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Ice Pack

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Ice Pack

It is never a good idea to eat an ice pack.

  • An ice pack is generally a sealed pouch that contains liquid or a semi-liquid substance, such as water or gel, that emits cold temperatures for extended periods of time, generally after freezing the pack.
  • ‘Ice packs’ are also known as ‘gel packs’ and ‘cold packs’, while ‘ice bricks’ are often used for the same purpose, although they usually have a rigid casing.
  • Ice packs are typically used to keep items at low temperatures, like food items in a cooler or portable ice box, or a shipping container; as well as for medical purposes, like reducing swelling and pain from minor injuries.
  • Ice packs are usually soft, plastic pouches, often rectangular in shape, but various other shapes are also available, and their advantage over ice bricks is that they are often more flexible, allowing them to be moulded around a human limb.
  • Some ice packs can be permanently stored at room temperatures, and can be ‘cracked’ when needed, to create a chemical reaction that releases cool temperatures.

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  • The substance in ice packs can be toxic and potentially fatal, and toxic gels include ethylene or diethylene glycol, which can be illegal in some countries.
  • Common, safe gels used in ice packs include hydroxyethyl cellulose or silica gel, and they are most often coloured blue, but come in a variety of colours.
  • Often ice pack’s contain gel, however, when the pouch contains a liquid, the liquid will still usually contain chemicals that assist with keeping the pack colder for longer.
  • One of the earliest ice pack patents was filed in 1938, by Claude Brown from Chicago, in the United States, and ice packs were available for purchase in 1948.
  • Some ice packs can also be heated to be used for similar purposes, except they emit hot temperatures instead of cold.

 

Bibliography:
Ice Pack, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_pack
M Rehak, Who Made That Ice Pack?, 2014, The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/magazine/who-made-that-ice-pack.html?_r=0

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London

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London

Don’t get lost in the vast metropolitan of London!

  • London is one of the greatest cities worldwide, and it is located in Europe’s England, in the United Kingdom, and it is the capital of both England and the UK.
  • London is the home to four World Heritage Sites: the Westminster Abbey and Palace that includes the Big Ben; Tower of London; Kew Gardens; and a section of the area of Greenwich; and it is also home to many other notable sites including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square.
  • The first main colonisation of London, originally known as Londinium, was by the Roman Empire from 43 AD, and while it housed up to 60,000 people in the second century, it eventually declined until it was mostly deserted for up to 200 years, however, once it was re-established by King Alfred from 886 AD, it grew to become a central power in the 11th century.
  • London has been struck by numerous devastating disasters throughout history, including the Black Plague of 1665 to 1666, the Great Fire of 1666, and the Blitz bombing during World War II.
  • London was the first city to have held the Olympic Games on three occasions, in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

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Part of London
Image courtesy of fkwiatkowski/Flickr
  • As of 2013, London was the largest city in the United Kingdom, with a metropolitan population of more than 13.5 million people, and it covered an area of 1,583 square kilometres (611 square miles) with the main city in the centre, and this ‘Greater’ region contained approximately 8.5 million people, of which approximately 36% were born in other countries.
  • Temperatures in London range on average from 2.1°C to 23.6°C (35.8°F to 74.5°F); and the lowest and highest recorded temperatures were -13.6°C and 38.1°C (7.5°F and 100.6°F respectively).
  • It has been claimed that London is one of the ‘greenest’ cities in the world, and it is the home to many parks, such as Hyde Park, and as such, it contains over 2,000 vegetation species, 60 bird and 120 fish species, as well as many other animal species.
  • London had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of around $669 billion in 2005, with primary income based in the finance sector, with tourism being another prominent area, with more than 14 million individuals visiting the city annually.
  • London is home to much history and culture, particularly in the arts, such as seen by the multiple museums and galleries, and it is often depicted in literature.
Bibliography:
London, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London
London at a Glance, n.d, Visitlondon.com, http://www.visitlondon.com/discover-london/london-highlights/london-at-a-glance?ref=nav

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Kudu

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Kudu

Keep quiet while approaching a kudu.

  • Kudus are two species of mammals similar to an antelope, and they are native to the savannahs of south and east Africa.
  • Kudus have the scientific name Tragelaphus strepsiceros and Tragelaphus imberbis, known as the ‘greater’ and ‘lesser’ respectively, and are from the family Bovidae, the family of cloven-hoofed mammals.
  • ‘Kudu’ is derived from the word ‘koedoe’, a term from the South African language, Afrikaans, that originates from a native Xhosa word.
  • Female kudus can be found in herds of 24 or less, that usually include their young, and males generally live by themselves, although may collect in very small, same gender herds, and males may fight other males but are generally not territorial.
  • A kudu has a brown-grey coloured coat that has a number of thin, light coloured stripes on it, and the ‘lesser’ species can run at speeds of 95 km/hour (60 miles/hour).
Kudu, Animal, Mammal, Cloven Hoofed, Antelope, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, Savannah, Single, BrownA Kudu
Image courtesy of ale_speciale/Flickr
  • The diet of kudus generally consists of vegetation such as leaves or newly sprouted twigs, as well as fruit.
  • Kudus are preyed on by large cats, hyenas, snakes and wild dogs, and they often flee at the first sign of danger and hide among thick vegetation.
  • Humans are causing kudu numbers to dwindle due to hunting for the hide, low-fat meat and horns, as well as destruction of habitats; and the ‘lesser’ species are listed as near threatened.
  • Male kudus have long spiral horns that can be turned into musical instruments, that are often used during ceremonial occasions.
  • Kudus grow to be around 0.8 to 1.2 metres (31 to 47 inches) in height and typically weigh 120 to 256 kilograms (265 to 565 pounds).
Bibliography:
Kudu, 2014, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/kudu/
Kudu, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudu

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Quiche

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Quiche

Feel exquisite whenever you eat quiche.

  • Quiche is a pastry food dish like a lid-less pie, that is usually cooked in an oven, and is commonly eaten as a savoury food.
  • Quiche fillings are made primarily of cream or milk and eggs, and meat like bacon, vegetables, cheese and seafood are common additions,
  • A wheat-based pastry usually covers the base and sides of a quiche, however other grains can be used, and some have no pastry at all.
  • Quiches, originally known as ‘tarts’, were being made in the medieval period in Europe, and the recipes that became popular are said to have come from Germany, in Europe, as early as the 1500s, and these were adapted by the French, especially in the region of Lorraine.
  • The term ‘quiche’ comes from the German word ‘kuchen’, meaning ‘cake’, and it was altered by the French to the common word used today.

Quiche, Food, Pastry, Culinary, French, Ten Random Facts, Dish, Bacon

  • Quiches can be eaten at warm, cold or room temperatures, and they are commonly eaten for brunch or a lunch meal, and small individual ones are often eaten as finger food at parties and other occasions.
  • In the 1950s, quiches became more widely known in England, and they became popular in America in the 1970s.
  • Among the hardest techniques to master in the art of making quiches, is preventing any of the liquids from leaking outside the pastry, which is one of the reasons for partially baking the pastry before filling it.
  • During the 1900s, quiche was often considered to be a food avoided by ‘real’ men, as it often contained only small quantities of meat.
  • Quiches vary in the quantities of vitamins and minerals they contain, depending on their ingredients, but they are high in calcium, protein, riboflavin and selenium due to the milk and egg content.

 

Bibliography:
Quiche, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiche
What is Quiche?, 2014, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-quiche.htm
FAQs: pie & pastry, 2000, Food Timeline, http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpies.html

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

What are your opinions on unmanned aerial vehicles?

  • Unmanned aerial vehicles are aircraft that are controlled remotely, and therefore do not carry any humans.
  • ‘Unmanned aerial vehicles’ are also known as ‘unpiloted aerial vehicles’, ‘unmanned aircraft’, ‘remotely piloted aircraft’, ‘drones’, ‘UAVs’, ‘UA’ and ‘RPA’, among others.
  • Early unmanned aerial vehicles were balloon bombs, manufactured in Europe’s Austria, and were used on Italy’s Venice during the middle of the 19th century; and in the early 20th century, drones were developed for use as target practice by the military.
  • Numerous countries have stated it is illegal to possess and fly unmanned aerial vehicles under normal circumstances, and government consent is usually required.
  • Unmanned aerial vehicles come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from small robots to life-sized aeroplanes, and they have been used during dangerous missions, such as rescue, to scout, or to broadcast, among others, and have been used extensively as military tools.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Drone, UAV, American, Military, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Aircraft

An American Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Image courtesy of Marian Doss/Flickr
  • Large organisations, such as Google, Amazon, military groups and America’s Central Intelligence Agency, investigate and develop unmanned aerial vehicles for their organisation’s purposes.
  • In 2006, the United States were the leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles, producing more than 60% of the worldwide total, and the machines have become a popular choice for some purposes, due to their relatively low cost.
  • As of 2014, the longest flight time recorded of an unmanned aerial vehicle was 330 hours and 22 minutes, which is just over 14 days, and this world record was set by the ‘Zephyr’, which was built by a United Kingdom based company, QinetiQ.
  • It is against the law to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles, however if a drone manages to damage something such as a kite, tethered balloon or other property, the offending drone company is liable to be sued.
  • Film producers, farmers, real estate agents and some lawyers, among others, have shown particular interest in commercial unmanned aerial vehicles, however use of drones for various purposes requires a legal framework to operate under, especially regarding privacy laws, and legislation concerning their use is yet to be passed in some countries.
Bibliography:
Home, n.d., The UAV, http://www.theuav.com/
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle

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Ruby Falls

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Ruby Falls

Ruby Falls is the perfect name for a breathtaking waterfall.

  • Ruby Falls is a waterfall found in the subterranean area of Tennessee’s Lookout Mountain, in Chattanooga, in the United States.
  • Ruby Falls is found in a cave carved into limestone rock, and the cave has been formed by water erosion.
  • Ruby Falls was first discovered in 1928, when access to the area was drilled into accidentally by the chemist Leo Lambert, who had a fascination with caves and was trying to create a new path into the nearby Lookout Mountain Cave.
  • Ruby Falls is formed by an underground stream that is 341 metres (1120 feet) below ground; and the falls are accessed by an elevator.
  • In 1930, Ruby Falls cave was opened for tourism, and the caves were among the first to feature electric lights for tourism purposes.
Ruby Falls, Cave, Underground, Red, Beauty, Ten Random Facts, Europe,
Ruby Falls
Image courtesy of Chris Faulkner/Flickr
  • New paths have been created in the Ruby Falls area, such as in 1954 to avoid the consumption of water that has concentrated levels of magnesium in it, and later in 1975, to provide an alternate exit in case the main elevator ever malfunctions.
  • ‘Ruby Falls’ was named after the wife of Leo Lambert, who was called ‘Ruby’.
  • Ruby Falls is 44 metres (145 feet) tall, making it the largest underground waterfall open to visitors in America, while the cave is the deepest with public access in the United States, and it is considered as one of the most amazing waterfalls in the world.
  • Ruby Falls is a popular tourist destination, and it has been mentioned multiple times throughout literature, particularly in song lyrics.
  • Ruby Falls requires an entrance fee to access the falls, and groups are guided by a designated staff member.
Bibliography:
Ruby Falls, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Falls
Ruby Falls History, 2014, Ruby Falls, http://www.rubyfalls.com/things-to-do/cave-tours/ruby-falls-history/

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