What was Prediction After 9/11 of Terrorist Attacks?

Terrorists attacked on WTC (credit to Google)

I compared two articles published in 2001 during terrorists attacked on several important sites in the USA. First was a report and second was a short story.

The article with title “Many Sporting Events Called Off or Postponed” is about respond of sport communities to terrorist attack by postponed sport events around the nation. 

In addition to deep mourning, the sport community also concern with their own security, even security in the training area. 

Litsky and Williams (2001) started their article with national tragedy that had occurred in September 11, 2001. 

The series of four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks caused tremendous damages to USA, then followed by cancellation of many sport events, from baseball to hockey, soccer, golf and so on. 

Memorial of WTC attacked (credit to Google)

Moreover, the short story entitles “Fear & Loathing in America” is the same about terrorist attack on American soil, but author looks at different angles.

American had a lot of war with a lot of victims, but still fear in life. When writer wrote story, actually American has engaged war within the countries where attackers might come from. There are fear and loath on both sides.

According to Thompson (2001), “Make no mistake about it: We are At War now -- with somebody -- and we will stay At War with that mysterious Enemy for the rest of our lives” (paragraph.6). 

It is suggesting that the author is true about the current condition of USA, where there is ongoing war since September 11, 2001 until recently. The enemy is so mysterious from Al-Qaeda to ISIS to unknown.

I myself favor non-fiction story of Thompson, it is because the narrative so brilliant with exactly prediction of future event. 

American still screening shoes and underwear at airports, but no assurance will be avoiding the terrorist attacks in the near future. Fear and loathing still live in the American’s mind.

References

Litsky, F and Williams, L. (2001). Many Sporting Events Called Off or Postponed. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/12/sports/many-sporting-events-called-off-or-postponed.html

Thompson, H.S. (2001). Fear & Loathing in America. Retrieved from http://proxy.espn.com/espn/page2/story?id=1250751

What Kinds of Foods Have no Effect on Weight Gain?

A Melon, fruit

Many of us so worry with weight gain, especially if the weight gain relate to certain health condition or diseases such as high blood pressure, high fat content in blood and high blood sugar.

Questions then, What Kinds of Foods Have no Effect on Weight Gain? Or what kind of foods that we can eat as much as we want?

The general guidelines that we could eat the foods as much as we want without worry of weight gain are following:

- High satiety index

- High water content

- Low caloric content

- Low fat

- Higher fiber

- Good source of protein

For simplicity, the foods includes in the general guidelines are categorized as:

- Vegetables

- Fruits

- Legumes

Varied of Tomatoes. They are considered as vegetables and fruits

Some fruits we may eat as much as we want are following:

- Melon

- Cantaloupe (my article about Cantaloupe: Cantaloupe Grows Well in America)

- Apples

- Citrus fruits

- Strawberries

Vegetables are food which we can eat almost unlimited, some of them are:

- Potatoes are included as root vegetable because it contain starch. Potatoes are also include as a high satiate index food.

- Tomatoes considered both as fruit and vegetable.

- Broccoli

- Cauliflower

- Kale

Legumes contain high fiber, source of protein and low fat, few are:

- Beans

- Peas

- Lentils

- Black beans

- Soybeans

Which are you prefer most: fruits, vegetables or legumes?

Can We Make Tea of Hibiscus Flowers?

Yellow Hibiscus flower

We just went to the farmer market, we interest in Hibiscus flowers. There are plenty of colors, some of them are peach, purple, pink and many more.

I took pictures of three flower colors from three different plants. The colors are yellow, red and orange. Look so beautiful.

Flowers grow in tropical and warm temperate regions. They grow in America too, but it is said that they will not survive during winter or colder temperature.

From reading, genus Hibiscus has several hundred of species. Quite plenty compared to other genus.

Red flower

In addition to their beauty, Hibiscus flowers, leaves and plant parts may be processed to be a tea. Healthy tea.

Honestly, I never tried it. Some literature said that we just dry hibiscus (flowers, leaves and plant parts) properly, then be used as a tea like other commercial teas.

Hibiscus tea also called as herbal tea or a tisane, French for “herbal infusion.” We can make it for hot tea or ice tea.

Orange color

It is said that Hibiscus tea has several health benefits, they are:

- Lower blood pressure

- Improve liver health

- May reduce body weight

- Contain antioxidant to improve healthy cells

- Decrease blood fat and blood sugar

Can we drink Hibiscus tea every day? The answer is yes, but no more than 15 cups of tea per day.

Over drinking of Hibiscus tea may cause nausea and headache. In case of diabetes patients, too much drink of Hibiscus tea could lead to sudden drop of blood sugar.

Do you have Hibiscus flowers and ever drink Hibiscus tea?

Why do People Make and Eat Salted Duck Eggs?

Salted duck eggs are ready to eat

When I was a college student, I always eat salt duck eggs. I thought it is because salt eggs contain highly energy and protein.

In reality, duck eggs are better than chicken eggs in term of protein content. 9 grams of protein for a duck egg and 6 grams for chicken eggs.

The salted duck egg is a Chinese traditional food, and then well known in South East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Why do People Make and Eat Salted Duck Eggs, not chicken egg? The answers are:

- Texture of duck eggs absorbs salt (brine) easier than chicken eggs

- A duck egg is tastier

- A duck egg is fresh longer

- A duck egg contains Omega-3 fatty acids more than chicken eggs

- People who allergic to eggs are prefer duck eggs than chicken eggs.

Cooked salted duck eggs

We can find salted duck eggs in almost Asian groceries (Chinese, Vietnamese, Thailand), here, in America. The salted eggs are cooked, and ready to eat.

Some people use cooked salted duck eggs as food flavor. They also use it as a condiment. Tasteful.

Wrapped salted duck eggs

In addition to protein, one salted duck egg also contains 1 gram and 9.6 gram of carbohydrate and fat consecutively. All these 3 nutrients are good for skin and muscle cares.

Sure, duck eggs are rich in vitamin (B12 and A) and minerals (selenium and iron). Selenium is good for hormone production. Iron used to increase oxygen contents in blood cells.

However, if you concern with highly salted and cholesterol, you should eat no more than one salted duck egg in a day or avoid at all.

Recently, I myself very rarely eat salted duck eggs, may be just two or three times in a year.

Have you taste salted duck eggs?

Have You Try to Freeze Strawberry?

Strawberry, red and sweet

Strawberry is one of my favorite fruits. I just buy them in enough amount to consume for several days.

Since we consume bought strawberries in a proper time, thus, they are in good condition and tasted fresh.

Off course, they are abundance during spring seasons. Mainly local productions. We could find strawberry all seasons, but they are imported ones.

Based on my own experienced, imported strawberries are varied in term of taste, freshness and overall quality.

I just read in an article that we can freeze strawberry, then can be used to make many foods as we know, a jam as an example.

Washing strawberries in the glass bowl

We can use frozen strawberries to make like following foods:

- Pie

- Compote

- A chocolate dip

- Cobbler

- Cake

- etc

My readings said that before freezing, strawberries are washed by clean water. Then put them into plastic bags (freezer bags).

We may freeze strawberry up to 2 months in a freezer, and some said that strawberries are safe to be consumed even after 12 months.

Honestly, I never freeze strawberry, thus never eat 12 months frozen strawberries.

Have You Try to Freeze Strawberry? How long in freezer is safe to be consumed?

What is Original Use of Pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Pantheon in Rome, Italy around 1700’s (credit to Google)

My previous article was about Parthenon with title: What is Purpose of Parthenon in Athens, Greece? 

I mentioned that “the Parthenon is a classical style, a Doric order form. 

While in Rome, Italy, there is historical building called as Pantheon, classic style, but with Corinthian order form. 

Corinthian order form is quite complex compared to simple Doric order form. It is because Corinthian was developed later on, after 200 years of Doric.

The temple was completed by the Roman emperor around 125 A.D. The building age is around 1900 years old. Very well preserved. 

Based on the word of the Pantheon; Pan means every and Theon mean divinity, thus, initially, the temple serves to worship for every god. 

Moreover, Cartwright (2013) suggested that the temple might be the place where emperor shows his divine and power equal to other gods when he is attending the worship or appear in public. 

Pantheon condition recently (credit to Google)

The initial function of both Parthenon (Athens) and Pantheon (Rome) is serving as a temple. 

Then, the Pantheon is used as the Roman Church, while Parthenon for museum. Both are tourist objects now days. 

In term of architecture, there is similarity for both Pantheon and Parthenon, they have “8
pillars in front of the entrance.”  

These pillars to support a pediment; a triangular element in upper part of front any classical style buildings. 

Have you been visited Pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Reference

Cartwright, M. 2013. Pantheon. Retrieved from ancient /Pantheon/

What Species is Considered as the Best Tuna?

Blue fin tuna, just caught by fishermen

Back to my home country, no best quality of tunas is sold in the market. Why? It is because they are exported, mainly to Japan.

If we really want a tuna fish, we would come to an exporter. We could get the fresh tuna a week later, some times more than a week.

Here, in the America, I don’t know where is the market which sell fresh tuna in southern states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida).

I eat canned tuna only if I miss the taste of fish. I bought in Walmart super market, some times in other groceries. The price is quite reasonable.

I once ordered a fresh tuna from a friend of mind who lives in Hawaii several years ago. Very good quality of tuna, and very expensive.

Canned tuna sold in groceries

Moreover, there are many species of tunas in nature. Several resources said there are 15 species, but known 5 only for commercial, they are:

- Skipjack

- Albacore

- Yellow fin

- Blue fin

- Big eye tuna

Both Yellow fin and Big eye tunas called as “Ahi” in Japanese and Hawaiians. They are look like similar, actually, two different species.

Now, what Species is Considered as the Best Tuna? The Blue fin tuna, it is because its highly quality and demand for certain foods such as “sashimi and sushi.”

The price so expensive, even cost US$ 3.1 million for “a giant blue fin tuna” at Tokyo, Japan fish market auction recently.

What species of tuna have you ever tasted?