The Eco-Ride Roller Coaster

Recently I read an article in New Scientist called 'Ride to Work on a Roller Coaster' which was based on a new creation in  Chiba, Japan. This creation is called the Eco-ride, it is basically an energy saving train and roller coaster in one! I really like this idea of going to work or school not in a car or bus but on a roller coaster. 

How fun and cheap would that be? However, for some reason I doubt this idea will catch on to the country I live in, which is England. I do hope this idea is taken on board for England or maybe even the whole of Britain for many reasons including the fact that it is cheap, eco friendly, fun, and you can arrive at work in style!

Here is a helpful link to check out more about the Eco-Ride in more detail:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628945.600-commute-to-work-on-the-roller-coaster-train.html

New Scientist

Recently I have been reading an interesting magazine called New Scientist. It covers many scientific topics including space, animals, electronics and nature. You can also subscribe to the magazine and weekly receive a New Scientist magazine filled with amazing facts and scientific event going on in the world right now!

I have also been reading New Scientist online on my iPhone it is a shame there isn't a New Scientist app! People who have not yet subscribed to it could read the fascinating articles. Do you think there should be an app for the magazine? Feel free to comment and share your views. If anyone is wondering this is the latest New Scientist magazine. The optical illusion is a great way to make someone want to read the article on Tree sense. Have you spotted it yet?

The article that caught my eye a few days ago when I was skimming the magazine to see if anything interested me was an amazing article on how a 30-year-old male Bonobo had the ability to make flints like early humans, the Bonobo (Kanzi) made these tools in order to retrieve food from logs. Its hard to believe animals can be so very intelligent! We do not yet know if all Bonobos have the same skill as Kanzi, he might just have a gift, but who knows! Does this prove humans evolved from such primates?

The 2012 Olympic Games

   The 2012 Olympic Games!

The Opening Ceremony! 

On this occasion I did not attend the opening ceremony for this year’s Olympics but I was still lucky enough to watch it on the TV. I thought the grand opening was well organised, funny and made so much sense to people of Britain today because of the history it covered starting with shepherds to miners to the 21st century’s wild party animals! Some people from other countries may not have quite understood the concept of how the opening ceremony was preformed however I thought covering all the history of Britain’s ups and downs was fascinating. What did you think of it ? Check out this link, it is an article from the gardian which tells you about the media reacted to the opening ceremony.

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jul/28/us-media-reacts-olmpics-opening-ceremony

Athletes

Team GB has so many hugely talented athletes in but also in different countries are some of the world’s greatest athletes! Take Sir Chris Hoy for example a very successful 6 times gold medallist who will now retire but may still take park in the Common Wealth games in Glasgow in 2014.

Not forgetting the young talented Jessica Ennis who came from Sheffield and has come all this way improving every fault and performing high standards in many events which include 100m hurdles and many more.

Victoria Pendleton finished her cycling career with a shining silver medal yesterday which she should be very proud of because she gave it everything and the crowd cheered her on to the finishing line.

Also the fastest man who has ever lived setting a world record and an Olympic record, its Usain Bolt! As predicted he stormed through the race winning once again along with his training partner, and rival, Yohan Blake who finished second after Bolt.

I just had to mention the greatest Olympian ever who has won 22 gleaming medals in his hugely successful swimming career. Michael Phelps is an amazing athlete who will be remembered for a huge amount of time by all the people who support him and helped him swim to his victory!

So I have recapped on my thoughts of the Olympics so far. What are your ideas? Do you think some things should improve in these Olympics? Or maybe there is something I haven’t mentioned that you would like to point out. Did you think that women from countries such as Saudi Arabia who were alloud to compete for the first time had a big effect? Feel free to comment and share your thoughts and interesting views .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/london-2012/9434319/London-2012-What-the-world-thought-of-the-opening-ceremony.html

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Review on Instagram!

I have recently been very interested in photography and I now share some of my edited images taken on a app called Instagram. On Instagram you can share photos with family and friends, but you can also follow people and they can follow you too. Instagram is a great way to keep in touch with people by sending them memorable, funny or even photos that interest you.

When people view your photos you can make them private or share them with the public. This allows them to comment on your photos, or 'like' them by double clicking the photo. On my profile only people who follow me can view my photos (this means they are private). In order to access Instagram you must be able to use Wi-fi or 3G, I use W-fi because I have an Ipod but if you have an Iphone you will be able to use 3G.

The great thing about Instagram is that it is free! Many famous people use Instagram so you could follow them or maybe just friends and family. I installed instagram earlier this year but never really took an interest in using it and preferred to play a well known game called Temple Run! I still play it but spend my spare time perfecting my pictures on Instagram with the simple editing techniques. Why do the pictures come out like a professional photographer took the pictures? It's easy, all you have to do is make a certain part of the image in focus and the rest blurry if you want. And even control the lighting to make them look even better! 

I would highly recommend this impressive app to anyone! Whether you're a budding photographer like me, or someone who's profession is photography because it is a great way to advertise. This spectacular app is available for apple phone users, and even android phone too! This is a great way to edit, share and update photos online and when you are out and about. 

I hope you consider purchasing this app and these are some photos I have taken and edited using this particular app. Also, My name on Instagram is 'Mazzi0' if you would like to add me! And my sister's username, whos blog is 'Khadija's Days' is 'k_100' if you would like to add her too! Enjoy the photos! :)

Pictures

Here are some paintings I painted recently, hope you like them!

Palm sunset

Sunset over dark landscape

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here is a simple but tasty recipe for you to make at home, it will take such little time but they will still be delicious.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

350 g/4oz unsifted flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp salt

225 g/ 8oz butter

175g/6 1/2 caster sugar

175g/6 1/2 brown sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

350g/12 1/2 oz dark or milk chocolate

Preparing

1. preheat oven 190c 375f gas mark 5
2. use a bowl to combine flower, baking soda, salt.
3. in another bowl combine the butter, sugar  and vanilla extract
4. beat the eggs then gradually beat the flower mixture and stir the chocolate
5. split the dough into 2 halves and roll each piece into a sausage shape approximately 5cm 2inch in diameter
6. rap in cling film and place into the fridge till ready to use
7. when you are ready to bake the cookies cut the log into slices 2cm 3/4 inch thick and lay on a backing tray, lay the cookies with a distance between them.
8. Bake for 9-11 minutes then serve.

My pictures