All Cats are Not Human

As most of you know my son is a veterinarian. Therefore he has a lot of critters roaming around his house (thirteen of which are kids). That includes about a dozen cats, some plain, and some exotic. My grandkids can be seen cuddling the critters as can my daughter-in-law. I never cuddle cats because I’m allergic to most of them. I give them a little tickle on the nose except for the one man-eater whose name may be “Tabby” they have over there.

The most feared cat is the man-eating tiger. That’s in India and there about. Fishermen in India wear masks on the back of their heads so that tigers won’t attack them from behind.

That trick worked for a day or two according to those who know such things.

Then the tigers got wise to the ploy and again invited the fisherman “over for dinner.”

I learned all of this by carefully studying television.

In Arizona it’s the bobcat that is feared, especially the one with rabies. My friend there had one attack him on his front porch. He shot it after missing the first six times.

It had rabies.

My Arizona friend shot at rattlesnakes too whenever they scared him as much as that bobcat did.

One of these days he’s going to shoot off his foot.

That will be okay though. He is a podiatrist and I watched him treat a man one time that had shot his foot on purpose. For what reason, I know not.

In my outfit in Korea, a G.I. shot himself in the foot one morning with an M-1 rifle. That made the Baker Company Commander as angry as a badger.

The reason given by the injured man was that he wanted to go home.

I could have spit on him.

I’d rather face a hundred charging Chinese teenagers than shoot myself in the foot for any reason whatsoever.

Korea is too much of a diversion for this article but I want to keep it in. Therefore I will tell you again that one night a Siberian Tiger, the most beautiful animal in the world in my opinion, ventured up in front of one of our thirty caliber machineguns. He was probably looking or a couple of dead Chinese teenagers he could chew on.

When the great beast rattled the bobbed wire, the crew cut loose with machinegun fire.

The poor tiger didn’t have a chance to jump and scoot out of there.

Of course our crew didn’t know it was a tiger until the next morning.

This story is true of course and there are other stories about tigers approaching the line in Korea. War is hell on flora and fauna including tigers.

Back to Bobcats

I saw only two bobcats the six years I lived in Arizona. They were a very dark-complexioned pair, one as large as a cougar.

In the early days of Arizona, bobcats use to come into the tents of travelers at night which scared the lovatat out of the ladies. Lovatat is a new word I invented for this article. Make it sound more like “loaf” than “love.” Tat rhymes with cat. Loaf-a-tat. Got it?

In Payson, Arizona where I lived, in the early days the town blacksmith was having a brew in the local bar. A bobcat jumped through the window and landed on the back of the blacksmith who quickly grabbed the bobcat by the neck and through him right out the same window.

I guess the bobcat was too young to drink or forgot his I.D.

Incidentally, the tree under which the blacksmith use to work is still there. They use to chain jailbirds to that tree, having no jail.

There is a nice photo of a bobcat at http://www.desertusa.com/april96/du_bcat.html. They don’t look all that ornery.

In Africa, it’s the man-eating lion that folks fear. That is all but the Masai who love to hunt lions with their spears.

Personally I would choose a high-powered rifle with a scope if I were so inclined.

There is a great pic of lions that you can use as a screensaver at [http://www.webshots.com/g/25/527-sh/47726.html].

The African lions do not like bridge builders. Therefore don’t try to build a bridge in Africa. The lions will eat you up. I learned that too on television.

The Masai are known as pastoral warriors. If you go to Kenya where they live you should study the Masai language. To get you started it is “classified in the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of the Chari-Nile family of the Nilo-Saharan language stock.”

That should get you started. You should find it in there somewhere.

Learn all about the Masai at http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/EthnoAtlas/Hmar/Cult_dir/Culture.7860.

In Colorado what is feared is the mountain lion, puma, cougar or whatever you want to call it in Colorado. It picks on children.

You must look “big” to a mountain lion to make it go away.

This also fails to work on bears.

I suggest pepper spray, the larger size that you strap the canister on your back. Keep the hose under your arm with your hand on the spray release nozzle at all times.

You must not let your kids go wondering around in the Mountain West by them selves. This also applies to the city of Vancouver and there about where mountain lions roam over large territories day and night.

If you see a lion in Vancouver dial LION on our cell phone. If anyone answers tell them to come and gather the critter up in one of their cages and haul him off to the Northwest Territory. (Actually, I made this up. Maybe dialing LION won't work.)

If a mountain lion comes close to you, I suggest that you say in a loud voice, “BOOO” or “BEWWW.” It should sound like “brew.”

Back away.

Don’t run.

Look for a big stick.

Cut loose with that pepper spray!

Here in Idaho it would be the polecat or skunk to be feared if a skunk were a cat, which it isn’t.

Still folks in Idaho take a jar of tomatoes or a large can of tomato juice with them when they go camping. You never know when you might need it to neutralize skunk odor. To me the odor of one is about as bad as the other.

The skunk is related to the weasel and must not be trusted. But, like I said, we can’t include the skunk in this article because it is not a cat, technically.

Because the skunk has been omitted, we must report that the badger is most feared.

My uncle fought a battle with a badger using a pitchfork. That was in Randolph, Utah at the turn of the century.

NO! Not this last turn; the century turn before that.

The badger won the fight by breaking the pitchfork handle into toothpicks.

We may still have a few of those toothpicks in a bottle around here somewhere.

Actually the badger isn’t a cat, so we must not include that both stinky and nasty fellow here either.

Some Quick Notes on Tropical Fish Care

It's interesting how many people think that tropical fish care is difficult and so detailed that you need to get everything just right or your fish are going to choke away and die. Yes, you do need to provide fish with a healthy environment and a clean tank as well as the right amount of food and things such as this, but it's really not that difficult to learn about tropical fish care and to have a successful tank. Here are a few quick pointers.

Successful tropical fish care really boils down to understanding what fish need and what their natural environment is like and then providing them with an home tank that is as close to that as possible. As an example, it's very bad tropical fish care to use bleach or other cleansers on your tank because of course bleach doesn't exist in their natural habitat and any residue of this harsh cleaner is going to be very bad for them. Imagine how bad you feel when you swim in a pool that has too much chlorine; your skin gets dry, your eyes get bothered, and so on. It's the same with fish when they're swimming in a tank that has been cleaned with bleach or some other chemical. So when it comes to tank cleaning and tropical fish care, usually damp rags are sufficient.

Feeding is another important area when it comes to tropical fish care. Believe it or not the most common mistake that many fish owners make is to feed their fish too much and too often. Fish don't have that "full" sensation that humans do and can literally eat themselves sick; additionally any leftover flakes that remain in your tank will degrade and upset the chemical balance of the water. A few flakes here and there are not a problem but when you have quite a bit still remaining after feeding your fish this is bad for them. In their natural habitat fish don't eat twice a day and sometimes they don't even eat every single day. Understanding how bad it is to overfeed them is an important part of tropical fish care and can help to avoid many health problems down the road.

It's also important that you don't have too many fish in one tank; all the tropical fish care in the world won't make up for a tank that is overcrowded with too many fish or with fish that are too large for the space. Fish need room to swim around for their physical health but their emotional health as well. When fish are too crowded they have a tendency to act out and nip at other fish in their territory. There's not much you can do by way of tropical fish care when your tank is too crowded. If you can't afford a huge tank be sure you scale back the number of fish and the size of them so that they're all happy and healthy.

God Of War Chains Of Olympus Reviews

The God of War titles have always been action packed and this one is no different, with intense and gory combat in God of War Chains of Olympus it makes it an excellent adventure just like the previous games. this might be because Kratos' moves appear to be identical to what you'll find in God of War 2. Furthermore, combat is extremely responsive, perfectly mimicking the console versions. This brought back the feeling of previous God of War games and as soon as i got the feeling back i found myself using my favorite combos from the previous games and the best part was the moves performed just like i remembered them.

Not many PSP games can match Chains of Olympus from a visual standpoint, either technically or artistically. Simply maintaining a solid frame rate is impressive enough when you've got a lot characters fighting on-screen at the same time, but when you also have lighting and particle effects, moving backgrounds, and lots of blood, it's even more impressive. The cut scenes alternate between prerendered full-motion video, in-game engine, and concept art brought to life by a bit of animation and camera movement. I found all three to be great.

Just like in the original God of War and its sequel, there's a fair bit of bonus content here. The Challenge of Hades replaces the Challenge of the Gods, but works identically, and there are a number of unlockables for use if you can manage to finish it.

God of War Chains of Olympus is a stellar achievement on the PSP. It fits perfectly into the franchise's storyline and offers up the same level of intense action as its console counterparts. It's also the best looking title on the psp system, without question. Engaging from start to finish, Chains of Olympus is a mandatory purchase for anyone who owns a PSP and doesn't mind getting a little blood on their hands.

So if you like what you have seen and would like to get it for yourself theres a link below where you can find the game and I would also like to mention that there is PSP pack that's red and comes with the God of War Chains of Olympus game, you can also find this if you follow my link below it will take you to my blog that will provide you with both links.

Travel Planners - Getting Started - Quick Tips For the Hip Trip

So you want to go on a super fantastic, life changing hip trip. I am talking about some holiday! Here are some quick tips to get you started.

The hardest step in this process is to make up your mind to go. The rest of the planning is just a series of mini steps in the right direction. So, are you ready? Is your mind made up?

Yes? Good, then get ready to take some mini steps! No? Good, then get ready to take some mini steps anyway. Once you have planned the hippest of trips, you may ready to commit!

In planning your trip you only have to answer the five questions: Why, Who, Where, When and How.

Why Travel

Start with the why. This is a philosophical question and whatever your answer, it will reflect your life values. Some people look at travel as a luxury, some as an education and some as a necessity to feed the soul.

How do you see travel in relation to your life values? Is your purpose to:

connect with family and friends? rest and recuperate from a stressful life? explore and adventure? challenge your physical and mental prowess? develop your spiritual self? understand the world more completely?

Once you know your purpose, you can develop your trip plan to meet your needs more effectively.

With Whom to Travel

Are you going alone or with companions? Picking travel companions is a mini step, but it is also a big decision.

Traveling with others can really add enjoyment to your hip trip. You share common experiences, memories and have someone with whom to reflect. Expenses can be shared for things like accommodations and transportation.

Traveling with others offers the challenge of compromise. Consideration needs to be given to the needs of each individual. Decisions may be shared as to itinerary, pace and travel style. A short trip together before embarking on a long sojourn can help identify issues that need to be addressed.

Traveling alone offers you complete freedom to decide where, when, how and why to go. You can be more spontaneous with less compromise. However, you can miss the companionship of shared experience and seeing things through the eyes of another person.

Where to Travel

Where are you going? Maybe this is obvious, like I am going to visit my mother in ___. But maybe this is a question that needs to be answered.

Make a list of all of the places that you would like to see and experience. Really think about what your passions are in life. What ideas make your heart rate increase? Cross-off ones that are obviously not doable like Going to the moon! Highlight the ones that most catch your fancy.

Now use your favorite techniques for making a choice. You can do preliminary research on each area, make a Pros/Cons chart or throw a dart at a map.

Once you make the decision about where to go, the real research begins.

Check in with your favorite Travel Agent. Scour the Internet for opportunities. Get a guidebook and read it. Get two. Jot notes about the various areas as you read or highlight interesting items so you can easily find them again.

Consider organized tours for specialty interests. Often a tour can get you in to sites and teach you aspects that you could not experience independently. Very often they can get you there cheaper. You can add an independent phase at the beginning or end of your trip if you wish.

When to Travel

This is easy if you have an event around which you are planning such as a festival or a specialty tour. Good advice is to consider traveling on the outer edges of the high season. The deals are usually better, the crowds thinner and the weather is often still good.

How to Make Your Travel Plans

Get a passport now if your trip is international. Set up a fare watcher for airfares if you will be traveling by plane. Rough out an itinerary and a timeline. List your favorite ideas of places to visit and map these out on a map. Cross off the places that range too far off the path, unless one of those is the primary reason that you picked that hip trip. Estimate the time it will take to visit each destination and again cross out the places for which you do not have time.

Rough out a budget for your trip. Again you may need to cross off something that sounds interesting, but is out of your budget.

Always plan your itinerary with the knowledge that you will come back in the future. Do not try to do it all unless you have unlimited time and money. In that case, go for it! But for most of us there will be restraints on time, money or both!

Minimize one night stays. Then you can get a feel for a place and dig a little bit deeper. It takes a lot of time and energy to get from one place to another. Your goal is to BE THERE, alive, alert and engaged.

Conclusion

Planning a trip is simply a series of small steps in which you answer basic questions. Begin now to take these steps and soon you will have planned a super fantastic hip trip!

Travel Planner: Getting Started is the first part in a three part series.

Travel Planner: Making Arrangements addresses packing, what to take, making arrangements for transportation and accommodations. Travel Planner: On the Road addresses the nuts and bolts of transportation, changing money, language barriers, eating and sleeping on the road.

Vision Insurance: Your Child's Vision and Preparing for Unforeseen Problems

Today, 1 in 4 children has an undiagnosed vision problem. Although, the chances of developing a vision problem are greater if there is a history of eyesight problems in your family, many children with no such family history encounter a troublesome vision issue.

Television is not the only culprit responsible for the deterioration of your child's eyesight. Children are now spending an alarming amount of time in front of the computer screen. Optometrists warn that heavy computer usage is known to increase your chances of developing blurry and double vision.

Loss of vision is not to be taken lightly and the individuals who are most affected are children. A child's untreated vision problem can lead to learning and behavioral problems. Teachers and parents often struggle trying to understand why a child is not doing well in school or why they are acting out in the classroom and at home. Many times the simple explanation is that the child cannot read the blackboard or even the pages in front of them. This frustrating situation can easily spiral out of control if not attended to.

Currently in several Canadian provinces, coverage for eye exams has been implemented. Provincial coverage differs, but most terms specify that eye exams are only covered once every two years and only if your child is under the age of 10. There are many healthcare specialists who believe this to be inadequate. It is impossible to gage when a child's vision will begin to deteriorate, if at all, but factors such as heredity and increased exposure to computer and television screens may speed up the process. In order to properly monitor the health of your children's eyes, it may be wise to plan a vision check-up more often than every two years. Unfortunately, visiting an optometrist every year can cost you as much as $150 for every eye examination if your province does not provide coverage. In order to fill the gaps left by provincial health coverage, it may be sensible to purchase health insurance for your children.

Without an employer health insurance plan, parents might want to consider supplemental vision insurance through a plan such as Flexcare offered by Manulife Financial which allows you to individually customize your coverage. Plans such as DentalPlus Basic or Enhanced allot you a specified amount of money towards vision-related services, or additional add-on vision insurance coverage.

In many cases, children are unaware that their eyesight is deteriorating. The untreated eye problem can result in learning and behavioral problems that negatively affect a child's life. With proper attention to vision care, including regular check-ups, unforeseen problems can be avoided.

Current Affairs: The Next American Economy by William Holstein Technology Clusters and Ecosystems

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent in June 2011. That number remains frustratingly consistent each month as millions of Americans struggle to find work.

It's clear that many of the jobs lost over the last several decades, and during the Great Recession of 2008, are extinct. It's said that the definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing, yet hoping for different results.

Government stimulus packages and extended unemployment benefits are Band-aids for what, William Holstein, author of the new book, "The Next American Economy-A Blueprint for a Real Recovery," identifies as structural challenges in America's economy. Holstein has traveled the United States writing about globalization and economics for major business publications.

How will our country reinvent its workforce for the 21st century, and in what industries? Holstein believes our economic rebirth lies in technology clusters and ecosystems.

Following is a cross-sectional synopsis of America and how it's revitalizing itself with technology clusters and ecosystems. Discussed too, are lessons for all Americans Holstein addresses regarding the country's current economic challenges.

Technology Clusters Clusters promote knowledge-sharing and product innovation. They also champion technical and business processes by providing thick networks of formal and informal relationships across organizations. Clusters tend to happen by accident and are difficult to create.

Orlando's technology cluster is based on computer simulation and modeling; and is rooted in part by U.S. military and major defense contractors' decision in the 1950s to locate operations in the Orlando area. Disney's influence in computer gaming and entertainment is also influential. Every cluster needs an idea factory and Orlando has approximately 140 research and development companies located near universities. "Cross-pollination" of ideas is easily promoted. Simulation and modeling are being used in multiple industries. Healthcare is included, as it uses virtual reality to help rehabilitate stroke victims.

Pittsburgh is reinventing itself from a city of steel (the mills are non-existent today), to one of advanced robotics dominance. Making advanced robotics systems is complex and challenging. They surpass performing repetitive tasks in an auto factory, which is simple, closed loop automation. The nascent industry lacks a Google or Apple presence in the city. But, area universities, engineers and government are among its collaborating cluster, committed to seeing the industry thrive and create new jobs.

San Diego is home to over 600 life science companies and 700 wireless communication companies. In the 1970s, science and medicine seldom collaborated. Today, the blend of biotech know-how and massive computing power helps San Diego dominate in medical research and development, including Genomics. The opportunity is great for "creative collisions" among university students and faculty, business leaders and area government. San Diego boasts a high percentage of risk-taking entrepreneurs and venture capital funding, which is continually pursued to spark further technological advancements.

Ecosystems Technology ecosystems are idea factories that embody different scientific and academic disciplines located in close proximity. They include a presence of large, established companies that often invest in start-ups, license their technology, and/or sit on their board of directors. CEOs mentor less experienced leaders of small companies. Government agencies are partners but companies don't depend on them solely. Angel investors and private sector investors are key players too. There are no guarantees in any ecosystem.

North Carolina has shed its furniture, textiles and tobacco industries. Today it's a state whose small and medium-sized companies are committed to exporting, which is key to creating economic growth, wealth, and jobs. Companies that export typically pay higher wages and stay in business longer. Holstein says exporting is a huge untapped economic potential. America's export promotion and finance system is fragmented and ineffectual. North Carolina triumphs, as agencies from the local, state and federal levels are collaborating to promote exporting. They provide information to small business CEOs about trade shows in foreign capitals. They also play matchmaker with potential distributors and customers, and help companies translate their sales materials into local languages, among other things.

Atlanta, like many U.S towns dependent on manufacturing for economic viability, in the past decades, relied heavily on offshoring and outsourcing to cut costs. Today, the city exemplifies companies that are returning operations to U.S. soil, a trend known, as "backshoring." It's especially true of high-end technology, telecommunications and healthcare organizations. Jetting around the world to tweak production and design changes is both costly and time-consuming. Shipping expenses, complicated logistics, political unrest and the threat of intellectual property theft are also motivators. Atlanta's ecosystem of regional government, universities and supplier and logistics experts is among those committed to revitalizing the area's job market.

Cleveland is at the forefront of America's twelve hundred community colleges for workforce retraining. Cleveland's strength is retraining displaced workers in their forties and fifties, a demographic hit hard by global employment trends. Current and future workers need a higher set of knowledge-based skills to be competitive; and Cleveland delivers. The city's community colleges treat education less as a business, and more as schooling, enabling the unemployed to quickly transition into new viable careers. Cleveland's educational ecosystem includes local business leaders, and government officials. Community colleges can often be more flexible than four-year academia. Funding flows from federal, state and local government, and private foundations too.

Lessons for All Americans Holstein concludes that America is the center of a global economy and the competitive pressure is permanent. He believes we're a culture of creativity, innovation and freedom. Our comparative advantage is our ability to leapfrog over existing technologies by being disruptive. To maximize that advantage, future generations will need to master math and science-based skills. It's the only way to thrive in a knowledge-based economy. "This is a defining moment for America, similar to the Great Depression, when we had to summon forth a new vision of our future," he says. "I truly believe that we can recover the optimism many seem to have lost."

To stay abreast of America's next economy, visit, http://www.williamholstein.com.