Saturday, October 27, 2007

Forget Google. Bunnies rule the Internet - Netiquette - MSNBC.com

Yea for the bunnies. I have always loved bunnies and always had one. I have a super bun right now. He disapproves of me daily.

Forget Google. Bunnies rule the Internet

While you were checking out Lolcats, the rabbits were taking over...

Forget Google. Bunnies rule the Internet - Netiquette - MSNBC.com

Sunday, October 21, 2007

He's there when I need him

Meet My Financial Advisor

Clumber Spaniel

Although there are not many Clumber Spaniels in the United States, as compared to Cocker Spaniels or Laborador Retrievers, the Clumber was one of the original ten breeds included when the American Kennel Club was formed in 1884. There are several theories about the origin of the Clumber, one being that the Clumber is a result of a Basset X Alpine Spaniels breeding and another, that they are decendants of the original Blenheim Spaniel. The first mention of Clumbers at all, in 1387 indicates that the Clumber was already an established breed, having been bred for primarilty for retrieving.

Clumbers were bred with devotion by several members of British aristocracy, including the Duke of Newcastle ( in the late 1700's) who lived in Clumber Park, thus providing the name Clumber Spaniel. The Royal Family of England had a hand in breeding and hunting Clumbers, starting with Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert passed his love of the Clumber Spaniel on to his son, Edward VII, who built Sandringham Kennels. Edward's son, who became King George V, was also a Clumber devotee, spending many years in the breeding of and hunting with sound and sturdy Clumber Spaniels.

Unfortunately, for the Clumber Spaniel as a breed, George's son, Edward the VIII did not share his father's love of these dogs. Bitter and angry at his father's refusal to allow him to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, and hating the Clumber Spaniel for personal reasons (they drooled on his shoes), Edward, upon hearing of his father's death, ordered the Clumbers at Sandringham all shot. Except for a few puppies that were smuggled out that night, the Clumbers at Sandringham, almost 100 animals in total, were killed, including pregnant bitches and puppies. ( Eve Marar, DOG WORLD, Nov., 1994) Undoubtedly, this accounts for the limited gene pool of Clumbers that is problematic for breeders even now.

Although the exact figures are not known, some breeders estimate there are around 1,500 registered Clumber Spaniels in this country at any given time. Most breeders are wary and cautious, breeding only the best specimens to produce the best puppies. Unfortunately, although fanciers of the breed were thrilled with the win at the 1996 Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show of Clumber Spaniel Brady (Ch. Clussexx Country Sunrise), we are fearful the resulting publicity will open the door for unscrupulous breeders to cash in on the current popular interest in Clumbers. This has recently been the subject of much debate on a Clumber mailing list. Puppy millers have discovered the Clumber, with the expected disastrous results.The puppies born could have a multitude of problems if careful and sound breeding practices are not followed.

In the case of puppy millers, dollars, not sound puppies are the primary goal.

My personal advice to potential buyers of a Clumber puppy is this: Be aware that the Clumber is a large dog that requires a significant amount of grooming. Poorly bred dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, among other things, which can lead to large vet bills, heartache for you and shortened life for the dog. See the parents of the puppy you are interested in. Ask to see OFA certification records, pedigrees and health records of the puppies and the parents. If buyers refuse to purchase sub-standard puppies, the lacking market will eventually stop, or at least slow down the production of such pups.

Try to buy with your head, not your heart. (Hard advice to follow when you are looking into those soulful amber eyes!) Clumbers are well worth the effort of ownership, becoming devoted companions. To obtain information on the Clumber Spaniel, contact:

Susan King
CSCA Breeder Referral
44 Echo Lane
South Glastonbury, CT 06073-2500
findabreeder@clumbers.org
She also has a list of active breeders, so if you are actively searching for a puppy, please contact her directly!

Interested in a Clumber Rescue Dog? If so, that's great! For information concerning the Clumber Spaniel Club of America's Rescue efforts, please contact:
Sue Carr
41 Compton Court
Basking Ridge,NJ 07920

One of the world's greatest beauties

If only I'd known her

Just Thinking
to look life in the face … always to look life in the face, and to know it for what it is. At last, to know it, to love it for what it is, and then … to put it away... always the years between us, always the years … always … the love … always … the hours.

Yep, this happens every morning at my house!!!!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Did I Mention the Red Sox?? LOVE THEM!

On the first day of school a first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Yankees fan.

She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Yankees
fans.

Wanting to impress their teacher, everyone in the class raises their
hand except one little girl.

The teacher looks at the girl with surprise,

"Janie, why didn't you raise your hand?" "Because I'm not a Yankees
fan," she replied.

The teacher, still shocked, asked, "Well, if you are not a Yankees fan,
then who are you a fan of?"

"I am a Red Sox fan, and proud of it," Janie replied.

The teacher could not believe her ears. "Janie, why are you a Red Sox
fan?"



"Because my mom is a Red Sox fan, and my dad is Red Sox fan, so I'm a
Red Sox fan too!"

"Well, " said the teacher in a obviously annoyed tone, "that is no reason
for you to be a Red Sox fan. You don't have to be just like your parents
all of the time. What if your mom were an idiot and your dad were a
moron, what would you be then?"

"Then," Janie smiled, "I'd be a Yankees fan."
-----------------------------------------------------

A family of New York Yankee fans headed out one Saturday to shop for the
youngest boy's birthday.

While in the sports shop the son picks up a Red Sox jersey and says to
his older sister, "I've decided to become a Red Sox fan and I would like
this Boston Red Sox jersey for my birthday."

His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him upside his
head and says, "Go talk to mother."

Off goes the little lad with the jersey in hand and finds his mother.
"Mom?"

"Yes, son?"

"I've decided I'm go ing to be a Red Sox fan and I would like this
jersey for my birthday."

The mother is outraged at this, promptly whacks him around the head and says, "Go talk to your father!"

O f he goes with the Red Sox jersey in hand and finds his father. "Dad?"

"Yes, son?"

"I've decided I'm going to be a Red Sox fan and I would like this jersey
for my birthday."

The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son in the back of his
head and says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!"

About half an hour later they're all back in the car and heading towards
home. The father turns to his son and says "Son, I hope you've learned
something today?"

The son says, "Yes, Dad, I have."

"Good! And what is it you learned?"

The son replies, "I've only been a Red Sox fan for an hour and I already
hate you Yankee bastards!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Four baseball fans - a Cubs fan , a Cardinals fan, a Red Sox fan, and a
Yankees fan - are climbing a mountain and arguing about who loves his
team more.

The Cubs fan insists he is the most oyal. "This is for the Cubs!" he
yells, and jumps off the side of the mountain.

Not to be outdone, the Cardinals fan shouts, "This is for the
Cardinals!" and throws himself off the mountain.

The Red Sox fan is next to profess his love for his team.

He yells, "This is for everyone!" and pushes the Yankees fan off the
mountain.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A Red Sox fan liked to amuse himself by scaring every Yankees fan he saw
strutting down the street in an obnoxious NY pinstripe shirt. He would
swerve his van as if to hit them, then swerve back just missing them.

One day while driving along, he saw a priest. He thought he would do a
good deed, so he pulled over and asked the priest, "Where are you going,
Father?"

"I'm going to g iv e Mass at St. Francis church, about two miles down
the road," replied the priest.
"Climb in, Father. I'll give you a lift!" The priest climbed into the
passenger seat, and they continued down the road.

Suddenly, the driver saw a Yankees fan walking down the road, and he
instinctively swerved as if to hit him. But, as usual, he swerved back
onto the road just in time.

Even though he was certain that he had missed the guy, he still heard a
loud THUD. Not knowing where the noise came from, he glanced in his
mirrors but still didn't see anything.

He then remembered the priest, and he turned to the priest and said,
"Sorry Father, I almost hit that Yankees fan."

"That's OK," replied the priest "I got him with the door."

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run | The Japan Times Online

I really loved this seal and the lolrus saga he inspired. He was so huge I guess someone thought he was a walrus. Rest in peace, Big Guy. I'll take care of your buhket.

 

Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Minazo, Japan's largest seal, died this week having charmed visitors for 10 1/2 years at Enoshima Aquarium in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, aquarium officials said.

News photo

Minazo, Japan's largest seal, performs at Enoshima Aquarium in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, in this undated file photo. The seal died Tuesday of unknown causes. PHOTO COURTESY OF ENOSHIMA AQUARIUM

The 11-year-old male, 4.5-meters long and weighing about 2 tons, was the largest seal ever raised by a Japanese aquarium. The animal died Tuesday after its appetite began to rapidly weaken the day before, officials said. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Minazo was brought to Japan from Uruguay in 1995. The seal soon mastered a variety of comical feats, including a popular stunt in which he held a bucket with one flipper while sticking out his tongue.

Minazo quickly rose to stardom at the aquarium, where his three shows a day proved a hit with visitors.

The aquarium has set up a space in front of Minazo's water tank to allow visitors to leave flowers in Minazo's memory, the officials said.

Popular Enoshima aquarium seal dies after 10 1/2-year run | The Japan Times Online

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I love Bees!


Yes, bees, those little flying things that could sting you, but usually don't want to really. Honestly, if you hold still and don't flap your arms around they normally lose interest in you and fly off. I just read and article at Discovery about bees and bumblebees and I am a little concerned. I can't imagine life without them.

Monday, October 8, 2007

I love Disapproving Rabbits. They don't love me!


This is Benny, my Flemish Giant. This was a couple of years ago. He now lives in my office, craft, and dollhouse room, eating, sleeping and pretty much disapproving of everything I do in there. Benny has a new favorite site he told me about. When I went there, I found out how much Benny and all other rabbits really disapprove of me!! Visit Disapproving Rabbits! And in a few days, a book is coming out starring Cinnamon, the resident bunny of the site!