Money on Paper Recycling

Earning money is easy with Recycled Paper

 

Who said there is no money in recycling paper? They must be mistaking. Nowadays that the awareness of people about recycling paper has been intensified and companies even supports this campaign, many has made good money from selling recycled papers.

I can consider paper recycling as one of the oldest ways of making money from trash. It is easy especially when you have piles of used papers from school or office. Many shops are buying papers as long as it is not crumpled and wet. All you have to do is collect, save and sell, then that’s it! Easy money as they say.



I myself started to recycle paper couple of years ago. At first, it was not actually intended for selling or to make money out of it – really for the sake of recycling. What I did was I saved my school papers and reused the other side that is not printed or written on. But since it was piling-up, including the books, my mom thought of selling it. I was able to somewhat gain a small amount from it.

Recycling Papers will bring great benefits for you and for Mother Earth. If you think of making this as a business, you could start small. All it takes is hard-work, organization, and your time and you’ll find it easy to manage you Paper Recycling Business.

 

Philippines Environmental Issues:

How did the Pasig River get polluted?

Before the 1930’s, Pasig River was a beautiful body of water that inspired poets, artists and ordinary people. Philippines national hero Jose Rizal was one of them. In the early 1900’s Pasig River was rich in aquamarine life giving sustenance to the people who were living along the riverbanks. The waters were clear and people got cool drinking water from it.


How did the Pasig River get polluted? With the industrialization of Manila, factories started to line up along the River. They started dumping their liquid wastes to the river. An oil depot was built along the Pandacan side of the River. People in Manila increased in number from a few thousand to 6 million.

Over the years, people built houses along the river mostly people who were from the provinces who trooped to the urban center for a dream of better life. Today, people who dwell along the riverbanks make the bulk of the urban poor in the Philippines. Since most of their houses don’t have access to government-supplied water, they use the river as their toilet.

People from inland Manila also started dumping their waste into the river because the government cannot keep up with the garbage collection system. As early as a decade ago, the solid and liquid waste in Pasig River have reached toxic level that it was proclaimed biologically dead.


There have been a number of projects aimed at rehabilitating the Pasig River: Piso para sa Pasig, Sagip Pasig and now Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig spearheaded by the TV network giant ABS-CBN. The aim is to see Pasig River alive and supporting aquamarine and human life just like it was decades ago. Pasig River pollution is one of Philippines environmental issues that need the most urgent action.

Pasig River speaks a lot about who we are as a nation.

PREPARE YOURSELF

To be honest, I am not prepared for the High magnitude earthquake that has been predicted to occur with our country.

I have some “survival” supplies at home, but this is primarily because of my interest in camping. I have tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, flash lights, waterproof matches, propane and other camping gear I could use following an earthquake. I can filter and sterilize water if I need to, and I have enough canned food to last a few days. Most importantly I have a few bottles of Chardonnay and a deck of cards to pass the time.

A recent report sponsored by the PHILVOLCS ( Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ) and PAG-ASA ( Philipine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration ) Survey and the Philippines Geological Surveyr concludes that a 6.7 or up magnitude earthquake will occur along one of the many faults in the Philippines mostly the MARIKINA FAULT LINE.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the Marikina West Valley fault line, the country’s biggest fault which could produce a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, is ripe for movement.

"Ripe na gumalaw ang fault. Napakataas ng probability na gumalaw ito in the future, hindi lang natin masabi ang exact date and time(The fault is ready to move. It has a very high probability that it will shift in the near future. We just cannot say the exact date and time)," Phivolcs deputy director Bartolome Bautista said during a Senate inquiry on the country’s disaster preparedness on Wednesday, March 16.

Bautista stated that the earthquake fault, which starts from Sierra Madre to Tagaytay, moves every 200 to 400 years. "The last time that the fault moved was 200 years ago," he added. "Pumapasok na siya sa recurrence time, pasok sa cycle (It fits the recurrence time, it fits the cycle)," he declared.

According to Bautista, they still cannot determine what would make the fault move but that they are only depending on the pre-quake shocks to signal its movement. "Iba-iba yung pag-uugali ng faults (Faults move differently)," he said.

Like I said, I am not prepared for such a catastrophic earthquake, but we can all take some fairly simple steps to get prepared for such a disaster.

Educate yourself. Read information available from the Philippine Geological Survey or any other agency tasked with public safety in an emergency. Many cities also provide free community outreach training.

Prepare your family. When the next big one strikes, how will you communicate with your family? What about your pets? Where will you go if your home is destroyed? Make an emergency plan for your family. Many of the agencies mentioned above have information on emergency planning.

Prepare for “72 hours.” The conventional wisdom recommends stocking 72 hours worth of supplies including 1 gallon of water per day per person, extra medications and food for your family and pets. Lists of recommended supplies are available online.

Prepare your home. Take steps to protect your home, such as securing your water heater, cabinets and wall hangings to minimize the damage from an earthquake. You should also consider earthquake insurance (if the astronomical premiums don’t send you to the hospital).

You Can Prepare For a Natural Disaster

Home sick, watching the world news on TV, Kleenex soaked with tears of sympathy and a runny nose, my friend Christine phones in the updates to me on a daily basis. She is most impressed with how the Japanese people are picking up their lives and pitching in to clean up the destruction caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami. We talk about how we would react if a natural disaster were to occur in our community. We agree that our community should be prepared way ahead of time to survive an act of nature. We are aware that taking the steps to do so makes sense, but too often those best intentions succumb to human procrastination and might never get done.

According to Oxfam International each year brings 400-500 natural disasters worldwide, up from 125 a year in the 1980’s.  By 2015 we can expect a 54 percent increase in the number of people (375 million) affected by climate disasters and this could overwhelm humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond quickly. There is no way to know where or when a natural disaster will occur, or if it will happen as a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, or an earthquake. However, rather than feel helpless and anxious, you can take some important steps to prepare your environment for the possibility. Once you know you have done everything you can, then relax and get on with living your life. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has published a check-list of things each and everyone can do in case of an emergency.

Create an emergency plan
The best defense from any disaster is good preparation. Once you are aware of what types of disasters might affect your community, you may want to hold a family meeting to discuss the need for preparation. Explain the dangers of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes to children in terms they can understand. Explain that planning ensures that the family will stay together in case of an emergency. Plan to share responsibilities and work as a team.

Meet with household members to discuss the types of emergencies that may affect your area. Explain how to respond, and find safe spots in the home for each type of disaster.

• Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.
• Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
• Show family members how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches when necessary.
• Post emergency phone numbers near phones. Teach children how and when to call 911, police, and fire.
• Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.
• Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated during a disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the disaster area). Teach these phone numbers to each family member, including children and older adults.
• Pick two emergency meeting places
• a place near the home in case of fire
• a place outside the neighborhood in case family members can’t return home
• Take a basic first aid and CPR class.
• Keep family records in a waterproof and fireproof container.
• Create a Disaster Supplies Kit. Include a flotation vest for each member of the family if the area is prone to floods.
• Keep fuel in your car at all times and stock it with a Car Emergency Supplies Kit.

Create a disaster supplies kit
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet all basic needs for at least three days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items that you might need if you are homebound or forced to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy containers such as backpacks, duffle bags, or covered trash cans. Prepare a smaller Car Emergency Supplies Kit and keep it in the car trunk.

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day) and food that won’t spoil
• Include a manual can opener, and any pet food and supplies you might need
• One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person
• A first aid kit that includes prescription medications
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, plenty of extra batteries, and a utility knife
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler’s checks
• Personal care supplies (toilet paper, soap, toothbrush, etc.)
• Any special items or equipment for infants, or for older or disabled family members (formula, diapers, denture or eye care supplies, etc.)
• An extra pair of eyeglasses
• Important family documents in a waterproof container

Car emergency supplies kit

• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
• Blanket
• Booster cables
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
• First aid kit and manual
• Bottled water and non-perishable, high-energy foods like granola bars and raisins
• Maps, shovel, and flares
• Tire repair kit and pump

Take each list and over the course of days and weeks check off what you have accomplished. Once you are complete you can put any worries aside and get on with your life. You know you are prepared and that is the best you can do for right now.

Top 10 superfoods for spring

I’m the first to admit that the term “superfood” gets thrown around a lot in media and marketing, but that doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on the bursting-with-nourishment, lovely, potent, and delicious foods that fall under the moniker. Especially when these foods are known to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, and, while we’re at it, put you in a better mood.

Although some people have run rampant with the term and have made a mint by promoting the “miraculous! fountain-of-youth! death-defying!” benefits of superfoods, I hope that there won’t be a backlash against good, old-fashioned, super nutrient-exuberant food.

As I’ve said before, I’m a crusader for most edibles in their pure forms -- and the majority of them are superfoods in my book. There are few whole foods from the plant world that don’t have some health-boosting element to brag about -- so how to decide what to eat?

That’s why I like to think about (and eat) superfoods by season. Sure pumpkin is an A-plus superfood, but I like to save that for fall when it’s fresh and local, and look towards new fruit and tender green things this time of year. It’s a way to be connected to the planet’s cycle and decrease food miles, while giving your body a diversity of nutrients throughout the year to maximize its potential. And, to me at least, spring produce just tastes its amazing best in, yes, the spring! Funny how that works.

1. Artichokes

Studies have shown that artichokes contain a very high amount of antioxidants in the form of phytonutrients. A study undertaken by the USDA ranked artichokes as the number one fresh vegetable in antioxidant count. Among the most powerful phytonutrients are cynarin and silymarin, which have strong positive effects on the liver -- any coincidence that artichokes have been reputed to help in the cure of liver diseases, liver cancer, and to cure hangovers?

One large artichoke contains only 25 calories, no fat, 170 milligrams of potassium, and is a good source of vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and has 6 grams of dietary fiber -- 25 percent of the daily recommended amount.

How to prepare an artichoke? Read this.

2. Asparagus

According to the National Cancer Institute, asparagus is the food highest in glutathione, an important anti-carcinogen. It is also rich in two cancer-blocking vitamins (A and C) as well as the mineral selenium. These three nutrients have been singled out in several studies as fearsome cancer fighters.

A 5-ounce serving (only 20 calories) provides 60 percent of the recommended daily allowance for folacin which is necessary for blood cell formation, growth, and prevention of liver disease. Asparagus is also an excellent source of potassium, fiber, thiamin, vitamin B6, and is one of the richest sources of rutin, a compound which strengthens capillary walls.

Recipes:

• Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Mushroom Pasta
• Asparagus Spears With Black Pepper Pesto Vinaigrette
• Savory Orange Roasted Tofu and Asparagus

3. Avocado

They’re rich, they’re buttery, they’re delicious, and they have about 30 grams of fat per fruit. Ouch. But that’s no reason not to love an avocado. Nutritionists have back-pedaled on their gentle warnings about avocados after finding that most of the fat in an avocado is monounsaturated -- the happy fat that actually lowers cholesterol levels. Yay! Let’s have an avocado party!

A study published in the Archives of Medical Research found that the 45 volunteers who ate avocados every day for a week experienced an average 17 percent drop in total blood cholesterol. As well, their levels of LDL (“bad fat”) and triglycerides, both associated with heart disease, went down. Their HDL (“good fat”) levels, which tend to lower the risk of heart disease, increased.

Avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol, a natural substance shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels. In a review article published in the December 1999 issue of the American Journal of Medicine, researchers pointed out that beta-sitosterol was shown to reduce cholesterol in 16 human studies.

Recipes:

• Chilled Zucchini and Avocado Soup
• Citrus Guacamole

4. Blueberries

Jam-packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, blueberries are also high in potassium and vitamin C. Recent research has found that additional components of blueberries may play an important role in preventing and fighting cancer. The results of one study suggest a wide array of potential cancer fighting benefits related to wild blueberry consumption.

Blueberries also have anthocyanin pigments, which may have the ability to halt cancer in the critical stages of promotion and proliferation. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology indicated that, in isolated cells, the tannins found in blueberries are very active at lowering a protein that plays a role in the metastasis of cancer.

In addition to helping prevent and fight cancer, the compounds in blueberries are believed to help against Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, eye disease, and urinary tract infections. See? Super.

Recipes:

• Blueberry Creamy No-Bake Pie
• Berry Custard Cake

5. Fava Beans (aka Broad Beans)

Mmmm. Spring in a pod -- I adore fava beans, even if they are a little work. OK, a lot of work, but so worth it! Not only are the big, fat, creamy beans scrumptious, but fava beans are particularly high in fiber (85 percent of the RDV), and also high in iron (30 percent of a day’s requirement). They contain no cholesterol and are low in fat.

Fava beans are also noted to contain L-dopa, which is used as a drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, as with most whole grains, consumption of fava beans can help reduce risks associated with heart disease.

Recipes:

• Herbed Fava Bean Salad
• French Spring Soup

6. Fresh Figs

Fresh figs put the "va va voom" in fruit -- the tender but toothsome skin gives way to a soft and sticky center, dotted with delicately popping seeds, the perfumed and honeyed flesh -- you get the picture. In my humble opinion, figs are quite an experience. And beyond their drop-dead flavor is their profusion of life-boosting qualities.

Figs have the highest overall mineral content of all common fruits. With their standout source of potassium, figs may help to control blood pressure. Figs are high in calcium. And as fate would have it, their potassium may reduce the amount of calcium lost as a result of high-salt diets. Figs are also a good source of iron, vitamin B6, and the trace mineral manganese.

The fruit also has tremendous amounts of fiber, more than any other dried or fresh fruit. Insoluble fiber protects against colon and breast cancer -- soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol, and figs provide both. (Which also makes them a mild laxative, just so you know.) They also are a good source of flavonoids and polyphenols.

Recipes:

• Try figs quartered, stuffed with goat cheese, drizzled with honey, and topped with sea salt and black pepper.
• Fig and Kalamata Olive Tapenade

7. Leeks

Leeks look like cartoonishly big green onions, with a wonderfully sweet and subtle onion flavor. When braised or slowly sauteed, they melt into a sweet and creamy concoction that is hard not to love.

And they are workhorses in the health department as well. Like garlic, onions, scallions, chives and shallots -- all from the Allium family -- leeks can help the liver eliminate toxins and carcinogens. Leeks contain sulfur compounds that may protect against heart disease and some cancers, they can help the liver eliminate toxins and carcinogens.

Regular consumption of Allium vegetables (as little as two or more times a week -- although I could certainly eat them every meal) is associated with a reduced risk of prostate and colon cancer.

Recipes:

• Linguine With Leeks and Lemon
• Creamy Vegan Potato Leek Soup

8. Oregeno and Other Fresh Herbs

I love fresh oregano, especially if salty Mediterranean flavors -- capers, olives, roasted peppers -- are involved. Yum. And superfood-y too!

When researchers at the University of Oslo, Norway, analyzed 1,113 foods to identify those foods richest in total antioxidants, of the 50 foods highest in antioxidants, 13 were herbs and spices. One study found that oregano had 42 times more antioxidants than apples.

You might find that parsley is an excellent source of beta carotene, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (essential for preventing macular degeneration), vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K.

Or try cilantro. In research studies, cilantro's remarkable components have shown the potential to help promote detoxification, reduce high blood sugar and lower levels of cholesterol.

Recipes:

• Chard and Feta Tart With Oregano
• Parsley and Walnut Pesto
• Cilantro Tabouli

9. Spinach

Spinach, good old spinach. Spinach is an excellent source of folate -- the B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects, heart disease, dementia, and colon cancer (the third most common cause of cancer in women). People who eat at least one serving of greens, including spinach, each week are 20 percent less likely to develop colon cancer, according to Italian research.

Another compound in spinach, lutein, fights against macular degeneration, which causes age-related vision loss -- in fact, including at least two servings of spinach a week in your diet halves the odds of macular degeneration (a leading cause of blindness), according to the the National Eye Institute. Eating cooked spinach more than twice a week cuts the need for cataract eye surgery in men by half, according to new Harvard University research.

And in a large-scale Harvard study, spinach singled out as most protective against stroke! Finally, because of it’s high in vitamin K, spinach also helps build stronger bones -- lowering the risk of hip fracture from osteoporosis as much as 30 percent, suggests a joint Harvard-Tufts study. Popeye was on to something.

Recipes:

• Spinach Soup With Rosemary Croutons
• Coconut Creamed Spinach

10. Strawberries

A serving of eight medium strawberries provides 140 percent of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin C, 12 percent of our RDA for fiber, 6 percent of our RDA for folate, 210 mg of potassium, and is also high in vitamins K, B2, B5 and B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-fatty acids. In addition, strawberries contain anthocyanin, which has been used for studies in preventing initiation of cancers. Strawberries contain a unique phenolic group, ellagotannins, which are effective in preventing initiation of esophageal cancer.

With more antioxidant punch than most other fruits, berries in general strengthen tissue defenses against oxidation and inflammation, which are underlying factors in most age-related diseases. For example, substances in blueberries help with short-term memory loss associated with aging. All berries help lower risk for breast, oral, and colon cancers in women. With a wealth of phytochemicals like ellagic acid, adding strawberries to the diet lowers tumor risk by up to 58 percent.

Recipes:

• Spinach and Strawberry Salad
• Strawberry Rhubarb Bread Pudding (or a vegan version)
• Simple Strawberry Cream Freeze

10 amazing camouflaged animals

Camouflage is an ancient art, likely not much younger than vision itself, and species around the planet depend on it daily for survival. Whether it's a gecko blending into bark, a jaguar fading into foliage or a Peringuey's viper sliding through sand (pictured above), good camo can mean the difference between eating and being eaten.

Which of these creatures can you easily spot? Which ones hid from you the longest? Let us know in the comments.

Common baron caterpillar

If you're a hungry bird in western Malaysia, good luck finding any common baron caterpillars. Plenty of other butterfly larvae blend in with local plants, but few can vanish into vegetation like the baron.

Baron caterpillars evolved their elaborate shapes and colors for that single purpose: hiding from predators. This boosts their odds of becoming common baron butterflies, and therefore reproducing. Native to India and Southeast Asia, barons often feed on the leaves of mango trees, like this one in a Kuala Lumpur garden. That can sour their relationship with mango farmers, though — yet another reason camo comes in handy.

Pygmy seahorse

Coral reefs are rough places to live, so their residents often use camouflage to stay safe. And when it comes to living incognito among coral, the pygmy seahorse wrote the book.

Less than an inch long and studded with coral-like "tubercles," this seahorse has all its evolutionary chips on just two species of gorgonian corals in the Pacific Ocean (with a matching color pattern for each). It blends in so well, though, that it was only discovered by humans after showing up with wild-caught corals in an aquarium. It mates in pairs that may be monogamous, according to the IUCN, but its conservation status is unknown due to insufficient data.

Mossy leaf-tailed gecko

It may look like this lizard has been overrun with moss, but save your sympathy — that's its skin. This is the mossy leaf-tailed gecko, a master of disguise found only in the forests of Madagascar.

Since these geckos live in trees, they've evolved moss- and bark-colored skin, complete with "dermal flaps" that break up their outline. But they also have another trick up their sleeves: Much like chameleons, they can change their skin color to match the background. Despite these hiding skills, however, the species is still considered vulnerable to extinction, due to habitat loss as well as hunting for the international pet trade.

Jaguar

This jaguar may be at a zoo in the U.K., but not even England is immune to its versatile fur. Like many cats, jaguars have evolved vague, spotty patterns that blend into a variety of backgrounds, including some far from home.

Jaguars are the only true big cat native to the Americas, a world apart from the other three Panthera species: lions, tigers, and leopards, all Old World cats. But while jaguars' spots help them hide from some zoo-goers, they haven't helped the species escape people in general — once widespread across North and South America, jaguars are now restricted to the latter, plus some Central American holdouts and possibly a few in Mexico. The last known U.S. jaguar died in 2009.

Tawny frogmouth

Famous for their gaping beaks and big yellow eyes, tawny frogmouths look like cartoon characters — when they're not imitating a tree, that is. If they suspect danger, they simply close their eyes, tilt back their heads and blend into the bark, as the one on the left is doing in this photo.

Although they are related to owls, tawny frogmouths are very different birds. They're poor fliers, for one, and don't use their talons to catch prey. In fact, they don't even fly to hunt — instead, they sit eerily still in trees, letting their prey to come to them. They are nocturnal like owls, but mainly eat insects, trapping them in their frog-like mouths. They make a nasal, grunting call, which can sometimes be heard on quiet nights in their native Australia and Tasmania.

Stonefish

If you're ever snorkeling in the Indian or Pacific Ocean, look out for coral reefs looking back at you. You could be staring down a stonefish, the most venomous fish on Earth.

This stonefish was photographed in Indonesia, but its relatives live in shallow coastal waters from Egypt to Australia. They blend in with a variety of reefs and rocks — hence their name — and hide on the sea floor, waiting to ambush prey. But as a defense, they also have 13 sharp dorsal spines packed with a potent neurotoxin, which reportedly can kill a human within two hours. To avoid stepping on one, experts recommend swimming instead of walking in the ocean. If you must walk, shuffle your feet instead of taking big steps.

Katydid

If you don't immediately see both katydids in this photo, don't feel bad. Their leaf-like bodies also help them evade countless birds, frogs, snakes and other predators around the world.

Katydids are typically not seen but heard, rubbing their wings together to make the namesake "katy-did" sound. Unlike their cricket relatives, however, katydids produce egalitarian music, with both males and females chiming in. Some prey on smaller insects, but their favorite food — foliage — is obvious from their appearance. And much like caterpillars, katydids' love of leaves often puts them at odds with farmers and gardeners, just one more group of predators who struggle to see through their camouflage.

Flounder

As a type of "flat fish," flounder are ideally suited to life on the ocean floor. They huddle up to the seabed, often aided by speckled skin that helps them blend in, such as this pebble-dwelling flounder. That offers safety from predators, but also lets them ambush prey like shrimp, worms, and fish larvae.

Flounder begin life as larvae themselves, but undergo a dramatic metamorphosis as they approach adulthood. One eye drifts to the other side of a young flounder's head, letting it swim flat with both eyes looking up. Despite their camouflage, though, many flounder are at risk from overfishing, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. If you're a flounder fan, opt for Pacific rather than Atlantic varieties, specifically avoiding Atlantic dab, sole, and hirame.

Stick insect

While most animals need a specific backdrop for their camouflage to work, a few are so well-disguised they're incognito almost anywhere. Stick insects are a good example, with twig-like bodies that let them become virtually invisible just by holding still.

A wide variety of stick insects exist around the world, ranging in size from half an inch to two feet long. Often colored brown or green, they tend to freeze when threatened, sometimes swaying to mimic a branch blowing in the wind. That's not to say they can't be assertive, though — the American stick insect, for example, can spray a mild acid from two glands in its thorax to thwart would-be predators. If it gets in your eyes, it can burn and even cause temporary blindness.

Chameleon

Few animals are as famous for camouflage as chameleons, whose color-changing skills have made them icons of adaptability. But that probably wasn't the reason they evolved the ability — instead, scientists think they mainly change colors to communicate.

Certain hues signal certain moods: Some advertise anger, others mean "I'm ready to mate!" And while this color code may be why chameleons evolved shifty skin, many have clearly seen its value as camo, too. Some even target specific predators — one species in South Africa blends in with the ground to avoid birds, but blends in with the sky to avoid snakes. The key is the chromatophore, a type of pigmented cell layered underneath chameleons' transparent outer skin.