Just a quick post this morning since there is a lot to do around here.

It rained all night but the sun is shining this morning. One word to describe how I feel about this…JOY!

Got a glimpse of our shy cat Kali last night. She is growing! I know, all baby kitties grow, but since we don’t see much of her it was just nice to see that she is thriving.

I need to get moving so have a nice weekend!

Bits and Pieces

Jean-François Rauzier's opulent hyperphotos - cool
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/interactive/2009/nov/20/jean-francois-rauzier-hyperphotos-photography

The Rooftop Garden Climbs Down a Wall
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/business/energy-environment/19WALLS.html?_r=1&em

Duck! It’s the Holidays - this is enough to make anyone thankful that they don’t have families like the ones discussed in this article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/garden/19manners.html?em

The non-existent tags
Kali, weather, hyperphotos, gardening, holidays

I have entered the Holiday Traditions Quilt contest over at the Quilting Gallery.
If you would like to enter too, just click on the box below.
Ah, come on! It's fun!




Petition Time

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is continuing the war on wild horses by proposing to round up an astounding 2,500 wild horses -- fully 80 percent of the wild horses in the Calico Complex in northwestern Nevada -- and stockpile them in long-term government holding facilities. The roundups, which are set to begin December and last three months, will break horse families apart and permanently shatter complex horse society. To learn more about wild horse social and family bonds, see the wild horse series on PBS Nature, "Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies."

The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) has found that "BLM’s decisions on how many wild horses to remove from federal rangelands were not based on direct evidence that wild horse populations exceeded what the range could support and that removals were often not accompanied by reductions in livestock grazing levels or range management to increase the land’s capacity."

The Calico Complex roundup plan continues BLM policy of removing wild horses, who are supposed to be protected by an act of Congress, for the benefit of private ranchers who graze their livestock on our public lands at bargain basement rates. The plan is an example of BLM's gross mismanagement of our wild horses and public lands.
While the BLM intends to massively round up and remove thousands of horses purportedly over concerns about the health of the range, it refuses to even consider removing any of the more than 2,000 head of cattle currently grazing in the same area. A more cost-effective and long-term solution to preserving range health must include buying back cattle leases on public lands like the Calico Complex, which have been designated to be for the primary benefit of wild horses.

The BLM is accepting public comments on an Environmental Assessment of this devastating plan - http://ida.convio.net/site/PageServer - until Sunday, November 22. Please act today to stop this latest BLM atrocity. It is the first action on the list.

Bits and Pieces

Heavy metal monk and a naked thief - it's Odd Box
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_8369000/8369582.stm

Bob Dylan dons Santa hat to star in new promo video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8368288.stm



The non-existent tags
Bob Dylan, odd box, petition


Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

I am up early this morning. I didn’t post yesterday due to my work schedule so I thought I would do short natter this morning. It is funny how there is never much to tell when I am in the midst of a project. I get tunnel vision and don’t think of anything else until it is done. Dearest has been taking on the cooking chores, bless his heart. I am afraid my only contribution to the household lately was that I cleaned the cat’s litter boxes last night before crawling into bed. I no sooner had them cleaned out and the cats were crawling into them littering them back up. That must be one of their missions in life.

The kittens are being rambunctious – nothing new there – running all over the house getting into things and being quite entertaining, even though Pucca has tried to shut down the computer twice already.

More Kiva loans paid back so I was able to send that money back out into the world again.

It is just starting to get light outside and I still have not had my coffee. So, I’ll leave you with the following, go make my coffee and get my workday started.

Bits and Pieces

Earth 'heading for 6C' of warming
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8364926.stm

How to explore Mars and have fun
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8364865.stm

'Hi-tech' farming in Japan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8365599.stm

Crane splits home in half -oops!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8365571.stm

Simon's Cat creator on web hit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8364244.stm

Lab worms are stunned by 'phaser'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8367081.stm

Affectionate cat distracts policeman - yep, he just loves this cop
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8366386.stm

Meteor illuminates the Utah sky
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8367760.stm?ls


The non-existent tags
global warming, work, cats, oops!, Simon’s Cat, meteor, kiva.org

My Dearest, always my hero, did the “Tuesday Take The Trash Down To The Curbside” this morning! Thank you!

I have to finish waking up, take a shower and get to work. Ya’ll have a nice day.

Bits and Pieces

Imagining the Tenth Dimension in 2 parts- fun stuff!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkxieS-6WuA

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySBaYMESb8o&feature=related

New library stands idle with 20,000 books but no staff - this is one of the saddest things I’ve read in a while
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/outstanding-new-library-with-20000-books-lies-idle-due-to-recruitment-ban-1944408.html

Can I Put You On Hold? - Well, it depends on how much you want to irritate me.
http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/words-you-hate-to-hear/?th&emc=th

After Microsoft, Bringing a High-Tech Eye to Professional Kitchens
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/science/17prof.html?th&emc=th

US shuttle takes worms into space
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8363474.stm

Tuna body shies from fishing ban
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8362168.stm

Ritual as Maori bones return home
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8361347.stm

Meteor shower set to reach peak
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8362959.stm

Seamount diary: In Pictures
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8363000/8363307.stm

Return of the Arctic Roll -hopefully made with milk that does not contain rGBH.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8362832.stm

How do you make a Christmas pudding?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7796443.stm

Record breaking 'arrow' sky dive
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8363569.stm

The non-existent tags
global warming, work, food, records, space shuttle, libraries, 10th dimension, meteors


Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

Morgan got me up this morning as she trampled over me finally settling at my side. If this would have been the only sleep interruption I surely have gone back to sleep, enter Danu. She very playfully decided, in kittenish fashion, to play with Morgan’s tail. As you can imagine this did not go down well with Morgan. I gave up, got up and started my day. LOL!

Here is the little tail grabber herself.



I worked most of the day yesterday but decided to knock off around dinnertime. I took this off time to listen to ten chapters of friend Bill DeSmedt’s novel Singularity. I know, we have the signed copy upstairs but Bill put the podcast up on iTunes for free so I can listen to it instead of waiting to read a few chapters a night. Besides, if I would wrinkle a page of the gifted book Dearest might get upset. :)

And finally! I’m doing a happy dance! The third feral kitten has been caught and will go to the animal shelter this morning. This is the sibling to Kali. Dearest does not agree that this is the sibling…but it is. I saw the little bugger out on the roof outside my office in the late afternoon and Dearest went and set the trap pronto. It is a feisty little thing, growling and hissing when we first brought it inside. At the moment the unnamed kitten has been fed and is quietly curled up in the back of the trap. Picture taken right before going to the animal shelter. As you can see, kitten was not happy being in the trap judging by the scuffing on the nose.



I was able to make another Kiva loan yesterday with what had been repaid on the other loans that have been made. Cool. This one went to a weaver of silk in Cambodia.

And an oops! in yesterday’s journal. The shuttle Atlantis launches today.

I have to do a few more morning chores and then it is back to work for me. Have a great day.


Bits and Pieces

Forest park given Dark Sky honour
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/8361244.stm

Glowing bugs could find landmines
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8362066.stm

Ghost trees 'haunt' London square
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8361810.stm

Blyton 'not good enough' for BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8361036.stm

Shackleton's whisky to be dug up
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8361995.stm



The non-existent tags
cats, observatories, art, Enid Blyton, Shackleton, kiva.org, space shuttle, feral kittens, Bill DeSmedt, Singularity, wake up call


Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

Yesterday we picked up Dearest’s birthday present – 2 Gig of memory - and had it installed into his computer. While there we picked up my birthday present a new 12 MP camera and as I type the battery is charging. We decided not to go buy each other frivolous things this year, instead, we would get something that each of us needed or something that required upgrading. And yes, we will both use them before our birthdays. :)

Here is a pic of our Nuit that I took with the new camera. No weird cat eye thing either – it automatically corrects it - and it really picked up on the silver hairs in her coat. She is such cutie!



Two of the three floors of the house got accu-sucked so the carpet no longer looks like it had started to grow fur.

It was still raining when we went to bed last night but this morning the world outside just looks like a sodden brown dog.

The space shuttle Atlantis will launch today at 2:38 pm. Last night I noticed that my NASA launch clock had started to countdown. Hopefully this time around they will not have any weather delays.

Ok, this one is worth reading:

In House, Many Spoke With One Voice: Lobbyists’ - actually, don’t you think that any Representative who let’s a lobbyist write all or part of their speeches definitely doesn’t belong in the position we voted them into to? Heck, the lobbyist feed it in and these people spew it right back out. If I had my way lobbyist would be banned along with campaign funds from any company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/politics/15health.html?_r=2&th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1258290989-3jj7P0pW2lztCespBDP9Jg

A BIG FAIL!
World Leaders Agree to Delay a Deal on Climate Change
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/world/asia/15prexy.html?th&emc=th

When are the governments of the world going to realize that it all boils down to one simple fact - life - of every single organism continuing upon this earth?

But on the other hand:
Brazil and France in climate deal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8360738.stm

Bits and Pieces

Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects Yes, yes, yes, we have known it all along but they had to go prove it.
http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/pr900607v?cookieSet=1



The non-existent tags
birthdays, Nuit, NASA, house work, weather, global warming, FAIL!, chocolate

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

I am just about to call it a day. Right now it is bucketing rain and it has been steady for a few hours now. ARGH!

I am going to try to finish the book I have been reading tonight. I certainly will not get 50 read this year.

It is 5 AM, - so much for sleeping in - it is still raining and I have finished my pot of coffee. What’s girl to do?

Oh! I did finish m book last night, yay!

I think that I have to do a bit of housework today. I haven’t accu-sucked since I have been working on this major project and it is starting to show. LOL!

After that, it is back to the keyboard for me.


Bits and Pieces

Water Found on Moon, Researchers Say
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/science/14moon.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Man drives $1m Bugatti into marsh - not recommended
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8360095.stm?ls

Classic Bugatti makes millions - such a natty little car
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7877172.stm?ls

Driving a car using your phone - hum? For use when you car gets stolen?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8358562.stm

National Organic Standards Board Votes to Crack Down on Labeling Fraud
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm

Chemicals in Our Food, and Bodies
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19596.cfm

Grocers Irked to Find Out Soy Milk Nonorganic
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19566.cfm

Transgenic High-Lysine Corn LY038 Withdrawn After EU Raises Safety Questions
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19567.cfm

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's teatime treats recipes for [Bad username: ”jmward14”]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/14/crumpets-muffins-pikelets-farls


The non-existent tags
organic bytes, teatime, hum?, oops!, moon, house work, work, food weather


Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

I found something on the net the other day and I want it. It looks like a piece of art.
http://www.helixwind.com/en/S594.php

Watch the video of it in action on the home page
http://www.helixwind.com/en/index.php

I especially like its application in the Oklahoma Research center.

The current pair of socks on the needle are almost done, just have to finish the toe decreases and Dearest has new pair to warm his tootsies.

Another gloomy cold day here with rain predicted.

It’s off to work I go, Hi-Ho!

Bits and Pieces

Poo Power: Used Diapers Will Fuel U.K. Recycling Plant
http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/poo-power-used-diapers-will-fuel-u-k-recycling-plant/

White deer hind caught on camera
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8357445.stm

Predatory coral eats jellyfish
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8350000/8350972.stm

Pee to help make your garden grow
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/8357134.stm

Big dog and a vodka problem - it's Odd Box
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_8357000/8357940.stm

Red Arrows get female pilot
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8355531.stm

Mystery of girl's constant sneezes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8358123.stm+666

Shark bite prompts multiple birth
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8357130.stm

Thieves take lion on night drive - OOPS!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8357252.stm

Carpets Can Stink. So, Make Your Own!
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/carpets-stink-so-make-your-own.html


The non-existent tags
helix wind power, animals, odd box, gardening, dyi, health, recycling, I want!, knitting

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

Dearest had a doctor’s apt. yesterday so on the way home we did our errands with the last stop being the Post Office. It was closed of course. Holidays just don’t register. LOL!

I belong to a couple of lists that I read regularly. One of the gals in a quilting group put up a recipe for Reindeer Poop – have a go.

½ cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
½ cup milk
2 teaspoons cocoa
½ cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal – not instant
½ cup chopped nuts – optional

Mix butter, sugar, milk cocoa together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute (no more and no less). Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoon full (larger or smaller as desired) onto wax paper and let harden. They will set up in about 30-60 minutes. These will keep for several days without refrigerating, up to 2 weeks refrigerated and 2-3 months frozen.

Ok, I have got to get to work. Have a good one.

Bits and Pieces

Get your claws on animal noir
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/nov/10/animal-noir

Lithium clue for planet-hunters
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8354522.stm

Sniff test to preserve old books
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8355888.stm

Deep-sea fish captured on camera
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8353329.stm

Bees fight to death over females
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8354000/8354788.stm

Where do all the leaves go?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8354778.stm

Steve Martin hits charts with banjo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8356172.stm?ls

Missing army dog found alive
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8357084.stm

Five films vie for animated Oscar
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8356247.stm

The non-existent tags
astronomy, animals, preservation, Steve Martin, animation, recipe

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

Secret World Live by Peter Gabriel. why? A number of reasons but mainly just because I like it. :)

I got to sleep in bit this morning. YAY! Since time is short this morning I am just going to listen to the daily chapter of The Dog Who Came In From The Cold podcast and get to work.

It is overcast and we can expect rain today. ARGH!


Bits and Pieces

Missing link dinosaur discovered
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8353114.stm

The deep-sea crab that eats trees
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8353000/8353068.stm

Mining firm 'damages' Great Wall
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8354987.stm


The non-existent tags
dinosaurs, animals, the Great Wall, podcasts

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

My friend Barb gave me a begonia last summer that has had a hard road. Upon its arrival the begonia was left outside in a proper environment and the next morning one of our bears had over turn the pot and spread the tubers all over. Always hopeful, I repotted the plant and placed it into a pot holder on one of the arbors in the garden. There it thrived for the reminder of the summer. With the arrival of fall I brought it indoors so that I could over winter it and placed it on my desk. Our cats think that this poor begonia is something to chew on, play with and constantly disturb in one way or another. Having just admonished Pucca for the most recent disturbance to the plant she is now laying on the printer sulking and no doubt, thinking of how she can attack the plant once again without me knowing about it. LOL!


The begonia – yes, that is a Ladies Mantle sprout in the pot with it.




Bits and Pieces

Amazon sucks up to literary agents
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091109/FREE/911099984

Audio slideshow: Autumn's colours - nicely done.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8345213.stm

'Last chance' for tuna authority
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8350903.stm

Audio slideshow: Breathing In
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8332473.stm

Taxi drivers watch TV on the go
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8351525.stm?ls

Boy, 10, pulls plug on aqueduct
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8350930.stm

Afloat in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html?th&emc=th

Setting Sail Into Space, Propelled by Sunshine
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/space/10solar.html?th&emc=th

Plant experts unveil DNA barcode
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8346635.stm


The non-existent tags
animals, trash, space flight, botanical barcodes, cats, amazon.com, Autumn

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

Looks like another beautiful day outside this morning. Too bad I won’t be able to go outside and enjoy it.

The birds outside are driving the kittens nuts again this morning. I actually think they do it on purpose. LOL!

Not happy with this! I thought we were supposed to have a separation of church and state in this country and a President who promised to protect women’s health rights & privacy. When did I vote to put a catholic bishop or any other religious nut or insurance company into office? SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

There Is Nothing "Courageous" About Denying Women's Reproductive Rights
http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/there-is-nothing-courageous-about-denying-womens-reproductive-rights/

House: Yes to Extreme Anti-Choice Politics, No to Women’s Health and Privacy
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/news/press-releases/2009/pr11072009_househcrbillstupak.html

Are US Bishops Responsible for Pro-Life Amendment in Health Care Reform?
http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/2011/

I am off to start my day.

Bits and Pieces

First film of a 'giant' stingray
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8347000/8347644.stm

Infra-red cameras catch nighthawkers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8346965.stm?ls

Anglo-Saxon treasures go on display in London
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8341079.stm

World's fastest supercars go on display
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_10000000/newsid_10002800/10002808.stm


The non-existent tags
reproductive rights, animals, museums, cars, Obama

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

The sun has just started its daily ascent and I have already finished my pot of coffee. It’s Sunday! What am I doing up this early?

My Dearest forced me to watch a bad movie last night and I must say that this one had to be one of his worst picks ever. And it stared very young horse riding Sarah Jessica Parker. It got so bad that we were rewriting the script, sending us into peels of laughter. Unfortunately this was the only entertainment value…Somewhere, Tomorrow 1983, don’t bother.

I had better get moving. I must get a loaf of bread started and a couple of chores done around the house before reapplying the nose to the grindstone.

Bits and Pieces

Something Scary in the Pantry
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/opinion/08kristof.html?th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1257678129-zvjausjq3mQipvX8a5x9Fw

The butcher, his pen and the Queen
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8347798.stm

Meet the Remembrance poppy makers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8348491.stm


The non-existent tags
movies, baking, BPA

Dearest and I got into a discussion about radio and the differences between what is found here in the US and what is offered in the UK. When we both stopped and thought about it, 99% of our listening goes to the BBC and NPR. I don’t listen to other radio here in the US. Think about it. Dare I say…in the olden days…US radio offered much that the BBC does today. For those of you who watch soap operas, many started on radio. There used to be serials about detectives, mysteries, the Phantom and others that entertained. Today it is a specific type of music or talk show hosts that drone on about religion (bleh!), Limbaugh type politics (double bleh!) or Howard Sternish subjects.

Over the past year I have listened to novels, fiction and non-fiction, shows about nature, news, theatre, comedy, biographies (right now I am listening to the biography of Jan Struther who wrote Mrs. Miniver), and science programs. Though the BBC I have spent a day with museum curators, researchers, farmers, gardeners, writers, artists and more. Yesterday I listened to a program about bells and the foundry that cast Big Ben! There has also been a program about the history of private life on Radio 4 that has been fascinating and entertaining to boot. All of this streamed into my computer!

You should try it! Go explore, never know what you will find. My favorite channels are Radio
4 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/programmes)
7 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/programmes/a-z/player)
and Radio Scotland.

My Dearest has sold his most recent novella The Lonely Hunter to PS Publishing for standalone publication in 2011. As you can imagine he is full of himself at the moment. :) You can read what he has to say here:
http://realthog.livejournal.com/132502.html

We found ourselves in NYC last night at a book launch down in Soho held at the Housing Works Bookstore Café. The Interstitial Arts foundation was launching the Interfictions 2.The store itself sells only donated books and the proceeds go to helping people living with HIV and AIDS. They provide housing, legal, health care and prevention services. No sooner than we walked in Dearest managed to find a book to buy – no surprise there. I also found a reference book for my bookshelves. I managed to get some knitting done as we listened to the readings- a major plus!. On the way home we stopped for dinner, finally getting home round 11:30 PM.

Want to know more about Housing Works? They take donations - all you have to do is deliver the books, records or CDs.
http://www.housingworks.org/

I was up early this AM and when the sun was finally up enough to see outside there was a coating of frost on the roof. I would really like to go back to bed but alas it is a workday for me. But first I am off to listen to Gardner’s Question Time on BBC Radio 4. :) Oh, you can subscribe to the GQT podcast through iTunes.

Bits and Pieces

Ashmolean Museum opens to public
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/8347299.stm

'Core' apple species under threat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8347960.stm

Spitfire pilot high-jinks found on film
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8347063.stm?ls


The non-existent tags
BBC Radio, museum, travel, environment, history

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

Yesterday I received an email from Chuck Jones’s grandson saying:

“A few weeks ago we started a celebration of Chuck’s 97th birthday with an online location where anyone and everyone can post, vote, and view images and writings in celebration of Chuck and his characters.

In just a few weeks, we’ve already experienced wonderful participation, heart-felt tributes both visually and written, as well as showing breadth of awareness and interest throughout the world.

I’m sending you this to ask your help in spreading the word even further about the celebration.

Whether it is by submitting an entry yourself (which is very easy with drag and drop etc or uploading a file) or just voting and viewing some of the entries, I’d be very grateful.

Also, since it is a viral program, if you can spread the virus (it’s now the ‘CJ1S Virus: The one you want to catch.’) to any and all, hopefully it will catch on even more.

Although there are prizes and scholarships available for entries that garner the most attention, the real purpose is to spread some smiles around the world with this celebration of Chuck’s birthday and characters.”

http://chuckjones.com/showyourcharacter/

Oh My! The Titmice are back this morning hovering in front of the window and the kittens. It’ sheer havoc on my desk! Nuit is once again washing her mouse in the water bowl – just what goes through a cat’s mind? Does she think it is dirty or something?

We watched a movie called A Carol for Another Christmas (1964) last night. One of the best versions of the old worn out Dickens story I’ve seen, written by Rod Serling and jam packed with stars of that era. Steve Lawrence as the Ghost of Christmas past is superb.

Petition Time

Boycott Genetically Engineered Bovine Growth Hormone

The Organic Consumers Association is now asking our members to boycott ice cream companies that still allow the use of genetically modified bovine growth hormone (Dreyer's, Edy's, Nestle, Haagen-Dazs, Klondike, Good Humor, Breyer's).

The Organic Consumers Association is also joining Breast Cancer Action's Milking Cancer campaign to get Eli Lilly to drop rBGH, which they recently bought from Monsanto and now market through Elanco. As Breast Cancer Action points out, the irony is that Eli Lilly sells both cancer treatment drugs and rBGH, which causes cancer.

We're also targeting the National Federation of Milk Producers which allows rBGH in its new Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19530.cfm

It’s time for me to go to work. Sign the above petition if you feel you can.

Bits and Pieces

Fork lift driver crashes into shelves - Don’t drink while you drive
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8345940.stm?ls

Deer dives through diner window
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8305023.stm?ls

Babies 'cry in mother's tongue'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8346058.stm?ls

Five Minutes with Sesame Street - Elmo eats wasabi…but what has it done to him? Sesame street is 40 years old this week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8345690.stm

Indian circuses hit by animal ban - they do have a cricket playing elephant though
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8345088.stm

Three bald bears perplex experts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8345550.stm

Experts map the body's bacteria
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8342991.stm

21 pups in one go - it's Odd Box
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_8345000/8345771.stm

Normandy island in wind farm row
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8345875.stm

Horse genome unlocked by science
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8345578.stm

Bon Jovi: 'We're not supposed to be here'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8298533.stm

Spirit bears become 'invisible'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8344000/8344367.stm

China to auction Olympics condoms
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8345961.stm

Health Ills Abound as Farm Runoff Fouls Wells - watch the video, read the article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/us/18dairy.html?_r=1

SEWERS, SEWAGE TREATMENT, SLUDGE: DAMAGE WITHOUT END BY ABBY ROCKEFELLER
http://www.organicconsumers.org/sludge.cfm


The non-existent tags
chuck jones, organic bytes, petition, health, movies, cats, petition, rGBH, oops!, animals, Sesame Street, bacteria, wind power, Bon Jovi, Olympic condoms

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

I worked until I was cross-eyed yesterday finally stopping when Dearest announced that dinner was ready. I even got into bed before 12 AM – now that is a rare occurrence!

Today will be much of the same, so I can’t natter way here as I usually do. I will just leave you with the interesting things below.

Bits and Pieces

Scots Aim Lasers at Landmarks
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/arts/design/05abroad.html?th&emc=th

'Extinct' oysters return to Forth
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8343331.stm

Major quakes could be aftershocks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8342600.stm

Light down a wire for solar power
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8341186.stm

Pelicans filmed gobbling gannets - eeew! Warning on the video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8343000/8343195.stm

Thirsty kangaroos rampage town
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8344388.stm

Rare Austen letters cause excitement
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8340749.stm

Tutankhamun finder's home on show
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8342428.stm

Brazil man appears at own funeral - oops!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8343576.stm

Smart spectacles aid translation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8343941.stm


The non-existent tags
work, oysters, earthquakes, solar power, animals, Jane Ausin, Howard Carter, oops!, technology

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

I was greeted this morning by Papa Cardinal, who was sitting on a branch outside my office window. He is a brilliant red bird and is very vocal this morning.

Since my Dearest had cooked a couple of dinners in a row I headed to the kitchen last night not knowing what I would make.
I picked up my Moosewood Cookbook found a recipe and immediately fiddled with the ingredients and came up with a vegetable stew filled with leeks, carrots, red cabbage, beets, beet greens, zucchini, garlic, tofu and a few other things that were floating around in the frig. By the end of its cooking the color of this stew was bright red! Dearest, who doesn’t really care for tofu actually liked it judging by the amount eaten. :)

Got a bit of knitting done in between stirring the pot last night. I love to sit on the kitchen window seat in between cooking chores. So do Pucca and Nuit...especially when there is yarn involved.

It got cold here last night. I let the electric blanket warm up the bed and then jumped in accompanied by Danu and Morgan who both snuggled down. I don’t think Danu moved all night for it felt like there was a lead weight across my feet.

I have some reading to do and then I have to start pounding my keyboard. Have a great day!

Bits and Pieces

Oldest T. rex relative identified
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8340922.stm

Messenger spies iron on Mercury
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8342000.stm

Rare whale gathering sighted
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8340000/8340706.stm

Salvagers want to raise Victory
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/guernsey/8299835.stm

Anthropologist Levi-Strauss dies
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8340936.stm



The non-existent tags
dinosaurs, food, animals, cats, weather, Levi-Strauss

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how

As my honey cooked dinner last night I was listening to the BBC program On Your Farm and they were visiting one of this years finalist for Farmer of the Year on the Isle of Mann. He raises the most magnificent looking sheep called Loaghtan. Here’s a picture. Aren’t they the most wonderful looking animals?



It’s voting day here as it is in so many burbs across the US. Be sure you exercise your right to vote today!

My Dearest received the first review of his new book Bogus Science on Amazon.com yesterday - - it was a good one, of course. Thus he was struting around the house definitely chuffed. If you want to read it he has it up on his journal here, http://realthog.livejournal.com/132177.html

I was sad to hear last night that our friend Joe Haldeman is going back into surgery on Wednesday.

Yesterday at 2 pm Kiva.org hit a major milestone. It has officially raised through its lenders $100,000,000!

As I sit here this morning chaos reins in my office. The Titmice are perching on the window sill outside and the cats are being driven to distraction. Cat TV!

Petition Time

The EPA has approved a deadly poison called Rozol to kill prairie dogs in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming?

Rozol is a blood-thinning poison that causes prairie dogs to slowly bleed to death a cruel and excruciating way to die. It also sets off a chain reaction of secondary poisoning that could devastate imperiled animals that are tied to prairie dogs on the food chain -- including black-footed ferrets, swift foxes, eagles and ferruginous hawks.
For too long, the EPA has been in the pocket of agriculture and industry approving toxic chemicals that taint our water, poison our wildlife and threaten our health and our communities.

Take action now to ask the EPA to do its job and start protecting American wildlife and people from toxic poisons like Rozol: http://action.defenders.org/EPA

The deadline for comments is this Friday (November 6th), so please take action to protect prairie dogs and the other imperiled Great Plains wildlife that depend on them to survive today: http://action.defenders.org/EPA

Bits and Pieces

Species' extinction threat grows
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/8338880.stm

A marvellous hummingbird display - My Dearest says this is the ultimate cat toy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8338000/8338728.stm

What are black holes made of?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8334369.stm

Burst pipe spews tower of water
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8339692.stm

Earth's fastest man adopts cheetah
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8339000.stm

Future fuel: From algae to oil
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8337652.stm

Revisiting the Berlin Wall
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8339077.stm

Click: Webscape
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8333949.stm

Feeling grumpy 'is good for you' - Dearest says he must be the healthiest person in the world. LOL!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8339647.stm

Sci-fi collective goes direct via Kindle
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/101627-sci-fi-collective-goes-direct-via-kindle.html


The non-existent tags
Dearest cooks, Loaghtan sheep, joe Haldeman, click, hummingbirds, berlin wall, fuel from algae, animals, astronomy, extinction, kiva.org, vote, cats, Bogus Science

Our cats are having a hard time with the time change. They now seem to think that they need to be fed at 5 AM.

I rearranged the kitchen yesterday and following said rearrangement I heard, “I can’t find anything!”. LOL!

I finally finished reading An Instance of the Fingerpost. It is a long one - almost 700 pages - and only counts as one book read on my 2009 list.

We did a bit of Christmas shopping yesterday. I know, don't holler because I mentioned the "C" word.

Sun is out!

So what is up with the UK?
As I do every morning I read the trades and within the highlighted stories this morning was this Comic artist prevented from attending own book launch due to 'not having a degree'. Curious, I read the article about the artist Nikil Singh who has been a resident of London for three years. He went home to South Africa- apparently on a visit - and has not been allowed to return to his London home because the Home Office of the UK has decided not to renew any Artist’ Visas without a degree or proof of tertiary education. This new rule is affecting not only artists but also performers and academics.

The Independent ran this article that covers some of the situation.
Something to declare: New visa requirements are leading to cancelled concerts and tours
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/something-to-declare-new-visa-requirements-are-leading-to-cancelled-concerts-and-tours-835780.html

The Guardian ran this one
Top artists battle visa clampdown
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/22/immigration-arts-gormley

This one in the Telegraph
Terrorism law cuts to the heart of the arts
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/5036345/Terrorism-law-cuts-to-the-heart-of-the-arts.html

I even found a petition to the UK Parliament online regarding this new policy. It has almost 10,000 signatures so far.
http://www.petitiononline.com/MCvisit/petition.html

Bits and Pieces

Depression link to processed food
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8334353.stm

Snow White in apples
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8337411.stm

Scientists bring snow to Beijing
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8337337.stm

Audio slideshow: Night witches - it’s not what you think
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8329676.stm

In pictures: Celebrity envelopes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8337498.stm

Monster meatball sets new record
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8337182.stm

Street golf a hit in Paris
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8332329.stm

New York's hanging sneakers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8334137.stm?ls

Obamas dress up for Halloween
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8336368.stm

Spaghetti bridge contest in Chile - it’s all in the engineering
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8333978.stm

Beard and moustache contest opens
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8065408.stm

Japanese couple win Tango contest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8232923.stm


The non-existent tags
dancing, halloween, contests, silliness, cats, fun stuff, food, health, UK, housework

Change the world one loan at a time – visit http://www.Kiva.org to find out how