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Poppy Seed

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Poppy Seed

Do not eat your poppy seed bagel before a drug test.

  • Poppy seeds are small seeds of Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, used primarily in cooking.
  • Poppy seeds are a kidney shape, and have a length of around 1 millimetre.
  • Poppy seeds have been historically used in medicine and there have been superstitions associated with the seeds, like turning oneself invisible.
  • A gram of poppy seeds is approximately 3,300 seeds, and an ounce of the seeds is approximately 93,500 seeds.
  • In 2011, Turkey was the leader in poppy seed production, with 45,077 tonnes (49,689 tons) in 2011, of the world production of 106,419 tonnes (117,307 tons).

Poppy seeds, many, lots, black, grey, white, bowl, Ten Random Facts, whole spice

  • Poppy seeds are used as a paste, oil, thickener, spice and decoration, particularly in baked items, although they are used in other dishes.
  • Consumption of poppy seeds can cause drug tests to be false positive due to the content of opium alkaloids, that are also present in the illegal drug opium.
  • Selling, eating or holding poppy seeds in some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Singapore, will result in punishments or arrests.
  • Poppy seeds have a flavour of nuts and are typically blue-black in colour, although white or grey poppy seeds are sometimes used.
  • Poppy seeds are a good source of manganese and calcium, and rarely cause allergies among people.
Bibliography:
Poppy seed, 2010, Olde Thompson, http://www.oldethompson.com/spice-details.aspx?SpiceID=27
Poppy seed, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy_seed

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

“E.T. phone home.” – E.T. from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a Steven Spielberg science fiction film produced by Amblin Entertainment, directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison, and distributed by Universal Pictures.
  • ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial‘ is commonly called ‘E.T.’ and, during production it was known as ‘A Boy’s Life’ to protect it from being copied.
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial  is about a lone boy, Elliot, who helps an extraterrestrial, E.T., return home while evading the government.
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is based on the memories and feelings Spielberg had after the divorce of his parents, as well as parts of the unproduced film Night Skies.
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a blockbuster film, earning a world total of over $700 million at the box office during its initial release, and was the highest grossing film ever, remaining in that position for ten years, after its release on 11th June, 1982.
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Cover, Film, Spielberg, Alien, Moon, Recent, Ten Random Facts, Universal,
Film cover
Image courtesy of Universal Studios
  • The four main characters of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial were acted by Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore and Dee Wallace, making up the family in the film.
  • Four E.T. puppet heads for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial were made, as well as a costume and other parts for the character, costing $1.5 million, with E.T. being played by three different people – two dwarfs and a legless boy.
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was re-released in 1985, and then in 2002 for the film’s 20th anniversary, screening at cinemas, and the 2002 version had some added and adjusted scenes.
  • E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial had a budget of $10.5 million, is listed among the best films of all time and won four Oscars of the nominated nine Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a number of other awards.
  • A sequel film was planned for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial called E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears, however the idea was shelved, although E.T was made into an Atari video game that was a major flop and was dubbed ‘the worst game of all time’, and a book adaption with a sequel was also created.
Bibliography:
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial

 

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Lake Titicaca

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Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the home of islands of reeds.

  • Lake Titicaca is a mountain lake that sits in the Tinajani Basin located in South America, along Bolivia’s and Peru’s borders.
  • ‘Lake Titicaca’ is also known as ‘Lake Titiqaqa’, and ‘titicaca’ is commonly believed to have the meaning ‘rock of the puma’, although the origin of the name is uncertain.
  • Lake Titicaca has more water than any other lake in South America, and is the highest lake in the world that can be crossed by ships.
  • The surface of Lake Titicaca is 3,812 metres (12,507 feet) above sea level.
  • Lake Titicaca is 8,372 square kilometres (3,232.4 square miles) in area and has a depth of up to 281 metres (922 feet).
Lake titicaca, blue, lake, large, water, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Lake Titicaca
Image courtesy of Alicia Nijdam/Flickr
  • Lake Titicaca is sourced by 5 major rivers and 22 minor water sources, in turn typically sourced by glaciers, and the lake sources Desaguadero River.
  • Lake Titicaca is the home to many water birds, fish and other aquatic species, including the exclusive Titicaca water frog and the Titicaca grebe.
  • Lake Titicaca is the home of multiple habitable and inhabitable islands, some of which are made of reeds that float and are home to the Uru people.
  • Lake Titicaca has a temperature averaging 10 to 14°C (50 to 57°F) on the surface.
  • Lake Titicaca, according to Incan legend, was the birth place of Manco Cápac, the first Incan king, and for this reason the lake is considered sacred and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Bibliography:
Lake Titicaca, 2008, Lake Titicaca, http://www.laketiticaca.org/
Lake Titicaca, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Titicaca

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Chipmunk

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Chipmunk

Watch the chipmunks scurry over the rooftops.

  • Chipmunks are small mammals that are primarily native to North America, but one of the 24 species is native to Asia.
  • The scientific name of a chipmunk is ‘Tamias’, and they are from the family Sciuridae, the family of squirrels.
  • Chipmunks mainly eat nuts, seeds, and berries, but also other vegetation, as well as insects, worms, frogs, bird eggs and fungi.
  • Chipmunks live in burrows that can be 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) or longer, and they collect food in autumn that they store there for eating during the winter hibernation period.
  • A chipmunk has flexible cheeks that allows it to obtain a number of food items at once, and it uses them as a carrying pouch.
Chipmunk, brown, rodent, striped, white, black, squirrel, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Chipmunk
Image courtesy of Dawn Huczek/Flickr
  • Chipmunks have calls that are similar in sound to chirps of a bird, and they have a lifespan generally of 2 or 3 years, and can have 2 to 8 babies in one litter.
  • ‘Chipmunks’ are rodents, and are also known as ‘striped squirrels’, ‘timber tigers’, ‘munks’ and ‘chippers’.
  • Different species of chipmunks are different colours, and range from brown, red-brown and grey in colour, and they have light and dark coloured stripes down their backs, face and tail.
  • Chipmunks are commonly found in woodland habitats, but also live in urban areas, and are preyed on by foxes, weasels, coyotes, snakes and hawks.
  • Chipmunks grow to be 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 inches) in length, plus have a tail of 8 to 13 cm (3 to 5 inches) and weigh between 28 to 142 grams (1 to 5 ounces).
Bibliography:
Chipmunk, 2014, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/chipmunk/
Chipmunk, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipmunk

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Golden Rain Tree

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Golden Rain Tree

Golden rain trees are like gold.

  • Golden rain trees are ornamental flowering trees that are deciduous and useful for shade.
  • The scientific name of a golden rain tree is ‘Koelreuteria paniculata’ and it comes from the Sapindaceae family, the family of soapberries.
  • Golden rain trees are native to Korea and China and typically grow to be 7 to 12 metres (23 to 40 feet) in height.
  • ‘Golden rain tree’ is also known as a ‘china tree’, the ‘pride of India’, and ‘varnish tree’.
  • Golden rain trees have small, yellow coloured,  four petalled blossoms, that bloom in summer or autumn, which can cause golden carpets below the tree when they drop.

Golden Rain Tree, Plant, house, leaves, large, red, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Golden rain trees have coral or brown coloured paper-like pods that contain multiple dark coloured seeds, and ferny leaves that change colour at different stages.
  • Golden rain trees are grown decoratively in many countries, but in Florida and neighbouring states of the United States, the trees are invasive.
  • Golden rain trees grow best in sunny areas and can withstand droughts.
  • Golden rain tree seeds and leaves can be eaten, roasted or cooked respectively, although they are not commonly consumed.
  • Golden rain trees can be a source of yellow and black dye, and the seeds are sometimes used as a bead in jewellery making.
Bibliography:
Koelreuteria paniculata, 2012, Plants for a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Koelreuteria+paniculata
Koelreuteria paniculata, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koelreuteria_paniculata
Koelreuteria paniculata, n.d, Missouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a550

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Salt and Pepper Shakers

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Salt and Pepper Shakers

What do stamps, shells and salt and pepper shakers have in common? They are all collectables.

  • Salt and pepper shakers are small containers that hold powdered food seasonings, typically in Western countries.
  • Salt and pepper shakers typically contain ground pepper and salt, and are generally tipped upside down over a meal and gently shaken to release some of their contents.
  • ‘Salt and pepper shakers’ are also known as ‘salt and pepper pots’.
  • Salt and pepper shakers are made in many different materials, such as ceramics, plastic, glass, metal or timber.
  • It is believed that a salt shaker was first invented in 1858, by John Mason, a tinsmith from America, but it wasn’t until the 1920’s that sets of salt and pepper shakers were commonly manufactured, and later they became even more popular due to cost effectiveness of ceramic production.

Salt and Pepper Shakers, Chicken, Three, Six, Pairs, Collection, Pretty, Blue Interesting, Red

Photo courtesy of Val Laird
  • Salt and pepper shakers are commonly a set of two, sporting many different colours, shapes and sizes.
  • Salt and pepper shakers may include a grinding function to grind peppercorns and large salt crystals.
  • Salt and pepper shakers grew in popularity in the 1920s due to the addition of magnesium carbonate to the salt to prevent lumps and clumping caused by moisture, which was added by the Morton Salt company in Chicago, in the United States, making it easy to pour.
  • Salt and pepper shakers are popularly collected due to their unique shapes and historical significance and large collections exist, some of which have as many as 40,000 sets.
  • Salt and pepper shakers generally have small holes to restrict the amount of seasoning released, with salt shakers typically having the least number of holes.
Bibliography:
Bulls D, Collectable Kitchenware: Salt & Pepper Shakers, 2013, Kings River Lite Magazine, http://kingsriverlife.com/03/23/collectible-kitchenware-salt-pepper-shakers/
History of Shakers, n.d, Kim’s Salt and Pepper Shaker page, http://kimmykay.tripod.com/snppage/id1.html
Salt and Pepper Shakers, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_and_pepper_shakers

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