Tag Archives: Facts

Alfalfa Sprouts

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Alfalfa Sprouts

Sprout the facts like alfalfa sprouts.

  • ‘Alfalfa sprouts’ are also known as ‘lucerne sprouts’ and their scientific name is Medicago sativa.
  • Alfalfa sprouts belong to the family Fabaceae, which is the family of legumes, beans and peas, and are thought to be native to Iran.
  • Alfalfa sprouts start as brown seeds that germinate, within 1-2 days after watering, and the shoots, white with tiny green leaves, are ready to eat after 3 to 5 days.
  • Alfalfa sprouts are sprouted alfalfa or lucerne seeds and are easily grown at home in a jar, or special sprout grower.
  • Alfalfa sprouts are high in vitamin K and also contain other beneficial nutrients.

Alfalfa Sprout, Green, Shout, Bundle, Handful, Plate, Focused, White, Green, Ten Random Facts, Legume, Australia

  • In 2006, the total world production of alfalfa was 395 million tonnes (436 million tons) in weight.
  • Traditionally, alfalfa was used medicinally, although no significant medical properties have been discovered, although consuming significant quantities of alfalfa sprouts may lead to autoimmune type disorders in some people.
  • Alfalfa is the most common legume grown in the world, mostly grown as stock feed.
  • Raw alfalfa sprouts can contain bad bacteria, particularly salmonella, although this can generally be avoided if they are kept in the fridge and thoroughly washed before eating.
  • Alfalfa spouts are commonly used as a sandwich filling or salad addition.

 

Bibliography:
Alfalfa, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa
Smith M, Are Alfalfa Sprouts Safe to Eat?, 2010, Food Safety, http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/sprouts.html

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Stuffed Toy

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Stuffed Toy

Cuddle up with your stuffed toy.

  • Stuffed toys are toys that are made of fabric and are stuffed with a type of stuffing material.
  • ‘Stuffed toys’ are also known as ‘stuffed animals’, ‘plushies’, ‘plush toys’, ‘soft toys’, ‘softies’ and ‘cuddle toys’.
  • Over the years, stuffed toys have been stuffed with fibre, wool, plastic pellets, beans, cotton, batting and straw.
  • Stuffed toys are often made into the shape of an animal or other objects.
  • Stuffed toys are commonly used for comfort, or given on special occasions, sometimes to express one’s feelings of love.

Stuffed Toy, Beige Monkey, Green Teddy Bear, Plushie, White bear, Brown kangaroo, mulitcoloured dolphin, seahorse, Ten Random Facts

  • In 1880, Steiff, a German company started by Margarete Steiff, was the first commercial company to produce stuffed toys.
  • The first patented stuffed toy was a rabbit from Beatrix Potter’s stories, Peter Rabbit.
  • Stuffed toys have their origins in stuffed dead animals and home made rag dolls from the 1830s, and once teddy bears were created in 1902, they became increasingly popular.
  • Some antique stuffed toys, notably, late 1800 and early 1900 Steiff toys, have been sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
  • Electronics and mechanics are sometimes placed inside stuffed toys to allow sound and movement.

 

Bibliography:
Learn about the History of Plush Toys and Stuffed Animals, Purr-fect gifts, http://www.purr-fectgifts.com/history/
Stuffed Toy, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffed_toy

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I have a dream…” – Martin Luther King.

  • Martin Luther King was an African-American humanitarian and activist, as well as the leader of the African-American civil rights movements.
  • Martin Luther King was born on 15 January, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and was the second child in a family of three children.
  • It was originally believed that Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, United States on 4 April, 1968, by a bullet shot by James Earl Ray, a criminal, however a jury, in 1999, gave the verdict that the government and others were involved in a conspiracy, that had King assassinated.
  • Martin Luther King had a strong belief in Jesus, particularly focusing on a verse from the Book of Matthew in the Bible: “love your neighbour as yourself”.
  • Martin Luther King married Coretta Scott on 18 June, 1953, and had four children, one of which was named Martin Luther King III.

Martin Luther King Jr, Black and White Photograph, Speaking, Speech, American Civil Rights, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

 

Martin L King
Image courtesy of Family MWR/Flickr
  • Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream” is a 17 minute speech, and the most famously known one of King’s, and one of the most significant in the history of America.
  • ‘Martin Luther King’ was also known as ‘MLK’, and was originally named Michael King on his birth certificate.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986, and the public holiday is recognised throughout the United States on the 3rd Monday in January.
  • Martin Luther King was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in October 1964 for his involvement in civil rights, and at the time, he was the youngest to have received the prize.
  • Martin Luther King has had his house bombed in 1956, was arrested for his rebellion against racial unfairness in buses, and after his assassination, there were riots among much of the United States.
Bibliography:
Martin Luther King, Jr., 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr., 2013, Bio.com, http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086

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Prickly Poppy

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Prickly Poppy

This prickly poppy is not so delicate.

  • Prickly poppies are 32 species of generally prickly, herbacious plants often found in bushes, deserts and near rivers.
  • ‘Argemone’ is the scientific name of ‘Prickly poppies’ and they are also known as ‘argemony’.
  • Prickly poppies are from the family Papaveraceae, which is the poppy family.
  • Prickly poppies are native to Hawaii, North America and South America.
  • Prickly poppy flowers are often white, purple, red, or yellow in colour.

Prickly Poppy, prickle, spikey, white flower, river, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • Prickly poppies have prickly or spiny leaves and prickly fruit that are coloured green.
  • Prickly poppy plants have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions, and they have also been used as a drug that is smoked.
  • Prickly poppies are sometimes used as a garden plant, but they are an invasive weed in some countries.
  • The coloured sap contains latex and both the seeds and the sap of prickly poppies are potentially toxic.
  • Prickly poppies grow to 30 to 150 centimetres (1 to 5 feet) in height and generally bloom in spring and summer.

 

Bibliography:
Ownbey G, Prickly Poppy, n.d, Flora of North America, http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=102532
Prickly Poppy, 2013, Britannica Encyclopaedia, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/475859/prickly-poppy

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Yellow Chat

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Yellow Chat

Do not chat all day long with yellow chats.

  • Yellow chats are birds from the family Meliphagidae, which is the family of honeyeaters.
  • Yellow chats have yellow coloured coats and the males have a black crescent on their chest.
  • The scientific name of yellow chats is Epthianura crocea and there are three subspecies.
  • Yellow chats are native to the Australian tropics and different subspecies are exclusive to specific areas.
  • Some subspecies of yellow chats are ranked from endangered, to least concerned, and they are threatened mainly by the destruction of their habitat by various invasive plant species, wild pigs and other feral animals, and salinisation issues.

Yellow Chat Capricornia, Rare, reeds, grass, stand, alert, birds, Australia, Ten Random Facts

Photo courtesy of Val Laird
  • Yellow chats grow to be 10-12 cm (4 to 4.7 inches) long, and on average 9.3 grams (0.3 ounce) in weight.
  • Some subspecies of yellow chats have a population of approximately 50 to 500, while others are more numerous.
  • Yellow chats generally live among long grass, particularly in the wetlands or grasslands.
  • Yellow chats build cup shaped nests from grass, feathers and other vegetation, and lay 2-3 eggs that are coloured white with black/red speckles.
  • Yellow chats have a diet mainly consisting of various insects that they find in a range of habitats.
Bibliography:
Yellow Chat (Epthianura crocea), 2013, Birdlife International, http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=5391
Yellow Chat (Epthianura crocea), n.d, The Internet Bird Collection,  http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=539

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Mayonnaise

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Mayonnaise

No salad is complete without mayonnaise.

  • ‘Mayonnaise’ is also known as ‘mayo’, and became popular in France, eventually spreading to many countries throughout the world.
  • Mayonnaise is typically a condiment that has a thick, creamy texture, and is generally made of egg yolk, oil and an acidic solution such as vinegar or lemon juice.
  • Mayonnaise is usually white, cream or white-yellow in colour, and sometimes includes whole eggs, rather than just the yolk.
  • Mayonnaise is often used as a base ingredient in other condiments, a common sauce being Thousand Island dressing, which is mayo usually mixed with tomato sauce and a few other ingredients.
  • It is not certain who invented mayonnaise, or when or where, but it is considered a Spanish or French concoction, with its origin between the 15th to the 18th centuries.

mayonnaise, condiment, bowl, blue, Ten Random Facts

  • Mayonnaise is high in vitamin K and E and has a high fat content, reaching up to 85% fat in some formulas.
  • Mayonnaise became commercially available and popular in the United States in the early 1900s.
  • Raw egg was traditionally used in mayonnaise, but is now less frequently used due to possible food poisoning from salmonella bacteria.
  • Mayonnaise is often used in or on salads, as well as dressings, sandwiches and dip.
  • It is said that mayonnaise has a number of unusual uses that includes applying it like shampoo conditioner, using it for sunburn relief, and for treating head lice.
Bibliography:
Mayonnaise, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayonnaise
What are Some Uses of Mayonnaise?, 2013, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-some-uses-for-mayonnaise.htm

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