The Much Misunderstood Life Of Bears

February 21st, 2012

The life of bears is very much misunderstood, as is their association with humans. As bears have been forced out of their natural habitat they have been forced into more contact with humans than is good for either species, so it is important that one species has more understanding of the other. Since bears cannot read, it is up to humans to educate themselves about a species of animal that has no animosity towards them unless they are very hungry or if they come between them and their children.

Bears are a relatively intelligent species with well-developed brains. They are fast and strong with a highly developed sense of smell, and are also very resourceful and protective of their families. Their natural diet in the wild is omnivorous, and they will eat eggs, carrion, insects and small mammals such as mice, rats and voles. They will also eat fish, as most of us are aware having watched them on film catching salmon swimming and jumping upriver to spawn. They also eat grasses, roots, berries, nuts and honey.

However, species such as polar bears that live in areas devoid of vegetation have evolved into a largely carnivorous species with excellent swimming abilities needed to catch their primary food source – seals. It is also an expert stalker, without, for obvious reasons, the tree-climbing abilities of most of its cousins. Nevertheless, it is still a bear, as is the spectacled bear, the grizzly and the cute vegetarian panda (which has been proved a bear).

Just like humans, baby bears are born naked, blind and helpless, and are completely dependent on their mothers for sustenance and warmth. The mother will have between one and three in a litter, and will look after her cubs for 2 -3 years before she has another litter after which she will drive her previous children away to tend for themselves. However, during the first three years, you will not find a better and more attentive mother, and woe betides anybody that gets between her and her cubs. Just like human mothers, that is part of the life of bears.

The tales of angry bears killing humans are generally true only when the human has been threatening the cubs. Such attacks can also occur when humans get too close to the bear community and are attacked by male bears trying to exert their authority. Most people have no understanding of bear society, but tend to look on them as they would humans, anthropomorphizing them and applying human laws on wild animals. Bears to not commit murder – only humans do.

There have been several notable examples of humans being killed by bears when they have encroached on bear territory and believed that the bears ‘liked’ and ‘got along’ with them, but if they are accepted too much by the bears, then humans will be challenged in the same way as other bears are. In fact, bears generally only attack humans to protect their children or if they are attacked themselves. They can also attack if very hungry, their hunger generally caused by humans destroying their natural habitat or taking their food for themselves.

Bears also play a lot, and this applies to all types of bears: brown bears, black bears, polar bears and panda bears. Play is an important part of their development, and is how they learn to catch their prey – just as cats learn to hunt. There are several types of play in respect of bears, including playing with members of other species.

Part of this play is a bear play fighting, and you can tell the difference in that in a real aggressive situation, the hairs on a bear’s neck and shoulders will become erect. People claim to have been attacked by small bears, though it is more likely that it was a baby or adolescent bear trying to play with them. A real bear attack will give a human no chance of survival unless suitably armed.

Grizzly bears and black bears look more dangerous than smaller brown bears, and nobody would believe that a wild giant panda could attack and kill them because it looks so cuddly. However it will, under the same circumstances that a brown bear or grizzly will attack, and people have been killed by pandas just as by other bear species.

The life of bears is misunderstood, particularly in those areas of the USA and Asia where they are most found. They raid trash cans and will even break into houses if they are hungry, just as people do, and will protect their families, just as people do.

Is it the bear’s fault? That is a matter of opinion, but bears are not like people – they have no malice, and do not knowingly commit murder. However, just as humans will, they will protect their family, their territory and their home, and will not think twice about using lethal force to do so – just like most humans!

The life of bears is like that humans in many respects, even to the extend of standing on two feet, and is one reason why they are not only misunderstood but that human values are placed upon them with tragic consequences. Many bear species are now extinct, and others, like the grizzly, are well on their way. Just for acting like people do!

Player-Dependent Basketball Offense

February 15th, 2012

Offensive play is actually a team-dependent scheme. Each player must know their roles in making points. While there may be players who can dominate games, all players must take action in order to intensify all moves.

In this article, we have listed various responsibilities each player must take.

The Point Guard

He plays the offense and should at all times, watch the backcourt. He is more like an extension of the coach in the court. Therefore, he must bear these qualities:

? Good ball handling including dribbling with both hands

? Good ball passing

? Must have good speed and agility

? Must have hard-nosed defense

? Must have good hits on outside shots especially in the absence of defense

? Must be able to dish-off and penetrate whenever possible

? Must have the ability to read the other team’s defense

? Must have low ego and should not be mindful of the low publicity point guards receive

The Off-Guard

He is often referred to as the shooting guard or the second guard. In general, he is better than the other guard. The off-guard is also referred to as the #2 guard or shooting guard. He is generally the better shooter of the two guards. The qualities that he needs to have are:

? Good handling and passing

? Must be agile and should have quick footwork

? Must be good in dribbling with both hands

? Must be instinctive while playing

? Must also be a good defensive player

? Must be consistent with 15-20 foot shot

? Must be good at dishing off and penetration

? Must be good in reading defense play

? Must know the moves even without the ball

? His ego must also be kept low as his main objective is to help his teammates score and put points on the board.

The Center

He is typically the tallest player on the court since he has to guard the inner court. He is one of the most important players in the game. His qualities must be the following:

? Must be bale to move quickly

? Must be aggressive in terms of rebounding and blocking

? Must have a touch of arrogance mainly for intimidation. He is a king in his own territory.

? Must be good in short-range scoring

? Must have good skills with power lay-ups and make shots on either side of the basket.

? Must be good with jump shots and short hooks

? Must be good in defensive leadership and should coordinate with his teammates.

? Must have good handling, good jumping ability, excellent upper body strength and strong hands.

? Must take advantage of the defense play

The Small Forward

He is considered as the most gifted player. He should have the following qualities:

? Must be especially fast

? Must have good rebounding skills

? Must be a good ball grasper and passer

? Must be good in defense anywhere on the court

? Must be excellent in scoring and fast breaks

The Power Forward

He is more focused on the dirty works and is known for working as the “enforcer”, thus he doesn’t receive much recognition. Nonetheless, his actions are vital in offensive play. Like the center, he also controls the inside court. He must have the following qualities:

? Must have good rebounding skills both for defense and offense

? Must be a good scorer, passer and a gutsy dribbler

? Must be an excellent hard driver

? Must be an excellent runner and should go all the way when on a fast break.

Finding Legitimate Paid Surveys

February 9th, 2012

Many people have been interested in making extra money by taking free online survey jobs for many years. By participating in these surveys it is effective way for people to receive money by exchanging their ideas about area services and products. Stay at home dads and moms and even people who work full-time, can be paid just by completing surveys.

Many corporations are looking for consumers to partake in several types of marketing research to give their feedback about goods and services. The consumer, who will then earn money by simply answering questions, must research the product to determine the offer’s legitimacy. There are certain unscrupulous businesses that try taking advantage of unwary consumers. Before taking surveys you should find out as much as you can about the company that is conducting the survey to make sure that their offers are valid.

Essentially anyone with access to the Internet is eligible to participate in paid surveys. If you do not have a computer, then free computers are available at the local library. The good guys will give you a good place to start looking for surveys, because they can help you find legitimate moneymaking online surveys and have helped people with a success rate of over 90%.

The good guys typicall keep a company database, with companies that will pay you for your feedback from several consumers. The surveys were by selecting people who fit a certain demographic according to their once, but other surveys are open to everyone who’s interested in applying, as long as you respond honestly.

The Nielsen Media Research started the paid survey idea several years ago. Many years ago survey companies mailed out questionnaires to people’s homes and had viewers provide formation about their viewing habits. Now in this day and age many companies use this idea for electronics world and offer services or samples to people that will give a few minutes of their time.

Before you begin any surveys always check the company against complaint websites such as scam.com and be sure that the business is legitimate. Be sure to avoid any surveys site that has many complaints that are unresolved. You will never receive any unwanted mail from the good guys, and they will be sure to ask you for permission before they send out any to their users.

There are many people already using paid online surveys and they have found out how easy it is to use and get involved with. Many people have already found out how fun it is to give their opinion and then receive compensation for their time. Be sure to check out good services to learn about this opportunity and to earn extra money.
There are legitimate surveys that pay out there, although often they are overlooked as there are so many that are scams. Some income seekers and marketing professionals have been aware of these, and certain groups of people can really benefit from survey jobs from home, including those who work full time, and stay at home parents.

There are in fact, hundreds, if not thousands of companies and organizations that are interested in finding reliable people who are prepared to take surveys and get paid for it. It can sometimes take a little bit of time to find the right company and the right opportunity, but with a little patience, it is possible to find some great opportunities for getting paid to take surveys,

big advantage of paid surveys online is that you can do them at any time of the day, and from anywhere that has Internet access, even at your local library. A recommended company is the Paid Surveys Authority, which is one of the few companies in this field that has a 90 percent rate of success, and they are considered to be one of the best options for work from home.

The paid Surveys Authority maintains a database of companies, all of which are either looking for feedback and opinions on certain products, regardless of whether the feedback is positive or not. Some companies are also looking for a certain demographic group to provide feedback.

Perhaps you can remember the days when you would be sent Nielsen mailings asking you which TV shows you watched, and paid online surveys have their roots in these surveys. Other companies soon realized that it was worth their while to offer a free product or a free sample in exchange for getting some honest and objective feedback on their product or service.

As mentioned previously, unfortunately there are scams out there when it comes to paying for surveys online, and one way to make sure a site is legitimate is to check Scam.com, or a similar site.

If you are looking for an easy way to make money from home, paid surveys are an excellent way to earn some cash, and if you have never tried them before, you should start by visiting http://www.paidsurveysauthority.org/. You will only receive mailings from the Paid Surveys Authority if you give them your permission, and the whole process is safe, easy and fun, as well as profitable.

Summer Means Getting Away For Less

February 9th, 2012

Known for perfect weather conditions and tropical ambiance, the Caribbean is a popular travel destination that sees tourist activity heat up in the winter months. But who says it can’t be a great summer getaway as well?

The Caribbean offers a perfect summer escape for any vacationers, whether it’s the newlyweds honeymooning after their summer wedding, or families with young children taking advantage of the school break. Since the peak travel time for the Caribbean is December through April, the summer months offer a host of benefits for travelers seeking an off-peak getaway.

Big fun, small budget

When booking Caribbean hotel accommodations and travel plans, tourists are bound to save big when taking trips to the from June through August. Resort occupancy rates drop drastically in the Caribbean starting in May after the last of the spring break crowd has gone home, forcing them to slash prices in order to keep guest quarters filled. Travelers report saving an average of 20 to 50 percent off accommodations during peak travel times when shacking up for a summer stay in the Caribbean.

Though air travel has stayed consistently expensive over the past few years no matter what months passengers travel, there are ways to save on airfare to the Caribbean in the summer. Try booking an unconventionally timed vacation (say, Wednesday to Tuesday), as mid-week travel is generally reduced. Traditionally, airlines have viewed Monday afternoon through Thursday morning as off-peak travel times in the summer, so book during these times for the best savings.

Since most people travel on the weekends, keep an eye out for discounted room rates and airfare deals during the week, especially when taking an abbreviated Caribbean vacation or planning a short stay that could be planned for a mid-week timeframe.

But what about the weather?

Tourists are often wary of traveling to the Caribbean during the summer, citing hurricane season as a major drawback. The official hurricane season runs from June to November, but is most active from August to October. A trip planned during the true summer months of June, July and August are fairly safe bets, as September is the peak month of hurricane season.

While you can’t fully rely on mother nature to cooperate with your vacation plans, planning travel during the hurricane season in the Caribbean could actually be a money-saver. In addition to the off-peak timing, some resorts have literal rain checks, instituting policies that offer upgrades or return trip discounts for severe inclement weather during hurricane season. Additionally, travelers might look into buying trip insurance to safeguard their Caribbean vacation from being a rain-soaked disaster.

To avoid potential hurricanes when traveling to the Caribbean in the summer months, avoid destinations that fall in the hurricane belt by choosing islands south of that area. The ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) are a good bet for excellent weather conditions no matter what time of year including the summertime, with the water temperature staying within one or two degrees of the winter thermometer readings.

A truly vacated vacation

Another bonus to summer Caribbean travel? Fewer crowds. With the threat of hurricane season and the local weather staying nice, would-be tourists tend to stay close to home in the summer creating the perfect Caribbean setting for families seeking a quiet, tropical respite or honeymooners looking for a secluded, romantic escape.

Besides the beaches being virtually empty, tourists will delight in the summer desertion of other facets of their Caribbean vacation. Dinner reservations aren’t needed, and spa appointments are similarly easy to come by. Sunbathers looking to relax by the pool are also in for a treat, as the dreaded vacation ritual of staking out lounge chairs at ungodly hours becomes obsolete in the summer months.

The absence of throngs of tourists that swarm the Caribbean in the winter might indicate a dead atmosphere, but tourists can rest assured that the local culture is lively and buzzing with activity in the summer. Many local happenings tend to pick up in the summer on Caribbean islands, including music festivals and sporting events. For example, Antigua’s popular summer festival, Carnival, takes place in late July and early August, offering tourists a unique experience that winter travelers miss out on.

Stay Out of Trouble in Sin City

February 9th, 2012

If you are in Sin City with a hangover, unexpectedly married, or in trouble with the law, you are not alone. The city is filled with temptation and its anything goes spirit has gotten more than one vacationer in too deep. While it has failed at being a traditional family destination, there are plenty of options for those who want to visit without winding up in a world of trouble. If you are visiting Sin City and you would prefer to avoid the sin part of things as much as possible, consider a few of your vanilla options. To start with, stay away from places where you will be tempted to drink. The last thing you need is to have to call a Nevada DUI attorney or Nevada DUI lawyer, so avoid the club scene while in town. Many of these establishments are pricey, so if you are on a budget, resisting the temptation will probably not be too difficult.

The club admission can be expensive, but the drinks are usually free if you are sitting at the slot machines. Gambling offers the double trouble impact of over-spending on wagers and over-indulging in drinks. Think carefully about your time in the casinos and if you can, plan your time so there are not many opportunities to sit around gambling. Vegas have made gambling convenient and there are rarely times when a slot machine or blackjack table is not within a few inches of your wallet. If you are concerned about spending too much on gambling, schedule activities as far away from the casino floor as possible to remove the temptation.

Once you have eliminated gambling and drinking from your Vegas options, you may be wondering what is left. Plenty! Many people love visiting the city because it is home to some of the best spas in the world. Most of the hotels have spas onsite, so you may not even need to leave the premises for a massage, facial, or other indulgent body treatment. Some places even offer the services poolside, so you can relax under the desert sun and enjoy a back rub.

The city is bustling with activity during the evening hours and much of the excitement revolves around the restaurants. The dining options in town are overwhelming and no matter where you look, you will see restaurants owned by famous chefs regularly seen on television. There are also some great bargains on food in town, so if you are feeling adventurous, head off the strip and enjoy a great food bargain downtown. You could stay in Vegas for months and never eat at the same place twice, so plan to loosen your belt while in town.

Finally, there are plenty of things to see and do for free in Vegas. If you want a budget-friendly trip that leaves you out of trouble, just walk up and down the strip and in the hotels. You will find theatrical shows, street vendors, crazy tourists, street performances, all free of charge. This city is a great place to people watch, so enjoy everyone else getting into trouble while you experience a sin-free trip to Sin City.

everquestguides.org

January 31st, 2012

Your wedding is the most important day in your life. It is important to capture the beautiful moments of that day so that later you can revisit the beautiful memories and relive your wedding day. You can visit photographic agencies and hire good photographers. However, it’s of paramount importance that you do some preliminary home work before approaching a particular company and hiring their photographer. Keep the following points in mind before you make a decision.

1. Check out the samples of your photographer’s previous assignments. Review a good selection of your photographer’s work and insist on viewing complete wedding albums. It can give you a fair idea as to how your wedding album can turn out. If you do not feel any emotional connect with the photos then it is better you look out for another photographer.

2. Make sure that the photographs shown to you were actually taken by the photographer you are about to hire and not by any other photographer of the company.

3. Meet the photographer and his assistant in order to know them better.

4. Different photographers have different psyche. Some will be too interfering and will try to dominate your decisions and some will be cooperative and make suggestions and will try to know what you want.

5. A good photographer doesn’t necessarily translate into a good wedding organizer.

6. Ask as much questions as you need to ask and know the photographer well whom you are about to hire for your wedding.

7. Many photographers may charge you exorbitant price. Make sure you specify the amount of time you want him to work and know what is his charging rate per hour.

8. Most companies do not inform you before hand as to how much your bill can run up to. You may land up in a bad deal if you do not crosscheck the charging rate.

9. There are many companies that offer packages that are quite easy to understand. So make your decision very carefully. You don’t want to empty your pocket for your wedding photographs as there are many other expenses that you need to take care of.

10. It is of utmost importance that you ask for a blank copy of their signed contract. Read it carefully and compare it with that of other companies.

11. Ask them the time period that they will take to deliver the finished photographs. Some companies take very less time to deliver photographs.

12. Don’t bother about the technicalities. The professional photographers know better the type of equipment they should use.

If you do not want to limit to still photography you may consider video recording the entire ceremony. There are quite a few professional video companies that produce amazing quality wedding videotapes. Check out some demo videos. You will b surprised to know that they are cheaper than the photographer that you are about to hire. You can consider adjusting your photography budget to accommodate video recording.

Wedding photography can be divided into three sub types- traditional, photojournalistic and artistic. If you are interested to know more about them then you can find a host of information about the different types of wedding photography in the internet. A good photographer should be able to dabble equally well with all the styles. Keep the above points in mind and then hire a photographer who appeals to your taste and is also within your budget.

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June 11th, 2009

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