Beauty of Blowfish

A few days ago I visited a huge pet store in town.  Of course there were birds, fish, mice, and one adorable bunny.  But the one animal that caught my eye was the blowfish or "pufferfish".  I was absolutely captured by it's beauty and grace.  The smooth movement of it's fins moving like fans but with a squiggle pattern.  It's big head and playful smile drew me toward it.  The one I saw was yellow but not puffed out, just chilling, like this one.  Just one example of the beauty of nature.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Pufferfish

• There are more than 120 different species of puffer fish throughout the world.
• Most puffer fish are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but some are also known to live in brackish and fresh water.
• About 39 species of puffer fish that inhabit marine waters swim into fresh and brackish waters to breed and feed.
• The puffer fish feeds on invertebrates, algae, clams, shrimps, crabs, mussels and shellfish.
• The dwarf puffer fish, also known as pea puffer fish and pygmy puffer fish, is the smallest species of puffer fish in the world.
• Though pufferfish are poor swimmers, they can ingest large amounts of water or air in a few seconds, to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their size, when threatened.
• Some pufferfish species have spines on their skin, to make them less palatable.
• Most of the puffer fish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them taste foul and often lethal to fish. This tetrodotoxin is 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide.
• One puffer fish contains enough tetrodotoxin to kill 30 adult humans. The tetrodotoxin has no known antidote till date.
• The Japanese prepare a delicacy called fugu, from puffer fish meat. The dish is prepared by well-trained and licensed chefs only, as one wrong cut can cause certain death for a customer.
• All pufferfish have 4 teeth that are fused together into a beak-like form. These teeth are used to crush the shells of mollusks, red worms and crustaceans.
• Puffer fish has a unique breeding method, wherein the male guides its female counterpart towards the shore and she releases the eggs. In the eggs, the young ones are protected by the hard shell, which breaks off when they develop limbs. After the tail and fins develop, they swim down into the reef community below.

10 Best Sci-Fi Seires

 Well here we go an attempt to list my favorite Sci-Fi series of all time.  Now there are some good ones left off this list that I have not finished watching or haven't seen yet.  It was so hard to put a number to every one I like them all so much so lets just say the places aren't that important. It's a great genera and you should definitely check out those you haven't seen.

On place 10---------

X-Files:


Not everyone would consider the X-Files a true Sci-Fi series but their mix of paranormal occurrences, strange creatures and aliens brings into into this category.   One part strange and one part unbelievable this 90's series is a must see for those who like mystery, conspiracy, aliens, and redheads.  Toward the end of the series it can get a little weird, but it's all in the spirit of the chase.  There are also books, audio books, and movies as well for the hard core fan.  "I want to believe."




Place 9:::::::::

Stargate SG-1:

This series is a spin off of the Movie Stargate.  Good idea and actors.  Explore the galaxy through a gate and discover worlds with other humans and aliens that tell the story of an intertwined cosmic history.  With the charm of Egypt and the technology of aliens this series is a sure please for the sci- fi fan.  Though the story line can bounce around a bit.  There are also several spin offs of this series for example  Stargate: Atlantis.


Place 8  >>>

 Sliders:SLIDERS is a sci-fi adventure series that chronicles
the travels of four dynamic characters as they slide
to parallel dimensions of Earth, experiencing and
exploring Earth as it would be if a different path
had been taken either personally or historically.
The SLIDERS story began on a quiet residential street in
San Francisco where Quinn Mallory turned his basement
into a scientific laboratory and figured out how to
"slide" through parallel dimensions of Earth using a
timer which opens a sliding vortex.

Place 7 )))))))))

Lost:

Nothing like a series that starts out with landing on an island in the middle of nowhere.   A story that starts in the middle then flashes back  and then forward, then... alternate reality?  This series is unlike any other and takes so many chances.   Travel in time and reality with a cast of complex characters that are almost never safe and are lost on an island and lost in their lives.   Shot on location in Hawai'i this series is beautiful and complex.  Highly recommended.  "Live together, die alone."





Place 6---------

Star Trek The Next Generation:

This is a classic of Sci-Fi series.  The second installment of the Star Trek family, after the original series with Capt. Kirk.  Patrick Steward plays Capt. Picard, probably one of  the best acted roles of all time.  Idealist future where space exploration is final frontier.  Can be a little corny form time to time but overall joy to watch, great cast, and hours of entertainment.



Place 5......

Star Trek Deep Space 9:

Third installment in the Star Trek family and tells a more of a story then the first two.  On a deep space station Set next to a wormhole, aliens and humans travel to and from but always end up on DS9.  The war the occupation, these are things you will learn off.  Wonderful new aliens and a few old favorite characters from the last series as well.  First black captain, Sisco, play a well rounded captain with heartfelt connections to his station and crew.  And if you still can't get enough Star Trek don't forget there are a crap load of Star Trek books, comics, and movies.




Place 4::::::

Star Trek Voyager:

My favorite of all the Star Trek series is Voyager.  I know it maybe hard to believe that I could relate to a female captain from Indiana.  Captain Janeway continues the great legacy of wonderful, strong, and able captains of Star Trek.  This time they are thrown out into the gamma quadrant and face about an 80 year long trip home.  Discover new races and mysteries of space with cast that is sure to entertain.




 Place 3.........

Battlestar Galactica:

What would happen if we build robots to help us, but the robots rebelled, then evolved then came back to kick our asses once and for all?  Well that is the story of BG.  Who's side are you on, are you one of them.  In a future where the line of friend and foe is not clear and even your own DNA can betray you,  BG shows the love, live, and death of the people who just tried to survive these uncertain and turbulent times.  Awesome Sci-Fi series for the new and the classic lovers.  "The end of the world is only the beginning"




Place 2)))))

Babylon 5:

Great series that focuses on several great wars and the search for peace and justice.   Follow a wonderful cast that plays complex, deep, sometimes funny and sometimes tragic characters.   Troubles with telepaths, trouble with ancient races, trouble with propaganda and brain washing.  Watch this thriller over and over again.  There are also several movies and a spin off series: Crusade.







Place 1!!!!


Futurama:

I just love sci-fi and comedy well of course so why not have both in one.  Futurama parodies, references, and just makes plain fun of all sci-fi movies, series, ideas, and writers.  Join Fry as he gets frozen and wakes up in the year 3000 where robots and buggalo roam.  Join the Planet Express crew as the explore the universe and deliver a few packages!

Dream Garden

Mara Des Bois

Since I have been planting my own little indoor garden the last few day I can't help but think about all the plants I would love to have when I have a little land, hopefully one day quite a bit of land.  I am very interested mainly in the French heirloom vegetables.  From baby round zucchini to mini strawberries "Mara Des Bois". I couldn't think of a  better theme.  Of course I wouldn't stop there.  The French also have an heirloom pumpkin that looks like Cinderella's carriage " rouge d'etampes." Oh course there are so many other plants that don't fit in that category, like Thumbelina carrots.  Or maybe I should do a fairly tale theme? What are some of your dream plants?

Ostara coming up!

Hey everyone and happy spring.  I just can't wait for it to get warm again after two whole winters in Germany.  The weather is not nearly as nice as Hawaii.  I will plant coriander and lavender this year in my first spring planting and well see what comes after that.  This year don't forget to walk in the park and enjoy nature, take a hike and breath the fresh air and plant some flowers that will bloom all summer long. Don't forget to check out my latest video on youtube.

Retro Toys I Love!

Sailor Moon

Queen Frostine

A few days ago I looked at my Nosy Bear and thought just for fun I would see if I could find in on the internet.   I looked on Ebay and to my surprise I only saw one of the one that I have, and guess what it was going for $60,  (needless to say I felt bad and cleaned my up a bit.)  Then I went on a journey and was thinking of all the toys and games I used to play with and still love.  These are my top picks for retro toys and characters (and hopefully one day I will be able to collect some of them):

Vintage Polly Pocket

Rainbow Brite

Lady Lovely Locks

Nosy Bears