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Safety Pin

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Safety Pin

Safety pins – whenever you need them, they are nowhere to be found.

  • Safety pins are an invention consisting of a clasp and a pin, and is a variant of a pin.
  • While safety pins have many uses, they are frequently used to attach fabric items to each other, without the danger of accidentally stabbing one’s self with the pin.
  • Safety pins are generally made of a metal wire such as stainless steel or brass, and the length of wire is curled in the middle to form a basic spring.
  • The ancestor of the safety pin, called a ‘fibula’, is thought to have been an invention of the Ancient Greek Mycenaean community, and it was used as a brooch, as well as a pin to hold clothes together.
  • The safety pin was invented in 1849 by the American Walter Hunt, a mechanic, who created it while fiddling with a length of wire.

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  • The safety pin patent was sold for $400 USD, which equates to roughly $10,000 USD in 2008 to W R Grace Company in 1849, while Hunt is said to have used some of the money to pay a small debt owed to a friend.
  • The clasp of a safety pin is used to secure the pin closed and prevent it from poking the user.
  • From the 1970s, safety pins were a common item worn by those who embraced punk fashion, both on clothes and as piercings.
  • In countries such as Turkey, where good luck charms are made with beads attached to safety pins, there is a high incidence of ingesting the pins by young children, who accidentally swallow them.
  • Numerous improvements to safety pins were made during the late 1800s and early 1900s, although it wasn’t until 1907, that pins had a clasps similar to the modern style clasp.
Bibliography:
Kershner K, Who invented the safety pin?, 2015, HowStuffWorks, http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/who-invented-the-safety-pin1.htm
Safety Pin, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_pin
A Visual History of the Safety Pin, n.d, The Museums of Everyday Design, http://museumofeverydaylife.org/exhibitions-collections/current-exhibitions/a-visual-history-of-the-safety-pin

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Backgammon

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Backgammon

Backgammon is a classic lucky game of skill, or a skilled game of luck.

  • Backgammon is game that involves moving playing pieces around a board according to dice rolls, and is played by two people.
  • The typical aim of backgammon is to move one’s own fifteen pieces, or counters, from a starting point to an end point and then off the board, before one’s opponent does the same with their own set of pieces.
  • The board of backgammon has two sections with six evenly spread elongated triangles, or points, on each side of each section, alternating in light and dark colours, to make a total of 24.
  • Counters are moved around the board in a U-shape, in turns across points using the roll of two dice, and generally a counter is chosen and moved the number shown on one dice, and another counter chosen and moved the number shown on the other, although counters cannot land on a point where two or more counters of the opposition are situated.
  • In 1982, in the United States, a court case about backgammon commenced, the prosecutor stating the game was primarily gambling and should not become competitive, although eventually it was ruled as a game that uses skill.

Backgammon, Board Game, Brown, Set, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Strategy

  • In 1967, backgammon world championships were held for the first time and won by Tim Holland, and were played in Nevada’s Las Vegas, in the United States.
  • The origins of backgammon are uncertain, however a game extremely similar to the modern version was played from the first century AD by Romans and Greeks, and was known as ‘Tabula’, literally translated as ‘table’.
  • The first online real-time server to accommodate backgammon was opened in July 1992, known as the First Internet Backgammon Server, or FIBS.
  • During game play of backgammon, if a counter is sitting alone on the board, an opponent may land on the same space, and as a result send the counter back to the ‘bar’, off the board, so that it is required to re-enter the game.
  • The term ‘backgammon’, or more literally ‘back game’, is said to originate from the Middle English words ‘back’ and ‘gamen’, in reference to the counters that go back to the ‘bar’.
Bibliography:
Backgammon, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backgammon
Driver M, A History of Backgammon, n.d, Backgammon Galore!, http://www.bkgm.com/articles/GOL/Nov00/mark.htm

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Uakari

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Uakari

I would say uakaris are quite a cheeky bunch, wouldn’t you?

  • Uakaris are four species of monkey of small size, native to South America’s tropical rainforests in the Amazon River Basin.
  • The scientific name of a uakari is Cacajao, and it is from the family Pitheciidae, a family of New World Monkeys.
  • Uakaris range from 36 to 57 centimetres (14 to 22.5 inches) in length and weigh between 2 to 3.5 kilograms (4.4 to 7.7 pounds).
  • Depending on the species, uakaris have hair that can be coloured brown, red, white or black, while their mostly hairless face can be black or a vivid red colour.
  • The diet of uakaris consists primarily of fruit, as well as insects, nuts and leaves, and the monkeys are preyed upon by hawks and other large birds, and snakes.
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Uakari
Image courtesy of Paul Schlarman/Flickr
  • Uakaris live high up in tall trees, and spend much time jumping from tree to tree in leaps that can reach distances of up to 20 metres (66 feet).
  • The face colour of a uakari reflects the primate’s health, with a paler colour indicating a less healthy specimen, while species kept in captivity are notably more pale than their wild counterparts.
  • As a result of hunting and habitat loss, there has been a decrease in the population of uakaris, and as such, they are listed as vulnerable.
  • The tail of a uakari is notably smaller in comparison to other New World monkeys, reaching lengths of 15 to 18 centimetres (6 to 7 inches), and it is used primarily for balance.
  • Female uakaris give birth to a single baby every second year, and they generally have a lifespan between 16 to 22 years, and live in small troops of 10 to 30 animals, although they can number up to 100.
Bibliography:
Red Uakari, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/red-uakari/
Uakari, 2014, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uakari
Uakari, 2015, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/uakari/

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Fennel

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Fennel

Funnelling your throat with fennel is probably not the safest idea.

  • Fennel is an edible perennial plant, which is used as a vegetable, herb and spice.
  • Fennel is believed to be native to the coastal areas of the Mediterranean region, and it has spread across much of Europe, and in some countries around the world, some varieties are considered a weed.
  • The scientific name of the fennel plant is Foeniculum vulgare, and it is from the family Apiaceae, the family of carrots, celery and parsley, and the bulbous variety of the plant is known as ‘Florence fennel’, ‘bulb fennel’, and ‘finocchio’, and has the scientific name Foeniculum vulgare azoricum.
  • The flowers, leaves, seeds, and bulbs of fennel can be eaten, and they are used mostly as a flavouring or spice, while the bulbous ends can be used raw, grilled, steamed, or cooked in other ways.
  • The bulbs of fennel are generally white in colour with a green stalk, while the flowers are coloured yellow, the leaves green, and the seeds brown to green.

Fennel, Food, Vegetable, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Trivia, Green, White, Bulbs, Shelf,

  • Fennel seeds can be used to spice up meat, especially fish, as well as egg, while the bulbs are popular in salads or as vegetable sides.
  • The bulb of fennel generally grows to be 8 to 12 centimetres (3 to 5 inches) in diameter, while the seeds reach 0.4 to 1 centimetre (0.15 to 0.4 inches) in length.
  • The smell and taste of fennel is notably similar to that of anise, and the bulb has a crisp texture and the leaves are feathery.
  • The Ancient Greeks considered fennel as a godly food, and it was believed that the vegetable distributed godly knowledge through charcoal in the vegetable’s stalks.
  • Fennel bulbs are very high in vitamin C, and are high in potassium, fibre and manganese, and contain many other vitamins and minerals.

 

Bibliography:
Fennel, 2011, Fresh For Kids, http://www.freshforkids.com.au/veg_pages/fennel/fennel.html
Fennel, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennel
Fennel, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=23

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Bran Castle

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Bran Castle

Bran Castle is a secret residence of the vampires.

  • Bran Castle is a large castle found in central Romania in Europe, along the border of the historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia.
  • ‘Bran Castle’ is popularly known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’, especially by tourists, and is also known as ‘Bran Fortress’.
  • It is thought that a wooden castle was built on or near the site of the present-day Bran Castle, built by the Teutonic Knights around 1212 and named Dietrichstein, however it is believed to have been destroyed in 1242.
  • Bran Castle is situated on a cliff at an elevation of 762 metres (2500 feet), and is surrounded by valleys and hills and is major tourist destination in Romania.
  • King Louis I of Anjou ordered the original construction of Bran Castle in 1377, which was built by choice by residents from the nearby town of Brașov, at their own expense.
Castle Bran, Green, Place, Transylvania, Dracula, Blue, Red, Orange, Romania
Bran Castle
Image courtesy of Rob/Flickr
  • Bran Castle was completed by 1382, in record time, and was built for the purpose of defending Transylvania’s border and included a customs station.
  • Bran Castle was popularised by the renowned novel Dracula, which describes a similar residence to Bran Castle for Count Dracula, although further analysis has revealed there a major differences in the descriptions.
  • Queen Marie, the last queen consort of Romania, was quite fond of Bran Castle as a residence, and was given the castle in 1920 by the town of Brașov, and later her daughter Princess Ileana inherited it, however in 1948, it was taken by the communists and eventually made into a museum.
  • In 2015, the owner of Bran Castle was Archduke Dominic of Austria-Tuscany, also known as Dominic von Habsburg and son of Princess Ileana, who acquired the castle in 2006, after the Romanian government gave over the rights of the castle to the traditional owners.
  • Bran Castle has had various owners and caretakers over the centuries, and has been used by royalty and the forestry, among others, and it has also undergone various renovation and restoration projects.
Bibliography:
Bran Castle, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran_Castle
Medieval Fortress, 2013, Bran Castle, http://www.bran-castle.com/medieval-fortress.html
Morris E, Bran Castle, Romania: In Search of Dracula – and the Buried Heart of a Long-Dead Queen, 2015, Exploring Castles, http://www.exploring-castles.com/bran_castle.html

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Pangolin

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Pangolin

Pangolins are overshadowed by anteaters, hence why they are known so little.

  • Pangolins are a family of scaled mammals, native to parts of Asia or Africa, depending on the genus, in tropical areas.
  • ‘Pangolins’ are also known as ‘scaly anteaters’ and ‘trenggilings’, and in 2014 they were said to be the most trafficked animal in the world.
  • The scientific family name of pangolins is Manidae, from the Pholidota order, and they belong to three genera – Manis, Phataginus and Smutsia, and include eight species.
  • Pangolins range in size, depending on the species, and they generally grow to lengths between 30 to 140 centimetres (1 to 4.6 feet) and weigh between 1.6 to 33 kilograms (3.5 to 73 pounds).
  • The armoured scales of pangolin are made of keratin and range in colours from yellow, olive and light and dark browns.
Pangolin, Animal, Mammal, Scaly Anteater, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Brown, ScurryPangolin
Image courtesy of Dabid Brossard/Flickr
  • Termites and ants make up the primary diet of pangolins, although other insects and their larvae are also consumed.
  • Pangolins have a significantly long tongue that is up to 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) in width and 40 centimetres (16 inches) in length, to reach the far corners of insect mounds.
  • Pangolins are threatened by poaching or hunting for their meat and scales, and habitat loss, all of which have led to populations becoming vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, and while the animal is kept in captivity, often in rehabilitation centres, they commonly die from dietary and stress related issues.
  • Hiding and sleeping in burrows or trees during daylight, pangolins are mostly nocturnal animals and they usually live alone.
  • The term ‘pangolin’ comes from the Malay term ‘peng-guling,’, which literally means ‘roller’, referring to the animal’s common defence tactic of curling up in a ball.
Bibliography:
Pangolin, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin
Pangolin, 2015, World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin
Pangolin, n.d, African Wildlife Fund, http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/pangolin
What is a Pangolin?, 2015, Save Pangolins, http://savepangolins.org/what-is-a-pangolin/

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