Time to Cry "Uncle"?

Parts of the east coast have barely finished digging out from last weekend’s snow storm and now they are about to be hit again. Some areas could get an additional 20 inches on top of the approximately 30 inches the last storm dumped!

In the Washington, DC area, 230,000 government employees have been off work most of the week due to the record snowfall totals. Congress has cancelled most of the items on its agenda for the remainder of the week.

Areas of the Midwest are also being hit hard by these storms with blizzard conditions predicted in the Chicago area tonight.

It seems that this winter just won’t let up and many people are ready to cry “Uncle” to Mother Nature!

Charlie: Too bad that global warming is a hoax; we could use some of it about now!

Annie: Are we going to rehash the whole global warming argument?

Charlie: Not necessarily. You can just admit you’re wrong and we can move on!

Annie: Listen, smart guy…

Charlie: Don’t get your panties in a bunch; you’re female so you’re going to get the last word in anyway!

Annie: Now you’re REALLY asking for it!

Charlie: Geez, doesn’t anybody have a sense of humor anymore?

Annie: Global warming is a VERY serious issue!

Charlie: Only if you want to see Al Gore get even richer!

Annie: What if there IS global warming and nothing’s done until it’s too late?

Charlie: I’ll happily tool along in my SUV right up until the end. You won’t have to worry about it because you’ll be stuck in a snow drift in your dinky little hybrid and they won’t find you ‘til the spring thaw!

Annie: At least I’ll have done my part to save the planet!

Charlie: I guess I can’t argue with THAT logic!?!?

Annie: Good. See, I AM getting in the last word!

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Related Reading: Winter Weather Issues

Charlie and Annie’s Daily Point to Ponder: Are you one of those people who loves winter and all the snow or would you rather pack up and move to a Caribbean island until spring arrives? (Please leave your response in the “comments” section.)

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Answer to the previous Kitty Quiz: The Chausie

Current Kitty Quiz: Which breed’s origins lie with domestic cats brought to America by European settlers in the 1600’s? Its roots involve the oldest recognized shorthair breeds?

Please check the next post for the answer to the current Kitty Quiz!

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Have a great day!

Hybrid Troubles

As if Toyota didn’t have enough problems, now they are planning to recall 300,000 Prius hybrids. This is definitely an issue that the company doesn’t need right now! Apparently, there is a problem with the brakes on these variants of the Prius.

The company recently had to suspend the production of eight models of cars it produces. It has been alleged that the models are plagued by sticky gas pedals that have been responsible for a number of uncontrolled acceleration accidents. It is alleged that 19 deaths and numerous injuries have resulted.

Toyota recently surpassed General Motors for the title of the world’s #1 automaker. It will be interesting to see how all of these issues affect that status.

Charlie: I’m not surprised there are issues with those junky little hybrids.

Annie: The Prius is a great car!

Charlie: A great big SUV could roll over one and barely feel a bump!

Annie: Please! Give me a break! The Prius gets good safety ratings AND they help to save the planet!

Charlie: Save the planet? Didn’t you hear about the recent “Climategate” scandal? This manmade global warming stuff is a great big HOAX!

Annie: What about melting glaciers?

Charlie: The earth has been around for billions of years and climate has been in a constant state of change over all that time. There are periods of warming followed by cooling and vice versa. Our SUV’s have nothing to do with it!

Annie: I disagree. I think doing things like driving hybrids are a good idea!

Charlie: Why don’t we all just go back to living in caves and walking everywhere we need to go? That would REALLY help save the planet by your logic!

Annie: Living in a cave would be perfect for you, because you’re just a Neanderthal!

Charlie: A Neanderthal who enjoys ALL the modern comforts and conveniences and doesn’t plan to give up ANY of them!

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Related Reading: Toyota Recalls Prius

Charlie and Annie’s Daily Point to Ponder: Do you think manmade global warming is a reality? If so, will technology such as hybrid cars solve the problem? (Please leave your response in the “comments” section.)

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Answer to the previous Kitty Quiz: Toxoplasmosis

Current Kitty Quiz: Which newer cat breed was registered with TICA in 1995 and is an attempt to create a breed that combines the exoticism of a wild jungle cat with the temperament of a domestic cat?

Please check the next post for the answer to the current Kitty Quiz!

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Have a great day!

Super-Simple Cat Project: Ceiling Fan Swinger Toy

Using very little of your time and little or no money, this project let’s you create an entertaining system that will keep your cat(s) mesmerized for hours. You will use items that you probably already have on hand. You can also take pride in the fact that you “built” something your little friends enjoy so much!

This simple project utilizes the ceiling fans you already have installed in your house. You do have ceiling fans, don’t you? I don’t want to sound preachy, but they help make your house more comfortable and conserve energy in summer AND winter.

So, let’s get to it!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need

• 8 ft. of String
• Badminton Shuttlecock or Kitty Feather Teaser
• Previously Installed Ceiling Fan

Construction Steps

1.Tie the Badminton Shuttlecock, Feather Teaser or other “toy” to one end of the string.

2.Tie the other end of the string to the support strut of one of the ceiling fan blades. It should be tied so that the toy hangs approximately 12 inches to 24 inches off the floor (lower if your cat likes to stay on the floor; higher if your friend(s) is a jumper).

3.Turn on the fan and let the chase begin! The toy will begin swinging through a circular path and will probably bob up and down as well. If your fan’s speed is controlled with a remote control or wall switch, you can increase the fun by varying the speed of rotation at intervals.

Tips & Warnings
• Use string that is heavy enough that it will not break when your cat swats the swinging toy!
• You should ALWAYS supervise your pet(s) when using this play system!
• You should remove the system from the ceiling fan when not in use!

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Fantastic Fat Bombs

Men’s Health magazine has released a list of the 10 Worst Sandwiches in America. These belly bombs are described as, “disastrous handheld mega-meals”. Ouch!

The article gives a detailed critique of each sammy along with a healthier alternative from the same restaurant chain. The list was compiled from the pages of the best-selling weight-loss series “Eat This, Not That!”

The list is as follows:

#10. Cosi Steak TBM: 829 calories; 55 grams of fat; 453 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Cosi Club: 497 calories; 10 grams of fat; 827 mg sodium

#9. Arby’s Ultimate BLT Market Fresh Sandwich: 880 calories; 46 grams of fat; 1,740 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Super Roast Beef: 430 calories; 18 grams of fat; 1,070 mg sodium

#8. Jimmy John’s Italian Night Club: 951 calories; 51 grams of fat; 2,165 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Customized Slim 5 with Genoa Salami, Capicola and Avocado Spread on 7-Grain Bread:
514 calories; 17.5 grams of fat; 1,239 mg sodium

#7: Panera Full Chipotle Chicken on Artisan French Bread: 990 calories; 56 grams of fat; 2,370 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Chicken Bacon Dijon on French Bread: 650 calories; 24 grams of fat; 1,140 mg sodium

#6. Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich: 1,112 calories; 62 grams of fat; 2,531 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Sandwich, without Spinach Tortilla and Ranch Dressing:
522 calories; 25 grams of fat; 1,336 mg sodium

#5. Subway Meatball Marinara Footlong: 1,160 calories; 46 grams of fat; 3,060 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Roast Beef 6-inch: 310 calories; 4.5 grams of fat; 840 mg sodium

#4. Blimpie Special Vegetarian 12": 1,186 calories; 60 grams of fat; 2,198 mg sodium

Healthier Option
VegiMax on Wheat 6": 499 calories; 21 grams of fat; 909 mg sodium

#3. Applebee's Grilled Cheese BLT: 1,310 calories (no other nutritional information available)

Healthier Option
Grilled Sirloin Sandwich: 680 calories (no other nutritional information available)

#2. Quizno's Large Tuna Melt: 1,760 calories; 25 grams of saturated fat; 2,120 mg sodium

Healthier Option
Bistro Steak Melt Sammie: 390 calories; 11.5 grams of saturated fat; 1,050 mg sodium

#1: The Worst Sandwich in America!
Cheesecake Factory Grilled Shrimp & Bacon Club: 1930 calories; 24 grams of saturated fat; 2,965 mg sodium

Healthier Option
One-half Turkey Sandwich: 448 calories; 6 grams of saturated fat; 817 mg sodium

Annie: This list is really frightening! There are many sandwiches on there that you wouldn’t think are REALLY bad if you didn’t know the nutritional facts!

Charlie: I agree. How can a TUNA sandwich be the second worst in America?

Annie: I hope Mama and Papa stay away from these artery busters!

Charlie: Definitely; they have to stay in top physical condition to maintain OUR rigorous play schedule!

Annie: That’s for sure! Hey, are you feeling OK? You look disorientated.

Charlie: I just can’t get over the fact that tuna can be so unhealthy. It’s very disorientating. We need to keep this list out of Mama and Papa’s sight so they don’t stop serving us our favorite gourmet cat food tuna variety. I’m willing to take my chances!

Annie: Relax! That’s not going to happen! It’s not the tuna that’s bad, it’s all the other stuff they put on the sandwich that makes it a fat bomb.

Charlie: Whew! That’s good to know; I don’t think I could go on without my gourmet tuna!

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Related Reading: 10 Worst Sandwiches in America

Charlie and Annie’s Daily Point to Ponder: Do you think “fat bombs” should be avoided at all costs or is it acceptable to reward yourself once in awhile? (Please leave your response in the “comments” section.)

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Answer to the previous Kitty Quiz: The Tonkinese

Current Kitty Quiz: Pregnant women should not clean litter boxes because their unborn children can contract a specific disease caused by intestinal parasites. What is the name of this disease?

Please check the next post for the answer to the current Kitty Quiz!

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Have a great day!

Oscar Intrigue

This could be an historic year for the Oscars. The Academy Award nominees for best director are typically white males. The five nominees this year are a more diverse group.

Kathy Bigelow is only the fourth woman to receive a nomination. She directed “The Hurt Locker”. If she actually wins, she’ll be the first woman to ever do so.

Lee Daniels has been nominated for best director for “Precious”. They have been giving out Academy Awards for 81 years and this is only the second nomination of a black filmmaker for best director. John Singleton was the first for “Boys N the Hood” in 1992.

The category is made even more interesting by the fact that Ms. Bigelow was formerly married to another nominee: James Cameron for “Avatar”.

Yet another twist is the nomination of 32-year-old Jason Reitman for “Up in the Air”. If he wins, he will be the youngest ever winner for best director.

Rounding out the nominations is Quentin Tarantino for “Inglourious Basterds”.

Charlie: This category really intrigues me this year. It’s usually just a group of very vanilla nominees.

Annie: You got that right! I can’t believe it’s taken this long for Hollywood to recognize diversity in the director ranks!

Charlie: I know. There has been good work done in the past by minority filmmakers; Spike Lee comes to mind!

Annie: Better late than never, I guess! It would be nice to see a female win as well.

Charlie: And the film she’s nominated for isn’t even a “chick flick”!

Annie: Why is that surprising? Women’s interests are just as varied as men’s!

Charlie: Oh, really? It seems the only movies you and Mama ever want to rent or watch on TV are the aforementioned “chick flicks”!

Annie: That’s because we can curl up in bed and not have to worry about you and Papa coming in to bother us when we watch them!

Charlie: I’d better quit while I’m ahead…

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Related Reading: Oscar Nominees for best director

Charlie and Annie’s Daily Point to Ponder: Have minorities received enough recognition in Hollywood? (Please leave your response in the “comments” section.)

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Answer to the previous Kitty Quiz: The Singapura

Current Kitty Quiz: Which cat breed is the product of a mating between a Siamese and a Burmese in the 1950’s?

Please check the next post for the answer to the current Kitty Quiz!

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Have a great day!

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

The Haitian government (what’s left of it) wants to prosecute 10 American aid workers. The workers were arrested while attempting to rescue a group of children from the devastation of the recent earthquake; they were trying to move the children to a safer location in the Dominican Republic.

This issue has become a major distraction from relief efforts, which are trying to provide basic survival services to millions of earthquake survivors. A further complication is that Haiti’s justice system was annihilated in the disaster.

The group members have yet to be charged with any crime, but are being detained in conditions that would be totally unacceptable in the U.S.

Annie: What a terrible situation! You have millions of people who are homeless and suffering and now the people who are trying to help them are getting into trouble!

Charlie: The situation is complete chaos down there. There really seems to be no functioning government and the judicial system was completely wiped out.

Annie: I hope this ends well!

Charlie: I hate to sound cynical, but you probably have some corrupt “officials” down there who see this as a financial opportunity. This will probably be resolved when they receive a big bundle of cash from the church group the volunteers belong to!

Annie: You may be right, but there DOES seem to be a child-trafficking problem as well. In the meantime, I hope this experience doesn’t scare off others who might otherwise volunteer to go to Haiti to help with the relief efforts!

Charlie: THAT would truly be a tragedy on top of a tragedy.

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Related Reading: Americans Detained

Charlie and Annie’s Daily Point to Ponder: Do you think the American aid workers being detained in Haiti are being treated fairly? (Please leave your response in the “comments” section.)
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Answer to the previous Kitty Quiz: The Russian Blue

Current Kitty Quiz: Which breed of cat is ranked as one of the smallest (with adults normally weighing less than 6 lbs.), but is also noted for having huge eyes that almost look too big for its head?

Please check the next post for the answer to the current Kitty Quiz!

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Have a great day!

Super-Simple Cat Project: The Comfy Cave

Mission Statement

My goal is to create very simple, easy to build projects that ANY cat lover can complete to enrich their furry little friends’ lives! These concepts are extremely easy on the wallet as well. They do not require the use of any power tools and you do not have to be “handy” to make them! You can easily make and use them even if you are an apartment or condo dweller.

Introduction

As we cat lovers know, cats love to have little concealed hiding places. They use them to “get away from it all” and plot their next adventure! If you live in an older home like my wife and I do, they also use them as a warm place to nap; the open areas can be a little drafty in cold weather!

Our two Ragdolls, Annie and Charlie love to snuggle between our legs under a blanket. It’s their favorite hiding/napping place when cold weather arrives. They can spend hours under there! The problem is that this option requires either my wife or me to be available. I designed the Comfy Cave blanket supporter to allow them to have access to be underneath their favorite blanket when we are busy, not around or when they just want to be alone. You can make one for your kitties in just a few minutes using a couple of dollars in materials!

Please click the link below for printable instructions for making a Comfy Cave for your furry friends!



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