Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year's Eve

Well. It appears this will be the last post of the year. Hoping everyone had a reasonable good year and that 2008 will be one of the best years ever.

I have another horse ranch site I'm designing. If anyone is interested in horses for sale {these are quarter horses} visit the blog that's just started last night at pykequarterhorses.blogspot.com

This winter weather has caused Hiway to wild up ever so slightly. She has bonded tightly with her Shazbot and is slowly growing away from her attachment issue to me. It's a bittersweet victory with my Hiway girlfriend. But alas, it IS what we want for her.

Please don't drink and drive tonight. If you are going to go party in the New Year, please have a designated driver. Be safe!! And Happy New Year.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Snowing in the Northwoods -- whoda thunk?

Guess you could call it snow. Looks like maybe a whole inch might be covering the GeeWiZ van. Lots of 4 a.m. banging around in the Coondo but no faces peeking out anywhere. The mini-coondo sounds pretty quiet. Hiway & Shazbot must be sleeping. Lillian & Benjamin would rather be out in the forest now. But they'll have to be patient until the weather is more food foraging friendly.

Feels pretty balmy out there at 30 degrees. Might sound odd to some folks to hear 30 degrees feels warm -- guess you just have to experience Wisconsin weather for a while to understand that one. :^)

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Strange Weather

It's a balmy 32 degrees up in the Northwoods today. Sun trying to shine through the clouds. All the coonies were up pacing this morning. Pretty unusual to have it so warm this time of year. Things are melting again after a few nights of cold enough to freeze stuff.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday Dear Jesus. Happy Birthday to You.

When the presents are wrapped in paper and bows
And You don’t see Your name on any of those
And they’re carefully tucked under fake or dead trees
Help us all to remember to get on our knees
And thank You for giving us all the gifts
You wrapped them in fur and they just need a lift
To get back to the real trees, their forests and streams
Help our hearts to stay strong to follow these dreams
Let our hands be Your tool that help them survive
Help us know what to do to keep them alive
And know when we can’t, it was always Your plan
And You gave us the strength to do what we can
Please help us give You this as our gift every day of the year
And thank You Lord Jesus, for Your Angels so near

Psalm 91:11 (Amplified Bible)
For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Monday, December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve in the Northwoods

We had a thick fog set in for two days that started melting about everything. Yesterday it was beautiful out and all the ice melted that was in the swimming pool and frozen to the ground pans. I gave the coonies some fresh warm water and Hiway & Shazbot particularly enjoyed playing in the water and standing in it. Benjamin & Lillian don't seem to care much. They don't even go in the pool. My Hiway has outgrown her halter. Haven't been able to find one quite like it her size yet. Then later on in the morning it started to freezing rain and snow. Doesn't look like too much on the ground -- a few inches maybe. I hear the snow plows so it must be icy under that little bit of snow.

A couple of 'the boys' -- Arthur's growing up buddies -- are home on leave. One from the Army & one from the Marines. Those rowdy little kindergarten boys got so big. Brandon's wife Danielle is a sweetheart. Stever is scheduled for deployment in a few months.

Have a safe and happy Christmas Eve.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Simpleology

My website Matzo's Net has been online investigating earn at home programs, schemes & scams since 1998. I have had the opportunity to 'meet' many of the 'big dogs' that invented some of these now famous programs. You know? Those guys who invented e-books and 'websites in a box'?

Mark Joyner is rather well known in the netpreneur community {and is in truth a phenomenal mentor}. Perhaps you have run across his Simpleology courses? I received an email from him this morning asking me to post his blog experiment on Dory & the Orphans Blog. So here you have it:

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

  • The best blogging techniques.
  • How to get traffic to your blog.
  • How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Scientists Clone Cats that Glow in the Dark

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean scientists have cloned cats that glow red when exposed to ultraviolet rays, an achievement that could help develop cures for human genetic diseases, the Science and Technology Ministry said.

Three Turkish Angora cats were born in January and February through cloning with a gene that produces a red fluorescent protein that makes them glow in dark. One died at birth, but the two others survived, the ministry said.

The ministry claimed it was the first time cats with modified genes have been cloned.

Scientists from Gyeongsang National University and Sunchon National University took skin cells from a cat and inserted the fluorescent gene into them before transplanting the genetically modified cells into eggs.

The development means other genes can also be inserted in the course of cloning, paving the way for producing lab cats with genetic diseases, including those of humans, to help develop new treatments, the ministry said.

"Cats have similar genes to those of humans," said veterinary professor Kong Il-keun of Gyeongsang National University. "We can make genetically modified cats that can be used to develop new cures for genetic diseases."

Keitaro Kato, a geneticist at Kinki University in western Japan who has cloned fish, said the research could be significant if it eventually helps treat people with hereditary diseases.

"People with genetic disorders usually have to receive treatment throughout their lives that is very hard on them," Kato said. "If these results can help to make their lives easier, then I think it's a wonderful thing."

South Korea's scientific reputation suffered a heavy blow after much-hailed stem-cell breakthroughs by scientist Hwang Woo-suk were found to be faked in late 2005. He remains on trial on fraud and other charges.

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submitted by:
Ann Rader
PremiumPetProducts.com

I pray that these animals are given some level of interest and stimulation and not just kept in small cages. I have my doubts...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Image from news.ninemsn.com.au news article {Click the link to view a video and the complete article.}


Well. Sounds to me like they want to use cats to experiment with to find genetic problems. I ran a search on Blingo {same as Google but you can win prizes} for "cats that glow in the dark" like Ann suggested. One article says the cloning procedure could be used to clone an individual that has problems to determine the genetic issues. It stated that cats are genetically similar to humans. Sounds to me like they intend to have two of the same genetic unit, with one being disposable? Anybody asked Spirit about who gets a soul and who doesn't? Who decrees what life is disposable and which life is not, regardless of how they were conceived?

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Recent News Articles

It's pretty disheartening when links to wild animal abuses are so widespread.

Students kill, cook, eat baby raccoon in class.

Is this even conceivable that children would not only be allowed to stomp a baby animal to death, but then eat it? Where is that fine line between serial killers murdering animals and it being encouraged by adults as a school activity? Seriously abusing such an intelligent trusting little creature is a horror in itself. Encouraging anyone to pluck a wild baby raccoon out of the wild and eat it? What do these children know about internal parasites that might kill them if eaten? Or microscopic Zoonotic that wild animal could be harboring? What do these children know about recognizing diseases in our wild animals or knowing by looking at organs there is danger in consumption?

And then we have that annual raccoon dinner in Arkansas supported by the very ones who want to rule out country. It's not too late to sign the petition to stop that inconsideration of the raccoons. Petition to stop the annual raccoon supper Do we want to be governed by anyone who has little or no regard to the feelings and plight of our own native wildlife?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Northwoods weather

It's been pretty chilly up in the Northwoods. Only 11 degrees so far today. It was a pleasant 34 degrees for a while yesterday. Hiway and Shazbot are still getting up to eat morning and late afternoon. They don't like this cold much.

All the ice storms and severe weather graciously stayed south of us so we just have some hardened snow on the ground. Looks a little more 'normal' for this time of year.


This pic was sent by a friend in Alaska. Rich says it's "a picture of Homer from the hill coming into town."

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Jan Cook

To everyone,

I’m sending this email to all the people and lists I can think of.

I am sorry to say that my best friend and fellow rehabber, Jan Cook (aka the Raccoon Lady) passed away at the age of 57 on Monday, December 3, 2007, of what the coroner has ruled to be a heart attack. If anyone knows of other people she knew and lists Jan was on could you please pass this along?

Jan is on the left holding Shadow, Val is on the right holding Bubba Gump.

The Funeral Home information is:

SEALE Funeral Home
1720 South Range Avenue
Denham Springs, LA 70726
225-664-4143

The viewing is this evening, Wednesday December 5, 2007 from 5pm until 9pm and tomorrow morning from 9am until 11am. Funeral services will be at 11am tomorrow at the Funeral Home. I believe that Wayne, her husband, is going to have her cremated and her ashes will be scattered on their farm.

For you local folks, I will be going both tonight and tomorrow if you’d like to ride along. Just give me a call and let me know. *phone numbers removed*

I am consoled in knowing that she’s at the Rainbow Bridge with all her animals that preceded here and that I will see her again there at the Bridge one day as well.

Thanks,

Valerie (Jagneaux)
Possum Hollow Wildlife Center
Breaux Bridge, LA

Comments to Jan's family from friends and colleagues can be made by clicking the comment link below this post. If you don't have a Google account, don't check mark the email box. Put your name in the "nickname" box and check mark that one.

Val asked me what are they going to do with the coonies next season. I kind of suspect that Jan will keep many of them from having to come to us now that she's an Angel with wings. That's the only difference is that now she has wings, she's always been an Angel among us.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Jan Cook {Jcritterlover}

It is with a heavy heart that I post this message received from the sister of a fellow rehabber:

To whom it may concern:

I just wanted to let you know that my sister, Jan, has passed away. I
am assuming you are an one of many who shared her passion for
raccoons. She will be a great loss to us all. Thank you for being
her friend.
Phaedra

I will post a picture of Jan or any further details when possible. Jan was a valued member of our rehab community. A caring and compassionate lady. She will be missed and not forgotten. Now we know an Angel by name and she will always be with us.

Question from Citizen

Yesterday I was surprised to get an email asking me why I had shoveled snow into Hiway & Shazbot's mini-coondo perimeter. Kind of caught me off guard as it hadn't dawned on me someone might be watching the CoonCam. {Blonde moment.}

Raccoons will lick snow or make little snowballs to eat in the winter for moisture. If I put water in their pans this time of year, they will get right in just like any other time of the year. If their paws are wet, they will get stuck to the chain link or other metal fencing and rip skin off the pad. Just like the skin on our fingers would do when wet. They don't even flinch when they do that, but they will bleed sometimes. It's best they get their moisture from a natural source like they'd be getting in the wild. So I shoveled in clean snow because I have a tarp on top preventing large amounts from covering the little yard they have. I also break up chunks of ice and put it on top of the frozen water in their pan.

Hiway rather enjoyed the snow and made a little mound in the corner. Patting it in different spots, bringing in more, just like she was building a snow coonie.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Bill's Babies


Bill up in the Adirondacks sent me some pics of his coonies sleeping in the trees. These are some rare shots for anyone to see. Bill has been looking out for these little ones this year. He was a bit concerned he hadn't seen them for a while, and the snow allowed him to follow their tracks to locate them. Here they are up in the tree sleeping. Thought these were such unique shots that Bill gave me permission to post them.

Thanks for everything you do Bill!

Visit Bill's neck of the woods at Camp Hilary

Saturday, December 1, 2007

"STOP the Annual Coon Supper" Petition

I would humbly request that anyone reading this blog go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/885544126 to sign the petition to stop the annual coon dinner held for political agendas in Gillett Arkansas. Some of YOUR presidential candidates intent to attend this dinner and eat raccoons! {The Clinton and the Huckabee families to name a few.} Don't know about you, but I wouldn't vote for anyone who has such little respect for our wildlife that they would promote mass killing of one species to promote their political career and call it a social event. If they are so unaware of the situation our wildlife face, how can they be sensitive to any of the needs of our country?

Shamu

How cool is this? Today Shamu came by to visit and he has a girlfriend with him! Shamu is a little grey squirrel that came in to the Orphanage two years ago with pnuemonia and the after effects of a dog playing with his litter of siblings. He was the only survivor that made it here. I am so happy for him and so proud that he has a girlfriend. It will be awesome to see baby Shamus running around the yard!

Blizzard on the way

Well. According to the weather man, our first blizzard of the year should be reaching the Northwoods in just a few hours. They are predicting power outages, and bad driving conditions. Hope everybody is ready for this -- I never am but it still comes.

Stay warm and stay safe.