What is Original Use of Pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Pantheon in Rome, Italy around 1700’s (credit to Google)

My previous article was about Parthenon with title: What is Purpose of Parthenon in Athens, Greece? 

I mentioned that “the Parthenon is a classical style, a Doric order form. 

While in Rome, Italy, there is historical building called as Pantheon, classic style, but with Corinthian order form. 

Corinthian order form is quite complex compared to simple Doric order form. It is because Corinthian was developed later on, after 200 years of Doric.

The temple was completed by the Roman emperor around 125 A.D. The building age is around 1900 years old. Very well preserved. 

Based on the word of the Pantheon; Pan means every and Theon mean divinity, thus, initially, the temple serves to worship for every god. 

Moreover, Cartwright (2013) suggested that the temple might be the place where emperor shows his divine and power equal to other gods when he is attending the worship or appear in public. 

Pantheon condition recently (credit to Google)

The initial function of both Parthenon (Athens) and Pantheon (Rome) is serving as a temple. 

Then, the Pantheon is used as the Roman Church, while Parthenon for museum. Both are tourist objects now days. 

In term of architecture, there is similarity for both Pantheon and Parthenon, they have “8
pillars in front of the entrance.”  

These pillars to support a pediment; a triangular element in upper part of front any classical style buildings. 

Have you been visited Pantheon in Rome, Italy?

Reference

Cartwright, M. 2013. Pantheon. Retrieved from ancient /Pantheon/

What Species is Considered as the Best Tuna?

Blue fin tuna, just caught by fishermen

Back to my home country, no best quality of tunas is sold in the market. Why? It is because they are exported, mainly to Japan.

If we really want a tuna fish, we would come to an exporter. We could get the fresh tuna a week later, some times more than a week.

Here, in the America, I don’t know where is the market which sell fresh tuna in southern states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida).

I eat canned tuna only if I miss the taste of fish. I bought in Walmart super market, some times in other groceries. The price is quite reasonable.

I once ordered a fresh tuna from a friend of mind who lives in Hawaii several years ago. Very good quality of tuna, and very expensive.

Canned tuna sold in groceries

Moreover, there are many species of tunas in nature. Several resources said there are 15 species, but known 5 only for commercial, they are:

- Skipjack

- Albacore

- Yellow fin

- Blue fin

- Big eye tuna

Both Yellow fin and Big eye tunas called as “Ahi” in Japanese and Hawaiians. They are look like similar, actually, two different species.

Now, what Species is Considered as the Best Tuna? The Blue fin tuna, it is because its highly quality and demand for certain foods such as “sashimi and sushi.”

The price so expensive, even cost US$ 3.1 million for “a giant blue fin tuna” at Tokyo, Japan fish market auction recently.

What species of tuna have you ever tasted?

What are Strange Signs in Your Neighborhood?

Parking on grass?

I actually saw many “odd signs” in my neighborhood, I just shot one recently. Another sign was taken from Reddit.

In my opinion, the signs are “odds,” but I don’t know with your opinion.

I wonder, why there is a sign “no parking on the grass,” but I saw almost no grass around.

Is it just for kidding?

Promise not to use guns, credit to reddit

I just quote the sign: “My next door neighbor want to ban all guns! Their house is not armed! Out of respect for their opinions I promise not to use my gun to protect them”

Do you know what is it mean? Is it mean: since neighbors want ban all gun, thus neighbors don’t have gun. Then, I need to protect them without using my gun?

Moreover, what are “odd signs” in your neighborhood? Can you explain what do the

signs mean?

Do You Know Different between Dark and Bold Coffee?

A coffee maker

I used to order dark or bold at Starbucks stores or any coffee shops. Honestly, I do not know the differences.

The words “black coffee” refers to coffee without sugar back home country. When early years in America, I used these words, the customer services looks confuse.

They always make sure what I mean with “black coffee.” On that time, I wonder why do they confuse?

Recently, I understand the different between bold and dark coffees. I will not mix these words anymore.

Bold coffee means higher coffee content in a cup of coffee. Another meaning that when brewing coffee, we should make higher ratio coffee to water to get “bold coffee.”

Dark coffee or also called as dark roast coffee refers to how coffee processed. Coffees are roasted to the level of dark. In real, coffee beans look like dark brown.

At dark level, coffees look oily on its surface and heavy weight. The heavy body makes coffees less acidity and less caffeine.

Hot a cup of coffee

One of health benefit to drink low acid and low caffeine coffee is that making our stomach and heart feel comfortable.

My favorite coffee is bold and dark French roasted. I am not brands crazy, I could drink Starbucks, Community Coffee or any local unfamiliar brands. I drink at least two cups of coffee every day.

How about with you? How many cups of coffee do you drink daily? Bold or dark or combined? What is your favorite brand?

What are Important Health Benefit of Asparagus?

Easy way to cook asparagus

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a plant with perennial flower where its young shoots are eaten as vegetable.

In nature, Asparagus is harvested around April – June (spring to early summer). But, as long as I remember that Asparagus available in all seasons, no interruptions of supply in groceries in America.

It is because that in addition to own production, America imports Asparagus mainly from Mexico and Peru, also from other countries include Canada, New Zealand, Ecuador and Argentina.

A bunch of Asparagus cost about US$ 2.95 with sizes of 15 to 20 cm in length, and 3 cm in diameter (thickness). 

Fresh Asparagus from farming to marketing

There are many ways to cook Asparagus, some of them are:

- Grill

- Roast

- Saute (fry quickly)

- Blanch (brief boiling).

Young shooting Asparagus can be eaten raw as well. It contains no fat, low calories and low sodium. It has higher vitamin B9 (folate), vitamin K and fiber.

The vegetable has plenty of health benefits, few of them are:

1. May useful to fight cancer, where glutathione in Asparagus able to break cancer cells development.

2. Improve brain performance. Its is because vitamin B9 together with vitamin B12 could boost brain, and prevent cognitive declining.

3. Make body slim. Why? The answer that Asparagus has no fat, but higher fibers (soluble and insoluble fibers). Fibers prompt “satiated,” thus you will stop eating.

I believed that all of us ever consumed Asparagus. How do you cook it?

Why do Retirees Love New Mexico, Florida and Arizona?

Retirees enjoy live, Credit to Nerdwallet

Many my American fellows live in different cities or states during their whole life time: born, growing, going to college, finding jobs, married, taking care of their children and so on.

As of my previous post with title: “What are Factors Make People Move Out of the State?” I mentioned that Americans move from one place to others is around 11.7 times.

Even at their golden ages, Americans try to find the best states. The preferences are changed from year to year.

Hawaii was top choice for retirement several years ago, but not anymore due to it living cost increasing and other safety factors recently.

Current best states for retirement are following:

- New Mexico

- Arizona

- Florida

Then, a question is: Why do Retiree Love New Mexico, Florida and Arizona? The answer and main reasons are:

- Reasonable cost of living

- Lower medical cost

- Low income tax

Such a beautiful place (credit to Google)

In addition to above reasons, each state has own advantages:

1) New Mexico

The state has lower population, 2 million only. A lot of places for recreations. The states also advantages in term of safety, rich of history and culture and temperate climate

2) Arizona

Advantages of this state are plenty of attractions and varied climate conditions.

3) Florida

The most reason to retire in Florida is sunshine. Yes, Florida has advantages almost similar to New Mexico and Arizona, but be careful: insurance for property is higher in Florida.

I myself have no planning where to retire yet. How about you?

Are Women Happier Without Husband and Children?

Illustration of happy women in Asia

My long long time belief that married, then have kids, make a man and a woman happier live.

The belief opposites to a new finding by a behavior scientist that a woman is happiest when she has no husband and no kids.

A man “probably” happier when he has wife, because he may “take advantage” of his wife.

In reality, working wife tend to have good mental health, thus made husband happier. In this case, both are happy, indeed.

A boy and a girl meet in the park

Other surprisings revealed from researches are:

- A married woman will say her married is happier if her husband in the room. Absent of husband in the room, she will say that her married “like in the hell.”

- A woman live longer and healthier without husband and kids.

- In-married women with a little bit income will be happier than having husband and kids.

- In-married women are not happy if they face with a question: when do you get married?

- Rush married due to old age tend to have a wrong guy, then ending with misery married. 

Is it called as “cultural shock?” Women are increasingly dependent, event against society norm.

They can live alone not only without a husband and kids, but also real dependent to support their daily needs to make their happy. 

Actually, I have no idea with this research findings. How about you? Do you have an opinion?