Australia is the second driest continent on earth (after Antarctica).
The worst droughts in Australia have all been in the 21st century between 2003 and 2012 and especially since 1994.
The Second Driest Continent on Earth after Antarctica
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What Happened to the Genius that was Jørn Utzon?
In the mid 1950s it was decided to run a competition for a design for a new performing arts centre in a great location in the heart of Sydney.
The winning entry was by a Danish designer called Jørn Utzon who didn’t just design an arts centre, he designed a radically new arts centre.
Due to lots of problems with completing the construction the Australian government and Jørn Utzon fell out and he was not invited to the opening ceremony which is sad.
How many different ways can you think of to deal with a loud barking dog?
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Ear plugs
- Talk to the owner of the dog
- Call the police!
How Beautiful is a Siamese Cat?
Siamese cats are descended from a species in Thailand and it is thought they arrived in America a couple of hundred years ago.
Based on some very old writings in Thailand it is thought that the Siamese cat has been around in it’s current look for about five hundred years - that’s a lot of cats!
In the Thai language Siamese cats are called “Wichien Matt” which translates approximately to mean “Moon Diamond” - which gives you a good idea of how highly they were thought of.
Their bodies used to be heavier, but breeding has resulting in a slimmer and lighter breed of cat which people prefer as a pet.
Could you Love a Pug Dog?
Pug’s are great dogs. They have very distinctive faces and are known for being gentle and sociable.
Pug’s originate from China and were brought to Europe in the Sixteenth Century.
One of the coolest things about the Pug is the collective noun for a group of Pugs - which is called a “Grumble” of Pugs!
If you have any great Pug photo’s send them in!
What did Winston Churchill think about cats, pigs and dogs?
I don’t know if I’d want a pig as a pet, but some people do. Do you? Send photos.
Issue #3 Out Now - Cats & Dogs
Issue 3 of CUBiC Magazine is out now and is all about Cats & Dogs and includes:
Cats & Dogs word-search
Which English scientist invented the cat-flap?
A history of cats and people
All about cats’ ears, eyes, jaws and whiskers
Cat & mouse maze
William Blake’s “Tyger, Tyger” poem
A fable about the cat and the fox
A fable about a rather silly dog
All about dog diversity and guide dogs
Wild cats & dogs
A dog and his stick maze
All about vets
About pedigree cats & dogs
Who’s a good boy then – wordsearch
Random thoughts and a final list of things to think about
Squash - the perfect rapid indoor sport for the restless
Squash is a great ball sport because you can play it indoors any time day or night.
There are about twenty MILLION people who regularly play squash across 185 countries.
It is a racket sport you play with one other person on an indoor squash court. It is peculiar in some ways because you can hit the ball in any direction, so long as it hits the front wall between the lines (see the picture above).
The ball is quite small, about 40mm in diameter and are made of rubber. They have different coloured dots - which tell you how soft or had the ball is. The harder the ball the faster it will travel around the court.
Interestingly, squash was been around for quite a long time - probably since about 1830 and there was even a squash court on the Titanic.
It is possible that Squash will soon become an Olympic sport - so watch out for it on TV.
An Indigenous Ball Sport which is an Intense Mix of Rugby & Football
Australian Rules Football is a mix of rugby and football. You’re allowed to kick the ball and run with it but you can’t throw it to a team-mate as you can in rugby. Instead you can punch the ball or kick it to them.
The league is called the AFL (Australian Football League) and is made up of four 20 minute periods, unlike football or rugby which has two halves.
Similar to rugby you can score 6 points for going over the line, and one for a kick between the posts.
One thing, the field on which Aussie Rules football is played is ENORMOUS - about twice the size of a normal football field, which is why each team has 18 players on the field!
When did luminous yellow balls first appear in tennis?
CUBiC Magazine Issue 2 is out now and is all about ball sports, including tennis and table tennis.
Did you know that although we all associate the yellow ball with tennis, they weren’t actually introduced into the game officially until the 1986 Wimbledon tournament.
This wasn’t to benefit the players, it was to make the balls easier to see on TV!