returntonow--2020-08-13--Man Builds Elaborate Toy Castle Out of Thousands of Pebbles

Without any Legos or instruction manual , this man built this amazing castle out of pebbles , shells and broken glass .
Hobbyist DeWitt “ Old Dog ” Boyd began building pebble houses as toys for his kids decades ago .
Then , in 2007 , he got started building an entire pebble “ town ” behind his church in Calhoun , Georgia .
Today , the Calhoun Rock Garden features a collection of over 50 whimsical pebble structures , including castles , cathedrals , villages , bridges and moats .
Boyd even built replicas of historical places like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coliseum of ancient Rome , and the “ little town of Bethlehem , ” as well as mythical buildings like Rapunzel ’ s tower .
His creations are made simply from tiny stones , pebbles , shells , broken glass , cement , wire and hours of dedication .
“ It was to keep me out of trouble , I ’ m kind of a scoundrel , ” Boyd says of his years of work .
The free tourist attraction is located behind the Calhoun Seventh Day Adventist Church on 1411 Rome Road @

Without any Legos or instruction manual, this man built this amazing castle out of pebbles, shells and broken glass.
Hobbyist DeWitt “Old Dog” Boyd began building pebble houses as toys for his kids decades ago.
Then, in 2007, he got started building an entire pebble “town” behind his church in Calhoun, Georgia.
Today, the Calhoun Rock Garden features a collection of over 50 whimsical pebble structures, including castles, cathedrals, villages, bridges and moats.
Boyd even built replicas of historical places like the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris, the Coliseum of ancient Rome, and the “little town of Bethlehem,” as well as mythical buildings like Rapunzel’s tower.
His creations are made simply from tiny stones, pebbles, shells, broken glass, cement, wire and hours of dedication.
“It was to keep me out of trouble, I’m kind of a scoundrel,” Boyd says of his years of work.
The free tourist attraction is located behind the Calhoun Seventh Day Adventist Church on 1411 Rome Road.


returntonow--2020-08-14--Melon Hammocks Made From Nylon Stockings

Here ’ s an easy , cheap way to support your melons so you don ’ t lose ‘ em Growing melons on a trellis has become a popular way to save space , avoid pests and prevent rot .
But trellises create a new problem for melons… the stems of the large fruits are likely to snap with all that weight hanging from them .
And when they do , your prized cantaloupes or honeydews are likely to split open and splatter all over the ground .
To remedy this obstacle , YouTuber MIgardener came up with a cheap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can find some cheap at your local thrift store , or see if your grandma has any old one lying around .
MIgardener found three pairs for a dollar at his local dollar store .
Three pairs of stockings yields 12 melon hammocks by cutting open each of the 6 legs lengthwise and then cutting those in half .
Securing the hammocks around the melons takes about 30 seconds per melon .
Simply tie each end to a higher point on the trellis so the melon is slightly lifted , taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video here .
So for a couple of dollars and a few minutes of work , you can ensure your months of melon tending won ’ t be wasted .
If you don ’ t want to use nylon ( which is made from plastic ) natural fibers should work as well .

Here’s an easy, cheap way to support your melons so you don’t lose ‘em
Growing melons on a trellis has become a popular way to save space, avoid pests and prevent rot.
But trellises create a new problem for melons… the stems of the large fruits are likely to snap with all that weight hanging from them.
And when they do, your prized cantaloupes or honeydews are likely to split open and splatter all over the ground.
To remedy this obstacle, YouTuber MIgardener came up with a cheap, easy solution — nylon stockings.
You can find some cheap at your local thrift store, or see if your grandma has any old one lying around. MIgardener found three pairs for a dollar at his local dollar store.
Three pairs of stockings yields 12 melon hammocks by cutting open each of the 6 legs lengthwise and then cutting those in half.
Securing the hammocks around the melons takes about 30 seconds per melon. Simply tie each end to a higher point on the trellis so the melon is slightly lifted, taking the weight off the stem. Watch the video here.
So for a couple of dollars and a few minutes of work, you can ensure your months of melon tending won’t be wasted.
If you don’t want to use nylon (which is made from plastic) natural fibers should work as well.


returntonow--2020-08-15--Leaf Sheep: The Only Animal That Can Photosynthesize

These little critters look like plants , but they ’ re actually animals .
Leaf sheep are one of the @ @ @ @ @ the planet .
They look like a farm animal , act like a plant , @ @ @ @ @ !
The little sea slugs are technically animals , but like plants , they get @ @ @ @ @ the sun .
When leaf sheep eat algae , they suck out the chloroplasts and @ @ @ @ @ bodies in a process called kleptoplasty .
“ This process , which otherwise can only @ @ @ @ @ , essentially makes them solar-powered slugs !
” Bored Panda notes .
The funny little @ @ @ @ @ a cow or sheep , but a back that looks like a house plant .
@ @ @ @ @ 5 mm long and can be found in shallow marine waters in Japan , Indonesia @ @ @ @

These little critters look like plants, but they’re actually animals.
Leaf sheep are one of the strangest kinds of animals on the planet.
They look like a farm animal, act like a plant, and live in the sea!
The little sea slugs are technically animals, but like plants, they get most of their energy from the sun.
When leaf sheep eat algae, they suck out the chloroplasts and incorporate them into their own bodies in a process called kleptoplasty.
“This process, which otherwise can only be performed by single-celled organisms, essentially makes them solar-powered slugs!” Bored Panda notes.
The funny little creatures have the face of a cow or sheep, but a back that looks like a house plant.
They’re only about 5 mm long and can be found in shallow marine waters in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.


returntonow--2020-08-19--Holland Becomes First Country to Home Every Stray Dog

There isn ’ t a single homeless dog in the Netherlands , here ’ s how they did it : The Netherlands is the first country on Earth to completely eradicate dog homelessness .
Less than a century ago , the country was teeming with stray dogs .
But in the 1960s , The Animal Welfare Act was passed and since then over a million dogs have been taken off the streets , without euthanasia !
How did the Dutch do it ?
First , by sterilizing all stray dogs , and then by incentivizing their adoption with tax breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puppies ( often bred in puppy mills ) through high taxes .
Adoption is now at all-time high in the country , with one in 5 Dutch adults owning at least one dog .
To ensure , they are responsible pet owners , the country has passed strict laws against animal abuse backed by 3-year prison sentences and fines of 16,000 euros .
Sterilization services are free for all dog owners , and luckily European vets routinely offer more humane varieties of sterilization such as ovary-sparing spays and dog vascetomies , which allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

There isn’t a single homeless dog in the Netherlands, here’s how they did it:
The Netherlands is the first country on Earth to completely eradicate dog homelessness.
Less than a century ago, the country was teeming with stray dogs. But in the 1960s, The Animal Welfare Act was passed and since then over a million dogs have been taken off the streets, without euthanasia!
How did the Dutch do it? First, by sterilizing all stray dogs, and then by incentivizing their adoption with tax breaks, while dis-incentivizing “pet store” puppies (often bred in puppy mills) through high taxes.
Adoption is now at all-time high in the country, with one in 5 Dutch adults owning at least one dog.
To ensure, they are responsible pet owners, the country has passed strict laws against animal abuse backed by 3-year prison sentences and fines of 16,000 euros.
Sterilization services are free for all dog owners, and luckily European vets routinely offer more humane varieties of sterilization such as ovary-sparing spays and dog vascetomies, which allow the animals to keep their sex hormones.


returntonow--2020-08-23--Canada Becomes First G20 Country to Ban Shark Fin Trade

Canada blocks shark fin imports .
The US should also ban this cruel and ecologically disastrous industry .
Canada recently @ @ @ @ @ player in the world to ban the importation of shark fins .
Shark finning and @ @ @ @ @ the country , but Canada was the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia @ @ @ @ @ practice involves hacking off sharks fins while they are still alive and struggling and then @ @ @ @ @ the ocean to die slowly .
The fin meat is sold as a delicacy in @ @ @ @ @ fin soup .
It is the most expensive seafood in the world .
Aside from @ @ @ @ @ in general , a third of the fins sold come from “ at risk ” @ @ @ @ @ nearly 150,000 tons of shark fins from China last year .
Shark fin importation is @ @ @ @ @ states as well with a bill in Congress to ban it nationwide .

Canada blocks shark fin imports. The US should also ban this cruel and ecologically disastrous industry.
Canada recently became the first major economic player in the world to ban the importation of shark fins.
Shark finning and exportation was already illegal in the country, but Canada was the largest importer of shark fins outside of Asia.
The cruel and inhumane practice involves hacking off sharks fins while they are still alive and struggling and then tossing the animals back into the ocean to die slowly.
The fin meat is sold as a delicacy in Asian cuisine such as shark fin soup. It is the most expensive seafood in the world.
Aside from being an extremely wasteful practice in general, a third of the fins sold come from “at risk” shark species.
Canadians imported nearly 150,000 tons of shark fins from China last year.
Shark fin importation is now illegal in 12 US states as well with a bill in Congress to ban it nationwide.


returntonow--2020-08-27--Bring Back Home Economics Because Our Kids Lack Basic Life Skills

Cooking , cleaning and gardening are just as important as reading , writing and arithmetic Recently , I saw an article about bringing home economics back to schools .
While the idea sounds good , parents need to accept that the old ways of schooling aren ’ t coming back anytime soon or at all .
We also need to realize that putting all the pressure on schools to produce productive , meaningful people in society is foolhardy .
While most kids are stuck home social distancing , now is as good as time as any to help prepare them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teaching children the value of a dollar , budgeting , cleaning and knowing how to cook doesn ’ t have to wait until high school either .
They can start as early as babies really .
Just let them crawl around in a natural , outdoor setting , like your garden .
Not only will this help develop their microbiome , it ’ ll get them used to knowing where their food comes from and , eventually , hopefully , how to grow some of it .
When the babies turn into toddlers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around in , is now ready to harvest .
Have them dig through and pull out all those potatoes you yourself just learned how to grow .
Once they ’ re ready for school , continue developing the skills you ’ ve already introduced to them .
They can help with cooking by placing things from the garden in pots and pans and getting a good feel for the kitchen .
They can also help fold and put away laundry .
In the year ’ s that follow they should learn how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic cooking skills .
And , most importantly , how to clean and put away dishes .
If you start early enough , by age 10 or so , they ’ ll already know how to be contributor in the house and community .
As they continue to age , teach them more valuable skills that are used in the real world , like learning what interest rates are and how the central banks take advantage of us .
Time management and budgeting are useful tools too .
While some experts think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school will bring them up to speed when they ’ re ready to graduate , I beg to differ .
Being a helpful and productive member of the family and society as a whole has to start early on .
It ’ s likely to be forgotten if only taught once a day for less than an hour .
This is a lifestyle that has to be practiced and repeated .
If not , this whole process will have to be taught and learned again in the context of a romantic relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the household .
It ’ s still okay to teach them in adolescence , though , even if you didn ’ t start when they were younger .
It ’ ll be more challenging , and you ’ ll be met with more resistance .
But , if you stay firm and calm , and gently express your boundaries , they ’ ll eventually be a good helper .
After a while , the resistance will be less and less .
In due time , they ’ ll just start doing things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can get on with doing other fun , more exciting things , like going on dates .
Once they ’ re ready to go on dates , they ’ ll also know how to make their way around the house in a very proficient manner , which will probably impress their date .
And that ’ s a good thing because we all know what dates eventually lead to… more children .

Cooking, cleaning and gardening are just as important as reading, writing and arithmetic
The world is changing… parents are re-evaluating the wisdom of sticking their kids in front of blackboards and computers all day.
Instead of calculating complicated equations that kids will never use in real life, perhaps they should be learning to cook, clean, build, repair, compost, prepare garden beds, tend chickens or even milk a cow.
I’m not saying take all kids out of school and send them back to the farm (although that’s not the worst idea), but maybe kids should be learning some more practical life skills that involve using their hands and bodies, not just torturing their minds.
For example, how many kids know how to sew or knit these days? Or how to do laundry or clean the bathroom? Or how to cook a meal from scratch? Baking is a wonderful way to learn fractions, while showing kids why they matter.
High school home economics classes seem to have disappeared along with the women’s “liberation” movement, as we became programmed to see these tasks as menial and demeaning “housewife” work.
I’m not suggesting we stick women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen all day, ironing her husband’s shirts and making his coffee, while he rushes off to the office… I’m saying more and more of my friends are interested in becoming back-to-the landers, becoming more self-sufficient on the homestead, and less reliant on corporate jobs, government and government schools.
And if schools want to remain relevant for that growing crowd of people, they may have to become more like the Waldorf schools my daughter has been fortunate enough to attend, giving them a more well-rounded set of life skills instead of turning them into computers.
And bring back wood shop and auto shop while we’re at it!


returntonow--2020-08-27--Why Hunter Gatherers Wash Their Hands with Animal Guts Instead of Hand Sanitizer

The Hadza of Tanzania wash their hands with animal intestines and have the healthiest gut bacteria in the world !
“ They don ’ t suffer from the diseases we suffer from , ” researcher says .
You won ’ t find a single case of allergies , autoimmune disease , heart disease , obesity , diabetes or cancer among the world ’ s oldest living tribe of hunter gatherers .
You also won ’ t find a single bottle of hand sanitizer , or even soap .
The Hadza of Tanzania have a different approach to health .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antimicrobial soaps , gels and wipes , they literally bathe in them .
In his studies of the Hadza people , anthropologist Jeff Leach , observed them hunt a zebra , gut it and then wash the blood from their hands with the microbial content of its stomach and intestines .
He soon learned that this was the hygienic ritual the Hadza repeated after every successful kill .
“ While I was fascinated by the microbe-laden stomach contents being used as hand scrubber – presumably transferring an extraordinary diversity of microbes from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hadza – I was not prepared for what they did next , ” Leach wrote .
“ Once they had cleaned out – by hand – the contents of the stomach ( “ cleaned ” is a generous word ) , they carved pieces of the stomach into bite-sized chunks and consumed it sushi-style .
By which I mean they didn ’ t cook it or attempt to kill or eliminate the microbes from the gut of the Impala in anyway .
And if this unprecedented transfer of microbes from the skin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t enough , they then turned their attention to the colon of the Impala.
” This may sound disgusting and barbaric to us “ civilized ” folk , but modern scientific research is proving the bushman ’ s instincts to be beneficial .
A recent study shows they have the richest diversity of gut bacteria of any groups of humans ever studied .
And that diversity seems to protect them from both chronic and acute illness .
“ They don ’ t suffer from the diseases we suffer from , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nutritional anthropologist Alyssa Crittenden .
Among the Hadza ’ s thousands of species of gut bacteria are those modern medicine has associated with disease , such as Treponema .
Linked with Crohn ’ s disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the West , Treponema is abundant in the bellies of the Hadza , among whom these diseases do not exist .
That ’ s because bacteria we normally think of as “ harmful ” like listeria and e. Coli are in balance/harmony/symbiosis with thousands of other species , Leach , co-founder of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research has shown that disease is often associated with a fall in microbial diversity .
By that standard , the microbiome of the average civilized human is an “ ecological disaster zone , ” Leach argues .
“ Rather than think of ourselves as isolated islands of microbes , the Hadza teach us that we are better thought of as an archipelago of islands , once seamlessly connected to one another and to a larger meta-community of microbes via a microbial super highway that runs through the gut and skin/feathers of every animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those of you keeping up with your homework , this is Macroecology 101 ) , ” he writes .
“ The same can be said for plants and their extraordinary diversity of microbes above ( phyllosphere ) and below ground ( rhizosphere ) that the Hadza , and once all humans , interact with on a nearly continuous basis .
The Hygiene Hypothesis posits that a great many diseases ( specifically autoimmune diseases ) result from a disconnect with the natural world and its myriad of microscopic life .
Microbes and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system to distinguish between friend or foe and even Self .
Our children are no longer born in the microbe-rich dirt , but rather hyper-sterile rooms where even the air is scrubbed with mechanical systems .
”

The Hadza of Tanzania wash their hands with animal intestines and have the healthiest gut bacteria in the world! “They don’t suffer from the diseases we suffer from,” researcher says.
You won’t find a single case of allergies, autoimmune disease, heart disease, obesity, diabetes or cancer among the world’s oldest living tribe of hunter gatherers.
You also won’t find a single bottle of hand sanitizer, or even soap.
The Hadza of Tanzania have a different approach to health.
Instead of washing “germs” away with antimicrobial soaps, gels and wipes, they literally bathe in them.
In his studies of the Hadza people, anthropologist Jeff Leach, observed them hunt a zebra, gut it and then wash the blood from their hands with the microbial content of its stomach and intestines.
He soon learned that this was the hygienic ritual the Hadza repeated after every successful kill.
“While I was fascinated by the microbe-laden stomach contents being used as hand scrubber – presumably transferring an extraordinary diversity of microbes from the Impala gut to the hands of the Hadza – I was not prepared for what they did next,” Leach wrote.
“Once they had cleaned out – by hand – the contents of the stomach (“cleaned” is a generous word), they carved pieces of the stomach into bite-sized chunks and consumed it sushi-style. By which I mean they didn’t cook it or attempt to kill or eliminate the microbes from the gut of the Impala in anyway. And if this unprecedented transfer of microbes from the skin, blood, and stomach of another mammal wasn’t enough, they then turned their attention to the colon of the Impala.”
This may sound disgusting and barbaric to us “civilized” folk, but modern scientific research is proving the bushman’s instincts to be beneficial. A recent study shows they have the richest diversity of gut bacteria of any groups of humans ever studied. And that diversity seems to protect them from both chronic and acute illness.
“They don’t suffer from the diseases we suffer from,” says the study’s co-author and nutritional anthropologist Alyssa Crittenden.
Among the Hadza’s thousands of species of gut bacteria are those modern medicine has associated with disease, such as Treponema. Linked with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the West, Treponema is abundant in the bellies of the Hadza, among whom these diseases do not exist.
That’s because bacteria we normally think of as “harmful” like listeria and e. Coli are in balance/harmony/symbiosis with thousands of other species, Leach, co-founder of The American Gut Project, says.
Recent research has shown that disease is often associated with a fall in microbial diversity.
By that standard, the microbiome of the average civilized human is an “ecological disaster zone,” Leach argues.
“Rather than think of ourselves as isolated islands of microbes, the Hadza teach us that we are better thought of as an archipelago of islands, once seamlessly connected to one another and to a larger meta-community of microbes via a microbial super highway that runs through the gut and skin/feathers of every animal and water source on the landscape (for those of you keeping up with your homework, this is Macroecology 101),” he writes.
“The same can be said for plants and their extraordinary diversity of microbes above (phyllosphere) and below ground (rhizosphere) that the Hadza, and once all humans, interact with on a nearly continuous basis. The Hygiene Hypothesis posits that a great many diseases (specifically autoimmune diseases) result from a disconnect with the natural world and its myriad of microscopic life. Microbes and other tiny things that once trained our immune system to distinguish between friend or foe and even Self. Our children are no longer born in the microbe-rich dirt, but rather hyper-sterile rooms where even the air is scrubbed with mechanical systems.”


returntonow--2020-08-29--Ancient Japanese Forestry Technique Produces Lumber Without Cutting Down Trees

These Japanese cedar trees are pruned in a way that produces lumber faster and stronger than standard cedar without cutting down any trees !
In response to a lumber shortage in Japan in the 1300s , arborists discovered a way to grow trees faster than ever , on the tops of already-existing trees .
Because of a shortage of saplings , the lack of flat land , and the difficulty of planting in the steep slopes in the region of Kitayama , the people there developed a new method of raising lumber .
It ’ s called daisugi .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of shaping trees , only it ’ s done on much larger trees .
Instead of cutting trees down they heavily pruned existing cedar trees , leaving only the branches that grew straight up .
The result is tall vertical “ shoots ” that look like whole new trees .
They produce perfectly straight , uniform , knot-free lumber that is twice as strong and 140 % more flexible than standard cedar .
The wood is denser and grows to maturity much faster than normal cedar trees — just 20 years .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plantations and preserves old growth trees , while creating better lumber faster .
its a win-win for the environment and the lumber industry .

These Japanese cedar trees are pruned in a way that produces lumber faster and stronger than standard cedar without cutting down any trees!
In response to a lumber shortage in Japan in the 1300s, arborists discovered a way to grow trees faster than ever, on the tops of already-existing trees.
Because of a shortage of saplings, the lack of flat land, and the difficulty of planting in the steep slopes in the region of Kitayama, the people there developed a new method of raising lumber.
It’s called daisugi. It’s similar to the bonsai method of shaping trees, only it’s done on much larger trees.
Instead of cutting trees down they heavily pruned existing cedar trees, leaving only the branches that grew straight up.
The result is tall vertical “shoots” that look like whole new trees. They produce perfectly straight, uniform, knot-free lumber that is twice as strong and 140% more flexible than standard cedar.
The wood is denser and grows to maturity much faster than normal cedar trees — just 20 years.
The daisugi method reduces the need for lumber plantations and preserves old growth trees, while creating better lumber faster.
its a win-win for the environment and the lumber industry.


returntonow--2020-08-29--Calm Your Mind By Coloring Sea Shells

Calm Your Mind By Coloring Sea Shells

Coloring sea shells is a new , fun way to alleviate you of your worries , while boosting your creativity .
Coloring has helped millions of people all throughout the world relax and feel calm as soon as they put the marker to the page .
One woman , though , has come up with an even cooler way to color .
Using a 1.0 size sharpie , Barbara Moloney Callen , gently traces the lines that naturally occur in sea shells .
This simple tracing produces a beautiful color contrast of blue against white , making for a stunning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look at but according to a new study taking up coloring can help reduce stress and improve creativity in adults .
Researchers discovered that after 20 minutes of coloring , participants were more relaxed and calmer .
The amygdala , which is the fear center of your brain , gets a much needed break .
When your brain is focused on the lines of the shells instead of the worries of the world , a gentle mindfulness and quietness takes over , creating a meditative like experience .
With the mainstream media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , maybe it ’ s time we put down the remote and pickup our sharpies .

Coloring sea shells is a new, fun way to alleviate you of your worries, while boosting your creativity.
Coloring has helped millions of people all throughout the world relax and feel calm as soon as they put the marker to the page. One woman, though, has come up with an even cooler way to color.
Using a 1.0 size sharpie, Barbara Moloney Callen, gently traces the lines that naturally occur in sea shells. This simple tracing produces a beautiful color contrast of blue against white, making for a stunning photo.
Not only is this beautiful to look at but according to a new study taking up coloring can help reduce stress and improve creativity in adults.
Researchers discovered that after 20 minutes of coloring, participants were more relaxed and calmer.
The amygdala, which is the fear center of your brain, gets a much needed break.
When your brain is focused on the lines of the shells instead of the worries of the world, a gentle mindfulness and quietness takes over, creating a meditative like experience.
With the mainstream media’s never ending cycle of fear-mongering, maybe it’s time we put down the remote and pickup our sharpies.


returntonow--2020-08-30--Tennessee’s Treetop Skywalk is the Longest Tree-Based Bridge in North America!

A relaxing walk through “ the place of the balsams , ” will leave you feeling rested and rejuvenated Feeling @ @ @ @ @ the worry in the world ?
If so , come escape to the Smoky Mountains @ @ @ @ @ excursion that will put your mind at ease .
Anakeesta , located in Gatlinburg TN @ @ @ @ @ walk through the trees in North America ’ s longest tree-based bridge .
“ Guests @ @ @ @ @ feet along a spectacular series of sky-bridges suspended 50-60 feet in the air , ” @ @ @ @ @ “ Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you stroll through the canopy.
” @ @ @ @ @ like to be a bird in the treetops .
Keep a sharp eye , you @ @ @ @ @ the forest floor below or a woodpecker nearby.
” In April , a powerful storm @ @ @ @ @ three five-ton trees that damaged part of the walkway .
Eleven of the 16 bridges @ @ @ @ @ was the ultimate test of the bridge ’ s strength and durability .

A relaxing walk through “the place of the balsams,” will leave you feeling rested and rejuvenated
Feeling stressed and tired from all the worry in the world? If so, come escape to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee for a treetop excursion that will put your mind at ease.
Anakeesta, located in Gatlinburg TN, is now offering a walk through the trees in North America’s longest tree-based bridge.
“Guests will walk more than 800 feet along a spectacular series of sky-bridges suspended 50-60 feet in the air,” according to their website.
“Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you stroll through the canopy.”
“Experience what it feels like to be a bird in the treetops. Keep a sharp eye, you may spot a bear on the forest floor below or a woodpecker nearby.”
In April, a powerful storm came through, knocking down three five-ton trees that damaged part of the walkway. Eleven of the 16 bridges still remain open. It was the ultimate test of the bridge’s strength and durability.


returntonow--2020-08-31--Sea Glass: The Ocean Has Polished Our Broken Glass and Turned It Into Treasure

After centuries of tumbling in ocean waves , our broken glass has been transformed into entire beaches of colorful little gemstones called “ sea glass.
” Much of the glass humans have broken and thrown away throughout history has ended up in the ocean .
Luckily , unlike plastic , glass is a natural material made out of sand , that eventually turns back into sand once it has eroded into tiny enough pieces .
Before it breaks all the way back down into sand , it is tumbled by the ocean into these dazzling little stones called “ sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea glass can be found in the northeastern United States , Bermuda , Scotland , the Isle of Man , northern England , Mexico , Hawaii , the Dominican Republic , Puerto Rico , Nova Scotia , Australia , Italy and southern Spain .
Naturally produced or “ genuine sea glass ” originates from broken bottles , broken tableware , or even shipwrecks .
The glass shards are rolled and tumbled by the ocean ’ s tides for decades until all the sharp edges are smoothed and rounded .
The glass loses its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The process takes between 30 and 100 years .
Sea glass collectors can often tell where and when the glass originated by its color .
The most common colors of sea glass – kelly green , brown , white , and clear – come from modern beer , juice and soft drink bottles , as well as plates , drinking glasses , windshields and windows .
Less common colors include jade , amber , forest green and ice blue , which came from whiskey bottles , medicine bottles and ink bottles from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centuries , and lime green , which comes from soda bottles in the 1960s .
These colors account for about one in every 25 to 100 pieces of sea glass found .
Even less common colors include purple and cobalt blue ( from early Milk of Magnesia bottles , poison bottles and Vicks VapoRub containers ) and aqua ( from Ball Mason jars ) .
These colors account one in every 200 to 1,000 pieces found .
Extremely rare colors include gray , pink ( often from Great Depression-era plates ) , teal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1930s Vaseline containers ) , turquoise ( from tableware and art glass ) , red ( car tail lights and nautical lights ) and orange .
These colors account for every 1,000 to 10,000 pieces collected .
Even harder to find is antique black glass that dates over 500 years old , thought to originate from pirates liquor bottles in the Caribbean !

After centuries of tumbling in ocean waves, our broken glass has been transformed into entire beaches of colorful little gemstones called “sea glass.”
Much of the glass humans have broken and thrown away throughout history has ended up in the ocean.
Luckily, unlike plastic, glass is a natural material made out of sand, that eventually turns back into sand once it has eroded into tiny enough pieces.
Before it breaks all the way back down into sand, it is tumbled by the ocean into these dazzling little stones called “sea glass.”
Today, entire beaches of sea glass can be found in the northeastern United States, Bermuda, Scotland, the Isle of Man, northern England, Mexico, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nova Scotia, Australia, Italy and southern Spain.
Naturally produced or “genuine sea glass” originates from broken bottles, broken tableware, or even shipwrecks. The glass shards are rolled and tumbled by the ocean’s tides for decades until all the sharp edges are smoothed and rounded.
The glass loses its slick surface and gains a frosted appearance.
The process takes between 30 and 100 years.
Sea glass collectors can often tell where and when the glass originated by its color.
The most common colors of sea glass – kelly green, brown, white, and clear – come from modern beer, juice and soft drink bottles, as well as plates, drinking glasses, windshields and windows.
Less common colors include jade, amber, forest green and ice blue, which came from whiskey bottles, medicine bottles and ink bottles from the late 19th and and early 20th centuries, and lime green, which comes from soda bottles in the 1960s. These colors account for about one in every 25 to 100 pieces of sea glass found.
Even less common colors include purple and cobalt blue (from early Milk of Magnesia bottles, poison bottles and Vicks VapoRub containers) and aqua (from Ball Mason jars). These colors account one in every 200 to 1,000 pieces found.
Extremely rare colors include gray, pink (often from Great Depression-era plates), teal (Mateus wine bottles), yellow (1930s Vaseline containers), turquoise (from tableware and art glass), red (car tail lights and nautical lights) and orange. These colors account for every 1,000 to 10,000 pieces collected.
Even harder to find is antique black glass that dates over 500 years old, thought to originate from pirates liquor bottles in the Caribbean!


returntonow--2020-08-31--Nike Becomes First Major Brand to Make Hemp Shoes

Hemp is making a comeback major clothing and shoe brands now that its legal to grow in the U.S. again @ @ @ @ @ in in Levi ’ s jeans last year , and now Nike is releasing a @ @ @ @ @ except for the rubber soles , of course ) .
The company has teamed up @ @ @ @ @ company Stüssy to recreate Nike ’ s popular Air Force 1 shoe , only with @ @ @ @ @ shoe is currently only available in the UK for $ 185 , but if its @ @ @ @ @ it ’ ll soon be available worldwide .
Looks like they ’ re already working @ @ @ @ @ :

Hemp could replace factory-farmed leather as a sustainable shoe material
Hemp is making a comeback major clothing and shoe brands now that its legal to grow in the U.S. again.
It made its debut in in Levi’s jeans last year, and now Nike is releasing a line of all-hemp shoes (except for the rubber soles, of course).
The company has teamed up with the skateboard and surf-wear company Stüssy to recreate Nike’s popular Air Force 1 shoe, only with an all-hemp upper.
The shoe is currently only available in the UK for $185, but if its popular, we can bet it’ll soon be available worldwide.
Looks like they’re already working on prototypes for future designs:


returntonow--2020-09-02--Tesla is About To Release a “Million Mile Battery” That Will Last 70+ Years and Make Electric Cars C

Tesla is About To Release a “Million Mile Battery” That Will Last 70+ Years and Make Electric Cars Cheaper than Gas

Tesla ’ s new “ game changer ” battery will make electric cars cost less , and last longer , than gas cars , Musk says Elon Musk has promised to release a world-changing car battery on September 22 , a day he ’ s dubbed “ Battery Day.
” He says it has been built to last over a million miles , more than twice as long as his already-record-setting car batteries .
With the average American driving 14,500 miles per year , that ’ s over 70 years of driving , far longer than the body of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies wear out , Musk says the batteries could be reused in new cars and/or used for solar electricity storage for homes .
Even after the “ million mile batteries ” run for a million miles , their cells will still have 90 % of their battery life left .
His new batteries use lithium-iron phosphate instead of lithium-ion , a cheaper , more abundant material , and eliminates the use of controversial cobalt .
Like the scientist his car company is named after , Musk promises to share his new technology with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell them his battery and making public the basic design for it .
Musk calls the upcoming “ Battery Day ” the “ most important day in Tesla ’ s history.
” Tesla stock prices have doubled in the last two months in anticipation , and Elon Musk just surpassed Mark Zuckerburg as the world ’ s third richest man yesterday because of it .

Tesla’s new “game changer” battery will last 70+ years and make gas guzzlers obsolete, Musk says
Elon Musk has promised to release a world-changing car battery on September 22, a day he’s dubbed “Battery Day.”
He says it has been built to last over a million miles, more than twice as long as his already-record-setting car batteries.
With the average American driving 14,500 miles per year, that’s over 70 years of driving, far longer than the body of a car would likely last.
When car bodies wear out, Musk says the batteries could be reused in new cars and/or used for solar electricity storage for homes.
Even after the “million mile batteries” run for a million miles, their cells will still have 90% of their battery life left.
His new batteries use lithium-iron phosphate instead of lithium-ion, a cheaper, more abundant material, and eliminates the use of controversial cobalt.
Like the scientist his car company is named after, Musk promises to share his new technology with competing electric car companies, offering both to sell them his battery and making public the basic design for it.
Musk calls the upcoming “Battery Day” the “most important day in Tesla’s history.”
Tesla stock prices have doubled in the last two months in anticipation, and Elon Musk just surpassed Mark Zuckerburg as the world’s third richest man yesterday because of it.


returntonow--2020-09-01--Pickling Eggs Makes Them Last Twice as Long and Taste Twice as Delicious

Got extra eggs ?
Pickle them for a quick and easy super-food snack that will last throughout the winter !
Many of us have taken up backyard chickens for the first time in our lives and may find ourselves with an abundance of eggs at the end of summer .
Here ’ s a delicious way to make them last through the winter months , when your ladies may not be laying so many .
Fresh , unwashed , pasture-raised chicken eggs can safely last at least 3 months in the fridge .
Pickling them adds 3-4 months on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy your farm-fresh , or backyard-fresh , eggs up to 6 months after they were laid .
That ’ s just enough time to get you through to next spring on your own egg supply , especially if eggs are dated and rotated accordingly .
Not only is pickling a great preservation method , used by our great grandparents before refrigeration , it is making a comeback as a culinary delicacy .
As one “ prepper ” blogger points out , what was once considered nasty “ bar food , ” is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at upscale wine bars and restaurants .
Check out her blog Practical Self-Reliance for egg-pickling recipes and tips .
For a few more probiotics , you can try fermenting your eggs too .
You can make different pretty colors by pickling or fermenting in various brines , such as beet kvass or a tumeric bug .

Got extra eggs? Pickle them for a quick and easy super-food snack that will last throughout the winter!
Many of us have taken up backyard chickens for the first time in our lives and may find ourselves with an abundance of eggs at the end of summer.
Here’s a delicious way to make them last through the winter months, when your ladies may not be laying so many.
Fresh, unwashed, pasture-raised chicken eggs can safely last at least 3 months in the fridge. Pickling them adds 3-4 months on top of that. So you could potentially enjoy your farm-fresh, or backyard-fresh, eggs up to 6 months after they were laid.
That’s just enough time to get you through to next spring on your own egg supply, especially if eggs are dated and rotated accordingly.
Not only is pickling a great preservation method, used by our great grandparents before refrigeration, it is making a comeback as a culinary delicacy.
As one “prepper” blogger points out, what was once considered nasty “bar food,” is now becoming an expensive hors d’oeuvre at upscale wine bars and restaurants.
Check out her blog Practical Self-Reliance for egg-pickling recipes and tips. For a few more probiotics, you can try fermenting your eggs too.
You can make different pretty colors by pickling or fermenting in various brines, such as beet kvass or a tumeric bug.


returntonow--2020-09-02--Tesla is About To Unveil a “Million Mile Battery” That Will Make Electric Cars Cheaper than Gas

Tesla ’ s new “ game changer ” battery will last 70+ years and make gas guzzlers obsolete , Musk says Elon Musk has promised to release a world-changing car battery on September 22 , a day he ’ s dubbed “ Battery Day.
” He says it has been built to last over a million miles , more than twice as long as his already-record-setting car batteries .
With the average American driving 14,500 miles per year , that ’ s over 70 years of driving , far longer than the body of a car would likely last .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the batteries could be reused in new cars and/or used for solar electricity storage for homes .
Even after the “ million mile batteries ” run for a million miles , their cells will still have 90 % of their battery life left .
His new batteries use lithium-iron phosphate instead of lithium-ion , a cheaper , more abundant material , and eliminates the use of controversial cobalt .
Like the scientist his car company is named after , Musk promises to share his new technology with competing electric car companies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and making public the basic design for it .
Musk calls the upcoming “ Battery Day ” the “ most important day in Tesla ’ s history.
” Tesla stock prices have doubled in the last two months in anticipation , and Elon Musk just surpassed Mark Zuckerburg as the world ’ s third richest man yesterday because of it .


returntonow--2020-09-01--Pickling Eggs Preserves Them for 4 Months and Makes Them Extra Delicious


returntonow--2020-09-03--‘Largest Crowd in German History’ Rises Up Against Bill Gates and Big Pharma

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke to an enormous crowd of “ plandemic ” protestors in Berlin on Saturday .
In his speech , Kennedy mentioned a million protestors ( he may have been referring to the global total , who were gathered in at least 25 cities around the world .
The BBC reported 38,000 in Berlin .
The crowd took over the streets signs reading “ masks are muzzles , ” “ stop corona-madness ” and “ new normal = new fascism.
” Kennedy said that “ the corrupt American mainstream media ” were telling people he came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand Nazis.
” “ But I look at this crowd and I see the opposite of Nazism .
I see people of democracy .
People who want open government … We want health officials who don ’ t have financial entanglements with the pharmaceutical industry , who are working for us , not Big Pharma.
” “ We found out when we started fighting the pharmaceutical companies that they had a lot of people on their team .
They had the Telecom companies , who were trying to put in 5g .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google is a vaccine company .
Google makes vaccines – it makes flu vaccines and Covid vaccines .
We were wondering why is Google censoring us ?
Why won ’ t Google let us put any truth about the pharmaceutical industry .
Facebook began censoring us .
Instagram .
Vimeo .
Youtube.
” These are all international companies .
They want to use this pandemic to inspire us with fear so we will accept control and obedience .
For 15 years , I have not been able to go on television in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t let me , because their revenues come from the pharmaceutical companies .
Out of 22 ads during the evening news station , 17 are paid for by pharma .
Anderson Cooper works for Merck… All of the news anchors that call themselves journalists are actually pharmaceutical reps .
”

Forty thousand gather in Berlin to protest tyrannical, economy-destroying coronavirus restrictions.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke to an enormous crowd of “plandemic” protestors in Berlin on Saturday.
In his speech, Kennedy mentioned a million protestors (he may have been referring to the global total, who were gathered in at least 25 cities around the world. The BBC reported 38,000 in Berlin.
The crowd took over the streets signs reading “masks are muzzles,” “stop corona-madness” and “new normal = new fascism.”
Kennedy said that “the corrupt American mainstream media” were telling people he came to Berlin “to speak to about five thousand Nazis.”
“But I look at this crowd and I see the opposite of Nazism. I see people of democracy. People who want open government …
We want health officials who don’t have financial entanglements with the pharmaceutical industry, who are working for us, not Big Pharma.”
https://www.facebook.com/jeroen.klijberg/videos/10157123261246442/
“We found out when we started fighting the pharmaceutical companies that they had a lot of people on their team. They had the Telecom companies, who were trying to put in 5g. They had Google on their side – and Google is a vaccine company. Google makes vaccines – it makes flu vaccines and Covid vaccines.
We were wondering why is Google censoring us? Why won’t Google let us put any truth about the pharmaceutical industry. Facebook began censoring us. Instagram. Vimeo. Youtube.”
These are all international companies.
They want to use this pandemic to inspire us with fear so we will accept control and obedience.
For 15 years, I have not been able to go on television in the United States. The TV stations won’t let me, because their revenues come from the pharmaceutical companies.
Out of 22 ads during the evening news station, 17 are paid for by pharma. Anderson Cooper works for Merck… All of the news anchors that call themselves journalists are actually pharmaceutical reps.”


returntonow--2020-09-07--Woman Shares Photos of Amazingly Large and Majestic Maine Coon Cat

This Swedish woman ’ s cat is almost as big as she is !
Thought to be descendants of the @ @ @ @ @ Maine Coons are the biggest domesticated cat breed in the world .
The weigh up @ @ @ @ @ even larger because of their extra puffy fur .
A Swedish woman has started an @ @ @ @ @ her particularly huge , light orange Coon named Lotus .
A giant ball of fluff @ @ @ @ @ .
No wonder she has 350,000 followers !
But Lotus doesn ’ t always lie @ @ @ @ @ she knows how to tap into her wild roots too :

This Swedish woman’s cat is almost as big as she is!
Thought to be descendants of the mystical Norwegian forest cats, Maine Coons are the biggest domesticated cat breed in the world.
The weigh up to 25 pounds and appear even larger because of their extra puffy fur.
A Swedish woman has started an Instagram account to show off her particularly huge, light orange Coon named Lotus.
A giant ball of fluff, she looks irresistibly cuddly. No wonder she has 350,000 followers!
But Lotus doesn’t always lie around on the couch – she knows how to tap into her wild roots too:


returntonow--2020-09-09--Photographer Takes Amusing Close-Ups of Extraordinarily Strange Praying Mantises

You have to see the hilarious expressions and mannerisms of these bizarre little creatures Praying mantises are always a strange sight , with their strange posture and their frozen stillness , but photographer Pang Way captures them in their funniest moments .
His specialty in close-up insect photography reveals a whole new level of weirdness in the lives of these slow-moving , alien-eyed creatures .
They ’ re known as the most fearsome predators in the world , preying on other insects , lizards , frogs , fishes , small birds , and even each other , with the females @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heads off during mating .
But you ’ d never guess these little guys were so gruesome based on their hilarious facial expressions and poses they strike for the camera .
They come in all varieties of colors and patterns , some with wings and some without .
Seeing one can be considered good luck or bad , depending on which culture you ’ re from .
In many cultures they are a reminder to be still and meditate .
“ Because of the “ praying ” hands , some Christians say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and if found in your home , may mean that angels are watching over you .
Some Muslims say that the praying mantis is always facing toward Mecca .
However , in Italy , some believe that if a praying mantis looks at you menacingly , it can make you sick , and in Japan , it may even be a foretelling of your death , ” reports the Durango Herald .
For more images , check out Pang Way ’ s Instagram account .

You have to see the hilarious expressions and mannerisms of these bizarre little creatures
Praying mantises are always a strange sight, with their strange posture and their frozen stillness, but photographer Pang Way captures them in their funniest moments.
His specialty in close-up insect photography reveals a whole new level of weirdness in the lives of these slow-moving, alien-eyed creatures.
They’re known as the most fearsome predators in the world, preying on other insects, lizards, frogs, fishes, small birds, and even each other, with the females known to sometimes bite the males’ heads off during mating.
But you’d never guess these little guys were so gruesome based on their hilarious facial expressions and poses they strike for the camera.
They come in all varieties of colors and patterns, some with wings and some without.
Seeing one can be considered good luck or bad, depending on which culture you’re from. In many cultures they are a reminder to be still and meditate.
“Because of the “praying” hands, some Christians say that the praying mantis represents spiritualism or piety, and if found in your home, may mean that angels are watching over you. Some Muslims say that the praying mantis is always facing toward Mecca. However, in Italy, some believe that if a praying mantis looks at you menacingly, it can make you sick, and in Japan, it may even be a foretelling of your death,” reports the Durango Herald.
For more images, check out Pang Way’s Instagram account.


returntonow--2020-09-08--England May Increase Sentencing for Animal Cruelty From 6 Months to 5 Years

Animal abusers in England could face tougher fines and longer prison sentences for mistreating animals Animal abusers beware !
You could now face longer , tougher prison sentences if caught mistreating our four-legged friends .
The former maximum sentence was six months , but judges looking to hand out harsher punishments pushed the parliament for change , and it looks like they may get it according to The Animal Welfare ( Sentencing ) Bill introduced in February .
It ’ s not only judges , but the citizens of England in general , who want harsher penalties for animal cruelty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , over 70 percent of Brits were in favor of tougher sentencing for animal abusers .
Now those mistreat animals could face up to five years in prison .
The proposed law was introduced by the new Conservative MP for West Dorset , Chris Loder , who said he wanted to take action after finding a dog abandoned by the roadside , which he went on to adopt .
The new maximum sentence would be significantly higher for those who commit the most wicked acts towards animals .
The Animal Welfare ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House of Commons , before moving through to the House of Lords .
If passed , it will come into effect in two months after it receives Royal Assent .

Animal abusers in England could face tougher fines and longer prison sentences for mistreating animals
Animal abusers beware! You could now face longer, tougher prison sentences if caught mistreating our four-legged friends.
The former maximum sentence was six months, but judges looking to hand out harsher punishments pushed the parliament for change, and it looks like they may get it according to The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill introduced in February.
It’s not only judges, but the citizens of England in general, who want harsher penalties for animal cruelty.
According to a study done in 2017, over 70 percent of Brits were in favor of tougher sentencing for animal abusers.
Now those mistreat animals could face up to five years in prison.
The proposed law was introduced by the new Conservative MP for West Dorset, Chris Loder, who said he wanted to take action after finding a dog abandoned by the roadside, which he went on to adopt.
The new maximum sentence would be significantly higher for those who commit the most wicked acts towards animals.
The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill will be introduced into the House of Commons, before moving through to the House of Lords. If passed, it will come into effect in two months after it receives Royal Assent.


returntonow--2020-09-09--STUDY: Honeybee Venom Kills the Most Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells in 60 Seconds

New research could take the sting out of bee stings , which apparently contain an “ extremely potent ” cancer-fighting substance Scientists are discovering honeybee stings aren ’ t all bad .
The venom they release into our bodies is toxic to a wide range of tumors — including melanoma , lung , ovarian , and pancreatic cancers — according to recent laboratory tests .
Now , a study of the effects on breast cancer has been published revealing astonishing results .
A molecule called melittin – the very same substance responsible for creating the painful sensation caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable of demolishing breast cancer cells within an hour !
The Australian study tested melittin on the two most aggressive types of breast cancer – triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer – which have the worst outcomes and tend to develop resistance to existing treatments .
“ The venom was extremely potent , ” said Dr. Ciara Duffy , who led the research .
“ We found that melittin can completely destroy cancer cell membranes within 60 minutes.
” Amazingly , melittin was able to shut down the chemical messages between cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cell growth and cell division .
And best of all – unlike chemotherapy and radiation – honeybee venom had no negative effect on surrounding healthy cells .
The researchers say melittin can easily be reproduced so bees won ’ t have to be harmed if the pharmaceutical industry decides to let the treatment come to market .
The study found bumblebee venom did not contain melittin and had no effect on the cancer cells .

New research could take the sting out of bee stings, which apparently contain an “extremely potent” cancer-fighting substance
Scientists are discovering honeybee stings aren’t all bad. The venom they release into our bodies is toxic to a wide range of tumors — including melanoma, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers — according to recent laboratory tests.
Now, a study of the effects on breast cancer has been published revealing astonishing results.
A molecule called melittin – the very same substance responsible for creating the painful sensation caused by the bee’s sting – is also capable of demolishing breast cancer cells within an hour!
The Australian study tested melittin on the two most aggressive types of breast cancer – triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer – which have the worst outcomes and tend to develop resistance to existing treatments.
“The venom was extremely potent,” said Dr. Ciara Duffy, who led the research. “We found that melittin can completely destroy cancer cell membranes within 60 minutes.”
Amazingly, melittin was able to shut down the chemical messages between cancer cells, which are essential to cancer cell growth and cell division.
And best of all – unlike chemotherapy and radiation – honeybee venom had no negative effect on surrounding healthy cells.
The researchers say melittin can easily be reproduced so bees won’t have to be harmed if the pharmaceutical industry decides to let the treatment come to market.
The study found bumblebee venom did not contain melittin and had no effect on the cancer cells.


returntonow--2020-09-09--Goat Hops in Police Cruiser, Eats Paperwork, Then Head-Butts Officer

Adventurous goat makes its way into police cruiser for its midday meal ticket In Georgia , an unwanted passenger made its way into a patrol car .
The suspect in question was a goat who thought an officer ’ s paperwork looked like a good afternoon snack .
A Douglass County deputy left the door open in her cruiser while dropping off some civil paperwork in rural part of town .
During the brief time she had her back turned , the goat made its move and hopped in the front seat .
When the officer returned , she saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating her documents .
Bodycam footage posted to the Douglas County Sheriff ’ s Office Facebook page shows the whole thing ( warning she cusses a little ) .
After a bit of a struggle , the officer managed to get the goat out of the car .
However , the goat had the last laugh , as it headed butted the officer to the ground before making a run for it .
“ At the end of the day we all got a little laugh out of it and we hope you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas County Sheriff ’ s Office .

Adventurous goat makes its way into police cruiser for its midday meal ticket
In Georgia, an unwanted passenger made its way into a patrol car. The suspect in question was a goat who thought an officer’s paperwork looked like a good afternoon snack.
A Douglass County deputy left the door open in her cruiser while dropping off some civil paperwork in rural part of town. During the brief time she had her back turned, the goat made its move and hopped in the front seat.
When the officer returned, she saw the goat sitting in the front seat eating her documents. Bodycam footage posted to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page shows the whole thing (warning she cusses a little).
After a bit of a struggle, the officer managed to get the goat out of the car. However, the goat had the last laugh, as it headed butted the officer to the ground before making a run for it.
Luckily, the officer wasn’t harmed in the incident.


returntonow--2020-09-11--“Dave’s Killer Bread” Employs Hundreds of People With Criminal Records

Organic bread company aims to give the 1 in 4 Americans with criminal records ( often for victimless crimes ) a second-chance at life The founder of America ’ s top-selling organic bread company is an ex-con , who spent 15 years in federal prison .
Dave Dahl ’ s wildly successful career began when his brother gave him a second chance by welcoming him back to the family bakery .
Dave made the most of the opportunity by creating a delicious , whole-grain organic bread that made the company hundreds of millions of dollars .
Now , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 ex-criminals and running a non-profit called Second Chance Employment dedicated to teaching other companies how to safely hire and rehabilitate hundreds more .
Between 30 % and 40 % of Dave ’ s 250+ employees in his Oregon bakery have criminal records .
They hold positions ranging from entry level jobs to management roles , responsible for critical bakery operations .
The company ’ s website notes that 1 in 4 Americans have criminal records , which reduce the chance of a callback or job offer by 50 % .
On top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are locked up for victimless crimes , such as selling marijuana .
With only 5 % of the world ’ s population , the United States ( aka “ land of the free ” ) is home to 25 % of the world ’ s prisoners .
“ If I hadn ’ t gotten the job at Dave ’ s Killer Bread I probably wouldn ’ t have made it , ” says a line lead and trainer named Heather .
“ The people that I work with , that are in recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other feel encouraged and capable and tall .
Because of this job I ’ m alive .
It ’ s pretty profound.
” “ It feels good to finally be in a position where your work and your attitude speaks for itself ; it ’ s not about your past , ” says production supervisor Rahsaan .
“ Because of this job , I can provide for my family , with extra to spare .
Man , it feels good to say that .
”

Given that 1 in 4 Americans has a criminal record (mostly for victimless “crimes”), more employers need to follow the lead of this organic bread company
The founder of America’s top-selling organic bread company is an ex-con, who spent 15 years in federal prison. Dave Dahl’s wildly successful career began when his brother gave him a second chance by welcoming him back to the family bakery.
Dave made the most of the opportunity by creating a delicious, whole-grain organic bread that made the company hundreds of millions of dollars. Now, he’s returning the favor by employing over 100 ex-criminals and running a non-profit called Second Chance Employment dedicated to teaching other companies how to safely hire and rehabilitate hundreds more.
Between 30% and 40% of Dave’s 250+ employees in his Oregon bakery have criminal records. They hold positions ranging from entry level jobs to management roles, responsible for critical bakery operations.
The company’s website notes that 1 in 4 Americans have criminal records, which reduce the chance of a callback or job offer by 50%.
On top of that 86% of federal prisoners are locked up for victimless crimes, such as selling marijuana or operating an unlicensed business.
With only 5% of the world’s population, the United States (aka “land of the free”) is home to 25% of the world’s prisoners.
Often, criminals, unable to get a job, fall right back into drugs or other crime to pay their court penalties and end up back in prison, in a vicious, hopeless cycle.
“If I hadn’t gotten the job at Dave’s Killer Bread I probably wouldn’t have made it,” says a line lead and trainer named Heather. “The people that I work with, that are in recovery like me, we’re helping each other feel encouraged and capable and tall. Because of this job I’m alive. It’s pretty profound.”
“It feels good to finally be in a position where your work and your attitude speaks for itself; it’s not about your past,” says production supervisor Rahsaan. “Because of this job, I can provide for my family, with extra to spare. Man, it feels good to say that.”


returntonow--2020-09-11--“Dave’s Killer Bread” Employs Former “Criminals,” Giving Them a Second Chance at Life

Given that 1 in 4 Americans has a criminal record ( mostly for victimless “ crimes ” ) , more employers need to follow the lead of this organic bread company The founder of America ’ s top-selling organic bread company is an ex-con , who spent 15 years in federal prison .
Dave Dahl ’ s wildly successful career began when his brother gave him a second chance by welcoming him back to the family bakery .
Dave made the most of the opportunity by creating a delicious , whole-grain organic bread that made the company hundreds of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s returning the favor by employing over 100 ex-criminals and running a non-profit called Second Chance Employment dedicated to teaching other companies how to safely hire and rehabilitate hundreds more .
Between 30 % and 40 % of Dave ’ s 250+ employees in his Oregon bakery have criminal records .
They hold positions ranging from entry level jobs to management roles , responsible for critical bakery operations .
The company ’ s website notes that 1 in 4 Americans have criminal records , which reduce the chance of a callback or job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that 86 % of federal prisoners are locked up for victimless crimes , such as selling marijuana or operating an unlicensed business .
With only 5 % of the world ’ s population , the United States ( aka “ land of the free ” ) is home to 25 % of the world ’ s prisoners .
Often , criminals , unable to get a job , fall right back into drugs or other crime to pay their court penalties and end up back in prison , in a vicious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t gotten the job at Dave ’ s Killer Bread I probably wouldn ’ t have made it , ” says a line lead and trainer named Heather .
“ The people that I work with , that are in recovery like me , we ’ re helping each other feel encouraged and capable and tall .
Because of this job I ’ m alive .
It ’ s pretty profound.
” “ It feels good to finally be in a position where your work and your attitude speaks for itself ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says production supervisor Rahsaan .
“ Because of this job , I can provide for my family , with extra to spare .
Man , it feels good to say that .
”


returntonow--2020-09-12--Canada Opens World’s Longest Hiking Trail From Coast to Coast

The Great Trail of Canada is nearly 15,000 miles long , connecting major cities to all the natural wonders in between The Great Trail of Canada is now open for hikers , bikers , kayakers and skiers .
The nearly 15,000-mile-long national treasure took a quarter century to build and has been called the largest volunteer effort in Canadian history .
It will give Canadians easy access to some of the country ’ s most breathtaking natural wonders .
Rather than a single trail , The Great Trail is a network of hundreds of local trails and greenways that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thread.
” Whether you ’ re starting in the east at St. John ’ s or starting in the west at Victoria , you ’ ll have over 400 individual trails to travel through .
They weave across all 10 provinces , with a huge looping detour north through the Yukon and Northwest Territories to the Arctic Ocean .
The Great Trail consists mainly of dirt paths and rugged mountain terrain , but that doesn ’ t mean you ’ ll be able to traverse the whole thing with just a pair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trails are water “ trails , ” which require a kayak or canoe .
As you make your way West to the frozen tundra , you may prefer skies or a snowmobile .
Motorized vehicles , for the most part , are forbidden on the trail , except for snowmobiles .
Cross-country skiing , horseback riding and cycling are other acceptable modes of transportation .
If you ever found the time to make it across the whole trail , you ’ d cover just about every type of terrain imaginable , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coastal islands , and even the dreaded frozen tundra .
While most the trail is found in the backcountry , a good chuck still runs through urban areas in major cities such as : Halifax , Montreal , Ottawa , Toronto , Winnipeg and Edmonton .
The longest part of the trail wraps around the Great Lakes in Ontario , where there ’ s the most fresh water in the world .
The views in and around these waters are absolutely stunning .
So , if you ’ re looking for the adventure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rugged backcountry of Oh Canada awaits !

The Great Trail of Canada is nearly 15,000 miles long, connecting major cities to all the natural wonders in between
The Great Trail of Canada is now open for hikers, bikers, kayakers and skiers.
The nearly 15,000-mile-long national treasure took a quarter century to build and has been called the largest volunteer effort in Canadian history.
It will give Canadians easy access to some of the country’s most breathtaking natural wonders.
Rather than a single trail, The Great Trail is a network of hundreds of local trails and greenways that are all now connected by a single “thread.”
Whether you’re starting in the East at St. John’s or starting in the West at Victoria, you’ll have over 400 individual trails to travel through.
They weave across all 10 provinces, with a huge looping detour north through the Yukon and Northwest Territories to the Arctic Ocean.
The Great Trail consists mainly of dirt paths and rugged mountain terrain, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to traverse the whole thing with just a pair of hiking boots.
Over 25 percent of the trails are water “trails,” which require a kayak or canoe.
Motorized vehicles, for the most part, are forbidden on the trail, except for snowmobiles. Cross-country skiing, horseback riding and cycling are other acceptable modes of transportation.
If you ever found the time to make it across the whole trail, you’d cover just about every type of terrain imaginable, from mountains, lakes and plains, to coastal islands, and even the dreaded frozen tundra.
While most the trail is found in the back-country, a good chuck still runs through urban areas in major cities such as: Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton.
The longest part of the trail wraps around the Great Lakes in Ontario, where there’s the most fresh water in the world. The views in and around these waters are absolutely stunning.
So, if you’re looking for the adventure of a lifetime, look no further. The rugged backcountry of Oh Canada awaits!


returntonow--2020-09-14--Dead Bird Nests Contain 36 Pesticides, Including DDT

Concerned Italians have been finding thousands of baby birds dead in their nests .
Testing reveals nest materials contain alarming number of pesticides , including DDT , banned since 1974 .
An alarming number of newborn birds ( tits ) have been found dead in nests all throughout Brussels and Florence .
After a number of concerned citizens reached out to local conservation and ecological groups , the associations decided to see exactly how many dead birds were in their area by starting a crowd-funded campaign .
As a result , over 1000 people sent in dead birds , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These samples were analyzed with shocking results .
“ We found a total of 36 different pesticides in 95 mesh nests , ” Geert Gommers , a pesticide expert said in a statement .
Fungicides , herbicides , insecticides , and biocides were also found in the report .
The real kicker though was that DDT – an insecticide banned since 1974 – was found in 89 of the 95 nests examined .
“ That DDT is still present in our environment after all this time is worrying , ” Gommers continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the most and had never been outside their nest…These results do not make us happy , especially because almost all nests contain one or more pesticides .
”

Concerned Italians have been finding thousands of baby birds dead in their nests. Testing reveals nest materials contain alarming number of pesticides, including DDT, banned since 1974.
An alarming number of newborn birds (tits) have been found dead in nests all throughout Brussels and Florence.
After a number of concerned citizens reached out to local conservation and ecological groups, the associations decided to see exactly how many dead birds were in their area by starting a crowd-funded campaign.
As a result, over 1000 people sent in dead birds, along with their nests, for testing. These samples were analyzed with shocking results.
“We found a total of 36 different pesticides in 95 mesh nests,” Geert Gommers, a pesticide expert said in a statement.
Fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and biocides were also found in the report. The real kicker though was that DDT – an insecticide banned since 1974 – was found in 89 of the 95 nests examined.
“That DDT is still present in our environment after all this time is worrying,” Gommers continued.
“The tits were two weeks old at the most and had never been outside their nest…These results do not make us happy, especially because almost all nests contain one or more pesticides.”


returntonow--2020-09-14--Conservation Officer Fired For Refusing to Kill Orphaned Bear Cubs Wins Court Battle

Court battle reveals how Canadian “ conservation ” officers are used to kill hundreds of “ inconvenient ” black bears each year Canadian conservation officer Bryce Casavant made international headlines 2015 , when he was fired for refusing to kill two orphaned bear cubs .
Five years later , he ’ s finally been vindicated in court .
The law required him to kill their mother for “ stealing ” salmon out of a deep freezer , but seeing as the cubs hadn ’ t committed any such “ crime , ” he had them rehabilitated and released into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defiance of orders by his “ superiors ” at the British Coloumbia Conservation Officers Service , who had instructed him to kill the bears .
The law in British Columbia is that any bears that are deemed to have become reliant on “ human food , ” such as human garbage , are to be shot and killed .
After various reports from residents of the trailer park he ’ d been called out to that the cubs had not been seen rummaging through garbage cans or the deep freezer full of fish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to live and transferred them to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre .
For this , he was fired .
This summer , the BC Court of Appeals has ruled that Casavant was wrongfully terminated .
While the judge did not reinstate him to his post , the ruling will ensure all conservation officers in BC have the legal right to make similar decisions to actually protect and “ conserve ” non-threatening wildlife .
Casavant has since gone to work for a non-governmental , non-profit conservation group called Pacific Wild , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers in check .
Pacific Wild recently published a report revealing the British Columbia Conservation Officers Service had killed 4500 bears in the last 8 years for coming to close to “ human territory , ” looking to make a meal out of the scraps of civilization .
While the BC government claims not a single conservation officer relishes the thought of having to put down animals , Casavant disagrees .
“ British Columbia isn ’ t a shooting gallery for government employees , ” he said .
“ It ’ s unreasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cubs , over 4,000 black bears were killed ‘ as a last resort . '
”

Court battle reveals how Canadian “conservation” officers are used to kill hundreds of “inconvenient” black bears each year
Canadian conservation officer Bryce Casavant made international headlines 2015, when he was fired for refusing to kill two orphaned bear cubs. Five years later, he’s finally been vindicated in court.
The law required him to kill their mother for “stealing” salmon out of a deep freezer, but seeing as the cubs hadn’t committed any such “crime,” he had them rehabilitated and released into the wild.
Casavant made this decision in defiance of orders by his “superiors” at the British Coloumbia Conservation Officers Service, who had instructed him to kill the bears.
The law in British Columbia is that any bears that are deemed to have become reliant on “human food,” such as human garbage, are to be shot and killed.
After various reports from residents of the trailer park he’d been called out to that the cubs had not been seen rummaging through garbage cans or the deep freezer full of fish and meat, Casavant decided they deserved a chance to live and transferred them to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.
For this, he was fired.
This summer, the BC Court of Appeals has ruled that Casavant was wrongfully terminated. While the judge did not reinstate him to his post, the ruling will ensure all conservation officers in BC have the legal right to make similar decisions to actually protect and “conserve” non-threatening wildlife.
Casavant has since gone to work for a non-governmental, non-profit conservation group called Pacific Wild, where he can help keep his former employers in check.
Pacific Wild recently published a report revealing the British Columbia Conservation Officers Service had killed 4500 bears in the last 8 years for coming to close to “human territory,” looking to make a meal out of the scraps of civilization.
While the BC government claims not a single conservation officer relishes the thought of having to put down animals, Casavant disagrees.
“British Columbia isn’t a shooting gallery for government employees,” he said. “It’s unreasonable to believe that, including juvenile bear cubs, over 4,000 black bears were killed ‘as a last resort.’”


returntonow--2020-09-17--Solar-Powered Panels Pull Water Out of the Air for Navajo Families Who Have None

Over 50,000 Navajo live without running water ( from the tap or otherwise ) .
A new technology could change that by attracting water back to the drought-stricken land .
One in three of the 175,000 members of the Navajo Nation lives without running water .
No faucets , no springs , no wells .
Many must travel 2+ hours round-trip to buy bottled water , or fill up tanks at distant , contaminated wells .
The average Navajo person uses about 10 gallons of water per day , while people in surrounding cities such as Phoenix , Las Vegas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gallons per day each .
That ’ s because the Navajo Nation has been excluded from key negotiations like the 1922 Colorado River Compact that decided how much water states had rights to .
With coronavirus highlighting the public health crisis caused by lack of clean water , some Navajo families will finally be getting some relief .
A company called Zero Mass Water has partnered with local Navajo governments and Navajo Power , a public benefit corporation , for a pilot project to provide 15 Navajo families with free water , extracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive two panels to start , enough to provide 2.5 gallons of water per day .
It ’ s not much , but at least they ’ ll always have clean drinking water when they can ’ t get to town .
The pair of panels can also store 30 gallons to be saved for a cloudy day when solar-powered productivity may be low .
The solar-powered hydropanels have fans that draw in air from the atmosphere and push it through a hygroscopic ( a fancy sponge ) .
From there , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condensed into liquid that ’ s collected in the reservoir of the panel , where it gets re-mineralized for ideal taste .
If the pilot goes well , there are plans to expand the project to more families .
The Navajo Nation received $ 714 million in CARES Act funding to cover expenses “ incurred due to the public health emergency , ” such as making sure people have running water to wash their hands .
Every Navajo home in need of water could be outfitted with the hydropanels with less than 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates .

Over 50,000 Navajo live without running water (from the tap or otherwise). A new technology could change that by attracting water back to the drought-stricken land.
One in three of the 175,000 members of the Navajo Nation lives without running water. No faucets, no springs, no wells. Many must travel 2+ hours round-trip to buy bottled water, or fill up tanks at distant, contaminated wells.
The average Navajo person uses about 10 gallons of water per day, while people in surrounding cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Albequerque use between 100 and 200 gallons per day each.
That’s because the Navajo Nation has been excluded from key negotiations like the 1922 Colorado River Compact that decided how much water states had rights to.
With coronavirus highlighting the public health crisis caused by lack of clean water, some Navajo families will finally be getting some relief.
A company called Zero Mass Water has partnered with local Navajo governments and Navajo Power, a public benefit corporation, for a pilot project to provide 15 Navajo families with free water, extracted from thin air.
Each family will receive two panels to start, enough to provide 2.5 gallons of water per day. It’s not much, but at least they’ll always have clean drinking water when they can’t get to town. The pair of panels can also store 30 gallons to be saved for a cloudy day when solar-powered productivity may be low.
The solar-powered hydropanels have fans that draw in air from the atmosphere and push it through a hygroscopic (a fancy sponge). From there, the trapped water vapor is extracted and gets condensed into liquid that’s collected in the reservoir of the panel, where it gets re-mineralized for ideal taste.
If the pilot goes well, there are plans to expand the project to more families.
The Navajo Nation received $714 million in CARES Act funding to cover expenses “incurred due to the public health emergency,” such as making sure people have running water to wash their hands.
Every Navajo home in need of water could be outfitted with the hydropanels with less than 10% of those funds, the company estimates.


returntonow--2020-09-15--Scientists Spot Possible Alien Activity on Venus

Scientists wonder whether aliens are creating a rare , mysterious gas surrounding Venus Scientists have discovered a rare , toxic gas floating in the upper atmosphere of our neighboring planet , suggesting there could be alien life on Venus .
Phosphine , a foul-smelling gas , with the odor of rotting fish , is found in pond slime and penguin dung here on Earth .
It ’ s created by bacteria and other microbes .
Experts agree that it ’ s a a “ biosignature , ” or early sign of life .
In the past , they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quantities on rocky planets would be a certain indicator of alien life .
Venus ’ clouds are so acidic they would destroy any phosphine quickly , meaning something must be actively forming it for it to be present in such large quantities , say an international team of researchers .
“ We had no expectation there was actually going to be any there , ” said Dr Clements , a scientist at Imperial College London who was on the research team investigating the phenomena .
Venus – acidic , and hot enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the chief planets researchers have looked to find alien life .
“ I don ’ t think any astrobiologist would ever have put Venus at the top of the list , ” he says , pointing to better candidates such as Europa , the icy moon orbiting Jupiter , and Mars .
“ But you definitely wouldn ’ t have gone for our next door neighbor on the other side.
” “ Either phosphine is produced by some sort of chemical or geological process that no one knows about – or there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Emily Drabek-Maunder , an astrophysicist from the Royal Observatory Greenwich .

Scientists wonder whether aliens are creating a rare, mysterious gas surrounding Venus
Scientists have discovered a rare, toxic gas floating in the upper atmosphere of our neighboring planet, suggesting there could be alien life on Venus.
Phosphine, a foul-smelling gas, with the odor of rotting fish, is found in pond slime and penguin dung here on Earth. It’s created by bacteria and other microbes.
Experts agree that it’s a a “biosignature,” or early sign of life. In the past, they’ve suggested the discovery of phosphine in large quantities on rocky planets would be a certain indicator of alien life.
Venus’ clouds are so acidic they would destroy any phosphine quickly, meaning something must be actively forming it for it to be present in such large quantities, say an international team of researchers.
“We had no expectation there was actually going to be any there,” said Dr Clements, a scientist at Imperial College London who was on the research team investigating the phenomena.
Venus – acidic, and hot enough to melt lead – has not been one of the chief planets researchers have looked to find alien life.
“This would certainly be a very hellish environment. I’m not using that phrase lightly,” Lewis Dartnell, an astrobiologist from the University of Westminster told The Independent.
“I don’t think any astrobiologist would ever have put Venus at the top of the list,” he says, pointing to better candidates such as Europa, the icy moon orbiting Jupiter, and Mars. “But you definitely wouldn’t have gone for our next door neighbor on the other side.”
“Either phosphine is produced by some sort of chemical or geological process that no one knows about – or there could be a biological reason,” said Emily Drabek-Maunder, an astrophysicist from the Royal Observatory Greenwich.


returntonow--2020-09-15--Sun Tunnels Could Replace Fluorescent Lighting in Commercial and Residential Buildings

Sun tunnels or “ solar tubes ” funnel free , natural light into homes and offices , eliminating the need for health-harming artificial lighting The average American spends 90 % of their time indoors , much of it under the glow of artificial , fluorescent light ( LEDs are a form of fluorescent light ) .
Numerous studies have demonstrated the harmful health effects of fluorescent lighting , including damaged eyesight , stress reactions , nervous system dysregulation , sleep disturbances and melatonin suppression .
Luckily there ’ s a new ( low-tech ) technology that requires no electricity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home or workplace .
Sun tunnels , or solar tubes , collect sunlight from all angles on your rooftop and literally funnel it down in through your ceiling .
The sun-ray bending technology works by refracting , reflecting and concentrating solar light into a small tube using mirrors and lenses .
The result is bright , warm diffused light , similar to the look of an incandescent bulb , but with no electricity or cost involved .
You might be wondering why not just install skylights ?
Because skylights are far more costly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they also transfer more heat into the house , which increases air conditioning costs in the summer .
The lights are great for rooms without windows , or windows facing away from the sun .
The multi-faceted glass dome on top catches light from all angles – no matter where the sun is in the sky – and bends it down into your room , providing bright light from sunrise to sunset , summer through winter .
And , not only are they free to “ operate , ” they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost of a window or skylight , around $ 500 per light .
Some companies even provide sun tunnels equipped with solar-powered soft night lighting , for free lighting around the clock !
Imagine how much money could be saved and carbon emissions could be slashed if adopted on a wide-scale ?

Sun tunnels or “solar tubes” funnel free, natural light into homes and offices, eliminating the need for health-harming artificial lighting
The average American spends 90% of their time indoors, much of it under the glow of artificial, fluorescent light (LEDs are a form of fluorescent light).
Numerous studies have demonstrated the harmful health effects of fluorescent lighting, including damaged eyesight, stress reactions, nervous system dysregulation, sleep disturbances and melatonin suppression.
Luckily there’s a new (low-tech) technology that requires no electricity and that emits only natural light into your home or workplace.
Sun tunnels, or solar tubes, collect sunlight from all angles on your rooftop and literally funnel it down in through your ceiling.
The sun-ray bending technology works by refracting, reflecting and concentrating solar light into a small tube using mirrors and lenses.
The result is bright, warm diffused light, similar to the look of an incandescent bulb, but with no electricity or cost involved.
You might be wondering why not just install skylights? Because skylights are far more costly to install for comparable amounts of light, and they also transfer more heat into the house, which increases air conditioning costs in the summer.
The lights are great for rooms without windows, or windows facing away from the sun. The multi-faceted glass dome on top catches light from all angles – no matter where the sun is in the sky – and bends it down into your room, providing bright light from sunrise to sunset, summer through winter.
And, not only are they free to “operate,” they can be installed at a fraction of the cost of a window or skylight, around $500 per light.
Some companies even provide sun tunnels equipped with solar-powered soft night lighting, for free lighting around the clock!
Imagine how much money could be saved and carbon emissions could be slashed if adopted on a wide-scale?


returntonow--2020-09-21--A Team of Retired U.S. Navy Seals is Saving Teens From Sex Trafficking

A renegade team of retired Navy Seals and private investigators is rescuing hundreds of teens from trafficking for free !
A volunteer team of retired Navy Seals , former law enforcement officers and private investigators has joined together to do the work no one else is doing .
They ’ ve rescued almost 250 American teenagers from the clutches of sex traffickers in the last 5 years .
That ’ s an average of 5 rescues per month .
And they do it all for free !
The 34-man team works for the non-profit “ Saved in America ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cover the equipment and other costs of their special operations .
“ Our payment is the look on the parents ’ faces when they get their child back , ” says the group ’ s founder former police officer and private investigator Joseph Travers .
Inspired by the story of 17-year-old Britanee Drexel of New York ( who was abducted in 2009 , taken to Myrtle Beach , SC , raped repeatedly for days , shot dead and fed to alligators ) Travers recruited a team of Navy Seals and former law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rings in the country .
Globally , over 25,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported in 2016 alone .
This doesn ’ t include the millions who go missing annually without a trace .
While many of us may imagine only poor , orphaned children from war-torn countries are trafficked , the problem is also rampant in middle class America too , with nearly 8,000 cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2016 .
“ People don ’ t realize this is going on in their own backyards .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country with very poor people , ” says Joshua Travers , Joseph ’ s son , a former U.S. Marine .
“ This could be your next-door neighbor , your child , anyone ’ s child .
A lot of these kids are from a middle class family in the United States .
They aren ’ t incredibly poor or involved in abuse or bad situations at home.
” Hot spots for human trafficking include border states California , Florida and Texas , as well as New York , and go hand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Travers says .
“ I knew that street gangs , prison gangs and cartels took over drug trafficking in the 1980s and then they took over sex trafficking at the turn of the century , ” Travers told People Magazine .
“ When I read about Brittanee Drexel , who disappeared off the face of the planet , I just knew gangs were involved.
” Travers ’ group of special investigators uses tips on social media , interviews with family and friends and drone video cameras to locate missing teens ( typically between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls in local law enforcement to extract them .
It ’ s a lifesaver for families who don ’ t have the financial resources to hire private investigators and can ’ t get help from already swamped public servants .
Sixty percent of missing teens whose parents call Saved in America are rescued before they are sold into sex slavery .
For those not so lucky , the organization assists in procuring legal representation , safe housing , and rehabilitative therapy .
It also provides assistance to high-risk juvenile shelters to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predators .
The more funds this team of heroes has the more children it can save .
Donate on their website SavedInAmerica.org .

A renegade team of retired Navy Seals and private investigators is rescuing hundreds of teens from trafficking for free!
A volunteer team of retired Navy Seals, former law enforcement officers and private investigators has joined together to do the work no one else is doing.
They’ve rescued almost 250 American teenagers from the clutches of sex traffickers in the last 5 years. That’s an average of 5 rescues per month. And they do it all for free!
The 34-man team works for the non-profit “Saved in America” for no pay. All donations are used to cover the equipment and other costs of their special operations.
“Our payment is the look on the parents’ faces when they get their child back,” says the group’s founder former police officer and private investigator Joseph Travers.
Inspired by the story of 17-year-old Britanee Drexel of New York (who was abducted in 2009, taken to Myrtle Beach, SC, raped repeatedly for days, shot dead and fed to alligators) Travers recruited a team of Navy Seals and former law enforcement to fight the rampant sex trafficking rings in the country.
Globally, over 25,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported in 2016 alone. This doesn’t include the millions who go missing annually without a trace.
While many of us may imagine only poor, orphaned children from war-torn countries are trafficked, the problem is also rampant in middle class America too, with nearly 8,000 cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2016.
“People don’t realize this is going on in their own backyards. This isn’t in some far away country with very poor people,” says Joshua Travers, Joseph’s son, a former U.S. Marine. “This could be your next-door neighbor, your child, anyone’s child. A lot of these kids are from a middle class family in the United States. They aren’t incredibly poor or involved in abuse or bad situations at home.”
Hot spots for human trafficking include border states California, Florida and Texas, as well as New York, and go hand in hand with drug trafficking hot spots, Travers says.
“I knew that street gangs, prison gangs and cartels took over drug trafficking in the 1980s and then they took over sex trafficking at the turn of the century,” Travers told People Magazine. “When I read about Brittanee Drexel, who disappeared off the face of the planet, I just knew gangs were involved.”
Travers’ group of special investigators uses tips on social media, interviews with family and friends and drone video cameras to locate missing teens (typically between ages 14 and 17) and then calls in local law enforcement to extract them.
It’s a lifesaver for families who don’t have the financial resources to hire private investigators and can’t get help from already swamped public servants.
Sixty percent of missing teens whose parents call Saved in America are rescued before they are sold into sex slavery. For those not so lucky, the organization assists in procuring legal representation, safe housing, and rehabilitative therapy.
It also provides assistance to high-risk juvenile shelters to protect the children from further exploitation by pimps and predators.
The more funds this team of heroes has the more children it can save. Donate on their website SavedInAmerica.org.


returntonow--2020-09-20--Farmer Plants 2 Million Sunflowers to Make People Smile

Instead of strawberries , farmer plants 22 acres of sunflowers , to lift spirits during gloomy year A Kenosha , Wisconsin strawberry farmer wanted to brighten people ’ s otherwise dismal summer with fields and fields of sunflowers .
It was his wife ’ s idea actually .
She and Scott Thompson decided people needed sunflowers in their lives more than strawberries this year , so they got busy planting 2 million of them !
“ As the season went on , the pandemic never went anywhere … and we thought people might be looking for something to do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance and … smile , basically , ” Thompson said .
And because they planted the seeds in phases , cheery yellow flowers keep popping up in waves , stretching the blooming “ season ” from 2 weeks to 8 weeks , from the beginning of August to the end of September .
And people are loving it !
Especially city folk ( from as far as Chicago ) looking for a day off of the town where they can take off their mask , breathe in the fresh air , and bask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With 15 fields of flowers , there ’ s plenty of room to roam , take photo shoots , and pick flowers ( each carload is allowed a dozen for $ 25 ) .
“ It ’ s just a naturally , socially-distant activity , ” Thompson said .
“ People want an hour…to be outside , and just kind of feel a little sense of normalcy in our lives — so it ’ s had a lot of positive impact.
” While his strawberry profits may have suffered this year , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sunflowers , which are known powerhouses for soil remediation .
In addition to sunflowers , Thompson also planted a field of zinnias , a field of wildflowers , and Mexican sunflowers that are known for attracting butterflies .

Instead of strawberries, farmer plants 22 acres of sunflowers, to lift spirits during gloomy year
A Kenosha, Wisconsin strawberry farmer wanted to brighten people’s otherwise dismal summer with fields and fields of sunflowers.
It was his wife’s idea actually. She and Scott Thompson decided people needed sunflowers in their lives more than strawberries this year, so they got busy planting 2 million of them!
“As the season went on, the pandemic never went anywhere … and we thought people might be looking for something to do, and what a great way to social distance and … smile, basically,” Thompson said.
And because they planted the seeds in phases, cheery yellow flowers keep popping up in waves, stretching the blooming “season” from 2 weeks to 8 weeks, from the beginning of August to the end of September.
And people are loving it! Especially city folk (from as far as Chicago) looking for a day off of the town where they can take off their mask, breathe in the fresh air, and bask in the sunshine alongside the flowers.
With 15 fields of flowers, there’s plenty of room to roam, take photo shoots, and pick flowers (each carload is allowed a dozen for $25).
“It’s just a naturally, socially-distant activity,” Thompson said. “People want an hour…to be outside, and just kind of feel a little sense of normalcy in our lives — so it’s had a lot of positive impact.”
While his strawberry profits may have suffered this year, his soil will be enriched next year by the sunflowers, which are known powerhouses for soil remediation.
In addition to sunflowers, Thompson also planted a field of zinnias, a field of wildflowers, and Mexican sunflowers that are known for attracting butterflies.