Random thoughts

[rbkwp]

sub-humans never content with there lot,thats hy

Climate Change Denialists Never Had It So Good. So Why the Angst?
Despite having unprecedented influence in Washington to achieve a fossil fuel-first agenda, conservative interests are eyeing events outside the Beltway with unease.

Climate Change Denialists Never Had It So Good. So Why the Angst?

A lioness takes a swipe at Bhanu the Asiatic lion during an event to publicize World Lion Day at London Zoo in London on Aug. 9.

 

[rbkwp]

95% of World's Lemur Population on Edge Of Extinction

Ninety-five percent of Earth's lemur population is threatened, experts warned this week, underscoring their unfortunate position as the world's most endangered primates

Sounding The Alarm: Madagascar’s Weird And Wonderful Lemurs On The Brink

tbh
the one animal id e superr wary of

Chinese tourist dies in hippo attack in Kenya
The man was taking pictures on the shores of Lake Naivasha when he was attacked by a hippo. Rising water levels at the lake have led to a rise in hippo attacks which have claimed six lives this year, local media said.

Chinese tourist dies in hippo attack in Kenya | DW | 12.08.2018

yes
get some greenery into our lives ha

7 Crops to Plant This August

Great Fall-Blooming Plants for Pollinators

 

[rbkwp]

DONT even think the infamous beloved USA is into this crap
geeesus
worst thingis they seem to tend to get the poor to subsidize the poor

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said shoppers in remote Indigenous communities were being ripped off.

edit

The group running more than 20 of the remote stores across the state, Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ), is a statutory body of the Queensland Government.

A Government spokesperson said the Government subsidises "fresh fruit, milk, eggs, some baby products and core basket essentials to ensure prices are kept low".

edit

knew that would be the next thhing to come up

"However, it must also be noted that there are still significant freight costs that have to be borne due to CEQ operating in very remote areas of the state."

Government-controlled supermarkets accused of ripping off remote shoppers
By Allyson Horn
Updated August 13, 2018 05:45:50

PHOTO: A weekly shop in a remote town can cost almost twice as much as one in a capital city. (Dave Hunt, file photo: AAP)
RELATED STORY: Want to buy a house? Try needing a 60 per cent deposit
RELATED STORY: Outback postie brings the mail, groceries and gossip

MAP: Doomadgee 4830
How would you feel about paying $28 for a jar of instant coffee, $9 for a box of instant oats, or $16 for laundry detergent?

The "inflated" prices were recorded last month at remote stores in Queensland, many of which are run by a group controlled by the State Government.

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said shoppers in remote Indigenous communities were being ripped off.

"I'm angry because it's very expensive and it just makes life so much harder," he said.

"It's not like you have choices either; you can't just go to Coles or Woolworths.

"It's an extra burden on each household and it's not something we need."

INFOGRAPHIC: A jar of instant coffee in Doomadgee will set you back $27.63. (ABC News: Allyson Horn)


And it is not just food that costs more.

Unleaded petrol in Lockhart River was selling for $1.93 per litre and $1.89 for diesel — also at a store controlled by the Government.

INFOGRAPHIC: A bottle of Cold Power washing liquid in Doomadgee costs $15.80.


"I feel it in my pocket every day," Mr Butcher said.

"I can't justify the cost at the moment."

ABC News selected 10 everyday items at the only supermarket in Doomadgee, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and compared the prices with the same items at a major supermarket in Brisbane.

INFOGRAPHIC: These cans of powdered baby formula cost just under $40 in this Doomadgee supermarket.(ABC News: Allyson Horn)


The total price of the products in the remote community was nearly double the cost of those in Brisbane.

Compare the receipts
Doomadgee Brisbane Difference
200g jar coffee $27.63 $9.00 $18.63
1L washing liquid $15.80 $5.00 $10.80
300g baby formula $38.99 $29.99 $9.00
1kg milk powder $13.57 $5.70 $7.87
500g mixed biscuits $9.00 $4.50 $4.50
1kg instant oats $8.88 $5.00 $3.88
190g toothpaste $10.36 $7.00 $3.36
16 pk throat lozenges $8.53 $5.50 $3.03
150g Vegimite $4.96 $3.30 $1.66
2L milk $4.19 $2.99 $1.20
Total $141.91 $77.98 $63.93
Note: Food prices were sourced in Doomadgee on June 26 and compared with the same/equal brands from a major supermarket in Brisbane City on July 2.


Why are the prices so high?
The group running more than 20 of the remote stores across the state, Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ), is a statutory body of the Queensland Government.

A Government spokesperson said the Government subsidises "fresh fruit, milk, eggs, some baby products and core basket essentials to ensure prices are kept low".

"It also assists communities to have access to "best buys" and "specials" and price matches with Coles, Cairns, on online products," the spokesperson said.

INFOGRAPHIC: A packet of Black & Gold instant full cream milk powder costs $13.57. (ABC News: Allyson Horn)


"However, it must also be noted that there are still significant freight costs that have to be borne due to CEQ operating in very remote areas of the state."

A recent productivity commission review recommended the Government divest itself of assets, such as retail stores, which can "crowd out" locals from business opportunities.

The Government took over the operation of most remote supermarkets in Queensland in 2016.

INFOGRAPHIC: Fancy a biscuit with that expensive instant coffee? This packet costs $9. (ABC News: Allyson Horn)


Mr Butcher said they were told there would be an improvement in prices, but the cost of some items had gone up.

"They said things would get better, but that's a broken promise" he said.

"Because of the remoteness and lack of employment opportunities, they should consider more subsidises to make things affordable."

Topics: community-and-society, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, indigenous-policy, government-and-politics, retail,doomadgee-4830, qld, australia, brisbane-4000

First posted August 13, 2018 05:43:49

Contact Allyson Horn
$28 for instant coffee: The supermarkets charging nearly double city prices

 

[rbkwp]

who
ould get in the way/tangle ith such as he
sure he dident intend to be near,still terrifying

Chinese tourist dies in hippo attack in Kenya
Authorities say the man was bitten on the chest by the hippo while taking photos on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Kenya's Rift Valley.

French flair is what we call it,when they regularly by surprise beat our infamous stupidly overly beloved rugby all blacks

A crew of crows has been trained to pick up trash

A French park has recruited crows for garbage pickup. The clever rooks have been trained to pick up litter and move it to a receptacle in exchange for a treat.

Crows have been trained to pick up trash

 

[rbkwp]

odd things been happening in Pongoland,must be the heat

U.K. Heat Wave Triggers Rare Flamingos to Lay Eggs for the First Time in 15 Years

U.K. Heat Wave Triggers Rare Flamingos to Lay Eggs for the First Time in 15 Years | Smart News | Smithsonian

The Queen of the Indian Ocean
Hanifaru Bay, sunset time. Manta rays come in to the bay during high tides to feed on copepods. This picture was taken during a beautiful sunset, giving a stunning color to the manta.

The Queen of the Indian Ocean



The Nastiest Feud in Science
A Princeton geologist has endured decades of ridicule for arguing that the fifth extinction was caused not by an asteroid but by a series of colossal volcanic eruptions. But she’s reopened that debate.

 

[rbkwp]

no doubt humankind will be 'chemically' killing them off
INSECTS
Butterflies flourishing in hot summer but face problems ahead
The good news: while many animals, including us humans, are suffering in extremely high temperatures, most butterflies are currently doing well. The bad news: they'll run into problems soon. Here's why.

• 
  
  BUTTERFLIES FLOURISH IN THE SUMMER HEAT — FOR NOW
  Heat and dryness are great for butterflies
  For most butterfly species, the heat wave was a welcome surprise during the typically rainy summers of northwestern Europe. "Their flight period is limited by cool, damp weather. And if they don't fly, they don't feed," Paul Ashton, head of the biology department at Edgehill University in the United Kingdom, told DW. So, no rain, no problems — at least for adult butterflies.
  

12345678
You've probably heard about it by now: insects are dying off. And not just a few of them here and there; many species are in dramatic decline, and in many regions around the world.

So it may come as pleasant surprise to see more butterflies around this summer. Turns out the heat wave that has large parts of Europe sweating and complaining about record temperatures is actually a good thing for many butterfly species!

Ecologist Paul Ashton from the University of Edge Hill in the United Kingdom explained that many butterflies' flight period is limited by cold weather and rain in summer.

The insects were off to a good start because last winter was cold in many northwestern European countries. Although it may seem counterintuitive, harsh winters are actually good for butterflies, because the cold kills off fungal diseases that threaten their larvae.

So with a cold winter behind us and a hot, dry summer that is still playing out in Europe now, there are more butterflies, which are able to fly around longer and feed on lots of nectar. Great, right?

Well, don't get too excited. Sadly, due to the extreme heat, "there could be problems down the line" for the tiny beauties, Ashton said.

Read more: Rethinking evolution: Butterflies came first, flowers came second

Some mountain species like the marsh fritillary are better at adapting to colder weather — they live at higher altitudes, and their larvae can even survive freezing temperatures.

Many mountain species like it are dark-colored, so they can stay warm by absorbing heat from the sun. But with the high temperatures this summer, they overheat quickly.

There's also a limit to how much higher they can go to escape the heat — because the mountain doesn't go any higher, or at some point they won't find plants to feed on anymore.

Even species that don't live at higher altitudes will struggle once egg-laying season rolls around, Ashton said. While many plants butterflies usually lay their eggs in have died from the heat, fewer plants means fewer eggs, fewer caterpillars — and eventually, fewer butterflies.

So next summer, you might not see that many butterflies around anymore.

Butterflies flourishing in hot summer but face problems ahead | DW | 13.08.2018

 

[rbkwp]

Older British readers may recall the infamous smogs that engulfed Britain’s cities in the 1940s and 50s. Four hundred years of coal-powered domestic heating, and latterly the fumes emanating from vehicles and coal-fired power stations, allowed sulfur dioxide and fine particles of carbon to reach toxic levels in London’s air.

On cold, still autumn evenings, dense chemical smog can do as much damage to calcareous or chalky stone as it can to people’s lungs. Combined with rainfall it creates weak sulfuric or nitric acid, which over centuries can erode calcareous stone. When St. Paul’s was closely examined in the 1980s, some of the parapets and carvings had crumbled away completely leaving stone surfaces held together by black sooty crusts, hiding the voids beneath.

The worst excesses of soot and sulfur dioxide have been curbed by environmental legislation, though the atmospheric nitrogen produced by traffic, particularly diesel vehicles, still causes problems. Like Agra, London regularly breaks the World Health Organisation limits on air pollution.

01_2.jpg

Condemning the “lethargy” of restoration efforts, India’s Supreme Court recently told the government to restore the Taj or demolish it.

Credit:
Peter Majerle/PRI

However, the rate of weathering on St Paul’s seems to have halved with the fall in atmospheric sulfur dioxide. Concerns remain over microflora growing on stone surfaces, but sensitive cleaning and the odd replacement stone have largely protected Wren’s legacy. It remains to be seen whether the Taj can be similarly restored.

The Taj Mahal is a wonder of the modern world, but this national and international treasure needs swift and decisive action if it is not to lose its legendary luster.

Carolyn Roberts is an entrepreneur in residence at Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership at Keele University.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Taj Mahal is wasting away, and it may soon hit the point of no return

 

[rbkwp]

theres some amazing graphics in this modern world of ours,no doubt

New and Gloriously Designed World Maps
Calling all map enthusiasts: The North American Cartographic Information Society will soon be releasing the 2018 Atlas of Design, its latest compendium of the world's newest and best maps.

READ THIS STORY »

Walden Pond Is Changing Fast
In 1854, Henry David Thoreau published Walden: Or, Life in the Woods, and the book has been embedded in the American consciousness ever since. But the body of water itself has lived through centuries of change and use. So what is Walden today?

READ THIS STORY »

No snowpeople were harmed in the making of this simulation. (J. Gaume et al./Nat. Commun)
From Frozen to fluid dynamics
Avalanches are an awesome and terrifying sight to behold, but their mechanics have proved something of a puzzle to scientists. Now, building on the work of animators on Disney’s epic Frozen, researchers have created spectacularly detailed simulations of the moment a slab avalanche shears from a mountain. The hope is that the work will help in the development of better avalanche-warning systems.

Wired | 5 min read
Reference: Nature Communications paper

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ha

Peanut Butter Dumplings
These steamed dumplings—topped with a sauce of peanut butter, soy sauce, Szechuan peppercorns, and sugar—are now a Montreal specialty.

VIEW THIS FOOD »

 

[rbkwp]

ooohhh
SMILE of the am ha

fence not wall,cool, cheaper
and where not pig headed like the idiot, expecting another countryto pay
ps
loved my feral pork on island in the day YAY !!!


EUROPE
Denmark to build controversial German border fence
Denmark is set to build a fence along the German border in an attempt to keep out swine flu. Critics say it won't work, harms wildlife and may only be a symbolic gesture to cater to farmers and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Denmark gave final approval to the building of a controversial 68-kilometer (42-mile) fence along the border with Germany to protect its giant pork industry from wild boar that could carry African swine flu.

Critics say the €11 million ($10 million) fence is a waste of money that doesn't work against a problem that doesn't exist, while environmentalists have raised concerns about its effect on the ecosystem. The fence may also be symbolic for the Danish right-wingers keen on hard borders and keeping migrants out.

Read more: Hundreds march against 'burqa ban' in Denmark

The 1.5-meter tall and half-meter deep fence will run along the entirety of the Danish-German border, from the Wadden Sea in the west to the Flensburg Fjord in the east.

The fence, slated to be finished by the end of 2019, was approved by the parliament in June with the support of the government, Social Democrats and right-wing populist Danish People's Party. The Environment Ministry gave final approval to the project on Monday following public consultations.

The fence is intended to stop wild boar from infecting pig farms with swine flu virus. Around 5,000 pig farms export 28 million pigs annually, accounting for half of Danish agricultural exports and 5 percent of all exports, according to the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.

Read more: Wild boars terrorize northern German city of Heide

The deadly swine virus, which does not affect humans or other animal species, has been found within EU member states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. A swine flu outbreak in Denmark would halt all non-EU pork exports.

No swine flu has been detected in Germany, raising questions as to why the fence is even being built.

Endangering animal migration

Environmental groups are concerned that construction of the fence will disturb the migration of wild animals and birds, some of which are protected by Danish and EU legislation.

"We know from experiences around the world that physical barriers such as a fence impact animal migration," Thor Hjarsen, senior biologists at World Wildlife Foundation in Denmark, told DW.

Deer, wolves, otters, foxes, golden jackals and cranes are among the species that could be impacted.

There is also the question of whether the fence will be effective against its stated purpose.

"The problem with the fence is that there is no documentation that it works," Hans Kristensen, a hunter, wildlife author and expert on wild boar migration who lives along the border, told DW. "On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence it won't work."

Wild boar are distributed along the eastern coast of the Danish-German border and are very rare in the west, Kristensen said. In the east, the wild boar can swim across the Flensburg fjord, a body of water separating Germany and Denmark.

"A fence can't be erected there. That is part of the border where they cross," he said.

Wild boar are good swimmers.

Denmark is part of the EU's border-free Schengen Zone. Roads and railroads crossing the border won't be impacted by the fence. That leaves dozens of openings in the border through which wild boar could pass, rendering the barrier useless, Kristensen said.

Critics like Kristensen and Hjarsen say the biggest risk of swine flu spreading isn't from wild boar crossing the border. Instead, the threat is from trucks transporting infected swine or spreading contaminated food.

Rather than tackling swine flu, the fence may have a symbolic effect to show the powerful pig farming industry that the pro-agriculture government is doing something and to appease the right-wing in Denmark.

• 
  
  THE CRACKDOWN ON DANISH IMMIGRANT 'GHETTOS'
  Center of the immigration debate
  "Cracks have appeared in the map of Denmark. [...] Throughout the country, there are parallel societies." With these words, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced his government's new "ghetto plan" during his 2018 New Year's address. The plan was presented in one of Copenhagen's so-called "ghettos," Mjolnerparken.
  

1234567
Politicians from the right-wing populist Danish People's Party, the second-largest party in parliament, have in the past suggested erecting a tall, barbed-wire fence with motion detectors along the German border as Europe has witnessed an influx of migrants in recent years.

"You won't see anyone admit it, but one reason why the fence could get votes in parliament was because of the right-wing in Denmark," Kristensen said. "The fence won't keep wild boar out and it won't keep migrants out, but the symbolic value is immense for the right wing."

"We are ahead of Donald Trump, we have built a fence and I'm not proud of it," he said.

Denmark to build controversial German border fence | DW | 14.08.2018

 

[rbkwp]

smile
PSdecided to be geberous/informative this am ha
each article real interesting reading

The science of why skunks smell
Also, advice on what to do if you ever cross paths with this smelly creature.

The Science of Why Skunks Smell!

Six pest-removal myths that need to be exterminated
And what you should do instead.

Six animals having worse sex than you
Sex is terrible for almost all female animals.

Here are 10 plants and animals that might have gone extinct without the Endangered Species Act
The administration has proposed changes to the popular law.

These beautiful, terrifying maps show how hot we'll get in 2090
It’s easy to be apathetic about rising global temperatures, but difficult when you imagine your own future backyard.

 

[rbkwp]

not ofyen anything increases in numbers huh
NICE to know tho
just sa a recipe with this and truffles/avocado,mmmmmm
imagine like sqid/octopi

Email
Cuttlefish are the rockstar aliens of the sea — and we don't know why they're increasing in numbers
The Conversation
By Bronwyn Gillanders
Posted August 15, 2018 06:30:00

PHOTO: Giant Australian cuttlefish in an intimate embrace. (Supplied: Matt McMillan)

MAP: Whyalla 5600
Australia is home to the only known breeding aggregation of cuttlefish in the world.

PHOTO: Giant Australian cuttlefish can change the colour and texture of their skin. (Supplied: David Wiltshire)


From May to August, if you head into the water around Point Lowly, South Australia, it will be a chilly 12 degrees Celsius.

But you'll be able to observe what look like aliens — hundreds, even thousands of tentacled organisms with their unusual distinctive W-shaped eye pupils, and pulsating colours moving across their body.

Intent on mating, the cuttlefish will be totally oblivious to your presence.

But this population of cuttlefish dropped in abundance from an estimated 150,000 animals in the late 1990s to only 13,492 in 2013.

Although counts in recent years suggest the creatures have recovered, my research aims to determine what sorts of factors influence this very unique cuttlefish population.

This may allow us to better manage and protect the species — important not just for science, but also for the local environment and economy.

PHOTO: Juvenile giant Australian cuttlefish developing under rocks in the waters off South Australia. (Supplied: Fred Bavendam)


Rockstars of the sea
Every time I head to the Point Lowly coastline and dive with the giant Australian cuttlefish, I'm amazed and excited by their antics.

The name "giant" is perhaps a misnomer. Giant Australian cuttlefish only ever reach about a metre in size. Most animals are much smaller, especially in South Australia.

Cephalopods have been described as "rockstars of the sea" for their "live fast, die young" life history strategy — they grow rapidly, reproduce early and die following reproduction. Giant Australian cuttlefish live for one to two years.

Although they are found in waters across southern Australia, giant Australian cuttlefish live in distinct populations that do not interact.

We know from genetic studies that those breeding along that small area of Upper Spencer Gulf coastline are restricted to an area north from a line across the gulf from Wallaroo to Arno Bay (about 6,500 km²).

PHOTO: The most northern waters of Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia host a unique population of giant Australian cuttlefish. (Google Maps)


Outside the breeding season of May to August they are distributed throughout this northern region. Come May they start to move towards a narrow 8km stretch of rocky coastline. At their peak you see literally one cuttlefish per square metre — it's the sheer numbers that are impressive!

 

[rbkwp]

They come solely for one purpose over winter — to find mates to reproduce.

PHOTO: Numbers of giant Australian cuttlefish in the Upper Spencer Gulf fell dramatically between the late 1990s and 2013.(Supplied: Matt McMillan)


Sudden drop in numbers
Around the late 1990s, the cuttlefish breeding aggregation in the Upper Spencer Gulf began to be targeted by fishers. Since then, a number of restrictions on taking cuttlefish and other cephalopods from these waters have been in place.

Around that time, a program of research through the University of Adelaide and SARDI Aquatic Sciencesalso began.

Estimates of abundance and biomass of the breeding aggregation population suggested about 150,000 cuttlefish bred in the Upper Spencer Gulf. The surveys stopped after a few years.

PHOTO: Cuttlefish gather to breed from May-August each year. (Supplied: Tim Rogers)


Then in 2005 anecdotal reports from scuba divers suggested cuttlefish were less abundant. A survey at that time and continual data collected since 2008 confirmed that numbers had dropped.

In 2013 less than 15,000 individuals were estimated on the breeding aggregation.

Significant resources were put towards studying the cuttlefish to determine what might be causing such a decline. Changes in water temperature and salinity may be involved.

We looked at data for other cephalopods over a similar time frame, and found no such decline.

In fact, over the past 60 years many different types of cephalopod have been increasing in abundance — it's not yet clear why.

The low numbers of 2013 seem to be unique to the giant Australian cuttlefish on the Upper Spencer Gulf.

Since this time there has been a recovery in this population, with numbers bouncing back towards their late 1990s levels.

PHOTO: Some giant Australian cuttlefish reach 1 metre in length — but most are smaller. (Supplied: Nick Payne)


How cuttlefish breed
We know that cuttlefish come to this breeding aggregation to mate using a range of amazing strategies and behaviours — for example, small males impersonate females to avoid detection by larger males and gain access "under cover".

Because the population on the breeding aggregation is skewed towards males (an average of four to one), females have some choice over who they mate with.

After mating takes place, females deposit eggs on the underside of rocks.

PHOTO: Cuttlefish eggs deposited on the underside of rocks. (Supplied: Fred Bavendam)


Cuttlefish eggs take three to five months to develop, hatching from mid-September through to early November. They emerge as miniature adults about the size of your thumbnail.

Baby cuttlefish disperse within the Upper Spencer Gulf with an even sex ratio.

PHOTO: Cuttlefish gather in only a few metres of water in the Upper Spencer Gulf. (Supplied: Matt McMillan)


To work out why there was a difference in sex ratio between the broader region (one male to one female) and the breeding aggregation (four males to one female), we tagged male and female cuttlefish using trackable acoustic markers.

We discovered that males spend about four times the length of time on the breeding aggregation compared to females, and that individuals are not present for the whole breeding season.

So the breeding aggregation is likely larger in size than fixed time frame counting estimates allow us to measure.

Positive influence on local economy
Although the apparently low population size in 2013 caused great concern, we are now cautiously optimistic for our giant Australian cuttlefish in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

PHOTO: There's something behind you! (Supplied: Matt McMillan)


These creatures attract tourists from around the world, who come and snorkel or scuba dive on a unique breeding aggregation.

This in turn injects money into the local economy and diversifies business in the region.

The cuttlefish are just one "user" of our shared marine environment along with the other activities and industries of South Australia.

Bronwyn Gillanders is a professor at the University of Adelaide. This article is based on a presentation she delivered at the South Australian Museum as part of the Sprigg Lecture Series. It was first published on The Conversation.

They're the rockstar aliens of the sea — and we don't know why they're increasing in numbers

 

[rbkwp]

ANC Aus having an animalistic day
ell,i suppose bees arent animals huh,need more info me duh'

Hey honey! Want to keep bees? Here's what you need to know
Before going out to buy your first colony, here are some tips, tricks and common mistakes novice beekeepers make.

Cartel charges for farmers collectively culling piglets to cut costs
Australia's pork producers are warned they may face criminal cartel charges if they collectively cull piglets to reduce pork supply.

Cartel charges for farmers collectively culling piglets to cut costs

 

[rbkwp]

ckuck cluck,behave yourself people

geeeeeeeesus when you think of it those people in pongoland are more paranoid than the Americans

FOOD SAFETY

Your Chicken’s Salmonella Problem Is Worse Than You Think
BY TOM PHILPOTT
And cooking it to kingdom come won't necessarily protect you.

https://www.wired.com/story/your-chickens-salmonella-problem-is-worse-than-you-think/?CNDID=53082829&mbid=nl_081418_daily

thought it was a crab,till i read the article

ANIMAL SCIENCE

Inside the Lab Where Spiders Put on Face Paint and Fake Eyelashes (and Termites Wear Capes)
BY MATT SIMON

Researchers are using eyeliner and fake eyelashes to tease apart the complexities of the jumping spider mating ritual. Welcome to Extreme Makeover: Arachnid Edition.

 

[918177]

<--- And once again balance is restored to the LPSG ecosystem.

And not a troll was stirring,
not even a mouse.

 

[918177]

This deserves a musical interlude.

 

[rbkwp]

not often NZ hits the nes,but if its for crime ave purposes,so be it ha
interesting ow the avocado has only recently become a popular food

New Zealand is battling an avocado crime wave. A shortage has sent prices skyrocketing, with well-organized criminals stripping trees of fruit under cover of night.
ews From Elsewhere

Waiting list for avocado trees amid NZ crime wave

ge copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionWant to grow your own avocados for toast? There's a waiting list
Nurseries in New Zealand are struggling to keep up with demand for avocado trees as the country's love of the pulpy fruit has seemingly fuelled a crime wave, it's been reported.

According to the Stuff.nz news website, garden centres are reporting waiting lists dozens deep of people who want to grow their own, as prices for a single fruit nudge around NZ$3 ($1.95; £1.50) per fruit.

Earlier this year, the price peaked at NZ$7 ($4.60; £3.60) per avocado , the New Zealand Herald reported.

People "are asking about avocados all day, every day," nursery owner Lloyd Houghton told Stuff; while another said that they aren't likely to get any new stock until at least September.

The problem is that with both individuals and businesses wanting to buy young trees, there just aren't enough to go around.

Nurseries are trying their hardest to cope with demand which has increased from 30,000 trees five years ago to 200,000 trees. Jen Scoular of New Zealand Avocado told TV New Zealand that this is because the fruit has become a favourite both in domestic and export markets.

You might also be interested in:

• On patrol with Mexico's avocado police
• 'Head-sized' avocado in world record bid
• Company launches low-fat avocado variety

"Avocado trees are very much sought after and there's definitely a shortage," nursery manager Andrew Grilli told Stuff.nz, pointing out that it takes two years to cultivate a plant from scratch to the point that it can be sold.

And after that, you could be in for a wait of up to five years before your tree bears fruit, he said.

age copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionAvocados are proving easy picking for thieves in New Zealand
Avocado crime wave
The high demand seems to have fuelled a crime wave across New Zealand, with local media widely reporting on thousands of dollars worth of avocados being stripped from trees both under the cover of night and in broad daylight.

Growers suspect that the thefts are highly organised, with thieves selling their ill-gotten gains to retailers who have little respect for the sourcing of their stock.

It's led to the New Zealand Avocado trade organisation giving advice on how to spot a black market fruit should you be offered one on the cheap.

Legitimately-harvested avocados will only have a short stalk of between three to five millimetres, Ms Scoular tells Newshub, and anything else has "probably been stolen".

Reporting by Alistair Coleman

Next story: Cows allowed to visit Swedish nudist beaches in heatwave

Waiting list in NZ for avocado trees

 

[rbkwp]

SAVE
the Great Barrier Reef !!!

 

[rbkwp]

ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS
Witness Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Migration
Announcing our newest trip: an entomological adventure in Central Mexico! Join us next February for a living lesson on the ecology and conservation of one of North America's most fascinating species.

LEARN MORE »

​

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGZ90SIDUgv7kxI0XjvPl8Eq28DHA

​

Throughout 2019, we’ll be heading to Costa Rica to photograph wildlife on the incredible Osa Peninsula - a location National Geographic calls, “The most biologically intense place on earth.”


And they’re not kidding!

​

It's not unusual to capture 10,000+ photos on a typical workshop! (Check out my Costa Rica gallery for a small taste.) It’s by far the most diverse, target-rich environment I’ve ever had the privilege to photograph, and I’m hoping you can join one of our groups when we go down. To say it’s the trip of a lifetime is an understatement!

And that’s just a taste - you never know what you’ll see peeking out of the bushes!

​

In this workshop, I’ll not only help you get the shot, but I’ll also share tips and tricks you can use to capture the special moments of any wildlife encounter. We’ll look at everything from camera settings to creative techniques - it’s the whole package, and I think you’ll really enjoy it. At each wildlife encounter, I’ll be there to guide you and assist in capturing those wall-hangers!

 

[rbkwp]

​

Here’s a short list of some of the more common species you’re likely to encounter.

Howler Monkeys
White-Faced Monkeys
Squirrel Monkeys
Spider Monkeys
Sloths (two / three toed both live in the area)
Anteaters
Toucans
Scarlet Macaws (largest population in Central America)
Tree Frogs (various - but especially the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, possibly dart frogs as well)
Lizards / Iguanas
Parrots / Parakeets
Various Raptors (Caracaras, Common Black Hawk, Etc)
Snakes (professionally handled)
Various Songbirds (Cherry, Golden-Hooded And Blue-Grey Tanagers are right at the resort!)
Hummingbirds (tons of fun)

​

In addition, we’ll also have professional guides along to help locate wildlife - and let me tell you, their ability to find wildlife borders on the supernatural (you’ll see for yourself that last line isn’t just marketing hype). I pride myself on my ability to spot wildlife, but these guys put me to shame. They know the area and can consistently locate and hone in on wildlife of all sorts. Plus, they are super-knowledgeable about every aspect of the rainforest; from fauna to flora, they can tell you all about it. Oh, and they are a blast to hang out with - you’re gonna love ‘em!

​

For more details, dates, price, and the full itinerary, head to the link below. Hope to see you there!

https://backcountrygallery.com/costa-rica-wildlife-photography-workshop/



Costa Rica Gallery

In addition to the workshop, I have also updated my new Costa Rica gallery -and I’d like to share it with you. This is a good overview of what we may see on the trip!

​

Enjoy:
https://backcountrygallery.com/costa-rica/