:38:00.000+08:00

Those of you aspiring to be a management professional must know what the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) is and how difficult it is to crack. The GMAT is crucial to gain entry into an accredited and reputable business management school. As it is a test for assessing the capabilities of the applicant on various parameters, it is really unwise to attempt it without properly undergoing GMAT prep.

Step by Step Procedure for GMAT Preparation

• Find the Schools and Requirements

You first will have to prepare a list of management schools where you wish to study. Though most of the management schools use GMAT scores, some of them do not accept them. It is important to find out whether they use GMAT and if so, what the average GMAT scoring expected by those schools actually is.

• Understand the GMAT Format

This test aims to assess the quantitative and verbal skills through objective-type questions. It also includes two 30-minutes essays based on analytical writing.

• Prep Courses

There are many GMAT preparation courses available in classroom settings or online. Enroll in such courses so that you have an idea of the examination and can prepare accordingly. The mock tests conducted by these courses will help you work toward completing the test within the stipulated time. The GMAT Council provides the GMAT aspirants with preparation materials that can either be bought or accessed freely with limitations. The material provided is authenticated that can show you the actual path for GMAT preparation.

• Practice And Practice More

Irrespective of your verbal and quantitative skills, it is wise to practice as many sample GMAT question papers as possible. Find your weak and strong points and work on them.

Following all the above instructions will enable you to crack the test successfully, and gain entry into the management school or college of your dreams.

Where Can You Find the Best GMAT Course?

2010-09-29T23:36:00.001+08:00

Anyone who has to take the GMAT knows that the test can be difficult and hard on the nerves. It doesn't have to be like that, though, if you're well-prepared for it. There are free options, friends who can help you study, and books you can buy, but to really be prepared you need to take a good GMAT course. That way you'll be as ready as possible. You'll understand the format of the questions, you'll know how to deduce answers that you aren't sure about, and you'll have a lot less anxiety. Because every question has an answer, the one you should be asking yourself is how to get the best GMAT prep that you can find.

Look at some of the options out there. See what the cost is, what they have to offer, and how they work. Not everyone learns in the same way, so you'll want to address your particular style of learning in order to get the course that's right for you. Take your course in plenty of time, too. You don't want to be cramming information at the last minute, because most of that won't stay with you. Rather than leave everything until the last few weeks, start studying early.

When you study for a longer period of time, you have more of a chance to develop critical thinking skills. Those will help you answer questions more accurately, and also help you figure out where your weak areas are, so that you can spend more time on them. That way you'll be as prepared as possible, so you'll be less stressed on the day of the test. Stress can stop you from performing to the best of your abilities, so it's something that you'll want to avoid if possible. Being ready for the test is the best way to alleviate most of your stress.

What is Free Software?

2010-09-29T23:35:00.001+08:00

Sometimes you hear people talking about software, hardware, freeware and other computer related terms without having a clue as to what the terms actually mean. Since the inception of the computer, technology has advanced to such an extent that a new term is coined almost everyday to refer to the newer phenomenon of the computer world. Since people who use computers a lot learn these terms as they go along, they don't bother explaining those terms that were introduced early on; they just expect you to already know them.

Software is one term that is used often. It's essentially used to denote an application or a program that is fed into the computer to tell it to do something. The computer follows the commands -- called programming -- contained within the software to do what you want it to do, such as create a document or browse the Internet. The software can either be downloaded directly from the web or purchased on an external device such as a CD or DVD.

Software can be created with any of many programming languages and can range from the basic applications you use each day, like Microsoft Word, to more complex programs like 3D interactive games that you play on your computer. Many software programs are available from websites on the Internet that allow users to download free software and use it at their convenience. If you come across software that you want to download, make sure the site is secure if you are required to give any personal information before downloading.

The difference between software and hardware is that software is the programming, while hardware is what the computer is made of. Hardware includes the motherboard, the ram, the processor, etc. Both hardware and software are necessary for the computer to function and do a job for you.

How Does a Detox Work?

2010-09-29T23:33:00.000+08:00

A detox works by clearing the body of harmful substances that a person has become addicted to. Anyone who is getting treatment for a substance abuse addiction, whether from inpatient drug and alcoholism treatment centers or via an outpatient setting, will most likely start out by going through a detoxification process, otherwise known as a detox.

During this time, the patient completely abstains from the addictive substance in order to get it out of the body. This is often said to be the most difficult part of rehab. Patients who detox go through emotionally and physically exhausting withdrawal symptoms as the drug leaves the body. These often include irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches, nausea, vomiting, chills, and intense craving of the drug. Even patients getting treatment in an outpatient setting should not be alone for the detox process, which typically takes between 7 to 10 days, because some withdrawal symptoms (such as hypertension or seizures) are more serious and may require medical attention.

Because detox can be dangerous with certain drugs and substances, in more serious cases (or when a person is detoxing in a treatment center), the detox process is monitored by doctors and trained addiction specialists. This is helpful because not only do they help manage the withdrawal symptoms, but they also provide an atmosphere of support and encouragement, which is vital during the rehab process. Detox in a facility is also frequently more successful because the temptation is removed and the patient has no access to the addictive substance.

Successful detox involves complete removal of the addictive substance and avoiding the temptation to return to it when cravings are strong. Patients should also detox under a doctor's supervision, and have friends, family, or a sponsor close by in order to help them safely get through the detox process.

Avoid Roaming Charges; Know Your Network

2010-09-29T22:28:00.001+08:00

So you decided to explore your 'Beat' roots and you took the Jack Kerouac road tour across America. You and a few friends hopped in a car, and though gas isn't $.25 cents a gallon, you still had a blast. It wasn't exactly like 'On The Road,' but you got to see a lot of America that you wouldn't have gotten to see otherwise. Along the way you took a few pictures, recorded a few videos and made a few phone calls.

And then you got home and looked at your bills (quite unlike Kerouac). You knew your cell phone bill was going to be bad, but you didn't think it was going to be THAT bad. The roaming charges nearly tripled the normal monthly cost, and that's just for the phone calls. The bill casts a shadow over your road trip and you run the danger of forever misconstruing your memories about your spring break road trip.

Again, unlike Kerouac, if you want to road trip these days, you need a lot of money, and you need to know your cell phone network and its coverage area. A good rule of thumb is to simply turn off your phone when you see the little 'roaming' sign, but if you can predict where your network starts and ends, you can avoid these heavy fees.

For example, the Sprint phone network is one of the largest in the country, and with more than 51 million subscribers, it's also one of the most accessible. The Sprint coverage map is always extending and improving, but it still has its limitations. Do your research and compare your networks, especially if you're planning a road trip soon. Compare the is always extending and improving, but it still has its limitations. Do your research and compare your networks, especially if you're planning a road trip soon. Compare the Sprint coverage map to some other cell phone provider coverage maps and see which one lights your route best.

Why does an Electric Bulb Give off Light?

2010-08-23T18:34:00.003+08:00

A light bulb gives off light because an electric current is passed through its filament, a thread of tungsten metal thinner than a human hair, which then becomes white hot.

Sir Joseph Swan (1828-1914) in England and Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) in the United States constructed the first incandescent electric lamps in 1879. They succeeded in preventing the rapid burning up of the filament by oxidation, but their problem lay in the choice of a suitable material for the filament.

Edison sat in his laboratory watching a filament of charred cotton thread glow in a glass bulb, which had been exhausted of air, for 40 hours. But the thread was too fragile to sustain the heat provided by the electric current. A material was needed that would stand great heat, for the hotter the filament, the brighter is the light given by the lamp.

But even with the present day use of tungsten, the problem still remains in that the more a filament is heated, the sooner it will burn away. To solve this problem, gas discharge lamps were invented.

These consist of glass tubes filled with sodium or mercury vapor, or neon gas. At each end of the tubes are electrodes, or contacts. When an electric current is applied to one of the contacts it passes through the gas to the other contact, causing the gas to glow and give out light.

What gives you Flat Feet?

2010-08-22T10:22:00.003+08:00

When you make wet footprints on the bathroom floor, you will see that there are blank patches in the middle between the toe marks and the heel marks. This is because the middle parts of the feet are raised off the ground by two sets of muscles, called the tibial and the peronal muscles which makes the arches of the feet.

If these muscles weaken, the feet spread out and the arches sink to the ground. The footprints are flat, with no gaps in the middle. This is called having flat feet, or fallen arches.

Sometimes people get flat feet because their jobs keep them standing around too much. Policewomen, waitresses and nurses often suffer from flat feet.

The cure is exercise which tighten up the muscles again. Supports to be put inside shoes are worse than useless. They make the muscles slacken, weaker instead of stronger.

Where is Wounded Knee?

2010-08-17T09:20:00.002+08:00

Wounded Knee is a narrow creek in north-western South Dakota in the United States. One night in 1890 some 400 Sioux Indians, led by Big Foot, camped in a hollow near the creek. The Sioux were on their way back to the reservation after a "ghost dance" ceremony, farther south in the Badlands.

In the morning the Seventh Cavalry lined up their Hotchkiss guns on the hill and the troopers took up positions round the Indian camp.

The Indians were ordered to hand over their weapons. Suspicious and fearful, they refused. In the subsequent search a shot was fired. At once the machine guns opened up, and in a short time, most of the Indians were dead. Survivors, including women and children, were pursued up the creek and gunned down. Heavy snow began to fall, and the bodies were left to freeze grotesquely where they lay. Several days later the dead were heaped on wagons and thrown into a mass grave.

The Seventh Cavalry were awarded 26 Congressional Medals of Honour for their part in the action. The Battle of Wounded Knee, or more accurately, the Massacre of the Big Foot Band, was the last battle to be fought in America's longest undeclared war.

What does Bee-line mean?

2010-08-07T10:50:00.002+08:00

To make a bee-line is to follow the example of bees int taking the shortest route from one place to another. The expression comes from the belief that bees return to the hive by the shortest possible way after they have gathered their food. And the shortest distance between two points is, of course, a straight line.

But on their return home, the bees sometimes make lines which are far from straight. These are dancing movements in the air to inform other members of the colony about their source of supply. They indicate whether the food is pollen or nectar, the direction and distance from the hive and even the colors of the flowers.

This bee code was discovered by the German naturalist Professor K. von Frisch. He found, for example, that a circular dance says the food source is close to the hive and that a waggle dance indicates long distances.

Where is the Lost Continent?

2010-08-03T11:07:00.002+08:00

The Lost continent is a legendary island called Atlantis. It was described by Plato, a philosopher who lived in ancient Greece, as being in the Atlantic and also as being larger than Asia Minor and Libya put together! The Greek legends claimed that Atlantis had been inhabited by a powerful nation who had offended the gods by their independence and disrespect. The gods took their revenge. Some versions of the story say it was submerged and others that it was destroyed by an earthquake about 9,000 B.C.

Some people have tried to identify Atlantis with America, some with Scandinavia, the Canaries and even the Palestine region. Many naturalists and philosophers, including Buffon, Montaigne and Voltaire, have theorized about Atlantis. Attempts have been made to prove that the Basques of Spain and France, the original inhabitants of Italy and the Indians of South America were descended from the Atlanteans, who were said to have overrun the entire Mediterranean.

One theory is that the Minoan civilization was destroyed by the eruption of a volcano on Thera (Santorin) - or "lost Atlantis".

When was Big Ben built?

2010-07-28T12:08:00.003+08:00

Big Ben was built in 1858. It is the bell that chimes the hours in the Clock Tower of the British Houses of Parliament, London, and is so called because Sir Benjamin Hall, as the Chief Commissioner of Works, was the minister responsible for its installation.

The famous deep, resonant boom of the bell is regularly broadcast by the BBC all over the world.

The way to Big Ben is up a spiral staircase of 374 steps. The Roman numerals on the clock face are two feet high and the pendulum is 13 feet long. Big Ben itself weighs 3 1/2 tons. When the clock was installed, two men used to wind it every week. Now it is wound by electricity.

Why are some Soldiers called Mercenaries?

2010-07-18T11:21:00.004+08:00

Mercenaries are soldiers who give their services, and if necessary, their lives, to anyone who will pay them enough to do so. They were common even in ancient times.

Sometimes they were slaves, as were the Nubians who served the Pharaohs, or freebooters, such as the Philistines who were found in armies throughout the ancient Near East.

In medieval armies, professional soldiers often went to war instead of vassals who owed allegiance to a king or noble. The vassal had to furnish a certain number of armed men to fight in his lord's service for 40 days a year, but an alternative levy of gold was permitted which was used to hire mercenaries.

Mercenaries dominated the turbulent period from the Black Death of the mid-14th Century to the end of the wars of religion three centuries later. The bands which devastated France in the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) were like those which ruined Germany in the Thirty Years' War (1618-48). The wealthy cities of Renaissance Italy gave them long term contracts for they were tough, skillful men who could cope with any kind of disturbance.

There are still men whose love of adventure and action leads them to enlist with any army who will pay them enough. Many governments, especially those in developing nations, are anxious to pay for their daring and expertise.

Through the ages mercenaries have become heroes, murderers, and the inevitable face of war.

Why are Ice Skates made of Steel?

2010-07-17T10:44:00.003+08:00

Ice Skate blades are made of steel for three reasons.

First because steel is immensely strong, hard and resistant to wear.
Second, because it is a relatively low conductor of heat.
And third, because it can be sharpened to a keen edge.

A skate blade has to resist tremendous pressure because it is hollow-ground, so that only the edges rest on the ice.

The smooth gliding movement associated with skating is made possible by thin film of water on the ice produced by heat friction as the blade strikes the surface. As it is relatively poor conductor of heat, the steel allows the heat to remain for a longer time at the edge of the blade, thus ensuring the necessary film of water.

There are specially designed blades for different kinds of ice-skating. The figure skater's blade is hollow ground and curved with saw-like teeth at the toe to enable the skater to get a better grip on the ice when carrying out certain movements.

The speed skater uses a thinner blade, about 16-17 inches long, sharpened, with a flat surface. This type of blade gives the racer a longer stroke.

When was Gas first used in War?

2010-07-12T09:01:00.002+08:00

Gas was perhaps first used in battle in the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens(431-404 BC) when burning pitch and sulfur were used to produce suffocating gases. But poison gas as a modern weapon was introduced in the First World War on April 22, 1915. The Germans then launched a cylinder attack with chlorine against the British and French at Ypres.

Later many varieties of war gas were introduced. In July 1917 the Germans began using mustard gas, which caused severe, slow-healing burns on the skin and damage to the lungs. Many casualties resulted from gas bombardment, but relatively few people died. Both sides were ready to use increased gas attacks when the war ended in 1918.

During the Second World War and the Korean War, gas was not used, but preparations were carried out by both sides. Perhaps the most terrifying discovery was made by the Germans. This was a new series of chemical agents called nerve gases which rapidly result in convulsions, coma and - unless promptly treated - death.

Tear gas, which causes intense smarting and watering of the eyes is used in many countries to control rioting crowds, but its effects are only temporary.

When do Sounds Hurt?

2010-07-08T11:42:00.003+08:00

Sounds hurt the ears when they register about 130 on the decibel scale. Decibels are units for measuring the loudness of sound. They show how strong the sound waves are.

The lightest sound - perhaps that of a butterfly landing - would register about zero on the decibel scale; the noise level of a house with the television turned on would be about 50; the din in a car factory would measure 95 or more; and some amplified pop music may be near the limit where the ears would be hurt.

Sound waves are formed by millions of molecules of air bumping and vibrating against one another. Weak sound waves move the eardrum only slightly, but strong ones cause it to respond violently and, in time, may damage hearing permanently. The waves get weaker the further they travel.

The word decibel was coined by scientists in honor of Alexander Graham Bell whose interest in sound waves led to the invention of the telephone.

What Is Post Settlement Cash Advance

2010-07-03T10:19:00.000+08:00

Post Settlement Cash advance is similar to a typical cash advance option with the difference that this is only applicable to those who have won a case. Simply put, people who have not gotten any settlement money for any legal damages after winning a case can demand compensation and get it in a short period of time through the help of plaintiffs. Anyone who has fulfilled such conditions is able to take advantage of the cash advances option. And this option becomes highly favorable if the situation you are in requires you to produce a large amount in a short notice. If you are in search of a lawsuit cash advance, you will still be required to file a post settlement loan with the litigation institution. Most of this cash advance usually sums for a lot depending on the case and the gravity of the damage done towards the eligible person to get it. The amount could range from five-hundred dollars to as much as twenty-five thousand dollars with most firms.

Advance post settlement is usually utilized by attorneys and plaintiffs when there is no compensation available yet and this is a common and there are occasions that this is given a few months after the case is won. And with cases taking as long as years, some of these professionals use this to their advantage to shorten the financial resources of the other party.

In fact, even if the plaintiff wins the case, the defense would still make an attempt to appeal further, causing any pending payments to be delayed. This can catch clients unfamiliar with court proceedings off guard and may put them in an unfavorable position financially. Furthermore, some attorneys even believe as far as getting a satisfactory amount of compensation. Though this is unlikely to happen, there are exceptions. Post Settlement Advances is a tricky procedure for anyone who is not adept or knowledgeable about the court and may get the wrong misconception about it. The cash may appear real and at reach but at the end of the day, it is the people who manipulate the court who have the final say to that.

Where was the wheel invented?

2010-06-28T11:24:00.002+08:00

The earliest wheels discovered so far were found in graves at Kish and Susa, two ancient Mesopotamian cities. These wheels are believed to date from 3,500 B.C. They were made from three planks, clamped together with copper clasps. This kind of wheel also existed in ancient times in Europe and the Near East. No one is sure where the wheel was invented, but this archeological evidence suggests it was probably in ancient Mesopotamia.

A wheel with proper spokes was not invented until after 2,000 B.C. There are records of this wheel in northern Mesopotamia, central Turkey, and north east Persia. By the 15th Century B.C., spoke wheels were being used on chariots in Syria, Egypt, and the western Mediterranean.

The solid wheel was used mostly in farming. Tripartite wheels - wheels with three spokes - were being used in the Bronze Age in Denmark, Germany, and northern Italy for carts.

The invention of the wheel made it possible for people to transport heavy objects much more easily. It also enabled them to travel farther and trade with each other more easily, and so find out about other countries and customs.

What makes you feel dizzy?

2010-06-27T12:03:00.003+08:00

Dizziness most commonly occurs when a person who has been moving around with speed stops suddenly. The sensitive liquid in the inner ear, which mainly controls balance, continues to move around for a time after the body has stopped. So the surroundings appear to be still in motion. However, it takes only a few seconds for the fluid and balance to settle.

This sensation, which is also called vertigo, may also occur to someone looking down from a height or on board ship. Here the cause is probably not so much physical as a nervous reaction which affects the fluid in the inner ear.

Why do we Become Sea Sick?

2010-06-23T09:29:00.002+08:00

We become sea sick because our balancing organs, the labyrinthine portions of the inner ear, are disturbed by out of level movements, by sudden turning movements, and by sudden changes in movements in a straight line, either horizontal or vertical.

The three semicircular canals, filled with fluid are set on different planes in the ear. When sudden movements occur, each canal is affected differently. The nerve endings have no time to convey information to the brain so giddiness is likely to occur.

Nowadays, seasickness comes under the general heading of motion sickness, a name invented by Sir Frederick Banting in 1939, which includes the discomfort people feel while traveling in all kinds of vehicles.

Sea sickness may vary with individuals from slight uneasiness to complete transition. The symptoms are pallor, cold sweating, nausea and vomiting. People who have lost their ear labyrinths because of disease do not become sea sick. Others become resistant to it. We say they develop their "sea legs", but it would appear to be an adjustment of the central nervous system rather than the organs of balance. Some people find it helpful to keep their gaze firmly fixed on a steady object.

When did Mark Twain live?

2010-06-18T11:48:00.002+08:00

Mark Twain was the pen-name of the American writer Samuel Langhorne Clemens who was born on November 30, 1835 in the village of Florida, Missouri. He was first apprenticed to a printer and worked on newspapers in New York and Philadelphia. He became apprenticed as a steamboat pilot in 1856 and stayed with the boats until 1861 when he went to Nevada to seek a fortune in mining. In this he was successful, but he soon obtained a job as a newspaper reporter signing his articles Mark Twain. He took the name from a phrase meaning, "two fathoms deep", which he had used to report river soundings during his steamboat career.

The rest of his working life was devoted to writing. He produced books about travel, such as A Tramp Abroad and Roughing It, but he is best remembered for Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) which tell of amusing and hair-raising adventures of young boys in 1830s. The blend of romance, horror and humor in books has made them favorites with children and adults ever since. Mark Twain was still writing his autobiography when he died on April 21, 1910.

What is a Mandarin?

2010-06-15T08:49:00.002+08:00

The word "mandarin" has several meanings which are all interconnected. Perhaps the most common use of it is as the name for the nine grades of Chinese administrations who were selected by a series of very difficult examinations.

In the T'ang dynasty (A.D. 618-906), this system of scholar officials was operating extremely effectively. This administration proved to be the backbone of the great Chinese Empire that persisted through about 20 successive dynasties.

The name mandarin is also given to the language spoken in China by officials and educated people and to a grotesque toy figure in Chinese costume which goes on nodding after it is shaken. The mandarin scholar-official wore yellow silk robes and so a dye obtained from a coal tar, a sweet, flattened, easily-skinned orange and a yellow liquor also have the name mandarin.

Where was the First Radio Signal sent from?

2010-06-09T10:49:00.002+08:00

Guglielmo Marconi is usually credited with sending the first radio message. Marconi was born in Bologna, Italy. He came to England in 1896 and obtained a British patent for his wireless telegraphy system. In 1897 he established a radio transmitter on the roof of the Post Office at St. Martins-le-Grand in London, and sent a message a distance of a few hundred yards.

He continued to improve his apparatus and in 1898 radio was installed aboard a ship at sea, the East Goodwin lightship off the south-east coast of England. In the following year wireless messages were sent across the English Channel.

The first radio transmission across the Atlantic was on December 12, 1901 from a station on the cliffs at Poldhu, in Cornwall, and the message, three dots representing the letter S in the Morse code, was picked up at St. John's in Newfoundland.

The existence of radio waves was first demonstrated by Heinrich Hertz, a German professor, in 1887. Marconi based his experiments on Hertz's research.

Why does the Mediterranean Sea look blue and the Atlantic Ocean look green?

2010-06-07T10:55:00.000+08:00

The blueness of the Mediterranean and the greenness of the Atlantic can be simply explained by the amount of sunlight reaching the water's surface. The more sunlight, the bluer the water.

However, in the case of the Atlantic, another factor helps to create the green effect and this is the coloring produced by plants decaying on the ocean bed. When these plants decay, yellow pigments are released, and this pigmentation added to the already duller blue waters of the Atlantic produces the characteristic greenish shade which distinguishes the Atlantic from the bright blue Mediterranean.

When does a Lizard shed its Tail?

2010-06-05T10:18:00.003+08:00

A lizard is capable of shedding its tail at any time. If a lizard is attacked it may sacrifice its tail in an attempt to surprise and confuse the enemy.

When a lizard's tail is caught by an assailant or a trap, it will simply snap off and enable the reptile to escape.

Although some lizards' tails can be four times as long as the rest of their bodies, the loss in only temporary. A new tail can be grown quickly from the old stump.

Why do Bats make a high-pitched sound as they Fly?

2010-06-01T10:21:00.000+08:00

Bats use high-pitched sounds to find their way about. The are nocturnal animals. That is they move about by night. So they have developed their hearing to such an extent that they can find their way by a method known as echo-location.

The blind-flying abilities of bats were first studied by Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799). He surgically removed the eyeballs from several bats to prove that they did not need to see to fly.

In the 20th Century, biologists, using electronic instruments, have carried out experiments with bats. They have discovered that bats find out where to go by emitting high-frequency sounds and receiving the echoes as they bounce off objects. Most of the sounds have too high a frequency to be heard by the human ear.

Bats commonly fly together in groups, but apparently they are not confused by the sounds and echoes produced by each other. When hunting in woods and in the rain they are able to discriminate between the faint echoes bouncing off the ground, tree trunks, branches, twigs and raindrops.

These tiny flying mammals have been using the equivalent of our modern sonar device for millions of years.

When did a nuclear submarine make its first passage under the North Pole?

2010-05-29T10:20:00.003+08:00

The first voyage under the North Pole was made from August 1 to August 5, 1958, by the United States submarine Nautilus. She crossed from Point Barrow, Alaska to the Greenland Sea, traveling 1,830 miles under the Polar ice cap and passing the geographic North Pole on August 3.

The Nautilus could maintain submerged speeds of over 20 knots almost indefinitely.

She was designed to run on direct water heat from an atomic pile. The crew were shielded so well from the pile that in a year's cruise they received less radiation than that set by the American Bureau of Standards as permissible for a single week.

Nuclear submarines are equipped with alternative electrical power for use should the reactor fail.

Why is Leonardo da Vinci so famous?

2010-05-25T21:18:00.000+08:00

Leonardo da Vinci is the perfect example of the all-round educated man of the Renaissance. Born in Florence in 1452, he soon became famous for his remarkable paintings. His painting the "Mona Lisa", is possibly the best known painting in the world.

His enormous talents encompassed a wide variety of subjects ranging from sculpture to military engineering. He devoted much time to the concept of flying machines and carried out experiments without success in this field.

From his work as an artist, he developed a knowledge both of anatomy and of the science of light. His anatomical drawings are of a rare beauty and of great precision.

Leonardo was also knowledgeable on such varied subjects as astronomy, geology, botany and geography. In architecture his studies produced both beautiful designs and practical scientific information.

The great man's interests were so diverse that he even gave specific and most serious instructions on how to make and launch stink bombs.

Why do we resemble our Parents?

2010-05-22T23:07:00.002+08:00

We resemble our parents because of a complex of biological processes which we call heredity. Parents and children tend to be similar in many characteristics - structural, physiological and psychological. However, the young are not exact duplicates of their parents and usually differ in many traits. This difference we call variation.

The science of the study of heredity is called genetics, and the most famous name connected with it is that of Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884), and Austrian monk whose discoveries laid the foundation of the science.

Mendel studied plants, especially the garden pea and showed that inherited characteristics were the result of paired elementary units of heredity, which we now call genes. These he symbolized by letters. A characteristic of one parent, such as tallness, which appeared in the progeny to the exclusion of another, was said to be dominant. A characteristic which tended not to reappear was called recessive.

Later studies have shown that the genes are carried by structures called chromosomes. The human body begins with the union of two sex cells, and the body of a new born infant has some 200,000 million cells. These cells arise through the division of other cells. When they divide, their nuclei (or tiny central bodies) divide also by a remarkable process called mitosis.

During mitosis the nuclei resolve themselves into structures called chromosomes, which divide lengthwise. All body cells have true copies of all chromosomes that were present in the fertilized egg from which the body developed.

What Does a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Do?

2010-05-20T14:26:00.002+08:00

A medical malpractice lawyer represents individuals who do not believe that their doctor gave them adequate care and for one reason or another did not fulfill his duties as a doctor. Obviously, doctors cannot cure anything and everything, so you can't sue a doctor because she didn't cure you, but if a doctor did not give you the care that another doctor of the same specialty who was in similar circumstances would have given you, then you may have the ability to win a lawsuit.

A lawyer that specializes in medical malpractice understands what your legal rights are, what responsibility the hospital and doctor have in treating you, and what options there are for your case.

Before any procedure is used on a patient, a consent form must be signed either by the patient, a legal guardian, or by someone who can legally make medical decisions for the patient if the patient is unable to do so. Many are under the impression that by signing a consent form, you are signing away your right to legal recourse if something goes wrong. This is not the case. Consent forms will outline what medical risks are associated with the procedure, but it doesn't give doctors the right to perform malpractice. If it is possible that another doctor with the same expertise in a similar situation were to possibly do the same thing, then that is not malpractice, but if another doctor was not likely to do it, then it is possibly malpractice, and you attorney will be able to help you determine if you have a case or not.

If you believe that you have a case of medical malpractice, consider finding a lawyer in your area that specializes in these types of cases. For example, if you live in Maryland, you would want to hire one of the Maryland medical malpractice attorneys.

What Do Shoppers Love?

2010-05-20T13:24:00.000+08:00

If you are a shopper, and odds are that you are one, since you are reading this, then you already know what you love: coupon codes! Coupon codes are the salvation of online shoppers who have a tendency to shop too much. If you love shopping, then saving cash is of vital importance for your financial well-being, and coupon codes can help.

With the aid of codes from great online shops, you can save money on exciting purchases from stores like Target, AT&T, or Home Depot. Save lots of money, even hundreds of dollars, by planning ahead and shopping for the items that are featured in online ads. It does take more effort than just visiting a store's site and clicking the item you want, but not much! In just a minute or two, you can quickly register for a savings site or savings plan, and start shopping.

The only question that you need to ask yourself is, why aren't more people using these savings plans? When great deals like this are available to the public, too often people simply choose the lazy route that costs them more, rather than investigating what kinds of deals are applicable to the items they want to buy. Don't be too lazy to save yourself thousands of dollars this year! Just sign-up for a great savings site and you will begin to save money on purchases that you never would have thought possible before signing-up.

If you love shopping, but want to keep your checking account in the black, then it's time to make a plan. Maybe even considering a budget for your long-term savings is a good idea, but you should definitely be thinking in terms of short term solvency. With the assistance of great coupon codes from trustworthy online companies, you can begin to see your financial situation in a more positive light.

Why Are Treatment Centers Needed for Alcoholism

2010-05-20T13:13:00.002+08:00

Alcohol is one of the most common drug addictions in the United States. One reason for this is alcohol is legal, so anyone over the age of 21 can go into a bar, restaurant, or store and buy alcohol. Alcoholism is an addictive disorder characterized by someone who consumes alcohol uncontrollably. Alcoholism can lead to poor choices including driving while drunk and causing harm to others including children, and can lead to health problems including cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, heart disease, cancer, and more.

Because of these issues, alcoholism treatment centers are needed to treat those who are alcoholics. The two most important steps to dealing with your addiction is through a detox program and through counseling.

Detox

The first step to helping someone who is an alcoholic is through a detox regimen. This detox is essential because while alcohol is affecting you, it's hard to see the world clearly and logically. Alcohol will cause you to believe that your life is fine and you don't need help — all you need is alcohol. By ridding your system of alcohol, you are able to really see what is happening to your life and realize that getting help for your alcohol addiction is necessary.

Counseling

The second step in the program is to get help through individual, family, and group therapy. Most alcoholics drink to ease an emotional pain that they haven't addressed. By addressing that pain, you will be able to ease that pain by dealing with it instead of numbing it with alcohol. By attending group therapy sessions, you will gain a better perspective on why you drink and how it effects you by seeing how others are dealing with their addiction. And by attending therapy with your family, you will see how your drinking affects them, which may help motivate you to stop drinking.

Tacori Jewelers are Experts in Hand-Crafted Jewelry and Select Diamonds

2010-05-19T03:22:00.000+08:00

Tacori jewelers are experts in handcrafted designer rings and artisan jewelry, specifically diamonds, and have been around for over forty years. They are one of the world’s most sought-after jewelers for diamond rings. Each piece of their jewelry features a unique crescent design, the Tacori trademark.

Tacori is probably best known for their world-famous diamond engagement ring collection. They are hand-crafted and have a modern, glamorous and sophisticated look. The Tacori engagement ring collection ranges in styles from finely detailed rings to elegantly refined ones.

Tacori also features a collection of wedding rings, sold separately from their engagement rings. They are created in your choice of complementary designs, to match one another, or to be unique from one another. They are available in several styles and different collections.

Other fine jewelry collections from Tacori include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more rings. All of their jewelry is hand-crafted. Their diamonds are also treated with the delicate Tacori touch and are hand-selected by some of the world’s most famous experts in gems. They make sure that each diamond used in Tacori jewelry is of the highest quality. Tacori diamonds are all certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and receive either an Excellent or Very Good rating from the Institute.

The Tacori touch, as the company’s special selection, craftsmanship and care of their jewelry is known, reflects the passion the Tacori family has for providing beautiful heirloom jewels that can be passed down from generation to generation. It also ensures your confidence that every piece of Tacori jewelry and diamond is unique and a timeless work of art.

Tacori jewelry is available at exclusive locations in the United States and Canada, and can also be purchased at select online jewelers.

What makes the Ring around the Moon?

2010-05-17T09:57:00.002+08:00

The ring around the moon is the glow, or halo, which surrounds any light visible in intense darkness. Technically the ring is known as the moon's albedo.

It is faint because of the roughness of the moon's surface. This reduces the light reflected by the moon to slightly less than 0.1% of the amount it receives from the sun and other stars.

The result is that the moon's reflected light as seen on earth amounts to only half a millionth of direct sunlight. Its faint, mysterious and gauzy halo was considered by ancient peoples to be like the illumination round the heads of their gods.

Why does Iron go red when Heated?

2010-05-13T09:46:00.000+08:00

Iron goes red when heated because its atoms radiate vibratory waves of an electrodynamic nature which are visible as light at a sufficiently high temperature. At 800 degrees Centigrade the iron is at low-red heat. But as the heat increases the iron will turn bright red, and finally white-hot and molten.

Heat is passed through the iron by conduction - the contact of one iron particle with another with no visible movement of the particles. The heat which is given off as light when iron glows red hot can be reconverted into heat by the substance on to which it falls.

When iron is heated to a temperature below 300 degrees Centigrade it gives off invisible rays of infra-red radiation which are similar in nature to light. But they do not contain quite enough energy per unit (photon) to stimulate the optic nerve and so seen by the human eye.

What is the Pony Express?

2010-05-11T20:50:00.000+08:00

The pony express provided a fast postal service between two cities in America - St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California - from April 1860 to October 1861. It was established by a freighting and stagecoach firm called Russell, Majors and Waddell, and was used only for letters. The charge was five dollars for half an ounce.

Expert riders, either small men or boys, were chosen to ride fast horses which were changed six to eight times on the scheduled ride. A specially designed square of leather, called a mochila, was thrown over the saddle and the letters were carried in four leather boxes attached to its corners.

The route covered 1,838 miles and included 157 stations, which lay from 7 to 20 miles apart. Home Stations, providing food and a little rest for riders, were placed at distances of 75 to 100 miles. The time scheduled for the run was 10 days, but this was only occasionally achieved.

The pony express followed the Oregon-California trail and passed through Ft. Kearney, Julesburg, Ft. Laramie, South Pass, Ft. Bridger, Salt Lake City and Carson City. During the Pauite War of 1860, Indians burned stations and killed employees.

Among the best known riders were William (Buffalo Bill) Cody (1846-1917) and Pony Bob Haslam. Russell, Majors and Waddell introduced the pony express in the hope it would save them from bankruptcy. But the completion of the transcontinental telegraph line in October 1861 ended its usefulness and another romantic chapter in American history was over.

When was the first Pope?

2010-05-09T09:55:00.002+08:00

Between the third and fourth Centuries, the title of Pope was bestowed on bishops other than the head of the Church and sometimes on ordinary priests. The word comes from Latin papa (from the Gree pappas) meaning father.

The title has been exclusively reserved since the 9th Century for the Bishop of Rome. From the earliest times the Bishop of Rome's claim to the supreme headship of the Roman Catholic Church has been acknowledged by all within the fold. Among his other titles are Holy Father, Vicar of Christ and Pontifex Maximus, meaning chief bridge-builder.

Roman Catholics believe that the Pope is elected as the direct successor of the St. Peter to be the visible head of the Church on earth. By virtue of his position, he is the Church's supreme governor, judge and teacher.

What Are The Benefits Underfloor Heating?

2010-05-07T03:49:00.001+08:00

Underfloor heating is one of the luxurious systems that is not only good for a lavish lifestyle but also grants us with multiple benefits to enjoy. The electric underfloor heating specifically provides health benefits and comfort. It is also easy to install and allows you to conserve more energy.

Electric underfloor heating is unique compared to traditional radiators since it radiates the heat all through out the floor and ceiling of the room. It provided the needed warmth during the cold season. It can eliminate the cold spots so the temperature is neutralized until it reaches a warmer point. Underfloor heaters are usually installed in kitchens, bathrooms, basement, playrooms and other rooms that need extra warmth.

Having an underfloor heater makes your life comfortable aside from the fact that it can improve the appearance of your homes. Because it is installed underneath the floor, you should not worry about it occupying too much space or rooms. It actually provides convenience since the heaters can serve as hangers or objects that allow you hang draperies. This heater emits heat that is not dangerous for delicate pieces of clothing.

As for the health benefits, it is scientifically proven to lessen the air movement that allows proper dust circulation. With this, asthma attacks can be minimized. Underfloor heating also allows the floor to dry faster to avoid accidents of slipping.

Another appealing benefit is the ease of installation. Also, the efficient conservation of heat energy. This only means that it is not just an ultimate indulgence, it can simply make your homes a better place to live in.

How To Enjoy Online Gaming?

2010-05-07T03:47:00.000+08:00

Let me ask you a question: why is online gaming so popular? Simple. People enjoyed the different games available online because it provides fun, excitement and worthwhile experience. Whether it is a role playing game, action-filled or adventure driven, they are all the same. They have their own ways to be entertaining.

How can you make the most out of your online gaming experience? First, allot enough time for a specific game. If you really want to level up or achieve a high rank, extra effort is also needed. Sometimes, team participation is very important especially in multi-player games online. Next thing that will allow you to enjoy online gaming is finding a nice place where you can play. Make sure your room is well-ventilated and conducive enough to set your mood to an exciting gaming experience. Also, consider the people whom you would like to play with. Avoid involving yourself with online conflicts since it is not healthy in a gaming environment.

If you are getting bored with the usual hack and slash games, you may try your luck with online betting games such as bingo, roulette, casino and more. These games can provide the same thrill and enjoyment not to mention that it qualifies you to bag of goodies and major cash prizes. Playing bingo online also allows you to relax and just wait for something to happen instead of the usual mouse clicks and key-pressing.

Will Internet Sports Betting Stay Legal?

2010-05-06T08:56:00.000+08:00

The Legality of Internet Sports Betting is in Question

Who owns the Internet? This question is at the heart of the legal arguments in the United States over Internet sports betting and gambling. The Internet has developed at a faster rate than legislation to regulate it, and the regulation that has developed hasn't been able to cope with the fluid and dispersed nature of the Internet itself. Sports gambling over the Internet is a multi-billion dollar industry, even as its legality is being argued in the halls of the United States Congress. But while lawyers and politicians debate the legality of betting, one thing that is clearly legal are the sports information services that can be found online. Bettors and gamblers are using these services as their private sports books.

Online Sports Information Services - Safe and Legal

According to legal experts, the Internet's sports information services, or SIEs, are entirely legal, fully protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees free speech. These services come in the form of websites, like http://www.betus.com, and provide gamblers and bettors with nearly unlimited access to info about upcoming sports events, and all the data needed to bet on these events. The Sportsbook function at http://www.betus.com is a premier SIE, addressing the betting odds of almost every professional sporting event in the world. This website also delivers convenient and direct access to fully legal and safe Internet sports gambling.

Two Sure Bets - Death and Taxes

At the heart of the issue over Internet sports betting in the United States is not its legality, but how to tax the tens of billions spent on it every year. Ironically, even the outcome of political events and votes are given odds through Sportsbook at http://www.betus.com. If gambling online goes up for a vote, the website will likely give odds to those who bet on its future.

Direct TV in 3D

2010-05-06T02:39:00.001+08:00

For sports fans and people who just look really good in those 3D glasses, there's never been a better time to subscribe to Direct TV. Direct TV announced recently that, along with its on-demand and pay-per-view channels, it will now offer ESPN 3D, a channel where customers who already subscribe to ESPN can watch their favorite sports for no additional cost.

The first big 3D event being aired for Direct TV subscribers is the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, where soccer fans can tune in to watch South Africa go head to head with Mexico under the illusion that the match is being played in their own living room. This thrill will be replicated later in the season with other Direct TV ESPN 3D offerings, like the ACC college football championship and the X Games, and, in 2011, college basketball and NBA games.

Before you tune in, however, there are few steps you will need to take. If you already subscribe to Direct TV, you will receive a free software upgrade. If you don't install it, you will not be able to access the 3D channels. In addition, you'll need a television compatible with the new 3D technology. Direct TV is, unfortunately, not providing these for free, and a new set will set you back about $3000.

Slightly cheaper, the final accessory you will need in order to watch Direct TV in 3D is a pair of those flattering 3D glasses. These sometimes come with the new 3D compatible TV sets, but you may have to purchase them separately. But make sure you buy a pair for everyone who will be watching with you--it's no fun to be the only one trying to steal the ball from Kobe Bryant.

What You'll Pay for Home Security

2010-05-05T20:55:00.000+08:00

You've seen the news reports, you know about escalating crime rates, and you know that home security is more important than ever. You know that you can't put a price on home security and making sure that your family is safe and sound. With all of that being said, no one has money trees growing in the back yard, so it's a good idea to know what this investment is going to cost you.

There are two types of fees that you're going to pay as part of your home security system. The first is the equipment and installation fee, and the second is your recurring fee. The equipment and installation will cover various entries to your home, the technician's inspection and installation, and little extras like stickers and yard signs. The recurring payment includes the monitoring and customer support that you'll receive as a part of your home security system.

Installation costs vary greatly, and are especially dependent on where your home is located. It also depends on what specials are being offered by the company that you want to hire. Companies like ADT and Brinks frequently run specials on their installation, dropping the price from the retail cost of several hundred dollars (between $155 and $675 on average) to under a hundred dollars. Sometimes these installation and equipment fees are waived entirely when you sign a contract (usually for one or two years).

The monthly fees that you pay will depend on the kind of service that you're looking to get. The basic packages, burglary monitoring that uses your landline phone, tend to be around $30 to $40 (US) per month. If you're looking to expand your home security service so that the monitoring uses reliable cell phone connections, or if you're looking to cover more than just burglary, the price will usually wind up being between $45 and $60 (US) per month.

How to Choose Hearing Aids

2010-05-04T18:52:00.000+08:00

Hearing loss can affect your relationship with friends and family, your ability to perform at work, or your capacity to enjoy simple activities like watching TV and meeting new people. A hearing aid can address many of these problems, if you can find the right one for you. But when you are shopping for hearing aids, where should you begin?

First, it is important to be evaluated by an audiologist or hearing aids specialist. They will determine the extent of your hearing loss, be able to recommend hearing aids that suit your needs, and fit the hearing aids to your ear. Remember, however, that you should be offered a choice of brands and styles. You should also be able to expect that the person helping you choose a hearing aid can educate you about different hearing aid features, like feedback suppression and noise reduction, and how they affect the performance of the hearing aids.

The provider should also take your budget into consideration when helping you choose a hearing aid. Some insurance plans do not cover the cost of hearing aids or batteries, so check with your insurer before you purchase your new hearing aid. The cost is generally over $1000, and can be more than $3000 if you buy a more expensive model.

Part of the cost of buying hearing aids includes follow-up evaluations with your provider or doctor. A new hearing aid is a big change that may be uncomfortable at first. Follow-up appointments are a chance for you to explain any discomfort you feel. Sometimes your hearing aid will need an adjustment; sometimes you may need to get a different model. Follow-up appointments are an important part of integrating the hearing aid into your lifestyle and improving your quality of life.

When were ducking stools used?

2010-05-03T00:59:00.000+08:00

Ducking stools first came into use as a punishment for women at the beginning of the 17th Century and were used in England as late as the beginning of the 19th Century. A ducking stool was a wooden armchair fastened to the end of a long wooden beam fixed like a seesaw on the edge of a river or pond. Sometimes it was mounted on wheels so that it could be pushed through the streets.

The stool was used to punish nagging wives, witches and prostitutes. An iron band kept the victim from falling out of the chair when it was plunged under the water. It was the duty of magistrates to order the number of duckings a woman should be given.

Another type of ducking stool was a chair on two wheels with two long shafts fixed to the axles. When the stool was pushed into the pond and the shafts were released the seat was tipped up backwards, but in this case the woman was not fastened in.

Where do Butterflies go when it Rains?

2010-04-30T00:50:00.000+08:00

When it rains butterflies settle on the stems of flowers or stalks of grass. They hang head downwards with their wings folded together over their backs. Most butterflies are difficult to see when their wings are closed, because the undersides have only pale colors and faint patterns.

There about 10,000 known species of butterflies. The range in size from less than an inch to the swallow tails which lives in north Australia and the Pacific Islands and have a wing span of 10 inches. Most female butterflies have less colorful wings than the males of the same species. They lay between 100 and 3,000 eggs, according to the species, placing them on a plant which will provide suitable food for the caterpillars which develop from the eggs.

The caterpillar becomes a chrysalis from which, eventually the fully grown butterfly emerges. Adult life may last for only a few weeks, but some butterflies hibernate.

Butterflies feed on the nectar of plants and on sweet juices, particularly those of over-ripe or rotting fruit. This food provides them with the energy to fly but is not used for body building. All growth takes place at the caterpillar stage of a butterfly's life.

Why do we have Kidneys?

2010-04-25T00:41:00.000+08:00

Our kidneys perform four functions, of which the most obvious is the ejection of waste materials containing nitrogen from the body. They also keep the acid-base balance of the blood constant, and regulate the volume of circulating blood and the fluid content of the body as a whole. Finally they regulate pressure relationships between the blood and the tissues.

The kidneys, bean-shaped and about four inches long, lie on the back wall of the abdomen just above the waist, one on each side of the spinal column.

Blood enters the kidney by the renal artery. Some of its plasma is filtered off and, after other processes, ends as urine. The rest leaves the kidney by the renal vein to return to the heart. The urine collects in the central activity (pelvis) of the kidney passes down to the bladder via a tube (ureter) and is finally expelled.

A human being can survive without kidneys for only two or three weeks. Nearly one-fifth of the blood pumped out of the heart goes through the kidneys. The kidneys thus regulate the body fluid - a fluid which Claude Bernard (1813-1878), the great French physiologist, called our "internal environment".

What is a Tornado?

2010-04-23T00:32:00.000+08:00

Unusually violent weather is called a storm, and is always accompanied by high winds. Some of these winds have spiraling internal movements, and the revolving storms they produce are variously called tornadoes, whirlwinds, willy-willies, waterspouts and hurricanes.

Near the center of a tornado is an area of calm known as they eye of the storm. This is simply a hollow vortex formed by the spiraling of the air, rather like the center of a vortex of water going down a drain. Because of the suction in this low-pressure eye, houses collapse and roofs are carried off, corks are drawn from bottles, and window panes fall outward.

Around the edge of the funnel-shaped cloud of the tornado, which looks like an enormous spinning top and almost touches the ground, the wind may blow at 200 miles an hour. The storm belt, only a few thousand feet wide, travels at 25 to 40 miles an hour, to the accompaniment of a deafening roar.

A waterspout is a tornado at sea, sucking in water and carrying it in an upward spiral with the wind to the overhanging cloud. A ship entering a waterspout soon finds her bridge and rigging covered with insects and birds. They are exhausted by their struggle in the side of the waterspout they have just passed through and are seizing the chance to rest in the eye before being caught up in the fury of the other side.

Tornadoes occur in the middle latitudes of the earth.

How the WSOP has Become a World Wide Phenomena

2010-04-21T14:12:00.000+08:00

WSOP Has Changed Greatly From the Days it Started

The WSOP (World Series of Poker) started as a concept of Benny Binion. Although he had a checkered past linked to mobsters, murder and extortion, Binion excelled at gambling and at running a casino. Binion's Horseshoe Casino had the highest stakes in town, and it treated gamblers to a host of extras including, but not limited to, free drinks, free food and limousine service.

People knew Binion for his gambling skill. It's alleged that within one tournament, Binion won over two million dollars from Nick Dandolos. Binion's idea of holding an invitational tournament makes perfect sense with his background of high stakes gambling. He invited six other gamblers to join him for the first WSOP tournament in 1970. WSOP consisted a timed tournament with the gamblers spending their own money and upon its end, each gambler cast a ballot for the player whom they thought had played the best. The tournament proved such a success that they scheduled it annually and, as of 2009, the number of entrants for the Main Event has grown to 6,494.

WSOP Made Key Changes That Increased its Popularity Drastically

The WSOP made the first and arguably most important change the second year of its existence. It replaced to voting format with a “freeze out” style. In this style of poker, one receives a set amount of chips relative to one's entry fee or “buy-in” and when you lose your chips, you’re eliminated from the competition. In addition, Harrah's Entertainment purchased the rights to the WSOP in 2004, and they expanded the tournament to include several smaller tournaments whose winners gained access to the Main Event. These changes have moved the WSOP from a backroom game among a few high rollers into the worldwide phenomena it is today.

What You Should Know About Levitra

2010-04-21T14:09:00.001+08:00

Levitra is one of the most recent medications on the market used to help men who have erectile dysfunction, or the inability to remain erect while sexually aroused. The way Levitra works is by helping the blood flow to the penis which aids in the ability to maintain an erection.

Taking Levitra

If you are having problems with erectile dysfunction and your doctor has prescribed Levitra, you should take a dose about one hour before you engage in sexual activity. This gives the medicine enough time to get into your system so you can reap the maximum benefits. Dosages are available in milligrams ranging from 2.5 to 20. Your doctor will determine the right dosage for you based on the severity of your condition.

The Purpose of Levitra

Contrary to popular belief, Levitra does not increase sexual desire as an aphrodisiac does. Instead, Levitra is a physiological aid designed to help your body respond to a sexual stimulus. Levitra cannot cause an erection if there is no sexual stimulation, so do not plan on using it simply to get aroused.

Warnings for Levitra

If you have a heart condition or if you are taking medications that include nitrates, check with your doctor before taking Levitra. You could be causing a great deal of strain on your heart if you take Levitra without checking with your physician first; in fact, it could be fatal. Always let your physician and pharmacist know about any other medications you are on before taking Levitra.

Side Effects of Levitra

You may experience some side effects when you first start taking Levitra. Some of those side effects include a stuffy or runny nose, headache, a flush feeling, upset stomach and other minor problems. These side effects typically subside within a few hours. If you have more serious side effects, always contact your physician before continuing to use Levitra.

What Supplies Does Your Restaurant Need?

2010-04-18T02:17:00.001+08:00

Owning a flourishing restaurant is the dream of many entrepreneurs. When you take the leap forward in making that dream a reality, one important question is discovering what you will need in terms of appliances, furniture and other essentials. Here some helpful ideas from KaTom, your restaurant supply headquarters.

Pizzeria: The most important item in any pizza restaurant supply is the oven. At KaTom, you have a selection of ovens to choose from. There are multiple varieties of conveyor ovens that most fast food chains use, which are designed to quickly cook pizzas, and heated pizza holding cabinets available to order on our website. If you are operating a more upscale restaurant, a deck oven and baking stones are probably the way to go. With either option, you will need deli and pizza prep tables and a wide range of pans, mixers, screens and cutters -- all available at KaTom -- to help you make top-notch pizza.

Buffet: If going the all-you-can-eat route is your path to success, KaTom has exactly what you need to fill your restaurant supply needs. Some essentials you will need for to help your buffet include chafing dishes, countertop warmers, stands and risers, plus a mix of hot and cold food bars. One important item is a carving station, which will allow you to serve dinner selections that are set apart from lunch selections.

Breakfast: Perhaps you see greeting people first thing in the morning as the way to go. If that's so, KaTom can definitely help you consider your breakfast restaurant supply options. We offer essentials like coffee and tea makers, toasters, meat choppers and grinders for omelet fixings and dispensers for waffle and pancake batter. Our pastry display cases also give you a place to show off your selection of mouth-watering muffins and Danishes.

What is Silver Bullion

2010-04-17T07:48:00.000+08:00

Silver has become such a popular commodity not only in the United States but also around the world for various reasons. Those reasons include that silver is used in products such as computer chips and cell phone parts and that it is becoming a popular precious metal for investors to invest some of their money in as the value of the dollar continues to decrease. Silver bullion is silver in bulk. Silver bullion has become an even more popular investing asset to investors and collectors alike, even though it has been very popular for the past couple of decades in the United States.

Silver bars, part of silver bullion, come in various sizes as small as one ounce and as large as 1,000 ounces. In between these sizes are 10 and 100 ounce bars as well. The investor or collector of silver bullion can purchase any size bar he or she wants when looking at silver bullion. The 100 ounce bar has been the most popular of all the sizes though, especially for those investors or collectors who will look to resell the bar in the future. Silver futures have performed well even in a down economy because it stands as a hedge against inflation and in a strong economy the industrial uses for silver mean that it is always in demand.

Silver bullion has become so popular these days that collectors and investors are taking to the Internet to show off their collection of silver bullion bars. They use social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube to show off their collection. YouTube has a lot of videos showcasing silver bullion to the world because investors and collectors are proud of what they have. The videos on YouTube receive a rather large audience because of the popularity of silver these days.

What is an FHA Home Loan?

2010-04-16T07:41:00.000+08:00

FHA Home Loan Defined

FHA home loans are loans guaranteed by the federal government through the Federal Housing Authority. If a borrower qualifies for an FHA home loan, the FHA insures the lender against a borrower’s default on the loan. In the wake of the Great Depression, the Federal Housing Authority was established as part of the National Housing Act of 1934 with the purpose of accelerating house construction while reducing unemployment. Over the years, the FHA has helped many low income people purchase new homes. The program is funded in part by the borrower who must pay a small insurance premium, but then receives a low interest rate loan from the lender.

Qualifications for an FHA Home Loan

FHA home loans are not difficult to qualify for, and will yield a low-interest loan with a smaller down payment than what’s required with conventional loans. The basic qualifications are you must have worked consecutively for two years and had a steady or increasing income. Your credit report shouldn’t show more than two thirty-day late payments and your score should be at least 620. If you’ve declared bankruptcy, it must be at least two years old, and foreclosures must be at least three years old. And your mortgage payment can’t be more than 35% of your gross income.

Applying for an FHA Home Loan

In order to apply for an FHA home loan, you’ll have to find a lender. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a lender list in which you can search for an FHA lender in your area. Information you’ll need to submit in your FHA home loan application includes your most recent two years tax returns, most recent pay stubs for one month, three months of bank statements (you don’t need bank accounts in order to qualify), bill statements, and personal information such as a copies of your driver’s license and social security card.

Where is Dunkirk?

2010-04-08T11:23:00.000+08:00

Dunkirk is a seaport of Northern France lying between Calais and the Belgian coast, but for millions of people all over the world, Dunkirk is one of the most evocative names of the Second World War. For it was from Dunkirk and its 10-mile stretch of beaches that the British evacuated some 338,200 soldiers after the collapse of Belgium and immediately before the collapse of France. Today, Dunkirk has become another name for the supreme heroism that can snatch a victory from defeat.

The troop evacuation took place between May 26 and June 3, 1940. the men were under constant German bombardment both from the land and from the air. At home in England, the British organized an immortal flotilla of small boats. Thames pleasure boats, cabin-cruisers, fishing smacks, even rowing boats were pressed into service - all of course, on a volunteer basis. The "little ships" ferried the troops from the beaches to the waiting Navy ships.

Evacuation first began from the damaged harbour at Dunkirk, but by May 28, heavy German bombing had severely restricted the harbor's usefulness. By the end of June 1 the greater part of the British Expeditionary Force had been removed, although rescue operations continued until June 4.

The toll of ships was considerable. Out of 41 destroyers used by the British, 6 were sunk and 19 damaged. Most of the expeditionary force's supplies and materials were lost. The British were reduced to their weakest point. But Dunkirk was the great turning point in the war. Hitler's Germany had, it seemed, reached its greatest point of menace, and was never to seem so threatening again.

When Does War Escalate?

2010-03-29T12:27:00.001+08:00

War is said to escalate when it increases rapidly in scale or intensity. The word was added to the military vocabulary by the Americans during the Vietnam War to denote the increasing degrees of United States involvement in fighting. It has also been used by military writers to describe the development of a possible war between two powers through successive stages from the use of conventional weapons to the localized employment of atomic weapons and finally, an all-out exchange of annihilating nuclear missiles.

It is a far cry from the use of the word escalator by the American Jesse W. Reno to describe the moving staircase he invented in 1891. Both words come from the word escalada, meaning the scaling of the walls of a fortress by means of ladders. A staircase moving inevitably upwards provides a more fitting image than a scaling ladder of the horrifying expansion of which war today is capable.

Why are Japanese Trees Small?

2010-03-11T00:51:00.000+08:00

Many Japanese trees are small because they are dwarfed by the Japanese art of bonsai. This art consists in training and growing dwarf trees as symbols of the Japanese ideal of the immersion of the self in nature. This ideal also finds expression in their poetry, the tea ceremony and flower arranging.

The tiny trees express quietness, beauty of shape and line, and the changes brought about by the seasons. They must look old, with a sturdy yet shapely trunk which has bark of an interesting color and texture, and well-exposed roots. There must also be a proper feeling of scale. This means short needles on conifers, tiny leaves on deciduous trees and small flowers or fruit. Lastly, there must be open space between branches and between masses of foliage.

The word bonsai means tray-planted. The art goes back more than 1000 years. It originated in China and spread to Japan in the 12th Century. During the 19th Century many Westerners came to admire bonsai. But it was not until the end of the Second World War that it became really popular in the western world. Bonsai societies were established in many countries, and many Japanese families now maintain a flourishing overseas trade.

What is a Dutch Barn?

2010-03-04T00:38:00.001+08:00

A Dutch barn is a roof supported on pillars with no walls. It is used for hay or straw storage only, since animals or grain need better protection. The name comes from the shape of the roof, which is similar to that of Dutch houses.

The word barn covers a large number of different structures, fulfilling several different functions - strong grain, fodder, machinery and animals. Older barns also combined a threshing floor where the ears of grain were beaten out by flails.

Barns are built big, with as few internal pillars as possible, so that full use can be made of the space, and carts, trailers and machinery can pass in and out. Often they have lofts where hay is stored.

Why do we have Wax in our Ears

2010-02-27T23:15:00.000+08:00

Wax is deposited in our ear by special glands to prevent dust and similar foreign material from entering. The part of the ear that we can see as a projecting flap on the side of the head is called the auricle. Leading from it is a short tunnel, the external auditory meatus or earhole, which is closed at its inner end by a thin membrane called the eardrum, separating it from the inner ear.

This tunnel is lined with skin which, especially in men, carries hair and sebaceous glands, that is glands which produce an oily substance called sebum. The skin also contains specialized sweat glands (ceruminous glands) which secrete the brownish yellow wax.

Sometimes the glands secrete too much wax, and then it may collect in the external auditory meatus and deaden the hearing. As the ear is such a delicate instrument, the excess wax should be removed with a syringe by a doctor, although it can sometimes be softened by the application of warmed oil.

Why are Birds' Eggs so shaped

2010-02-24T23:05:00.000+08:00

The roundness of an egg allows pressure to be applied from the outside which would break it if applied from the inside. Thus a helpless chick is protected until the moment it needs to break out from its shell. It can then do this with the gentlest of tapping.

Eggs are hatched by an adult birth sitting on them, and the best container for round objects is a cup-shaped nest which prevents them rolling about. So the best shape for eggs is for one end to be smaller than the other. The normal position for eggs in a nest is to have the smaller ends pointing inwards. This means the eggs take up the minimum of room and make it easier for the sitting bird to cover them.

Birds with scanty nests, as in the case of most sea birds, have more elongated eggs. If such eggs are caught by the wind while lying on some cliff-face or rocky ledge, they will spin round instead of rolling over the edge.

When was the Ocean Floor first Mapped

2010-02-22T22:34:00.001+08:00

The shape of the ocean floor was not accurately determined until the 1920s. Until the end of the last century mapping had depended on the accounts by sailors of rock formations and deep troughs in the ocean bed.

Recent scientific developments and new instruments and techniques have enabled maps to be drawn with greater accuracy and detail. By transmitting sound waves from ships to the sea bed, and back, it is possible to make a record of the changes in depth.

Mechanical, acoustical, and electronic instruments have pictured the ocean floor not as a vast plain but as series of mountain ranges, valleys, peaks and canyons. Some of the mountains are far higher than most of those on land and the deepest part of the ocean is much farther below sea level than the highest land mountain is above it.

KP's Blogversary Contest Sponsors

2010-02-22T19:03:00.000+08:00

Below are the four MAJOR sponsors of Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary contest:

I Am Buraot
A blog about politics, the environment, religion, philanthropy, and everything else that is life. Author is known for his generosity in sponsoring contests. The home of the famous EntreDropper.

Anak Ni Kulapo
Yet another blog of Buraot. If you want to die laughing, then go visit Anak Ni Kulapo. His life in the US and hilarious stuff about his home country are only two of the must-sees in this blog.

Seiko's Diary
The blog title says it all. This is Seiko's journal about being a mom to her five gorgeous kiddos, her take on life in general, and random musings of a woman who loves life.

Mom Conversations
A new blog about everything concerning mothers: pregnancy, health and fitness and babies are the current categories, under which are detailed articles containing tips and valuable information for moms everywhere.

Please drop by these blogs if you have the time and see why they are worthy of a special mention. :)

Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest

2010-02-18T18:57:00.000+08:00

Level 1 Sponsors:

I Am Buraot : Anak Ni Kulapo : Seiko's Diary : Mom Conversations

Level 2 Sponsors:

Brisbane Australia : The Latest Buzz : 113Tidbits - Social Feeds And Daring Commentary : Thoughts And Obsessions : Just About Anything : Blog Appetite : Home Buddies

Level 3 Sponsors:

His Unfailing Love : My Memories and Crystals : Bacolod and Beyond Journey

Azumi : Fab Momma : Mara's Personal Bubble : Mara's Appetite : The Pinay Blogger @ Home : Diva Fabulosa : Best vacation Places : Momma Wannabee : Advising Writers :United World Poets : A Mom's Life and Loves : Travelin' With Marie : Happy Thoughts : Stalking Mind : Living Life To The Fullest : Online Mommy's Corner : Her And History : Careless Whisper : In My Psyche : My Quality Day : Just Throw Money : My Journey To Life : Cotton Candy Buzz : The Mommy Journey : Super Gulaman : Pen, Paper and Pan : Niko's Blog : Lover's Mushroom : Yena's World : Girls Rule! : Trendy And Heartily Yours : Husband of A Blogger : Glitter Page : Here Comes The Bride : Heart Random : Novice On Blogging (Noob) : At Home Here : Sexy Blogging : My Camerasexy : Dishes By Pehpot : Wonder Wifey : Coffee, Anyone? : Clarisse After Dark : Jena Isle's Random Thoughts : Where The Moon Shines : Crossroads.. Where Ideas Meet : Simple Pero Rock : it's not always about me... : Pinay Mommy Online : How I Earn Money Online :
A Woman Remembers : Beng's Entertainment Spree : My Thoughts, My Heart, My Turf : Yashiro : The Blogger Hub : Embrace Life

Where is Golgotha

2010-02-01T22:17:00.000+08:00

Golgotha is just outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem in Israel. It is named in the New Testament as the place where Jesus was crucified. Jesus was brought before the Roman governor of the province, Pontius Pilate, and accused of blasphemy.

Pilate could find nothing to support the charge and offered to release Jesus. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the people to demand his death. Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers, dressed in a scarlet cloak and crowned with thorns to mock him as "King of the Jews". Afterwards he was forced to carry his own cross through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha.

The name Golgotha, meaning the place of a skull, is derived from the Aramaic language spoken in that part of Palestine. The word Calvary comes from "calvaria" which is the Latin translation of Golgotha. No one knows why Golgotha was so called but a very ancient story says that Adam's skull was buried there.

Why do we Grow Old

2010-01-19T14:23:00.000+08:00

Scientists have evolved three main theories to explain why we grow old. The first concerns the loss of cells or of irreplaceable parts. Brain cells undoubtedly die off in their hundreds of thousands and cannot be manufactured again after a very infantile stage in human life.

However, this cannot be the complete explanation because people who suffer heavy damage to brain and body do not necessarily show the effects of ageing. Moreover, animals have totally different ageing rates, but suffer cell destruction at similar speeds.

A second theory concerns mutations or alterations. A dividing cell does not always divide correctly. All kinds of errors may creep in, aided by natural radiation. Sometimes the mutated cells may be harmful or put out of commission, with powerful effects on other cells, such as the endocrine glands or constituents of the blood. In the 1960s this theory was supported by the discovery that 10 percent of the cells of very old women had lost an X chromosome.

A third explanation, which is not now as widely believed, is concerned with the accumulation of unwanted chemicals. It is suggested that some vital substances can only be replaced at cell division and that a general decline in the rate of cell division could lead either to lack of needed substances or an excess of unwanted ones.

Why did the American Civil War Start?

2010-01-11T18:01:00.000+08:00

The American Civil War (1861-1865) arose chiefly over the question of Negro slavery. In the 15th Century the Portuguese found a ready market for Negro slaves, which they captured during their expeditions along the African coasts.

As the American continent developed, these slaves were eagerly sought to labor on the cotton and tobacco plantations, in mines, or in general farm work. Between 1680 and 1786 more than 2,000,000 slaves were transported and it was not until 1833 that the United Kingdom Parliament passed an Act that set free all slaves in its territories.

In the United States the struggle between the slave-owning southern states and those of the North, where there was no slavery, was long and bitter. As the frontier moved westward, new states were seeking admission to the Union. Some had slaves and some did not.

In the north a growing party demanded immediate abolition of slavery, while in the south were some who threatened to leave the Union rather than give up their slaves. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) who favored the gradual abolition of slavery, was elected President of the United States. Next year, seven southern states left the Union and formed the Confederate States, with Jefferson Davis as President. On April 12, the officer in charge of Port Sumter, at Charleston, West Virginia, refused to surrender it to Confederate soldiers, who opened fire and thus began the Civil War.

Although the North had greater numbers, the South had better generals and the war dragged on for four years, with no fewer than 2,260 battles and skirmishes. In 1863, there were great victories for the North at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. It was at Gettysburg that Lincoln delivered his famous address promising freedom for all.

General Lee, commander of the Confederate armies, surrendered on April 9 at Appomatox Court House, Virginia.

When was the Battle of Britain

2010-01-10T17:49:00.000+08:00

The Battle of Britain in the Second World War began with skirmishes in June and July 1940, reached a climax in August and September and ended in the ferocity of the Blitz during the following winter. It laid the foundations for the survival of Britain and the eventual destruction of Nazi Germany.

Soon after the fall of France in the middle of June, the Germans began to prepare for a possible invasion of Britain by setting out first to destroy the Royal Air Force. There was a long series of air battles and bombardments.

The Germans seemed to have no systematic plan of action. On the other hand, Britain had developed a radar early warning system and a superb fighting aircraft, the Spitfire. Thus, although outnumbered, the British were able to defend with superior equipment and undivided aim against an enemy whose fleets of bombers, the Dornier 17, the Heinkel III and the Junkers 88, proved vulnerable to attacks by Spitfires and hurricanes. The best German fighter, the Messerschmitt 109, was on a par with the Spitfire but, over England, was at the limit of its range.

After waves of attacks had failed to put the R.A.F. out of action, the Germans switched their offensive from Fighter Command airfields and installations to London and other cities, causing terrible damage. But the raiders also suffered heavy casualties. On September 15 the British destroyed 185 enemy aircraft, demonstrating to the Luftwaffe, the German airforce, that it had lost the battle. Attacks on cities with explosive and fire bombs continued but lost their impetus by the end of April 1941.

When was the first Blood Transfusion?

2009-12-20T03:43:00.001+08:00

The first successful blood transfusion on record was performed in 1665 by Richard Lower. Using quills and silver tubes, he transferred the blood from the artery of one dog to the vein of another. Two years later, he transfused a man with the blood of a lamb. He gave a demonstration of this before the Royal Society in London and the incident is recorded in the diary of Samuel Pepys.

Richard Lower was able to perform these transfusions thanks to William Harvey who, in 1628, announced his theory of the circulation of the blood. Before Harvey, people had always realized that blood was vital to life, but they didn't know how it circulated in the body.

A vital development in blood transfusion came in 1900, when Karl Landsteiner demonstrated the different blood groups in human beings. After that, people were transfused with blood of their own group whenever possible.

Nowadays, blood transfusion saves many lives. People can be treated for shock by pumping plasma (the fluid part of the blood) into them. Large reserves of blood are necessary for open-heart operations, sometimes as much as 20 pints a patient.

Why do we Produce Saliva?

2009-12-11T17:15:00.000+08:00

Saliva, the watery secretion produced in our mouths, has many functions. It moistens the mouth and tongue, making sure that the mucus membrane does not dry or crack. It also moistens our food so that it can be molded into an egg-shaped mass (or bolus) for swallowing, and it lubricates the bolus so that it can be swallowed easily.

By means of the enzyme ptyalin, which it contains, saliva begins the digestion of carbohydrates inside the food. Saliva also acts as a solvent to make tasting food easier for the taste buds are stimulated only by dissolved substances.

It is a cleansing agent, washing away particles inside the mouth. If salivation is stopped, for instance in the case of a high fever, the mouth becomes dirty and tastes and smells foul. If salivation slows down, our mouths feel dry and we know we need water.

Saliva is secreted in the three pairs of salivary glands. The largest of these are the irregularly shaped parotid glands which are packed tightly into a space between the ear and the top of the jawbone. The glands are encased in an inelastic covering and that is why they are extremely painful if they swell.

The next pair are the sub-mandibular glands which are egg-shaped and lie under the front of the jawbone, and the third pair, the almond-shaped sub-lingual glands, lie on the floor of the mouth between the tongue and the jawbone.

The Appeal of the Wyler Watches

2009-12-03T21:44:00.000+08:00

Wyler replica watches carries the brand proudly as befitting the original brand. It pays homage to its creator, Mr. Paul Wyler, whose innovations in watches is widely renowned by making them more resistant. Mr. Wyler is a great Swiss watch maker who was the founder of the Wyler Watch Company notable for the manufacturing of innovative yet reliable and sturdy timepieces. He is constantly improving the quality and accuracy of his timepieces.

Like its original, the replica Wyler watches are constantly being improve to be at par with the original. They were also able to capture the intricate design of its original particularly the individually applied Wyler name at the 12 o’ clock dial. Most importantly, the Wyler replica was able to duplicate the most famous characteristic of the watch, its durability. It can be subjected to bad weather conditions in particular the extreme heat of the sun as well as the dryness of the summer season.

What made the fake Wyler watches appealing to the consumers is its affordability. Currently, the watch can be bought at a measly price of $280 or lower which compared to its original which can be bought at an exorbitant rate of $4,500. A sensible consumer would definitely opt for a cheaper commodity but being a smart buyer, dependability and the durability of the product is of its utmost consideration. Hence, having perfected the craft, the imitation can be relied upon to produce a quality and affordable merchandise. In addition, the fake watches have real time second hand values which can be resold after years of gentle usage.

Finally, owning a Wyler replica watch is stylish with the attractive black rubber bands used in their decorations although these would seem peculiar in the world of replica watches.

Veterans Day or Armistice Day

2009-11-11T23:17:00.000+08:00

United States of America celebrates Veterans Day which was known before as Armistice Day. In 1919 Armistice Day incorporated by President Wilson marked the day of the end of the World War I. Today, if November 11 falls on a weekday, Veterans Day will be observed on the closest weekday of the year.

Armistice means cessation of hostilities or fighting. US citizens felt that the end of the war should not be the only reason to celebrate but also to commemorate the veterans who fought during the war. Armistice Day was made Veterans Day in 1954 by Congress.

In Italy, commemoration is celebrated November 4th known as Armistice of Villa Giusti. In Poland, celebrated as National Holiday called Polish Independence Day; and in the British Commonwealth of Nations called as Remembrance Day.

When was the Jewish Diaspora?

2009-09-16T20:37:00.000+08:00

Diaspora is the name given to Jewish communities who over thousand of years established themselves in different parts of the world. It is a Greek word meaning scattering.

The history of Diaspora goes back to the 8th Century B.C. when the people of Judah in northern Palestine were taken to captivity in Babylon on the River Euphrates in modern Iraq. When the exile ended after about 200 years, a great number of their descendants remained behind and formed a community, or diaspora, which continued to be important until the middle of the 11th Century.

The next great diaspora period occurred after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. when attempts by his successors to impose Greek authority on Jewish customs in Palestine led to thousands of Jews choosing exile. This period saw the formation of the great diaspora in Alexandria, Egypt. Here in the first century B.C. more than 40% of the population were Jews who had learned to combine Greek ideas with their own to produce a flourishing culture.

But the biggest dispersal from Palestine took place under the Roman Empire, especially after A.D. 70 when the army of Titus, later Roman emperor, crushed a nationalist revolt and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Although financial help from exiled patriots continued, Palestine gradually ceased to be a Jewish state. In the following centuries, the "scattering" spread throughout the world.

In 1939 the estimated number of Jews in the world was 16 million of whom about 475,000 were in Palestine. Horror and pity aroused by the systematic destruction of Jews by Nazi Germany led indirectly to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

Where is the Gulf Stream?

2009-09-13T05:25:00.001+08:00

The Gulf Stream is in the Atlantic. It is warm ocean current which flows steadily from the Gulf of Mexico north-eastwards. One branch reaches the Canary Islands, turns southwards and moves back across the South Atlantic. The other branch flows past the western coasts of northern Europe.

This current, which is like a river in the sea, is 50 miles wide at its narrowest and nearly 2000 feet deep. It sweeps along with it many forms of warm water life from the tropics, but these die before they reach the European coasts where the warm water mixes with cold water moving down from the Arctic.

The Gulf Stream has a great effect on the weather of Britain and Norway. The prevailing south-westerly winds are warmed by it and collect moisture which turns into rain. In winter the warm water keeps open the cold northern ports, such as Hammerfest, in Norway, and Murmansk, in the Soviet Union, while harbours in the Baltic, many miles farther south, are blocked with ice. In summer it causes bright flowers to bloom on the west coast of Spitzbergen 500 miles north of Norway. In contrast, the east coast, cooled by Arctic water is bleak and colorless.

In 1912 the United States Congress was asked for money to build a jetty which it was thought would divert the Gulf Stream and make it flow up the east coast of the United States. Although this scheme was unlikely to be successful, it was just as well for Britain and Norway that is was never tried. Without the Gulf Stream, Britain's winters would be very much longer and colder and Norway's harbors, which are vital to the country, would be frozen over for many months.

Why Does the Sahara Constantly Change Shape?

2009-09-04T07:47:00.001+08:00

The Sahara, the world's greatest dry hot desert, stretches right across the north of Africa where there is almost no rainfall and consequently, little or no vegetation to anchor the soil. The sand is blown constantly by the wind, much of it into a landscape of great shifting dunes which constantly change shape, while the edges of the desert eternally encroach upon the land around.

The Sahara extends over three and a half million square miles of sand where the average rainfall is generally much less than 10 inches a year. The prevailing winds come from the heart of Asia and carry little moisture.

The temperature during the day exceeds 100°F in the summer and even in the winter averages 60°- 70°F. The surface of the sand is sometimes as hot as 170°F. The sun beats down from a clear sky all day, but at night the same cloudless sky allows the land to cool quickly, and there is often frost at dawn in winter.

The wind acts as a great sand-blasting machine, constantly wearing down rocks and carrying sand and small pebbles along. The few desert plants survive because they have long roots or thick fleshy leaves and stems that reduce water loss and may even store moisture.

A desert oasis is simply a place where there is water. The greatest oasis of all is Egypt, where for thousands of years life has depended on the careful use of the waters of the River Nile.

photos from: www.saharamet.com

Why were the Galapagos Islands Important to Charles Darwin

2009-09-01T22:11:00.001+08:00

In 1831 Charles Darwin sailed in HMS Beagle on an expedition which would take him to the Galapagos Islands. On arrival he was so impressed by the animal life that the islands inspired many of his ideas on evolution, in particular his monumental work The Origin of Species.

Here he had proof for his views on natural selection. In front of his eyes were albatross and cormorant that could not fly, and giant land tortoises weighing over 500 pounds and considered among the oldest living creatures on earth.

There were also such extra-ordinary curiosities as four-eyed fish and tame finches which would use sticks as tools to obtain food. Also, Darwin discovered a species of penguin unlike any others and large spiny iguanas, the only lizards that take to water.

The Galapagos Islands are in the Pacific Ocean, off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru, in South America.

rphs.devisland.net

i.telegraph.co.uk

exodus.co.uk

What is a Mudskipper?

2009-08-31T22:14:00.001+08:00

Mudskippers are small tropical fish of the eastern Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific from Australia to Japan. They live estuaries with mudbanks and also in mangrove swamps. Their eyes protrude from their heads and can be moved independently of each other. When the mud is exposed by the ebbing of the tide the mudskippers come out of the water and hunt for crustaceans and other small invertebrates. They crawl and hop about rapidly with the help of their powerful muscular pectoral fins which they use as forelegs. Their gill openings are small and they can live on land for hours at a time, providing the air is humid.

Where did David Kill Goliath?

2009-08-29T19:06:00.000+08:00

The famous fight in which the boy David slew the giant Goliath took place about 15 miles south-west of Jerusalem, in the Valley of Elah in Israel. David was the youngest of eight brothers and looked after his father's sheep at Bethlehem while the Israelites under King Saul were at war with the Philistines. The First Book of Samuel in the Bible tells how David was sent by his father to take food to the Israelites' camp.

Goliath had challenged the Israelites to send a man to do battle with him, the result to decide which array should have the fruits of victory. No Israelite had dared to take up the challenge. But David persuaded Saul to let him fight Goliath, saying the giant was no more dangerous an adversary than the lion and bear he had slain while protecting his father's sheep.

The two contestants rushed to meet each other, the giant in full armour with sword, spear and shield, the boy with only a sling and five smooth stones from the river. David took a stone in his sling and aimed at Goliath. The giant was hit on the forehead and stunned. David then killed him with his own sword. The Philistines fled, pursued by the victorious Israelites.

Why Don't Trees Grow On Mountain Tops?

2009-08-24T06:56:00.000+08:00

Trees do not grow on mountain tops either because the situation is too exposed, or because the soil is too thin or too frozen to allow their roots to draw nourishment from the ground.

In most mountainous areas, there is usually a clearly marked timberline, a boundary above which there is no tree growth. Sometimes the height of the timberline is dictated by local climatic or soil conditions, but as general rule the boundary gets lower as the distance from the Equator increases. In the far north and south the cold is so intense that it is quite impossible for any trees to grow and the timberline is therefore at sea level.

A range of mountains on or near the equator, like the Ruwenzori range in Africa, can be divided into different belts of vegetation according to the types of trees growing at its base and at various heights up its slopes.

Similarly the belts of vegetation change according to the distance from the Equator. The first belt is the tropical or rain-forest region where it is hot and trees grow rapidly. Next comes a hot dry belt where few trees grow because there is little rain. This is followed by the deciduous or warm and temperate belt, and by the coniferous belt, with very cold winters but fairly warm summers. Then comes the timberline, beyond which trees cannot grow, and finally the regions of permanent ice and snow, where no vegetation at all can live.

When Does a Cow Start To Give Milk?

2009-08-14T18:48:00.000+08:00

A cow starts to give milk between the ages of two and two-and-a-half years after the birth of its first calf. For the first few days the milk is unfit for human consumption and is fed to the calf which is afterwards reared separately. During the milking or lactation period that follows the cow's yield usually reaches a maximum after four to six weeks and continues in decreasing quantities for nine to ten months.

To ensure a steady supply of milk, farmers arrange for their cows to calve every 12 months. Attention to breeding has led to steady improvements in yields. A good cow may produce up to 2,000 gallons during the lactation period.

Cows are normally milked twice a day, morning and evening. Except for the smallest herds, milking in advanced countries is usually done by machines which suck the milk from the cows' udders and transfer it to covered containers. But there are still many countries where milking is largely done by hand, in the traditional way.

Where is Alice Springs?

2009-08-08T01:49:00.000+08:00

Alice Springs is a town situated in the heart of the continent of Australia, centered in the lower third of the Northern Territory. The surrounding countryside, "the Centre" as Australians call it, is parched. The lakes and rivers are dry for most of the time and the cattlemen on the few homesteads depend on water pumped from bores hundreds of feet deep.

The town of Alice Springs was founded in the middle of the 19th Century after the discovery of a sheltered, watered plain among the MacDonnell Ranges, a series of hills which ripple for 250 miles across the land. By 1872 a telegraph station had been built at a water hole beneath a rocky hill. It was called Alice Springs after the wife of Charles Todd, super-intendent of telegraphs in Adelaide, but it is always known as Alice to Australians.

Next came prospectors looking for gold. They left a ghost town at Arltunga not far from Alice. Once back in 1880, they thought they had found rubies by the million, but the gems proved to be cheap garnets, not worth transporting. Cattlemen soon followed, for much of "the Centre" is marginal land that provides good feed when it rains. The knew the rains did not come often, but felt one good season could carry five bad seasons. Often it has had to carry seven or eight bad ones.

The growth of Alice Springs in recent years has astonished everybody. The railroad linked it to Adelaide in 1939 when its population was less than 100. By the Second World War, 1000 people lived there. It was used as a military base after the Japanese bombed Darwin. Stuart Highway, still called simply "the bitumen", was completed from Darwin to Alice, a distance of 954 miles.

Alice Springs attracts crowds of tourists especially during the fine winter weather from June to September. They come for the spectacular scenery, the famous aboriginal artists, and to visit surrounding cattle stations.

Attractions include the tremendous monolith of Ayers Rock which towers 1,143 feet above the plain and is six miles around - the biggest pebble in the world, surrounded by a flat desert. Since the 1950s the area has been suffering from the worst drought people can remember. It is feared that the Centre may turn into a huge dustbowl. So it looks as if the future of Alice Springs lies in its tourist trade and the mineral wealth which experts believe lies under the rugged landscape.

What Happened to the Aborigines?

2009-08-03T00:16:00.000+08:00

The original inhabitants of Australia, the Aborigines, met the usual fate of widely-scattered native peoples when the white settlers began to arrive and multiply. Their numbers fell drastically. This was not due to any policy of cruelty or repression. From the start intentions towards them were good. But the vision of the white administrators was not equal to bridging the gulf between the intensely religious and ceremonial native culture and the materialistic aims of the settlers.

By a natural process, perhaps the result of apathy or despair, the number of Aborigines fell from 350,000 in the 18th century to some 40,000 in the 1930's. But since then with more sympathy and understanding, their numbers have started to rise again. The main effort is now being directed to stop them becoming a permanently underpriviledged minority and to develop their undoubted gifts.

Why Do We Usually Get Measles or Chicken Pox Only Once?

2009-07-26T01:34:00.000+08:00

We usually get measles or chicken pox only once because our bodies manufacture special chemical defences called antibodies. These antibodies are selective and are effective only against the particular microbe they have been formulated to fight. After the battle is won, the antibodies remain in the bloodstream, ready to repel another attack.

The antibodies are large complex protein molecules. One group, the antitoxins, act as antidotes, neutralizing the poisons that the microbes release into the body. The other group, the agglutinins, clump the microbes together so that they fall easy prey to the white blood cells, or leukocytes. These leukocytes develop in the bone marrow and are always present in the blood.

Some of them surround the infected area and quarantine it by making a wall with their own bodies. Within the barricade, the rest of them attack the microbes and eat them up. Like tiny amoebas, they crawl about and stretch out foot-like projections called pseudopods which they use to engulf bacteria and digest them. This explains their other name phagocyte or eating cell. Each phagocyte can eat about a dozen bacteria this way, a process called phagocytosis.

Why is it Possible to Estimate the Age of Fossils?

2009-07-19T10:29:00.000+08:00

It is possible to estimate the relative age of fossils, that is whether they came before or after a particular period, because most fossils are found in sedimentary rocks. These are rocks made of sediment which has been compressed or cemented together in layers.

Older rock layers or strata are usually at the bottom. So each layer is younger than the layer below it and older than the one above. Fossils may be present in igneous rock (hardened volcanic lavas) and metamorphic rocks (formed by pressure and heat within the earth) but they are usually destroyed.

Telling the age of fossils in terms of years, or absolute time, is a much bigger problem. But scientists use several methods. The tree ring method, counting annual growth rings, can give a scientist a reasonably accurate date back to 3000 years ago.

The varve method, based on counting the annual layers of sand and clay deposited in a lake, bay or river by melting glaciers, can be used for deposits less than about 15,000 years old. Similar calculations based on the rate of sedimentation, erosion, salt accumulation, etc. have been successfully applied to very much older rocks.

The third method is concerned with radioactive decomposition and is based on actual changes in some of the rock elements or in the fossils themselves. Radioactive uranium gradually changes to uranium lead, radiocarbon to nitrogen and so on. From the proportion of uranium lead to uranium in the rock we can date the oldest rocks and fossils, nearly 3,000 million years old.

What is Bayeux Tapestry?

2009-07-13T10:23:00.000+08:00

The Bayeux Tapestry, an ancestor of the strip cartoon, is an embroidery showing on a continuous linen band over 230 feet long, details of the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Its manufacture was probably ordered by William's half brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who is pictured on it. The tapestry's existence is first recorded in 1476. It was produced once a year as a decoration in Bayeux Cathedral. The first reproduction dates from 1730.

There is general agreement that the tapestry, in worsted wool of eight colors was made soon after the Conquest. Its description of events tallies well with what is known of the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry is also noted for its decorative borders, which include figures from Aesop's fables and farming and hunting scenes.

Where is the legendary land of the Long White Cloud?

2009-07-07T12:06:00.000+08:00

The Land of the Long White Cloud is a translation of the Polynesian name for New Zealand. In the 12th century, bands of Polynesian adventurers voyaged thousands of miles from their Pacific islands and made landfall in the country they named Ao-tea-roa.

The descendants of those adventurers are the friendly and highly intelligent people we know as the Maoris, the original settlers of New Zealand. The land and its people were discovered and named by the Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642, although he never landed.

It was not until 1769 that a European set foot in the country. Captain James Cook, the English explorer, landed in New Zealand and then sailed on to Australia. In the next eight years he came back three times.

The first settlers were sealers, whalers and traders. In 1814 a British missionary, the Rev. Samuel Marsden, began work among the Maoris. Within six years he had been joined by a number of British emigrants, and New Zealand was made a British colony. It became a dominion in 1907.

New Zealand consists of two main islands. From the top of North Island to the bottom of South Island the country is scarcely 1,000 miles long. Nowhere is it wider than 280 miles, and usually it is much narrower. But within this compass it is a land of strange and beautiful contrasts.

New Zealand's 3,000,000 inhabitants live a life where poverty is unknown and serious crime is rare. The climate is temperate and the scenery spectacular.

It is a curious fact that New Zealand has no native land animals. The ancestors of the pigs, goats, rabbits, opossums, weasels, and ferrets were imported. Some of the animals like rabbits for example, have since become pets. In compensation, New Zealand has a huge variety of fish and birds.

In spite of its small population, the country has produced many outstanding writers, artists, musicians and scientists and has given support and encouragement to the revival and development of Maori arts and crafts.

What is Reindeer Moss?

2009-06-30T11:02:00.000+08:00

Reindeer moss is a species of lichen so called because it is the staple winter food of reindeer (and caribou) in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. The animals reach the plant by scraping away the snow with their feet. But plant growth in those cold northern lands is so slow that the lichen can take more than 30 years to recover after the reindeer have grazed. These domesticated herbs therefore have to travel long distances in search of food, and the Laplanders of Northern Scandinavia, who depend on the animals for their livelihood must travel with them.

Fortunately, reindeer moss is especially abundant in Lapland, although it also grows extensively in much of northern Europe, the tundra (or treeless plains) of Siberia and the barren expanses of Arctic America.

During the short summer the reindeer are able to feed on herbage and shoots then accessible in the valleys. These versatile animals provide the Laplanders with meat, milk, cheese and the raw materials for clothing, shoes, and tents. They are also a means of transport.

Reindeer moss is sometimes eaten by human beings, after being powdered and mixed with other food. But it leaves a slightly burning sensation on the human palate. This bluish-grey plant grows erect in tufts, and is remarkable for its many branches, which strangely resemble a deer's antlers.

Why do We Vaccinate Against Small Pox?

2009-06-23T12:14:00.000+08:00

We vaccinate against smallpox to allow the body to develop antibodies which will make it more or less immune to attack from the disease. In fact, by vaccination or inoculation we mean that a person is injected with the organism that causes the disease or its toxin (poison). This organism is modified physically or chemically, so that, without doing any damage, it triggers the body's immunizing defenses. We call these modified cultures vaccines.

Vaccination against smallpox was first carried out in the East. Poisonous material taken from the blisters of a mild case of smallpox was inserted into the arm of the person to be protected. This produced a mild case of smallpox and enabled the body to manufacture the antibodies.

Vaccination was introduced into England in 1721 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the British ambassador to Turkey, who had her own children inoculated at Constantinople. However, this method could result in a severe or fatal attack of the disease.

Dr. Edward Jenner took the next step in 1796 when he inoculated a boy named James Phipps with poisonous matter from the arm of Sarah Nelmes, a dairymaid suffering from cowpox (a mild disease closely allied to smallpox). Some weeks later he inoculated James Phipps with smallpox, but the boy did not contract the disease.

In 1798 Jenner published a book on his experiments and the practice of vaccination spread throughout the world. The principle has been applied to many diseases. Babies and young children are particularly susceptible to complications from whooping cough and diphtheria, so they are immunized soon after birth. Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), cholera, yellow fever, and typhoid are all dangerous diseases which inoculation has been able to control.

When were Submarines First Used?

2009-06-16T11:53:00.000+08:00

The first submarine which we know to have been used was built by a Dutchman, Cornelius van Drebel, in 1620. It was constructed of greased leather stretched over a wooden frame and was propelled by oars extended through the sides and sealed with tight-fitting leather flaps. Hand vices were employed to contract the sides of the vessel and reduce its volume, thus causing it to submerge. King James I of England is said to have gone for a ride in it, 12 to 15 feet below the surface of the River Thames.

But the first use of submarine as a weapon occurred during the American War of Independence. In 1776, the Turtle, a one-man wooden submarine with a screw propeller, invented by an american, David Bushnell, tried unsuccessfully to sink a British man-of-war in New York harbor.

Attempts to build an underwater craft were made as far back as the days of ancient Greece. But practical designs had to wait for the invention of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor at the end of the 19th Century. The first truly successful submarine to travel under the sea in rough water was the Argonaught, a 36-foot, cigar-shaped vessel builty by an american, Simon Lake in 1897. It was driven by a 30 horse power engine.

When was the Thermometer Invented?

2009-06-10T02:11:00.000+08:00

The first practical thermometer or instrument for measuring temperature was invented shortly before the end of the 16th century by the famous Italian astronomer Galileo. It was an air thermometer giving only a rough indication of the degrees of heat and cold, and later he increased its efficiency by using alcohol instead of air.

The principle on which thermometers work is that the liquid or gas used for measuring expands or contracts with changes in temperature more rapidly than the glass containing it. Thus when a colored liquid is confined in a thin glass tube the difference in expansion, as shown by the level of the liquid against a graduated scale, indicates the temperature.

About 1714 the German scientist Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit designed a thermometer which, for the first time, used mercury as the measuring agent. He also introduced the scale named after him in which 32° is the freezing point of water and 212° the boiling point. Mercury is still used in most thermometers because if has a high boiling point (674°) and a low freezing point (-38°).

An alcohol thermometer, still in use in some countries was made by René de Réaumur, a French naturalist, about 1731. About 11 years later Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer used the centigrade scale for the first time, with freezing point at 0°and boiling point at 100°.

Where Did Lady Godiva Ride Naked Through the Town?

2009-06-03T01:55:00.000+08:00

Since 1678 Lady Godiva's legendary ride naked through the streets of Coventry, England has been reenacted every seven or eight years. But today the lady wears a body stocking. The famous ride if it took place, happened around the year 1057, according to the chronicler Roger of Wendover (d. 1236). Godiva, her long hair falling loosely round her body, rode through the market place accompanied by two soldiers.

Legend has it that Lady Godiva pleaded with Leofric, Earl of Mercia, to lessen the townspeople's tax burden. Exasperated, the earl declared he would do as she asked, if she rode naked through the town. Lady Godiva did so and the earl cut the townspeople's taxes. Over the years the legend became embellished. The soldiers disappeared and, in the 17th century, the legend of Peeping Tom crept into the story. Tom is said to have been struck blind because he could not resist peeping at Lady Godiva through a window as she rode by.

The true facts record that Coventry's early fame rested on the foundation of a Benedectine monastery by Leofric and his wife Godgifu (the real name of Godiva) in 1043.

The phrase "to send to Coventry" (to refuse to speak with someone) might well have been the fate of Peeping Tom. But although the origin of the phrase is uncertain it seems more likely to have originated during the Civil War. Captured supporters of King Charles were sent by Cromwell's forces to Coventry for imprisonment.

When Were Breakfast Cereals First Used?

2009-05-27T01:45:00.000+08:00

Cereals of course, in the general sense including wheat, rice, maize (known as corn in Canada and the United States) rye, oats and barley were among the earlier plants grown by man. But packaged or processed cereals are a modern development.

Breakfast cereals owe their origin to the vegetarians of the last century and health fanatics who believed they could save souls by preaching the virtues of a non-meat diet.

Granula, which was the beginning of Grape-Nuts, was launched in 1863 by a man called James C. Jackson of Danville, New York. Henry D. Perkey brought out Shredded Wheat in 1893 and Puffed Wheat was developed by Alexander Anderson in 1902.

The religious sect, the Seventh Day Adventists, made Battle Creek, Michigan, the cereal headquarters of the world when the sect formed the Western Health Reform Institute at Battle Creek Sanatorium. John Harvey Kellogg, who was a doctor and a writer, took over control of the Sanatorium in 1876 and his advocacy of cereals helped to develop what was to become a vast new food industry. His brother, W.K. Kellogg, started a cereal producing company ni 1906.

C.W. Post was another cereal pioneer and his Postum Cereal Company formed in 1897 later developed into General Foods Corporation.

The basic idea behind packaged cereals has remained largely unchanged.

Where is Surtsey?

2009-05-20T06:07:00.000+08:00

Surtsey is a volcanic island a few miles south-west of the Westman Islands which are situated off the south coast of Iceland. The island appeared as a result of a volcanic activity on November 15, 1963. The Icelanders took the infant island into their care because it appeared in their territorial waters.

They called the volcanic vent Surtur, and the island Surtsey (island of Surtur). In old Icelandic mythology, Surtur was a giant who brought desctructive fire from the south as a weapon in his fight with Frey, the god of fertility.

During its early life there was doubt about the island's chance of survival, and many thought it might disappear. A similar one did vanish in 1783 after erupting from the sea 65 miles south-west of Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital. Survival and long life were assured when repeated outpourings of thin flowing lava followed the first violent eruptions. The lave capped the volcano with a gently sloping regular dome which acted as a protective shield.

The arrival of Surtsey was no real surprise. For the 10,000-mile Mid-atlantic Ridge, of which Iceland forms the largest above-sea land mass, had been active along its length for some years up to 1963, although since then things seem to have settled down, although further activity is always possible.

The neighboring Westman Islands were produced by volcanic activity 8000 years ago.

Where does Velvet come from?

2009-05-13T05:22:00.000+08:00

Velvet comes from silk, but there are many imitations made from cotton and other materials. Real velvet is a closely woven fabric made by weaving loops of silk on to two silk backcloths, one on top of the other. In between the two backcloths the woven silk will form what is called a pile. The pile is soft, furry hairs characteristic of velvet and many carpets.

The two layers of silk, which have been woven face to face, will have long furry pile yarns connecting the two layers. After the cloth is woven, the two layers are sliced apart leaving two separate soft rows of velvet.

Velvet was originally developed in the 15th Century in Italy from where the art spread throughout the world. Turkish velvets especially successful and beautiful designs from 16th and 17th Century Turkey survive today.

What is Mafia?

2009-05-09T02:03:00.000+08:00

The Mafia, a criminal society, originated in Sicily when the large landowners put their estates into the hands of ruffianly "security men" during the disturbances which followed Napoleon's invasion of Italy. These men terrorized the peasantry, and finally turned on the landowners.

Their principles were never to appeal to the law and never to help in the detection of crime. By faithfully following their savage code, the Mafia soon became powerful not only in the country but in the towns. Successive Italian governments tried in vain to suppress it.

With European emigration to the United States during the last century, an organization similar to the Mafia came into being there, with the familiar set up of ruling families, infiltration of society, protection rackets, and bloody acts of vendetta and revenge.

Its heyday was probably the Prohibition era. But it is still believed to exert considerable influence in American life.

When are People Buried at Sea?

2009-05-02T01:59:00.000+08:00

Although burials at sea are much less common than in the days of sailing ships, they still occur on occasions when people die during a voyage and the boat is still a long way from its destination. A service is held on board and the weighted coffin is lowered into the sea.

Sometimes a burial at sea is carried out in accordance with a dead person's wishes, or the ashes are scattered over the waves after a cremation.

In ancient times sea burial was often practiced as a cheap method of disposing of dead slaves, foreigners and people considered of little importance. Today some islands, where land is scarce, reserve parts of the sea near the coast as cemeteries.

Viking chiefs before the 10th Century were cremated on burning ships to symbolize a voyage to the land of the dead.

Where is the Mistral?

2009-04-28T02:35:00.000+08:00

This is the name given to a wind which blows in the Rhone Valley in France. The wind is caused by an exchange of air between the cold hinterland of France's Central Plateau and the warm Gulf of the Lion in the Mediterranean Sea.

High mountain ranges near flat country produce unpleasant winds, especially where the mountains descend to a warm sea. Atmospheric pressure is high above the cold mountains, but low above the sea. Air, therefore, flows towards the sea and is not warmed because it has not crossed enough land.

The north-westerly mistral, funneling down the construction of the Rhone Valley, blows at a speed of 30 to 60 mph on at least 50 days each year. It bursts out on to the Mediterranean coast, filling holidaymakers' caravans with sand and capsizing yachts caught unaware at sea.

When do Bones Break?

2009-04-21T01:53:00.000+08:00

Bones break under varying degrees of pressure according to age, health and other circumstances. They are made of hard, strong, connective tissue and normally resist considerable force before breaking or fracturing. But when a bone has been softened by disease or grown fragile with age, fractures may follow very minor accidents or even occur spontaneously (pathological fractures).

The bones of children are not fully mature and are still relatively flexible. In childhood a severe blow or fall often results in a "greenstick" fracture, in which the bone does not completely break into tow separate pieces.

An impacted fracture occurs when the broken ends of the bone appear to be jammed together by the force of the injury. A com-minuted fracture is on one in which the ends are shattered into many pieces. A fracture is called simple (closed) when the overlying skin is not broken, or compound (open) when the bone is exposed.

All fractures attempt to heal themselves by producing new tissue to join the broken pieces together. At first this tissue is like putty and easily injured. So, generally a fractured limb should be straightened, immobilized and protected by a plaster cast while the healing takes place. In time, the new tissue or fracture callus, changes into mature bone.