Lazy Caturday
Posted: March 31, 2012 Filed under: just because 40 Comments
Good morning, news junkies… I’m sort of figuring out how to do a photo bomb more space-efficiently, and I’m not particularly fond of the “slideshow” feature on wordpress… so I’m trying out the “gallery” feature instead. I’ve only used it a couple times before, so let’s see how this works out! (If you’re familiar with the slideshow format and prefer that over this, let me know…!)
Oh, and… it’s still my birthday week. So the link dump (following the Lily+Rue photo spree) is gonna be really paltry this Saturday! Enjoy the less-homework like recommended reading while it lasts… 😉
Click on thumbnails to view photos:
Super shrinked Linkage (any puns, unfortunate):
- Quote of the Week — Chelsea Clinton introducing Sandra Fluke: “She and I actually have something in common: We both have been attacked by Rush Limbaugh. She was 30, I was 13 […] Thankfully, I had grown up in public life and knew that having thick skin was a survival skill […] I do also believe that if you have the right type of enemies, you’re doing something correct.” (Atta Clinton!)
- PBS Newshour’s Judy Woodruff remembering feminist poet Adrienne Rich, in her own words (along with banjo player Earl Scruggs). Poignant way to conclude women’s history month this year.
- Money buys health? Gee, really? Who woulda thunk it… via Black Women’s Health Imperative, #HeartHealth: Less Heart Disease Among Women in Wealthier States: Study
- MUST SEE YOUTUBE!!! Sadly–or hilariously, this is the highlight of my news junkie week: Arrested Drunk Guy Sings Bohemian Rhapsody… be sure to watch all the way to the end where he says “Do you have to cuff me” and the punchline that follows! (Also note: Post continues after the youtube embed…)
- LOVE LOVE LOVE the photo lead-in of Historiann’s Thursday round-up this week! Nice informative post, too.
- Tainted Earth: “Whether low doses of endocrine-disrupting compounds influence human disorders is no longer conjecture, as epidemiological studies show that environmental exposures are associated with human diseases and disabilities,” the paper’s authors write. The study, published in the journal Endocrine Reviews, maintains that the low-dose and special dose-response effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals means that “fundamental changes in chemical testing and safety determination are needed to protect human health.”
- Did Keith O’ really get Spitzer’d from Current TV already? Lulz.
Today (March 31) in Women’s History:
- Event: 03-31-1776, Abigail Adams wrote her husband when he was in Philadlphia helping plan the Declaration of Independence:
“Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could… If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”
Okay, before I go, I have a question for the Cat Peeps segment of our Sky Dancing population (I’m pretty sure that segment is upwards of 80% of our community… 😉 )… Anyhow, here’s the q: How do I get Lily to eat her dental treats? She won’t bite! Rue is eating all of them! (Alas, ’twas the same story with the pill pockets…) Is there something else I can use/apply on Lily besides dental treats? I’m talking to her vet, too, of course! Just want all the help I can get.
Alrighty, guys! I’m gonna wrap this baby up and turn the soapbox over to y’all… what’s on your Read+Rant list this Saturday?
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
Mama Lopez
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Totally meant to include this in the post… I’ve gone back and added it in, but putting it here too just in case:
Did Keith O’ really get Spitzer’d from Current TV already? Lulz.
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/317-65/10720-current-tv-fires-keith-olbermann
Partisan politics aside, I really like Nikki Haley…
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/219333-irs-not-investigating-nikki-haley-for-alleged-tax-fraud
Score: Nikki Haley 2, Bloggerazzi O
Here’s what Nikki wrote Thursday on her facebook:
I like her too.
Poor Keith. I saw the story last night on HuffPo. And, he’s going to sue & “out” Al Gore. Keith O is such a schmuck.
Many years ago (about 1998) when there was a major environmental clean up of Lake Apopka in Central Florida, major problems with the alligator population were discovered. Here’s one link to a study: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/174/report/0 Here’s another old piece about frogs & other amphibians: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/opinion/28kristof.html And here’s an overview: http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/newscience/wildlife/wildlife.htm
Can’t help with the dental treats. I’ve never tried them. I’ve found that cats are individuals and have varied palates. Most of mine don’t like treats – period. There’s always brushing their teeth with one of those finger things you can get at a pet store. And dry food is not helpful in reducing plaque. Canned food is better for them.
Love the photos. The girls seem so bonded, as if they’ve been together all of their lives.
I feed them canned and dry both, every day. They’re so tiny for their age, even though you can’t really tell in a lot of these closeups. Though they’re growing heart-healthily under my nurturing… 🙂
Yeah, Lily is just not into the treats. I’m looking into some of the “dental” toys but am a little wary as to whether they’re a gimmick or what.
Not sure I’m familiar with the finger things your cats brush your teeth on? could you describe it a bit more 🙂
Oh and a huge thank you for the kitty advice as always, Connie!
They are finger brushes & you need to use toothpaste formulated for cats & dogs: http://www.amazon.com/Petrodex-Finger-Toothbrush-Dog-Cat/dp/B0002AQB60
Mine get both dry & canned, but many people feed only dry for a variety of reasons. One of those is that they mistakenly believe that dry is better for plaque prevention. NOT!
Thank you for the link!
I use a tiny toothbrush sized for kitty mouths that I bought at my local pet store. I tried the finger-brush also but it’s bigger.
Chicken-flavored toothpaste, yum! First let Lily just sniff the toothpaste and lick it off. Hoping she likes the taste. Then do a little bit of brushing, say, for 15-20 sec. Then lots of petting.
Repeat. Gradually increase time brushing. Eventually they’ll get used to it. I have a pic somewhere of me brushing teeth on one of my kitties; I’ll try posting it later.
I’m off to Boston for the weekend to attend a dance recital “starring” a 9 and 7 yr old and
though adorable not exactly the next Shirley Temple!
As a biased grandmother, they are too cute for words!
Have a great time. This kind of recitals “rock” big time!
Agreed. Enjoy, Pat!
Thought ya’ll might find this interesting: http://caroljadams.blogspot.com/2012/03/marking-territory-more-than-irony.html Not something that made the front pages.
Good thing he wasn’t a cat. They would have had to burn the chairs and maybe the building to get rid of the pungent markings.
LOL
Yes, male cat urine is one the strongest, vilest smelling things on the planet. Neutering does make a BIG difference though. If only those women could have filled spray bottles with cat urine and doused that schmuck with it, it would have been a modicum of justice. It makes me SMILE thinking of it.
if anyone is reallllly bored and wants to see these pics with captions on my facebook, drop me a note via my contact page: http://letthemlisten.wordpress.com/contact/
fdl: What Fifty-Plus Years of a Business-Bigot Alliance Gets Us — The Modern GOP
Modern GOP is still stuck in medieval times.
I read this earlier but Taibbi explains it in his usual and highly readable way.
Taibbi: Push to End Too-Big-To-Fail Goes Mainstream
When the Dallas Fed wants to break up TBTF banks. that’s pretty darn mainstream.
hmm if it’s mainstream… maybe it really is time to just let the system fail? (I don’t mean that literally, for the snark-impaired. Just my way of saying…Whoa!)
Breaking them up, before they fail, is a marvelous idea!
great post love the pics of the babies.
They seem so happy as if you and them had been together all along. 🙂
Gail Collins gets this editorial exactly right.
Time to Elect the Worst Idea
Happy Birthday Week, Wonk! At my age, I get to celebrate for a month.
The post isn’t paltry at all, and your kitties are so adorable I’d be happy if there was nothing else in the post but their photos.
Thank you, BB! And, I may take you up on the kitties-only posting one of these Saturdays… 🙂
http://veracitystew.com/2012/03/31/missouri-republican-can-legislate-womens-health-since-my-father-was-a-veterinarian/
It just keeps getting worse, doesn’t it?
wow, someone spayed and neutered what’s left of the wingnuts’ brains…
One more insane asshat into the breach. I’m really hoping that people of good will band together and kick these jerks out in 2012.
One more crazy than the last it seems!!!
They gotta be just trying to out do each other now.
Did his father the veterinarian have any problem with animal cruelty? Most vets try to keep animals healthy and OUT of operating rooms as much as possible.
Wonk, Happy birthday week, and many more! You are obviously well and truly in love with Rue & Lily. And they are obviously healthy and content. Just look at that sweet sleepy kitteh face in the tabby-snail photo.
Good to see some sweetness these days.
Hi Wonk, I know I’m late to this party, but as a weirdo cat person, I wanted to give my $.02 on the cat treats.
A) Always check where any food or treats are made. There has been so many problems with food coming from China. If it’s made by a large company, chances are good there are Chinese ingredients. Look for made in the USA.
B) Careful of dental treats which are hard such as the Greenie brushes which shatter and can produce shards in kitty’s throat or digestive tract.
C) Nothing cleans a cat’s teeth better than feeding them raw bones. Yes, raw whole bones. That’s what they eat in nature and sometimes if you throw them a poultry neck or wing, they will eat the entire thing. NO COOKED BONES though EVER! These can also shatter. Buying reputable, trustworthy meat is smart for everyone, but fears of salmonella and such should be calmed by the fact that cats have short digestive tracts and are therefore not really susceptible to food poisoning (dogs too, that’s why they can eat carrion).
And Connie is right, dry food is actually not good for cats in particular. Cat’s don’t drink that much and get moist of their moisture from food (or in the wild, blood). Plus, most commercial food is loaded with grains which is absolutely a no no for pets and for cats in particular which are true carnivores and can truly get most of their nutrition from meat and eggs (all the veggies and fruits they advertise in food is just trying to make filler sound better). There is a huge rise in pet diabetes rates that is absolutely unheard of and it can be directly linked to the food.
I know this sounds zealous, which most of my posts usually do, but a little extra work and $$ for good healthy food is worth the effort when it comes to $$ saved at the vet and the health of your pet. Just wanted to put the info out there in case you’re interested. After switching over, people are amazed when they see my 20 year old cat that looks and acts like a kitten. After watching animals suffer with arthritis and other “human” health conditions in their old age, it’s worth it for me.
I’ll second everything you said, Outis.
Cat people unite!
outis, thank you and Connie so very much. I’ve had cats for 20 years (the same cats) and I’ve always been uncomfortable with whatever I was feeding them – so much so that at one point they ate everything I ate. Today, I feed them wet in the morning and dry in the evening – all foods not made in China – I don’t eat their crap why would I want my beloved companions to do so?
I never thought about getting my cats bones to chew on (although it makes sense), so while I purchase marrow bones for my dog, I haven’t for my cats. Time to change my habits, so to speak. Thanks you again
Hi HT, glad to hear your dog gets some bones! I’ve been putting off getting the dog I want, an Irish Wolfhound, because I don’t have a yard and I want to feed 100% raw. Hopefully that will change one of these days. I don’t do 100% with my cats because of my schedule, but when I do, I find it is actually cheaper than high quality pet food, but a lot more work. And plus when you find out what they put in pet food, it’s NASTY. I don’t want to touch it let alone feed it to my cats.
When my little cat began ripping out all of his hair and scratching himself until he was bloody, I took him to an allergy specialist that charged $600 for a consultation and gave me very little advice other than trying different food. So let’s just say I was very motivated to find out all that I could. I found that most cities have raw food co-ops and found some great sources, especially if you have dogs that eat a lot. But hey, what could be cheaper than giving a raw egg or tossing them the wing tips from your chicken or cutting off a little of the meat you are cooking for dinner? No ground meat though. When I am feeding predominantly raw when I’m not working, I do order a powder to make sure they’re getting all the vitamins they need.
I also found Ovitrol spray for fleas which is what they have in vet offices. It’s much less toxic than the drops and WAY less expensive. You can only order it on Amazon, but it is a miracle. The drops only work after the fleas have bitten the animal and ingest the poisoned blood. With the Ovitrol they don’t get bitten at all as I found with my allergic cat who goes into full allergy attack if he’s bitten by one flea. I highly recommend to any of my friends who have pets. Spraying indoor cats once a month and no worries. I even trust it for older animals which they warn against with the drops.
Best wishes to you and your cat friends!
From the Orlando Sentinel. These experts seem pretty sure of themselves in this case.
Trayvon Martin shooting: It’s not George Zimmerman crying for help on 911 recording, 2 experts say
I don’t think any of us are surprised about that.