Tag Archives: Facts

Pufferfish

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Pufferfish

This pufferfish will pop like crazy.

  • ‘Pufferfish’ are also known as ‘puffers’, ‘blowfish’, ‘toadfish’, ‘bubblefish’, ‘balloonfish’, ‘swellfish’, ‘sea squabs’, and ‘globefish’.
  • ‘Pufferfish’ is the common name of the fish that belong to the ‘Tetraodontidae’ family, and are part of the Tetraodontiformes order, which contains fish that are ray-finned.
  • Pufferfish include 19 genera, covering 120 different species, that are mainly found in the tropical oceans, and depending on the species, sometimes in fresh water rivers.
  • Pufferfish expand their stomachs when chased or provoked by inhaling water and air, making them much larger than their normal size.
  • Pufferfish are generally extremely poisonous, often described as the second most poisonous vertebrate, with the deadliest parts being the organs and sometimes skin, which contain the poison tetrodotoxin.

Pufferfish, blowfish, spine, small, deflated, Ten Random Facts, Philippines, Batangas, National Geographic

Pufferfish Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Depending on the species and environment, pufferfish can change their coloured appearance, and most are normally a dull colour.
  • One of the main systems of defence of a pufferfish is it’s rudder like tail and ability to move at quick bursts, even though they generally swim very slowly.
  • Although pufferfish are usually highly toxic, Japanese, Chinese and Korean chefs make carefully prepared special dishes using the meat that is considered a delicacy, however a single mistake in processing can cause fatal poisoning in a consumer.
  • Pufferfish species vary in colour, can be as small as 2.5 cm (1 inch) or can grow up to one metre (three feet) in length, and may have spines or spikes that can be poisonous and not visible unless threatened.
  • Pufferfish are carnivores and mainly consume water creatures, algae, and sometimes shellfish, that they use their tough teeth to crush.
Bibliography: Pufferfish, 2013, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/pufferfish/
Tetraodontidae, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraodontidae

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Viburnum

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Viburnum

There are so many versions of viburnums!

  • Viburnums are evergreen or deciduous flowering shrubs or small trees and there are at least 150 different species.
  • Viburnums are from the family Adoxaceae, which is the family of moschatels and they were originally part of the honeysuckle family, the Caprifoliaceae family.
  • Viburnums are mostly native to the northern parts of the world, particularly those in mild climates.
  • Viburnums have small flowers with five petals, that are white, pink or cream in colour and grow in clusters.
  • In the past, long stems of some species of viburnum have been used as shafts for arrows, and they are still commonly used by archers.

Viburnum Tinus, Flowers, Clustered, White, Pink, Buds, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Ornamental plant

  • Viburnums have small, red, purple, blue or black round fruits, and depending on the species can be made into jam, although some species are toxic.
  • Viburnums grow from 1 to 6 metres (3 to 20 feet) in height and prefer to grow in sunlight, but can adapt to the shade.
  • Viburnums generally have appealing, green coloured foliage, and those species that lose their leaves in winter have attractive autumn coloured foliage.
  • Viburnums are popularly used as an ornamental plant since they do not attract many pests.
  • Viburnums flower during the spring months, and some species are quite fragrant.
Bibliography:
Twombly K, Viburnum are Versatile Plants, 2013, Fine Gardening, http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/viburnums-are-versatile-shrubs.aspx?id=81004
Viburnum, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viburnum

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Bread Clip

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Bread Clip

What would we do without bread clips…?

  • ‘Bread clips’ are also known as ‘bread tags’, bread tabs’, ‘bread-bag clips’, ‘bread ties’, ‘bag closures’, ‘Kwik Lok closures’ and ‘bread climps’.
  • Bread clips were invented to seal and reseal bags, and are often used for bags containing bread or bakery products to improve freshness.
  • Bread clips come in many different sizes, shapes, and colours, and are selected according to their use and the size of the packaging that will be involved.
  • Bread clips are sometimes colour coded for certain purposes, and it is common for the expiry date to be printed on the clip.
  • Bread clips are sometimes collected due to the uniqueness of most clips.

Bread tag, Bread clip, seal, loose, white, blue, brown, expiry, Ten Random Facts, notched, Australia, Plastic

  • A bread clip looks like a notched square or rectangle and are made of a cheap plastic.
  • Bread clips were invented by Floyd G Paxton, an American, in the 1950s, but it is said that he was never awarded a patent.
  • Floyd Paxton, the founder of the Kwik Lok company, invented bread clips when he cut part of a credit card, notched it and placed it on an open bag, that stopped the contents from spilling out.
  • Bread clips are a more practical replacement for wire closures and a fresher replacement than folding the packaging over.
  • Bread clips can be clipped on the wheel spokes on a bicycle, which when the wheel is spun, the clips produce spins of colour and clicking sounds.
Bibliography:
Bread clip, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_clip
Taxonomy of the Occlupanida, n.d, http://www.horg.com/horg/?page_id=921

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Garlic

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Garlic

These facts, like garlic, will scare the vampires.

  • Garlic is an edible bulb, containing around 84% water , and there are two main varieties – ‘hardnecks’ and ‘softnecks’, and ten main types that are distinguishable by size, shape, colour and taste, although most bulbs have a white, or white and purple outer skin.
  • The scientific name of garlic is Allium sativum and it is a species of Allium, which also includes onions, leeks, chives and shallots, that all belong to the Amaryllidaceae family, which is the family of amaryllis.
  • Garlic plants can grow to 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall are native to central Asia, although they have spread to other parts of Asia, Africa and Europe.
  • Garlic can be purchased whole and raw, or in separate cloves, and also comes crushed, powered or as dried flakes in jars and is used as a flavouring in oil, main meals, sauces, on bread to make garlic bread, and can be eaten raw, crushed or chopped, although leaves, flowers and heads are also edible.
  • China, in 2010, produced 13.7 million tonnes (15 million tons) of garlic, which was a total of 77% of the world’s production of 17.7 million tonnes (19.5 million tons).

Garlic

  • In the Ancient world, garlic was commonly used in many countries as medical treatments for a variety of ailments.
  • Garlic is very high in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese, and is also high in many other vitamins and minerals.
  • The juice of garlic bulbs can be used to make glue that can adhere to glass, and the crushed cloves have antibiotic properties.
  • Garlic can cause foul breath, and sometimes a foul body smell, along with other effects and can cause allergic reactions in some people, with reactions such as nausea, diarrhoea and breathing problems.
  • In folk tales from England, and some other countries, garlic is used to protect from monsters, particularly vampires.

 

Bibliography:
Garlic, 2013, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=60
Garlic, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic

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Parliament House – Canberra

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Parliament House – Canberra

The centre of Australia’s politics:  Parliament House.

  • Parliament House, situated on Capital Hill in Canberra, Australia, is where the Parliament of Australia meets, and much of the building is built into the hill.
  • Parliament House has 4,500 individual rooms, with the Main Foyer, a marble staircase leading to the Great Hall, a green coloured House of Representatives and a red coloured Senate, and is host to 4,000 to 5,000 workers when Parliament meets there.
  • Parliament House cost AU$1.1 billion to build at the time of construction and is said to have been the world’s most expensive building at that stage.
  • Parliament originally met in Melbourne from 1901 to 1927, before moving to Canberra where they met in the Provisional Parliament House, now known as Old Parliament House, which was intended to be a short-term site, until the new permanent site was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1988.
  • The American company, Mitchell/Giurgola and Thorp Architects, were the winners of the design contest for Parliament House, and construction commenced in 1981 and took 7 years to complete and involved in 10,000 workers.
View from War Memorial, Old Parliament House, New parliament house, Parliament of Australia, Canberra, Australia, Ten Random Facts, FlickrParliament Houses
Image courtesy of Brendon Ashton/Flickr
  • Parliament House caters for 1 million visitors every year, and is often visited by school groups.
  • Parliament House has a large, stainless steel, 81 metre (266 feet) high flagpole, flying a 12.8 by 6.4 metre (42 by 21 feet) Australian flag that weighs 15 kilograms (33 pounds).
  • Parliament House is 300 by 300 metres (328 by 328 yards) in area, and in the Southern Hemisphere, it is one of the largest buildings.
  • Parliament House houses an art collection of over 6,000 items and includes one of the world’s largest tapestries.
  • Parliament House is home to over 2,700 clocks, designed to inform members of parliament where they need to be, by flashing green or red lights.
Bibliography:
Parliament House, 2013, Parliamentary Education Office, http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fact_sheets/parliament_house.html
Parliament House, Canberra, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_House,_Canberra

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Shrek

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Shrek

‘The greatest fairy tale never told.” – The tagline of Shrek.

  • Shrek is a animated film of a comedy and fantasy genre, produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by DreamWorks Pictures .
  • Shrek is about an ogre, ‘Shrek’, who wants fairy tale creatures out of his swamp, and includes two other main characters, ‘Donkey,’ the ogre’s sidekick, and ‘Princess Fiona,’ an ogre/princess.
  • Shrek is somewhat based on a children’s picture book, named ‘Shrek!’, by William Steig, published in 1990.
  • Shrek was originally going to be voiced by Chris Farley, who died just before the full recording, leading to a full script change for the replacement of Mike Myers.
  • During the 90 minute film, 36 different scenes or places were featured in the world of Shrek, and work on the movie began in November 1995.

Shrek, Green, Orge, Video cassette, one, first, home, Ten Random Facts

  • Shrek was released on 18 May 2001, and ended with three sequels, one spin-off (a prequel), and two specials released between 2004 and 2011.
  • Shrek was produced on a budget of $60 million, and earned nearly $484.5 million at the box office internationally, ranking it fourth of all film releases in 2001.
  • Shrek won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for 2001, as well as eight Annies and six BAFTA Awards.
  • By the end of 2001, more than 5.5 million copies of Shrek DVDs and videos had been sold, which, at the time, was the ‘biggest selling DVD of all time’.
  • Mike Myers originally used a Canadian accent for the Shrek character, but during the production process he approached the company about letting him re-record his lines in a Scottish accent, which they consented to, but it cost the company millions of dollars.

 

Bibliography:
History, 2011, Shrek, http://www.shrek.com/
Shrek, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek

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