Robber fly - Nature photographer Thomas Shahan specializes in amazing portraits of tiny insects. It isn't easy. Shahan says that this Robber Fly (Holcocephala fusca), for instance, is "skittish" and doesn't like its picture taken.

Nature by Numbers (Video)

"The Greater Akashic System" – July 15, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) (Subjects: Lightworkers, Intent, To meet God, Past lives, Universe/Galaxy, Earth, Pleiadians, Souls Reincarnate, Invention: Measure Quantum state in 3D, Recalibrates, Multi-Dimensional/Divine, Akashic System to change to new system, Before religion changed the system, DNA, Old system react to Karma, New system react to intent now for next life, Animals (around humans) reincarnate again, This Animal want to come back to the same human, Akashic Inheritance, Reincarnate as Family, Other Planets, Global Unity … etc.)

Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.

Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.

(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."

(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.

(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.

Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle
American zoologist played by Sigourney Weaver in the film Gorillas in the Mist would have been 82 on Thursday (16 January 2014)

Friday, December 21, 2007

'Dirty noodles' famous, healthy

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Bantul, Yogyakarta

Traditional home-made noodles or mie lethek are still made the old fashioned way at Bendo hamlet, Trimurti village, in Srandakan district, Bantul regency.

The uniqueness of this particular noodle is that it is produced with the help of "cow power", rather than modern machinery.

And truly traditional producers still avoid any use of preservatives.

Bendo hamlet has been known as a famous noodle-producing village for years.

Many traditional noodle producers, however, have not been able to compete with modern noodle producers, who rely on industrialized machinery.

Competition with technology has seen just two traditional noodle producers survive -- Yaris Ferry Ismatrada and Arif.

Their traditional noodles are reddish in color and can appear a little dirty, which is why locals call them mie lethek, which translates literally to dirty noodles.

"The reddish color comes from manioc powder, the only additional substance for the production of the noodle," Ferry said.

Because no machinery is used in production, the drying process is dependent on sunshine.

Ferry said production of mie lethek includes soaking the manioc for two days to reduce the reddish color, before the product is crushed using a traditional stone grinder. The grinder is pulled by a cow for about two hours before the product is mixed with tapioca powder.

"In order to make good noodles, we have to mix and press the two ingredients perfectly," said 60-year-old employee Harjo.

"That's why we need the cows, because men are not strong enough.

"The stone grinder is very heavy."

The next step is to mold the mixture into squares that are steamed for 1.5 hours each, before they are dried in the sun.

"During the dry season the noodles will dry within a day, but during the rainy season it will take two to three days," said another worker, Kasiman.

Ferry said he could produce 900 kilograms of noodles from one ton of manioc per day.

Mie lethek is sold for Rp 5,500 (61 US cents) up to Rp 5,600 per kilogram.

Employing 22 workers, Ferry said he was unable to make a huge profit from his business. He said he was hesitant to raise noodle prices amid escalating prices of basic materials.

"Even though I cannot make a big profit, I still run this business well," he said.

Ferry has employed most of his workers for years and provides all of them with meals throughout their working day.

His noodle business was established by his grandfather in the 1940s. It was continued by his father, Ismet Bachir Saleh, before being handed over to Ferry in 1982.

Ferry said his relative, Arif, ran the same business.

He said using modern machinery would be more simple and efficient, but he would not change his traditional techniques for modern ones because of the associated expense.

"Modern machines are too expensive for me.

"And my customers said that noodles produced the traditional way are more delicious than when produced with modern tools," he said.

Another reason Ferry said he did not want to use modern technology was because he wanted to keep employing his 22 workers, many of whom would lose their jobs if he industrialized his business.

Ferry's wife, Indri, is responsible for marketing the business and said noodle orders would usually reach a peak during Ramadhan.

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