Bigger & Harman, APC - August 2019

HEROISM FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE Meet the Rats That Sniff Out Land Mines

When you think of animals that could be considered heroic, giant rats probably aren’t the first creatures that pop into your head. Many people still think of them as filthy, disease-ridden little thieves that deserve eradication rather than a medal. But one nongovernmental organization (NGO) has proven just how heroic rats can be by training them to detect land mines and, in turn, save lives. Over 60 countries worldwide still feel the effects of wars past every time someone steps on an unactivated land mine. Dogs and metal detectors have traditionally been used to find and safely detonate land mines in these countries, but both methods are costly and time-consuming. A human with a metal detector could take up to four days to

clear a 2,000 square foot area of any land mines, and people knew there had to be a faster, safer way. Tanzania-based NGO APOPO found the answer: African giant pouched rats. These rats have several advantages over dogs and humans when it comes to detecting land mines. While they are bigger than your average pet rat — some can be as large as a cat — they’re still light enough that they won’t detonate a land mine if they stand on one. Though they have poor eyesight, they make up for that deficiency with an incredible sense of smell. A fully trained rat can sniff amounts of TNT as small as 29 grams and distinguish it from other industrial substances like motor oil and battery acid.

Along with these innate qualities, pouched rats are easy and cheap to train. While a dog can only bond with and work for one master, rats will sniff out land mines under any person’s direction, so long as they get a tasty treat afterward. They can search a 2,000 square foot area in 20 minutes, saving humans from days of dangerous, meticulous work. Between 1995 and 2015, APOPO’s rats found about 13,200 mines in Africa and Southeast Asia. Today, their programs are still going strong, proving that heroism can be found in even the most unlikely of animals.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRUCKING SCHOOL FOR YOU

How to Identify California’s Best Trucking Schools

JOB PLACEMENT Job placement is available from so many trucking schools now that choosing one without it doesn’t make sense. Check this box to set yourself up for success. INSTRUCTION The best schools offer one-on-one training with experienced drivers, trip planning, and map reading. Look for all three in order to put yourself in the best position to pass the CDL exam. STUDENT REVIEWS Student reviews can tell you things about a school you’d never have thought to ask. Try visiting TruckDrivingSchoolsInfo.com, which lists 130 California CDL trucking schools complete with student reviews. Once you’ve chosen a school, earned your CDL, and hit the road, you’ll have something else to think about: traffic tickets. In a perfect world, you’d never get them, but the truth is mistakes do happen, and even one ticket can end your career. If you’re ever faced with a traffic ticket in the California, Bigger & Harman can help. Although we can’t always get a dismissal or reduced no-point conviction, we have an excellent success rate and are always willing to go to bat for you. Call 661-859- 1177 if you need assistance.

Not all trucking schools are created equal, so, if you plan to earn a living driving trucks, think carefully before choosing one. Although attending a trucking school isn’t mandatory to earn a commercial driver’s license, the behind-the- wheel experience, mentorship, possible financing, and job placement this schooling can provide is often priceless. As a basic rule, consider these five things when choosing a trucking school: location, tuition, job placement, instruction, and student reviews. LOCATION There’s no point considering tuition until you’ve thought about location. If your perfect school is too far from home, boarding costs could price it out of reach. Map out your top schools and realistically evaluate each option. TUITION All trucking schools charge tuition, but some offer placement with trucking companies after graduation who will pay it for you or pay 90% after you pass the CDL exam. Some schools also offer payment options, tuition assistance, or free tuition through the G.I. Bill. Be sure to look into every possibility.

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