Billion Facts, Mysteries & Curiosities

You Gotta Have Fiber!
Over the centuries, paper has been made from a wide variety of materials — wood pulp, rice, water plants, cotton, even old clothes! But no matter what you use to make paper — you need “fiber.” Today’s paper fiber comes mainly from two sources — pulpwood logs and recycled paper products. In fact, much of the paper we use every day is a blend of new and recycled fiber.

From Log to Pulp…
Much of the paper produced in Idaho is made from “waste” — the tree parts from logging and sawmill operations that can’t be made into lumber. After harvesting, trees are cut into logs and are transported to the mill. At the mill, a debarker removes the bark from each log. The log is cut into boards of varying sizes. The wood that’s left over is then converted into wood chips, about the size of corn flakes (though not as tasty in milk!).

The wood chips are then put into “pulp digesters” where they are broken down by steam and chemicals into a gloppy pudding of cellulose fibers and other wood components. In another process, the chemicals, wood resins, and wood lignin (sort of a natural glue in the wood) are removed. The cellulose fibers are cleaned and screened many times to get them ready to be made into paper.

From Pulp to Paper…
The paper pulp (from wood chips, recycled paper, or both) is fed into the paper-making machine. A pump sprays a thin layer of the liquid paper pulp onto a moving wire screen. This screen can be up to 20 feet wide, and can travel at speeds of 60 miles per hour. That’s fast paper!

As the pulp is carried along by the screen, the water in it drops away, and the cellulose fibers become matted together, forming paper. While the paper is still damp, it is fed through a series of heated rollers which press it and dry it. The paper is then spooled into huge rolls, cut into various sizes, and converted into paper products.

From Paper to More Paper…
Recycling paper helps make sure we get the most out of every tree we use and it helps keep paper from clogging up our landfills. Each time paper is recycled, the cellulose fibers get shorter, until eventually the paper won’t hold together. That’s why most “recycled” papers contain some new paper fibers mixed in with the old.

There is considerable confusion over the caloric content of coffee. Not all coffee drinks are high in calories. Coffee – without additives – is almost a zero-calorie drink. Here is a complete guide to understanding coffee calories. Coffee is almost Zero Calorie.

According to the USDA nutrient database – an 8 ounce cup of coffee (brewed from grounds) has just 2 (yes two) Calories. The calories come from a tiny amount of protein and some mono-unsaturated oils. The coffee bean has oils in it (which is why a barista often needs to clean their espresso machine to prevent an oily build up). Sometimes a really bad coffee can be due to the oils in it becoming rancid (this often occurs from dark roasts, which cause a subsequent release of oils – if the beans are stored for a long time the oils may go slightly rancid). So: coffee beans + water = virtually calorie-free.

It’s about Milk and Sugar about a coffee high in calories and about the additives put in it. Caffeine is a bitter chemical and products containing caffeine are bitter – so to sweeten them up – with milk, sugar, or syrups. The larger the drink volume – the more milk will be getting. With espresso-based drinks (latte, cappuccino) – the amount of water in the drink is minimal (typically 45mls / 1.5 fl. ounces per espresso shot). The math: a 16 ounces Grande Latte from Starbucks will have two espresso shots (~ 3 oz) — that leaves around 13 ounces of milk (depending on how much foam tops the drink) – so there’s 198 Calories already (if the milk is 2% reduced fat). Add in cream, a pump of flavored syrup, and some sugar – and it’s a very calorie-dense drink – more like sweetened milk than coffee.

Calories in Common Coffee Drinks – Beverage Volume (oz) Calories

Instant coffee 1 rounded tsp dry powder 4
Instant coffee 8 4
Espresso Coffee 1 1
Brewed Coffee 8 2
McDonald’s Cappuccino 16 130
McDonald’s Latte 16 180
McDonald’s Mocha 16 330
McDonald’s Brewed Coffee (Large) 16 0
Dunkin Donuts Latte 10 120
Dunkin Donuts Cappuccino 10 80
Dunkin Donuts Mocha Swirl Latte 10 230
Dunkin Donuts Brewed Coffee 10 15
Starbucks Brewed Coffee 16 5
Starbucks Caffè Americano 16 15
Starbucks Caffè Latte 16 220
Starbucks Caffè Mocha (no whip) 16 290
Starbucks Caffè Mocha (whip) 16 360
Starbucks Cappucino 16 140
Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha (whip) 16 560
Starbucks Caffe Vanilla Frappucino Blended Coffee (whip) 16 430
Starbucks Hot Chocolate (no whip) 16 330

Coffee Extras

Many people use non-dairy creamers in their coffee. However, as the chart below shows – these still contain Calories. Extras Calories (per Tablespoon)

Cream 52
Half-and-half 20
Whole milk 9
Fat-free milk 5
Sugar 48
McDonald’s Coffee Cream (liquid) 20
Plain nondairy creamer (powder) 33
Plain, light nondairy creamer (powder) 25
Flavored nondairy creamer (powder) 45
Flavored, reduced-fat nondairy creamer (powder) 40
Plain nondairy creamer (liquid) 20
Plain, light nondairy creamer (liquid) 10
Flavored nondairy creamer (liquid) 35
Flavored, reduced-fat nondairy creamer (liquid) 20

In land area, Australia is the sixth largest nation after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America and Brazil. It has, however, a relatively small population. Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the smallest, flattest continent on Earth. It lies between 10° and 39° South latitude. The highest point on the mainland, Mount Kosciuszko, is only 2228 metres. Apart from Antarctica, Australia is the driest continent.

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth. Its interior has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world and about three-quarters of the land is arid or semi-arid. Its fertile areas are well-watered, however, and these are used very effectively to help feed the world. Sheep and cattle graze in dry country, but care must be taken with the soil. Some grazing land became desert when the long cycles that influence rainfall in Australia turned to drought.

The Australian federation consists of six States and two Territories. Most inland borders follow lines of longitude and latitude. The largest State, Western Australia, is about the same size as Western Europe.

Economy
Australia has had one of the most outstanding economies of the world in recent years. As a high-growth, low-inflation, low interest rate economy, it is more vibrant than ever before. There is an efficient government sector, a flexible labour market and a very competitive business sector. With its abundant physical resources, Australia has enjoyed a high standard of living since the nineteenth century. It has made a comparatively large investment in social infrastructure, including education, training, health and transport.

The Australian workforce has seen many improvements over the last decade, leading to the surge in productivity in the 1990s. The complex and centralised award based industrial relations system has given way to a more decentralised one with many employees working under workplace agreements tailored to meet enterprise needs.

Immigration
Australia’s culturally diverse society includes its Indigenous peoples and settlers from countries all around the world. Immigration is an important feature of Australian society. Since 1945, over six million people from 200 countries have come to Australia as new settlers. Migrants have made a major contribution to shaping modern Australia. People born overseas make up almost one quarter of the total population. The federal government sets immigration intake numbers on a yearly basis. Australia’s immigration policies are non-discriminatory and all applicants to migrate must meet the same selection criteria