- Care2Share.
- Street Swahili.
16 November, 2009.
This map, produced by OSU researchers, shows the retreat of Kilimanjaro's ice cap since 1912. During that period, more than 80 percent of the mountains glaciers were lost. All ice will probably be lost on the mountaintop within 15 years.
See-Through Frogs, Alien Salamanders, and Spiny Bugs...Oh My!
by Vera H-C Chan
A salamander that looks like E.T., a micosized frog smaller than a fingernail, and a spiny-crested grasshopper. Who says the age of exploration is dead?
It's definitely not for Conservation International (CI). Their scientists have come back with some startlingly vivid images of endangered and never-before-seen critters from a whirlwind trip to the Nangaritza Protected Forest in Ecuador, near the Peruvian border. CI researchers came across at least 15 species of creatures and plants "unknown to science."
One of the most remarkable creatures is the Hyalinobatrachium pellucidum, also called a glass or crystal frog because you can see through its transparent flesh (right down to its guts). This guy's not new, but he's definitely endangered, so the find is heartening for environmentalists.
The purpose of the three-week biodiversity study was to identify species and make conservation recommendations for ecotourism possibilities, which the Ecuadorian locals are entertaining. It also turns out that frogs and insects yield medicinal properties, and a proper population survey is needed to see what else is out there in the forest.
According to Bloomberg, out of 14 million plants and animals in the world, human beings have been acquainted with only about 1.8 million. Below are more images of new friends; you can find other photos and expedition details at CI's site.
Clones of 9/11 hero dog unveiled in Los Angeles
Wed Jun 17, 9:12 pm ET
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Five clones of a search and rescue dog which helped locate people trapped in the rubble of the 9/11 attacks were formally presented to their ancestor's former handler.
James Symington, a former Canadian police officer, choked back tears as he formally took possession of the five descendants of his beloved German shepherd named Trakr, who died in April.
Symington was presented with Trakr's offspring after winning a competition organized by California firm BioArts International -- the "Golden Clone Giveaway" -- to find the world's most "cloneworthy" dog.
Symington said he hopes the puppies -- Trust, Valor, Prodigy, Solace and Deja Vu -- will go on to follow in Trakr's footsteps.
"We're here to celebrate that Trakr's legacy lives on in these five beautiful puppies," he told reporters. "If they have the same attributes Trakr did, then hopefully they'll develop into world class search and rescue dogs."
Symington and Trakr arrived at the site of the World Trade Center collapse, commonly referred to as Ground Zero, on September 12, 2001 and were one of the first K9 search and rescue teams on the scene.
After working nearly non-stop for 48 hours, Trakr located the last human survivor found in the rubble of the twin towers.
"Trakr was an extraordinary search and rescue dog. His work at Ground Zero was the culmination of his career," Symington said.
BioArts International, which says it offers the world's first commercial dog cloning service, partnered with South Korea's SooAm Biotech Research Foundation to clone Trakr under the direction of scientist Hwang Woo-Suk.
BioArts International chief executive Lou Hawthorne said canine cloning would remain beyond the reach of ordinary pet lovers, with cloned dogs costing an average 144,000 dollars each.
Hawthorne defended the right of people to clone their dogs instead of obtaining new pets from rescue shelters.
"I think 99 percent of the time people should get their pets from shelters," he told AFP.
"But can we agree though that one percent of the time if you have a one in a million dog and you have the money to pay for it, you should be able to go to either a breeder or a cloner?"
Symington said that one member of his new litter -- Trust -- was an exact replica of Trakr.
"The physical similarities are uncanny," he told AFP. "He's the spitting image of the Trakr that I first met in 1995. He has exactly the same markings, the way he moves, everything. Very alert, very intelligent and intuitive.
"I respect that cloning's not for everyone. But there are few dogs that are born with extraordinary abilities and Trakr was one of those dogs," he said.
"I look forward to the day that these puppies can follow in Trakr's footsteps and play an important role in other rescues, like Trakr did."
Metamorphosis by the Monarch Butterfly - Joachim Tindamanyire.
This cutting was presented by Joachim Tindamanyire. It shows the gradual process of Egg, Larva, Pupa and Adult. It supports our lecture of Metamorphisis and Mimicry.
Thanks Mjeshi for sharing this with us!
Indian scientists clone buffalo: report
Sun Jun 7, 2:48 am ET
NEW DELHI (AFP) – Scientists in the Indian state of Haryana have cloned a buffalo using foetal tissue, according to a report.
The female calf named Garima weighed 43 kilograms (95 pounds) and was born at the National Dairy Research Institute in the city of Karnal in northern India, according to the Hindu newspaper.
"Garima is absolutely healthy and we are fully optimistic about her survival," institute director A.K. Srivastava was quoted as saying.
India cloned the world's first buffalo in February, but it died of pneumonia within a week of its birth after being created from the ear tissue of a female buffalo.
Scientists cloned Garima using tissue from a foetus as part of a "hand-guided cloning technique" which allows the sex of the calf to be chosen.
Srivastava said India has the largest population of buffaloes in the world and that cloning would increase the percentage of elite animals.&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Street Swahili.
Recommended: Read before you board a plane!
Some Students have volunteered some Street Swahili Phrases for the tourists to learn before they arrive! Some/most not yet published in the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. Real streetwise! Enjoy it. The emails of the contributors will be published soon for direct responsibility.
The problem with Street swahili is that the phrases don't stay long in use. If you come next year, most of these will be longer useful.
Then come earlier or stay up to date.
Disclaimer: The publishers of this Blog do not hold any responsibility from any damage/benefit resulting from using these phrases in public!
Arifu -rafiki
Chapaa - money.
Famba – stupid (We famba, nini?) – Are you stupid!
Haina kwele - No Problem.
Keroro - getting drunk.
Kujiachia - to feel free.
Kusepa - to leave.
Kwele - problem
Milupo - girl-friend, dame.
Mikasi - sex.
Mitungi - boose.
Mobu - money.
Mzuka - Fresh, Happy, fine.
Najiachia - I feel free.
Oyaa - Hey, you! Come on!
Ulabu - boose.
Unyamwezini - Europe, USA.
Vije? Ni vije? - How're things.
Gusa moja uone mbili - one mistake two punishments.
Nipe stori - Give me some gossip.
Gozi gozi - Bullshit (Ondoa gozi gozi) - take your bullshit away.
Jikate – go. Cut yourself!
Kiwingu – shadow, cloud. (ondoa kiwingu) – go away.
Kwele - complications (Acha kwele - stop complications) -
Limekuganda – it’s stuck on you. (problem)
Longolongo – lies. Acha longolongo – stop lying!
Manzi - girl friend.
Masela – guys, buddies.
Mbwii – totally drunk. Yuko mbwii – he’s very drunk!!!!
Mchizi – buddy. (Crazy one)
Michakato – process of getting money, dubiously!
Michongo - gossip.
Mikasi – sex. (scissors!)
Mitungi - boose (Big pots)
Mshikaji - buddy friend.
Mzuka - joy. (Lit- crazy)
Najuta kukufahamu – I regret meeting you!
Nduki - speed, flee. (Alitoka nduki - He ran like crazy)
Ngeli ya Ngenge –
Oya – hey! Oya masela – hey guys!
Poa - cool. Tuko poa. we're cool/happy.
Full Mtera - Fully blown AIDS
Tano – five. Nipe tano – give me five. With a fist.
Tungi – drunk. Uko tungi – you’re drunk! (Lit - Big pot)
Umefulia – You have crewed up (Lit - washing your cheque with your clothes!)
Unalo – that’s your problem. (Lit - You got it!)
Utafunuliwa malinda – you will be naked(?), embarrasses. (Lit- your gown getting blow away).
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