Most Dangerous Animals in the World: Mammals: Part 1

Throughout our world the mammals number in variety whether it be size, veracity, color, and ways to defend themselves.  Mammals have been found on just about every continent in the world and outnumber us as humans. It’s no reason that we hear stories every year of mammals attacking and killing some of us. As our habitat grows, theirs is shrinking and our paths continually cross. It is not their fault it is more of ours because mammals are not man eaters they are opportunists and will attack and defend when a situation or opportunity arises. So here you go:

·         Tigers- Tigers used to live across the land before the invention of gun powder and territory destruction, they used to live Asia, including Bali, Java and Sumatra, which are Indonesian islands and all the way up into Siberia. The tigers can grow anywhere from 5 feet up until 10 feet. Many times tigers will try to avoid humans, but if a tiger has the opportunity to attack one of us as prey, they will cease the opportunity. Between 1902 and 1907 the same tiger in India alone killed 434 people and it is the Guinness World Book of Records as the most prolific man killer ever.

·         Lions- Much like Tigers lions have been known to attack humans too. Today they are found only in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, except for one very small population of Asian lions that survives in India's Gir Forest. Because we are coming into their habitat, they are forced to cross paths with us. Unlike the tiger, which is a solitary, lions hunt in prides. Lions have been known to take down full grown elephants, giraffes and several other large herbivores. Lions like tigers will attack humans when the opportunity arises and people have been killed before. During 1898 when the British were trying to build a railroad through Kenya and then they reached Tsavo. They knew and heard of the stories of the Tsavo Lions and knew that they were bigger than usual. That year two lions killed and ate 134 people.

·         Hyenas- When many people think of hyenas they think of that “laughter”, but they are no joking matter. Hyenas have the strongest bite force of any mammal on the land. Hyenas will eat just about anything that they can grab a hold of. Many people have these misconceptions that they are these tricksters and will rob graves and kill livestock, but really they are just like tigers and lions, they are opportunists and when it arises they will attack. Hyenas attack in packs and have been known to drive lions and leopards off their kills. Honestly I would be more afraid of hyenas than the previous two because they are ruthless hunters.

·         Elephants- Many people view elephants as docile animals that could really do no harm what so ever, but these animals are killing machines. Once they get going it’s very hard to stop them. The elephant is the biggest land mammal on the planet. They live from Africa in to India. Elephants are endangered right now because of poachers who hunted them for their ivory tusks and hide. Elephants easily can weigh over 1000 pounds and are very territorial animals. Bull elephants have been known to charge for no exact reason. People who have minded their own business and have been trampled to death or impaled because they may have accidentally spooked an elephant. Elephants have been known to trample huts. Hunters have said that a bullet to the head alone may not kill a full grown bull and hunters have shot them in the head and have been charged and killed.

·         Hippos- Hippos have a very well-known reputation of being big lumbering beasts with no coordination. That is completely wrong. Hippos reportedly kill more people a year than any animal in Africa. They are more easily started than elephants. They are also arguably one of the most territorial animals in the world. Mothers will charge to protect her calves and males during breeding season will charge when they see something that is seen as a threat to their dominance. Hippos have flipped boats and have implied people with their massive tusks. They have cut people in have, “reportedly”. They will get spooked if something comes between them and their way to the water.

It will be continued….

N1: That's A Big Wasp!

One of my favorite interests is football, but an interest that is equally my favorite is the study of animals (zoology). From a very young age I have found animals interesting.  Hopefully one day I can become a zoologist.  When many people think of wasps they think of yellow and black, hive makers, annoying, and the fear that they could get stung.  About year ago an expedition to Indonesia led by Lynn Kimsey, discovered a new wasp in little habited and known island, Sulawesi. The wasp is known as Megalara garuda the "king of wasps".  It looks like something out of your worst nightmares and it will make you think twice about being afraid of yellow jackets and other wasps because it is 5 times the size! The wasp is jet black and is the largest known wasp still in existence today at whopping 2.5 inches. That’s about the size of human ring finger.  It has mandibles or jaws that are longer than its legs the jaws are so massive that they drag when it walks.  The problem is that they shrouded in mystery because every specimen that has been found has been found dead.  The wasp could leave a nasty bite because of the huge jaws too, but I bet would be very painful to get stung by one. It just brings shivers to me. By the way even being massive it can still fly.  The image of them is actually quite disturbing because of its appearance and size. This species and other species on the island are in jeopardy because, since 1960 parts of the island have been leveled to plant crops. Hopefully we preserve this mysterious animal to learn more from it. Many people would probably be afraid of this animal, but to me it is very intriguing because it is something that we have never seen the likes of.

M2: Who should the Bills Target in Free Agency?

With the date of March 12^th looming in the next couple of days, the Bills have some money to spend in Free Agency. This year the Free Agency that we all know and love will be entering its 20^th year of existence. It always seems that the Bills have money to spend and this year is no different. After cuts of veteran players like Nick Barnett, George Wilson, Terrance McGee, and the fact that they didn’t resign both Donald Jones and David Nelson leaves the Bills with a lot of money to spend. The Bills could go in any direction, but here some of the players they could be interested in or should think about:

          Greg Jennings- Jennings is a veteran wide receiver who has been a stud for some time now, but injuries have hindered his career in the last couple of years. Jennings is a consistent wide receiver and could help prove his worth with a team like Buffalo who has a need at wide receiver

          Wes Welker/Danny Amendola- The reason I grouped these two guys together is because they are the same type of receiver. They are both smaller guys who are seen as slot receivers and are highly consistent.  The knock on Danny Amendola is the cumulated injuries that have hurt his production thus far. The other Wes Welker is arguably one of the most consistent guys in the NFL. Welker mainly a slot has played the past 5 years in New England and has more receptions than players like Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson Jr., Larry Fitzgerald, etc. Some doubt whether not he can produce the same because of the fact that he played with one of the best of all time.

          Dashon Goldson- The Bills should be very interested in this guy because of the fact that he is one of the best young safeties in the game. Goldson is hard hitting and could help upgrade a defense that is lacking some hit power. He is a free safety, but because of new defensive coordinator’s (Mike Pettine) system there is no designation between safeties.

          Mike Devito- Devito is a 3 technique in a 3-4 defense and is a very solid player and could really help Buffalo. Devito is just a pure runner stopper and could add some power to a defense that is changing schemes again for the 2^nd time in two years. One reason Devito has been ranked is because of new defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine who was his defensive coach in New York.

 Others include:

·         Bart Scott

·         Eric Smith

·         Brandon Gibson

·         Cliff Avril

·         Victor Cruz (RFA) (1^st round tender)

·         Andy Levitre

         

M1: Flacco's Big Pay Day

                At the beginning of the season Joe Flacco was putting himself into the category as Brady and P. Manning, and now after a miraculous postseason where he threw 11 touchdowns and no interceptions, and a Super Bowl MVP he has the largest contract in NFL history. Yes, the inconsistent passer from Delaware has a contract worth 120.6 million dollars. To me that is insane for a QB of his caliber. The specifics were finally released and here they are as follows:

» $29 million signing bonus

» $29 million cap number in Year 4

» $30 million in Year 1

» $51 million through Year 2

» $62 million through Year 3

» $80 million through Year 4

» $100.6 million through Year 5

                Let’s start off with the signing bonus that is GUARANTEEED. When Joe Flacco signed on the dotted line he was immediately given $29 million dollars. Through the first two years he will earn $51 million. The interesting part about year one of the contract is that he gets paid $30 million dollars through year one, but his cap number contradicts this, at $6.8 million dollars which is very cap friendly. This contract should allow the Ravens to keep one or two players that they really want. Maybe Anquan Boldin, Dannelle Ellerbe, or Bryant Mckinne. Paul Kruger will most likely leave the Ravens and make out with a good pay day on the market. Recently Tom Brady got an extension that should keep him as a Patriot for the rest of his career. Their two contracts are polar opposites, Brady on the cheaper end where he got a 3 year $27 million dollar contract extension. Many thought that maybe Brady’s contract would ruin it for Flacco, but I guess not considering now that Flacco is the highest paid player in NFL history. If you look at Flacco’s postseason you would say, “WOW why isn’t he getting paid like an elite”. When you look a little closer at his season as a whole he had the 25^th lowest QBR at 46.8. To put that in perspective Ryan Fitzpatrick the incumbent Bill’s starting QB was ranked 27^th at 45.8. In a game this year Flacco posted one of the lowest QBRs in the past 5 years with a 1.0. The only two QBs to have a lower one in the past 5 years are Kyle Orton (0.8) in 2011 and (0.9) in 2010 and Mark Sanchez in 2009 (0.7). Flacco has been one of the most inconsistent QBs over the past 5 years playing really well at times and then making some very stupid decisions. The Ravens better hope they get the “good” Joe Flacco because they gave him “a lot” of money.