Kansas State Flower: Sunflower

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a treasure of summertime. They typically begin blooming in the mid-summer and can persist into early fall. The flowers, which stretch around 3 to 6 inches across on average, have a broad central disk surrounded by short, yellow petals. Sunflowers grow on a hairy, sturdy, upright stem that can be several feet high. The stems can hold a single flower or be branched with multiple blooms. Rough, hairy, oval to triangular leaves grow along the stem. These flowers are annual, meaning they complete their growth cycle in one year. You should plant them in the spring after the garden soil has warmed to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sunflower Care

The only mandatory requirements for sunflowers are a sunny location and well-drained soil. Select an area sheltered from strong winds that might topple these tall plants if possible. It can be helpful to plant sunflowers in groups to support each other against wind and rain. Growers often have to stake their sunflowers, especially the tall varieties, to keep them growing upright. The plants can become very top-heavy when in bloom. Planting sunflowers along a fence is the easiest way to stake them. Bamboo stakes are also strong enough to keep them upright. Use care when inserting the stakes so you don’t damage the plant’s roots.

Sunflowers don’t like to compete with weeds, so keep the garden clean. Mulching around your sunflowers will help maintain soil moisture and weed suppression. Furthermore, wildlife is often attracted to sunflower seedlings. So it’s best to protect seedlings with row covers or screening, removing the cover once the plants are 1 to 2 feet tall.

Light

For the best flowering and sturdiest stems, plant your sunflowers in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Because they are heliotropic (their flower heads follow the sun), ample sun exposure will help sunflowers remain straight rather than bending toward the direction where the light is strongest.

Soil

Sunflowers will grow in almost any soil, including poor, dry soils. However, they thrive in well-drained soil that contains a good amount of organic matter.

Water

Although tolerant of dry conditions, watering sunflowers regularly promotes blooming, as flowering often reduces during periods of drought. Allow the top 1 to 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. If your sunflowers are drooping and the soil is dry, that’s often a sign they need more water.

Temperature and Humidity

Optimal temperatures for growing sunflowers are between 70 and 78 F. Still, they tolerate high heat as long as their moisture needs are met. Sunflowers can handle somewhat chilly but sunny environments. They also tolerate high humidity but must have well-draining soil and good air circulation to prevent root rot and other diseases.

Types of Sunflowers

Helianthus annuus ‘Russian Giant’

Helianthus annuus ‘Teddy Bear’

Helianthus annuus ‘Giant Sungold’

Helianthus annuus ‘Autumn Mix’

Helianthus annuus ‘Italian White’

SOURCE: THE SPRUCE

Iowa State Bird*: American Goldfinch

This handsome little finch, the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington, is welcome and common at feeders, where it takes primarily sunflower and nyjer. Goldfinches often flock with Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls. Spring males are brilliant yellow and shiny black with a bit of white. Females and all winter birds are more dull but identifiable by their conical bill; pointed, notched tail; wingbars; and lack of streaking. During molts they look bizarrely patchy.

Find This Bird

Goldfinches are usually easy to find throughout much of North America, except in deep forests. Their po-ta-to-chip flight call is draws attention to them in open country. They’re most abundant in areas with thistle plants, and near feeders.

Backyard Tips

To encourage goldfinches into your yard, plant native thistles and other composite plants, as well as native milkweed. Almost any kind of bird feeder may attract American Goldfinches, including hopper, platform, and hanging feeders, and these birds don’t mind feeders that sway in the wind. You’ll also find American Goldfinches are happy to feed on the ground below feeders, eating spilled seeds. They’re most attracted to sunflower seed and nyjer. Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using Project FeederWatch’s

Cool Facts

American Goldfinches are unusual among goldfinches in molting their body feathers twice a year, once in late winter and again in late summer. The brightening yellow of male goldfinches each spring is one welcome mark of approaching warm months.

American Goldfinches breed later than most North American birds. They wait to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which goldfinches incorporate into their nests and also feed their young.

Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect.

When Brown-headed Cowbirds lay eggs in an American Goldfinch nest, the cowbird egg may hatch but the nestling seldom survives longer than three days. The cowbird chick simply can’t survive on the all-seed diet that goldfinches feed their young.

Goldfinches move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average.

Paired-up goldfinches make virtually identical flight calls; goldfinches may be able to distinguish members of various pairs by these calls.

The oldest known American Goldfinch was 10 years 9 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during a banding operation in Maryland.

*Filly pointed out that birds are not mammals, so I’ve decided to list the birds as birds instead of mammals as the reference list I use, calls them.

What Shall We Make Today?

Today’s summer dessert is No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake. (Disclaimer: the cheesecake is no bake; the brownie bottom is baked.)

No-Bake Brownie Bottom Turtle Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Brownie Layer

Box of your favorite brownie mix, plus ingredients needed per the box.

Jar of Caramel Sauce

Caramel Cheesecake

16 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup caramel sauce

1/2 tsp cinnamon

pinch nutmeg

4 oz cool whip

Toppings:

chopped pecans

caramel sauce

hot fudge sauce

Instructions:

Grease a 9″ spring form pan. Combine all brownie ingredients until smooth, pour into prepared pan and bake according to manufacturer’s instructions on box or recipe you are using.

Once brownie is done, remove outer ring of pan and allow brownie to cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and both sugars until smooth. Stir in the 3/4 cup of caramel sauce and spices until combined. Fold in cool whip and mix until everything is incorporated and distributed completely. Place the outer ring to the spring form pan back on. Top the baked brownie with the cheesecake mixture and spread into an even layer. Chill in refrigerator for 3-4 hours.

Before serving, garnish cheesecake with (leftover) caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce and chopped pecans.

This No-Bake Caramel Turtle Cheesecake will stay creamy and fresh for up to 6 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

ENJOY!

Sam Elliot

Today is Sam Elliot’s birthday. He was born August 9, 1944 and I always thought he was an okay guy…till recently when he narrated an ad for the maggot. But his memes still are funny. So the heck with the man, let’s celebrate the memes!

Sea Sheep

I was browsing pictures and came across this adorable one of Sea Sheep. This article in Animal Hype:Marine Life, written by Elise McDonald, details all sorts of interesting facts about this cute little slug.

From Animal Hype:

All of us terrestrial beings are surrounded by countless creatures who have unusual traits, but beyond our terrestrial world lies the world of the ocean, the marine ecosystem that hides many more extraordinary treasures. Although we’ve come quite far in exploring the aquatic world and the creatures that inhabit it, when we compare it with the vastness of the oceans, we realize that we have barely scratched the surface.

Have you ever heard of the certain sea animals who can perform photosynthesize like plants? The Sea Sheep is one such sea creature that we have very little knowledge about. Discovered not more than a few decades ago, these sea slugs are quite extraordinary for various reasons.

In this article, we will tell you fascinating and unusual facts about the Sea Sheep that will blow your mind. Sit tight.

First, let us take a quick look at the lineage and family background of the Sea Sheep:

Why is the Sea Sheep called “sheep”?

The Sea Sheep belongs to the category of sea slugs, which are invertebrate marine animals that somewhat resemble the terrestrial slugs that you might have seen somewhere. But can you find even one similarity between a slug and a sheep? Very unlikely. The very idea of a comparison between the two sounds incredulous. While sheep are four-legged, ruminant mammals that are reared for their wool, slugs are terrestrial mollusks who either lack a shell or have a very insignificant shell.

Why, then, are Sea Sheep, being basically a slug, called Sheep? While there is no straightforward answer to it, there are some resemblances between their appearances that might have inspired the name. Sea Sheep have a pair of antennae at either side of their head, which looks very much like the ears of the Sheep. Some people can also compare the hair-like structures grown on their bodies to the wool that grows on the Sheep. That is about all the similarities you can find between the two.

Breaking down the scientific name of the Sea Sheep

As you can see in the table given above, the scientific name of the Sea Sheep is “Costasiella Kuroshimae”. While the term “Costasiella” refers to the genus of the sacoglossan sea slugs to which the Sea Sheep belongs, what does the second part of their name signify?

“Kurashimae” comes from the name of the Japanese island named Kuroshima. Also known as the Kuro island, Kuroshima is one of the native places of the Sea Sheep.

Moreover, the island of Kuroshima might also have some relevance with the discovery of their species, which makes the name all the more significant.

What does sea sheep look like?

Not much is known about what the Sea Sheep looks like because they rarely appear on the surface of the sea or the ocean. However, from what we have gathered, we can provide you with a rough description. The Sea Sheep are among the smaller sea slugs that only grow to be 1-inch long. Due to their small size, it is very difficult to recognize them from a fair distance.

They have a small, creamish-white, gelatinous body that looks slightly translucent, with two beady, black eyes. It is difficult to make out their mouths, but they have a pair of antennae at each side of their head, which is quite prominent. Their body is covered with several pointy structures all over. These are similar to leaves, have a pinkish tip and green dots all over them.

Although most of their sightings have been of the green-colored Sea Sheep, it is said that there are other color variations present in the ocean as well.

The plant-like behavior of the Sea Sheep

While we agree that the Sea Sheep slightly resembles the terrestrial Sheep and are inhabitants of the oceans, how does their behavior match that of the plants?

What we’re going to talk about now is probably the most unusual trait that makes the Sea Sheep so significant. The Sea Sheep are often compared to plants because they have the ability to perform the process of photosynthesis. All of us familiar with photosynthesis, aren’t we? For a quick memory brush-up, photosynthesis is a process in which the sunlight is used to synthesize all the necessary nutrients from water and carbon dioxide. The process of photosynthesis is associated with plants. In this respect, the Sea Sheep are like plants: they can perform photosynthesis just like them.

The Sea Sheep are kleptoplastic

How many of you have heard of the process of Kleptoplasty before? Even if you haven’t, there is no reason to worry. We will explain it to you: kleptoplasty or kleptoplastidy is a process in which an organism feeds on small aquatic plants like the algae, but stores the plastids (chloroplasts) in its own body to use it to perform photosynthesis. The process of kleptoplasty explains how animals like the Sea Sheep are able to perform photosynthesis.

Sea Sheep is not the only marine creature capable of photosynthesis

Now that you have found about the Sea Sheep being kleptoplastic, you better not make the mistake of thinking that they are the only creatures who can perform photosynthesis. The phenomenon of kleptoplastidy can also be seen in other creatures such as the Sea Slug (Elysia chlorotica) and the Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum). The Pea Aphid (Acyrthospihon pisum) are amazing insects who can produce carotenoids on their own, which they later use in the process of photosynthesis.

The Sea Sheep closely resembles a house plant

If you go through the physical description of the Sea Sheep carefully, it is not difficult to understand how the Sea Sheep resembles a house plant. The growth of green, leaf-like structures all over the body of the Sea Sheep is probably the reason why it might look like a house plant to most people at first glance.

How does Sea Sheep eat?

The Sea Sheep, like the rest of the sea slug species, are pure herbivores. Their main diet is the algae (Vaucheria litorea). If they eat anything other than algae, we have no knowledge of it as of now. The more interesting part of their diet is how they eat algae. First, they puncture the cell walls of the algae, then hold it close to their mouth so that they can suck in all of its contents. Thereafter, instead of digesting all the contents directly, they simply retain the chloroplast from it and store it safely somewhere inside their body. Later, they take it out to use it to perform photosynthesis. This process is similar to the one that the Sea Slug (Elysia chlorotica) performs during feeding.

Although they live in the oceans, the Sea Sheep are solar-powered

Are you wondering what makes these marine slugs solar-powered? The answer to your question is kleptoplasty. The process of kleptoplasty, which makes them eligible to perform photosynthesis, is also the reason why they are known to be “solar-powered”, i.e., deriving energy from the sun.

In which regions are the Sea Sheep found?

The Sea Sheep was first discovered from the islands of Japan in the year 1993. Little else is known about their discovery. However, recently, some studies have shown that these kleptoplastic sea slugs aren’t limited to Japan. They have also been seen in Indonesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Northern Australia, and Singapore. Since these sea slugs are still considered to be understudied, there is a possibility that they could frequent in other parts of the world, too.

How long does the Sea Sheep live?

Unfortunately, due to the lack of enough data, experts have still not been able to provide information about the lifespan of the Sea Sheep. However, the lifespans of the other sacoglossan sea slugs are an indication; you can expect these creatures to live between 2-3 years on average. Some experts claim that the Sea Sheep have a lifeline much longer than the rest of the sea slugs. However, due to a lack of evidence, their claim cannot be considered as a fact.

The sea sheep can sustain on solar energy for months

Since the Sea Sheep can perform photosynthesis, it is not surprising that they can survive on solar energy alone. However, not all the other sacoglossan sea slugs can go without any other food resource for as long as a couple of months. This feature of these creatures is, thus, quite remarkable.

Sea Sheep look even cuter in motion

Most of us have only seen the still pictures of the Sea Sheep, and wonder how these cute little creatures look in action.

Well, you needn’t worry about it. Experts who have spent time researching and observing the Sea Sheep claim that they look even cuter when they move around in the water, either to find more algae to feed on, or just for fun.

Source: Animal Hype; Elise McDonald

National Lighthouse Day

In honor of National Lighthouse Day, I thought it would be cool to showcase the 10 WEIRDEST lighthouses…LOL. This article from Hub Pages lists the 10 weirdest lighthouses in the world.

1 Horse Lighthouses, Jeju City, South Korea

South Korea is known for its unique modern architecture and its amazing design ideas. The perfect example of these are the impressive lighthouses of Jeju City. Many of them have a gaudy red color and very unique modern designs, although the most interesting and well-loved ones by tourists and locals are the Iho Hang West and East Breakwater Lighthouses. These two are 39 ft (12 m) tall concrete towers, shaped like horses and colored red and white respectively, with lanterns on their heads. The lighthouses are accessible by a short walk on a pier near the beach and serve a perfect attraction for the visitors to Jeju.

2 Orthodox Church Lighthouse, Crimea, Ukraine

The St. Nicholas Church-Lighthouse in the village of Malorichenske in Crimea was built in 2007 and aside from its main function it serves as an Orthodox church, a sea victims memorial, and even as a museum to water accidents. This unique lighthouse is 197 feet (60 meters) tall and is richly decorated with the frescoes, mosaics and beautiful marine-themed architecture elements. The local story also says that the paralyzed man who decorated the Saint Nicolas icon that was to be put in the lighthouse had his hands miraculously healed, which he attributes to the blessing of St. Nicholas, which adds to the unique spirituality and the beautiful atmosphere of the place.

3 Pink Lighthouse, Florida, USA

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is a beautiful lighthouse located in Ponce de Leon Inlet in Florida. It is considered one of the tallest lighthouses in the USA, and the tallest lighthouse in Florida, and, among many other things, is known for its notable pink color. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is 207 ft (63m) tall, and has a long history of modernization and reconstructions. It started as a 19th century kerosene lamp lighthouse, to prevent shipwrecks in the area, and it was completely electrified in 1933. A museum was opened there in 1972 and later in 1998 the lighthouse was declared a National Historic Landmark. This beautiful, unique lighthouse is open to the public every day, and is available for climbing, attracting tourists and photographers from all around the world.

4 World’s Most Ancient Lighthouse, Spain

The Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse near Corunna in Spain. The date when it was built is unknown but according to historians and archeologists, it definitely existed by the 2nd century AD, making it the oldest functioning lighthouse in the world. The Tower of Hercules is 180ft (55 meters) tall, and was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. One more amazing thing about this lighthouse is that it was most likely built after the design of the well-known Lighthouse of Alexandria, making it possible to imagine what the legendary tower used to look like. The Tower of Hercules is surrounded by myths and legends, and despite going through big restorations in the 18th century, it still keeps the major parts of its original Ancient Roman architecture. The Latin inscription still exists, which says the name of the architect who built it and that the lighthouse was dedicated to the god of war, Mars.

5 Most Haunted Lighthouse, Florida, USA

The St. Augustine Light Station was built in 1824 and is known as the first lighthouse established in Florida. However, it is not the only thing that makes it a popular place for visit, as St. Augustine is widely famous for its regular ghost sightings and paranormal activity. It made the place known as one of the most haunted lighthouses in the world and attracted both paranormal investigators and simple tourists who wanted to have a paranormal experience of their own. People report different strange sightings connected to the St. Augustine Lighthouse, including strange noises and even video recordings of strange shadows and figures wandering around it and the surrounding buildings. Although the most popular stories are about the ghostly feminine figures which haunt the lighthouse and its territory. Local legends give many identities to the ghosts that haunt the grounds, from former keepers to buried pirates to the daughters of a man hired to renovate the lighthouse in the 1800s. St Augustine gladly provides night tours for everyone wishing to check if the legends are true, so if you are daring enough, you can easily visit this unique place.

6 The World’s Tallest Lighthouse, Saudi Arabia

The Jeddah Lighthouse in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia proudly claims the title of the world’s tallest lighthouse. This magnificent tower is 436 feet (133 m) tall and is naturally located in the city’s sea port. It was constructed in 1990 from concrete and steel and aside from being a popular photography spot due to its unique design, it serves a very important purpose, controlling the city’s port and harbor from above, impressing everyone who sees it from a distance or from a close view.

7 The Smallest Lighthouse in the World, Scotland

North Queensferry Lighthouse claims to be the smallest working lighthouse in the world. It was built on the pier of the village of the same name in 1812 by the famous Scottish Engineer, Robert Stevenson and still serves the local citizens very well today. This beautiful lighthouse is only 36.09 ft (11 m) high and was originally built for providing safe passage through the Firth of Forth, as the local ferries needed guidance. Later, when the ferry services stopped, it was abandoned, only to be restored by the government decades later in 2010. This day it is a fully working lighthouse, a popular place for visit, and one of the main attractions of the village. Visitors can even learn how to light the lighthouse and how its unique lighting system worked in the old days.

8 Nuclear Lighthouse, Russia

The lighthouse of Cape Aniva was originally built by a Japanese Engineer, Shinobu Miura, in 1939 and was considered a great achievement as it was located in a very remote and dangerous area of the Sea of Okhotsk. It became a part of the Soviet Union in 1945, still keeping its importance and serving the local ships lighting the way through the chaotic waters. The Aniva Cape Lighthouse is 131 ft (40m) tall and was originally designed to host seven floors of crew quarters and other rooms for the worker’s basic needs. Later, though, because of its location that made it difficult to access, the Soviet government decided to make it completely unmanned and automatic, which led to the idea of installing a nuclear power unit inside of the building. The idea wasn’t that unusual for the Soviet Union in that time period, as along with Aniva, several other lighthouses had those nuclear power sources specifically designed for them.
These days the lighthouse remains abandoned, its reconstruction delayed because of the risk of the radioactive pollution around the lighthouse territory, as its power source was removed and lays somewhere near the structure. Nevertheless, this strange lighthouse remains a rather popular urban exploring spot for people who can get there, intriguing people with its unique story and impressive look.

9 Black Lighthouse, Australia

The Queenscliff High Light stands in the historical area of Fort Queenscliff in the town of Queenscliff in Australia. It was built in 1862 to replace an even older lighthouse which used to stand there since 1843. Its design is not that different from the other lighthouse towers built in those times, except for one interesting detail: it is completely black. This tower is completely made of basalt, or bluestone as it is known to the Australians. Bluestone is very hard, very difficult to work with, and used to be a very popular building material in 1850s Australia. The unique color of the stone makes this lighthouse one of the only three black lighthouses in the world and the only one in the whole southern hemisphere. It is 59 ft (18 meters) tall, and is completely automatic now, with no men required to run it.

10 Europe’s Northernmost Lighthouse, Norway

The Slettnes Lighthouse near the village of Gamvik in Norway is considered the European mainland’s northernmost lighthouse. It is said it often marks the top of Europe along with the Fruholmen Lighthouse, the latter of which is technically more northern, but it located on an island instead of the mainland. This unique lighthouse was built in 1905 as a 128 ft (39 meters) iron tower and, despite being damaged during WWII and later restored, it still functions today, completely automatic since 2005.

SOURCE: HUB PAGES

I Love Lucy

In honor of Lucille Ball’s birthday (born August 6, 1911 and died April 26, 1989), I thought we’d look at some interesting facts about her show.

From Screen Rant:

There have been a lot of very important television shows since television was invented, and one of the most important and influential ones has been I Love Lucy. Even though it aired long ago, this series still has an impact on television these days.

The effects of it will probably be seen for many more years, since it was such a game-changer back then. For example, Lucille had a lot of power behind the scenes of the show. That was a groundbreaking thing since women didn’t typically have much control over television shows back then. Here are some other interesting facts about this series that fans probably didn’t already know.

Lucille Didn’t Like Desi Being On The Road

Part of the reason why audiences have been able to enjoy I Love Lucy for so long is because Lucille did not want her husband being on the road all the time. Fans might remember that Desi was part of a band in real life, and that meant that he was spending lots of time traveling, and Lucille was not a fan of that. The actress wanted her husband to spend more time with her, so that is why she wanted him to play her husband on the series. It’s interesting to think about what the show might have looked like if she did not feel that way.

William Was Not The First Choice For Fred

William Frawley was not the first choice when it came to who was going to play Fred Mertz. Lucille actually wanted someone else to play the part, and that was Gale Gordon. Apparently, she loved the work the actor did on the radio show they starred in together, which was My Favorite Husband. But that actor ended up asking for too much money, so he was not cast in the role. William heard that I Love Lucy was being created, so he gave Lucille a call to find out if there was a part for him. Some people who worked on the series were reluctant to hire him, but Desi believed he would be great for the role, so they met for lunch, and Desi offered him the role.

CBS Didn’t Want Desi To Play Ricky

It is hard to imagine what this show would have been like if any of the main characters had been played by different actors, but some of the creators of the show were originally not in favor of Desi being cast as Lucille’s husband, despite the fact that they were really together at the time. CBS really liked My Favorite Husband, and they wanted the man who played her husband on that show to play him on television as well. But, Lucille would only take the role of Lucy if her actual husband was cast as Ricky. The creators didn’t think the audience was going to believe that they could ever be a couple, but history has proved them wrong.

A Dream Pushed Lucille To Take On This Role

Lucille was not sure about whether she should take on the role of Lucy Ricardo or not, but a dream is what convinced her to do it. The actress was very reluctant to join the cast of the show because she was unsure about how the transition from movies to television was going to affect her career, but then she had a dream that pushed her to do it. In the dream, a deceased friend of hers talked to her. The friend was an actress named Carole Lombard, and if Lucille had not had that dream, television as we know it would certainly look a lot different than it does at the moment.

Vivian And William Did Not Get Along

Lots of shows have had some behind the scenes feuds between the cast members, and even I Love Lucy could not escape that since the people who played Fred and Ethel Mertz never really got along with one another. Part of the reason why they did not like one another is because William was so much older than Vivian (there was 22 years between them) and she did not think anyone would believe she was married to a man who was so much older than she was. William didn’t have many nice things to say about her, either. He often referred to her as “that old sack of doorknobs.”

Lucille Was Not A Natural Redhead

Lucy Ricardo’s hair was one of her most famous and identifiable features, but the actress who played her was actually not a natural redhead. Another interesting fact is that her hairdresser did not just use any common hair dye to color her hair. Someone brought the hairdresser a unique mixture that involved hair dye and henna, and that is what was used to create the iconic hair color that I Love Lucy fans are so familiar with. The distinct mixture was locked up in a safe spot when the hairdresser was not using it on the actress, since it was such an important part of her character.

Reruns Are A Thing Because Of This Show

Anyone who loves to watch reruns of their favorite shows are probably very thankful to those who created I Love Lucy. In real life, Lucille and Desi shared two children. Desi thought his wife could use a break from work when she had their second child, so that is when he came up with what audiences now know as a rerun. The actor suggested that instead of filming new episodes for a bit, the studio could show some of the old episodes that had already proven to be really popular with the shows’ fanbase. This obviously worked out pretty well for them, since fans can still catch reruns of the series on television today.

It Was All Part Of The Script

Every line that was spoken when the show was being filmed was scripted out. That may seem pretty obvious, but there are actually lots of movies and television shows that feature some lines that the actors made up on the spot, since some unexpected things can happen on the set (there is a rumor that a certain scene in The Dark Knight is a perfect example of this). But some people might be surprised to find out that none of the actors ever said anything that was not scripted when they were creating any of the episodes of I Love Lucy.

There Was One Thing That Only Lucy Was Allowed To Do

Lucy was the only character on the series who was allowed to make fun of Ricky’s accent. Those who have seen the series probably noticed that Ricky has a very thick accent, and they also probably noticed that the only person who ever made fun of him for it was Lucy. When Lucy did it, the audiences seemed to think it was very funny. But when the series creators attempted to have the other characters do it, things were a bit different. The jokes were not very well-received, so the writers stopped allowing the other characters in the show to poke fun at his accent.

Nearly Everything Shut Down When New Episodes Aired

Lots of businesses closed up shop when new episodes of I Love Lucy aired. These days, there are multiple ways for people to catch episodes of their favorite television shows, even if they have already aired on television before, but things were not always like that. Back when I Love Lucy was still being filmed, fans could only watch it when it aired live each week (except for when Desi invented the rerun), and that resulted in some businesses closing when they knew a new episode was going to air. Almost everyone loved this show, so it seems that the title was fairly appropriate.

SOURCE: SCREEN RANT

It All Started With Lincoln

On August 5, 1861, President Lincoln imposes the first federal income tax by signing the Revenue Act. Strapped for cash with which to pursue the Civil War, Lincoln and Congress agreed to impose a 3 percent tax on annual incomes over $800.

As early as March 1861, Lincoln had begun to take stock of the federal government’s ability to wage war against the South. He sent letters to cabinet members Edward Bates, Gideon Welles and Salmon Chase requesting their opinions as to whether or not the president had the constitutional authority to “collect [such] duties.” According to documents housed and interpreted by the Library of Congress, Lincoln was particularly concerned about maintaining federal authority over collecting revenue from ports along the southeastern seaboard, which he worried, might fall under the control of the Confederacy.

The Revenue Act’s language was broadly written to define income as gain “derived from any kind of property, or from any professional trade, employment, or vocation carried on in the United States or elsewhere or from any source whatever.” According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the comparable minimum taxable income in 2003, after adjustments for inflation, would have been approximately $16,000.

Congress repealed Lincoln’s tax law in 1871, but in 1909 passed the 16th Amendment, which set in place the federal income-tax system used today. Congress ratified the 16th Amendment in 1913.

SOURCE: HISTORY.COM

International Clouded Leopard Day

Interesting Clouded Leopard Facts

1 Clouded leopards are not leopards

Despite the name, clouded leopards are actually not a type of leopard, but are a separate species entirely, just like a snow leopard. They are not that closely related and in a different genus ‘Neofelis’. True leopards are in the genus Panthera, alongside tigers, lions, jaguars and the snow leopard.

2 They are named for the distinctive ‘clouds’ on their coats

The coats of clouded leopards are covered in irregular spots and patches of a pale grey/brown color surrounded by a darker edge or line. These cloud-like blotches are what give the animal their common name of clouded leopard. In Malaysia, the clouded leopard is known as the ‘tree tiger’, while in China they are named the ‘mint leopard’, because the patches on their coats resemble mint leaves.

3 They have the largest teeth to body size

Clouded leopards have the biggest canine teeth – in proportion to their body size – of any wild cat; almost resembling the now extinct sabretooth. With sizes up to 2 inches in length, their canine teeth are the same size as a tiger’s, despite being 10 times smaller in body size. Their large, sharp teeth aid their excellent hunting skills.

4 Clouded leopards can descend trees headfirst

Their strong and stocky legs are equipped with rotating ankles which allow varied climbing positions and therefore enable clouded leopards to quickly and agilely scale up and down trees headfirst – like squirrels. They are also able to climb while hanging upside-down beneath the branches, and even to hang only from their back feet in order to snatch prey with their front legs.

5 The clouded leopard may be the most ancient of the big cats

Recent studies have indicated that the clouded leopard was the first species of the Pantherinae family to branch from the other members – over 6 million years ago. This would make the clouded leopard the most ancient feline of all modern cat species.

6 The clouded leopard cannot roar or purr

These cats have a different structure of bones in their neck which means they lack the ability to roar like the other big cats. They also lack the hyoid bone which enables small cats to purr. The clouded leopard’s alternative communication methods include high-pitched meow calls, hissing, growling and chuffing.

7 Clouded leopards have an extreme gape

They are able to open their mouths extremely wide – to around 100 degrees. This is another feature that assists their hunting, and gives them the ability to take down larger prey.

8 Clouded leopards are strong swimmers

Somewhat surprisingly, given the common acceptance that cats hate water, clouded leopards are very confident swimmers. It is thought that this may be how they populated small islands off the coast of Vietnam and Borneo.

9 Their eyes are unique

In contrast to other cats, clouded leopards’ pupils never enlarge to a fully round shape like big cats nor to a thin slit like small cats. Instead, their pupils are constantly an oblong shape.

10 Clouded leopards have some reproductive challenges

Although most cats are considered induced ovulators (meaning that the act of copulation induces ovulation), it has not been possible to determine whether this is the case for the clouded leopard, as the females are able to spontaneously ovulate – however this is generally considered to be intermittent. Their ovulation being so unpredictable can cause some challenges for reproduction in this species, when coupled with the fact that around 70% of the males have malformed sperm.

In human care, artificial insemination has been used with sporadic success. It has also proved to be a challenge to find compatible mates for reproduction, as there is a high level of aggression seen between males and females of the same age.

11 Clouded leopards are considered to bridge the gap between big cats and small cats

All cat species are related to the same family of Felidae, but genetics have shown that the clouded leopard is more closely related to big cat species. However, due to its small stature, the clouded leopard is often described as filling the gap between big and small in the feline world: they are bigger than small cats and smaller than big cats!

12 The population of the clouded leopard declined rapidly in the 20th century

This is due entirely to human action from poaching and deforestation destroying their habitat.

Sadly, the clouded leopard is thought to be locally extinct in Singapore, Taiwan, Hainan Island and Vietnam. The clouded leopard is listed in CITES Appendix I and protected over most of its range with hunting banned, although bans are poorly enforced in some countries and poaching continues.

SOURCE: FACT ANIMAL

National Sandcastle Day

Today is National Sandcastle Day and I was surprised to find that there are sandcastle cakes! I won’t attempt to make one (although I will provide the links to websites that show you step by step how to make one. Spoiler: the “sand” is actually crushed Nilla type wafer cookies!)