Jet Pack

I happen to know this very nice artist man who also happened to be kind enough to agree to illustrate myself on a jet pack, which I figure is the closest thing I will get to a jet pack in the next few years. Since I can't yet afford the hefty price tag I will make do with the cartoon version & send myself on rocket fueled adventures wherever and whenever I please so that I can spread the word to all of you about the current happenings of our big blue marble, especially within the animal kingdom.
Thanks again DFP!!

One A Day ( not the vitamin.)

The numbers are in and they aren't pretty; they are actually pretty sad and disturbing. Rhinoceros poaching in South Africa alone (not the only place where this occurs,) reached an all time high in 2010, totaling one rhino per day. That is more than triple the amount of rhinos poached in 2009, and from what experts can tell, it is only expected to get worse as the poachers become more organized and efficient.
Dr. Joseph Okori, an African Rhino Program Manager, says the highly coordinated criminal rings in South Africa have begun using advanced technologies such as night vision equipment, veterinary tranquilizers, helicopters, and silencers. I don't know about you, but to me all of that seems like a very sketchy and expensive ordeal, making me wonder who is forking over the money for the goods. It could be from the money that the poachers get from the Asian pushers who sell the horns (after they have been ground to dust particles and dissolved in boiling water) as medicine to cure such ailments as fever, gout, vomiting, food poisoning, cancer (yes, they really believe that), devil possession (yep, they believe that one too) and even as an aphrodisiac.
Belief in the powers within a rhino horn is not something new, however. This actually goes back thousands of years, all the way to Greek mythology (they thought the horns held the ability to purify water) - wonder if Evian or Fiji has ever thought to incorporate some rhino horn into those little bottles? Truth is, there may be no truth to any of the beliefs that rhino horns are magical. Which makes these poachings all the more pointless and tragic.
Researchers at Chinese University in Hong Kong found that, in a VERY large dose, extract from a rhino horn could lower a fever in a rat but the amount usually given to a human from a Chinese medicine specialist are many many times lower than those used in the experiments. They did find that there may be some sort of truth to a rhino horn being able to detect a poison, given that the horns are comprised mostly of keratin (also in hair, fingernails and animal hooves) which reacts strongly with alkaline, the main component of poison.
South African officials made approximately 162 poaching arrests last year, which is a start, which is better than nothing. Seems to me, though, that if the poachers are stepping it up and bringing their A game, then we owe it to the innocent rhinos to bring ours.

Bearcat vs. Musketeer...Who Would Win In A Duel?

Ah, the age old question. First, let me present some facts on each of our contenders. A Musketeer was an early infantry soldier (particularly in Europe) who packed some heat in the form of a musket. A Musketeer fought in one of two ways: either on foot, a.k.a "Infantry, or on horseback which they called "Dragoons." Yes, I noticed how similar that is to "Dragons," which automatically gives the Musketeers cool points. The Musketeers started out as a junior unit in the Royal Guard, leaving the more important duties to the Garde du Corps and the Gardes suisses. Wanting the chance to excel and move up the bodyguard ladder, the Musketeers developed a very loud and very strong fighting spirit to make themselves heard. This eventually paid off, earning them a gig to watch Cardinal Richelieu's back. After his death, the Musketeers landed in the hands of Louis XIV and were divided into two companies as part of a guard cavalry regiment. The King's Musketeers became known as the "Grey Musketeers" or "Mousquetaires Gris" because they rode grey horses, and the Cardinal's Musketeers were the "Black Musketeers" or "Mousquetaires Noirs" because they, you guessed it, rode some black beauties. Becoming a Musketeers actually held very little requirements as far as entrance goes, thus making it the most popular of the French military companies. Beginning in 1776 the Musketeers began a cycle of elimination and reformation, being eliminated (or "Nexted" for those of you who remember that awesome MTV show!) for the final time on January 1st (not the best way for those dudes to start off the new year) of 1816. The Musketeers have been the subject of movies and books, including Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras's book Mémoires de Monsieur d'Artagnan, capitaine lieutenant de la première compagnie des Mousquetaires du Roi (Memoirs of Mister d'Artagnan, Lieutenant Captain of the first company of the King's Musketeers.)
So to recap, the Musketeers earn points for the following: Carrying a musket(+1), riding on a horse(+1) "dragoon" which is one "o" longer than "dragon"(+1) they started at the bottom yet were determined to earn their way to the top by being rowdy and brave(+1), and have been the stars of movies(+1) and books(+1). This brings the Musketeers score to a total of 6 points.
The Binturong, also known as the Asian Bearcat, the Palawan Bearcat or simply BEARCAT is a member of the Viverridea family and hails from Southeast Asia. Although the name suggests otherwise, the Bearcat is actually NOT a bear but the local language that gave it its name has become extinct so we may never know what the real meaning is. If the Bearcat had a theme song it would be Whodini's "Freaks Come Out At Night," being as the Bearcat is a creature of the night. Bob Seger's "Night Moves" would also be a good contender. While the Bearcat is mostly a feaster of fruit and leaves, it has been known to enjoy small animals from time to time. The Binturong actually seems to have a sense of humor, which is always good news! It has been known to make chuckling noises when it appears to be happy. Don't get too carried away with the jokes between you and your new found buddy though...when cornered the Bearcat can get super vicious. The Bearcat can weigh up to 49 pounds and grow to as much as 38 inches. Its body is covered with black and silver fur, the silver mostly on the face to make it appear larger to predators.
A Canadian musician by the name of David Wilcox made a masterpiece of a song with, "Do the Bearcat." You can check it out for yourself here>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vVeagH06c. There has also been a movie titled "The Bearcat" in 1922 and a western television program in 1971 called, "Bearcats!" The U.S. Navy built a fighter aircraft by the name of Grumman F8F Bearcat and during the Vietnam War American and Australian forces used a military base in Long Thanh Town named BearCat.
Now for a recap of the Bearcat points! It has 2 possible theme songs (+2), has a sense of humor (+1), can defend itself when necessary (+1), has a sweet song in its namesake (+1), has a movie and a t.v. show in its namesake (+2), has a fighter craft in its namesake (+1), and a military base in its namesake (+1.) This brings the Bearcat total to 9.
What, you didn't really think the Musketeers were going to win, did you? Silly Rabbit. GO CATS!!

Horse Drawn Carriage: Why Does This Still Exist in The 21st Century?

'Tis the season for a horse drawn carriage ride through the city streets, sipping on some hot cocoa and gazing at the pretty lights, cozied up to your loved one. The idea of a horse drawn carriage has long been romanticized and thought of as one of the most ultimate dates or quality family time. Horse drawn carriages have been around for thousands upon thousands of years, evidence even dating back to the end of the 4th millenium BCE. The first of the chariots are believed to have originated in Mesopotamia and were used for funeral processions, carrying baggage,, and for transport and defense during war times. That all makes sense during those times because trains, planes and automobiles had not yet been invented. (What up, John Candy! R.I.P, man.) The first car was invented in 1672, the first train in 1804 and the first plane in 1903, thus ruling out the practicality need of a carriage. The horse drawn carriage went from being a necessary mode of transportation to being a novelty that puts innocent lives in danger.
I have taken a few carrigae rides in my lifetime and absolutely enjoyed every second of it because I was too young and misinformed to know that the horse actually may not be loving it as much as everyone else involved. Let me tell you a little bit about the day in the life of a carriage horse, the parts that you don't see while you are busy canoodling and poppin' champagne with your boo during your ride. A carriage horse spends up to 9 hours per day, 7 days a week outside in the sweltering heat or the bitter cold. In a busy city the horse often has its nose to the tailpipe of an automobile, resulting in lifelong respiratory problems. Many of the horses used in the carriage industry come from racetracks or Amish farms where they are no longer wanted because of arthritis or an injury. Imagine having to pull around a heavy vehicle equipped with several people at a time all while having arthritis. Doesn't sound too ideal, eh? Their career usually lasts about only 4 years, and when they are no longer needed they are often sent to an auction, where it is popular for "Killer Buyers" to purchase the horse for their slaughterhouse. Apparently horse meat has become quite the delicacy.
Some may argue that horses have been doing this for thousands of years so they must be adapted to the conditions of the carriage life, right? Well, I can't speak for that but even if that is the case, it doesn't mean that it's morally right. See, a horse's senses are actually far superior to those of a humans, especially with the sight. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal and their eyes are lateral, meaning they are positioned on the sides of their head, giving them more than a 350 degree view of their surroundings. Ever wonder why a carriage horse wears those blinders? It's because they can see EVERYTHING all of the time, and in a heavy populated city street, the horse could easily be startled by everything that's going on around them. Their hearing is also excellent due to the "pinna" of each ear, which allows for 360 degree hearing without having to move the head. Again, in a busy city street, there is heavy potential for a horse to be startled with all of the noises going on every second of the day.
Many cities around the world have outlawed carriage horses including Beijing, Biloxi, Miss., Camden, N.J., Key West, London, Panama City, Santa Fe and Toronto. In 2009 an animal welfare group proposed a carriage ban to city officials after a driver crashed a horse drawn carriage into a minivan on the Roebling Suspension Bridge and an escaped carriage horse ran terrified through Hyde Park before being captured. The groups argued that, "Accidents involving these slow-moving conveyances have caused serious injuries and fatalities to horses, drivers, passengers, onlookers and motorists in many cities. At 1,200-1,500 pounds, carriage horses are unpredictable, unwitting weapons. As prey animals, they are very fearful and spook easily." City officials have not yet responded to the letter.
I can see the reasons why a city would not want to ban this industry. It generates tourism and jobs, all of which are profitable. However, I see no reason why we cannot all come to terms with the fact that, in the 21st century, an outdated industry that seems to serve just as much harm as good has got to go. Let's create other jobs for these drivers and let the horses be free, as they are meant to be.

Dinosaurs Were Tree Huggers

The 2 legged species of Dinosaurs known as 'Theropods' (meaning "Beast Feet," how rad is that?) have long been thought to have been strictly Carnivorous. As in, I'll take a burger topped with bacon and a side of chicken-filled steak. Sausage ham cake for dessert and a big glass of deer blood to wash it all down. However, new evidence brought to us by Dr. Lindsay Zanno of the Field Museum in Chicago points to a different story. Turns out the big guys went soft and grew tired of the hunt so somewhere along the way they decided to get their veggie on.
The researchers studied the remains of 90 species of Theropods and found that 44 of them had turned to the greens over time. While Zanno does believe that the Dinos grew tired of the chase for prey, it is also noted that some Theropod's began to develop beaks during the Cretaceous Period, which allowed them to eat things their large jaws couldn't before, such as tiny nuts and berries.
While I am not here to push my vegetarianism on anyone, I do love to share cool info like this because I know that some people like the idea of not eating meat but think it will be too difficult. I totally get that, and at first it was super hard for me (I cheated several times, whoops!) But I figure that, if big bad Dinosaurs can make the switch, anyone can! Besides, who doesn't want to share something in common with the coolest creatures to ever roam this planet?

News from The Animal Kingdom

New Zealand: South Island
23 fur seals were clubbed to death at the Kaikoura colony at the beginning of this month. It's really hard to wrap my head around the idea that this brutal BARBARIC act still goes on in such a modern society. Seals were given full protection by the New Zealand government in 1849, and under New Zealand's Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1978 there are penalties of up to 6 months imprisonment or a hefty fine for the killing or harming of fur seals and other marine mammals. The problem with that is, the amount of cash money that these poachers will get for the seal fur FAR outweighs any risk of potential jail time. Fur has long been considered a status symbol, and although there has been a decrease of fur in the States, many other countries still love to prance around in dead animals. I can't figure out if people don't know any better due to lack of education on where their clothes are coming from, or if they know but just don't give a shit.
In case you aren't familiar with how fur seals are killed, I'm about to school you right quick. Some of the hunters use firearms, which is the most humane way to go about it if they must go about it at all. The other way the hunters do their thang is by using a little tool called the "hakapik." This weapon that is seemingly older than the cavemen, is comprised of a heavy wooden club with a hammer head and metal hook on the end. The hammer part is used to crush the seals thin skull while the hook is used to move the carcass. As silly as it sounds, there are actually regulations on how to properly club the seal to death. I feel like a regulation somewhere along the lines of, JUST DON'T DO IT, would serve a better purpose. Anywho, the regulations state that the seal must be struck on the forehead until the skull is completely crushed. The poachers must be sure that the seal is dead before they begin to skin or bleed the seal out. The regulations say that one can be sure a seal is dead when it has a "glassy-eyed, staring appearance and exhibits no blinking reflex when the eye is touched." In one study, 3 out of 8 times the seal was not rendered dead by shooting and the hunter has to hakapik it to death.
It's hard to say what would stop people from killing fur seals, or any other animal in which their lives are taken so humans can feel warm and cozy. There are so many different cultures who view animals as not having feeling or emotion and whose sole purpose for being on this planet is to serve whatever our needs may be. Also, poachers rely on their work to feed themselves and their families. If we can't convince others to stop killing based on morals and ethics alone, then it seems as if the only real solution would be to introduce an alternative to the fur; something that would replace the killing of the animal but would still create the cash flow, and faux fur just doesn't seem to be cutting it. (No pun intended.)

निन्जा रप्स!

In order to get the full experience of these sweet Ninja raps, head to Google translator, type in letters that sound like a beatbox (something along the linges of pv pv pv chka chka), change the setting to Vietnamese or Portuguese (sounds amazing in these languages, trust me,) and let your inner MC fly while you spit out these dopealicious rhymes. Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go!!

This song is called "Killer Jam."
Here I go, Here I go, Here I go.
Check the noize from the boyz with the toys dat kill
If ya wantin' mad blood you gots to pay the bill
My skills get ill fillin buckets with brains n guts
My right foot be gettin tired from kicking butts
Switch left, just as def to bring about death
What's that you're saying with your very last breath
Oh snap, there goes your neck and your knee
I'm the last thing you saw and you didn't even see
Me really cause I'm fast like a racing car
I'm near then far, then BAM! Throwing star
In the forehead, dead is what they just declared you
So quick, didn't even have time to scare you
Where you running there is no escape
Like a momma lion I pick ya up by the nape.
But whoops I accidentally grabbed your spine
Prognosis is Oh, shit, you're really not fine
You're dying for realies but also for my lyrics
You wish your life was longer just so you could hear this.

Killer Jam. (Repeat 13 times.)

Droppin back in like a kracken wakin from a deep nap
Slap slap I'm all over you like Google maps
Surveillin tailing i know all ya moves
I know that its rought but I'm so damn smoove
Like the butt of a baby ain't no maybe with me
Think I'm a tree slice slice you got blood in your pee
Slow down, let me think, I don't think so
Slow-mo is a no-go for the way that I flow flow
I'm talking rapid ripping quickly and kicking
Get out the way to avoid blood dripping
On my fresh threads I got a whole damn file
Of suckers I made dead just from checking my style
Spinning forget about it I'm a tornado times five
No one's rebuilding cause there's no one alive
Pulling in honies like I pull off arms and legs
Yank you, thank you, I know a guy who sells pegs
Got your nose, got your ears, got your heart
The only thing I left you with is a fart, let's go

Killer Jam. (Repeat 13 times.)

This jam is called killer there's a pretty good chance
I'll kill you, but first you must do the Killer Dance
Pull out your naginata and wave it in the air
Really fast in a circle like there's somebody there
Throw a smoke bomb run around behind ya honey
Punch her in the nose and take all of her money
Do the windmill at 60 knots
With spikes on ya heel now check what ya caught
Signing autographs before they even ask
A ninja spinning hits so fast he be melting the wax
Twenty-four sev I be chasing the dream
Death without a breath or the thought of a scream
Linguistic assassin but also one for real
Got rhymes that kill backed up by steal
You no see me U-No-C see you
I stop hearts on the charts just doing what I do
You can live like a ninja or die like a bitch
This jam is the decipherer to figure out which


If you liked this, you can find more nifty Ninja treasures here >> http://askaninjabook.com/