Mostly about my backyard chickens. (Boring, I know), but there are a lot of us out here. Mine are only kept as pampered pets. I could eat a neighbor's chicken, but not MINE. There may be a comment on current events only if I get riled up enough. And there will always be a cartoon or a joke to cheer us. I promise to try my very best to respond to comments. Now I have to figure out how this blogger thingy works....
We're off to Japan tonight! Sit back and enjoy this beauty!
The Class C62 (C62形) is a type of 4-6-4 steam locomotive built by Japanese National Railways
(JNR) in Japan. The C classification indicates three sets of driving
wheels. The C62 was built with a 4-6-4 frame, upon which was mounted the
boiler of the JNR Class D52 2-8-2 locomotives.
These were the largest and fastest steam passenger locomotives to run in Japan, and hauled the Tsubame (swallow) express on the Tōkaidō Main Line between Tokyo and Osaka. Only South Africa operated more powerful Cape gauge locomotives. Forty-nine C62s were built from 1948 to 1949.Five C62s hauled the Teine express in Hokkaido between Otaru and Hakodate
after they were displaced by electrification of the Tōkaidō Main Line.
Two locomotives were used to double-head trains on the 2.5% (1:40) grades between Otaru and Oshamambe where they were a popular tourist and railfan attraction until 1971. The last examples in regular service were withdrawn in 1973.
A class C62 locomotive, C62 17, broke the speed record for a narrow-gauge steam locomotive on 15 December 1954 when it reached 129 km/h (80 mph) on the Tōkaidō Main Line. This locomotive was preserved in a park in Nagoya, and later moved to the SCMaglev and Railway Park in Nagoya.
The C62 has achieved a level of fame due in part to the manga/anime series Galaxy Express 999, in which the express is pulled by an advanced space locomotive that is built to replicate a C62.
The founders of Hudson Soft (rail fan brothers Yuji and Hiroshi Kudo) were fond of the C62 and other 4-6-4 locomotives, so they named the company after them: 4-6-4 configuration locomotives are also known as Hudsons or Hudson-types. Japan picked up the term from the USA (where the first 4-6-4 built was named after the Hudson River),
the C60, C61, and C62 used many American design elements and
conventions in their designs, apparently including class names. Hudson
Soft also named a number of products after the C62, including the
development kit for the PC Engine, and a chip (Hu62) that was used in a later version of the hardware. It was also the code name for their console before they settled on PC Engine.
As of 2012, five Class C62 locomotives were preserved at various locations around the country.
C62 2: Preserved in working order by JR West at the Kyoto Railway Museum. This locomotive wears a stainless steel swallow on its smoke deflector as a reminder of the era when it hauled the famous Tsubame express.
Mary River Turtle
Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Quite sadly, the sincerely fascinating Mary River Turtle also appears to
only inhabit an extremely small portion of Australia.
There, the only known representatives of the species live in the Mary
River, hence the name, in southeast Queensland.
Unfortunately, researchers currently have very little confirmed
information about the ecology of this recently recognized species.
It inhabits regions of flowing water, and makes its nest on dry ground.
In addition, individuals take longer to mature than many related
turtles.
This reptile, like many others, also has an omnivorous diet. It commonly
feeds on a wide variety of plants and small prey.
A blonde was driving home after a game & got caught in a really bad
hailstorm.. Her car was covered with dents, so the next day she took it
to a repair shop.
The shop owner saw that she was a blonde, so he decided to have some
fun.He told her to go home, blow into the tail pipe really hard &
all the dents would pop out.
So, the blonde went home, got down on her hands & knees & started blowing into her tailpipe.
Nothing happened.
So she blew a little harder & still nothing happened.
Her blonde roommate saw her & asked, 'What are you doing?'
The first blonde told her how the repairman had instructed her to blow
into the tail pipe in order to get all the dents to pop out.
The roommate rolled her eyes & said, 'Duh, like hello!
You need to roll up the windows first.'
.. so I made a batch of spaghetti treats for the gang:
They go wild over it -
but one of the new hens attacked Wilma
(She's molting and very quiet and timid right now). She was pecked so hard she stumbled and walked backwards into the pen gate. She tried to eat more, but couldn't.
Even Benji ran from the mean hen
and went back into the pen
It certainly wasn't a good day for the old gal!
The damn bear has been back - the gate to the run was open this morning and my neighbor's iron bird bath was knocked over again.
We decided to pull in the suet bird feeders until the weather gets really, really cold.
The second portion of the NJ bear hunt starts December 9th.
Nudibranchs are mollusks in the class Gastropoda, which includes snails, slugs, limpets, and sea hairs. Many gastropods
have a shell. Nudibranchs have a shell in their larval stage, but it
disappears in the adult form. Gastropods also have a foot and all young
gastropods undergo a process called torsion
in their larval stage. In this process, the entire top of their body
twists 180 degrees on their foot. This results in the placement of the
gills and anus above the head, and adults that are asymmetrical in form.
The word nudibranch comes from the Latin word nudus (naked) and Greek brankhia
(gills), in reference to the gills or gill-like appendages which
protrude from the backs of many nudibranchs. They also may have
tentacles on their heads that help them smell, taste, and get around. A
pair of tentacles called rhinophores
on the nudibranch's head have scent receptors that allow the nudibranch
to smell its food or other nudibranchs. Because the rhinophores stick
out and can be a target for hungry fish, most nudibranchs have the
ability to withdraw the rhinophores and hide them in a pocket in their
skin if the nudibranch senses danger.
Species
There are over 3,000 species of nudibranchs, and new species
are still being discovered. They range in size from microscopic to over
a foot and a half long and can weigh up to just over 3 pounds. If
you've seen one nudibranch, you haven't seen them all. They come in an
astonishingly wide variety of colors and shapes—many have brightly
colored stripes or spots and flamboyant appendages on their head and
back. Some species are transparent and/or bio-luminescent, like the Phylliroe.
Nudibranchs thrive in an enormous variety of underwater environments,
from shallow, temperate, and tropic reefs to Antarctica and even
hydrothermal vents.
Suborders
Two main suborders of nudibranchs are dorid nudibranchs (Doridacea) and aeolid nudibranchs (Aeolidida). Dorid nudibranchs, like the Limacia cockerelli, breathe through gills that are on their posterior (back) end. Aeolid nudibranchs have cerata or
finger-like appendages that cover their back. The cerata can be a
variety of shapes—thread-like, club-shaped, clustered, or branched. They
have multiple functions, including breathing, digestion, and defense.
Habitat and Distribution
Nudibranchs are found in all the world's oceans, from cold water to warm water. You might find nudibranchs in your local tide pool, while snorkeling or diving on a tropical coral reef, or even in some of the coldest parts of the ocean or in thermal vents.
They live on or near the sea floor and have been identified at depths between 30 and 6,500 feet below the ocean surface.
Diet
Most Nudibranchs eat using a radula,
a toothed structure that they use to scrape off prey from the rocks
they cling to; some suck out the prey after predigesting its tissue with
selected enzymes, rather like a wasp. They are carnivorous, so that
prey includes sponges,
coral, anemones, hydroids, barnacles, fish eggs, sea slugs, and other
nudibranchs. Nudibranchs are picky eaters—individual species or families
of nudibranchs may eat only one kind of prey. Nudibranchs get their
bright colors from the food they eat. These colors may be used for
camouflage or to warn predators of the poison that lies within.
The Spanish shawl nudibranch (Flabellina iodinea) feeds on a species of hydroid called Eudendrium ramosum, which possesses a pigment called astaxanthin that gives the nudibranch its brilliant purple, orange, and red coloration.
Some nudibranchs, like the Blue Dragon, create their own food by
eating coral with algae. The nudibranch absorbs the algae's chloroplasts
(zooxanthellae) into the cerata, which acquire nutrients by photosynthesis
using the sun to sustain the nudibranch for months. Others have evolved
other ways of farming zooxanthellae, housing them in their digestive
gland.
Behavior
The sea slugs can see light and dark, but not their own brilliant
coloration, so the colors are not intended to attract mates. With their
limited vision, their sense of the world is obtained through their
rhinophores (on top of the head) and oral tentacles (near the mouth).
Not all nudibranchs are colorful; some use defensive camouflage to match
the vegetation and hide, some can change their colors to fit, some hide
their bright colors only to bring them out to warn off predators.
Nudibranchs move on a flat, broad muscle called a foot, which leaves a
slimy trail. While most are found on the ocean floor, some can swim
short distances in the water column by flexing their muscles. Some even
swim upside down.
Aeolid nudibranchs can use their cerata for defense. Some of their
prey such as Portuguese man-of-wars have a specialized cell in their
tentacles called nematocysts that contain a barbed or venomous coiled
thread. Nudibranchs eat the nematocysts and store them in the
nudibranch's cerata where they can be used late to sting predators.
Dorid nudibranchs make their own toxins or absorb toxins them from their
food and release those into the water when needed.
Despite the unsavory or toxic taste they can present to their
non-human predators, most nudibranchs are harmless to humans, except
those like Glaucus atlanticuswhich consumes nematocytes and so may consider you a predator and sting.
Reproduction and Offspring
Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites, meaning that they have reproductive
organs of both sexes. Because they can't move too far, too fast and are
solitary in nature, it's important for them to be able to reproduce if
the situation presents itself. Having both sexes means that they can
mate with any adult that happens to pass by.
Nudibranchs lay masses of spiral-shaped or coiled eggs, which are for
the most part left on their own. The eggs hatch into free-swimming
larvae which eventually settle onto the ocean bottom as adults. Only one
species of nudibranch, the Pteraeolidia ianthina, exhibits parental
care by guarding the newly-laid egg masses.
Nudibranchs and Humans
Scientists study nudibranchs
because of their complex chemical makeup and adaptations. They have
rare or novel chemical compounds which possess anti-microbial and
anti-parasitic traits which may aid in the fight against cancer.
Studies of nudibranch DNA also offer assistance in tracking ocean conditions relative to climate change.
Threats
These beautiful animals don't live very long; some live up to a year,
but some only for a few weeks. The global population of nudibranchs is
currently unassessed—researchers are still discovering new ones each
year—but field observations such as that conducted by Endangered Species International
suggest that many species are becoming rare, due to water pollution,
degradation, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline associated with
global warming.
When I let the gang out Saturday morning, Benji didn't join the girls. I opened the back door and he was up on the roost bar! I know he didn't spend the whole night there because the nest box he usually sleeps in was full of poopsies. At least he's trying! He hasn't crowed in a few days, either. I sure do wish he would grow up!
The weather has been cold and windy and the geese are still heading South:
No much going on in Coopville because of the cold weather, but Hubby has been busy gathering logs for the fireplace. It's been so cold he's been using those hand warmer packets inside of his gloves!
Celebrate Asia: Travel back in time on Borneo’s oldest running steam train
by Theresa Tan
09 Nov 2019
In
our ongoing series looking at unique people, places and food in the
region, CNA Lifestyle hopped on the North Borneo Railway in Sabah. All
aboard?
The North Borneo Railway steam train is the oldest running one in Sabah. (Photo: Sutera Harbour Resort)
Fancy
stepping back into the colonial charm of British North Borneo? A
distinctly memorable way to enjoy Borneo’s verdant greenery is to
indulge in the luxury of steam train travel aboard the North Borneo
Railway.
You would be enjoying the views from the vintage Vulcan
steam engine, manufactured by the Vulcan Foundry Ltd, in Lancashire, UK –
the last of a fleet of locomotives that have travelled across Borneo
since the 1880s.
Here's
a distinctly memorable way to enjoy Borneo’s verdant greenery: Indulge
in the luxury of steam train travel aboard the North Borneo Railway.
The North Borneo Railway is a joint project between the
Sutera Harbour Resort and the Sabah State Railway Department launched
in 2000 to commemorate Kota Kinabalu achieving city status. It is the
only train that services the island of Borneo, and runs twice a week
from Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu.
The carriages were designed in the 19th century with unique oakwood, fabric seats and panel lamps that go back a hundred years.
Covering
38.5km between Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, and Papar, an
agricultural town known as the “rice bowl of Sabah”, thanks to the
paddy fields that dominate the area, this railway offers a unique
sight-seeing experience for visitors, from views of the South China Sea
to protected forests. ALL IN THE DETAILS
For
train enthusiasts – or fans of Agatha Christie or Harry Potter, for
that matter – riding the North Borneo Railway train promises to be a
treat in itself. The Vulcan has been beautifully maintained and remains
in mint condition. The non-air-conditioned train allows passengers the
opportunity to enjoy the fresh air as it travels through the
rainforest of Borneo.
It is the only train that services the island of Borneo, and runs twice a
week from Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. (Photo: Ananya
Pictures)
Painted a rich deep teal and cream, the train and its
carriages bear the gold emblem of a tiger holding a wheel. Inside each
carriage are eight two-person seats set face to face and separated by a
table. These seats are elegantly upholstered in regimental
striped-fabric. The wooden frames are polished and all bear the railway
emblem.
“The
carriages were designed in the 19th century with unique oakwood, fabric
seats and panel lamps that go back a hundred years,” shared Gerard Tan,
deputy chief executive officer of Sutera Harbour Resort.
The interiors of the train retain its old-school charm. (Photo: Ananya Pictures)
He added that to get and keep the steam engine going, an
age-old fuelling method is employed. “This train uses only a very
unique wood called mangrove. To get the mangrove wood is not easy. You
have to cut and then you have to dry it and it’s very expensive.”
Incidentally,
Sabah has the largest mangrove area of any state in Malaysia – over
232,000 hectares. However, much of this area is protected under
conservation laws as mangroves are home to diverse flora and fauna.
The train passes through paddy fields, villages, temples, mountains at a very slow speed. (Photo: Sutera Harbour Resort)
THE JOURNEY
“The train passes
through paddy fields, villages, temples, and mountains at a very slow
speed that turns back the clock 123 years,” said Tan.
The
North Borneo Railway experience begins in Kota Kinabalu, at Tanjung Aru
Station. Passengers are greeted at the platform by train stewards
outfitted in colonial-era uniforms, complete with brass buttons and pith
helmets. Upon receiving their train passports and boarding passes,
passengers proceed to board the carriages and prepare to enjoy the
service and the natural charms of Sabah.
Leaving Kota Kinabalu behind as it pulls out of the station,
the train heads towards Putatan, beyond which lies the countryside of
Sabah. The sector of the journey runs through the coast of Lokawi Bay
and passengers are treated to views of the South China Sea.
The
first stop, lasting 15 minutes, is Kinarut, an idyllic town 20km away
from Kota Kinabalu. A traditional trading village, its old-world charm
can be found in its architecture. Passengers can take a short stroll to
experience the ambience or view the ancient Tien Nam Shi temple.
Departing from Kinarut, the train continues through Kawang,
wherein lies the Kawang Forest Reserve. Kawang is a popular destination
for trekkers and those who enjoy outdoor adventures.
The train
continues past mangroves, through the Pengalat tunnel and across the
Papar River over a steel trestle bridge and into Papar Town. This is a
main stop on the railway track. The township of Paper is located between
the coast of Sabah and the Crocker Range, the state’s highest mountain
range that separates the west and east coast of Sabah.
The
Vulcan has been beautifully maintained and remains in mint condition.
The non-air-conditioned train allows passengers the opportunity to enjoy
the fresh air as it travels through the rainforest of Borneo.
In
the township, a great way to enjoy the local lifestyle is to visit and
take in the sights, sounds and scents of the markets markets and mingle
with the friendly people.
As passengers shop and enjoy Papar
Town, the train is reloaded with firewood. Train enthusiasts will enjoy
watching the locomotive change direction on the wheelhouse. DINING ON THE TRAIN
A
large part of the charm of riding the North Borneo Railway is dining on
board. The train is staffed by a team of 13 stewards, stewardesses and
chefs, along with a train supervisor.
Breakfast is served as the train departs from Tanjung Aru.
Train supervisor Armin Bin Taman explained: “The food preparations start
the day before at the hotel (Sutera Harbour Resort). We cook the dishes
on Wednesday or Saturday morning, and bring them to the train before
departure.” Prep work is done on board the train, the food is heated and
served during meal times.
Breakfast
is served as the train leaves Tanjung Aru. “We have payis ubi, kuih
penjeram, curry puffs and roti kahwin,” listed Armin. Meals are served
using cutlery and coffee cups from the colonial British era – a unique
experience for most passengers.
Passengers enjoy lunch served in tiffin carriers, a touch of old-school Sabah. (Photo: Ananya Pictures)
On the two-hour journey back, passengers enjoy lunch
served in a traditional tiffin carrier. “The tiffin meals are a touch of
old-school Sabah, reflecting Borneo’s multi-cultural identity,” said
Armin. Tiffin carriers were a convenient way to carry meals during a
commute in the days of old, and tiffin was a light meal served instead
of lunch.
The North Borneo Railway only operates twice a week because each round trip requires extensive preparation.
On
the North Borneo Railway, however, the tiffin is fairly substantial:
“We have fish curry, nasi bukit, chicken percik, sayur paku pakis and
prawns,” he added.
As they draw close to the end of their
train journey, passengers are treated to snacks, said the train
supervisor. “We have a fruit platter at the end we serve coffee and tea
and ice cream potong.”
STEPPING BACK IN TIME
The
North Borneo Railway only operates twice a week because each round trip
requires extensive preparation. For one, these trains use a vast amount
of energy to build up steam pressure, Tan explained. Also, it is a
precious piece of the past that belongs to Borneo.
Nevertheless,
the experience of taking a journey aboard these British Pullman
carriages is unparalleled. “It takes you back to the glamorous age of
luxury train travel,” said Tan, “reminiscent of the 20s and 30s.”
“It is our pride; it is something very unique,” he said. “We will maintain it as long as it can last. Hopefully, perpetually.”
Armin
added: “I feel proud because this is a train that still exists and it’s
in Borneo. I hope this train will be maintained for future generations
as they would not know that a train like this still exists.”
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