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Camembert

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Camembert

Do you prefer soft cheese, like camembert?

  • Camembert is a milk based, light yellow coloured cheese, that has a sweet taste, textures of creaminess and softness, and is typically shaped as a short cylinder.
  • Camembert is said to have been invented in a Normandy village of the same name, in Europe’s France, in the late 1700s by a French farmer named Marie Harel, and the cheese was a common addition to French military ration packs during World War I.
  • Camembert is traditionally made of unpasteurised milk, known as ‘Camembert de Normandie’, and those with French certification are still made this way.
  • The initial process for creating camembert is done by solidifying a mix of warm cow’s milk, rennet and mesophilic bacteria, and the curd is extracted and the whey is then removed.
  • Camembert curd is placed in a round form, and once all the whey has been removed, the cheese is sprayed with Penicillium camemberti fungus that has been dissolved in water and is left to ripen.
Camembert Cheese, White, Soft, Cut, Half, Plate, Ten Random Facts, FlickrCamembert
Image courtesy of Rebecca Siegel/Flickr
  • It is a requirement by law, that three weeks minimum must pass, to allow camembert to ripen and then be packaged, and the cheese is commonly covered by a thin paper wrap or two, before being packaged and transported.
  • The rind (mouldy layer) of camembert has generally been white since the 1970s, although historically it was a blue to grey colour, and was spotted brown.
  • Commercial camembert is typically 10 to 11.5 centimetres (4 to 4.5 inches) in diameter, 3.2 to 3.8 centimetres (1.25 to 1.5 inches) in height and weighs approximately 200 to 250 g (7 to 8.8 ounces).
  • Camembert is often confused with brie cheese, and while they are similar in texture and appearance, brie is usually much larger or sliced from a large wheel, ages slower, has a milder taste, and often uses a different substance to create the mouldy rind.
  • Camembert is very high in fat, sodium, riboflavin, protein, calcium and phospherous; is high in vitamin B12, selenium, zinc, folate and vitamin A; and also contains many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Camembert, 2012, Cheese.com, http://www.cheese.com/camembert/
Camembert, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camembert
Prabhat S, Difference Between Brie and Camembert, 2009, DiferenceBetween.net, http://www.differencebetween.net/object/comparisons-of-food-items/difference-between-brie-and-camembert/

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Toothpaste

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Toothpaste

These toothpaste facts are very hygienic.

  • Toothpaste is a paste solution or powder used primarily to clean one’s teeth and gums.
  • Toothpaste contains plaque and food removing chemicals; helps stop most mouth diseases; and helps to freshen one’s breath.
  • Toothpaste typically cleans with a toothbrush aid, which spreads and rubs the paste.
  • Toothpaste has a water content of 2o% to 42%, and generally contains fluoride that aids in preventing tooth decay; abrasives that help to remove plaque; and surfactants or detergents that help to clean the teeth.
  • Toothpaste is commonly flavoured, often with peppermint, wintergreen or spearmint oil, although unflavoured versions are available, and toothpaste for sensitive teeth is also manufactured.

Colgate, Toothpaste, Three, Spiderman, Tubes, Gel, Ten Random Facts,

  • Ancient Egyptians are said to have used powdered toothpaste as early as 5000 BC, and Ancient Romans and Greeks enhanced this formula with the addition of abrasives.
  • The fluoride content in toothpaste can be poisonous if consumed in large amounts.
  • A combination of a variety of ingredients have been used throughout the centuries to clean teeth, including a resin called ‘dragon’s blood’, burnt eggshells, hooves of an ox, pumice, oyster shells, earthenware, burnt snail shells, cuttlefish, brick, charcoal, chalk, burnt bread and honey.
  • Modern style toothpaste is based on powders and pastes that were developed in the 1800s and early 1900s, that included the addition of fluoride, baking soda, soap and hydrogen peroxide.
  • It is recommended that toothpaste and a toothbrush are used to clean teeth at least twice a day for maximum effect.

 

Bibliography:
The History of Teeth Cleaning, 2011, h2g2, http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A2818686
Toothpaste, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothpaste

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Li River

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Li River

Scenic views are along Li River.

  • Li River is a green-blue coloured river located in Asia, in the Guangxi region in southern China, and is a popular tourist destination.
  • ‘Li River’ is also known as ‘Lijiang’, ‘Lí Jiāng’ and ‘Lijiang River’ and it is not linked to the city of Lijiang that is located in a different area in China.
  • Li River is formed in the Xing’an County in China, in the mountain of Mao’er Shan (Cat Mountain), and merges into the larger Gui River towards the south.
  • Li River combined with the Gui River is 437 kilometres (271.5 miles) long and it winds its way south, towards the South China Sea.
  • The most popular area for Li River cruises is along an 83 kilometre (51.6 mile) stretch, that starts in the city of Guilin and passes through the hilly Yangshuo County.
Li River, Scenic, China, Hills, Silhouette, Asia, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, Amazing*
Part of Li River
Image courtesy of Oarranzli/Flickr
  • Li River has a historical man-made canal, the oldest of its type in the world, that connects the river to the Xiang River, and the canal has contributed to water conservation in the area.
  • Along Li River, picturesque, tall rocky hills can be seen, similar to those of Halong Bay in Southeast Asia’s Vietnam.
  • Tourists can hire a wide variety of boats along Li River, from small rafts to bigger crafts, and most cruises depart from Zhujiang Wharf, which is 40 minutes by car from Guilin.
  • Many features can be found along Li River, including mountains, ancient villages, Half Side Ferry Crossing, and groves of bamboo.
  • Li River is commonly visited on rainy days, as the hills silhouette against the sky and mist and fog contribute to the enchanting scenery.
Bibliography:
Li River, 2009, Visit Guilin, http://www.visitguilin.org/index.php/en/sightseeing/57-attraction-list/92-li-river
Li River (Guangxi), 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_River_(Guangxi)
Li River, n.d, My China Tours, http://www.mychinatours.com/guilin-travel/guilin-attractions/li-river/

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Gopher

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Gopher

What secret underground gopher networks have you stumbled upon?

  • Gopher rodents are 35 species of mammal, notable for creating and living in tunnel networks underground.
  • Gophers are the family group with the scientific name Geomyidae, and they are native to North America and Central America.
  • ‘Gophers’ are also known as ‘pocket gophers’ due to the pouches they have in their cheeks, and the term is occasionally used to refer to some of the Sciuridae family’s ground squirrels.
  • Gophers grow to be 12.7 to 35.5 centimetres (5 to 14 inches) in length and range from 220 to 1000 grams (0.5 to 2.2 pounds) in weight.
  • Gophers typically live up to three years in the wild, although some reach up to seven years.

Gopher, Rodent, Mammal, Animal, Grass, Ten Random Facts, animal, Flickr

Gopher
Image courtesy of Sebastian Bergmann/Flickr
  • Gophers have brown, dirt camouflaging fur, long teeth, and a tail that is short.
  • Gophers are prey to weasels, owls, hawks, badgers, snakes and other animals.
  • Gophers are often classified as agriculture and domestic yard pests, as the burrowing under soil can make a visible mess, and they sometimes eat and destroy plants and crops.
  • Gophers are solitary animals and the females give birth to between two to five offspring at one time, that initially can not see.
  • The diet of gophers primarily consists of tubers and roots, as well as vegetables, and other plant material, that they store in their burrows, and they use their cheek pouches to carry their food.
Bibliography:
Gopher, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher
Myers P, Geomyidae, 2001, Animal Diversity Web, http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Geomyidae/
Pocket Gophers, 2014, National Wildlife Federation, http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/pocket-gophers.aspx

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Doughnut

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Doughnut

Doughnuts are delicious delicacies.

  • Doughnuts are also known as ‘donuts’, and are edible food items that are flour based and are traditionally a round shape.
  • Doughnuts can be made from a cake-style dough, or a yeast-like dough, and are typically eaten as a dessert or sweet food, often as a snack.
  • Doughnuts are primarily made of a deep fried dough mixture that typically uses wheat flour and a combination of other ingredients, like eggs, milk, sugar, oil, and sometimes yeast.
  • Doughnuts often contain up to 20 to 25% oil, and are typically covered with a sweet flavouring such as icing or glaze, chocolate, syrup, or sugar that sometimes has cinnamon added.
  • Doughnuts are most often disc shaped, with or without a hole, although shapes can vary, and the hole is said to have been introduced so that the doughnuts cook more evenly and one is not left with a doughy centre.

Doughnut, Donut, Wheat, Rings, Confectionery, Food, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Plate, Three, Some,

  • Doughnuts without holes often contain a filling such as custard, a sweet condiment like jam and/or cream, although sometimes a savoury filling is used.
  • The ‘holes’ of doughnuts, typically cut by a puncher, may be coated and sold commercially, however they are often made from small balls of dough to look like ‘holes’.
  • Fried dough mixtures similar to doughnuts originated in both Ancient American and Eurasian societies; while modern versions are often said to have been based on the Dutch ‘oliekoeken’ (oil cake).
  • The first known printed doughnut recipe is from 1803, and those with holes are often said to have been invented by American sailor or captain, Hanson Gregory in 1847, although there are various versions of the story, and the truth of the matter is not known.
  • America’s Canada is the largest doughnut consumer in the world, and they have the most commercial outlets for the snack, per person.

Bibliography:

Chavey E, Doughnuts: A definitive history, 2014, Mr Breakfast, http://www.mrbreakfast.com/article.asp?articleid=8
Doughnut, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughnut
The History of Doughnuts, 2011, Toriavey, http://toriavey.com/history-kitchen/2011/06/the-history-of-doughnuts/

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Earmuffs

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Earmuffs

Earmuffs: protect your ears from noise and cold.

  • Earmuffs are a piece of equipment or clothing accessory, that covers the ears, that are used for either thermal or acoustic purposes.
  • Earmuffs typically come as a pair of ear shields, pads or cups, connected by a curved strip that is usually made of metal or thermoplastic.
  • ‘Earmuffs’ are also known as ‘ear protectors’ and ‘ear-mufflers’, and those used for acoustic purposes are also known as ‘ear defenders’ and ‘hearing protectors’ and are classified as ‘personal protective equipment’ (PPE).
  • Thermal earmuffs are used to keep one’s ears warm, and are commonly used outdoors in cold climates.
  • Depending on their designed use, earmuff pads are commonly made of fabric, foam or thermoplastic, or a combination of these materials.

Earmuffs, Green, Acoustic, Sound, Protector, Invention, Ten Random Facts

  • When sounds are too loud, acoustic earmuffs are used to protect the ears, and they should be used when sounds breach 85 decibels.
  • Thermal earmuffs were invented in 1873 by American teenager Chester Greenwood, resident of Farmington in Maine in the United States, at 15 years of age, later receiving a patent for his improved invention in 1877, and by 1883 his company produced 30,000 a year and by 1936, 400,000 were being produced annually.
  • Earmuffs are usually placed on top or around the back of a person’s head, like a headband.
  • Acoustic earmuffs have different ratings, depending on the level of noise reduction they have when in use.
  • Earmuffs come in a variety of colours and the pads come in a variety of shapes depending on their purpose and fashion.

 

Bibliography:
Earmuffs, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earmuffs
Earmuffs 2005, The Great Idea Finder, http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/earmuff.htm

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