Tag Archives: dogs

The Secret Lives of Bats – Merlin Tuttle

READ GREEN WITH E-BOOKS

The Secret Lives of Bats

My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood Mammals

Merlin Tuttle

Genre: Nature

Price: $17.99

Publish Date: October 20, 2015

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Seller: OpenRoad Integrated Media, LLC


Few people realize how sophisticated and intelligent bats are. Merlin Tuttle knows, and he has stopped at nothing to find and protect them on every continent they inhabit. Sharing highlights from a lifetime of adventure and discovery, Tuttle takes us to the frontiers of bat research to show that frog-eating bats can identify frogs by their calls, that some bats have social sophistication similar to that of higher primates, and that bats have remarkable memories. Bats also provide enormous benefits by eating crop pests, pollinating plants, and carrying seeds needed for reforestation. They save farmers billions of dollars annually and are essential to a healthy planet. Tuttle’s account forever changes the way we see these poorly understood yet fascinating creatures. “Grips and doesn't let go.” — Wall Street Journal “It’s a terrific read.” — Huffington Post “A whirlwind adventure story and a top-shelf natural history page-turner.” — Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus “One of the best, most interesting books I’ve ever read.” — Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs

Original post:  

The Secret Lives of Bats – Merlin Tuttle

Posted in alo, Anchor, FF, GE, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, LAI, LG, ONA, oven, PUR, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Secret Lives of Bats – Merlin Tuttle

The Tribe of Tiger – Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

READ GREEN WITH E-BOOKS

The Tribe of Tiger
Cats and Their Culture
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Genre: Life Sciences

Price: $2.99

Publish Date: July 14, 2015

Publisher: Open Road Media

Seller: OpenRoad Integrated Media, LLC


From the majestic Bengal tiger to the domesticated Siamese comes a meditation on cats from the bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs and The Social Lives of Dogs From as far back in time as the disappearance of the dinosaurs, cats have occupied an important place in our evolutionary, social, and cultural history. The family of the cat is as diverse as it is widespread, ranging from the lions, tigers, and pumas of the African and Asian wilds to the domesticated cats of our homes, zoos, and circuses.   When she witnesses her housecat, Rajah, effortlessly scare off two fully-grown deer, acclaimed anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas starts studying the links that bind the feline family together. Immersing herself in the subtle differences of their social orders, feeding behaviors, and means of communication, Thomas explores the nature of the cat, both wild and domestic, and the resilient streak that has ensured its survival over thousands of years. “The latest animal book from the author of The Hidden Life of Dogs will have ailurophiles purring.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review   “Thomas enjoys the complexity and subtlety of feline society and rejects many of the oversimplifications that have become ‘popular knowledge’ concerning cats.” — The New York Review of Books   “Insightful.” — Booklist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is an acclaimed American anthropologist and author who has published a variety of fiction and nonfiction, including the international bestsellers  The Hidden Life of Dogs  and  The Tribe of Tiger . After spending her early life in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Thomas studied at both Smith and Radcliffe Colleges, and in 1962 won a Guggenheim Fellowship for Social Sciences. She currently lives in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

See the original post:

The Tribe of Tiger – Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Posted in alo, Anchor, FF, GE, LAI, ONA, PUR, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Tribe of Tiger – Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

How to Make Your Poop More Eco-Friendly

The amount of fecal waste we excrete each day can rival the size of a small chihuahua. Have you ever considered how all of that poop affects the environment?

Poop isnt a big topic in the battle for reducing our environmental impact, but the way you handle your number twos can make small, but important changes if you put in some effort. Here are a few ways your poop can become more eco-friendly.

Compost human poo. Perhaps the most eco-friendly thing to do with your poo is to compost it and allow it to fertilize new life. If you’ve ever been camping, you may have pooped in aClevis Multrum composting toilet. It’s not pretty, per se. But all our nasty excrementgets to serve a higher purpose. If you invest in a composting toilet in your own home, you have the power to turn human waste into plant fuel.

By nourishing your soil with the nutrients and microbes fromyour composted poop (rather than letting it flow in freshwater to the treatment plant) you are doing your part to perpetuate nature’s natural and intricate circle of life support. All life comes from good soil, after all, and soil health across the country is suffering.The downside:composting your wastedoes require that you become a little more up close and personal with your poop.

Clean up your diet. Theoretically, if you keep your diet clean, your gut bacteria will be healthier, which means your poo will have a healthier spectrum of microbiota. It also will be full of good nutrients. If youre composting your waste, healthier poop can mean healthier, richer soil.

Just like us, plants need bacteria and minerals to survive and thrive. If we treat our digestive systems right, human compost can help other plants to flourish.Eat lots of organic, local produce, limit red meat consumption (and always eat grass-fed when you do), drink plenty of water and eat complex carbs like root veggies, seeds, nuts and grains (if tolerated). Eating resistant starch, found in tigernuts and cooked-then-chilled potatoes or rice, promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria the compost of your digestive system. And, above all, take probiotics before, after and during any bout of prescription antibiotics you must take, which can decimate your system. If ourwaste is more diverse and balanced, it makes for a healthier earthin the long run.

Use green toilet paper. Always opt for 100 percent recycled and unbleached. Need I say more?

Keep your pups poop green, too. Have you considered how eco-friendly it is to clean up your dogs poop? Biodegradable bags can actually take anywhere between 10 to 1,000 years to decompose. They really aren’t the best option, although buying high quality ones is the best way to go.

Other options for your pup’s pooinclude using flushable bags made of PVA that will dissolve in water (make sure your water treatment center can handle dog pathogens, as some cannot) or composting. There are plenty of options out there for dog compost that don’t involve burying your dog’s poop daily or keeping smelly, unsightly piles all over your yard. Try dog composting tanks if you have plenty of yard space, and toss all your pal’s plops in there. Mainly, just don’t leave black, non-biodegradable baggies strewn about in nature, and you will bewell on your way to becoming the owner of a dog with green poop.

Sure, maybe poop isn’t at the forefront of the sustainability movement, but it’s something to be aware of. After all, our poop is an indicator of our internal health and can help to fuel the cycle of life on our planet. If you live in a rural area where it would be feasible, would you ever consider composting your poop?Share your thoughts below.

Related:
Ditch Alcohol, Try Mocktails
How Does Acupuncture Work
Another Reason You May Want to Avoid Wheat

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Link – 

How to Make Your Poop More Eco-Friendly

Posted in eco-friendly, FF, GE, LAI, LG, ONA, organic, PUR, Radius, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How to Make Your Poop More Eco-Friendly

The Most Environmentally Friendly Ways to Dispose of Dog Poo

If youre a dog parent, you know that cleaning up after your pup is a must. The big question, though, is how to dispose of your dogs poop. At first, it might sound like a no-brainer. Since poop is completely natural and biodegradable, you probably assume that throwing it in the garbage (usually wrapped in a biodegradable doggie bag) is no big deal. Unfortunately, thats not actually the case. Read on to discover why this tactic isnt great for the environment, and what you should do instead.

The Problem with Biodegrading

The truth is, even completely compostable items do not biodegrade when they are placed in landfills, as theres no oxygen present to kickstart the process. So, neither your dogs droppings nor the biodegradable doggie bag are going to break down completely if theyre relegated to the garbage.

Another issuewhen poop breaks down (if it gets the chance to do so at all), it releases methane gas. This is precisely why (well, one reason why) factory farms are such a huge burden for the environment.

What About Flushing?

The EPA, on the other hand, recommends flushing your dogs poo down the toilet. However, this comes with some pretty big problems, too. Water isnt exactly an expendable resource, and with water waste being a huge problem, most of us dont want to waste the 1.6 gallons of water we use every time we flush the toilet.

Additionally, many states here in the U.S. (especially California) are currently in a state of drought. Water conservation is an important practice, and flushing the toilet every time your dog poops is hardly environmentally friendly.

What You Should Do Instead

If you have a small dog and can conceptually use the toilet to dispose of his or her droppings, Grist recommends doing to in one swoop. Wait until youve used the toilet yourself, close the lid, head out to the yard to gather some waste, and flush it all together (provided there isnt way too much stuff in the toilet!).

Another option is to set up a pet waste digester. The Bark recommends punching holes in an old garbage can, cutting off the bottom and positioning it in your yard away from areas where you generally spend time (so as to eliminate the presence of unpleasant smells). Add a septic starter and a little water to the concoction, and throw doggie do in as needed. The holes poked into the bin will allow oxygen to degrade the matter, and eventually, itll provide a nice layer of compost for the yard area around it. Just make sure not to use this compost in your veggie garden!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Link – 

The Most Environmentally Friendly Ways to Dispose of Dog Poo

Posted in eco-friendly, FF, GE, LAI, LG, ONA, PUR, Radius, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Most Environmentally Friendly Ways to Dispose of Dog Poo

10 Photos From Last Night’s Out-of-This-World Meteor Shower

Mother Jones

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd”>

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower peaked last night, and star enthusiasts who caught a glimpse of the spectacle got an extra dose of awe and wonder. Most years, Earth skirts the fringe of the Swift-Tuttle comet’s debris trail, but thanks to an extra gravitational tug from Jupiter that comes into play just a few times each century, we ventured closer to the middle of the trail where debris streams are more prolific. Thousands of meteors were observed slashing through the darkness. In prime conditions, up to 200 shooting stars an hour could be spotted without binoculars or a telescope.

If you slept through the dazzling display, or live in an area rife with light pollution, check out highlights of the brilliant shower below. (And don’t worry—you can still catch the tail end of the shower through August 26.)

See original article here: 

10 Photos From Last Night’s Out-of-This-World Meteor Shower

Posted in FF, GE, LG, ONA, Radius, solar, Uncategorized, Venta | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 10 Photos From Last Night’s Out-of-This-World Meteor Shower

Bill O’Reilly Had the Worst Response to Michelle Obama’s Convention Speech

Mother Jones

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd”>

On the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama delivered a stirring speech that was widely praised on both sides of the aisle. Even Donald Trump commended the first lady’s performance, despite being the unnamed target of her forceful rebuke.

But there was one line in her remarks that Fox News historian Bill O’Reilly felt needed more explanation. The line below:

“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves,” Obama said. “And I watch my daughters—two beautiful, intelligent, black young women—playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. Because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all of our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”

On his show Tuesday, O’Reilly lauded Obama for “referring to the evolution of America in a positive way.” But he then proceeded to fact-check her statement in a way that appeared to excuse the US government’s use of slave labor.

“Slaves that worked there were well fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government, which stopped hiring slave labor in 1802,” he said. “However, the feds did not forbid subcontractors from using slave labor. So Michelle Obama is essentially correct in citing slaves as builders of the White House, but there were others working as well. Got it?”

And there you have it—the worst response to Michelle Obama’s 2016 Democratic National Convention address.

Source – 

Bill O’Reilly Had the Worst Response to Michelle Obama’s Convention Speech

Posted in FF, GE, LG, ONA, Radius, Uncategorized, Venta | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Bill O’Reilly Had the Worst Response to Michelle Obama’s Convention Speech

Earth Week Daily Action: Adopt the Right Pet

What do Earth Week and Earth Day have to do with dogs, cats and maybe even snakes?

As it turns out, a lot.

* Wild cats kill billions of birds and mammals each year. In fact, “feral” cats are the number one cause of death for both, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Ecology.com says that, “over the years…cats have brought about the extinction of 33 bird species.”

* Free-ranging dogs, which can include dogs born into the wild, feral dogs and street dogs, may carry rabies; in fact, more than 55,000 people die from rabies bites mostly inflicted by dogs each year.

* Pet snakes, released into the wild when they get too big, are threatening biodiversity in places like the Florida Everglades. The Burmese python is preying on birds, mammals like raccoons and opossum, and even alligators.

Plus, “puppy mills” run horrible, factory-style breeding facilities that often put profits above the welfare of the dog. These breeders may turn out “picture perfect” canines, but in reality, with so many millions of dogs in shelters and on the streets, isn’t it more humane to adopt a stray than to order up a brand new dog?

During Earth Week, being kind to our pets is a good way to be kind to the planet. Here’s what you can do:

* Adopt a pet from a shelter rather than a breeder. Shelter pets need homes, so adopting a pet that’s already alive is a wonderfully humane action to take. In fact, you may prevent that animal from being euthanized. You’ll definitely get it off the street. Contact your local animal rescue league or find a nearby shelter through your local Humane Society. The Shelter Pet Project also makes it easy to find a pet or pet adoption group.

* Take a stray dog or cat to a shelter where it can be put up for adoption. If you see a stray dog or cat, don’t leave it on the street. Alert the nearest shelter so the animal can be picked up, hopefully cleaned up and fed, and made available for adoption.

* If you get a pet, have it spayed or neutered so it will not reproduce. The Humane Society estimates that “in every community, in every state, there are homeless animals. In the U.S., there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year.” Spaying or neutering your pet will help prevent more animals from becoming homeless. It’s also good for the animal, both in terms of extending its life span and reducing its risk of contracting various diseases.

* Keep cats indoors so they won’t wander off and become strays; keep dogs on a leash when you walk them outdoors. If you do let your dogs off leash or your cat out for a stroll, consider having the vet embed an electronic ID chip. It’s a relatively painless process that will help you locate your animal in the event it gets lost.

* Clean up after your pet. Dogs and outdoor cats generate a large amount of fecal waste. You probably won’t be able to find the cat waste, since it’s often buried, but clean up after your dog to reduce foul odors, habitat for flies and other insects, and a big mess if you happen to step in it.

Avoid the following pet phaux-pas:

* Don’t adopt or buy an exotic pet, like a snake, bearded dragon, iguana or other reptile. Smaller reptiles are hard to keep alive. Larger reptiles, like snakes, will soon become too much too handle.

* Don’t release exotic pets into the wild. Most of them cannot survive when they’re left to fend for themselves, especially if they’re used to a warm climate but you release them into the cold. In particular, don’t release large snakes like pythons and boa constrictors; they will quickly decimate local animal populations.

* Don’t overfeed your pet. By some estimates, 53 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats are overweight or obese.Producing all the food that pets eat takes a similar environmental toll as producing food for people. Plus, it’s bad for the animals’ health. Keep your pet alive longer without wasting excessive natural resources by feeding Fido or Fluffy only as much as it needs to stay well.

* Don’t buy from a puppy mill. Don’t encourage ruthless breeders to turn out millions of animals that may never find a home. Most well-treated dogs and cats will be wonderful, loving pets, regardless of their pedigree.

* Don’t follow the fads. Remember, bunnies grow up to be rabbits and chicks turn into chickens. Don’t buy an animal just because it’s Easter and it would be fun to have a live bunny rabbit around!

What recommendations do you have for adopting and raising pets so you can minimize their impact on the environment while still giving them a loving, humane home? Please share!

Related
9 Reasons to Stop Eating Meat in Honor of Earth Day
5 Reasons Not to Buy a Puppy for Christmas

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Originally posted here:  

Earth Week Daily Action: Adopt the Right Pet

Posted in alo, Bunn, FF, GE, LAI, LG, ONA, PUR, Radius, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Earth Week Daily Action: Adopt the Right Pet

Donald Trump Lost the Iowa Caucus. Now He’s Whining on Twitter.

Mother Jones

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd”>

This is such an awesome bit of whining from Donald Trump that I felt I had to share it. I think we need a new word for this. Trump+whining = Twining. Or Trump + griping = Triping. Or something. Maybe figure out a way to add the concept that he’s actually a winner even when he’s objectively a failure. That might take some kind of German construction, though.

See more here: 

Donald Trump Lost the Iowa Caucus. Now He’s Whining on Twitter.

Posted in FF, GE, LG, ONA, Uncategorized, Venta | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Donald Trump Lost the Iowa Caucus. Now He’s Whining on Twitter.

Videos of Excited Snow Dogs Are the Only Things Keeping Us Happy During this Historic Storm

Mother Jones

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd”>

Here in New York City, roads are now shut down to non-emergency traffic, and authorities are telling drivers they’ll get fined if they don’t comply. Above-ground parts of the subway system are about to close. The storm, stronger than forecast up here in New York, will continue until late into the night and dump even more snow—making it a storm likely to earn a place in the record books (though where it will rank for snowfall we won’t know until it’s all over). Slate is reporting that at the time of writing Washington, D.C.’s total snowfall stands at 14.9 inches. There’s coastal flooding in New Jersey (watch the footage here.) CNN is reporting that 9000-plus flights have been canceled.

Even though it may be beautiful and exciting, all this nature gets old really fast. With so little to do right now but snack and surrender to television coverage, find some relief in these amazing Instagram videos of dogs having a wonderful time in the snow. Enjoy.

A video posted by J a m i e L e s z c z a k (@arctic_dreams) on Jan 23, 2016 at 8:00am PST

A video posted by Appa (@appathederpydog) on Jan 23, 2016 at 12:30pm PST

A video posted by Nashy Grimm (@littlemannash) on Jan 23, 2016 at 12:29pm PST

A video posted by siobhan_s_ (@siobhan_s_) on Jan 23, 2016 at 12:26pm PST

A video posted by Trina (@crookedtailtrina) on Jan 23, 2016 at 12:25pm PST

A video posted by Aimee (@aimeeinphilly) on Jan 23, 2016 at 12:28pm PST

A video posted by FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) on Jan 23, 2016 at 12:29pm PST

PS: A little fact-checking note from my editor: â&#128;&#156;That poor little Bichon appears to be hating it. (I have one and he is suffering too!)”

Original article – 

Videos of Excited Snow Dogs Are the Only Things Keeping Us Happy During this Historic Storm

Posted in Anchor, Citizen, FF, GE, LAI, LG, ONA, Radius, Uncategorized, Venta | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Videos of Excited Snow Dogs Are the Only Things Keeping Us Happy During this Historic Storm

Public Evenly Split on Immigration Action

Mother Jones

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd”>

So how does the public feel about President Obama changing immigration rules via executive action? Pretty evenly split, it turns out. According to a USA Today poll, Democrats want action now; Republicans want him to wait; independents are split down the middle; and the overall result is slightly in favor of waiting, by 46-42 percent.

In other words, pretty much what you’d expect. Politically, then, this probably holds little risk for Obama or the Democratic Party. Especially in light of this:

On one more issue, Americans are in agreement: The elections two weeks ago aren’t going to make Washington work better. Just 15% predict Obama and the new Congress, now under solid Republican control, will work together more closely to reach bipartisan compromises.

The American public is pretty politically astute, I’d say. They may not be up to speed on all the details of policymaking, but when it comes to the big picture, they know a lot more than the Beltway pundits seem to.

Link – 

Public Evenly Split on Immigration Action

Posted in FF, GE, LG, ONA, Uncategorized, Venta | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Public Evenly Split on Immigration Action