Random animal facts. This Friday my families first mobile game effort, Aniballs, will launch for android phones. So here's some animal randomness.
Groundhogs and woodchucks are the same animal. Marmota monax is also known as a whistle pig or land beaver.
A honey badger's skin is to tough it can withstand several machete hits.
Koalas are not bears.
Scientists sent a group of fruit flies into space in 1947. They were used to study radiation exposure.
The first monkey, Albert II, was sent into space in 1949. He did not survive the impact at re-entry. Several other monkeys were sent into space afterwards, but it wasn't until May of 1959 that Abel and Baker survived the trip and were able to be recovered after re-entry. This was just 2 years before Alan Shepard became the first American to go into space.
Rabbits are not rodents. They are Lagomorphs.
Pet dogs account for an average of 31 deaths in the US every year. Bee stings cause about 55. Sharks and mountain lions cause an average of 1 each in the US. Humans are still the deadliest animal.
Bulls are color blind.
A hummingbird's feet are too poorly developed for them to actually walk on.
Some frogs hear with their lungs.
Bats are the only known mammal that can fly.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, June 28, 2010
Old Glory
Chances are Betsy Ross did not actually design the first US flag.
All of the officially adopted US flags had the stars arranged in straight rows.
There were no meanings tied to the colors of the flag when it was adopted. The meanings we often hear for the red and white and blue come from The Great Seal.
From 1794 to 1818 the official US flag had fifteen stripes.
The stars represent “a new constellation”
When a US flag is retired it is burned in a ceremony.
According to the US Flag Code, “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.”… they really need to educate Team USA on this one before the next Olympics.
All of the officially adopted US flags had the stars arranged in straight rows.
There were no meanings tied to the colors of the flag when it was adopted. The meanings we often hear for the red and white and blue come from The Great Seal.
From 1794 to 1818 the official US flag had fifteen stripes.
The stars represent “a new constellation”
When a US flag is retired it is burned in a ceremony.
According to the US Flag Code, “The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.”… they really need to educate Team USA on this one before the next Olympics.
Today you get a picture.. a flag retirement ceremony.
Thank you Mr. Eastman
Some Kodak facts....
George Eastman founded Kodak in 1888.
Kodak produced the first "consumer" cameras. They took 100 shots and then were mailed to Kodak for film processing. Kodak would reload the camera and send it, along with the prints, back to the consumer.
In 1936 Kodak put the first color 35mm film on the market. Kodachrome would be produced for 74 years, until 2009.
Kodak engineers produced the first digital camera in 1975.
In 2005 Kodak, a leading producer of silver halide papers (used in darkrooms and photo labs) discontinued production of their black and white photo papers.
Recent years have seen the company decline rapidly.
George Eastman founded Kodak in 1888.
Kodak produced the first "consumer" cameras. They took 100 shots and then were mailed to Kodak for film processing. Kodak would reload the camera and send it, along with the prints, back to the consumer.
In 1936 Kodak put the first color 35mm film on the market. Kodachrome would be produced for 74 years, until 2009.
Kodak engineers produced the first digital camera in 1975.
In 2005 Kodak, a leading producer of silver halide papers (used in darkrooms and photo labs) discontinued production of their black and white photo papers.
Recent years have seen the company decline rapidly.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Moooove along
I'm heading to the Stockyards tonight to go to Billy Bob's. You know I'm from Cowtown, right? Anyway, because of my outing tonight here's a bit about the Chisholm Trail. Now, there's a lot more history to this trail. Some interesting facts about the diseases the ticks on longhorns carried, and how they made all the other, wussier cattle drop like flies. How the trail was named... but I'm just gonna stick with a few things today that relate more to where I live. If you want to learn more there are some great books and web sites with detailed maps and history.
Chisholm Trail:
A trail used in the mid to late 1800’s to drive cattle, especially longhorns, from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.
Many places in Texas claim to be starting points for the Chisholm Trail. I’m not sure they really know, it’s not like cowboys blogged about it back then. There were a lot of small trails that fed into the main trail at the Red River. Many of these small trails in Texas were said to be part of the Chisholm Trail, so you can see how it's difficult to pin down one location as a start.
An estimated 5,000,000 head of Texas cattle followed the trail.
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center is in Duncan, Oklahoma.
In March 2009 President Obama authorized a study for the National Park service to determine if several trails should be designated historic, including the Chisholm Trail.
The Fort Worth Stockyards was the last major stop on that branch of the trail in Texas before crossing the Red River then moving into Indian Territory.
Chisholm Trail:
A trail used in the mid to late 1800’s to drive cattle, especially longhorns, from Texas to the railheads in Kansas.
Many places in Texas claim to be starting points for the Chisholm Trail. I’m not sure they really know, it’s not like cowboys blogged about it back then. There were a lot of small trails that fed into the main trail at the Red River. Many of these small trails in Texas were said to be part of the Chisholm Trail, so you can see how it's difficult to pin down one location as a start.
An estimated 5,000,000 head of Texas cattle followed the trail.
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center is in Duncan, Oklahoma.
In March 2009 President Obama authorized a study for the National Park service to determine if several trails should be designated historic, including the Chisholm Trail.
The Fort Worth Stockyards was the last major stop on that branch of the trail in Texas before crossing the Red River then moving into Indian Territory.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Final Frontier
I like space. Apollo 13 and The Right Stuff are among my favorite movies. I know lots of random facts.
Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14,1947.
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, was launched on October 4, 1957.
In 1958 as a response to the Sputnik launch, the US Government created the Advanced Research Projects Agency. One of the projects of DARPA was ARPANET, a progenitor of the internet. The first message was sent over the network in 1969.
On April 12,1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space. He orbited the earth.
Alan Shepard was the first American in space in Freedom 7. May 5, 1961. He did not orbit the earth.
The digital watches we wear today are more powerful computers than those used in the Apollo Spacecraft.
Apollo 17 was the last time humans walked on the moon. It was in 1972.
In 2004 George W. Bush announced the Constellation program which would send humans back to the moon by 2020. Barack Obama cancelled the program.
At this time, only two space shuttles are still in service. Discovery's last flight is scheduled for September, 2010. Endeavor's last flight is scheduled for November, 2010.
Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14,1947.
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, was launched on October 4, 1957.
In 1958 as a response to the Sputnik launch, the US Government created the Advanced Research Projects Agency. One of the projects of DARPA was ARPANET, a progenitor of the internet. The first message was sent over the network in 1969.
On April 12,1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space. He orbited the earth.
Alan Shepard was the first American in space in Freedom 7. May 5, 1961. He did not orbit the earth.
The digital watches we wear today are more powerful computers than those used in the Apollo Spacecraft.
Apollo 17 was the last time humans walked on the moon. It was in 1972.
In 2004 George W. Bush announced the Constellation program which would send humans back to the moon by 2020. Barack Obama cancelled the program.
At this time, only two space shuttles are still in service. Discovery's last flight is scheduled for September, 2010. Endeavor's last flight is scheduled for November, 2010.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Stick with me kid
I like tape. And glue. Here's some things I've read here and there....
Both duck or duct are correct when you’re talking about my favorite gray tape. Duck tape was developed as a waterproof tape for the Army in WWII. It was made with cotton duck fabric.
Scotch tape got it’s name because the owners of 3M were Scots.
The inventor of Super Glue worked for Kodak, which has done a lot more than just make photography products.
Super Glue was first used to treat wounds during the Vietnam War, though it was not developed for that purpose.
Earle Dickson invented Band-Aid bandages so his wife could apply a bandage to herself when she cut her fingers. Apparently she did this frequently. Moms everywhere thank you for your clumsiness Mrs. Dickson.
Contrary to popular belief, Elmer’s Glue All contains no animal products. It did once, but it wasn't cow hooves. They used to use a protein from milk.
Both duck or duct are correct when you’re talking about my favorite gray tape. Duck tape was developed as a waterproof tape for the Army in WWII. It was made with cotton duck fabric.
Scotch tape got it’s name because the owners of 3M were Scots.
The inventor of Super Glue worked for Kodak, which has done a lot more than just make photography products.
Super Glue was first used to treat wounds during the Vietnam War, though it was not developed for that purpose.
Earle Dickson invented Band-Aid bandages so his wife could apply a bandage to herself when she cut her fingers. Apparently she did this frequently. Moms everywhere thank you for your clumsiness Mrs. Dickson.
Contrary to popular belief, Elmer’s Glue All contains no animal products. It did once, but it wasn't cow hooves. They used to use a protein from milk.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Transform and roll out
More than meets the eye….
Transformers were originally created by a Japanese toy company. Hasbro bought the line in 1984.
There are Autobots and Decepticons. The Autobots are generally regarded as the “good guys” while the Decepticons are pretty much evil.
Mini-Cons are human sized transformers and can be Autobots or Decepticons.
Primus created the Transformers to defeat his brother, Unicron.
The Transformers home is Cybertron. Other planets in the Transformers universe are Gigantion and Velocitron.
Megatron originally transformed into a Walther P-38.
Bumblebee originally transformed into a yellow Penny Racer toy Volkswagen Beetle. My first car was a yellow Volkswagen Beetle.
Transformers were originally created by a Japanese toy company. Hasbro bought the line in 1984.
There are Autobots and Decepticons. The Autobots are generally regarded as the “good guys” while the Decepticons are pretty much evil.
Mini-Cons are human sized transformers and can be Autobots or Decepticons.
Primus created the Transformers to defeat his brother, Unicron.
The Transformers home is Cybertron. Other planets in the Transformers universe are Gigantion and Velocitron.
Megatron originally transformed into a Walther P-38.
Bumblebee originally transformed into a yellow Penny Racer toy Volkswagen Beetle. My first car was a yellow Volkswagen Beetle.
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