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 Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 8:59 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Sabin Duvert
Topic: Green Tea
What's so interesting about that? Green tea originated in China, however has become incredibly popular to the point of being ubiquitous in other countries. In 1992, nearly 2.5 million tons of green tea were produced! Unlike Chinese Green tea, which is pan-fired, Japanese green teas are steamed which alters the flavor. Green tea is known to be high in antioxidants, but also provides other health benefits - however there is not a lot of conclusive evidence to back those claims.
Prize preferences: Silver Koi otter, gold koi otter, black and red koi otter, orange koi otter,
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 9:01 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Mewsings of An Angel
Topic: Green tea
What's so interesting about that?
Green tea is supposed to help your body in many ways. It's an excellent way to help boost your metabolism, burning off calories more efficiently. It's supposed to help with heart disease, helping keep your heart's lining stay relaxed. Green tea is supposed to contain a chemical called catechin, which helps combat tooth decay.
Prize preferences: Silver Koi, Black and Red Koi, Seathi, Orange Koi, Gold Koi
Today I learned that...
Username: Mewsings of An Angel
Topic: Japanese Tea Ceremony
What's so interesting about that? There's actually more to the tea ceremony than just tea! Chabana or "tea flower" is the art of flower arranging. Normally only seasonal flowers are used and unnatural colorations avoided. At times, only a single flower may be used.
Prize preferences: Silver Koi, Black and Red Koi, Seathi, Orange Koi, Gold Koi
Today I learned that...
Username: Mewsings of An Angel
Topic: Geisha
What's so interesting about that? Geisha means basically "art - doer" They were considered artists and had to go through extensive training before they could even be considered a geisha. They still exist today, but instead of starting training at the age of four, they make the personal around teenage-hood. There have even been a few non-japanese people to become geisha!
Prize preferences: Silver Koi, Black and Red Koi, Seathi, Orange Koi, Gold Koi
Today I learned that...
Username: Mewsings of An Angel
Topic: Koi
What's so interesting about that? In the right conditions, koi can live more than 100 years! Kois are omnivorous in nature and will will eat other fish, as well as lettuce and other vegetation. Koi and goldfish share a common ancestor. Koi can become a very large fish, growing upwards of 3 feet long.
Prize preferences: Silver Koi, Black and Red Koi, Seathi, Orange Koi, Gold Koi
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 9:47 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: CitrusCupcake
Topic: Geisha
What's so interesting about that? Modern child labour laws preclude the kind of training once experienced by some geisha apprentices before the Second World War, Geisha that started their career pre war may have gone to live in a geisha house as early as age 11 or 12, spending several years as basically household drudges/maids for the established geisha and their "mothers", before being allowed to become apprentices at around 14 or 15. Becoming a full adult geisha was yet another substantial step down the line and most girls were eighteen before they became full geisha. During the eight to ten years of minarai (learning/learning by observation), they studied shamisen, singing and dance, so that by the time they appeared before customers, they had become highly competent artists (source: paraphrased from "Geisha" by Liza Dalby)
Prize preferences: Orange Otter, Black & Red Otter, Gold Otter, Silver Otter, Koi seathi
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:30 am
Today I learned that...
Username: ~Latonia de la Courtel~
Topic: Green Tea
What's so interesting about that?In China there are actually over 600 variations of the plants carefully selected or bred to produce varieties of Green Tea. While Chinese teas are traditionally pan-fired (rather than steamed like Japanese teas) they may also be sun-dried or oven-dried, depending on the desired outcome for the tea. Regardless, Chinese Green Teas are said to have a more "earthy" taste than Japanese teas, which are considered more "vegetative" in their taste. In Japan, green teas are categorized by the age of the leaves involved in the tea. Though expensive and therefore primarily drunk in the Japanese tea ceremony, Matcha is a popular flavor in many sweet treats, including ice cream and donuts.
Prize preferences: 4, 5, 2, 3, Reroll
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:15 am
Today I learned that...
Username: Cajmera
Topic: Geisha
What's so interesting about that? Geisha are a fascinating part of Japanese culture, a 'class,' if you would, of female entertainers who follow a particular standard of behavior. They have an iconic look, with includes white face paint, red lips, elaborate hair styles, tall shoes, and gorgeous kimono. Geisha are strictly performers, with repertoires that include traditional songs and dances, playing of musical instruments, games, and conversation. A geisha is NOT a prostitute, despite certain incorrect western beliefs. Becoming a Geisha is no small thing, and girls would train for years before they actually became geisha. Though their social prominence has declined in modern times, they can still be found in Japan, though the training process is very different from what to used to be.
Prize preferences: Orange koi otter, silver koi otter, gold koi otter, black and red koi otter, reroll
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:35 am
Updated to here! You guys are making it hard to do this quickly. >> I always have to stop and read the interesting stuff!
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:21 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Angelique DelaMort
Topic: Green tea
What's so interesting about that? Green Tea is one of those buzz topics associated with health and fitness. While the tea does have certain health benefit such as killing the bacteria that causes bad breath and tooth decay and promoting bone and heart health, it also has drawbacks related to the amount of caffeine it introduces into your body. It may also reduce your body's ability to absorb iron from food which means individuals with low iron should be careful when drinking large amounts of the tea. The caffeine in green tea could also have potential dangers for individuals with bleeding disorders because it could increase the rate of bleeding.
Prize preferences: 1, 5, 2, 1, 3
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:27 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Angelique DelaMort
Topic: Japanese tea ceremony
What's so interesting about that? The English think they have the market cornered on tea, but even they don't treat the drinking of tea as a spiritual experience. For that you have to travel to ancient Japan who adopted the custom from the Chinese (also renowned tea imbibers) as well as Zen Buddhist beliefs. The Japanese tea ceremony involves a great deal of preparation and intricate steps. To learn this art form in modern Japan an interested individual might join a club or attend schools, though it can still take years to learn all of the nuances to being an accomplished host.
Prize preferences: 1, 5, 2, 1, 3
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:39 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Angelique DelaMort
Topic: geisha
What's so interesting about that? After the release of the film Memoirs of a Geisha North American culture became more interested in this aspect of Japanese tradition and culture. While often times westerns believe that a geisha is a prostitute by another name and primarily are familiar with the "Sexy geisha" costumes found in costume stores around this time of year, they are missing out on important cultural nuances and the true function of the geisha in Japanese society. The word geisha means, person of the arts, and these women are talented and gifted story tellers, musical performers, and dancers. While geisha are primarily women, there are also some men who are geisha as well.
Prize preferences: 1, 5, 2, 1, 3
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:58 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Angelique DelaMort
Topic: tea farming
What's so interesting about that? Did you know that all the variety of teas come from one plant? The many wondrous varieties of tea that we know today are produce by how the tea leaves are processed. Tea is similar to wine in the fact that the atmosphere in which the plants are grown has an effect on the flavor and quality on the finished product. The four biggest tea producing countries are China, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.
Prize preferences: 1, 5, 2, 1, 3
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 3:44 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Angelique DelaMort
Topic: koi
What's so interesting about that? Koi fish are frequently featured as part of tattoo designs and Ed Hardy products however they have a long and illustrious history as part of Japanese culture. These fish actually originate from Japan and are a symbol for love and friendship. They come in a variety of colors including red and black. People who receive koi fish as gifts are thought to have good luck. They also have no stomach, just a gut and in warm weather can process their food in about 4 hours.
Prize preferences: 1, 5, 2, 1, 3
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 3:54 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Devil NightShade
Topic: Green Tea
What's so interesting about that?
I didn't know about the health benefits of Grean tea before. I don't necessarily like green tea, but I might have to find a way to incorporate it now that I've done some research on it. Not only does it contain antioxidants that could lower your risk of cancer, it also contains catechins which may help kill bacteria and lower your risk of infections as well as improving dental health. Best of all, to me anyway, Green tea has been shown to increase fat burning and boost the metabolic rate in the short term.
Prize preferences: 2, 3, 5, 4, reroll
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 3:56 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Devil NightShade
Topic: Japanese tea ceremony
What's so interesting about that?
I was not aware of all the practice that is required to host a traditional tea ceremony. The fact that people in Japan go to school to earn certificates that show they know how to perform all the movements. It is surprising to me as I read about these ceremonies how much pressure there seems to be on the host to do everything properly. Everything from how the host greets guests to the utensils and cleaning them is scripted and has a right way for the action to be performed.
Prize preferences: 2, 3, 5, 4, reroll
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:06 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Sleet Tempest Snape
Topic: Geisha
What's so interesting about that? What's not interesting about Geisha? Did you know the first geisha were males? Not likely, most people think of the reserved, polite, artists in the rich kimono with the painted faces and the hair decorations. It's a shame that geisha is a dying profession with somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 left by estimates of course. But at one point, in the 1920's there were over 80,000 geisha in Japan! Geisha are trained in many arts, from singing to playing the shamisen, dancing, and making conversation. They had to be knowledge about the topics of which they spoke of as well, so they were intelligent - they had to be! It's why people enjoyed them so much, that and they kept secrets well. The wives of patrons would even give gifts to the geisha their husband went to as a thank you, for being company for her husband.
Prize preferences: 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:13 pm
Today I learned that...
Username: Sleet Tempest Snape
Topic: Koi
What's so interesting about that? Ok, I've heard about cat shows and dog shows, even rabbit shows. But seriously...koi shows? Yup, they have them. This is why some people will spend hundreds and even thousands for a single koi fish. it's not just any fish that'll get this price but ones with perfect, crisp, colors and are well balanced. They even have certain patterns with names, similar to dogs and cats do. I just wonder where you put so many fish, aside from a big pond, when they can grow up to three foot long, a fish tank doesn't seem like it'd work. Did you know that koi fish can actually survive outside, in that big pond, in the winter? So long as there is a hole in the ice they can survive. They go dormant in the winter and stay at the bottom of the pond where it's warmest. As much as they can survive this they need a filter or they'd die. This is because they excrete Ammonia through their gills and it's found in their waste. This would, without a filter, of course build up and become toxic and the koi would die.
Prize preferences: 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
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