Selasa, 31 Maret 2009
Many bird populations in trouble, report says
From shorebirds in New England to warblers in Michigan to songbirds in Hawaii, we are seeing disturbing downward population trends that should set off environmental alarm bells.
The declines can be traced to a variety of factors, depending on a bird's particular habitat. But the causes most frequently cited in the report are agriculture, climate change, development and energy, and invasive species.
Source
Just wanted a pizza and a beer
It all began when the animal attacked and scratched a woman who had gotten out of her car after thinking she had hit it.
A short time later, Cottonwood police got a report of a bobcat acting aggressively toward a woman outside a Pizza Hut.
Then, about an hour later, the bobcat wandered into the Chapparal Bar on Main Street forcing patrons up on their barstools.
Two men who were bitten before police shot and killed the animal in the parking lot.
Test later confirmed it was rabid.
Source
(via Perez Hilton)
Senin, 30 Maret 2009
Jasmine
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished and had clearly been abused.
In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.
Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims..to restore the dog to full health and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.
They named her Jasmine and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas.. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or any other lost or hurting animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier Cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman Cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."
"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her, but to settle into their new surroundings.
"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs. She licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."
Jasmine - the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.
And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm and then went into the full 'foster mom' role. Jasmine, the greyhound, showers Bramble, the Roe deer, with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.
"They are inseparable," says Geoff. "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.
It's a real treat to see them."
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.
From left - Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine, with a Mothers heart, doing best what a caring Mother would do.
Cute or not? Visored bat
Great White Egret - Gatorland
If you have never been to Gatorland in Kissimmee Florida then you are missing out on a lifetime experience!
Gatorland is located in Kissimmee Florida just outside of Orlando
and close to all the Disney World attractions so if you plan on Disney you should DEFINITELY make time for Gatorland!
You will witness not only more Alligators & Crocodiles in one place then you will probably ever see in your lifetime you can view one of Florida most stunning Rookeries where Egrets & Herons Court, Preen, Mate & Nest a mere few feet from you! You will see nest so close you could pick up their eggs!
If you are a photographer bring extra Cards/Film & batteries.
If your are just a "picture taker" then your point & shoot compact camera will still get you images that will leave you breathless!
If you are just simply a nature lover then plan to spend a few hours because the sights are many.
Body Art Painting Fashion Festival Kiev Ukraine
Open Championship of Ukraine on the body-Art 2008 in Kiev. (Photo by Konstantin Chernichkin / Reuters)
The work of the jury, composed of a sculptor Oleg Pinchuk, singer Vitaly Kozlovsky, Dmitri Kolyadenko choreographer, painter Eugene Gapchinskoy and other.
CCGC Cape Caution
The Cape Caution is a 15 metre self-righting lifeboat used for search and rescue operations along the Strait of Georgia. She went through a commissioning ceremony when it arrived on Powell River on September 15, 2005, and is a regular fixture in our coastal waters. She can travel up to 100 nautical miles with a top speed of about 25 knots when needed. The men and women of the crew stay in one of the condos in our building and have their headquarters out front. It's good to know we have such wonderful neighbours.-- Margy
Jeff Foster Best Rebound in this Week
Danny Granger Top Indiana Pacers Players
Rasheed Wallace Popular Power Forward
Minggu, 29 Maret 2009
How to piss off your neighbors
Terrible Tombstones are a good way to let your neighbors know that you do not enjoy their pets using your yard as their personal restroom.
You may not make many friends by putting this in your front lawn, but the point is well made.
$9.95 at Terrible Tombstones
(via Nerd Approved)
PRB on the Tiny House Blog
If you are arriving from my most recent post on the Tiny House Blog, WELCOME!! Stay awhile and see what float cabin living is all about. Some sections that you might find interesting include:
I've written several articles about float cabin living for Kent's blog:
Float Cabin Living off the grid
Float Cabin Construction plans
Gardening in a floating garden
Cooking using a woodstove
Cabin Accessories handy stuff
Our Little Cabin Up the LakeThe most recent article, just posted yesterday, is Float Cabin Moving Day. It chronicles a rare event in float cabin living - the relocation of a cabin from one site to another. Come along for the ride. Head on over to TinyHouseBlog.com for the rest of the story.
Living on the Water
Float Cabins on Powell Lake
You can read more about our off the grid cabin life in Up the Lake and Farther Up the Lake by my husband, Wayne J. Lutz. More information about the books and ordering is available at our website www. PowellRiverBooks.com. - Margy
Caturday funnies
from When Cats Attack
Sabtu, 28 Maret 2009
More stick-n-poke radness
First up- booyah! arm!
This poor person has "booyah!" on their arm not once, but at least SEVEN TIMES! I can also see a pterodactyl, a ghost, and "USA GOES UNDEFEATED".
I wish I knew the story behind this one. "Saves Latin"??? ... maybe I don't really want to know.
And this. What is this? An alien-insect with patriotic wings riding a scooter with hello kitty with a mustache in the back? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
Seriously, the more I see tattoos like this, the more I shake my head and start to wonder if they are really works of genius instead of being the worst tattoos in the world.
Ouch!
Photo Credit: Shaun Curry-AFP/Getty Images