Saturday 1 October 2022

Blue Crab Turns Red Crab – Science 22

Fish, shrimp and crawfish are our favorite items when we buy seafood in the market. They mainly harvest from our state waters.



Image 1- Raw and fresh blue crab

At least two kinds of crabs are sold in our areas, blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and Dungeness (Metacarcinus sp). The Dungeness crab has been posted previously:

I believe you know that all crab and lobster will turn red when cooked by boiling or steaming it.

The question then: Why?



Image 2- Dungeness crabs sold in the market



Image 3- Crab turns red when we cook it.

As you might know, the process of crab, prawn, lobster or crustaceans turns red when cooked:

- first, heat due to grilling or boiling will destroy protein called crustacyanin.
- second, releasing of astaxanthin
- finally, shell turns red (bright red).

Many people love to consume crustaceans, but few people don’t like them because of many reasons.

Some of my friends have allergic if they eat crustaceans.

How about you? Do you like to eat lobster, crab or shrimp?

# Previous postings:

Friday 30 September 2022

Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 1 – Science 21

Many companies have developed new technologies to spray disinfectant easily, one of them called as “Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer.”



Image 1- One of high-tech disinfecting machines (credit to EvaClean).

This is a machine with an electric charge which is able to spray to most kind of surfaces, then “coat and wrap” them evenly.

We may fill the Electrostatic Sprayer tank with specific substances (chemical liquid) such as:

- mold preventives
- disinfectants
- sanitizers
- and other safe chemical liquid available in the commercial markets



Image 2- Bags, just for illustration

There are many brands in the market. The number of companies (brands) is increasing day by day, since this kind of spray is popular during Covid 19 pandemic.



Image 3- Purple flowers of Myrtle, illustration

Few reasons to use this Electrostatic Sprayer:

- effective compared to regular spray
- affordable price



Image 4- A store at supermarket, illustration

Some companies (brand names) produce Cordless disinfecting machines, just for examples are:

- Protexus
- Victory Innovations
- Emist
- Brulin
- and Otarius

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous postings:


30 September 2022

Wednesday 28 September 2022

Tax Free Outlets in the Special Area of Our State

I think many cities around the globe have a kind of “mall” composed of outlets which sell many well-known brands, and sometimes not familiar ones but promising.



Image 1- Sign of Tax free outlet

One of this kind of mall called as “Tanger Outlets,” about 40 minutes drive by car from our home, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We visit Tanger Outlet several times a year, because many things to attract us to come and to shop in outlets:

- more than 65 outlets are available
- discount rate could reach 75%
- special event with special discount for special products
- good place for walking and enjoy



Image 2- Polo outlet



Image 3- Nike outlet



Image 4- Coach handbag, an American brands

In addition to pretty “big” discount rate, Tanger outlets also provide “tax free” for international customers.

The tax free is attractive for foreign tourists to shop. They may refund “tax free” items in places such as:

- airport when they back home
- one of building in the area of Tanger Outlets.

Based data from “Tax Free Shopping website” that international tourists spend about US$ 24 millions to US$ 40 millions per year in the state of Louisiana in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

# Previous postings:

Monday 26 September 2022

Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part2

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part1



Image 1- Coconut fruits on the tree

In many tropical countries that using young coconut water as part of folk medicine has been practiced now days, where coconut water is given to people who has fever to reduce body temperature.

When children have vomiting or diarrhea, young coconut water will be given too.

Then, pregnant women are encouraged to drink coconut water for good blood (prevent anemia).



Image 2- Three coconut fruits at a grocery



Image 3- A young coconut water

Lately, some of them believe the young coconut water is also prevent Covid-19, so young coconuts are high demand in the market.

I think this kind of believes has no scientific bases. Just belief without any prove at all.

The price of young coconuts is soaring, and the trees are cleaned from their fruits.

It will take a while to produce new coconuts 😄

It takes one year for a coconut to ripe, and six or seven months to get water from the young coconut.

# Previous postings:

Saturday 24 September 2022

A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood – Science – 20

We have noticed that a lot of hawks visits our neighborhood areas in the last several years.



Image 1- A young red tail hawk.

We believe that at least two species of hawks comes and goes to search foods in our yards.

The two species might be:

- red tail hawk with scientific name: Buteo jamaicensis.
- cooper hawk (Accipiter cooperii).

In addition to physical appearances, the different between red tail hawk and cooper hawk is based on referring to their food preferences.



Image 2- Trees, the place we may see hawks



Image 3- A red tail hawk catches a squirrel.

The significant different between red tail hawk and cooper hawk in term of food consumption are:

- red tail hawk consume squirrels and other small animals
- cooper hawk consume birds (smaller birds) only

So, the two photos (Image 1 and 3) of this posting are photos of “red tail hawk,” not cooper hawk, since they eat squirrel.

My neighbors said that they could be “young stage” of red tail hawk. That why they are not “really” like adult red tail hawk.

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

Friday 23 September 2022

Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 1- Food 24

Fresh meat and chicken are out, there are none either in my fridge or in stores. Since the Louisiana Health Emergency Proclamation, life was unpleasant.



Image 1- Thin cut of beef from Walmart

Groceries are almost empty everywhere in the city. Luckily, we have source of proteins as our stocks:

- fish cans
- packed tuna
- tofu
- frozen poultry
- frozen meat
- frozen salmon and tilapia.



Image 2- Street in the morning, just for illustration



Image 3- Half cut peppers

I chose meat (beef) than other proteins from our stocks. It is my last meat package, thin cut of beef.

I was so starving, and I could not wait for thawing and marinating. I did a quick and simple way in cooking.

I am thinking you can guess what I had done. Yes, you are right that I put the frozen beef into the pan.

By adding small amount of water, salt, coriander, chopped garlic and ginger, brought them to a boil.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

Wednesday 21 September 2022

Dungeness Crabs from Gulf of Mexico – Science 19

We visit seafood markets to have a look what might be interest us or to buy cooked foods, ready to consume seafood, just for sometimes.



Image 1- Dungeness Crabs in the market

We found Dungeness Crabs (Metacarcinus sp) in Asian Grocery, section of seafood recently. It was surprising for us.

Why?

As we knew Dungeness Crabs are living a lot in Alaska, then the question is: how they reach thousands km from Alaska to seafood market in our city, Baton Rouge, LA?

Another surprising that crabs still live in the market. They were crawling swimming in the tank.



Image 2- White flowers, illustration only



Image 3- Several Dungeness Crabs in the sea water tank.

No, the crabs are not transport from thousands of kilometers distance or from Northern state, Alaska to Southern state, our city, Baton Rouge, but they were caught from nearby area.

Our state has area called as Gulf of Mexico. Yes, Dungeness Crabs come from this ocean. Since not far away, the carbs are fresh.

Distribution of Dungeness Crabs is quite widespread. We may find in several states include: California, Oregon, and Mississippi. The crabs are also identified in Mexico.

Have you seen Dungeness Crabs

# Previous postings:

Happy mother day

Today, May 12, 2024, we are celebrating Mother Day in the USA. The celebration for mothers and motherhood.  Image 01 - Happy mother day Just...