Ranger Bob’s Lookout Station

Welcome August 23, 2006

Posted by Annette H in : Letter , comments closed

Hello to all of you out there hiking through the internet forest. I’m Ranger Bob, the friendly mascot of Surf4theEarth. It’s my job to teach people about the importance of conservation and provide help to weary hikers. Feel free to take a rest along the trail and read some articles about getting involved in conservation and enjoying the outdoors.You might also want to visit my home at http://www.surf4theearth.com where you can promote your website and help charities around the world. Well, I’ve got to run now, I recieved a call about some raccoons getting into some files.

Sincerely,

Ranger Bob (the bobcat)

My Amusing Schnauzer July 22, 2008

Posted by Annette H in : Fun , add a comment

Even though we were expecting our new Schnauzer to bring us joy and amusement, we never imagined how different she would be than our previous Schnauzers. Jackie loves to hunt for rabbits and chipmunks, play ball, and get ear rubs just like our other dogs. However, it didn’t take long for us to notice that she also bounces when she chases a ball and loves meeting everyone. The most unusual thing is that she watches television. We noticed that she watches and barks at dog shows and cartoons such as Clifford. Then we tried dog movies. She watched the entire original black and white movie Lassie. She even whined a couple of times when Lassie was in trouble. Since then, we have tried showing her various movies and shows. It seems she likes to watch dogs, horses or any other critters that move around. Her favorite movie is Snow Buddies. (She just loves Golden Retriever puppies and sleds.)

Jackie watching t.v.

Re-use in the Garden May 28, 2007

Posted by Annette H in : What Can I do to Help? , add a comment

Reusing things in the garden can give interest to your garden and save money. I have been helping my mom re-do some of the front and back yard this year. Some friends of ours had put in a wheelchair ramp for my dad a couple of years ago after he had a stroke. My mom also had to have the retaining walls taken down in the front and back and new ones installed. My dad had originally put in retaining walls by using railroad ties. (That was popular in the 1970’s.) The good thing about that was the re-use of railroad ties. However, they rot and attract termites so I don’t suggest using railroad ties near a house. Mom had the forsight to save all the landscaping rocks that had to be cleared out for the new walls. She saved them in old laundry detergent buckets. This year, we cleaned the rocks by constructing a frame with scrap lumber and putting some type of heavy duty wire mesh between them. Then we rubbed the river rock over the wire frame to get off the excess dirt and then hosed them down on top of the wire mesh. This allowed us to put the rocks back in the front between the new walls. Although this took some time and energy, it saved us money and helped save rocks in the environment.

front yard We decided to do some more landscaping in the front this year. When the wheelchair ramp was installed, a narrow strip of grass was left between the ramp and the old sidewalk. We decided that it looked unattractive and it was difficult to mow. So, we decided to tear out the sod. In the narrowest section, we replanted some moss. Then, we let it grow for awhile and dug up some more to replant. Now the moss has almost covered the whole area. In the larger section, we laid down some landscaping material (to keep out weeds). Then we used the wire frame again to rinse off some old lava rock that had been used previously. Next, we spread it out over the rest of the area. We purchased a set of blue pots and planted red, white, and blue annuals. I lined an old basket with a garbage bag and planted annuals in it and set it on the porch. Boy does it look sharp!

pump

Now that the front is practically finished, we have moved to the back. I cleared out an area to plant some strawberries. Then we put in an old pump (which doesn’t work, but it looks neat) and set a coal bucket underneath. I planted snapdragons in the bucket to give a splash of color. We also have a coal bucket in the front yard and on the side of the house. We just laid these down on their sides and put in some potting soil. Then, we planted some annuals around it and a couple on the edge of it. This makes it look like the bucket was tipped over spilling out flowers. You could do this with any old container (we just happended to have coal buckets). Hopefully this inspires you to try finding things to re-use in your garden or on your porch.

You can have a hot drink, and help people and the environment too. September 6, 2006

Posted by Annette H in : What Can I do to Help? , add a comment

You may not be able to have your cake and eat it too, but you can have a hot drink and help people and the environment too. While I was on vacation this summer, we visited a store in Indiana that carried products from around the world (more on that in another article later). On one shelf there was coffee, tea, and cocoa. Well, I just love a cup of hot tea or cocoa in the morning. That’s mostly because my throat is bothered by allergies. These products were produced by a company called Equal Exchange Fairly Traded. I had to check it out. The company claimed to purchase their ingredients from small farmers and democratic co-ops. I read their pamphlet that set on the counter and purchased the hot cocoa. The company was founded in 1986 with the goal of offering fair prices to farmers in low income countries. The companies goals’ are to offer these farmers fair prices for their products and teach them practices that are environmentally friendly. The result was getting farmers together in various communites to grow organic products. The farmers work together in co-ops to make decisions democratically so that all members will be benefited. The company offers the farmers a guaranteed minimum price to give them a stable source of income. The co-op’s have used their resources for a variety of community developments such as training for women, an ecotourism project, and classrooms. The company works with farmers in poor countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Their is a website where you can visit for more information or to purchase thier products: http://www.equalexchange.com . I thought this was a great idea because the products they grow would be in the tropics. In order to save the rainforest, we need to encourage people to grow sustainable products in those areas and not rely on products that encourage the destruction of the rainforest. Most rainforests are in low income areas, so we need to provide these people with ways to make a living by utilizing sustainable agriculture. By the way, the hot cocoa tasted good. It had delicious chocolate flavor that was not overwhelming or too sweet. However, if you like milk chocolate you may want to try it with milk instead of water.

Changes to our Terms of Service

Posted by Annette H in : Surf4theEarth News and Updates , add a comment

Well, it has been a long time since we have made any changes to our terms of service. After some discussion, Suzette and I have decided to make some changes to the sites that we will allow to be rotated. The internet is growing in foriegn countries and we are starting to get more members join from other countries. Because of this, we decided to allow sites in other languages. However, these sites still must follow our terms of service. Also, we will be more lax about internet marketing sites. The amount of mlm and other internet marketing programs have grown, and it is getting difficult to figure out which programs are based on sound business strategies or based on some ponzi structure. Members are also wanting to use blind lead pages to increase their e-mail lists. If you submit these type of sites, they must be put under the network marketing category (not business). Remember you can choose which categories you would like to view by clicking and adding a checkmark to the categories you wish to see. Always remember it is important to research any program that you join (especially if you have to invest money). The old adage is still true today, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” We still do not accept doublers, triplers, randomizers, traffic exchanges where earnings or based upon investment, ptp’s, gambling, pornography, alcohol, tobacco, or anything else that is considered illegal. I will gradually go through suspended sites and put them in rotation if they meet our new terms of service. However, this may take a long time. If you believe your site meets our new terms of service, it will be put into rotation quicker if you just resubmit it. Also, I will be deleting suspended sites that still don’t meet terms of service. Please make sure you have at least on site in rotation. We still want to have a lot of sites with real content and products. We also love to see sites that go along with the theme of Surf4theEarth. Suzette and I will give out 25 credits to members for the first site we see each day that has original content, sells real products, or promotes ecology or charities.

The Plight of the Wolves September 3, 2006

Posted by Annette H in : What Can I do to Help? , add a comment

The air is crisp and the pathway is barely lit by star and moonlight. I wait in anxious silence with the others huddled together on the path. Then, an excited twinge travels through my body as I hear a lone, low howl drift toward us. I fight the urge to say anything in my excitement as we prepare to return the howl and hope for more to respond. It was less than 100 years ago that other’s hearing that sound would feel a twinge of fear and maybe reach for their gun. Wolves once roamed throughout North America from Canada to Mexico. But fears built from myths, legends, fairytales, and misunderstandings taught our ancestors to think of wolves as some kind of evil, agressive, and ruthless beast. People hunted them to extinction throughout most of North America (as well as other places on the planet). Wolves have long been extinct in Missouri, and my trip to the Wild Canid Survival and Research center was the first opportunity I had to hear the howl of a wolf in person (not on television). Later, I had the opportunity to visit the center during their open house and saw some of the wolves in daylight.

In recent times, scientist have studied wolves and discovered the important role they play in the natural environment. Wolves hunt in packs (like a family unit) and usually go after small game or smaller or weeker animals. This actually helps keep overpopulation of various species in check. It also promotes better health of the larger species. (Since wolves tend to chase the weeker animals when they are hunting species such as deer, moose, or elk.) People used to think of wolves as some kind of lone killer, but they generally live in packs. Each member of the pack has a particular role to play (much like a family unit). In the United States there are two species of wolves; the red wolf and the grey wolf. Several research centers began to bread wolves in the hopes of reastablishing them in the wild in the future. Grey wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park, and has seen tremendous success. Red wolves (which is smaller and had been extinct in the wild), were released in the Carolina’s and have been able to establish some wolf packs. However, their numbers are fewer and they encounter problems with traffic and inbreeding with wild dogs or coyotes is also a concern. Scientist are continuing to monitor their progress. (You can learn more from the links that I’ll post at the bottom). Mexican Grey Wolves are a subspecies of the Northern Grey Wolves. This species is the most endangered in North America. They have been released in the Apache National Forest in Arizona and allowed to roam through the neighboring Gila National Forest in New Mexico. However, many people in the surrounding area did not agree with the release. Several wolves have been found killed by shooting and poison. Of course their our concerns by some ranchers about the safety of their livestock. (These are concerns of ranchers in Arizona, New Mexico, and from the northern states that still have populations of grey wolves.) This is a valid concern, because it effects their lively hood. Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation organizations have set out to educate the public about wolves, to dispel the old myths and misunderstandings about them. Some ranchers have also been supporters of the wolf reintroduction. While wolves may occasionally kill domestic livestock, it isn’t common. Defenders of Wildlife has taken a proactive stance to work with Ranchers to prevent these occurances and established a fund to pay for lost livestock (if it can be proven that the culprit was a wolf).

One of the biggest concerns right now is with state’s developing policies to allow killing of wolves. Defender’s of Wildlife( http://www.defenders.org) post various petitions against these practices. You have to click the click the take action now or the wildlife at risk link to access the petitions. The most herendious practice right now is the arial shooting of wolves in Alaska. The Board of Game has established a policy to utilize airplanes to track down, chase, and kill wolves. This goes with their game management strategy to control the moose population. They claim that if they kill the wolves, the moose population will increase. (Of course the underlying motive here is to increase the moose population so hunter’s will be allowed to hunt a larger number of moose). This reminds me of what happened to the buffalo over a century ago. Hunters were paid by the government to kill buffalo. This was to allow expansion in the west and to destroy the Native American’s source of food. Hunters would ride westbound trains to slaughter the buffalo. I’m surprised that we haven’t learned from past mistakes. The hunting of wolves with planes is even more barbaric and supplied by about the same motives (selfishness and greed). Opponents to this practice claim that the GOB has adopted this policy without much scientific study or accurate counts of moose and wolves. It also ignores public opinion. The citizens of Alaska of already voted against this policy two times. However, the threat remains because the GOB took the legislation to court and finally got the judge to allow them to continue the practice (at least that’s the nearest understanding I can get from what I’ve read). I can’t quiet figure out how voter’s can vote against something twice, and an organization be able to go against the voter’s wishes (I guess I’m niave and optomistic). Here’s some links that I found informative http://www.wolfsongnews.org/news/Alaska_current_events_1626.htm and http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/pred_mythology_wolf_control_alaska.htm . It’s interesting to note that the Alaskan Governor Murkowski supports arial killing of wolves and it is the governor who appoints the members to the Alaskan Game of Board. (It’s no wonder why the GOB supports this inhumane policy and don’t want to listen to public opinion or scientific studies.) However I’m glad to report that in the recent election, Governor Murkowski came in last against two oponents. (I guess the public is having their say after all.) Even so, Alaskan wolves need your support to stop the slaughter during the next hunting season that is quickly approaching. You can sign a petition on the Defender’s of Wildlife website against the slaughter in Alaska and it will be automatically sent to President Bush.

Here or some other good links for the wolf lover: http://www.wolfsanctuary.org, http://www.wolf.org/wolves/index.asp, http://www.wolfhaven.org/default.htm ,protectwolves

National Parks of Arizona August 28, 2006

Posted by Annette H in : Great Places to Visit , add a comment

Most of us think of Arizona as a hot and dry desert, however the natural beauties of Arizona can leave you in awe. The southern part of the state is swealtering most of the year, but the northern regions can dip below freezing due to its’ higher elevations. Also, much of the state is susceptible to monsoons (floods caused by rains) so it is advisable to check weather forcasts and information about the state when you plan your trip. I was priveledged to visit some National Parks in Arizona with my family a few years ago. The unusual landscapes and variety of wildlife were spectacular. You can check the National Park Service website for more information.

The Grand Canyon is probably one of the most recognizable parks. The Canyon was formed by the powerful current of the Colorado River. Visiters can hike around the perimeter and catch views of the river or take one of the park’s buses. Adventurers can brave the long trek down to the bottem of the canyon or ride a mule. Be sure to plan ahead because you need reservations for mule rides and hiking to the bottem requires at least one night stay. You can get details at http://www.nps.gov/grca/

The Painted Desert is in the northeastern part of the state. It also features the Petrified Forest. I really enjoyed this park. It was expansive, but less crowded and had more facilities than the Grand Canyon. You can drive around and stop at scenic overlooks as well as hike on some trails. It was amazing to see how many colors and hues the rock formations took throughout the day as the sun moved in the horizon. Visit http://www.nps.gov/pefo/ for more information.

Sunset Crater Volcano is estimated to have erupted about 900 years ago. Today, you can hike around the crater and walk through ancient lava flows. The colors are magnificent and you can visualize how the eruption changed the land. In the immediate area you can see tree covered mountain peaks, which must have covered the area before the eruption. Both Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument can be visited in one day. Sunset Crater is just a 14 miles from from Flagstaff and you can continue driving about 21 miles to Wupatki National Monument. http://www.nps.gov/sucr/

At the Wupatki National Manument you drive around and see desert scenery and visit the ruins of an ancient pueblo. Get more information at http://www.nps.gov/wupa/.

Reduce the use of Fuel August 23, 2006

Posted by Annette H in : What Can I do to Help? , add a comment

If you have filled your car lately you know that their is an economic reason as well as an enviromental reason to save gas. After all, oil is not a renewable natural resource. So what can we do as consumers?
1. If you are concidering a new car, look for a fuel efficient vehicle- purchase ones with good gas mileage. You may want to look at the hybrid cars. Be sure to mention to the sales people that this is one of the factors you are looking at. Vote with your money! As people demand more fuel efficient vehicles the manufactures will comply with research and deveopment and we may see the new technology prices fall over the years as they have done in other fields. (The USA just passed a bill that gives consumers tax credits for such purchases so you may want to check on those details.)
2. Keep those tires properly inflated by checking tire pressure when you fill up. Properely inflated tires can save you a few fill ups over time.
3. Consider biking or walking to the job and other places when appropriate. Citizens can also ask the local, state and Federal officials to spend more money on developing more safe biking paths.
4. Car pool to work with others that work in your area. Many areas give incentives to carpoolers such as special travel lanes.
5. Plan your errands and grocery lists so that you can pick up needed items on your way from work or other events.
6. Encourage our governments to improve and grow mass transit programs especially those that run on alternative fuels or renewable energy.
7. Drive your most fuel efficiant car on errends or when only one or two are traveling.
Ranger Bob is now offering gift certificates to Shell gas station to help relieve the expense for his members.