RobRinner

An Eastern Black Rhinoceros comes from Eastern Africa and can weigh up to 3,100 lbs! They eat leaves and twigs and have thick skin to protect them from thorns while doing so! A lot of people think their horns have special healing powers and are valuable when really they are made of hard, fibrous keratin which is the same protein that makes up hair and fingernails! This Eastern Black Rhinoceros was found laying in the hot Midwestern sun. Although it takes a lot of effort for this big guy to even get up from a laying position, he shows that it's worth it by falling into a puddle of mud water. It's rare to see Rhinoceros taking mud baths, so watch this guy make sure he gets both sides plenty dirty before laying down in the cool shade for the rest of the day.

Birds can do many things that a human cannot. From flying high in the air to coasting on a gentle breeze from the west, humans have always envied birds. Contrary, there are many things that birds do relative to humans and one of those is bathing. Now when a bird bathes, it is much more pretty to watch. They first dip their heads in, then stand back up and let the water trickle down their body's and shake their feathers to dry off. Here is a pack of birds doing just that on the edge of a creek!

All groups or cultures are comprised of leaders and followers. In watching this school of fish, no true leader was apparent, yet the entire group moved together in a singleness of purpose. Watching the fish created a sense of calm, relaxation and wonderment that rarely comes along in life. Who leads, who follows, or can we simply exist moving together?

This Japanese Giant Spider Crab had a keen interest in Alex's camera. He came right over like he wanted to be recorded. The fascinating shell of the Giant Crab was rough and covered in spikes. These spikes both help protect and camouflage the crab when down on the ocean floor. Japanese Spider Crabs can be found mostly off the southern coasts of the Japanese Island of Honshu. They can grow to be 18 feet from claw to claw and weigh up to 42 lbs! Adults can be found at a depth of 160 - 1,970 feet. These arthropods have perfected the skill of hiding by adding sponges and other animals to help them blend in with the ocean floor.

Have you ever wanted to glide effortlessly through the air? Or seamlessly swim through water without effort? If you have, you have to observe stingrays in their underwater habitat. Like birds, Stingrays use their wing-like features to cut through any current that stands in their way. While minimizing resistance, Stingrays use little effort to cut through the water. They float and glide without any apparent cares or worries. How much better would it be if we could move through life and its challenges as a stingray moves through water?

Alex’s cats are named Echo and Addison and every day they love to play various games around the house. One of their favorites is fetch. In order to be good at fetch, you have to follow the ball. Here are Echo and Addison training for their match of fetch coming up later on today. Watch how they focus and pay attention to where Alex moves the ball. This intense training helps them develop their skills of paying attention and not being fooled by Alex when he makes the motion of throwing the ball, but doesn’t actually throw it. Addison and Echo both had the same remarks before training: “You see? This is why dogs would never be able to play at this level; they would lose focus and chase nothing but air. Alex helps us develop or skills to know if he throws the ball or not.”

When owners of a pet schedule a play date, it’s assumed that their pets are both dogs that will meet up in a city park to play. This is not the case with these two cats named Echo and Addison. Since they are sisters, they consider every day a play date, and trust Alex – every day is. Both Echo and Addison have learned various ways of playing with their owner, Alex. In this video they are pictured playing fetch, which is a common game that dogs play. Learned from very young ages, they could care less what animal the game was made for - they just love to run their tails off, over and over. Sometimes, Alex’s arm gets too tired. Never fear, for these two have found how to throw the ball by picking it up with their teeth and flinging it in the air or batting the ball around using their paws. Early on as a kitten, Echo learned fetch when she would play with her favorite toy, the ball. Alex would throw it and Echo would run after it, bouncing off the walls (hence the name, Echo). Once she was done chasing, she would gather the ball by picking it up with her teeth, and bring the ball back to Alex. Fast forward two years and Addison now enters the picture. Like a good sister, Echo teaches young Addison the same thrilling game. Addison’s name comes from Alex’s favorite Major League Baseball Team, the Chicago Cubs. The Chicago Cubs play in a stadium called Wrigley Field. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. of the Wrigley Company acquired control of the Chicago Cubs in 1921. Shortly before, the park was named Cubs Park in 1920. It wasn’t until 1927 that they renamed it Wrigley Field. Addison’s name comes from two specific ties to Wrigley Field. 1.) The address of Wrigley Field is 1060 W. Addison Street which runs along the south end of the ballpark. 2.) One of Alex’s favorite current players is named Addison Russell. Both Echo and Addison are considered Tabby Cats. Tabby cats are domestic felines that have a coat featuring distinctive stripes, dots, lines, and even swirling patterns. Sometimes, Tabby’s have a mark of an “M” on their forehead in distinct colors. Despite these facts, Alex says, “If you’d ask Echo or Addison what animal they are, they would say that they’re dogs.”

Chicago is known for many different things: the beautiful skyline, architecture, museums, Navy Pier, the Willis Tower and John Hancock Building, theater, zoos, sports, restaurants and nightlife. On a recent trip to the Windy City, Alex found it was possible to experience the city in a way that can be lost in the hustle and bustle of trying to take in all the city has to offer in the matter of a few days. Walking along the city streets, it is possible to view the city in a different, even simpler way. From watching boats transporting people along the Chicago River to noticing the famous Chicago EL from a different perspective, or from finding Chicago’s own example of the Flatiron building to seeing stunning examples of architecture like the top of the Harold Washington Library, even finding a calming fountain for rest and rejuvenation beside the famous Art institute and just steps away from the often hectic Michigan Avenue, Alex saw many different things this great American city has to offer. This city is alive, active, hectic, and tourists often miss the subtleties that reminded Alex that it takes more than just attractions to make a city. So if you visit Chicago, make a conscious effort to view, and really see things you normally wouldn’t. Look at the people, their movement and pace, their eyes, their actions. Look at the beauty all around as you move from place to place. Find moments of grandeur, as well as peace and serenity among the millions of people, and don’t settle for the typical experience.