dailyhealthpost--2020-08-19--11-Year-Old Nigerian Boy Gets Scholarship From NY Dance School After Barefoot Ballet Performance in

11-Year-Old Nigerian Boy Gets Scholarship From NY Dance School After Barefoot Ballet Performance in Rain Goes Viral

Getting into a good school can be hard to do so a bit of creativity , perseverance , and ingenuity can go a long way .
That ’ s exactly the case with 11-year-old Anthony Mmesoma Madu from Lagos , Nigeria .
Madu is one of 12 students of the Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos – a dance school founded by Daniel Ajala Owoseni in 2017 .
It ’ s in the Leap of Dance Academy that Madu both fell in love with ballet and discovered that he has a knack for it .
But what truly set Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video of him , dancing barefoot in the rain and on the uneven concrete of a random Lagos street .
Owoseni uploaded the video on the Leap of Dance Academy ’ s Instagram page and it went viral almost immediately .
Soon after that , scholarship offers started raining from all around the world .
One such offer came from Cynthia Harvey , the artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance in New York .
“ A friend who lives in the UK sent me the video , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was trying to find him.
” Harvey found Madu through the Leap of Dance Academy and Owoseni and offered the boy a full scholarship so that he could attend the ABT virtual Young Dancer Summer Workshop – a three-week intensive program .
Owoseni was also included in ABT ’ s two-week-long National Training Curriculum course for ballet instructors .
What made Madu ’ s video so inspiring was a combination of different factors .
On one hand , was the boy ’ s obvious natural talent and dedication .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions he was forced to train in .
Owoseni himself pointed that out in the description of the video as he posted it on Instagram : “ Behind those fanciful in class beauty and costumes are lots and lots of backstage hard work .
With very little or no resources our kids are training to be the best they can .
This is not to bring down anyone but to show their high level of dedication and committments to our program .
Who wouldn ’ t be proud of them ?
What teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows/comes to class with so much desire to learn ?
Kids who are ready to dance with or without conditions .
Imagine what more we could achieve if we have more ?
” And the offers for that “ more ” followed soon after .
All that shouldn ’ t distract from Madu ’ s talents , however .
Owoseni spared no praise when he talked about Madu on the multiple interviews he made after the story went viral : “ Anthony is a very committed student .
Right from day one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are trying to change stereotypes around ballet dance .
Boys can actually do ballet.
” Owoseni also added that “ Male ballet dancing is here to stay and it is not only supposed to be for females.
” The dedicated instructor ’ s contribution to the boy ’ s future success can not be overstated .
It also turned out that Owoseni was training his 12 pupils in the Leap of Dance Academy for free .
When Madu was asked how he felt when his video went viral he said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also added that he hopes his story and his dancing will help challenge the stigma that ballet is “ just for girls ” and that male ballet dancers still struggle with .
“ When people see ballet they think it is only for girls , ” Madu said .
“ How I want them to see me is when I am dancing , they know that there is a male ballet dancer .
The feeling that comes over me is as if I am dreaming.
” Madu hasn ’ t accepted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are quite a few for him to choose from .
He was donated a laptop from his supporters and ABT is working on getting him internet access so that he can better research his possibilities and make the best possible decision for his future .
“ A child who shows this much dedication , you just have to help , ” Harvey said .
“ If there is anything the world has taught us , it ’ s that we have to inspire all sorts of people and that we all have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Providing opportunities for Daniel and Anthony is the right thing to do.
” The viral video was also caught up by many celebrities who also helped popularize Madu and his talents .
Actress Viola Davis was one of many who shared Madu ’ s video on Twitter .
“ Reminds me of the beauty of my people , ” the actress wrote .
“ We create , soar , can imagine , have unleashed passion , and love….despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front of us !
Our people can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s story is inspiring in lots of different ways and that ’ s precisely what makes it important .
For one , it ’ s the classic story of someone overcoming seemingly unsurmountable obstacles through sheer effort .
But it ’ s also a story about all the good that could be done thanks to how connected and small our world has become through the internet .
And , last but not least , it ’ s a story of how vital a good , dedicated , and selfless teacher can be for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hopefully , Madu ’ s and Owoseni ’ s stories will continue to be as positive and inspiring as they are right now .

Getting into a good school can be hard to do so a bit of creativity, perseverance, and ingenuity can go a long way. That’s exactly the case with 11-year-old Anthony Mmesoma Madu from Lagos, Nigeria.
Advertisement
Madu is one of 12 students of the Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos – a dance school founded by Daniel Ajala Owoseni in 2017. It’s in the Leap of Dance Academy that Madu both fell in love with ballet and discovered that he has a knack for it. But what truly set Anthony apart from his peers was an inspiring video of him, dancing barefoot in the rain and on the uneven concrete of a random Lagos street.
11-year-old Nigerian ballet dancer wows millions with his moves
Watch this video on YouTube
Owoseni uploaded the video on the Leap of Dance Academy’s Instagram page and it went viral almost immediately. Soon after that, scholarship offers started raining from all around the world.
Advertisement
One such offer came from Cynthia Harvey, the artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance in New York.
“A friend who lives in the UK sent me the video,” said Harvey. “Within a day, I was trying to find him.”
Harvey found Madu through the Leap of Dance Academy and Owoseni and offered the boy a full scholarship so that he could attend the ABT virtual Young Dancer Summer Workshop – a three-week intensive program. Owoseni was also included in ABT’s two-week-long National Training Curriculum course for ballet instructors.
Advertisement
What made Madu’s video so inspiring was a combination of different factors. On one hand, was the boy’s obvious natural talent and dedication. On the other, undeniably, were the harsh conditions he was forced to train in. Owoseni himself pointed that out in the description of the video as he posted it on Instagram:
“Behind those fanciful in class beauty and costumes are lots and lots of backstage hard work. With very little or no resources our kids are training to be the best they can. This is not to bring down anyone but to show their high level of dedication and committments to our program. Who wouldn’t be proud of them? What teacher wouldn’t pray for students who shows/comes to class with so much desire to learn? Kids who are ready to dance with or without conditions. Imagine what more we could achieve if we have more?”
And the offers for that “more” followed soon after.
Advertisement
All that shouldn’t distract from Madu’s talents, however. Owoseni spared no praise when he talked about Madu on the multiple interviews he made after the story went viral:
“Anthony is a very committed student. Right from day one, he has always been very time conscious. We are trying to change stereotypes around ballet dance. Boys can actually do ballet.” Owoseni also added that “Male ballet dancing is here to stay and it is not only supposed to be for females.”
The dedicated instructor’s contribution to the boy’s future success cannot be overstated. It also turned out that Owoseni was training his 12 pupils in the Leap of Dance Academy for free.
Advertisement
When Madu was asked how he felt when his video went viral he said he was “very, very happy”. He also added that he hopes his story and his dancing will help challenge the stigma that ballet is “just for girls” and that male ballet dancers still struggle with.
“When people see ballet they think it is only for girls,” Madu said. “How I want them to see me is when I am dancing, they know that there is a male ballet dancer. The feeling that comes over me is as if I am dreaming.”
Madu hasn’t accepted any scholarship offers yet, as there are quite a few for him to choose from. He was donated a laptop from his supporters and ABT is working on getting him internet access so that he can better research his possibilities and make the best possible decision for his future.
Advertisement
“A child who shows this much dedication, you just have to help,” Harvey said. “If there is anything the world has taught us, it’s that we have to inspire all sorts of people and that we all have a lot to learn from one another. Providing opportunities for Daniel and Anthony is the right thing to do.”
The viral video was also caught up by many celebrities who also helped popularize Madu and his talents. Actress Viola Davis was one of many who shared Madu’s video on Twitter.
“Reminds me of the beauty of my people,” the actress wrote. “We create, soar, can imagine, have unleashed passion, and love….despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front of us! Our people can fly!!!”
Advertisement
Madu’s story is inspiring in lots of different ways and that’s precisely what makes it important. For one, it’s the classic story of someone overcoming seemingly unsurmountable obstacles through sheer effort. But it’s also a story about all the good that could be done thanks to how connected and small our world has become through the internet. And, last but not least, it’s a story of how vital a good, dedicated, and selfless teacher can be for the development of his or her pupils.
Hopefully, Madu’s and Owoseni’s stories will continue to be as positive and inspiring as they are right now.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-20--How To Grow Your Own Miniature Cannabis Bonsai Tree

Marijuana has been one of the most discussed plants in the U.S. for decades and will likely continue to be so for much more time to come .
Even just its current legal status is complicated enough to leave legal experts and legal hemp growers confused .
Amid all the contradicting information , it can seem silly to consider “ marijuana bonsai ” as an adequate choice for indoor potted greenery , right ?
Well , depending on where you live , it might actually be both a legal and fun option .
Where is it legal to grow marijuana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana at home is still prohibited by the federal government .
Such a federal prohibition would typically apply across all states , however , that ’ s not exactly the case .
A passage in a 2018 Farm bill made hemp-derived CBD ( cannabidiol ) federally legal .
As far as growing whole marijuana plants , however – those were made legal only in certain states and under varying conditions while still technically being “ illegal ” everywhere on a federal level .
What does this mean ?
It means that – hypothetically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you up for a single marijuana plant always and anywhere , even if you live in a state where growing marijuana for recreational use is allowed .
In practice , however , you can be 99.99 % sure that won ’ t happen if you ’ re in a state where recreational marijuana has been legalized as the federal government doesn ’ t care what individual citizens are doing in the privacy of their own homes .
So , where is it legal to home grow recreational marijuana ?
This simple map shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be divided into four distinct groups depending on how legal/illegal it is to grow marijuana there .
• States that allow growing marijuana at home for recreational purposes and offer higher limits for medicinal patients : Vermont , California , Nevada , Oregon , and Michigan .
• States that allow growing marijuana at home and make no distinction between recreational and medicinal marijuana : Massachusetts , Maine , Alaska , and Colorado .
• States that allow growing medicinal marijuana but prohibit the growth of recreational marijuana : Rhode Island , Hawaii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Missouri , Montana , and Washington .
• States that don ’ t allow any marijuana home growths regardless of their purpose – all the rest .
So , if you do live in any of the 17 states from the first three groups , there ’ s nothing stopping you from growing a bit of marijuana at home ( if your state is one of the eight states from the third category you ’ ll still need proof of a medical reason for the marijuana ) .
Now , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pots for fun but want to go big with a whole garage or basement of marijuana growths under artificial light – we can ’ t help you with that .
There are plenty of excellent sites and guides for professional or semi-professional marijuana growth out there that can offer you excellent advice on the lighting , soil , and techniques for maximizing marijuana growth .
Instead , what we thought we ’ d bring to your attention is a fun alternative anyone ( from the legally-allowed states ) can try at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bonsai trees and how can marijuana be grown that way ?
Many people are under the false idea that bonsai is a type of plant – that ’ s not the case .
Instead , bonsai is a way to grow trees and bushes that ’ s been popular in East Asia for millennia but has started getting popular around the world in recent decades .
The word “ bonsai ” comes from Japanese where it means “ tree in a tray ” or “ planted in a container ” .
Essentially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger trees , bushes , and other plants in smaller sizes .
The purpose of it ?
Usually just fun – if you live in an apartment or you don ’ t have much or any outdoor space , why not grow a small tree indoors as you would a flower ?
What makes bonsai trees unique is that they are grown to develop into healthy , mature , and authentic “ adult ” trees but simply remain kept in a miniature state .
Bonsai trees have branches , produce leaves , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and decorative .
So , how does this work for marijuana ?
Isn ’ t marijuana typically rather small anyway ?
Yes and no .
Marijuana comes in several different types or sub-species and they can vary quite a lot of in their size and growth patterns .
The most popular types of marijuana are Sativas , Indicas , and Ruderails with dozens of hybrids produced from them .
Sativas marijuana can grow surprisingly tall – up to 20 feet under the right conditions indoors and even more if you just leave it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the other hand , are shorter and bushier – they usually grow between 3 and 6 feet and height and tend to grow a bit more sideways .
Hybrids from these three main strains can vary greatly .
Even if you ’ ve got an Indicas or a Ruderails marijuana strain , however , 6 feet can be a bit too much if you want a more decorative marijuana plant that you only occasionally use for consumption .
That ’ s where bonsai marijuana growth comes in .
Regardless of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are several main steps for a successful bonsai growth : • Get the right pot .
The main component of a bonsai tree ’ s growth is the size of the pot .
It ’ s the small size that helps “ make ” a regular tree into a bonsai tree as it restricts the plant ’ s access to extra nutrients and limits the growing space of its root system .
Simply put – the smaller the pot , the smaller the plant .
• Prep the pot .
After you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll want to drill several holes around the upper perimeter of the pot .
These holes are for strings or twine that you ’ ll use later to “ train ” the plant .
The term “ training ” refers to guiding the plant ’ s growth in your desired parameters and directions by tieing it with strings .
• Plant the marijuana cutting .
Make sure you ’ ve got a nice and healthy cutting of your desired marijuana strain .
Then just plant it in the soil .
Most marijuana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and loose texture , and offers good drainage .
For more specifics , look up the requirements of your particular marijuana strain .
• Train the stem .
Right after you ’ ve planted your marijuana cutting you ’ d want to add a wooden stake next to the stem .
The purpose of the stake will be to train the stem to grow straight up and not tilt in any direction .
Be careful not to harm the root system of the marijuana cutting when installing the stake , however – insert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Train the branches .
This next step takes place after some time when the tree ’ s branches start growing a bit .
Using bits of string and the holes you drilled in the pot ’ s perimeter you can train each branch to go in your desired direction and length .
If you want the branches to grow more horizontally , tie them done with extra force .
If you want them to grow vertically , tie them more loosely .
In either case , make sure to leave at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grow without too much constriction .
• Prune your marijuana bonsai .
The last step is arguably the most important one and yet – most people skip it .
Pruning is the practice of cutting off certain branches and even the top of the stem in order to maintain a certain shape of the plant as well as to maximize the development of new buds and colas ( flower clusters ) .
Depending on what you want from your bonsai marijuana plant , you ’ ll want to prune it in different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guide from the marijuana-growing experts from Royal Queen Seeds .
Why would you want to grow a marijuana bonsai tree ?
There are a couple of main reasons why you ’ d want to grow a marijuana bonsai tree in your home : • To use it as a “ mother plant ” for clone clippings for your larger marijuana garden .
If you ’ re looking after a marijuana garden in your backyard , garage , or basement , you ’ ll need several mother plants to provide a genetic diversity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these mother plants in a bonsai state is a great space-saver as you don ’ t really need your mother plants to get any bigger than they need to be .
• For decorative purposes .
A marijuana bonsai tree can be grown for the same reason as any other bonsai tree – it ’ s fun , it ’ s cute , and it makes for an excellent decoration .
Many people even love the aroma a small marijuana bonsai can give off .
• A bit of consumption .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce and you just want a bit of marijuana from time to time , a bonsai tree can supply that without growing to the ceiling and taking too much space .
Plus , if you ever want to go bigger you can easily transition from a bonsai tree to a regular marijuana bush .
• Horticultural therapy .
Therapeutic gardening can be done with any plant and marijuana is no exception .
The effects of horticultural therapy for the elderly and for other people under regular stress are well-documented .
So , why @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Marijuana has been one of the most discussed plants in the U.S. for decades and will likely continue to be so for much more time to come. Even just its current legal status is complicated enough to leave legal experts and legal hemp growers confused. Amid all the contradicting information, it can seem silly to consider “marijuana bonsai” as an adequate choice for indoor potted greenery, right? Well, depending on where you live, it might actually be both a legal and fun option.
Advertisement
Where is it legal to grow marijuana at home?
Technically speaking, growing marijuana at home is still prohibited by the federal government. Such a federal prohibition would typically apply across all states, however, that’s not exactly the case.
A passage in a 2018 Farm bill made hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol) federally legal. As far as growing whole marijuana plants, however – those were made legal only in certain states and under varying conditions while still technically being “illegal” everywhere on a federal level.
Advertisement
What does this mean? It means that – hypothetically speaking – the federal government can bust you up for a single marijuana plant always and anywhere, even if you live in a state where growing marijuana for recreational use is allowed. In practice, however, you can be 99.99% sure that won’t happen if you’re in a state where recreational marijuana has been legalized as the federal government doesn’t care what individual citizens are doing in the privacy of their own homes.
So, where is it legal to home grow recreational marijuana? This simple map shows pretty clearly that the U.S. states can be divided into four distinct groups depending on how legal/illegal it is to grow marijuana there.
States that allow growing marijuana at home for recreational purposes and offer higher limits for medicinal patients: Vermont, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Michigan.
States that allow growing marijuana at home and make no distinction between recreational and medicinal marijuana: Massachusetts, Maine, Alaska, and Colorado.
States that allow growing medicinal marijuana but prohibit the growth of recreational marijuana: Rhode Island, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, Montana, and Washington.
States that don’t allow any marijuana home growths regardless of their purpose – all the rest.
So, if you do live in any of the 17 states from the first three groups, there’s nothing stopping you from growing a bit of marijuana at home (if your state is one of the eight states from the third category you’ll still need proof of a medical reason for the marijuana).
Advertisement
Now, if you want to not only grow a couple of pots for fun but want to go big with a whole garage or basement of marijuana growths under artificial light – we can’t help you with that. There are plenty of excellent sites and guides for professional or semi-professional marijuana growth out there that can offer you excellent advice on the lighting, soil, and techniques for maximizing marijuana growth.
Instead, what we thought we’d bring to your attention is a fun alternative anyone (from the legally-allowed states) can try at home – marijuana bonsai trees!
What are bonsai trees and how can marijuana be grown that way?
Many people are under the false idea that bonsai is a type of plant – that’s not the case. Instead, bonsai is a way to grow trees and bushes that’s been popular in East Asia for millennia but has started getting popular around the world in recent decades.
Advertisement
The word “bonsai” comes from Japanese where it means “tree in a tray” or “planted in a container”. Essentially, bonsai is a technique for growing typically larger trees, bushes, and other plants in smaller sizes. The purpose of it? Usually just fun – if you live in an apartment or you don’t have much or any outdoor space, why not grow a small tree indoors as you would a flower?
What makes bonsai trees unique is that they are grown to develop into healthy, mature, and authentic “adult” trees but simply remain kept in a miniature state. Bonsai trees have branches, produce leaves, and even fruits, they are just small and decorative.
So, how does this work for marijuana? Isn’t marijuana typically rather small anyway?
Advertisement
Yes and no. Marijuana comes in several different types or sub-species and they can vary quite a lot of in their size and growth patterns. The most popular types of marijuana are Sativas, Indicas, and Ruderails with dozens of hybrids produced from them.
Sativas marijuana can grow surprisingly tall – up to 20 feet under the right conditions indoors and even more if you just leave it outdoors.
Indicas and Ruderails marijuana plants, on the other hand, are shorter and bushier – they usually grow between 3 and 6 feet and height and tend to grow a bit more sideways.
Advertisement
Hybrids from these three main strains can vary greatly.
Even if you’ve got an Indicas or a Ruderails marijuana strain, however, 6 feet can be a bit too much if you want a more decorative marijuana plant that you only occasionally use for consumption. That’s where bonsai marijuana growth comes in.
How to grow a marijuana bonsai tree?
Regardless of which marijuana strain you’ve got, there are several main steps for a successful bonsai growth:
Advertisement
Get the right pot. The main component of a bonsai tree’s growth is the size of the pot. It’s the small size that helps “make” a regular tree into a bonsai tree as it restricts the plant’s access to extra nutrients and limits the growing space of its root system. Simply put – the smaller the pot, the smaller the plant. Prep the pot. After you’ve got the right pot you’ll want to drill several holes around the upper perimeter of the pot. These holes are for strings or twine that you’ll use later to “train” the plant. The term “training” refers to guiding the plant’s growth in your desired parameters and directions by tieing it with strings. Plant the marijuana cutting. Make sure you’ve got a nice and healthy cutting of your desired marijuana strain. Then just plant it in the soil. Most marijuana strains prefer soil that has a light and loose texture, and offers good drainage. For more specifics, look up the requirements of your particular marijuana strain. Train the stem. Right after you’ve planted your marijuana cutting you’d want to add a wooden stake next to the stem. The purpose of the stake will be to train the stem to grow straight up and not tilt in any direction. Be careful not to harm the root system of the marijuana cutting when installing the stake, however – insert it in the soil slowly and carefully. Train the branches. This next step takes place after some time when the tree’s branches start growing a bit. Using bits of string and the holes you drilled in the pot’s perimeter you can train each branch to go in your desired direction and length. If you want the branches to grow more horizontally, tie them done with extra force. If you want them to grow vertically, tie them more loosely. In either case, make sure to leave at least a little room for the branches to grow without too much constriction. Prune your marijuana bonsai. The last step is arguably the most important one and yet – most people skip it. Pruning is the practice of cutting off certain branches and even the top of the stem in order to maintain a certain shape of the plant as well as to maximize the development of new buds and colas (flower clusters).
Depending on what you want from your bonsai marijuana plant, you’ll want to prune it in different ways. Here’s a nice guide from the marijuana-growing experts from Royal Queen Seeds.
Why would you want to grow a marijuana bonsai tree?
There are a couple of main reasons why you’d want to grow a marijuana bonsai tree in your home:
To use it as a “mother plant” for clone clippings for your larger marijuana garden. If you’re looking after a marijuana garden in your backyard, garage, or basement, you’ll need several mother plants to provide a genetic diversity of new clippings for your garden. Keeping these mother plants in a bonsai state is a great space-saver as you don’t really need your mother plants to get any bigger than they need to be. For decorative purposes. A marijuana bonsai tree can be grown for the same reason as any other bonsai tree – it’s fun, it’s cute, and it makes for an excellent decoration. Many people even love the aroma a small marijuana bonsai can give off. A bit of consumption. If you’re not looking for that much produce and you just want a bit of marijuana from time to time, a bonsai tree can supply that without growing to the ceiling and taking too much space. Plus, if you ever want to go bigger you can easily transition from a bonsai tree to a regular marijuana bush. Horticultural therapy. Therapeutic gardening can be done with any plant and marijuana is no exception. The effects of horticultural therapy for the elderly and for other people under regular stress are well-documented. So, why not try it out with marijuana?
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-21--Cat Loves Stealing His Neighbors’ Shoes, His Owner Had to Create a Facebook Group To Return Them

Cats have countless cute traits and quirks that make them one of the two most popular household pets across the world .
It ’ s undeniable , however , that some of their quirks can be… problematic .
Here to exemplify this fact is the six-pound-heavy cat from Altoona , Pennsylvania – Jordan .
The mischievous feline has decided to devote his life to the art of thievery .
Every night , after his owners fall asleep , Jordan sneaks out of the house , jumps over the tall wooden fence , and goes scouring around the neighborhood looking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he finds the “ right ” sneaker or flip-flop that satisfies his kleptomaniac urges that night , Jordan bites it and carries it back home .
And to make matters even more hilarious – he often returns for the second shoe to “ complete the set.
” Jordan ’ s escapades have been going on for so long that his owner BJ Ross attached a GPS to Jordan ’ s collar and set up a night-vision camera to monitor his “ activities ” .
The thief ’ s family also created a Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could return the stolen shoes to their rightful owners .
The GPS maps make it pretty clear that Jordan is a very adventurous cat and isn ’ t satisfied with just one “ hunting ground ” .
Instead , he views the whole neighborhood as his own kingdom .
Fortunately for the cat burglar , his owners are loving and understanding so they didn ’ t punish him but instead turned him into an internet sensation , while trying to return the stolen treasures to Jordan ’ s victims .
Well , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview ” but it ’ s doubtful that he gave that much thought .
Yes and no .
Most household cats don ’ t exhibit such acute kleptomania for various reasons – their owners don ’ t let them wander outside in the middle of the night , they get plenty of playtime before bed , they have other feline or dog buddies to keep themselves occupied with , or they satisfy their hunting instincts in other ways .
And it ’ s precisely the cats ’ hunting instincts that sometimes drive them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Medical Director of VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia explains the behavior like this : “ [ It ’ s ] A mix of that want to have the hunt , and because they ’ re not getting all of that stimulation they normally would get as outside wild cats.
” Dr. Simpson says .
“ We recommend that people keep their cats indoors for a healthier longer lifespan , [ but ] without all of that stimulation , they ’ re left to their own devices and they do get bored .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of at the heart of the stealing issue.
” Another reason why a cat may fall into a life of crime is to get your attention .
When cats are bored for long stretches of time they start looking for innovative ways to grab our attention .
When rubbing against our legs and mewing from the hallway prove ineffective , they start coming up with tactics that are sure to get us out of the chair – scratching their claws on the new sofa , pushing glasses off the counter , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re irritated that we have to get up and look all around the house for our missing headband , socks or wallet , for our cat the whole activity is basically a game of “ hide and seek ” .
And in cases like Jordan ’ s where the cat isn ’ t stealing your things but is bringing you other people ’ s items , it ’ s also interpreted as both the satisfaction of a hunting instinct and an attempt to get your attention and receive your admiration .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from that in humans where it ’ s an impulse control disorder and from kleptomania in birds like ravens , magpies , and others where it can be both just a game and a mating ritual .
That depends on the situation – if your cat is healthy , if it ’ s not ingesting the things he or she is stealing , and if the thefts are not a problem in and of themselves , then the habit is likely harmless .
However , there are reasons to be wary of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep in mind : • Is your cat eating the stolen objects ?
Many of the things cat steal can be small enough to consume but indigestible and problematic .
Dr. Simpson shares that she once had to remove 50 hair elastics from one cat ’ s intestines and an entire bathing suit top from another cat ’ s stomach .
• Is your cat stealing other people ’ s stuff ?
Jordan ’ s neighbors turned out to be favorable toward the four-legged thief but others may not be so benevolent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ tough ” neighborhood ?
Aside from the thievery annoying the neighbors , if your cat is sneaking out at night , this can get it into problems with cars , stray dogs , other cats , or the nighttime wildlife .
That ’ s why it ’ s always recommended to keep your cat as a strictly household pet and not let it out .
Plus , there ’ s all the ticks and other insect pest problems you ’ ll have to worry about .
• Kleptomania in cats can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As we mentioned , the most common reasons for kleptomania in felines is boredom and an unsatisfied hunting instinct .
However , it can be more than that too .
The cat may be anxious or depressed because of a recent change , for example .
An even bigger problem could be a physical illness and pain which the cat copes with by “ keeping busy.
” As Dr. Simpson explains it : “ Any deviation from the normal for a cat could potentially be a red flag that they ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be an indicator for a medical condition .
Cats are great hiders of illness.
” What to do if your cat is developing this habit ?
Aside from putting a GPS on his collar , setting up a camera in the backyard , and turning him into an internet sensation ?
Well , the obvious thing you shouldn ’ t do is punish the cat or beat it – cats never respond positively to punishments and physical harm .
The cat will be much more likely to continue the behavior either to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get your attention .
What you can do instead , however , is any of the following : • Hide the objects that attract the cat ’ s attention somewhere it can ’ t get them .
When possible , do so when the cat ’ s not nearby so that it doesn ’ t take it as an invitation for more “ hide and seek ” .
If the cat is stealing from your neighbors as Jordan does , it ’ s recommended that you stop letting it go outside .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not be as active and playful as dogs but they still need at least a couple of solid “ play sessions ” per day .
If your cat is exhibiting any such unwanted behaviors , chances are that it ’ s bored .
And , if your cat is on the other extreme and doesn ’ t want to play at all , it ’ s almost certainly bored to the point of being lethargic .
• Satisfy your cat ’ s hunting insticts .
This can be done in many different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cat you can use “ fishing rod ” toys which stimulate your cat to run and chance the toy at the end of the rod .
You can also teach most cats to play fetch with small rubber balls .
Another alternative is to get a puzzle feeder your cat – these are feeders with various mazes or puzzles the cat has to solve to get its dry food .
This is great both for keeping the cat engaged and mentally satisfied as well as to help it eat slower .
• Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two or more cats will tell you that two is the magic number when it comes to felines .
Having a second cat almost doesn ’ t increase the amount of work and care that ’ s required of you – just more food and a couple of extra vet visits per year – but it gives your first cat the best possible buddy to play with .
This eliminates any risk of boredom and attention-seeking mischief .
Dogs and kids can also serve that role too .

Cats have countless cute traits and quirks that make them one of the two most popular household pets across the world. It’s undeniable, however, that some of their quirks can be… problematic.
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Here to exemplify this fact is the six-pound-heavy cat from Altoona, Pennsylvania – Jordan. The mischievous feline has decided to devote his life to the art of thievery.
Every night, after his owners fall asleep, Jordan sneaks out of the house, jumps over the tall wooden fence, and goes scouring around the neighborhood looking for shoes to steal. Then, when he finds the “right” sneaker or flip-flop that satisfies his kleptomaniac urges that night, Jordan bites it and carries it back home. And to make matters even more hilarious – he often returns for the second shoe to “complete the set.”
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Jordan’s escapades have been going on for so long that his owner BJ Ross attached a GPS to Jordan’s collar and set up a night-vision camera to monitor his “activities”. The thief’s family also created a Facebook group for the neighborhood so that they could return the stolen shoes to their rightful owners.
The GPS maps make it pretty clear that Jordan is a very adventurous cat and isn’t satisfied with just one “hunting ground”. Instead, he views the whole neighborhood as his own kingdom.
Fortunately for the cat burglar, his owners are loving and understanding so they didn’t punish him but instead turned him into an internet sensation, while trying to return the stolen treasures to Jordan’s victims. Well, they also shamed him with a scolding “interview” but it’s doubtful that he gave that much thought.
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Is such feline kleptomania a common problem?
Neighborhood "Cat" Burglar
Watch this video on YouTube
Yes and no. Most household cats don’t exhibit such acute kleptomania for various reasons – their owners don’t let them wander outside in the middle of the night, they get plenty of playtime before bed, they have other feline or dog buddies to keep themselves occupied with, or they satisfy their hunting instincts in other ways.
And it’s precisely the cats’ hunting instincts that sometimes drive them to thievery.
Dr. Aimee Simpson, the Medical Director of VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia explains the behavior like this:
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“[It’s] A mix of that want to have the hunt, and because they’re not getting all of that stimulation they normally would get as outside wild cats.” Dr. Simpson says. “We recommend that people keep their cats indoors for a healthier longer lifespan, [but] without all of that stimulation, they’re left to their own devices and they do get bored. Boredom and lack of environmental enrichment is kind of at the heart of the stealing issue.”
Another reason why a cat may fall into a life of crime is to get your attention. When cats are bored for long stretches of time they start looking for innovative ways to grab our attention. When rubbing against our legs and mewing from the hallway prove ineffective, they start coming up with tactics that are sure to get us out of the chair – scratching their claws on the new sofa, pushing glasses off the counter, or stealing stuff. Because, while we’re irritated that we have to get up and look all around the house for our missing headband, socks or wallet, for our cat the whole activity is basically a game of “hide and seek”.
And in cases like Jordan’s where the cat isn’t stealing your things but is bringing you other people’s items, it’s also interpreted as both the satisfaction of a hunting instinct and an attempt to get your attention and receive your admiration.
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All this makes cat kleptomania a bit different from that in humans where it’s an impulse control disorder and from kleptomania in birds like ravens, magpies, and others where it can be both just a game and a mating ritual.
Is feline kleptomania a big problem?
That depends on the situation – if your cat is healthy, if it’s not ingesting the things he or she is stealing, and if the thefts are not a problem in and of themselves, then the habit is likely harmless. However, there are reasons to be wary of such a behavior. Here are several things to keep in mind:
Is your cat eating the stolen objects? Many of the things cat steal can be small enough to consume but indigestible and problematic. Dr. Simpson shares that she once had to remove 50 hair elastics from one cat’s intestines and an entire bathing suit top from another cat’s stomach. Is your cat stealing other people’s stuff? Jordan’s neighbors turned out to be favorable toward the four-legged thief but others may not be so benevolent. Do you live in a “tough” neighborhood? Aside from the thievery annoying the neighbors, if your cat is sneaking out at night, this can get it into problems with cars, stray dogs, other cats, or the nighttime wildlife. That’s why it’s always recommended to keep your cat as a strictly household pet and not let it out. Plus, there’s all the ticks and other insect pest problems you’ll have to worry about. Kleptomania in cats can also be a symptom of other issues. As we mentioned, the most common reasons for kleptomania in felines is boredom and an unsatisfied hunting instinct. However, it can be more than that too. The cat may be anxious or depressed because of a recent change, for example. An even bigger problem could be a physical illness and pain which the cat copes with by “keeping busy.” As Dr. Simpson explains it:
“Any deviation from the normal for a cat could potentially be a red flag that they’re not getting what they need at home or could be an indicator for a medical condition. Cats are great hiders of illness.”
What to do if your cat is developing this habit?
Aside from putting a GPS on his collar, setting up a camera in the backyard, and turning him into an internet sensation? Well, the obvious thing you shouldn’t do is punish the cat or beat it – cats never respond positively to punishments and physical harm. The cat will be much more likely to continue the behavior either to spite you or to continue trying to get your attention.
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What you can do instead, however, is any of the following:
Hide the objects that attract the cat’s attention somewhere it can’t get them. When possible, do so when the cat’s not nearby so that it doesn’t take it as an invitation for more “hide and seek”. If the cat is stealing from your neighbors as Jordan does, it’s recommended that you stop letting it go outside.
Give your cat extra attention. Cats may not be as active and playful as dogs but they still need at least a couple of solid “play sessions” per day. If your cat is exhibiting any such unwanted behaviors, chances are that it’s bored. And, if your cat is on the other extreme and doesn’t want to play at all, it’s almost certainly bored to the point of being lethargic.
Satisfy your cat’s hunting insticts. This can be done in many different ways. When you play with your cat you can use “fishing rod” toys which stimulate your cat to run and chance the toy at the end of the rod. You can also teach most cats to play fetch with small rubber balls. Another alternative is to get a puzzle feeder your cat – these are feeders with various mazes or puzzles the cat has to solve to get its dry food. This is great both for keeping the cat engaged and mentally satisfied as well as to help it eat slower.
Get a second cat. Most owners of two or more cats will tell you that two is the magic number when it comes to felines. Having a second cat almost doesn’t increase the amount of work and care that’s required of you – just more food and a couple of extra vet visits per year – but it gives your first cat the best possible buddy to play with. This eliminates any risk of boredom and attention-seeking mischief. Dogs and kids can also serve that role too.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-22--Woman Finds Gorgeous Flower Mantis Living in Her Lavender Garden

We usually associate insects with ugliness and creepiness .
To most of us , they are scary and repulsive creatures that are only “ good ” because we ’ ve read that they are sometimes beneficial to the environment and to crops in particular .
Praying mantises are no exception to that perception – most of us view them as terrifying predators with strong pincers .
And the main thing people remember about them is that the females eat the males ’ heads after procreating with them .
If you ’ ve watched some environmental TV channels in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also be stunningly beautiful .
And if not – check out this gorgeous “ Flower Mantis ” a woman from South Africa found in her garden .
Margaret Neville found the beautiful bug in the lavender bushes in her back yard .
She almost missed it because of the realistic floral camouflage the mantis was sporting .
Neville dubbed the insect “ Miss Frilly Pants ” when she posted its pictures online and the name is indeed fitting .
Experts have confirmed that the insect is a female as only female mantises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of their hunting tactic which has them sitting still and waiting for their victims to fall for their trap .
Male flower mantises , on the other hand , don ’ t have such camouflage and are plain in color – they hunt more proactively by chasing down their victims .
The males of most mantis species also tend to be smaller than the females .
Experts point out that this gender divergence in the physique and hunting techniques is typically only for certain anthropods ( insects and spiders ) and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does put a rather sinister note on Miss Frilly Pants ’ beauty but doesn ’ t diminish it in any way .
And besides , praying mantises are actually very beneficial insects for our gardens and properties .
These expert trappers and hunters prey on many of the unwanted pests that often plague our backyards such as mosquitoes aphids , and caterpillars .
Other additions to their diet include crickets , grasshoppers , beetles , and even moths .
Some of the largest praying mantis variations can even feed on tree frogs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lizards , but those praying mantis species are only found in southern and tropical climates .
Plus , mantises like this flower mantis aren ’ t harmful to humans as they ’ re not poisonous or venomous .
At worst , they might pinch you if they feel threatened but if you ’ re gentle and careful you can even handle them without a problem like Margaret Neville did .
If you ’ re looking for something more than pictures , Neville also shot a nice video and posted it on Facebook for @ @ @ @

We usually associate insects with ugliness and creepiness. To most of us, they are scary and repulsive creatures that are only “good” because we’ve read that they are sometimes beneficial to the environment and to crops in particular.
Advertisement
Praying mantises are no exception to that perception – most of us view them as terrifying predators with strong pincers. And the main thing people remember about them is that the females eat the males’ heads after procreating with them.
If you’ve watched some environmental TV channels in the past, you might know that praying mantises can also be stunningly beautiful. And if not – check out this gorgeous “Flower Mantis” a woman from South Africa found in her garden.
Advertisement
Margaret Neville found the beautiful bug in the lavender bushes in her back yard. She almost missed it because of the realistic floral camouflage the mantis was sporting. Neville dubbed the insect “Miss Frilly Pants” when she posted its pictures online and the name is indeed fitting.
Experts have confirmed that the insect is a female as only female mantises use camouflage – it’s a part of their hunting tactic which has them sitting still and waiting for their victims to fall for their trap.
Male flower mantises, on the other hand, don’t have such camouflage and are plain in color – they hunt more proactively by chasing down their victims. The males of most mantis species also tend to be smaller than the females. Experts point out that this gender divergence in the physique and hunting techniques is typically only for certain anthropods (insects and spiders) and is rarely seen in other species.
Advertisement
This does put a rather sinister note on Miss Frilly Pants’ beauty but doesn’t diminish it in any way. And besides, praying mantises are actually very beneficial insects for our gardens and properties. These expert trappers and hunters prey on many of the unwanted pests that often plague our backyards such as mosquitoes aphids, and caterpillars. Other additions to their diet include crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and even moths. Some of the largest praying mantis variations can even feed on tree frogs, small rodents, nesting birds, and lizards, but those praying mantis species are only found in southern and tropical climates.
Plus, mantises like this flower mantis aren’t harmful to humans as they’re not poisonous or venomous. At worst, they might pinch you if they feel threatened but if you’re gentle and careful you can even handle them without a problem like Margaret Neville did.
If you’re looking for something more than pictures, Neville also shot a nice video and posted it on Facebook for others to see.
Advertisement


dailyhealthpost--2020-08-23--Colorful Pigeon With Rainbow Feathers is the Closest Living Relative to the Extinct Dodo Bird

The Dodo bird is one of the most famous extinct animals both because of its peculiar look and because it ’ s mentioned in almost every middle-school biology textbook .
What ’ s probably most fascinating and emblematic about the Dodo bird isn ’ t its bizarre body shape , it ’ s thick , sturdy legs , or its giant beak which extends to the back of the bird ’ s face , however – it ’ s how short-lived its presence in the known animal kingdom was .
The Dodo bird was discovered in 1598 by Dutch sailors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean .
By 1662 , however , just 64 years later , it was already extinct .
The Dodo was savagely hunted by sailors and the invasive species they had introduced to the island of Mauritius , plus its habitat was quickly devastated by the rapid deforestation of the island .
The Dodo bird was “ removed ” from the face of the planet so quickly that most people at the time didn ’ t realize the bird even existed .
And many of those who had heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a myth , a sailor fairy tale like that of mermaids and leviathans .
It ’ s that incredibly quick extinction of the entire Dodo species that has booked this bird a permanent spot in our biology textbooks – as a reminder of how devastating our actions can be to the fauna of our planet .
And yet today , a relative of the Dodo is threatened with a similar fate .
The Nicobar pigeon is considered to be the closest living relative to the Dodo bird even though it doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Caloenas nicobarica , as the Nicobar pigeon is scientifically known , is native to islands and areas in Southeast Asia such as the Solomon Islands , the Andaman and Nicobar islands , as well as Vietnam and the Philipines .
Physically its body is shaped like most western pigeons but with sturdier legs and a somewhat bigger body .
The most eye-catching feature of the Nicobar pigeon , however , is its stunning coloring .
Unlike most other pigeons across the world , the Nicobar pigeon has been lucky enough to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hunt it down .
This has allowed the species to evolve peacefully with these bright and captivating colors without attracting unnecessary attention .
Yes , people native to the region have hunted the pigeon as a source of food but before the European settlers brought firearms to the region , such hunting efforts weren ’ t significant enough to endanger the colorful bird .
Of course , all that has changed in the last several centuries .
Today , the Nicobar pigeon is considered “ Near Threatened ” by the International Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The reasons behind the rapidly dwindling population of this beautiful bird are very similar to those of the Dodo ’ s extinction : • Overly excessive hunting – for food , for trophies from the birds ’ beautiful feathers , as well as for profit .
• Massive deforestation – with the rapid increase of both tourism and the native human populations in the birds ’ habitat , the Nicobar pigeons are quickly running out of living space .
• Introduction of invasive predators – cats and rats are especially problematic for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climbers and threaten both their nests and the adult birds themselves .
One of the key contributing factors that make Nicobar pigeons such a lucrative hunting target is their gizzard stones .
Also called gastroliths , these are normal stones or grit that some birds like the Nicobar pigeon swallow intentionally .
The reason they do that is that they don ’ t have teeth to chew harder foods with so instead they swallow stones which end up in their gizzards – a unique organ in their digestive tracts which is followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are too big to continue down the birds ’ digestive tracts , they remain in the gizzard – hence the name “ gizzard stones ” – where they wobble around and help “ chew ” the harder foods eaten by the birds such as seeds and buds .
Over time , the stones themselves become rounder , smoother , and smaller due to the “ polishing effect ” of the animal ’ s stomach and gizzard .
Once the stones become small enough , they simply continue down the digestive tract together with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regurgitated .
And why would hunters care about stones eaten by pigeons , one might ask ?
Because they are used in jewelry !
That ’ s right , this increasingly rare and gorgeous bird , the last closest relative to the extinct Dodo , is being killed in untold quantities because of the smooth pebbles it eats and “ chews ” with .
There is good news , however .
Unlike with the Dodo where the rest of the world neither knew nor cared what was happening , today people are trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key helping factor is that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES ) has made the Nicobar pigeon “ illegal to trade ” , meaning that these birds are not available as pets neither in their native countries nor in the outside world .
Another factor that ’ s of huge help is the so-called “ Nicobar Pigeon Species Survival Plan ” – an organized effort by 55 zoos and institutions around the world to house 450 to 500 Nicobar pigeons as an “ insurance ” against the possible extinction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept in captivity , yes , but are also engaged in formal breeding and are frequently transferred to different zoos and facilities to keep them adaptable to new environments .
The birds are also taught and trained on how to survive the predators humans have introduced to their natural habitat .
The idea of this insurance plan is to make sure that there ’ s always a “ reserve ” of birds to fall back on if the Nicobar pigeons left in the wild are ever fully exterminated .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have used for thousands of other species and that has saved many from guaranteed extinction .

The Dodo bird is one of the most famous extinct animals both because of its peculiar look and because it’s mentioned in almost every middle-school biology textbook. What’s probably most fascinating and emblematic about the Dodo bird isn’t its bizarre body shape, it’s thick, sturdy legs, or its giant beak which extends to the back of the bird’s face, however – it’s how short-lived its presence in the known animal kingdom was.
Advertisement
The Dodo bird was discovered in 1598 by Dutch sailors on the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. By 1662, however, just 64 years later, it was already extinct. The Dodo was savagely hunted by sailors and the invasive species they had introduced to the island of Mauritius, plus its habitat was quickly devastated by the rapid deforestation of the island.
The Dodo bird was “removed” from the face of the planet so quickly that most people at the time didn’t realize the bird even existed. And many of those who had heard of it just thought it was nothing more than a myth, a sailor fairy tale like that of mermaids and leviathans.
Advertisement
It’s that incredibly quick extinction of the entire Dodo species that has booked this bird a permanent spot in our biology textbooks – as a reminder of how devastating our actions can be to the fauna of our planet.
And yet today, a relative of the Dodo is threatened with a similar fate. The Nicobar pigeon is considered to be the closest living relative to the Dodo bird even though it doesn’t look very much like it.
Caloenas nicobarica, as the Nicobar pigeon is scientifically known, is native to islands and areas in Southeast Asia such as the Solomon Islands, the Andaman and Nicobar islands, as well as Vietnam and the Philipines. Physically its body is shaped like most western pigeons but with sturdier legs and a somewhat bigger body. The most eye-catching feature of the Nicobar pigeon, however, is its stunning coloring.
Advertisement
Unlike most other pigeons across the world, the Nicobar pigeon has been lucky enough to live in areas without too many natural predators to hunt it down. This has allowed the species to evolve peacefully with these bright and captivating colors without attracting unnecessary attention. Yes, people native to the region have hunted the pigeon as a source of food but before the European settlers brought firearms to the region, such hunting efforts weren’t significant enough to endanger the colorful bird. Of course, all that has changed in the last several centuries.
Today, the Nicobar pigeon is considered “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The reasons behind the rapidly dwindling population of this beautiful bird are very similar to those of the Dodo’s extinction:
Overly excessive hunting – for food, for trophies from the birds’ beautiful feathers, as well as for profit.
Massive deforestation – with the rapid increase of both tourism and the native human populations in the birds’ habitat, the Nicobar pigeons are quickly running out of living space.
Introduction of invasive predators – cats and rats are especially problematic for the Nicobar pigeons as they are expert climbers and threaten both their nests and the adult birds themselves.
One of the key contributing factors that make Nicobar pigeons such a lucrative hunting target is their gizzard stones. Also called gastroliths, these are normal stones or grit that some birds like the Nicobar pigeon swallow intentionally. The reason they do that is that they don’t have teeth to chew harder foods with so instead they swallow stones which end up in their gizzards – a unique organ in their digestive tracts which is followed by the intestines. Because the swallowed stones are too big to continue down the birds’ digestive tracts, they remain in the gizzard – hence the name “gizzard stones” – where they wobble around and help “chew” the harder foods eaten by the birds such as seeds and buds.
Advertisement
Over time, the stones themselves become rounder, smoother, and smaller due to the “polishing effect” of the animal’s stomach and gizzard. Once the stones become small enough, they simply continue down the digestive tract together with the food and are eventually excreted or regurgitated.
And why would hunters care about stones eaten by pigeons, one might ask? Because they are used in jewelry! That’s right, this increasingly rare and gorgeous bird, the last closest relative to the extinct Dodo, is being killed in untold quantities because of the smooth pebbles it eats and “chews” with.
There is good news, however.
Advertisement
Unlike with the Dodo where the rest of the world neither knew nor cared what was happening, today people are trying to help these endangered animals. One key helping factor is that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has made the Nicobar pigeon “illegal to trade”, meaning that these birds are not available as pets neither in their native countries nor in the outside world.
Another factor that’s of huge help is the so-called “Nicobar Pigeon Species Survival Plan” – an organized effort by 55 zoos and institutions around the world to house 450 to 500 Nicobar pigeons as an “insurance” against the possible extinction of the species. The birds are kept in captivity, yes, but are also engaged in formal breeding and are frequently transferred to different zoos and facilities to keep them adaptable to new environments. The birds are also taught and trained on how to survive the predators humans have introduced to their natural habitat.
The idea of this insurance plan is to make sure that there’s always a “reserve” of birds to fall back on if the Nicobar pigeons left in the wild are ever fully exterminated. It’s a strategy that environmental protection activists and organizations have used for thousands of other species and that has saved many from guaranteed extinction.
Advertisement
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-24--“I Should Love My Wife the Same Way I Want My Daughter to Be Loved.” Things Every Father of a Girl N

“I Should Love My Wife the Same Way I Want My Daughter to Be Loved.” Things Every Father of a Girl Needs to Remember

Fatherhood is both a beautiful and complicated subject to delve into .
Or , it can seem confusing , depending on who you ask .
Even though there has been plenty of comprehensive research on the importance of fatherhood over the years many people still believe that a father ’ s job is just to make money and provide for his family .
Nothing could be further from the truth for both young girls and boys .
With girls , for example , the role of the father extends to many things , from setting a good example for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow up to be socially active , self-confident , and emotionally secure .
Here ’ s a quick breakdown of the key points every father should try to hit in their relationships with their daughters , according to most research : • You have to listen to her .
For millennia women grew up being taught that their opinions didn ’ t matter and they should just listen to the men around them .
Because of that many women led unsatisfying , unhappy , and unfulfilling lives .
Thankfully , this has started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her opinion matters and that people will be willing to hear what she has to say .
• You must always be by her side .
Life is scary , especially when you ’ re little .
Boys and girls alike always need the reassurance that their father is there to protect them .
This doesn ’ t mean raising spoiled children – it means giving them the confidence that you will always have their backs .
• You must make her feel loved .
Love is the building block of confidence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will grow up knowing that she deserves to be loved .
If not , however , she ’ ll most likely grow up believing that she ’ s not worthy of it .
• You should set a good example .
Just like boys learn what a good wife is by watching their mothers , girls learn about men from their fathers .
So , your job as a father is not to show your daughter how a “ standard ” man acts but how the men she should look for act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is loving , good , kind , capable , supportive , trusting , and any other quality you deem appropriate .
• You should trust her so she can learn to trust herself .
We all know the clichéd joke about the father welcoming his daughter ’ s date with a shotgun in his hand , right ?
And we get it – fathers are protective and always want the best for their girl .
However , that joke often “ misfires ” too , if you ’ d pardon the pun .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter ’ s date must be threatened with a gun to behave and yet you ’ re still willing to let your daughter go out with him .
What does this say about the quality of men you think your daughter is dating ?
What does it say about your trust in her choices and preferences ?
Instead , your job as a father is both to raise a smart and capable daughter , as well as to show her that you trust her .
• You should be her teacher too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a smart woman you must be a good teacher too .
Teach her about life , people , morals and ethics , about history and science , and every other crucial aspect of going through life .
• Giver her unforgettable memories .
At the end of the day , childhood is not just about learning and growing , it ’ s also about experiences .
Whether you have a daughter or a son , make sure that you give them a happy and fulfilling childhood .
• Be ready to let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect his daughter from the world but we can ’ t do that forever .
That ’ s why it ’ s important to make sure that you raise a competent , capable , and smart daughter , so she can one day “ fly away ” from the next and be safe and successful .
It sounds overwhelming , doesn ’ t it ?
Well , fatherhood can be that too .
And , at the end of the day , we can never get it 100 % right .
But we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughters ’ sakes .

Fatherhood is both a beautiful and complicated subject to delve into. Or, it can seem confusing, depending on who you ask.
Advertisement
Even though there has been plenty of comprehensive research on the importance of fatherhood over the years many people still believe that a father’s job is just to make money and provide for his family.
Nothing could be further from the truth for both young girls and boys. With girls, for example, the role of the father extends to many things, from setting a good example for how a man should act to helping her grow up to be socially active, self-confident, and emotionally secure.
Advertisement
Here’s a quick breakdown of the key points every father should try to hit in their relationships with their daughters, according to most research:
You have to listen to her. For millennia women grew up being taught that their opinions didn’t matter and they should just listen to the men around them. Because of that many women led unsatisfying, unhappy, and unfulfilling lives. Thankfully, this has started to change. Show your daughter that her opinion matters and that people will be willing to hear what she has to say.
You must always be by her side. Life is scary, especially when you’re little. Boys and girls alike always need the reassurance that their father is there to protect them. This doesn’t mean raising spoiled children – it means giving them the confidence that you will always have their backs.
You must make her feel loved. Love is the building block of confidence. If your daughter feels loved, she will grow up knowing that she deserves to be loved. If not, however, she’ll most likely grow up believing that she’s not worthy of it.
If your daughter feels loved, she will grow up knowing that she deserves to be loved. If not, however, she’ll most likely grow up believing that she’s not worthy of it. You should set a good example. Just like boys learn what a good wife is by watching their mothers, girls learn about men from their fathers. So, your job as a father is not to show your daughter how a “standard” man acts but how the men she should look for act. You show her that a good man is loving, good, kind, capable, supportive, trusting, and any other quality you deem appropriate.
You should trust her so she can learn to trust herself. We all know the clichéd joke about the father welcoming his daughter’s date with a shotgun in his hand, right? And we get it – fathers are protective and always want the best for their girl. However, that joke often “misfires” too, if you’d pardon the pun. Because it hints that you think your daughter’s date must be threatened with a gun to behave and yet you’re still willing to let your daughter go out with him. What does this say about the quality of men you think your daughter is dating? What does it say about your trust in her choices and preferences?
Instead, your job as a father is both to raise a smart and capable daughter, as well as to show her that you trust her.
And we get it – fathers are protective and always want the best for their girl. However, that joke often “misfires” too, if you’d pardon the pun. Because it hints that you think your daughter’s date must be threatened with a gun to behave and yet you’re still willing to let your daughter go out with him. What does this say about the quality of men you think your daughter is dating? What does it say about your trust in her choices and preferences? Instead, your job as a father is both to raise a smart and capable daughter, as well as to show her that you trust her. You should be her teacher too. Of course, to raise your daughter into a smart woman you must be a good teacher too. Teach her about life, people, morals and ethics, about history and science, and every other crucial aspect of going through life.
Giver her unforgettable memories. At the end of the day, childhood is not just about learning and growing, it’s also about experiences. Whether you have a daughter or a son, make sure that you give them a happy and fulfilling childhood.
Be ready to let her go. Every father wants to protect his daughter from the world but we can’t do that forever. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you raise a competent, capable, and smart daughter, so she can one day “fly away” from the next and be safe and successful.
It sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it? Well, fatherhood can be that too. And, at the end of the day, we can never get it 100% right. But we must always do our best for our daughters’ sakes.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-27--How The Netherlands Became The First Country With No Stray Dogs!

Imagine a world with no stray animals at all .
Wouldn ’ t that be nice ?
It may sound utopian , but it isn ’ t impossible to achieve .
In the Netherlands , there are no stray dogs .
How did they do it ?
The Netherlands became a country with no stray dogs thanks to their extensive sterilization program .
In addition , the government introduced laws to protect animal welfare .
Currently , the Netherlands claims to have zero stray dogs and most pets owned by its citizens are adopted .
The World Health Organisation estimates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs in the world .
But thanks to changes in legislation , mainly sterilisation programs , the Netherlands has become the first country with no stray dogs at all .
The Dutch government has been working hard to achieve that .
Hopefully , other countries will follow suit .
Has It Been Always Like That ?
Not really .
In the beginning of the 19th century , the number of dog owners increased drastically .
Back then , owning a dog or more than one was regarded as being from an upper social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as pets or for sports .
These dogs were usually groomed and well fed .
Poorer families , on the other hand , often had dogs for work and kept them on the streets .
During this time , a dog tax was implemented in order to regulate the number of stray dogs .
However , the dog tax backfired .
In the 19th century , the Netherlands was struggling with a rabies epidemic .
As a result , people who were afraid of getting the disease or couldn ’ t afford the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pets .
Unfortunately , dog abandonment was legal these days .
Soon the number of stray dogs kept multiplying and suddenly the government had to step in and make some changes .
They were concerned about both – the welfare of homeless pets , as well as the potential health issues they could spread .
The first Dutch animal protection agency got to work in 1864 .
13 years later the first canine shelter opened .
In 1962 , the government introduced the Animal Protection Act .
Ever since then , animal rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netherlands ’ social issues .
Animal abuse is not taken lightly .
Perpetrators are subject to a fine equivalent to $ 18,539 and up to three years in jail !
So How Did They Do It ?
Not only did the government take on the issue with full force but many cities imposed massive taxes on store-bought dogs .
Naturally , this drove many people to adopt dogs from shelters instead , freeing up space for strays to be taken in .
They also started a program called Collect , Neuter , Vaccinate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a nationwide program funded by the government that provides neuters , spays , and vaccines for strays .
After implementing such legislations in 2016 , it took little time to sterilize approximately 70 % of the female dog population in the country .
And if that wasn ’ t enough , the government also created a police force just for animals .
The officers on the force respond to crimes against animals and assist in animal rescue .
There is also the Party for the Animals which focuses on animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a direct link between violence against animals and violence against humans , ” says Marianne Thieme , leader of the Party for the Animals .
According to Dutch Review , this is how the Netherlands defines a stray dog : • Free-roaming dogs with an owner : They have an owner but the owner lets the dog run partially free throughout the day .
• Free-roaming dogs without an owner : Dogs that are abandoned by owners .
• Community dogs : They don ’ t have one owner but are cared for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The dog is not cared for by anyone and survives on its own .
The Netherlands views stray dogs not only as a hazard to the health and safety of humans but also as an ethical and moral problem for society .
They recognize the cruelty to the dogs and the emotional toll it takes on humans to see dogs hungry , sick , or even dead .
Absolutely !
Dutch people are insanely crazy about their pets .
They take their puppies with them while cycling .
Almost all the restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , pets can ride on public transport ( accompanied by their owners , of course ) for a reduced price .
On top of that , dog adoption is strongly encouraged .
There are over 200 dog shelters in the Netherlands .
All of them abide to a no-kill code .
In the 200 years since it started , the Netherlands government has come a long way in its animal welfare efforts .
Nearly 90 % of people in the Netherlands have welcomed a dog into their family .
This means that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and families filled with treats and belly rubs !

Imagine a world with no stray animals at all. Wouldn’t that be nice? It may sound utopian, but it isn’t impossible to achieve. In the Netherlands, there are no stray dogs. How did they do it?
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The Netherlands became a country with no stray dogs thanks to their extensive sterilization program. In addition, the government introduced laws to protect animal welfare. Currently, the Netherlands claims to have zero stray dogs and most pets owned by its citizens are adopted.
The World Health Organisation estimates that there are around 600 million homeless dogs in the world. But thanks to changes in legislation, mainly sterilisation programs, the Netherlands has become the first country with no stray dogs at all. The Dutch government has been working hard to achieve that. Hopefully, other countries will follow suit.
Advertisement
Has It Been Always Like That?
Not really. In the beginning of the 19th century, the number of dog owners increased drastically. Back then, owning a dog or more than one was regarded as being from an upper social class. The wealthy owned many dogs as pets or for sports. These dogs were usually groomed and well fed. Poorer families, on the other hand, often had dogs for work and kept them on the streets.
During this time, a dog tax was implemented in order to regulate the number of stray dogs. However, the dog tax backfired. In the 19th century, the Netherlands was struggling with a rabies epidemic. As a result, people who were afraid of getting the disease or couldn’t afford the cost of a veterinary started abandoning their pets. Unfortunately, dog abandonment was legal these days.
Soon the number of stray dogs kept multiplying and suddenly the government had to step in and make some changes. They were concerned about both – the welfare of homeless pets, as well as the potential health issues they could spread. The first Dutch animal protection agency got to work in 1864. 13 years later the first canine shelter opened. In 1962, the government introduced the Animal Protection Act. Ever since then, animal rights have been at the forefront of the Netherlands’ social issues. Animal abuse is not taken lightly. Perpetrators are subject to a fine equivalent to $18,539 and up to three years in jail!
Advertisement
So How Did They Do It?
Not only did the government take on the issue with full force but many cities imposed massive taxes on store-bought dogs. Naturally, this drove many people to adopt dogs from shelters instead, freeing up space for strays to be taken in. They also started a program called Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return, or CNVR for short. This is a nationwide program funded by the government that provides neuters, spays, and vaccines for strays. After implementing such legislations in 2016, it took little time to sterilize approximately 70% of the female dog population in the country.
And if that wasn’t enough, the government also created a police force just for animals. The officers on the force respond to crimes against animals and assist in animal rescue. There is also the Party for the Animals which focuses on animal rights and welfare.
“…there is a direct link between violence against animals and violence against humans,” says Marianne Thieme, leader of the Party for the Animals.
Advertisement
Who Is Considered a Stray Dog?
According to Dutch Review, this is how the Netherlands defines a stray dog:
Free-roaming dogs with an owner: They have an owner but the owner lets the dog run partially free throughout the day. Free-roaming dogs without an owner: Dogs that are abandoned by owners. Community dogs: They don’t have one owner but are cared for by a community. Feral dogs: The dog is not cared for by anyone and survives on its own.
Stray Dogs as an Ethical Issue
The Netherlands views stray dogs not only as a hazard to the health and safety of humans but also as an ethical and moral problem for society. They recognize the cruelty to the dogs and the emotional toll it takes on humans to see dogs hungry, sick, or even dead.
Advertisement
Is The Country Dog-Friendly?
Absolutely! Dutch people are insanely crazy about their pets. They take their puppies with them while cycling. Almost all the restaurants and cafes are dog-friendly. What is more, pets can ride on public transport (accompanied by their owners, of course) for a reduced price. On top of that, dog adoption is strongly encouraged. There are over 200 dog shelters in the Netherlands. All of them abide to a no-kill code.
In the 200 years since it started, the Netherlands government has come a long way in its animal welfare efforts. Nearly 90% of people in the Netherlands have welcomed a dog into their family. This means that approximately one million dogs now have homes and families filled with treats and belly rubs!


dailyhealthpost--2020-08-28--CEO Who Took $1M Paycut To Give All Employees $70K Minimum Salary In 2015 Shows How It Affected The

CEO Who Took $1M Paycut To Give All Employees $70K Minimum Salary In 2015 Shows How It Affected The Company

They say money can ’ t buy happiness .
And while money certainly isn ’ t everything , it can take a load off your shoulders when you have enough of it .
That ’ s what Dan Price realized while hiking with his co-worker Valerie in the Cascade mountains that tower over Seattle .
As they walked , Valerie told Dan that she was having financial difficulties .
Her landlord had increased her monthly rent by $ 200 and that made it harder for her to pay her bills .
Dan didn ’ t like this one bit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 years in the military , doing two tours in Iraq , and was now working 50 hours a week in two jobs .
“ She is somebody for whom service , honor and hard work just defines who she is as a person , ” he told BBC .
Even though Valerie was earning around $ 40,000 a year , in Seattle that wasn ’ t nearly enough to live comfortably .
At 31 , Dan was a self-made millionaire .
His company , Gravity Payments , which he set up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an estimated worth of millions of dollars .
Though he was earning $ 1.1m a year , Valerie made Dan realize that a lot of his staff might be struggling – and he decided to change that .
While doing some research , Dan stumbled upon a study by the Nobel prize-winning economists Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton , saying that additional income can make a significant difference in a person ’ s emotional well-being .
After crunching the numbers , he gathered his 120 employees and announced that he would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To make it happen , Dan had to not only slash his $ 1 million dollar salary by 90 % , , but also mortgage his two houses and give up his stocks and savings .
Many praised his decision , but it also had its fair share of doubters and haters .
Fortunately , things turned out better than anticipated and here ’ s what he had to say : “ People are starving or being laid off or being taken advantage of , so that somebody can have a penthouse at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York with gold chairs , ” Dan said .
“ We ’ re glorifying greed all the time as a society , in our culture .
And , you know , the Forbes list is the worst example – ‘ Bill Gates has passed Jeff Bezos as the richest man.
’ Who cares !
?
” The hypothesis is that when employees don ’ t have to worry about making ends meet , they ’ re able to be more focused on their jobs , and happier because they work for a company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s working .
The results of his decision made Dan not only richer but also very happy .
“ What I got back in return was better than anything I could have ever imagined , and was truly exciting and shocking in some ways , ” he told Forbes .
“ What I got back in return is , we went from instead of having zero first-time homeowners per year , now we have many first-time homeowners here at Gravity , and that is so exciting to me.
” Secondly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at Gravity , has also skyrocketed .
But the absolute best thing for the CEO that came out of the increased wage has been hearing about how his employees went from nearly zero first-time parents to about 20 babies born to families each year .
“ I can ’ t think of anything better that I could get in return out of it than that , and that ’ s the impact .
That ’ s the legacy .
Because , those babies , they carry with them almost infinite potential , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanity , curing cancer , solving things like global warming .
You name it .
Who knows what those babies are going to do , and probably I won ’ t be around to find out all the cascading effects that will come from that.
” His tweets sparked a discussion on the way companies treat their employees :

They say money can’t buy happiness. And while money certainly isn’t everything, it can take a load off your shoulders when you have enough of it. That’s what Dan Price realized while hiking with his co-worker Valerie in the Cascade mountains that tower over Seattle. As they walked, Valerie told Dan that she was having financial difficulties. Her landlord had increased her monthly rent by $200 and that made it harder for her to pay her bills. Dan didn’t like this one bit. After all, Valerie had served for 11 years in the military, doing two tours in Iraq, and was now working 50 hours a week in two jobs.
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“She is somebody for whom service, honor and hard work just defines who she is as a person,” he told BBC. Even though Valerie was earning around $40,000 a year, in Seattle that wasn’t nearly enough to live comfortably.
At 31, Dan was a self-made millionaire. His company, Gravity Payments, which he set up in his teens, had about 2,000 customers and an estimated worth of millions of dollars. Though he was earning $1.1m a year, Valerie made Dan realize that a lot of his staff might be struggling – and he decided to change that.
Advertisement
While doing some research, Dan stumbled upon a study by the Nobel prize-winning economists Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton, saying that additional income can make a significant difference in a person’s emotional well-being.
After crunching the numbers, he gathered his 120 employees and announced that he would be raising the minimum salary $70,000. To make it happen, Dan had to not only slash his $1 million dollar salary by 90%,, but also mortgage his two houses and give up his stocks and savings.
Many praised his decision, but it also had its fair share of doubters and haters. Fortunately, things turned out better than anticipated and here’s what he had to say:
Advertisement
“People are starving or being laid off or being taken advantage of, so that somebody can have a penthouse at the top of a tower in New York with gold chairs,” Dan said. “We’re glorifying greed all the time as a society, in our culture. And, you know, the Forbes list is the worst example – ‘Bill Gates has passed Jeff Bezos as the richest man.’ Who cares!?”
The hypothesis is that when employees don’t have to worry about making ends meet, they’re able to be more focused on their jobs, and happier because they work for a company that recognizes their value. And it’s working.
The results of his decision made Dan not only richer but also very happy. “What I got back in return was better than anything I could have ever imagined, and was truly exciting and shocking in some ways,” he told Forbes. “What I got back in return is, we went from instead of having zero first-time homeowners per year, now we have many first-time homeowners here at Gravity, and that is so exciting to me.”
Advertisement
Secondly, the rate for things like retirement, for people at Gravity, has also skyrocketed. But the absolute best thing for the CEO that came out of the increased wage has been hearing about how his employees went from nearly zero first-time parents to about 20 babies born to families each year.
“I can’t think of anything better that I could get in return out of it than that, and that’s the impact. That’s the legacy. Because, those babies, they carry with them almost infinite potential, solving some of the existential crises of humanity, curing cancer, solving things like global warming. You name it. Who knows what those babies are going to do, and probably I won’t be around to find out all the cascading effects that will come from that.”
His tweets sparked a discussion on the way companies treat their employees:
Advertisement


dailyhealthpost--2020-09-01--You Can Pedal Through The Redwood Forest On Rail Bikes In Northern California

We talked recently about how the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy ( RTC ) is utilizing abandoned U.S. railroads to create a 4,000-mile transcontinental bike trail .
They ’ re not the only ones making good use of the country ’ s old railroad tracks , however .
Skunk Train is another fantastic organization that is doing great work repurposing U.S. railway lines and turning them into adventurous tour routes .
For an example of their work , you can check out what they ’ ve done with the railroads going through the famous Redwood Forest route in northern California .
With a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Skunk Train has turned this abandoned railroad into a tourist attraction that allows you to pedal through the Redwood Route on a two-person electric-powered railbike !
The scenic bike ride starts from Fort Brag and takes about 2 hours .
It passes through Pudding Creek , across the wooden trestle bridges , and through the captivating Mendocino County and its ancient redwood trees .
There ’ s also a nice 50-minute “ pitstop ” at Glen Blair Junction where you can rest your legs , have a picnic , or walk around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ railbikes work with a combination of an electric motor and pedaling .
This allows for an easy ride for people of most ages and physical conditions while still giving you a bit of physical exercise .
And , because the bikes are four-wheeled and are attached to the railroad , there ’ s no risk of falling over and no need for steering at all – all the tourists need to do is pedal at a leisurely pace and enjoy the scenery .
“ You ’ re unbound , able to look around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the natural world , ” Skunk Train says , “ spotting blue herons , osprey , an occasional lounging turtle , perhaps a playful river otter , a deer munching on the foliage , and during peak berry season maybe even a bear.
” This is far from the only unique experience Skunk Train offers either .
They also some fascinating train rides for train-loving tourists such as their Pudding Creek Express , the Wolf Tree Run , the Magical Christmas Train , and others .
You can check them out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Train has been working on the Redwood Route since 1885 and they ’ ve had plenty of experience creating memorable tours for their visitors .

We talked recently about how the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is utilizing abandoned U.S. railroads to create a 4,000-mile transcontinental bike trail. They’re not the only ones making good use of the country’s old railroad tracks, however.
Advertisement
Skunk Train is another fantastic organization that is doing great work repurposing U.S. railway lines and turning them into adventurous tour routes. For an example of their work, you can check out what they’ve done with the railroads going through the famous Redwood Forest route in northern California.
With a bit of ingenuity and some work, Skunk Train has turned this abandoned railroad into a tourist attraction that allows you to pedal through the Redwood Route on a two-person electric-powered railbike!
Advertisement
The scenic bike ride starts from Fort Brag and takes about 2 hours. It passes through Pudding Creek, across the wooden trestle bridges, and through the captivating Mendocino County and its ancient redwood trees. There’s also a nice 50-minute “pitstop” at Glen Blair Junction where you can rest your legs, have a picnic, or walk around the woods.
Skunk Train has made the railbikes work with a combination of an electric motor and pedaling. This allows for an easy ride for people of most ages and physical conditions while still giving you a bit of physical exercise. And, because the bikes are four-wheeled and are attached to the railroad, there’s no risk of falling over and no need for steering at all – all the tourists need to do is pedal at a leisurely pace and enjoy the scenery.
“You’re unbound, able to look around at the wonder of this untouched stretch of the natural world,” Skunk Train says, “spotting blue herons, osprey, an occasional lounging turtle, perhaps a playful river otter, a deer munching on the foliage, and during peak berry season maybe even a bear.”
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This is far from the only unique experience Skunk Train offers either. They also some fascinating train rides for train-loving tourists such as their Pudding Creek Express, the Wolf Tree Run, the Magical Christmas Train, and others. You can check them out on the company’s website. Skunk Train has been working on the Redwood Route since 1885 and they’ve had plenty of experience creating memorable tours for their visitors.


dailyhealthpost--2020-09-02--Painting Wind Turbine Blades Black Reduced Bird Deaths by 70 Percent

The over-exaggeration of the “ bird genocide ” caused by wind turbine blades has been going on for decades , turning countless people away from that form of renewable energy .
At one point it was even spread by the U.S. President himself who said that wind turbines caused cancer and lowered real estate value by 75 % .
The latter two statements were proven to be even more wrong than the one about bird deaths .
Not only is there no link between wind turbines and cancer but the “ 75 % lower real estate value ” statement was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As far as the birds are concerned , however , it ’ s undeniable that wind turbines do cause a certain number of bird deaths .
Anyone who ’ s ever walked around a working wind turbine has seen dead birds around it .
However , every bit of statistics we could find on the matter shows that these bird deaths are much fewer than some make them out to be .
According to the U.S .
Fish & Wildlife Service land wind turbines in the U.S. cause ~200,000 bird deaths per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , bird collisions with simple building glass windows contribute to ~600 million bird deaths each year and cats kill a whopping 2.4 billion birds annually .
This means that while 200,000 bird deaths are still unfortunate , wind turbines aren ’ t exactly the genocidal doom machines some people make them out to be .
Of course , the reason for this exaggerated myth ’ s existence is clear even if we overlook the fuel industry ’ s monetary interests in spreading it – the bird deaths from land wind turbines are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same places – they literally ( and gruesomely ) pile on the ground underneath the turbines .
There is good news , however .
It turns out that there is a solution for lowering even those already low bird death numbers !
A study found that painting just one blade of a wind turbine black reduces bird deaths by 72 % The study took place in Norway ’ s Smøla wind farm for 11 straight years .
The study was conducted by scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Evolution journal .
The study worked with 8 land wind turbines on the island wind farm and was very simple in its premise – the scientists painted a single blade ( out of three ) on four of the eight turbines black and left the other four turbines untouched .
The scientists had meticulously examined the bird death rate at the island for seven and a half years before the paint job and for three and a half years after it .
During those 11 years , they conducted a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to count every single bird ’ s death .
In that period , the scientists found a total of 82 carcasses , most of them of raptors and large soaring birds .
These included eagles and vultures , as well as kestrels , and golden and snipe plovers .
Of all those deaths , however , only 24 occurred in the latter 3.5 years compared to 58 during the first 7.5 years .
And more crucially – only 6 of those 24 deaths were under the four turbines with one painted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – on the unpainted four turbines .
This makes for a 71.9 % reduction of bird deaths with that one simple change .
The reason why this trick works is simple – the “ motion smear ” effect .
While most birds have exceptional eye sights , the fast-moving wind turbine blades can appear near-invisible to them and they can ’ t notice them in time .
Presumably , they are able to notice them eventually as flocks of birds can sometimes be seen flying away from wind turbines at the last possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re not able to turn fast enough mid-flight .
By painting one of the three turbine blades black , however , the “ motion smear ” effect is created .
This makes the rotating blades much more visible to birds from afar and they have more time to circle around the turbines rather than fly through them .
So , let ’ s return to the U.S. wind turbine bird death statistics for a second .
If this simple solution is applied to all U.S. land wind turbines , the bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low ~200,000 number to as little as ~56,000 annually .

The over-exaggeration of the “bird genocide” caused by wind turbine blades has been going on for decades, turning countless people away from that form of renewable energy. At one point it was even spread by the U.S. President himself who said that wind turbines caused cancer and lowered real estate value by 75%.
Advertisement
The latter two statements were proven to be even more wrong than the one about bird deaths. Not only is there no link between wind turbines and cancer but the “75% lower real estate value” statement was shown to be greatly exaggerated as well.
As far as the birds are concerned, however, it’s undeniable that wind turbines do cause a certain number of bird deaths. Anyone who’s ever walked around a working wind turbine has seen dead birds around it. However, every bit of statistics we could find on the matter shows that these bird deaths are much fewer than some make them out to be.
Advertisement
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service land wind turbines in the U.S. cause ~200,000 bird deaths per year. At the same time, however, bird collisions with simple building glass windows contribute to ~600 million bird deaths each year and cats kill a whopping 2.4 billion birds annually. This means that while 200,000 bird deaths are still unfortunate, wind turbines aren’t exactly the genocidal doom machines some people make them out to be.
Of course, the reason for this exaggerated myth’s existence is clear even if we overlook the fuel industry’s monetary interests in spreading it – the bird deaths from land wind turbines are just easily noticeable cause they all happen at the same places – they literally (and gruesomely) pile on the ground underneath the turbines.
There is good news, however. It turns out that there is a solution for lowering even those already low bird death numbers!
Advertisement
A study found that painting just one blade of a wind turbine black reduces bird deaths by 72%
The study took place in Norway’s Smøla wind farm for 11 straight years. The study was conducted by scientists from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and the results were published in the Ecology and Evolution journal.
The study worked with 8 land wind turbines on the island wind farm and was very simple in its premise – the scientists painted a single blade (out of three) on four of the eight turbines black and left the other four turbines untouched. The scientists had meticulously examined the bird death rate at the island for seven and a half years before the paint job and for three and a half years after it. During those 11 years, they conducted a total of 1,275 searches with dogs under the turbines in order to count every single bird’s death.
Advertisement
In that period, the scientists found a total of 82 carcasses, most of them of raptors and large soaring birds. These included eagles and vultures, as well as kestrels, and golden and snipe plovers.
Of all those deaths, however, only 24 occurred in the latter 3.5 years compared to 58 during the first 7.5 years. And more crucially – only 6 of those 24 deaths were under the four turbines with one painted blade on each and the other 18 – on the unpainted four turbines.
This makes for a 71.9% reduction of bird deaths with that one simple change.
Advertisement
The reason why this trick works is simple – the “motion smear” effect. While most birds have exceptional eye sights, the fast-moving wind turbine blades can appear near-invisible to them and they can’t notice them in time. Presumably, they are able to notice them eventually as flocks of birds can sometimes be seen flying away from wind turbines at the last possible second, but more often than not they’re not able to turn fast enough mid-flight.
By painting one of the three turbine blades black, however, the “motion smear” effect is created. This makes the rotating blades much more visible to birds from afar and they have more time to circle around the turbines rather than fly through them.
So, let’s return to the U.S. wind turbine bird death statistics for a second. If this simple solution is applied to all U.S. land wind turbines, the bird deaths can be lowered from the already low ~200,000 number to as little as ~56,000 annually.
Advertisement
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