StrangeRanger

FOUND!

A month ago I posted about our recent trip to the Zoo.  I had been smitten by a particular bird in the aviary.  This guy:

We had been unable to find him on any of the ID cards and were rather frustrated.  He and his compatriots were delightful.  They have a lovely song and weren't shy singing it.

I came home and did some on-line research and came up with....nothing.  The only results I could get from my image searches were birds that looked nothing like our little dude. Google, my faith in you has been shaken!

I started typing in descriptions, hoping to luck into a good result and.... it worked!

May I present  Garrulax Leucolophus, the White-crested Laughingthrush!

how are ya how are ya how are ya?

These birds are native to Southeast Asia, from the Himalayan foothills of India to Vietnam and Singapore.  They are a very gregarious and vocal species and have even been know to hit up random passers-by for a snack.

And now we all know.  What a relief!

You should go to the wiki page linked above.  It has an audio file of the Laughingthrush's song.  I think you'll be as charmed as we.  

Happy Labor Day!

For a long time I have been employed in an inherently conservative profession in an inherently conservative school district under the control of an extremely conservative state government.  There has always been pressure for teachers to refrain from explicit expressions of ideology or politics.  While I am fine with that in the classroom, my job being to give the children the tools they need to form their own opinions, the pressure has extended to private or other public expression.  Now that I am retired I can express myself attended only by the apprehension that comes with expressing yourself on the internet.  I think I'm grown-up enough to handle that.

Here's my Labor Day post.  And don't worry, there's a DAISY post below this one, if you're just here for the cat.

I have been, for 30 years, a proud member of my union.  When the teachers in my state took unpaid days and marched in our state capitol, I marched.  I got kind of teary when I watched this video.  At 0:38 you'll see a picture of a teacher's march.  Not one of mine, but I'm a part of it in a very real way.  I've always believed in strong unions.  It's been my experience that united, we can bargain.  Alone, we beg.  Teachers and school systems have been begging for way too long.  

My wish for all of you is that your labor is productive, well supported and rewarded.

National Black Cat Appreciation Day

August 17 was national Black Cat Appreciation Day!  Don't know who had the good idea, but I'm glad it was had.  Now, I know that Ivy was only *mostly* black...

...but we spent a good part of yesterday appreciating her.  How could you not appreciate such a wonderful, loving cat?  We wish she was still around for us to give treats to...

<burp>

It may be the day after NBCAD, but find a black, or mostly black, cat, or even a cat with some black on it somewhere....maybe the pupils....and shower it with appreciation.  Just, as Mallory said, because it's there.

A Close Race!

According to the official vote count in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Hank the Cat came in THIRD in the Virginia Senate race. (!)  w00t!

His positive campaign and refusal to sling litter attracted almost 7,000 voters.  Not enough to snatch an upset win, but enough to be a serious message to our current crop of elected servants.  I hope.

As for me, I'm looking forward to Hank for Congress in 2014, and then on to the Big House in 2016.

 
I hear the White House Portico gets some really good sunpuddles.  GO HANK!

Even though he's another cat, Maddie endorses Hank, kinda....

 
Oh god...he's on about that other cat again...<sigh> better humor him.....  voteforhankin2014...how was that and where are my treats?

More Olympics! Namely....

FENCING!!! 

Ahhh, Sabre.  Sweet, slashy, dramatic sabre.  I used to be an active fencer, and I believe that I am *still* a fencer.  I may write more on this some time this week, but for now I'll concentrate on the only active fencer in the house.

Wicked fast and deadly sharp.

If I'd had that kind of focus on and off the strip, I might have made something of myself.

 
And here she is, prepping her weapons and meditating on her strategy for the next bout.

A true Athlete.

A Candidate We can Believe In

It's not often I let this blog get political, but I feel the time has come to change that policy.  At least for now.

Hank for Senate. 

Hank is a 9 year old Maine Coon Cat running as an independent for the open U.S. Senate seat from Virginia.

His platform is simple:  job creation, support of spay/neuter programs and animal rescue, and civility in politics.  How can you not love those?

He's got a Twitter feed and a Facebook page.  He's got more "likes" than his Democratic opponent Tim Kaine and has his sights set on the Republican George Allen.

Despite the costs involved in running a modern, media-driven political campaign, Hank asks that donations be made to animal rescue organizations, like the one that saved him from the mean streets as a kitten.

He's even got an on-line add or two:

 

And, as proof that he's making the power brokers in Washington nervous, there's even an attack add aimed at him. 

You may notice that the scurrilous add is paid for by a SuperPac called "Canines for a Feline Free Tomorrow".  Shock.

It's a pity that I can't vote for Hank (who received 9 write-in votes when he ran for a state senate seat last election). I'll be making a donation to a local group in his honor though.

Even Maddie supports Hank, despite the fact that he's another cat.  I think it's because he's a really handsome boy.

Vote Hank!

A long needed innovation

Several years ago, LadyRanger and I saw a photo of several fire fighters crowded around a couple of cats that had been rescued from a building fire.  The cats were being given oxygen through a human sized gas mask, and the three or four guys in the frame were all crowded around, obviously very concerned.  I'm always grateful to see these professionals taking time to help pets, like in this story from Bristol.  It gives me hope that, should there ever be a fire at my home (God forbid) that Maddie and Ivy would have a chance. 

Just the other day, LadyRanger found this article on CNN.  Now, the fire fighters have equipment made for the purpose of rescuing pets.  Maddie and Ivy send grateful purrs to the designers.

My cats don't know Jack

I don't think that even Maddie and Ivy together would jump Jack.  And he's clawless, too. 

The most current affair

Wow.  I have to say that I don't have anything deep to add to the commentary on Katrina.  It's a disaster beyond my ability to really absorb.  I can look at the coverage and try to superimpose the images on my world and I can be empathetic, but I don't have the ability to articulate my feelings and thoughts in a manner anyone would want to read.  I would ask that people give to the relief effort.

I've seen so much that moves me, and I can't even imagine having to leave my house, wondering if it would be there upon my return.  It truly upsets me that folks are having, or choosing, to leave their pets.  I don't know what it would take for me to abandon Maddie.  If it meant sleeping in the car by the highway, I'd keep her with me.  I suppose my wife and I are blessed by having a cat that can stay in a carrier most of the time, as opposed to a large dog that needs space.  I hope all works out for those who've had to make the wrenching decision to abandon a pet.  Maddie urges you to find a charity that will work for the rescue of the pets left behind.  My wife and I gave food and litter through our local chapter of the American Humane Society, so that may be an option for you.

Give what you can to help kitties keep their heads above the water!  Thanks!