Monday 3 April 2023

The Indian Ringneck Parrot Is One of Popular Pets - Nature 59

As you might know that parrots are mainly imported from many tropical countries into the USA.



Image 1- The yellow Indian Ringneck Parrot, pet.

One of parrots called as Monk parrot or Green parakeet has been posted in this blog. You may read at below:

Many parrots have been escaped, and then adopted to wild nature. As reported by Leila Nargi (2019: Non-Native Parrots Have Naturalized Across the United States), there are plenty of non native parrots across America.

The fact that 56 species of “naturalized” parrots have been observed in many places of America from 2002 to 2016.



Image 2- Plant, just illustration

Moreover, many certified breeders reproduce parrots, hence, some parrots species are abundance in several states.

As far as I know It is legal to have parrots as pets, include Indian Ringneck Parrot (Psittacula krameri).



Image 3- Two parrots as pets

The cost may vary from one breeder to other breeders and depend on other factors such as maturity and colors. Average is US$ 800.

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Sunday 2 April 2023

Traditional book versus electronic book for children – Part 2 – Reading 13

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Traditional books versus electronic books for children – Part 1 - Reading 13



Image 1 – Children books at the bookstore

Many “busy” working parents to give a tablet or any screens for their children, even though they still said that it is “not compulsory” for education purposes, just a kind of optional.

Another side many parents give limit time for their kids to access, and facilitate them with a traditional book.

Ms M. is just one of them, she always has time to reward the traditional books for Cassie, and Cassie sticks to her as part of the Parent to children development in education process.



Image 2- The nutcracker, illustration only

Little Cassie loves to show whatever she has. She prefers traditional books because she like to show to her baby dolls of her favorite books.



Image 3- Plant parenting, just illustration

She can show, carry, and pretend to the book for any body. She doesn't understand that her tablet has many books in it.

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Friday 31 March 2023

Can We Find Broccoli in the Wild? - Science 35

As reported by Cision PR Newswire (2022: Green Giant® Survey Reveals Broccoli As America's Favorite Vegetable in 2022) that 29 states chose broccoli as the favorite vegetable.



Image 1- A cooked Broccoli, healthy food

Then followed by “corn, carrots, potatoes and asparagus consecutively. The question: “Can We Find Broccoli in the Wild?” The answer is no. Why?

It is because human have developed this vegetable with breeding process through many years.

Human found the wild cabbage with scientific name Brassica oleracea. Unfortunately this cabbage produces:

- small flower buds every two years
- has no good taste and flavor.



Image 2- A bunch of Broccoli, sold in Walmart

Farmers manipulated environment to make wild cabbage reproduce several times in a year.



Image 3- The carnivore plant, illustration only

Luckily, farmers able to select the offspring based on their:

- big flower buds
- have very good taste and flavor.
- faster grow



Image 4- Broccoli as vegetable.

The plant is reproducing, and known as broccoli nowadays. Do you like broccoli tast and flavor?

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Wednesday 29 March 2023

Spring Hummingbirds in Our Neighborhood – Nature 58

We posted the winter hummingbird in our areas previously: - The Rainbow Before Evening : The Winter Hummingbird at Our Community – Science 26



Image 1- A hummingbird approaching feeder

Now, Spring is coming. We start to see another season of hummingbirds visits our nearby places.

Many neighbors start to put their feeders since last February. Then, we just saw the hummingbirds were coming to feed on feeders around in the middle of March this year.

Unfortunately, the photos (please see Images 1 and 2) are not clear enough to identify species of birds. Even my Google ID can’t recognize whether the object is bird or not.



Image 2- Emerald snow, illustration only

Based on report from Baton Rouge Audubon Society (2023: Feeding Hummingbirds) that only one species of hummingbird in Gulf Coast area around February to March. As you might know, the Gulf Coast include our state, Louisiana.



Image 3- A hummingbird feed on the feeder

The species of hummingbird is Ruby throats (Archilochus colubris). The bird come from Mrxico and Central America for breeding and nesting in our regions.

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Tuesday 28 March 2023

The Best Coffeehouse in My City, Baton Rouge – Part 1

We find many coffee shops in our town, Baton Rouge, LA. Sure, famous coffeehouse franchises such as Starbucks and Community Coffee (CC) are every where in the city.



Image 1- Brew Ha Ha, a coffee shop

Actually, Our areas have plenty local Coffeehouses as well, however the names could be unique and funny for who unfamiliar with:

- Brew Ha Ha
- Java Mama
- Coffee call
- River coffeehouse
- Garden district
- Coffee bean cafe



Image 2- A gate in the Garden, illustration

I have two favorite places with two different reasons to drink a cup of coffee. The places are:

- Coffee Call
- Starbucks at Barnes & Noble bookstore



Image 3- To Go coffee cup

Visiting the Starbucks with main reason that the shop locates in the book store, Barnes & Noble. Reading books, magazines or surfing internet accompanied by a cup of coffee. My favorite is cappuccino.



Image 4- Like family gathering Inside the Coffee Call

Then, what the reasons to come to the Coffee Call?

# To be continued to Part 2

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Sunday 26 March 2023

Blooming of Yellow Jasmine in the Garden – Nature 57

We know several species of Jasmines grow very well in our city, Baton Rouge, LA, and they bloom around late Winter to Spring seasons.



Image 1- Yellow Jasmine flowers

Actually, there are plenty of Jasmine species, as suggested by Smoke (2023: Jasmine: The Scent of Romance, Intoxication, and New Orleans) that over 200 species of Jasmine live in the world.

As of our knowledge, at least there are 3 different species of Jasmine flowers live in our areas:

- Common Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
- Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- Yellow Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens)



Image 2- Yellow Jasmines are climbing

As you might know that Yellow Jasmine is said as native flower of South Caroline and be state flower. That why Yellow Jasmine also called as Carolina Jasmine.



Image 3- A good climber

The flowers are “good climber,” they could be seen along the fences, side the building, walls and entrance gates.



Image 4- Flowers are climbing the wall

How many species of Jasmines grow in your areas?

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Saturday 25 March 2023

Social Status Effect on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 2 – Brain Plasticity 3

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Social Status Affects on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 3



Image 1- A cat, just illustration

Visually, the absent of higher social male will be replaced in minutes. The subordinate will look brighter and change behavior immediately as a new dominant male.

Only one dominant male in one specific area, apparently, the other males (subordinates) no change in terms of colors and behaviors.

Alcazar et al (2016) suggested that while establishing a territory, a cichlid male will escalate his aggression behaviors and efforts to court females at optimal numbers as possible.



Image 2- A bird, illustration

This aggression male tends to spend more times by attacking other subordinate males in the area. The aggressive behaviors were followed by increasing level of cortisol, estradiol, 11-ketotestosterone and testosterone physiologically.



Image 3- People gathering, illustration

Reference

Alcazar, RM., Becker, L., Hilliard, AT., Kent, KR and Fernald, RD. (2016, August 15). Two types of dominant male cichlid fish: behavioral and hormonal characteristics. Biol Open. 2016 Aug 15; 5(8): 1061–1071.



Image 4- Green yard, just for illustration

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Capgras Delusion and Alzheimer’s Disease - Part 1 - Alzheimer’s 15

 She was about eighties. A wife of a veteran. Indeed, we just commemorated Veteran Day. The deep thought for all of our veterans, hoping the...