Go read at MArooned for a better workup. But basically a Suffolk U prof used his work email to write hate speech about the men & women in uniform, and one of his co-workers, a veteran, decided that qualifies as a hostile environment and quit (for which I would too, though I mighta considered suing first, there are some things I don’t tolerate). Turns out Suffolk would really like to keep the whole mess quiet, cause it might affect their fundraising…..how about we see if we make sure it gets spread a little further instead?
Month: November 2011
Saw this over at Weer’d World
I can’t decide if I’m baffled, or even more pissed at these folks.
You know what? Even IF those kids are the children of said “1%”, a fact that I highly doubt, by tormenting their kids you’re making the parents have even LESS interest in having anything to do with you. If any of those parents had any interest in supporting you to begin with you very likely just killed that interest dead.
I will also say that, police presence or not, that those protesters are probably very lucky that NYC is a gun-free-zone, cause I know a few parents who’d not have taken it NEARLY so well, especially those who were then followed by the protesters….
(actually I find it kinda interesting, kinda amusing, that in states/areas where carry is welcome you don’t hear about anything NEARLY like this)
Scents
Brigid over at Home on the Range did up a very nice post on the power of scents on your memory.
I can’t do nearly as nice a post, but one scent hit me:
Then the smell of a hospital, a smell I hate to this day, watching someone become more and more body and less and less self, until the self was so wrapped up in pain all that was left was the body, wasting away, releasing its scent to the room.
When I was 15 I watched my dad’s mother waste away in a nursing home, her mind long gone to Alzheimer’s, because my uncle refused to allow the machines to be unhooked, and yet he never once came to see her while she was there, either before her mind totally went or after. To this day the smell of a nursing home (not that much different than that of a hospital) triggers a “RUN AWAY” reflex I don’t think I’ll ever get over.
I’ve lots of positive scents in my memory, but it was just about this time of year when she finally passed away, so it struck me.
Dehydrator Bleg
So, I keep saying I ought to buy a food dehydrator, I actually tried to make one last spring, with rather poor results (mostly thanks to my having no clue than the plans I found online I think). So I’ve had my eye on a few different ones for a while. And now the family is asking what I want for Christmas, I’m thinking of telling them to all get together and pitch in a few bucks to buy me a decent one.
Bogie mentioned on her blog that she’s got an Excalibur 9tray, but had previously had a Ronco and liked it. I linked there two the two models I found online that caught my eye (no idea of they’re the same models Bogie had).
Course, there’s some huge differences there, not the least of which in size. Potentially I’d use it quite a bit. I’ve played around with making fruit leather, using the oven set on the lowest setting, and although I liked the results using the oven for it was rather frustrating. But we LOVED the homemade fruit leather. Home dried fruits? Heck yah, we didn’t spray the apple trees last spring resulting in some really nasty looking apples, but the pears were awesome, and if we DO spray the apples…the quantities those trees produced was huge. And thats not even taking into account any other gardening I might (would like to!) do. And unit size isn’t actually THAT big a deal, I’m thinking of consolidating fish tanks anyway (did I mention I have fish? I don’t think I ever mentioned my fish….how in heck did I not mention my fish??) so the dehydrator could go one of those shelves no problem. Money’s a bit of an issue, no-body in the group is exactly rich, so even with a bunch of folks to pitch in I’m gonna put an upper limit of $200 (and would like to keep it way less than that) on this, at least for the moment.
Anyone else have input on sizes, models, things to watch out for?
FDA issues caution on canine chicken jerky treats
I’ve posted on this before, but the FDA has issued another caution on the subject.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again cautioning consumers that chicken jerky products for dogs (also sold as chicken tenders, strips or treats) may be associated with illness in dogs. In the last 12 months, FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China. These complaints have been reported to FDA by dog owners and veterinarians……..FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.
If you feed a jerky treat to your dog, specifically chicken, but with treats in general. You need to find out WHERE the food in that treat comes from. Just because the package says “Made in USA” does NOT mean the MEAT came from the USA.
Sorry for the Wikipedia link, but they laid it out simplest without having to wade through a ton of legalese, but as far as I can tell (and I’m not a lawyer) that is the definition as laid out. What this means is that the raw meat product can be imported from where-ever, then processed into the final form in the USA and still claim the “Made in USA” label. Considering the various problems that keep occurring with products from China, thats kinda scary.
Links (actually today and yesterday, cause I was lazy)
6yr old boy caught playing doctor, charged with sexual assault.
EU bans claim that water prevents dehydration.
Only in Europe: a walkable rollercoster.
Cracked.com: 5 reasons not to piss off your IT guy.
Squirrel feeder could be jailed.
Instead of (or in addition too) a gas tax, how about a per mile tax instead?
Edited to add one more: Guy complains cause women insist on wearing “yoga pants” that reveal the shape of their “lady parts”. Trust me honey, thats not what they’re worried about when they’re wearing them.
As for the coming elections
Labrat sums up why I occasionally wish I was one of those folks who didn’t vote. Instead I have to try to figure out which is least worst….
We had a package delivered by UPS today
It was a new collar for Apollo (I know, like he doesn’t have enough right? anyway….). I don’t normally pick UPS as the shipper of my choice. Had some bad experiences with them while living in Syracuse, though the guys who deliver to the house here have never given us an issue.
Apollo of course alerts to the sound of the truck in the drive, and talk about an evil sounding bark (he makes the psychotic GSDs sound high pitched). Out hops the driver, package in one hand, doggy treat in the other. Apollo of course isn’t nearly as evil as he sounds and was perfectly happy to take said treat and lick the UPS guy as a, slobbery, thank you. Did I mention he likes people?
Anyway, none of this is important but it reminded me of the story over at Lagniappe’s Lair about Murphy and the UPS guys treat. Made me wonder if thats not standard now….probly not a bad idea if it isn’t!
I got my holiday Think Geek newsletter today
I normally hate getting Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving, but I’ll forgive Think Geek for this one.
I want these holiday lights.
And these holiday cards (though I don’t think I’d dare send them to my reletives)
and one of these t-shirts….
Warning, if you’ve never browsed Think Geek before, and you have a geeky side at ALL, be prepared to be tempted to spend lots and lots….