I will be back soon with tales of survival...
Stay tuned.
Showing posts with label General Information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Information. Show all posts
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Real Life Dharma
Quite a while ago at a Dharma session, Geshe talked about something called false logic. Having never taken a philosophy course I paid close attention but when all was said and done, I felt like I missed something.
He gave the example of false logic by talking about a roadside fruit stand owner; imagine yourself driving along, seeing the fruit stand and deciding to stop and get some fresh and presumably delicious fruit. So you pull in, get out of the car and walk over to the stand whereupon the owner of the stand picks up a peach slices it and offers you half...all juicy and sweet. One bite and your senses are heaven bound and you need more of this! So you buy a half bushel, put it in the car and drive off...dreaming about a half bushel of delicious peaches. Here is the part I don't get. He says, just because you ate half a peach and it was good, does NOT mean the half bushel that you bought will be the same as the sample you had. OK, I know that the peaches probably come from different trees, and maybe some had more or less sun than the one I tasted, but still...they should be good. Geshe says, false logic. Each peach stands on its own. Well, I am still growing and so I keep thinking about this every once in a while.
Here is perhaps another example. This one I can fully understand....now.
Wednesday is garbage and recycling day for me. I always put both the trash can and the recycle box out the night before, since they have been known to pick up at 6 AM. Today, (Wednesday) I went about my morning business then went out to do errands at 8:30. Before leaving I put something in the mailbox and raised the red flag so the postal worker would pick it up when my mail was delivered. Making a mental note to check the flag when I returned indicating whether or not the mail had come.
I returned at about 12:15. As I entered my development area I noted that trash cans and recycle bins of my neighbors up the block were in disarray and empty. OK, as I drive down my street I am looking at the mail box flag and it too is down. So when I pulled in the garage, I went out and got the mail, got the recycle bin, placed it on top of the trash can and wheeled it in the garage. I took the bin and placed it on the floor and went in the house.
Moments later I heard a very loud truck. It sounded like a tractor trailer, but my street is really not big enough for one of those. The noise got louder and I went to see what it was...
Sure enough it was the trash man, picking up trash. And since I was watching him pick up my neighbors trash that means he has already passed me...and that must mean....
YUP, I brought the trash back in the house. What were the odds of my coming home just when he was a few houses away and around the corner? Pretty slim I'd say. So now I have trash for next week! It just never occurred to me to look in the trash can...everybody elses' was empty! False Logic!
He gave the example of false logic by talking about a roadside fruit stand owner; imagine yourself driving along, seeing the fruit stand and deciding to stop and get some fresh and presumably delicious fruit. So you pull in, get out of the car and walk over to the stand whereupon the owner of the stand picks up a peach slices it and offers you half...all juicy and sweet. One bite and your senses are heaven bound and you need more of this! So you buy a half bushel, put it in the car and drive off...dreaming about a half bushel of delicious peaches. Here is the part I don't get. He says, just because you ate half a peach and it was good, does NOT mean the half bushel that you bought will be the same as the sample you had. OK, I know that the peaches probably come from different trees, and maybe some had more or less sun than the one I tasted, but still...they should be good. Geshe says, false logic. Each peach stands on its own. Well, I am still growing and so I keep thinking about this every once in a while.
Here is perhaps another example. This one I can fully understand....now.
Wednesday is garbage and recycling day for me. I always put both the trash can and the recycle box out the night before, since they have been known to pick up at 6 AM. Today, (Wednesday) I went about my morning business then went out to do errands at 8:30. Before leaving I put something in the mailbox and raised the red flag so the postal worker would pick it up when my mail was delivered. Making a mental note to check the flag when I returned indicating whether or not the mail had come.
I returned at about 12:15. As I entered my development area I noted that trash cans and recycle bins of my neighbors up the block were in disarray and empty. OK, as I drive down my street I am looking at the mail box flag and it too is down. So when I pulled in the garage, I went out and got the mail, got the recycle bin, placed it on top of the trash can and wheeled it in the garage. I took the bin and placed it on the floor and went in the house.
Moments later I heard a very loud truck. It sounded like a tractor trailer, but my street is really not big enough for one of those. The noise got louder and I went to see what it was...
Sure enough it was the trash man, picking up trash. And since I was watching him pick up my neighbors trash that means he has already passed me...and that must mean....
YUP, I brought the trash back in the house. What were the odds of my coming home just when he was a few houses away and around the corner? Pretty slim I'd say. So now I have trash for next week! It just never occurred to me to look in the trash can...everybody elses' was empty! False Logic!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Plants Worth Knowing
I found out about two plants that are so remarkable on my service program that I had to share them with you here on the blog. Prior to the program I had never heard of either of these plants and yet, they are so phenomenal I can only wonder why not.
First one is called Moringa;it has amazing nutritional value. In the dry or powdered state, the leaves contain 27% protein, 38% carbohydrate and 19% fiber, an amazing distribution. Further virtually the whole plant is edible. The roots may be ground and made into a replacement for horseradish, the leaves may be eaten fresh or cooked, the flowers may be eaten or made into tea, the young tender pods may be eaten as one might eat gen beans or asparagus and the immature seeds may be cooked and eaten as you would garden peas.
The powder form seems to be most interesting. Harvested moringa leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder, which is used as a highly-nutritious food additive. This has become important in child nutrition programs all over the world. Moringa is added to the basic staple the child is accustomed to eating (rice, potatoes maize, poi or cassava for example) and the child readily accepts the nutritious addition to his/her meal. In the Philippines whee the leaves are cooked and fed to children, moringa is known as mothers best friend.
Moringa is a tree of many uses. In addition to human dietary benefits, moringa leaves can be used as animal forage, green manure, to make biogas a domestic cleaning agent and a growth hormone that can increase some crop yields up to 30%. The bark of the moringa tree yields fiber to make rope and mats and the sap or gum from the bark is used in medicines and condiments; together the bark and gum are used to tan hides.
The tree itself is an important resource in alley cropping and as a living fence. The wood is used as paper pulp and produces a natural blue dye. Further nearly every part of the tree is used to make a wide variety of traditional medicines. Additional information about Moringa can be found by clicking the link.
The second plant that is equally astounding is called Neem. This is presumed to have begun in India. Ayurvedic Medicine, the Indian system of healing of at least 6,000 years has long prescribed Neem for a variety of health and beauty problems. Today, Neem has been introduced to many other countries and its popularity continues to grow because it has proven to be a safe, effective treatment to many ailments.
Current scientific research is convincing many Westerners what Ayurvedic doctors have known for centuries - that neem is a great remedy for numerous health problems and promotes overall well-being. Such as:
Burns - neem cream over the affected area reduces pain and kills bacteria, thereby promoting faster healing and less scaring.
Sprains and Bruises - neem cream increases blood flow to the area, reducing swelling and discoloration.
Headache - chew on a few leaves or drink a tea made with some leaves to reduce pain, blood pressure and open constricted blood vessels.
Psoriasis- perhaps the best weapon against psoriasis. Patients have reported that neem extracts or seed oil applied topically were as effective or better than cortisone and did not produce side effects.
Wrinkles - the same compounds that treat psoriasis also help in maintaining the skin's suppleness. Apply a small amount of neem cream after washing and drying the skin.
Teeth and gums - a daily application of neem mouthrinse has yielded improvements in tooth decal, bleeding, sore gums and infections. Neem has also prevented cavities in millions of South Asians in spite of the lack of "modern" dental care.
Both of these products can be purchased by using a search engine online.
First one is called Moringa;it has amazing nutritional value. In the dry or powdered state, the leaves contain 27% protein, 38% carbohydrate and 19% fiber, an amazing distribution. Further virtually the whole plant is edible. The roots may be ground and made into a replacement for horseradish, the leaves may be eaten fresh or cooked, the flowers may be eaten or made into tea, the young tender pods may be eaten as one might eat gen beans or asparagus and the immature seeds may be cooked and eaten as you would garden peas.
The powder form seems to be most interesting. Harvested moringa leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder, which is used as a highly-nutritious food additive. This has become important in child nutrition programs all over the world. Moringa is added to the basic staple the child is accustomed to eating (rice, potatoes maize, poi or cassava for example) and the child readily accepts the nutritious addition to his/her meal. In the Philippines whee the leaves are cooked and fed to children, moringa is known as mothers best friend.
Moringa is a tree of many uses. In addition to human dietary benefits, moringa leaves can be used as animal forage, green manure, to make biogas a domestic cleaning agent and a growth hormone that can increase some crop yields up to 30%. The bark of the moringa tree yields fiber to make rope and mats and the sap or gum from the bark is used in medicines and condiments; together the bark and gum are used to tan hides.
The tree itself is an important resource in alley cropping and as a living fence. The wood is used as paper pulp and produces a natural blue dye. Further nearly every part of the tree is used to make a wide variety of traditional medicines. Additional information about Moringa can be found by clicking the link.
The second plant that is equally astounding is called Neem. This is presumed to have begun in India. Ayurvedic Medicine, the Indian system of healing of at least 6,000 years has long prescribed Neem for a variety of health and beauty problems. Today, Neem has been introduced to many other countries and its popularity continues to grow because it has proven to be a safe, effective treatment to many ailments.
Current scientific research is convincing many Westerners what Ayurvedic doctors have known for centuries - that neem is a great remedy for numerous health problems and promotes overall well-being. Such as:
Burns - neem cream over the affected area reduces pain and kills bacteria, thereby promoting faster healing and less scaring.
Sprains and Bruises - neem cream increases blood flow to the area, reducing swelling and discoloration.
Headache - chew on a few leaves or drink a tea made with some leaves to reduce pain, blood pressure and open constricted blood vessels.
Psoriasis- perhaps the best weapon against psoriasis. Patients have reported that neem extracts or seed oil applied topically were as effective or better than cortisone and did not produce side effects.
Wrinkles - the same compounds that treat psoriasis also help in maintaining the skin's suppleness. Apply a small amount of neem cream after washing and drying the skin.
Teeth and gums - a daily application of neem mouthrinse has yielded improvements in tooth decal, bleeding, sore gums and infections. Neem has also prevented cavities in millions of South Asians in spite of the lack of "modern" dental care.
Both of these products can be purchased by using a search engine online.
Take a Look...
Everybody is free to wear sunscreen. I just discovered this video and I think it is worth a look
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Other Eye
I got the other eye done on January 4th. So now I have all the cataracts removed and am on the way to recovery. It seems that I know lots of folks, who know lots of folks who had this done. They all said "it's nothing, really." So I was expecting it to be, well, nothing.
The vision is no where near what I expected it to be. I suppose those folks who had it done, live with someone who can drive them around and that certainly makes it more like nothing. Since I do all my own driving, it has been a bit more than a challenge. Don't get me wrong, I can see really good for about three feet or so. But I cannot read the titles of the programs on TV from my chair...I would need to get up and stand closer and read it. That is not a problem for me. It is a problem when I am trying to drive and a pedestrian appears to be a blurry mass that could be a tree or a trash can or a person. So I have been driving only when necessary and only during the off hours of the day. I am happy to report no mishaps.
So if you want my opinion, this surgery is more than nothing. You really don't see well for better than a month. If you need to drive every day, that is a problem. I am delighted that I can read without glasses for the first time in a very long time! Weird, huh?
I will be very happy to get my distance vision back again too. It has gotten better. During the day I can see pretty well; it is just at night that things get eerie.
So for now I am becoming a becoming a bookworm. The library is furnishing me with lots of the latest titles every other week.
Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson is pretty good and interesting on how the brain connects to various ideas and presents unique solutions in the process.
I just finished The World According to Monsanto...THAT is a scary book! The stuff that happens to our food, soil and air is very sad.
Part of this reading marathon was also The Secret Gift by Ted Gup a fabulous true story of a man who chose an odd way to help folks during the depths of the depression.
Next up: Let's take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell and
The Wave by Susan Casey about rogue waves in the ocean; I probably selected this because for a long time I had dreams about REALLY huge waves with varying conclusions. I haven't had one of those in quiet a few years now, so the book may fill that gap.
The vision is no where near what I expected it to be. I suppose those folks who had it done, live with someone who can drive them around and that certainly makes it more like nothing. Since I do all my own driving, it has been a bit more than a challenge. Don't get me wrong, I can see really good for about three feet or so. But I cannot read the titles of the programs on TV from my chair...I would need to get up and stand closer and read it. That is not a problem for me. It is a problem when I am trying to drive and a pedestrian appears to be a blurry mass that could be a tree or a trash can or a person. So I have been driving only when necessary and only during the off hours of the day. I am happy to report no mishaps.
So if you want my opinion, this surgery is more than nothing. You really don't see well for better than a month. If you need to drive every day, that is a problem. I am delighted that I can read without glasses for the first time in a very long time! Weird, huh?
I will be very happy to get my distance vision back again too. It has gotten better. During the day I can see pretty well; it is just at night that things get eerie.
So for now I am becoming a becoming a bookworm. The library is furnishing me with lots of the latest titles every other week.
Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson is pretty good and interesting on how the brain connects to various ideas and presents unique solutions in the process.
I just finished The World According to Monsanto...THAT is a scary book! The stuff that happens to our food, soil and air is very sad.
Part of this reading marathon was also The Secret Gift by Ted Gup a fabulous true story of a man who chose an odd way to help folks during the depths of the depression.
Next up: Let's take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell and
The Wave by Susan Casey about rogue waves in the ocean; I probably selected this because for a long time I had dreams about REALLY huge waves with varying conclusions. I haven't had one of those in quiet a few years now, so the book may fill that gap.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Last Minute Gift Wrapping Ideas...
This is best viewed by watching the video first and then clicking the cute things exploding link.
Merry Christmas one and all!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My Favorite Dalai Lama Prayer
I have been attending Buddhist meditation sessions on and off for the last seven or eight years. Through that time I have gradually learned a little bit about patience, compassion and love for all sentient beings. There is one prayer that we recite to close our session that has had a tremendous impact on me. Why? Well, from the very beginning when I would read it aloud, I would get so choked up that I had to stop and listen to the others in the group finish it. Often I would visualize these things actually occurring and I just could not go on. Then over time, I was actually able to read it aloud.
Even now, after having read it hundreds of times, I still feel it affecting me in very loving ways. Just read it, let it take you to a very nice place...
Dedication Prayer
by His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
May all beings everywhere
plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
by virtue of my merits.
May no living creature suffer,
commit evil or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
with a mind weighed down by depression.
May the blind see forms,
and the deaf hear sounds.
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.
May the naked find clothing,
the hungry find food.
May the thirsty find water
and delicious drink
May the poor find wealth,
those weak with sorrow find joy.
May the forlorn find hope
constant happiness and prosperity.
May there be timely rains
and bountiful harvests.
May all medicines be effective
and wholesome prayers bear fruit.
May all who are sick and ill
quickly be freed from their ailments.
Whatever diseases there are in the world
may they never occur again.
May the frightened cease to be afraid
and those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power
and may people everywhere think of benefiting each other.
Even now, after having read it hundreds of times, I still feel it affecting me in very loving ways. Just read it, let it take you to a very nice place...
Dedication Prayer
by His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
May all beings everywhere
plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
by virtue of my merits.
May no living creature suffer,
commit evil or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
with a mind weighed down by depression.
May the blind see forms,
and the deaf hear sounds.
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.
May the naked find clothing,
the hungry find food.
May the thirsty find water
and delicious drink
May the poor find wealth,
those weak with sorrow find joy.
May the forlorn find hope
constant happiness and prosperity.
May there be timely rains
and bountiful harvests.
May all medicines be effective
and wholesome prayers bear fruit.
May all who are sick and ill
quickly be freed from their ailments.
Whatever diseases there are in the world
may they never occur again.
May the frightened cease to be afraid
and those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power
and may people everywhere think of benefiting each other.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
It's Official
Thanksgiving is now behind us and Christmas is just around the corner...
So here is a little something to put you in the mood. Enjoy!
So here is a little something to put you in the mood. Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Eye Buy
A couple of weeks ago I was watching Dr OZ and as always I came away with something useful. I mean REALLY useful; that is for those of us who wear glasses. He was pushing this website that makes eyeglasses and interestingly enough it is named Eye Buy Direct , Com. I quickly jotted down the URL and kept watching.
I was not really ready for an eye exam (so I thought) since my last one was only about 14 months ago, but I got to thinking about the savings and after going to the website a few times, decided to get the exam and my new prescription so I could get lots and lots of new glasses for really cheap! I did my homework by making sure I got all the measurement information I needed from my optometrist so the glasses I selected would be right for me. In particular...something they call the pupiary distance...that is the distance between your pupils. This is easily obtained when you get your exam.
I did have a little difficulty getting the right length for the side pieces of the glasses and if I had it to do over again, I would probably call them before I placed my order, just to be sure I get the right stuff.
So anyway I thought I would show you the comparison of what I got the last time when I went to a National eyeglass chain and what I got when I ordered from EyeBuyDirect.com.
Take a look:
From the national chain I got one pair of sunglasses and one pair of progressive lenses. Standard quality. No, wait, the sunglasses fell apart and they charged me $35 to get them replaced, since I was within a year of purchase. They need adjustment at least once a year, that is free since I bought them there. Price for the package: $ 452.00
From EyeBuyDirect: I got one pair of reading glasses, one pair of progressive lenses and clip-on sunglasses for them. I had to go to a local eyeglass store to have them adjusted properly; I went to a new place that did not charge me for either of the new glasses shown above, nor for adjusting the sunglasses that I purchased from the national chain a year or so ago.
Price for the package: $127.00
Oh, I forgot to add...each pair of glasses arrived in its own little box, with a rigid eyeglass case and wrapped in an eyeglass cleaner cloth. Those cloths are a few bucks each at the local National chain store.
Now for the bad news...
In getting my eyes examined it was discovered that the cataract condition I have is a rather fast moving one; something they call posterior subcapsular cataracts. In English it means that very soon I will need cataract surgery or I will no longer be able to drive at night. This was quite a shock for me since the first mention of these was last year, I felt pretty sure I could make it till I was old enough to have medicare help me pay for it. That will not happen. I am seeing an eye surgeon in a couple of weeks to put the plan in place.
Wouldn't you know it, I find this great eyeglass place and after I have the surgery, I won't need them anymore....HA!
I was not really ready for an eye exam (so I thought) since my last one was only about 14 months ago, but I got to thinking about the savings and after going to the website a few times, decided to get the exam and my new prescription so I could get lots and lots of new glasses for really cheap! I did my homework by making sure I got all the measurement information I needed from my optometrist so the glasses I selected would be right for me. In particular...something they call the pupiary distance...that is the distance between your pupils. This is easily obtained when you get your exam.
I did have a little difficulty getting the right length for the side pieces of the glasses and if I had it to do over again, I would probably call them before I placed my order, just to be sure I get the right stuff.
So anyway I thought I would show you the comparison of what I got the last time when I went to a National eyeglass chain and what I got when I ordered from EyeBuyDirect.com.
Take a look:
From the national chain I got one pair of sunglasses and one pair of progressive lenses. Standard quality. No, wait, the sunglasses fell apart and they charged me $35 to get them replaced, since I was within a year of purchase. They need adjustment at least once a year, that is free since I bought them there. Price for the package: $ 452.00
From EyeBuyDirect: I got one pair of reading glasses, one pair of progressive lenses and clip-on sunglasses for them. I had to go to a local eyeglass store to have them adjusted properly; I went to a new place that did not charge me for either of the new glasses shown above, nor for adjusting the sunglasses that I purchased from the national chain a year or so ago.Price for the package: $127.00
Oh, I forgot to add...each pair of glasses arrived in its own little box, with a rigid eyeglass case and wrapped in an eyeglass cleaner cloth. Those cloths are a few bucks each at the local National chain store.
Now for the bad news...
In getting my eyes examined it was discovered that the cataract condition I have is a rather fast moving one; something they call posterior subcapsular cataracts. In English it means that very soon I will need cataract surgery or I will no longer be able to drive at night. This was quite a shock for me since the first mention of these was last year, I felt pretty sure I could make it till I was old enough to have medicare help me pay for it. That will not happen. I am seeing an eye surgeon in a couple of weeks to put the plan in place.
Wouldn't you know it, I find this great eyeglass place and after I have the surgery, I won't need them anymore....HA!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Got Cat Hair?
I just stumbled onto this product...it is fantastic. I know, I know...it's been around for a year or more. What can I say? I'm old and slow.
If you've got a cat..or dog...you NEED this!
Now...the only question is: Does it work on bird droppings?
If you've got a cat..or dog...you NEED this!
Now...the only question is: Does it work on bird droppings?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Pencils
As some of my faithful followers may know, I moved here about four years ago. What does that have to do with anything you may ask? Well, in a word...plenty.
I have gotten around to digging out the bottom of all my desk drawers and discovered that I have (probably) enough pencils to last me for the rest of my life. Yep, just take a look at the spread I found:
You are probably asking yourself why in the world would ANYONE NEED pencils today? I mean everything is electronic or they have an app for that. Shopping lists go on the cell phone, all the names and addresses and Christmas card lists can easily be maintained in a computerized list in a document folder on the computer. I mean really; isn't this what we wanted...a paperless society. What in the world would she NEED a pencil for?
Crossword puzzles. See you use pencil so IF you make a boo-boo, you can ERASE it and fill in the correct answer.
That's when I discovered that old pencils become useless when it comes to erasing. They only smudge and make a mess of things. And if you try to write over the smudge...well it just doesn't work.
Now to add insult to injury, I discovered this while I was away from home. I was waiting in the car for a friend...I knew I would be waiting, so I grabbed the two puzzles from today's' paper, a pencil and an eraser that had been laying on the desk.
It just so happens that the cat is irresistibly attracted to elastic bands so I must have just wrapped an errant one around the eraser to prevent the cat from accidentally eating it.
So there I was in the car with loose puzzles, a pencil and this funky eraser. I did what any normal, inventive, pro-active American woman would've done. Made the best of an otherwise untenable situation!
Now the pencil is a bit unbalanced but it does work. I may just stick to the new eraser and a naked pencil in the future though.
I have gotten around to digging out the bottom of all my desk drawers and discovered that I have (probably) enough pencils to last me for the rest of my life. Yep, just take a look at the spread I found:
You are probably asking yourself why in the world would ANYONE NEED pencils today? I mean everything is electronic or they have an app for that. Shopping lists go on the cell phone, all the names and addresses and Christmas card lists can easily be maintained in a computerized list in a document folder on the computer. I mean really; isn't this what we wanted...a paperless society. What in the world would she NEED a pencil for?
Crossword puzzles. See you use pencil so IF you make a boo-boo, you can ERASE it and fill in the correct answer.
That's when I discovered that old pencils become useless when it comes to erasing. They only smudge and make a mess of things. And if you try to write over the smudge...well it just doesn't work.
Now to add insult to injury, I discovered this while I was away from home. I was waiting in the car for a friend...I knew I would be waiting, so I grabbed the two puzzles from today's' paper, a pencil and an eraser that had been laying on the desk.
It just so happens that the cat is irresistibly attracted to elastic bands so I must have just wrapped an errant one around the eraser to prevent the cat from accidentally eating it.
So there I was in the car with loose puzzles, a pencil and this funky eraser. I did what any normal, inventive, pro-active American woman would've done. Made the best of an otherwise untenable situation!
Now the pencil is a bit unbalanced but it does work. I may just stick to the new eraser and a naked pencil in the future though.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry
Our cruise came to an abrupt halt and we had to 'move on'...
We decided that it would be best to skirt the Houston traffic and use the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry to cross the bay and head towards Florida. The ferry ride is all of 18 minutes long and is 2.7 miles; nice that the Texas Department of Transportation has provided it free of charge! (Not something you would find in New Jersey)
While on board I caught this shot of double seagulls...a first for me!
It only takes nine minutes to load/unload the ferry so it was within minutes after we were on land again that we could see the remaining destruction caused by hurricane Ike back in September 2008. Pretty nasty.
We decided that it would be best to skirt the Houston traffic and use the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry to cross the bay and head towards Florida. The ferry ride is all of 18 minutes long and is 2.7 miles; nice that the Texas Department of Transportation has provided it free of charge! (Not something you would find in New Jersey)
While on board I caught this shot of double seagulls...a first for me!
It only takes nine minutes to load/unload the ferry so it was within minutes after we were on land again that we could see the remaining destruction caused by hurricane Ike back in September 2008. Pretty nasty.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cats...Cats..Cats
From the National Geographic…
Domestic cats, no matter their breed, are all members of one species. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. Ancient Egyptians may have first domesticated cats as early as 4,000 years ago. Plentiful rodents probably drew wild felines to human communities. The cats' skill in killing them may have first earned the affectionate attention of humans. Early Egyptians worshipped a cat goddess and even mummified their beloved pets for their journey to the next world—accompanied by mummified mice! Cultures around the world later adopted cats as their own companions.Like their wild relatives, domestic cats are natural hunters able to stalk prey and pounce with sharp claws and teeth. They are particularly effective at night, when their light-reflecting eyes allow them to see better than much of their prey. Cats also enjoy acute hearing. All cats are nimble and agile, and their long tails aid their outstanding balance.Cats communicate by marking trees, fence posts, or furniture with their claws or their waste. These scent posts are meant to inform others of a cat's home range. House cats employ a vocal repertoire that extends from a purr to a screech.Domestic cats remain largely carnivorous, and have evolved a simple gut appropriate for raw meat. They also retain the rough tongue that can help them clean every last morsel from an animal bone (and groom themselves). Their diets vary with the whims of humans, however, and can be supplemented by the cat's own hunting successes.
From Cats Trivia
French researchers claim that the domestic cat has a vocal range of as many as sixty notes, from a gentle purr to growls of varying intensity to the howl that sometimes annoys the neighbors.
Cats are the only four-footed animal, with the exception of camels and giraffes, that walk by moving their front and hind legs first on one side and then the other. Only four cats really roar: lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.
A cat’s teeth, from newborn kitten to the largest lion, are the most awesome weapons in the mammal kingdom. They are very sharp, and finely serrated like a knife. The curved, pointed canines are set in the cat’s jaw so that the molars fit together with their sides intact, like a pair of scissors, rather than tooth to tooth, as is the case with humans and most other mammals.
With powerful leg muscles, especially in their hind legs, the domestic cat has been known to reach running speeds of up to twenty-five miles an hour. A frightened cat can run up to 30 mph -- while the fastest human can only run up to 27.89 mph.
Both female and male cats reach puberty at approximately six months of age. Males will act more territorial, disappear for days and “spray” their scent. Females will lower themselves close to the ground and meow as if in pain when they go into heat.
Domestic cats spend about 70% of their day sleeping and 15% of the day grooming. Non-pedigree cats generally live longer than pedigree cats. Cats were domesticated about 3,000 B.C. in Egypt.
Cats were brought to the Americas by colonists to protect their granaries and as pets. As settlers moved inland, cats accompanied them.
"Polydactyl" means "many toes." Perhaps the most famous polydactyl cats were those raised by Ernest Hemingway, who had over 60 of these big-pawed charmers at his home in Key West, descendants of a 6-toed cat given him by a sea-faring captain.
It is a common belief that cats are color blind. However, studies have shown that cats can distinguish between red and green; red and blue; red and gray; green and blue; green and gray; blue and gray; yellow and blue, and yellow and gray.
The top two rows of a cat's whiskers can move independently of the lower two rows. This allows maximum perception of the cat's immediate surroundings.
The lightness of a feline's tread can be attributed to the fact that they walk on their toes--the soles of their feet rarely touch the ground. The pillow-like balls of their paws allow them to prowl noiselessly in the wild.
Feline Philosophy
To err as human means you’re fumin’
To err as cat means, I meant that
There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast
Thousands of years age cats were worshipped as Gods…They have never forgotten it.
Quotes
Cats are rather delicate creatures and are subject to a good many ailments, but I never saw one that suffered from insomnia. Krutch
Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat. - Mark Twain
Actually, cats do this to protect you from gnomes who come and steal your breath while you sleep. - John Dobbin
The sun rose slowly, like a fiery furball coughed up uneasily onto a sky-blue carpet by a giant unseen cat. - Michael McGarel
"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well." - Missy Dizick
"One must love a cat on its own terms."- Paul Gray
"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." - Mary Bly
I have noticed that what cats most appreciate in a human being is not the ability to produce food which they take for granted--but his or her entertainment value. - Geoffrey Household
Domestic cats, no matter their breed, are all members of one species. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. Ancient Egyptians may have first domesticated cats as early as 4,000 years ago. Plentiful rodents probably drew wild felines to human communities. The cats' skill in killing them may have first earned the affectionate attention of humans. Early Egyptians worshipped a cat goddess and even mummified their beloved pets for their journey to the next world—accompanied by mummified mice! Cultures around the world later adopted cats as their own companions.Like their wild relatives, domestic cats are natural hunters able to stalk prey and pounce with sharp claws and teeth. They are particularly effective at night, when their light-reflecting eyes allow them to see better than much of their prey. Cats also enjoy acute hearing. All cats are nimble and agile, and their long tails aid their outstanding balance.Cats communicate by marking trees, fence posts, or furniture with their claws or their waste. These scent posts are meant to inform others of a cat's home range. House cats employ a vocal repertoire that extends from a purr to a screech.Domestic cats remain largely carnivorous, and have evolved a simple gut appropriate for raw meat. They also retain the rough tongue that can help them clean every last morsel from an animal bone (and groom themselves). Their diets vary with the whims of humans, however, and can be supplemented by the cat's own hunting successes.
From Cats Trivia
French researchers claim that the domestic cat has a vocal range of as many as sixty notes, from a gentle purr to growls of varying intensity to the howl that sometimes annoys the neighbors.
Cats are the only four-footed animal, with the exception of camels and giraffes, that walk by moving their front and hind legs first on one side and then the other. Only four cats really roar: lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.
A cat’s teeth, from newborn kitten to the largest lion, are the most awesome weapons in the mammal kingdom. They are very sharp, and finely serrated like a knife. The curved, pointed canines are set in the cat’s jaw so that the molars fit together with their sides intact, like a pair of scissors, rather than tooth to tooth, as is the case with humans and most other mammals.
With powerful leg muscles, especially in their hind legs, the domestic cat has been known to reach running speeds of up to twenty-five miles an hour. A frightened cat can run up to 30 mph -- while the fastest human can only run up to 27.89 mph.
Both female and male cats reach puberty at approximately six months of age. Males will act more territorial, disappear for days and “spray” their scent. Females will lower themselves close to the ground and meow as if in pain when they go into heat.
Domestic cats spend about 70% of their day sleeping and 15% of the day grooming. Non-pedigree cats generally live longer than pedigree cats. Cats were domesticated about 3,000 B.C. in Egypt.
Cats were brought to the Americas by colonists to protect their granaries and as pets. As settlers moved inland, cats accompanied them.
"Polydactyl" means "many toes." Perhaps the most famous polydactyl cats were those raised by Ernest Hemingway, who had over 60 of these big-pawed charmers at his home in Key West, descendants of a 6-toed cat given him by a sea-faring captain.
It is a common belief that cats are color blind. However, studies have shown that cats can distinguish between red and green; red and blue; red and gray; green and blue; green and gray; blue and gray; yellow and blue, and yellow and gray.
The top two rows of a cat's whiskers can move independently of the lower two rows. This allows maximum perception of the cat's immediate surroundings.
The lightness of a feline's tread can be attributed to the fact that they walk on their toes--the soles of their feet rarely touch the ground. The pillow-like balls of their paws allow them to prowl noiselessly in the wild.
Feline Philosophy
To err as human means you’re fumin’
To err as cat means, I meant that
There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast
Thousands of years age cats were worshipped as Gods…They have never forgotten it.
Quotes
Cats are rather delicate creatures and are subject to a good many ailments, but I never saw one that suffered from insomnia. Krutch
Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat. - Mark Twain
Actually, cats do this to protect you from gnomes who come and steal your breath while you sleep. - John Dobbin
The sun rose slowly, like a fiery furball coughed up uneasily onto a sky-blue carpet by a giant unseen cat. - Michael McGarel
"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well." - Missy Dizick
"One must love a cat on its own terms."- Paul Gray
"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." - Mary Bly
I have noticed that what cats most appreciate in a human being is not the ability to produce food which they take for granted--but his or her entertainment value. - Geoffrey Household
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