Crocodile Festival


 A unique festival in Karachi is the "Crocodile Festival." This is a festival held by the ethnic group called Sheedis in Pakistan. It is believed that Sheedis came as slaves from Africa. This festival is held at a shrine in Manghopir, a dry and humid part of Karachi, which dates back to the thirteenth century.



A devotee feeds a crocodile during a festival



The Sheedi community celebrates the ritual by feeding the sacred crocodile, called ‘Mor’, in a small pond located on the premises of the shrine. The Sheedis are generally known as the Black African Moors of Pakistan. Festivities include drum beating rituals and songs in different languages that resemble Swahili, Sindhi, and Balochi.

However, it is the dangling part of the festival that makes this stand out. A father will take his baby son and dangle it above the jaws of a crocodile. This is done to find blessings for the child.

During this festival the people will also make pledges to the shrine. These pledges are given to the crocodiles. The pledges consist of fresh goat meat. When the crocodiles accept the meat it will be seen as a sign of luck. They suggest that the crocodiles will not attack because they are disciples of the saint known as Khwaja Hasan.

During the British Raj the Shedi (which means 'black' in the local dialect) lived in so-called 'slave colonies' along the coastal regions of Sindh and Balochistan provinces, and women from these colonies worked as nannies for children of British officials and affluent Hindu traders.

As time passed, they inter-married with local Baloch tribes, adopting various local & Islamic traditions, but over the centuries they have maintained their own distinct African cultural heritage.

The highlight of the Shedi festival is the garlanding ceremony during which the custodian of the shrine puts a garland made of fresh flowers around the neck of 'Mor Sahib' the chief of the crocodiles, sprays perfume on him and feeds him a piece of mutton. This festival is being observed for ages, for more than 850 years. This unique festival is celebrated regularly every year during Rabbi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar.

The cow-powered data center

Today almost everything runs on electricity. We use electricity to run trains, cook, lighting and so much more. Thus it is very important that people are able to know where they can get all the required electricity. People are able to tap energy from alternative sources of energy to help relieve the common sources of electricity.

Many companies are trying their best to try and cut down their electricity consumption. A good example would be Google. Google consumes a lot of energy. Google searches require the same energy that an 11 watt bulb requires when it's on for an hour. So one can be able to estimate how much energy is required for the Google servers and all other equipment to run. Thus Google has tried to cut their energy costs by developing advanced cooling methods and using energy saving techniques.

But one company is looking where most of us turn up our noses - cow manure. HP released a paper showing how dairy farm waste can be used to power up data centers. HP's paper, entitled "Design of Farm Waste-Driven Supply Side Infrastructure for Data Centers," focuses on the potentials of turning cow manure into energy. We've already seen manure-to-power technology put to use in other areas, but so far, not really much has happened in the IT industry. Yet, it makes perfect sense. Manure and methane from dairy farms are reliable sources of power, and the technology to turn it into electricity already exists. Plus, it would allow for data centers to be placed in rural areas where they might not otherwise be able to connect to the power grid. All IT companies have to do is set up a data center next to a dairy farm and, Voila! The pollution coming from both the farm and the data center are reduced.

In a research paper presented at the ASME International Conference on Energy Sustainability in Phoenix, Arizona, the HP researchers explain how a farm of 10,000 dairy cows could fulfill the power requirements of a 1-megawatt (MW) data center – the equivalent of a medium-sized data center – with power left over to support other needs on the farm.

In this process, the heat generated by the data center can be used to increase the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion of animal waste. This results in the production of methane, which can be used to generate power for the data center. This symbiotic relationship allows the waste problems faced by dairy farms and the energy demands of the modern data center to be addressed in a sustainable manner.

Highlights of the paper

Dairy farms and data centers may appear to be unexpected partners; however, HP Labs has shown that the specific needs and challenges of both can be aligned to create a sustainable life cycle, using technologies readily available today.

• The average dairy cow produces about 55 kg (120 pounds) of manure per day, and approximately 20 metric tons per year – roughly equivalent to the weight of four adult elephants.

• The manure that one dairy cow produces in a day can generate 3.0 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electrical energy, which is enough to power television usage in three U.S. households per day.

• A medium-sized dairy farm with 10,000 cows produces about 200,000 metric tons of manure per year. Approximately 70 percent of the energy in the methane generated via anaerobic digestion could be used for data center power and cooling, thus reducing the impact on natural resources.

• Pollutants from unmanaged livestock waste degrade the environment and can lead to groundwater contamination and air pollution. Methane is 21 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide, which means that in addition to being an inefficient use of energy, disposal of manure through flaring can result in steep greenhouse gas emission taxes.

• In addition to benefiting the environment, using manure to generate power for data centers could provide financial benefit to farmers. HP researchers estimate that dairy farmers would break even in costs within the first two years of using a system like this and then earn roughly $2 million annually in revenue from selling waste-derived power to data center customers.

HP is working to transform the way in which businesses and societies organize and operate by changing the way energy is consumed and produced, thereby creating more sustainable ecosystems. HP Labs is committed to designing data centers that are substantially more efficient and use local, renewable energy resources.

Singapore: The Fine City

Singapore is famous for being the cleanest city in the world. Tourists will be astonished and impressed by the strict rules and regulations formed by the Singapore government. There are many posters in buildings and parks telling people what they should do, what they shouldn't do and how much they will be fined if they break the rules. That is the reason why Singapore is called "the fine city".

The Singaporean government wants to establish a clean and green country where all citizens are well educated and are considerately to others. Therefore they have set many strict rules as well as put a lot of instructions and reminders in public places so that people always remember what they aren't allowed to do and everything is orderly. Children are taught at school and in their family, right from very early ages, about what they should do and how to behave in this society.

To maintain the clean and green city, there are strict laws against littering of any kind. First-time offenders face a fine of up to S$1,000. For repeat offenders--it's a fine of up to S$2,000 and a Corrective Work Order (CWO). The CWO requires litterbugs to spend a few hours cleaning a public place, for example, picking up litter in a park. The litterbugs are made to wear bright jackets, and sometimes, the local media are invited to cover the public spectacle. Naturally, the authorities hope that public shame will make diehard litterbugs think twice about tossing their scrap paper or cigarette butt on the roadside.

If you are a tourist visiting Singapore, you should be considerate and pay attention to every one of your actions. There are many things considered normal in your country but which are illegal in Singapore. You will be fined heavily if you litter or smoke in public places. Also remember to flush public toilets after using it so that you aren't fined S$500.

As an extension of the "no littering" mantra, the import, sale and possession of chewing gum is banned. You are also not allowed to bring in chewing gum for your own consumption. In short, no chewing gum whatsoever. This rule was introduced because of the high cost and difficulty in removing stucked chewing gum from public premises. In particular, chewing gum stuck on the Mass Rapid Transit train doors stopped the trains from moving.

It is summer and you enjoy lying on the beach sunbathing. However, if you are in Singapore, you mustn't go nude or topless when sunbathing, even if it is your own back yard. It is forbidden in Singapore and you will be fined if you're caught doing that.

Smoking is not allowed in public buses, taxis, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government offices, and in air-conditioned restaurants and shopping centres. First-time offenders face a maximum fine of S$1,000. Smoking is allowed in air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots.

Drugs are strictly forbidden in Singapore. People trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2kg of opium are sentenced to death. Possessing these amounts is also regarded as trafficking and equals a death penalty. Therefore you must not get involved in drugs in Singapore by any means.

Thanks to the strict laws of Singapore, this country is very safe and orderly. There is virtually no crime; no corruption and you are safe even when walking alone at night. There may be some pickpockets in crowded places. However, they are rare unlike any other Asian countries.

Every year a large number of tourists are fined during their stay in Singapore because they are unaware of the strict rules and regulations. You should read about its rules and regulations carefully before going there and be aware of every board, poster or sign you see. Being a decent person and showing your respect to others, you won't encounter any problems and will have an enjoyable stay in this clean country.

Anglerfish

The deep sea anglerfish is one of the most bizarre-looking fish in the sea. Known scientifically as Melanocetus johnsoni, it is also one of the best-known creatures of the deep. There are more than 200 species of anglerfish, most of which live in the murky depths of the Atlantic and Antarctic oceans, up to a mile below the surface, although some live in shallow, tropical environments. Generally dark gray to dark brown in color, they have huge heads and enormous crescent-shaped mouths filled with sharp, translucent teeth. Some angler fish can be quite large, reaching 3.3 feet (1 meter) in length. Most however are significantly smaller, often less than a foot. It can weigh up to 110 lbs (50 kg).

Their most distinctive feature, worn only by females, is a piece of dorsal spine that protrudes above their mouths like a fishing pole—hence their name. Tipped with a lure of luminous flesh this built-in rod baits prey close enough to be snatched. Their mouths are so big and their bodies so pliable, they can actually swallow prey up to twice their own size.

The male, which is significantly smaller than the female, has no need for such an adaptation. In lieu of continually seeking the vast abyss for a female, it has evolved into a permanent parasitic mate. When a young, free-swimming male angler encounters a female, he latches onto her with his sharp teeth. Over time, the male physically fuses with the female, connecting to her skin and bloodstream and losing his eyes and all his internal organs except the testes. A female will carry six or more males on her body.

The deep sea anglerfish has a round body that resembles a basketball, and indeed, it looks like it could easily swallow one. It has a very large mouth with sharp, fang-like teeth. Its grotesque appearance has earned it the nickname "common black devil". Due to its wide, round body, it cannot swim very fast. Its skin is specially adapted to reflect blue light. The anglerfish's lighted lure glows with the help of millions of bioluminescent bacteria. Since nearly all light emitted from bioluminescent creatures is blue, the anglerfish can be nearly invisible to other deep sea animals.

The anglerfish uses its illuminated lure as its hunts for prey. This specialized spine is highly manoeuvrable and can be moved in any direction. The anglerfish is known to remain completely motionless, waving its lure back and forth like a fishing pole. When the prey fish gets close enough, the angler snaps it up with its powerful jaws and swallows it whole. The sharp teeth of the angler are angled inwards, which helps to prevent the prey from escaping. The anglerfish can extend both its jaw and its stomach to an incredible size, allowing it to swallow prey twice the size of its entire body. Since food can be scarce in the deep sea, this special adaptation allows it to stock up on food during times of plenty.

The deep sea angler is found throughout the world's oceans at depths of over 3,000 feet (914 meters). At this depth, there is almost no light and the water is near freezing. Many species of anglerfish are fished commercially throughout the world. They are compared to lobster in taste and texture. In Japan, anglerfish is considered a delicacy and can fetch a premium price.

Chocolate History Time Line

The tasty secret of the cocoa tree was discovered 4,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas. The pods of this tree contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate. The story of how chocolate grew from a local Mesoamerican beverage into a global sweet encompasses many cultures and continents.

The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. These people, including the Maya and Aztec, mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.

Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually, and the drink’s popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it still remains one of the world’s favourite flavours.

Let’s explore the history of chocolate...

2000 BC, Amazon: Cocoa, from which chocolate is created, is said to have originated in the Amazon at least 4,000 years ago.

Sixth Century AD: Chocolate, derived from the seed of the cocoa tree, was used by the Maya Culture, as early as the Sixth Century AD. Maya called the cocoa tree cacahuaquchtl… "tree," and the word chocolate comes from the Maya word xocoatl which means bitter water.

300 AD, Maya Culture: To the Mayas, cocoa pods symbolized life and fertility... nothing could be more important! Stones from their palaces and temples revealed many carved pictures of cocoa pods.

600 AD, Maya Culture: Moving from Central America to the northern portions of South America, the Mayan territory stretched from the Yucatán Peninsula to the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. In the Yucatán, the Mayas cultivated the earliest know cocoa plantations. The cocoa pod was often represented in religious rituals, and the texts their literature refer to cocoa as the god’s food

1200, Aztec Culture: The Aztecs attributed the creation of the cocoa plant to their god Quetzalcoatl who, descended from heaven on a beam of a morning star carrying a cocoa tree stolen from paradise. In both the Mayan and Aztec cultures cocoa was the basis for a thick, cold, unsweetened drink called xocoatl… believed to be a health elixir. Since sugar was unknown to the Aztecs, different spices were used to add flavor, even hot chili peppers and corn meal were used!

1492, Columbus Returns in Triumph From America: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were presented with many strange and wonderful things… the few dark brown beans that looked like almonds didn’t get a lot of attention.

1502, Columbus landed in Nicaragua: On his fourth voyage to America, Columbus landed in what is now called Nicaragua. He was the first European to discover cocoa beans being used as currency, and to make a drink, as in the Aztec culture. Columbus, who was still searching for the route to India, still did not see the potential cocoa market that had fallen into his lap.

1513, A Slave is Bought for Beans: Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez, who went to America in 1513 as a member of Pedrarias Avila's expedition, reports that he bought a slave for 100 cocoa beans. According to Hernando de Oviedo y Valdez 10 cocoa beans bought the services of a prostitute, and 4 cocoa beans got you a rabbit for dinner.

At this time, the name of the drink changed to Chocolatl from the Mayan word xocoatl [chocolate] and the Aztec word for water, or warm liquid.

1519, Hernando Cortez Begin a Plantation: Hernando Cortez, who conquered part of Mexico in 1519, had a vision of converting these beans to golden doubloons. While he was fascinated with Aztec's bitter, spicy beverage [he didn’t like the cocoa drink], he was much intrigued by the beans’ value as currency. Later, Cortez established a cocoa plantation in the name of Spain… henceforth, "money" will be cultivated! It was the birth of what was to be a very profitable business.

1528, Chocolate Arrives in Spain: Cortez presented the Spanish King, Charles V with cocoa beans from the New World and the necessary tools for its preparation. And no doubt Cortez taught him how to make Chocolate.

Cortez Inspires a Major Breakthrough: Cortez postulated that if this bitter beverage were blended with sugar, it could become quite a delicacy. The Spaniards mixed the beans with sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon. The results were tantalizing, coveted, fashionable, and reserved or the Spanish nobility which created a demand for the fruits of his Spanish plantations. Chocolate was a secret that Spain managed to keep from the rest of the world for almost 100 years!

1544, Dominican Friars Get into the Swing: Dominican friars bring a delegation of Mayans to meet Philip. Spanish monks, who had been consigned to process the cocoa beans, finally let the secret out. It did not take long before chocolate was acclaimed throughout Europe as a delicious, health-giving food.

The beans were still used as currency. Two hundred beans bought a turkey cock. One hundred beans was the daily wage of porter, and would buy a hen turkey or a rabbit (the price has really escalated in 30 years! Three beans could be traded for a turkey egg, a new avocado, or a fish wrapped in maize husks. One bean bought a ripe avocado, tomato, or tamale.

1569, The Roman Church Takes a Serious Look at Chocolate: Pope Pius V, who did not like chocolate, declared that drinking chocolate on Friday did not break The Fast.

1579, English Buccaneers Burn Currency: After taking a Spanish ship loaded with cocoa beans, English Buccaneers set it on fire thinking the beans were sheep dung.

1585, Chocolate Goes to Market: The first shipment of beans intended for the market makes it to Spain.

1587, Another Ship Goes Down: When the British captured a Spanish vessel loaded with cocoa beans, the cargo was destroyed as useless.

1609, Chocolate is Lauded in Literature: The first book devoted entirely to chocolate, "Libro en el cual se trata del chocolate," came from Mexico.

1615, Chocolate Comes With the Dowery: Ann of Austria, daughter of Philip II from Spain, introduced the beverage to her new husband, Louis the XIII, and his French court, too.

1625, Cocoa Beans are Currency in Spain too: 200 small cocoa beans were valued at 1 Spanish real or 4 cent.

1643, The French Court Embraces Chocolate: When the Spanish Princess Maria Theresa was betrothed to Louis XIV of France, she gave her fiancé an engagement gift of chocolate, packaged in an elegantly ornate chest.

Chocolate was extremely popular with Louis XIV and the members of his Court at Versailles. Louis XIV, The Sun King, reigned for over 74 years [1643 to 1715] and is considered to be one of the greatest absolute monarchs. His foresight leads him to appoint Sieur David illou to manufacture and sell chocolate, which not only created a new income stream, but also it is said to have inspired erotic pleasures.

Chocolate Mania in Paris: The chocolate craze which now included candy took hold in Paris and then conquered the rest of France.

Chocolate’s reputation as an aphrodisiac flourished in the French courts. Art and literature was thick with erotic imagery inspired by chocolate. And the Marquis de Sade, became proficient in using chocolate to disguise poisons! Casanova was reputed for using chocolate with champagne to seduce the ladies.

Madame de Pompadour was advised to use chocolate with ambergris to stimulate her desire for Louis XV… but to no avail. Madame du Barry, reputed to be nymphomaniac, encouraged her lovers to drink chocolate in order to keep up with her.

1657, Even London Succumbs: London's first chocolate shop is opened by a Frenchman. London Chocolate Houses became the trendy meeting places where the elite London society savoured their new luxury. The first chocolate house opened in London advertising "this excellent West India drink."

1662, Rome Takes Another Look: As chocolate became exceptionally fashionable, The Church of Rome took a second look at this bewitching beverage. The judgment: "Liquidum non frangit jejunum," reiterated that a chocolate drink did not break the fast. But eating chocolate confections didn’t pass muster, until Easter. Is this where the Easter Bunny makes an entrance?

1670, One Man Takes a Stand: Helmsman Pedro Bravo do los Camerinos decides that he has had enough of Christian voyages of exploration and settles in the Philippines, where he spends the rest of his life planting cocoa, thus laying the foundations for one of the great plantations of that time.

1671, All Troubles Have a Silver Lining: Sometimes people just don’t see it…this time creativity prevailed! As the story goes, a bowlful of almonds is dropped, and the angry chef tries to "box the ears" of his kitchen boy… but instead he spills a pan full of hot, burnt sugar over the almonds. Meanwhile the renowned gourmet, Duke of Plesslis-Praslin, is waiting for his dessert!

His personal chef turns anger in to creative energy, and serves the Duke almonds coated of cooled burnt sugar. The Duke is not only delighted… he is also inspired to give his name to this nouveau sweet. Today we call this confection "praline," but there is no doubt of the origin!

1674, A Trendy Coffee House Takes Chocolate To New Horizons: An Avant Guard, London Coffee House called At the Coffee Mill and Tobacco Roll, goes down in the annals of history for serving chocolate in cakes, and also in rolls… in the Spanish style.

1677, Brazil Gets into The Market: By Royal Decree, November 1, 1677, Brazil [later to achieve an important position in the world market] establishes its first cocoa plantations in the State of Par .

1697, The mayor of Zurich, visits Brussels: Heinrich Escher, mayor of Zurich, drinks chocolate in Brussels and introduces the awe-inspiring concoction to his friends at home… nothing he has ever tasted is even slightly like this brew!

Parthenogenesis or Virgin Birth

Parthenogenesis (from the Greek παρθένος parthenos, "virgin", + γένεσις genesis, "birth") is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occurs without fertilization by a male. It is a form of reproduction in which the ovum develops into a new individual without fertilization by a male.

Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some invertebrate animal species (e.g. water fleas, aphids, nematodes, some bees, some Phasmida, some scorpion species, and parasitic wasps) and some vertebrates (e.g. some reptiles, fish, and very rarely birds and sharks). Komodo dragons and the hammerhead- and blacktip sharks have recently been added to the list of vertebrates that exhibit differing forms of asexual reproduction.

The phenomenon of parthenogenesis was discovered in the 18th century by Charles Bonnet. In 1900, Jacques Loeb accomplished the first clear case of artificial parthenogenesis when he pricked unfertilized frog eggs with a needle and found that in some cases normal embryonic development ensued. Artificial parthenogenesis has since been achieved in almost all major groups of animals, although it usually results in incomplete and abnormal development. Numerous mechanical and chemical agents have been used to stimulate unfertilized eggs. In 1936, Gregory Pincus induced parthenogenesis in mammalian (rabbit) eggs by temperature change and chemical agents. No successful experiments with human parthenogenesis have been reported.

Parthenogenesis has been studied extensively in the New Mexico whiptail, of which 15 species reproduce exclusively by parthenogenesis. These lizards live in the dry and sometimes harsh climate of the south-western United States and northern Mexico.

A parthenogenetic baby Komodo dragon, Chester Zoo, England

Recently, the Komodo dragon, which normally reproduces sexually, was found also to be able to reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis. A Komodo dragon at London Zoo named Sungai laid a clutch of eggs in late 2005 after being separated from male company for more than two years. Scientists initially assumed that she had been able to store On December 20, 2006, it was reported that Flora, a captive Komodo dragon living in the Chester Zoo in England, was the second known Komodo dragon to have laid unfertilized eggs: she laid 11 eggs, and 7 of them hatched, all of them male. Scientists at Liverpool University in England performed genetic tests on three eggs that collapsed after being moved to an incubator, and verified that Flora had never been in physical contact with a male dragon. After Flora's eggs' condition had been discovered, testing showed that Sungai's eggs were also produced without outside fertilization.

A bonnethead, a type of small hammerhead shark, was found to have produced a pup, born live on 14 December 2001 at Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska, in a tank containing three female hammerheads, but no males. The pup was thought to have been conceived through parthenogenic method.

It has been hypothesized that this reproductive adaptation allows a single female to enter an isolated ecological niche and by parthenogenesis produce male offspring, thereby establishing a sexually reproducing population. Despite the advantages of such an adaptation, zoos are cautioned that parthenogenesis may be detrimental to genetic diversity.

History of Unusually Named Places

1. Boring, Oregon

Boring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 212. It is approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland. The town is roughly twenty miles southeast from downtown Portland. The community was named after W. H. Boring, an early resident of the area. His grandson, W.H Boring, at age 91 was still a part of the community until 2002. Boring was platted in 1903 as "Boring Junction". The post office was established and named "Boring" the same year, and the builders of the interurban railway adopted Boring as the name of the community. The name "Boring" is embraced by locals, however, and found in many local businesses, resulting in many road signs that seem humorous to outsiders.

2. Why, Arizona

Why is a small unincorporated rural community in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It lies near the western border of the Tohono O'Odham Indian Reservation and due north of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Southern Arizona. It is approximately thirty miles north of the Mexican border where Lukeville, Arizona, and Sonoita, Sonora, Mexico, border each other, and ten miles south of Ajo, Arizona. The population in Why at the 2000 census was approximately 113. The unusual name of the town comes from the fact that the two major highways, State Routes 85 and 86, originally intersected in a Y-intersection. At the time of its naming, Arizona law required all city names to have at least three letters, so the town's founders named the town "Why" as opposed to simply calling it "Y."

3. Whynot, Mississippi

Whynot is a rural unincorporated community in southeastern Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States. Its history dates back to the 1840s.The area was first served by a post office called Whitesville, which was established June 23, 1852. The name was changed to Why Not December 30, 1852.

4. Loveladies, New Jersey 

Loveladies is a neighborhood and unincorporated area located in the northernmost portion of Long Beach Township, New Jersey. The area is on Long Beach Island, between Barnegat Light and Harvey Cedars. When the U.S. Life Saving Stations were established on Long Beach Island back in the 1870's, they were usually given names, and there was a great deal of discussion on what to name Station Number 114. It was finally named after an island in the bay owned by Thomas Lovelady, a hunter and sportsman. The small community has had several other names through the years. The railroad stop had been called Club House, and around the time of World War II it acquired the name of Long Beach Park. Then in 1952, the area officially became Loveladies, keeping the name originally given to the site.

5. Lonelyville, New York

Lonelyville is a small beach community located in the western end of Fire Island in the town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Lonelyville has approximately 60 houses and is located between Dunewood and Atlantique. It is unclear when and why Lonelyville earned its name. However it appears that the name was already in use by the 1880’s when Captain Selah Clock built a four hundred foot pier into the ocean and established the Fire Island Fishing Company there. The pier remained standing long after Captain Clock’s fishing company shut down and became somewhat of a landmark for that part of Fire Island. The Hurricane of 1938 finally took what remained of the slowly deteriorating pier. As recently as August 2008, footings for the pier could be seen about 100 feet off the shore and submerged 20 feet under water.

A 1924 picture of "The Bottle"

6. The Bottle, Alabama

The Bottle, Alabama is a community located in the northern corporate limits of Auburn, Alabama. The Bottle is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and Alabama Highway 147, five miles (8 km) north of downtown Auburn, and adjacent to the Auburn University North Fisheries Research Complex. The Bottle is named for the bright orange wooden replica of a Nehi soda bottle which stood in the location for nine years during the 1920s and 1930s.

Built in 1924, and billed as "the world's largest bottle", The Bottle (sometimes referred to as The "Nehi Inn") was built by John F. Williams owner of the Nehi Bottling Company in Opelika, Alabama. The Bottle stood 64-feet (19.5 m) tall, and measured forty-nine feet (14.94 m) in diameter at the base, and 16 feet (4.88 m) at the cap. The ground floor was a grocery store and service station, and the 2nd and 3rd floors were living quarters and storage. The neck of the Bottle had windows so it could be used as an observation tower where you could see miles of countryside. The "bottle cap" was the roof. Inside there was a spiral oak stairway. Fire consumed the Bottle in 1933, destroying the largest bottle in the world and ending an era of a gathering place for tourists and local men to swap yarns around a potbellied wood stove, BBQs and a party every Friday night on the balcony above the service station. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stopped briefly at The Bottle after visiting Auburn, as did Minnie Pearl. Even though the Bottle structure no longer exists, the name does and is still on Alabama maps listing the area as "The Bottle."

"The Bottle" today

Currently, in The Bottle's former location stands only an empty lot. The property was put on sale in 2005 by First Realty of Auburn. The land was purchased in early 2006 by The Hayley Redd Development Company.

The Bermuda Triangle or The Devil's Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of aircraft and surface vessels allegedly disappeared mysteriously. The Bermuda Triangle, also called the Devil's Triangle, is an imaginary area that can be roughly outlined on a map by connecting Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the Bahamas, an island chain off the coast of the United States. Within that triangular area of the Atlantic Ocean have occurred a number of unexplained disappearances of boats and planes.

The Bermuda Triangle, a sinister sea as beautiful as it is deadly. Boats never make it home. Planes vanish from the sky. There's rarely a mayday, never a trace- just baffling tragedies that seem to defy any explanation. Over the years, swarms of theories have been proposed, examined, and, for the most part, thrown back.

The area known as the Bermuda Triangle is one of the two places on Earth where a magnetic compass does point towards true north, a phenomenon called compass variation. Navigators must compensate the amount of variation or the craft they are on will go off course. A region commonly called the "Devil's Sea" in the Pacific Ocean is the other area of compass variation.

In March 1918, during World War I, the USS Cyclops vanished in the Bermuda Triangle. That ship may have been a casualty of war, but the December 1945 disappearance of Flight 19, a training squadron of five U.S. Navy torpedo bombers, became the most notorious of disappearances associated with the Bermuda Triangle. The squadron left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with 14 crewmen and disappeared after radioing in several distress messages. A seaplane sent in search of the squadron also vanished. Those two airplane disappearances were frequently cited as the Bermuda Triangle legend grew during the 1960s and 1970s.

Other aircraft that have disappeared in the area include a DC-3 carrying 27 passengers in 1948 and a C-124 Globemaster with 53 passengers in 1951. There are many other documented disappearances that occurred within the triangle. They include a four-engine Tudor IV air-plane lost in 1948, with 31 aboard; an American freighter, the SS Sandra (1952), which sunk without a trace; a British York transport plane, disappeared in 1952, with 33 aboard; a U.S. Navy Lockheed Constellation airplane, vanished in 1954 with 42 aboard; a U.S. Navy seaplane, 1956, with a crew of 10; a French freighter in 1970; and a German freighter, Anita, lost in 1972 with a crew of 32.

The first documented encounter in the Bermuda Triangle was by Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) who encountered mysterious lights and compass malfunctions on his first voyage through the area. Much of the Bermuda Triangle mystery was put to rest by a book titled Bermuda Triangle: Mystery Solved by Larry Kusche, a researcher at the University of Arizona. Kusche found many of the supposed mysteries of the Triangle either occurred in other parts of the ocean or in adverse weather conditions.

The Gulf Stream, which runs the length of the Bermuda Triangle, can quickly move debris from a boat or plane accident away from scene, eradicating any trace of the incident. The Bermuda Triangle regularly experiences weather conditions such as thunderstorms, waterspouts, and hurricanes that can be potentially lethal to any craft caught in their path. Recent satellite research has proven the rogue waves, single waves reaching 80 ft or higher, occur with relative frequency in open ocean areas such as the Bermuda Triangle. These waves can damage or destroy even the largest ships.

One of the most popular recent theories to explain the Bermuda Triangle involves an electromagnetically induced fog that wreaks havoc on passing ships and planes. Self-styled physicist John Hutchison claims to have accidentally created the electronic fog that supposedly plagues the Triangle in his apartment as part of a phenomenon he has dubbed “The Hutchison Effect.”

Facts about Strawberries

Strawberries, the small red fruits clad in scarlet red, dotted with tiny seeds and wearing green little caps, make one of the most deliciously attractive fruits on Earth! Some believe that the name hailed from the practice of placing straws around the growing strawberry plants. Other say that the name evolved around 1000 years ago from the word, 'strew' that means 'spread', applicable to runners that spread outwards from the strawberry plants.

Here are some of the interesting facts about strawberries.

 

• Strawberries are not fruits. They are enlarged receptacles of the flowers.
• Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
• Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
• There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries.
• The United States is the greatest producer of strawberries. California has around 700 strawberry growers and it produces strawberries on over 20,000 acres of land every year. Surprisingly the entire land of the USA is considered to be fertile for growing strawberries.
• Spain followed the United States in the list of strawberry producers worldwide.
• Ninety-four percent of US households consume strawberries.
• Americans eat 3.4 pounds of fresh strawberries each year plus another 1.8 pounds frozen per capita.
• Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fibre, folic acid, potassium.
• Strawberries can reduce the risk of cancers and heart attacks.
• Italians call strawberries by the name ‘Fragola’
• Medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals to symbolize righteousness.
• The English and the French used strawberries to landscape their gardens. In the 14th century, Charles V of France had ordered 1200 strawberry plants to be grown in the Royal Gardens.
• It is believed that Madame Tallien, an important person in Emperor Napoleon’s Court, used to bathe with the juice of fresh strawberries.
• Some people believe that strawberries are symbol of Venus (Goddess of Love) and newlyweds were served strawberries.
• It is believed that if you split a double strawberry in half and share it with the opposite sex, you’ll soon fall in love.
• A survey has also revealed that those who love strawberries are of a fun-loving nature while those who hate strawberries are weird morons.

So you love strawberries or not!

World War II Pencil Images

World War II Facts

Over the course of six years, World War II spread around the earth. In all, more than 50 countries were directly involved in the war. Here are some facts about the World War II.

• The first German serviceman killed in the war was killed by the Japanese (China, 1937)

• The first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940)

• 80% of Soviet males born in 1923 didn't survive World War II

• The highest ranking American killed was Lt. Gen. Lesley McNair, killed by the US Army Air Corps

• Between 1939 and 1945 the Allies dropped 3.4 million tons of bombs, An average of about 27,700 tons of bombs each month

• There were 433 Medals of Honor awarded during World War 2, 219 of them were given after the recipient’s death

• The youngest US serviceman was 12 year old Calvin Graham

• Number of people killed in the war: 45 million

• Number of Europeans left homeless by war: 12 million

• Number of Americans who joined the armed forces: 12 million

• Number of Americans who moved to take on war jobs: 15 million

• Number of B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers built: 13 thousand

• Amount of post-war aid given by U.S. to Western Europe: $17 billion

• Reparations paid by Italy after war: $36 million

This was the largest and most expensive war ever, as well as the most difficult to settle. The world remained politically unstable, major cities had been turned to rubble by bombings, and modern weapons and brought death to millions of people.

World’s Most Beautiful River

Caño Cristales, a river in Columbia’s Sierra de la Macarena, is as moody as it is beautiful. Come a bit too early in the dry season, and you’ll just find a parched river bed. Come a bit too late in the wet season, and everything will be flooded and more inaccessible than unusual. But come just at the right time, in the first few days of the wet season, and you’ll witness a magnificent spectacle of rainbow colors in a river that’s nicknamed the “most beautiful river in the world”.

Caño Cristales’ waters flow from the plateau south of the Sierranía de la Macarena, a national park and mountain range that is a sanctuary for many animal and plant species. The rugged terrain is coupled up with many archaeological sites and caves that have not been explored. The archaeological sites have pictograms and petroglyphs that date as far back as the pre-Columbian times. The river is the parks central feature. The 100 km long and 20 m wide river is the national park’s central feature.

The river bed and river rocks are covered with green and brown mosses and algae during most of the year. At the onset of the wet season in early October and early April, however, they receive enough moisture and sunlight to unfold a most spectacular array of colors ranging from deep red, yellow and pink to blue, green and black.

However, as the wet season progresses, it is not possible to view that many colours. As the wet season progresses, the water levels become deeper and the river currents faster, obscuring the bottom of the river and therefore not letting the much needed sunlight through for the river’s many mosses and algae.

Blue Whales

Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth. These magnificent marine mammals rule the oceans at up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and upwards of 200 tons (181 metric tons). Their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant.

Blue whales reach these mind-boggling dimensions on a diet composed nearly exclusively of tiny shrimplike animals called krill. During certain times of the year, a single adult blue whale consumes about 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) of krill a day.

Each blue whale's skin markings are unique, like fingerprints that distinguish one whale from another. Blue whales often appear to be a pale bluish-gray color, but they can also appear silvery gray or tan, depending on the light.

When a whale dives, the twin flukes of its tail leave a "flukeprint"—a smooth, raised, circular slick on the surface of the water. The flukeprints of blue whales are large and longlasting due to the force of the blue whales' deep dives. The smooth patch can linger on the surface of the ocean long after the whale is gone.

Blue whales are believed to have excellent hearing, which helps them navigate the dark ocean environment. A blue whale's age can be estimated by examining the waxlike plug in its ear after death. A set number of layers are added to the plug each year. Scientists estimate that the average lifespan of blue whales is 80 to 90 years.Blue whales' eyes are quite small in relation to their massive bodies—about the size of a grapefruit. They are thought to have limited eyesight, but little else is known about their vision.

A blue whale's blowhole is like a huge pair of nostrils, each large enough for a toddler to crawl in. When a whale surfaces, it exhales, then inhales enough air to fill a van, all in 1.5 seconds. The spray from a blue whale's blowhole can shoot as high as 30 feet (9 meters) into the air. The force of a blow can create a thunderous sound, audible from several miles away.

An adult blue whale's heart can weigh close to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). It beats only once every ten seconds and can be detected from two miles (three kilometres) away.

Blue whales can be found alone or in groups in every ocean on the planet, but their exact migratory patterns remain a mystery. Some populations appear to migrate very little, while others make incredible, annual trans-oceanic journeys from polar waters to equatorial waters. In the Northern Hemisphere, blue whales can be seen regularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off the coasts of Monterey and Baja, California. The largest remaining population of blue whales is considered to be the eastern North Pacific population.

Fun Facts

• Blue whale lungs are the size of a closet.
• An adult blue whale can be twice the length of a city bus.
• Weight of an adult blue whale is equal to 2667 humans each weighing 150lb/70 kg.

• Height of an adult blue whale is equal to 17 humans with an average height of 5ft 6 in /1.7 m.

• A blue whale heart is the size of a Mini Cooper.

• Spray from a blowhole of a blue whale can shoot three stories high.

• 100 people could fit into the mouth of a blue whale.

• Tail flukes of a blue whale can be nearly as wide as a soccer goal.

• A blue whale eats 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) of krill a day.

• An infant blue whale can grow 9 lb (4 kg) an hour.