Water pollution, especially in the era of global warming, is an important thing to avoid. In the landscaping and agricultural world, there are a few different methods that can be used to eliminate, or at least minimize, the amount of pollution that gets into the local water supply. This post will detail the ways that erosion controls such as dirt bags and silt fences are used to mitigate water pollution. These methods are most commonly used as preventative measures during bad storms, but they can also be used for agricultural or construction purposes. First, let’s discuss erosion control. Erosion control is essentially the practice of using various methods to prevent erosion. This is particularly important during storms, as storm runoff can cause significant water pollution when running over poorly managed land. There is a plethora of different methods for erosion control that depend on the climate that they are being used in. For instance, wetter regions use terracing and storm drains, whereas, drier regions may employ windbreaks. These methods keep pollutants from the ground or soil from entering the water supply during inclement weather. Dirt bag walls and silt fences are two of the most common methods of water pollution control. These erosion controls are used often because they are economical and can be constructed quickly, which is critical in an emergency. Another way to prevent water pollution is the dirt bag or sandbag method. This is a primitive method that has likely been used to divert floodwaters and decrease water pollution for a millennia. Canvas or nylon bags filled with sand or dirt take a long time to become saturated with water. Due to this, they can effectively act as a wall. Filling and moving a dirt bag is a low-cost alternative to other forms of water pollution mitigation methods, making it a top choice in economically depressed areas. They are also extremely easy to build and fill; this is ideal during a flood or bad storm when time is of the essence. Finally, a silt fence is another method used to prevent water pollution. Silt fences are used as temporary, stop-gap measures to prevent water sources from being polluted with various forms of sediment or runoff. A silt fence is only as effective as its installation and upkeep, but it works well when used properly and in conjunction with other preventative measures. To create these fences, several wooden or metal poles are staked into the ground. They are then connected with the ‘fence,’ which is usually made from a synthetic fabric. These must be constructed in strategic locations, otherwise their use is relatively limited. If we all work together, we can prevent water pollution.      ...

We all know that legal systems differ from country to country and, in the US, from state to state. This is nothing new. There are some fundamental things that are considered bad in pretty much every society on our planet and are, thus, forbidden by law – murder, theft, and such. But sometimes, you stumble upon some of  the weirdest laws in the world, perhaps in the entire universe. Laws that regulate, ban, and forbid acts so specific that there must be a story behind them – and a damn funny one, too. A story we here at Golden Twist would love to hear. In Paulding, Ohio, there is a law allowing policemen to bite dogs if they think doing so will calm the pooches down. On one hand, this law goes against basic logic – who in their right mind (except maybe for some kinkier individuals) would be calmed by being bitten? When dogs fight, they do immobilize their opponents by placing their jaws around their throats, but I truly don’t see a man, not even a policeman, pulling off such a trick. There are right ways to calm down aggressive dogs, but biting them is clearly not one of them. So, if anyone knows the story behind this weird law, please share. Another bizarre – but understandable – state law comes from Indiana, where it is illegal to make a monkey smoke cigarettes. For this one, we actually found a story that apparently convinced legislators to sign this into law. In the mid-1920s, a chimpanzee was used as a performer in a show near South Bend. As part of the show, the chimp took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled the fumes. But little did the chimp know that public smoking was against the law in this particular jurisdiction. The chimp was quickly arrested and fined five dollars, and its owner/trainer was forced to pay the fine to avoid his companion ending up behind bars. If this story is true, it’s one of the few weird laws in the US that make a lot of sense. Last but not least, here’s a tale that involves an out-of-towner, an odd rule, and fried chicken. In the summer of 2009, Louisiana elder Ginny Dietrick was celebrating her 91st birthday in Gainesville by treating herself to Longstreet Cafe’s finest fried chicken. Her lunch was interrupted, though, by local Police Chief Frank Hooper, who “arrested” the senior citizen for eating fried chicken with a fork. Apparently, the Gainesville city ordinance contains a regulation that the municipality — the “poultry capital of the world” — would rather see people arrested than eat fried chicken with anything but their hands. While this...

Recently, I had an opportunity to test drive a top-notch product that makes scheduling meetings at least three hundred times easier: Cogsworth. Based in Sydney, Australia, Cogsworth was created to take the pain and friction out of scheduling meetings. When you schedule meetings with folks via email, how many emails do you usually exchange? Three or four, right? Well, on average, people email each other at least three times in order to nail down a meeting time. Cogsworth cuts out the email middleman and replaces it with a simple booking page. According to the company’s website, it takes a person less than 50 seconds to fill out this simple booking form. I can believe that because when I played around with the form, I filled it out in about 20 seconds. The form is mobile friendly and customizable, and you can embed it on your website or in your email. After you fill out the form to setup a meeting time, you can easily add the appointment to Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, or download it as an ICS file. Once you fill out the form, Cogsworth sends you an email with the meeting’s details and a link in case you need to reschedule or cancel the meeting. Cogsworth also automatically detects timezones and works on every device. Thanks to this software, you’ll only need to spend a few minutes building a bookable service that clients and future clients will love. You can even use it to facilitate video conferences, and eventually, you’ll be able to accept payments through the form. The customizability of Cogsworth really blows me away. Overall, I give the software 25 big Golden Twist thumbs up! The company is operating in a crowded space, but I think it just might rise to the top of the stack. You can give Cogsworth a whirl here: https://get.cogsworth.com...

Meet Michael Tatom. He’s one of the most inventive and talented animal sculpture artists in the world. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mr. Tatom has been crafting animal sculptures and jewelry for over twenty-five years. To give you an example of the scope of Tatom’s work, he has constructed over 2,000 fox rings. Golden Twist is delighted to present some of Tatom’s awe-inspiring art, below. The majority of Tatom’s small sculptures and jewelry are carved with hard wax, and his larger sculptures are created with hard oil clay. They are then cast in various metals. Tatom has sold 4,675 items on Etsy and, at the time of this writing, has accumulated 1,494 five star reviews. We trust you’ll agree that Mr. Tatom is a truly gifted man. You can find Tatom on Etsy, here: michaeltatom.etsy.com  And here’s a treat for you: take 15% off any any item you see on Tatom’s Etsy page with the coupon code golden15. You can also find Tatom at...

Is it possible to travel to Hawaii instantaneously, without even buying a plane ticket? Yes! Just play an amazing musical instrument called a ukulele and the magic sounds from the very first chords will take you to the seashore, right to the sunny Hawaiian Islands. A ukulele is a Hawaiian version of a guitar with four strings. This instrument was invented by a Portuguese man named Manuel Nuñez in the 1880s. Nunez developed the instrument by borrowing elements of the braguinha (a miniature guitar from the island of Madeira) and the cavaquinho (a Portuguese miniature guitar). The last Queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani, said that “ukulele” means “a gift that came here”: uku (gift) and lele (to come). According to another version, the word translates to “jumping fleas.” That’s because the finger movements that someone makes when he plays the instrument are similar to the movements of jumping fleas. There’s a reason that this wonderful instrument has an army of fans around the world. Do you fancy becoming a master ukulele player? I certainly hope so, but if you don’t, here are ten reasons why you should: 1. Playing the ukulele helps develop your personality Ukulele lessons train your memory and help you focus. You creatively develop yourself and begin to better understand the surrounding world. You soak in everything around you and begin to understand that sound and music are everywhere.  2. It’s easy to learn how to play Anyone can start playing this four-string guitar. You can learn a few simple songs in a couple of days or even hours. 3. The Ukulele has a small size and weight This musical instrument is different from its larger “friends.” It’s the smallest guitar in the world. You can easily hide it in a compact case, bag, suitcase, backpack or oversized fanny pack. 4. It helps develop concentration You learn to think spatially, remember chords, and combine your own voice into your ukulele playing. In addition, music helps to pick you up when you’re emotionally exhausted and return you to your previous level of productivity. 5. It improves fine motor skills As you play, you will develop fine motor skills and strengthen the muscles of your hands. Playing the ukulele also requires an upright posture; improving your posture will do wonders for your physical health in the long run.  6. Playing a ukulele helps fight anxiety Scientists say that music therapy helps you learn how to control your emotions and stick to positive thinking. And over time, a ukulele brings more and more joy because you start to play better and understand the essence of music. 7. You can increase your music vocabulary As you learn about the instrument and...