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Howler Monkey

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Howler Monkey

Howler monkeys may give you headache.

  • Howler monkeys are a subfamily and genus of medium to large primates with around 15 species, and one of the largest sized monkeys in the group of New World monkeys.
  • The scientific name of a howler monkey is Alouatta, while Alouattinae is the subfamily name, and it is from the family Atelidae, a family of New World monkeys.
  • Howler monkeys typically live in trees in rainforests and jungles of their native Central and South America.
  • The height of howler monkeys ranges from 56 to 92 centimetres (22 to 36 inches) and they weigh roughly 3 to 9 kilograms (6.6 to 20 pounds).
  • The colour of howler monkey fur can be brown, black or tan in colour, and the animal has a long tail, that can be the length or longer than their body, that they use like an extra limb for grasping, and hanging in trees.
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Howler Monkey
Image courtesy of Peter Schoen/Flickr
  • Howler monkeys have a diet that consists primarily of leaves, fruit, flowers and nuts, however some of their food can become dangerous to them when consumed in large quantities.
  • Howler monkeys have notably loud voices generally used for howls or growls, which can be projected to distances up to 4.8 kilometres (3 miles), hence their common name.
  • Howler monkeys are nest builders, and they have a sense of smell that is quite considerable, reaching a range of around 2 kilometres (1.25 miles).
  • The lifespan of howler monkeys is an average of 15 to 20 years, and the mammal is preyed on by snakes, birds and jaguars.
  • Howler monkeys are threatened by habitat loss and poaching, and have been captured as exotic pets, while some species are listed as vulnerable or endangered.
Bibliography:
Howler Monkey, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/howler-monkey/
Howler Monkey, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/howler-monkey/
Howler Monkey, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howler_monkey

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Sweet Potato

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Sweet Potato

The roots literally stem to the sweet potato.

  • A sweet potato is a vegetable that is the root of a dicot plant with the scientific name Ipomoea batatas, and the plant is from the family Convolvulaceae, the family of morning glories or bindweeds.
  • Some people refer to sweet potatoes as yams, despite the term technically reserved for totally unrelated vegetables from the Dioscoreaceae family, with the scientific name Dioscorea; thus creating confusion.
  • There are numerous varieties of sweet potatoes, and the skin can be coloured orange, beige, brown, red, yellow, or purple, while the flesh can be yellow, beige, orange, white, pink, purple, red, or violet, and they are generally a long, fat shape.
  • Sweet potatoes are commonly cooked through baking, frying, grilling or boiling; and both the leaves and root can be eaten.
  • Sweet potatoes are native to South and Central America, and they have been used in these areas since ancient times, and were likely cultivated there thousands of years ago.

Sweet Potato, Food, Vegetable, Root, Culinary, Ten Random Facts, Yam

  • China is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the world, producing around 81.7 million tonnes (80.4 million tons) in 2011, totalling approximately 77% of the world’s production.
  • Sweet potatoes do not grow well in cold temperatures, preferring sunlight and the warmth it generates, and once harvested they are best stored in a dry, dark and cool environment, however, they should not be stored in the fridge.
  • Europe had not seen sweet potatoes until 1492, after Christopher Columbus brought back some of the vegetables from his original visit to America.
  • The skin of sweet potatoes may be commercially dyed or waxed, the former to increase the apparent quality and fool consumers, while the latter is used to protect the vegetable from moisture loss and to maintain its freshness.
  • Sweet potatoes have an extremely high content of vitamin A and are a good source of vitamins C and B6, fibre, potassium and manganese, and they contain many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Sweet Potato, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato
Sweet Potato, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64

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Spirit Level

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Spirit Level

Did you go for the laser level? Well, spirit levels will be with you in spirit.

  • Spirit levels are an invention typically used to determine if either a vertical or horizontal platform is exactly aligned.
  • ‘Spirit levels’ are also known as ‘bubble levels’, ‘levels’ and ‘spirits’, and they are commonly used in the construction industry.
  • Spirit levels are typically made of a tube and a holder, and the tube is generally made of glass or plastic, while the holder is commonly made of plastic, wood, aluminium or other metal.
  • Typically, the tube containing the liquid in a spirit level is cylindrical, rectangular or crescent-shaped, and is marked with a central point and/or into sections, and the tube is deliberately filled with a small air space which creates a bubble.
  • When the bubble inside a spirit level sits centrally, rather than off-centre, the platform or object sitting parallel to the spirit will be level, or if it is sitting perpendicular to the spirit, it will be aligned vertically.
Spirit Level
Spirit Level
Image courtesy of David Jones/Flickr
  • The coloured liquid used in spirit levels is generally alcoholic, hence the level’s name, which is commonly ethanol dyed green or yellow; and alcohol is used instead of water as the latter freezes more easily and provides more friction, preventing smooth bubble movement.
  • To establish the accuracy of a spirit level, the bubble should have an increment from the centre, equal to when the level is rotated 180° on the same surface.
  • The spirit level is said to have been invented in the mid 1600s by the wealthy Frenchman Melchisedech Thevenot, who had studied science duruing his life; however they did not become popular until the 1700s.
  • Spirit levels are said to have replaced water bottles that were used for similar purposes, and these levels are being slowly replaced by laser-based levels that are generally more accurate and can measure in three dimensions.
  • The accuracy of a spirit level depends on the liquid container’s shape, the bubble size and liquid type, as these all contribute to a level’s sensitivity.
Bibliography:
Spirit Level, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_level
Spirit Level, 2015, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-spirit-level.htm#
Spirit Level Information, 2015, Johnson, http://www.johnsonlevel.com/News/SpiritLevelInformation

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Siberia

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Siberia

Siberia is such a breath-taking place. *sigh*

  • Siberia is a region located in North Asia, spreading from the central to eastern parts of the continent, and it is one of the districts of Russia.
  • The origin of the name ‘Siberia’ is controversial; with some theorising its origins are from ‘su’ and ‘bir’, meaning ‘water and ‘land’ respectively, while others state ‘Sib Ir’ as the origin, which is native terminology for ‘sleeping land’.
  • The actual boundaries of Siberia are somewhat undefined, with the Federal District covering approximately 5.1 million square kilometres (2 million square miles), and the most broadest boundaries (also known as ‘Asian Russia’) include more than 70% of Russia.
  • Siberia is economically important in supplying minerals including gold, nickel, coal, silver, zinc, lead and diamond, with the region containing some of the largest reserves on earth.
  • Some towns in Siberia are generally isolated and unconnected from other settlements in that they do not have designated roads for vehicles, while the Trans-Siberian railway provides some of the greatest accessibility to the southern areas.
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Part of Siberia
Image courtesy of Marc van der Chijs/Flickr
  • Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia, and third largest city in Russia, with a population of approximately 1.5 million in 2013.
  • A wide variety of native groups inhabited parts of Siberia until the Mongolian invasions from the 1200s, and later the Russian invasions from the late 1500s.
  • Siberia has particularly cold temperatures, with low winter temperatures reaching -20°C (-4°F) despite the area originally being full of volcanic activity.
  • As of 2014, Siberia Federal District had a population of approximately 20 million people, and with the wider area included, the total was around 40 million, bringing it to roughly the same people to land ratio as Australia – a low density of 3 people per square kilometre (0.4 of a square mile).
  • Siberia is notable for its vastness, and its extensive and awe inspiring scenery, particularly Ukok Plateau, and the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal.
Bibliography:
Siberia, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberia
Siberia Federal District, Russia (Siberian), 2015, Russia Trek, http://russiatrek.org/siberia-district
Siberia History, 2015, Lonely Planet, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/russia/siberia/history
Siberia, n.d, Encyclopedia.com, http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Siberia.aspx

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The Lion King

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The Lion King

The Lion King has left ‘Hakuna Matata!’

  • The Lion King is an 88 minute feature film that tells the tale of a young lion, Simba, heir to the throne, who is blamed for the death of the king, his father, by his uncle Scar, and thus leaving the savannah kingdom in shame.
  • The musical and mostly hand-animated film The Lion King, was designed, produced and animated by Walt Disney and released on June 15, 1994; and the full first scene of the film, ‘The Circle of Life’ song, was used on the film’s promotional trailer, and it was the first Disney trailer to do so.
  • The concept of The Lion King was first generated in 1988 through a discussion between Disney colleagues, that included the then Disney chairman Jeffery Katzenberg, who nurtured and carried the idea, and incorporated some of his personal history into the original story.
  • The original The Lion King script titled King of Beast and King of Jungle during the early stages, was written in late 1988 to early 1989 by Linda Woolverton, and it was significantly rewritten when Don Hahn was promoted as chief producer, because he perceived it to be somewhat messy and without a defined theme.
  • During the production of The Lion King, there were a number of significant staff changes due to disagreements over the film which caused some to leave, and the final directors were Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers.
The Lion King, Film, Poster, Wallpaper, Ten Random Facts, Walt Disney
The Lion King
Image courtesy of Walt Disney
  • Many Disney animators were hesitant about, or refrained from working on The Lion King‘s animation, as Pocahontas, another Disney feature film being produced at the same time, was thought to become more profitable.
  • The final animation sequences of The Lion King were required to be created at the animators homes, after the horrific Northridge earthquake of 1994 in California, that rendered the Disney studios unusable.
  • The Lion King has grossed almost $987.5 million across its release and rereleases (2002 and 2011, the latter in 3D), and earnt the title of 1994’s highest grossing film, and as of the end of 2014 it was the 3rd highest grossing animation film ever.
  • The Lion King received Academy Awards for both the Best Original Score and Best Original Song ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’, as well as Golden Globe awards for the Best Motion Picture -Music or Comedy and Best Original Score.
  • A musical production for the stage, adapted from The Lion King film, debuted in the United States in 1997 in Minnesota’s Minneapolis, and it was highly successful, leading to various adaptations throughout the world, while the film itself has spawned two sequels.
Bibliography:
“The Lion King”, 1994, The Lion King Unofficial, http://www.lionking.org/text/FilmNotes.html
The Lion King, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King

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Afghan Hound

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Afghan Hound

Afghan hounds are quite the lovable type.

  • An Afghan hound is a breed of large domestic dog, that is commonly kept and bred as a pet, and it uses its sense of sight and fast moving ability when hunting, and therefore is listed as a ‘sighthound’.
  • ‘Afghan hounds’ are also known as ‘Tazis’, ‘Sage Balochis’, ‘Ogar Afgans’, ‘Eastern greyhounds’, ‘Kabul hounds’, ‘Baluchi hounds’, and ‘Persian greyhounds’, as well as ‘Tāžī Spay’ and ‘Sag-e Tāzī’ in native languages.
  • The long, thick hair with a silk-like appearance is a notable feature of Afghan hounds, along with their distinctly curled tails and particularly lengthy muzzles.
  • The fur of Afghan hounds ranges from brown, grey, black, gold and white in colour, and it requires much grooming to keep a neat appearance.
  • Afghan hounds originate from the cold mountainous regions of Afghanistan, in Asia, and were probably domesticated in the area around 4000 BC.

 

Afghan Hound, Shaggy, Dog, pet, Grey, White, Animal, Trivia, Ten Random Facts
Afghan Hound
Image courtesy of Bryan Ungard/Flickr
  • Afghan hounds generally grow to be 61 to 74 centimetres (24 to 29 inches) in height and 20 to 27 kilograms (44 to 59.5 pounds) in weight.
  • Usually, Afghan hounds have a gentle and pleasant nature, although they have been used throughout history to hunt boar, deer, gazelle and goats, and guarding livestock from snow leopards, wolves and other animals.
  • Afghan hounds were first imported into the United Kingdom in the 1880s, while afterwards in the United States of America in the 1920s, and they quickly became a popular breed and commonly exhibited at shows.
  • Although originally quite an independent breed, Afghan hounds have had this tendency dulled through breeding attempts to create appealing varieties.
  • Female Afghan hounds generally have around seven pups at a time, and they typically live twelve to fourteen years.
Bibliography:
Afghan Hound, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/afghan-hound/
Afghan Hound, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Hound

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