For “Mammal Monday”:
The Renewing Fire
“An Amazing Fact: Some plants have leaves naturally coated in flammable oils in order to encourage fast, intense fires. Not by accident, these plants have heat-activated seeds that require fire or intense heat in order to open and germinate.
Renewing Fire: This fact reveals the useful purpose that fire is intended to play in nature. But it has not always been viewed this way. Prior to 1910, forest fires burned as much as 50 million acres annually in the United States. As awareness and interest in national parks increased, lawmakers established rules and funding to protect these national treasures from this perceived threat. A law enacted in 1908 permitted deficit spending in the case of emergency fire situations.
As a result, in 1910 the Forest Service acquired a $1 million deficit due to emergency fire suppression efforts. Public education campaigns, such as Smokey the Bear, trained the general public to perceive all wildfire as a threat to civilized society and natural resources.
Beginning in the 1970s however, perception of fire management began to shift. In spite of increased funding, massive wildfires continued to be prevalent across North America. It was discovered that, in actuality, suppression of fire in certain ecosystems not only increases the likelihood of a wildfire, but also increases the intensity of those wildfires. Allowing the natural cycle of fire kept the underbrush clean, thus making for shorter, less intense fires, which in turn allowed the bigger trees to survive.
Jesus said, “I am come to send fire on the earth” (Luke 12:49). Though sometimes unpleasant, fire is important. As seen in nature, it is necessary for purification and regeneration. The same is true in our lives. Instead of perceiving our trials as a threat, let’s view them as messengers of God to either remove the dross from our life or, by our patience in suffering, to display His faithfulness to others.” From: http://www.amazingfacts.org/publications/news-and-features/id/647/the-renewing-fire.aspx
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Riddles
This is One FUNNY FARM!
What kind of dance lessons do sheep take?
Baaaa-llet.
What's a pig's favorite fairy tale?
Slopping Beauty.
How did the farmer count his herd of cattle?
He used a cow-culator.
Why is it difficult to have a conversation with a goat?
It's always butting in.
What do you call a sleeping male cow?
A bulldozer.
Where do horses like to shop?
Old Neigh-vy.
What kind of bird tells jokes?
A comedi-hen.
More riddles at: http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Riddles.aspx
Great site for you to share with your grandkids: http://www.nwf.org/Kids.aspx
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Investigation: Illegal Sale of Domestic Dog Fur
“Following a two-year investigation, The Humane Society of the United States is revealing that a New York City business, Unique Product Enterprises, advertised and sold numerous products containing “dog fur” [PDF] in apparent violation of federal law.
The HSUS purchased four items—a blanket, a vest, a pair of gloves, and a belt—after receiving a tip from a member of the public about dog fur being advertised for sale. Independent laboratory analysis determined the fur contained in the products was “...consistent with having originated from a domestic dog....”
Cruelty in the far East
“Much of the domestic dog fur in the world market comes from China, where conditions are brutal—animals beaten, crammed into tiny cages, and even skinned alive,” said Pierre Grzybowski, policy and enforcement manager for The HSUS’s Fur-Free Campaign. “Today’s announcement should serve as a warning to designers, retailers and the public that dog fur is still entering the U.S. market.” More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/07/investigation_dog_fur_071812.html
Meet a mink.
(The American mink (neovison vison) is the number one most-killed animal for the fur trade, mostly on factory farms, but also trapped in the wild.
A full-length coat may require the killing of 40 mink.)
Animals need their fur more than we do. The HSUS is committed to ending cruelty and killing for fur--in favor of compassion in fashion.
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Vote Bison: Elect our National Mammal.
Dear Friend of Wildlife,
Election season is in full swing and the momentum to elect the bison our National Mammal has gone from a race to a... stampede. http://www.votebison.org/
Check out our new campaign PSA and you'll see why. Then, ask your representative to co-sponsor the National Bison Legacy Act.
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The Myth of the Alpha Dog, Part 2: Abandoning the Dominance Theory
“Neither a drive for dominance nor “dominance aggression” are typical canine traits. The theory of dominance in human-dog relationships has been debunked in light of new scientific evidence about the nature of canines.
Dogs interact socially using a system of deference and negotiation. Violence has no role in normal canine interactions.
The idea of human-dog “packs” is flawed. True canine packs are of a very different nature than the relationships dogs and humans share. You as “pack leader” is also a faulty concept. Your dog knows you’re not a dog. He expects a different relationship with you than he has with other dogs.
Dogs don’t attempt to control their owners. They ask questions and hope for answers about what is considered appropriate behavior. Successfully correcting a dog’s behavior doesn’t involve exerting control – it involves a simple 3-point pattern applied consistently.
Threats, yelling, physical punishment and other punitive actions taken against a dog will not ultimately change his behavior. They will only injure him – physically, emotionally, or both.” Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/06/06/dogs-dominance-aggression.aspx
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Baby Raccoon Reunion
“A homeowner who had a raccoon family "renting" space in his attic called in Humane Wildlife Services to help the wild family relocate. HWS was able to reunion the family immediately after their eviction.”
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Raccoon Baby Rescue, Rehydration, and Reunion
“This story shows the strength of the maternal bond between a raccoon mother and her young.
A homeowner had his chimney and furnace flues capped- inadvertently trapping a mother raccoon and her kits inside. After having been trapped inside the house and removed by Animal Control, this mom still came back for her babies after three days of separation. Humane Wildlife Services was there to rescue the babies, rehydrate, and reunite them with their mom.”
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Adorable Baby Raccoon Rescued From The Talons of Death
“While at work this week we stumbled upon two adorable baby raccoons near our loading dock. One was at the top and shaking in fear while the other was at the bottom of the ramp trying frantically to crawl away from danger. While looking for a den or mother we noticed a giant hawk circling the area and my guess is that he had two little babies in mind for dinner. Thankfully we were able to save the two cute little critters and get them safely picked up by a local animal rescue center.
Thumbs up if you’re glad they got saved!”
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On This Day:
First around-the-world telegram sent, 66 years before Voyager II launch, Aug 20, 1911:
“On this day in 1911, a dispatcher in the New York Times office sends the first telegram around the world via commercial service. Exactly 66 years later, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sends a different kind of message--a phonograph record containing information about Earth for extraterrestrial beings--shooting into space aboard the unmanned spacecraft Voyager II.
The Times decided to send its 1911 telegram in order to determine how fast a commercial message could be sent around the world by telegraph cable. The message, reading simply "This message sent around the world," left the dispatch room on the 17th floor of the Times building in New York at 7 p.m. on August 20. After it traveled more than 28,000 miles, being relayed by 16 different operators, through San Francisco, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Saigon, Singapore, Bombay, Malta, Lisbon and the Azores--among other locations--the reply was received by the same operator 16.5 minutes later. It was the fastest time achieved by a commercial cablegram since the opening of the Pacific cable in 1900 by the Commercial Cable Company.
On August 20, 1977, a NASA rocket launched Voyager II, an unmanned 1,820-pound spacecraft, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was the first of two such crafts to be launched that year on a "Grand Tour" of the outer planets, organized to coincide with a rare alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Aboard Voyager II was a 12-inch copper phonograph record called "Sounds of Earth." Intended as a kind of introductory time capsule, the record included greetings in 60 languages and scientific information about Earth and the human race, along with classical, jazz and rock 'n' roll music, nature sounds like thunder and surf, and recorded messages from President Jimmy Carter and other world leaders.
The brainchild of astronomer Carl Sagan, the record was sent with Voyager II and its twin craft, Voyager I--launched just two weeks later--in the faint hope that it might one day be discovered by extraterrestrial creatures. The record was sealed in an aluminum jacket that would keep it intact for 1 billion years, along with instructions on how to play the record, with a cartridge and needle provided.
More importantly, the two Voyager crafts were designed to explore the outer solar system and send information and photographs of the distant planets to Earth. Over the next 12 years, the mission proved a smashing success. After both crafts flew by Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager I went flying off towards the solar system's edge while Voyager II visited Uranus, Neptune and finally Pluto in 1990 before sailing off to join its twin in the outer solar system.
Thanks to the Voyager program, NASA scientists gained a wealth of information about the outer planets, including close-up photographs of Saturn's seven rings; evidence of active geysers and volcanoes exploding on some of the four planets' 22 moons; winds of more than 1,500 mph on Neptune; and measurements of the magnetic fields on Uranus and Neptune. The two crafts are expected to continue sending data until 2020, or until their plutonium-based power sources run out. After that, they will continue to sail on through the galaxy for millions of years to come, barring some unexpected collision.”
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Yesterday:
For the last few days I hadn’t been feeling as energetic as usual, and have wanted to lie down and watch TV, even doze off, if I could. I don’t know if it to do with my sinus cysts and post-nasal drip problem, or because I slipped on the wet linoleum in the Grooming Room, or both.
I know I am getting tired of leaning over the puppy pen to change their diapers, (newspapers), and I will be glad of the break next Wednesday when they leave for two days for their surgeries. It’s not just that, it is like having a baby, you can only take a break when it is sleeping, as you are constantly at it’s beck and call. Especially the littlest pup, he will whine and howl when he wants something. Tending babies is for the young. Kittens aren’t so demanding.
Muffie was brought up here for her scheduled grooming appointment, but I just wasn’t up to her antics, and postponed it until Thursday. I know her Dad didn’t like it, but that is tough, he can’t get anyone else to groom her. To groom Muffie easily, (that means none of my blood is shed), I have to be in good form, or she realizes that I am tense, and is more inclined to take chunks out of me. She loves me to pieces every time she sees me, but she just gets cranky after a while when being groomed. She does best if I let her have a nap halfway, but her Dad doesn’t like me to keep her that long. Also, I thought that the pups being in the grooming room might upset her more, and they won’t be here on Thursday.
It was a lot cooler this morning, maybe Autumn is getting closer. I knew that I had spent too much time sitting at this computer, so I took Misty for a long walk, almost to the pool and mailbox area. That is the farthest we have walked for quite a while. The streets were dry, but the grass was wet from an overnight shower.
Maybe I am getting Hitch-Itch, as I am getting tired of being tied down to doing all the ‘have-to-dos’ each day.
3 comments:
Hope you get feeling better. BTW, one of our dogs is named Muffy and the groomer has a hard time with her also. She also loves and kisses the groomer, as long as he is not trying to get the knots out of here hair.
In southwest Ireland just about every man raises sheep in addition to whatever other jobs he has. I have talked to many of them about foxes killing the lambs, which they do to feed their own young. A lot of farmers told me that wild mink were the absolute worst, and would kill lambs and leave them lying in the fields. So the picture of the cute little innocent mink might be a bit misleading.
Thank you for your comments, DD and Gypsy.
DD: This Muffy is part Lhasa, and she would have really long hair, but her Dad wants her cut down like a smooth-coated dog! Why didn't he get a smooth-coated dog to begin with? Her problem is that she has a bad hip and cannot stand for long.
Gypsy: Thanks for the info. I had no idea that mink were so vicious and wasteful. My brothers had chinchillas and they were cute, but now mink have gone way down on my 'cuteness' chart. But I still wouldn't want to wear dead ones around my neck.
I have a beaver coat, which I haven't worn since I moved to TX....but only a lot of little black nylons had to die to make it!
Happy Tails, Penny.
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