Story: There are several non-Furry-Friday topics I want to discuss today, but it's time to get back on track with this weekly piece. So today the story is a crossover piece with the topic of the economy. In November, we shed a position where I work. To my knowledge, it's the first position that we've lost all year. Even more telling, though, is the nature of the position. It was the job where we worked to partnership with other businesses. Apparently that money has dried up entirely. Corporations aren't giving donations to non-profits right now. They're too busy trying to keep up on their own mortgages. (Supposedly the corporate mortgage crisis in the USA is looming, ready to burst any week now.) We don't get paid by the government to keep our daily business operating; we rely mostly on donations. The fees that we charge are nowhere near enough to cover our costs. The sour economy is finally reaching us. We lost a job position. I suppose we'll learn after the December holiday charity season if we'll soon have to make any more cutbacks.

Animals: I first met Kitten many weeks ago. She is a 6-year-old female, and her picture here really does not do her justice. She looks to me like some sort of Siamese x alleycat mix. Her fur is mostly white with hints of grey stripes peeking through. I think she's very pretty. Her demeanor, however, is probably keeping her from being noticed. It took several visits before I could coax her out of her litterbox hideaway. Once she decides you're trustworthy, though, then she's aggressively petable. I can relate to that disposition; and I'd take her home today if I had my own place.

She's reached the point where she'll chitter at me as I open her cage door, then she dashes for my hand as I hold it out to her. She's still quite nervous and fearful, though. Her tail is always curled under, and she runs back to her litterbox if strangers come near or she hears loud noises elsewhere in the room. I think she'd do great in a quiet home. She has a nice purr, and she desires lots of attention (in the right environment). Only once did I try to take her to a visitation room, but that was still a bit too traumatic for her. I sat on the floor while she hid on my shoulders behind my long hair or down on the floor behind my back. With time, I'm sure she'll acclimate to a new home.

I didn't travel to most of the other sites in November, so I haven't met Elmo myself. He's a 1-year-old hamster in Saint Paul. I had to mention him today, though, because of this year's Zhu Zhu toy craze and because of his photo. He was featured in our Facebook feed, and it's obvious why. What's not to like about this face? *laugh*

As of this writing, both animals are available for visitation and adoption. Kitten is at Golden Valley, and Elmo is at Saint Paul.

How You Can Help: Two words: Martha Stewart.

Purina ONE is sponsoring another contest. In this one, you can submit your pet adoption story and photo to the Martha Stewart website and choose the animal shelter that wins $10,000 if you win their contest. (As a reminder, we are the "Animal Humane Society", based in Minnesota.) In addition, you'll get a trip to New York City to attend the Martha Stewart Show. The contest deadline is December 31st.

Evolutionary psychology is a fascinating branch of science. It strikes me as something akin to astrology. There is surely a real science hidden somewhere deep inside it (astronomy, to explain the metaphor), yet it seldom produces hard results fit for more than amusing discussions at coffee klatch.

Case in point:


Fascinating topic for discussion over coffee, but I'm not sure how you test to see if there's an actual link there. What if, in fact, prehistoric women were not gatherers? I'm not aware that anyone's proven that women were specialized as gatherers. In early history they were, yes, but that's not the same as ancient prehistory. I'm willing to accept that men and women do differ in their psychology, even in some stereotypic ways. I'm just not sure that I'm willing to accept this way.

The traditional human farmer, after all, is male. How does that agricultural history fit in with this theory? What does this mean about modern life in the office cubicle farm? Why couldn't females just leave the children behind during the hunt, like other animals do? What about females (less muscular of the two genders) who do both the hunting and the child-rearing among lions? Aren't we just assuming that human females were gatherers previously?

I don't automatically accept the idea that our ancient ancestors divided up labor this way, even if it conveniently fits tired stereotypes. I want to see some evidence. If humans are as pliable as I think they are, then a century spent with women overlords and male underlings would see these roles reversed. Would we then claim prehistoric female hunters with male gatherers?

In my truck on the way out to the Anoka County offices earlier this morning, I listed to Minnesota Public Radio. They talked about how our governor unilaterally (without oversight from the legislature) cut funding for a health program for former convicts. That program was meant to keep them on their psychiatric medications so they wouldn't reoffend and arrive in prison again. Anyway, the program was gone because of budget cutbacks.

These former prisoners were being moved over to Minnesota Care where they would have to pay monthly fees just like everybody else. These new enrollees may be part of why there is a backlog in MN Care applications right now. (She said today that it could take up to 45 days.) Well, that reason plus all the other poor people like me signing up.

So I was thinking as I continued my drive, my tax money...

1. pays for inmates to have better medical care than I do,
2. pays for former inmates to have better medical care than I do,
3. pays for lawmakers to have better medical care than I do, and
4. pays for disabled or old people to have better medical care than I do.

It sounds strangely like slavery to me. I was born in the wrong country. I should live someplace civilized.


It seems likely (although I make no promises) that I can keep my body together for 45 days. Then, assuming I'm approved for the Minnesota Care program, I can force other people to pay for my medical bills. Yay!

Today's theme song is political. It's also a tribute to the wonders of technology. I stumble across a song from another continent, find its lyrics in a foreign language, then get google to translate them for me. With more searching, I found where I could buy the DRM-free track to play as often as I want and whenever I want. I even found a webpage that has lyrics in two languages.



Here is "It Is Not Good" by Amadou and Mariam. Visit Lala to hear the song and Wikia to read the lyrics. It's only US$0.89 to buy this song at Lala (and I see, too late, that the whole album can be purchased very cheaply too). I rarely buy music, but I'm pleased to pay for this one.

L'hypocrisie dans la politique, Ce n'est pas bon. Ce n'est pas bon. Nous n'en voulons pas. Démagogie dans la politique, Ce n'est pas bon. Ce n'est pas bon. Nous n'en voulons pas. La dictature dans la politique, Ce n'est pas bon. Ce n'est pas bon. Nous n'en voulons pas. Du bonheur, du bonheur pour le peuple. De l'amour, de l'amour pour le peuple. Ce n'est pas bon. Ce n'est pas bon. Nous n'en voulons pas.

Hypocrisy in politics, It’s not good. It’s not good. We don’t want any. Demagogy in politics, It’s not good. It’s not good. We don’t want any. Dictatorship in politics, It’s not good. It’s not good. We don’t want any. Happiness, happiness for the people, Love, love for the people. It’s not good. It’s not good. We don’t want any.

I think that the masses of humanity would find common cause in some good, old-fashioned antiestablishmentarianism, if they could just give up their traditional wingnuttery in order to talk about actual issues instead of repeating the tired political phrases that they've learned. Yes, conservatism leans towards fascism. Yes, liberalism leans towards communism. That's just how the political spectrum is built. Success probably means implementing elements of both the left and right, if we can get past the labels.

I haven't been to see a movie in a month or so, I think.

I was wanting to see "The Road" and maybe even "Fantastic Mr. Fox" or "Precious" today at matinee prices. But I've already had 10 pager calls from work this morning. *grrrr* It's impossible to have a life while carrying the pager at this job. I guess movies will have to wait until next weekend when I don't have the pager. I wish they'd just admit that they need IT coverage during every business hour and keep staff on hand to cover it. The pager duty is really beyond reasonable as it is.

I succeeded in avoiding "2012". For the last year, I had very much been looking forward to watching its special effects on the huge IMAX screen. I discovered when it was released to theaters, however, that there is no IMAX version. *disappointment* The reviews for it have been mostly bad, so I guess I can live without ever seeing it. (What would be the point of watching a special effects movie on a small tv screen a year from now?)

No post this week because I'm in a bad mood. The story that I want to talk about is an unhappy one, and we've already been warned against "Facebook" posts with animal details.

*disgruntled grunt*

I just finished my shower and am heading in to work early today (was planning on just my usual shift) because of the number of pager calls. I might as well get paid for being annoyed.

What if the human-created world has already changed? What if government can no longer exist as a force meant to spur efficient growth in the production of wealth? What if, from now on, the only reasonable government is one that is meant to inhibit growth at every level of human endeavor?

"The Problem of Denial" by sociologist William R. Catton, Jr. (born here in Minneapolis, by the way) is an interesting read. He seems to summarize the point that I have been trying to make (post-autistic economics, levels of reality for human perception of economics, etc.) about taking personal responsibility for the state of the whole system. Ecological carrying capacity is a reality, and yet human psychology resists acknowledging that truth. The abstract for his article states succinctly, "Denials of ecological limits resemble anosognosia (inability of stroke patients to recognize their paralysis)."

What is the consequence of this "blind spot"? Within the first few sentences of the article, he quotes Edmund Burke who wrote that humans "... are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites.... Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters."

I think perhaps that the failure of religion to curb human desires (for example, the failure of religious "abstinence-only education" to reduce HIV transmission rates) means that government must now step in to enforce changes of behavior that benefit the long-term success of the society (and therefore the species). Failure to do so means that we cede that task to Nature Herself, and She is a deadly harsh mistress.

This paper might serve as an underlying theory that supports the existence of such things as The Long Now foundation. Humans need help in thinking about timeframes beyond their immediate daily perception. Maybe that's what government has to do now. Like the Chinese one child policy. Government may have to force people to behave in ways counter to our evolutionary programming. This task, obviously, will not be easy.

Evolution likes exponential growth. Exponential growth, however, produces disasters because the upper ceiling permitted by natural resources will always cause the growth curve to crash into reality. Evolution wants exponential growth; humans, however, dislike disasters.

I impatiently wait to see which motivation wins.

In flights of fancy, I also easily wonder if other spacefaring civilizations wait to see the outcome of this very decision before they make contact. Species that opt for perpetual growth, after all, would need to use resources outside their native star system. Enforcing isolation seems a very efficient way to let unrestrained species burn themselves out (by destroying the ecosphere of their homeworld) without endangering the rest of the galactic neighborhood. Some people have already proposed use of the name Homo eusapiens as the name of the new creature that lives within this long timeframe, after Homo sapiens exhausts itself.

As I said before, suppose that you were limited to life in a 10-acre stretch of land. How would that change your decisions if you had that limitation kept continually in your perception? It's the same concept, writ large.

I need to do more reading about sapient governance to see if George Mobus addresses this issue too.

For people in the Minneapolis area, can you suggest a lawyer to handle a car accident case? There were no injuries, the other party was at fault, their insurance company admitted "100% liability". But after all this time, they still have not sent me a check for the cost of the rental car.

I left a phone message last week, but I still have not seen a letter or phone call since then. I tried to be reasonable by delaying the date when I got a rental car (several days after the accident rather than right away), by permitting them to pick their own date for when they'd stop paying on the car rental, and by going back to the car rental company to have them print an "estimated receipt" for how much it would have cost if I'd turned in my rental on that specific end date.

I tried to be nice. I'm done with the frustration. It's time to sic the lawyers on them.

Well, I thought I had already made my last post about gardening for the 2009 season. I was wrong. (Click photos to embiggen. (Click again for original size.))

This "Dragon" variety of carrot is excellent. They grow huge in the soil here, yet they have a very soft and tasty core. Great combination, plus they're pretty to look at with their deep purple exterior. In this first photo, here are the ones that I damaged while digging them up. I gave them a quick rinse in a bowl of water on the porch step. They'll be eaten soon.

I've had to buy Dragon Carrot seeds each year because none of them survived the winter. This time, I want to keep some alive so they can flower and produce seeds in their second year of life. I'm trying two tactics to overwinter these vegetables.

1) I don't have hay for mulch. Instead, I'm going to try keeping them warmer by making a kind of terrarium dome over some of them. I upended a white plastic kitty litter container and built up some dirt around the edge to better seal in the air. We'll see if they survive in their native dirt through the cold winter.

2) I don't have sand either. I dug up some carrots and placed them into another kitty litter container then I added some more garden dirt. I guess I'll try keeping these in the basement where it's cool, dark, and dry. Maybe come spring they'll still be able to sprout and produce a flower stalk that can go to seed. I included the shovel in this picture so you can see just how huge these things are growing in the dirt here. Some of them are just massive.

I found that a second broccoli patch is doing rather well in the cold weather. I expect to have a few flowerettes to cut and eat soon. Somehow, I didn't collect seeds from the ones that flowered in the summer. Guess I'll be buying more of those for the spring.

I recently took out of the freezer the last of the stew I made with all of the garden vegetables I had previously harvested: carrot, corn, bean, tomato. Yum. I wish I had a few acres to do this kind of thing fulltime.

Just how densely can you pack energy in a recoverable and portable form? Really, really dense. No, I'm not talking "Mr. Fusion" (a la "Back To The Future" fusion blender). Think "black hole" instead.

There was a flap in the news last year about the new super collider producing black holes. When they're small, though, black holes are supposed to evaporate faster than they expand. As they evaporate, they release energy. This is the radiation that made Hawking famous. So what if you were able to harness that radiation for useful purpose? Somebody did the calculations. :)


In other words:

1. Build a massive solar cell array in space.
2. Collect the charge for a long time, a year or more.
3. Discharge the energy in one enormous flash through a sphere of gamma ray lasers.
4. Their beams converge at a single point to produce a small black hole with the mass of a million tons. (The reverse usage of the E=mc² reaction that produces nuclear bomb explosions.)
5. Transport the black hole to your starship.
6. Siphon the evaporation energy until the black hole finally disappears.
7. Alternatively, feed it mass to restore its potential energy.
8. Repeat as needed.

Their paper goes on to discuss the feasibility of producing the black hole, of producing the starship drive, of harnessing the black hole in a power plant, etc. Besides finding it feasible, they think it could surely be improved.
Moreover, they say that it's perfectly reasonable to think that other star-faring civilizations are already using such technology. Because this technology "would emit gravitational radiation at nuclear frequencies", they say that SETI projects should consider building new detectors that work in this range. We might be able to detect galactic neighbors already using such energy devices. (Once somebody on Earth builds any kind of gravity detector that works.)

I think the only appropriate word for it is:

WOW!

I don't know, is Business Insider generally reliable for meaningful information? I ask, because today's headlines there are more exciting than my own usual sky-is-falling routine. I found only 1 story that was sort of upbeat. Here are the other notables:

SocGen Tells Clients: Here's How To Bet On Total Global Collapse : The dollar will tank, the US is headed for a lost decade, junk bonds will be crushed, and emerging markets will not be spared.
SocGen Analyst: Our Governments Are Insolvent, Gold To $6,300! (GLD)
The Housing Double Dip Has Arrived
The Most Important Housing Chart Shows Things Are Still Getting Worse
AOL Asks 2,500 Employees To Quit (TWX) : Voluntary layoffs start December 4th. Then comes the firing...
California Has No Idea How Bad Soaring Oil Is Going To Hurt
California: Another Budget Crisis As Soon As This Spring
Bob Toll: FHA Lending Is A "Train Wreck"

But the most interesting read, even though it's 2 days old and not very detailed, is:
Michael Panzner: Commercial Real Estate Is A "Tsunami Unfolding"


Wow. I thought I was being a negative nancy.

This post will be different from the usual format, inspired by recent posts on other blogs about dogs on Veterans' Day here in the USA. (Oh, and Mufasa, Lucy, and Lil Dude are still waiting for homes!)

In case you're expecting a Feel Good Moment here on Furry Friday, I should start with these two videos to make you smile.



For more of the story, though, I offer some details from a few webpages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) that I encountered during my search.

( See the many images... )

These animals are also finding jobs as therapy dogs. Now, I voted for somebody other than Minnesota's US Senator, Al Franken, but I admit to being pleased with his performance so far. He has co-sponsored a "Service Dogs for Veterans" Act that would help place trained service animals with veterans with either psychological or physical problems as a way to "reduce the alarming suicide rate among veterans, decrease the number of hospitalizations, and lower the cost of medications and human care" according to this local news story.

I've been calling for a move to a money supply whose quantity is limited, as a way to prevent exponential inflation of the money supply.  I've suggested returning to a gold standard, as some countries are already trying to do today.  It never occurred to me to wonder how much physical gold there was on the planet, and how much value it would represent at today's prices.

Somebody else wondered.


So even the attempt to move to a gold standard as a valuation of wealth will require a huge increase in the value of gold.  Sure enough, in the last few years, gold prices have skyrocketed.  It was less than $300/ounce in 2001, and today it is over $1100/ounce.  I have read one interpretation that matches my own regarding the absurdity of using an inflationary fiat money system.  It's written by a "Chief Market Strategist", whatever that is.


Even more interesting, though, is an article written on 2009 November 7 by Martin A. Armstrong (who became a millionaire at age 15).  He describes a long American history of gold incidents.

I agree wholeheartedly, but... in this part (all emphasis is found in the original), he seems to succumb to the same mistaken thinking that inflation (population increase, resource increase) is still necessary and that's why we should avoid a gold standard.
He doesn't understand that he hit the Sustainable Society nail right on the head.  Perpetual growth is NOT sustainable.  He goes on to say that the problem with fiat money is only "the integrity of the politicians".  I disagree.  I think the problem with our own fiat money system is that it's used within a framework of exponential debt creation.  We need a money supply that reflects the fundamental reality that perpetual growth is impossible.  We need to pierce this human blind spot by choosing a financial system that keeps this reality prominently in our minds.

Personal greed, which fuels the "free market economy", is in perpetual supply.  Real world wealth, however, is not.  I want people to realize that if they are confined to 10 acres of land, then if they keep having children and grandchildren then everybody gets less and less wealthy.  Perpetual growth is bad.  We have more than 10 acres to work with, but the unfortunate restrictions of reality still apply.

I repeat my call for a move to a real-world valuation of wealth.  Gold, beer, beans; I don't really care.

Two whistleblowers from the International Energy Agency are claiming that IEA figures about world oil production are basically just exaggerations (lies) intended to placate American interests.


Here is a chart of the disputed figures that are now claimed to be too optimistic.


So we have peak oil (which I'm still guessing has already happened a few years ago) and the falling value of the US Dollar both working to increase the price of oil by large amounts. I expect the price of gasoline (currently about $2.50) at the American pump to zoom up again in 2010.  I think it will exceed $4/gallon by the end of 2010 just 13 months from now.  I think that gasoline should approach $6/gallon in that timeframe, but that price would require a robust American economy to support it.  That won't happen.  If oil producers succeed in moving away from the American dollar as the valuation of oil barrels, however, then US$ price per oil barrel can careen off into whatever obscene territory it wants to.

There are some very interesting new technologies emerging that are meant to produce liquid fuel from waste agriculture material using algea or bacteria.  Both kinds of technologies are even being researched here in Minnesota.  They won't, however, reach commercial application before the end of 2010, so we must still rely on traditional crude oil for our energy.  Forget these deep undersea oil fields.  It'll take even longer (and cost even more) to get them into production.  My prediction stands: we'll exceed $4/gallon again in 2010.

I'm adding the "predictions" tag to this post so I'm sure to come back later to judge the effectiveness of my own crystal ball.  :)

Bleh.  I think I should just make it official and take a brain holiday. 

No thought allowed.

Baby bats!  





Want!

There was a time when Newton's and Kepler's laws of motion reigned supreme. The universe was a perfectly explainable place, with every body following particular rules of motion that could be calculated and predicted. The only problem? They were wrong.

As the 19th century dawned, it seemed that Newton’s Theory of Gravitation had won the day. All sorts of motion could be described by the equations that we have looked at (all based on F = ma and F = GM₁M₂/d²). However, it soon became clear that the planet Mercury was not obeying Newton’s Laws. At this point, scientists can do one of two things: either reject the theory and replace it with a better one, or find some subtlety that had been missed in examining the problem the first time.
- http://www.physast.uga.edu/~loris/astr1110h/RelativityI.htm

Astronomers tried to find a small planet inside Mercury's orbit that would explain the deviation. They found none. They faced a significant problem. Their wonder-formula was failing, but they couldn't explain why. It wasn't until the arrival of Einstein and his theories of relativity that an answer finally appeared. Mercury is deep inside our sun's gravity well, and time dilation effects were changing its orbit. Not only does the quantum (small-scale) reality differ from our own, but so does the astronomic (large-scale) reality.

Just as physics requires a frame of reference to make its equations applicable, could it be that economics also requires a frame of reference?

While exploring "Post-Autistic Economics" topics, I have read the call to remove macro- and micro-economics from introductory economics classes. The claim is that these theories have proven to be utterly wrong because of their profound, worldwide, and expensive failure to account for and predict our current economic mess. At first, I agreed wholeheartedly. Now, though, I think the problem might be a matter of scale.

I've been insisting on the end of exponential economics. I've called for an end to fiat money and a return to "money" that is measured by actual physical objects (gold, beer, lima beans, whatever). What if such material valuations are a means of enforcing "local scale" where traditional economic theories can still apply?  In other words, suppose traditional economic theories really do work, but only when material is kept within 1 or 2 steps from producer to consumer? What if our transition to fiat money and stocks and derivatives (and other arcana of money markets) has removed the "reality check" that's needed to keep transactions faithful to their real-world value?

Traditional economics claims that rational self-interest will succeed at regulating a market more effectively than any form of imposed regulation. "Post-Autistic Economics" claims that this old theory is not only wrong but also harmful. The real world has now witnessed the results of traditional thinking; the prediction failed. People are not rational actors within their systems. Or, phrased more generously, people are not rational actors within their systems when viewed within a lengthy timeframe that can account for ecologically sustainable and morally acceptable activity.

Perhaps at very large scales of activity where individual people are far removed from the actual material produced, imposed regulation may be necessary to create sustainable activity. Small-scale endeavors may require altogether different (more traditional) kinds of economic measurements (and laws) than large-scale endeavors. The scale of economic activity might influence the equations that can be used to predict (and laws that influence) its behavior.

Instinct would claim that economic theories should apply at all scales of operation. Instinct, though, would also claim that moving clocks always tick at the same pace as stationary clocks.  In the real universe, though, moving clocks tick more slowly.

The question is, is this crazy world really our world? In other words, do experiments bear out these effects? The answer is yes. All experiments done to date confirm that these effects really work out as the equations of Special Relativity dictate.

What if economics also operates under different rules depending on the "scale" (proximity to material produce) and timeframe?  What if "adjustments" (laws) are necessary to force large-scale operations (and exponential money nonsense) back down to face the appropriate real-world limitations?

As astronomers faced a dilemma when viewing Mercury's orbit, perhaps now economists face the same dilemma when viewing recent economic failures.  Either the entire theory on which it was based is false (which seems unlikely), or it's time to accept that the theories are situational.  It could be the case that barely regulated markets are enormously effective within small scales and timeframes, yet intense regulation is necessary for large scales and timeframes.

I think I might be ill with a flu or something.  Hard to tell, though, because I don't have a fever.  I spent the weekend alternately awake and then sleeping for about 5-6 hours at a time.  I didn't set foot outside of the house from Friday after work until Sunday after dark.  I still feel odd.  I have that tingling sensation in my upper chest that should mean congestion and coughing... except that I have no trouble breathing and no fever.  Progression of the neuropathy, or temporary flu virus?  I can't tell.

Back to the today's topic, though... I oversimplify my finances each year.  I fill out the "EZ" national tax form whenever possible.  I itemize nothing, and in return I get improved peace of mind that I don't have to muddle through more paperwork.  When I had the car accident, I got swamped with mailings from various places.  Somewhere among the letters was (apparently) a notice that my driver's license was expiring on my birthday (November 3rd).  I'm guessing it ended up in the "junk mail" pile.  Oops.

Accomplishment #1:  I walked to the county office this morning and filled out the paperwork to renew my license.

I'm also still dealing with car accident forms.  The other insurance company (Farmer's) disliked the paperwork that I sent them regarding my rental car from the Avis company.  Farmer's said that they would pay only for 3 weeks of car rental, but the bill covered more time than that.  I went back to Avis and got them to print out a page for what a 3-week rental of the car would have been. 

Accomplishment #2:  I drove to Kinko's this morning and faxed that paperwork to Farmer's.

I hope that I'm finally done with all of that nonsense.  If I get a check for reimbursement of the rental car, then I'll finally get my credit card paid off and be out of debt.

The next item on my list is getting on Minnesota Care health insurance.  I filled out the forms late Sunday evening.  That was easy enough.  But then I reached the "required proofs" page.  They need the following (which I don't have right now):

• U.S. passport (incorrect address) -OR- state driver's license (see above for expired info) and U.S. birth certificate (don't have)
• pay stubs for the last 30 days (which I usually don't keep)
• bank statement showing current balance (which I also don't keep)

I despise paperwork.  Even when I'm not scatterbrained and tired (and maybe ill), I despise paperwork.

Story: Sometimes animals remain on our adoption floor for months. Jackson was like that. He was a bit overweight, he had black fur, his coat was dull, and he had skin/allergy problems. He was eventually adopted by two women. Enjoying the stability of his new home, he lost weight, his coat improved, and his skin problems disappeared. He and his owner came back to visit at AHS. I was walking through the hallway on one of those days when I was the only tech support person.  I was on my way to put a label on a new fax machine that I had just installed in our Boarding facility when I got sidetracked by Jackson. I spent a minute with everyone else visiting the happy, healthy dog. This photo (see the label maker in my hands) ended up in our employee newsletter that week.

Animals: I highlight in this column the animals that I think have some quality that makes them especially nice for a potential adopter, even if they have qualities that limit their audience to a narrow niche of the public. Apparently my opinion of adorable differs from other people's opinions. Mufasa, Lucy, and Lil Dude are still waiting for homes.  I heard Lil Dude bark yesterday. It's not the grating, high-pitched yap of most small dogs. He sounds like he's a smoker. *laugh* He still tries to get in my lap, even through the kennel cage door. I noticed some kind of mark on his lower back, but I don't know the story behind it.

Albert is a new arrival this week. He is not just a lap cat, but he was also eager to make himself at home in my arms, on my shoulder, and even on my head. When I held him in my arms, he threw himself backwards so he could roll his back and head against my arms and hand. He didn't even mind when I scratched his belly. He's quite the lovable guy! He's a 3-year-old male, and I think he'd be good in a home with people of any age or number.

Quite the curiosity, though, he has a fur coat with qualities that I haven't encountered before. His coat looks nice but it feels very dull, almost waxy. That's the first thing I noticed while petting him. As the minutes dragged on, though, I noticed that nothing generated any static electricity. He's a medium hair cat, so it should have been very obvious. I felt no charge in my hands, and I saw no charge make his hair stand up. Not my petting, not his rubbing against my jacket, nothing. Static-free cat!

Bourbon, however, has the opposite temperament. He's a 10-month old young guy, and he's very scared. The first time that I visited, he wouldn't budge inside his run. He laid against the wall while his whole body shivered in fright at the noise and commotion throughout the dog building. I went again at the end of the day, and he was still shivering but at least this time he dared stand up and reach out very far to briefly touch my hand with his nose before retreating quickly. He needs a home without small children that could startle and intimidate him. I hope he quickly finds the safe space he needs to open up and explore the world more freely.

As of this writing, Mufasa, Lucy, Lil Dude, Albert, and Bourbon are all available for visitation and adoption at our Golden Valley facility.

How You Can Help: When you visit a shelter, please wash your hands both BEFORE and AFTER visiting any animal. As H1N1 makes its rounds through the human population, animals are also being affected. Ferrets share flu viruses with humans anyway, but there are also reports (confirmed by University testing) that some family pet ferrets are dieing from H1N1. Even cat infections are being confirmed.

Or shamble... more of a zombie stagger, really.

I mentioned that they were disorganized, right?  After a week and a half, plus 3 phone messages left by me (2 to their referral line, 1 to their nurse line), I still don't have a referral to a neurologist as was supposed to happen.  *le sigh*

I went to the Anoka county office to see about getting on Minnesota Care, the state plan that works on a sliding fee scale.  It'll take a while (month or two or more?) after I submit the paperwork for that to become active.  At least I easily qualify for it.  Food stamps, on the other hand, I still don't qualify for even though they updated their cutoff dollar value for the year, and I still earn less than a fulltime minimum wage job.  *baffled shrug*

I wish that I had access to health care just because I pay my taxes.

After the first snow a few weeks ago, tree leaves starting turning color in abundance.  Leaves fell to the ground soon afterward.  Most of the deciduous trees are already bare.

We changed timeclocks here on Sunday to comply with the ending of daylight saving time. The difference is obvious. As I stepped outside of work at 5pm, the sun was already about 3° below the horizon.   I know, because the full moon had already risen about 3° above the horizon.  It was almost fully dark by the time I got home.

I started thinking about how northern areas experience so much less sunlight than equatorial areas. Minnesota and Texas are very different in that regard.

Thanks to DaylightChart and GifMake.com, I was able to produce this illustration of the difference between Minnesota and Texas.  Look at the right-hand side of the chart for winter solstice (December 21st).  Notice how much less daylight we have in Minneapolis compared to Houston.  Conversely, notice how much more sunlight we get during summer solstice (June 21).

It's cold.  It's dark.  It's bare.  This is winter.