CHATEAUROUX, France - A French couple who celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary Friday offered this advice on love and longevity: Keep arguments to a minimum, eat well and wash it down with a glass of wine. Andre and Marguerite Debray met shortly after the end of World War I, in which he served, and got married on Aug. 12, 1924. Mr. Debray is now 107 years old and his wife is a few years younger at 101. Retired for several decades, the Debrays spent their careers as teachers.
To celebrate the anniversary, the couple planned a family lunch with a champagne toast at their home in the village of Chateauroux, in central France, Mrs. Debray said in a telephone interview. The couple has two children, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Asked for the secret to staying together so long, Mrs. Debray replied: "Love and respect for the other person."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/12/2005 21:16 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
EFL
Mansfield Street residents said Reliable Paving Company blocked the street for two days earlier this month as contractors went door-to-door asking residents whether they needed their lawns paved. Good afternoon, ma'am. Like a tree trimmed? How about paving over your lawn? No more dandelion problems.
Neighbors couldn't imagine anyone saying yes but, the next thing they knew, one of the gardens was all asphalt.
The house belongs to a Korean-American family that does not speak English. Residents fear they were unaware of the work being done.
In an urban neighborhood that is already dense and starved for green space, residents worry that contractors illegally paving their yards is another problem for which they must be on the lookout. They'll need to form a Neighborhood Lawn Watch group.
For years, skeptics of global warming have used satellite and weather balloon data to argue that climate models were wrong and that global warming isn't really happening. Among other arguments, but who's counting?
Now, according to three new studies published in the journal Science, it turns out those conclusions based on satellite and weather balloon data were based on faulty analyses. Wait'll you get a load of their analyses (see below)!
The atmosphere is indeed warming, not cooling as the data previously showed. Opinion as fact, eh?
While surface thermometers have clearly shown that the Earth's surface is warming, ... (especially in urban, asphalted, concreted, no tree areas, but I digress)
... satellite and weather balloon data have actually suggested the opposite, that the atmosphere was cooling.
Scientists were left with two choices: either the atmosphere wasn't warming up, ... (horrors! We must study it again until we get the results I want! Jeeves, fetch me my Standard Gov't Grant Application form...we need to study this more!)
... or something was wrong with the data. "But most people had to conclude, based on the fact that there were both satellite and balloon observations, that it really wasn't warming up," said Steven Sherwood, a geologists at Yale University and lead author of one of the studies.
Oops! (Oh, you snarky, sarcastic "reporter" you!)
Sherwood examined weather balloons known as radiosondes, which are capable of making direct measurements of atmospheric temperatures. For the past 40 years, radiosonde temperature data have been collected from around the world twice each day, once during the day and once at night.
But while nighttime radiosonde measurements were consistent with climate models and theories showing a general warming trend, daytime measurements actually showed the atmosphere to be cooling since the 1970's. Which baffled my mind, as the sun's shining on us during the day. But that was before I read their analysis below. I'm enlightened now!
Sherwood explains these discrepancies by pointing out that the older radiosonde instruments used in the 1970's were not as well shielded from sunlight as more recent models. What this means as that older radiosondes showed warmer temperature readings during the day because they were warmed by sunlight. So, wouldn't this show "warming" even back during the 70's? And, yet, the trend was that it was cooling. So, to sum it up class, these radiosondes were exposed to sunlight, heated up all because of the sun, and yet, the trend was that these monitors showed cooling during the day. And, oh yeah, it's Bush's fault. Ya know, he's tied to Halliburton, who runs the sun. Why can't they look at this data (sun warming up monitors) and look into other explanations, like, oh, the increase in sun's activities/solar flairs as of late. But, I'm just a dumb, red-state engineer, whadda I know?
"It's like being outside on a hot dayâit feels hotter when you are standing in the direct sun than when you are standing in the shade," Sherwood said. Genius, pure genius!
Nowadays, radiosondes are better insulated against the effects of sunlight, but if analyzed together with the old dataâwhich showed temperatures that were actually warmer than they really wereâthe overall effect looked like the troposphere was cooling. Wha? Higher temps somehow showed cooling? I don't know. Again, here the details are important. If the measurements were 2-3 degrees higher due to the sun, wouldn't that show the troposphere is cooler than we thought? And, again, it's all in the TREND. Even if each day's reading was high, if the trend is going down, that's good news (if you assume the error was pretty much consistent each day).
The discrepancy between surface and atmospheric measurements has been used by for years by skeptics who dispute claims of global warming.
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 10:09 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Once again, the fallacy of trying to interpret 4.5 billion years of climate change by just looking at the last 30 years. The earth does wobble on its axis every 26,000 years, the climate changes because of sun exposure. The sun warms and cools every few thousand years and causes the earth's climate to change with it. The earth has been warming continuously since the end of the last ice age some 120,000 years ago, the earth did not have ice caps from 120 million BC to 65 million BC, and yet the climate Nazis are screaming because of an average .5 degree C climate change.
#3
Evidence from physical and biological systems indicates that the Earth is currently in a warming phase. Nothing new here. Not long ago, geologically speaking, my current residence was under a half mile or so of ice. Long before that, the arctic was rather tropical. Things change.
Where the debate ( and the chicken-little eco-hysteria ) comes in is over the causes and implications of the facts. Why is it happening and what if anything should or can we do about it. This part gets rather complicated since we are dealing with chaotic, non-linear systems and they just don't respond in ways that we consider 'common-sense'. A small change in an input can cause a huge change in an output. The straw that broke the camels back is a folksy illustration.
An example of how complicated climate can be is a theory by a geologist at Michigan State back in the '80s. He figured that global warming could cause an ice age. Sounds silly, right? How can warming cause cooling? Consider that warming means more water in the atmosphere. More water vapor means more clouds. Clouds reflect heat before it reaches the ground. Things get colder. How a scenario like this actually plays out all depends on the numbers and relationships. Remember we are talking non-linear systems.
Personally, after my first winter in the north in a decade, I'm ready for a little global warming and if I have to burn a pile of truck tires in the driveway to make it happen, so be it.
#4
Good points, Steve. What I was trying (albeit, very sarcastically) to point out. Even if it is warming, we are not 100% to blame. In fact, I personally doubt if we're 30% to blame. But you try to speak that in those circles and you'll get shouted down quicker than you can say "Just another opinion."
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 11:18 Comments ||
Top||
#5
That Mars is warming provides more proof of the insidious nature of greenhouse gases.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
08/12/2005 11:29 Comments ||
Top||
#6
If everyone will just move to my Left, we can get that wobble cranked up again. The 4° tilt is a "good thing" - the wobble is a "bad thing". I hope that clarifies things.
#8
I read an interview this morning with the scientist who is famous for predicting the number and strength of hurricanes (but not their movement). It's in Discover Magazine, but not on-line yet, and I'm not about to type the whole thing!
His conclusion: Globe is NOT warming, but his NOAA funds were cut off, he suspects by Gore and the other eco-nazis when he refused to climb on the "Global Warming" bandwagon.
See, it's all GORE's fault!
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/12/2005 12:21 Comments ||
Top||
#9
which way are you facing, PD?
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/12/2005 12:22 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Atmospheric cooling and surface warming is easily explained. A reduction in particulates in the atmosphere due in part to clean air laws means sunshine that previously was intercepted by particles and as a result warmed the atmosphere is now reaching the earth's surface and warming it.
#11
Good point, Phil. In fact, I think that was specifically discussed here some months ago (Our cleaning up of the air is actually leading to warmer surface temps.).
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 14:51 Comments ||
Top||
#12
The sun, Frank, always the sun... even at night. I'm like a morning glory, except not so pretty when opened, nor so shriveled and crinkly-looking when closed. Just like that.
#13
for years ive seen the bit about the cooling in the atmosphere shown as the basis for denying the models showing Green house gas based warmed. The guy in Huntsville has been about the most notable scientists ive seen quoted against global warming.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/12/2005 18:16 Comments ||
Top||
#17
In the short term if there were true global warming the British Isles would tend to get colder, theroreticaly. What would happen is the polar ice cap melts and the resultant colder water and increased iceburgs would flow into the Gulf Stream which now keeps the British Isles warmer than one would expect because of how far north they are. Ultimately, if the warming trend lasted long enough, the increased warming of the earth's surface and the increased warming of the oceans would offset thid effect. This assumes the Gulf Stream would not change. Herein lies the rub. The systems are so complex as to approach caos so any predictions are really guesses.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/12/2005 21:30 Comments ||
Top||
Forget red tide, IMHO this is a sign Godzilla is coming, especially if you add yesterday's sighting of Ghidorah in Tibet.
ENGLEWOOD -- A bizarre freeway of fish swimming by the thousands along the shore of Englewood Beach Thursday morning left crowds of beach-goers agog and marine biologists bewildered.
"I've lived her for 10 years, and I've never seen anything like this. It's incredible," said Bob Ricci of Englewood.
Beach-goers reported that a wide variety of sea creatures came swimming south in a narrow band close to the beach at mid-morning.
Included in the swarm were clouds of shrimp, crab, grouper, snapper, red fish and flounder. They were joined by more usual species, including sea robins, needlefish and eels.
Ten-year Manasota Key resident Nick Neidlinger spotted the commotion from his condominium shortly before 9 a.m.
The fish were moving in a narrow band in about 18 inches of water, he said. They were headed south, and, so far as he could tell, the moving mass of sea life stretched a good mile long.
"We're talking thousands and thousands of them," Neidlinger said. "It was so thick we couldn't walk out."
Some fish washed ashore on the Gulf's small waves, he said. The stranded fish flipped and struggled until they flopped back into the water to rejoin the piscatorial parade south.
"There were blue crabs the size of a dinner plate," Neidlinger said. "You name the species of fish and they were there."
Neidlinger said more than 100 pelicans bombarded the fish, but he saw no sharks or other predators, nor did he detect any signs of red tide.
He said all the species "were swimming amongst each other. They weren't attacking each other."
Neidlinger added, "I have never seen anything like that in my life. This was not a fish kill."
Beach-goers were grabbing crabs and fish as they swam by, Thursday. One observer thought the fish might have been weakened by some sort of toxin -- perhaps red tide -- because they could be scooped up easily by people. The event lasted until late morning, although the parade had thinned out by 11 a.m.
A few scientists contacted Thursday were surprised to hear of the unusual fish behavior in Englewood that morning. It was not typical schooling, they said, because many varied species were involved.
Scientists -- usually by nature and always by training -- are reluctant to speculate about the causes of natural phenomena without the benefit of observation and concrete data. However, they did offer some broad possibilities for what they agreed was a highly unusual event, one they had never encountered before.
It might have been predator avoidance, said one, but that was unlikely since there were no signs of predators and the species were varied.
The Gulf waters have currents that might have swept many fish along in an unusual pattern, one speculated.
Or it could have been caused by red tide that could not be detected by beach-goers.
Dr. Richard Pierce, director of ectotoxicology at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, said he had discussed the occurrence with Dr. Cindy Heil, the director of biotoxin research at the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, after a reporter's phone call Thursday.
"We agree this could be that they were trying to get away from red tide, maybe offshore or in the deeper parts offshore," Pierce said.
He said red tide flows in higher or lower concentrations at various levels of the Gulf. It also follows currents, which move at varying levels and speeds.
"Sometimes, we have found it in higher concentration along the bottom. This could be what you're looking at," Pierce said.
Red tide has been lingering in the Gulf for the past couple of months, but it has been detected primarily in an area stretching from northern Sarasota County north to Hernando County.
It's possible, Pierce said, that a stealth red tide could be moving south, flowing with an offshore current along the bottom, "and they're moving ahead of it."
Key to that theory is that the fish reported Thursday included many bottom feeders. "Sea robins, flounder, grouper are indications that something is moving along the bottom," Pierce said.
"Unfortunately, this might be a phenomenon of red tide creeping in, but we'll have to wait until we get some samples," he said.
Mote recently installed two red tide detectors in Boca Grande, and Pierce said there was some indication Thursday that red tide might have been moving in that direction.
But, he added, it was all simply speculation until tests could be conducted.
"We just don't know what's happening," he said. "That's a lot of maybes and what-ifs. I know the state is working on that and some other reports, so maybe by next week we'll have some answers."
#1
Aw, they were just putting on a parade. Who knows what holiday it is in Atlantis?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
08/12/2005 10:08 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Two possibilities, the more likely is that there has been a severe drop in oxygen levels, forcing them to the beach, cause by plankton blooms. The other and less likely is that there has been a marked change in water pH, in which case Floridians and other Gulf State residents should consider how lovely it is in North Dakota this time of year.
(You know, there's almost no situation -- on Rantburg, anyway -- where that's not appropriate. And yet I have to keep looking up how to spell "fthagn".)
Monks at a Belgian abbey have been forced to stop selling their famous beer after it was voted the best in the world and was promptly sold out. The abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in western Belgium is home to some 30 Cistercian and Trappist monks who lead a life of seclusion, prayer, manual labor -- and beer-brewing. A survey of thousands of beer enthusiasts from 65 countries on the RateBeer Web site (www.ratebeer.com) in June rated the Westvleteren 12 beer as the world's best. But the abbey only has a limited brewing capacity, and was not able to cope with the beer's sudden popularity. "Our shop is closed because all our beer has been sold out," said a message on the abbey's answering machine, which it calls the "beer phone." Yes, Comissioner?
And the abbey has no intention of boosting its capacity to satisfy market demand. "We are not brewers, we are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford being monks," the father abbot said on the abbey's Web site. Translation: Get your hands off my heinie, baby.
Monk Mark Bode told De Morgen daily: "Outsiders don't understand why we are not raising production. But for us life in the abbey comes first, not the brewery." *Hic!*
Posted by: Chris W. ||
08/12/2005 00:46 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I've run out of beer, too. I've been really busy and haven't had time to make any and it takes about 4 weeks. I hope I can hold on 'till then. I think I'll make the Deacon Blues Nut Brown Ale.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/12/2005 7:56 Comments ||
Top||
#2
we'll make the same amount and just charge a heck of a whole lot more for it.
#5
mmurray821, it may be a cool schtick to buy an old monastery and force all brewery workers to wear monks' robes (probably nun's to, not to be discriminatory). Wel, yea, your beer has to be decent... ;-)
#6
Some of those regional beers are magnificant. Back in the Middle Ages, the Germanic monestaries wanted to consume 'heavy' beer during the month-long Lenten fast. The sent samples to the Vatican to ask if this high calorie, high test beer was acceptable. The Italian wine-drinkers took a sip, spit it out, gagged, and approved its use, along with a commendation to the monks for drinking the horrible stuff for an entire month.
My own personal experience is that half a large bottle was able to make several of my friends forget that they had legs. Impressive.
#7
I'm gettin' images in my head of the Friar Tuck-esque, burping, beer-loving monk from Kevin Costner's flick ROBIN HOOD, PRINCE OF THIEVES, and about how beer is a divine gift from God himself, or words to that effect.
#8
Am I the only one getting Tim Powers flashbacks?
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
08/12/2005 21:53 Comments ||
Top||
#9
Painting in the Milwaukee Art Museum, German art of the 19th C.: Two monks in the wine cellar. One, carrying a basket of bottles, has fallen down a short flight of stairs, and is looking with great regret on the smashed bottles and all the good red wine pouring out. The other, hand to his fact to keep from laughing at his comrade's awkward position and woeful expression.
Candidates in parties backing President Hugo Chavez won many more seats than opposition challengers in Venezuela's local elections this week, according to preliminary results. With nearly all votes counted from Sunday's elections, Venezuela's major newspapers calculated that pro-Chavez candidates won some 47 percent of city council posts across the country, while opposition candidates won 17 percent and other independent parties had 18 percent of posts. The National Electoral Council released preliminary results Thursday evening showing Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party won some 1.3 million votes, or about 30 percent, with other pro-Chavez parties accounted for the remainder. The local elections were to decide 5,599 posts, including thousands of city council and neighborhood board members.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/12/2005 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
BEIJING, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Archaeologists have recently found a well-preserved ancient warship dated back to some 600 years ago, at a relics site in the ancient Dengzhou Harbor in Penglai, east China's Shandong Province. The Xinhua news agency reported that this is the first discovery of a large ancient ship in China in over two decades.
The wooden ancient vessel, more than 20 meters long, is believed to be a warship from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), said You Shaoping, director of the Shandong Cultural Heritage Bureau, on Thursday. The value of the ancient warship is yet to be determined by experts, said You, adding that it is similar to another ancient ship excavated not far away from the site about 20 years ago, but better preserved than that one.
In 1984, a warship of Yuan Dynasty was found in Penglai, and the ancient ship was the largest and best preserved ancient ship in China at that time...28 meters long, 5.6 meters wide, and 1.2 meters high. The streamline warship was designed for fast navigation, said experts.
During the excavation of the ship some 20 years ago, a second ancient ship was found. But archaeologists buried it up again because half of the ship was covered by a local home.
Local government conducted a desilting project at the ancient harbor site this year. As residents of the site were relocated, archaeologists began to excavate the buried ship. To their surprise, the third, better preserved ship was discovered. Experts said Chinese navigation in the Yuan and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties was relatively developed.
The ancient Dengzhou harbor had been an important military harbor in north China 1,000 years ago...
#1
During the excavation of the ship some 20 years ago, a second ancient ship was found. But archaeologists buried it up again because half of the ship was covered by a local home.
It's a sad day when China has more respect for private property than the United States Supreme Court does.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
08/12/2005 1:41 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Hopefully, the lot will be added to, in the future!
#3
This brings up an interesting and, to me, alarming facet of the Supreme Court Kelo decision. There have been several court cases over the years pitting developers against Civil War Battlefield preservationists. I gues with the Kelo decision the developers can now get the local governments to condem any property in question regardless of the historic significance purely for the purpose of increased tax revenue. I'm not a rabid preservationist but some sites that are endangered need to be preserved. It will be very interesting to see how any preservation case plays out. IMHO, it looks like the preservationists will lose.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/12/2005 7:39 Comments ||
Top||
#4
DB: That's just another "sign and portent" of what I'm beginning to believe will be a 2nd Civil War here in the States. If these solutions don't come about through elections (and, thus, judicial nominees who read the Constitution as it's written, not as they would've written it), it may very well come to another war. I, for one, was born and raised here in the South, tried to deny my "Southern-ness" (i.e. redneck-ness) for a long time before I've truly come to believe there are many traits we should admire here. I've never set foot on a Civil War battlefield, and, personally, think those guys are sometimes overboard...BUT, they take this seriously. Of course, many of the developers around here are "good ole' boyz" too, so I imagine it may be a while before they try to get the local gov't to condemn the properties in question (Civil War battlefields, etc.).
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 7:56 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Ba, I singled out Civil War Battlefields because they have been in some of the news lately but they are by no means the only historic sites endangered. Waaaaay back in the mid '70s when I was at Auburn University Magnolia Avenue was almost all residential on one side as the University takes up the other side. When Mcdonalds wanted to build a restaurant on Magnolia they got the city to condem two of the houses, they wanted a third but it is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. It was the home of an Auburn Physicist who was a very important part of the discoveries in physics in the 1920's and 30s. I can't remember his name, dammit, but my point is there was a big outcry about allowing a McDonalds into a residential area and that if the house had not been on the Register it would have been destroyed. The city Council ignored the public wishes and rezoned the land and condemed it anyway. In light of the Kelo decision I believe we will lose a lot more of our historical heretige.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/12/2005 9:27 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Good points, DB, and I didn't assume you mean just Civil War sites. Funny story I have at that very McDonald's you talk about. One day a buddy and I were crossing Magnolia to go to class (we parked behind the McDonald's in a dirt lot to keep from paying on campus..plus it was right across the street from our Engineering building). Anyways, we were waiting for traffic to clear, when we saw these 2 girls in a car look at us, smile and then start laughing. Driver was looking so hard that she ran into the back of the car in front of her (who slowed down to turn into McD's), RIGHT in front of us. I was all worried, wanted to help these ladies out, and my buddy turned to me and said "I hate it when that happens." I just burst out laughing (especially knowing they were checking out 2 nerdy future engineers) and we just crossed to go to class.
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 9:40 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Yuan is the Mongol Occupation. Wonder if this is one of the constructions for either of the two invasion fleets that were sent to Japan.
Soaring oil prices are now hitting Norwegian motorists at the gas pump, and things could easily get worse."We are at NOK 11.32 per liter. This is an all time high for Shell in Norway," Shell information chief Jacob OlsbÞ told newspaper Finansavisen.
Statoil raised its liter price on gasoline to NOK 11.28 in July and Esso followed suit this Monday, pricing its Leadfree 95 at NOK 11.33 per liter. One comfort for Norwegian motorists is that a relatively weak dollar has kept gas prices from rising even more... Suckers! SUCKERS!!! GAS IS CHEAP! IT'S YOUR GOVERNMENT THAT IS TAXING THE HELL OUT OF YOU! LISTEN UP! IT'S ALL TAXES! T-A-X-E-S! TAXES!
#1
Maybe Norway should launch a "Blood for Oil" war!
Isn't Norway one of those "socialist" paradises where children have ice cream smiles and eyes that drip sugary bubblegum droplets... oh no ... sorry, I believe that was Sean Penn's reflection on Iraq.
http://www.teamamerica.com/ Go to Film Clips, A MESSAGE FROM SEAN PENN
#2
As an American who went to Oslo earlier this year for a wedding and spoke politics with a number of Norge's, I was impressed with the depth they discussed American politics. I often will humorously bait a conversation by saying "Maybe you folks just aren't paying enough taxes" when talking to people from Jersey or Europe. My host calculated that his tax bite, after property, sales and user based taxes, was probably close to 70%.
They had to have a permit to drive with studded snow tires, ferchristsakes! A fair amount of "off the books" horse trading appears to go on.
Their Viking ancesters must be rolling in their burial mounds.
Biggest concerns? How will our kids get by...
#3
This oil situation is going to reach its breaking point soon, and the people who have been gouging the market and running the price through the roof for their own ends deserve to burn in white man's hell. This is going to drag us to the ground if we dont get it off our back, but do you hear anyone talking about real, workable, sensible alternatives to foriegn oil?
#4
Actually, several. First of all, we are not at *peak oil*, so the #1 problem is price. US contracts are long term, so the price for gas in the US is low. It could be reduced another 50% if the federal and State governments stopped taxing it which is a *very* reasonable thing to do.
Second, the high price of crude is *only* for LS (Light, Sweet (high octane/low sulfur)) oil on the "spot market", the volatile stock market for small quantities of crude oil not purchased through long term contracts. Basically the difference between wholesale and retail. People only buy in the spot market if they have to, if their demand exceeds their expectations, and they have to have the extra oil at whatever price the market says.
Because this volatility only exists in less than 1% of the entire LS market, which is only part of the entire crude market, virtually anything that a big consumer like the US does to conserve fuel or to use alternative fuel, can radically affect the spot market, driving prices much lower.
This means, for example, that every 100,000 hybrid cars produced can slash the spot market; or if next years' models are slightly more fuel efficient; or even if it is a warm winter (fuel oil).
The people who get caught in the middle of all of this are the refineries. They get whipsawed between the LS spot market and consumption, so they are as conservative as little old ladies. First, they *all* only want to refine the best LS, not heavy/sour, which is much harder to crack and has lower profit margins. Second, they are often pressured by governments, plural, to make poor economic decisions. Third, they make the most money by producing exactly what the market wants, or just slightly less. If they produce too much, then it is sold at a discount and they lose money.
All told, it is a complex and fairly efficient system, except for the taxes part.
HT : Drudge
Two teenagers performed a caesarean section on a dead cat they found along a New Brunswick road, saving two of four kittens. Monica Castonguay, 15, and Kim QuimpÚre, 13, said they found the animal on July 31 while they were on their way for a walk in the woods near St. Quentin, a town in northwestern New Brunswick.
They told a French-language newspaper, the Acadie Nouvelle, that they recognized the cat and knew it was pregnant. After discovering that the cat's body was still warm, they decided to try to save its kittens â even though neither of them knew how to do a caesarean section or had studied biology.
Kim borrowed a sweater, knife and some cotton swabs from a nearby house. They decided Monica would do the surgery. She told the newspaper she wasn't sure where to cut, but made an incision into the mother cat's belly and could see the kittens. She pulled them out and found that two of four kittens were still alive, so she cut their umbilical cords and wiped the mucus from their noses.
Kim bundled the kittens carefully in the sweater, then the teens raced home with them. They telephoned several people but were unable to reach a veterinarian.
That evening, a cat in the neighbourhood that had recently lost its brood heard the kittens mewing and adopted them. One of the kittens later died but the other was adopted by Monica.
The teens said the experience in no way swayed them toward becoming doctors or veterinarians. Kim told the newspaper that she found the experience interesting but rather nauseating. The kitten resembles "Martin Whiteshoes", my cat at that age. As a kitten he was originally 1-1/2 lbs, he is now the 14-lb bane of all lizards, mice, birds and even rats within a half block area of my house... These young women will have their hands full in about 6 months! Unlike California, residence of Martin, there are no lizzards in Canada...
#2
I knew a hard 'n' crusty fifty year old rancher whose even harder 'n' crustier father lived in a cabin on the Mogollon (Muggy-oon) Rim, in the pine forest near Flagstaff, Arizona. The son was visiting his father when he heard a hair-raising shriek, like a baby in intense pain, and into the open front door walked a bobcat. After telling his son to get off the table, the old man explained that he had adopted the bobcat ("Bob") as a kitten, and knew it was a wild animal, but for a big can of Alpo a day, the bobcat kept away the vermin and the solicitors. They were of similar temperament, so got along fine. "However," the old man added, "I'm not crazy like that S.O.B. a few miles East of here who keeps two wolverines in his front yard."
"Our great country is in a terrible downward spiral. We're losing jobs, losing benefits, and losing lives. We need to focus on what's important-- paying attention to our children, our environment, our future. We need to think about improving our underbudget educational system, making better use of our resources, and helping to build a stable, safe, and tolerant global society. It's time to be smart about our politics. It's time to get America back on track."
Liberal spewing at its best. Environment and "for the children" and PC-multiculteralism above everything. Chris, you are a great actor. Stay there, don't step out in the light or you will be brained by reality.
Asshat....
#1
I luv ya buddy... I even tear up during the final roulette scene in the Deerhunter. (STEVEE!!!)
And if you want to be considered for the office, I will give you the benefit out the doubt and listen to what you have to say...
Are you sure you want this to be your introduction to the educated voter???
#3
California spemds almost 50% of it's budget on education. Underfunding is not a problem. The SFB has no grasp on reality. Back to your unemployed actor status for you bub.
When I first heard this I thought it had occured in Iraq or Afghanistan. Then my second thought was that it was some terrorist act being state side. Thankfully they're okay. I was surprised that this story wasn't more wide spread.
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) â A sheriff's department helicopter that crash-landed during a burglary investigation was brought down by gunfire, authorities said. Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White said authorities have no suspects but were working with the FBI. Investigators concluded the bullet struck a control pedal, he said.
Both the civilian pilot and the deputy who were on board when the helicopter went down early Saturday survived with shrapnel wounds. Pilot Chris Holland suffered a leg injury and is being treated at University of New Mexico Hospital. The nine-year veteran Deputy Ward Pfefferle, suffered minor injuries.
The Holland and Pfefferle were assisting deputies on the ground who were investigating a burglary call when the helicopter lost power, White said Wednesday. The pilot told White he heard a pop before helicopter pitched and the engine shut down. "He was trying to do an emergency landing, but it was a crash landing," White said.
Investigators examining the wreckage found what appeared to be a small hole in the cockpit windshield, and a bullet fragment was found in the deputy's flight suit. Trajectory tests determined the bullet struck the helicopter's left pedal, one of two that control the aircraft's right or left motion. If it had missed the pedal, it would have struck the pilot in the chest, White said. The morning after the crash, he had said it was a miracle that the two were alive.
Authorities intend to pursue federal charges through the U.S. attorney's office for destruction of an aircraft and other appropriate crimes when the person or people responsible are identified. State charges are also possible, White said.
Posted by: Jan ||
08/12/2005 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
It happened over the "Valley", which has a higher crime rate than most of the rest of the city. The shooting took place in the area where the city and county intermingle. Hard to determined if the act was related to the events unfolding on the ground, or just another AK-monkey-pumper in the area. The crime scene this year is grim as the daily news has constant reports of shooting and killings. Gangs, I hate gangs. The local ACLU convinced a state judge the local curfew law was unconstitutional by the state constitution. OMG its quagmire. Meanwhile the mayor is focused on getting a Panda for the zoo [I kid you not], while people are questioning how many police are actually on patrol at any time. Fortunately, the mayorial election is this fall. Welcome to the Wild West!
#2
More deaths in new mexico? Oh when will we pull out of new mexico, leaving the independant and peace loving students of new mexico to their studies...
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The only Japanese-American believed to have flown over Japan during World War II is receiving the Distinguished Service Medal, the third highest of the U.S. Army's decorations. After several years of providing documentation and filling out forms, the award has been approved by the military, said W. Don Nelson, the Nebraska director for U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson.
The son of Japanese immigrants who was raised on a Nebraska farm, Kuroki became a gunner and flew on 58 bomber missions over Europe, North Africa and Japan.
Kuroki, 88, who now lives in Camarillo, Calif., said he feels humbled by the efforts of so many Nebraskans who have worked to see him awarded with the medal. ``I feel that it gives credence to the word 'democracy,' and it's Americanism at its very best,'' he said. ``I feel that more so than any personal glory it gives to me.''
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kuroki's father urged him and his brother to volunteer for service. After being turned down by recruiting officials in North Platte, the brothers were able to enlist in Grand Island, 150 miles to the east.
Kuroki earned his way onto a bomber crew and flew missions that took him all over the world, including Japan. Because of his Japanese ancestry, he was initially rejected when he asked to serve on a B-29 bomber that was to be used in the Pacific. But after repeated requests and a review of Kuroki's stellar service record, Secretary of War Harry Stimson granted an exception.
After the war, Kuroki enrolled at the University of Nebraska, where he studied journalism. In 1984, he retired as the news editor of the paper in Ventura, Calif.
Thank you for your service, Mr. Kuroki.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/12/2005 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Sad that the sneak attack caused suspicion on so many patriotic Japanese-heritage Americans (why is that phrase so hard to adopt instead of Japanese-Americans?). My hat's off to this patriot and American
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/12/2005 0:25 Comments ||
Top||
#2
America could not take the risk, even of a minority of Japanses-Americans acting as five-columnists. Think in what would have happened at Midway if the position of the outnumbered (and with outclassed planes) American carriers had been known to the Japanese.
#3
Frank G, my feelings are mixed - or rather, I feel as both you and JFM do. (My parents are Chinese-born but I'm an American. I'd love to see the PRC go down, and I do not consider myself "overseas Chinese.")
Thank God though that Kuroki didn't lose heart, that the Secretary of War realized he was fit to serve his country and that he has finally been (does it usually take this long for everyone?) recognized for his honorable service. :)
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
08/12/2005 4:38 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Towards the end of the war, some Nisei effectively saw action against the Japanese and in at least one occasion Japanese troops were lured in an ambush by Japanese-Americans.
#5
Thank you, Mr. Kuroki for your service! I was born long after the Great War was done, so I don't have much personal "insight" into the rights/wrongs of how we treated the Japanese back then who lived here. But, to me, this is America at it's finest...the difference between us and other forms of gov't. You see that in the Sec. of War's determination that as an INDIVIDUAL, Mr. Kuroki deserved to be where he wanted to be. Pretty much any other gov't (after being attacked by the Japanese), would've rounded 'em up and deported/internment camp'd 'em, and none of them would've been allowed to fight for that country's army, that's for sure.
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 7:49 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Yeah, and Raj, I wanna be the one to "break" the story of it being false, too! Thanks, Dan.
Posted by: BA ||
08/12/2005 7:50 Comments ||
Top||
#4
"We regret that many people have misconstrued our recent advertisement about Mr. Roberts' record," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Bit. Keenan should remember - I don't have to be a genius, just smart enough to know when I'm being called stoopid.
Two senior members of Ethiopia's former military government have been sentenced to death after an 11-year trial.
Cheeze. And I thought the Michael Jackson trial would never end!
Former Security Minister Tesfaye Woldeselassie and ex-police chief Legesse Belayneh were found guilty of torturing thousands of dissidents. The two men had played prominent roles in setting up torture camps during the "Red Terror" under Mengistu Haile Mariam, the court said. Eight other defendants were given prison sentences from 10 years to life for their part in the abuse of political prisoners.
At one such torture facility, known as Bermuda, "victims of excessive torture were wrapped [in] plastic sheeting to protect the torturers from getting splashed with blood or pus of the victims in successive round of tortures," the court said. "Apart from the routine whiplashes and beatings, victims also used to be electrocuted." Many other trials are under way of those accused of being involved in the Red Terror. Some 150,000 people were killed before Mr Mengistu was deposed in 1991. Mr Mengistu, who has been living in exile in Zimbabwe since he was overthrown, ...
That figures.
... has been charged with genocide and human rights abuses.
He's probably working as a consultant...
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/12/2005 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
CHATEAUROUX, France - A French couple who celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary Friday offered this advice on love and longevity: Keep arguments to a minimum, eat well and wash it down with a glass of wine. Andre and Marguerite Debray met shortly after the end of World War I, in which he served, and got married on Aug. 12, 1924. Mr. Debray is now 107 years old and his wife is a few years younger at 101. Retired for several decades, the Debrays spent their careers as teachers.
Candidates in parties backing President Hugo Chavez won many more seats than opposition challengers in Venezuela's local elections this week, according to preliminary results. With nearly all votes counted from Sunday's elections, Venezuela's major newspapers calculated that pro-Chavez candidates won some 47 percent of city council posts across the country, while opposition candidates won 17 percent and other independent parties had 18 percent of posts. The National Electoral Council released preliminary results Thursday evening showing Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party won some 1.3 million votes, or about 30 percent, with other pro-Chavez parties accounted for the remainder. The local elections were to decide 5,599 posts, including thousands of city council and neighborhood board members.
Two senior members of Ethiopia's former military government have been sentenced to death after an 11-year trial. 
