What is Painting Stylistic of Baroque?

Figure-01- One of Baroque style of art, painted by Caravaggio, credit to WUBR

Baroque style started in around 1600 in Rome, Italy, then spread to Europe continent. 

The style was initiated by the Catholic Church to respond to the Protestant reformation, where the style had to be:

- more forceful

- more emotional

- a greater realism.

Then, Baroque style influenced artists in painting, sculpture and architecture a cross Europe.

Art Encyclopedia (2016) listed prominent artists of Baroque style, some of painting artists are:

- Diego Velazquez

- Rembrandt

- Caravaggio

- Carlo Maratta

Figure-02- a Caravaggio painting

Among sculpture artists are:

- Giovanni Bernini

- Juan Martines Montanes

- Jorg Zurn

Famous artists of Baroque style in the field of architecture are:

- Christopher Wren

- John Vanbrugh

- Balthasar Neumann

Figure-03- Another Caravaggio painting

We could see the examples of painting from Caravaggio as one of Baroque artists (please see Figure 01, 02, 03, 04 and 05).

Caravaggio is nickname for Michelangelo Merisi who developed Baroque in style form known as “lights and dark.” The style was developed in 1600’s as the mark of ending of Renaissance style era.

Figure-04- Girl and fruits, painted by Caravaggio

The Caravaggio paintings are characterized by darkness as background, and then spot light on the figures.

As of above paintings and below one, we don’t see architectures, landscapes or views as background. We just see man, woman, girl, boy, animal or fruit as spot figures.

Figure-05- Boy and an animal, painted by Caravaggio

Caravaggio's style was not very accepted, especially from religious communities in Italy, because his models are coming from common people such as from street, farming or brothels.

His style influenced over European artists includes Spanish, Dutch and French at early times. Then, respected by Italian artists of next generations.

Reference

Art Encyclopedia. 2016. Baroque Art. Retrieved from  http://www.visual-arts-

cork.com/history-of-art/baroque.htm....

What are Important Species of American Fresh water fish?

Large mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), Credit to Texas Park and Wildlife

If you like fishing in freshwater, there are many attractive fish species include economic ones in the river, stream or lake. Some of them are:

1.Large mouth bass

2.Bluegill

3.Sunfish

4. Black Crappie

5.Rainbow trout

We could catch Large mouth bass with size of 4-10 pounds (2 – 5 kg) weight and from three or four inches length. This kind of fish could be found in a river and a lake. If we lucky enough, we could find schooling of Large mouth bass in the middle of lake. Large mouth bass is good for eating. Taste is depend on how we cook it. Overall, the taste is delicious.

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), credit to WDFW

The bluegill is also called as brim, bream, or copper nose with scientific name Lepomis macrochirus. In nature, the fish lives in streams, rivers or lakes. The size is around 3 pound (1.5 kg) weight, perfect size for barbecue. 

Sunfish is look like Bluegill, I think it is because they are the same genus that is Lepomis. Then, black crappie also has the shape similar to sunfish and bluegill. They are the same family of Centrarchidae (read with sound: sin-tr-ark-i-day).

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), credit to Idaho Fish and Game

Other common freshwater fish is rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is cold water fish, usually found in the shallow river of northern part of America. We could fish rainbow trout around December or January each year. The size around 2 kg weight.

Does Oarfish As a Precursor to Tsunami and Earthquake?

Oarfish is swimming around (credit to Google)

Fish with size of 3.5 m length and 4 m length are found in different locations in Japan. This marine creature called as Oarfish with scientific name Regalecus glesne, could reach 17 m length and 270 kg, is rare in nature.

Oarfish or king of herring that appearing on beach (last January, 2019) of Toyama and Imizu, Japan could mean many things. Japan people, based on their mythology believed that Oarfish bring messages from sea god or “Ryugu no tsukai.” It is a harbinger of tsunami and a powerful earthquake.

Based on the fact that 2011 Tohoku earthquake, then followed by tsunami caused around 19 thousand Japanese death. Prior the disaster, more than 10 Oarfishes washed up near by Tohoku in 2010. The disasters even occurred far away in Chile, Haiti and Taiwan.

Oarfish on the beach (credit to Google)

Is it true? Is there relationship between Oarfish and eartquake or tsunami? It is fact that in addition to rarity, Oarfish also live under sea, from 500 m to 1000 m from ocean surface, deep down to the sea floor. Sighting of Oarfish on the beach is extraordinary event.

Many factors caused Oarfish to swim up to the beaches. Oarfish and other creatures which live close to sea bottom are responsive to movement of faults. Another reason that poor physical conditions drive Oar to come up to the surface.

Thus, It is possible that Oarfish is “messenger of sea god” to foretell the earthquake and tsunami. Do you believe it?

What is Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 1

Higher sugar food is one of risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a form of diabetes occurs when blood sugar (glucose) increases than normal level (in-controlable) in our body, also called as hyperglycemia. 

More than 400 million people are living with this type of diabetes in the world in 2015.

In the USA, there are around 30.3 million people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2015, and more than 80 million are in stage of pre-diabetes. 

The number are estimated will be increase both in America and world in coming years.

How people could get type 2 diabetes? Body doesn’t use insulin effectively. To respond to this condition, pancreas produces more insulin than usual. 

Day by day and at the some point, pancreas ability to produce insulin decreasing, thus blood glucose can not be keep at normal level in the body. 

A corner of my city, just for illustration

Some risk factor of type 2 diabetes are following:

* Excess weight

* Physical in-activity

* Poor diet

Other factor could stimulate type 2 diabetes are older age, genetic or family history, certain ethnicity and high blood pressure. However, in term of age, children also got type 2 diabetes.

We could conclude that there are two kinds of risk factors: non-modifiable and modifiable. Please see at figure above.

What are Names of Dangerous Volcanoes in the Northern America?

An active volcano, just for illustration

We almost not aware that volcano eruptions also occur in the northern hemisphere. Mount St. Helena in Washington State, USA has erupted at least 5 times in 1980s.

The eruptions have cause many damaged, just few are:

- 57 people died,

-Thousand animals suffered

- Damaged of hundred miles of forests.

The explosion is most destructive and deadliest in the American history. About 21 explosions in 1990s. Occasional eruptions occurred until 2008.

Then, no eruptions but volcano still active until recently.

Another dangerous volcano mountain in the USA is Mount Hood, northern Oregon. Several eruptions have occurred:

- in 1790’s

- in 1800’s was small eruptions

- in 1907 was last eruption.

A view of mountain, just for illustration

Mt Hood volcano is still active recently. It is estimated that if explode event in small eruption will cause serious danger.

It is because Mt Hood very close to populate city, metropolitan areas of Portland. Distance between city and Mt Hood is about 50 miles (80 km).

Sure, the nearby communities of the mountain will get most impact than the center of Portland.

The eruption usually disrupts important facilities such as water supply and transportation.

Actually, Mount Kilauea, Hawaii also American active volcano, but I don’t consider located in northern hemisphere.

Mount St.Helena, Mount Hood and Mount Kilauea are three of the among most dangerous active volcanoes in the world.

Other volcanoes include:

- Cotopaxi, Ecuador

- Mount Vesuvius, Italy

- Mayon Volcano, Philippines

- Mount Merapi, Indonesia.

Have you ever visited one of these volcanoes?

Some Feature Comparisons of 1G to 4G in Mobile Telephones

A mobile (smart) phone, just for illustration

Since first generation in 1980’s, mobile telephone has evolved from 1G to 4G, and even 5G is coming soon worldwide. The improvement from 1G to 4G is relating to transmission band, frequency band and services.

The development of Mobile telephone is not only to its technology, but also increasing number of its users. As mentioned by Sharma (2013) that the number of mobile cellular subscribers are four times than fix telephone lines, and the trend is increasing in recent years. Thus, technology efficiency is important.

The new generation of Cell Phone bring new technology and high data rates than the older generation . The increasing of wireless phone is following by highly requirement for better features and standard uses.

In respect to Standards used and Features, the different of Mobile Telephones 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G are following: 

1G	2G	3G	4G
Advantages: 1)Analog system 2)Cordless Disadvantages: 1)Voice only, no data communication 2)Slow speed and low capacity 3)Less secure	Advantages: 1) Enhanced efficiency 2) Improved system capacity 3) Voice and data services. 4) Enhanced security Disadvantages: 1) does not support high data rates 2) Weaker digital signal. 3)Unable to handle complex data.	Advantages: 1)Supports multimedia 2)Value added services like television, GPS and video conferencing. 3)High speed internet 4) Increased capacity. Disadvantages: 1)Expensive Cost of upgrading 3G devices 2)Power consumption is high. 3)Expensive base station	Advantages: 1)High efficiency and High voice quality. 2)Easily access internet, streaming media etc 3)Simple protocol architecture. 4)Efficient multicast/broadcast. Disadvantages: 1)Higher data prices 2)very expensive and hard to implement 3)Complex hardware. 4)Power usage is more.

Are Seasonings of Indonesian Food Sold in America?

When I visited Asian groceries, I always buy traditional food from South East Asian regions such as:
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Vietnam
- Philippine
- Indonesia.

Several seasoning from South East Asia

Some of foods are ready to eat and fresh, mainly baked and fry dishes or cakes. Many foods are dried and preserved foods. Several frozen foods include fruits are also available.

Lovely fruits include:

- Rambutan

- Mango

- Jack fruit

- Lychee

I like to use shrimp paste from Philippine and Malaysia to make foods have aromatic smell and delicious taste.

Indonesian traditional food, for illustration

I sometimes cook traditional foods, it is easy because there are many seasonings that are ready to be used.

We just prepare beef, chicken, fish or proper vegetables, then mixed it with seasoning. Easy and quick. Take from few minutes to no more than 1 hour.

Many available seasonings for making dishes, some of them are called as:

- Rendang

- Nasi goreng

- Rawon

- Opor ayam

- Soto ayam

- Chicken curry.

At least I have something to eat, thus no need to miss traditional dishes because of these seasonings.

As an example, one of my favorites is “Beef Rendang.” If we cook based on traditional recipes, then would take hours.

By using Rendang seasoning, we just need to prepare boneless beef, boiled its with seasoning for a while. The result is smell like traditional ones and off course very delicious.

Just try it !