Things you didn't know about the bat

Why do bats live in caves?
Why don't they fly into objects at night?

Most bats are nocturnal.
Most bats are nocturnal. They fly and forage for their food (bugs) at night. This means
that they need safe places to sleep during the day. Caves provide the kind of protected
shelter in which bats can thrive. Hanging from the ceiling of a cave, bats are out of reach of most of their enemies. Some of the most successful species of bats live in large cave colonies. Someofthese colonies have millions ofmembers, even up to 20 million!
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico once had 7-8 million, but now has about 1 million.

So, why don't bats fly into things at night? They use echolocation to locate food and
avoid obstacles. They have the ability to create and hear noises that humans cannot hear.
The sound waves bounce off of objects and back to the bat, which can then judge the size
and distance of the object. These subsonic noises vary in length and pulse frequency, and
are unique to the individual. Each bat recognizes its own pulse reflections, or "voice," and
uses it to avoid objects and to identify food.

Most bat colonies leave their caves more or less together, in large groups after dark.
Before leaving they fly around inside, preparing for departure. Flying around with
thousands of other bats inside a cave creates a chaotic amount of noise! The bats simply
ignore their personal navigation systems inside the caves. The echolocators are on, but
the bats aren't listening.


If you suddenly appeared in their cave among the flying bats, they would crash into you.
The famous bat expert, Dr. Donald. R. Griffin, called this phenomenon the "Andrea
Doria effect." The Andrea Doria sank when it crashed into another ship out in the middle
of the Atlantic ocean.

When bats are paying attention to their sonar signals, they can navigate without crashing
into things. They can identify and capture food while it is moving. The echolocation
systemis designed to locate very small insects. Most of themare less than a centimeter in
diameter. Compared to a bug, a human being is a very large, slow moving soundreflecting surface. Outside of the cave, the chance of a bat hitting a person is very slim!
There are also bats that fly and hunt for food during the day. They sleep outdoors at night
in trees, under bridges and other locations. Unlike nocturnal bats, they have welldeveloped eyes and poorly developed echolocation.

The Dangers of High Heels

They are very fashionable, they come in various colors, shapes and sizes and they bring out the beauty of your attire.

They make you look taller, give you that step and glamour, but they can be very dangerous to your health, those killer heels you rock!

Recent research has shown that a third of women suffer permanent damages due to their prolonged wearing of high heels. In the early 1930’s high heels were used on special occasions. These days, all thanks to movie stars, fashion models and the internet, it has become a regular foot wear for many ladies. There have also been numerous cases of injuries due to falling on high heels.

What happens when you are on high heels?

The high heel makes you raise your heel,your center of gravity is pushed forward, you bend your lower back to compensate for this

This changes position of your spine putting pressure on the nerves in your back.

The following could result from prolonged use of high heels;
Foot deformities and pain

When the foot is normally flat on the floor, body weight is supported by the arch of the foot 
and equally distributed between the  fore foot and hind foot.
On heels, much of the body weight is shifted to the feet and the delicate toe bones. 
This causes chronic overuse injuries presenting as deformities; bony toe out growth (bunion), hallux valgus, hammer toe,ingrown toe nails.

Damages to calf muscles

Knee damages; high heels put extra stress on the knee which can facilitate osteoarthritis

Spinal injuries

High heel Increases the lordotic curve of lumbar spine causing excruciating low back pain, spine and nerve problems

Ladies note;

The higher the heels, the more dangerous.

Avoid high heels that compress your toes.

Wear shoes that are soft and well padded inside.

Have variety of shoes so you can alternate between high and flat shoes

.

By Chioma Morah

How does the Sun Screen Work

Sunscreen works by combining organic and inorganic active ingredients.

Inorganic ingredients like zinc oxide or titaniumoxide reflect or scatter ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Organic ingredients like octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) or oxybenzone absorb UV radiation, dissipating it as heat. Some sunscreens protect us from the two types of damaging UV radiation: UV-A and UV-B. Both UV-A and UV-B cause sunburns and damaging effects such as skin cancer.

Ultraviolet radiation is broken into three types of wavelengths:
•  UV-A: This is the longest wavelength and is not absorbed by the ozone. It
penetrates the skin deeper than UV-B.
•  UV-B: Responsible for sunburns. It is partially blocked by the ozone layer.
•  UV-C: This is totally absorbed by the earth's atmosphere; we encounter it only
from artificial radiation sources.

When purchasing sunscreen, the Sun Protection Factor or SPF measures how effectively
the sunscreen formula limits skin exposure to UV-B rays that burn the skin. The higher
the SPF the more protection the sunscreen will provide against UV-B rays. SPF does not
measure UV-A. If you are looking for UV-A protection, the experts recommend that you
purchase a product that has broad-spectrum protection.

From Everyday mysteries

Why the Ocean is Blue

There are several theories: 
•  Blue wavelengths are absorbed the least by the deep ocean water and are scattered
and reflected back to the observer’s eye
•  Particles in the water may help to reflect blue light
•  The ocean reflects the blue sky


Most of the time the ocean appears to be blue because this is the color our eyes see. But
the ocean can be many other colors depending upon particles in the water, the depth of
the water, and the amount of skylight.

The colors we see depend upon the reflection of the visible wavelengths of light to our
eyes. The Franklin Institute provides a good explanation of how we see color at
http://www.fi.edu/color/color.html.

Wavelengths of light pass through matter differently depending on the material’s
composition. Blue wavelengths are transmitted to greater depths of the ocean, while red
wavelengths are absorbed quickly. Water molecules scatter blue wavelengths by
absorbing the light waves, and then rapidly re-emitting the light waves in different
directions. That is why there are mostly blue wavelengths that are reflected back to our
eyes.

Sometimes oceans look green. This maybe because there of an abundance of plant life or
sediment from rivers that flow into the ocean. The blue light is absorbed more and the
yellow pigments from plants mix with the blue light waves to produce the color green.
Sometimes parts of the oceans will look milky brown after a storm passes. This is
because winds and currents associated with the storm churn up sand and sediment from
the rivers that lead into the oceans.

The ocean may also reflect the blue sky. However this is prominent only at relatively low angles and when the water is smooth.

From Everyday Mysteries

The Golden Rule.

Jane loved to listen to stories about her co-workers and she so loved talking about people and every thing around her, nothing gave her greater pleasure than gossip. She talked about people's issues, private affairs, people's marriages and families, and everything that sounded sweet to her ears as long as it wasn't about her.
She would hear a story and broadcast it, may be add a little fake detail to spice it up, thus increasing the sweetness of the gist.

What baffled me was the fact that she never bothered to authenticate her stories, i.e if those things she said about people were actually true. She had her clique of friends, girls who loved to listen to lies. As long as they kept each other entertained with the latest gist, everything was fine with then. In their minds, they were the most current and informed people in their office.

The infuriating thing was that they never had great gist about people, all their stories were negative and often ridiculous. If they attended a colleague or friend's wedding, on returning, they'll begin to scrutinize the newlyweds or their in-laws. For instance, you'll hear stuff like '' I didn't even know his wife was so ugly''  ''It seems her husband is poor and from a wretched home'' or '' did you see the way her mother in-law looked at her, it seems she never approved of the marriage''.

If they visited a colleague to welcome a new baby, the gist went like this, '' did you see how skinny and hungry the baby looked? seems her husband isn't bringing home enough money, '' or  '' seems the baby mama isn't happy in her marriage, by the way, I never knew her husband was that old!''

If they visited an unmarried female friend, the gossip would go like this; '' I know this house was furnished by Tony, it seems she and John are no longer together, in fact she has finished using him!, By the way, I saw her at Mathew's place yesterday''
Back in the office, the stories were always about Mr A, having an affair with miss/Mrs B an so on. I wondered if it never occurred to them how often they ruined friendships and relationships,because most of the things you say about people often gets back to them somehow.

One faithful day, Jane walked up to me in tears, I was so concerned and curious to know what had befallen  her. She said to me,
''Chi, you can't imagine what my closest friend (her gossip mate) did to me''
I was all ears! ''yes?'' I queried for a response.

''She went around telling people about me, saying all sort of stuff that I never said or did, I never even had an affair with....bla, bla, bla''
Wheeew!

I didn't know whether to laugh or not. Did I just see Jane shed tears over mere gossip? The chief gossip herself, being stabbed with gossip! Inside me I wondered, had she never for once thought about what it felt like to be talked about, how it feels when people spread wrong stories about you. Trust me, I'v been a victim so much that I already have immunity to gossip... Lol.
I didn't know what to say to Jane, so I just consoled her and pleaded with her not to pick a fight... well,  she did!
As I thought about it all, I pondered about how the world be a better place if we all lived by the golden rule;  ''Do unto others as you'll have them do to you''  (Luke 6:31)
It's not nice to say stuff about people, stuff you wouldn't like people to say about you, even if they were true. Also, remember that the things you say about people almost always gets back to them.

by Chioma.

Short Cuts, they aren't always the best.

Have you ever tried  to take a short cut that turned out to be a wrong turn? or in real life, may be you have tried achieving a goal through a shorter abnormal means only to find yourself in a complicated situation, a terrible one that kept you wishing  you had gone about that thing the normal way. I'm sure it has happened to almost everyone at one point or the other in their lives.
Some people are so strong minded that they can take chances with almost anything. Even when things fall apart in their lives due to their wrong moves they can be like ''well,  so what? Life is all about risks!''

It's true that one can never be too careful in life, but I personally hate some repercussions and regrets, so I try to follow the necessary protocols or due process in achieving my goals. I only use short cuts when I must, but it also has to be a good means.

There are numerous short cuts we take in our daily lives that ends up as bad decisions.  For instance, when you tell a big lie to your partner/Lover, hoping it would promote the relationship/marriage, only to lose that person when the truth finally explodes in your face. Or telling your boss that you are sick and on admission so you can have a few days off only for your boss to sight you somewhere in town doing something else. I bet he/she would never trust you again.
Fraud is now the order of the day, illegal "runs", €€and akward businesses that fetch you loads of money in a blink of an eye at any cost. This is what my people call "ego mbute" (heavy money! not peanut change)

All forms of  malpractices can be seen  among the youth, even adults in our society. Students are no longer willing to study hard. They do all sort of things before and during an  exam. But, is it really worth it struggling to achieve things by ''all means''?

Do we still remember that our heavenly Father is equally putting us through rigorous exams here on earth to know those that are worthy of heaven?

An old friend of mine who was eager to get a wife said to me '' Chi, I really want to get married asap but you see, I don't have time and patience to court a girl at all. What I do now is, every weekend, I invite a different girl over because that's the easiest way to find out which girl I'm physically and sexually compatible with''
Wow!
What a way to chose a wife! I just wonder what happened to the days when a young man would woo the one girl he wants, study her, rub minds/heads together and prayerfully hope on God...some say I still Live in the 19th century, what ever!
Jesus took the longer route of THORNS to the THRONE. On the way to calvary, he could have bursted those soldiers, "kicked some butts" and freed himself, but he knew that climbing that cross was the right thing to do for your sake and mine.

The point is; Taking the elevator instead of the stair case doesn't always help, it helps doing things the right way.

by Chioma

My Love Poem To Jesus

I love you Jesus, always have

You are my first love

The first one that ever held my heart

The first one I ever leaned on

They say the first cut is the deepest

I love you Jesus, I still do

You came into my life when I was down

You filled that deep hole within me

You were with me even in my deepest valley

You held my hand and walked me through

I love you Jesus, always will

How can I forget those lonely nights

The nights I constantly wet my pillow with tears

The times I felt I had come to the end of the road

And life Just wasn't worth Living anymore

The pain and tears were all I knew

Loneliness and misery engulfed me day and night

What lay deep within, despite outward smiles, only I knew

I used to wonder if i'lld make it through

The long nights that never seem to end

I couldn't fathom why you let me go through all that

I knew you never forgot about me

Though the pain made you seem so far away

It was hard for me but I made that decision

Never to let go off you

A part of me knew you were working it out

Oh how I love You So much, Jesus

Nothing can take your place in my heart.

by Chioma Morah

When I got to heaven

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door
Not by the beauty of it all
By the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp
The thieves, the liars, the sinners
The alcoholics, the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Uncle Bill, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must have made a mistake."

"And why is everyone so quiet
So somber? Please give me a clue."
"Hush, child," said He. "They're all in shock
No one thought they'd see you


heaven will be full of suprises!