Operating System

We just learned about the Image Scanner.

Another part of a computer is the Operating System.

A while ago we talked about the difference between computer Hardware and Software.
Hardware is the parts of the computer you can see and touch, and software is what makes the computer work and shows pictures on the monitor.

An Operating System is the main part of a computer software that makes the computer work.
For a laptop this might be Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Unix or Chrome OS.
Phones and tablets also have an operating system, like an iPhone runs on iOS, a Samsung or Google phone might runs on Android.

Whatever the operating system is called, it's the one that puts the pictures on the screen, takes in anything you click, tap or swipe, plays any sounds, and listens to any recordings you make.

The Operating System is what makes the computer Operate.


(from: wikipedia - operating system)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Exhaust Valve

European Badger

We just learned about the Greater Hog Badger.

Another type of badger is the European Badger.

This type of badger has the same kind of fur coloring as the hog badger, honey bader and american badger, but it is the calmest and nicest of all the badgers.
Some people keep this badger as a pet, and during the winter sometimes these badgers will share their homes with foxes or rabbits.

They grow to be about 10 kilograms, and they eat just about anything but prefer small things like bugs and worms.
With their long sharp claws, these badgers are great diggers, and usually make their homes next to a tree so they can scratch to keep them sharp.
Badgers make really big homes underground called setts, that can have 15 different rooms, shared with other members of the badger family.

In Europe there are old legends saying that some ancient families in Ireland were actually shape shifters and could become badgers.


(from: wikipedia - european badger)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Allen's Swamp Monkey

Vomeronasal Cartilage

We've now learned about 4 different types of cartilage in the nose: Septal Nasal Cartilage in the middle, Lateral Nasal Cartilage on the outside upper part, Major Alar Cartilage the big flare out of the nostril, and the Minor Alar Cartilage the bottom of the nostril by the face.

The fifth and last of the nasal cartilages is the Vomeronasal Cartilage.

We leaned a while back that the vomer a bone that is part of your skull, behind your nose and above the roof of your mouth.

The vomeronasal cartilage is between the nose and the vomer, and helps support other parts of the nose that help you smell things.


(from: wikipedia - vomeronasal cartilage)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Martinique

We just learned about the country of Guadeloupe

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

This country is in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela.
It is about 1,000 square kilometers, and about 360,000 people live there.
The people in this country speak either French or Creole.


(from: wikipedia - martinique)

The island of Martinique is owned by France, so their country flag is the French flag.
There is a flag just for the island that is blue and white with snakes on it.


(from: wikipedia - coat of arms of martinique)

To eat in this country you might have Colombo, which is a type of curry or stew with meat, vegetables, spices, and coconut milk.


(from: wikipedia - ginataag manok)

Visiting this country you might go see Mount Pelée, which is an active volcano on the island. Mount Pelée means bald mountain.

(from: wikipedia - mont pelee)

Les Salines is a big sandy beach that is a haven for sea turtles to come lay their eggs in the sand.

(from: wikipedia - martinique)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Malta

Here Comes Santa Claus

We just learned about the What Child Is This.

Another famous Christmas song is Here Comes Santa Claus.

This song was written in 1946 by Gene Autry, with the music written by Oakley Haldeman.
Gene Autry was a famous pop and country singer who also did songs about Rudolph and Frosty.

One day when Autry was riding his horse in a Christmas parade in Los Angeles, he heard the kids shouting "Here Comes Santa Claus" and that gave him the idea for the song.
A lot of popular Christmas songs just talk about the snow or gifts and don't talk about God or Jesus.
This song talks about how we are all God's children, so it is different from a lot of other songs because it mentions God.


(from: wikipedia - here comes santa claus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Salem Witch Trials

The Brazen Serpent - Sistine Chapel - Michelangelo

We've just learned that Michelangelo made paintings about four stories in the four corners of the Sistine chapel.
The first was a painting of David Slaying Goliath.

Another corner has a painting called The Brazen Serpent.

In the Bible book of Numbers chapter 21, it talks about God's people complaining and saying bad things about God, so he sent snakes to come out and bite them to teach them a lesson.
God told Moses to make a bronze snake and have people look at it if they believed in God and they would be saved.

This painting shows a group of people being attached by snakes, and then another group of people looking at the bronze snake and being saved.


(from: wikipedia - sistine chapel ceiling)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Contour - Richard Serra

Hindi - This house is big

We just learned that in Hindi we are surprised is हम हैरान हैं (ham hairaan hain).

Let's learn about some of the things we see every day.

To say this house is big in Hindi you say यह घर बड़ा है (yah ghar bada hai).

In Hindi you are really saying "This house big is".

This - यह (yah) - sounds like yah - 文A

house - घर (ghar) - The "gh" in this sounds sort of like g-huh as one sound, gh-ah-r - 文A

big - बड़ा (bada) - sounds like bah-dah - 文A

is - है (hai) - sounds like hay - 文A



(from: wikipedia - devanagari)

Swahili: Nyumba hii ni kubwa

Russian: Этот дом большой (Etot dom bol'shoy)
Norwegian: Dette huset er stort

Greek: Αυτό το σπίτι είναι μεγάλο (Aftó to spíti eínai megálo)

ASL: This house is big

Italian: Questa casa è grande

German: Das Haus ist groß

Spanish: Esta casa es grande

French: Cette maison est grande