Silvery white and soft enough to be cut with a knife, gallium has an unusually low melting point at 29.7 C which allows it to liquefy in the palm of the hand.
Harmful effects:
Gallium is considered to be non-toxic.
1kg of Gallium costs $ 220.00
200 g of gallium would make an unusual gift!
Gallium
Metallic chemical element, chemical symbol Ga, atomic number 31.
The liquid metal clings to or wets glass and similar surfaces. Gallium expands on solidification and super cools readily, remaining liquid at temperatures as low as 0 °C .
In various combinations with aluminum, indium, phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony, it forms compounds (e.g., gallium arsenide and indium gallium arsenide phosphide) with valuable semiconductor and optoelectronic properties; some of these compounds form the basis for such electronic devices as light-emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers.
Discovery of Gallium
Before the discovery of gallium its existence and main properties were predicted by Dmitri Mendeleev. He named the hypothetical element eka-aluminum as he predicted the element would sit below aluminum on the periodic table.
Gallium was discovered by Paul E. Lecoq de Boisbaudran through a spectroscope in 1875.
Its now characteristic spectrum (two violet lines) identified it as a new element.
De Boisbaudran extracted gallium in the first instance from a zinc blend ore from the Pyrenees and obtained initially only 0.65 grams from 430 kilograms of ore. He isolated gallium by electrolysis of its hydroxide in potassium hydroxide solution.
The origin of the name comes from the Latin word 'Gallia', meaning France.
I feel well and happy this morning due to, nice e-mail, beautiful day, time for the garden and lots more...I am a lucky gal. I also bought a new guide to insects which are a passion of mine, love those creepy crawlies.
Bought one for my middle daughter J. as well for her birthday. My grand daughter Fabrizia loves it too and immerses herself into the world of entomology. We walk around in the garden to find interesting bugs and try to identify them. It is quite interesting what one can find when one looks!
The book is very thorough in explaining "who is who" in the bug world.
It is called A Field Guide to Insects in Australia; Third Edition.
All confined to barracks was more than I could bear;
I knew you were waiting in the street,
I heard your feet, but could not meet,
My Lillie of the lamplight,
My own Lilli Marlene.
Resting in a billet just behind the line
Even tho' we're parted your lips are close to mine,
You wait where that lantern softly gleams
Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams,
My Lillie of the lamplight,
My own Lilli Marlene.
Hans Leip and Norbert Shultz and Tommie Connor
"Lili Marlene", is a German love song which became popular during World War II.
Written in 1915 during World War I, the poem was published under the title "Das Lied eines jungen Soldaten auf der Wacht" (German for "The Song of a Young Soldier on Watch") in 1937, and was first recorded by Lale Andersen in 1939 under the title "Das Mädchen unter der Laterne" ("The Girl under the Lantern").
While on leave in Vienna, a lieutenant working at the station was asked to collect some records for broadcast. Amongst the pile of second-hand records from the Reich radio station was the little known two-year-old song "Lili Marlene" sung by Lale Andersen, which up till then had barely sold around 700 copies. For lack of other recordings, Radio Belgrade played the song frequently.
Its popularity quickly grew. Soldiers stationed around the Mediterranean, including both German Afrika Korps and British Eighth Army troops, regularly tuned in to hear it.
Many Allied soldiers made a point of listening to it at the end of the day. For example, in his memoir Eastern Approaches, Fitzroy Maclean describes the song's effect in the spring of 1942 during the Western Desert Campaign: "Husky, sensuous, nostalgic, sugar-sweet, her voice seemed to reach out to you, as she lingered over the catchy tune, the sickly sentimental words. Belgrade...The continent of Europe seemed a long way away. I wondered when I would see it again and what it would be like by the time we got there."
Nor did it end there. The next year, parachuted into the Yugoslav guerrilla war, Maclean wrote: "Sometimes at night, before going to sleep, we would turn on our receiving set and listen to Radio Belgrade. For months now, the flower of the Africa Corps had been languishing behind the barbed wire of Allied prison camps. But still, punctually at ten o'clock, came Lale Andersen singing their special song, with the same unvarying, heart-rending sweetness that we knew so well from the desert. Belgrade was still remote. But, now that we ourselves were in Yugoslavia, it had acquired a new significance for us. It had become our ultimate goal, which Lili Marlene and her nostalgic little tune seemed somehow to symbolize. 'When we get to Belgrade...' we would say.
In the autumn of 1944, the liberation of Belgrade seemed not far away. "Then, at ten o'clock, loud and clear, Radio Belgrade; Lili Marlene, sweet,
insidious, melancholy. 'Not much longer now,' we would say, as we switched it off. It was a stock joke but one that at last began to look like coming true." As the Red Army was advancing on Belgrade, he reflected again on the song. "At Valjevo, as at so many other places, in the desert, in Bosnia, in Italy, Dalmatia, and Serbia, we would tune our wireless sets in the evening to Radio Belgrade, and night after night, always at the same time, would come, throbbing lingeringly over the ether, the cheap, sugary and almost painfully nostalgic melody, the sex-laden, intimate, heart-rending accents of Lili Marlene. 'Not gone yet,' we would say to each other. 'I wonder if we'll find her when we get there.' Then one evening at the accustomed time there was silence. 'Gone away,' we said.".
Based on a German poem of 1915, this song became the favorite of troops of every tongue and nation during the Second World War, both in translation and in the original German. A curious example of song transcending the hatreds of war, American troops particularly liked Lily Marlene as sung by the German-born actress and singer, Marlene Dietrich
After the wedding the village children will run towards the married couple and cry " good luck, good luck;
and I will throw them handfuls of special wedding lollies, I am holding a big bag of it.
The Gömböc is a self-righting object, which means that no matter which way you put it down, it stands itself back up. It's like a Weeble, except it doesn't cheat by having a weight at the bottom, and it's the only shape that can do this.
The existence of a shape with these properties was conjectured in 1995, but it took ten years for someone to figure out how to actually make one that worked. And then everyone was embarrassed when it turned out that turtles had evolved this same basic shape in their shells a long time ago, to make it easier for them to roll themselves back over if they get flipped.
Many toilet cleaning products have chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric acid as ingredients, all of which are highly corrosive and can shorten the lifespan of the valve in the cistern. Additionally, while these agents kill bad bacteria, they also kill helpful bacteria further along the system that can assist in breaking down our waste. Chlorine can react with other organic substances in the environment and generate hazardous compounds such as furans and dioxins.
Another chemical that may be found in toilet cleaning products, used mainly in chemical toilets for camping and RV's, is formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic also shown to cause mutations in animals.
Some popular toilet products contain damaging ingredients: Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether - volatile organic compounds harmful to aquatic organisms Sodium dichloroisocyanurate - very toxic to aquatic organisms - may cause long-term damage in the environment Chlorinated phenols - respiratory and circulatory toxins Triclosan - a cumulative toxin, primarily used for anti-bacterial purposes, but can also damage plant, animal and aquatic life. Many of the descaling ingredients used in toilet cleaners are based on petrochemicals, crude oil.
The big problem with identifying environmental toxins in your toilet cleaner is in many countries, companies are not required to disclose all of the components. Some products may also be tested on animals while in development. In addition to all the chemicals, there's the plastics and packaging for these products; particularly the plastic cages used in rim blocks. The cages are used once, then thrown away - multiply that by millions of people who use these products and it becomes quite a substantial amount of non-biodegradable waste.
Greener toilet cleaners Good hygiene is important, but as with other aspects of modern life; attempting to overdo it and maintain a sterile environment in the average home isn't possible or beneficial for that matter. Regardless of what the marketers might tell you, our attempts at disinfecting the average home are futil and only help to breed stronger bugs while killing beneficial bacteria. There are many earth friendly products available now based on citric (e.g. orange oil) or acetic acid that act on bacteria within the immediate area, then quickly lose their potency to prevent damage to other organisms not being targeted further down the system.
Earth friendly toilet cleaning products will be more likely to list their ingredients in order to satisfy eco-savvy customers, so check the label of a "green" cleaning agent you're considering purchasing and do some research of the ingredients on the Internet.
Check it out, there are many earth friendly toilet cleaning products around.
It will benefit the planet and everything and everybody living on it.
I am short of kitchens from my ancestors, but fortunately I have many copper pots, pans and cake tins which were used by my great grand mother. They hang now as ornaments in my kitchen. Unfortunately the pictures are all in colour, not from the Sepia picture time.
This was my first kitchen in the early 1960is; early training; he has not improved!
One of my copper cake tins, I have many different patterns and sizes of those.
This was my second kitchen, when we moved into our first own home. Also in the 1960is.
I still have got the weights, but I think I gave the scales away. My grandchildren loved to play with the weights.
This is my kitchen now;
Some of my old copper pans and pots;
Copper pans and pots I use. Tagine is my favourite cooking pot, I use it every day.
One of the lovely, brown hens at my daughters place was looking sick, sitting listlessly in a corner, not eating. A beautiful plump hen and a good layer, was looking sad.. My daughter and I were discussing what we could do. Talking about this and that we both thought it was best to bring her to the vet. There is a specialist wild bird vet in the valley, he could check her out. We packed the hen into a basket and off we went, driving all the way into the valley and up through rainforest where the vet lives. He examined her and then came to the conclusion that he could not save her and the best would be to give her an injection. He asked, if we wanted to take the bird with us or leave it with him and his assistant. We looked at each other, and ML said, we leave her with you there is no point of taking a dead hen home. OK said the vet we will give her a nice, decent funeral. My daughter and I said at the same time ...wow...! then he gave ML the bill; 40.00$ for the examination; 30.00 for the injection; and 30.00 for the funeral! 100.00 for a dead chook, when we could have bought a live one for 20.00 $ We did not think that he overcharged but we laughed about the fallacy of trying to save a hen.
Outside in the car we looked at each other, really we paid 100 $ for a dead hen. At least, hopefully it got a decent funeral, perhaps the vet or his assistant played the funeral march!
It is getting better; visiting a friend with a backyard keeping some fowl and ducks. She said one of the ducks was looking poorly, not eating, so she thought of bringing it to the the vet to put it to rest. S. took the duck to the same vet in the valley.
When she picked up her duck, it cost her 800.00 $ ! She said it was quite an experience, she never owned a duck worth 800.00 $. I guess we came away with one blue eye while poor Miss S. was thoroughly fleeced. Her duck died too.
Stereograph - Federation Celebrations, Maypole Dancing, Children's Fete at the Exhibition Oval, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria, 1901
Summary: These two identical sepia stereographic views mounted on card, depict Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval, in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, on 11 May 1901, at 2.30 p.m.
The opening of the Australian Parliament on 9 May 1901 was an occasion for great celebrations in Melbourne. Ten days of festivities (from 6-16 May) were planned to mark the Federation of the new nation and honour the Royal visitors, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The city was transformed with decorations - flags, bunting, colourful lights and festive arches - and a series of public events were held, including a military tattoo and several street parades. Unprecedented numbers of people arrived in Melbourne from the rest of Victoria and throughout Australia to take part in the celebrations. The State School Children's Fete was held as part of these celebrations. Description: Two identical sepia stereographs mounted on card, depict Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval. The girls are wearing white flowing ankle length dresses with white shoes and stockings. They have white crowns on their heads. A large crowd is gathered in the background. The facade of the REB is visible in the background. Description Of Content: Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval, in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, on 11 May 1901, at 2.30 p.m. The girls are wearing white flowing ankle length dresses with white shoes and stockings. They have white crowns on their heads. A large crowd is gathered in the background. The facade of the Exhibition Building is visible in the background. The State School Children's Fete was held as part of the celebrations for the opening of the first Australian Federal Parliament on 9 May 1901 and the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall & York. Acquisition Information: Donation from Mrs Jillian Gengoult Smith
It is also known as frozen smoke, Aerogel is the world's lowest density solid, at 96% air. It's a gel made from silicon. The liquid has been taken out and replaced with gas. Holding a small piece in your hand, it's nearly impossible to either see or feel it, if you poke it, it feels like styrofoam.
Aerogel is useful. It supports up to 4,000 times its own weight and could withstand a direct blast from two pounds of dynamite. It is the best insulator in existence. It is not used as insulator in jackets, because it works so well that people were complaining about overheating on Mt. Everest.
Many countries in Europe are in the dregs thanks to the wonderful world of banks and Euro thugs living on high heels and powdered wigs on Government's purse in the beautiful city of Strasburg or whatever first class ticket they are riding on.
Spain is one of the countries with high unemployment and a dire outlook on prosperity for the people. While they are sitting idle and supping on a plate of watery soup, they are still supporting a bunch of free wheelers in the palace.
The idea is to auction the “Royalty” off on ebay as they are the property of the Spanish people. Unfortunately they have no merits and no skills apart from spending money from the public purse, so this will be not easy. It will be a snag to sell those royal puppets on a string because nobody wants them!
Any idea to prop them up for a quick and easy sale, would be appreciated, but please do not suggest a new outfit from Dior, that just won’t do.
Qantas was founded in Winton, Queensland on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. The airline's first aircraft was an Avro 504K. The airline flew internationally from May 1935, when it commenced service from Darwin to Singapore.
In June 1959 Qantas entered the jet age when the first Boeing 707–138 was delivered
QANTAS = "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service"
In 1920 Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd had its headquarters in Winton, Queensland. In 1921 the head office moved to Longreach, Queensland. In 1930 the head office moved to Brisbane.
Here I have to include a story about early flights. A Family living in the outback, the father was manager of a property, send two of the older girls, starting school, with a Quantas plane to boarding school. The cockpit was open, at the back was sort of an enclosure, but the windows had no glass. The children had to be bundled up in warm clothes and blankets, as it must have been freezing up there. Everybody came to the airport to say goodbye and brought presents for the girls to take with them.
Later the father flew with a Quantas plane to by bulls in Victoria. On his homeward flight the plane came down and he lost his life. The mother with her 5 small children could not manage the big property and moved to Brisbane. At the time she did not have the money to go to her husband's funeral, far away, as he was buried in Tambo where the plane crashed.
1920
Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd is formed on 16 November with headquarters in Winton, Queensland.
1921
Headquarters move to Longreach, Queensland.
1922
The first scheduled Qantas mail and passenger flight operates from Charleville to Cloncurry, Queensland.
1924
S M Bruce flies Qantas, becoming the first Australian Prime Minister to use an aircraft for official travel.
1926
Qantas begins building its own aircraft in Longreach.
1927
Qantas takes on its first apprentice.
1928
The Flying Doctor Service is launched, using Qantas aircraft.
1929
The outback network extends to Brisbane.
1930
Qantas establishes its headquarters in Brisbane.
2012
Next generation flying with the arrival of the first of our B787 fleet.
When I lived in Switzerland I have visited the Library many times. It is the most amazing and fascinating place to visit if you are an aficinonado of books. One can still borrow books there.
Above the entrance to St Gallen Abbey Library, one of the oldest of its kind, is a Greek inscription which translates into English as "pharmacy of the soul".
The monks who founded the library considered books as medicine for the spirit. The 150,000 strong collection, now part of a Unesco World Heritage site, continues to inspire visitors and scholars today.
On entering the library, the visitor is immediately struck by two things – the vast quantity of books and the beauty of the room.
Remodelled in the 18th century, using the monastery's own craftsmen, the library is a heady mix of rich woodwork, ceiling paintings and stucco. The whole room – even on a rainy day - is illuminated by light from 34 windows.
It is said to be one of the most beautiful Baroque libraries in existence.
But only 30,000 of the library's collection – books and manuscripts – can be seen. Some volumes are considered simply too precious to be shown in public.
"There are 400 books here that are more than 1,000 years old.
Ancient treasures include a Latin manuscript of the Gospel and the oldest book in German.
The library also contains the earliest known architectural plan drawn on parchment - of the abbey itself - a copy of which can be seen in the library.
Glass cases hold fine illuminated manuscripts, some of which were done in the monastery.
" There are 400 books here that are more than 1,000 years old. "
The library was founded in 719 and is almost as ancient as the whole abbey site, which can traces it origins to a hermitage set up by Irish monk Gallus.
By the 9th century – the start of the abbey's golden age – the library had already built up a notable collection of books, including works from antiquity.
"St Gallen became rich through bequests of land and property and became very active in the realm of the sciences. Books were written and studied here,"
The monastery became one of the most important north of the Alps, with its influence – and reputation as a place of learning - extending into the German kingdom.
It is said to be one of the most beautiful Baroque libraries in existence.
After a difficult time during the Reformation – St Gallen became the second Swiss city to turn to Protestantism – the abbey underwent a revival in fortunes in the 18th century when the library was remodelled.
Survival
But the jubilation did not last long. In 1798, French soldiers, fresh from the Revolution which toppled France's monarchy, marched though the area and attacked the buildings.
The monks fled, but not before they had taken the library's precious collection of books to safety.
A further blow came in 1805 when the newly formed Canton of St Gallen, eager to end the abbey's considerable influence, decided to dissolve the monastery. No monks have lived at the site since.
It was, however, decided to preserve the library. The whole abbey area, which also contains a magnificent Baroque church, now the cathedral, as well as medieval buildings, became a World Heritage site in 1983.
The Eeaster bunny brought me a golden Easter bunny, one of his more posh relatives!
My grandchildren were happy with their Easter baskets.
It is all good fun, but then Easter Celebration is much more then receiving chocolate eggs.
The Easter Flower Far from this foreign Easter damp and chilly My soul steals to a pear-shaped plot of ground, Where gleamed the lilac-tinted Easter lily Soft-scented in the air for yards around;
Alone, without a hint of guardian leaf! Just like a fragile bell of silver rime, It burst the tomb for freedom sweet and brief In the young pregnant year at Easter time;
And many thought it was a sacred sign, And some called it the resurrection flower; And I, a pagan, worshiped at its shrine, Yielding my heart unto its perfumed power.
Claude McKay
Beethoven's wonderful Ode to Joy;
Freude, schöner Götterfunken* Tochter aus Elysium, Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods* Daughter of Elysium, We enter, drunk with fire, Heavenly one, your sanctuary! Your magic reunites What custom strictly divided. All men become brothers, Where your gentle wing rests.
My father in the black jumper,he was always standing straight, never leaning, with some workmen in the woods, here it seems they have a "smoko". I always liked this photo because it looks so relaxed and friendly.
He always told us to stand straight and not to lean!!
My father was not a smoker and not a drinker; he also did not like work in the office. He always made sure that he could spend a lot of time outside. When I was small he always took me for walks into the forest and told me the names of the trees and showed me were the badgers lived.When I was older he taught me to shoot. He praised me when I made a good mark. But there was no shooting birds or any animals. It was purely for sport, and he thought it was good if a girl or woman could also handle a gun with responsibility!
I think this photo is probably around 1933.
My grandmother of my fathers side with two of her farmhands "making hay".
She was a tiny woman with lots of stamina, always working hard, she was the one to look after
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