When is Summer Coming?

Kayak sold in a Walmart super center

We experienced higher temperature in the last two weeks of March. Temperature reached F 73 or C 23 degrees. The temperature could be F 100 or C 38 degrees or even more in our American Southern States such as Louisiana, Alabama and Florida during summer time.

We then have a look a kayak, a “plastic boat” for possibility of summer activities. The price is little bit down from US$ 220 to US$ 188. I think it is a little good “bargain” so far. One paddle of double bladed costs as low as US$ 14. So, around US$ 200 for total.

Kayaking is exciting for me when I was a teenager. It was tricky at first, because narrow space of kayak (boat) and an un-familiar form of the double blade paddles.

The process to be familiar with kayaking is no more than few weeks, then we will feel convenient with this little plastic or semi-rubber watercraft.

However, the “dream” for kayaking soon was delayed due to temperatures, drop from F 73 (C 23) degrees to F 53 (C 12) degrees and even lower to F 43 (C 6) degree, especially early morning and afternoon.

When is summer coming in your place?

Is Tempe a Healthy Food?

Tempe sold in Whole Foods Market in the USA

Tempe also called as “Tempeh” by Americans, and sold as an organic food by the Whole Foods Market across USA. The food getting popular as a protein source alternative for vegetarians recently. Tempe is a product of fermentation process to bind cooked soybeans into firm and dense of cake form.

You might know Tofu, the different that Tofu is made by coagulation process of soy milk, whereas Tempe is made by binding process of cooked soybeans. Tofu is China and East Asia (claimed by Japan and Korea too) origin, while Tempe is Indonesia traditional food for thousand years.

Slices of Tempe

Tempe contains protein, vitamin (vitamin B2), minerals (Zinc, magnesium, potassium and sodium) and probiotics. As a permented food, Tempe is believed could improve gut health and might promote to reduce weight gain.

Since less processed, Tempe is considered healthier than Tofu. In fact, Tempe contain more protein, vitamin and fiber than Tofu. In term of protein, Tempe has 2.5 times protein more compared to Tofu.

Tempe has less protein compared to chicken and meat. Of 4 ounces, Tempe, meat and chicken contain 21, 29 and 35 grams of protein consecutively.

Have you tried or bought Tempe?

Have You Seen Banana Trees Growing in Your Place?

Banana trees in Louisiana, USA

I am fairly sure that all of us have eaten banana. Banana is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. The top five of rank are following:

1. Tomatoes, consumed about 171 million ton yearly

2. Banana, consumed about 114 million ton yearly

3. Watermelon, consumed about 111 million ton yearly

4. Apples, consumed about 85 million ton yearly

5. Grapefruit, consumed about 84 million ton yearly

Surprisingly, banana is the most favorite fruit in America. An American eat more than 27 pound (12.3 kg) per year, and each household buys a banana once a month, at least. 

Bananas come from Latin America countries such as Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras. They export to other countries, including European countries as well.

Top 5 banana importers are following:

1. United States, imported value is US$ 2.8 billion.

2. Belgium, imported value is US$ 1.4 billion.

3. Russia, imported value is US$1.1 billion.

4. Germany: imported value is US$1 billion.

5. Japan, imported value is US$850.8 million

As we understand that banana grows in hot temperatures, especially in tropic regions. The question is: Have you seen banana trees growing in your place or in America or in Europe?

What are Coconut Shell and Husk used for?

Cactus in the coconut shell and husk

People in South East Asia countries processed coconut shell to make a kind of charcoal. Coconut charcoals not only to be used as fuels (cook traditional foods, goldsmith and industrial uses), but also as ingredient of beauty products.

Coconut husk could be extracted to make coconut fibre (coir). Coir then proceed to make brushes, mattresses and mats (doormats and floor mats). The business usually run by home industries or small scale industries.

Another flower vase

Coconut coir also attract attention from growers of hydroponic systems. Coir is good to maintain water to oxygen ratio, and support the roots of hydroponic plants.

We use coconut shell and husk for handcrafts, one of them is a flower vase. You can see photos of flower vases at above. Actually, we can grow any kind of flowers. In this case, we plant a cactus only.

Do you know about coconut shell and husk?

What is the fastest Racing Motorcycle a 100 Year Ago?

1911 Triumph motorcycle, credit to YouTube.

I used to ride motorcycle a long time ago, around 20 years ago. I remember that my motorbike was a quite small, made in Japan, Honda manufactured. As far as I remember, I never reach limit 100 mile per hour (mph).

Surprisingly, current motorcycles, especially racing motorbikes could reach 350 mph. I think almost close to small airplane with 500 mph. Here is the list of current fastest motorbikes:

1) Dodge Tomahawk, speed limit is 350 mph or 560 km/hour.

2) Suzuki Hayabusa, speed limit is 248 mph or 397 km/hour

3) MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K, speed limit is 227 mph or 365 km/hour

4) Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird, speed limit is 190 mph or 310 km/hour

5) Yamaha YZF R1, speed limit is 186 mph or 297 km/hour

6) MV Agusta F4 1000 R, speed limit is 176 mph or 299 km/hour

7) Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11/ZZ-R1100, speed limit is 176 mph or 283 km/hour

8) Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille, speed limit 175 mph or 278 km/hour

Fastest motorcycle currently, credit to Fastest Motorcycle.

How about with motorcycles a hundred year ago or more? The fastest racing motorbike was “Triumph 3½HP free engine 1911 500cc 1 cyl sv” with speed of 63.53 mph (102 km/hour). It was in 1911, very much slower compared to modern motorcycle.

Have you ridden motorcycle? What fastest speed you ever reach?

Do We have Age Ceiling?

Jeanne Clement, 122 years old from France, credit to Katie Serena

Average life expectancy of the world is 72 years with women little bit higher (72.7 years) and 68.3 years for men. Top 5 countries with higher life expectancy are following:

1. Japan, 83.7 years

2. Switzerland, 83.4 years

3. Singapore, 83.1 years

4. Australia, 82.8 years

5. Spain, 82.8 years

Do you know life expectancy of your country?

The life expectancy depend on many factors, include quality nutrition intake, proper time of sleep (8 hours) and doing exercises.

The question is how long could we live? The scientists estimated that human being could reach live around 115 years. Sure, female will live longer than male. Length of live has a ceiling or limitation.

In fact, two of the oldest persons ever recorded in the world are Emma Morano, 117 years old from Italy and Jeanne Clement, 122 years old from France. No record for human with 125 years old and more.

How about you? How old you wish to live?

What are Factors Make People Move Out of the State?

A house in South state of USA, just for illustration 

It is said that average Americans move around 11.7 times in their life time. Moving could be within the state, move out of the state and even temporary move out of the country. 

As reported by US Census Bureau, the reasons mainly due to housing, family and other reasons.

In term of number, it is estimated that more than 50 million Americans or 14% of population have been moved yearly. 

Quite great number compared to other nations.

Based on the reported from Carter (2019), the deciding factors to move out from one state to another state are quite similar to  US Census Bureau: 

- job (professional) opportunity

- retirement

- want to close to family members

- life style 

- and health.

Azalea flowers, illustration only

Most population move out is from state of New Jersey, followed by other Northeast states such as New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. 

The states where people moved in are:

- Oregon

- Vermont

- Nevada 

- and Arizona.

My opinion that life is dynamic in the USA. In 2018, many people move out of New Jersey, but another day (year) or next following years could be from another state. The reasons could be changes as well.

I myself are moving 19 times so far. How many time do you move in your life or until recently?

Reference

Carter. SM. (2019). Why people are fleeing this state more than any other. Retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/people-are-fleeing-from-new-jersey-more-than-any-other-state.