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/

कैनिस लात्रंस

Hey peeps! As you can see, I still haven't quite figured out how to change the Title settings...sooo, that title can pretty much say whatever you want it to, mkay? :)
Yesterday I was chatting with a friend about a problem with coyotes on their street. Their house backs up to woods and lately the coyotes have taken a liking to creepin down the hill and lurking around cats, dogs & children. A coyote generally weighs between 20 to 30 pounds and stands around 26 inches. It can be easy to confuse a coyote with a small dog, given its long eared, busy tailed appearance. Coyotes have adapted to living in close proximity with humans because they have realized that we are a necessary evil to them; we are associated with the goods that they so desperately desire. We inadvertently provide them with food, water, & shelter. Coyotes generally go towards small rodents like mice and rats because they are an easy kill, kind of like their version of McDee's. However, given the opportunity they will not hesitate to try and score a fine piece of cat or dog meat, especially because domesticated animals can be so defenseless against a wild beast.
So, given all of this information, I decided that it was a good idea to do a little research and figure out what we can do to prevent coyotes from coming into our neighborhoods, short of postin up on the roof with a bebe gun. (Just kidding! I could never intentionally hurt any animal. Unless it tried to hurt my dog, and then it's no holds barred.)
A lot of the suggested solutions that I found for keeping coyotes away were stuff that I, and I'm pretty sure a lot of people, already knew:
~ Build a fence at least 8 feet high. While this is a good idea in theory, let's be honest. Who wants to build a 8 foot high fence around their yard during their spare time when you could be playing Call of Duty: Black Ops or watching Dexter marathons. Besides, I read that coyotes are determined little shits and often dig under the fence that you just put your blood, sweat and tears into building.
~ Keep yard tidy and trash free. You should do this in the first place even if you live nowhere near coyotes. That's just straight up sloppy.
~ Keep your yard well lit at night and keep an eye on your pets if you let them outside to go potty. It's always a good idea for safety reasons to have some sort of light on your property so you don't get a sneak attack from a ninja while you step out to let Fido do his thing. And I'm talking about a legit light, not just holding up your cell phone or lighter.
~ Don't poison them and don't try to trap them. Leaving poison in your yard can only be bad news bears. First of all, it's illegal. Second of all, you will most likely end up poisoning your pets and / or children and that's just going to be a hot mess. As for the traps, they never fall for them. Coyotes are actually pretty intelligent animals and you will end up looking like the idiot when you accidentally step in the trap while clipping bushes. That would totally hurt and you will probably be able to hear a faint coyote snicker, and no one likes to be laughed at.
All of that aside, I did come across two unique methods that I had personally never heard of. The first suggests to carry around an air horn to scare the coyotes away. While it really is a delightful experience to blast an air horn at least once in your life, it really doesn't make any friends and it is definitely not neighborly. So, unless you are that neighbor who gets a kick out of annoying the shit out of those that live around you, I suggest taking a more peaceful route. And that, my friends, brings me to wolf urine.
Wolves are one of the few natural predators of coyotes and can compete for hunting habitat. When Gray Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in the late 90's the coyote population took a massive hit and there was a complete restructuring. The coyote population dropped to 50% less than pre- wolf. The Pee Man himself, (yes, that is real) Ken Johnson founded PredatorPee.com and has been slangin urine since 1986. The Pee Man says that the scent of urine is the primary way in which an animal is warned of the presence of a predator and the hint of danger will instinctually force the animal to move along. And yes, in case you were wondering, the use of Wolf Urine is completely safe to use around children and pets. Besides, how often do you get to order Wolf Urine on the internet? It's a win win situation, all around.
I hope that I've provided some useful information for your future coyote endeavors! Good luck and may the force be with you. :)

www.predatorpee.com

हेयो!

Heyo! First off, let me begin by welcoming you to my brand new bloggidy blog thing goin on here. I honestly have absolutely NO clue how to go about doing this, so please bare with me while I try to navigate my way through. Please feel free to hurl any critisiscm, insults,general shit talk my way if you feel there is any change that should be made. Second of all, please observe Exhibit A, the title section of this blog entry. Yes, it is in Japanese. At least, what I believe to be Japanese, I don't speak or write the language so I can only guess. I realize that statement may come off as incredibly ignorant so if someone can correct me, please do! Also, if someone can instruct me in how to have the title appear in English that would be super sweet. As cool as I think it looks to have my title in another language, I don't wanna look like some d bag that wants you to think I'm super wordly when I honestly can't speak or write any language fluently other than English.
Other than that, I can say that I just wanted to create a space where I can share things with you all. I am a gigantic lover of animals and all things nature, so I really wanted a medium where I can raise awareness about issues that are important to our planet. I also totally dig movies, books, video games, tech gadgets, hilarious stories, advice on relationships and life in general. There are so many great things about our planet and I want to spend time celebrating all of it. Cheers!