Nutritional Information About Straw Mushrooms

Mushrooms are usually an excellent choice for people who are big on eating healthy as they have great nutritional value. A great option that is popular throughout the Far East, is straw mushrooms. This article provides nutritional information about these mushrooms.
Nutritional fact about straw mushrooms

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Caution!
The edible and non-poisonous straw mushrooms are easily mistaken for the poisonous death cap mushrooms, because they are similar in shape, color, and size. The only difference being that death caps have a white spore print, while straw mushrooms have a pink spore print.
Straw mushrooms are a species of edible mushrooms cultivated all over East and Southeast Asia. This mushroom forms an integral part of almost all Asian cuisines and is cultivated extensively for food and export. The fresh varieties of these mushrooms have a relatively small shelf life, and are thus usually available in dried or canned forms.

These mushrooms are grown on a bed of rice straws (hence the name) that provides a moist, earthy environment required for the optimum growth of the fungus. They are about 1.5 inches in diameter and egg-shaped when immature and are pale tan in color. The matured mushrooms have a bulbous base, long stem, and caps with drooping veils that are brown to almost charcoal gray in color. These are usually picked in the immature egg-like phase and take about four to five days to mature.

These mushrooms have a very delicate, earthy, and musty flavor that echoes with the aromas of the paddy. It makes an excellent addition to soups, stir fries, gravies as well as stuffing. These mushrooms absorb a lot of flavor from the medium that they are cooked in and every bite of it is scrumptious.

Straw Mushrooms in Egg Phase
Straw mushrooms in the immature egg phase.

If that reason wasn't good enough, straw mushrooms provide excellent nutrition too! We now elaborate on the health benefits of consuming these mushrooms.

Nutrition in Straw Mushrooms

Source: USDA
▶ We could call these mushrooms a Weight Watcher's dream food, packed with flavors and low in calories, they can surely works wonders on your hips as well as your tongue. 100 g of dried straw mushrooms contain only about 32 calories. These mushrooms can be easily rehydrated with some hot water and will yield you a good quantity.

▶ A downside to canned straw mushrooms is that they have higher sodium content, about 384 mg per 100 g., though some manufacturers of the dried varieties claim to produce sodium-free canned mushrooms. Another difference between the canned and dried varieties is that while canned mushrooms contain good amount of calcium, the dried ones contain none. 100 g of canned mushrooms contain around 10 g of calcium. Other nutrients remain almost the same in both varieties.

▶ These mushroom are a good source of iron, they contain about 1.43 mg of iron per 100 g of mushroom, and help in the formation of hemoglobin in the red blood cells of our body. This improves the oxygen carrying capacity of blood and increases our stamina. These mushrooms are also rich in riboflavin, thiamin, folate, and vitamin B6. We can call it an excellent source of vitamin B complex. It aids in breaking down the glycogen stored in our body. These vitamins are required for the maintenance of healthy eyes and skin. Folate is also needed in the formation of red blood cells, development of the fetal nervous system, and regular cell growth.

▶ These mushrooms are not only a good source of proteins (3.83 g for 100 g), but also assist in the uptake of proteins by the body. These are loaded with selenium and antioxidants, like L-ergothioneine, which help to fight cancer and prevent premature aging.

▶ In addition to these, straw mushrooms contain minerals like phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium that are required for the normal functioning of various metabolic processes of the body. Another good thing about these mushrooms (like other mushrooms) is that they contain no cholesterol and almost negligible amount of fats.

▶ It is also believed that these mushrooms help remove excess heat from the body. They are believed to have blood thinning qualities and may function in lowering high blood pressure. They have also been observed to help in the treatment of cancer and diabetes. Some claim that these mushrooms helps in managing various autoimmune diseases.
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Straw mushrooms can be an ideal source of nutrition (taste wise as well as health wise) not only to vegans, vegetarians, and those following a restricted diet, but even for hardcore carnivores.

How to Observe Maundy Thursday

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The solemn feast of the Lord's Passover marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum. Christians the world over are called to partake in the sacred feast of Christ.
Observation in the Roman Catholic Church
Maundy Thursday is a day when Catholics commemorate the institution of the three most important pillars of faith―Sacrament of Communion, the Mass, and Priesthood.
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Maundy Thursday is the day reserved to celebrate the Passover or the Lord's last meal with His disciples. It is the day to remember and venerate Christ's offering of himself to the disciples in the upper room. Simply put, Holy Thursday is the prelude to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the Mount Calvary.

It is also a day to be spent in quiet contemplation and self-examination. Besides, it is a day to share whatever little we have with those that are less fortunate. While celebrating Maundy Thursday, it is mandatory to bear in mind the commandment given by Christ to his disciples in the upper room the night before His final walk up the mount. Christ, in all his humbleness, became a servant to serve his disciples, that like Christ, we too may follow the same and love our brethren as ourselves. Here's what you can do to observe this day.

Prepare Yourself

Holy Thursday is best remembered as the feast of the Passover. In order to partake in this feast, we the commoners need to prepare ourselves. Take it as an opportunity to clean not just your homes, your surrounding, and yourselves, but also your minds. It is time you left behind your hurt feelings, negative vibrations, and prejudices and wash yourself clean of all that you have been holding on to.

Fasting and Penance

It may be called a feast, but do make it a point to abstain from eating and merrymaking on this day. Instead, offer your saving for those that are less fortunate. Avoid switching on the television, radio, and music for the three days. Resort instead to praying, singing hymns, and reading the word of God.

Participate in the Chrism Mass

Once in your life, partake in the Chrism mass held at the diocese. This day is dedicated to celebrating the institution of priesthood, which is why partaking in the high mass is something you should do at least once in your lifetime. The Chrism Mass (followed by the Roman Catholic Church) or the Mass of the Holy Oils is a celebration of communion of the priests of a given diocese with their Bishop. Holy oil is used for anointing the sick during sacraments and Holy Orders is blessed at this mass.

Attend the Passover Service

Although it is not a day of obligation, you can make some time and visit your church in the evening. Doing so will ensure you partake in the Lord's feast, as well as witness how Christ humbled himself to wash the feet of his disciples. Besides, you get the chance to share your communion with Christ himself. The service commemorates the very first Holy Communion of the disciples with Christ offering himself through bread and wine to his disciples.

Kneel Before His Holy Presence

Take a moment to bow your head in prayer before the Altar of Repose in your church. The consecrated body of Christ, which is enclosed there, should be venerated in perfect silence. You can volunteer to lead the worship in your church. Ideally, a candlelight worship service should suffice.

Visit 7 Churches

Conduct the Stations of the Cross by visiting at least seven churches in your area. Ideally, you should visit the altar of repose of seven churches before midnight on Maundy Thursday.

Say a Family Prayer

A family that prayers together sticks together. While at home, you can gather your family together and read the Bible. You get to spend quality time together as well as spend the time praying for one another, thus, strengthening your bond.

Invite a Stranger for Dinner

If the Lord can share his meal with you and me, we as his children should do the same to those around us. Share your meal with a homeless stranger or even a poor soul; this way, you will be assured of their goodwill as well as blessings from the Almighty.
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On the night of His arrest, Jesus said to His disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Make this Holy Triduum special by keeping the mandate or command that Christ himself gave to us, his disciples, on the night of his arrest.

How to Get Rid of Kissing Bugs

Also referred to as assassin bugs, these blood-sucking insects are a troublesome lot wherever they decide to reside. However, eliminating these bugs is not as difficult as it seems. The following  article discusses how to get rid of kissing bugs.

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Tips to get rid of kissing bugs
Did You Know?
These insects, that are around 1 to 3 cm long, are christened as kissing bugs since they tend to bite their sleeping victims near the mouth.
When kissing bugs are camping in your house, it is very difficult to get some quality sleep. Thanks to their blood-sucking ability, they are sure to create a nuisance and give a harrowing night to their hosts. Moreover their feces carry Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan known to cause Chagas disease―a condition that is typically marked by swelling at the site of bite, rash, fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Considering the health risks linked to their association with homes, getting rid of these kissing bugs at the earliest should be your top priority.

Eliminating Kissing Bugs

Vacuum the Area
Thoroughly vacuuming your home can contribute immensely in getting rid of kissing bugs. You need to vacuum all the possible areas that include mattresses, pillows, carpets, floors, drawers, bed frames and other furniture items. When vacuuming, do make it a point to get rid of rat nests (if any) that are known to attract these bugs. Keeping the surrounding clean can certainly discourage these pets from infesting your home. So make sure your house is clutter-free to keep these insects out of your sight.

Mop the Floor
Household bleach can prove lethal for kissing bugs. Hence, mopping your floor with bleach-water solution can also help to exterminate these bugs. However, if you are not comfortable using household bleach, go for a steam mop to eliminate these pests. You can also steam clean all the surfaces and cracks. Steam cleaning devices generate heat, which these insects find difficult to withstand.

Use the Right Product
Well, using the right insecticide or bug spray can go a long way in keeping these bugs out of your house. Look for products that do not emanate a strong odor but at the same time are effective in destroying the pests. Products like Phantom Aerosal spray are practically odorless, and moreover, work against these notoriously difficult pest. A pyrethroid insecticide spray can be deadly against these bugs.

Using home insect foggers, also referred to as bug bombs or fleas bombs that contain active ingredients like tralomethrin or pyrethrins, may also contribute in eradicating these insects. Whichever product you choose, make sure the windows are all open and also ensure that you spray all the infested areas of your house including cracks and crevices.

Insect Repellents
Pyrethrin, which is similar to pyrethroid, is a powerful natural insecticide. It has been used all over the world to control infestation of a variety of insects including kissing bugs. However, when used in lower concentrations, pyrethrin has shown insect repellent properties. So you can use it in small amounts to get rid of these bugs. Generally, an insecticide formulation containing 2% concentration of pyrethrin demonstrates effective repellent activity.

Prevention

Even after getting rid of kissing bugs, your house may get re-infested with these insects, if you do not implement the following preventive steps:

    Firstly, it is necessary to prevent these bug from re-entering your home. For this, use sealants such as caulk and foam to close (seal) all the cracks and gaps in your home. So check all the nooks and crannies in your house and make sure they are sealed completely. When done properly, it can be extremely difficult for these bugs to take refuge in your home.
    Installing insect screens is yet another way to protect your house from a kissing bug infestation. Insect screen protection that includes window screen and door screen can immensely contribute in preventing those bugs from crawling into your home.
    Like your house, you also need to keep your backyard clean. Get rid of dead leaves or other garden debris as any clutter in your yard can prove to be a haven for bugs and insects. In short, ensure that garbage or trash is disposed off on a daily basis. Also, if you have a lawn, make sure it is trimmed on a regular basis so that these insects do not hide in overgrown grass.
    Hanging a mosquito net over your sleeping area can also prevent these insects from biting you, thereby ensuring a sound and a bug-free sleep.
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On the whole, calling an exterminator may not be necessary if you follow these remedies to the T. However, in case these pest control treatment options do not work, seek professional help.

List of Funny Easter Jokes and Riddles

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Valentine's Day is over, while St. Patrick's Day is still far away. But Easter is coming sooner than you think, meaning it is around that time to start collecting those funny Easter puns, one-liners, and jokes on Easter bunnies and eggs. Following is a list of Easter jokes and riddles to get you started.
70% of Easter candies purchased is chocolate. Over $1.9 billion are spent on Easter candies, making it the 2nd biggest candy holiday after Halloween. Around 76% of Americans believe that the chocolate bunny's ears should be eaten first.
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Lent is almost over, and it's that time of the year when you can gorge on some delicious foodstuff like chocolate. It is also the time to meet and greet your family, friends, community members, and neighbors, while joining in together in hilarious conversations. Whether you are playing a host or guest to a mixed group of people, it's always handy to have a few puns and one-liners in your pocket. This will not just help you break the ice, but also be the center of attention and help make the time spent memorable.

We have made a list of some hilarious icebreakers that are eggs-tra funny puns, riddles, one-liners, and jokes about the Easter bunny and eggs, to get your funny bone tickling with egg-citement. This will get everyone cracking and set the egg rolling for more jokes.

List of Funny Easter Bunny Riddles

Easter Bunny and Chicken Joke


Why did the Easter Bunny cross the road?
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What do you call a dumb bunny?
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How do Easter bunnies stay healthy?
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What would you call an Easter Bunny if he married a chicken?
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Why did the Easter egg hide?
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How many Easter eggs can you put in an empty basket?
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How does Easter end?
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Why did the Easter Bunny cross the road?
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What is the Easter Bunny's favorite state capital?
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Did you hear about the lady whose house was infested with Easter eggs?
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Where does the Easter bunny get his eggs?
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Why was the Easter bunny really upset?
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Why did the Easter bunny have to fire the duck?
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Why did the old man put the Easter bunny on his head?
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What kind of music does the Easter bunny like?
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What is the Easter bunny's favorite dance?
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What are the Easter bunny's favorite stories?
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Why is the bunny the luckiest animal?
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Why Did the Easter Egg Hide?

What is red, pink, and green with yellow all over?
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You know what you call a sleeping egg?
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How can you tell where the Easter bunny has been?
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What do you call an Easter bunny from outer space?
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A man wanted an Easter pet for his son. He looked at a baby chick and a baby duck. They were both cute, but he decided to buy the baby chick. Do you know why?
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What part did the egg play in the movies?
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What do you get if you cross a hen with a dog?
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If a rooster laid an egg on top of a hill, which side would it roll down?
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What days do eggs hate the most?
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How did the Easter Bunny rate the Easter parade?
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What do you call a bunny with a large brain?
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Why shouldn't you tell an Easter egg a good joke?
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Why Shouldn't You Tell an Easter Egg a Good Joke?

Funny Easter Egg and Easter Bunny Jokes

After the egg hunt on Easter Sunday, the young farm boy decided to play a prank. He went to the chicken coop and replaced every single egg with a brightly colored one. A few minutes later, the rooster walked in and saw all the colored eggs, and then stormed outside and killed the peacock.

If an egg rolls downhill, does that make it an eggroll?

Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Easter
Easter Who?
Easter Bunny!
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Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Some bunny
Some bunny who?
Some bunny has been eating my Easter candy!

Is a Spring Roll Different from an Egg Roll?

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A spring roll and its cousin, the egg roll are mistaken by many to be the same. However, there lie distinct differences between them. Although the lines appear obscure, Buzzle solves the confusion, which will help you to order these tasteful appetizers while dining out.
Difference between spring roll and egg roll
Coming from Vietnam
Gỏi cuốn, or the Vietnamese spring roll, is conventionally made up of pork, prawn, rice vermicelli, and vegetables, and wrapped in rice paper. It is not deep-fried or cooked on the outside, and is instead freshly served at room temperature.
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Once in a while, we all crave for Chinese food! And going by the options that exist, one would be left confused which to choose from. Okay, let's make it simple by asking you to choose between egg rolls and spring rolls. Now before you throw up your hands stating they are one and the same, we ought to tell you that they aren't!

On the surface, they both look the same and sometimes have similar fillings. In many restaurants or say in the American lexicon, the terms "spring roll" and "egg roll" are often used interchangeably as the similarities between the two rolls are more pronounced than their differences. However, taste-wise, they definitely differ in their wrappers, fillings, appearance, and calories as well.

Yummy Beginnings

► The name 'spring roll' is a literal translation of the Chinese word Chūn Juǎn, which means spring roll. They are also known as spring pancakes or thin pancakes. It is said that in the olden times, Chinese people used to make thin flour pancakes with vegetables and fruits on the first day of spring. People would send this dish to their friends and relatives to welcome spring. Since then, this dish underwent several changes. Today, there are several regional varieties of the spring roll.

► The word 'egg roll' is a translation of a Chinese word Jīdàn juǎn. Though the origin of egg roll is unknown, several Asian countries have claimed it, and many say that the spring roll led to its creation. Originally an Asian dish, egg roll spread throughout the world. These were introduced in America by Chinese immigrants who tried to cook something that would appeal to the Americans.

Spring Rolls Vs. Egg Rolls

Wrappers Used

► Spring roll wrappers are usually made of wheat flour, water, and salt. The ingredients are kneaded well together. The batter is spread thin on a surface, and then steamed to create a thin layer of pancake. Sometimes, rice paper is used to wrap a spring roll as well.

► Egg roll wrappers, obviously, contain eggs. Wrappers are prepared from a mixture of eggs, wheat flour, water, and salt; hence, the name. The dough is kneaded well and rolled out into a thin layer. The layer is usually thicker than the spring roll wrapper. Egg noodle dough can be used as an alternative too.

Roll Fillings

► Spring rolls typically use all the veggies for stuffing. With fresh vegetables, sometimes noodles can be filled in these rolls. The vegetables and noodles are usually cooked beforehand. Pork or shrimp is filled in spring rolls with vegetables, especially when they are wrapped with rice paper.

► Egg rolls use meat and fish fillings. Pork or chicken meat with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and bean shoots are used as fillings in egg rolls. Though pork and chicken are popular fillings for egg rolls, other meats also can be filled in these rolls. Due to a variety of fillings, egg rolls are larger than spring rolls.

Appearance

► Spring rolls are deep-fried. However, they are not given an egg wash. Hence, the outer surface of spring roll wrappers does not have any blisters on it. The color is usually paler than egg rolls and a little grayish as the wrapper dough does not contain eggs in it. After frying, the wrappers become crispy. However, in case of a rice paper wrappers, they are not fried, but served either steamed or as it is. In such cases, their surface remains smoother and translucent. Spring rolls can be served either hot or cold.

► An egg roll is typically deep or pan-fried. These rolls are given an egg wash before frying, which gives them that beautiful golden-brown color. The surface usually has a blister-like appearance and is not smooth. The thick wrapper becomes crunchy due to deep-frying. It is usually served hot.

Nutrition

► A spring roll contains around 2 g of proteins. On the other hand, due to all the meat and egg in it, an egg roll's protein count goes up to around 5 g.

► Depending upon the size and ingredients, the nutrition and calorie count for both types of rolls varies. However, generally, the calories in an egg roll range from 130 - 190. One spring roll, on the other hand, consists of 60 - 110 calories.

► The total fat in a spring roll is about 4 g, while in an egg roll, it is about 6 g.
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Whatever the differences are, it is for sure that both delicacies are equally yummy to gorge on. In addition, the recipes for preparation of spring rolls and egg rolls are easy to follow. All you have to do is either buy egg roll or spring roll wrappers, add in the fillings of your choice, and deep-fry them. Your at-home Chinese snack will be ready to chow down!

Different Styles of Slacklining

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Slacklining is the act of balancing on a nylon or polyester webbing that is rigged between two anchor points. This write-up provides a brief overview of the different styles of slacklining, from regular urbanlining to the adventurous form termed highlining.
Andy Lewis (Sketchy Andy), became the first ever slackline world champion in 2008, and is considered to be the father of modern-day tricklining.
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Rope walking has been practiced as a sport since the age of the Romans, and has now given rise to the modern hobby-cum-adventure sport called slacklining.

Evolved from the rich climbing culture in the Yosemite Valley of California, slacklining refers to the act of walking and playing tricks on webbed lines tensioned between two anchor points. The tension of the line can be adjusted according to the activities or tricks to be performed on the line, as well as the length and altitude of the line.

Slacklining may be performed as a hobby, as a means to stay fit by slackline yoga, or as a competitive sport through tricklining, longlining, and highlining. The different styles of slacklining have been described below, followed by a list of few records set by adventurous young slackers.

Styles of Slacklining

Urbanlining

This refers to any of the slacklining activities that are practiced in urban areas, like city parks, schools, community centers, streets, etc.

Urbanlining in a park

The slackers use urban anchors, like lamp poles, telephone poles, or even bridges to rig the slackline. Trees with a diameter of more than 12 inches serve as ideal anchor points.

However, certain cities disallow slacklining on streets and other urban areas, to avoid mishaps, whereas some have limitations with respect to the timings, length of the lines, the type and size of trees that can be used to rig the lines while slacklining in parks, etc.

Tricklining

Being the most common and trending style, tricklining refers to setting up low, short, and tight lines for performing several tricks, spins, jumps, and gymnastics. A two-inch webbing and tight line are preferred for tricklining in order to provide the strength required for tricks and ensure a smooth landing.

The tricks performed are categorized into static and dynamic tricks.

Static Tricklining

Static Tricklining

Static tricks involve slow-moving tricks and still poses, wherein the slackliner is constantly in contact with the line. These include walking, walking backwards, moonwalk, sitting, handstands, splits, etc.

Dynamic Tricklining

Dynamic Tricklining

Dynamic tricks involve bounces as well as movements such that the slackliner loses contact with the line and lands on it again without losing the balance. It includes chest bounces, butt bounces, as well as several types of jumps, flips, jump rotations, and surfing. Adept trickliners can even jump from one line and land on another without falling off.

Slackline Yoga

Also called Slackasana, this calm style of slacklining refers to practicing yoga poses on the slackline. Generally, a one-inch webbing is used for slackline yoga, and the line is looser than that for tricklining and walking.

Slackline Yoga

It was the duo of Sam Salwei and Jason Magness, who first attempted to perform yoga poses on rigged lines. Yoga poses, like the Warrior pose, Buddha pose, Tree pose, and other standing, kneeling, and sitting postures can be practiced. Considered to be the most enduring style, it focuses on breathing while maintaining the balance, and requires a deep level of concentration. Ten minutes of slackline yoga is considered to be equivalent to one and a half hours of regular yoga.

Waterlining

This style simply refers to slacklining that is performed over water, i.e., pools, lakes, or even rivers.

Waterlining

It increases the fun and adventure quotient as well as safety while performing the various jumps and tricks. However, one has to ensure that the water region chosen for waterlining must be free from rocks and boulders. Waterlining on a pool provides the perfect setting for learning new tricks. The line may even be set slightly below the water surface, increasing the challenge to maintain balance on the line.

Longlining

Longlining refers to setting up of lines that are generally longer than 100 feet, and require much more tension than the regular tree-to-tree urbanlines and tricklines.

Longlining

It helps increase the consistency in maintaining balance, and prepares the individual to focus for long periods of time. Long waterlines serve as the best way to prepare for highlining. Many longlines have been set up by individuals in a spree to make new longline records. The first longline record was set at 328 feet by a photographer and extreme climber named Heinz Zak, in 2005.

Highlining

This is the most advanced style of slacklining, and it refers to setting up lines high above the ground or water.

Highlining

It involves slacklining at high altitudes in the mountains, or across valleys, canyons, etc. An additional backup line may be attached below the main line. The use of a climbing harness and safety leash is recommended along with a safety ring that links the leash to the line and slides along the line. Some adventurous daredevils prefer to go highlining without the use of safety leashes, in which case, it is termed as free solo highlining.

The Highest and Longest of It

Longest Line: 1,621 feet
Walked by: Jerry Miszewski
Year: 2012
Highest Line: 3,281 feet
Walked by: Christian Schou
Year: 2006
Longest Highline: 451 feet long
Walked by: Jerry Miszewski
Year: 2012
Free Solo Highline Record: 180 ft long and 200 ft high
Walked by: Andy Lewis
Year: 2011
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Quick and easy setup and modern gears are making slacklining a popular hobby as well as an exercise for the body and mind. You can easily begin slacklining by practicing for short sessions, and then proceed to experiment and perform new tricks and jumps, as you improve on your balance.

12 Examples of Intraspecific Competition

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The continuous struggle between individuals of a species for a limited common resource is called intraspecific competition. This competition is required for the stability of any ecosystem. This Buzzle article gives you an overview of this concept along with some examples of intraspecific competition.
Example of intraspecific competition
Carrying Capacity (K)
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It is the maximum population size of a species that can sustain infinitely in an environment, provided that food, water, habitat, and other factors are maintained. It is also known as the maximal load of the environment.
Every organism belongs to an ecological niche. A niche can be described as a functional relationship an organism has with its biotic and abiotic environment. It may include various physical factors (like temperature, humidity, soil), biotic components (like prey, predators), and the behavioral aspect of the organism as well as the organisms that surround it.

Individuals that inhabit the same ecological niche require almost the same resources for their survival. As these resources may be limited, it gives rise to a continuous struggle between its inhabitants. This struggle is aptly called competition (as individuals compete with one another). Competition between individuals can be one of the greatest factors that may contribute to the population growth of the species that inhabit a niche.

Competition between organisms can be interspecific or intraspecific. When individuals of different species compete with each other for food, water, and space is known as interspecific competition. When individuals of the same species compete with each other, we call this phenomenon intraspecific competition. In this Buzzle article, we will look into intraspecific competition in detail.

Intraspecific Competition

● Intraspecific competition can be defined as the competition between individuals belonging to the same species for essential resources such as food, water, space, sunlight, or mates. As these resources are limited, the individual have to compete with each other; this reduces the fitness of individuals of the species, and hence, does not let the population of the species grow exponentially.

● Let us explain how this works, when we say a population grows exponentially, we mean that the size of a particular population increases continuously. As resources are limited, an increase in the number of individuals reduces the amount of resource available for each individual, and thus, may have a negative effect on the growth of the population.

● We can thus say that as the population size of a species increases, the intraspecific competition between the individuals of that species also increases. The effects of intraspecific competition has far reaching effects on population size of a species as compared to interspecific competition. The reason for this is simple, as the individuals of the same species compete for identical resources (space, food, and mate), this type of competition is more pronounced.

● Intraspecific competition can either be direct, in which the individuals literally fight each other over the resources. Sometimes, it may be of an indirect manner, where one individual may exhaust a particular resource.

Let us now take a look at some examples of intraspecific competition.

Intraspecific Competition Examples
● About 10% of adult male Grevy's zebras are territorial. These territories assure breeding privileges to the male, other male zebras are given access to the territory but aren't allowed to mate with the females that reside in the territory. Thus, these individual compete with each other for mates.

● Male antelopes tend to hold territories when they 3-4 years old. During the mating season or rut males try to collect as many females as possible, even if the female doesn't belong to the territory. This leads to a fight between rival males and is yet another example of intraspecific competition for mates.

● Male elephant seals battle over a harem of females to mate with. These battles are usually fatal. Most males are either killed or are prevented from mating by more dominant males. This battle ensures courting privileges to the male.

● Male Red-winged Blackbirds establish territories specifically for the purpose breeding during breeding season. The male and females do go out of the territory for foraging, but other males aren't allowed to enter their territories.

● In European adders, the males might fight potential rivals (for mates) by performing the ritual, what zoologists like to call, the "adder dance". The males raise the front part of their bodies vertically and sway with an attempt to push the other to the ground, this continues until one of them gives up and slithers away.

● It has also been observed that Chilean flamingos show aggressive behavior in defense of their mates and offspring.

● The brown river trout are seen to self-limit themselves and can be considered as an example of population dependent intraspecific competition. These fish are capable of adjusting their rate of fertility depending on the amount of space available for the population, and thus, maintain an almost steady rate of population growth.

● When food in the surrounding environment is extremely scarce, certain animals may resort to cannibalism and consume individuals of their own species. Sharks, rodents, and other animals are examples this phenomenon. There have been instances in history where even humans have resorted to this mean.

● Sometimes, intraspecific competition can be more indirect, where there may be decrease in the number of prey for another individual. When a lioness hunts a prey, say an antelope, that antelope can no longer be hunted by another lioness.

● In juvenile wolf spiders, the siblings don't compete with each other directly. Here, all the individuals feed on the limited food resource to exhaust it after a certain period of time. This decreases the fitness of every individual in the population and may cause a decrease in the population size due to starvation.

● Adult gray seals show niche partitioning and differential habitat preference as a form of intraspecific competition. The juvenile seals only take shorter and shallower dives, whereas the adult seals have almost exclusive access to the rich benthic zone and are able to forage easily.

● In white-faced Capuchin monkeys, both males and females compete over the limited source of food. Individuals with a better access to food and the most dominant individuals get the larger share of food. Thus, the resources are distributed unequally between different individuals.
Prom-Dresses
Intraspecific competition is essential in maintain a steady population size of any species, and thus, helps in maintaining the fine balance that exists in nature.