Working Man Blues: When Am I Ever Gonna Retire?

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Working Man Blues

More than Half of Workers 60+ are Postponing Retirement, According to New American Study

 

Working Man Blues

Working Man Blues: When Am I Ever Gonna Retire?

 

The hands of a working man built this town
Cleaned up this timber and plowed this ground
Raised those cattle in the sun and snow
Dammed that river and dug that coal
It’s a debt we owe to the hands of a working man…
“Hands of a Working Man” Zane Williams [1]

 

– 2 in 5 workers don’t think they’ll retire until 70 or older

– A quarter of workers do not know how much they will need to save for retirement

– 26% of workers think they need more than $1 million to retire

 

“It’s a workin’ man I am.”  Don’t know about you, my friend, but I’m an older workin’ man — in my 70’s and still getting up every weekday with my wife so we both can get back on the road and earn an honest living.  In our free time together Mary Lee paints what she loves and I write about what I love.

As a Canadian, I’ve been hearing the promise of a Fed “Tax Break” for years and years.  Thinking it’s about time.

The Stephen Harper Conservatives did give a much-touted tax cut to the Rich and major corporations.  I didn’t disagree with that.  I worry about the Rich.  Are they getting enough to eat? [2]

Justin Trudeau’s Liberals gave a tax cut to the Middle Class — a whole percentage drop on their income tax rate.  As well as giving away money to young families in the form of a Canada Child Benefit and extended parental leave.  Don’t disagree with that, either.  It costs money to raise a family.  We should know, eh? [3]

What I don’t like is there’s been no tax cut for Working Families or Seniors on fixed incomes.  Just did our tax returns for 2017.  IT’S STILL 15%!!!

And I’m asking: “Who represents the Working Man?  The Working Woman?  And Seniors on fixed incomes?”  I’m not asking for a handout.  I just want a government that’s going to FINALLY CUT EVERYBODY’S TAXES!

In a way, I understand the economics of it.  There’s so many of us: Working Families and aging Boomers.  “The Good Lord sure made a passel of us.”  We are the real source of federal and provincial tax revenues.

But there’s hope, mon ami.  In Canada, Doug Ford is building support.  Doug has committed to “eliminating taxes for those earning less than $30,000 a year.”  But Ford Nation is three provinces away — not here in Atlantic Canada.  Under Donald Trump, our American friends sound hopeful (when they’re not still angry) about real change.  Truly good people.

God willing, those tax breaks will finally come for us older workers.  Maybe we can even retire someday…

So what’s going on?

A new study of American Working Men and Women has concluded: “Though the economy is improving, many US workers are still pumping the brakes on their retirement plans. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 53% of workers aged 60 plus say they are postponing retirement, with 57% of men putting retirement on hold compared to 48% of women. Four in 10 workers don’t think they’ll be able to retire until 70 or older.”

This survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll.[4]

“Postponing retirement will make an impact across all of our country’s workforce, along with retirement policy and financial and health care planning,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.[5] “With workers staying in their jobs longer, employers are adjusting hiring needs, but also reaping the benefits of the extra skills and mentoring abilities of mature employees.”

“Postponing Because of Uncertainty”

Are workers putting retirement plans on hold because they are unsure of how much to save? Approximately a quarter don’t know how much they will need to save for retirement. Women are much more likely to be unsure of how much to save than men – 31 to 17 percent, respectively.

When asked how much money they think they’ll need to save in order to retire, workers reponded:

Less than $500,000: 20%
$500,000 to less than $1 million: 31%
$1 million to less than $2 million: 14%
$2 million to less than $3 million: 5%
$3 million or more: 7%

When asked if they’re currently contributing to retirement accounts, roughly 1 in 4 workers 55+ (23%) said they do not participate in a 401(k), IRA or other retirement plan, a rate even higher in younger adults ages 18-34 (40%). Sixty-seven percent of workers in the South and 69% in the Midwest contribute to retirement accounts, compared to 73% in the Northeast and 71% in the West.

Research Method:

This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder among 809 employees ages 18 and over (employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government) between November 28 and December 20, 2017. Data for employees were weighted where necessary by gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, income, education, and industry to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

CONCLUSION: There are elections coming.  In both our countries.  I’m voting for whatever party finally promises the Working Family and Seniors a Tax Break!  If such a party exists by then…

It’s a big job just gettin’ by with nine kids and a wife
I been a workin’ man dang near all my life
I’ll be working long as my two hands are fit to use
I’ll drink my beer in a tavern,
Sing a little bit of these working man blues…
“Working Man Blues” Merle Haggard

(God Bless you, Merle!  You were the best.)

 

Live Free, Mon Ami! – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

[1] Zane Williams sings “Hands of a Working Man” —  www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK3Kfkc_TQA.  And see Zane’s home page at https://zanewilliamsmusic.com/.

[2] I voted for Stephen in his first election because of his Law & Order stance — Life means life.  And, bless him, he kept his promise.  He also took 1% off that pernicious GST — the Goods and Services Tax is a tax on the working family.  And he killed that loathsome mandatory long-form census.

[3] I voted for Justin because he promised he would restore services to our Veterans and their families.  Big one for me.  What were the Conservatives thinking?  He also promised that income tax cut, to pick up where our Greenest Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had left off, and brought back an international love and appreciation of our unique Canadian Culture.  Time will tell…

[4] About The Harris Poll:
The Harris Poll says it is “one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible.” To learn more, please visit www.harrisinsights.com.

[5] About CareerBuilder®:
CareerBuilder is a “global, end-to-end human capital solutions company focused on helping employers find, hire and manage great talent. Combining advertising, software and services, CareerBuilder leads the industry in recruiting solutions, employment screening and human capital management. CareerBuilder is majority-owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC and operates in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.” For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com

Published for May Day 2018.

Source: Civilized Bears, Harris Poll, CareerBuilder & PR Newswire

Working Man Blues: When Am I Ever Gonna Retire?

Doug Ford, FordNation, Ford Nation, hands of a working man, postponing retirement, retire, tax break, tax cut, working man blues, working man I am, Zane Williams.

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FRIDAY 13th, LUCKY 7 & 2024 NUMEROLOGY PREDICTIONS: What Do Numbers Really Mean In Your Life?

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Friday 13th always comes…

NUMEROLOGY – “The Language of God.”  What Do Numbers Really Mean In Your Life?  What About Friday 13th?

 

Friday 13th

 

“It’s Friday the Thirteenth again!”

Unlucky 13.  Lucky 7.  Until we think about it, we kind of believe in them, eh?  I know I do — when another Friday the 13th arrives, I say “UH OH!”  Out loud, too.

I shouldn’t, I know.  Followed Numerology enough to know that numbers really are “The Language of God”  As the ancient Sumerians believed 5000 years ago.  Their meanings are more complex than that.  But I can’t help it.  So what’s it all about?

It goes back at least as far as the Crucifixion of Christ.  Judas, the money-carrier, the betrayer for 30 pieces of silver, was considered the Thirteenth Man.

Friday 13th.

According to University of Cincinnati popular culture expert Rebecca Borah, “13 was considered unlucky by both pre-Christian and, later, Christian societies.” [1]

Rebecca explains, “The pre-Christian societies often noted the number 12 as representing completeness due to lunar cycles. So, 13 was a stepchild of a number. Later, a Christian overlay was added since the 13th apostle was Judas Iscariot.”

She adds that “it was in the early 1900s when we can find evidence where the two superstitions merged, and Friday the 13th emerged as a day of especially bad karma.”

But then there’s this: “Are You a Thirteen Person? Friday the 13th can be very lucky for people with the right vibes…”

Why?  Listen!

Friday 13th“The number 13 has little to do with ‘bad luck,’ despite the US Navy, supposedly, avoiding launching ships on Friday the 13th.  And many Americans viewing the 13th and anything related to the number 13 as negative,” wrote author Scott Petullo.  In an article titled “Numerology & The Number 13 – Luckier Than You Think” [2]

“The association may be due to Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, being burned at the stake in 1314 on a Friday the 13th after a trial overseen by the King of France and Pope Clement V.”

Numerologists say the number 13 “has a bad rap largely due to its unusual qualities.  That includes Friday 13th.”

In particular, 13 represents “all or nothing” through transformation pertaining to degeneration or regeneration. Symbolic death and rebirth is strongly associated to 13. An example of the representative power of the number 13 is transitioning from modest means to vast wealth.

The number 13 is considered a “Karmic Debt Number,” as are the numbers 14, 16, and 19. These numbers involve more challenging karma than other numbers.

The number 13 in key positions in a person’s Numerology chart frequently symbolizes, depending upon the rest of the chart’s contents, the following energies.  An irresponsible, lazy, immature, idle, trivial, extravagant disposition.  Lack of seriousness, or the opposite (one extreme or the other).   Rigidity; inefficiency; restriction; low vitality, etc. There is also the high side of 13, so keep in mind that the above qualities are only part of the picture.

Otherwise, in matters of love, the number 13 involving time cycles is solid and very often exceedingly fruitful. May prove a key number in finding your Soul Mate.

In short, “the number 13 isn’t any more unlucky than any other number. There exist negative and positive, and balanced, over-balanced, and under-balanced qualities for every number. Bad luck associated with Friday the 13th is just a misconception, fueled by fear and subjective viewpoints.”

And I haven’t even mentioned Black Cats which, Numerologically speaking, mean Good Luck! [3]

Be Curious, Be Adventurous & Live Free, Mon Ami! – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

 

 

Source: Civilized Bears, Rebecca Borah & Scott Petullo

[1] About herself, Rebecca Borah says, “I study popular culture and fan communities, especially those that form around fantasy and science fiction topics. Those include but are not limited to Harry Potter, the supernatural, urban fantasy, speculative fiction, comic books/graphic novels, gaming, and vampires.”  Rebecca has had articles published in such studies as CRITICAL INSIGHTS: The Hunger Games and THE IVORY TOWER AND HARRY POTTER: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon
www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/english/profiles/rebecca_borah.html

[2] Scott Petullo wrote the Ezine Article “Numerology & The Number 13 – Luckier Than You Think” with his twin brother Stephen. Scott and Stephen Petullo offer “vital, yet sensible and practical spiritual guidance and tools, including their Spiritual Detox and Let Go MP3 meditation audios.” Get their free report: 13 Spiritual and New Age Myths and 13 Other Spiritual Laws Besides the Law of Attraction. www.spiritualgrowthnow.com

[3]  “Black Cat” (23132 312=17=8), Numerologically speaking, means Good Luck.  Especially in attracting earthly elements such as Money, Safe Homes and Rich Harvests.  Pre-Christian Celts believed that a black house cat, as well as sacred mistletoe and green holly leaves, would protect a home and its family from dark forces.  Great, eh?  Doesn’t matter in a way — we’d love our black cat no matter what.

Title: FRIDAY 13th, LUCKY 7 & 2024 NUMEROLOGY PREDICTIONS: What Do Numbers Mean In Your Life?

Keywords: 2024, 2024 numerology predictions, black cats, blue moon, free numerology reading. Friday the 13th, full moon, history of Friday 13th. Lucky 7, number numerology, numerologist, numerology for 2024, numerology chart. Numerology Predictions, predictions, and soul mates What is numerology?

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SAVING SIBERIAN TIGERS Russians Battling Trade of Endangered Species

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Saving Siberian Tigers…

Amazing Gains in Saving Siberian Tigers! Russian Federation to Host the 70th meeting of a Critical Convention.  The International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

 

Saving Siberian Tigers

SAVING SIBERIAN TIGERS: Russians Battling Trade of Endangered Species

NOTE: This Wildlife article is posted as “news without politics.”  What matters to us long-range is saving our Endangered Animals.  Every nation in this world has good-hearted men and women who struggle to save threatened species.

In a press release, the CITES Secretariat has announced that “an offer made by the Russian Federation to host the 70th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Sochi has been accepted.”  CITES is “the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.”

Sochi is located on the Black Sea coast near the border between Georgia and Russia. The city offers modern transport and meeting facilities allowing it to host major international events.

Sochi hosted the exciting XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014.  It’s also one of the host cities of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The northeastern part of the city belongs to the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve.  Which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of the few places in Russia with a subtropical climate.

Partners in Protection

Mr Sergei Donskoi is Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.  He said “The Russian Federation has been a Party to CITES for 25 years. We are convinced that the Convention has been a highly effective international mechanism to regulate trade in wildlife.  And to coordinate the global efforts to counter illicit trafficking in CITES-listed species of animals and plants.”

CITES Secretary-General, John Scanlon, added, “We are most grateful for the generous offer of the Russian Federation to host the 70th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee.  Which is a reflection of its strong support for CITES. Critical decisions will be made at this meeting. These decisions address the regulation of legal and sustainable trade in CITES-listed species and measures to combat illegal wildlife trade.” [1]

Saving Siberian Tigers: The Illegal Trade

Saving Siberian Tigers“Russia has expressed an interest in using this opportunity to introduce the outcomes of its ‘Year of Specially Protected Areas.’  And explain measures taken to develop the network of specially protected area and national programmes for protection of endangered species.” explained Mr Scanlon.

“These include bears (save our bears!), falcons, leopards, saiga antelopes, sturgeons, tigers and rare plant species.”

Russia’s dramatic efforts to save the beautiful but endangered Siberian Tiger stand out. The International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg, Russian Federation, sent a loud and clear message to criminals who prey upon tigers. “You will be hunted down and brought to justice!”

Siberian Tigers are also called Amur Tigers.

Almost every part of a tiger, including the majestic Siberian Tigers, has a value in the Black Market of illegal trade in wildlife.

Its skin, bones, whiskers, collar bones, feet, claws, teeth, penis and tail have all been used for a variety of purposes.

Illegal trade in tiger meat for human consumption appears to have increased in recent years. Trade in captured live tigers, although limited, also occurs. Primarily for private collections of exotic species or as a status symbol.

Saving Siberian Tigers: The Good News

Russia’s Far East is home to 95% of the global population of Siberian tigers.  A recent census of Amur (Siberian) tigers inhabiting that country’s Far East showed that the big cats have increased in numbers — GRRRREAT NEWS!

The Russians use photo-traps, which are long distance cameras. These give amazing results, based on the fact that each individual tiger has a unique coat pattern.  Just like a human’s fingerprints. Through long range photos, wildlife officers have been able to identify, catalogue and count the big cat populations.

Wildlife officers have also put transmitter collars on some cats.  And dramatically rescued and released others.

This year’s CITES meeting in Sochi will help focus more world attention on the endangered species problem.  It will show its successes — and reveal the work yet to be done.

And See: “What are Spirit Bears?”  They’re Real!  They’re the rarest bears on Earth! – Sacred White Bears & Native American Legends.

 

Did you like this Wildlife Post?

Lone WolfIF SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL STORY: “HAPPY ENDING!”

“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE.  ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER.  ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron

“GREAT SHORT STORY!  DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k

A heartfelt and thrilling tale in the Jack London Tradition of a lone Gray Wolf and it’s search for its place in the vast Northern forests.  FREE TO READ ==>  WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper

 

[1] CITES means the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.” It has 183 members. They are 182 countries plus the European Union.  CITES remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of trade. Thousands of species are internationally traded. And used by people in their daily lives for food, health care, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion.

CITES regulates international trade in over 36,000 species of plants and animals. Their permit system seeks to ensure that international trade in listed species is sustainable, legal and traceable.

CITES was signed in Washington D.C. on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975.

Learn more about CITES by visiting www.cites.org

SAVING SIBERIAN TIGERS: Russians Battling Trade of Endangered Species.

Posted March 8, 2018.

From The Edge Of Extinction, the Beautiful Big Cats Of Siberia Making A Comeback!
Source: CITES, PR Newswire & Civilized Bears.
Keywords: Amur tigers, Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, CITES, conservation program, Endangered Species, International Trade in Endangered Species. News without politics, Save Siberian Tigers, Sergei Donskoi, Siberian tigers, wildlife.

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Is the World Flat? Convex Earth New Map of the World – Flat Earth

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

“Is the world flat?”

Why do people believe the Earth is flat?  Old truths and new facts about the Flat Earth.

 

Earth is Flat Map - World flat

CONVEX EARTH! “Scientists at Dakila Pesquisas Release Documentary & Book Proving That the Earth is Flat, not Round!”

World Flat Proof…

Oh, yes.  Terry Pratchett was right!

“Rimmed with water, glittering under its tiny orbiting sunlet, spinning majestically around the mountains at its frozen Hub, lies the Discworld.  World and mirror of worlds…” [1]

I knew he was right the moment I first picked up a copy of Terry’s Discworld saga.  Once in a while I have myself written of the World of Witagg.  Witagg is a true flat world where on crystal-clear mornings “the stars fall like golden sleet.” [2]

The great Galileo had published a book theorizing that the Earth was round as a honeydew melon.  And flew in big circles around the Sun, of all things.  Even he publicly confessed that he had violated the injunction placed on him by Pope Urban VIII.  Galileo’s admission that he had been wrong. [3]

And now the real scientific proof is finally out.  You’ve got to read it.  Listen!

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL — “World Flat.  Earth is Flat! Inquiries concerning the shape of the Earth have been a recurring theme in Human history.”

“Based on a series of natural phenomena that contradict accepted academic teaching on the matter, Brazilian scientists at Dakila Pesquisas decided to investigate these inconsistencies.”

In seven years of studies, scientific experiments were conducted at different points in the world.  With the involvement of government institutions and professional researchers from a variety of fields.

And then the group made an announcement.

World Flat - Earth is flat“First, the results will be presented in the feature-length CONVEX EARTH: The Documentary.

“The preview, by invitation, will take place at the Shopping Eldorado in São Paulo.  On March 26, at 7:30 pm.

“Three days later, the documentary will be released at convexearth.org, in English, Portuguese and Spanish.”

An amazing three-dimensional map has already been released.

According to Urandir Fernandes de Oliveira, founder of Dakila Pesquisas, the “thesis that the Earth is round has been refuted by seven experiments.”

  1. A geodesic experiment, which consists of measuring two buildings at a considerable distance.
  2. Using sea level as a reference.
  3. A laser experiment to ascertain the flatness of water surfaces.
  4. Leveling of water surfaces.
  5. Optical distortions relating to processes of reflection.
  6. An experiment with boats on the horizon line.
  7. And experiments involving gravity and heavenly bodies.

In order to carry out the geodesic experiment, the base and the top of two buildings were measured.  One in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul.  And the other in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte.

Equally important, engineers at the National Institute of Land Settlement and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) took part in these activities.  INCRA also means Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária.

A long-range laser was used to measure the flatness of the waters at the Três Marias Dam in Minas Gerais.  At the Lagoa dos Patos.  In Rio Grande do Sul.  At Lake Titicaca in Peru.  And on the seas around the island of Ilhabela in the state of São Paulo.  And at the Straits of Gibraltar the sea passage separating Europe from Africa. In this way, the theory of gravity has been challenged by two essential natural measures: the plumb line and the level.

“Is the World Flat?  Yes, it’s a Flat Earth.”

“All the experiments had the participation of astronomers, cartographers, geologists, topographers and civil engineers.  Among other professional researchers. Cutting edge equipment was used,” explained Dakila Pesquisas in a press release.

Also, after the public showing of the stunning documentary, Dakila Pesquisas will reveal their evidence.  All of the methodology and technology used so that those interested can verify the results.

“In addition to addressing the shape of the Earth, the documentary will reveal the discovery of a new continent sealed off by a great wall of ice.

“Furthermore, new knowledge will also be demonstrated concerning the Sun, the Moon and the constellations,” Urandir Fernandes de Oliveira disclosed.  “Currently, our researchers are studying the inconsistencies presented by science regarding the Sun and the Moon.” [4]

Following the documentary, the printed version of CONVEX EARTH: The Book will be released.  Including all those scientific findings and a new map of the world.  Showing, among other things, the unknown continent behind the great wall of ice.

Conclusion: So there we are, my friend.  Clear proof that Heliocentricity was an empty theory all along.  Just like Darwin’s Evolution, Teddy Roosevelt’s Climate Change [5] and Charlie Chaplin’s “You’ll see the sun come shining through — if you just smile…” [6]

 

BREAKING NEWS:

BUT WAIT!  THERE’S MORE!  “The discoveries about Ratanabá and the unfolding research in the field of Archaeology continue in full force,” reported Dakila Pesquisas on July 13, 2023.  “Discoveries about Ratanabá, the Lost City in the Brazilian Amazon, will soon be announced.”

Stay on top of the main news about Dakila Pesquisas, Dakila Ecosystem & Ratanabá.  You can bet I’ll be following the Ratanabá Lost City Story!

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

And See My Most Popular (and Personal) Spiritual Post: ORNITHANTHROPUS — the Winged Human in Dream, Myth, Religion & Literature.

 

World Flat Footnotes…

[1] “The Discworld is as unreal as it is possible to be while still being just real enough to exist.

“A world not totally unlike our own.  Except that it is a flat disc carried on the backs of four elephants astride a giant turtle floating through space.  And that it is peopled by, among others, wizards, dwarves, policemen, thieves, beggars, vampires and witches.”  Terry Pratchett

[2] My first World of Witagg yarn was “His Last and First Women.”  Published in FANTASTIC STORIES/Science Fiction & Fantasy, March, 1974.  Others were accepted by publications like SPECTRUM: The Tri-Annual Review, from the Virginia Commonwealth University. (“Greenfriars and White Cats” — retitled “Tundra Quest.”)  And have later appeared online.

World Flat Facts…

[3] Galileo was helped in his recantation by the kindly ministrations of the Holy Inquisition.

[4] Founded in 1997, in Corguinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, Dakila Pesquisas is comprised of “researchers and scientists from different fields of knowledge, mainly the exact and natural sciences.”

Update: “Oops! That page can’t be found!”  The Dakila Pesquisas websites are resulting in “Not Secure” or “Connection timed out” notices.  But last I checked, their Facebook account is still live (and safe) for the public: facebook.com/ConvexEarth/.  I have my own Special Source and will keep you up to date.  Especially about their hunt for Ratanabá, the Lost City of Brazil.

[5] Teddy Roosevelt’s Climate Change?  SEE Teddy Roosevelt Called it Climate Change in 1908!

[6] “You’ll see the sun come shining through…”  I’ve tried this many a time, Charlie.  But despite my warmest grin aimed at those sullen clouds, the sun would never burst through for me.  At least not right away.

 

Updated: September 24, 2024.
Title: Is the World Flat? Convex Earth New Map of the World – Flat Earth.
Source: Dakila Pesquisas, PR Newswire & Civilized Bears.
Top & Second Image Credit: Dakila Pesquisas.
Third Image Credit: Paul Kidby/Orion Books.

First, 2025, Book review, Convex Earth, Dakila Pesquisas, Discworld.  The Earth is flat, Fantastic Stories, flat earth, flat earth 2025. Second, Flat earth model, flat earth movie.  Flat Earth Society, flat earth rocket, is earth flat?

New flat earth map, research flat earth, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and the world flat.  Finally, Terry Pratchett, the flat earth, World of Witagg.  Where in the Bible does it say the Earth is flat?  Now that’s a good question!

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Time To Write: How Can I Make Money from Writing? Free Writers Guide

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Your Free Writers Guide…

Time To Write!  The Top 4 Ways You Can Make Money from Writing.

 

Free Writers Guide

YOU know how it is!

I was 11 when I wrote my first short story: early fanfiction I titled “TARZAN VS CLYDE BEATTY.”  I knew even as my story spilled onto the paper that THIS is what I loved doing.  Writing!  I submitted stories to the popular magazines through my teens.

And just into my twenties I sold my first short story.  A science fantasy yarn to IF Magazine that would be picked for a couple World’s-Best-SF-Stories-of-the-Year book collections.

After that, I sold more stories commercially, some even published under my own name.

Needing to make a full-time living, I took the Holland College Culinary Course.  Got my journeyman trade papers.  And cooked in commercial kitchens.

A quick three decades later I found myself suddenly knocked out by RADS (Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome) in the workplace.  Refused any compensation by my insurance company and provincial Worthless Comp, I knew it was time…

Time to write.

Full Time.

Even then there was an avid market for well-crafted online content.  And I found it.  Sold fact-checked articles to markets like eHow, Livestrong and Ask.com.

Was accepted by Demand Studios, where I found as many article assignments as I could handle.  On freelance writers’ sites I found assignments for webpage online content.  Some of these were credited — most not.  Didn’t matter, the checks cleared.

Today, the markets are still out there.  And here’s why: as one editor told me, “For all the changes, it’s still all about Google Word Search.”

Word Search.  And that’s great news for those of us who work with words, eh?  And there are changes happening that mean even more good news for writers.

What does this mean for you?

Over the last year, Google has put less relevance in hyperlinks, backlinks (the reciprocal link strategy has totally collapsed), sitemaps and website age.  To the point where, as one SEO guru told me: “Next year  may see these elements lose all importance.

What Google will be striving for are search results that are real interpretations of a webpage’s relevance, importance, popularity, readability, authority, accuracy and even integrity.  In this age of deceit and fake news, integrity may be the new Holy Grail of the top search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo.”

And the savvy marketers are paying attention to this latest trend.

In fact, many marketers are already expanding their purchase of online articles and webpage content again, seeking quality, originality and veracity.  Keywords, SEO, good research and topical themes are hot again.  The Good Old Days are back!

Yes, if you’re like a lot of writers, you’ve had the love of writing for as long as you can remember. Whether you wrote short stories as a child or have always dreamed of being a published author, it’s probably always been something you hoped you could do for a living.

But when you realized that the chances of getting a book published were small or the job competition in journalism was fierce, it may have seemed a career as a writer was simply dream.

Well, writing for a living — a very good and comfortable living — doesn’t need to be a dream.

“Writer Help Wanted!“

It’s simply time to shift your thinking and upgrade your strategy because in today’s virtual world, there are tremendous opportunities for writers to carve out their own opportunities, all from their writing skills.

It’s not like taking a job in the real world, where you take what you can get. You can be selective when bringing your writing skills online because there really is a market for just about everything.

Q: “How can I make money from writing?”
A: Here are the Top 4 ways you can earn an income from writing:

  1. Work as a freelancer and apply to the many thousands of job listings you can find online.
  2.  Start your own writing business where you serve a clientele of people that you love to work with.
  3. Create your own books and information products that you sell, building your loyal audience along the way.
  4. Publish free content (think blogs, social media) and monetize it with offers for products you get paid for.

Which you decide will probably depend on your immediate needs, preferences and long term goals. Let’s go through these options to see what might be best for you.

1 – Freelancing

There is no shortage of writing jobs online. You can find writing opportunities on topics you’re interested in from sites like Upwork, Freelancer and other sites.

You can write articles, books, advertisements, blog posts and other forms of content that clients need. These are the perfect opportunities to start earning cash right away and to get started writing for money.

The only problem is this: not all listings are created equally.  You’ll quickly find a lot of low paying jobs from companies who have unreasonable demands.  You have to be careful and do your homework in finding the right jobs.

You need to find a top writers’ site that actually does a lot of this job sorting for their members and provides them with featured listings with the best writing jobs available out there.

Working with clients can also be a challenge because you are subject to their deadlines and demands. You will have to account for the time spent searching and applying for jobs because you aren’t paid for that. But if you can pick up a job or two, you’ll start seeing money coming in and if you do a good job, the client is likely to hire you again.

2 – Your Own Writing Business

While freelancing sites are great for getting your first jobs, if you plan to continue to write for clients, the next logical step is to start your own writing business.

Instead of just applying for random jobs, you decide what type of writing you do and what kind of client you work with. And your clients come to you, instead of you chasing down work constantly.

Running your own business offers the following benefits:

  • You get to determine your rates and have more control over deadlines and other details of projects.
  • You are able to attract your ideal client and work solely with people who are a pleasure to work for.
  • One of the best ways to get more business is through word of mouth and having your own business makes it easy for people to refer clients to you.

Setting up your own business isn’t too complicated. All it takes is a website and you’re ready to start finding clients and developing long term relationships with them.

3 – Books and Information Products

When you work for clients, it’s essential to remember that you only get paid for the time you’re working and that makes it difficult to scale that business or experience the freedom that comes with truly being your own boss.

So instead of serving clients, you become your own publisher.  You have unlimited earning potential because you’re creating content once and selling it over and over again.

You can publish books on platforms like Amazon Kindle. Or you can create information products or ebooks and selling them from your own website.

The benefits of this are:

  • As mentioned, you create the content once and sell it over and over again.
  • You grow your own audience of buyers that you can continue to sell products to.
  • You create content on your own terms and aren’t tied to client project specifications and deadlines.

If you’ve already got writing skills and interest in a topic, creating a product is quite simple and it doesn’t cost a thing.

4 – Monetized Content

Just like publishing books and information products, monetized content allows you to be in complete control of the work you do.

Basically, you pick a niche topic an you create free content on blogs, offer a newsletter, post on social media and more. You attract an audience that is looking for content on the topics you write about and then you monetize that content.

You can monetize your content by:

  • Recommending products as an affiliate for other companies. The company provides you with a special referral link and when someone buys from that link, you earn a commission.
  • Displaying advertising on your website. You can sell ad spots or work with an ad network like Google Adsense, which pays you whenever someone clicks the links on your page.
  •  Create your own books and information products that you sell to the audience consuming your content.

Those are your options, my friend.  The choices are yours.  Good Luck!

And You Have Gotta See Our Most Popular WRITING ADVICE Post:

“TOP TEN BOOK MARKETING TIPS FOR NEW & PUBLISHED AUTHORS!”

How To Sell Your Book.  “These common and uncommon strategies will help you create exposure for your book,” says marketing guru…

YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE==>> WRITING ADVICE: Top Ten Book Marketing Tips for New & Established Authors

 

To Learn More About My Published Works, Go To Life & Works of Brian Alan Burhoe – All About Us & More

 

Updated September 9, 2021

Title: Time To Write: How Can I Make Money from Writing? Free Writers Guide

Description: Writer Help Wanted.  How To Make Money From Writing

How to SEO Google

Aspiring author, book review, Brian Alan Burhoe, creative writing, freelancing, free articles. Free Writers Guide, free writer’s guide, make 2018 your year, make money, make money from writing. Self-publishing, struggling writer, write ebooks, writer help wanted, writer’s guide, writing a book, writing markets.

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Best Mystery Stories: Recommended Mystery Reading for 2018

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Mystery Stories…

Mystery Writers of America Announces the 2018 Edgar Award Nominations for Best Mystery Stories…

 

Mystery StoriesWho doesn’t love a Mystery?

Despite the early success of the Western (and Northwestern) fiction in the first years of the 20th Century and the later rise of imaginative fiction — Fantasy and Science Fiction — over the past few decades, I still think that Mystery fiction has been our dominant popular literary form for well over a hundred years.

For me, so long ago, it was (after reading and loving his THE LOST WORLD) Conan Doyle’s Sherlock and Watson cases that first captured me.

Maybe I had been conditioned by all those wilderness-set Northwesterns I read and loved as a boy, where Canadian Mounties always investigated and got their man. But policemen and private eyes seemed the natural Good Guys of our times.

Today, I watch for the annual “Best” nominations for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Awards and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Awards to show me the Mysteries I’ve missed. Immediately download Free Samples of ’em all on my Kindle — then get the complete stories of the Must-Haves.

So — Listen!

“Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce, as we celebrate the 209th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, the Nominees for the 2018 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2017. The Edgar® Awards will be presented to the winners at our 72nd Gala Banquet, April 26, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City.”

Best Mystery Stories: Recommended Mystery Reading

And the nominees are…

BEST NOVEL

THE DIME by Kathleen Kent (Hachette Book Group – Little, Brown & Co./Mulholland Books)
PRUSSIAN BLUE by Philip Kerr (Penguin Random House – G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD by Attica Locke (Hachette Book Group – Little, Brown & Co./Mulholland Books)
A RISING MAN by Abir Mukherjee (Pegasus Books)
THE TWELVE LIVES OF SAMUEL HAWLEY by Hannah Tinti (Penguin Random House – The Dial Press)

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR

SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Jordan Harper (HarperCollins – Ecco)
DARK CHAPTER by Winnie M. Li (Polis Books)
LOLA by Melissa Scrivner Love (Penguin Random House – Crown)
TORNADO WEATHER by Deborah E. Kennedy (Macmillan – Flatiron Books)
IDAHO by Emily Ruskovich (Random House)

Best Mystery Stories…

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

IN FARLEIGH FIELD by Rhys Bowen (Amazon Publishing – Thomas & Mercer)
RAGGED LAKE by Ron Corbett (ECW Press)
BLACK FALL by Andrew Mayne (HarperCollins Publishers – Harper Paperbacks)
THE UNSEEING by Anna Mazzola (Sourcebooks – Sourcebooks Landmark)
PENANCE by Kanae Minato (Hachette Book Group – Little, Brown & Co./Mulholland Books)
THE RULES OF THE BACKYARD CRICKET by Jock Serong (Text Publishing)

BEST FACT CRIME

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann (Penguin Random House – Doubleday)
THE ROAD TO JONESTOWN: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn (Simon & Schuster)
AMERICAN FIRE: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hesse (W.W. Norton & Company – Liveright)
THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill and Rachel McCarthy James (Simon & Schuster – Scribner)
MRS SHERLOCK HOLMES: The True Story of New York City’s Greatest Female Detective and the 1917 Missing Girl Case that Captivated a Nation by Brad Ricca (St. Martin’s Press)

BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL

FROM HOLMES TO SHERLOCK: The Story of the Men and Women who Created an Icon by Mattias Bostrom (Grove/Atlantic – The Mysterious Press)
MANDERLEY FOREVER: A Biography of Daphne du Maurier by Tatiana de Rosnay (St. Martin’s Press)
MURDER IN THE CLOSET: Essays on Queer Clues in Crime Fiction Before Stonewall by Curtis Evans (McFarland Publishing)
CHESTER B HIMES: A Biography by Lawrence P. Jackson (W.W. Norton & Company)
ARTHUR AND SHERLOCK: Conan Doyle and the Creation of Holmes
by Michael Sims (Bloomsbury USA)

BEST SHORT STORY

“Spring Break” – New Haven Noir by John Crowley (Akashic Books)
“Hard to Get” – Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Jeffery Deaver (Dell Magazines)
“Ace in the Hole” – Montana Noir by Eric Heidle (Akashic Books)
“A Moment of Clarity at the Waffle House” – Atlanta Noir by Kenji Jasper (Akashic Books)
“Chin Yong-Yun Stays at Home” – Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
by S.J. Rozan (Dell Magazines)

BEST JUVENILE

AUDACITY JONES STEALS THE SHOW: by Kirby Larson (Scholastic – Scholastic Press)
VANISHED! By James Ponti (Simon & Schuster – Aladdin)
THE ASSASSIN’S CURSE by Kevin Sands (Simon & Schuster – Aladdin)
FIRST CLASS MURDER by Robin Stevens (Simon & Schuster – Simon & Schuster BFYR)
NEWSPRINTS by Ru Xu (Scholastic – Graphix)

Best Mystery Stories…

BEST YOUNG ADULT

THE CRUELTY by Scott Bergstrom (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group – Feiwel & Friends)
GRIT by Gillian French (HarperCollins Publishers – HarperTeen)
THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS by Jason Rekulak (Simon & Schuster)
LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds (Simon & Schuster – Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas (HarperCollins Publishers – Balzer + Bray)

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY

“Episode 1” – The Loch, Teleplay by Stephen Brady (Acorn TV)
“Something Happened” – Law and Order: SVU, Teleplay by Michael Chernuchin
(NBC Universal/Wolf Entertainment)
“Somebody to Love” – Fargo, Teleplay by Noah Hawley (FX Networks/MGM)
“Gently and the New Age” – George Gently, Teleplay by Robert Murphy (Acorn TV)
“The Blanket Mire” – Vera, Teleplay by Paul Matthew Thompson & Martha Hillier (Acorn TV)

ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD

“The Queen of Secrets” – New Haven Noir by Lisa D. Gray (Akashic Books)

GRAND MASTER

Jane Langton
William Link
Peter Lovesey

RAVEN AWARD

Kristopher Zgorski, BOLO Books
The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence Kansas

ELLERY QUEEN AWARD

Robert Pépin

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

THE VINEYARD VICTIMS by Ellen Crosby (Minotaur)
YOU’LL NEVER KNOW DEAR by Hallie Ephron (HarperCollins – William Morrow)
HE WIDOW’S HOUSE by Carol Goodman (HarperCollins – William Morrow Paperbacks)
UNCORKING A LIE by Nadine Nettmann (Llewellyn Worldwide – Midnight Ink)
THE DAY I DIE by Lori Rader-Day (HarperCollins – William Morrow Paperbacks)

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

Did you like this Mystery Fiction Post?

Mystery StoriesIF SO, YOU’VE GOT TO SEE “THE WRITERS OF THE NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE” — MY MOST POPULAR LITERARY HISTORY POST:

“Thanks for a wonderful in-depth article on Mountie fiction. I’m a big fan of the Mounties and I really enjoyed the amount of details you provided and found many, many more books to put on my wish list.” Jack

“I just discovered your blog recently and need to dig deeper into it. That post on Mountie fiction is great.” James Reasoner

When our Canadian Mounted Police first arrived in the lawless North-West Territories, they soon entered our National Mythology.  A look at the many writers, from Ralph Connor and James Oliver Curwood to William Byron Mowery and Ian Anderson, who helped create that magnificent Mythology.  Amply illustrated with glorious book and magazine covers.  FREE TO READ ==>  The GREATEST AUTHORS OF NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE FICTION

QUESTION: Which popular Mounted Police Writer was Mary Higgins Clark talking about when she said, “His talents as a teacher were huge and he set my feet firmly on the path that I had been seeking all my life.”

 

The EDGAR (and logo) are Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by the Mystery Writers of America, Inc. Link http://www.mysterywriters.org

2018 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, book review, book reviews, Canadian Mounties, Canadian Mounted Police, Edgars, Edgar Allan Poe Awards, Mystery Writers of America, Raven Award

Source: Civilized Bears, Mystery Writers of America & PRNewswire

Title: Best Mystery Stories: Recommended Mystery Reading for 2018

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Of Whales & Orangutans: Rewilding Endangered Species

Posted on January 13, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Rewilding…

Bornean Baby Orangutan Born at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

Rewilding

Rewilding Endangered Species

“Admiral, there be whales here!” – Montgomery “Scotty” Scott

I have mixed feelings about zoos. Some zoos and aquariums are just a notch above circuses, whose time has gone. Others are serving partly as sanctuaries for genuinely endangered species — animals disappearing in the wild.

And sanctuaries are essential. Maybe we can save — and even increase through new births — those species on the brink of disappearing forever. Keep them until — like future Humankind in STAR TREK: THE VOYAGE HOME — we outgrow our ignorance and learn to make way for all the wild creatures. Release ’em all back into the wilderness.

Rewilding them all, including whales and orangutans.

So here’s great news from a Zoo…

“New year, new zoo baby! Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo welcomes 2018 with the birth of a rare Bornean orangutan baby.”

The endangered primate was born in the early morning on January 6th, 2018, to experienced mother Dee Dee, weighing in at an estimated 3 pounds. There are fewer than 100 Bornean orangutans in 24 AZA-accredited institutions in North America, making this birth very significant for the species and the Tampa community.

Rewilding orangutanDee Dee is quite the experienced mother, already giving birth four times successfully and this will be father, Goyang’s third baby at the Zoo.

In October, a human pregnancy test confirmed that Dee Dee was pregnant. The Zoo’s animal care team and veterinary staff worked closely with Dee Dee to voluntarily participate during ultrasounds.

“Dee Dee continues to do well with her female baby. As an experienced mother, she didn’t show any signs of any possible issues. We determined that Dee Dee’s baby had turned during one of her regular ultrasound exams,” said Dr. Ray Ball, VP of Medical Sciences at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

“Careful monitoring and pre-natal care are important, but so is privacy. With veterinary medicine, the baby determines the day of birth, but the mom determines the time. With no signs of a high risk pregnancy, we let her take care of the labor naturally — she determined when it would be time to deliver her baby.”

The Zoo is currently home to a group of seven endangered orangutans and participates in the Bornean Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP).

The program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) protects wildlife species at risk of extinction. The baby will be the tenth Bornean orangutan born at the Zoo. [1]

“This is a significant birth for the entire critically endangered Bornean orangutan population,” said Chris Massaro, General Curator at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. “It’s important to have the community along for this journey. We hope Dee Dee’s story inspires the public to become advocates for this incredible species and learn about the perils they face in the wild.”

Native to Malaysia and Indonesia, the longhaired red great apes can be found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The species is considered endangered in the wild due to critical habitat loss, increased use of palm oil, poaching and pet trade. The population declined more than 50% during the last 60 years.

But as long as we continue to rescue them, continue to shelter them, then hopefully they will continue to survive — until that future day when all of endangered wildlife can make their voyage home.  Home to Mother Earth.

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

Do You Agree with this Endangered Animals Post?

rewilding wolfIF SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL STORY:

“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE.  ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER.  ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron

“GREAT SHORT STORY!  DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k

An “engaging, uplifting narrative” in the Jack London Tradition of a lone Timber Wolf and it’s search for its place in the wild Northern forests.  FREE TO READ ==>  WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper

 

 ALSO SEE Saving Rare Chinese White Dolphins Unforgettable Experience

 

[1] To learn more about Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, go to lowryparkzoo.org.
Photos and B-roll can be found at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n43t6urlgozxlvk/AAD5P7W2Vx8DWHIGt03B9Bzja?dl=0

Title: Of Whales & Orangutans: Rewilding Endangered Species

Source: Civilized Bears, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo & PRNewswire

Keywords: animal rescue, Bornean orangutan baby, Bornean orangutans, orangutan baby birth, Dee Dee, endangered primate, endangered species, longhaired red great apes, rewilding, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, wildlife

DID YOU LIKE THIS REWILDING POST?  IF SO, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS! 

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The Last Known Dancing Bears in Nepal Rescued by Jane Goodall Group!

Posted on January 5, 2018 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Jane Goodall to the Rescue…

Good News!  Captured Bears Who Were Tortured and Forced to Dance are Rescued

Jane Goodall

The Last Known Dancing Bears in Nepal Rescued by Jane Goodall Group!

“They are inoffensive, good-natured fellows, who pay not the slightest attention to anybody,” Grey Owl once wrote about wild bears.

“Your bear is really a good fellow, and will eat just about anything that you give him, or that you inadvertently leave lying around, just to show you that his heart is in the right place.  He has a humourous outlook on life, and a few minor depredations should not be allowed to detract from his character.  He expects you to be very broad-minded; and why not?”

I love Grey Owl’s take on bears.

He told once of a woman he knew who entered her wilderness camp “to find in it what she thought was a large black dog, who was making himself very much at home, and who regarded her entrance with supreme indifference.  Somewhat nettled by this cavalier behaviour, the lady administered a severe drubbing to the intruder first with the flat of her hands and then with the broom, only to discover of a sudden that it was no dog at all, but a middle-sized bear, who behaved with admirable restraint and allowed himself to, so to speak, be swept out of the house…” [From Grey Owl’s TALES OF AN EMPTY CABIN chapter “The Bears of Waskesieu.”]

I’ve seen bears in the wild.  They — if you keep your distance — love to play.   Have you ever seen bears rubbing their backs on their favourite scratching trees, with a look of utter satisfaction on their faces?  Smiling — yes, bears smile!  Have you seen cubs chasing dandelion seeds on the wind?  Rolling with delight in blueberry bushes?  I’ve never seen bears dancing in complete abandon in the wildwood, but I’ve heard that they do…

I’ve never seen a bear dance in captivity, either, and never want to.  It’s old, that practice.  Worldwide.  Dancing bears are stolen from their mothers and subjected to brutal training techniques to make them submissive enough to perform for tourists.  It’s about money, and about cold crass cruelty.

But the times are changing.  Listen!

“A dramatic rescue of two tortured sloth bears took place in Nepal by the Jane Goodall Institute of Nepal, with support from World Animal Protection and Nepali police. The rescued bears were in an extremely distressed state when they were rescued, displaying signs of psychological trauma.”

These are the last two known Nepali-owned illegal “dancing bears.” Like so many performing animals, Rangila, a 19-year-old male, and Sridevi, a 17-year-old female, were sold to their owner to be used as dancing bears – a cruel, outlawed practice where bears are made to “dance” as entertainment for crowds of people.

Jane GoodallBears like Rangila and Sridevi are snatched from their mother at an early age and brutally forced into a life of wretched performance for a human audience.

Their owner had pierced each cub’s nose with a length of burning hot iron and shoved a rope through it – to retain control of the large animals.

Harsh training methods are then used in order to make them submissive enough to perform for tourists.

With the help of local police, the bears were found in Iharbari, Nepal via mobile phone tracking of the owners. The rescue was emotional for all involved, and the bears were in “an extremely distressed state, showing signs of psychological trauma such as cowering, pacing, and paw sucking.”

The two bears were taken for temporary care at the Amlekhgunj Forest and Wildlife Reserve.  Soon they will be in a permanent home and refuge where they will learn about human kindness and love.

World Animal Protection has a 20-year history of working with local partners to bring an end to such cruelty. Having seen an end to bear dancing in Greece, Turkey and India, the NGO is also close to phasing out bear baiting in Pakistan.

Neil D’Cruze of World Animal Protection explained:

“Rangira and Sridevi have suffered for too long in captivity since they were poached from the wild. It’s extremely distressing to see animals being stolen from the wild, and the sad reality is there are more wild animals suffering across the world, purely for the entertainment of tourists. I am pleased that for these two sloth bears at least, a happy ending is finally in sight.” [1]

Manoj Gautam of Jane Goodall Institute of Nepal reported:
“We are thrilled that the last two known Nepali dancing bears have been rescued from their lifetime of suffering. After a year of tracking them, using our own intelligence and in cooperation with local police, our hard effort and dedication has helped to bring an end to this illegal tradition in Nepal.”

The suffering of bears in Asia is still not over, and World Animal Protection continues its campaign to protect bears.

Still more work to do, my friend.

“Live Free, Mon Ami!”  SEE: The Life & Works of Brian Alan Burhoe

 

Do You Agree with this Animal Rescue Post?

IF SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL STORY:

“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE.  ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER.  ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron

“GREAT SHORT STORY!  DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k

A “delightful, inspiring drama” in the Jack London Tradition of a lone Northern Wolf and it’s search for its place in the vast Canadian wildlands.  FREE TO READ ==>  WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper

 

[1] Learn more about ending bear dancing at www.worldanimalprotection.ca/our-work/animals-wild/ending-bear-dancing. For more information, including interviews, photos and video footage, contact Carla Pisarro at carlapisarro@worldanimalprotection.us.org.

Title: The Last Known Dancing Bears in Nepal Rescued by Jane Goodall Group!

Source: Civilized Bears, World Animal Protection & PRNewswire.

Update: April 27, 2023.

Keywords: animal rescue, bear baiting, bears, black bears, dancing bears, dancing bears rescued, end bear dancing, Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute, Jane Goodall Institute of Nepal, sloth bears, World Animal Protection

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Wild Burros of Death Valley Rescued from Contract Hunters

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Wild Burros…

Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue to Lead “Save Death Valley’s Wild Burros” Project

 

Wild Burros

 

Wild burros.

Living icons of the Old Southwest.

Those wild descendants of the tough little pack animals of Spanish explorers of the 1500’s, old time gold prospectors and early national park builders still roam those bleak wildlands.  They’re found now in parts of Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and north into Oregon.

There’s even a statue of Brighty the Burro in the Grand Canyon Lodge, the little donkey who carried Teddy Roosevelt’s packs on his historic Colorado River trip. [1]

For years those little animals (the word is from burrīcus, “small horse”) freely roamed the wilder areas of the American Southwest, even in Death Valley.

But the passage of the US “Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act” in 1971 changed things. Since then, the official NPS policy has been one of “direct reduction,” and, as one writer has revealed, “thousands of burros have either been shot by contract hunters or harried to their doom.” [2]

In 2002, the feds updated the “Wild and free-roaming horses and burros” plan, becoming the “General Management Plan of Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve.” It directed the NPS to adopt a “no burro or wild horse” strategy — the “destruction of any remaining burros…”

Wild BurrosBut there is a group of dedicated animal rescuers doing something about it: the amazing Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. [3]

Beginning its drive in late 2017, the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR) is “working in conjunction with the NPS to safely relocate the estimated 2,500 wild burros from the Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve over the next five years.”

PVDR will be using “only humane methods for capturing the wild burros before transporting them to training facilities where they will be made ready for adoption throughout the US. In order to accommodate the influx of wild burros into the PVDR system, a new training facility is currently being built in northwest Arizona.”

Like its previous rescues, where wild burros were given a new home in Texas, “this new project will be funded entirely by private donations, foundation grants and corporate sponsorships. No tax payer money will be used by Peaceful Valley.”

PVDR has two great Donkey Adoption Programs:

The Pet or Companion Animal Adoption Program — In order for a donkey to be considered “adoptable” it must meet certain criteria: it must be trainable and people-friendly, easily accept a halter and calmly stand for trimming. Only geldings and jennets (females) are available for adoption. Adopted donkeys cannot be bred. Adequate shelter and fencing must be provided. Donkeys must be kept on adopter’s property (no boarding facilities).

The Guardian Donkey Adoption Program — “Designed to place untamed jennets with farmers and ranchers. Upon adoption, these jennets will be trained to act as guardians for sheep, goats, or cattle. Guardian donkey should be placed with the flock or herd and treated as a member of the flock or herd. Guardian donkeys are trained to work alone, adding other equine or guardian animals will disrupt the desired behavior. Guardian donkeys cannot be used for pet donkeys.”

Great programs, great group!

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

Do You Agree with this Animal Rescue Post?

IF SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL STORY: “HAPPY ENDING!”

“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE.  ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER.  ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron

“GREAT SHORT STORY!  DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k

A “delightful, inspiring drama” in the Jack London Tradition of a lone Northern Wolf and it’s search for its place in the vast Canadian wildlands.  FREE TO READ ==>  WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper

 

 

[1] SEE “Teddy Bears, Grizzly Bears & Teddy Roosevelt’s National Wildlife Refuge System” at www.civilizedbears.com/teddy-bears-grizzly-bears-national-wildlife-refuge-system/.

[2] For an essential, though chilling, look at the history of the federal Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act, see Deanne Stillman’s Huffington Post article The Last Burros of the Mojave Desert: A Christmas Story that Needs A Happy Ending.

[3] About PVDR: Peaceful Valley has rescued over 9,000 donkeys in its 17-year career. They currently have over 3,200 donkeys under their direct care in over 30 locations. Peaceful Valley, with its nationwide network of Ranch Facilities, Sanctuaries and Satellite Adoption Centers, is the country’s leader in rescue, sanctuary, adoption and education. Founded by Mark and Amy Meyers in 2000, PVDR has become the largest rescue of its kind, operating all across the United States and Caribbean.

To Learn More About Donkey Rescue and Adoption, Or To Donate Now, Go To the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue site.

Or Contact
Mark Meyers
Executive Director
Email 185893@email4pr.com
www.pvdr.org

Wild Burros of Death Valley Rescued from Contract Hunters.

Update: April 27, 2023.

Source: Civilized Bears, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue & PRNewswire.

Keywords: animal rescuers, burros, contract hunters, death valleys wild burros, donkeys, donkey adoption, donkeys for sale, free roaming horses, guardian animals, guardian donkeys, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, PVDR, Teddy Roosevelt, wild burros, wild donkeys, wild horses, wilderness

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Country Singer Miranda Lambert Asks Us To Save A Mutt This Season

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Miranda Lambert Saving Dogs…

Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation Partners with Petmate To “Save A Mutt” This Holiday Season

 

Miranda Lambert

 

Country singer Miranda Lambert has always supported animal rescue.

The singer of such hits as “The House That Built Me,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and (her song from her ACM Album of the Year “The Weight of These Wings”) “Tin Man” continues to spend as much time helping animals as her busy career allows.

She may have sung “By the way there, Mr Tin Man, if you don’t mind the scars, you give me your armor and you can have my heart,” but Miranda admits that homeless dogs “just love you unconditionally and know that you saved them and gave them a better life.”

Oh oh, Blake, is she saying that dogs (and a lot of other animals) are more loving and loyal than many humans?  Actually, we’re hearing that sentiment a lot, lately.  May have said it ourselves…

Miranda LambertMiranda’s love for animals expresses who she “really is.” While volunteering at local shelters, she adopted her first puppy Delilah as a companion when she started touring.

Since then, she’s adopted dogs called Waylon, Bellamy, Cher, Delta Dawn, Jessi and Black Betty – “and counting!”

To help shine the spotlight on rescue animals and shelters, Miranda and her mom Bev Lambert founded MuttNation Foundation in 2009 to ensure that “as many dogs as possible would have a safe and happy place to call home.” [1]

It became Miranda’s mission to “promote and facilitate the adoption of shelter pets, encourage spay and neuter for all pets, and educate the public about the importance and beneficial impact of these actions.”

Texas-born Miranda was completing the European stretch of her “Highway Vagabond” tour when Hurricane Harvey slammed into her home state. She — like so many others — watched helplessly from afar as the Category 4 storm decimated parts of her beloved Texas.

Ever the animal advocate, the singer took action as soon as she got home, mobilizing volunteers and employees from her dog rescue foundation, MuttNation, to assist shelters in the Houston area, moving dogs who were currently in the shelters to make room for those displaced by the storm.

“There were so many moments that moved me to tears,” Miranda said.  “One of them happened when we were moving dogs out of one of the shelters and people kept coming in with dogs in their arms saying, ‘This dog was in my yard, it’s not mine.’  The poor dogs were scared to death.  But at the same time, a lot of people stopped by to bring dog food, water and snacks — for the dogs and for the volunteers too!”

With Christmas coming, Miranda has explained, “All my life I have felt such a yearning to find homes for them. I couldn’t be more thrilled about all the hard work and accomplishments of MuttNation this year and cannot wait to see the difference we can make throughout this holiday season,”

In this season of giving, MuttNation underscores its commitment to “animal rescue in a consolidated effort to engage with pet lovers at all levels.”

Miranda’s — and MuttNation’s — story is a wondrous story of love and caring.

– Brian Alan Burhoe

Did you like this Animal Rescue Post?

IF SO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ WOLFBLOOD — MY MOST POPULAR ANIMAL STORY:

“I JUST READ WOLFBLOOD AGAIN FOR GOOD MEASURE.  ONE FOR ANY WOLF LOVER.  ENJOYED IT BUT WISH IT WAS A FULL LENGTH NOVEL.” – Gina Chronowicz @ginachron

“GREAT SHORT STORY!  DOES REMIND ME OF CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG…” – Evelyn @evelyn_m_k

A “warmhearted, truthful, captivating tale” in the Jack London Tradition of a lone Gray Wolf and it’s longing for it’s place in the Great Northwoods.  FREE TO READ ==>  WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky & A Wily Old Trapper

 

 

[1] MuttNation Foundation was founded in 2009 to “improve the lives of shelter pets.” Miranda and her mom Bev Lambert were not looking to start another business — they were “hoping to build a network of like-minded dog lovers who were passionate about making a difference in an animal’s life and placing homeless dogs in forever homes.”

In addition to rescue and adoption programs, pet lovers can shop MuttNation to help save a mutt. The MuttNation collection from Petmate®, the worldwide provider of fun, trusted, quality products to enhance the lives of pets and their families, offers pet lovers a wonderful opportunity to give back to the rescue community while giving love to their own special four-legged family members. All of Miranda’s proceeds from the MuttNation pet collection go directly to MuttNation Foundation — muttnation.com.

“We proudly share Miranda’s commitment to rescue and adoption efforts,” says Chris Wilson, Petmate’s executive vice president of marketing and new product development. “That commitment has been at the root of our company’s culture since our inception more than fifty years ago. Our partnership with MuttNation and the development of this wonderful collection of products designed with dogs’ well-being in mind, helps us all support the important work of MuttNation.” For more information, visit petmate.com.

Country Singer Miranda Lambert Asks Us To Save A Mutt This Season

Source: Civilized Bears, MuttNation & PRNewswire

Keywords: animal rescue, animal welfare, dogs, Bev Lambert, homeless dogs, local shelters, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lambert 2018, MuttNation, Save a Mutt, Tin Man, Tin Man meaning

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