Want to know it? This blog has a little bit of everything to challenge your mind and find answers to life's questions.
September 3rd, 2010 at 01:42am
Under Health
Humans naturally sweat (perspire) everyday. We sweat more when it is hot an when we are very nervous. But why do we sweat? This post will answer that very question!
Why do we sweat?
The answer is actually very simple. We sweat to cool ourselves down. The body has three triggers to tell itself to sweat. First, your core temperature may be increased. Your core temperature is usually 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). If this temperature starts to rise, you begin to sweat. The second trigger is in temperature receptors located in the skin. If they detect the skin temperature is high you will start to sweat. That’s why, on a hot day, you sweat more. Lastly, when you are very nervous or scared you start to sweat as your nerves become ‘over active’ and make a certain substance to be made which causes the body to sweat.
How does sweat cool us down?
So I told you why we sweat- to cool us down. However, how does sweat cool humans down? This is all about science! Sweat is mostly water. As you know from science, water evaporates. It takes a certain amount of heat for water to evaporate. This heat is lost from the body, cooling it down. This is called the ‘latent heat of vaporization’. A fancy word that means the amount of heat it takes to evaporate water.
Other Health Topics
Why is Healthy Eating Important
How do you get Kidney Stones
September 1st, 2010 at 08:26am
Under who invented
Chocolate comes in all sizes, many flavors and different consistencies. Most people can easily tell you their favorite type and just how they would like to eat it. For many it is a treat that can be enjoyed anywhere and with a variety of different people. For most of us chocolate has always existed and been part of life, but who invented chocolate?
Who invented Chocolate?
The invention of chocolate cannot be attributed to one individual but can be traced back to many different groups of people. The early Mesoamerican people (Mayans, Aztecs and Olmec Indians) all used cacao beans to develop chocolate drinks as early as 1500 BC. Cacao beans made their way to Europe via Christopher Columbus in the early 1500’s but did not gain popularity until much later. Still in a bean form being ground into powder Chocolate made its way across Europe until a Frenchman opened a chocolate house in London. It was sold as a drink to many but was very expensive thus only well to do people ever got to experience chocolate. By 1674 the ground cacao bean was being used in cakes and rolls and more people were exposed to the deliciousness of chocolate. The first step to chocolate becoming what you and I know it as today was the invention of a table mill for the beans by Monsieur Dubuisson in 1732. Then in 1829 a Dutchman named Conrad J. van Houten improved on this process by inventing a hydraulic press that could create very fine cocoa powder.
Modern Day Chocolate
The very first chocolate bars would have been somewhat unappealing to chocolate lovers today but at the time were a marvel and much sort after treat. The first chocolate bar was invented by Fry and Sons, who later became a part of the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Once in a bar form Chocolate gained in popularity and spread around the world. In 1868 John Cadbury mass-marketed boxes of chocolates and then in 1875 Daniel Peters of Switzerland created the first milk chocolate. In 1878 Rudolph Lindt created a process called “conching” which allowed for chocolate to be more blendable thus the ability to add other ingredients increased.
Chocolate has continued to grow and evolve into what we know it as today. Without the contribution of the many people mentioned above chocolate would still be a largely unknown substance.
Related Articles
When Was Chocolate Invented
When was the Chocolate Chip Cookie Invented
August 28th, 2010 at 08:28am
Under list
Renée Zellweger is a celebrity actress who started her career in Texas. After some initial success she decided to move to Los Angeles where she got her big break with an important role in the movie Jerry Maguire alongside Tom Cruise. Since this point her career has blossomed and she has been rewarded for her efforts with 3 Academy award nominations for 1 Oscar. Interestingly, she was required to gain 20 pounds and learn a British Accent to play Bridget Jones, for which she received an Oscar nomination. The following is a list of movies that Renée Zellweger has been featured in.
Movie Title (Year) Character
My Own Love Song (2010) Jane Wyatt
Case 39 (2009) Emily Jenkins
Monsters vs Aliens (2009) (voice) Katie
My One and Only (2009) Anne Deveraux
New in Town (2009) Lucy Hill
Appaloosa (2008) Allison French
Leatherheads (2008) Lexie Littleton
Bee Movie (2007) (voice) Vanessa Bloome
Miss Potter (2006) Beatrix Potter
Cinderella Man (2005) Mae Braddock
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) Bridget Jones
Shark Tale (2004) (voice) Angie
Cold Mountain (2003) Ruby Thewes
Down with Love (2003) Barbara Novak
Chicago (2002) Roxie Hart
White Oleander (2002) Claire Richards
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) Bridget Jones
Me, Myself & Irene (2000) Irene P. Waters
Nurse Betty (2000) Betty Sizemore
The Bachelor (1999) Anne Arden
One True Thing (1998) Ellen Gulden
A Price Above Rubies (1998) Sonia Horowitz
Deceiver (1997) Elizabeth
Jerry Maguire (1996) Dorothy Boyd
The Whole Wide World (1996) Novalyne Price
The Low Life (1995) Poet
Empire Records (1995) Gina
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994) Jenny
Love and a .45 (1994) Starlene Cheatham
Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994) (TV) Susan
8 Seconds (1994) Buckle Bunny
Reality Bites (1994) Tami
Dazed and Confused (1993) Girl in blue pickup truck
My Boyfriend’s Back (1993)
Murder in the Heartland (1993) (TV) Barbara Von Busch
A Taste for Killing (1992) (TV) Mary Lou
Related Movie Lists
Meryl Streep Movie List – Worked together in the movie “One True Thing.”
Jim Carrey Movie List – Worked together on “Me, Myself & Irene” and had a relationship together.
Reese Witherspoon Movie List – They are good friends.
August 27th, 2010 at 08:00am
Under who invented
There are very few girls around the world that can say they have never owned a Barbie and even fewer that can claim to have never heard of Barbie. Barbie has become a worldwide icon when it comes to girl’s toys and accessories. You can own every type of Barbie imaginable and just when you think you have them all Barbie comes out as something else. But when did Barbie first arrive in our stores and how often has Barbie been re-invented since her first debut? Read on to find out.
When was Barbie Invented?
As most people know, Barbie was first invented in 1959 by a lady called Ruth Handler. Ruth Handler had a young daughter named Barbara who enjoyed playing with paper dolls, so Ruth invented a plastic doll modeled as a young woman and named it after her little girl. The first Barbie had an impossible figure with a tiny waist and feet and oversized breasts and hips. When Barbie was invented she was marketed as a fashion doll for teenage girls and was successful from the start as no other dolls of her type were available.
How has Barbie been re-invented?
As time wore on the need to change Barbie became evident as much criticism was leveled at the toy by concerned parents and health agencies. Many believed that Barbie set a dangerous body image for young girls. As such in 1997 Barbie’s body was redesigned to include a wider waist. Another re-invention of Barbie occurred even earlier than this is 1968 when Mattel manufactured an African American version of Barbie named “Christie.” Barbie will continue to be re-invented to meet the current social fashions and markets as can be seen by one of her latest re-inventions in 2009 titled “Totally Tattoos Barbie” in which Barbie is sporting a lower back tattoo declaring her love for Ken.
All in all it is difficult to actually count the number of times that Barbie has been re-invented. But one thing that can be counted on is that she will continue to be re-invented many more times and in ways beyond our wildest imaginations before the world sees the end of Barbie.
Related Articles
Who invented Barbie
Who Invented the Frisbee
August 25th, 2010 at 11:03am
Under what is
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is a North African country that has an emerging economy. But what is the capital of Algeria? This post will answer that question and tell you some information about the nation’s capital.
What is the Capital of Algeria
The capital, and largest, city of Algeria is Algiers. The present day city of Algiers was founded in 944 AD by Buluggin ibn Ziri. Sadly, terrorist groups have attacked the city on a number of occasions since 2002. United Nations and government buildings have been targeted by the terrorists. The city is also ranked as having the lowest quality of life of any nation’s capital city in the world.
Algiers has a mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool (and wet) winters. Four islands lay just off the coast of Algiers. Algiers gets its name from an Arabic word meaning ‘the islands’. These islands are now considered part of the mainland as they are connected to Algiers by roads (bridges). About 3% of Algiers’ population is made up of people born overseas. Most of these come from China, Vietnam and Mali. Some of the sister (or twin) cities of Algiers include Cairo, Barcelona, Washington D.C., Dubai, Rome and London.
Want to know more about Algeria? Then see our post ‘interesting facts about Algeria‘.
August 25th, 2010 at 01:13am
Under list
Samuel L. Jackson is a famous African-American actor who started acting in movies in the 1970’s. He played manly minor roles early in his career until the 1990’s where he starred in a string of very popular and successful movies. He has worked on over 100 films and has an Oscar nomination and a star on the Hollywood walk of fame to his credit. He successfully battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol, which had threatened his career. The following is a list of movies that Samuel L. Jackson has acted in during his career.
Movie Title (Year) Character
The Other Guys (2010) P.K. Highsmith
Iron Man 2 (2010) Nick Fury
The RRF in New Recruit (2010) (voice) Zog
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010) (voice) Fear
Unthinkable (2010) Henry Herald ‘H’ Humphries
Astro Boy (2009) (voice) Zog
Mother and Child (2009) Paul
Inglourious Basterds (2009) (voice) Narrator
Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2009) (TV) (voice) Afro Samurai / Ninja Ninja
The Spirit (2008) The Octopus
Soul Men (2008) Louis Hinds
Lakeview Terrace (2008) Abel Turner
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) (voice) Mace Windu
Iron Man (2008) Nick Fury
Gospel Hill (2008) Paul Malcolm
Jumper (2008) Roland
Cleaner (2007) Tom Cutler
1408 (2007) Gerald Olin
Resurrecting the Champ (2007) Champ
Home of the Brave (2006) Will Marsh
Black Snake Moan (2006) Lazarus
Snakes on a Plane (2006) Neville Flynn
Freedomland (2006) Lorenzo Council
Honor Deferred (2006) (TV) Narrator
Farce of the Penguins (2006) (voice) Narrator
The Man (2005) Derrick Vann
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) Mace Windu
xXx 2: The Next Level (2005) Agent Augustus Eugene Gibbons
Coach Carter (2005) Coach Ken Carter
The Incredibles (2004) (voice) Lucius Best / Frozone
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) Rufus
Twisted (2004/I) John Mills
In My Country (2004) Langston Whitfield
S.W.A.T. (2003) Sgt. Dan ‘Hondo’ Harrelson
Basic (2003) West
xXx (2002) Agent Augustus Eugene Gibbons
No Good Deed (2002) Jack Friar
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) Mace Windu
Changing Lanes (2002) Doyle Gipson
The Comeback (2002)
Formula 51 (2001) Elmo McElroy
The Caveman’s Valentine (2001) Romulus
Unbreakable (2000) Elijah Price
Shaft (2000) John Shaft
Rules of Engagement (2000) Col. Terry L. Childers
Any Given Wednesday (2000) Willie Nutter
Deep Blue Sea (1999) Russell Franklin
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) Mace Windu
Our Friend, Martin (1999) (V) (voice) Turner
The Red Violin (1998) Charles Morritz (Montréal)
The Negotiator (1998) Danny Roman
Out of Sight (1998) (uncredited) Hejira Henry
Sphere (1998) Dr. Harry Adams
Jackie Brown (1997) Ordell Robbie
Eve’s Bayou (1997) Louis Batiste
One Eight Seven (1997) Trevor Garfield
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Mitch Henessey
A Time to Kill (1996) Carl Lee Hailey
Trees Lounge (1996) Wendell
The Great White Hype (1996) Rev. Fred Sultan
Hard Eight (1996) Jimmy
Fluke (1995) (voice) Rumbo
Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) Zeus Carver
Kiss of Death (1995/I) Calvin Hart
Losing Isaiah (1995) Kadar Lewis
The Search for One-eye Jimmy (1994) Col. Ron
The New Age (1994) Dale Deveaux
Pulp Fiction (1994) Jules Winnfield
Hail Caesar (1994) Mailman
Against the Wall (1994) (TV) Jamaal
Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker (1994) (TV) Richard
Fresh (1994) Sam
True Romance (1993) Big Don
Jurassic Park (1993) Ray Arnold
Menace II Society (1993) Tat Lawson
Amos & Andrew (1993) Andrew Sterling
Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) Wes Luger
Patriot Games (1992) Lt. Cmdr. Robby Jackson
White Sands (1992) Greg Meeker
Juice (1992) Trip
The Secret World of Spying (1992) (TV) LCDR Robby Jackson
Fathers & Sons (1992) Marshall
Jumpin’ at the Boneyard (1992) Mr. Simpson
Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace (1991) (TV) Hatcher
Strictly Business (1991) Monroe
Johnny Suede (1991) B-Bop
Jungle Fever (1991) Gator Purify
The Return of Superfly (1990) Nate Cabot
Goodfellas (1990) Stacks Edwards
Mo’ Better Blues (1990) Madlock
Betsy’s Wedding (1990) Taxi Dispatcher (Mickey)
Def by Temptation (1990) Minister Garth
A Shock to the System (1990) Ulysses
The Exorcist III (1990) Blind Dream Man
Sea of Love (1989) Black Guy
Do the Right Thing (1989) Mister Señor Love Daddy
Dead Man Out (1989) (TV) Calvin Fredricks
Coming to America (1988) Hold-Up Man
School Daze (1988) Leeds
Eddie Murphy Raw (1987) Eddie’s uncle (sketch)
Magic Sticks (1987) Bum
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1987) (TV) George
Ragtime (1981) Gang Member #2
The Trial of the Moke (1978) (TV)
The Displaced Person (1977) (TV)
Together for Days (1972) Stan
Related Movie Lists
Morgan Freeman Movie List – Part of the Negro Ensemble Company together in the 1970’s
Christina Ricci Movie List – The two became close friends after working on the movie Black Snake Moan
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:31pm
Under uses
Gypsum is a soft mineral that is white or colorless when it doesn’t contain any impurities. Here are some of the more common uses of gypsum in today’s world!
Uses of Gypsum
- Drywall, the finish for walls and ceilings, is made of gypsum (called Gypsum Board).
- Gypsum is also used as one ingredient in plaster.
- While not used as often today, gypsum is sometimes added to fertilizers. Gypsum promotes the growth and health of a plant.
- Some clay courts in tennis are often ‘binded’ by gypsum. In other words, the gypsum helps bind the clay to make the surface faster and dryer.
- Plaster of Paris is made by heating gypsum. This is used to make surgical splints and casting molds.
- Gypsum is added to foot creams, shampoos and other hair products (conditioners etc).
- It can also be used to make honey wine (also called mead). Honey wine is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey and water with yeast. Gypsum is added as another ingredient at times.
- Gypsum is one component of Portland cement. It prevents flash (fast) setting of concrete.
- Gypsum is added to tofu to help it coagulate (come together). This makes it a very important source of calcium in the diet of Asians who don’t traditionally use dairy products in their foods.
Related Topics
Uses of Baking Soda
Uses of Diamonds
August 20th, 2010 at 04:20am
Under list
Orlando Bloom is a English actor who joined the National Youth Theatre in London when he was 16. He spent two years here as well as performing some small roles in British television. He then joined the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where it was feared he would be permanently paralysed after a three story fall. Fortunately, he quickly recovered and returned to the stage. It was in 1999 when the director Peter Jackson was in the audience that his big break came. Jackson asked him to audition for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the rest, as they say, is history. This is a list of Movies that Orlando Bloom has acted in.
Movie Title (Year) Character
Sympathy for Delicious (2010) The Stain
Main Street (2010) Harris Parker
New York, I Love You (2009) David
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) Will Turner
Love and Other Disasters (2006) Hollywood Paolo
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) Will Turner
Elizabethtown (2005) Drew Baylor
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) Balian de Ibelin
Haven (2004) Shy
Troy (2004) Paris
The Calcium Kid (2004) Jimmy ‘The Calcium Kid’ Connelly
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Legolas
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Will Turner
Ned Kelly (2003) Joseph Byrne
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) Legolas Greenleaf
Black Hawk Down (2001) Blackburn
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Legolas Greenleaf
Wilde (1997) Rent Boy
Related Movie Lists
Johnny Depp Movie List – Worked together on the “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Brad Pitt Movie List – Worked together on the movie “Troy.”
August 19th, 2010 at 01:09pm
Under finance
If you have recently become employed, you may want to know what 401k is and how it work. This post will take you through how a 401k retirement plan works.
How Does 4o1k Work?
A 401k is basically a retirement plan allowing current workers to save for the future. A 401k plan is actually fairly simple to understand. An employee chooses to put away a certain amount of money each week. This is known as a ‘contribution’. Some employers will even match all or part of your payment as an incentive to put money in the 401k account. The money you put away will be invested by the 401k company. Most companies allow you to choose how the money is invested. When you retire, the account is close and all the funds go to you so you can enjoy your retirement. Employers can automatically enroll their employees in a 401k plan. However, an employee is allowed to opt-out if they so choose.
Two different 401k plans are available. Traditional 401k plans are the most common. The employee pays no income tax on the amount put into the 401k account. Tax is paid when the money is withdrawn from the account. Roth 401k accounts work differently. Income tax is either paid or withheld on all the money put into the 401k account. Therefore, when you retire and receive the money, you don’t have to pay any tax on it!
Other Financial Topics:
When was the first credit card issued
Why is it important to save money
August 19th, 2010 at 08:08am
Under list
Keira Knightley is an English actress who has quickly become a household name. Like many actors she began at an early age, but her big break came when she landed a role in the British hit “Bend it Like Beckham” in 2002. It was the next year where she shot to worldwide fame in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean” and has gone on to star in some major box office successes. She is well positioned for a long and successful career. The following is a list of movies that Keira Knightley has acted in.
Title/Year/Character
Last Night (2010) Joanna Reed
Never Let Me Go (2010) Ruth
The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers (2009) The Fairy
Looking Over: The Edge of Love (2008) (V) Vera Phillips
The Duchess (2008) Georgiana
The Edge of Love (2008) Vera Phillips
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind (2007) (TV) (voice) Em
Silk (2007/I) Hélène Joncour
Atonement (2007) Cecilia Tallis
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) Elizabeth Swann
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) Elizabeth Swann
Domino (2005) Domino Harvey
Pride & Prejudice (2005) Elizabeth Bennet
The Jacket (2005) Jackie Price
Stories of Lost Souls (2005) Leah (segment “New Year’s Eve”)
King Arthur (2004) Guinevere
Love Actually (2003) Juliet
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Elizabeth Swann
Gaijin (2003) (V) (voice) Kate
The Seasons Alter (2002) Helena
Doctor Zhivago (2002) (TV) Lara Antipova (neé Guishar)
New Year’s Eve (2002) Leah
Pure (2002) Louise
Thunderpants (2002) (uncredited) Music School Student
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Juliette ‘Jules’ Paxton
The Hole (2001) Frances ‘Frankie’ Almond Smith
Princess of Thieves (2001) (TV) Gwyn
Deflation (2001) Jogger
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) Sabé
Coming Home (1998) (TV) Young Judith
The Treasure Seekers (1996) (TV) The Princess
Innocent Lies (1995) Young Celia
A Village Affair (1995) (TV) Natasha Jordan
Related Movie Lists
Orlando Bloom Movie List – Worked together on Pirates of the Caribbean
Jennifer Lopez Movie List – Keira attended Jennifer’s engagement party
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Want to know it? This blog has a little bit of everything to keep you entertained, challenge your mind and find answers to life's questions.
