Did anyone else know what ricin was? It is all over the news today...and I had never even heard of it before.
It is a toxin, that is deadly to humans, that is extracted from the castor bean. More info can be found here, if you want to learn more.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
You asleep? 59:365
Did you know that dolphins do not sleep like land mammals? They need to come up for air on a regular basis, so dolphins sleep with only one side of their brain at a time.
Crazy!? One hemisphere of the brain is asleep and one eye closed, while the other side is alert, telling them when to go up for air and watching for any dangers. Cool.
I wish I could sleep like that.
Crazy!? One hemisphere of the brain is asleep and one eye closed, while the other side is alert, telling them when to go up for air and watching for any dangers. Cool.
I wish I could sleep like that.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
I scream you scream. 58:365
You ever wonder what the best spoon to use is when eating ice cream? Yeah, me neither. But John Harrison, who is the official ice cream taster for Dreyers Ice Cream, uses a gold spoon because unlike plastic, metal or wood, gold has no aftertaste.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
birthdays 56:365
Today was one of my little booger's birthday...in honor of him, I decided to see who else shares his day.
1841 - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (artist)
1918 - Bobby Riggs (tennis player)
1935 - Sally Jessy Raphael (talk show host)
1938 - Diane Baker (american actress)
1943 - George Harrison (Beatles lead guitar)
1947 - Doug Yule (from The Velvet Underground)
1841 - Pierre-Auguste Renoir (artist)
1918 - Bobby Riggs (tennis player)
1935 - Sally Jessy Raphael (talk show host)
1938 - Diane Baker (american actress)
1943 - George Harrison (Beatles lead guitar)
1947 - Doug Yule (from The Velvet Underground)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Telesto 55:365
Straight from the wiki random link: Wiki Random
In Greek Mythology Telesto or Telestho ("success") was a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.
In Greek Mythology Telesto or Telestho ("success") was a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
peace! 54:365
The peace sign was originally a sign for victory (hence the "V" shape) and didn't become a recognized sign for peace until the 1960s peace movement in the United States. Protesters (aka "hippies") often held the "v sign", palms out, and said the word peace at the same time.
Cool. All in all....peace is the real victory. A natural progression of the "sign" in my eyes.
Cool. All in all....peace is the real victory. A natural progression of the "sign" in my eyes.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Environmental impact. 53:365
So, for the past few months, I have been going back and forth about getting a filter on our tap and stop with the bottled water. You would not believe how many bottles three kids can waste in a day, let alone a week...a month...a year!!?!?
We recycle, at least, but in the back of my head, I just knew that using the tap is a better option. For some reason, the topic of bottled water came up tonight, and I decided to do a little research. What I found, has made up my mind. The next time I get out, I am buying a filter.
I am just going to copy and past this information on environmental impact of the bottled water industry (the impact is much more than the 80% of the bottles in America that DON'T get recycled - out of the 28 billion bottles consumed). Anyway, this site is one of many that are trying to turn people back to the tap....you should check it out in greater detail if you are interested: Tap vs. Bottle. From their site:
there are other, more serious, problems associated with the production and consumption of bottled water. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, Americans bought a total of 31.2 billion liters of water in 2006. The Pacific Institute estimates that producing the bottles for American consumption required more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation. Bottling the water produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. It took 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water.
Once the bottled water is produced and consumed, the plastic bottle must be disposed of, which results in even more issues for our environment. The Container Recycling Institute reports that 86 percent of plastic water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter. Incinerating the used bottles produces toxic byproductsand buried water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. For those whothink recycling is the answer, almost 40 percent of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that were deposited for recycling in the United States in 2004 were actually exported, sometimes to as far away as China, thus adding to the resources used by this product.
So anyone want to join me in cutting back? I know I will still use them from time to time, but this has really opened my eyes. Every little bit helps.
We recycle, at least, but in the back of my head, I just knew that using the tap is a better option. For some reason, the topic of bottled water came up tonight, and I decided to do a little research. What I found, has made up my mind. The next time I get out, I am buying a filter.
I am just going to copy and past this information on environmental impact of the bottled water industry (the impact is much more than the 80% of the bottles in America that DON'T get recycled - out of the 28 billion bottles consumed). Anyway, this site is one of many that are trying to turn people back to the tap....you should check it out in greater detail if you are interested: Tap vs. Bottle. From their site:
there are other, more serious, problems associated with the production and consumption of bottled water. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, Americans bought a total of 31.2 billion liters of water in 2006. The Pacific Institute estimates that producing the bottles for American consumption required more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation. Bottling the water produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. It took 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water.
Once the bottled water is produced and consumed, the plastic bottle must be disposed of, which results in even more issues for our environment. The Container Recycling Institute reports that 86 percent of plastic water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter. Incinerating the used bottles produces toxic byproductsand buried water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. For those whothink recycling is the answer, almost 40 percent of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles that were deposited for recycling in the United States in 2004 were actually exported, sometimes to as far away as China, thus adding to the resources used by this product.
So anyone want to join me in cutting back? I know I will still use them from time to time, but this has really opened my eyes. Every little bit helps.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Little red specs of happy. 52:365
Middle kid: "Mom, the birds are singing outside. What in the world are they doing in our tree, in the ICE?!?!?!"
Me: "Where else would they be sweetie, we feed them."
Middle kid: "Uhmmm, the SOUTH. Duh."
So, did you know that cardinal birds aren't migratory? I knew we had a ton of them in our tree...but I just thought they were the dumb ones that didn't go off and get warm.
Turns out, most cardinals stick right where they are for the winter. They may fly a little bit further if food supply is low, but for the most part, cardinals find a favorable spot and flock together in the wintertime. They also keep the same mate for life and never travel far from one another.
Good thing. I've enjoyed watching them this winter. We have an upward of 20-25 of the little songbirds in our tree in back every time I look out the window.
Me: "Where else would they be sweetie, we feed them."
Middle kid: "Uhmmm, the SOUTH. Duh."
So, did you know that cardinal birds aren't migratory? I knew we had a ton of them in our tree...but I just thought they were the dumb ones that didn't go off and get warm.
Turns out, most cardinals stick right where they are for the winter. They may fly a little bit further if food supply is low, but for the most part, cardinals find a favorable spot and flock together in the wintertime. They also keep the same mate for life and never travel far from one another.
Good thing. I've enjoyed watching them this winter. We have an upward of 20-25 of the little songbirds in our tree in back every time I look out the window.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Columbus Eclipse. 51:365
My brother was talking about this today...and I had no clue what the hell he was talking about. SO I decided to learn that today...in honor of the lunar eclipse this evening.
Columbus left on his fourth voyage, in search of Strait of Malacca to the Indian Ocean, on May 11, 1502. Several things happened over a course of a year (if you want to know more about it go look it up yourself!), but they were unable to travel any further on June 25, 1503 and were beached in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica.
Columbus and his crew were stranded here for over a year. The island's governor thought that Columbus was an ass, and rejected giving them any help and obstructed any rescue efforts to save them.
Desperate to get his crew food, Columbus intimidated the natives by correctly predicting a lunar eclipse for February 29, 1504, (using the Ephemeris of the German astronomer Regiomontanus). This carried them over until help arrived June 29, 1504. Columbus and his men arrived back in Spain in November of that year.
And...a photo of the lunar eclipse tonight....to top off what you learned today.
Columbus left on his fourth voyage, in search of Strait of Malacca to the Indian Ocean, on May 11, 1502. Several things happened over a course of a year (if you want to know more about it go look it up yourself!), but they were unable to travel any further on June 25, 1503 and were beached in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica.
Columbus and his crew were stranded here for over a year. The island's governor thought that Columbus was an ass, and rejected giving them any help and obstructed any rescue efforts to save them.
Desperate to get his crew food, Columbus intimidated the natives by correctly predicting a lunar eclipse for February 29, 1504, (using the Ephemeris of the German astronomer Regiomontanus). This carried them over until help arrived June 29, 1504. Columbus and his men arrived back in Spain in November of that year.
And...a photo of the lunar eclipse tonight....to top off what you learned today.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Elvis is alive [or a new recipe]. 50:365
Have you ever had an Elvis Sandwich? I never knew there was such a thing...but apparently this was one of his favorite meals in the later years of his life...
1. Toast two slices of soft white bread in a toaster.
2. Spread peanut butter on one slice
3. Slice banana on top of the peanut butter and cover with the other piece of toast.
4. Fry the sandwich in a hot skillet with melted butter.
5. Add bacon if you are in the mood.
Um, gross. I'll give anyone who makes and eats this sandwich (and shows me photos to prove it) a custom 8x10 photograph of their choice from my flickr stream. Anyone up for the challenge? Bacon can be optional, but I'd throw in a frame if you did it. I swear.
1. Toast two slices of soft white bread in a toaster.
2. Spread peanut butter on one slice
3. Slice banana on top of the peanut butter and cover with the other piece of toast.
4. Fry the sandwich in a hot skillet with melted butter.
5. Add bacon if you are in the mood.
Um, gross. I'll give anyone who makes and eats this sandwich (and shows me photos to prove it) a custom 8x10 photograph of their choice from my flickr stream. Anyone up for the challenge? Bacon can be optional, but I'd throw in a frame if you did it. I swear.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Etymology of Robot. 49:365
Taken directly from wiki:
The word robot was introduced to the public at large by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), which premiered in 1920. The play begins in a factory that makes 'artificial people' - they are called robots, but are closer to the modern idea of androids or even clones, creatures who can be mistaken for humans. They can plainly think for themselves, though they seem happy to serve. At issue is whether the "Robots" are being exploited and, if so, what follows?
However, Karel Čapek himself was not the originator of the word; he wrote a short letter in reference to an article in the Oxford English Dictionary etymology in which he named his brother, painter and writer Josef Čapek, as its actual inventor. In an article in the Czech journal Lidové noviny in 1933, he also explained that he had originally wanted to call the creatures laboři (from Latin labor, work). However, he did not like the word, seeing it as too artificial, and sought advice from his brother Josef, who suggested "roboti".
The word robot comes from the word robota meaning literally serf labor, and, figuratively, "drudgery" or "hard work" in Czech, Slovak and Polish. The origin of the word is the Old Church Slavonic rabota "servitude" ("work" in contemporary Bulgarian and Russian), which in turn comes from the Indo-European root *orbh-. Robot is cognate with the German word Arbeiter (worker).
**edited to add this bitchass video my dear friend extra super cutie put together. Cutest thing EVAR.
The word robot was introduced to the public at large by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), which premiered in 1920. The play begins in a factory that makes 'artificial people' - they are called robots, but are closer to the modern idea of androids or even clones, creatures who can be mistaken for humans. They can plainly think for themselves, though they seem happy to serve. At issue is whether the "Robots" are being exploited and, if so, what follows?
However, Karel Čapek himself was not the originator of the word; he wrote a short letter in reference to an article in the Oxford English Dictionary etymology in which he named his brother, painter and writer Josef Čapek, as its actual inventor. In an article in the Czech journal Lidové noviny in 1933, he also explained that he had originally wanted to call the creatures laboři (from Latin labor, work). However, he did not like the word, seeing it as too artificial, and sought advice from his brother Josef, who suggested "roboti".
The word robot comes from the word robota meaning literally serf labor, and, figuratively, "drudgery" or "hard work" in Czech, Slovak and Polish. The origin of the word is the Old Church Slavonic rabota "servitude" ("work" in contemporary Bulgarian and Russian), which in turn comes from the Indo-European root *orbh-. Robot is cognate with the German word Arbeiter (worker).
**edited to add this bitchass video my dear friend extra super cutie put together. Cutest thing EVAR.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
lucky star. 48:365
Converse All Stars (one of my all time favorite shoes) were first produced in 1917. Damn. They have been around a long ass time.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Elder Wisdom. 47:365
I found something this week that I wanted to share with as many people as I could...so I thought I'd use it for today's blog entry. There is this really cool organization called the Elder Wisdom Circle. Here is a description of who they are taken from their site:
"Advice seekers in their teens, 20's and 30's from all over the globe consult the EWC. A widely diverse group of 600 wise volunteers aged 60-105 create our Circle. Elders participate individually from their home computers or collectively at a senior community."
Basically, you write a question...and a elder responds and give you the wisdom that they have on the subject. Cool right?
I mean, at a time where many people disregard anyone's opinion, it is nice to know that such an organization exists. I know I want my grandparents to know that I genuinely care about what they have to say. I care about their life experiences that got them to where they are today. I'd like them to feel like they are passing something from themselves to me...and that I can pass that same wisdom to my kids and eventually grandkids...and on down the line.
I think it is great that this organization is not only giving these seniors an outlet to share their wisdom...but for younger generations to gain from it as well. Happy happy.
So GO! Ask them a question. Learn something new from someone who knows!! I did. :-)
"Advice seekers in their teens, 20's and 30's from all over the globe consult the EWC. A widely diverse group of 600 wise volunteers aged 60-105 create our Circle. Elders participate individually from their home computers or collectively at a senior community."
Basically, you write a question...and a elder responds and give you the wisdom that they have on the subject. Cool right?
I mean, at a time where many people disregard anyone's opinion, it is nice to know that such an organization exists. I know I want my grandparents to know that I genuinely care about what they have to say. I care about their life experiences that got them to where they are today. I'd like them to feel like they are passing something from themselves to me...and that I can pass that same wisdom to my kids and eventually grandkids...and on down the line.
I think it is great that this organization is not only giving these seniors an outlet to share their wisdom...but for younger generations to gain from it as well. Happy happy.
So GO! Ask them a question. Learn something new from someone who knows!! I did. :-)
Friday, February 15, 2008
St. Louis 46:365
Did you tell St. Louis Happy Birthday today!?!??! St. Louis was established on February 15, 1764. On this day, Auguste Chouteau and Pierre Linquest started building a trading post, which they named St. Louis in honor of the patron saint of the reigning French king, Louis XV.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day. 45:365
Straight from wiki...because I'm too tired to write it myself....
The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer:
"For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate]."
This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381. (When they were married eight months later, he was 13 or 14, and she was 14.)
Cool. I love Chaucer
The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer:
"For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate]."
This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia. A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381. (When they were married eight months later, he was 13 or 14, and she was 14.)
Cool. I love Chaucer
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Specialty Hearse WHAT!? 44:365
So, my lovely friend Rachel (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!), is in Indiana and sees this...this convertible hearse. No kidding, see the photo to the right.
She is so flabbergasted that she has to google it, right? Turns out it a specialty hearse for flowers. Well, I have never heard of a convertible specialty hearse...and we had quite a good laugh at what the people in my town would do with such a thing.
Turns out though (after doing a bit of research myself), there are all types of specialty hearses. I mean, motorcycle ones, Buddhist temple ones, gilded ornament ones, horse drawn ones, trailer ones, even luxury hearses. For real.
And, even scarier than that, they actually have clubs for hearse enthusiasts. Really...people collect them.
Wow....you learn somethin' new every day.
She is so flabbergasted that she has to google it, right? Turns out it a specialty hearse for flowers. Well, I have never heard of a convertible specialty hearse...and we had quite a good laugh at what the people in my town would do with such a thing.
Turns out though (after doing a bit of research myself), there are all types of specialty hearses. I mean, motorcycle ones, Buddhist temple ones, gilded ornament ones, horse drawn ones, trailer ones, even luxury hearses. For real.
And, even scarier than that, they actually have clubs for hearse enthusiasts. Really...people collect them.
Wow....you learn somethin' new every day.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Julie. 43:365
The name Julie is French...and it means youthful one, soft haired, vivacious. That is me, no? Anyway, I knew all of that. This is what I learned about my name today....the first time the name Julie appeared in a non-French literary work was in the famous tragedy Miss Julie by
Swedish playwright August Strindberg in 1888.
To go along with this little fact about my name...I'll share this song (Julie) by Jens Lekman (whom I found a few weeks ago and fell in love with!). Funny, I believe he is Swedish as well. Here it is...enjoy.
Swedish playwright August Strindberg in 1888.
To go along with this little fact about my name...I'll share this song (Julie) by Jens Lekman (whom I found a few weeks ago and fell in love with!). Funny, I believe he is Swedish as well. Here it is...enjoy.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Crouton. 42:365
From wiki, the word crouton is derived from the French croûte, meaning "crust".
How original.
How original.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Vitruvian Man. 41:365
Leonardo da Vinci's famous drawing the Vitruvian Man (also called the Canon of Proportions) was named such because da Vinci based some aspects of the drawing from ideal human proportions with geometry which was in Book III of the treatise De Architectura by an ancient Roman architect Vitruvius (which was written between 27 and 23 BC).
Saturday, February 9, 2008
I've been told... 40:365
I have heard people say "a little bird told me so" from the day I was born. So it never really occurred to me to wonder why the heck people say it until I was taking a photo today for my 365 portrait project.
My friend, Andreas Nilsson and I embarked on the 365 project about the same time. This week, we have given one another seven concepts for the other to do. Today, I had to do my interpretation of "I've been told"
So...I immediately thought of "a little birdie told me" and after posting the photo, started to think about WHY on EARTH did a bird tell me anything?!?!
The origins of the phrase are not exact and there are a few ideas as to where it came from. Some believe it is from the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:20 "for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."
Others believe that it is simply a reference to carrier pigeons or other such messenger birds.
So...now you know. Pick which reason you like best and stick to it. :-)
:-)
My friend, Andreas Nilsson and I embarked on the 365 project about the same time. This week, we have given one another seven concepts for the other to do. Today, I had to do my interpretation of "I've been told"
So...I immediately thought of "a little birdie told me" and after posting the photo, started to think about WHY on EARTH did a bird tell me anything?!?!
The origins of the phrase are not exact and there are a few ideas as to where it came from. Some believe it is from the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:20 "for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."
Others believe that it is simply a reference to carrier pigeons or other such messenger birds.
So...now you know. Pick which reason you like best and stick to it. :-)
:-)
Friday, February 8, 2008
The Awakening. 39:365
Kate Chopin not only paved the way for feminist authors in the 19th century, but also changed my life.
Her book, The Awakening, transformed me in ways I’ll never be able to clearly describe. Well over 100 years after it was written, Chopin clearly portrays what it is like to be a woman (not to mention a mother) that is held to certain expectations. This book made me reevaluate my priorities, stay true to my self, and love the woman I am even though I may not fit in to the "mold" that people expect and want.
On February 8, 1850, Kate Chopin, a woman who as truly made my life better just by having read her, was born. So every year, I plan to celebrate. Today, I placed this book near her star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in her honor. I hope it inspires whomever picks it up.
I registered it with Bookcrossing, and if you haven’t checked out that site…you should. I’ve just only found it and I am going to be obsessed.
I decided that for today, I would try to learn something more about this book...even though I already know quite a bit about it. I managed to find out that on July 6, 1902, the New York Times reported that the Evanston Illinois Public Library had removed the book (among others) from its open shelves because it found it objectionable.
Not surprising. Chopin was far beyond her time.
Happy Birthday to a dear hero.
Her book, The Awakening, transformed me in ways I’ll never be able to clearly describe. Well over 100 years after it was written, Chopin clearly portrays what it is like to be a woman (not to mention a mother) that is held to certain expectations. This book made me reevaluate my priorities, stay true to my self, and love the woman I am even though I may not fit in to the "mold" that people expect and want.
On February 8, 1850, Kate Chopin, a woman who as truly made my life better just by having read her, was born. So every year, I plan to celebrate. Today, I placed this book near her star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in her honor. I hope it inspires whomever picks it up.
I registered it with Bookcrossing, and if you haven’t checked out that site…you should. I’ve just only found it and I am going to be obsessed.
I decided that for today, I would try to learn something more about this book...even though I already know quite a bit about it. I managed to find out that on July 6, 1902, the New York Times reported that the Evanston Illinois Public Library had removed the book (among others) from its open shelves because it found it objectionable.
Not surprising. Chopin was far beyond her time.
Happy Birthday to a dear hero.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Eternal Return. 38:365
Eternal return is the belief that the universe has been recurring and will continue to recur in the exact same way an indescribable number of times.
Taken from wiki "The basic premise is that the universe is limited in extent and contains a finite amount of matter, while time is viewed as being infinite. The universe has no starting or ending state, while the matter comprising it is constantly changing its state. The number of possible changes is finite, and so sooner or later the same state will recur."
This concept has roots in Ancient Egypt and gained attention from the likes of Friedrich Nietzsche and Arthur Schopenhauer.
It is pretty interesting...if you want to learn a little more about it...check out this wiki page.
Taken from wiki "The basic premise is that the universe is limited in extent and contains a finite amount of matter, while time is viewed as being infinite. The universe has no starting or ending state, while the matter comprising it is constantly changing its state. The number of possible changes is finite, and so sooner or later the same state will recur."
This concept has roots in Ancient Egypt and gained attention from the likes of Friedrich Nietzsche and Arthur Schopenhauer.
It is pretty interesting...if you want to learn a little more about it...check out this wiki page.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Ronald Reagan. 37:365
Ronald Reagan is the only US president that has been divorced. He was married to actress, Jane Wyman. They married in 1940. Had two girls (one died shortly after birth), and later adopted a son. They were divorced eight years later following arguments over Reagan's political ambitions.
February 6th (1911) is Reagan's birth date.
February 6th (1911) is Reagan's birth date.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Shrove Tuesday! 36:365
Fasnachts are fatty doughnuts that are commonly served the day before Lent begins. These desserts were normally made as a way to empty the pantry of fat, lard, sugar, butter and other ingredients which were typically forbidden during Lent.
Happy Fat Tuesday! :-)
Happy Fat Tuesday! :-)
Monday, February 4, 2008
We come in peace. 35:365
Did you know that today (February 4, 2008) NASA transmitted the song Across the Universe by The Beatles in the direction of the star Polaris, which is 431 light years from Earth. This is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this song, the 45th anniversary of the Deep Space Network, and the 50th anniversary of NASA. The date has been deemed Across the Universe Day.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Buddy Holly 34:365
On February 3, 1959 Buddy Holly, a pioneer of rock n' roll, died in a plane crash. Did you know that his last name was actually Holley (spelled with an 'e'), but because of a spelling mistake on a contract, he adopted that spelling for his professional career.
Sort of unrelated, but I always wanted an 'e' after my middle name Ann. Perhaps I should just change it for my professional career. :-)
Rest in peace Buddy.
Sort of unrelated, but I always wanted an 'e' after my middle name Ann. Perhaps I should just change it for my professional career. :-)
Rest in peace Buddy.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
trap! 33:365
The Venus Fly Trap is an amazing carnivorous plant that catches and eats its animal prey. The lobes of the plant exhibit rapid plant movement and when it feels its prey, it snaps shut (within .1 seconds!). This plant is so amazing that it can tell the difference between food and other stimulus (such as rain).
If its prey is too small and can escape the small holes, the trap will reopen in 12 hours. If the prey is large enough and is trying to get out, the trap will shut down tighter and the digestion process speeds up.
These plants are very common household plants...they can't be watered with tap water as the salts can kill them. Rain water or distilled water is best. They are perfectly capable of feeding themselves.
Pretty cool. I think I am going to give having one of these a go. I am fascinated by them.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Lashes. 32:365
Do you ever wonder how long it would take you to grow all of your eyelashes back if they fell out? Yeah...me either. But, I was googling something about eyes and ran across the answer to that very question!
It takes seven to eight weeks for an eyelash to grow back when they fall or are picked out.
Fascinating. Even more fascinating....I finally managed to get a semi ok macro of my own eye. :-)
It takes seven to eight weeks for an eyelash to grow back when they fall or are picked out.
Fascinating. Even more fascinating....I finally managed to get a semi ok macro of my own eye. :-)
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