Archive for the 'Outdoors' Category

Why Bear Bile Farming Is Useless

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

Bear bile farming is a reality today. Although it is unnecessary to bile a bear, it is still very much a common practice in some places today. It causes extreme pain to the bears. During the process, it can be observed that bears gnash their teeth, bite their cages, moan, and even chew their own paws because of the pain.

The Process - Bile extraction is done in the crudest manner, and without any form of sanitation. The persons conducting it are unskilled and the process is not up to modern veterinary standards. Most of the bears die during or soon after bile extraction. If they live, they suffer from liver cancer, as a result of chronic inflammation and infection of the gall bladder and liver. Generally, farmed bears live only up to 4 years.

Reason Behind Bear Bile Farming - Bile is a digestive liquid produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Bile gathered from bears has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least three thousand years for a variety of purposes. It is used in Chinese physiotherapy, to cure inflammations and to dissolve gall stones and kidney stones. Also, it is thought to help detoxify the liver and improve eyesight. And according to research, bears are the only mammals that produce the bile salt ursodeoxycholic acid, which is effective in treating some liver diseases.

Before, bear bile was gathered by killing wild bears and removing their gallbladders. In recent decades, when wild bears became increasingly rare, bile became prohibitively costly for most Chinese. But then, during the year 1980, the Chinese bear bile farming industry adapted a technique first developed in North Korea. This involved extracting bile from captive bears without having to kill them.

Cruelty to Bears - The bears are housed in cages hardly large enough to hold the animal itself. To get the bile, an incision is made in each bear’s abdomen and a catheter (which is basically a plastic or rubber tube) is then inserted into the gallbladder. The bile is drained through the catheter and then gathered for sale.

What does the process involve? To gather the bile from the gallbladder, a connection from the gallbladder (located deep inside the body) to the surface has to be established. The connection, which is medically called fistula, is made in any of the three ways: insertion of a metal tube, insertion of a plastic tube, or creation of a tissue bridge between the gallbladder and skin. The connection is conducted by untrained and unskilled individuals who do not observe modern veterinary standards.

Bears are made to wear metal jackets. It is worn around their bodies and it has a collection container attached to it. There are bears forced to lie on the floor of their small cages so the bile will drip downward. Keep in mind that their crush cages are extremely small. The floor is made up of iron bars so the bears cannot stand or lie down on firm ground. This results in neck and back injury. Since a bear’s body will try to exclude the inserted metal or plastic tube or close the tissue bridge, scarring and damage is done to both the inside and outside of the bear. Sometimes, to prevent the closing of the incision, hot pieces of metal are inserted without any form of sedation or anesthesia. Bile is collected twice a day, and this goes on for the rest of their lives.

Why Its Unnecessary - There is no need to make poor bears undergo such abuse. The use of bear bile is obsolete. There are at least 75 herbal medicines that can be used as an alternative to bear bile. Of which, 54 are proven to work. These alternatives are a lot cheaper and more convenient.

Today, we can already manufacture synthesized bear bile that contains UrsoDeoxyCholic Acid (the active constituent in bear bile). All these alternatives are just as effective without the deaths of innocent bears. Let us put a stop to bear bile farming. It causes unnecessary torture to poor bears.

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Using A Sky Bouncer Trampoline On Unlevel Ground

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

A trampoline that is on unlevel ground is unsafe, and a sky bouncer trampoline is no exception. Do not jump on a trampoline that is unlevel, even if it is an enclosure trampoline. In the event that your trampoline is uneven, the following can be used to remedy the situation.

Digging out dirt from the trampoline edge that rests on the ground is the quickest way to level your trampoline. First, place the trampoline where it will be used and mark the areas that you will dig. Next, move the trampoline and dig enough dirt with a shovel to make sure that the trampoline is level when you put it back in place.

To be sure that the trampoline is level, using a level set on the trampoline surface is recommended. You will have to move the trampoline again and remove more dirt if the surface is not level. No one should jump on the trampoline until it’s surface is level.

Bricks, wooden shims, and blocks should not be used to raise the low side of the trampoline. The trampoline is likely to shift when these items are used. Do not place objects underneath the trampoline while it is in use.

Also, do not be fooled into thinking that it is unnecessary to level an enclosure trampoline. The enclosure is a safety feature designed to prevent a user from suffering serious injury. It is not designed to withstand repeated collisions, and a user can suffer minor injuries such as brush burns when colliding with an enclosure. An enclosure is not a substitute for a level trampoline.

When using an air trampoline, moving dirt from around the edges may not be enough to level it. Leveling the entire area that the trampoline covers may be necessary. If the ground very uneven this is especially true. Be sure that there is not a mound of dirt underneath the trampoline.

A professional excavator may have to be contacted if the area your sky bouncer trampoline will be used has too much dirt to be moved with a shovel. Using the equipment an excavator has at his disposal will be more logical, as it is tiring to move more than a small amount of dirt with a shovel.

Before allowing anyone to use the sky bouncer trampoline, make sure that the surface is level. Moving a little dirt usually will solve the problem if the ground is slightly uneven. Professional help is usually required when there is a lot of dirt to be moved.

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Revealed: Easy Woodworking Construction Using Patterns

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

No matter what character of inventive wood project you desire to take on, consider a few affairs first before leaping into it. Apparently you have some interest in woodworking or its unlikely you would be undertaking this type of project. To be sure of being successful it is essential that you use a pattern for your project. Then along with the pattern there are some other factors that will significantly improve the look on your woodworking project

1.Choose the right woodworking pattern and the proper project.
You need to haveat least have a raw idea in mind on what type of woodworking proejct you want, otherwise, you won’t know what kind of design to look for. Although, it you are undecided ,sometimes looking over the assorted patterns that you can buy will grant you some ideas. Either way once you have established your decision on the project there are some things you need to know about the form.

When you are first opting a pattern be sure that it is wrote to your level of understanding and actual ability. Some patterns will give a ranking as to what level of skill is required. For example, beginner, intermediate or advanced. Pick a pattern within your category. Usually patterns that furnish this type of information are very detailed in their directions, so you shouldnt have any trouble with it.

2.Always ensure that your pattern contains diagrams and a materials list.
It is much easier to follow directions if you recognise what the aim of it is. Be sure your pattern accommodates diagrams, hopefully for each step of the project. Diagrams are much simpler to follow than a whole bunch of written instructions.

3.Verify that the patterns you use will have a materials list
If your woodwork pattern comprises this information it is a solid time saver. More importantly though, the material list is harmonious with the project. If you want your project to end up being a good-looking well constructed piece ,then it is urgent that you start with the right material. Also make sure your material is of genuine quality. Don’t go and buy the cheapest materials you can obtain in Walmart and expect to have a quality polished project.

4.Other Necessities beside the Pattern
Having a good clear simple to follow pattern as we have outlined is a very primary step. In addition to this you will require to be sure that you have the correct woodworking tools in order to do your project. In some cases you may be able to improvise. Some areas especially in the ending segments of your projects you will need what is called for. Furthermore, always ensure that you have the right work space in relative to the size of your project. This prevents a lot of dissappointment and there are safety elements to consider as well.

5. The finishing touches
Now that you are pretty much completed with the construction facet of your project ,dont stop here. The ending touches is what produces the closing beauty to the piece. Dont take away from all your hard work, by not finishing your work the right way. Any wood piece will require some type of protection. This will be defined by what the project is, what it will be used for, and where it will be situated.

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ATV YAMAHA RHINO: Profiling the Hidden Dangers of ATVs

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

The Yamaha Rhino ATV (all terrain vehicle) is a popular choice for those who enjoy outdoor recreational activity. The dangers of ATVs, however, are becoming more widely known. Billed as fun vehicles the whole family can enjoy, ATVs are being criticized more and more by many groups. Some of the noted groups speaking out against the dangers of ATVs include the American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Kids Worldwide and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ATV Industry Cover-up: Two Hidden Dangers the Industry May Not Want You to Know About

ATV Designs are Flawed: One of the leading dangers of ATVs, such as the Yamaha Rhino, is in its very design. Designed to fit in the back of a pickup truck, the Yamaha Rhino ATV has a narrow wheel base coupled with a high center of gravity. This makes this model and others like it particularly susceptible to tipping over. That is especially treacherous when riding models such as the two-seater Yamaha Rhino. To explain, the Yamaha Rhino ATV is bigger than most models. This means that if it tips over, the injuries are likely to be more severe than those that would occur on lighter models. In the case of children, it can literally crush them to death.

Lack of Safety Equipment: Most ATVs lack sufficient safety equipment to protect riders in case of an accident. This is extremely important in the case of children, who already are not prone to taking adequate safety precautions.

Often severe injuries occur on a Yamaha Rhino when drivers and passengers instinctively put their arms and legs outside of the vehicles when they tip in order to brace for a fall. Consequently, many deaths and catastrophic injuries have resulted from riding a Yamaha Rhino ATV.

YAMAHA RHINO ATV: Safety Precautions You Can Adopt

Regulate Engine Size: Many experts urge consumers to limit engine size, especially if children will be using the ATV. We know now that ATVs with an engine larger than 90 cubic centimeters should not be ridden by younger, carefree riders. It’s just too risky. Wear Protective Gear: Wearing safety equipment is probably the best way to stay safe on ATVs. This is particularly true in the case of models such as the two-seater Yamaha Rhino, which often has no doors. Protective gear that should be worn includes helmets, goggles and over-the-ankle boots to protect against burns.

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The HJ 112 Pedometer from Omron

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

If you’re looking for a pedometer, you just might not have to look any further than the HJ 112 model from Omron. This is a great little pedometer that manages to combine features, price and design into one very attractive package. Whether you’re an enthusiast or novice this pedometer will appeal.

The great thing about this pedometer is that you can carry it in your pocket, purse or bag, and it still works amazingly well. It will keep accurate track of your steps, distance and calories burned.

It has a very clear and easy to read display, with decent sized buttons that you can operate comfortably on the move. If you’d rather fix it to your belt it comes with a detachable belt holder, along with a rugged and strong security strap.

Using a replaceable lithium battery, the HJ 112 digital pedometer will last up to 6 months, assuming an average 10,000 steps per day. That’s a lot of walking!

I must admit I found this to be a brilliant pedometer. I did look at other models, but when I compared the price, features and ease of use, I personally thought this one came out the winner. The HJ 112 and the HJ 720ITC are both new type pedometers that you can keep in your pocket, and to be honest the only reason I picked the HJ 112 was because I didn’t have any need for the software that comes with the 720 ITC.

In case you are wondering, yes, this pedometer can be used for jogging. In fact I use it for jogging now, although I never intended to when I bought it. It’s surprising how much fitter you get after a few weeks of regular exercise!

I actually have a small circuit that I walk around, but after a while I had the urge to jog for a bit then walk again ..etc. Pretty soon I was jogging more than I was walking, although I’m sure I wouldn’t have done that without the HJ 112.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a reliable pedometer that won’t let you down, and you’re not particularly interested in all the extras, then the Omron HJ 112 is probably the one to go for.

It won’t matter if you’re not buying this for yourself because the HJ 112 also makes a great gift. It’s really easy to use and has everything you need to keep track of your activity.

Not only is this a very cool gadget, it’s also a really practical gift that will actually help them to stay healthy. Personally, I think that’s a great way of showing someone you really do care about them.

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