James

We all know what wolves and coyotes look like, and nearly everyone is familiar with bears, deer and turtles; what about some less familiar animals such as capybara, kiwi, or tapirs? There are so many lesser known animals on this planet that we hear little or nothing about most times, it is interesting to investigate a few of these creatures and understand them a little more.

Mammals

Capybara are first on our list of unusual mammals. They are the world’s largest rodent, averaging 100 pounds. They are called rodents because they have sharp front teeth that never stop growing. They are semi-aquatic, spending a lot of time in the water. They live in grasslands and forests alongside water in Central and South America. They are most active during the early morning and late evening and rest during the heat of the day.

Our next animal is a cute little miniature “bear” called the kinkajou. These are a unique animal in that they are the only mammals that help to pollinate plants. They have very long tongues that they use to lick the nectar inside flowers. While they are licking, they get pollen on their fur and noses and this gets transplanted to other flowers as they feed. They are sometimes called honey bears because they love honey so much, but they are different from regular bears in that they are very small, most times not weighing more than 8 pounds. They are fun loving animals that even make good pets. They feed on fruit, honey and eggs in the wild and their closest cousin is the panda bear of Asia.

Another unusual mammal is a tapir. It looks like half anteater, half pig, yet they are not related to either. They descend from primitive horses and rhinos. They come in various color patterns depending on the region they are from. All baby tapirs, however, are born with a pattern of dots and stripes which make them look like a watermelon with legs. As they age, these markings fade away to be replaced with their adult color patterns. They feed on fruit, berries and leaves, and can live to be 30 years old.

Our last animal is a Marsupial Mouse. While this may seem like just any other mouse, there are some very distinct characteristics about the marsupial mouse that make it stand out. Being a marsupial, its young are “hatched” from inside their mothers and then they crawl through her fir up to their mother’s underside where they attach and feed until they are fully developed. When they come out of their mother, they are so underdeveloped that in order to survive, they have to breathe through their skin. They are the only mammal found that can do this. As their lungs continue to develop, they gradually start to take over the breathing process until eventually, when fully developed, their skin no longer plays a role in breathing. They are carnivorous by nature, eating insects, small birds, reptiles and small mammals.

Birds

Of the various birds in the world, the kiwi bird is one of the most unique. It is similar to the chicken in that it can’t fly. Their “wings” are only two inches long and for all practical purposes are useless. They are the sole survivor of an ancient order of birds including the now extinct moas. They are semi-nocturnal animals, so catching a glimpse of them in the wild rarely happens. They can only be found in New Zealand and its surrounding islands. The reason they have survived the ages in New Zealand comes from the fact that there are no snakes or large mammals native to New Zealand. A bird the size of a kiwi, without the capability to fly would be an especially attractive target to snakes. Also…the island has no bears, bobcats, tigers, etc., with also makes it easier for the kiwi to survive. With the coming of humans to the island, especially the colonization by England, house pets such as cats and dogs have become the main predators of the decreasing kiwi population. Some of the biggest birds in the world are condors. They can have wingspans up to 11 feet; they use their large wingspan to “float” on air thermals for miles without having to move their wings, which conserves their energy as they look for food. They are in the vulture family, feeding on the remains of animals and thus they play a very significant role in the animal kingdom. They have highly evolved immune systems to ward off infection from the various bacteria left on the animal carcasses they feed on. They are very clean birds, spending much of their time cleaning their feathers and heads after eating to further keep them safe from disease and bacteria. Their heads are featherless allowing them to stay clean during eating.

The last unusual bird is the worlds smallest, weighing in at only 1.8 grams, which is less than a US penny. The bee hummingbird’s nest is only 3 cm wide. Its tiny wings beat 80 times per second. Using all this energy requires them to eat half their body weight in food each day as well as drink eight times their body weight in water. That’s like a 150 pound adult human drinking 144 gallons of water each day. They are found only in Cuba and the Isle of Pines.

Emma Snow has always adored wild animals. Emma provides content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com and Riding Stable http://www.riding-stable.com.

Flowers

There is a difference of opinion among canine experts as to whether bones should be given to a dog raw, cooked, hard, or soft, and even whether they should be given at all. On one point, however, there is total agreement, never give a dog splintering bones from chicken, pork, fowl, and rabbit, (although chicken bones that have been cooked in a pressure cooker until they are very soft can be quite nourishing and safe).

A marrow bone is the traditional symbol of a treat for a dog, and he obviously appreciates it. It may be too big and hard for small dogs. In fact, large breeds generally handle bones much better than small ones. Bones that are mostly cartilage, such as spinal and shoulder bones of veal, knuckle bones, and soft rib bones, are good chewing material that can be entirely consumed.

The real danger is intestinal compaction, especially in small dogs, if the masticated bone has not been mixed with other residue in the dog’s stomach. A small amount should cause no trouble if it is given right after a meal. Chop and steak bones are more dangerous. Careful eaters simply clean off the meat and fat, but greedy gobblers run the risk of internal injury from jagged bone splinters. The same is true of a leg of lamb bone.

What is the best policy to follow with a dog of your own? A teething puppy between four and six months of age should always have a bone, real or imitation, to chew on. You might give an adult dog a suitable bone as on occasional treat - for example, once a week. It will give him enormous pleasure, will help to keep his teeth clean and free from tartar, and will occupy him for several hours. But a nylon bone offers the same advantages without the risk!

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://Joncopets.com.On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars and more for their best friend.

Motorcycles

The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, VA opens the USS Monitor Exhibition March 9, 2007 - exactly 145 years to the day of the battle of ironclads that changed naval warfare forever. Here is the epic story this exhibition will tell.

In 1973 divers discovered the wreckage of the ironclad USS Monitor strewn across the ocean floor 26 miles from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The Civil War ship had foundered in a heavy gale in December, 1862 - just months after the “Battle of Hampton Roads.” In this world famous 4-hour naval battle the afternoon of March 9, 1862, the Monitor fought the Confederate CSS Virginia (Merrimack) to a draw. A number of artifacts have since been recovered from the wreck site, including the turret, propeller, anchor, and engine that have become some of the featured attractions of the spectacular new multi-media USS Monitor Exhibition that opens March 9 at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, VA. With these artifacts plus inter-active displays, and new audio/video techniques, the Exhibition brings the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia back to active duty to tell their story. And what a story it is.

At the start of the Civil War, the Union had abandoned the Norfolk Navy Base at Portsmouth, VA and burned one of their most powerful frigates, the steam-powered USS Merrimack, to prevent her from falling into Confederate hands. The Confederates raised the ship from the mud, converting her to an ironclad vessel with a wooden tent-shaped structure on top that was covered with iron bars. This armor sloped at a 35 degree angle almost to the waterline. The Confederates christened their new ironclad the CSS Virginia. The Union quickly nicknamed this new threat, the “Monster.”

The Union went into panic mode, designing and building their own ironclad warship, the USS Monitor in a few frantic months. The Monitor was another oddly-shaped ship, resembling a modern day submarine with her 172-foot long deck topped by a revolving turret. Its strange appearance earned the Monitor the unflattering title, “Cheesebox on a raft.” Now the stage was set for the Cheesebox on a raft to do battle with the Monster, forever changing naval history and overnight, making every wooden warship in the world obsolete.

On March 8, 1862 the CSS Virginia steamed toward the Union fleet blockading the Hampton Roads, Virginia harbor. The heavy frigate USS Cumberland was the first victim. Her crew fired volley after volley at this weirdly shaped ship rapidly approaching at 7 knots. The shells bounced harmlessly off the Virginia’s iron armor like tennis balls. The Virginia rammed and sank the Cumberland. Another heavy Union frigate was next, the USS Congress. This ship caught fire and later exploded into a massive shower of metal and wood splinters. The day was a total disaster for the Union navy.

The next day the Virginia returned to the hunt, planning to destroy the remaining Union ships. But almost as in a bad Western movie, the Union’s “hero” had arrived during the night. The Monitor now steamed right at the Virginia, firing two powerful Dahlgren cannons from her revolving turret. The enemies were evenly matched and protected by their iron armor. After four hours, the no-win-win battle was over, and the two ships sailed away from each other. History records the battle as a “draw,” but the Monitor had saved the rest of the Union fleet. The Virginia nee Merrimack was later sunk by its own crew to keep the approaching Union from owning another ironclad.

During the USS Monitor Exhibition that opens March 9, 2007 at the Mariners’ Museum, visitors can step into a battle theater where scenes of the ironclads clash are projected on the walls with the sounds of cannon fire and wind vibrating the floors. Other rooms show a life size CSS Virginia under construction. You can walk on the deck of a full size Monitor model. Experience the fateful night the ship sank in a squall with readings of survivor accounts heard above the howling winds. Then see the various artifacts from the ocean floor, some still being restored in a viewable conservation laboratory.

The Virginia Hospitality Suite has created a special “Jamestown 2007 Web Feature” that features the full story of the Battle of Hampton Roads with descriptions of all the exhibits illustrated by numerous drawings and photographs. The Mariners’ Museum is located in Newport News, Virginia at the intersection of J. Clyde Morris and Warwick.

By Hal Gieseking, former consumer editor of Travel Holiday magazine and past president of the Society of American Travel Writers. You will find more information about the Battle of Hampton Roads at http://www.virginiahospitalitysuite.com.

I was doing research for my web site, on ways to save money. Checking other web sites and discussion forums, I found that the cheapskates are hitting new - and funnier - lows. Choosing a spouse according to how frugal he or she is, and reusing the plastic from bacon packages were just a couple of the serious suggestions. One man even said, “Instead of buying toilet paper, I use yesterday’s newspaper.”

Probably the suggestion that was the most ridiculous was to stop drinking beer. What are we trying to save all this money for? In any case, here are some more funny ways to save money. I suspect, or at least hope, that many of these really are not meant to be serious suggestions. Don’t try these at home.

Ways To Save Money?

- Unplug your clocks at night to save on electricity.

- Carry powdered drink mix and add it to water when eating out, to save on buying drinks.

- Install a cat door and train your cat to go outside and to the neighbors yard to go to the bathroom. This saves you on cat litter and time cleaning the yard.

- Eat dog food. (According to this contributor, the dry dog food is better than the canned.)

- Tell everyone you’ll be out of town for Christmas, so you can shop the after-Christmas sales for presents.

- Ask your friends to save the labels for you off any new products they buy, so you can put them on your thrift-store purchases when you are buying gifts.

- Run around the house and close the heater vents in all the rooms except your bedroom before going to sleep.

- Encourage mice in the house by leaving crumbs around - so your cat will have a free food supply.

- Learn speed-reading and read books for free while in the aisle at the book store.

- Leave everything in the same place in your house, so you can easily get around at night without turning the lights on.

- Bring back rolls of coins from Canada, to use at the laundromat and in pop machines, saving you 20% or more, depending on the exchange rate.

Okay, these may be funny ways to save money, but did any of them tempt you? Do you pick up pennies on the street? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just stay on the clock at work for an extra minute? Hey, and while you are there, take a big drink of water - to save on your home water bill.

Steve Gillman studies money. To get free e-courses and e-books on money topics, and for more Funny Ways To Save Money, visit: http://www.unusualwaystomakemoney.com/funny-ways-to-save-money.html

When you go bankrupt you end up in jail, lose your house and your car and you are thrown onto the streets to fend for yourself for at least 5 years and also if you own a company then forget it mate will lose the lot!

What did you feel when you read that statement?

‘Yeah I thought it was something like that’ is the most common thought or reply I come across. I state categorically that all the above may be, and usually is, wrong depending on your circumstances.

Surprised?

Let me tell you some more about UK bankruptcy. The British government went to find out why small enterprise was booming over the pond but not so much in the UK. When the report came back looking in depth on many areas the British government concluded, amongst other factors, that the USA is so enterprising because they had made it easier for individuals to go bankrupt and start again having learnt from their mistakes.

This was the precursor to the changes in the Enterprise Act which impacted the way personal bankruptcy is handled amongst many other areas of finance in the UK today.

At the time of writing, bankruptcy in the UK usually lasts for no more than 12 months. In fact many people are discharged in less than 12 months depending on the circumstances around their bankruptcy. That’s one year or less in most cases! Previously the usually time for an individual to be in bankruptcy was 3 years.

All that said, bankruptcy is a very serious step to take. It is a very public affair and the event can follow you for many years. Even after the bankruptcy has gone from your credit history financial institutions in particular often ask if you have ever declared yourself bankrupt. Your membership in some societies and associations may also be lost.

What can’t you do during bankruptcy

Well you didn’t think it was all a breeze did you? There are a number of things you need to be aware of:

1) You can’t ask for more than £500 of credit without first informing the lender that you are bankrupt. That’s usually the point at which they start sprinting away from you in their rush to not get their fingers burnt. Remember a lender doesn’t just mean a bank, it can mean friends and family. Even if you agree to buy a car off a friend and they say here take it now and pay me the money next week then you are in a credit agreement probably worth more then £500 and so you have to legally tell them about your bankruptcy.

2) You cannot be a director of a limited company whilst your are bankrupt. If you area one-man band or a sole trader, this doesn’t mean you cannot trade as a sole trader. Yes, you get to keep your business assuming you haven’t traded fraudulently but you do lose your limited company status in this instance.

3) You will lose certain positions of authority. Think councillor or accountant or high-ranking police officer. There are many more roles that are affected. Do check with a professional that your job is not affected if you do decide to go bankrupt. Some companies actually have a ‘no bankrupts’ policy in their employment contracts. It’s time to read your contract again.

Other stuff to consider

There is an impact on your credit file for 6 years. This means there is a record of your bankruptcy on your credit file that can be seen by lenders and anyone with access to your history.

Your name will appear in the local newspapers under the bankruptcy notices section and the London Gazette.

On the day of your bankruptcy all your bank accounts are frozen by the Official Receiver (the person appointed by the courts to administer your bankruptcy). If you owe that bank money on the day of your bankruptcy then it is unlikely they will reopen your account. Any accounts in credit will see that money going to the Official Receiver to go towards repaying costs and debts associated with the bankrutpcy.

The really nasty bit that your friend down the pub forgets to tell you

One of the Official Receiver’s roles in administering your bankruptcy is to look at your assets and disposable income and determine your ability to repay your debts. If you have disposable income available then you may end up paying a proportion of that to the Official Receiver over the course of 3 years under an income payment order or income payment agreement. This is a commonly overlooked fact by many a ‘lay person’ giving debt advice down the pub to a friend. It’s can also be a costly bit of overlooked advice.

What about your house and car?

Well this needs to be understood and talked through with a professional but the general rule of thumb is this:

If you own a house then the Official Receiver will take an interest in that property even if it is in negative equity. You may even lose your house in some circumstances even if you have a wife and child at home. The Official Receiver will also be looking to realise funds from the car, caravan or any other valuable asset (anything of value really, start thinking about pensions funds with a cash in value, windfalls, endowment policies, valuable artwork, intellectual property rights, websites….etc.). And this is not just in the run up to bankruptcy. If you have a windfall during your bankruptcy period then that is liable to be made available to the Official Receiver administering your case and paid towards their fees and the losses of your creditors.

What about HP agreements?

HP agreements usually have a clause that if you become bankrupt then the asset (usually a car) must be returned to your HP company. As the car legally belongs to the HP company it cannot be sold off by the Official Receiver. If you are meeting your regular payments to the HP company and the Official Receiver deems that the payments are reasonable for your needs then a conversation with the HP company would be prudent at the earliest opportunity.

If you are going bankrupt for a second time.

The other changes to the Enterprise Act means that people going bankrupt for a second time will likely be made bankrupt for at least 5 years and possibly up to 15 years before being discharged.

Be aware and get proper advice.

Do get good advice from somebody that will guide you through the whole process and not just send you off in the direction of the local courts. Do sit down and get an experienced professional to go through everything in detail. Be aware of all the factors that will affect you if you decide to go bankrupt. Whilst this article is accurate, it cannot be used to replace advice from a professional organisation.

Ed Pearson is a Debt Dr. Debt Dr specialise in debt help and advice for individuals and small businesses. Ed can be contacted on 0845 123 4000 or in confidence on 07970 659266.

http://www.debtDr.co.uk ‘prescribing life without debt’

This article does not constitute regulated advice. Please remember that any action regarding financial advice should always be taken only after considering the specifics of your own situation.

Ed Pearson is a Debt Dr. Debt Dr offer real debt help and advice throughout the UK, not debt management or debt consolidation. Just 6 solutions that really work.

Almost all people from all level of life are troubled and worried about the rapid hikes in oil prices. Therefore, the purpose of driving cars is forcefully narrowed into plain necessity. Otherwise, it would be totally impractical.

Due to this rapid increase of gasoline prices, giant car manufacturers had heralded great news about the development of modern cars, which called as “hybrid cars” that would significantly cut oil consumption.

The Japanese car makers Toyota and Honda were the pioneers in this particular endeavor, followed by their United States and German counterparts.

So, what exactly are hybrid vehicles? Literally, the word ‘hybrid,’ means a crossover. When it is apply to the term hybrid vehicles, the word can be define as an integration of two types of cars, the gasoline powered cars and the electric powered cars.

Hybrid vehicles generally refer to those types of automotives or cars that run on the joint power brought about by gasoline and electricity stored in high-capacity electric batteries.

Hybrid vehicles save on fuel because there are certain times when the vehicles rely on the electric power produced by the batteries. Therefore, the consumption of gasoline is significantly lowered, leading to reduced oil or gasoline bills by the owner.

The technology for the manufacture of hybrid cars is continuously and consistently evolving over the years, marking significant changes, modifications and improvements time after time.

Since hybrid vehicles have reduced gasoline consumption, it follows that smoke and greenhouse gas emissions are also significantly reduced. Therefore, the emergence of hybrid vehicles is like hitting two birds in just one stone. You would practically save on gasoline and oil costs and at the same time help save the environment by reducing the rate of green house gas emissions.

Fakhrul Anuar is a Webmaster and publisher of Hybrid-Cars.CosmoMatrix.com. He provides wide information about hybrid cars at http://Hybrid-Cars.CosmoMatrix.com.

Automotive accessories have come a long way since cars started being seen on the highway. Fuzzy dice and bumper stickers used to be the extent of the accessorizing options.

These days, people have a huge amount of choices when it comes to automotive options.

The most exciting car accessory as far as I can see is the Global Positioning System. The reason I like the GPS system is because I can’t find my way when driving. I hate not knowing where I am. I don’t feel like a man when I’m not in charge of the directions. A GPS system would change all that for me.

If I had GPS in my car, I wouldn’t have to swallow my pride and ask anyone for help-I would have the help right there in my car. Not only that but I would be able to plan cross-country trips without ever looking at the map. My GPS system could just explain to me the next place to go. Who needs a navigator when you have a GPS system? I’m sure my GPS wouldn’t talk nearly as much and wouldn’t need nearly as many bathroom breaks.

Car DVD players are another vital accessory. They work wonders for keeping the kids entertained on long road trips. What a cool feature! I wish I could have had one of those when I was a kid. I might have actually behaved myself when my parents made me climb in the car for the long trip to visit Aunt Vivian.

Another really great car accessory is satelite radio. You may never have to listen to bad local stations or AM radio. No matter where you are, you can listen to satelite radio on whatever station you want: from alternative to nouveaux punk. This is defintely a futuristic technology.

Don’t forget the outside of the car. Glowing undercarriages, flashing licence plate liners and rotating rims are a few exterior car accessories I’ve noticed. They really make your car stand out. I always spend just enough to attract attention to my car while still being subtle enough to not embarass the lady I’m taking out on the town in it!

Auto accessories make me want to spend tons of money on my car just like I do on my home! I have to be careful to not get car-poor. After all, I still want to be able to afford fuel to take people out in my vehicle.

Technology in the automotive accessory business is really advancing fast.

Rusty Humboldt is a writer who finds writing on many subjects fun. To him, this is a worthy challenge. workshop for inspiration. Everyone in his circle of family and friends are amazed at his vast knowledge and his seemingly infinite output. You can find still more of Rusty’s articles about automobiles at http://www.carshqs.com.