The goat or domestic goat (Capra hircus) is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (C. aegagrus) of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the animal family Bovidae and the tribe Caprini, meaning it is closely related to the sheep. There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat. It is one of the oldest domesticated species of animal, according to archaeological evidence that its earliest domestication occurred in Iran at 10,000 calibrated calendar years ago.
Goats have been used for milk, meat, fur, and skins across much of the world. Milk from goats is often turned into goat cheese.
Female goats are referred to as does or nannies, intact males are called bucks or billies, and juvenile goats of both sexes are called kids. Castrated males are called wethers. While the words hircine and caprine both refer to anything having a goat-like quality, hircine is used most often to emphasize the distinct smell of domestic goats.
In 2011, there were more than 924 million goats living in the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The Modern English word goat comes from Old English gāt "she-goat, goat in general", which in turn derives from Proto-Germanic *gaitaz (cf. Norwegian/Icelandic geit, German Geiß, and Gothic gaits), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰaidos meaning "young goat" (cf. Latin haedus "kid"). To refer to the male, Old English used bucca (giving modern buck) until ousted by hegote, hegoote in the late 12th century. Nanny goat (females) originated in the 18th century, and billy goat (for males) originated in the 19th century.
Goats are among the earliest animals domesticated by humans. The most recent genetic analysis confirms the archaeological evidence that the wild bezoar ibex of the Zagros Mountains is the likely original ancestor of probably all domestic goats today.
Neolithic farmers began to herd wild goats primarily for easy access to milk and meat, as well as to their dung, which was used as fuel; and their bones, hair, and sinew were used for clothing, building, and tools. The earliest remnants of domesticated goats dating 10,000 years Before Present are found in Ganj Dareh in Iran. Goat remains have been found at archaeological sites in Jericho, Choga Mami, Djeitun, and Çayönü, dating the domestication of goats in Western Asia at between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago.
Studies of DNA evidence suggests 10,000 years ago as the domestication date.
Historically, goat hide has been used for water and wine bottles in both traveling and transporting wine for sale. It has also been used to produce parchment.
If you want to read a whole lot more about goats, go here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat
What makes this a Better Baked Ziti than your everyday easy pasta recipe? We think it has something to do with the three different cheeses that make this baked ziti recipe so ooey-gooey good, but we'll let you decide. One thing is for sure, this easy baked ziti recipe is going to be a hit come dinnertime!
- 1 pound ziti
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 (28-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish or 3-quart casserole with cooking spray.
- In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook ziti until just barely tender; drain and place in a large bowl.
- Add ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, garlic, salt, and parsley to the ziti; mix well. Spread half the spaghetti sauce over bottom of prepared baking dish. Spoon ziti mixture into baking dish; cover with remaining spaghetti sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 25 minutes, then top with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake 10 additional minutes, or until heated through.
***Use your favorite type of flavored spaghetti sauce to add additional flavor to this ziti. And don't worry if you don't have ziti on hand -- just substitute any other equal-sized pasta shape.
On July 9 we admire those who have an adorable natural indentation known as the dimple on National Dimples Day.
Dimples are often associated with cute babies and good looking adults. Only 20-30% of the entire world population has dimples. Although most people possess two dimples, a rare few produce only one when smiling.
Dimples are considered a genetic trait. Normally, if one person in a family has dimples, it’s likely another family member will. Some scientists believe we inherit dimples. However, other scientists believe dimples are a random trait people have. Until more research is available, no one knows which genes produce dimples. In fact, there is very little scientific research available to make a determination.
Facial Dimple Types
- Dimple on both cheeks.
- Chin dimple or cleft chin.
- One-sided cheek dimple.
- Corner of mouth dimple.
How do dimples form? Dimples are formed by the zygomaticus major muscle, which is the muscle that controls facial expressions. The zygomaticus major muscle connects to the zygomatic bone, which is commonly known as the cheekbone. Most people have a single zygomaticus muscle attached to the cheekbone. However, people with dimples possess two zygomaticus muscles. One muscle connects to the cheek bone, while the other connects to the corner of the mouth.
Those born with dimples, or develop dimples later in life, may have been told their dimples are a birth defect. However, there is no scientific information saying dimples have a negative effect on health. In fact, people with dimples have a positive effect on how society views the lucky faces that have dimples.
Are dimples considered attractive? Dimples are, in fact, associated with beauty. Many people believe people with dimples look younger. People with dimples seem to be more noticeable, especially when they smile. Whether or not dimples determine success, we know there are several contemporary famous people whose dimples make them stand out.
- Gabrielle Union-Wade
- Mario Lopez
- Matthew McConaughey
- Michael B. Jordan
- Jennifer Garner
- Judy Garland
- Sophia Bush
- Kirsten Dunst
- Deepika Padukone
- Shin Min-a
What are back dimples? Some people are born with back dimples, which are indentations on your lower back. People who have back dimples are born with them. This congenial feature is a result of shorter ligament tissue that connect the skin and pelvis. Although it may sound like a medical condition, back dimples are part of a healthy body structure.
Beauty of the Gods
Women who have back dimples are sometimes referred to as “dimples of Venus.” According to Greek Mythology, Venus is known as the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Since her beauty relates to love and desire, it’s evident why people today refer to back dimples as dimples of Venus.
Although back dimples are more common in women, men also have dimples on their back. Men with back dimples refer to them as “dimples of Apollo.” References say Apollo was the God of Light, whose primary job was to pull the sun across the sky in his chariot. As the son of Zeus, he was admired for his knowledge in medicine, art, poetry and music.
Weird Dimple Facts
- Gelasin is the term referring to when dimples form when a person smiles.
- Dimples are a result of a genetic deformity.
- Chinese culture believe dimples are a sign of good luck.
- The appearance of dimples depends on the shape of the skull.
- Isabella Gilbert invented a non-surgical dimple creating device in 1936.
The Dimple Maker
In 1936, Isabella Gilbert made her introduction to the world with an invention that supposedly created dimples. After creating a prototype, she submitted her application for a patent to market her product. Patent application number US104345A was filed on October 6, 1936 and granted on August 31, 1937. It took 17 years for the US Patent office to publish the Dimple Maker invention as US2091276A. Unfortunately, the patent expired after the American Medical Association said the device was hazardous to a person’s health.
Dimple Maker Instructions
“Wear dimplers five minutes at a time, two or three times a day, while dressing, resting, reading or writing. Look into the mirror and laugh. There will be a semblance of a line where you should always place the dimplers until your dimples are made.”
SMILE
- Anything that makes you feel happy will make you smile.
- Laugh throughout the day.
- Create fake dimples using a method found at L’Oréal Paris USA.
- Share photos of you or someone you know who has dimples.
FOUNDER OF NATIONAL DIMPLES DAY
Cultures throughout the world consider back dimples a sign of beauty. Ancient Chinese culture often refer to back dimples in calligraphy writing. Interestingly, they also compare them to pits of wine.
In 2022, National Day Calendar welcomed National Dimples Day to our list new days. Each year on July 9 people across the world can celebrate their smile and show off their dimples! Founder and Chief Dimples Officer Graceful Grady believes celebrating dimples is a way to inspire people to be proud of their unique features.