Author Archives: Cris

Cauliflower

By | |
Leave a comment
Cauliflower

The only flower in the cauliflower is in its name.

  • Cauliflowers are a vegetable that grow on the annual or biennial plant Brassica oleracea botrytis.
  • Cauliflowers are roughly spherical in shape, cradled by leaves, and the more it is cooked the softer it becomes.
  • ‘Cauliflower’ comes from the Latin word for ‘cabbage’, which is ‘caulis’.
  • Cauliflowers are from the Brassicaceae family, the family of mustards, crucifers and cabbage.
  • Cauliflower heads can be coloured cream, green, orange or purple.

Cauliflower, White, Orange, Cream, Two, Plant, Vegetation, Vegetable, Australia, Home grown

  • Cauliflowers are believed to be originally from the area of Asia Minor and western Asia’s Syria, and from there, spread throughout Europe.
  • Cauliflower heads are not flowers but instead numerous flower buds.
  • Cauliflowers are commonly eaten raw, in salads, soup, casseroles, or as sides, and is often accompanied with a white sauce.
  • Cauliflowers contains numerous healthy chemicals that, when boiled, can be significantly diminished.
  • Raw cauliflower is very high in vitamin C, is a good source of vitamin K, and it also has many other vitamins and minerals.

 

Bibliography:
Cauliflower, 2011 Fresh for Kids, http://www.freshforkids.com.au/veg_pages/cauliflower/cauliflower.html
Cauliflower, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauliflower
Cauliflower, 2014, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=13

Amazon:     

Hierapolis-Pamukkale

By | |
Leave a comment
Hierapolis-Pamukkale

Hierapolis-Pamukkale is a relaxing destination.

  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale is a town and ancient ruins located among numerous hot springs, carbonated minerals and deposits of limestone.
  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale is located in the south-eastern region of Turkey, in western Asia.
  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, which led to the restoring of the ancient buildings of Hierapolis.
  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale is the home to the ‘cotton castle’, as it is known, that is a group of calcium carbonate and limestone terraces and formations which measures 2,700 metres by 600 metres (8,860 feet by 1,970 feet), and 160 metres (525 feet) in height.
  • In the 1960s at Hierapolis-Pamukkale, hotels were constructed among the ruins, which led to considerable damage to the natural area.
Hierapolis-Pamukkale, Sunset, Ice, Spring, Castle, Shadow, Silhouette, Ten Random Facts, Turkey, Flickr
Part of Hierapolis-Pamukkale
Image courtesy of Family MWR/Flickr
  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale has 17 hot springs, generated by volcanic activity, that have water temperatures of 35°C to 100°C (95°F to 212°F).
  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale is the home to a museum displaying relics from Hierapolis and surrounding areas.
  • Hierapolis-Pamukkale is commonly visited by tourists, particularly the hot springs, where people bathe.
  • In the hot springs of Hierapolis-Pamukkale, tadpoles can be found, while the surrounding area has 45 plant, 10 mammal and 10 bird species.
  • Due to a local legend, the hot springs of Hierapolis-Pamukkale are believed to have qualities to bring good looks.
Bibliography:
Hierapolis-Pamukkale, 2014, World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/485
Pamukkale, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamukkale
Pamukkale Legend, 2014, Pamukkale, http://www.pamukkale.net/listingview.php?listingID=7

Amazon:     

Hermit Crab

By | |
Leave a comment
Hermit Crab

Do not hide in a shell like a hermit crab.

  • Hermit crabs are a superfamily of 1100 species of crustaceans, and are a type of decapod, a ten legged creature.
  • Hermit crabs can be coloured red, orange, yellow, white, brown, blue, pink or green, and have abdomens that are soft and tender and usually shaped as a spiral.
  • Hermit crabs typically carry an abandoned shell, that they use to protect their abdomens and withdraw into when they wish to hide from predators.
  • Hermit crabs have a lifespan of between 1 to 10 years in the wild, and some species do not live in shells, but instead in structures of other organisms such as coral.
  • When hermit crabs grow larger they need to replace their shell, which can become dangerously competitive when there is limited number of vacant shells.
Hermit Crab, Crustacean, Hawaii, Shell, Beach, Ten Random Facts, Large, Sand
Hermit Crab
Image courtesy of Tim Parkison/Flickr
  • Hermit crabs are generally found in salt water habitats, in a range of depths, worldwide, and are most commonly found on coastlines, although approximately 16 species live on land.
  • Hermit crabs have the scientific name Paguroidea, and as such, are not close relatives to crabs as they belong to a different infraorder, and for this reason they are not true crabs.
  • Hermit crabs, although not limited to, range from 2 to 10 centimetres (0.8 to 4 inches) in length and weigh 200 to 500 grams (7 to 18 ounces), and the females can have 200 eggs at one time, that hatch into the sea.
  • Terrestrial (land dwelling) hermit crabs are often kept as pets, and live for a few months to a few decades.
  • Hermit crabs’ diet mainly consists of small fish, plankton and worms, while they are preyed on by fish, sharks, octopuses, and other sea creatures.
Bibliography:
Hermit Crab, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/hermit-crab/
Hermit Crab, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermit_crab

Amazon:     

Hole Punch

By | |
Leave a comment
Hole Punch

Hole punch your way with these facts.

  • Hole punches are devices used to make holes, typically in thin objects such as paper.
  • ‘Hole punches’ are also known as ‘paper punchers’, ‘holing pincers’, ‘hole makers’, ‘hole punchers’ and ‘perforators’.
  • Hole punches typically used hand-powered lever mechanics to push a cylinder shaped blade or cutter into the object.
  • Hole punches can have one to eight cutters in the one tool, to punch all the holes needed at one time.
  • Some hole punches use drilling mechanisms to cut holes in paper.

Hole punch, Purple, Single, Blue, grip, Metal, Double, Ten Random Facts, Office Supplies

  • Hole punches were most likely invented in the second half of the 1800s, and an 1885 patent exists for a two hole punch, which was an improvement on punches, by American John Laney, in United State’s Indiana in Pennsylvania, which he invented for the purpose of filing papers.
  • Hole punches are most commonly used in office workplaces for punching holes in documents for binding, although there are variety of hole shaped punches used for other purposes including leatherwork.
  • Hole punches are most commonly made of metal, and they often have plastic components and casings, as well as a catcher to catch the ‘chads’ – the scrap circles.
  • Hole punches are sometimes adjustable, meaning that the cutters can be moved along a rod so that holes can be punched in various positions.
  • Hole punches come in a wide range of colours and sizes, and the blade can be small cylinder that will punch small holes, or it can be shaped like a star, heart, flower or other small shape.

 

Bibliography:
Eblin J, History of the Hole Puncher, 2014, EHow, http://www.ehow.com/about_5191932_history-hole-puncher.html
Hole punch, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hole_punch

Amazon:     

Cleopatra VII Philopator

By | |
1 Comment
Cleopatra VII Philopator

“I will not be triumphed over.” – Cleopatra VII Philopator

  • Cleopatra VII Philopator was the second last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, in Africa, but often regarded as the last, due to her son’s short reign before he was killed 11 days after the death of his mother.
  • ‘Cleopatra VII Philopator’ is also known simply as ‘Cleopatra’, and her name comes from the Geek word ‘Kleopatra’, meaning ‘glory of the father’.
  • Cleopatra VII Philopator was born in Egypt’s Alexandria, in 69 BC, and her father was Ptolemy XII Auletes, and her mother was possibly Cleopatra V Tryphaena, although this is uncertain.
  • Cleopatra VII Philopator first ruled at 18 years of age, along with her 10 year old brother Ptolemy XIII, whom she quickly excluded from official responsibilities and with whom she fell out of favour.
  • Unlike the rest of her family and predecessors who spoke Greek, Cleopatra VII Philopator also learnt Egyptian, and is believed to have known six to nine languages in all.
Cleopatra, Gold, Model, Liz Taylor, Queen, Pharaoh, Ancient, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
A depiction of Cleopatra
Image courtesy of Noel Cruz/Flickr
  • Along with Julius Caesar of Ancient Rome, Cleopatra VII Philopator launched an attack on her brother, then Pharaoh of Egypt, to regain Egyptian reign.
  • Cleopatra VII Philopator was officially married to her younger brother, and had an eldest son with Julius Caesar, and after Caesar’s death she married Mark Antony, also from Ancient Rome, with whom she had three more children.
  • According to ancient texts, Cleopatra VII Philopator was considered very beautiful, and very intelligent, although her beauty may have come from her charm rather than her looks, but whatever the case, she was said to be influential among males.
  • Cleopatra VII Philopator committed suicide on 12 August, 30 BC, most likely by asp (venomous snake) bite, after the successful conquest of the Roman enemy, Octavian.
  • Cleopatra VII Philopator is depicted in many artworks, film media, and literature, and most notably in the Shakespearean play ‘Antony and Cleopatra’.
Bibliography:
Cleopatra, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra
Cleopatra: the woman behind the name, 2013, Tour Egypt, http://www.touregypt.net/cleopatr.htm

 

Amazon:     

Turnip

By | |
Leave a comment
Turnip

Don’t let those turnips nip you.

  • Turnips are vegetables and the root of the plant Brassica rapa rapa.
  • Turnips are from the Brassica genus, which includes brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, and are from the Brassicaceae family, the family of mustard, cabbages and crucifers.
  • A turnip is typically spherical in shape with a smaller root at the base, which is generally removed when sold commercially, and it has long green leaves at the top.
  • Turnips are usually mainly white in colour, with a green, red or purple area at the top caused by sun exposure, and the flesh is generally white, although in some of the baby turnip varieties it can be red, yellow or orange in colour.
  •  Turnips grow to be 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches) in diameter, and can be as heavy as 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) in weight.

Turnip, Purple, Bowl, Ten Random Facts, Root, Vegetable, White, Variegated,

  • Turnips are commonly cooked, pickled or added as side vegetables, or made into soup, and the baby vegetables can be used raw in salads.
  • Turnips have been grown agriculturally since 1400 BC in India, and the origin of the vegetable is uncertain, although it is believed to be most likely native to Europe or possibly Asia.
  • Turnips have a sharp taste, which becomes less strong by cooking, and the young vegetables are sweeter.
  • The long leaves of turnips can be eaten, and are usually cooked, although they can also be added to salads.
  • Turnips are high in vitamin C, are a good source of fibre, and contain many other vitamins and minerals.

 

Bibliography:
Turnip, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip
Turnip, n.d., Goodfood, http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/turnip

Amazon:     

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...