Tasmanian Devil

Many people are familiar with the Tasmanian Devil from its depiction in Looney Tunes cartoons as a foil for Bugs Bunny. But the cartoon depiction bears little actual resemblance to the now endangered animal. Like most animals, this one is an interesting reminder of the diversity of species that roam the Earth.

First let’s get to that looney and tuney Tasmanian Devil, also called Taz. This stylized version of the marsupial was first featured in Devil May Hare, a cartoon short released in 1954. He stalks Bugs Bunny, trying to eat him, but is no match for the quick witted hare. The character wasn’t popular at the studio, and so was quickly set aside for being too obnoxious. But so many fans wrote in wondering what had become of the character that Warner Brothers that he was revived for a number of shorts in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that the character was repackaged as “Taz.” This sent it soaring to new popularity as one of the most recognized Warner Brothers cartoon characters. He even spawned a kid version, “Dizzy Devil,” who was featured in Tiny Toon Adventures.

As stated earlier the cartoon Tasmanian Devil resembled the real thing only in a general way, and in it’s wild behavior while eating. The cartoon version also incorporated elements of the horned devil. In reality these animals look a lot like stout, strong dogs. Their tail is almost as long as the rest of the body, and is also where the animal stores fat. Thus a thin tailed one is generally unhealthy.

The Tasmanian Devil is pretty fast. They can run at about 8 miles per hour for short distances. They have long, sensitive whiskers used to find food at night, when they usually hunt. As a result of this habit, their hearing and smell are far more developed than their sense of sight. In fact, they have trouble seeing objects that aren’t moving.

Relative to its size the Tasmanian Devil has the strongest bite of any mammal. This is due in large part to their relatively large head and to teeth that continue to grow throughout its life. As far as lifespan, they generally live about six years in the wild, but longer in captivity.

The largest mammal remaining in Australia, not counting man, is the Tasmanian Devil. It is found only on the island of Tasmania, although it once thrived on mainland Australia. After the Thylacine became extinct in the 1930’s, the threat to the Tasmanian Devil was recognized. They were hunted to near extinction by people who felt they were a nuisance. They were even eaten, described as having a veal taste.

Today the Tasmanian Devil is protected. And thanks to cartoons, well known in the world.

Alaskan Oil Drilling

Alaskan oil drilling is important. At the same time it’s a contentious issue. People debate it in nearly every election in the United States. This article explores some of the opinions people have expressed on the matter.

Alaskan oil drilling often has environmentalists up in arms. One wrote: I can’t believe this is even an issue. Areas of Alaska are the last untouched wilderness we have. What will people do when it’s gone? If we wreck it, it will become a memory. Let’s keep one place like it was before man stepped in and ruined things.

A reply to that is as follows. Man is not a plague or an infestation. The issue is not destroying the planet. We’re not capable of that. The issue is whether man would ever make the planet unlivable for man. That would come long before the planet was doomed. For the most part man’s efforts have improved the planet for habitation by man. So shut up.

A reply to the reply is that it’s fine to discuss issues, but don’t be mean about it.

One pro drilling person chimed in with this. She said: The area under contention for Alaskan oil drilling would be like a dime on a table top. It’s tiny. There’s a lot of oil there that we need. There are many ways to ensure very little environmental impact even directly in the areas where drilling takes place.

A reply to her is: Let’s stop this drilling for the children. If everyone wears a windmill on their head, we won’t need any more oil.

Sometimes people against Alaskan oil drilling just don’t understand basic facts. One wrote the following: I refuse to use oil. I don’t drive. I heat my home with a wood fire place. My power comes from only green sources. Everyone can do it if they put their minds to it.

Yet that person typed their opinion on a computer. The computer case, and many of the components are plastic. That’s petroleum based. That’s oil. Now what?

People for Alaskan oil drilling can be just as clueless: Who cares about a malibou breeding. Give me oil! I want to drive my SUV. Sometimes I leave it running all night. The sound of the engine is soothing.

That’s caribou, not malibou. Maybe someday soon someone will steal your SUV while you leave it running. It would serve you right.

The Alaskan oil drilling issue never stops.

Honeymoon Travel

The stress of the wedding planning doesn’t always end with the wedding party, particularly if you don’t see to all the details of the long-waited for honeymoon. Here are some tips to consider for a perfect honeymoon travel regardless of whether you choose the car, the train, the plane or the boat as a means of transportation.

Make reservations in advance and book tickets at hotels in case you make halts on the way to the destination. Thanks to good planning you’ll benefit from great price discounts; airlines are known to first sell all classes of seats at the most convenient of prices, but as you get closer to the departure date, usually only the business class seats remain available.

Moreover, travel agencies have special packages for honeymooners, with all sorts of options included. Hence, when you approach an agency for offers and quotes make sure you specify that you are looking for a honeymoon travel solution. Some go for the all inclusive variant and leave it to the agency to deal with everything from the flight details to the lodging, while other couples prefer to get involved actively in the planning.

Smart packing is another honeymoon travel tip some people fail to follow particularly when going to areas with warmer climates. This is not about taking sweaters and jackets when going to Hawaii, but rather about choosing to have some extra apparel items for all sorts of occasions, as you may want to wear something other than slippers and t-shirts. Make sure to include some extra bottles of water, a few snacks and all the essentials in the luggage too. By essentials I mean the passports, the credit cards, a list of useful phone numbers and so on.

There are some very personal items that make honeymoon travel all the more rewarding. Thus, you can pack a CD with very meaningful love songs, eventually music from the wedding reception or some special rhythms to enjoy in a romantic setting. Then, don’t forget that this is a great time to pamper yourself with all sorts of special treats, so don’t be shy to ask for what you want at the hotel.

Feel the spirit of the place to really make the best of your honeymoon travel: try new food, new music, local customs, talk to the people, see relevant local sites and points of attractions. Should there be any incidents, try not to be exaggerate, keep everything under control and focus on the memorable parts of your honeymoon.