When people say that cats are self-interested and aloof, it’s pretty clear that they have never really lived with one. Cats don’t have ulterior motives when it comes to showing affection. If they love you, it won’t be because you feed them or clean their litter box or play with them. It will be because they just simply do.
Cats reaction when his owner comes home – GIF on Imgur
http://imgur.com/BALT0No
Jackie sent me a link to this beautiful 1918 animated film about the sinking of the Lusitania.
And that reminded me of a family story that’s somewhat apocryphal. Or maybe not?
My great grandmother, Nell Basquille, came to the US from Castlebar, Ireland, in 1916 on the SS Philadelphia. The ship arrived in New York on 1 October. The story goes that there was a fire on-board the ship while it was waiting in port. Given the time period, there was much speculation that it may have been deliberately set by German agents or Nazi sympathizers.
But I say the story is somewhat apocryphal, because I’ve never been able to turn up any reliable mention of it in various fits of researching. Just a single passage in a book whose author’s credentials are unknown to me. But the incident is mentioned there, and surely if it weren’t true, two different people wouldn’t have dreamt it up independently?
Here’s what Captain Henry Landau had to say, in his book, The Enemy Within: the inside story of German sabotage in America.
So even if he doesn’t list his sources (and as far as I can tell, he does not), Landau at least does mention the fire, which leads me to believe it actually happened. Probably.
Franny loves to shred chip bags.
You taught me the courage of stars before you left
How light carries on endlessly, even after death
With shortness of breath, you explained the infinite
How rare and beautiful it is to even exist
This song is one of the most beautiful things in or out of this world. I love everything about it.
I don’t know how she came up with this method for emptying her treat ball, but it’s very effective.
[ETA: I guess you have to click through to see that it’s a video and not just a photo. Hmf.]
I usually fill it with carrot slices. This is about half a carrot, and the pieces are hefty dnough to not stick to the inside of the ball, but small enough to fit through the hole when it’s compressed flat.
You can also fill it with large kibble or treats. Iams mini bone biscuits are the perfect size, but I feel like carrots are a healthier option.
The ball is made by StarMark and is apparently indestructable.
Here’s a song about the constellations. You’re welcome.
ETA: I was sure I typed Saturday. Oops. LET’S DO THE TIME WARP, AGAIIIIIIN!
Mercy I Cry City
Incredible String Band
Since you got me here
I see you’re trying to steal my soul
Your army’s trying so very hard
To find for me a goal
But where’s your quiet pastures
Where there’s time for me to be
Nothing else but what I am
That’s what you seem scared to see
You cover up your emptiness
With brick and noise and rush
Oh, I can see and touch you
But you don’t owe reality much
Have mercy I cry city, you’re all upon my mind
And sometimes I think you keep forgettin’
That you don’t know me
Mercy I cry city, you’re all upon my mind
Oh, send another carriage
Chugging down your chokey tube
I hope it makes you happy
‘Cause it don’t do my health much good
You’re slowly killing fumes
Now squeeze the lemon in my head
Make me know just what it’s like
For a sin drenched Christian to be dead
Ah, show to me your glitter
And your flashing neon light
You see, I think that only the sun knows
How to be quietly bright
Have mercy I cry city, you’re all upon my mind
That sometimes I think you keep forgettin’
That you don’t know me
Mercy I cry city, you’re all upon my mind
Oh city, what you been doin’?
All these years, what you been doin’?
Who would believe that what you been doin’
Would make such a ruin of you?
Hey city, what you been doin’?
All these years, what you been doin’?
Who would believe that what you been doin’
Would make such a ruin of you?
Tell me city
Foggy weather always makes me think of America’s Sandman.
As a child of the 70s, this is what I think of whenever ISIS is mentioned.
red paper boat 