Sphynx Cat

We just learned about the Persian Cat.

Another type of cat is the Sphynx Cat.

This is a type of cat with no fur.
One funny thing about their skin is that even though they don't have fur their skin can be different colors, and if fur did grow from that skin it would be the same color as that skin..

Because they don't have fur they cat get cold, and they can either wear clothes made for them or they will go try and find warm places to curl up.


(from: wikipedia - sphynx cat)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Nerve Net

Neutrophil

We just learned about the Monocyte.

Another type of white blood cell is a Neutrophil, also called a neutrocyte or heterophil.

We've learned about 2 other types of white blood cells:
- lymphocytes - that help kill off bad diseases using T, B or NK cells.
- monocytes - that help fight off infections and clean up garbage in the body.

The neutrophils are a lot like the monocytes, where their job is to go fight off bad germs and dirt that cause infections and make you sick.
These are the first line of defense for your body when there is an infection, they are like the emergency workers that rush to the scene to help out.


There are more neutrophils than any other type of white blood cell, and the human body makes about 100 billion neutrophils every day.

One of the only differences between monoctyes and neutrophils is that when a monocyte fights off an infection or disease they leave behind some clues about what kind of disease it might be.
These clues help the super powerful lymphocytes come in if there is a bad disease that needs to be killed off.


(from: wikipedia - neutrophil)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Uvea

Armenia

We just learned about the country of Andorra

Let's learn a little about the country of Armenia!

This is a small country in an area called Eurasia, meaning some people think of this area as Europe and others think of it as Asia.
It is east of Turkey, south of Georgia, north of Iran, and west of Azerbaijan.
The country is about 11,000 square miles and has about 3 million people living there.


(from: wikipedia - armenia)

The Armenian flag is 3 horizontal stripes.
Red - for the mountains, for freedom, for the Christian people, and for the Armenian Genocide
Blue - for the skies
Orange - for courage and hard work


(from: wikipedia - flag of armenia)

To eat in Armenia you might have kibbeh which is a type of spicy meat, served with yogurt

(from: wikipedia - armenian cuisine)

The Etchmiadzin Cathedral was built around 300 AD, and is the oldest cathedral in the world.

(from: wikipedia - etchmiadzin cathedral)

Armenia is home to the world's oldest leather shoe, and the world's oldest winery.
In 2007 scientists found a cave with these things they believe were made aound in 4000 BC.

(from: wikipedia - areni-1 winery)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Half Tower

Sistine Chapel

We just learned about the Gutenberg Bible.

Another part of early Christianity is the Sistine Chapel.

In 1473 AD the builder Baccio Pontelli tore down an old chapel that was falling over and built a new big chapel for the pope at the time called Pope Sixtus IV.
It was called the "Cappella Magna" or Great Chapel, it was the new home for the Pope and was full of many famous works of art by artists like Boticelli and Michelangelo.
The name was changed to the Sistine Chapel for the name of Pope Sixtus.

When the church is trying to choose a new pope, they put a chimney up on the roof.
If all of the church leaders agree on the pope then they throw all their ballots in the fireplace and it makes white smoke out of the top of the chimney, telling everyone that there is a new pope.
If they can not agree, then they put some other things in the fireplace to make black smoke come out of the chimney to tell everyone they have not made up their minds yet.


(from: wikipedia - sistine chapel)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Pentarchy

Puma - William Zorach

We just learned about the sculpture Dream Lady by Edward McCartan.

Another famous American sculpture is Puma by William Zorach made in 1954 in Philadelphia.

Zorach was born in Lithuania in 1889, and moved to America when he was 5.
He grew up learning how to be an artist in America.
While he was an artist, a lot of other artists in America were making things in the old classical style, but Zorach liked the cubism style.

He made many paintings and sculptures in America and was even a college art teacher for many years.


(from: wikipedia - william zorach)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Xicalcoliuhqui

Swahili - Very good thanks, and you?

We just learned to say How are you? in Swahili, Hujambo or Unakuwaje

and Very good thanks is Sijambo asante or Safi asante

To be polite you should also ask how the other person is doing.

You can really just say hujambo or unakuwaje to the person, or you can actually say "and you".

And you? - Na wewe? - sounds like nah way-way - 文A



(from: wikipedia - swahili language)

Russian: Спасибо Хорошо (Spasibo khorosho). А вы? (A vy?) / А ты? (A ty?)

Norwegian: Veldig bra takk. Og du?

Greek: Πολύ καλά, ευχαριστώ. εσύ? (Polý kalá, efcharistó)

ASL: Very Good Thanks, and You?

Italian: Molto bene, grazie.

German: Sehr gut, danke. Und Sie?

Spanish: Muy bien gracias. ¿Y tú?

French: Très bien, merci. Et vous?

Boiler

We just learned about the Firebox on a locomotive.

Another part of a steam locomotive is the Boiler.

We learned before about the Fire Tube Boiler that has a bunch of tubes full of water that are heated up by the burning coal in the Firebox.

The boiler is the long cylinder shaped part of the locomotive that has all of that fire burning and hot water heating inside of it.


(from: wikipedia - boiler)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Valve Body