แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ Animal แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ Animal แสดงบทความทั้งหมด

วันศุกร์ที่ 3 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2554

Animal Ecology

Animal ecology is an important area of study for scientists. It is the study of animals and how they related to each other as well as how they related to their environment. There are various forms of animal ecology. This includes:

o Behavioral ecology, the study of the behavior of the animals with relation to their environment and others
o Population ecology, the study of the effects on the population of these animals
o Marine ecology is the study of animal life
o Evolutionary ecology is the study of how animals evolve over time to meet the demands on them

There are various other forms. By studying this information, scientists hope to learn more about what makes these animals prosper or what potentially holds them back. With animal ecology, there are many factors, most of which are human caused, that is currently threatening them.

There are many examples of this problem throughout the country. Perhaps the best examples, though, are in the water. A look at area lakes, coastlines and even marine life will show you just how much human environmental damage has hurt these animals. Animal ecology has changed drastically in an effort to keep up. Here are some examples of how the environment and human interaction has changed the scope of many animals.

o Animal habitats in many marine areas have ceased to exist. Coral reefs and other very delicate ecosystems have been harmed by human presence.
o In the arctic regions, melting ice has limited the lifespan of polar bears, which make the ice their home. Additionally, sea lions and other marine life that use the ice to rest on have been unable to do so.
o Dams and other waterway changes have hurt animal ecology throughout the country. Animals are no longer able to get to the source of water they need.
o Deforestation in jungles and other habitats has caused many of the only locations for animals to live to be wiped away.
o Sprawling city growth has also pushed animals farther and farther out of their natural habitats.

There are many other ways that animal ecology has changed. The goal of scientists is to find out what is happening and why it is happening that way. It is often very much a worry when animal species are dying or are unable to evolve naturally because of the drastic changes in their lifestyles and living areas. Through study of animal ecology, scientists hope to understand better what really is happening and what effect it will have both in the short and in the long term.




Annie Here
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วันเสาร์ที่ 28 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Animal Life Around the Dead Sea

As the name signifies, nothing that has life can flourish in the Dead Sea. It is a massive water body that stretches for about 77 kilometers (48 miles) long and 5 and 18 kilometers (3 and 11 miles) wide. Lying calmly between Jordan and Israel, the lake houses a variety of minerals that are found on the surface of the earth such as sodium, calcium, magnesium and silica. These minerals get carried into rivers and ultimately in the sea when ever it rains, along with rainwater. The two most widely found elements in this Sea are sodium and calcium, which when combines form salt, making the water salty and due to this salinity, Dead Sea creates an extremely ruthless ambiance where animals cannot survive and flourish.

As far as the point of life in the Dead Sea is concerned, the only supportive statement comes from the source bacterium Haloarcula marismortui. It is one of the two species of bacteria that live in the Dead Sea. However, in the region scattered around Dead-Sea, a number of animals originating in Africa can be found, as this area was once a part of the north-eastern corner of the African continent. With the ongoing process of desiccation, a desert belt is formed which eventually isolated the animal population here from its original home. In fact, from this category of animals, the most popular habitant of Dead Sea region is the Rock Rabbit, a social herbivore. The mammal has pads on its short toes that help it climb easily in the rock fissures.

Although the Dead Sea region is specifically categorized as barren land, the rift does support a migration platform for nomadic birds, predators and others that fly to cover the distance from Africa to Northern Europe. These birds glide over the air currents in the mountain corridors, where a few get misled due to the blue color of the river, thinking it be a sweet water lake. These misguided birds come to rest on the Dead-Sea and finally close the chapter of their lives.

Further, the drift of continents cleared the way for Asiatic animals' entry and disturbed the African element that was unable to find survival with the changing climatic conditions. Many animals like crocodile, the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus got vanished from the region. The other African species restricted themselves to the area that still has some minimum possible conditions for endurance.

Another interesting habitant found in the area around Dead Sea is ants living on the tress. These ants build their homes in nests and capture and hold one of the region's vermin. Dead Sea does not provide suitable living environment for any of the multi-celled organism except for Ein Fashcha, a series of springs on the northern shore. A variety of fish and shell-fish, reaching to Ein Fashcha, got trapped by the blockade created by the rising absorption of salt in the waters of the lake.
   
At this point, a tributary enters the sea and brings along with it, these fresh water creatures fighting, for their survival. Unfortunately, they die soon after getting in touch with the highly concentrated salt sea. On the other side, the Asiatic migrants, surviving in the region around the Dead Sea, choose their terrain as per their nature. The very popular light-footed fleet gazelle houses in the open plains, whereas the ibex sticks to the cliffs.

Due to the heavy content of minerals in the massive body of water of Dead Sea, the survival of underwater life is not feasible. However, the continental rift supports survival of few selective animals in the areas around the Dead Sea.



วันอังคารที่ 17 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Animal Poverty and Human Poverty

It was Thomas Malthus who noted that scientists had found that wild plant and animal populations quickly increase if their food supply increases, due to both increased birth rates and decreased death rates. In this way plant and animal species breed themselves poor and only the fittest will survive - and this powers 'natural selection' of the 'fittest' which enables evolution. So wild plant and animal populations grow easily and follow the Malthus law of biological poverty, driving biological progress for plants and animals so that poverty is good for progress ! And controvertially Malthus claimed that this applied to humans also.

An Essay on the Principle of Population, Chapter 1 (Malthus 1798) ;
"Through the animal and vegetable kingdoms, nature has scattered the seeds of life abroad with the most profuse and liberal hand. She has been comparatively sparing in the room and the nourishment necessary to rear them .... The race of plants and the race of animals shrink under this great restrictive law. And the race of man cannot, by any efforts of reason, escape from it. Among plants and animals its effects are waste of seed, sickness, and premature death. Among mankind, misery and vice. The former, misery, is an absolutely necessary consequence of it."

Malthus claimed that, like wild plants and animals, human populations also always follow this law of biological poverty and breed themselves poor. And certainly in primitive societies it is often the case that increased food supply does give a population increase, and a decreased food supply does give a population decrease, so that primitive human societies do seem to breed themselves poor in line with the Malthus law of biological poverty.

However, Malthus failed to notice that domesticated plant and animal populations instead follow human wishes and planning, so cow populations do not follow natural food supply biologically and they mostly escape poverty. For humans, Malthus biological poverty can only apply with certainty to societies that have little understanding of conception, for humans who do understand how babies are made can make choices that change birth rates. And humans can of course also make choices affecting death rates, even in primitive societies.

Hence though some human societies can indeed suffer Malthus biological poverty, this does not always apply. And not only is there little evidence of more modern human evolution or progress being chiefly driven by poverty, but there is strong evidence of more modern human civilisations progressing chiefly on the basis of excess wealth - so that human poverty now at least is bad for progress !




by Vincent Wilmot 2007 of http://www.world-poverty.org and http://www.social-exclusion-housing.com

วันศุกร์ที่ 22 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2554

The Zoo is the Place, and the Animal at the Animal Theme Party is You!

An Animal theme party is always a hit, especially during off-peak seasons, such as the autumn of the year, when the heat is off. The key a successful animal theme party at the zoo is planning. Consult the zoo administrator, ahead of time to determine what is allowed, confirm that the zoo allows parties, and see if a zoo official can act as tour guide, so you can concentrate on keeping your little animals in line. You will definitely need help, so enlist the aid of several parents, and/or your spouse, to help setting up, keeping track of the guests, and cleaning up after the party. Sometimes teenagers are very good at this, and tend to work pretty inexpensively, if you need to bring in hired hands to corral the 'wildlife'.

Either hire someone (or find a volunteer) to paint animal faces on the guests as they arrive, and be sure parents know when and where to pick up their little 'animals' when the party is over. Have sandwiches, chips, fruity drinks and, of course, cake, available. If the zoo allows it, you can set up the coolers with spouts and throw away paper cups (near trash bins) so that there are plenty of 'watering holes' available during the tour.

In respect for animals living in the zoo, I don't recommend noise makers during the party. Party goers can tour the zoo, while you take Polaroid snapshots for 'animal' guests to take back to their own 'lair' when they leave the zoo.

Identifying pre recorded animal sounds (if your guests are too young to read and write, you can always have animal photos for them to choose which animal made the sound) with the matching the most animals to their sounds, being named King (or Queen) of the jungle. Party 'animals' can be given goodie bags filled with party favors, as their parents pick them up to leave. Some good choices would be animal printed pencils, erasers, animal cards or posters, and the snapshots from your animal theme party.




Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Tons of fun Animal Party Supplies, party favors, decorations, pinatas, free games and ideas to help complete your event.

วันจันทร์ที่ 28 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Evolution Through the Kingdoms of Life - Mineral, Vegetable and Animal (Healing Depression)

Evolution through the Kingdoms of Life: Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal The first beings on this material (physical) plane of existence called earth were the basic building blocks of life, the sub-atomic particles that coalesce to form the atom. Each atom has its own individual nature, but atoms are also attracted to other atoms, which allows them to form into molecules. An atom might be, for example, an atom of gold, whereas a water molecule is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen (H2O). Through successive merging, various atoms and molecules build up compounds which, in turn, build up into life forms, beginning with single-celled organisms. These so-called lower life forms are living beings just like you and me, only much simpler.

The more complex beings, further up the evolutionary scale, are made up of more than one cell, or groups of cells, passing through various stages of evolution, from the invertebrates to the vertebrates (creatures with a nerve cord down the back and an internal skeleton), to the mammals, including human beings. All these life forms, from the sub-atomic particles through the minerals, vegetables and non-human animals have a soul. Manifestation is reflected through this evolutionary scale, and what is being built into each higher stage of being is character. Character, as it pertains to this book, is the soul as it expresses itself through all states of consciousness, creating the person reading this book right now. Character and soul are the same - the total of all the states of consciousness of the individual. DNA, much of which is very ancient, links us to each evolutionary stage. Both physical and non-physical structures, such as intelligence and emotions, are preserved in the DNA.

Every experience of every living being upon the earth plane has been built into our DNA, and each human experience is encoded into our subconscious minds, even if it is not remembered consciously. As we progress through the different stages of evolution, we progress into more complex beings. It is the process of memory that allows us to progress and retain the experiences that we have gone through, creating complex human beings. As a soul moves through evolution, first as a rock or mineral, attraction and repulsion are experienced. Then, as these experiences are stored within the subconscious, knowledge is reformulated to create a more complex being, such as a plant. This process continues throughout evolution, in the plant stage we learn about sensitivity that moves us to the animal realm, giving us the quality of instinct, then on to the human. As humans we acquire the great power of free will. Through hypnosis people can remember previously forgotten experiences that go back through all previous stages of their personal development. The experiences of our evolution, from minerals, plants and animals that are encoded in our DNA shows us that the character of an individual is derived from the first beings.

Memory Studies on DNA show evidence that, within our physical structure, we are linked to the first being and all beings that are on the material plane. As we recognize that we are made of different combinations of these so-called "lower" life forms, it becomes apparent that the desires and actions that we experience also come from the animal, plant, and mineral parts that are within all of us. Our bodies house all kinds of desires that are far more primitive than the human being as it progresses with free will. Studies from hypnosis demonstrate that once something is learned it is never forgotten. All life experiences are retained in memory and stored in the subconscious or soul realm. This soul realm, or the subconscious, is of great importance in the process of conscious manifestation. By understanding properties of this realm, such as time being no factor, we begin to recognize what our character is made of, leading to self-awareness and eventually the ability to change, resulting in conscious manifestation.

Cellular Consciousness All life has consciousness, and all life has some form of memory of all experiences from the past. At the evolutionary stage of the one-celled organism, soul is readily visible, reflecting its own unique intelligence. Soul is life intelligence. Through evolution, little life forms cooperate and coalesce together to become larger, more complex beings with all life, including simple one-cells, having systems of biology. An example of an organ that displays its own intelligence is the liver. Recently, surgeons were able to take one lobe of the liver of a parent and transplant it into a child whose liver was defective. The parental transplant grew larger and larger until it became a fully functioning liver on its own, a being in its own right. All beings have consciousness and intelligence, and our own lives are conditioned by the fact that we inhabit physical bodies that are made up of billions of other life forms, each with its own history and process of evolution.

Experience Through Conditioning We all started out as sub-atomic particles and grew through the atomic, molecular and cellular states until we evolved into the human physical body. Our DNA reveals this progression through the kingdoms of life, and we have all the memories of all the experiences of all these beings within us, built into our cells and recorded within our subconscious. In order to understand how this progression directly affects our lives, we must look at conditioning. Before the human state, even before the vertebrate state, simpler organisms learned through conditioning and retained that learning through memory as a form of instinct, passed down through generations of animals. We build up our egos through the driving force of instinct, and we develop a conditioned ego through the survival drive. Ego provides the innate drive to do something, and this ego-drive expresses itself through experiences gained by action, including pleasure and pain. We all learn to respond to life experiences as a result of conditioning. An infant who comes upon a candle for the first time, either at a distance or close by, is attracted to the flame and reaches out to it. There is no existence without experience, and the ego provides the drive for new experience. The infant either can't touch the candle flame because it is too far away, or does touch it and gets a burn. This experience, accompanied by feelings of frustration or pain, is discordance. Through such conditioning (learned response), the next time the infant sees a candle flame, it will automatically have a new type of response toward the flame, depending on its first experience. Hundreds of such daily experiences build up an attitude (memory experience) toward the candle flame and all similar objects. Until another experience with a candle flame is different, like one associated with pleasure (harmony), that attitude will remain dominant in the infant's

memory Repeated conditioning of different types of experiences, form an attitude toward those experiences, becomes a perception, and these perceptions become the traits of individuality. Humans have an ego-drive for experience, conditioned with pleasure and pain over time, resulting in a series of perceptions that eventually become our reality. This reality, over time, actually creates the events that control our lives. Our individual perceptions are the combination of all our past experiences. Your reality is different from mine, and all reality is formed by perceptions that have been conditioned to perceive things in a specific manner. What you perceive as reality is nothing more than what you have created. By understanding how our individual perception builds our reality, we can more easily understand conscious manifestation and how it works. Knowing how perceptions are formed, we can learn how to change them through conditioning. Then we can see how perceptions directly affect everyday life and how important it is to control our inner world if we wish to control the outer world. Such control starts with directed thinking and induced emotion. Inner controls produce the outer manifestation of our choice.

All Things are Manipulated Through Electromagnetic Energy Electromagnetic energy is used by the physical body and the mind to do everything an embodied being needs to do. When we process a thought in our minds, it must go though a series of EM firings in the physical brain, and these firings communicate with the body, resulting in an action. When this electrical activity is going on inside the physical body, EM energy is released into the environment, producing overflow. There is an intimate link between thoughts in the mind and actions of the physical body, and there is also an intimate link between the physical (outer) plane and the inner planes of being. If we consider that EM energy, Awareness Through Dedicationwhich allows the transmission of thought to a physical world through action, can escape the physical body and leak out into the physical environment, we can see just how much our thoughts can affect the physical environment. There is much evidence that thought energy can affect the physical world through telekinesis, a phenomenon where certain people can move physical objects (other than their own body parts) without touching them.

Clearly, then, there exists a force controllable by the mind, an electromagnetic force that is constantly, yet unconsciously, excreted by human beings. The goal, then, is to gain conscious control of this EM energy in order to put it to work for our own good. Being able to control the energy that we are constantly expressing and releasing into the environment will result, in the long run, in our lives being changed. This process happens automatically with every thought, feeling, movement and action taken, and it should not be ignored or taken for granted. In order to live the lives we want, we must understand that we create our own reality at all times. By gaining control of what happens within us, we can control or change events that are outside ourselves. Without this understanding, we get caught up in never ending repeated patterns, because our very cells are conditioned to express themselves and process energy in a certain unconscious manner.

The Importance of Free Will Through our past experiences we have been conditioned to have certain automatic responses. These responses are expressed through thoughts and emotions that in turn create the major events in our lives, but we have evolved with free will, or the ability to break free of the dominance of conditioning, instinct. Free will gives us the ability to change what has been conditioned through organic evolution (as stored in the subconscious) to better our lives in the future, morals. The moral human can reconsider such purely survival-oriented behavior and may prefer not to harm others, by breaking free of instinct and expressing free will. Unfortunately, most of human society hardly expresses any free will at all. Human behavior, both as individuals and groups, seems to be expressed more or less unconsciously, and free will appears to be negatively oriented, which is evident in the vast degradation of the natural environment. This degradation makes life on the earth plane very difficult today; however, we also have never had such a great opportunity to become conscious, to take action, to exercise free will. This is a special era, and a little effort exerted now can go a long way toward the betterment of life on earth. All things work through desire energy that is conditioned through pleasure and pain.

Painful things are pushed as far away as possible and pleasant things are placed in front of our perception. Unfortunately, when painful things are pushed away from consciousness, they fall into the depths of the unconscious and only express themselves into conscious perception spontaneously and without conscious thought. This pushing away, or suppression, doesn't mean that this energy is not affecting us or our lives. On the contrary, such suppressed thoughts and feelings rise all too often into the subconscious emotional level and get stuck there, causing mental, emotional and physical health problems. The realm of the unconscious is where metaphysics and psychoanalysis meet and where they can do the most good the soonest.

Emotions and Electromagnetic Energy Emotions are also constantly released with electromagnetic energy into the environment, and this release of charged emotional energy contributes to continually creating our health and our physical and emotional well being, aswell as the events that make up the experiences of every day life. Studies of telekinesis, demonstrated by dice throwing, show how the EM energy that is released from the body is affecting the physical environment, and loss of interest in any extra sensory perception study by a subject lessens good results. Low emotion equals low results! In Walking Between the Worlds, Gregg Braden demonstrates how emotions (EM energy) are directly related to the building blocks of life (DNA), showing that there is a link between all creation and emotions.

He states, "Within each cell of the human body are found what may be thought of as micro antenna. These may be thought of as tiny molecular receptors, tuned to varying qualities of vibration by their nature. Structurally, these antenna appear as relatively long and intertwined forms of a double helix, known as deoxybose nucleic acids, our familiar DNA. Physical properties of the antenna, such as the length of each molecular bond, even the bond angle itself, determine the ability of that particular antenna to tune, or find resonance, with the reference signal of the brain. In terminology of molecular biologists, these receptors are expressed as sugars bonding to one of the four possible structures designated by unique symbols as "A" "C" "G" or "U". The sequences of these bases along each strand of DNA molecule determine the makeup of the familiar amino acids that are essential to carbon base life as we know it. Within this matrix we find the mystery, and possibly the answer, to the relationship between human emotion and DNA."

Braden illustrates the direct relationship between EM energy or emotion (conditioned EM energy) and physical matter; not just ordinary matter, but the building blocks of all life, when he states, but the building blocks of all life, when he states, "Recent research by Dan Winter indicates the possibility of a direct relationship between emotion, and the location of an antenna and whether or not the antenna is turned ON or OFF. In a paper published in 1994, Winter describes the possibility that the long wave of emotion programs the short wave of DNA. In his book, Alphabet of the Heart, Winter suggests that it is the resonant location of emotions wave upon the double helix that determines the structural site of active or inactive genetic codes. Could it be that emotions touch upon our DNA is what tells our bodies where to place the building blocks of life. The implications of this study alone are vast and profound as we view a possible link between DNA and emotion."

Braden continues with, "Our extremes of emotion, such as love as well as fear, may be viewed from the perspective of an electrical andmagnetic field expressed as a wave. From this vantagepoint fear is seen as a long slow wave. Due to its length, relatively few complete waves are expressed per unit of DNA." "Love, on the other hand, may be viewed as a field of higher frequency. It appears as a shorter and faster wave with a greater number of complete waves expressed per unit of DNA measurement. "Superimposing the field of fear upon our double helix structure, we see that the length of the low frequency waves allows few opportunities for the helix and wave to touch. The very nature of the wave discourages access to the biological structure allowing its expression. This perspective illustrates the limiting and contracted nature of fear." "Note the relatively small number of potential coding sites available due to the lack of intersection pointsSuperimposing the field of love upon the double helix, we see that the shorter length of the high frequency waves allows more opportunities for the helix and wave to intersect. In this instance, the nature of the wave encourages access to the helix. From this perspective the emotion is seen as expansive." "Note the relatively greater number of potentially coding sites due to the increased number of intersection points."

The above quote is an important concept that makes a perfect metaphor for spiritual power, because thoughts and feelings of love have a greater ability to manifest than thoughts and feelings of fear. Braden states further that, "Could this relationship between the non-measurable quantity of emotion and the measurable quantity of biological material represent our foreground link to creation. Winters studies suggest that it is in fact, the physical intersection of emotions waveform upon the structure double helix that provides the blueprint for possibilities of DNA coding sites. With this relationship in mind, note how many more opportunities there are in the sympathetic vibratory pattern that we call love, for the waves of emotion and DNA to touch." This statement suggests how EM energy affects physical matter within the body as well as outside of the body into the environment, illustrating how conscious manifestation, through spiritual power, works.

Assuming this is so, why don't we realize we are creating our external environment as we are doing it? The answer lies in the unconscious. We create our external environment unconsciously, then perceive what we have created and react to that in an endless cycle. Also, remember that human desire energy has been conditioned through millions of years of organic evolution, up through the mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, before we ever entered these physical bodies. This ancient organic energy has its own pre-conditioned attractions and repulsions of which we human beings know little. All thisenergy, of whatever origin, is stored in, and makes up, the unconscious, which, it seems, creates both our inner and outer environments. If the unconscious content of the mind controls both our inner and outer environments, then desire energy, once conditioned through directed thinking and induced emotion, can be reconditioned to express itself more harmoniously, changing our lives in a positive way through the electromagnetic effect.

The EM effect allows the physical body and the mind to work together, and allows living beings to become active. Life and progress depend upon cellular activation that allows the cells to gain experiences and so develop themselves. As a single-celled organism, a group of cells, organs, or a whole being becomes active in a particular manner, each is constantly releasing EM energy into the environment simply by being active or living. When this energy is released, it is governed by the Law of Affinity (like-attracts-like). When the desire energy (based on EM energy) is released into the environment, it attracts a similar type of energy through the Law of Affinity, and, at any given time, we are attracted to beings like ourselves. Think back to your teenage years and remember the type of people you were hanging out with and the things they were interested in. They were probably the same things you were interested in at that time. Each type of person attracts his or her own type of people as well as the previously established conditioning which led to his or her interests and actions.

The Law of Affinity is as important as the law of gravity; it is in effect all the time. But the Law of Affinity influences more than the career we chose or the hobbies we pursue, or even the type of person we are. This law governs all types of events that happen within our lives, whether they are harmonious or discordant. There are events in life that we say we have no control over; events that "just happen", such as car accidents. We've been taught (conditioned) to view such events as "just an accident" that happened because of "bad luck". However, the Law of Affinity illustrates that any event, whether harmonious or discordant, that we call an "accident" or an unfortunate event, is actually governed by the Law of Affinity and has been attracted to a person through the EM effect. This is what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious. Each one of us sets ourselves and one another up for such events, good and ill, whether we know we are doing this or not. In fact, the less we know of our own unconscious and the collective unconscious, the more likely we will produce discordant events for ourselves and others.

Therefore, from now on in this book when you see the term "conscious manifestation", it means changing the major events in our lives that take certain paths, or making big decisions in life, whether they seem to be, at the time, harmonious or discordant. Conscious manifestation is not about the minor particulars of everyday reality, but rather, it is about controlling and changing the events that make a major impact on our lives by using the minor parts of our everyday life. It is about everything we do! Studies of the unconscious reveal principles that govern our thoughts and emotional energy, based on the principles of conditioning. Conditioning always affects our lives, whether we know it or not, and automatically puts into effect the manifestations that we perceive as external to ourselves. Attaining control of the unconscious mind, through various techniques, can manifest much more harmonious actions and events, not only for us, but also for every living creature on this planet, and in a way that will make life a more harmonious experience for all life forms.




If you are interested in learning more about the power of the mind to heal the body using meditation and other powerful techniques Healing Treatments for Depression

วันศุกร์ที่ 11 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2554

The Bengal Tiger is the National Animal of Bangladesh

The Bengal Tiger

The Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, is sometime called the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Tiger is the national animal of India. Although I and many people tend to think of it as an Indian animal, it is also found in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The Bengal Tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh.

The Siberian subspecies is traditionally considered to be the biggest subspecies, but some studies suggest that the Bengal one is as big or even slightly bigger.

Colours

Apart from the usual T colour, some Bengal Tigers have a lot more white. These are referred to as White Tigers. These are often on display in zoos and parks. This characteristic is being bred for in some of these parks.

There have been many reports of black oves. In some cases these were black Leopards. However, there seems little doubt that partially black tigers do exist. The existence of totally black Tigers is much more doubtful.

Endangered

The UICN Red List for 2008 lists the status of this animal as endangered, with probably less than 2500 living in the wild. This is actually more than the likely number of any of the other subspecies.

Evolution

The ancestors of the Bengal Tiger arrived in its present range about 12,000 years ago. The stem subspecies was probably either the South China or the indochinese subspecies.

Prey

They are carnivores, like cats in general. They will kill and eat almost any animal they can catch and kill. This means most of the animals of India and the other places it lives.

Indian Elephants are rather large for even this huge cat to tackle, but they do eat some young ones.

Catching an Elephant

This general description is based on Lieutenant Colonel Williams's Book Elephant Bill. He obviously had not actually witnessed an attack like this, but had put together the scenario from his knowledge of Elephants and Tigers, including treating Elephants after an attack.

When the Pregnant Elephant is close to giving birth, she goes into the jungle with another female Elephant, which is sometimes referred to as an Auntie.

If a Tiger wants to eat the baby, he will charge the mother and try to drive her off. The Auntie now has to fight off the predator by herself, knowing that the mother will be back very soon. It is probable that the Auntie usually succeeds and the Tiger will go off to find smaller prey.

Another animal generally too big for them to tackle is the Rhinoceros. Tigers did occasionally eat baby Rhinos. Unfortunately, Rhinos are practically extinct in Asia.

Man Eating

In most of its range, the Bengal Tiger rarely eats Humans, but in one area, the Sundarbans, this habit is a serious problem.




For information about the Siberian Tiger, see: http://stevechallis.net/Siberian-Tiger.php. To read a poem about cats, see: http://stevechallis.net/Cats.php.

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 24 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

The Animal and the Human

Recent DNA analyses have revealed that humans share a majority of our genetic makeup with other animals. Physically speaking, our similarities with our fellow beings far outweigh our differences. In the Western mindset, however, a sharp line is drawn between human beings and other animals. Because they do not communicate in our language, it is thought, we do not have much in common beyond physical structure. For Westerners, only humans have a soul, a wide range of emotions, and the unique capacities of reason, imagination, and the changing of our environment on a grand scale to meet our needs. Despite the division in our thinking, we still have intimate relationships with the animals closest to us and cannot seem to resist anthropomorphizing them. There are several societies whose conception of humans' place in the animal world is far different from ours.

Although these kinds of belief systems are widely varied, many see us as more
closely related to other creatures, both physically and spiritually. Here, I will
examine a few of these non-Western ideologies and compare their conceptions of
the human-animal relationship to each other and to Western ideas.

Several cultures which hold traditionally animistic religious beliefs share the concept
of a time long ago during which humans were animals and vice versa. In this
"Distant Time," "Dreamtime" or "Mythtime," as it is variously referred to, animals
were able to take human form. Most animals, it is believed, once possessed human
souls, and some cultures think that they still do, although the average person is now
unable to perceive them. Folklorist Charles L. Edwards hints that this idea may have
evolved out of a memory of a much earlier period in the evolution of the human
species, when the common ancestor of both humans and apes roamed the earth.
This apelike being lived no differently from the other predatory mammals who
shared his environment. Some of his offspring later began the process of change
and adaptation that would produce our species. "In outwitting his foes, instead of
throttling them the diverging elementary man began to make plans of strategy." As
their thought process grew more complex, Edwards argues, early humans expanded
their thinking beyond their immediate surroundings and contemplated the unseen
forces that governed their world. "[T]hese forces took form in the gods who dwelt
beyond the clouds, and the myths of cosmogony and transformation arose." Now,
when people belonging to animistic traditions look for ways of explaining the
phenomena around them and of connecting their rituals to the greater processes of
continuing cyclical transformation, they recall the time when myths were formed,
when humans were much closer to other animals than we are today.

Edwards connects the deep sense of spiritual communion with other beings out of
which myth and belief in the supernatural arise to the formative period in the
development of each human being known as childhood. He relates a story of his
own childhood and the time he spent watching ants in his backyard, inventing
stories to match the escapades of "the ant-people." He envisions them as soldiers
engaged in various industries at peacetime, but in wartime displaying "remarkable
valor and extraordinary strategy." This depth of imagination, which is now the
exclusive domain of children, is the fertile ground from which spring "the miracles
of transformation" and the deeper sense of connection through the
anthropomorphism of playful storymaking. "So we see in the child, as in primitive
people [sic], the projection of his own fancies born of fear, or love, or desire, into
the things about him which then become personified."

For many non-Westerners, the rituals associated with storytelling and traditional
practice comprise an extension and evolution of childhood, where the wonder and
intimacy in the natural world they experienced as children develops into a greater
understanding of ourselves and other forms of life. Most Western adults are, on the
surface, all too eager to put childhood behind them. Our deep longing to connect
to the wider life community manifests itself in other ways, though, such as our
feelings towards our companion animals.

The Distant Time stories of the Koyukon people, who inhabit the boreal forests of
central Alaska, show another instance of the interrelatedness of humans and other
animals in a non-Western culture. Once again, the time when human-animal
transformations occurred is seen as a dreamlike phase in the formation of the earth
and cosmos:

During this age [Distant Time] 'the animals were human'--that is,
they had human form, they lived in a human society, and they spoke human
(Koyukon) language. At some point in the Distant Time certain humans died and
were transformed into animal or plant beings [...] These dreamlike metamorphoses
left a residue of human qualities and personality traits in the north-woods
creatures.

Distant Time stories account for natural features and occurrences, as well as for the
physical forms and personalities of the animals. The myths also dictate how they
must be treated. Since the animals were once human, the Koyukon believe, they can
understand and are aware of human actions, words and thoughts. Although the
spirits of some animals are more potent than others, it is important to treat all
animals with respect because they can cause grief and bad luck for those who do
otherwise. Because Koyukon people were no different from other animals in Distant
Time and because of the awareness and power of animal spirits, it may appear that
they do not conceive of a separation between human and animal realms. However,
the Koyukon believe that only humans possess a soul which is different from the
animals' spirits. But because they accept that humans were created by a human-
animal (the Raven), the distinction is less sharp than in Western cultures. The
similarities between us and other animals derive not as much from the animal
nature of humans as from the human nature of animals, having been human in
Distant Time.

The relative absence of a boundary between the human and animal realms figures
widely in the mythology of the Inuit and Eskimo. Their stories of a similar time long
ago explain the way they see their world and also guide their traditional
observances, rituals and overall lifestyle, much as the Distant Time stories do for
the Koyukon. Just as the myths account for such things as the shape of the land,
the cycles of sun, moon and seasons and the generation of all life forms, they also
dictate how each person is to play his or her role in society. Tom Lowenstein
investigates this phenomenon amongst the Inuit of Tikigaq Peninsula in
northwestern Alaska in a poetic book entitled Ancient Land, Sacred Whale.
For these people, the annual whale hunt and the elaborate preparations for it
reenact a mythic cycle. The rituals surrounding the whale hunt represent a complex
interplay between them and the spirit of the whale, whose power is seen as greater
than that of humans. Their belief system comprehends the union of many
opposites, including the human and animal. "Just as Raven Man had the double
character of bird and human, and the uliuaqtaq [unmarried woman who marries
Raven Man in the story] was a double creative/destructive presence , so the whale
was perceived in terms of two main elements: animal and land." By reenacting the
ages-old epic every spring, the Tikigaq Inuit play an essential role in keeping the
forces of nature in balance, thereby ensuring their survival and livelihood.

A central aspect of the religious traditions of several Eskimo tribes of northeastern
Canada and Greenland is the existence of the Sea Mother, who is both as a real
creature living on the ocean floor and a spirit residing within sea creatures (as well
as land creatures, according to some tribes). The ancient story of her coming to be
the spiritual ruler of the submarine world is similar across these cultures and it
serves to bind the animal and human worlds together. According to one version of
the story, the Sea Mother (who goes by different names, Sedna being one of the
most recognized) was once a young woman living with her father. She had refused
to marry, but a sea bird disguised as a man succeeds in winning her hand and
whisks her across the sea. Her life with him is miserable, and eventually her father
comes and takes her with him in his boat. The bird-man is furious, so he causes a
windstorm which capsizes the boat. The woman is left hanging on by her fingertips.
In anger and desperation, her father decides to amputate her fingers, each of which
becomes a sea creature as it drops into the water. Once the last finger is cut, the
woman sinks to the sea floor, where she becomes the Sea Mother, having dominion
over the souls of the creatures made from her fingers.

Since the Eskimo depend on sea creatures for most of their food supply, keeping the
Sea Mother happy is an important aspect of their endeavors. She is seen as having
control of the souls of many creatures, which are able to take either animal or
human form, and as a union of opposites. Her power is respected as greater than
the human because people are utterly dependent on other creatures for survival.
However, she is also scorned because of her refusal to join human society (which is
indicated by her refusal to marry) and her insistence on living in a dream world. The
human/animal boundary is central to the Sea Mother's status both as an abject
outcast and as a great power to be feared and obeyed. The people's lukewarm
relationship with her is indicative of their respect for and struggle with the animals
and the natural world, with which they must maintain the proper balance in order to
ensure survival and sustainability.

In "Witches' Transformations into Animals," M. A. Murray investigates an example of
human-animal transformation in a Western setting which took place among witches
in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England and France, as well as in colonial
New England. These witches carried on pre-Christian traditions. Each witch's
transformation ability was limited to one or two animals, usually a cat or a hare, but
occasionally a dog, mouse, crow, rock or bee. Transformation was accomplished
"by being invested with the skin of the creature, by the utterance of magical words,
the making of magical gestures, the wearing of a magical object [amulet], or the
performance of magical ceremonies." These methods appear as motifs in many
cultures. "Distant Time" stories tell of humans becoming animals by doing any of
these things, and shamans continue this practice in several places. Another
common belief which Murray argues is a corollary to zoomorphism is that wounds a
person receives while in the shape of an animal remain on the body after a return to
the human form. Witches saw taking on the form of their particular species as a
way of becoming one with that animal's spirit, as shamans use ritual objects made
of animal parts to communicate with the spirit world.

Jean Buxton examines animal and human identities in the traditional culture of the
Mandari people of southern Sudan in "Animal Identity and Human Peril." For these
people, the physical location where an animal lives relative to the human homestead
and village determines its cultural and spiritual status. Like many Westerners, the
Mandari draw a sharp line between the animals of the home (dogs and other
domesticated animals), the animals of the village (cattle and other farmed animals),
and animals of the three tiers of the wild, separated according to distance from the
village.

Dogs are by far the most important animals, and are the closest to people physically
and emotionally. Mandari mythology contains stories of ancient people who had
dogs with horns that were featured in rain rituals. Owners of "horned" dogs had
higher stature than those with "hornless" dogs. The Mandari also believe that
primal dogs could speak and warn people of impending danger, and that it was the
dog who taught humans the use of fire, enabling them to become more social
beings. In short, the dog "is represented as needed and liked, and as reciprocating
these attitudes." Cattle also have an important role considering their appearance in
myth, their long-standing ties with people, and their economic and social
importance. They do not, however, enjoy the same emotional attachment to the
Mandari that dogs have. Although chickens are also considered animals of the
homestead, their dual classification as "birds of the above" causes them to lack
innate dignity. Therefore, it is permissible to slaughter them with impunity.

Contrarily, wild animals who inhabit homesteads, though categorized as "wild
nature," are often given immunity from human-induced harm because of their
location in the homestead. Just outside the village lies the realm of semi-domestic
and scavenger animals, and further beyond lies the habitat of game and predator
animals. It is here where the line between human and animal solidifies. While dogs
and cattle are given the "dignity and integrity of 'psyche'," game animals and those
capable of killing people are not seen as deserving of any respect. One notable
exception is the leopard, which is seen as more "like a person" and is given
elaborate death rites. "Mandari are quite clear about the basic separation between
man and animal, and of the fact that while man is a part of the animal world, an
animal is never a man."

Although the concept of the boundary between humans and animals varies between
cultures, there are few examples of people for whom humans are absolutely no
different from the other creatures with whom we share our world. In the cultures
examined here, the existence of well-defined roles for each species, which are
generally learned through myths that describe how each animal got its place in the
living community, defines the way animals are regarded and what spiritual
significance they are given. The grand variability of ideas about the human/animal
division is indicative of our species' multifaceted relationship with other species.
The fact that humans are almost universally seen as unique may, in some respects,
serve to qualify the uniqueness of nonhuman animal species. Certainly, for non-
Western cultures especially, our exceptionality does not always make us the most
powerful or important species. It only serves to define our place in the natural
world and, in many cases, to deepen our connection to other species.




Malcolm Kenton is a sophomore and full-time student at Guilford College in North Carolina, where he is majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science. His interests include activism on behalf of animal protection and the environment, politics, computers, music and reading and writing. He resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the editor of his high school newspaper and has had op-ed pieces published in the Greensboro News and Record.

วันอังคารที่ 22 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Animal Testing - More Common Than You Think

I once received a pamphlet from a friend when I was in college. He told me to read it and pass it on. The pamphlet contained information about animal testing. It listed the companies that still use it, and those that did not. I felt sad when I saw that many of the companies that did it were the companies that make many of the things that I use in my home. As a result, I threw out most of those stuff when I got home. I then tried to decide on what products I could use. I always try my best to get the right products, although I can't say that I am perfect about buying the right ones.

Do you know that animal testing has been around for a long time? I prefer to hear that it is being done for medical research, even if I still think that it should not be condoned for any reason. I feel disgusted whenever I hear that animal testing is done for things like shampoos and conditioners. Of course, I understand that a company has to know if their product will harm a person when they use it. However, I think that they should find another way to test their products other than using it on those poor animals.

A lot of other people are also bothered with the issue of animal testing. Animals should have a long, love-filled life as a pet. They should not be used to test products for beauty reasons. We should not see these animals as things that we can use for whatever we think we need to do. The thought of animals suffering from chemicals slathered on their skin, locked away in cages, knowing nothing but pain is unbearable for me.

Animal testing that is used for medications is not any better, but at least that is used to save lives. I can deal with frizzy hair if it means that there is less animal testing going on. I live with giving up my favorite conditioner for this cause. In fact, I have found something that works even better. The best thing is that it is not tested on animals. It may take you some time to find the right stuff if you really want to boycott companies that use animal testing. However, the time and effort spent in finding these products is worth it.




Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Animal Testing. Visit our site for more helpful information about Animal Testing and other similar topics.

วันจันทร์ที่ 21 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Human Thought and Emotion- Is it Different than Any Other Animal?

Are human thought, reasoning and abilities of the mind so vastly superior to animals we observe in the wild and as pets that they deserve a separate classification from that of the animal kingdom? Human beings maintain a wide set of emotional states, thoughts and abilities, which we see in animals. Yet, seldom do we see all of these in all animals or at all times? One think tanker in an online think tank challenged a commenter with regards to emotion of "Empathy" as to whether humans and animals were all that different. Indeed the think tanker brought up some excellent points of contention, which do indeed require further thought and review.

The think tanker stated; "We could expand this further by considering the complexities of networked human characteristics in opposition to isolated ones. It is also important to keep in mind that as a species, humans are the quintessential element on this planet, and seem to have been since the beginning of recorded history."

Indeed and humans without competition and with the use of those social characteristics developed it makes sense that humans would remain so, having now controlled many larger complex life forms on the surface of the planet. Also with the kill off rates of human's next nearest competitor species (large complex life) it would seem that humans have had a good run and should continue this run, that is if they do not kill off them selves thru believing that they are invincible to other threats or do not cause issues of war or destruction of their eco-system needed to sustain the huge population bases. And in your statement we must also realize that there are top of the food chain ocean species, insects, viruses, bacteria, reptiles, birds and other smaller mammals, which are doing fine on their own and adapting to human control of the surface of the planet. As well as those species, which are being pushed to extinction due to the rapid expansion of the human domain.

Excellent points to consider and the think tanker takes this one step further and states: "I think we can use our own sense of judgment to determine that we are not rivaled in any way by other living thing on this planet. Even though some animals may demonstrate phenomenal abilities in some areas, the most magisterial example of our greatness is demonstrated by our superior abilities to study, construct and surpass that which we have observed."

I agree that observations trump religious dogma and that humans do possess many very good uses of such traits and have evolved that way for a reason. Yet, the animal instincts humans possess, we sweep under the carpets and deny seem all too often come out at in-opportune times and if we fail to recognize these, as we tout our own human self-aggrandizement; we also fail to understand our place in the hierarchy of the animal kingdom. When you speak of humans in such a wonderful light, we fail to share the truth about over half of the human population, which cannot think themselves out of a paper bag. Indeed we have most all of the African Continent at an IQ level of 85. Only 20-25 points above chimpanzees we have trained. So, as an observer of the human race, indeed it is an interesting species, but as far as being impressed? Well for me, that would be rarely.

We see birds, animals of prey and social mammals think, problem solve and adapt. They use their genetic abilities to their fullest, where as many humans piss theirs away. If an animal or organism's mission is to live, procreate and die; then one could say that the animals often fulfill that mission better and do so using complex thought, problem solving and strategic thinking. Empathy is one social emotional trait, which can be seen in almost all complex life, which has adapted to live in social groupings.

I would not mind seeing your experiment carried out, although agree in observation that humans are a cut above, only in my estimation only a slight cut above and that there are some humans that are a big jump above the rest. The difference between actual humans in my opinion is greater than the leap from a Dog to the lowest human. That is to say IQ wise. With dogs being 20-30; the lowest humans (not developing children or retarded) at 70 IQ, as we see some humans at over 140 IQ. And when looking at the masses, it seems to me that it is hard to debate that much of the human population simply is not using all it has available and/or is not trying. Worse off that particular group seems to be re-producing faster than the rest. This is not good for the on-going future of human evolution. This is a rather interesting subject for a think tank and perhaps you have some thoughts on this subject of your own and if so, consider this in 2006.




"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

วันศุกร์ที่ 18 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Overfeeding Your Pet - Accidental Animal Abuse

There is a type of animal abuse that is prevalent amongst many different kinds of pet owners: overfeeding. When you hear the term "abuse" you tend to think of beating your animal or underfeeding, but indeed overfeeding your animal can lead to health problems as well. Now, this isn't to say that owners who give in just a bit too frequently to their animals' pleas should be stripped of their furry friends and stoned in public; it's mostly a crime of innocent ignorance. This article should provide you with knowledge of the dangerous effects of overfeeding as well as information on how much you should feed your pets on a daily basis.

Dogs

Perhaps the kings of scavenging and begging for food are dogs. Who can resist those puppy eyes peering up at you from underneath the dinner table at night?! Dogs seem to have an appetite that is insatiable, and that's probably the exact truth of the matter. However, overfeeding your dog can be quite hazardous to his/her health. The biggest risk with overfeeding your dog is obesity. There are many health problems that can plague an overweight dog such as diabetes, muscle and ligament strains, joint deterioration, and arthritis. Your dog can also develop high blood pressure or even congestive heart failure from the overexertion to the heart caused by carrying around the excess weight.

The amount of food that a dog requires varies with breed. According to dogbreedinfo.com, the following is about what you would want to feed your dog based on weight:
• 10 lbs. or less- You should feed no more than 1/3 - 1 cup of dry food or if mixing canned with dry food you should feed ¼ can and ¾ cup dry food.
• 10-25 lbs.- 1-2 ¼ cups of dry food or ½ can and ½ - 1 ½ cups dry food.
• 25-50 lbs. -2 ¼ - 3 ¾ cups dry food or 1 can and 1 - 2 ½ cups dry food.
• 50-75 lbs. - 3 ¾ - 5 cups dry food or 1 ½ cans and 1 ¾ - 3 cups dry food.
• Over 75 lbs. - 5-8 cups of dry food or 2 cans and 2 ½ -5 ¼ cups dry food.
Fish
It's not very often that you peer into a fish tank and think 'My, what a fat fish!'. As opposed to obesity the health hazards with overfeeding fish are a bit less obvious and harder to recognize. As a part of their evolution fish have a tendency to eat whenever the opportunity presents itself. In the wild this is a helpful survival tactic, but in your fish tank this can be a serious problem. Your fish will literally eat until their insides explode if you provide them with enough food more frequently than they need it. Overfeeding can cause issues with the water quality in your tank such as producing algae and toxins that are also harmful to your fish. Some diseases that can result from overfeeding your fish are fin rot, fatty liver and improper digestion (petcareeducation.com).
Prevent overfeeding by simply reading the directions on your fish food. For most freshwater fish these directions will be sufficient in explaining how much you should feed. When in doubt, about a pinch of food is enough to feed at least 5 fish.
Cats

The health risks associated with overfeeding your cat are very similar to those associated with overfeeding a dog. The biggest problem is the obesity and the problems caused by it. Some of the common ailments that an obese cat faces are diabetes, liver disease (fatty liver), arthritis, and skin problems. It is also more difficult for an overweight cat to be anesthetized for procedures at the veterinarian's office as well due to the fact that the anesthetic is taken up by fat. This means that overweight animals take longer to come out of anesthesia and can take longer to recover.

So how much should you feed your cat? According to dogtime.com, the typical 10 lb. cat should be fed 4-6 ounces of canned food or 1/4 - 1/3 cup dry food daily. It is also a good idea to feed your cat twice a day. This doesn't mean giving the full recommended amount of food twice a day; break up the servings. Leaving food out all day can encourage your cat's overeating as sometimes, especially seen in in-door cats, they eat because they're bored (sound familiar?). You may also want to monitor what kind of food you give your cat. Just as you would with your diet, monitor the calorie and carbohydrate in-take of your cat in addition to limiting the amount of food you give them.

These are only a few tips for feeding your pets. As always, you will want to consult your vet as the final word on what's best for your animal. Like people all animals are different, and the tips shared here may not necessarily be applicable to the particular breed of animal you have or the health issues that may already exist within your pet. The first step to responsible pet ownership is to keep yourself compliant with and informed about your pet's needs.




For more information or wide selection of toys, bedding, medical products visit UK's Pet Shop Online.

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2554

A Useless Animal

Have you ever thought you are a useless animal?
You do practically nothing or exceptionally well
You are bent upon creating nonsense and virtual hell
Who will come to you for all this things to tell?

It is not confined to one single person
We go on spoiling the things without any reason
When there can be vast sand timely change in the seasons?
Is there any scope for us to act different and commit arson?

We eat, indulge in marry making and spend the day
We are practically spent over and lost on the way
We simply look at the sky for help with bright ray
How can it happen when you are not sure of how to say?

It demands care all the time for relatives and friends
You can't live in isolation only to meet ends
You love the dear ones at home and outside
Try to create close infinity with bond and confide

Love is seasonal fruit and in times available
If you show it with sincerity then you will be able to
Cultivate the friendship for all times to come
Praise from all quarters and you will be welcome

Try to reach out to each and every one in your circle
How flowers look beautiful in colors like red.pink and purple?
It is our duty to spread fragrance with some purpose
Life may look beautiful and meaningful thus

We can't spent the life animals even though are quite useful
We should be free enough to think twice before being called fool
It is of no use that we are termed or called under that context
We got to prepare ourselves for the next possible test

We are human beings and may err sometimes
We may be cautioned and warned many times
It is quite natural to follow suit and amend
It may be nice to find us comfortable t the end

Throw open all the doors and wait for change
Face all the difficulties and possibly manage
Try for everything which you can have and arrange
It will be definitely a good beginning on your page

How can we make it worth while and enjoy?
Why not we render happiness and joy?
We are human beings so naturally react
It is not impossible for us to fairly act

We are social animal and have to live among
No one is perfect and we may sometime go wrong
It is still possible to compromise and act in fairness
Everything can be tackled with wisdom and coolness




hasmukh amathalal

วันเสาร์ที่ 22 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2554

Human and Animal Reasoning and Similarities

Are humans so special and divine as depicted in religious doctrine? Or are humans and their brains built to function and reason similar to that of all higher order mammals and animals? The question itself is not new, indeed it has been discussed by philosophers throughout time. Even in our present period many seem to enjoy the subject, especially as we try to figure out exactly how the human mind works and thus relate that with the inner workings and reasoning abilities of animals.

Recently in an online think tank this subject came up and was explored by a couple of members. It was reasoned that perhaps the conclusions we reach from a scientific perspective are our own worst enemy in finding the reality to the answers we seek. One think tank member stated: "Under the circumstances, when the topic of human, animal reasoning comes up, I noticed a great deal of people show limitations to literary boundaries during there arguments. What I mean is, if we "as humans" create a linguistic determination and classification of an item, we often find ourselves modeling our arguments and figures by this definition. for example: We eat, sleep and breath, therefore we are animals. (very simplified)"

I totally agree with your comments. For example:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Negotiating-on-Common-Ground&id=73083

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-All-the-Debate-on-Lift-and-the-Principles-of-Flight&id=70230

Now then for a human mind to really work to its best ability it must go past the "brainwashing" of education and forced learning. This in my opinion is because humans too readily accept these "limitations of literary boundaries" or definitional arguments. Some others say that without them we could not think beyond, as we would be scattered in thought and too random to stay focused. Yet, if all things are inter-connected and since humans have large brains and can keep track of it, then why not encircle an issue rather than confining thought into a box. Thus the comments about thinking outside the box or definitional confines which are defined by others and too easily accepted by minds willing to be confined, as if you accept to think in the box as a "follower" you have indeed made a choice, albeit a bad one. If this is your comment you are correct as humans do that way too often and fail to often see the forest for the trees. And the think tanker takes this one step further and asks the question in this next statement; ". . .our own literary definitions often bind or restrict our reasoning abilities when evaluating abstract problems."

In fact this maybe our biggest hang up to finding the answers we seek in this realm; well that along with the religious enculturation, which is force-fed into our society, which is also keeping us from considering such things. What do you think about this issue or do you dare? If so, consider this in 2006.




"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

วันศุกร์ที่ 17 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Body Weight Strength Training - Unlocking Your Animal Power

From my experience, body weight strength training, or exercising with nothing but your own body weight, is the key to unlocking your true potential. Why do I think this? Consider the animals in nature for a moment. A chimpanzee may only weight 100 pounds, but it can dead lift half a ton. It is estimated that a Gorilla is anywhere from 6 to 20 times as strong as a human being.

Naturalists have observed bears casually flipping over 500 pound boulders with a single paw. None of these animals lift weights or "exercise" in the way man does, yet they all possess unbelievable strength and power. Why is this, and what can we learn from it? I'm going to try and answer this question in this article, as well as provide some basic exercises you can try to unlock your own animal strength and power.

First of all I think it's necessary to consider evolution and how natural selection has shaped ourselves and our animal brethren. Natural selection ensures that the strongest and fittest of any species are the ones that procreate and pass on their genes. Therefore, the bears, Gorillas, Kangaroos that do things that keep them strong and healthy are the ones that will survive. And what are these things? Simply doing the things that come naturally to them. In the bear's case, walking, running, climbing trees, etc. Through a constant process of natural selection, mother nature ensures that a bear will be at his "Bear Best" by doing these natural things. Put another way, the bear is CONSTANTLY engaged in his own form of body weight strength training. This is the key to the bears incredible strength (not to mention every other animal in nature).

Is Man any different? For thousands upon thousands of years until very recently, the EXACT same evolutionary processes have been at work on us. Just like our animal friends, we evolved using nothing but our own body weight for exercise. Evolutionary speaking, it is only very recently that Man has become civilized, cutting himself off from nature and his natural strengths and abilities. This is why human beings have had to invent their own forms of exercise, like weight lifting, for example. However, are these new, man made forms of exercise any better for us than what mother nature over thousands of years of evolution has designed us for? I doubt it very seriously.

Consider for a moment the most "animal like" athlete I know off. Namely, the gymnast. In the Olympics, who isn't impressed by the amazing physiques and feats of strength that they are able to perform? And how do they get this way? Not by lifting weights. Like our animal friends, they never touch them. They do it all through an intensive program of body weight strength training.

I think a brief story will be useful in illustrating this point. Christopher Sommers is a former gymnast and current gymnastic coach. In his book "Building The Gymnastic Body" he tells how he took up weight lifting soon after retiring from gymnastics. The first time he stepped in a gym, he was amazed at what he could do. He was easily out lifting all of the other more experienced weight lifters in the gym. Here are some of the weights he was able to lift on that day:

Double body weight dead lift
Military press with 110% body weight
Chins with 50% of his body weight for reps
Dips + 60% of his body weight for reps
75 pushpus in 1 minute
wrist curls with 110% body weight
Run a mile in 5:37 seconds / 11:30 two-mile run
Ran 20 miles on the spur of the movement.

Obviously, he was in phenomenal, almost Animal like shape. However, did he associate his amazing power to his past of body weight strength training? Unfortunately for him, no. What he thought is that if he was this good now, imagine how good he could be if he started weightlifting the proper way! So, he turned his back on his gymnastic training and starting weight lifting with a vengeance. What was the result? In his own words, he became sore, tired, stiff and slow. All of the amazing natural athletic ability that he once had was just seeping away from him.

Considering what I've written above, is this any surprise? The natural body weight strength training he was doing as a gymnast was what his body needed. It is what it had evolved to respond to. As soon as he gave it up and substituted man's methods he started to get worse and worse. To make a long story short after much trial and error, Chris realized his error and went back to his gymnastic training. His body began to respond positively almost immediately and he was back in great shape in no time.

So, what does this mean for the average fitness enthusiast? To me, it means that if you want to get in great shape, you would be wise to follow the examples of the animals in nature and gymnasts. This means working WITH our evolutionary history and exercising with nothing but your own body weight. You don't need fancy weights and machines. In fact, they're counter productive. Now, I've been reading more than a few books about Gymnastic body weight Strength Training and let me tell you, these exercise are tough. Even the simple ones! If you want to get started using exercises like this I would recommend trying two others, They are the Hindu Squat and Hindu Pushup.

The Hindu Pushup and Squat are natural body weight exercises that have been used by Indian Wrestlers for thousands of years to build up fantastic strength and stamina. These exercises are tough, but anyone can do them. At first, you may only be able to do two or three. If this is the case, don't worry about it. Just make sure you do them again the next day, except this time try and do one more. Before you know it, you'll be on your way. In my opinion, these two exercises are the best foundation for any body weight strength training program you can think of.

Hindu Pushups:

1. To get into the ready position to perform a Hindu Pushup, start in the "up" position of a regular pushup with your feet spread wider than shoulder width.

2. Walk your hands backwards so that your butt is in the air, your arms and legs are straight, and you are looking back through your legs. From the side, your body should resemble an inverted "V".

3. Start bending your elbows so that your body comes forward. Your hips will come down towards the floor. Before your head hits the floor, however, start to arch your spine so that you are looking towards the ceiling. Straighten your arms.

4. You should exhale as you are looking at the ceiling.

5. Keep your arms straight and push your butt back to the starting position while inhaling.

Hindu Squats:

1. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms extended out from your chest parallel to the floor.

2. Breathe deeply, filling your lungs as you clench your fists and pull them towards your chest.

3. Keeping your back as straight as possible, lower your body by bending your knees. As you lower your body, you should extend your arms downward as well, behind your back if possible. Start to exhale the air from you lungs.

4. Toward the bottom of the movement, you should come up on your toes, keeping as straight a spine as possible.

5. Straighten your legs by pushing off your toes and swinging your arms forward. As you rise, press your heels to the floor and raise your arms to chest level, parallel to the floor.




David Nordmark is a Vancouver based fitness enthusiast and trainer who also run the website Animal-Kingdom-Workouts.com. Visit his website for more information on this topic, as well as illustrations of Hindu Pushups and Hindu Squats.

วันศุกร์ที่ 26 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2553

Animal Archetypes

Archetypes are one of the levels of building-blocks of this entire physical-universe. They are fundamental definitions that can be found anywhere on earth, in any culture, on any continent, even before that society has any contact with other cultures.

Every human on earth has some degree of natural connection to one or more animal archetypes . . . it is up to each of us to decide to either acknowledge and use that part of us, or be used by it.

Carl Jung (aka. Karl Jung) found various types of archetypes in his research, including animal archetypes and found that their influence on people is normally beyond conscious control.

Children find it easy to identify with animals as can be seen from the fact that animals are very common in children's stories anywhere in the world. In all primitive civilizations animals are deified and a direct relationship with animals (as food or danger) is very necessary for survival.

A totem is an element of nature (which can be a plant or animal) which is perceived to have some particular relationship with a person. The totem is not associated with a single member of a species, but with the whole species, ie. the archetype rather than a specific manifestation of that archetype into an animal body.

Many cultures are famous for their use of animal archetypes, including native American cultures, Australian aborigines, Celtic cultures, ancient Egyptian and Indian gods, Chinese civilizations and many others across the globe.

Common animal archetypes include the wolf (teacher or guide), crane (good fortune and long life), crow (spiritual strength, creation, opportunity), dog (unconditional love), eagle (messenger, far vision), fox (cleverness and subtle change), heron (dynamic balance), lion (fearlessness), monkey (ability to see what is hidden), owl (wisdom), snake (rebirth, see without being seen), horse (power by movement), swan (serenity), dove (peace, compassion).




For lots more details on animal archetypes, see our Animal Archetypes Blog post.