|
May 26th, 2012
pawsandeffect
| 04:20 pm - New Cat Update: Confidence Rises; Doors Open
http://www.paws-and-effect.com/2012/05/26/introduction-update-kiss-kiss-gets-more-confident/ http://www.paws-and-effect.com/?p=2107 Six days ago I returned home with a new feline housemate, and I promised to document the process of introducing Chrysanthemum — a.k.a. Chrysanthemum Kiss-Kiss Bobette Jellylorum Kelley — into my family.
Because I knew Kiss-Kiss would be stressed from the five-hour road trip and finding herself in a new environment, I knew it was important to take it slowly. I really wanted this introduction to go right because I really, really want her to get along with my other cats and find her forever home with me.
 Day 2: Notice Chrysanthemum's body language -- crouched, vigilant, tail low. That means she's still stressed and not ready for any new stimuli.
The first thing I did was to give her a room of her own where she could decompress and get accustomed to the new smells and sights. I parked her in my office (after I moved my computer out into the living room) and gave her a makeshift bed of a pillow and some towels in a cardboard box. I also installed my Catty Stacks in there because Siouxsie and Thomas hadn’t claimed them yet and they’d give her a place to hide and a place to look out the window. She also got her own litterbox and food and water dishes.
For the first couple of days Chrysanthemum was very tense. When I went in to feed her and give her some attention, she was hiding behind a desk and cautiously worked her way out to allow me to pet her. When she did come out to sniff around and rub her face on things to mark her territory, she was very careful to walk around the edges of the room — another sign of a cat that needs a confidence boost. She also didn’t eat much. Those are signs of stress, so the most important thing was to find a way to minimize that stress.
But as you can see in this video, which I took on Wednesday, she came right out of her shell every time I walked into the room.
I discovered, sort of by accident, that the primary reason she wasn’t eating much was that she didn’t like where I’d placed her bowl. Maybe she felt too vulnerable to relax enough to eat, I don’t know. But when I moved that bowl so her head was facing the door when she ate and she had a clear view all around her, her appetite picked right up.
On the third day, she was inside one of the Catty Stacks, so I knew she was getting less fearful. She was still on guard, but she wasn’t hiding where nobody could see her.
 Today: Chrysanthemum rubs on her Catty Stacks.
Day 3, Wednesday, I heard a wonderful sound: pitter-pattering footsteps and hops and jumps. She was playing with the mouse toy that Robin had left in her carrier. When a cat starts playing, that’s a very good sign. That evening, I opened the door a crack so that Thomas and Chrysanthemum could have a very brief introduction. Noses poked at the door and both parties did some hissing.
 Today: Notice the difference in Chrysanthemum's body language from Day 2. She's walking tall with her tail up, in the center of the room.
Later on, I made a point of reassuring Thomas that Chrysanthemum was not here to replace Dahlia. Nobody could replace Dahlia, I told him, and I still miss her terribly as I’m sure he does, too. “Dahlia will always have a place in my heart, and I know she’ll always have a place in yours,” I said, “and the wonderful thing about cat-loving humans is that there’s infinite room in our hearts, and when we bring a new family member home, our heart expands to fit the love of the new cat in with all the others.”
That may sound silly to some of you, but the next day when I let them see each other again, Thomas was very polite. I petted them both as they met each other, which I hoped would begin to create a positive association. Although Thomas’s tail was lashing a little bit, he didn’t make a sound. Chrysanthemum got a foot or so away from the door and hissed and ran off, but then she came back around and explored again. When she hissed, I stopped petting her — I didn’t want to reinforce that behavior — and continued to reassure each of them that it’s OK and they’re safe.
 Kiss-Kiss and me, this morning. Yes, I look like a grubber, but it was early in the day.
Last night, I got a little bit bolder and left the door open enough that Thomas could get his head and shoulders into the room. He was much more mellow; there was a lot less tail lashing. And as for Kiss-Kiss, she was relaxed enough that she actually rolled over on her back and let me pet her while Thomas was head-and-shoulders in the room. Of course, there was some growling and hissing, and again, I reinforced the good behavior — when both of them were purring and acting relaxed — and stopped petting when I heard aggressive noises.
 This morning: The door is wide open and Thomas and Chrysanthemum look at each other. Thomas is sitting calmly while Kiss-Kiss looks out, curious.
Each day the open-door duration has gotten longer. Last night I went in later in the evening and left the door open and didn’t stand by it to guard against the cats going in and out. Thomas came inside and explored around her room while Chrysanthemum sat on top of the Catty Stacks, ever watchful. When he got too close, she made a low growl and I said, “It’s okay, you’re safe.” After about 15 minutes, I closed the door with Thomas outside. Chrysanthemum immediately went around the room and sniffed everything Thomas had touched.
 And ... Chrysanthemum sets foot across the threshold for the first time since she's been here. Don't be fooled: there were fat tails and growls and hisses shortly after I took this photo, so I shut the door again and let them chill out.
Which leads up to today. Twenty minutes of wide-open-door time with Thomas and Chrysanthemum doing the kitty intro dance. Chrysanthemum set her foot outside the door of her room for the first time! Of course, that led to fat tails and growls from both parties, so I closed the door and let them cool off.
So … Chrysanthemum and Thomas are making good progress in their introductions. I am a little concerned about Siouxsie, though: she’s shown no interest in getting anywhere near her, although the two ladies have met — with mutual growls and running in opposite directions. Whether this means Siouxsie’s cooler because at age 16 she’s seen it all, or whether it means something else, is still up in the air.
As cat behaviorist and America’s favorite cat daddy, Jackson Galaxy, said to me in a recent interview, there is no Grand Unifying Theory about cat introductions and cat behavior. Every cat is an individual, and while there are certain steps to take in order to make a proper introduction, the timing of those steps is all about the cats themselves. Watch their body language very carefully and be sure to positively reinforce the behavior you want. Cats do growl and hiss at each other; that’s a normal part of introductions. But don’t let the conflict escalate to the point where either party is traumatized, or else you’ll have to go back to step 1 and re-introduce them.
|
slashfood_feed
| 01:27 pm - After Outbreak, Cantaloupe Farm Can't Cut It
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/26/jensen-farms-cantaloupe-listeria_n_1547645.html DENVER -- A Colorado farm that was traced to a listeria outbreak in cantaloupe last year has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The outbreak was blamed for 32 deaths. It infected 146 people in 28 states. Federal investigators have said old, hard-to-clean equipment at Jensen Farms and pools of dirty water on the floor probably were to blame.
Court documents show the farm had $4.8 million in revenue in the past 12 months. It lists $2.1 million in assets, $2.5 million in liabilities, and $1.6 million in payments outstanding from food distributor Frontera Produce.
|
slashfood_feed
| 12:00 am - Amie Valpone: 9 Out-Of-The-Box, Healthy Snack Ideas
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amie-valpone/healthy-snacks_b_1531862.html?ref=food&ir=Food Sunday nights can be rough. We all know the feeling: Trying to plan ahead a week's worth of snacks for the entire family can be exhausting just to think about. But there's no need to stress -- simply set aside a bit of time every Sunday morning to map out your week. Believe me, it's worth the time; your taste buds will thank you and we all know that a good meal makes everyone happy. Don't leave the menu planning until Monday night when you find yourself stuck in traffic at 6 p.m., the kids are starving and your stomach is growling because there's nowhere to turn for delicious, fresh gluten-free food -- not even at a gas station or a vending machine. So, what's a gluten-free family to do?
Simple: Plan out your snacks along with your meals every Sunday. Make your snacks a planning priority, just like you would your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Easier said than done? Not at all; think about what foods you enjoy eating for your meals and branch out to create snacks around them so that nothing goes to waste. A fan of lentils? Make a batch on Sunday night for dal on Monday, lentil soup on Tuesday and a snack of lentils and avocado wrapped in nori seaweed for each day of the week along with salsa. Love your sweets? Freeze a Greek yogurt, defrost for 20 minutes, and add in cocoa powder, banana slices and ground flaxseeds for a nice spin on an ice cream Sunday. Still not satisfied? How about tossing together some corn tortilla chips and topping them with melted low-fat cheese, freshly chopped broccoli, spinach and salsa? These out-of-the-box snacks are fun to create and unique enough to keep your taste buds yearning for more.
The trick is to always be prepared and get creative with your morning and afternoon snacks. Be sure to keep fresh veggies on hand at all times -- chop them up and store in sealable bags for the week for a quick grab n' go convenient nibble. I prepare organic sliced turkey wrapped around fresh asparagus and a slice of avocado for many of my clients for an easy go-to snack served with hummus. Why not try some fresh berries atop a bed of steamed spinach and chicken breast for a sweet nibble; or you can wrap chickpeas in a corn tortilla with sun-dried tomatoes, kale and olives. I always take note of the healthy foods I need to keep my pantry and fridge stocked at all times. These items own a spot on my grocery list each week, and it's so easy to purchase a few staples on Sunday for the week ahead. Unfortunately, most of the convenient gluten-free food is highly processed and full of added sugars, so try to map out your week and think about when you get hungry. Is it in the mornings, the afternoons, after dinner? Think of items that you can easily toss into your bag when you're running errands or store in your top desk drawer, such as dried fruit, nuts and seeds. It takes five minutes to toss some gluten-free oats into a Ziploc bag along with dried fruit, unsweetened coconut flakes, almonds and pumpkin seeds. This can go anywhere and can last forever, whether you eat it today or next week. Just a bit of water, and you've got yourself a nice snack to hold you over.
Homemade chicken fingers made with ground flaxseeds instead of breadcrumbs are a perfect after-school nibble that your kids can enjoy with a side of honey mustard and chopped almonds. I often have my clients travel with two veggie burgers in a Ziploc bag for breakfast and lunch -- one they enjoy with a hard-boiled egg and ketchup for their traveling breakfast, and the other they eat over a sealed container of mixed greens drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Believe me, you'll be thankful you saved yourself the money that you'd spend at a vending machine on highly processed gluten-free snacks, and your body will be grateful, as well. Just think, the benefits of eating clean, wholesome gluten-free snacks will have you feeling good about yourself and keep you feeling good. So, when dinner is at 8 and you just can't wait, here are some quick and easy snacks to hold you over and keep you and your gluten-free belly happy.
Pear and Turkey Ricotta Tartine
Toast a piece of gluten-free toast. Top evenly, top with 2 tbsp. apple butter, ½ thinly sliced pear, 1 slice of sliced turkey and 2 oz. ricotta cheese. Broil until the cheese has melted, 2-3 minutes.
Crackers with Smoked Salmon
Evenly divide 1 tbsp. Greek plain yogurt, 4 oz. sliced smoked salmon, 2 tsp. chopped red onion, ground cumin, sea salt and pepper; place atop crackers.
Figs and Sliced Melon
Slice 2 figs in half, top with thinly sliced melon and feta cheese.
Nori Herbed Turkey Wraps
Lay 2 pieces of nori seaweed on a flat surface, top with a slice of turkey breast, salsa, chili powder and thinly sliced zucchini. Wrap like a burrito.
Squash with Almond Butter Dip
Cut 1 yellow squash into thin slices; serve alongside a fun dip made from a mixture of 1 cup of Greek plain yogurt, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, 2 Tbsp. almond butter and ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice.
White Bean Arugula Pesto with Toast
In a food processor, combine 4 cups arugula, 1 cup cannellini beans, 4 fresh basil leaves, 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar, sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve with toast.
Apple Parfait with Salted Pistachios
Cut 2 apples into bite-sized pieces. Divide the apple and 1.5 cups Greek plain yogurt among bowls. Sprinkle with ½ cup coarsely chopped salted roasted pistachios and 1 tsp. unsweetened coconut flakes. Serve apples with the Greek yogurt mixture.
Crunchy Cashew Lime Broccoli with Veggie Burgers
Grill up some veggie burgers; steam broccoli florets and toss with olive oil, chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Sprinkle with toasted ground cashews. Serve with veggie burger.
Savory Hummus Kale Wraps
Slice 1 avocado. Lay a large kale leaf on a flat surface, top with sliced avocado, hummus, sprouts and salsa. Sprinkle with sesame seeds; wrap like a burrito.
For more by Amie Valponse, click here.
For more on diet and nutrition, click here.
|
slashfood_feed
| 06:11 pm - 6 Warm-Weather Low-Calorie Cocktails
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/25/warm-weather-low-calorie-cocktails_n_1546385.html 
By Tina Haupert
Everyone loves a nice, cold drink every now and then! But when it comes to maintaining a feel-great weight, who wants to drink seltzer every night? You should always avoid high-calorie cocktails, like Mudslides and frozen margaritas, but you can still enjoy a drink or two. Whip up these six low-calorie recipes for all the taste without the guilt.
For more on diet and nutrition, click here.
|
io9feed
| 11:00 am - Rare and eerie photos from an early atomic bomb test [Photography]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/z9cgN4cktzg/rare-and-eerie-photos-from-an-early-atomic-bomb-test
In the first half of 1955, the United States performed more than a dozen tests of atomic weapons in Nevada, studying the destructive power of the country's most powerful weapons. These photos, from the 44th nuclear test explosion ever performed on US soil, capture the varied effects. More »

|
io9feed
| 10:30 am - These retrofuturistic magazine covers sat in the background of Blade Runner [Blade Runner]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/RvzQZ-1bCjk/these-retrofuturistic-magazine-covers-sat-in-the-background-of-blade-runner
Ridley Scott's incredible attention to detail in Blade Runner stretched all the way to the newsstands sitting in the background. He asked concept artist Tom Southwell to create these magazine covers for his dystopian Los Angeles. More »

|
io9feed
| 10:00 am - What is the shiniest thing in the solar system? [Space]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/dzUX3MyrVmg/what-is-the-shiniest-thing-in-the-solar-system
A New Moon is rising in the next few days, giving us a chance to bathe in the Earthshine, the light from the Earth that illuminates the Moon. Earth shines bright for the Moon, and the Moon shines for the Earth, but what's the shiniest thing in the solar system? More »

|
io9feed
| 09:30 am - Cardboard Mecha Kitty commands you to put down the catnip. Slowly. [This Is Awesome]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/CuoW_nxTEmo/cardboard-mecha-kitty-wants-you-to-put-down-the-catnip-slowly
If people can ride around in lion-shaped mechas, why can't cats cruise in their own bipedal mecha suits? Reddit user Tastybread crafted this bad-ass cat bed for his cardboard-loving kitty. His next project: Krang's human-shaped exo-suit. [reddit via Ian Brooks] More »

|
io9feed
| 09:00 am - What are the tax implications of the zombie apocalypse? [Graveyard Life]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/EMKncx7jDPk/what-are-the-tax-implications-of-the-zombie-apocalypse
The only certainties in life are death and taxes, but how do you handle the taxes when death doesn't go quite as planned? Law professor Adam Chodorow takes a stab at estate planning for the undead in perhaps the only legal paper to cite both the Internal Revenue Code and Weekend at Bernie's II. More »

|
io9feed
| 08:30 am - In the webcomic Dawn of Time, a time traveler and a barbarian team up in the age of dinosaurs [Comic
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/nUPr1a6Vp8Q/in-the-webcomic-dawn-of-time-a-time-traveler-and-a-barbarian-team-up-in-the-age-of-dinosaurs
If paleontologists had access to time machines, they could solve innumerable mysteries about the terrible lizards who once walked the Earth. But if the past is anything like Michael Stearns' webcomic Dawn of Time, the age of dinosaurs may not be quite what they expected. Last I checked, few scientific theories included a bikini-clad barbarian riding a blue triceratops, while civilization marches on in the background. More »

|
io9feed
| 08:00 am - Matt Smith carries the Olympic Torch, but not as the Doctor [Doctor Who]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/aWC08Em26po/matt-smith-carries-the-olympic-torch-but-not-as-the-doctor
After the Tenth Doctor lit the London 2012 Olympic Flame in the Doctor Who episode "Fear Her," many Who fans were clamoring for David Tennant or Matt Smith to carry the Olympic Torch. This morning in Cardiff, those fans got their wish as Matt Smith participated in the Olympic Relay and helped the Torch along to its final destinations. Still, couldn't he have paired his track suit with a smart bow tie? More »

|
io9feed
| 07:30 am - Watch cartoon voice actors read the Star Wars Trilogy as Bubbles, Bender, and Captain Kirk [Video]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/ZKhWkb-6Ddo/watch-cartoon-voice-actors-read-the-star-wars-trilogy-as-bubbles-bender-and-captain-kirk
Now here's a revamping of the original trilogy we can get behind! At this year's Emerald City Comic Con, cartoon voice actors Billy West, Tara Strong, Maurice LaMarche, John DiMaggio, Kevin Conroy, Jess Harnell, and Rob Paulsen read scenes from the original three Star Wars movies in the voices of cartoon characters from Pinky the Mouse to Jake the Dog. It's delightfully ludicrous, and begging to be synched with the films. More »

|
io9feed
| 07:00 am - The Super Best Friends can't decide on a name and Red Lanterns attack Oa! [Video]
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/full/~3/AJxfsTHG_IQ/the--super-best-friends-cant-decide-on-a-name-and-red-lanterns-attack-oa
This week, Super Best Friends Forever returns, Red Lanterns attack the Green Lantern homeworld of Oa, and the Iacon City relic hunt comes to an end on Transformers: Prime! Legend of Korra, Adventure Time, and the Marvel Disney XD shows are off this week thanks of the long holiday weekend in the U.S., but enjoy the extra addition at the bottom. Minor spoilers ahead! More »

|
conuly
 | 02:13 pm - Eva's teacher still thinks she can't read as well as she should be able to. And largely, no doubt, assumes she can't read the things she DOES read all the time, short chapter books and the like. We've all given up on the woman. I'm sure she's well-meaning, but if she can't see what everybody else sees, well, there's no point now that we're almost done with the school year.
Yesterday at the bookstore Evangeline saw a copy of a kit for kids, "Yummy Crochet". She read the title aloud and laughed at it for being so silly. I'm not sure when or how she internalized "sometimes, words ending with -et are said with a final -ay sound", but she must have because I'm certain she's never seen the word "crochet" written down before in her life.
|
internetarchive
| 06:04 pm - 3oteby_2
http://archive.org/details/3oteby_2  3oteby_2. This item belongs to: texts/opensource. This item has files of the following types: Abbyy GZ, Animated GIF, DjVu, DjVuTXT, Djvu XML, EPUB, Metadata, Scandata, Single Page Processed JP2 ZIP, Text PDF, Word Document
|
internetarchive
| 06:04 pm - Wikimedia Database dump of zuwiki on 20110914
http://archive.org/details/zuwiki20110914  This is the dump of zuwiki on 20110914 made by the Wikimedia Foundation and available for download from the Wikimedia website.. This item belongs to: web/wikimediadownloads. This item has files of the following types: Metadata, Text
|
internetarchive
| 06:03 pm - ArchiveTeam Tabblo Panic Download: Range 1661000-1661999
http://archive.org/details/archiveteam-tabblo-1661  This item contains the ZIP files for Tabblos 1661000 to 1661999, as produced by the 'Download as ZIP' function of Tabblo.com.. This item belongs to: web/opensource. This item has files of the following types: Metadata, ZIP
|
internetarchive
| 06:03 pm - New Faces
http://archive.org/details/mbid-37e25aa9-edf8-4a34-a2f5-a944946f32fc  No description available. This item belongs to: data/coverartarchive. This item has files of the following types: JPEG, JPEG 250px Thumb, JPEG 500px Thumb, JPEG Thumb, JSON, Metadata, Metadata Log, MusicBrainz Metadata
|
internetarchive
| 06:03 pm - IUMA: Brother Joel
http://archive.org/details/iuma-brother_joel  Born and raised in Erie Pa. started writing music at 13 plays folk punk plays an acoustic averez guitar can't lie also a drum machine. Loves music and writing . This item belongs to: audio/iuma-archive. This item has files of the following types: Metadata, Ogg Vorbis, VBR MP3
|
internetarchive
| 06:03 pm - ArchiveTeam Tabblo Panic Download: Range 1665000-1665999
http://archive.org/details/archiveteam-tabblo-1665  This item contains the ZIP files for Tabblos 1665000 to 1665999, as produced by the 'Download as ZIP' function of Tabblo.com.. This item belongs to: web/opensource. This item has files of the following types: Metadata, ZIP
|
internetarchive
| 06:03 pm - Oriental Grooves
http://archive.org/details/mbid-285d86c1-5302-4be9-8367-09485f80ebdd  No description available. This item belongs to: data/coverartarchive. This item has files of the following types: JSON, Metadata, Metadata Log, MusicBrainz Metadata
|
|
|
|