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Artemis Fowl Series

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Artemis Fowl Series

“Criminally Good”- Slogan of the Artemis Fowl Series

  • The Artemis Fowl series is an octadic novel series, belonging in the fantasy-science fiction genre, and has been published in 44 languages.
  • The Artemis Fowl series is written by Eoin Colfer, a former primary school teacher and author from Ireland, and Artemis’ manor is located in Ireland.
  • The Artemis Fowl series is based on a criminal mastermind teenager and his conflict/interactions with the underground Fairy people.
  • The first book of the Artemis Fowl series was published in 2001, with the rest of the series following in order: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
  • In 2001, the concept of a film based on the Artemis Fowl series was revealed to the public, and is currently in production, although it was at a standstill for many years.

Artemis Fowl, Hardcover, Atlantis Complex, Lost Colony, Puffin, Time Paradox, Library, Eoin Colfer, Series, five, six, seven, Ten Random Facts

  • The Artemis Fowl series sees the growth in the primary character ‘Artemis Fowl’, with other themes of greed, magic and trust explored throughout the series.
  • The main characters portrayed throughout the Artemis Fowl series include two humans, Artemis Fowl and Butler, and the fairies Holly Short, Mulch Diggums, Foaly and Julius Root, while the number one antagonist is a pixie known as Opal Koboi.
  • The Artemis Fowl series has seen the sale of over 21 million books, and therefore has taken its place among the most popular of all fantasy novel series.
  • The Artemis Fowl series is aimed at teenage readers, and has its own pictographic language.
  • The Artemis Fowl series has been published by various publishers including Puffin Books, Viking Press, and Disney Hyperion.
Bibliography:
Artemis Fowl (Series), 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_Fowl_(series)
Artemis Fowl: The Books, 2014, Artemis Fowl Confidential, http://www.artemis-fowl.com/artemis-fowl-the-books/

Artemis Fowl Series

Silicone Bakeware

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Silicone Bakeware

Your cookies will not stick with silicone bakeware!

  • Silicone bakeware is primarily made of silicone rubber, a synthetic compound, and used for baking or cooking purposes.
  • Silicone bakeware is often used as the cooking container or mould for flour-based products, such as cake, but also chocolate, ice or the like, and it is popular for its non-stick and long life properties.
  • Silicone bakeware is used as a replacement for metal bakeware, baking paper, and non-stick Teflon, the last of which can be a health hazard when used at considerably high temperatures.
  • Silicone bakeware can be treated to temperatures from -50°C to 260°C (-58°F to 500°F), which makes it suitable for refrigerator, freezer and oven use.
  • Silicone bakeware has been moulded into numerous shapes, and can be purchased in similar forms to typical bakeware, like flat sheets, round, square, or muffin tins, but also festive and other more intricately shaped moulds.

Silicon Bakeware, Cookware, Molds, Muffin, Pan, Star, Blue, red, Four, Ten Random Facts, Tupperware brand

  • Silicone bakeware comes in a very broad range of sizes and colourful colours.
  • Some manufacturers of silicone bakeware include impurities in their silicone products, which has negative effects, such as wear and bad odour, which can be detected as a white colour in the product when it is twisted or stretched.
  • Silicone bakeware has a flexible property that can make it easier to store, but this property can cause spillage or uneven baking, so it is recommended that the bakeware sit on a rigid tray when in use.
  • The Frenchman, Guy Demarle, a chemist, created non-stick silicone bakeware, when he coated baking sheets with silicone in the 1960s, and founded a cookware company named ‘Sasa Demarle Inc’.
  • Silicone bakeware became available for purchase in the 1980s in Europe, and its use spread to other countries by the 1990s.
Bibliography:
Campbell L, Silicone Bakeware the Hype and the Truth, 2007, Culinary Arts 360, http://www.culinaryarts360.com/index.php/silicone-bakeware-the-hype-and-the-truth-30503/
Chechar L, Silicon Cookware Dangers, 2014, EHow, http://www.ehow.com/about_5690548_silicon-cookware-dangers.html

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Saffron

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Saffron

Saffron, an expensive spice, use it wisely!

  • Saffron is a spice that comes from the stigmas of the purple flowers of the plant Crocus sativus, and each flower contains three stigmas that are handpicked, and then dried.
  • Saffron is native to the Middle East, and is from the family Iridaceae, the family of irises, and was historically popular among royalty, particularly kings and pharaohs.
  • To make 1 gram (0.033 oz) of dried saffron, approximately 150 flowers are needed, making it the most expensive spice in the world.
  • Saffron is typically an orange-red colour, due to the content of crocetin, a type of acid and crocin.
  • Saffron spice sometimes has additives, such as dyed vegetable or plant fibres, making the spice impure.

Saffron, Bowl, dried, String, Raw, Spice, Expensive, Bowl Ten Random Facts

  • Saffron has historically been used in cooking and to make cloth dye, perfume, herbal medicine, body wash, hair dye, and woven into textile items.
  • The Middle East’s Iran produces more than 90% of the world’s production of saffron, much of which is exported.
  • Saffron is typically prepared by toasting or soaking the spice in hot water to release the flavour before adding to other ingredients, and is most commonly prepared in dishes from India, Persia, Europe, Arab and Turkey, such as risotto, paella, and bouillabaisse, and as a flavouring for rice, while it is occasionally used in alcohol, cakes, lollies and other drinks.
  • Saffron can be sold, or bought, for up to $11,000 USD per kilograms and $5,000 USD per pound.
  • Saffron has the taste of hay-like, bitter honey, and contains significant amounts of vitamin C, manganese and magnesium, while it is said to have a number of medicinal benefits, including improvement of vision, anti cancer properties, and benefits for depression.
Bibliography:
Saffron, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron
Stradley L, Saffron – Crocus sativus, 2004, What’s Cooking America, http://whatscookingamerica.net/saffron.htm

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Chichen Itza

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Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is positively ancient, but these facts are not.

  • Chichen Itza is an ancient capital city that was built by the Mayan Mexicans, and is now an archaeological site, located in Mexico’s Yucatán state, in America.
  • Chichen Itza sees approximately 1.2 million tourists annually, making it the second most popular site of archaeology in Mexico.
  • Chichen Itza was among the biggest cities in the Mayan empire, and it also had a high population rate.
  • The literal meaning of ‘Chichen Itza’ is ‘at the mouth of the well of the Itza’ in the Mayan language; known as ‘Chichén Itzá’ in Spanish.
  • Chichen Itza was settled in the early to mid 5th century AD and became the capital of the area in the 10th century.

Chichen Itza pyramid El Castillo seen through ruin, Mexico, Maya, Civilsation, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

El Castillo seen through the ruins
Image courtesy of Avery Studio/Flickr
  • Chichen Itza’s power started to decrease from 1250 AD, and by the end of 15th century the city was abandoned.
  • The main structures of the city of Chichen Itza are located on an area of five square kilometres (two square miles) or more, and other residential buildings spread out from this boundary.
  • Chichen Itza is the home of a large temple pyramid, named ‘El Castillo’, which depicts a snake shadow twice a year, and the city has many ancient ball courts, including the largest in the region, originally used for an ancient Mayan ball game.
  • Chichen Itza became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.
  • Chichen Itza’s major water source came from two water-collecting sinkholes, natural wells, known as ‘cenotes’.
Bibliography:
Chichén Itzá, 2014, National Geographic, http://travel.nationalgeographic.com.au/travel/world-heritage/chichen-itza/
Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza, 2014, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/483
Chichen Itza, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_Itza

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Dianthus

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Dianthus

Smell the sweet fragrance of dianthus.

  • ‘Dianthus’ are also known as ‘carnations’, ‘pinks’ or ‘sweet williams’, although these terms are more specific to certain species.
  • The dianthus genus, includes 300 species of perennial plants with beautiful flowers.
  • Dianthus comes from the family Caryophyllaceae, the pink or carnation family.
  • Dianthus are native to Europe or Asia, but a select quantity of species can be found in either North America or Africa.
  • Dianthus flowers are five-petalled, and they are generally frilled or serrated on the edge, hence the common name ‘pink’ (not a reference to the colour).

Dianthus, Pink, White, Single, Dead, Prim, Frilled, Ten Random Facts, Flower, Australia

  • Dianthus flowers are typically patterned in shades of pink but can also be white, purple, yellow, orange or red in colour.
  • Dianthus flower from spring through to autumn, and some species have a sweet smell of spice.
  • ‘Dianthus’ comes from the Greek words for ‘of Zeus’ (a god in Greek mythology) and ‘flower’, ‘dios’ and ‘anthos’ respectively.
  • Dianthus plants grow between 10 cm (4 inches) and 1.5 metres (5 feet) in height, and often have grey or blue-green foliage
  • Dianthus are often used for cut or decorative purposes, and more than 100 species have earned the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in the United Kingdom.
Bibliography:
Dianthus, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianthus
Mackey B, Dianthus, Carnations, Pinks, 2014, HowStuffWorks, http://home.howstuffworks.com/define-dianthus-carnation-pinks.htm

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Granny’s Cloak Moth

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Granny’s Cloak Moth

Do not be fooled by a granny’s cloak moth.

  • The scientific name for a granny’s cloak moth is Speiredonia spectans, and they are from the family Noctuidae, the family of owlet moths.
  • Granny’s cloak moths are native to Australia, typically found in the north eastern areas, but some have been randomly seen in New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
  • Granny’s cloak moth caterpillars have long, flat bodies that have brown coats spotted with spots that are black or black and white.
  • Granny’s cloak moths can generally be found in dark habitats, including caves, and also in or near human settlements.
  • Adult Granny’s cloak moths appear to have brown coloured wings with scalloped edges, with eye spots on each wing and streaks of dark colours, however, in the right lighting situation (especially with flash photography), purple coloured wings are visible.

Granny's cloak Moth, Pipe, Laundry, Four, Two Spots, Purple, Orange, Ten Random Facts, Bug, Insect, Spread, rest, Ten Random Facts

  • The wingspan of a Granny’s cloak moth can be up to 7 to 7.5 centimetre (2.8 to 3 inches).
  • Granny’s cloak moths can appear in an eclipse (group of moths) of twelve or more, commonly grouping by the particular plant the bug hatched on.
  • Granny’s cloak moths’ diet mainly consists of plants from the family Acacia, the family of wattles.
  • Granny’s cloak moths are generally active during the night, when their main natural predators, the birds, are asleep, although bats pose a threat.
  • Granny’s cloak moths have super sensitive ears, and can pick up the echolocation calls from some species of bats, who are their predators, and in response, they can dart around to avoid being the bats’ next meal.
Bibliography:
Granny’s Cloak Moth – Speiredonia Spectans, 2011, Brisbane Insects, http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_owlmoths/CloakMoth.htm
Herbison-Evans D, Crossley S & Shaw P, Speiredonia spectans (Guenée, 1852), 2013, Butterfly House, http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/cato/spectan.html

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