My Neighbor Small “Paradise” at Backyard – Gardening and Hobby 7

Fig- 01- Little pond with small waterfall

One of our neighbors designs their yard with a nice small pond for Koi fish. Lovely place to sit around, especially during hot seasons (days).

I believe the pond characteristics are following:

- size 12 feet x 16 feet x 6 feet (3.7 meter x 4.9 meter x 1.8 meter), twelve feet by sixteen feet with six feet deep.

- at least 2000 gallon of water.

- there are more than 10 koi fish in the pond.

Water fall makes the pond not only beautiful, but also good for water circulation which has “trickle down” effect on:

- more oxygen creation to keep more fish

- healthy plants in the pond

- chemical and thermal stratification will be prevented

Fig- 02- Koi fish swimming in the pond

There are many types of Koi fish available, based on their size, at least there are 3 kinds:

1) Domestic Koi fish

- sizes between 12 to 15 inches (30.5 cm to 38 cm) long

2) Japanese Koi

- fish may grow from 22 inches to 26 inches (56 cm to 66 cm) long

3) Jumbo Koi fish

- sizes between 34 to 36 inches (86 cm to 91 m) long

Fig- 03- One corner of backyard

In general, Koi fish could reach their maximum size in 3 years, but Jumbo koi may reach its maximum size in 2 years only.

In nature of Koi fish, everything might be available in their environment, include:

- bugs

- insects

- algae

- plants.

Interestingly, this critter may consume human daily foods as well, such as:

- cereals

- rice

- peas

- watermelon

- lettuce

Have you ever have Koi fish as a pet? What is length size?

The Helicopter in the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV)

Fig- 01- The helicopter starts to take off

As far as I remember, I came to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) in my city for several times.

The business I did in DMV:

- apply for ID card

- testing (paper and road) for driving licensed

- voting registration (register as Democrats, Republicans or independents).

- notice of vehicle transfer

- plate relate things (order personalized, return and cancel plates)

In term of vehicle transfer notice, we have donated, sold and traded our vehicle long time ago.

One day, people from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stop our car, and guide us to DMV parking lot.

Fig- 02- The copter is getting to fly

Then, they check our car emitting gas, luckily our car is the range of normal. The EPA let us go.

Fig- 03- Copter is flying away.

Actually, we check our cars gas emission every year at the state authorized test centers near by our neighborhood.

Testing is to keep our car emission within the range of state regulations. The cost is US$ 18 only.

Surprisingly, when we visit DMV this morning, we saw Copter in the parking lot. We wonder why?

Some people said the helicopter is belong to the police institution. They use this flying vehicle to fight crimes.

By using copter, the police may get very good a crime scene or “bird’s eye view of” to any suspect objects.

Finally, have your city police’s helicopter to combat crime?  

Are Yellow Elder Blooming in the Fall? - Gardening and hobby 6

Fig– 01- Blooming of Yellow Elder in early Fall

We just walking regularly this morning in the city garden after stopping a while because of pandemic.

Surprisingly, many flowers are blooming in the early fall season with lower temperature, below 21 C (70 F) degree.

One of them is Yellow Elder. This flower has several species, the popular one is called with scientific name Tecoma Chrysantha.

It is said that Yellow Elder is a good shrub flower for both big landscape and our home garden. Other best flowering shrubs are:

- Paper-Chase Tree

- Golden Dewdrop

- Bougainvillea

- Purple Wreath

- Allamanda

Fig- 02- beautiful color

The interesting features of Yellow Elder:

- flowers are very bright yellow with trumpet like

- leaves are green and look like head of spears

- tolerant of drought

- good to grow in areas of temperatures about F 35 (C 1.7) degree, also well growing in warm regions.

Fig- 03- Flowers are climbing the roof

What I like that it is said the flowers are able to attract critters such as:

- hummingbirds

- butterflies

- bees

Fig- 04- Shining and beautiful yellow flowers

Hummingbirds and butterflies are my favorite critters, I am planning to grow this flower in my small garden by near coming future.

Other feature of Yellow Elder is its ability to climb the objects. Thus, it is good to cover:

- wall

- fence

- old tress

Is there Yellow Elder flower in your area?

What is a Monoclonal Antibody to Treat Donald Trump? - Virus 22

A Covid 19 Antibody (credit to BioPharma reporter)

As all of us know that Donald Trump infected by corona virus, Sars Cov 2 last Friday, might be even early.

After brought to army medical center, Walter Reed hospital, president got two treatments with:

- a dose of Remdesiver

- a monoclonal antibody

We talked about drug called Remdesiver at previous post. You may read the article:

- Is Remdesivir a Potential Drug Against Covid-19? - Virus 11 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Then, we might wonder: What is a Monoclonal Antibody to Treat Donald Trump?

A monoclonal Antibody is a synthetic antibody which able to mimic human (natural) antibody to fight infection.

A supplement for increase immunity, just for illustration.

In case of virus, synthetic antibody manufactured by company called Regeneron, proved to reduce Corona virus from Covid 19 patients.

Based on trials (very first trial) to 275 patients, the monoclonal antibody killed the virus which attached body systems in certain degree, and improve the health condition of patients.

Moreover, Trump was injected with a 8 gram dose of “experimental” antibody. It is said higher dose, since dose used in the trials is 2.4 gram. Lower dose shown good result (please read Science, October 2, 2020).

In addition to Remdesiver drug and Monoclonal antibody, Trump was given supplement as well. They are:

- zinc

- vitamin D

- vitamin C

- an acid reducer

- melatonin

- aspirin.

We will know whether the treatments for Donald Trump are success or fail in the next coming days or at least next 48 hours.

Just wait and see!!

Are All Sanitizer Brands Good for You? – Virus 21

Fig -01- One of well known brands sold in supermarket

Hand sanitizer is one of items which are empty from stores at the early and peak of Covid 19 pandemic.

It seems that we may find it easily in many stores now. I noticed the price quite higher compared to before pandemic.

Some well known brands in the market are:

- Purell

- Equate

- Casey Jones

- Hoosier hand sanitizer

- MCMC hand sanitizing

- New Holland hand sanitizer

- Scully’s hand sanity

- Dr Brite hand sanitizer

Fig – 02 - Equate is one of made in USA brands

What are hand sanitizer brands good for you?

My own opinion that the brand is not important, the most crucial is whether the brands follow the recommendation and guidelines from two prominent agencies:

- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Fig – 03 - Active ingredient, disposable wipe for germs

CDC recommend to use either soap or hand sanitizer. The sanitizer should contain certain amount of ethanol or isopropanol:

- 60% ethanol

- 70% isopropanol

FDA guidelines for using of ethanol or isopropanol are quite higher, between 75% to 95%.

The agency also recommend using of active ingredients such as:

- hydrogen peroxide

- glycerine

Be careful with wood alcohol called as methanol. This alcohol is poison to skin, and could be fatal if consumed by kids.

There are about 75 brand names have been recalled, because they are toxic sanitizers and misled consumers.

If you wonder, please go to FDA website to get full list of dangerous brands of hand sanitizers.

Finally, what brands of your hand sanitizer?

Have you Tasted Red Pear? - Food Variety 1

Two red pears in the bowl, ready to consume.

We just visited farmer market last week, and we noticed red pears on the shelf. Honestly, our first time to see the red pears.

By Googling, we know there are three varieties of this red pear:

- Starkrimson

- Red bartlett

- Red s’Anjou

Unfortunately, we did not know the variety of red pear which we bought. However, one of variety called as Red s’Anjou was from Oregon, USA.

By searching through internet, no red pear in Europe. The above 3 varieties could be found in Canada. Other varieties are:

- Red sensation

- Reimer red

Red pears sold in the farmer market

It is reported that there are at least two varieties of red pear in Australia:

- Red s’Anjou

- Red Sensation

Moreover, the red pears come to the market between August and December in the USA, especially in our neighborhood farmer market.

I don’t know the harvest seasons in the Canada and Australia. I guess from late August to late fall.

In respect to taste, I think, after ripe that red pears have soft texture, juicy and sweet compared to green pears.

Do you know the red pear? Have you tasted it? What do you think?

Should We Use Pepper Seed to Feed Wild Birds? - Gardening and hobby 5

Fig 01- Green peppers have seeds for birds

We may try to attract wild bird by bird feeders to come to our backyard. In fact, we are able to invite hummingbirds with sugary solution.

Please read previous post:

- Attracting Hummingbirds by Suitable Feeder at Backyard 

Our neighborhoods use mainly commercial bird foods bought in groceries (pet shops).

The problem with the commercial bird foods is a good meal for other wild animals such as:

- squirrels

- raccoon

- rats

Some friends told that wildlife may ride the feeders without giving a chance to birds to consume a single bite.

Fig 02 - A wild bird crossed the neighborhood street

Other animals include deer and bears are interesting with feeders as well. And, even bears able to breaking the feeders to deplete all foods.

Fig 03 - Bell pepper, just for illustration

Few neighbors suggested to use pepper seed to feed wild birds. Most birds love these seeds.

They observed that other animals did not touch the pepper seed. The following animals are avoiding the seed:

- rodent

- squirrels

- raccoon

Should We use Pepper seed to feed wild birds? Yes, I will try this kind of bird food by next spring.

Do you have any special foods to invite wild bird?