Pet Friendly Vacation

---

 

Pet Friendly Vacation - Key West - A Warm Change After a Long, Cold Winter

By [https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susan_H_Smith/322412]Susan H Smith

For a pet friendly tropical island vacation, look no farther than the beautiful Florida Keys! The islands in this balmy paradise run southwest from trendy Miami, Florida, to laid-back Key West-the southernmost point in the continental United States. World-class sportfishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, camping, and eco-tours are but a few of the reasons many travelers call this tropical wonderland "The American Caribbean."

 The Florida Keys are connected to the Florida mainland by US Highway 1, also known as the Overseas Highway. With the majestic Atlantic Ocean on one side and the sparkling Gulf of Mexico on the other, this 113-mile-long byway was named one of the 10 most beautiful drives in the United States by the Society of American Travel Writers. The Seven Mile Bridge-one of 43 bridges on the Overseas Highway-provides the perfect backdrop for viewing the Florida Keys' crystalline turquoise waters and endless azure skies. This spectacular drive has numerous places to pull off for a stroll or photo with your pet.

Driving south from Miami on the Overseas Highway, the first island travelers encounter is pet friendly Key Largo. Known as the Dive Capital of the World, Key Largo features fabulous John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park-the first underwater park in the United States. Colorful tropical fish, dozens of species of coral, and the Statue of Christ of the Abyss are but a few of the incredible sights that snorkelers, divers, and glass bottom boat adventurers will see in this underwater wonderland. Snorkelers and divers will also enjoy exploring several nearby shipwrecks and intentionally sunk ships. Back on terra firma, this pet friendly park offers a unique hiking and picnicking experience in mangrove swamps and tropical hammocks.

Islamorada is the next stop along the Overseas Highway. Often called the Sportfishing Capital of the World, the four islands of Islamorada host the largest fishing fleet in the world. Bonefishing and offshore game fishing are especially popular pastimes. In addition to fishing, visitors enjoy diving, snorkeling, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and boat racing in the the aqua blue waters surrounding this tropical paradise. Islamorada's pet friendly Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, featuring ancient fossilized coral formations, is the perfect place for a leisurely hike or picnic with your pet. Afterwards, your pet can cool off in the shallow, cool waters of Anne's Beach.

Next are the pet friendly Islands of Marathon, which include Long Key, the Conch Key, Duck Key, Grassy Key, Boot Key, Crawl Key, and Pigeon Key. Considered the heart of the Florida Keys, Marathon is a family-oriented destination with educational, fun attractions like the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital. Pet owners will enjoy relaxing in pet friendly Curry Hammock State Park, where warm ocean breezes and beautiful tropical habitat provide a welcome escape from reality. Outstanding deep sea fishing and every water sport imaginable are available in Marathon, as well.

After crossing the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge from Marathon, travelers find themselves in the Lower Keys. With no fast food restaurants or shopping malls, this thirty-mile stretch is arguably the most beautiful area in the Florida Keys. Pet friendly Bahia Honda State Park is located here, which several travel magazines have called one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Big Pine Key, another island in the Lower Keys, is widely known for the pet friendly National Key Deer Refuge. Here, visitors will enjoy glimpses of the diminutive key deer as they stroll with their pets through undeveloped pine wilderness. Big Pine Key is also the headquarters for snorkeling trips and dive charters to amazing Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

The small island paradise of Key West is the last stop on the Overseas Highway. World-weary travelers are attracted to pet friendly Key West for its history and culture, quaint restaurants and bars, and incredible sunsets. Most importantly, people come to Key West because of its laid-back attitude. The people of the Conch Republic know that a comfortable hammock and a frozen margarita are much more fun than rush hour traffic or shoveling snow. One of the most pet friendly cities in the United States, Key West welcomes pets with open arms.

Pet owners will not be disappointed by the variety of lodging options in the Florida Keys. From charming inns to luxurious resorts, [http://pettravel.com/regions/FloridaKeys.cfm]Key West pet friendly hotels are abound. Dining options also abundant, as the warm, balmy tropical breezes are perfect for outside dining with your pet. So make your reservations today to the pet friendly Florida Keys and get ready for a fabulous, relaxing getaway!

Susan has been in the pet travel industry for over 10 years building PetTravel.com into the internet's most comprehensive resource for the traveling pet owner. Over 26,000 pet friendly hotels, information on airline pet policies, and rules and requirements on over 190 countries worldwide make http://PetTravel.com the best choice for pets on the go. Stop by our Pet Travel Store for essential products for traveling with a pet.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Pet-Friendly-Vacation---Key-West---A-Warm-Change-After-a-Long,-Cold-Winter&id=4099748] Pet Friendly Vacation - Key West - A Warm Change After a Long, Cold Winter

---

China Expandable container house ---10 minutes one house!

Credit | youtube.com

Anant Agarwal: Why massively open online courses (still) matter

How to Attend Free Online Courses

What is Marketing? Marketing In The Real and Business World - Marketing ...

Social Media Revolution

Craft cannabis producers compete in the small batch business market

Craft cannabis producers compete in the small batch business market

Walmart's coin could gain approval from regulators easier than Libra, says top investment bank | CryptoSlate

---

Walmart's coin could gain approval from regulators easier than Libra, says top investment bank | CryptoSlate

Social Media In Ten Years

Social Media Marketing: The Future

By James Byrd, MBA

For now, it can be noted that communications and public relations are expanding, that is due to the adoption of social media and various forms of measuring social media. Marketing/product, as it relates to public relations (PR), in its traditional form, is moving towards a state of decline. There is a strong resemblance to the fact that social media is increasingly the better venue for the promoting and introduction of products. That makes for the statement; “social media is here to stay,” being a valid statement, which correctly reflects the true future of social media. Another tell-tale indicator would be that recent trends have shown that corporate budget allocations, for measurement and evaluating of the PR department, have doubled during the span of 2009 to 2011. Similar trends have also been identified in Europe.

Source:

Swerling, Jerry; Tenderich, Burghardt. (2012, September 1). New tools, new directions: a recent study finds that core responsibilities in communication and public relations are expanding with the adoption of social media and measurement The Free Library. (2012). Retrieved February 26, 2013, from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/New tools, new directions: a recent study findsthat core...-a0302111233

Kaneh Bosm: The Hidden Story of Cannabis in the Old Testament

------------------------------------------------------
More Notes

The Pot Debate

 

LearnOutLoud.com Review

Watch this stimulating debate on the motion to legalize drugs. Since the drug war began 30 years ago it has cost the U.S. government $2.5 trillion dollars and has currently locked up over 100,000 nonviolent drug offenders in federal prison. The side arguing for the legalization of drugs points out how the drug war has primarily been waged against minorities and the poor in a disproportionate ratio to drug usage. They argue that drug use does not equal drug abuse, and that many drugs such as marijuana are less harmful to society than the current legal drugs of alcohol and prescription drugs. The side arguing against legalizing drugs points out the detrimental effects some drugs have had on communities such as meth and heroin, and how the drug war has to an extent deterred drug usage. Be sure to wait for the results of this excellent debate from Intelligence Squared U.S.

Source it now: LearnOutLoud.com

"Besides, Canada, Cannabis, its a no brainer. ' ~Bro. B.

For the love of money - O' jays Full Version

"I am trying to tell ya now." ~Bro. B.

Business Ideas

Kaizen

 

---

“Just preaching "you are blessed" to a congregation is like giving them a big fertile land. They need the seeds to plant on it; they need business ideas, a little of which is enough!” 
― Israelmore Ayivor

The Ascent of Money

 

The Ascent of Money

by Niall Ferguson Description In The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson seeks to explain the financial history of the world, exploring how our complex system of global finance evolved, how money has shaped the course of human affairs and how the mechanics of this economic system work to create seemingly unlimited wealth or catastrophic loss. Viewers learn economic fundamentals and an understanding of how the Chinese economy has risen to dominate the world.

---

Facebook plans June 18th cryptocurrency debut. Here’s what we know | TechCrunch

Facebook plans June 18th cryptocurrency debut. Here’s what we know | TechCrunch

Education and Multicultural Alliances | National Institute of Food and Agriculture

 

Education and Multicultural Alliances | National Institute of Food and Agriculture

---

Green Rush: Eco-Business by Sarah Gardner

 

Green Rush: Eco-Business by Sarah Gardner

Description

Investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators say solutions to global warming lie in the frenetic world of the capitalist marketplace. Billions of dollars in investment funds say they're on the right track.

---

Top 10 Free Online Courses Websites in 2018

 

Top 10 Free Online Courses Websites in 2018 - Free online courses with certificates

Source: youtube.com

---

As The World Evolves

Source: Blue Ocean Strategy

---

 

As The World Evolves

Notes By James Byrd, MBA

Some things to consider when making our way through life is to examine advice given by others, but make your own choices over time, that is, do not let time be an explicated marker within your decision mix of reasoned wisdom, experience, and correct judgment, but not so much knotted to ambiguity. Get your facts straight, and then step forward.

Be careful of the opinions and assumptions of others. Use facts to make your own decisions moving forward. Don’t be uncomfortable going it alone, stay with your decision making processes, and be willing to be the only champion for an idea or position. Be careful of staying in the background within a group, hence, presenting group norms as a statement of your most pious position.

Scared, I would be too if one is out fishing within an ocean of vicious competitive forces. Learn to create a strategic plan that entails moving away from that of mainstream and that of following the low-cost leader effect. The main aim when trying to achieve this effect is to be not scared to venture out into new and innovative technologies endeavors where there are less competition and that of highly volatile competitive forces.

Now with the Blue Ocean Strategy, there is always the idea of disruptive technologies -- which is primarily a must as our planet evolves, secular thinking was good back then, but as the whole of the planet drifts down an old lazy river, competition builds-up to the extent that occupants of one portion of the ever-increasing speeding raft decides to flip the raft then up-right it in order to acquire more economic advantage. That is the nature of competition or should I correctly put it the explicit nature of capitalism. 

 Source: 

Colman, Robert; Buckley, Patrick. 2005 Blue Ocean Strategy. The Free Library (March, 1), https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Blue Ocean Strategy.-a0131356548 (accessed January 12 2017)

Heather Barnfield , &   Michael M. Lombardo. FYI: For Your Improvement - Competencies Development Guide, 6th Edition  – September, 2014

---

Cowspiracy: The Unsustainable Nature Of Animals

---

 

Cowspiracy: The Unsustainable Nature Of Animals

By Donald Ardell

Introduction:

I have a few questions for your consideration. After posing these questions, I’ll outline what the evidence suggests about each question. I’ll follow that with a discussion of what it all means for those who want to enjoy quality lifestyles guided by reason, exuberance, athleticism and liberty.

Here are the questions:

• What do you think is the most destructive industry in America and elsewhere in the world today? Hint: It’s not the tobacco industry. It’s not the oil and gas industry, either.


• Why are the world’s leading environmental organizations unwilling to talk about the problems that the most destructive industry causes that degrades the environment and threatens the health of every living creature on the planet? Hint: It has to do with donations.


• What is the leading cause of deforestation?


• What is the leading cause of water pollution – and guzzler of water?


• What industry is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry?


• What industry more than any other drives rainforest destruction, species extinction, habitat loss, topsoil erosion, ocean dead zones, and virtually every other environmental ill?

One more question – then I’ll provide answers and a discussion. This is the most important question: Why is it that one industry, the one featured in what I believe is the correct response to every one of the above questions, almost entirely unchallenged by almost every environmental organization?

Introducing Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn have produced a 91 minute film called Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret. It features a variety of notables; the cast includes Michael Pollan, Richard Oppenlander, Will Tuttle, Howard Lyman and Will Potter. Other experts involved include Michael Besancon, Michael Klaper, David Robinson Simon and Kirk R. Smith.

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret is playing in theaters across the country. I watched it on Netflix. It makes a convincing case that Animal Agriculture is by far the most destructive industry to ever operate on Earth. Nothing else comes close. The data presented throughout the film fully supports this sweeping judgment. In addition to the horror that the products of this industry inflicts on humans and animals and damage to air quality, to ocean resources and to the sustainability of the environment, an equally amazing reality supported throughout the film is the sellout of the world’s environmental organizations to this industry. Representatives of such organizations are silent on the role of Animal Agriculture – that is, the dairy, cattle, pork and other animal protein factory farming operations. This industry seems to have bought not only our politicians but the leadership of the very agencies we rely upon to safeguard the natural world.

This film should alert the public to the mistreatment of humans and the environment in a way that the film Blackfish served to alert patrons of Sea World about the treatment of killer whales.

Despite the ghastly revelations, this documentary is fascinating to watch from beginning to end, and contains many moments that are unexpectedly humorous. It is not unlike Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, in fact, Kip Anderson credits that show as inspiration for his environmental awakening.

The Facts

So, what exactly is the impact of Animal Agriculture on the planet’s ecosystems and environments that make it such a disaster for one and all? Much of the information, but not all, comes from a United Nations News Centre report entitled, Livestock’s Long Shadow – Environmental Issues and Options. The producers of Cowspiracy have set up a website, with regular updates, providing references, notes, sources and the statistics used in the film.

A partial summary of the problems associated with Animal Agriculture includes the following.

GREENHOUSE GASES: Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. Livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock is responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas with 296 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide and which remains in the atmosphere for 150 years. Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day.

WATER: Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) water use ranges from 70-140 billion gallons annually; animal agriculture water consumption ranges from 34-76 trillion gallons annually. Growing feed crops for livestock consumes 56% of water in the US. The amount of water used to produce 1lb. of beef varies greatly from 442 – 8000 gallons. The filmmakers used the widely-cited conservative number of 2500 gallons per pound of US beef. Five percent of water consumed in the US is by private homes; 55% of water consumed in the US is for animal agriculture. Animal Agriculture is responsible for 20%-33% of all fresh water consumption in the world today – 1/5 of global water consumption.

LAND: Livestock or livestock feed occupies 1/3 of the earth’s ice-free land. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution and habitat destruction. In addition to the monumental habitat destruction caused by clearing forests and converting land to grow feed crops and for animal grazing, predators and competition species are frequently targeted and hunted because of a perceived threat to livestock profits. The indiscriminate use of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers used in the production of feed crops often interferes with the reproductive systems of animals and poison waterways. The over – exploitation of wild species through commercial fishing, bushmeat trade as well as animal agriculture’s impact on climate change, all contribute to global depletion of species and resources. Nearly half of the contiguous US is devoted to animal agriculture. The US lower 48 states represent 1.9 billion acres. Of that 1.9 billion acres: 778 million acres of private land are used for livestock grazing (forest grazing, pasture grazing, and crop grazing), 345 million acres for feed crops, 230 million acres of public land are used for grazing livestock.

WASTE: Every minute, 7 million pounds of excrement are produced by animals raised for food in the US. This doesn’t include the animals raised outside of USDA jurisdiction or in backyards, or the billions of fish raised in aquaculture settings. Also in America, 335 million tons of dry matter is produced annually by livestock. A farm with 2,500 dairy cows produces the same amount of waste as a city of 411,000 people. In this country, 130 times more animal waste than human waste is produced – 1.4 billion tons, from the meat industry annually. (Five tons of animal waste are produced per person.)

In the U.S. alone livestock produce 116,000 lbs of waste per second. The count per animal type is as follows:

* Dairy Cows – 120lbs of waste per day x 9 million cows.

* Cattle – 63lbs of waste per day, x 90 million cattle.

* Pigs – 14lbs. of waste per day, x 67 million pigs.

* Sheep/Goats – 5lbs of waste per day, x 9 million sheep/goats.

* Poultry – .25-1lbs of waste per day, x 9 billion birds.

OCEANS: 3/4 of the world’s fisheries are exploited or depleted; fish-less oceans are likely by 2048. At present, 90-100 million tons of fish are pulled from our oceans each year – an unsustainable rate. This amounts to 2.7 trillion animals pulled from oceans each year. For every 1 pound of fish caught, up to 5 pounds of unintended marine species are caught and discarded as by-kill. As many as 40% (63 billion pounds) of fish caught globally every year are discarded. Scientists estimate as many as 650,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed every year by fishing vessels.

RAINFOREST: Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction. One to two acres of rainforest are cleared every second. The leading causes of rainforest destruction are livestock and feed crops.

WILDLIFE: Ten thousand years ago, 99% of biomass (i.e. zoomass) was wild animals. Today, humans and the animals that we raise as food make up 98% of the zoomass.

HUMANITY: World population in 1812 was 1 billion; in 1912, it was 1.5 billion; and in 2012, it was 7 billion. Seventy billion farmed animals are reared annually worldwide; 6 million are killed for food every hour. Humans drink 5.2 billion gallons of water and eat 21 billion pounds of food each day. Worldwide, cows drink 45 billion gallons of water and eat 135 billion pounds of food each day. Worldwide, 82% of starving children live where food is fed to animals and the animals are shipped to and eaten in western countries.

MISC: Dairy consumption may lead to breast lumps and may give guys man-boobs.

The land required to feed one person for 1 year on a vegan diet is 1/6th of an acre. The comparable figures for vegetarians and meat eaters is 3x and 18x, respectively. Each day, a person who eats a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forested land, 20 lbs CO2 equivalent and one animal’s life.

What to Make Of It All?

For starters, the future as we think of living on the Earth today does not lie ahead. It will be different. Quite so. It seems unimaginable that Animal Agriculture will continue as it is – the resources on the planet will not sustain it and we won’t be able to live very well with the deterioration of the environment and the earth’s resources. Things will have to change. How fast will changes come and what will bring changes most rapidly? Nobody knows. However, individual changes by those, like ourselves, who are favorably situated, can be immediate or at least pretty soon, for varied motives.

The film clearly favors a transition to vegan diets, which seems simplistic and unlikely, as well as the only way out of disaster. Most living today, at least under prosperous western standards, are unlikely to make the switch. Of course, they will be gone soon enough – in a few generations in any event.

Everyone with the slightest interest in a healthy lifestyle should watch this film. Besides the major topic of how Animal Agriculture is ruining everything, almost as much as religions have been doing throughout human history, Cowspiracy exposes the complicity of environmental organizations that are ignoring the impact of animal agriculture. This alone makes the film a must see.

Be well and look on the bright side. And maybe, just maybe, think twice next time you pick up a menu or wander the aisles of a supermarket.

About: Donald Ardell

Credit: http://EzineArticles.com/?Cowspiracy:-A-Documentary-the-Unsustainable-Nature-of-Animal-Agriculture-and-Much-More&id=9176636