As Thanksgiving approaches, you might be thinking about what size turkey you should buy for your family’s feast or how you’ll cook this year’s turkey. But turkeys are more than holiday meals. They’re rather interesting animals — especially wild turkeys. Today let’s take a closer look by exploring some fun facts about these beautiful birds.
Here are ten facts about turkeys you might not have known.
A turkey’s body has between 5000 and 6000 feathers. A female turkey’s feathers tend to be brown for concealment (so they can safely stay in the nest with their eggs) while males have more colorful plumage that lets them show off and attract mates. [source] While wild turkeys thrive in the U.S. today, they [...]
One of the most famous parades in the U.S. is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And one of the things it’s famous for is huge parade floats. These giant balloons float down the streets of Manhattan on Thanksgiving morning, guided by hoards of people controlling them with ropes. It’s truly a sight to see. I’ve only been to the parade in person once, when I was a young child. But ever since, I’ve tried to at least catch it on TV on the holiday.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and these cool character floats, you might enjoy this photostream. It features several popular balloons from recent years.
Do you regularly go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day [...]
The saying goes that a change is as good as a rest and in most cases this is a good idea.
In others, however, it has the complete opposite effect.
We take huge swathes of jungle or rain forest or whatever we want, changing the landscape and the habitat forever with next to no regard for the creatures that have lived there, without bothering anybody, for centuries.
Most people have a favorite animal or one for which they have a soft spot because it looks so cute or cuddly, while some just like anything that is different or dangerous. Surprisingly, some of these are a long way down the road to extinction as their numbers are dwindling fast, in most [...]
Asonor: Chippendale Text on ad: Give back his dreams. Anti-snoring Asonor
Dulcolax: Rats Text on ad: It works.
Bank Forum, Commerzbank: Chaos Text on ad: Chaos. German style. Banking. German style.
Although there are those amongst us who would extol the virtues of these creatures, to a far greater amount of people, snakes quite simply represent the stuff of nightmares. Whether it is the way that they move or those stark, unblinking eyes, they just seem to represent the absolute definition of everything that is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
There are thought to be around 3,000 different species of snake in the world, covering every conceivable weight and size. They range from the recently discovered specimen that is a mere 4 inches long and as thin as a noodle, to the monster that is the green anaconda. These leviathans can grow up to 28 feet (8.5 meters) [...]
Do you love a good ghost story? How about real ghost stories? Whether or not you believe in ghosts, you have to admit that supposedly haunted houses can be more than a little bit creepy. As Halloween approaches, let’s take a look at some of the world’s famously haunted houses. While these are far from the only haunted houses around, with some of their back stories, it’s no wonder they’ve earned their reputation.
1. Winchester House
This house was built by the wife of an heir to the Winchester rifle fortune. Sarah Winchester had a seeming obsession with ghosts, building continuously in an effort to confuse ghosts. She also built strange features into the home for this purpose (such as staircases [...]
If you travel in certain areas of the American West, you may see signs advertising a Basque restaurant. If you do, stop and treat yourself to one of the best and most unusual restaurant experiences you are ever likely to have.
The Basque in America
Basque immigrants came to America from the Basque region of Spain and France, an area stretching from the Bay of Biscay up into the Pyrenees Mountains. In Europe, this ethnic minority is famed for their independent spirit and their extraordinary, flavorful cuisine.
Those who came to America were equally independent, mostly agricultural workers who immigrated in the late 1800s to herd sheep in the American West. They settled in the western rangelands where their flocks [...]
Recently we shared a photostream of American castles. Now we’re taking a look at castles, palaces, and forts in another part of the world. Join us in our photo tour of Asian castles from the middle east to the far east. We’ll explore castles in places like India, Japan, Pakistan, Jordan, Syria, and more. You’ll find some similarities to European and American castles here, as well as many differences. The architectural diversity across this continent alone is amazing to see.
Here is our photostream of Asian palaces, castles, and forts.
Do you have another favorite palace or castle in Asia? Tell us which it is and why you love it in the comments below.
Pasta is a staple of American cuisine these days. But not long ago most types of pasta noodles were considered pretty foreign, something only non-Americans ate. How did noodles go from alien to commonplace in American eating habits? It was a long journey in time and space, moving through many foreign countries and evolutions in eating habits to get where it is right now.
Starting In China
Noodles have been a centerpiece of the northern Chinese diet for millenia. Wheat and dry-land grains have long been a basic food crop there instead of rice.
Long ago, the Chinese discovered they could mix hard wheat flour with water. Add an egg so the paste would stick better, and the resulting dough [...]
Sushi is a very popular food these days, and many cities offer a wide variety of sushi restaurants to choose from. Still, this Japanese style cuisine is not as well known to Americans as, say, Mexican or Italian dishes are. Here are some fun and useful things to know about this food when you go to eat in your local Japanese restaurant.
Sushi: From Fermented Fish to Raw Fish
“Sushi” originally meant fermented meat or fish. 2,000 years ago, the Japanese preserved fish by salting it and leaving it to ferment. Later they started to pack the fish with uncooked rice to speed the fermentation process. Over time, this raw, fermented style of fish and rice became specialty dishes in [...]
Ten Of The Most Beautiful Places Of The World!
Top Ten Armies in the World
America’s Famous Serial Killers!
Most Dangerous Dogs in the World
10 Most Expensive Hotel Rooms in The World
10 Small Animals That Can Make Great Pets
Best Quotes About Life
The 7 Best Children's Books of All Time
Check Out These 5 Alternative Places To Visit In London
10 Things To Remind You Of The 1980s
10 Small Animals That Can Make Great Pets
Best Quotes About Life
5 Of The Greatest Motorbike Riders Of All Time
The World's 5 Most Deadly Snakes
10 Famously Haunted Houses