#(their enclosure has plenty of room for them to run around in also. they literally just eat the wall to spite me i think)

[happyrabbit]

Gonna start chewing on the wall to connect with my rabbit siblings

[b00bstone]

PSA: stop letting your dogs roam off leash at the dog park if there is a pen designed for them to be off leash inside

this has been bothering me this week so much. theres a dog park near my house and there is a special enclosure for dogs to be off leash INSIDE of. and yet people still let their dogs run around outside of that off leash. people will sit literally ten feet away from the enclosure (which is plenty roomy btw. theres more room in the enclosure for the dog(s) to run around in than there is outside there.) and just let their dogs run wild. 

some people don’t even pay that much attention to their dogs out there too. i have had dogs approach me and my dog and their owner doesn’t even look up from their phone. 

now one may wonder why this is a problem. and i will tell you. 

first and foremost because it is dangerous. for the dogs off leash and for any dogs on leash walking through and for any people nearby. i don’t know about other dog parks but this particular one runs near a very busy street where the speed limit is 50 mph and this is California so unless theres a cop nearby hardly anyone is actually going 50. these dogs could potentially run into that street and get hit by a car. 

its also dangerous because of dogs like mine. shes very friendly. loves other dogs. until they get too close into her personal space then she warns them to back off. she has never fought another dog she has never bit another dog. she has on occasion snapped at other dogs when they get too close and dont heed her warnings. but overall is very friendly she loves our neighbors dog and our puppy (as long as the puppy is respecting her space). i try to avoid introducing her to new dogs because i know she likes her space and i dont want anything bad to happen. on occasion i will let her sniff another dog if the owner is okay with it. 

now if both dogs are on leash theres not a problem. they can sniff each other and if either dog shows signs of discomfort i and the person at the end of the other dogs leash can pull them away. HOWEVER if the other dog is not wearing a leash and angie starts showing signs of discomfort i can try to pull her away and remove her from the situation but the other dog could persist and angie might snap at it and if that dog reacts aggressively someone trying to reach for its collar could get seriously hurt which means one or both dogs could get hurt because it would be a little dangerous to separate them. 

now if your rational is “well what if a dog inside the enclosure is aggressive i dont want that dog to potentially get at my dog and start a fight” responsible dog owners would not let a dog that they know has aggression problems run around off leash around other dogs. its why i dont let my dog run around inside the enclosure anymore because of her personal space issues. 

additional reason why you shouldnt let your dog run off leash outside any enclosures made for dogs to be running in: often its against the rules. i haven’t read all the rules at my local dog park but i’m pretty certain they built the enclosure so ppl wouldnt just let their dogs run where ever. 

I dont care how well trained your dog is or how friendly. for the LOVE OF GOD PLEASE DONT LET YOUR PET RUN OFF LEASH OUTSIDE OF AN ENCLOSED AREA. 

IT 

IS 

DANGEROUS 

[write-stuff-for-life-blog]

Review: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

NOTE: I actually saw this movie in theaters but since it’s DVD release was yesterday I figured I’d post my review of it here. I might ramble on for several paragraphs in these reviews, especially if I feel strongly about something, so I’ll try and make it a point to post a short rating at the top as well as a more in depth one at the end.

NOTE THE SECOND: I don’t usually care about spoilers in these reviews so read at your own risk.

1 out of 5 stars. Only watch on Netflix if you exhaust all your other options.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is written by Colin Trevorrow (previous writer and director of the last entry in the franchise) and Derek Connolly and was directed by J.A. Bayona. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing respectively and are sent back to Isla Nublar by Jon Hammond’s previously never mentioned before former partner billionaire Ben Lockwood played by a James Cromwell who can barely bother to keep his eyes open throughout the movie. I, in fact, share that same sentiment.

Usually in these reviews I try to touch on all the aspects of said medium: visuals, camera work, writing, directing, acting, etc. But this review is going to focus mainly on the writing and acting because both are so atrocious all the other aspects are inconsequential. 

I didn’t think the first Jurassic World (JW) was as great as it needed to be for a soft reboot / revival of such a beloved franchise but it did have several memorable moments. The leads were charming enough to make you forget that they lacked meaningful character arcs (Claire does have one but the movie doesn’t care about it that much) and the action in the second half of the film was pretty cool (specifically T-Rex and Raptor and Giant Alligator Thing vs. the Indominus Rex). So for the second go around I was hoping that the filmmakers would take the time to really get it right and do the franchise justice. My hopes were far too high.

The only two performances that were worth anything in Fallen Kingdom (FK) were the two returning leads, Pratt and Howard. Howard is a decent enough actress but I’ve never seen a performance from her that I really love and FK continues that trend. Claire does undergo a change from shrewd, cold businesswoman to animal rights activist and that does give some depth to her character but it happens off screen during the three years between JW and FK. It was a little jarring at first but I swallowed it better when the film took a minute to explain her motivations. Pratt was as Pratt as ever as Owen is exactly the same through this movie as he was when we first met him in JW. I fear there’s a real risk for Pratt here as it seems as though he’s becoming another Will Smith or Tom Cruise. He is varying degrees of his usual charming and charismatic self in whatever project he appears in. Owen is just Pratt but outdoorsy to the extreme. Star-Lord is just Pratt with his ego turned up to eleven. Andy from Parks and Rec is just Pratt as a dumb man-child. And I guess that’s fine. Plenty of stars have made careers doing the same but actors actually stretching themselves and challenging themselves to become someone else will always be more impressive.

One thing that annoys me about modern blockbusters are their tendencies to inject new secondary characters into each following installment while completely ignoring the B cast from the previous entry. In the original Jurassic trilogy it did make some sense to do that as each sequel followed the branching lives of Ian Malcolm and Allen Grant who, we can presume, never encounter one another again after the first film. But here there’s little justification for it. JW’s comic relief characters Lowery and Vivian, played by capable comedy actors Jake Johnson and Lauren Lapkus respectively, are nowhere to be seen in this movie. Instead we have Franklin Webb, a spazzy tech guy played by Justice Smith, and Zia Rodriguez, a ball busting veterinarian played by Daniella Pineda. I don’t have much to say about Pineda, she was decent enough and served her purpose, but Smith … Oh my God. I believe this guy will go down in history as the absolute worst character in any Jurassic movie ever. Yes, he is even worse than every child character in all of the movies combined. He does nothing for the movie other than to scream in a high pitched voice when something scares him. Everything scares him. It’s always played for laughs but the joke falls flat on its face every time. The movie thinks it’s funny for a grown man to shriek in terror and scream out loud the thing that’s scaring him. “Lava!” “T-Rex!” “Social interaction!” All right, I made up that last one but the character is so cliché he might as well have said it. And what’s more there is no reason for this character to be here. The movie wastes a fine opportunity to bring back JW’s Lowery who was also a tech guy. In fact it even makes sense for him to run with Claire in her animal rights activism as he was a huge fanboy for Jurassic Park. He had toy dinosaurs all over his work station, he loves them! And it makes even more sense for him to return to Isla Nublar because he was familiar with the park’s computer systems. Why isn’t he joining Claire? He was courageous and had some genuinely funny interactions with Vivian. He certainly would have been better than Spazzy McScreamy.

Speaking of trends let’s talk about the obligatory child character. Isabella Sermon makes her big screen debut as Maisie Lockwood, Ben Lockwood’s granddaughter. Of all the new additions to the franchise she’s the standout as her performance has a depth and range most child actors would struggle to convey. Now one thing about the Jurassic movies is that their child characters were usually pretty capable in some way or another. Hammond’s granddaughter in JP reboots the computer system. Malcolm’s daughter in Lost World is able to gymnastic a raptor to death (yeah it’s a dumb scene but she saves her dad). The teenager in JP3 survives Isla Sorna alone for eight weeks. And the brothers in JW are able to fix a derelict jeep and rescue themselves. FK started out following this trend of capable children with Maisie … until it abandons the idea so we can have a “monster creeping through a child’s bedroom” scene. This completely undermined her whole character. Up until then the movie had established her as smart and independent and capable as hell. She snuck into the secret lab, spied and hid from the bad guys, busted out of her room which she’d been locked in, and climbed atop buildings all secretly by herself without help from a single grown up. But the minute the new hybrid dinosaur goes after her, which she had seen several times before then, she immediately forgets how capable she is and hides under her bed sheets. This might be the most heinous example of bad writing in this whole movie. Mixed messages? Okay, fine. Forgettable action sequences? Whatever, that’s most of Hollywood anyway. But please, for the love of God, have consistent characters!

Now the villains. Ugh.

BD Wong returns as the dastardly Dr. Henry Wu, the mastermind genius behind the dinosaur cloning process, the I-Rex, and FK’s new hybrid the Indoraptor.  It would seem that in the three years since JW InGen and its parent company Masrani Global have cut Wu loose as he’s now partnered with a new financier Eli Mills played by Rafe Spall, the CEO / director / executor of Ben Lockwood’s … estate? Company? Trust fund? I don’t remember the movie specifying what Mills’ job was, only that he was another white collar villain (because we haven’t seen that before in a Jurassic movie). Toby Jones makes an appearance as Mr. Eversol, an auctioneer for the high rolling criminal underworld, and Ted Levine plays Ken Wheatley, the leader of a disposable mercenary force who has an odd fetish for collecting dinosaur teeth. And that is literally all there is to the villains. Each of them is cartoonishly shallow to the point that Wheatley is a parody of an archetype and all Dr. Wu needs is a mustache to twirl. True, the villains have never been that big of a deal in the Jurassic movies as the dinosaurs have always been the main attractions but not even Vincent D’Onofrio’s Hoskins from JW was this bad and in a movie full of weakly written characters he was the weakest link.

And let’s not forget the dinosaurs. They are there. Not as much as you’d like but they’re around. The big draw for Owen this time around is to save Blue, the only surviving raptor from the pack he raised and trained, from Isla Nublar’s impending volcanic eruption. FK plays this up as though Blue was always the equivalent of a loyal attack dog but it conveniently forgets that JW established her as a dog capable and willing to bite the hand that fed her. The scene from the previous movie in which Owen is in the raptor enclosure is a tense moment because he is under threat from all the raptors, Blue included. In fact when the I-Rex persuades them to go after the humans all the raptors focus in on Owen. There was that one moment when Owen pulls off Blue’s head camera at the end of JW but to rewrite the relationship as though she were a loyal golden retriever, I feel like that was not earned in the slightest. And the main attraction this time is the new hybrid, the Indoraptor, essentially a smaller version of the previous movie’s I-Rex. FK presents this abomination of genetic manipulation as an ultimate monster but it really just looks like rejected concept art of the I-Rex. Also the Indoraptor is only in half of the movie. The I-Rex in JW was a better monster because it was terrorizing the island for almost the whole runtime. Plus the I-Rex has some decent build up and a good reveal. Here, it feels like the movie couldn’t be bothered. “By the way, we made another hybrid dino. Here it is.” I did enjoy the return of more practical animatronics over every dino being CGI but if you saw the last film this one doesn’t have anything special for you in that regard.

Let’s talk about Trevorrow’s writing. It’s awful. Like a pile of hot rancid garbage awful. The biggest problem with JW is that it completely ignores the moral of the original. JP was a cautionary tale that proves whenever man tries to exert his will over nature he will lose and just because we can do something it doesn’t mean we should. It’s classic man vs. nature ending with man being humbled. JW said, “Hey look, we’re going to keep doing that ethically questionable thing most people believe we shouldn’t be doing and wield the power of a god with no regards to any possible consequences,” and gets upset when the monster it created wreaks havoc. But does FK finally learn that lesson and try to take the franchise somewhere new that doesn’t lead the characters into being idiots who keep going back to the island? Do Michael Bay’s Transformers movies understand subtlety?

More than ever this movie has dumb characters making dumb decisions that nobody with a brain can follow. The villains want to capture the dinos and auction them off to billionaire criminals because these crime lords want them for pharmaceutical reasons (but why though?), the ability to hunt one like a big game hunter (because we also haven’t seen that before), or for weaponization. Let’s touch on that last point. The villains justify it by saying animals have been used in combat scenarios for centuries when armies rode to battle on horses and elephants. And the movie might have had a point if either one of those transportation methods hadn’t become outdated before the fifties.

Now just for the sake of argument I’ll list off a few more examples for this movie’s case: K-9 units, bomb detecting dolphins, and pidgins have all historically been used by one military or another at various times. But here’s the common thread among all those examples: none of those animals are predisposed to ripping a man’s head off in a single bite. Why do you think it isn’t common practice for a military to use lions and tigers and bears? And let’s take a closer look at the proliferation of working dogs and horses. Could it be that thousands if not millions of years of closely co-existing with humans have made them predisposed towards not killing us on sight? What’s that called? Oh yeah. Domestication!

Whether we’re talking about fiction or not, training an animal that never co-existed with humans so it can become an attack animal is not a good idea any way you slice it. Any semi-intelligent person can recognize that there are way too many variables to take into account. Oh but what about Blue, I hear you asking. Owen proved that raptors can be trained with Blue. That may be true but one successful instance against a multitude of failures does not prove the concept. Sure the Polish Supply Brigade around WWII kept a bear named Wojtek that would carry their supplies for them but you don’t see cargo bears being implemented throughout the world’s militaries these days. Do you know why? Because they’re freaking bears! They could go in for a playful swipe and nick your carotid by accident you MORONS!

And that leads me to this movie’s message. Apparently FK believes these animals have as much right to life as any other endangered species. That’s the whole reason Claire wants to go back so she can save them. But the film is bookended with Jeff Goldblum reprising his role as Ian Malcolm speaking before a congressional committee on how much that is a bad idea. He argues that nature selected the dinos for extinction millions of years ago and bringing them back was a mistake. The volcano erupting and eradicating the clone dinos on Isla Nublar, he says, is nature’s way of correcting that mistake. So the film opens and closes arguing why protecting these creatures from a second extinction is the worst. And yet we spend most of the runtime doing exactly that.

Seriously?

Malcolm has always been the ultimate voice of reason in these movies and we as an audience are inclined to agree with him given the proof each movie provides for his argument. There are four previous films illustrating why bringing the Earth’s most dangerous predators back to life is a horrible idea. And now that nature wants to correct the mistake you’re going to defy that decision?

The film uses Maisie here to make this case. The dinos are technically clones and we learn that Maisie is a clone as well so now we’re using clone rights to justify saving the dinosaurs. It is a weak argument thrown in at the last moment. Arguing for conservation is good and all but how well are you going to side with that argument when the T-Rex is meandering through a neighborhood gobbling up pedestrians left and right? These animals have lived on an island their entire lives. Aside from T-Rex who visited San Diego in the 90s they have never seen a town. The only human made structures they are familiar with were the derelict park buildings that the movie shows them waltzing through all the time. Even our own real world wild animals don’t understand that they should stay away from human settlements, how well do you think Blue is going to do the first time she’s caught in the headlights? But apparently they have a right to live because they are just as alive as Maisie the clone is so let’s end the movie by releasing all these dangerous animals, most of which are as large as a rhino or elephant, into the American countryside.

Sure, forget about public safety. Forget that dinosaurs had their chance but nature selected them for extinction over sixty million years ago. Forget about all the indigenous plant and wildlife that is now under threat because you just loosed at least eleven different dinos onto the world. Forget about how their nesting habits might destroy the landscape like nutria in Louisiana. What was your motivation again? Conservation? Give me a break.

Honestly this movie makes me glad Trevorrow was fired from Star Wars Episode Nine. This proves that he has no clue what decent writing looks like and has no regard for what the original was trying to say. Just because he was given the opportunity to make these films doesn’t mean he should have.

 1 star out of 5

A forgettable and messy film that slowly meanders through the second and third act with no sense of purpose other than to say, “Ooooh look. It’s a dinosaur!” And it doesn’t even say that well.

[thingstodoinsandiego-blog]

San Diego Sightseeing

San Diego Sightseeing & Unique Things To Do

    San Diego, with its moderate climate, sprawling beaches and exceptional attraction is a great place for a vacation. There is literally something for everyone. From nightclubs to beach bums and club hoppers, let’s take a look at some of San Diego’s best sightseeing opportunities.   San Diego Zoo The San Diego Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the world with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. Because of the weather, almost all major exhibits of the San Diego Zoo are open-air. The San Diego Zoo is also extremely active in conservation and preservation efforts and many species are bred in captivity for release into their native habitats where appropriate. Guided tours are available for those who prefer not to amble around aimlessly.   SeaWorld With more than 130 million visitors since its opening in 1964, SeaWorld is the leading tourist attraction in San Diego and one of the most popular marine life parks in the world. With shows, displays and enclosures people can learn about the world’s oceans and the creatures that inhabit them such as dolphins, killer whales, walruses, penguins and Polar bears. It really is the ultimate guided tour.    Coronado Island The laid back small town atmosphere of Coronado Island is ideal for those who are looking for a place to relax. The quaint island offers sightseeing tours of the area which is connected to San Diego by the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Whether strolling on the beach or riding a rental bike around the inland, visitors can partake of the charm of this community, home to the Coronado Museum of History and Art, the shops and art galleries at Ferry Landing, and views of San Diego across the bay. Tours all include a stop at the Hotel del Coronado, which is said to be the inspiration for the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz.   The Uss Midway Museum The USS Midway Museum, located on the Embarcadero’s Navy Pier, offers visitors a chance to explore, from stem to stern, one of the longest-serving aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy. The guided tour gives in depth detail on the nearly quarter-million sailors who have served on the Midway between 1945 to 1992, when it was retired. It has been a San Diego tourist attraction since 2004, receiving more than one million visitors annually, making it one of the world’s most visited ship museums. Guided tours take visitors to the ship’s sleeping and officer quarters, engine room and galley.    Balboa Park Balboa Park isn’t just another park. It has plenty of green space, flora and fauna, naturally, but it also contains 15 museums, a carousel, miniature railroad, the renowned San Diego Zoo and the historic Old Globe Theatre, among other attractions. The list of museums include a couple of art museums while others are devoted to natural history, air and space, science and the famous Museum of Man. Comprehensive tours are available of the numerous gardens which are devoted to native plants, roses, cactus, and the veterans memorial. The nation’s largest urban garden also includes restaurants, and biking and hiking trails.   The Gaslamp Quarter One of the most popular areas to pick up a “walking tour guide”, The Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego’s premier dining, nightlife and shopping center, dates back to 1850. Decades later, this Victorian district was cleaned up, both in appearance and reputation, and became known as the Gaslamp Quarter. Now home to more than 200 restaurants, boutiques and art galleries, it is on the National Historic Register and is a shopping addicts dream.   La Jolla Shores La Jolla Shores is one of the San Diego area’s best beaches. La Jolla is an upscale community sometimes referred to as the “jewel of San Diego,” but this gem really shines when it comes to its beaches. La Jolla Shores is a mile-long beach that is popular with locals and visitors alike for a variety of water activities: swimming, surfing, scuba diving and kayaking. Be sure to make use of the many guided tours for both out of water and in water activities to take full advantage of this gem.    Cabrillo National Monument Located at the tip of Point Loma, the Cabrillo National Monument honors Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the Spanish explorer who landed at San Diego Bay in 1542, thus becoming the first European to set foot on the West Coast of what is now the United States. The Cabrillo National Monument offers plenty of activities for visitors who enjoy the great outdoors. Activities range from watching for Pacific Gray whales that swim by during the winter months to a guided hike along the two-mile Bayside Trail with its stunning views of the city and bay.    Old Town Though Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years, the area known as Old Town wasn’t “discovered” until 1542 by a Spanish explorer. Old Town is considered the birthplace of California since it was the first permanent Spanish settlement in California, with Father Junipero Serra establishing his first mission here on Presidio Hill. Today, Old Town is a great place to see San Diego’s colonial roots. Casas, or houses, built in the 19th century, are now museums, shops or restaurants; adobe churches add to the color of Old Town. Guided historical tours are a plenty here and a plethora of knowledge is shared while you amble the historical sights.    San Diego Zoo Safari Park The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located near Escondido, is one of the top tourist attractions in San Diego. The 1,200-acre zoo has more than 300 species of animals, especially those that are endangered in the wild, concentrating on breeding them and then reintroducing them back into their wild native habitat. Visitors can take a guided tram tour of the zoo or see it from above via a hot-air tethered balloon and a nature specialised guide. Other activities include watching a cheetah run at up to 70 mph, a petting zoo, walking among the lemurs and visiting an aviary.    More San Diego Sightseeing Info

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[a-real-live-jeremy-blog]

Best Cat Enclosure

Here are some amazing webpages single burner propane camp stove, best car leather cleaner, lightweight backpacking shovel. Cat Enclosure

Cat enclosures can be either long lasting or temporary constructions utilised for housing cats. They are not only used to preserve your kitty confined to a specific spot of the house, but also maintain her away from external harm such as cat predators or catchers and so forth.

There are basically two varieties of cat enclosures, an indoor building or an outdoor one. The kind of cat enclosure that you buy has to be suited to your needs. Pet owners with a big yard or lawn are better off hunting at outdoor cat enclosures as these will avoid your furry pal from wandering off, acquiring misplaced or acquiring hit by vehicles or other automobiles. On the other hand, indoor enclosures could also be quite beneficial in transporting your pet from one area to yet another. Nevertheless, a cat enclosure should not be baffled with a cat carrier. While a cat carrier is a little plastic case utilised for flight transport or quick time hauls, an enclosure is bigger, the minimal size being 6 ‘x 6′ x 6’. A excellent enclosure should be huge sufficient to let your kitty to perform inside, move all around freely and spend all its time there.

Given that cats have an instinctive conduct of staying put in one area, buying a cat enclosure for your pet before shifting to a new house is a excellent notion as it will avoid your kitty from operating away in search of her outdated home. In addition, it will even support her get employed to the new surroundings. Even if your kitty wanders off to a far off location while playing, odds are that they will discover their way back home. One of the more interesting utilizes of indoor enclosures is that they are a excellent device for cat breeders who would like to induce selective breeding among their cats.

The enclosures are typically constructed of wood and metal and in most situations have a roof to avert the cat from jumping out. Readymade enclosures are easily offered at pet retailers. Numerous suppliers will even construct customized created enclosures if you should need it.

If you are pondering of acquiring a cat enclosure for your home, you do not necessarily have to obtain a completely new set. Rather, attempt browsing for very good bargains on utilised enclosures. In situation you or an individual you know is excellent with woodwork, you may possibly even acquire cat enclosure creating strategies so that you can build it yourself! Outdoor cat enclosures can open up a total new globe for your feline pal. Even indoor cats like to expertise the outdoors once in awhile, why do you believe they are sitting in open windows, or in front of the display door in the summer season? With cat enclosures, your pet can take pleasure in being outdoors with out the worry of them receiving away or being injured. A great deal of indoor cats have been declawed, which is excellent for your furnishings, but if they get outdoors, they are fairly considerably defenseless when they encounter other cats. You want them to be secure, that is why you have selected them to be indoors only, but you don’t have to deprive them of getting fresh air and sunshine.

People that own motor houses and travel trailers frequently get their cats with them. There are many reasons for this, they don’t have to be concerned about having someone get care of them while they are away, or they merely want their cats to enjoy a getaway as nicely. The biggest issue with taking your cat with you on vacation is that with out an outdoor cat enclosure, your pet is even now stuck within the trailer or RV. Cat enclosures can allow them come out and be with you while you are enjoying the outdoors, letting them expertise new sights and smells, while still being secure.

Outdoor cat carriers come in a range of various shapes and sizes. Some cat enclosures are merely a mesh like tunnel, offering your pet room to explore a minor. Others are big, like not only a run, but also a condominium type enclosure as well. If you prepare on spending any extended periods of time outdoors, having a get together with close friends and family members, or tending the lawn or backyard, these massive enclosures can be a second residence for your pet.

While outdoor cat enclosures are an investment, it is one that you will be pleased to acquire them. Cat carriers can be a joy for your cat, without all the issues that having an outdoor cat can entail. You don’t have to fret about them escaping, acquiring run over by a automobile, or even attacked by other cats or even dogs. Outdoor cats face all varieties of ailments, and having an enclosure keeps your indoor cat protected.

Here are a few examples of outdoor cat enclosures, there are several others. One of the easiest cat enclosures is the KittyWalk Deck & Patio Enclosure. This structure is perfect for decks, patios, as effectively as apartment balconies. It can be extended to six feet long, providing your pet plenty of space to discover safely. It has a weather resistant rip-stop netting, providing your cat the maximum visibility. It also has a floor and two doors, one at each end. The entire system is lightweight, comes with a travel bag, and the snap together system makes set up a breeze. This unit can even be connected to other systems for an even longer run. This product costs just $105.95.

As mentioned earlier, outdoor cat enclosures can also be big and luxurious. Yet another example of these huge cat enclosures is the KittyWalk Grand Town and Country Cat Enclosure. This is truly the lap of luxury for your pet. It includes the six foot run, but also features a five foot high ‘penthouse.’ this has three diverse levels, two awnings, one for the house and a smaller one for the run. It also has four diverse levels of hammocks. This is an ideal outdoor home for up to three cats. This model includes that same rip-stop materials, and is completely enclosed. This product will cost you just $269.95.

You can also check out some of my other websites at 2 liter water bottles, outdoor mess kit, numbered key tags.

[unfltrdlfe]

We finally arrived in Thailand! Now, I LOVED seeing Vietnam and Cambodia , but, Thailand had been a long time desire so I was really excited to get here. First stop was Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. We arrived late at night 2 days before Songkran began… technically 3 but everyone began celebrating the day before anyway. I’ll get to that.

Accommodation: Jimmy and Jeng Homestay

Thoughts: I HIGHLY recommend this place!! The people who run it are absolutely amazing! They’re so welcoming, helpful, and speak perfect English. We had our own ensuite to our room, and it was so clean! We didn’t feel like there was any need to wear shoes in the shower (idk about you, but I always count that as a win as I just don’t trust the cleanliness of the shower floors in hostels). They were also extremely helpful when it came to planning excursions and could give discounted prices.

The location is fantastic as well! It’s a little out of the way, but, if you go out, turn right and walk straight for maybe 10 minutes, you’ll be right in the centre of town. It’s perfect! It was even better during Songkran because it was a good place to be able to stay out of the way of the festivities if you didn’t want to take part.

Additionally, they have water and sodas available, you just keep track of what you take from the fridge and pay at the end. They also offer breakfast and coffee in the morning. It’s a really great place!

Day 1

As earlier mentioned, we arrived fairly late, we checked in and walked into town to get some food, had a really lovely meal, walked around a small bit, then went home to sleep.

Day 2

Alright so, first full day! Over breakfast, we made some decisions: to book the elephant sanctuary tour for the following day, and to go to the zoo as both Lacey and I love the zoo! Say what you will about them, but I have a younger sister who has been obsessed with animals my entire life, and has always made us go to zoos in almost every city we’ve visited and I can honestly say I’ve only seen a small handful where I felt the animals were kept in closures too small or might be mistreated, and only one where I can definitely say I KNOW they were mistreated simply based on looking at the animals, and that was ironically in Zurich, Switzerland.

To get there, we took a shared tuk tuk, which are very common in Chiang Mai. They’re red, and have long benches, can hold around 12 people I believe. You can pick them up anywhere, you pay a flat rate, which is printed on the side (was slightly higher while we were there because of the holiday), and they’ll take you where you want to go. It’s a great way to get around!

Anyway, so we went to the zoo and spent all day walking around, and still didn’t see it all! This place was HUGE! It was fantastic! The animals looked healthy and their enclosures were big, I loved every minute of being there! Definitely recommend it if you have the chance. Once it came time for the zoo to close, I think we caught the last tuk tuk out and headed into the markets. As previously mentioned, in Southeast Asia, even if you’re not actually buying anything, the markets are definitely worth a look.

We eventually headed back, went out for dinner, and went to bed as we had an early morning the next morning for the elephant sanctuary!

Day 3

There are two elephant sanctuaries that are more encouraged for you to go to as they are the ones that don’t allow you to ride the elephants. People try to discourage the ones that allow you to ride them as the point of the sanctuaries is a safe place for the elephants so they won’t be mistreated or hunted….and riding them isn’t natural. So, we went to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary as we were able to book it last minute, the other one that is highly recommended is the Elephant Nature Park however, this one you have to book in advance, they were booked about 2 weeks out when we were there. If you travel like we do, Jungle Sanctuary is definitely your better bet.

We were picked up in the morning by someone who was going to take us to the sanctuary location, we were the first stop, we made 4 or 5 more along the way at other hotels. It was tuk tuk-esque. It was a pick up truck that had a cover and benches in the back, then the last 2 we picked up sat inside, up front with the driver. On our way out, Jimmy gave us plastic bags and told us to put our things in it as we’d be getting wet. We took the bags and said thank you, although we really didn’t understand why we’d be getting wet…we soon found out.

Along the way, we all chatted in the back of the truck, there was a couple from Miami, a couple from Canada, a couple from England and then me and Lacey….a couple of crazy people. Everyone seemed really cool and we all got along really well. There was a stop made along the way so we could use restrooms and buy water if needed or anything else, but also, our driver handed out plastic bags to everyone else to put their things in, and advised us all to do so at that time. Still unsure as to why this was necessary, we all followed his advice and protected our things. Shortly after doing this, as we were driving along, through a few smaller villages (this was an hour’s drive at least), we were assaulted with water flying into the back of the truck! Whoever got hit in the back screamed out of surprise and jumped out of their seats! All of our jaws were on the floor in shock, which quickly turned into fits of laughter as it proceeded to happen a few more times during our drive.

We finally arrived to our location with minimally damp clothing. We were driven down quite close then had to walk the rest of the way over to the shelter. As soon as we were down past the trees, we saw elephants! It was mind-blowing!!! We made our way to the shelter, and were given special shirts to put on while we fed the elephants. They gave a demonstration on the proper way to feed the elephants, then handed some of the food out to each of us and let us begin mingling with them! It was absolutely incredible! There was a baby who would stay nearby its mom most of the time but was really adorable and fun to pet…and when I say baby, it was almost up to my shoulder in height! The elephants are extremely comfortable around people and are really friendly, however, they are obviously massive, heavy animals who don’t quite realize just how big they are. They are playful, which obviously means you have to be careful as they could easily hurt you by accident, and they can’t see behind them, so you have to be sure you won’t get stepped on when they decide to reverse. With that said, no broken bones or injuries occurred while we were there.

Once the elephants were fed, it was time to feed ourselves. We ate a provided lunch, had time to use the toilets, and if we finished early, could feed the elephants a bit more. Once everyone had their fill of lunch, we changed into bathing suits and went to give the elephants baths! There was  mud bath pit, and clean water to rinse them in. To give them mud baths, you literally just picked up loads of mud and rubbed it on them. This was all well and good…until the people working there started rubbing the mud on us. It basically turned into a massive mud and water fight. Oh, and side note: the elephants will poop in the water, and the people working there will pick it up and throw it out. Sounds gross, but when you stop and think about an elephant’s diet, it’s basically like picking up a fallen tree branch and throwing it aside.

Once the mud bath was completed for elephants and people alike, it was time to rinse. The people working there led the elephants to the clean water, and we all followed. You had to give plenty of room each time an elephant entered or left the water, because when entering, they would walk in and roll over on their sides, they loved it! But exiting, you again just need to be sure you won’t get stepped on. Once again, this basically ended up turning into a water fight. While the water/mud fights were fun, I would have rather had a it where your group is assigned to one elephant to bathe, that way you get to spend a little more time with them. From what I’ve heard, that’s more the way it goes in the Elephant Nature Park. But, personal preferences.

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Additional note: Everything I described here is part of the full day tour. There are half days offered, personally, I can’t imagine doing a half day as I believe all you get to do is feed them. It just doesn’t feel like it would be worth it to me.

Once we were done, we dried off, made sure we had everything and loaded back into the truck to head home, once again, putting our things in plastic bags for protection….this time we were SO happy we did this. On the way home, more people were out, with kiddie pools, hoses, and emptied trash bins loaded with water. They had water guns and buckets waiting to shoot water at passersby. As soon as the first one hit, it didn’t stop the entire way back into town. We were SOAKED! Soon, we started looking out the windows and would figure out which side of the truck it was coming on so we could prepare. The worst was when it was on your side and they clearly had just melted blocks of ice for the water, it was FREEZING!! Thankfully, it was hot out so it was alright. Between the 8 of us in the back, we started using empty water bottles to collect water from the bed of the truck (yes it was that wet) to throw water back out! It was pretty fun!

We finally arrived back in town and started making drop offs. This time, there was no relief between water attacks, I would have been less wet if I had just jumped in a pool. Not only was it wet, we were freezing! And as we were the first ones to be picked up, Lacey and I were the last to be dropped off…meaning we were definitely the wettest. When we got back, they just laughed at us for being so wet and asked if we had fun. We took warm showers, and went out to get food, and water guns for the next day. I’m not really sure why we wasted the time to shower to be honest, as soon as we stepped outside the safe confines of the Guesthouse, people were at us again with water guns. The only way to stay dry is to stay home, no joke. So, although Songkran wasn’t scheduled to start until the following day, people definitely started celebrating early. Lacey and I each bought a water gun, and goggles and were ready to go the next day.

Day 3

Official first day of Songkran!!!! We got up, loaded up water in our guns and headed out to meet everyone. When we arrived, we were greeted by blasts of water from their guns. People had lined the streets, shooting water guns and launching bucket fulls at each other. I mean, this is the water fight you dreamed of as a kid! Cars and trucks drove through, most cars kept their windows rolled up, but in the trucks, people were loaded up in the beds, bins full of water throwing it on everyone, and getting 5x more wet than everyone else in the process. There was a river nearby as well that pretty much everyone from the streets was filling their buckets and guns with…this is definitely something to note if you ever go: DO NOT DRINK THE  WATER BEING THROWN AROUND!!! It’s definitely not clean and you could definitely get sick…as I did later, and no I didn’t drink the water, or at least not intentionally, so it can happen either way.

After a while we decided we wanted to head down to a bar, especially because most of the bars had bins and hoses so you could fill your water up for free (a lot of places tried to make you pay…this is a silly thing, don’t do it if you ever go to this festival, walk around, you’ll find free water to fill up.

Lacey and I had walked around the first night and found that one street with all the bars….yeah you know the one I’m talking about (there’s always one). We told everyone we knew where we needed to go, and led them over that way. Once we arrived to the street, it was just a matter of finding the right spot, which we did about halfway down the street. Ended up being this really small bar with like one or two other people in it, we sat down, had a few drinks, started dancing and having fun, then went and hung out on the street to play water war some more. It was amazing! We were there for a few hours, everyone smiling, laughing dancing and singing! Just absolutely amazing! After a while we all realized we’d had a fair few drinks but nothing to eat, so we went to find food.

After lunch we all sort of lost our energy and finally decided to call it quits for a while, saying we’d meet up again later tonight to resume the activities. Lacey and I returned, and our lovely, lovely guesthouse owners had some friend over and were cooking and having some drinks, they weren’t big on going out into town for the festival. They invited us to sit down with them and have some food, it was all amazing! Then, we went to shower and take naps. Somehow in the process of all this, I started feeling ill. Not like I ate something bad or anything, but just overall did not feel well, and it felt like I had a fever. So, instead of heading back out for the night, we ordered pizza from Pizza Hut, watched a movie and fell asleep.

The next morning we flew to Bangkok. We took an uber there as to not get wet because we did have to drive through town. We kept the windows rolled up, but the car still got hit with water as this was only day 2 of the 3 day festival. We got to the airport, then to Bangkok, to our hotel where we were going to meet my Dad and sister!

Chiang Mai During Songkran! We finally arrived in Thailand! Now, I LOVED seeing Vietnam and Cambodia , but, Thailand had been a long time desire so I was really excited to get here.

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New Post has been published on http://fitnessandhealthpros.com/fitness/how-to-buy-and-appreciate-eggs/

How to Buy (and Appreciate) Eggs

Time and again I find myself on the topic of eggs. I’m a fan really. In fact, I had them for breakfast just this morning (as most mornings).

They’re one of nature’s true superfoods after all—pre-packaged and ready to enjoy however you see fit. The healthy fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals contained within simply can’t be ignored, regardless of all those misguided cholesterol-haters out there.

Back in 2008, I provided a brief look into deconstructing egg carton labelling. That simple guide to egg purchasing has gotten a fair amount of attention and shares over the years, so I’m revisiting the subject to update and elaborate where it makes sense. I don’t see eggs ever losing their place in paleo/Primal eating, and I know others share my enthusiasm.

Eggs: an Ultimate Primal Food Source

Every Primal mind knows that eggs are a great source of protein, healthy fats, and various vitamins and minerals. Vast amounts of choline, bucketloads of selenium, rare food-form vitamin D—that sort of thing. That’s old news, but useful info nonetheless. Since writing that original post almost nine years ago, however, there’s been a plethora of nutritional discoveries, some I’ve mentioned previously and some not.

For starters, getting a daily fix of egg may further lower your already-slim chances of developing diabetes. In one of the first population-based studies of egg consumption vs. health, over 2000 men between the ages of 42 and 60 were assessed over almost 2 decades. The study found that men who ate 4 eggs a week had a 37% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who ate a measly 1 egg per week.

A study done back in 2011 showed that in addition to all their nutritious proteins, fats and vitamins, eggs also contain the two amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine. Two compounds that just so happen to have strong antioxidant properties. Unsurprisingly, researchers found that all the antioxidant goodness was holed up in the yolks, and that cooking the yolk reduced the antioxidant load by half…at which point they’re still as rich in antioxidants as an apple. Not bad at all. (If you like your eggs cooked, there are ways to minimize the oxidation in the yolk.)

Eggs also have a way of making a good thing better. A recent Purdue University study found that the lipids contained in eggs can improve absorption of carotenoids from vegetables. Sixteen participants were given a raw mixed-vegetable salad with no eggs, one and a half eggs, and three eggs. The absorption of carotenoids from the salad greens was almost 4 times higher in the 3 egg salad than the salad that had no eggs. Turns out that nicoise salad they always have at your local cafe cabinet is worth a stab after all. One thing to keep in mind, however…it’s really the lipids contained in the yolk that’s extracting all that nutrient magic, rather than the egg whites. Sure, other healthy fat sources (e.g. quality oils and dressings—and, yes, I know some) serve the same purpose, but there’s nothing like egg in a Big A$ $ salad if you ask me.

A similar study discovered that adding three whole eggs to salads increased vitamin E absorption by between 4 and 7 times. Considering vitamin E is the second most under-consumed nutrient in the average American diet, it’s nothing to minimize.

And those infamous egg critiques we all grew up hearing? Yeah, dead in the water long ago. A study published this year involving 2500 subjects showed that eating an egg a day is not associated with an elevated risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or any other form of memory disorder. Little surprise there.

By the same token, research continues to prove that there’s no link between consuming the cholesterol in eggs and coronary heart disease—even in those folks “predisposed” towards cardiovascular complications.

What’s That Carton Label Really Telling You?

Eggs can be a nutritional powerhouse, particularly when they come from quality sources. The problem is, it’s not always obvious what “quality” even means in the mysterious world of marketing. Cage free, free range, organic, all-natural, pastured, omega-3…is it all just commercial gibberish? The look of the eggs inside the carton won’t be of help either—they all just look like eggs.

To get the most nutrition for your money and to know the sourcing conditions of what you’re investing in, a few pointers are helpful. To recap…

Cage-free

Cage-free eggs might imply that the hens that lay them enjoy some form of freedom, but don’t be fooled. Legally, there’s very little meaning behind this label, beyond the emphasis that cage-free hens are permitted to move around outside of an individual cage. In most cases, this simply means they’ve traded a small cage for a much larger one, also known as a “henhouse” (enormous industrial enclosure). These houses are typically packed to the walls with chickens, to the point where they’re often just as cramped as they would be inside a cage. They can technically engage in social behaviors with other hens, but this usually just means they peck at each other in their fight to get access to food and as a result of the unnatural stress of their close confines. The result is that many have their beaks partially snipped in the first few days of their life. Not cool.

Nutrition-wise, cage-free eggs are possibly a little more nutritious than the average caged chicken egg, but only just. Their feed may or may not be a little better, and they can at least move around a little, but they can’t roam, bathe in the sunshine, or eat a natural diet. They’re also pumped with antibiotics—some of which can pass from the chicken to the egg.

Free-range

Technically another step up in the egg nutrition pecking order, but the meaning of this term varies considerably. Government regulations remain surprisingly lax on the definition of “free range”, and generally only require that poultry farmers allow their hens some form of access to the outdoors. While there are those farmers that take this meaning literally, most opt for the cheapest and easiest available option – a tiny chicken-sized door in a corner of the shed. Sure, those chickens technically have the option to go outside, but most either can’t or choose not to anyway. To truly know just how “free range” those eggs are, you need to do your own brand-specific investigations.

Free-run

Arguably a step back down in the egg nutrition department, these eggs are essentially just from cage free hens. They don’t have access to the outdoors but can theoretically move around freely and are probably still healthier than caged hens.

Omega-3 Fortified

These eggs come from hens that are fed higher levels of flaxseed, linseed or omega-3 supplements. It’s a good thing. One study showed that omega-3 fortified eggs had five times the omega-3 content of a conventional egg and nearly 40% lower omega-6 content. Keep in mind most of that is ALA-based.

Considering the average Primal diet contains plenty of natural omega-3 sources, I wouldn’t be relying on these eggs for your daily quota. If the cost difference is substantial where you shop, you might be better putting that money toward some quality fish or fish oil.

Organic

With the organic certification comes a fair bit of oversight, including a ban on GMO feed, antibiotics, free access to the outdoors, and of course completely organic feed (grains). And that organic feed might be offering you more than you think, considering research into egg feed over the years has found everything from organic arsenic to banned antibiotics to residues of acetaminophen, diphenhydramine (active ingredient in Benadryl) to fluoxetine (the active ingredient in Prozac). This isn’t to say every conventional feed has any or all of these, but personally I prefer having a better idea of what’s not in the feed.

An organic label now ensures a certain level of humane conditions. With recent changes to organic standards, animals are required to have enough room to lie down. Until last year, debeaking was often part of an organic farm practice.

Certified Humane

While chickens aren’t kept in battery cages, they may not necessarily be outdoors. Nonetheless, living conditions won’t be as crowded as a conventional setting because of audited density standards. There’s also no guarantee for organic feed.

I’ve skipped over a number of other egg marketing terminologies, including “all-natural,” “United Egg-Producers Certified,” “vegetarian fed” (no bugs or grubs allowed), and “farm-fresh.” File these under meaningless or irrelevant.

There’s No Substitute for Pasture-Raised.

Pastured eggs are, quite literally, the cream of the crop. Since my last post nearly a decade ago, there’s more research and availability. Pastured hens are raised on farms that allow them to roam freely to their hearts’ content, pecking at bugs, plants, shoes, dogs – whatever takes their fancy. They receive ample sunshine, and aren’t injected with hormones, antibiotics, or steroids. Life is good for the pastured hen, and they pass this down into your pastured eggs.

But don’t just take my word for it. A Pennsylvanian study from a few years back found that the nutrients in pastured eggs far surpassed anything found in “commercially-raised” eggs. According to the lead investigator, “eggs from pastured hens eggs had twice as much vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 fats, more than double the total omega-3 fatty acids, and less than half the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.” Throw in higher vitamin A concentrations, and you’ve got yourself a no-brainer when it comes to forking out a few extra coins for eggs of the pastured variety.

Various investigations conducted by the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) back up these findings. In one of their analyses, poultry extraordinaire Barb Groski grabbed a bunch of egg and broiler samples from pastured and unpastured chickens and sent them away for lab analysis. The pastured eggs contained 40% more vitamin A, 34% less cholesterol (not that we were worried), and four times as many omega-3s. The pastured meat displayed similar nutritional superiority. A couple of Portuguese studies found much the same, with considerably more omega-3s in the pastured hens.

Don’t have access to locally raised/pastured eggs? Vital Farms is doing a stellar job of partnering with small farms across the country to make good eggs more accessible. And not just at Whole Foods: I’ve seen them at Target, Ralph’s, Vons, Safeway, Albertsons, and plenty of other stores.

Thanks for reading, everyone. Have you noticed a change in taste or your own health in switching from conventional eggs to organic or pastured? Do you have specific farms or online sources you’d recommend?

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Originally at :Mark's Daily Apple Written By : Mark Sisson