Different Kinds of Bears

Bears are some of the most famous mammals on our planet. These creatures have been depicted in movies, commercials, fairy tales, and every other form of media available. Often seen as symbolizing strength and courage, the bear is treated with respect and fear, and is seen as a majestic creature. However, there are too many different species of bear for one to be able to talk about bears in general. The three most distinctive and well known types of bears are without doubt the polar bear, the grizzly bear, and the giant panda bear. 


Polar Bears
The polar bear (or in Latin, Ursus maritimus, meaning sea bear) evolved 200,000 years ago from its brown bear ancestors. These white giants are superbly adapted for surviving the temperatures in the Far North. Polar bears generally range throughout the Arctic in areas where they can hunt seals and other fish at openings in sea ice called "leads". There are five nations which meet the requirements of a polar bear habitat, and those are namely Russia, the USA (Alaska), Canada, Greenland, and Norway. 


The Polar bear is the world's largest on-land predator, weighing anywhere from 750lbs. to 1,200lbs. Females weigh significantly less, however they tend to even out with males during maternity. These predators control the Arctic food chain and prey mainly on ringed seals. Mothers usually bear two cubs, but it is not unusual to see single cubs or triplets depending on the condition of the mother. Cubs generally stay with their mothers for two to two and a half years after being born.


Global warming has hugely effected these majestic creatures. Not only is their literal land being reduced, but there is also a huge increase in poisonous methane and CO2 gasses in their air. The population condition of these creatures is rapidly declining, and if nothing is done we could lose them completely by 2080. 

Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears are found in a variety of habitats, from dense forests, to sub-alpine meadows and arctic tundra. Often seen as the "main type" of bear, this creature has been labeled as dangerous and frightening. Human encroachment has forced the remaining brown bear populations to move to rugged mountains and remote forests that are undisturbed by humans.


Grizzly bears are omnivorous and will eat both vegetation and animals. Anything from grass and berries, to birds and fish is fair game. In some areas, these predators will even eat larger mammals such as moose, caribou, and elk. A grizzly bear's diet varies greatly depending on what foods are available during each particular season. A grizzly bear's life is quite a bit different than their bulkier white cousins. Grizzlies live solitary lives except during breeding, cub rearing, and in areas with abundant food supplies such as salmon streams. Also, these bears hibernate during the winter for five to eight months, enclosed in dens which they dig in slopes to ensure good snow cover.

The current threat to these historic predators is quite high. The once common grizzly bear population in America has been reduced to only two percent of its historic density. Climate change is destroying the higher elevation sources of food, which is forcing the bears to search for food in lower elevation inhabited by humans. Humans poach the bears for their fur, and thus become the main threat to the livelihood of these creatures.

Panda Bears
Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. They once lived in lowland areas, but farming, forest clearing, and other developments forced them to the mountains. These beautiful bears live in broadleaf and coniferous forests with a dense bamboo understory, generally found in high elevations. The climate is dominated by torrential rains and dense mists, often shrouded in heavy clouds.

What is really unique about this famous type of bear is its coat. The black and white pattern is seemingly designed for camouflage purposes. The fur coat is also thicker than average, allowing the bear to stay warm during the rains of the broadleaf forests. Panda bears have exceptionally strong molar teeth and jaw muscles, created to crush tough bamboo - their exclusive source of food. Not nearly as large as the previous two bears, the panda bear usually does not exceed 250lbs. However, its lighter weight does not exclude it from being dangerous to humans.

Panda populations are rapidly declining, and there are only 1,600 left in the entire world! The main reasons for their endangerment is their low reproductive rate, shortages in bamboo for both food and habitat, and human poaching. While scientists are attempting to breed pandas in zoos, it will hardly be enough to stop the destruction of their living environments, and the poachers who take their furs for money.

In Foresight
Bears are fascinating creatures, and while remaining distant and dangerous they offer a sense of joy and tranquility to our natural environment. With their populations declining so fast, the next few generations might see the last few remaining bears in the world. However, the three most known types of bears discussed above will be remembered forever as distinct and beautiful creatures.

Moving to a New Home (Step-By-Step Guide) (Revised)

Moving to a new place is never an easy task. There are just so many factors which alter the difficulty of the move. For instance, how far your new home is, or how big your old home was. Regardless of any physical difficulties though, moving will always have a mental and emotional toll. By reading the following procedures, you can be sure that moving will become an easier task, which is all about organization and planning.

First step: Plan Ahead
A very common mistake many people make is to start moving out too late. If you are moving from an apartment (or any other place where you pay rent), things can get quite difficult if you are not ready by the time your contract runs out. To avoid this, you must plan at least a month ahead. A few things to keep in mind are the amount of belongings you will need to transport, how you will transport them, how many days will the move take, and how many people you will need. Most importantly, you need to establish if the new home has living necessities. This includes running water, electricity, heating, and lighting. If it does not meet your requirements for life, you must focus on achieving them before any other planning. Once the planning is developed (writing it down helps as well) you are ready to start moving!

Organizing a Moving Group
Many people attempt to move their whole household alone. This is possible, but unnecessarily overwhelming. Try to stay away from taking on all tasks by yourself, and ask some friends or family for help. Moving generally involves heavy lifting, and numerous trips back and forth between your old and new homes. These physical tasks need a lot of manpower. If you attempt to do this alone, not only can it be excruciatingly hard, but it can also cause damage to you and your property. Around 6 strong men should be able to accomplish the task with ease. Remember that your friends are doing you a huge favor. Call them ahead of time, be respectful, and most of all - be ready to help them in their time of need.

If you are moving to a far away place, where you do not know absolutely anyone, it would be impossible to get your friends to come in order to help. In that case, it is easiest to hire professional movers. While it is a lot more expensive than asking your friends, it is necessary and much more organized.

Separating Belongings Into Two
As a person who has recently moved, I advise you wholeheartedly to combine the moving process with a cleaning out process. It is literally the same road, so you do not waste any time or much extra effort. The easiest way to do this is to physically create two piles in the room you are preparing (which will most likely be your own, assuming you are living with a family). As you are going through your belongings, think about the last time you used or thought about the object, and any possible future scenarios where you might need it. If you find yourself thinking "I don't even remember owning this", toss it in the "unneeded pile" for later recycling/donation. After you have finished preparing the room, you will have two organized piles. The point of this is to make the moving of physical objects easier, reduce the number of trips it will take, and of course to avoid hoarding your new house with useless junk.

Transporting Your Belongings
By far the easiest way to accomplish this task is to rent a moving truck. U-Haul is the best example of a truck rental company in America. If you rent the truck and return it the same day, it should not cost you above $75. Compare this price with the cost of making countless trips with your car, and you will see that it is the right choice. With your moving group, carry everything out of the old house, and into the truck. A good idea is to have one person in the truck arranging the objects, in order to achieve maximum truck capacity. After everything has been loaded, drive the truck to your new home. Upon arrival, prepare two work teams. One will unload from the truck and carry to the house, while the other waits at the door and brings objects inside (to their corresponding rooms). The purpose of doing this is to avoid bringing dirt from outside everywhere in your new home. If there is a garage, try to store most of the smaller furniture there for the time being, as it is something that can be done after moving in.

The Final Steps
After you return the truck and say goodbye to your moving group, arrange the items necessary for living (most importantly, a bed). Remember that decorations and small repairs can come later - the rush is over. After having a few weeks to settle in, invite the people who helped you move for food and drinks.

As you can see, moving is a tedious task which involves stress and physical toil. However, by following the above steps you can eliminate many of the hardships of moving, and make the process much more efficient. As one mover to another, enjoy your new home!

Moving to a New Home. (A Step-By-Step Guide)

Moving to a new place is never an easy task. There are just so many factors which alter the difficulty of the move. For instance, how far your new home is, or how big your old home was. Regardless of any physical difficulties thought, moving will always have a mental and emotional toll. By reading the following procedures, you can be sure that moving will become an easier task, which is all about organization and planning.

First step: Plan Ahead
A very common mistake many people make is to start moving out too late. If you are moving from an apartment (or any other place where you pay rent), things can get quite difficult if you are not ready by the time your contract runs out. To avoid this, you must plan at least a month ahead. A few things to keep in mind are the amount of belongings you will need to transport, how you will transport them, how many days will the move take, and how many people you will need. Most importantly, you need to establish if the new home has living necessities. This includes running water, electricity, heating, and lighting. Once the planning is developed (writing it down helps as well) you are ready to start moving!

Organizing a Move Group
Many people attempt to move their whole household alone. This is possible, but unnecessarily overwhelming. Try to stay away from taking on all tasks by yourself, and ask some friends or family for help. Moving generally involves heavy lifting, and numerous trips back and forth between your old and new homes. These physical tasks need a lot of manpower. If you attempt to do this alone, not only can it be excruciatingly hard, but it can also cause damage to you and your property. Around 6 strong men should be able to accomplish the task with ease. Remember that your friends are doing you a huge favor. Call them ahead of time, be respectful, and most of all - be ready to help them in their time of need.

Separating Belongings Into Two
As a person who has recently moved, I advise you wholeheartedly to combine the moving process with a cleaning out process. It is literally the same road, so you do not waste any time or much extra effort. The easiest way to do this is to physically create two piles in the room you are preparing (which will most likely be your own, assuming you are living with a family). As you are going through your belongings, think about the last time you used or thought about the object, and any possible future scenarios where you might need it. If you find yourself thinking "I don't even remember owning this", toss it in the trash pile. After you have finished preparing the room, you will have two organized piles. The point of this is to make the moving of physical objects easier, reduce the number of trips it will take, and of course to avoid hoarding your new house with useless junk.

Transporting Your Belongings
By far the easiest way to accomplish this task is to rent a moving truck. U-Haul is the best example of a movers company in America. If you rent the truck and return it the same day, it should not cost you above $75. Compare this price with the cost of making countless trips with your car, and you will see that it is the right choice. With your moving group, carry everything out of the old house, and into the truck. A good idea is to have one person in the truck arranging the objects, in order to achieve maximum truck capacity. After everything has been loaded, drive the truck to your new home. Upon arrival, prepare two work teams. One will unload from the truck and carry to the house, while the other waits at the door and brings objects inside (to their corresponding rooms). The purpose of doing this is to avoid bringing dirt from outside everywhere in your new home. If there is a garage, try to store most of the smaller furniture there for the time being, as it is something that can be done after moving in.

The Final Steps
After you return the truck and say goodbye to your moving group, arrange the items necessary for living (most importantly, a bed). Remember that decorations and small repairs can come later - the rush is over. After having a few weeks to settle in, invite the people who helped you move for food and drinks.

As you can see, moving is a tedious task which involves stress and physical toil. However, by following the above steps you can eliminate many of the hardships of moving, and make the process much more efficient. As one mover to another, enjoy your new home!

What is Heroism?

“Heroism is not only in the man, but also in the occasion.” – Calvin Coolidge. What is heroism exactly? Is it a feeling, or a condition? If one were to look up the official definition, they would find that heroism is simply heroic conduct especially as exhibited in fulfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end. However, there are so many ways that heroism can be executed, and even more reasons why heroism is awakened in people. To me, heroism is a feeling which can be provoked by the urge to protect, and the urge to prove one’s self to others.

            Many contemporary authors base their books around one specific hero (especially fiction books). The hero usually has a goal, which is to defeat somebody else, or to live through some hardships. Every single one of these stories contains a moment, where the hero actually becomes heroic, and saves the situation. The urge to protect a loved one, or a place that is cherished, can easily awaken one’s inner hero. Heroism is simply the act of putting that inner hero to action. In real everyday life, there are heroes who are just like us. They eat and sleep, and have fun. However, their jobs endanger them in order to protect many others. Namely firemen and policemen, these people show true heroism (even though it sounds and seems much less downplayed than for example, medieval heroism), and protect the lives of everybody else. Just like most other feelings (since heroism is a feeling awakened by certain situations), heroism can arise in anybody willing to protect. It doesn’t necessarily have to be jumping in the way of a bullet for somebody. However, it also cannot be something small, like swatting a mosquito which is about to make its way onto your friend’s body. Heroism has a certain border, where an everyday act of human kindness crosses into a heroic act which one can even boast about. This leads to the next major situation which can inspire heroism.

            Picture yourself in the middle of a knight’s duel. The public is cheering for you, despite the extreme size of the enemy. You had heard a rumor that he has defeated over 100 men. However, you entered the competition in order to win the hearts of the princess, the king, and all of his people. The moment you realize that you need to prove yourself to such a prestigious audience, you concentrate harder, and a sudden sense of heroism allows you to defeat your enemy. This example shows how another famous situation can awaken heroism in one’s mind. The pure presence of heroism can allow a person to do amazing things. This cause, of course, is a lot less noble than the previous, since it is for one’s own gain. Still though, it is a perfect example of heroism. Just like in the scenario of one person protecting others, this scene has its limits. One cannot be called a hero for winning a game of cards, or a hot dog eating contest. The atmosphere must be grand, and the result – unmatchable. A good contemporary example is a sport championship, where a victory can mean fame, money, and/or better. A player can shine, knowing inside that this one specific match must be won. A modern day “hero”, who aspires to win for their (and their team’s) success, often does so in a heated moment where the line between average and heroic is crossed.

            Heroism is a grand idea. It can be interpreted in many different ways, the same way that love and art can be interpreted. To protect somebody, or to prove one’s self to others are prime examples of moments when heroism occurs. Heroism is felt everywhere during that time: in the person harnessing its power, in the situation which draws it out, and in the atmosphere at the location. Part of feeling contemporary heroism is knowing about heroes during the times of knights and in fantasy tales. Relating to other heroes can often bring out the hero in each and every one of us. Heroism is a feeling achievable to anyone willing to succeed in an important situation.