Author Archives: Cris

Fencing

By | |
Leave a comment
Fencing

Concentrate now…

  • Fencing is a sport that includes striking your opponent with a bladed weapon.
  • Fencing was one of the few sports to be included in the first modern Olympic Games, and one of five sports that has been included in every Olympic Games since.
  • Spanish fencing was being practised in the 13th and 14th centuries, and it is from this that modern fencing is derived.
  • There are three main types of fencing weapons: the foil, sabreo or the épée.  The blades are flexible and blunt or flattened so they do not harm the opponent.
  • The fencing uniform includes a jacket, a plastron (an underarm protector), a glove, breeches and a mask.

Fencing, Lady, Girl, Striking, Duel, Sport Action, Flickr, Qrodo Photos, Ten Random Facts

Fencing
Image courtesy of Qrodo Photos/Flickr
  • The fencing uniform typically is made from cotton or nylon mixed with polyethylene, so that it is resistant to sword penetration.
  • In the United States and European countries, fencing is a popular sport in some schools and universities and students have the opportunity to compete in the World University Games.
  • In fencing competitions, weapons with electronic sensors are used to make scoring more accurate.
  • Fencing is regarded as a sport safer than golf, and people are at the most risk when a weapon breaks.
  • In fencing competitions, two people generally move back and fourth on a 1.4 by 13 meter(6 by 44 feet) strip, attempting to strike one another.
Bibliography:
Fencing 2 February 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing>

Alyssum

By | |
Leave a comment
Alyssum

Sweet small flowers.

  • Alyssum is also known as sweet alyssum or sweet alison.
  • Alyssum is an annual flowering, small, bushy plant that grows to about 5 – 30 cm (2-12 inches) in height.
  • Alyssum’s scientific name is Lobularia maritima or Alyssum maritimum, which comes from the Greek words meaning ‘small pod’ and ‘marine’.
  • Alyssum has clusters of small flowers, approximately 5 mm in diameter, with four petals.
  • Alyssum has flowers that are white, pink, rosey red, violet or lilac in colour.

Alyssum, White, Flower, Plant, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Alyssum flowers have a sweet smell and are pollinated by insects.
  • In its natural environment, alyssum is commonly found growing on beaches or sand dunes.
  • In civilisation, alyssum is commonly found growing in cracks or walls.
  • Alyssum often self seeds in the garden and is commonly found popping up in unexpected places.
  • Alyssum is native to coastal areas and islands in and surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the European islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Bibliography:
Lobularia Maritima 3 February 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobularia_maritima>

Cement Truck

By | |
Leave a comment
Cement Truck

A cement mixer… on wheels!

  • Cement trucks are also known as concrete trucks.  They have a drum on the top of the truck which holds concrete.
  • Cement trucks mix concrete in the drum with sharp blades to prevent the concrete from turning hard.
  • Cement trucks typically pour concrete down long chutes to the site where it is needed.
  • The drum on cement trucks turn in one direction to mix the concrete, and the opposite direction to pour concrete out of the drum.
  • Long pipes and concrete pumps are used if the cement truck’s chute can’t reach the area that needs to be concreted.

Cement Truck, Mixer, Concrete, Yellow, white, Boral, Australia, Green, Ten Random Facts

  • The first patent application for a cement truck was filed by Stephan Stepanian in 1916.
  • Cement trucks generally weigh between 9,070 – 13, 600 kg (20,000 – 30,000 pounds).
  • Cement trucks carry approximately 18,100 kg (40,200 pounds) of concrete.
  • Most of the time, concrete needs to be delivered from a cement truck 90 minutes after been loaded in the truck.
  • Cement trucks typically have a steel barrel, but some new trucks use fibreglass.
Bibliography:
Concrete Mixer 4 January 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_mixer>
Graham, 2006, On the Building Site , QED Publishing, United Kingdom

Avocado

By | |
1 Comment
Avocado

The pear shaped fruit and trees.

  • Avocados are native to Central Mexico and are also known as alligator pear or avocado pear..
  • Avocado trees are flowering plants from the family Lauraceae, the same family of cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel.
  • Avocado fruit have black or green, smooth or bumpy skin, depending on the variety, a large seed inside, and soft, creamy yellow to green flesh.
  • Avocado trees grow up to 20 meters (66 feet) in height and are often started from a pit, initially grown indoors.
  • Avocado fruit can grow from 7 cm (2.8 inches) to 20 cm (7.9 inches) long.

Avocado, Green, Vegetable, Fruit, Lots, Ripe, Ten Random Facts

  • Avocado fruit mature on the tree and then drop to the ground and ripen.  Once the avocado is cut, the flesh quickly turns brown.
  • Mexico grows more than one billion kilograms of avocado fruit per year, the most in the world.
  • Avocado fruit are rich in vitamins B, E and K, and potassium, and are high in fibre.
  • Avocado fruit and parts of the plant are toxic to many animals, including some birds.
  • Avocados are normally eaten raw in salad and on sandwiches, and in some countries combined to make juice, desserts, drinks, and dips.  Sometimes it is served cooked in certain dishes.
Bibliography:
Avocado 31 January 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avocado>

Jigsaw Puzzle

By | |
2 Comments
Jigsaw Puzzle

Get your brain whirring…

  • The jigsaw puzzle concept originated in the 1760s when European map makers glued maps on wood and cut them up into pieces.
  • Originally designed for children and educational purposes, jigsaw puzzles for adults didn’t appear until the 1900s.
  • Jigsaw puzzles originally weren’t interlocking, and the first interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces were first produced in 1909.
  • Wooden jigsaw puzzles originally were cut individually, piece by piece, until presses and die cuts were used.
  • Jigsaw puzzles get there names by the original tool that was used to cut up the puzzle’s pieces, the jigsaw.

Jigsaw Puzzle, cakes, Sweets, Food, Half Done, Doodle Jigsaw Puzzles, Beverly, No. 605, 108 pieces, Ten Random Facts

  • Typically, modern jigsaw puzzles are enlarged versions of photographs or paintings glued onto cardboard.
  • Jigsaw puzzles typically are 300, 500,750 or 1000 pieces.
  • In 2011, the largest commercial jigsaw puzzle was produced and contained 32,256 pieces and measured 544 cm by 192 cm.
  • In the 1990s, the production of foam or wood three dimensional puzzles began, and have become quite popular.
  • Doing jigsaw puzzles regularly is said to help prevent Alezheimers, and also benefits the brain in other areas.
Bibliography:
Jigsaw Puzzle 14 January 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jigsaw_puzzle>
Williams, A n.d., Jigsaw Puzzles – A Brief History, MGC Puzzles, <http://www.mgcpuzzles.com/mgcpuzzles/puzzle_history/>

Leopard Seal

By | |
Leave a comment
Leopard Seal

Has spots, but not a leopard.

  • Leopard seals are the second largest seal species in Antarctica, ranging from 2.4 – 3.5 metres (8.4 – 11.7 feet) long and 200 to 600 kilograms (440 to 1,300 pounds) in weight.
  • Leopard seals are most common in the Southern Hemisphere, especially on the coast of Antarctica.
  • Leopard seals have a typical lifespan of 26 years or more.
  • Leopard seals have only a couple of predators – large sharks and killer whales (orcas).
  • Leopard seals have dark grey coloured backs, light grey coloured underside and black spotted, white skin necks.

Leopard Seal, Front, Ice Floe, National Geographic, Ten Random Facts

Leopard Seal
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Female leopard seals are generally larger than males.
  • Leopard seals don’t make many sounds, but sometimes makes grunting and growling noises.
  • Leopard seals don’t normally live in groups, except to mate.
  • A leopard seals diet includes krill, fish, penguins and sometimes other seals.
  • Leopard seals rarely attack people, even though they are considered quite dangerous, and the first recorded fatality was in 2003  in Antarctica.
Bibliography:
Leopard seal 30 January 2013 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_seal>
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...