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Siamese Fighting Fish

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Siamese Fighting Fish

Who would know that such a small fish, such as the Siamese fighting fish, could be so aggressive?

  • A Siamese fighting fish is a small freshwater fish that is native to the Mekong river system of Southeast Asia.
  • The ‘Siamese fighting fish’ is also known as ‘betta fish’, while the Thai and Khmer know it as ‘pla-kad’ and ‘trey krem’ respectively.
  • The scientific name of a Siamese fighting fish is Betta splendens and it is from the family Osphronemidae, the family of gouramis.
  • Siamese fighting fish grow to be 6 to 8 centimetres (2.4 to 3.1 inches) in length, and they are commonly kept in domestic aquariums.
  • In the wild, Siamese fighting fish are most commonly brown, silver, grey or green in colour, while the more brightly coloured ones that include red, white, green, blue or pink are specifically bred, often with large flowing tails and fins of various shapes.
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Siamese Fighting Fish
Image courtesy of h080/Flickr
  • Male Siamese fighting fish are usually more brightly coloured than the females, and while the female produces the 10 to 45 eggs, they are cared for by the male in a nest that he makes from bubbles, primarily due to the female’s tendency to eat her eggs.
  • Male Siamese fighting fish commonly duel each other for territorial reasons, which can be fatal for them, and they show off their fins by splaying them out, and in some countries, this aggressive behaviour is taken advantage of for gambling purposes.
  • Siamese fighting fish have a unique respiratory system that allows them to breath air from above water when necessary.
  • Due to their aggressiveness, Siamese fighting fish are commonly thought to be incompatible in aquariums, although this is not always true, as they often leave less colourful and visually different fish alone, especially species larger than themselves.
  • The diet of Siamese fighting fish consists primarily of plankton, shrimp and insects, and they generally live to be two to three years of age, although they may live for five or more years.
Bibliography:
Siamese Fighting Fish, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/siamese-fighting-fish/
Siamese Fighting Fish, 2015, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/pets/pet-road-tests/fish/siamese-fighting-fish/
Siamese Fighting Fish, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_fighting_fish

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Kale

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Kale

Imagine kale, imagine leafy vegetable.

  • Kale is a form of commonly eaten leafy vegetable that possibly has its origins in and around Turkey in the Middle East.
  • ‘Kale’ is also known as ‘borecole’, ‘boerenkool’ and ‘salad savoy’, while the ‘ornamental’ varieties that are grown are also edible.
  • Kale is directly related to cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, as it is from the species with the scientific name Brassica oleracea, and it is from the family Brassicaceae, the family of mustards and cabbage.
  • Kale was grown in ancient Rome and Greece and was commonly eaten up until the Middle Ages, and at various times in history it has had renewed popularity.
  • Kale comes in a variety of colours, including pinks, whites, purples, reds and greens, of which the latter is most commonly eaten, and the vegetable can be stored in the freezer so that it can be used at a later time.

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  • Kale is popularly used in salads, soups, or as a side vegetable, and it can be separated into smaller pieces and cooked like a potato crisp.
  • There are different varieties of kale, and some have fairly flat leaves, while others have very curly leaves, and they can have a somewhat bitter or earthy flavour, though it depends on the variety.
  • The flavour of kale can decrease if lemon juice or oil is used with the vegetable, though it can reduce the bitterness, and the vegetable develops a sweeter flavour if harvested after a frost.
  • Kale is extremely high in vitamin A and vitamin C; is extraordinarily high in vitamin K; and the vegetable contains antioxidants, as well as having anti-inflammatory and cancer preventing properties.
  • A significant amount of oxolates are found in kale, which can crystallise and can cause problems in those with kidney and gallbladder issues.
Bibliography:
Kale, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38
Kale, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kale
Neff C, How To Cook Kale, 2010, Experience Life, https://experiencelife.com/article/how-to-cook-kale/
What is Kale Good For?, 2015, Food Facts, http://foodfacts.mercola.com/kale.html

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Pura Besakih

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Pura Besakih

Pura Besakih is a place for pilgrims.

  • Pura Besakih is a group of temples found in Indonesia’s Bali, in South East Asia, and they sit part way up the side of Mount Agung, at approximately 1000 metres (1093 yards) above sea level.
  • Pura Besakih is also known as ‘Besakih Temple’, and ‘Bali’s Mother Temple’, and the name ‘Besakih’ is said to be derived from the original name for the place ‘Basuki’ which is a reference to a dragon deity said to dwell on the mountain.
  • Twenty-three temple complexes make up the precinct of Pura Besakih, and this encompasses more than 80 temples, while Pura Penataran Agung is the largest and most significant of them all.
  • Pura Besakih is used by the Hindu religion throughout Bali, and is among the most sacred and important Hindu sites on the island.
  • Many of the temples of Pura Besakih appear to be like a step pyramid in shape, and stone is commonly used in the construction of the buildings.
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Pura Besakih
Image courtesy of Juan Antonia F. Segal/Flickr
  • Pura Besakih is a notable location for numerous festivals and events, numbering 70 different ones, or more, every year.
  • Pura Besakih is considered an ancient religious site, however it is not known when the first temples were built, although it is suspected that some were built in the 700s AD, and others built up until the 1340s.
  • Over 100,000 people visited Pura Besakih in 2013, however, many people do not rate their experience highly due to the unrestrained locals who are said to harass visitors for payment of various services and access to the temple complex.
  • Pura Besakih can be very busy during the day, due to the many visitors and local vendors, so it is best visited early morning or evening, and a sarong is required to be worn at all times.
  • Mount Agunga is a stratovolcano that erupted in 1963, spewing lava that narrowly dodged the temples of Pura Besakih; an event often considered a miraculous sign by the Hindu community.
Bibliography:
Besakih Temple in Bali – Pura Besakih, 2015, Bali, http://www.bali-indonesia.com/attractions/besakih-temple.htm
Pura Besakih, 2015, Bali, http://www.bali.com/temple_Pura-Besakih_83.html
Pura Besakih, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pura_Besakih

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Jenga

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Jenga

Jenga – Edge of Your Seat Fun!

  • Jenga is a game involving the strategic removal of wooden blocks from an erected wooden tower, without toppling the tower, and it is said to be the second best selling game in the world.
  • The term ‘jenga’ means ‘construct’ or ‘build’ in Swahili, and in the game, a beginning tower is made of 54 blocks placed in groups of three, in layers alternating in direction.
  • The general play of Jenga is to remove blocks from the mid to lower sections of the erected tower, although taking them from higher up is mostly allowable, and put them on the top, all without the tower toppling.
  • Leslie Scott, from England, commercialised Jenga, her first game, in 1982, showcasing it in the London Toy Fair in early 1983, however, it was not an instant hit, though in 1986, 400,000 units were ordered at the Canadian Toronto Toy Fair.
  • Jenga blocks are traditionally made of wood and are manufactured with deliberate irregularities in the blocks to allow the game to function properly.

Jenga, Wooden, Plastic, Xtreme, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Game, Invention, Progress, Tower

  • The idea for Jenga grew out of a game played with children’s building blocks in the 1970s by Leslie Scott and her family, using blocks of wood from a local sawmill in Ghana, Africa.
  • The original Jenga blocks have height by width by length dimensions of 1.5 by 2.5 by 7.5 centimetres (0.59 by 0.98 by 2.95 inches), and the game is distributed by Hasbro.
  • As of 2015, the highest standing tower made from Jenga blocks was built in 1985 by Robert Grebler from the United States and was 40 complete layers in height with a single block remaining until the next layer.
  • Jenga is very similar to the game of Ta-Ka-Radi, although Ta-Ka-Radi has the primary difference of the blocks being stacked on the narrowest edge, rather than the widest, with large spaces between the blocks.
  • Various versions of Jenga have been produced including ‘Xtreme’ and ‘Ultimate’, while other companies have manufactured their own versions, including cylindrical shaped towers made with wooden blocks, and regular towers with plastic blocks.
Bibliography:
About, 2015, Jenga, http://www.jenga.com/about.php
How I created the 50 million selling game Jenga – by Leslie Scott, 2010, Screw Work – Let’s Play, http://www.screwworkletsplay.com/2010/05/how-i-created-the-50-million-selling-game-jenga-by-leslie-scott/
Jenga? Takaradi? Whats the difference?, n.d, Ta-Ka-Radi, http://www.takaradi.com/history
Jenga, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenga
Stevens J, How We Made Jenga, 2015, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/mar/30/how-we-made-jenga

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Webcam

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Webcam

Webcams are a marvel of the technological world.

  • Webcams are inventions that capture video or still images, that can then be stored or delivered through computer systems.
  • Images and videos captured by webcams can typically be saved onto a computer hard drive or streamed live, generally over networks such as the internet.
  • Common uses for the typical webcam include monitoring for security, traffic and other purposes; communication with the aim of socialising, having meetings, and so on; and they are also used to capture photographs, as well as being used in the health care industry among others.
  • Webcams are popular as they are easily transportable, practical, and can be of an inexpensive, affordable nature, and people like to use them to make video calls to friends, families and colleagues.
  • The quality of webcams has a broad range despite its relatively low cost, from around 320 x 240 pixels to a high definition resolution of 1080 p (progressive scanning), although costs are usually relative to quality.

Webcam, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Camera, Unplugged, Technology

  • The webcam was invented in 1993, although it was being used at a basic stage from 1991, and it was created by researchers in the Cambridge University for the purpose of monitoring levels in a coffee pot from a remote distance.
  • Webcams are now generally integrated into computer hardware systems and are typically located at the top of the screen, however, when they first entered the market they were connected to a computer externally via a cable.
  • Webcams feature a sensor that detects images, a lens, and a way of transmitting the information, and they may also a feature an in-built microphone.
  • Webcams can be hacked through accidentally installed malware, which allows the hacker to watch the video feed and infiltrate privacy.
  • Commercialisation of webcams only began in 1994, and they were originally produced by the Connectix Corporation in the United States, although the invention lacked popularity until the beginning of the 21st century when sales escalated as a result of people wanting to make video calls.
Bibliography:
Devaney E, The History of the Webcam, 2015, http://www.ehow.com/info_8626014_history-webcam.html
Knoder J, 1080p, 2.0 Mega Pixels? Understanding Webcam Technical Terms, 2013,  Top 10 Reviews, http://webcam-review.toptenreviews.com/1080p-2.0-mega-pixels-understanding-webcam-technical-terms.html
Webcam, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcam
http://webcam-review.toptenreviews.com/1080p-2.0-mega-pixels-understanding-webcam-technical-terms.html

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Biting Midges

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Biting Midges

Biting midges are awful irritators – or amazing, depending on the way you look at it.

  • Biting midges are flying insects that are considered pests due to their habit of consuming human blood, and they are also known as ‘no-see-ums’, ‘midgies’, ‘midges’, ‘punkies’, and somewhat incorrectly as ‘sandflies’, although they are a technically a fly.
  • Ceratopogonidae, is the family of biting midges, while those in the Culicoides genus number greater than one thousand, and they are generally found in areas near water or in mountainous regions.
  • There are more than 200 biting midges in the Culicoides genus, the most common found in Australia, and they are native to moist, muddy or mass-vegetated habitats often in coastal areas, particularly those in northern Australia (especially the tropics), although other midges in the genus are found around the world.
  •  The size of a biting midge is extremely small, ranging from 1 to 3 millimetres (0.04 to 0.12 inches) in length and the insect consumes nectar from plants as part of its diet.
  • Some biting midges cause significant irritation in humans after biting, which is caused by chemicals in the insect’s saliva, although not all midges are human pests; and it is often thought that their urine is what creates the burning irritation on one’s skin, however this is false.
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A Biting Midge
Image courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr
  • Blood is collected only by female biting midges, to supply adequate nutrients for egg reproduction, and for this reason, males are harmless.
  • The larvae of biting midges moult four times with the final time being the pupa stage, emerging as an adult two to three days later, with the entire process taking 3 to 22 weeks according to species, and it can also be dependent upon the moon and tide cycles.
  • Biting midges are generally most active at dawn and dusk, when the females tend to bite, but they can also be a pest during the night and occasionally in overcast weather, however, they are generally less active when it is windy, and more active around full and new moons.
  • The bites of biting midges are typically itchy and/or painful, and red swelling may be evident and grow to multiple centimetres in diameter, depending on one’s immunity, which can build over time, and unlike mosquitoes, midges in Australia are not known to spread disease among humans, though disease spread among animals and humans in other countries is evident.
  • Biting midges tend to stay low to the ground, so they are not typically a pest in high-set buildings, and humans are best protected from their bites by being fully covered by clothing, with the addition of chemical insect repellents on uncovered areas, while the consumption of vitamin B1 (as suggested by some) is ineffective.
Bibliography:
Biting Midges, 2015, Merck Manuals, http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/integumentary_system/flies/biting_midges.html
Biting Midges or “Sandflies” in the NT, 2003, Northern Territory Government, http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3713/BitingMidge.pdf
Biting Midges or Sandflies, 2009, Government of Western Australia, http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/cproot/2658/2/biting%20midges%20or%20sandflies.pdf
Culicoides spp., 2013, University of Florida, http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/biting_midges.htm

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