returntonow--2020-06-06--Bananas Don’t Grow on Trees: They Grow on Herbs and Are Technically Berries

There ’ s no wood in banana “ trees.
” They ’ re actually giant herbs and bananas are actually giant berries .
Cooks in kitchens all over the world like to debate whether a tomato is a fruit or vegetable , but have cuisine connoisseurs ever thought to question certain designations for other fruits , such as bananas ?
While it ’ s true a banana is a fruit , it ’ s not commonly known as a berry .
All berries are fruits , but not all fruits are berries .
So , what ’ s the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ botanists define a fruit as the portion of a flowering plant that develops from the ovary .
And veggies are pretty much any part of the plant that aren ’ t considered a fruit .
Okay , so how does this translate into a banana being a berry ?
Well , botanists consider any fleshy fruit , without pit , from a single flower containing one ovary to be a berry .
“ Botanically speaking , a berry has three distinct fleshy layers : the exocarp ( outer skin ) , mesocarp ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part , which holds the seeds ) .
For instance , a grape ’ s outer skin is the exocarp , its fleshy middle is the mesocarp and the jelly-like insides holding the seeds constitute the endocarp , ” Jernstedt told Live Science .
In addition to the three layers of skin , a berry must have more than one seed .
And guess who meets all above the criteria : A yellow peeled , white fleshed , seed carrying B-A-N-A-N-A .
Other unusual fruits that are also berries include tomatoes , pomegranates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering cherries , plums and olives as potential berries , cross them off your list , along with other fruits containing one central stone .
Strawberries and raspberries aren ’ t really berries in the botanical sense either .
They come from a single flower with more than one ovary , making them an aggregate fruit .
Whoa , who would have thought fruits with “ berry ” in their name wouldn ’ t be berries at all… but a banana would be ?
And berries don ’ t grow on trees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though the banana “ tree ” appears to have a trunk , it actually contains no woody tissue .
Rather it consists of layers and layers of leaves furled around one another form a “ false stem ” that can be as much as 12 inches thick and 40 feet tall , making it one of the largest “ herbs ” on the planet .

There’s no wood in banana “trees.” They’re actually giant herbs and bananas are actually giant berries.
Cooks in kitchens all over the world like to debate whether a tomato is a fruit or vegetable, but have cuisine connoisseurs ever thought to question certain designations for other fruits, such as bananas?
While it’s true a banana is a fruit, it’s not commonly known as a berry. All berries are fruits, but not all fruits are berries.
So, what’s the difference between fruit and berry?
Well, botanists define a fruit as the portion of a flowering plant that develops from the ovary.
And veggies are pretty much any part of the plant that aren’t considered a fruit.
Okay, so how does this translate into a banana being a berry?
Well, botanists consider any fleshy fruit, without pit, from a single flower containing one ovary to be a berry.
“Botanically speaking, a berry has three distinct fleshy layers: the exocarp (outer skin), mesocarp (fleshy middle) and endocarp (innermost part, which holds the seeds). For instance, a grape’s outer skin is the exocarp, its fleshy middle is the mesocarp and the jelly-like insides holding the seeds constitute the endocarp,” Jernstedt told Live Science.
In addition to the three layers of skin, a berry must have more than one seed.
And guess who meets all above the criteria: A yellow peeled, white fleshed, seed carrying B-A-N-A-N-A.
Other unusual fruits that are also berries include tomatoes, pomegranates and kiwis.
If you’re considering cherries, plums and olives as potential berries, cross them off your list, along with other fruits containing one central stone.
Strawberries and raspberries aren’t really berries in the botanical sense either. They come from a single flower with more than one ovary, making them an aggregate fruit.
Whoa, who would have thought fruits with “berry” in their name wouldn’t be berries at all… but a banana would be?
Mind blown, reality shattered.
And berries don’t grow on trees. They grow on herbaceous bushes or shrubs. Though the banana “tree” appears to have a trunk, it actually contains no woody tissue. Rather it consists of layers and layers of leaves furled around one another form a “false stem” that can be as much as 12 inches thick and 40 feet tall, making it one of the largest “herbs” on the planet.


returntonow--2020-06-07--Beautiful Painted Buntings Are Colorful Birds That Perfectly Live Up To Their Name

I don ’ t think Mother Nature could dream up a more vibrantly colored bird than Painted Buntings .
The colors are so bright , so vivid and captivating that it ’ s hard not to be struck in awe at the sight of them .
There ’ s only one problem , it ’ s hard to actually get a good look at them for that star struck moment .
This Cardinalidae bird species thrives in dense vegetation and is located in Texas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Louisiana and Mississippi during the summer , reaching into northeastern Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrate , Painted Buntings fly through Mexico and Florida to spend the winter in Central America and the southern part of Florida .
These birds are shy and avoid the lime-light as they stay low to the ground , foraging for seeds along roadsides , gardens , woodland edges and hedgerows .
Only when it ’ s time to breed do Painted Buntings change up their diet from seeds to insects in order to supply their nestlings with protein .
They ’ ll eat grasshoppers , weevils and other beetles , caterpillars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and flies during this short time .
While it may be hard to spot them in the wild , it isn ’ t impossible to lure them onto your property .
If you would like to entice them into your yard , strategically place a bird feeder low to the ground , around some bushes .
White millet , which is found in most bird seeds blends , should do the trick to get them to come out of hiding .

Painted Buntings look like brightly colored rainbows.
I don’t think Mother Nature could dream up a more vibrantly colored bird than Painted Buntings. The colors are so bright, so vivid and captivating that it’s hard not to be struck in awe at the sight of them.
There’s only one problem, it’s hard to actually get a good look at them for that star struck moment.
This Cardinalidae bird species thrives in dense vegetation and is located in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi during the summer, reaching into northeastern Mexico.
Once it’s time to migrate, Painted Buntings fly through Mexico and Florida to spend the winter in Central America and the southern part of Florida.
These birds are shy and avoid the lime-light as they stay low to the ground, foraging for seeds along roadsides, gardens, woodland edges and hedgerows.
Only when it’s time to breed do Painted Buntings change up their diet from seeds to insects in order to supply their nestlings with protein.
They’ll eat grasshoppers, weevils and other beetles, caterpillars, bugs, spiders, snails, wasps and flies during this short time.
While it may be hard to spot them in the wild, it isn’t impossible to lure them onto your property.
If you would like to entice them into your yard, strategically place a bird feeder low to the ground, around some bushes.
White millet, which is found in most bird seeds blends, should do the trick to get them to come out of hiding.


returntonow--2020-06-07--“We Need to Stop Sanitizing Everything and Let Bacteria Back Into Our Lives,” Biologist Says

Leading biologist calls for making hospitals dirty again , claiming sterilizing our rich microbial ecosystems has caused more harm than good .
He came to this conclusion after discovering that dolphins were far healthier , the “ dirtier ” their aquarium water was .
When Dr. Jack Gilbert began studying dolphins in 2014 , he made a life-changing discovery – the “ dirtier ” the aquarium water was , the healthier the dolphins were .
This observation changed his view of everything he thought he knew about bacteria and other microbes that the modern world is so afraid of .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the microbial diversity of the home , ” Gilbert told The New York Post .
According to Gilbert , who serves as associate director of the Institute for Genomic and Systems Biology at Argonne National Laboratory , the lack of a rich microbial ecosystem , especially in our hospitals , might be causing more harm than good , leading to drug-resistant super bugs and infection-causing viruses .
“ There are more bacteria in your gut than there are stars in our galaxy … and of these fewer than 100 species of bacteria compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as saying in science writer Ed Yong ’ s book I Contain Multitudes .
Studies continue to prove that the best way to allow those few invasive species to exploit our bodies is to wipe out the diverse abundance of beneficial species that co-exist harmoniously and help us maintain homeostasis .
The overuse of antibiotics and anti-bacterial cleaners is disturbing this healthy balance of protective microbes in our bodies and larger environments .
Therefore , diversity , not sterility , should be our goal when it comes to micro-organisms , Gilbert argues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , we can not underestimate the importance of microbes , Yong argues in his book : “ Microbes have spent 90 percent more time on Earth than we have , invisibly evolving for millions of years .
Instead of evolving alongside them , we joined forces with them in what scientists call co-development .
We can not live without the microbes we host.
” Not only can we not live without them , we pretty much ARE them !
More than 99 percent of the genetic material in our bodies is bacterial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rob Knight points out .
Microbes , replace dying and damaged cells , help our bodies absorb and store nutrients and fat and even impact the shape our organs .
They are the foundation of our immune systems , keeping “ invaders ” out helping our bodies learn to live with viral diseases that enter our bloodstream .
Our gut flora are responsible for digesting our food and regulating our moods and behavior .
They determine how often we get bitten by mosquitoes , which painkillers are toxic to our liver , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and maybe even who we are sexually attracted to , Knight says .
As further evidence we need to live “ dirtier ” lives , the “ miracle ” cure for C. diff ( a bacteria that causes diarrhea and colitis ) has been found in a surprising place – the toilet !
Fecal transplants , where healthy donor stool is placed inside the gastrointestinal tract of C. diff sufferers , reestablish a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut .
It now comes in pill form .
“ In 2008 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11,000 years in isolation , were spotted in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest , ” the New York Post reports .
“ Scientists discovered that thousands of years of seclusion had left them with the most diverse microbiomes they had ever seen .
They concluded their microbial diversity was further proof that the battles waged against germs in the industrialized world had worked a little too well .
Those of us living in modern cities , towns and villages had destroyed so much of the healthy microscopic life that belonged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own microbiomes comparatively deficient.
” So there you have it .
Maybe instead of scrubbing with soap and water – or , God-forbid , chemical hand sanitizer – we should do like the hunter-gatherers do and start washing our hands in the microbe-rich guts of dead animals 😉

Leading biologist calls for making hospitals dirty again, claiming sterilizing our rich microbial ecosystems has caused more harm than good. He came to this conclusion after discovering that dolphins were far healthier, the “dirtier” their aquarium water was.
When Dr. Jack Gilbert began studying dolphins in 2014, he made a life-changing discovery – the “dirtier” the aquarium water was, the healthier the dolphins were.
This observation changed his view of everything he thought he knew about bacteria and other microbes that the modern world is so afraid of.
“We saw the benefit in increasing the microbial diversity of the home,” Gilbert told The New York Post.
According to Gilbert, who serves as associate director of the Institute for Genomic and Systems Biology at Argonne National Laboratory, the lack of a rich microbial ecosystem, especially in our hospitals, might be causing more harm than good, leading to drug-resistant super bugs and infection-causing viruses.
“There are more bacteria in your gut than there are stars in our galaxy … and of these fewer than 100 species of bacteria compromise our health,” Gilbert is quoted as saying in science writer Ed Yong’s book I Contain Multitudes.
Studies continue to prove that the best way to allow those few invasive species to exploit our bodies is to wipe out the diverse abundance of beneficial species that co-exist harmoniously and help us maintain homeostasis.
The overuse of antibiotics and anti-bacterial cleaners is disturbing this healthy balance of protective microbes in our bodies and larger environments.
Therefore, diversity, not sterility, should be our goal when it comes to micro-organisms, Gilbert argues.
Even though we can’t see them, we cannot underestimate the importance of microbes, Yong argues in his book:
“Microbes have spent 90 percent more time on Earth than we have, invisibly evolving for millions of years. Instead of evolving alongside them, we joined forces with them in what scientists call co-development. We cannot live without the microbes we host.”
Not only can we not live without them, we pretty much ARE them! More than 99 percent of the genetic material in our bodies is bacterial, founder of the American Gut Project Rob Knight points out.
Microbes, replace dying and damaged cells, help our bodies absorb and store nutrients and fat and even impact the shape our organs. They are the foundation of our immune systems, keeping “invaders” out helping our bodies learn to live with viral diseases that enter our bloodstream.
Our gut flora are responsible for digesting our food and regulating our moods and behavior. They determine how often we get bitten by mosquitoes, which painkillers are toxic to our liver, which drugs will work on our hearts, and maybe even who we are sexually attracted to, Knight says.
As further evidence we need to live “dirtier” lives, the “miracle” cure for C. diff (a bacteria associated with diarrhea and colitis) has been found in a surprising place – the toilet! Fecal transplants, where healthy donor stool is placed inside the gastrointestinal tract of C. diff sufferers, reestablish a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. It now comes in pill form.
“In 2008, a group of villagers believed to have spent 11,000 years in isolation, were spotted in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest,” the New York Post reports. “Scientists discovered that thousands of years of seclusion had left them with the most diverse microbiomes they had ever seen. They concluded their microbial diversity was further proof that the battles waged against germs in the industrialized world had worked a little too well. Those of us living in modern cities, towns and villages had destroyed so much of the healthy microscopic life that belonged in our bodies, it had rendered our own microbiomes comparatively deficient.”
So there you have it. Maybe instead of scrubbing with soap and water – or, God-forbid, chemical hand sanitizer – we should do like the hunter-gatherers do and start washing our hands in the microbe-rich guts of dead animals 😉


returntonow--2020-06-05--Photographer Captures Northern Lights Taking the Shape of a Phoenix for 60 Seconds

A symbol of immortality , a the legendary firebird appears to “ rise from the ashes ” above the North Pole If you ’ re feeling hopeless in these troubled times , you might take courage from a recent miraculous display of the Northern Lights .
Icelandic photographer Hallgrimur Helgason says he always gets a rush out of photographing the Aurora Borealis , but a shot he captured in winter of 2016 is still his favorite of all time .
He calls it “ Phoenix Rising.
” “ Sometimes the Lights put on a spectacular show , but unfortunately images @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he tells the Press and Journal .
“ I was shooting another direction when this phenomenon appeared at the corner of my eye .
Of course I quickly re-positioned the camera and made three shots , vertorama , to get it all.
” He said the image lasted about 60 seconds before it started to dissipate .
The dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis ( North Pole ) and Aurora Australis ( South Pole ) are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun and Earth ’ s atmosphere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Lights photography far away from city light pollution and never uses a flash .
“ It ’ s really a thrill shooting the aurora , especially when they are so playful like they were that night .
I have to admit that I always get an adrenaline kick when the lights burst out like that – that particular shot was the top one of the night.
” In Greek mythology , the phoenix , or firebird , represented immortality and rebirth , rising again and again from the ashes of its predecessors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern Lights .
In Norse mythology , they are believed to have been created by the reflection of the shields and armor of the Valkyrie .
It was also called the “ Bifrost Bridge , ” a glowing and throbbing arch that led those who had fallen in battle to Valhalla , the final resting place of the warriors .
The Sami indigenous people believe the Lights are their ancestors , coming to visit them .
Finns believed that a mystical fox created the Lights when its fluffy tail sprayed snow and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salteaus Indians of eastern Canada and the Kwakiutl and Tlingit of Southeastern Alaska believe they are dancing human spirits , while Inuits thought of them as dancing animal spirits .

A symbol of immortality, a the legendary firebird appears to “rise from the ashes” above the North Pole
If you’re feeling hopeless in these troubled times, you might take courage from a recent miraculous display of the Northern Lights.
Icelandic photographer Hallgrimur Helgason says he always gets a rush out of photographing the Aurora Borealis, but a shot he captured in winter of 2016 is still his favorite of all time. He calls it “Phoenix Rising.”
“Sometimes the Lights put on a spectacular show, but unfortunately images like that don’t last long,” he tells the Press and Journal.
“I was shooting another direction when this phenomenon appeared at the corner of my eye. Of course I quickly re-positioned the camera and made three shots, vertorama, to get it all.” He said the image lasted about 60 seconds before it started to dissipate.
The dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis (North Pole) and Aurora Australis (South Pole) are caused by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun and Earth’s atmosphere.
Helgason says he always takes his Northern Lights photography far away from city light pollution and never uses a flash.
“It’s really a thrill shooting the aurora, especially when they are so playful like they were that night. I have to admit that I always get an adrenaline kick when the lights burst out like that – that particular shot was the top one of the night.”
In Greek mythology, the phoenix, or firebird, represented immortality and rebirth, rising again and again from the ashes of its predecessors.
There are also many myths surrounding the Northern Lights.
In Norse mythology, they are believed to have been created by the reflection of the shields and armor of the Valkyrie.
It was also called the “Bifrost Bridge,” a glowing and throbbing arch that led those who had fallen in battle to Valhalla, the final resting place of the warriors.
The Sami indigenous people believe the Lights are their ancestors, coming to visit them.
Finns believed that a mystical fox created the Lights when its fluffy tail sprayed snow and threw sparks in the sky.
The Salteaus Indians of eastern Canada and the Kwakiutl and Tlingit of Southeastern Alaska believe they are dancing human spirits, while Inuits thought of them as dancing animal spirits.


returntonow--2020-06-08--Looney Toons Strips Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam of Their Guns

Warner Bros. wants to wipe Fudd ’ s rifle and Sam ’ s pistols from our memories in a new politically correct version of Loony Toons Try to imagine Elmer Fudd chasing Bugs Bunny without his rifle , or Yosemite Sam robbing a bank without his pistols .
But the producers of a new version of Looney Toons have rewritten the script… and even though it ’ s just as violent as ever , it doesn ’ t include any guns .
Knives , scythes and blowing each other up with dynamite are still perfectly acceptable , but guns are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , politically correct Looney Toons coming soon to HBO .
“ We ’ re not doing guns .
But we can do cartoony violence — TNT , the Acme stuff .
All of that was kind of grandfathered in , ” executive producer of the new series , Peter Browngardt , told The New York Times .
The decision was made “ in response to U.S. gun violence , ” The Daily Mail reports .
Gun rights advocates see the move as an attempt by Hollywood to help usher in gun control in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns keep getting bigger – to demonize responsible American gun owners and a “ well-armed militia ” in the face of a ever-expanding police state .
Conveniently the weapons still allowed on TV are useless compared to government ’ s big guns : Here ’ s a clip from the good ‘ ole days , if you feel like getting nostalgic .

Warner Bros. wants to wipe Fudd’s rifle and Sam’s pistols from our memories in a new politically correct version of Loony Toons
Try to imagine Elmer Fudd chasing Bugs Bunny without his rifle, or Yosemite Sam robbing a bank without his pistols.
Seems impossible, right?
But the producers of a new version of Looney Toons have rewritten the script… and even though it’s just as violent as ever, it doesn’t include any guns.
Knives, scythes and blowing each other up with dynamite are still perfectly acceptable, but guns are a big no no in the modern, politically correct Looney Toons coming soon to HBO.
“We’re not doing guns. But we can do cartoony violence — TNT, the Acme stuff. All of that was kind of grandfathered in,” executive producer of the new series, Peter Browngardt, told The New York Times.
The decision was made “in response to U.S. gun violence,” The Daily Mail reports.
Gun rights advocates see the move as an attempt by Hollywood to help usher in gun control in a time when the government’s guns keep getting bigger – to demonize responsible American gun owners and a “well-armed militia” in the face of a ever-expanding police state.
Conveniently the weapons still allowed on TV are useless compared to government’s big guns:
Here’s a clip from the good ‘ole days, if you feel like getting nostalgic.


returntonow--2020-06-11--Adult Version Of The Little Tikes Toy Car Is Legal And It Goes Up To 70MPH

Two brothers from the UK transformed the Cozy Coupe into a real life street cruiser How much fun did we have as kids cruising around in our Little Tykes and Big Wheels ?
If those memories get you revved up , then get ready for the the classic red and yellow adult sized version , which is now available for adults .
Geoff and John Bitmead used an old Daewoo Matiz SE 0.8 from 2000 and equipped it with a gas tank , airbags , headlights and mirrors .
After their modifications , the newly transformed Cozy Coupe could reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour .
The adult sized Little Tyke cost over $ 5,000.00 to build and over 1,000 hours in labor in the course of 16 weeks .
Since its inception , it ’ s traveled over 7,000 miles from Peterborough , Southampton and Bournemouth .
The Bitmeads specialize in designing custom cars for TV and film productions .
Their company , Attitude Autos , is set in an old army theatre just outside of Oxford , UK .
John was inspired to make the adult version when one of his employees told him how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son .
That night he went to work drawing up plans , which he shared with his team the very next day .
“ We had to cut the Daewoo in half to make it much smaller .
Because of this we had to reinforce absolutely everything to make it super sturdy .
The shortened length means that it now turns on a sixpence because of the shortened body , so it ’ s super agile and very easy to nip about in , ” John said .
The toy version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Jim Mariol of Cincinnati-based Design Alliance , who had worked as a designer at at Chrysler since the 1950 ’ s .
The concept , described as “ a cross between a Volkswagen Beetle and Fred Flintstone ’ s vehicle ” was one of this first molded plastic cars sold in the U.S .

Two brothers from the UK transformed the Cozy Coupe into a real life street cruiser
How much fun did we have as kids cruising around in our Little Tykes and Big Wheels?
If those memories get you revved up, then get ready for the the classic red and yellow adult sized version, which is now available for adults.
Geoff and John Bitmead used an old Daewoo Matiz SE 0.8 from 2000 and equipped it with a gas tank, airbags, headlights and mirrors. After their modifications, the newly transformed Cozy Coupe could reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour.
The adult sized Little Tyke cost over $5,000.00 to build and over 1,000 hours in labor in the course of 16 weeks. Since its inception, it’s traveled over 7,000 miles from Peterborough, Southampton and Bournemouth.
The Bitmeads specialize in designing custom cars for TV and film productions. Their company, Attitude Autos, is set in an old army theatre just outside of Oxford, UK.
John was inspired to make the adult version when one of his employees told him how he motorized the kid sized edition for his son. That night he went to work drawing up plans, which he shared with his team the very next day.
“We had to cut the Daewoo in half to make it much smaller. Because of this we had to reinforce absolutely everything to make it super sturdy. The shortened length means that it now turns on a sixpence because of the shortened body, so it’s super agile and very easy to nip about in,” John said.
The toy version of the Cozy Coupe was designed in 1979 by Jim Mariol of Cincinnati-based Design Alliance, who had worked as a designer at at Chrysler since the 1950’s. The concept, described as “a cross between a Volkswagen Beetle and Fred Flintstone’s vehicle” was one of this first molded plastic cars sold in the U.S.


returntonow--2020-06-15--Endangered Seahorse Makes a Comeback Due to Lockdown

The largest amount of seahorses were discovered for the first time since 2008 .
Covid-19 has brought people around the world to a standstill but that hasn ’ t stopped a certain endangered species from making a comeback .
In Studland Bay in Dorset , England , divers discovered 16 spiny seahorses , the largest amount recorded in that area since 2008 .
The Seahorse Trust believes they are coming out due to the slowdown from the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We have seen so many seahorses because the food chain has recovered , giving seahorses plenty of food to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hide , ” said Neil Garrick-Maidment , the trust founder .
“ The seagrass has started to repair itself , and the spiny seahorses have taken advantage of this , ” he continued .
There are two types of seahorse species found in England – the spiny and short-snouted – and both were put under protective status in 2008 by The Wildlife and Countryside Act .
“ The 16 seahorses discovered on a single dive are an amazing discovery , but we now need the Marine Management Organisation ( MMO ) and Natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act and the Marine Conservation Zone and put in place measures such as environmentally friendly moorings.
” “ The seahorses need protection to stop them being disturbed again as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted , and to stop them vanishing from this legally protected site.
” “ We have a unique opportunity to help nature and to restore the balance of our planet .
”

The largest number of seahorses were discovered for the first time since 2008.
Covid-19 has brought people around the world to a standstill but that hasn’t stopped a certain endangered species from making a comeback.
In Studland Bay in Dorset, England, divers discovered 16 spiny seahorses, the largest number recorded in that area since 2008.
The Seahorse Trust believes they are coming out due to the slowdown from the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have seen so many seahorses because the food chain has recovered, giving seahorses plenty of food to eat, and crucially, somewhere to hide,” said Neil Garrick-Maidment, the trust founder.
“The seagrass has started to repair itself, and the spiny seahorses have taken advantage of this,” he continued.
There are two types of seahorse species found in England – the spiny and short-snouted – and both were put under protective status in 2008 by The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Mr Garrick-Maidment said:
“The 16 seahorses discovered on a single dive are an amazing discovery, but we now need the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Natural England to enforce the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Marine Conservation Zone and put in place measures such as environmentally friendly moorings.”
“The seahorses need protection to stop them being disturbed again as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and to stop them vanishing from this legally protected site.”
“We have a unique opportunity to help nature and to restore the balance of our planet.”


returntonow--2020-06-16--TransMountain Pipeline Spills 50,000 Gallons of Oil on Indigenous Land in British Columbia

Approximately 50,193 gallons of crude oil in Abbotsford , British Columbia came gushing out of Canada ’ s Trans Mountain pipeline early Saturday morning , polluting indigenous fields nearby .
All the freestanding oil has been “ mopped ” up and the company that runs the pipeline is monitoring the groundwater and air quality , but safety concerns among remain .
The spill occurred right over a drinking water aquifer on on the Sumas First Nation reserve .
“ With it being on kind of a swampy area , my big concern is seepage into the ground , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into account the cumulative effects of something like that , ” said Chief Dalton Silver .
“ We can not continue to have our land desecrated by oil spills.
” This is the fourth time in 15 years that the pipeline has spilled on his people ’ s land .
While the cause of the spill is still under investigation , the company believes that it may have been a fitting failure on a small one inch pipe .
The federal Transportation Safety Board is investigating the spill separately from TransMountain , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spill “ deeply concerning.
” “ Our government maintains that the TMX project poses unacceptable risks to our environment , our coast and our economy , ” said the ministry in a statement .
After shutting down for about 36 hours , the pipeline returned to normal operations Sunday afternoon .

Approximately 50,193 gallons of crude oil in Abbotsford, British Columbia came gushing out of Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline early Saturday morning, polluting indigenous fields nearby.
All the freestanding oil has been “mopped” up and the company that runs the pipeline is monitoring the groundwater and air quality, but safety concerns among remain.
The spill occurred right over a drinking water aquifer on on the Sumas First Nation reserve.
“With it being on kind of a swampy area, my big concern is seepage into the ground, and I’m wondering if people are taking into account the cumulative effects of something like that,” said Chief Dalton Silver. “We cannot continue to have our land desecrated by oil spills.”
This is the fourth time in 15 years that the pipeline has spilled on his people’s land.
While the cause of the spill is still under investigation, the company believes that it may have been a fitting failure on a small one inch pipe.
The federal Transportation Safety Board is investigating the spill separately from TransMountain, and B.C.’s Ministry of Environment called the spill “deeply concerning.”
“Our government maintains that the TMX project poses unacceptable risks to our environment, our coast and our economy,” said the ministry in a statement.
After shutting down for about 36 hours, the pipeline returned to normal operations Sunday afternoon.


returntonow--2020-06-16--“Little Free Seed Libraries” are Sprouting Up to Help Gardeners Share Seeds in Troubled Times

Take a packet , leave a packet .
Little free libraries now offer seeds to help preserve biodiversity and food security .
“ Little free libraries ” have expanded their inventories to include local , heirloom seeds .
Around a decade ago , hundreds of public libraries around the country started offering free seed exchanges , as an effort to preserve crop varieties that might be lost forever if not shared .
Now that public libraries are closed due to coronavirus , the effort has gone rogue , popping up in the form of “ little free seed libraries ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
“ We ’ ve been adding to our garden every year – especially this year – and we have a lot of extra seeds , so we thought it ’ d be nice to share , ” Lindsey Werkhoven of Seattle tells her local news station .
In exchange , her neighbors are leaving all kinds of new seed varieties for her garden .
In Minnesota , the Deluth Community Garden Program has set up four little free seed libraries around the city .
“ Food security is definitely threatened for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Program Director Megan Wilder says .
“ People have less income because of financial constraints because of Covid-19 .
Also , we are seeing supply chains get stressed and we may not have items in grocery stores that we normally would.
” In Nova Scotia , Canada , an activist has build a little free “ plant ” library , which offers an exchange of already-sprouted seedlings .
“ I was getting transplants and they come in packs of six , ” she said .
“ I ’ d want three types @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want that many tomatoes .
I didn ’ t want to throw them away and trying to arrange to meet people was becoming difficult so I just kind of said I ’ ll set this up at the end of the driveway and put it out there and whoever wants to stop by can take them .
I may have six tomatoes and you guys may have six cucumbers so it makes more sense to just trade them.
” Saving seeds is also a way of promoting plant and food biodiversity at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ChemChina , Bayer and BASF — control 60 percent of the global seed market Corporate control and patenting of seeds could lead to further losses of crop diversity , as companies focus on just a few crop varieties , such as corn , wheat and soy .

Take a packet, leave a packet. Little free libraries now offer seeds to help preserve biodiversity and food security.
“Little free libraries” have expanded their inventories to include local, heirloom seeds.
Around a decade ago, hundreds of public libraries around the country started offering free seed exchanges, as an effort to preserve crop varieties that might be lost forever if not shared.
Now that public libraries are closed due to coronavirus, the effort has gone rogue, popping up in the form of “little free seed libraries” in urban and suburban yards around the country.
“We’ve been adding to our garden every year – especially this year – and we have a lot of extra seeds, so we thought it’d be nice to share,” Lindsey Werkhoven of Seattle tells her local news station.
In exchange, her neighbors are leaving all kinds of new seed varieties for her garden.
In Minnesota, the Deluth Community Garden Program has set up four little free seed libraries around the city.
“Food security is definitely threatened for a lot of our community members,” Program Director Megan Wilder says. “People have less income because of financial constraints because of Covid-19. Also, we are seeing supply chains get stressed and we may not have items in grocery stores that we normally would.”
In Nova Scotia, Canada, an activist has build a little free “plant” library, which offers an exchange of already-sprouted seedlings.
“I was getting transplants and they come in packs of six,” she said. “I’d want three types of tomatoes but I didn’t want that many tomatoes. I didn’t want to throw them away and trying to arrange to meet people was becoming difficult so I just kind of said I’ll set this up at the end of the driveway and put it out there and whoever wants to stop by can take them. I may have six tomatoes and you guys may have six cucumbers so it makes more sense to just trade them.”
Saving seeds is also a way of promoting plant and food biodiversity at a time when just four companies — Corteva, ChemChina, Bayer and BASF — control 60 percent of the global seed market
Corporate control and patenting of seeds could lead to further losses of crop diversity, as companies focus on just a few crop varieties, such as corn, wheat and soy.
We recommend Mama Bean Seeds for a wide variety of unique heirloom, organic veggie and edible flower seeds.


returntonow--2020-06-18--Canadian Grocery Store Grows Its Own Organic Veggies on Rooftop

Grocery store takes “ local ” to the next level , one story above the produce section IGA is the first grocery store in Canada to sell veggies from its own roof .
More than 30 kinds of organic produce are grown on the 25,000-square-foot roof=top farm , including heirloom tomatoes , lettuce , eggplant , radish , kale and basil .
Required by the Montreal borough of Saint Laurent to install a green roof to offset carbon emissions , store co-owner Richard Duchemin decided to make the project profitable by growing plants he could sell in the produce section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in buying local , ” he told The Montreal Gazette .
“ There ’ s nothing more local than this.
” That ’ s great news considering produce is often shipped hundreds or thousands of miles , losing up to half it ’ s nutritional value by the time they hit the store shelf .
The garden is irrigated with water collected from the store ’ s dehumidification system , which would otherwise have been discarded , and the roof has become a habitat for birds and insects .
The green roof also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by providing an extra layer of insulation .

Grocery store takes “local” to the next level, one story above the produce section
IGA is the first grocery store in Canada to sell veggies from its own roof.
More than 30 kinds of organic produce are grown on the 25,000-square-foot roof=top farm, including heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, eggplant, radish, kale and basil.
Required by the Montreal borough of Saint Laurent to install a green roof to offset carbon emissions, store co-owner Richard Duchemin decided to make the project profitable by growing plants he could sell in the produce section downstairs.
“People are very interested in buying local,” he told The Montreal Gazette. “There’s nothing more local than this.”
That’s great news considering produce is often shipped hundreds or thousands of miles, losing up to half it’s nutritional value by the time they hit the store shelf.
The garden is irrigated with water collected from the store’s dehumidification system, which would otherwise have been discarded, and the roof has become a habitat for birds and insects.
The green roof also reduces the store’s electricity consumption by providing an extra layer of insulation.


returntonow--2020-06-19--Bison Return to Lakota Reservation in South Dakota for First Time in 150 Years

Now that bison have repopulated national parks , the extra are being given back to Native Americans Buffalo are returning to Wolakota Buffalo Range for the first time since the 1870s .
Around 400 bison will be transferred from a national wildlife refuge in Colorado to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota this October , with plans to eventually grow the herd to 1500 .
Bison play an immensely important role for the Lakota people , who consider them to be their relatives .
The buffalo “ provided us our shelter , our food , our weapons , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Lakota of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation .
We played with the toe bones , that we called bone horses , and we made the ribs into sleds .
So it provided us with everything .
It ’ s also a spiritual connection… .
It ’ s impossible to totally explain how important the buffalo is to us .
The buffalo is life.
” Between 30 and 60 million buffalo used to roam the Great Plains .
By 1900 there were less than 1000 left in North America .
Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 11,000 wild buffalo currently roaming on federal land in 12 states .
Most of those are in Yellowstone National Park , Wind Cave National Park and Montana ’ s National Bison Range .
( 400,000 more , that have been crossbred with cattle , are managed on private land ) .
The populations in national parks have grown to the point they need more room , so the Department of the Interior is collaborating with the World Wildlife Federation to move hundreds of the animals to various Native American reservations .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several hundred a few years ago , and now the Lakota of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation are set to receive their share .
The reservations ’ s 28,000-acre Wolakota Buffalo Range can support up to 1500 bison , and after the herd grows to that size , the tribe plans to hunt the animals for food .
The nutritious food source comes just when it ’ s needed most as the coronavirus lockdowns are predicted to lead to meat shortages around the country .
“ This is an extremely relevant project , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disruption of global food and supply chains , ” says Little Elk , CEO of the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation .
“ We ’ re going to need 10,000 more of these kinds of projects in North America.
” He see ’ s it as a step toward “ preparedness and resiliency ” for his people , who will have to relearn long-lost hunting skills .
“ As our land was stolen , buffalo were the first casualty , ” Little Elk said .
The goal was “ to literally destroy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livelihood of Native Americans.
” In addition to providing food security , the bison are expected to restore the reservation ’ s dying grasslands , as they have done in other parts of South Dakota .
“ Bison tend to graze on the hoof , ” says WWF wildlife biologist Dennis Jorgensen .
“ They tend to graze on the move , and anecdotally , what we find is that they create more of a patchy environment.
” The hodgepodge of different habitats , in turn , supports a wider array of species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ have some sort of magical quality , ” he said .
“ But they have evolved with the system over 10,000 years and with grasslands over a much longer period .
”

Now that bison have repopulated national parks, the extra are being given back to Native Americans
Buffalo are returning to Wolakota Buffalo Range for the first time since the 1870s.
Around 400 bison will be transferred from a national wildlife refuge in Colorado to the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota this October, with plans to eventually grow the herd to 1500.
Bison play an immensely important role for the Lakota people, who consider them to be their relatives.
The buffalo “provided us our shelter, our food, our weapons, our toys,” says Charlotte Black Elk, a Lakota of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. We played with the toe bones, that we called bone horses, and we made the ribs into sleds. So it provided us with everything. It’s also a spiritual connection…. It’s impossible to totally explain how important the buffalo is to us. The buffalo is life.”
Between 30 and 60 million buffalo used to roam the Great Plains. By 1900 there were less than 1000 left in North America.
Since then, restoration efforts have increased the number to 11,000 wild buffalo currently roaming on federal land in 12 states. Most of those are in Yellowstone National Park, Wind Cave National Park and Montana’s National Bison Range. (400,000 more, that have been crossbred with cattle, are managed on private land).
The populations in national parks have grown to the point they need more room, so the Department of the Interior is collaborating with the World Wildlife Federation to move hundreds of the animals to various Native American reservations.
The Lakota of the Pine Ridge Reservation received several hundred a few years ago, and now the Lakota of the Rosebud Sioux Reservation are set to receive their share.
The reservations’s 28,000-acre Wolakota Buffalo Range can support up to 1500 bison, and after the herd grows to that size, the tribe plans to hunt the animals for food.
The nutritious food source comes just when it’s needed most as the coronavirus lockdowns are predicted to lead to meat shortages around the country.
“This is an extremely relevant project, especially now that we’re looking at the disruption of global food and supply chains,” says Little Elk, CEO of the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation. “We’re going to need 10,000 more of these kinds of projects in North America.”
He see’s it as a step toward “preparedness and resiliency” for his people, who will have to relearn long-lost hunting skills.
“As our land was stolen, buffalo were the first casualty,” Little Elk said. The goal was “to literally destroy the food source and the supply and the livelihood of Native Americans.”
In addition to providing food security, the bison are expected to restore the reservation’s dying grasslands, as they have done in other parts of South Dakota.
“Bison tend to graze on the hoof,” says WWF wildlife biologist Dennis Jorgensen. “They tend to graze on the move, and anecdotally, what we find is that they create more of a patchy environment.”
The hodgepodge of different habitats, in turn, supports a wider array of species.
It’s not that bison “have some sort of magical quality,” he said. “But they have evolved with the system over 10,000 years and with grasslands over a much longer period.”


returntonow--2020-06-20--Pedal Through The California Redwoods For The Ultimate Outing

Custom-made rail bikes let visitors see the world-famous Redwood Forest in a fun new way There ’ s a new and fun way to explore the beauty of Northern California ’ s Redwood Route .
Skunk Train recently announced they ’ ll be allowing visitors to explore the 1000-year-old forest on a two-person , pedal-powered apparatus called a rail bike .
Located in Fort-Bragg , Skunk Train , has been taking tourists on scenic train rides through the 300-foot-tall trees since 1885 .
While the train still runs multiple times a week , adventure-seekers who are looking soak in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now enjoy the rail bike instead .
These custom-built bikes sit securely on the rail tracks , as you quietly pedal your way through the 1.5-hour-long journey .
It doesn ’ t matter what your age or skill level are , the bikes are easy to operate and include optional motorized assistance for when you need a break or would simply like to focus on the sights .
You ’ ll have plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife , including ospreys or blue herons .
You won ’ t have to worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at different times of the day .
So , if you ’ re in Northern California and looking for the perfect date for two , this could be your jam .
Buy tickets for two for $ 90 here .

Custom-made rail bikes let visitors see the world-famous Redwood Forest in a fun new way
There’s a new and fun way to explore the beauty of Northern California’s Redwood Route.
Skunk Train recently announced they’ll be allowing visitors to explore the 1000-year-old forest on a two-person, pedal-powered apparatus called a rail bike.
Located in Fort-Bragg, Skunk Train, has been taking tourists on scenic train rides through the 300-foot-tall trees since 1885.
While the train still runs multiple times a week, adventure-seekers who are looking soak in the scenery at their own pace, can now enjoy the rail bike instead.
These custom-built bikes sit securely on the rail tracks, as you quietly pedal your way through the 1.5-hour-long journey.
It doesn’t matter what your age or skill level are, the bikes are easy to operate and include optional motorized assistance for when you need a break or would simply like to focus on the sights.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife, including ospreys or blue herons.
You won’t have to worry about noisy trains either, as they operate at different times of the day.
So, if you’re in Northern California and looking for the perfect date for two, this could be your jam.
Buy tickets for two for $90 here.


returntonow--2020-06-23--20,000-Year-Old Armadillo Shells the Size of Volkswagen Beetles Found in Argentina

A farmer just outside Buenos Aires was taking his cows out to graze when he stumbled upon something bizarre .
At first it looked like the tops of two giant turtle shells emerging from a dried riverbed .
Upon excavation , a total of four of the giant fossilized shells were discovered , the largest of which was as big as a Volkswagen Beetle .
Archaeologists determined the shells belonged to glyptodants , the ancient ancestors of modern armadillos that lived across North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch and were wiped out at the end of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The four shells appeared to belong to two adults and two young animals .
“ We went there expecting to find two glyptodonts when the excavation started and then two more were found !
” archaeologist Pablo Messineo told The Daily Mail .
“ It is the first time there have been four animals like this in the same site.
” “ Most of them were facing the same direction , like they were walking towards something.
” Glyptodonts were encased from head to tail in thick , protective armor shaped like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plates like an armadillo .
Though they used their spiked tails as weapons to defend themselves , the herbivores were relatively gentle giants .
Their body shells alone were 5 feet long and 2 inches thick .

Farmer finds dinosaur-sized armadillo shells in dry riverbed
A farmer just outside Buenos Aires was taking his cows out to graze when he stumbled upon something bizarre.
At first it looked like the tops of two giant turtle shells emerging from a dried riverbed.
Upon excavation, a total of four of the giant fossilized shells were discovered, the largest of which was as big as a Volkswagen Beetle.
Archaeologists determined the shells belonged to glyptodants, the ancient ancestors of modern armadillos that lived across North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch and were wiped out at the end of the last Ice Age, around 10,000 years ago.
The four shells appeared to belong to two adults and two young animals.
“We went there expecting to find two glyptodonts when the excavation started and then two more were found!” archaeologist Pablo Messineo told The Daily Mail. “It is the first time there have been four animals like this in the same site.”
“Most of them were facing the same direction, like they were walking towards something.”
Glyptodonts were encased from head to tail in thick, protective armor shaped like a turtle shell, but with bony plates like an armadillo.
Though they used their spiked tails as weapons to defend themselves, the herbivores were relatively gentle giants.
Their body shells alone were 5 feet long and 2 inches thick.


returntonow--2020-06-23--Motherly Hummingbird Builds a Home With A Roof to Protect her Chicks

This hummingbird momma made the coolest and driest crib on the block .
A conservationist in Paraguay recently snapped some amazing photos of a hummingbird who built a nest with a roof on the top .
Hummingbird mothers carry strong parental instincts , especially considering that the father isn ’ t in the picture .
He leaves almost immediately after he mates with her… go figure .
So , if she ’ s on her own , she might as well build a nest as cozy as possible for her and her chicks .
That ’ s exactly what conservationist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observing one mother ’ s hummingbird nests in her area .
“ I saw five hummingbird nests that day , but this was the most ingenious , ” Soares said .
When she went to check on the nest weeks after she discovered it , she noticed something moving around in the nest .
“ She had two hummingbird babies , ” she exclaimed .
When these baby chicks grow up they ’ ll play an important role in pollinating flowering plants that are hard to reach .
They have the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oxygen levels are low , reaching upwards to 4,000 meters high .
Their ability to soar high in the air enables them to pollinate plants that can not be reached by other birds .
Some of these high altitude flowering plants may not exists without hummingbirds .
Soares hopes that by sharing her story people will become more aware of just how important hummingbirds are for the ecosystem .
In order to protect them , she recommends gardeners and farmers put a bird feeder in a shaded on their property .
Supplementing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t fly off to a potentially more dangerous area , where nectar-producing flowers are in short supply .
Since these birds are essential for pollination , most gardeners should want to keep them happy and healthy .

This hummingbird mom made the coolest and driest crib on the block.
A conservationist in Paraguay recently snapped some amazing photos of a hummingbird who built a nest with a roof on the top.
Hummingbird mothers carry strong parental instincts, especially considering that the father isn’t in the picture. He leaves almost immediately after he mates with her… go figure.
So, if she’s on her own, she might as well build a nest as cozy as possible for her and her chicks.
That’s exactly what conservationist Bianca Caroline Soares discovered when she was observing one mother’s hummingbird nests in her area.
“I saw five hummingbird nests that day, but this was the most ingenious,” Soares said.
When she went to check on the nest weeks after she discovered it, she noticed something moving around in the nest.
“She had two hummingbird babies,” she exclaimed.
When these baby chicks grow up they’ll play an important role in pollinating flowering plants that are hard to reach.
They have the ability to fly high in the air, where oxygen levels are low, reaching upwards to 4,000 meters high.
Their ability to soar high in the air enables them to pollinate plants that cannot be reached by other birds.
Some of these high altitude flowering plants may not exists without hummingbirds.
Soares hopes that by sharing her story people will become more aware of just how important hummingbirds are for the ecosystem.
In order to protect them, she recommends gardeners and farmers put a bird feeder in a shaded on their property.
Supplementing their diet with nectar ensures they won’t fly off to a potentially more dangerous area, where nectar-producing flowers are in short supply.
Since these birds are essential for pollination, most gardeners should want to keep them happy and healthy.


returntonow--2020-06-24--Potato Planter with Door Allows Easy Access to Spuds

Take a sneak peek at your potatoes , and harvest without hurting the plant , with this DIY planter box A lot of us are learning to grow our own food in these troubled economic times .
Potatoes are a hearty choice that are easy to grow and can be stored for several months for year-round food security .
There ’ s one tricky thing about growing potatoes ( and other root vegetables like carrots and beets ) though .
Unlike apples , berries or peas , you can ’ t see them to tell when they ’ re “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around in the dark ( dirt ) to harvest them .
And , you run the risk of accidentally pulling out the whole plant , which will produce more potatoes if left undisturbed .
Some genius on Etsy has come up with a solution to that problem – planter box with a door .
Open up the door for a sneak peek at your root veggies anytime you like .
This allows you to make sure they ’ re big enough to harvest , and gives you easy access to pluck them out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Detailed instructions for building your own can be bought on Etsy for $ 6.5o .
The estimated total cost for materials is $ 35 , but could be less if you already have wood .
If you ’ re not into DIY , there are lots of affordable similar options on Amazon :

Take a sneak peek at your potatoes to see if they’re ready before uprooting them with this easy DIY planter box!
A lot of us are learning to grow our own food in these troubled economic times. Potatoes are a hearty choice that are easy to grow and can be stored for several months for year-round food security.
There’s one tricky thing about growing potatoes (and other root vegetables like carrots and beets) though. Unlike apples, berries or peas, you can’t see them to tell when they’re “ripe.”
You literally have to feel around in the dark (dirt) to harvest them. And, you run the risk of accidentally pulling out the whole plant, which will produce more potatoes if left undisturbed.
Some genius on Etsy has come up with a solution to that problem – planter box with a door.
Open up the door for a sneak peek at your root veggies anytime you like. This allows you to make sure they’re big enough to harvest, and gives you easy access to pluck them out without damaging the rest of the plant.
Detailed instructions for building your own can be bought on Etsy for $6.5o. The estimated total cost for materials is $35, but could be less if you already have wood.
If you’re not into DIY, there are lots of cheap peek-inside potato planters on Amazon.


returntonow--2020-06-25--English “Wavy Walls” Use Fewer Bricks than Straight Ones

The British have an adorable way of making stronger garden walls using fewer bricks “ Crinkle Crankle ” garden walls have been popular in England since the 1700s , not just because they look awesome , but because they are stronger and last longer .
At first glance , it appears wavy walls use more bricks – the shortest distance between two points is a straight line , after all .
But they ’ ve actually been designed to just the opposite , to conserve bricks .
Straight walls require multiple layers of bricks – two or three rows at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative convex and concave curves of the wavy wall , however , allow the wall to stand strong with only one layer , saving bricks , money and time .
They are most popular in Suffolk County , home to at least 50 crinkle crankle walls .
And at least one exists in the United States at the University of Virginia thanks to Thomas Jefferson , who some mistakenly thought invented the design .
The unusual garden walls were typically used to grow fruit , with the south-facing portion of the curves warmed @ @ @ @

It actually takes fewer bricks to build a wavy wall than a straight one because you only need one layer
“Crinkle Crankle” garden walls have been popular in England since the 1700s, not just because they look awesome, but because they are stronger and last longer.
At first glance, it appears wavy walls use more bricks – the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, after all. But they’ve actually been designed to just the opposite, to conserve bricks.
Straight walls require multiple layers of bricks – two or three rows at least – to stay standing. The alternative convex and concave curves of the wavy wall, however, allow the wall to stand strong with only one layer, saving bricks, money and time.
They are most popular in Suffolk County, home to at least 50 crinkle crankle walls.
And at least one exists in the United States at the University of Virginia thanks to Thomas Jefferson, who some mistakenly thought invented the design.
The unusual garden walls were typically used to grow fruit, with the south-facing portion of the curves warmed by the sun.


returntonow--2020-06-25--Swan Dies of a “Broken Heart” After Pranksters Smash Her Eggs with Bricks

Swan found dead slumped over empty nest with no apparent injury other than a broken heart Wildlife activists in London recently found a swan dead after she had her eggs smashed by local teenage boys .
They believe she died of a “ broken heart , ” as she was found slumped over her empty nest where the eggs had been broken a month earlier .
The unborn cygnets were destroyed by vandals , who used bricks and rocks to smash up her nest .
Environmental activists witnessed the boys throwing rocks from Manchester Canal at an island where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only managed to demolish half of the eggs , while two more went mysteriously missing , leaving her with only one .
A couple weeks after her eggs were killed , the husband ‘ flew the coop ’ and hasn ’ t been seen since .
It ’ s believed that the male swan was being harassed by another duck and a moor hen .
According to the Swan Sanctuary if a mate disappears or is killed the surviving mate will go through a grieving process like humans do , and then find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on or fly off and join a flock .
“ She probably died of a broken heart as she had a partner for life and he was driven away by stress , ” said wildlife activist Sam Woodrow .
Michael Mason – another activist who ’ d been posting updates on facebook about the swan – was stunned saying , “ I really don ’ t want to do this post today because it comes with great sadness .
“ Her mate left her on her own and sadly I was informed this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nest dead .
I just feel like crying.
” “ We are investigating the previous distressing incident and we would urge anyone with information to contact our appeals line , ” said authorities .

Swan found dead slumped over empty nest with no apparent injury other than a broken heart
Wildlife activists in London recently found a swan dead after she had her eggs smashed by local teenage boys.
They believe she died of a “broken heart,” as she was found slumped over her empty nest where the eggs had been broken a month earlier.
The unborn cygnets were destroyed by vandals, who used bricks and rocks to smash up her nest.
Environmental activists witnessed the boys throwing rocks from Manchester Canal at an island where she had laid her eggs. The boys only managed to demolish half of the eggs, while two more went mysteriously missing, leaving her with only one.
A couple weeks after her eggs were killed, the husband ‘flew the coop’ and hasn’t been seen since.
It’s believed that the male swan was being harassed by another duck and a moor hen.
According to the Swan Sanctuary if a mate disappears or is killed the surviving mate will go through a grieving process like humans do, and then find a new stretch of water to live on or fly off and join a flock.
“She probably died of a broken heart as she had a partner for life and he was driven away by stress,” said wildlife activist Sam Woodrow.
Michael Mason – another activist who’d been posting updates on facebook about the swan – was stunned saying, “I really don’t want to do this post today because it comes with great sadness.
“Her mate left her on her own and sadly I was informed this morning she was found slumped in her nest dead. I just feel like crying.”
“We are investigating the previous distressing incident and we would urge anyone with information to contact our appeals line,” said authorities.


returntonow--2020-06-25--“Wavy Walls” Use Fewer Bricks than Straight Ones

It actually takes fewer bricks to build a wavy wall than a straight one because you only need one layer “ Crinkle Crankle ” garden walls have been popular in England since the 1700s , not just because they look awesome , but because they are stronger and last longer .
At first glance , it appears wavy walls use more bricks – the shortest distance between two points is a straight line , after all .
But they ’ ve actually been designed to just the opposite , to conserve bricks .
Straight walls require multiple layers of bricks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – to stay standing .
The alternative convex and concave curves of the wavy wall , however , allow the wall to stand strong with only one layer , saving bricks , money and time .
They are most popular in Suffolk County , home to at least 50 crinkle crankle walls .
And at least one exists in the United States at the University of Virginia thanks to Thomas Jefferson , who some mistakenly thought invented the design .
The unusual garden walls were typically used to grow fruit , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun .


returntonow--2020-06-27--Santa Cruz Forced to Reopen Beaches Because Masses Refuse to Obey Closure Orders

“ People are not willing to be governed anymore , ” California health official says Beachgoers were willing to sit out Memorial Day , but as we approach Independence Day many Americans have had enough .
The central California beach city of Santa Cruz was forced to reopen beaches early yesterday after citizens simply stopped obeying the rules .
The public was overwhelmingly ignoring the restrictions , said Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel .
“ We had hoped to continue the beach closure until after the Fourth of July weekend , ” she told Mercury News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for law enforcement to continue to enforce that closure .
People are not willing to be governed any more in that regard , and so we want to recognize that by removing that restriction.
” The county is believed to be the last of California ’ s 15 coastal counties to reopen its beaches .
For the last two months , it has been illegal to be on the beach between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. , except to cross to get to the water to surf , swim or boat .
Violators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At first , locals and visitors followed the rules , but as time went on , more and more people started jogging and playing volleyball , and eventually started staking their umbrellas and laying out their towels .
Soon they ’ ll be staking their flags for fireworks .
Happy Fourth !

The police couldn’t keep people off California beaches, so they gave up!
Beachgoers were willing to sit out Memorial Day, but as we approach Independence Day many Americans have had enough.
The central California beach city of Santa Cruz was forced to reopen beaches early yesterday after citizens simply stopped obeying the rules.
The public was overwhelmingly ignoring the restrictions, said Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel.
“We had hoped to continue the beach closure until after the Fourth of July weekend,” she told Mercury News. “But it has become impossible for law enforcement to continue to enforce that closure. People are not willing to be governed any more in that regard, and so we want to recognize that by removing that restriction.”
The county is believed to be the last of California’s 15 coastal counties to reopen its beaches.
For the last two months, it has been illegal to be on the beach between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., except to cross to get to the water to surf, swim or boat. Violators faced fines of up to $1,000.
At first, locals and visitors followed the rules, but as time went on, more and more people started jogging and playing volleyball, and eventually started staking their umbrellas and laying out their towels.
Soon they’ll be staking their flags for fireworks. Happy Fourth!


returntonow--2020-06-27--Santa Cruz Forced to Reopen Beaches Because “The a People Aren’t Willing to Be Governed Anymore”

The police couldn ’ t keep people off California beaches , so they gave up !
Beachgoers were willing to sit out Memorial Day , but as we approach Independence Day many Americans have had enough .
The central California beach city of Santa Cruz was forced to reopen beaches early yesterday after citizens simply stopped obeying the rules .
The public was overwhelmingly ignoring the restrictions , said Santa Cruz County Public Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel .
“ We had hoped to continue the beach closure until after the Fourth of July weekend , ” she told Mercury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible for law enforcement to continue to enforce that closure .
People are not willing to be governed any more in that regard , and so we want to recognize that by removing that restriction.
” The county is believed to be the last of California ’ s 15 coastal counties to reopen its beaches .
For the last two months , it has been illegal to be on the beach between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. , except to cross to get to the water to surf , swim or boat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 .
At first , locals and visitors followed the rules , but as time went on , more and more people started jogging and playing volleyball , and eventually started staking their umbrellas and laying out their towels .
Soon they ’ ll be staking their flags for fireworks .
Happy Fourth !


returntonow--2020-06-28--Scotland Outlaws the Shooting of Seals by Fish Farms

Fisheries now face major fines and imprisonment if caught killing our fin-footed friends Seals can breathe easy and eat fish in peace knowing they will no longer be murdered for coming too close to commercial fish farms .
The Scottish parliament passed the Animals and Wildlife bill , which now protects seals , instead of giving fisheries a “ license to kill.
” This bill makes the old The Marine Scotland Act of 2010 , null and void by removing a provision that granted fisheries licenses for shooting seals to keep them from eating their farmed fish .
Now if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ll face a £40,000 fine and/or up to 5 years imprisonment .
Since the licensing began in 2011 , the Scottish government reports that over 1,900 seals have been killed .
However , the Humane Society believes the number is much higher , as the fisheries are the ones reporting the numbers with no third-party verification .
“ An alarming number of seals are shot and killed in Scottish waters , and there is evidence that some are likely to be injured and die a slow and painful death at sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official statistics , ” the Humane Society ’ s senior marine scientist Mark Simmonds said .
“ We share our seas with these charismatic marine mammals , and it is simply unacceptable to kill them for eating the fish in their ocean home.
” Scotland ’ s new law was passed as part of a trade deal with the United States .
The U.S. ’ s new Marine Mammal Protection Act requires Scotland to ban the shooting of seals if it wants to continue its lucrative salmon exports to the U.S .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quarter billion dollars worth of Scottish salmon .
“ The majority of consumers are not happy for seals to be collateral damage in the price of salmon , and now US import requirements have introduced a strong economic incentive to call a halt to the cruel killing , ” Claire Bass , Executive Director of HSI/UK , said .
Grey seals are some of the rarest seals in the world , with over 40 percent found in UK waters .
The population of harbor seals , also found in the U.K. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the worst of their worries , seals also get entangled in fishing gear , swim through marine litter and have their breeding grounds disturbed by fish farms .

Fisheries now face major fines and imprisonment if caught killing our fin-footed friends
Seals can breathe easy and eat fish in peace knowing they will no longer be murdered for coming too close to commercial fish farms.
The Scottish parliament passed the Animals and Wildlife bill, which now protects seals, instead of giving fisheries a “license to kill.”
This bill makes the old The Marine Scotland Act of 2010, null and void by removing a provision that granted fisheries licenses for shooting seals to keep them from eating their farmed fish.
Now if fish farmers are caught shooting seals, they’ll face a £40,000 fine and/or up to 5 years imprisonment.
Since the licensing began in 2011, the Scottish government reports that over 1,900 seals have been killed.
However, the Humane Society believes the number is much higher, as the fisheries are the ones reporting the numbers with no third-party verification.
“An alarming number of seals are shot and killed in Scottish waters, and there is evidence that some are likely to be injured and die a slow and painful death at sea and may not show up in the official statistics,” the Humane Society’s senior marine scientist Mark Simmonds said.
“We share our seas with these charismatic marine mammals, and it is simply unacceptable to kill them for eating the fish in their ocean home.”
Scotland’s new law was passed as part of a trade deal with the United States.
The U.S.’s new Marine Mammal Protection Act requires Scotland to ban the shooting of seals if it wants to continue its lucrative salmon exports to the U.S.
In 2019, the U.S. imported close to a quarter billion dollars worth of Scottish salmon.
“The majority of consumers are not happy for seals to be collateral damage in the price of salmon, and now US import requirements have introduced a strong economic incentive to call a halt to the cruel killing,” Claire Bass, Executive Director of HSI/UK, said.
Grey seals are some of the rarest seals in the world, with over 40 percent found in UK waters.
The population of harbor seals, also found in the U.K., is also declining.
While getting shot is the worst of their worries, seals also get entangled in fishing gear, swim through marine litter and have their breeding grounds disturbed by fish farms.


returntonow--2020-06-27--Santa Cruz Forced to Reopen Beaches Because “The People Aren’t Willing to Be Governed Anymore”


returntonow--2020-06-30--Hawaiian Group Breaks World Record with Biggest Ocean Plastic Cleanup Ever

The Ocean Voyages Institute just removed over 100 tons of plastic waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch The Hawaiian non-profit Ocean Voyages Institute just broke the world record for the largest open-ocean clean-up in history .
The crew removed over 100 tons ( 200,000 pounds ) of plastic on a 48-day voyage using a specialized GPS satellite tracking system that leads them straight to large jackpots of junk .
Though the system hasn ’ t received as much publicity as the young Dutch inventor ’ s Ocean Cleanup , it has proven itself the most effective system to date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ships to tag fishing nets tangled full of garbage with GPS satellite trackers , whenever they come across them .
Then , when the Ocean Voyages Institute makes a voyage , they can zoom around to all the tagged patches , which typically lead to much larger chunks .
As the group ’ s founder Mary Crowley suspected , a visible patch of plastic is usually just the tip of the iceberg , pointing the garbage collectors to a much bigger chunk just beneath the surface .
The ocean ’ s currents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debris , swirling it altogether , so that one tagged fishing net can lead to more nets , and a high density of other debris , within a 15-mile radius .
Though they are toxic to marine life themselves , the nets act sort of like giant garbage bags .
Crowley calls them “ ghost nets ” and has been nicknamed the “ Ghost-Net Buster.
” On her team ’ s first 25-day voyage , they collected nearly 50 tons of plastic waste .
And two days after they dropped off their latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back around for a third voyage .
The institute is committed to 0 % of the plastic waste ending up in the landfill and is sending the sorted debris to recycling companies to be turned into insulation , energy , etc .
Though it ’ s easier to collect plastic once it ’ s washed up on beaches , Crowley says it ’ s important to gather up as much as we can before it gets there : “ The oceans can ’ t wait for these nets and debris to break down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ability to store carbon and toxify the fragile ocean food web.
” The number and size of future expeditions depends on donor support .
You can donate by check or PayPal on their website .

The Ocean Voyages Institute just removed over 100 tons of plastic waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Hawaiian non-profit Ocean Voyages Institute just broke the world record for the largest open-ocean clean-up in history.
The crew removed over 100 tons (200,000 pounds) of plastic on a 48-day voyage using a specialized GPS satellite tracking system that leads them straight to large jackpots of junk.
Though the system hasn’t received as much publicity as the young Dutch inventor’s Ocean Cleanup, it has proven itself the most effective system to date.
It relies on volunteers on yachts and ships to tag fishing nets tangled full of garbage with GPS satellite trackers, whenever they come across them.
Then, when the Ocean Voyages Institute makes a voyage, they can zoom around to all the tagged patches, which typically lead to much larger chunks.
As the group’s founder Mary Crowley suspected, a visible patch of plastic is usually just the tip of the iceberg, pointing the garbage collectors to a much bigger chunk just beneath the surface.
The ocean’s currents tend to ‘sort’ the floating debris, swirling it altogether, so that one tagged fishing net can lead to more nets, and a high density of other debris, within a 15-mile radius.
Though they are toxic to marine life themselves, the nets act sort of like giant garbage bags.
Crowley calls them “ghost nets” and has been nicknamed the “Ghost-Net Buster.”
On her team’s first 25-day voyage, they collected nearly 50 tons of plastic waste. And two days after they dropped off their latest 100-ton load in Honolulu, they turned back around for a third voyage.
The institute is committed to 0% of the plastic waste ending up in the landfill and is sending the sorted debris to recycling companies to be turned into insulation, energy, etc.
Though it’s easier to collect plastic once it’s washed up on beaches, Crowley says it’s important to gather up as much as we can before it gets there:
“The oceans can’t wait for these nets and debris to break down into microplastics which impair the ocean’s ability to store carbon and toxify the fragile ocean food web.”
The number and size of future expeditions depends on donor support. You can donate by check or PayPal on their website.


returntonow--2020-06-30--Raccoon Breaks Into High School Vending Machine

A black-masked bandit caught in the biggest heist of his career When it comes to raccoons , if there ’ s a will , there ’ s a way .
This particular fuzzy-tailed creature hit the jackpot when he somehow made his way into a vending machine full of candy bars at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona , Florida .
He waited until the dark of night , when all the children were gone , to make his move .
He quietly crept down the hall and slid in through the hatch at the bottom of the machine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trick door .
Once you get in , you can ’ t get out .
School officials found the trapped raccoon the next morning and called the sheriff .
“ This gentleman was apprehended today while committing a burglary of a vending machine , ” the Volusia County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a Facebook post .
Deltona Animal Control put the vending machine on a dolly and wheeled it outside , where they opened the machine so the bandit could make an escape .
Thankfully no one was hurt and deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panda will be facing charges .

A black-masked bandit caught in the biggest heist of his career
When it comes to raccoons, if there’s a will, there’s a way. This particular fuzzy-tailed creature hit the jackpot when he somehow made his way into a vending machine full of candy bars at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Florida.
He waited until the dark of night, when all the children were gone, to make his move. He quietly crept down the hall and slid in through the hatch at the bottom of the machine.
Little did he realize that it was trick door. Once you get in, you can’t get out.
School officials found the trapped raccoon the next morning and called the sheriff.
“This gentleman was apprehended today while committing a burglary of a vending machine,” the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Deltona Animal Control put the vending machine on a dolly and wheeled it outside, where they opened the machine so the bandit could make an escape.
Thankfully no one was hurt and deputies did not say if the little trash panda will be facing charges.


returntonow--2020-06-29--Senate Passes Great American Outdoors Act to Fund National Parks’ Maintenance Backlog

Bill requires oil and renewable energy industries to give half the profits they make on public lands to national parks and land conservation Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate came together in a bipartisan vote to fund a long backlog of maintenance projects in national parks last week .
The Great American Outdoors Act passed 73 to 25 .
President Trump has agreed to sign it assuming it passes the House of Representatives .
The bill requires half of all oil and renewable energy revenue generated on public lands to be used to fund $ 20 billion worth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national parks and public lands .
One lawmaker called it the “ single greatest conservation achievement in generations.
” 70 % of the fund will go to the National Park Service to be used on long-overdue repairs in over 400 historic national parks , including Yosemite , the Grand Canyon , Yellowstone , and the Statue of Liberty .
15 % will go to the Forest Service for maintenance on public lands .
And 5 % will be given to each of the following : the Bureau of Indian Education , the Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wildlife Service .
The list of unfunded repairs and maintenance on things like roads , bridges , restrooms , campgrounds , and visitor centers has been mounting for years .
If passed , the law should clear the entire backlog over the next 10 years , with an estimated $ 2 billion in revenue per year .
Like Roosevelt ’ s New Deal during the Great Depression , the Great American Outdoors Act is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs at a time when unemployment is soaring .
“ Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 10,000 jobs would be created in Virginia alone , just by the work needed to restore and maintain Park Service sites , ” said Democratic Senator Mark Warner in a press release .

Bill requires oil and renewable energy industries to give half the profits they make on public lands to national parks and land conservation
Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate came together in a bipartisan vote to fund a long backlog of maintenance projects in national parks last week.
The Great American Outdoors Act passed 73 to 25. President Trump has agreed to sign it assuming it passes the House of Representatives.
The bill requires half of all oil and renewable energy revenue generated on public lands to be used to fund $20 billion worth of delayed maintenance projects in America’s national parks and public lands.
One lawmaker called it the “single greatest conservation achievement in generations.”
70% of the fund will go to the National Park Service to be used on long-overdue repairs in over 400 historic national parks, including Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Statue of Liberty.
15% will go to the Forest Service for maintenance on public lands.
And 5% will be given to each of the following: the Bureau of Indian Education, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The list of unfunded repairs and maintenance on things like roads, bridges, restrooms, campgrounds, and visitor centers has been mounting for years. If passed, the law should clear the entire backlog over the next 10 years, with an estimated $2 billion in revenue per year.
Like Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression, the Great American Outdoors Act is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs at a time when unemployment is soaring.
“Once this bill is signed into law, more than 10,000 jobs would be created in Virginia alone, just by the work needed to restore and maintain Park Service sites,” said Democratic Senator Mark Warner in a press release.


returntonow--2020-07-02--Footage Shows Crocodiles Skinned Alive For Louis Vuitton Hand Bags and Purses

Our reptilian friends are dying brutal deaths for a world-famous fashionista Consumers should think twice when it comes to buying hands bags , purses and belts from Louis Vuitton .
The world-famous designer is responsible for sourcing crocodiles who are not only raised in horrible conditions , but are killed in unusually cruel ways as well .
Tens of thousands of crocodiles are packed together like sardines in farms throughout Vietnam for their exotic skins .
Once crocodiles are fully grown , workers on the farms violently kill them .
First they electro-shock the animal , then cut open its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still breathing , farmers jam a long metal rod down its spine , causing the animal to shake vigorously .
Watch the video here ( viewer discretions advised ) .
“ One crocodile ’ s leg can be seen raising up after he was cut open .
Then workers leave him to bleed out , ” said PETA .
While they ’ re still bleeding out and moving , farmers will throw the crocodile into a small concrete room where they ’ ll skin the animal alive .
Experts say that crocodiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after their spinal cord has been severed and their blood vessels cut .
A reptile expert who watched footage of the crocodiles being slaughtered said that “ the neck incisions would have been very painful and inhumane , ” and “ There is no probability that these animals ‘ died instantly , ” according to PETA .
After the footage came out Louis Vuitton said it wants a “ responsible supply ” of crocodile skins that “ guarantees respect for animal well-being.
” They ’ ll use a committee “ developed and validated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with new standards for animal treatment .
However , PETA thinks the company is just paying lip service to the issue saying , “ Louis Vuitton ’ s assurances of “ responsibly-supplied ” crocodile skin are tosh , given that it will apparently take the company nearly two years to get around to ensuring pretty much nothing.
” “ Most importantly , the standard won ’ t prevent the worst of the cruel practices : the method of slaughter , which consists of cutting the back of the crocodile ’ s neck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal ’ s spine , causing unimaginable agony.
” Why spend thousands of dollars on high-priced , inhumanely-raised products in the first place ?
There ’ s no better time then now to switch over to hemp made products , which are more sustainable and better for the environment .

Fashionistas — you might not be making the kind of statement you intended with your Louis Vuitton label handbag.
Consumers should think twice when it comes to buying hands bags, purses and belts from Louis Vuitton.
The world-famous designer is responsible for sourcing crocodiles raised in horrible conditions and killed using unusually brutal methods.
Tens of thousands of crocodiles are packed together like sardines in farms throughout Vietnam for their exotic skins. Once crocodiles are fully grown, workers on the farms violently kill them.
First they electro-shock the animal, then cut open its neck. Then, while the crocodile is still breathing, farmers jam a long metal rod down its spine, causing the animal to shake vigorously. Watch the video here (viewer discretions advised).
“One crocodile’s leg can be seen raising up after he was cut open. Then workers leave him to bleed out,” said PETA.
While they’re still bleeding out and moving, farmers will throw the crocodile into a small concrete room where they’ll skin the animal alive.
Experts say that crocodiles can be conscious for over an hour after their spinal cord has been severed and their blood vessels cut.
A reptile expert who watched footage of the crocodiles being slaughtered said that “the neck incisions would have been very painful and inhumane,” and “There is no probability that these animals ‘died instantly,” according to PETA.
After the footage came out it wants a “responsible supply” of crocodile skins that “guarantees respect for animal well-being.”
They’ll use a committee “developed and validated by technical experts” to come up with new standards for animal treatment.
However, PETA thinks the company is just paying lip service to the issue saying,
“Louis Vuitton’s assurances of “responsibly-supplied” crocodile skin are tosh, given that it will apparently take the company nearly two years to get around to ensuring pretty much nothing.”
“Most importantly, the standard won’t prevent the worst of the cruel practices: the method of slaughter, which consists of cutting the back of the crocodile’s neck and thrusting a metal rod down the live animal’s spine, causing unimaginable agony.”
Why spend thousands of dollars on high-priced, inhumanely-raised products in the first place? There’s no better time then now to switch over to hemp made products, which are more sustainable and better for the environment.


returntonow--2020-07-03--Tiny Forests are Sprouting Up All Over Europe, Inspired by Japan, to Restore Biodiversity

Europeans are rapidly reforesting cities with tiny , dense patches of native forest with a Japanese method that makes them grow 10 times faster than normal Japan ’ s most famous botanist Akira Miyawaki has inspired a fast-growing tiny forest revolution in Asia and now in Europe .
The goal is to restore a patchwork of native forests throughout urban areas , where they have almost entirely disappeared .
You ’ ve heard of ‘ food deserts ‘ in densely populated cities… hand in hand with this problem are ‘ forest deserts.
’ The vast sprawl of human development around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural habitats and hunting and grazing ranges so much that an alarming number of species is going extinct .
As we learn that we too are a species dependent on forests , humans around the planet are racing to reforest it .
And we ’ re learning that it ’ s important to do that not in some far away place that we have to drive hours to visit , but right in our own backyards… and on every square foot of unoccupied city space .
Thus , the rise of tiny forests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are planting a densely packed , diverse variety of native tree and plants in small chunks , wherever they can find open space .
Though many of these mini-forests are no bigger than tennis courts , they are extremely productive chock full of diverse species of wildlife .
Miyazaki ’ s tiny forests grow 10 times faster and become 30 times denser and 100 times more biodiverse than those planted by conventional methods .
That ’ s because saplings are planted very close together , three per square meter , using a wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more ) adapted to local conditions .
Plants of several heights are selected to achieve a fast-growing protective canopy layer ( that helps create more rainfall ) along with a dense understory and middle layer .
The forests must be watered diligently until the canopy layer forms , at which point , the forest will mature in record time .
Though small , they support a far greater number and variety of wildlife than much larger non-native forests that have been planted to replace deforested areas over the last century or two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildlife corridors through contiguous ribbons of mini-forest.
” Wildlife scientist Eric Dinerstein tells The Guardian .
Migratory songbirds are one species that will greatly benefit from such efforts , he notes .
“ Songbirds are made from caterpillars and adult insects , and even small pockets of forests , if planted with native species , could become a nutritious fast-food fly-in site for hungry birds.
” More than 100 Miyawaki-style forests have been planted in the Netherlands since 2015 , with plans to more than double that number by 2022 .
At least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France and Belgium .
After just 3 years , a tiny , 300-tree forest in Belgium is already 10 feet tall with a thick layer of humus developed below , says founder of Urban Forests Nicolas de Brabandère .
Natural , biodiverse forests can store 40 times more carbon than single-species plantations , making them essential in the fight against climate change .
And the Miyawaki forests are designed to regenerate land in far less time than the 70-plus years it takes a forest to recover on its own .
RELATED : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 Years

Europeans are rapidly reforesting cities with tiny, dense patches of native forest with a Japanese method that makes them grow 10 times faster than normal
Japan’s most famous botanist Akira Miyawaki has inspired a fast-growing tiny forest revolution in Asia and now in Europe.
The goal is to restore a patchwork of native forests throughout urban areas, where they have almost entirely disappeared.
You’ve heard of ‘food deserts‘ in densely populated cities… hand in hand with this problem are ‘forest deserts.’
The vast sprawl of human development around the globe has disconnected wildlife from their natural habitats and hunting and grazing ranges so much that an alarming number of species is going extinct.
As we learn that we too are a species dependent on forests, humans around the planet are racing to reforest it.
And we’re learning that it’s important to do that not in some far away place that we have to drive hours to visit, but right in our own backyards… and on every square foot of unoccupied city space.
Thus, the rise of tiny forests.
Using the Miyawaki method, volunteers are planting a densely packed, diverse variety of native tree and plants in small chunks, wherever they can find open space.
Though many of these mini-forests are no bigger than tennis courts, they are extremely productive chock full of diverse species of wildlife.
Miyazaki’s tiny forests grow 10 times faster and become 30 times denser and 100 times more biodiverse than those planted by conventional methods.
That’s because saplings are planted very close together, three per square meter, using a wide variety of native species (ideally 30 or more) adapted to local conditions.
Plants of several heights are selected to achieve a fast-growing protective canopy layer (that helps create more rainfall) along with a dense understory and middle layer.
The forests must be watered diligently until the canopy layer forms, at which point, the forest will mature in record time.
Though small, they support a far greater number and variety of wildlife than much larger non-native forests that have been planted to replace deforested areas over the last century or two.
The idea is “to create wildlife corridors through contiguous ribbons of mini-forest.” Wildlife scientist Eric Dinerstein tells The Guardian.
Migratory songbirds are one species that will greatly benefit from such efforts, he notes.
“Songbirds are made from caterpillars and adult insects, and even small pockets of forests, if planted with native species, could become a nutritious fast-food fly-in site for hungry birds.”
More than 100 Miyawaki-style forests have been planted in the Netherlands since 2015, with plans to more than double that number by 2022. At least 40 such forests have been planted in France and Belgium.
After just 3 years, a tiny, 300-tree forest in Belgium is already 10 feet tall with a thick layer of humus developed below, says founder of Urban Forests Nicolas de Brabandère.
Natural, biodiverse forests can store 40 times more carbon than single-species plantations, making them essential in the fight against climate change.
And the Miyawaki forests are designed to regenerate land in far less time than the 70-plus years it takes a forest to recover on its own.
RELATED: How to Grow a 100-Year-Old Forest in Just 10 Years


returntonow--2020-07-02--Footage Shows Crocodiles Skinned Alive For Louis Vuitton Purses

Fashionistas — you might not be making the kind of statement you intended with your Louis Vuitton label handbag .
Consumers should think twice when it comes to buying hands bags , purses and belts from Louis Vuitton .
The world-famous designer is responsible for sourcing crocodiles raised in horrible conditions and killed using unusually brutal methods .
Tens of thousands of crocodiles are packed together like sardines in farms throughout Vietnam for their exotic skins .
Once crocodiles are fully grown , workers on the farms violently kill them .
First they electro-shock the animal , then cut open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crocodile is still breathing , farmers jam a long metal rod down its spine , causing the animal to shake vigorously .
Watch the video here ( viewer discretions advised ) .
“ One crocodile ’ s leg can be seen raising up after he was cut open .
Then workers leave him to bleed out , ” said PETA .
While they ’ re still bleeding out and moving , farmers will throw the crocodile into a small concrete room where they ’ ll skin the animal alive .
Experts say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour after their spinal cord has been severed and their blood vessels cut .
A reptile expert who watched footage of the crocodiles being slaughtered said that “ the neck incisions would have been very painful and inhumane , ” and “ There is no probability that these animals ‘ died instantly , ” according to PETA .
After the footage came out Louis Vuitton said it wants a “ responsible supply ” of crocodile skins that “ guarantees respect for animal well-being.
” They ’ ll use a committee “ developed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with new standards for animal treatment .
However , PETA thinks the company is just paying lip service to the issue saying , “ Louis Vuitton ’ s assurances of “ responsibly-supplied ” crocodile skin are tosh , given that it will apparently take the company nearly two years to get around to ensuring pretty much nothing.
” “ Most importantly , the standard won ’ t prevent the worst of the cruel practices : the method of slaughter , which consists of cutting the back of the crocodile ’ s neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live animal ’ s spine , causing unimaginable agony.
” Why spend thousands of dollars on high-priced , inhumanely-raised products in the first place ?
There ’ s no better time then now to switch over to hemp made products , which are more sustainable and better for the environment .