Sumatran Orang-utans

Do you think Palm Oil will make me look younger?Female orangutans have the longest inter-birth interval of any primate, with a mean duration of eight years. The infant to mother bond is incredibly strong in orangutans, with the offspring remaining dependent for up to six years. Both species of orangutans are reported to survive up to forty-five years of age (and potentially past fifty), with females not giving birth until approximately fifteen years of age. This equates to four or five offspring surviving per mother possibly the lowest reproductive potential of any mammal.

Orangutan mothers are slaughtered by palm oil workers with machetes and their hands taken as proof of death for financial bonus. The babies that survive are then sold into the illegal pet trade where they may initially be treated like human babies (due to sharing 97% of our DNA, they are endearing and cuddly creatures) but later are chained and caged, mistreated and abused (an adult orangutan has the strength of seven men so an orangutan baby quickly turns into a physically unmanageable child).

What do they eat? Around sixty percent of Their diet is fruit, then around twenty five percent young leaves, the remaining fifteen percent is flowers, bark and insects, mainly ants, termites and crickets.

Swimming Through the Spill … By SUSAN D. SHAW

FOR the last few days, attention has understandably been directed at the shores of the Gulf Coast as oil has started to wash up on beaches and in marshes. But last week I had the chance to see the effects of the spill from another perspective — when I dived into the oil slick a few miles off the Pass a Loutre wetlands in southern Louisiana. What I witnessed was a surreal, sickening scene beyond anything I could have imagined.

As the boat entered the slick, I had to cover my nose to block the fumes. There were patches of oil on the gulf’s surface. In some places, the oil has mixed with an orange-brown pudding-like material, some of the 700,000 gallons of a chemical dispersant called Corexit 9500 that BP has sprayed on the spreading oil. Near Rig No. 313, technically a restricted zone, the boat stopped and I (wearing a wetsuit, with Vaseline covering exposed skin) jumped in.

Only a few meters down, the nutrient-rich water became murky, but it was possible to make out tiny wisps of phytoplankton, zooplankton and shrimp enveloped in dark oily droplets. These are essential food sources for fish like the herring I could see feeding with gaping mouths on the oil and dispersant. Dispersants break up the oil into smaller pieces that then sink in the water, forming poisonous droplets — which fish can easily mistake for food.

Though all dispersants are potentially dangerous when applied in such volumes, Corexit is particularly toxic. It contains petroleum solvents and a chemical that, when ingested, ruptures red blood cells and causes internal bleeding. It is also bioaccumulative, meaning its concentration intensifies as it moves up the food chain.

The timing for exposure to these chemicals could not be worse. Herring and other small fish hatch in the spring, and the larvae are especially vulnerable. As they die, disaster looms for the larger predator fish, as well as dolphins and whales.

As I swam back to the surface, some big fish came up to the boat — cobia, amberjacks weighing up to 60 pounds — looking for a handout. These are the fish that have made the Gulf a famously productive fishing area. But they rely on the forage fish that are now being devastated by the combined effects of oil and chemical dispersants. In a short time, the predator fish will either starve or sicken and die from eating highly contaminated forage fish.

Yes, the dispersants have made for cleaner beaches. But they’re not worth the destruction they cause at sea, far out of sight. It would be better to halt their use and just siphon and skim as much of the oil off the surface as we can. The Deepwater Horizon spill has done enough damage, without our adding to it.

Susan D. Shaw is a marine toxicologist and the director of the Marine Environmental Research Institute, a nonprofit scientific research and educational organisation.

You Can Help To Save The Planet

deforestation

The resources provided by our planet are finite and in these modern times we are consuming them at such as staggering rate that we cannot predict what devastating affects this may have on the future for the world.  Although global warming is a contentious issue, experts all agree that the modern way of life is wasteful and damaging to the planet.  Some serious measures do need to be put into place worldwide in order to conserve the remaining resources and ensure that the planet stays a rich and diverse place for the future.

Fashion Mutations Called Art

Fall 2010 is all about the textured, tailored and ruffled designs. From chunky knits to soft, shifting dresses, Fall 2010 is bound to have an ‘haute couture’ feel. But first, let’s have a look at some similar art deco creations.

Ever watched a fashion show and wondered what on earth inspired some horrible creations? Most average followers of fashion may simply nod their heads at some strange designs. We can only assume the designers know what they are talking about. Simply put, high fashion mixed with art is intimidating, fascinating and ugly at the same time.

Personally, Art deco fashion completely confounds me.

No matter how much of an avid fashion follower I am, I have to admit that I’ve never really understood Art Fashion. Art Deco was something beyond me, something untouchable. However, a quick glance at some hideous creations in recent years has confirmed that I am not going mad after all.

Take a look at some of these creations people call art.

I’ll admit that fruits are both scrumptious and healthy. However, incorporating this into an outfit seems rather farfetched. This prickly design resembles some sort of spiky Guava.

But is it really art? Some claim it is. It is doubtless that the production of such a piece required technically skill and innovative design. In fact the use of sturdy material to create something quite flexible and wearable is remarkable. However what it scores in design, lacks in meaning. The only fruits I allow on clothing are prints.

Too many images come into mind when I look at this dress, and none of them are pleasant. Perhaps it’s the garish combination of colours, or how much they resemble tubes at a playground. Although it is certainly eye catching, you have to wonder whether this is truly art or simply a recycling of radioactive cloth.

Last but not least, ‘The Curtain’.

I was rather impressed by the model’s look of pure nonchalance as if there wasn’t a heavy, metallic contraption balanced on top of her. This design is by far the most impressive and possesses a certain ‘wow’ factor. However this look makes me want to take her out for a walk on a very windy day, rather than contemplate the deeper artistic messages it embodies.

With the 2010 fall fashion trend emerging, I’m happy to say that they aren’t as extreme as these art-deco creations.

However they do have a beautiful, textural theme about them. The fashion trend looks cutting edge, but still has that soft feminine touch which has been a favourite in the past year. Have a look at some of these edgy, retro patchwork designs. I’m also loving the luxurious velvet designs; well tailored and with sexy layers.

(Images from refinery29)

Procession Of The Dead – D.B. Shan

Procession of the DeadI don’t know if you have ever heard of D.B. Shan?

He is the author of two very popular series for children: ‘The Saga of Darren Shan’ and ‘The Demonata’ both of which have been read by literally millions of people all around the globe in over twenty languages.  D.B. Shan is another pseudonymn for this very popular author.  An author who will undoubtably grow from strength to strength.

Procession of The Dead

This is his first work for the adult market.  It was previously published and released in 1999, however since then the author has extensively revised the text for this his directors cut edition.

It is a book about a smart quick-witted and cocksure young upstart by the name of Capac Raimi.  He arrives in The City determined to make his mark as a gangster.  Soon he learns the tricks of his new trade from his long forgotten uncle ‘Theo”.  Extortion, racketeering and bloodshed are among just a few of his newly acquired skills,  As he embarks on a life of crime, he crosses paths with The Cardinal, and his life changes forever.

The Cardinal is The City and The City is The Cardinal.  They are joined at the soul, nothing moves on in the streets or indeed below them without The Cardinal’s Knowledge.  His rule is absolute.

As young Capac begins to discover more about the extent of The Cardinals influence on his own life, he is faced with many hard and difficult choices.  As his ambition soars ever higher, he will learn all there is to know about loss and the true cost of ultimate power.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book ThiefThis book is now a #1 International Bestseller – No Wonder, it is outstanding!

The story is set in Germany between the years 1939-1943, ‘The Book Thief’ tells a wonderful story of a little girl named Liesel.  Strangely it is narrated by Death.

Liesel never knew her father and her mother gives her away to foster parents.  Death first meets nine-year-old Liesel when her brother dies on route to Molching where the foster parents live.
Her foster parents, are poor people but wildly rich in character.  The stepfather Hans, is a tall, gentle man with silver eyes, and he teaches Liesel how to read and write. The stepmother is a hard woman continually swearing however she has a heart of gold.

Liesel befriends her neighbor Rudy, a small boy who idolises the black Olympic champion sprinter Jesse Owens.

Shantaram – The Best Book I have Ever Read

Shantaram - The Best Book I Have Ever ReadEvery so often a book comes along and it is a great read.  Less frequently however, a book arrives on the shelves and it is a true masterpiece.  Shantaram is one of those books.

This phenomenon only occurs every five or ten years, so I recommend that you give this book a read, I am absolutely positive you will not be disappointed.

You will read this great book and on reaching the end of each page or chapter, you immediately read on, unable to put it down until you are forced to stop reading or literally fall asleep dreaming of the world that has been described in such finite detail.  When you finish the book, you immediately want to find another to fill its place.  You will search high and low yet you will not find it. It may be a decade before you find another, a truly wonderful piece of literature.

Two Million iPads Sold

iPad Oh So SlimApple have announced that it has now sold over two million iPads in less than 60 days since the products launch in the U.S. on 3rd of April 2010.

Apple started shipping the iPad in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK last weekend. The iPad will be available in an additional nine countries during the month of July and more countries later on in the year.

“Customers around the world are experiencing the magic of iPad, and seem to be loving it as much as we do,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We appreciate their patience, and are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.”

Apple has continued to deal with shortages of the iPad as it seeks to keep up with demand in the United States while also increasing distribution to additional countries.

Food for thought, it took over two years for Apple to sell its first two million iPods, while the original iPhone took on the order of four months to reach the two million milestone.

It’s True – Size Matters!

Sometimes it’s better to have a small one, especially when you have to carry it around.

Mac Book Air

The latest generation of Laptops (what on earth did you think I was writing about?) are becoming increasingly smaller and more to the point slimmer. You only have to take a look at the new MacBook Air, its 0.16-0.76 inch (0.4-1.94 cm) in height and it proudly presents a 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display and weighs only 3 pounds (1.36 kg). Fantastic for those long arduous journeys when you are already laden like a beast of burden.

It’s True – Size Matters!

Sometimes it’s better to have a small one, especially when you have to carry it around.

Mac Book Air

The latest generation of Laptops (what on earth did you think I was writing about?) are becoming increasingly smaller and more to the point slimmer. You only have to take a look at the new MacBook Air, its 0.16-0.76 inch (0.4-1.94 cm) in height and it proudly presents a 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display and weighs only 3 pounds (1.36 kg). Fantastic for those long arduous journeys when you are already laden like a beast of burden.

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