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Research Chimps Retire

Posted by Val Fox on May 4, 2013 at 6:30 PM Comments comments (0)


Biomedical research animals have helped scientists develop improved products, everything from medicines that save lives to the cosmetics and shampoos we are taught to think we need. They live in unnatural conditions, often caged their entire lives in a laboratory until their usefulness ends.

The fate of more than 400 medical-research chimpanzees owned or supported by the United States government is being decided.  Controversy exists between those who think the scientific value justifies the use of chimps for research, and those who believe we should find other methods of medical testing.

This subject was recently examined in a film called From Research To Rescue, which aired on CNN on April 22, and writer Andrew Westoll won the Charles Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction with his book, The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary.  Both sources educate and enlighten the public on the different sides to this emotional issue. http://www.andrewwestoll.com/chimps-of-fauna-sanctuary/

Take a look at the video below called Introduction to Chimp Haven.  You will see laboratory chimps in their new surroundings, free from cages and restraints.  Lucky for these guys, a better quality of life is being offered.  Sanctuaries for rescued animals need our support to pay for staff, medical bills, food and even better facilities.  There are legitimate rescue operations in both the U.S. and Canada.  http://www.faunafoundation.org/   Ask your veterinarian, ASPCA or you can start with the links below.  Thanks for watching.

Today's letter was R - for Research Chimps Retire.


               
                       
            

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Tags:  animal rescue organizations; medical research using animals; cosmetic companies that experiment on animals; lab animals; 

Quiet Prairie Songs

Posted by Val Fox on May 4, 2013 at 5:35 PM Comments comments (0)


  This is a common sight here on the Kainai Reservation in                                                                                           southern Alberta.  Thanks to Google Images.


It's quiet out here on the Alberta Prairie, at least by city standards.

When you live in a large city the noise may tone down a bit in certain areas during the night, but it never stops.  You continue to hear road traffic, air traffic and people sounds.  When I lived in the city we were in line with an airport runway so we heard planes and helicopters day and night.  The sounds of emergency vehicles becomes commonplace, as do buzzing power lines, snow blowers, garbage trucks and lawn mowers.

You get used to it and tune it out - another invisible wall that separates us.  For when you tune out the noise, you also tune out others.  You don't even know you've lost the ability to hear well.

There are noises outside the cities too but the sounds are different and don't last as long. Take today, for example.  This is what I hear when I am alone:  a tumbling clothes dryer, croaking frogs, chirping birds (robin, red-winged blackbird, sandpipers, ducks, geese, sparrows.)  I heard a bee zip past the window.  Then I heard the screech of a hawk.  Today is calm, without the usual wind.  It is quiet.  A young colt calls for its mother.

You get used to it and look forward to it, if you don't tune it out.  You don't even know when your hearing improves but it does.

The letter Q, for Quiet.

Pinterest Inspires

Posted by Val Fox on April 24, 2013 at 12:45 PM Comments comments (1)

Pinterest is a great source for information, ideas and solutions for just about any topic you can think of. Pinterest is an image-sharing website, a tool to help you organize material you might want to refer back to later.

 

You begin by copying and pasting a Pin-it bookmarklet on your browser so when you’re searching the ‘net and want to save something more than just a URL you can pin a photo, music clip or some other graphic to a theme-based, virtual bulletin board. The source of the pin is usually attached so you can go directly to the site where the pin came from if you want further information.

 

You organize your pins onto a variety of digital boards based on your interests. In some ways Pinterest is similar to Facebook in that you might follow other pinners, they follow you and anything pinned goes up on a virtual news/pin feed. You can scroll through the pin feed and re-pin items from others or pin your own discoveries from The Web.

 

When I first learned about Pinterest I thought it would be a time-waster. But if I set myself a time limit, I gain valuable and interesting information without becoming too addicted to just mindless pinning. I focus on what I’m searching for and am rarely disappointed.

 

You can learn about people, products, events, how-to’s, history, science and just about anything the world offers. You will learn things you never knew before. You can share information/images with others who have similar interests. You will find ideas you never thought of and want to try. You will learn about places you never heard of before.

 

I started with about 20 boards with titles such as: photography, world travel, recipes, fashion, pets, literature, inspiring quotes. Pinterest provides plenty of guidance on how to get the most out of your time on the site. One suggestion I followed was to break down general topics as much as possible to target specific “audiences.” You can even pin your own material so long as you don’t become a spammer, just there to serve your own needs and promote your own products/services. I now have 80 boards and spend about one hour daily on Pinterest.

 

You can find photos and information from many places on the internet. Pinterest will help keep you organized and inspired. I’ve even gotten story ideas from perusing pins posted by others. So, give it a try when you find yourself looking for something new. Although Pinterest has been operating for two years, membership continues to grow at a staggering rate.

 

If you want to learn or you want to promote your own blog, perhaps Pinterest has something to offer you. It will result in more exposure for your own site and maybe increased sales. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

 

The next post will examine the letter Q as we continue our journey on the A to Z Blog Challenge for 2013. Thanks for visiting.



http://www.pinterest.com


http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com


tags: exposure for your website; how-to articles; tips for the home; shopping ideas; vacation plans; photo sharing; history briefs; music clips; video clips for sharing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Flame Burns

Posted by Val Fox on April 24, 2013 at 1:25 AM Comments comments (0)

Although most eternal flames are man-made, there exists in our world a number of Natural flames that have burned for centuries.  The flames pictured below in Turkey are believed to be the oldest in the world.  References to them go back 6,000 years.


           Chimaera, Turkey Eternal Flame


This remarkable phenomenon is located on a rocky mountainside near Olimpos, Turkey in an area called the Chimaera.   About a dozen flames issue from a large rock mass with no apparent fuel source, although it's believed the flames originate from a natural gas leak caused by long-ago volcanic activity.

In Greek mythology a chimaera was a fire-breathing beast - part lion, goat and snake. Ancient mariners have long used the Chimaera flames as a landmark when sailing along the coastline.

Visitors pay a small admission fee to hike 3 km (2 mi) along the Lycian Way stone path to reach the site, also known as the Eternal Flame of Lycia.

The letter N - Natural, Eternal Flame - draws visitors each year to experience the mystery. These type of natural flames have also been a long-held traditon in many cultures and religions world wide - Something to consider when planning your next trip to the Mediterranian.

Next post will examine the letter O - a connection to recent events In Boston.  Hope to see you all again soon and thanks for your comments.


Links




tags:  Greek  vacations; travel in Turkey;  Mediterranian tourist attractions; history of Greece; Turkish history; natural landmarks

Oromo Wins Boston

Posted by Val Fox on April 23, 2013 at 3:25 PM Comments comments (0)

Oromo athletes recently showed the world their skill and stamina by winning three major marathons in one week.

Following the April 15 tragedy that happened at the Boston Marathon I want today's post to draw attention back to this year's winner of America's oldest race.  Congratulations to the Oromo runner, Lelisa Desisa (pictured on the right)  who crossed the finish line in the Mens Elite with a time of 2:10:22.

Congratulations also go to Tilhaun Regassa for winning the Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands, and to Tsegaye Kebede Hordofa who earned a second win at the London race just days later.

The world has been watching and we share Ethiopia's pride in your accomplishments. Perhaps one day you will be free from a colonialized system - free to run for Oromia.  We will be waiting and watching.


   
Tirfi Tsagaye (L) and Lelisa Desisa Banti (R) celebrate their January 2013 win in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Source: Pinterest


The Oromo people are the largest ethnic group from the Oromia state in Ethiopia.  They number about 30 million people, with other groups located in northern Kenya and parts of Somalia.   

Sources:

Art Meets Conservation

Posted by Val Fox on April 23, 2013 at 12:40 PM Comments comments (0)


     

      Off the coast of Granada in Moilinere Bay this sculpture

      memorializes the state-sponsored, systematic enslavement

      and annihilation of First Nations by European, Middle Eastern

      and American Nations and their collaborators since 1441.

      More than 100 million have been murdered or enslaved.

      This includes all First Nations people of all continents

      except Antarctica.



Set in the tropical waters off Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuk, Mexico is a spectacle that leaves visitors amazed and inspired.  Named Museo Subacuatico de Arte (MUSA), this underwater museum contains more than 450 permanent, life-sized sculptures, haunting and thought-provoking in their realism.


Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has created an underwater world where art meets environmental science to form a complex reef structure where marine life can grow and thrive.  The sculptures allow visitors to enjoy snorkeling or diving while protecting existing natural reefs.




The Silent Evolution,  Cancun, Mexico


Taylor has also produced underwater galleries in Moliniere Park, Bahamas and Canterbury, U.K.  His most recent work is a piece called The Musician, designed in collaboration with master illusionist David Copperfield.  It is a real-sized replica of a Steinway Concert Grand piano located in Copperfield Bay, Bahamas.


The following links will provide further information on this magnificent display and details about Taylor's life, his work and items for sale from this gifted artist.  His submerged figures share a message while developing living coral reefs.


Today's letter M - the Museo Subacuatico de Arte - will amaze and inspire you.


My next post will examine the letter N as we continue our journey through the alphabet during the April 2013 A to Z Blog Challenge.  We will take a look at one of earth's Natural eternal flames.  See you again soon, my friends!


Links:


http://www.underwatersculpture.com

http://www.jonathanlevinegallery.com

http://www.mushacay.com

http://www.underwatersculpture.com/pages/artist/bio.htm


http://www.a-zchallenge.com

Learning Ballet at 79

Posted by Val Fox on April 22, 2013 at 9:00 PM Comments comments (0)

Inspiring people come from all walks of life.  I couldn't let this blog challenge go without sharing with you the story of John Lowe, who learned ballet at age 79, then performed in Prokofiev's The Stone Flower.

Lowe is a former Japanese prisoner-of-war and a retired teacher.  He is also the founder and artistic director for the Lantern Dance Theatre Company based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.  His love for theatre even helped during his dark times as a P.O.W.  So it's no surprise that this artist had more to give and experience at a time when many people are slowing down.

The following video gives you a glimps of this remarkable and inspiring man.  The Lantern Dance Theatre Co's birthday present to 90-year-old John Lowe was a ballet choreographed by Helen Pettit, staring Lowe himself.  It was performed August 21, 2009 at the Ely Theatre and was set to Johann Strauss II's "Artist's Life."

Jason Lowe - Living life, dancing his way into his 90's.  We should all be so inclined.  What do you think?


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Sources:  

Kinkajou's Jungle Home

Posted by Val Fox on April 22, 2013 at 4:45 PM Comments comments (0)


 While slurping fresh rainwater with his long, narrow tongue, South America's Kinkajou appears a curious species remarkable in its climbing and balance, its digging and screeching.  Here is a photo of this gymnast of the jungle.


            

        Photo Credit: Esquis' via Compfight cc



This kinkajou, about the size of a large cat (Potos flavis,) is of the Family Procyonidae, related to raccoons.  Their sharp claws make them famous for raiding bee hives, hense the nickname Honey Bears.


Their most remarkable quality is that kinkajous are able to turn their feet backwards to run easily in either direction.  They slurp with an extra long tongue and climb the trees with the help of a gripping monkey-like tail.


This nocturnal hunter enjoys a menu of nectar, insects, small mammals and fruit.  A single infant is born each spring.  Females are quiet but males proudly display their presence with loud screeching and barking.


You can learn more about the kinkajou at http://www.animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/kinkajou/


The next post will feature the letter L - for Body Language Secrets.  What your body language tells others may surprise you.  Bye for now.  :-)


http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com




 












  

    

A Question of Joy

Posted by Val Fox on April 22, 2013 at 3:15 PM Comments comments (0)

  


I did a little research recently on the topic of joy, asking what is joy and what does it look like.  Is it an experience or a feeling..permanent or fleeting.  There are many articles, books and bloggers asking the same questions.  Here is some of what I learned.

Google lists the following words as synonyms for the word, Joy: delight, gladness, pleasure, mirth, rejoicing.  I'd like to add the word ecstacy, and that I believe it could be constant in certain individuals.

People told me that joy is an attitude, that joy is a decision.  Others talked of hope and anticipation, that joy is a gift from God.

"Joy is a constant, no matter what."

"Joy is a moment, or brief life interval."

"Joy transcends circumstances."


Some examples of the experience of joy might be:  falling in love; lying in bed listening to the rain; finding money in an old coat pocket; hot towels from the dryer; playing with a puppy; singing at church or gathering with friends or family.

Psychologist, former Buddhist monk and author Donald Altman encourages readers to access their own joy compass to discover and experience joy.  Reveling in nature can result in joyful feelings, as can seeking out laughter.

LetUsReason Ministries posts that Joy does not depend on our circumstances or emotional state.  This kind of joy is constant because God lives within us.  The book of Nehemiah in the Christian Bible reads,  Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.  In his Christian Living blog, Kevin Martineau says joyful people don't let negative thinking cloud their minds.  Joyful people have a positive attitude, their responses are different, and even the words they use are uplifting.


This is what writer Mark Twain said of Joy:


What is Joy without Sorrow..

What is Success without Failure

What is a Win without a Loss

What is Health without Illness..

You have to experience each if you are to appreciate the other.


There are many sources from different cultures that also talk of joy;  I'd will continue this topic at a later date, examining how culture plays into the meaning of Joy.  I believe Joy is an experience brought about by action that releases intense happiness, and that priorities of Creator, Others, Ourselves  will gift us JOY.

Join us again as we continue the A to Z 2013 Blog Challenge.  The next post will feature the letter K.  http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com ;


Wishing you Joy, today and always.

                                                                                         -V

Sources:

Bonnie, Elwood, Janelle, Paris and Dotty.

tags:  a to z challenge; writer Alex J. Cavanaugh; joyous; celebrate in spirit; songs of joy; finding joy; having joy; open to joy; joyful in spite of;

Conquering Indecision

Posted by Val Fox on April 16, 2013 at 3:05 PM Comments comments (0)

 The January 10, 2012 issue of Forbes Magazine contained an article by contributing writer Steven Berglas where he examined Seven Ways to Conquer Indecision.  Berglas, who spent 25 years on the faculty of Harvard Medical School's Department of Psychiatry explained that indecision is about avoiding choices, usually between two negative alternatives (catch 22) or between two similar choices.

An example of a Catch-22 choice might be:


Should you remain in a job where you're unhappy and unfulfilled, or should you leave the security it offers and take another position half-way around the world, far away from your family..


Both choices have something you've attached negative feelings to, so either way you feel like you will lose something.

An example of two positive choices might be:


You've been offered two opportunities.  The first is a dream job that fullfills your every desire but the salary is smaller. The second job is one that offers security, benefits and a six-figure income.  Both are exciting opportunities but making a choice between the two can be brain-draining.


Berglas writes that searching for input  from others is not always helpful, adding that shopping for advice can lengthen your list of possibilities, slow progress and make your decision even tougher.  This is called the Paradox of Choice.

Here are some tools that can help when you're feeling stuck between two choices - any kind of choices - whether it's what to have for supper or whether or not to move far away. They are simple, clear and they cut through apprehension and doubt.


1.   Follow your conscience, your gut instinct and your own truth.

2.   Expect challenges, even failures.  It's all part of the process of gaining clarity.

3.   Avoid paralysis by analysis.  If you've completed a decision-making process, over-
       thinking it will not make things easier, only more confusing.

4.   Act.  Make the choice and move foreward.  Don't look back..yet.

5.   Examine the results of your choice.  What worked, what did not.  Did this choice give
       you the results you hoped for or planned?

6.   Adjust.  If your choice needs to be different or altered in some way, do what needs to be
       done.

7.   Move on.  You do not have to remain apprehensive or stuck.


Simple, right?


If you'd like to learn more about Steven Berglas and his tools for indecision, this link is a good place to start.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenberglas/2012/01/10/seven-ways-to-cope-with-indecision/2/

There is a selection of interesting books listed on Amazon and in book stores that this author has penned.  Today, Steven Berglas works with entrepreneurs and C-level executives, using many of the same success strategies he used when in private practice as a therapist.

My next post will examine the topic "What is Joy."  I'm looking forward to reading some of your thoughts on this topic.

Cheers!

Horned Hercules Hunts

Posted by Val Fox on April 16, 2013 at 2:05 PM Comments comments (0)

Here's another titanic of the insect world, suitably called the Hercules Beetle, the largest of the rhinoceros beetles native to Central and South American rainforests (Dynastes Hercules.)

This member of the Scarab Beetle family is considered the strongest earth creature for its size, with an ability to lift 800 times it's own body weight.  When it hunts you can see it sometimes carrying large, rotting wood chunks that comprise much of it's diet.

Another noteworthy feature is a set of long, horn-like pincers jutting from the head.  Males have smaller bodies but appear larger due to the horns.  Females do not grow horns but have a larger body.  Hercules beetles stay in a larval stage for one to two years, growing to 11 cm. or 4.5 inches long.  They live on a diet of rottinbg wood and decayed plant matter.

This insect is threatened due to deforestation and pollution.  Predators include bats, rats, birds and reptiles.

Here are two photo's of the Hercules Beetle.  If you'd like to learn more about this weight lifter of the jungle, follow the links listed below the pics.

The next post will feature the letter I and the topic of Indecision.  Have a great day, everyone.



 
 Larva           Source: mdolla.com


 
 Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com





tags:  large insects; entomology; Scarab Beetle Family; bugs and insects 

Giant Weta Threatened

Posted by Val Fox on April 16, 2013 at 12:40 PM Comments comments (0)

Hi everyone!  Today's blog features the letter G and here is what I found for you - the largest insect in the world - The Giant Weta.

This large, nocturnal insect is one of about 100 weta species found in New Zealand.  The Wetapunga (Moari name) of Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf is the largest of five main groups of wetas - the giant, tree, cave, tusked and ground-dwelling.

The green-leaf-and-shrub-eating creepy crawly can grow up to 82 mm long with a wingspan of seven inches.  It has a large head, small, strong jaws and antennae that reach twice as long as it's body.  Females lay 100 - 300 eggs that hatch when the soil is warm and damp.

The slow-moving Giant Weta sheds it's exoskeleton as it grows.  Entomologist Mark Moffet found the largest weta ever photographed in 2012.  The following image shows the huge insect eating a carrot.


                                       
Source:  Pinterest via telegraph.co.uk

Much of it's habitat has been destroyed by humans clearing the land for development. Predators such as rats, ferrets, hedgehogs and cats are also a danger to this creature. Although threatened, there is not yet enough information on the weta to form a workable conservation plan.  Scientists are still discovering species they didn't know existed.

I've included a couple of links that will take you to sites where you can learn more about this mammoth of the insect world, as we continue our celebration of..

Earth and It's Inhabitants.

The next post will feature the letter H.  Stop in again and see what our world has to offer among it's most strange, yet interesting creatures.  Bye for now.







Tags:  jungle creatures; tropical insects; insect sets Guinness world record; New Zealand wildlife; threatened species of N.Z.; conservation efforts in N.Z.

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Val studied Journalism and Public Relations at Lethbridge College.  After working as a reporter/editor for a community newspaper she pursued a career working with Children and families in crisis.  Aspiring author, amateur photographer, ghost writer and animal lover.

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