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Name:
Mekong Giant Catfish
Scientific Name:
Pangasianodon gigas
Status:
Critically Endangered
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pangasiidae
Genus: Pangasianodon
Species: P. gigas
General Information:
The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish in the world, and is endemic to the Mekong basin of Southeast Asia. A behemoth that can reach near-mythical proportions, this aquatic giant is migratory and requires extensive stretches of river for its seasonal migration. It also needs particular environmental conditions for breeding and spawning. Heavy fishing and other forms of human encroachment have pushed this catfish to the brink of extinction. It is currently classified as "Critically Endangered". In the past century, its population has been diminished by some 95 percent, and some experts believe there are only a few hundred adults left.
Physical Description:
The most marked feature of this fish is its remarkable size. The largest specimen ever caught was 9 feet in length and weight 646 lbs. It was the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. The Mekong giant catfish has low-set eyes, are silvery to dark gray in color on top and white underneath, and are toothless. Juveniles also possess the characteristic catfish whiskers known as barbels. As they grow older the barbels shrink in size.
Diet:
The Mekong giant catfish is an herbivore, and feeds on the plants and algae of the river.
Habitat:
It lives in the lower half of the Mekong River system in Southeast Asia, occurring in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Reproduction:
The Mekong giant catfish grows extremely quickly, and can reach 330 - 440 lbs in only six years time. This large fish, however, has also been noted for its slow reproduction rate, which, coupled with human encroachment pressures, has led to the precarious state of its survival. It migrates to spawn, but the damming of Mekong tributaries has led to the destruction of many of its breeding and spawning grounds. Siltation has also taken a large toll.
Article Source: www.paradiseearth.com
When we travel around, there are a couple of Hotels that we absolutely love, and would not change it for the world. You see after traveling when we were younger and experiencing horrible beds, stinky rooms, dirty tubs (other people's hair left in them after cleaning,) old and outdated lobbies, and much more, we decided to take a step up after trying to pinch pennies at the expense of our comfort.
Well, my first choice is in Houston, Texas at the Hilton Hotel next to the Toyota center in downtown Houston. Let me give you a descriptive view of this place...
1. You drive up and there are a number of people waiting to assist you.
a. The Valet Parker. This is your only option. You can not park your own car (cool isn't it)
b. The Bellhop. He is there to take your clothes out of the card and wait on you while you check in. Actually, everytime you leave and come back, you don't even have to carry your own shopping bags if you do not want to.
c. Greeter. He greets the family, gets your name, and asks you is there anything like information that you may need while staying in Houston. They will get reservations for you, directions, suggest shopping places, Realtors, anything that they are familiar with, they can find out for you.
2. Now, the inside. Once you walk in through the motion activated turning entrance, you are welcomed by every worker that lays their eyes on you. There is beautiful detail on the ceilings, the restaurant, the registration desk, even the columns and floors are immaculate in detail. Just imagine even the elevators are gold.
3. Now, the room. They are always immaculate. I have never ever complained about anything that was undone in the rooms.
4. Room Service. They will bring you food throughout the night. They are always polite, the call you by your name and will return with just a call from you to pick up their trays. Also, their food is really good. It tastes like someone from Louisiana cooks the food.
5. Checkout. Best of all. There is no check out. The last morning of your stay, you can check out on the television, or simply look at the bill that they will slide under your door first thing in the morning. If you do not have any disputes, simply leave.
By far, I have been to many FINE hotels, and others cost more, with much more expensive decor, but as far as service as a whole, I absolute suggest this hotel if you are in the Houston Area.
by La Shawn Duruisseau
If you enjoyed this article, please look for more from me. I will be discussing the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Disney World's Animal Kingdom Hotel, and the Swan, The Embassy in Los Angeles, the Horseshoe in Shreveport, LA, and the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, CA (Presidents have stayed here)
Spring is a great time to "smudge" your home or office. "Smudging" or "cleansing the space of all negative energies" can be done any time of the year. However, the Spring offers a certain kind of "forward energy" that can enhance any kind of intention or endeavor.
According to Eastern medicine, the energy of the Spring is "anger, a pushing through, sometimes even violent." This energy is required for new life to burst up through the ground - pushing the earth away, thus clearing the space for new life to grow. Maybe you have noticed in your own life Spring is a time rebirth and renewal? Maybe even new opportunities appear regularly during this season for you?
Smudging your home or office at this time helps to create more opportunities in your life today as well as setting an intention for the months ahead. First, clean your home. If you really want to maximize the positive effects of smudging, go through your closets and drawers too - giving away anything you have not worn or used in the past year.
Some people like to sell their old clothes/stuff - fine and beneficial, however, I invite you to donate the items if you can afford too (it is a tax write-off too!) This act creates more positive energy for you because it activates a generous spirit and a feeling of plenty within.
What to smudge your home with? I like to use Holy Wood just because I like the scent best - "brings the woods indoors." Some like Sage and others use rosewater, it really doesn't matter. It is the intention that is most important, not the scent. Pick something that you have an immediate positive reaction to - that is the best indicator.
Stand at your front door and begin saying something like..."I clear this room of all negative energies - to go back into the light from which it was born...This room now attracts love, joy, wealth, abundance, good health..." As you speak these words, light your smudge stick and walk along the walls of the room. The idea is to remove all negative energy from the room first and then replace these empty spaces with new positive energy of love and happiness.
When I "clear" homes and offices, this is when I "see" images that are stuck or blocking positive energies. If this happens for you, just send these thoughts and images into the light to be cleared as well. You may even notice "solutions" to problem areas in your home as you smudge the rooms.
Don't worry about your exact words you speak as much as the idea of clearing first each room and then setting the intention of what you want the room (your life) to attract.
Once you have smudged all areas of your home, you can also smudge the yard if you so feel compelled. Otherwise go back into your house. Play some great music. Have something yummy to drink & eat and dream...Dream about the life you desire to unfold in your home. See the love, hope, possibilities - all these for you, waiting for you to step into...And most of all - have fun.
Kelly Ballard is a workshop leader, Intuitive Guide and Healer. Through workshops, private sessions and guided meditations Kelly specializes in helping others discover positive solutions for immediate change/growth in their lives thus drawing their most abundant life into reality. Find out more information about her services and meditation CDs at http://www.kellyballard.com Contact her directly at 720-984-4232 or email kelly@kellyballard.com She lives in Boulder, CO.
Name:
Sloth Bear
Scientific Name:
Melursus ursinus
Status:
Vulnerable
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Melursus
Species: M. ursinus
General Information:
The sloth bear is the only species in the genus Melursus. It is a nocturnal creature of South Asia. Contrary to the implication of its name, the sloth bear is actually quite fast and can outrun a human being. There are a variety of theories as to where it gets its name, including the idea that early explorers spotted the bears lying upside down in trees, similar to the general appearance of sloths. In the 1700s, it was even classified as being a member of the sloth family, and accordingly named as "bear sloth". It wasn't until the 1800s, when the first live sloth bear arrived in Europe from India, that scientists were able to properly categorize it. Although it can be quite ferocious, leopards, tigers, and wolves are known to predate upon it or its young. Habitat destruction and poaching constitute the primary threat to this species' survival.
Physical Description:
The sloth bear is a relatively small but stocky bear, draped in long, shaggy black fur. The particularly long hair around its neck gives off the image that it has a mane. There is a large white or yellow Y-shaped patch on its chest. Adult sloth bears generally weigh about 176 - 308 lbs for males and 121 - 187 lbs for females. It is generally 4 ft 7 in to 6 ft 3 in in length.
Diet:
Sloth bears are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of foods that include plants, insects, and animals. It has been known to scavenge from tiger kills and even eat cultivated crops. When eating insects, they prefer termites, using their long claws to expose the insects' nests. And, because of their dietary fondness of honey, they have also been called honey bears.
Habitat:
Sloth bears inhabit a diverse array of forests, from dry thorn forests in the north of its range to the wet tropical forests in the south. They are also found in grassland areas. Their range includes areas of Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Reproduction:
Based on the limited available information, sloth bears appear to mate year-round. The gestation period is about 7 months, after which time the female gives birth to 1 - 3 cubs, with 2 generally being the case.
Article Source: www.paradiseearth.com
The modern hot tubs are mainly constructed of fiberglass or various kinds of plastics. Some manufacturers make a self supporting shell entirely of one material, while others use wood and metal as secondary supports. If wood and metal are used, they are normally put as supports under the seats or in high-stress areas. Sometimes a perimeter frame of wood or metal is used in order to support the rim.
Since there are water jets in the hot tubs, the plumbing is very important. This consists mainly of three types of plumbing systems, which are the pressure system, the suction system and the filtration system. Some models have blowers as well and sometimes there is an ozone system as well.
The pressure system delivers waters to the jets and the suction system returns the water to the pumps. The filtrations system helps to clean the water in the hot tub. If there is a small constant filter pump in the hot tub, the water is filtered all the time. If this is not considered necessary, there can be programmed settings of the main pumps and they operate accordingly. If there is an air blower, there are a separate set of jets for a special massage effect and this would require a separate plumbing system. Ozonation helps in water maintenance and needs its own set of hoses and fittings.
There is a skirting around the hot tub, which is both an enclosure for the plumbing and looks like a decorative wrap. Earlier, this skirting was always made of wood, especially of redwood or cedar. Unfortunately wood cabinets require regular maintenance and cannot stand strong weather conditions. Hence by popular choice, synthetic materials are being used because they need relatively less maintenance.
Energy efficiency in the tub is greatly dependent on effective insulation. Again, there are various methods of hot tub insulation. The manufacturers use different styles and it is very difficult to judge the insulation of the tub, till one has used it. The power consumption is dependent on the hot tub pump and the heater, and the power consumption naturally depends on the size of the hot tub and how frequently it is used.
Metal stock tanks are sometimes used as hot tubs, but insulation in metal tanks makes heating difficult. Also many hot tubs use a coat of vinyl to improve insulation. This holds well in water, but it is not long lasting.
Mmmmmm. I love this stuff. One day my mom discovered this recipe when she was taking a Korean cooking class from a REAL Korean cook. She brought home a sample of it after her class and I immediately fell in love with it. I almost finished the whole plate before my dad could even get one bite!
Warm juicy grilled chicken with a spicy peppery garliky crust. It will make your mouth crave for more!
Here's the recipe!
Ingredients
1 lb chicken (you can also use boneless chicken breast if you don't want to go through the deboning process!) 1 scallion 1/4 oz shredded red pepper 1 tsp sesame seeds 3 Tbsp soy sauce 2 Tbsp ginger juice 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp black pepper 1 Tbsp hot pepper paste (this is a Korean brand - so check your local Asian food market or try the international foods aisle of your local grocery store) 1 Tbsp chopped garlic (if this is too much garlick, then you can cut back on it as much as you want!) 2 Tbsp cooking wine
First de-bone the chicken and cut it into 2 or 3 inch pieces. Strike the chicken meat flat. Next marinate chicken meat in ginger juice, garlic juice, and cooking wine for 2 minutes. Mix all soy sauce, hot pepper paste, sugar, chopped garlic, sesame oil, sesames seeds, and black pepper to make a sauce. Combine chicken meat with the sauce and grill them in a grill pan. Finally garnish with cut scallion, shredded red pepper, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
And ENJOY!
Daniel N. is the author of his blog, I Heart Asian Food, at http://iheartasianfood.blogspot.com He enjoys playing tennis and has a website for that too: http://soyouwanttoplaytennis.googlepages.com
Horse tack refers to the accessories worn by domesticated horses. Tacking a horse is the act of fitting a horse with a wide range of equipment before the horse is taken for a ride. Tacking up a horse requires expertise, since any discomfort for the horse causes a lot of strain for both the horse and the rider. The tack also has to be of the exact size and fit to make the horse comfortable.
Horse tack is basically of two kinds: English and western. Horse tack consists of a halter, saddle, saddle pad, stirrup, bridle, Girth (English) / Cinches (Western), lead ropes, martingale, harnesses, and breastplates. The bridle consists of the headstall, chin strap, bits and reins. There are three kinds of bridles: single, double and hackamore. The girths are of four kinds: webbing, leather, string and nylon. Saddles are of many kinds: jumping saddles, dressage saddles, polo saddles, park saddles, racing saddles, show saddles, all-purpose saddles, roping saddles, barrel racing saddles, endurance saddles, trail saddles, pleasure saddles, English side saddles and western side saddles, and military saddles. Similarly, there are different kinds of other equipment as well, based on the rider.
Horse tack has to be cleaned regularly to increase the life of the equipment. Wipe the tack with a wet sponge and then with a horse tack cleaner that is available on the market. Today, tack is made of synthetic materials instead of leather. This tack is lighter, less expensive and easier to maintain, as it can even be washed in the washing machine. Leather tack, on the other hand, is expensive and needs a lot of care. Tack can be stored in exclusive tack boxes which have built-in compartments for holding all the equipment.
Horse tack can be very expensive, depending on the quality and the material used. Leather tack is very costly. A headstall can cost as much as $170, while a martingale may be priced at around $90. A cinch can cost around $40, a rope halter $26, a pulling collar $105, an aluminum barrel stirrup $80, aluminum stirrup $50, noseband $135, and harness leather loping hackamore $225. However, there is also discount horse tack available at some stores. For instance, a whole nylon tack set is priced at $125. Some companies also offer custom-made horse tack। Rod’s, Farnam, Pro Choice, Tom Balding, Big D and Reinsman are some of the top brands ofantique horse tack
Article Source: http://www.i-horsetack.com/
Microsoft were no doubt kicking themselves back in Silicon Valley all those years ago when Apple invented the iPod. Years down the line and the only way to put songs on the incredibly popular iPod was to use iTunes. This meant that all those Windows Media Player fans were migrating over to iTunes! Not only that but Apple made it even easier recently with their wma → mp3 converter in iTunes 4.6.
Only recently did some bright spark at Microsoft say: "Hey! Hold on! Although we are already ripping all our customers off if we are not careful we will soon have none left to RIP OFF!!!" And so Windows Media Player 10 was born with its support for the iPod amongs tons of other devices in an attempt to remove Apple's dominance. It was a fair move but too little too late. Apple took full advantage of their new-found iTunes popularity after the iPod was launched and put extra effort into iTunes.
Microsoft have done very badly with their surprise and rushed Windows Media 10. They have done badly in that the player cannot read as many codecs as iTunes and their surprise was the lack of notice they gave of its release. It shows that down at Microsoft they are worried, and so they should be, as one can only imagine the possibility of a huge failure if Microsoft were to release an "msPlayer", or something similar...
Well done iTunes! Your fantastic wma converter enabled me to escape the clutches of Windows Media Player, whereas those idiots at Microsoft never thought twice about a m4a converter (an iTunes format). The reason for this exclamation is that iTunes have been thinking with their heads whereas Microsoft with their backsides.
Microsoft are just digging themselves a deeper grave! They should stick to what they are good at. There is little debate that Windows is superior to Mac OSX but unfortunately for Microsoft there is little debate to whether or not iTunes is now superior to Windows Media Player. Having tried betas of Windows Longhorn (the codename of the next Windows operating system) it looks very promising but Windows Media Player 10 just complicates things.
Microsoft need to take a step backwards and give up on the music front. Although you can understand they want to support the iPod they should realise that Windows Media Player is dying. However, it's good news for all us iTunes users, as Apple are going to have to keep improving their iTunes to stay 1 step ahead!
Benjamin Wigoder is a part-time webmaster who has proven that anybody can be successful on the web.free windows media player dvd coodecs, windows media player dvd codecs, windows media player dvd codechtml. Visit www.benwiggy.com for free flash games
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Rental properties are an excellent source of investment property. Many people choose to purchase apartment buildings, condominiums or homes that they rent to other people. The investor can either gain income from the rent received, or use the rent to pay the mortgage on the property.
Mortgage lenders usually require a larger down payment when mortgaging rental properties. In most cases, investors have to put 50 percent of the total cost of the property as a down payment. Some lenders, however, ask for less money down. If you are thinking of investing in rental properties, you should shop around for a lender who can offer you a lower down payment or low interest rates. Many mortgage lenders are very eager, in this depressed real estate market, to make mortgages to qualified individuals and some are offering excellent incentives such as lower down payments, lower rates and reduced fees to attract customers. Now is an excellent time to apply for a mortgage for rental properties.
Rental properties come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are available for most budgets. Those with more capital can invest in a large apartment building with multiple tenants. Those with smaller budgets can invest in a single condominium or home to rent to others. Most mortgage lenders will require that you have a lease signed by an individual for at least a year prior to approving the mortgage. If you are purchasing the rental property from another investor, often the renter or renter is already living on the premises, in which case you can provide the old lease.
Prior to investing in rental properties, keep in mind that you will be required to fix plumbing problems, leaks or other things that may go wrong with the property. You must make sure that the property is in livable condition for your tenant at all times, or you may be subjected to local and state fines.
Rental properties can be an excellent way to invest in the real estate market, particularly for those who are handy and can fix minor problems that occur in the unit. For this reason, many real estate investors choose to purchase rental properties as a way to earn equity and money in the real estate market. Twin cities rental properties, stillwater rental properties and st paul rental properties.
You're about to discover secret underground free online movies website that the movie companies DON'T want you to see! Stop the big movie companies from fleecing you of your hard earned money, and discover free movies online with free tv on pc to see the latest movies for free!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Wood
San Diego Dead Sea ScrollsThe Dead Sea scrolls consist of roughly 900 documents, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran (near the ruins of the ancient settlement of Khirbet Qumran, on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea) in the West Bank. The texts are of great religious and historical significance, as they include practically the only known surviving copies of Biblical documents made before 100 AD, and preserve evidence of considerable diversity of belief and practice within late Second Temple Judaism.
Many of the scrolls are now housed in the Shrine of the Book which is in Jerusalem.
wikipedia
This young man comes in to a patent office with some special apples.He walks into the office and talks to the manager.He says "I have some special apples that I would like to patent." What's so special about those apples, asks the manager? Well these apples have different tastes, go ahead try one.
The manager bytes one and says wow, that tastes like an orange,yep, well turn it around.The manager turns the apple around and bites into it and says," wow", that tasted like grapes.The young man then says try another one.He picks one up and bites into it and says ,"wow that tasted like mango."Well turn it around says ,the young man. The manager turns it around and bites into the apple and says," damn that tasted like strawberries.
The manager was exited and says ,ok, lets see what else you got now, that was amazing.The young man says, I got one that tastes like Pussy,The manager looked at the young man and smiled, really? Ok let me try that one.So the young man gives him the apple, and the manager bites into the apple, and starts chewing, before he could swallow he spits the un chewed apple out, and with a disturbed look on his face he says,"That tasted like shit".The young man looked at him and said, "well turn it around".
Joke by Rob Foster
Addressing a Camera D2x Nikon SLRCoolpix 8800 search, this article provides a quick comparison of the Camera D2x Nikon digital SLR and Coolpix 8800 cameras.
Camera D2x Nikon Professional Digital SLR
Check out a Camera D2x Nikon review or two and quickly realize this is a world class professional digital SLR. Instantaneous response and fast 37ms shutter lag allow the photographer to compose and take the photo instead of waiting for camera start-up, shutter or processing time.
The D2X sports a 12.4 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor capable of 5 FPS. Continuous mode can be increased to 8 FPS with a cropped field of view using 6.8 megapixels. The D2X SLR's 4-channel color readout and advanced image processing algorithms deliver truer color and higher processing speeds.
Additional features such as i-TTL Speedlight technology, sYCC color profiling, and Advanced 3D-Color Matrix Metering II make the D2X digital SLR a professional photographer's dream.
Nikon Coolpix 8800 Long-Zoom Digital Camera
An 8800 camera digital Nikon review search reveals a surprisingly compact mid-sized digital camera. With 8.0 effective megapixels and 10X optical zoom, this camera ranks at the top of Nikon's Coolpix line. Vibration Reduction circuitry compensates for camera movement, allowing shutter speeds up to 3 stops slower without image blur.
The 8800 offers a choice of built-in flash or external hot-shoe. Nikon's i-TTL flash technology delivers full flash zoom control with the SB-600 and SB-800 Speedlight units. In addition to fisheye, wide angle and telephoto converters, and other adaptors, Nikon 8800 filter options include neutral color, neutral density and polarizing filters.
Other Coolpix 8800 features include: 15 automated scene modes, 5 movie modes, and continuous shot modes up to 30 FPS. For the serious digital photography enthusiast the 8800 offers quality and features comparable to, but at a lower cost than digital SLR's.
How Do These Cameras Compare?
Unlike many digital camera comparisons, comparing the D2X and Coolpix 8800 is not a true "apples-to-apples" comparison. Both models have a rugged but lightweight magnesium alloy body and high quality Nikkor lenses. And both feature i-TTL flash technology, multiple AF, scene, shot and exposure metering modes, plus aperture and shutter-priority settings.
The Coolpix 8800's rechargeable lithium-ion battery will take up to 240 shots per charge, while the D2X's (also lithium-ion) will take up to 2,000 photos on a single charge. DX Nikkor lenses for the D2X offer wide-angle views up to 180°, and the camera also accepts all conventional AF Nikkor lenses. The D2X also supports both WT-1A and WT-2A transmitters for wireless image transfer and full remote camera control from a computer.
But there's a huge difference in cost. The Coolpix 8800 is available from about $550 to $900, while the Camera D2x Nikon price is closer to $4,000. For the professional who earns a living with his camera, the D2X digital SLR is one of the best and most reliable cameras available. But for the serious photographer that can't justify the D2X's cost, the Coolpix 8800 offers professional quality photos at an affordable price.
For more information, see Digital Camera Comparisons
Digital cameras information from A to Z: camera types & features, how they work, accessories, photo printers, comparisons and more - plus digital photo processing tips and info at A-Z Digital Cameras.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for Digital Cameras, Accessories and Information.
This article may be re-printed in its entirety, with no changes and this resource box included. © 2005 A-Z Digital Cameras All rights reserved
Camera D2x Nikon Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=W_R_Kirk
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher who had an explanation for most of the common place events that puzzled his fellows, was wise about dew. It is produced, he said, in serene weather and in calm place. Even thought it may seem that the early morning grass is always covered with shoe soaking dew, that isn’t so. Dew is fussy stuff. It comes only in certain conditions, and these usually promise fine weather.
For dew form, the day must be fine and warm, and followed by a still, cooler evening and night, in which the sky must be clear or almost cloudless. If u were to walk on a lawn or into a grassy meadow at twilight, and hold something cold – a hand mirror or tumbler of ice – just above the surface, you would coon find it coated with water droplets: condense vapour.
On a clear night, the ground radiates the day’s warmth into the skies. The ground becomes much cooler, causing vapour to condense. On an overcast night, clouds send that heat back to the ground, co that is never gets cold enough to form dew.
You may wonder why dew form on a lawn and not, say, on the soil of flower beds. It is not grass attracts dew, but that the plants in flower beds keep the ground warmer. You can check this for yourself by shielding a patch of grass from the night sky. You will need a piece of cotton cloth (a tablecloth will do) and some stick or canes. On an evening when conditions seem right, stretch the cloth over the canes about 30 cm (1 ft) above the lawn. Next morning, before the sun has dried things out, you will find that every ware, except beneath the cloth, the shown is covered with dew.
Why, sometimes, is the ground covered with frost? During the night, the air has got progressively colder. Cold air, heavier than warm air, has performed a layer at ground level, turning the water vapour that should otherwise be dew into frost.
