Jan
28

Contoocook River Watershed in Henniker, New Hampshire » Blog Archive » Osprey

1327734561 28 Contoocook River Watershed in Henniker, New Hampshire  » Blog Archive   » Osprey

Standing at an impressive 24”, the osprey is one of the largest birds of prey in North America.  It was an easy bird to spot because of its size.  It also has very striking characteristics.  The top of the osprey is very dark, but the bottom is white. There forehead and crown are also white. they have very long wings, with the wingtips always angled slightly backwards.  It is most easily identified because of its black streak through its eyes. We encountered it while it was perched on top of a giant pine tree, pictured below.  It didn’t appear to be doing anything special, just hanging out.  After admiring it for about a minute it flew away.

It’s call is quite unique.  It’s not as deep as you think a bird of its size would have. it is a high pitch chirp; almost sounding like a whine.  The ospreys eyes give it a unique look.  The sharp yellow eyes stick out in its white and black body.  Ospreys start breeding at the age of 3 or 4 years old.  The eggs are white, with very bold red splotches. Not all eggs hatch at once.  Some are born earlier so that some siblings are older and more dominant. Ospreys aren’t limited to living in new Hampshire.  In fact, they are found in every single continent except for Antarctica.  Ospreys always nest near bodies of water.

In new Hampshire, they live by lakes, ponds, the ocean, swamps, and in this case, rivers.  They nest high up in trees. they frame there nests using sticks, then cover it with leaves, straw, or other soft resources.  The osprey has a rather unique diet for a bird living in new Hampshire.  They feed strictly on fish.  It makes up 99% of its diet.  Ospreys have an excellent vision that can detect animals underwater from in the air.  It can sense them from over 100 feet in the air.  If they are not able to catch a fish, they feast on smaller reptiles,  small mammals like rabbits, and other birds.

Photo by : Noel Zia Lee at  flickr.com/photos/noelzialee/451393495/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Sources: “Osprey.” Www.birdweb.org. Seattle Audubon Society. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/osprey>. Cornell.

“Osprey, Identification, all about Birds – Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Your Online Guide to Birds and Bird Watching, all about Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/id> Ospreys, Osprey Pictures,

Osprey Facts – National Geographic.” Animals – Animal Pictures – Wild Animal Facts – Nat Geo Wild – National Geographic. Ed. National Geographic. National Geographic. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/osprey/>.

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Jan
28

Eating Local, Eating Green: Know your sweet source, get honey from local beekeepers

1327730949 44 Eating Local, Eating Green: Know your sweet source, get honey from local beekeepers

How do you take your honey? Drizzled on a biscuit with butter? Squeezed into hot tea? or straight up off the spoon?

However you take it, know that each drop is precious. Some little bee worked its tail off to sweeten your food. Bees visit about 2 million flowers to produce a single pound of honey, according to the National Honey Board.

What begins as nectar from flowers goes through a complex process via the honeybee and evaporation to become a viscous fluid that provides a more-lasting energy boost than other sugars. as a bonus, honey’s low water activity and high acid level mean it doesn’t spoil.

In addition to food, honey has been used for everything from cosmetics to medicine, and is a one-ingredient wonder.

Store honey at room temperature in a closed container. Honey can absorb moisture from the air, which will cause it to ferment. do not refrigerate honey. Eventually all honey will crystallize, but this doesn’t affect the quality. Simply place the jar in warm water and stir until the crystals dissolve.

Since we can’t get to know the honeybees, try getting to know your local beekeeper. Peace Bee Farm, Wolf River Honey, Hughes Apiaries and Windermere Farms are all regulars at our local farmers markets, and several sell to local groceries.

Local honey comes in liquid, comb and creamed (also know as whipped) forms. You’ll also find honeys that are infused and flavored. I’m new to crème honey (which has been finely crystallized), but I’m learning to love it because it’s spreadable and less messy on a biscuit.

Bees can gather nectar from several miles away from the hive, and there’s no telling what the neighbors have been spraying, so “organic” is hard to come by. There is no legal definition for “raw” honey, and honey labeling laws allow for ambiguous interpretations, so here’s where knowing your beekeeper comes into play. Buy local, and you have a much better chance of getting good, natural unheated honey.

The flavor of honey is a result of the nectar source, so expect some variation in local honey — at different times of the year, and among producers.

We need bees to pollinate our food crops and gardens. Our local beekeepers take care of the bees that are doing that. If you haven’t already, discover how different local honey tastes. Then make the commitment to buy local honey. It could be the No. 1 imperative in supporting our local food system.

Melissa Petersen is the editor of Edible Memphis, a magazine that celebrates the abundance of local food, season by season. It is available at various locations around town. Contact her at .

Bees in the Garden Vegetable Sauce

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 shallot, minced

1 sprig fresh thyme, leaves only

Salt and pepper to taste

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes. Toss with cooked vegetables, such as cauliflower, carrots or squash.

Source: Recipe adapted from the National Honey Board, honey.com

Savory Honey Scones

1 tsp. fresh rosemary or thyme, finely chopped

22/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

5 oz. chilled soft goat cheese, cut into bits

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp. heavy cream, divided

1 large egg

In a bowl, thoroughly mix 1 teaspoon rosemary with flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. cut goat cheese into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal; reserve. Whisk together honey, 1/3 cup cream and egg. Stir into reserved dry mixture until a soft dough forms; gather dough into a ball. Turn out onto a well-floured board; pat into a round about 3/4 1/3 -inch. cut into eight wedges. Arrange separately on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush tops with remaining 2 tablespoons cream. Bake at 425 degrees until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Source: Recipe adapted from the National Honey Board, honey.com

Resources

“Green Market Baking Book” by Laura C. Martin (published by Sterling Publishing co.) No refined sugar is used in any of the recipes. All use honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, etc.

“Keeping Bees” by Ashley English (published by Lark Crafts).

Memphis is home to a large beekeeping association, the Memphis Area Beekeepers Association, which hosts monthly meetings, demonstrations and classes. The next beekeeping short course is set for Feb. 11. Go to memphisareabeekeepers.com, or call (901) 831-1207.

You can have a hands off approach to animal clinic. 131 and Burton Street with an arrow piercing his face and coming out through his back. If you want to go: Ages: 15+ Fees: $14 Date/Time: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Maintaining your pet's appearance can make your best friend feel on top of the world. In effect, here's a long tale made short. Now, you can assert to never doing it again...with our help. For example, if a family in your neighborhood has a pet dog or cat then you are in luck. Based on surveys completed by over two thousand customers, over 80% of dogs show significant improvement in symptoms when using Thundershirt.

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Jan
28

Your Questions About Bird Houses Designs

1327728556 82 Your Questions About Bird Houses Designs

Hey, thnx 4 even clicking on the question. My little bro got a 2 month old kitten on sunday, and it’s great, but the problem is that whenever it goes in the room with birds, it stares @ them in that position cats go in when they want 2 pounce. now I’m afraid 2 leave them in the house together cuz I think the kitten will try 2 eat them and/or scare the 3 birds. the birds R in cages, but I still don’t want the cat thinking they’re food and going after them. I can’t move the cages cuz that room was designed 4 them. there’s no door and I can’t build 1 cuz of issues with the city. Plus the fact that I’m only 13 and don’t have enough cash or know how 2 do that and my parents wouldn’t like a door there anyway. we aren’t gonna let the cat stay outside cuz she’ll get a taste 4 birds if she catches any, and our house is rly big. plz help cuz I like both the birds and the cat, but they can’t live 2gether if the cat wants 2 eat them.sry about it being so long, ppl. It’s mostly details, so u can just skim over it. the parrots R about the size of robins or other animals. My little bro says we can’t make it an outside cat 4 sum reason, and he’s basically the boss of us when it comes 2 her (he’s rly spoiled.) the cages R up on stands about 3 ft. off the ground, so she can’t rly jump that high yet, but there’s a windowsill close 2 them. I’ll try the squirt method, though.

waterdub answers:

To much reading …sorry

I am looking for …a yoai that i read about a year ago on this site. its about a guy and he “thinks” he killed his best friend when they were young and playing on the roof of his house. But he grows up and is an architect and his building designs are in the shape of some bird that his friend had drawn, and then he is building this on skyrise and we find out that it was his friend from childhood who he thought was dead but is alive and they start an active relationship…*breaths*

I think that covers the story and its plot, i cant remeber if it was a onesot or not, but if you could tell me the name and author that would be great!!!

Thx for the help.He thought he pushed his friend off the roof, (because the friend fell off) while they where up on the roof hangingout, as About elementary school kids.

I dont remenber the name, but it has a really big simbolizism of a bird that is suppose to be flying and so the buildings “look” like the bird pictire that had been drawn.and they meet as adults in a resturant/sushi bar.and his childhood friends last name gets changed because his mother got remained

I HOPE THIS HELPS I AM TRYING REALLY HARD TO REMEBER THE STORY WHICH IS NOT HARD BUT REMBERING THE NAME IS WHAT I NEED

oh and the reson he though he had killed his friend also is because there was a funaral for his friends dad, that he thought weas for his childhood friend!

waterdub answers:

Grrrar, still can’t find it, but I did find a site that has a list of yaoi manga

a-special.livejournal.com/89164.html

maybe you might spot it in there, sorry I couldn’t be of more help

I know there are a lot of smart people out there who will think I’m a total n00b for asking this, but here goes.

I’m 19 a sophomore engineering student studying chemical engineering, but I want to get into robotics and control systems as a hobby (I want to do stuff in alternative energy when I grow up). I kind of want to design a smart house (lights, A/C, TV, security, everything controlled by a central computer) when I grow up. I’ve kind of always been interested in this stuff, but I was always too scared to really get into it. Being in a university surrounds me with a lot of people who are smarter than me, so I figured I should stop being scared now and start learning/doing some cool things. Browsing websites like instructables.com make me feel pretty dumb because there are a lot of people younger than me making some really neat things I could never do at my current state.

I’ve been looking around for some robotics/electronics kits (designed for people younger than me. Sad, I know) such as:

-Lego Mindstorm NXT (mindstorms.lego.com/Overview/)-VEX Robotics Design Systems (vexrobotics.com/vex-robot-kits.shtml)-Arrick’s ARobot (arrickrobotics.com/arobot/index.html)-Nerdkits (nerdkits.com/)

Have any of you tried these? How do you feel about them? for the professors/teachers out there, how do you teach your students? Can you recommend any kits or books? for those experienced roboticists and tinkerers out there, how did you get started learning about electronics?

Here is an outline of my education (what I know, what I don’t know). this is stuff that I think relates to robotics. I’ve obviously taken many more classes than what I’ve described, but they’re probably irrelevant.

-Math: I like math but I’m not good at it (why oh why did I choose engineering..?). I’m pretty comfortable with single variable calculus and differential equations. I’ve taken multivariable, got a B, and basically never looked back on it. I’m going to get my ass kicked in heat transfer, aren’t I?

-Mechanics: Very comfortable with mechanical physics. I’ve taken both general mechanical physics course as well as an engineering mechanics course, which goes into more depth with more complicated systems. I’m pretty comfortable with forces, moments, accelerations, tensions, trusses, rigid members, relative motion, etc.

-Programming: took AP Comp Sci in high school (Java), and am pretty good in MATLAB and FORTRAN. I took programming and numerical/computational methods courses for chemical engineering and did very well in those classes. I’m not terribly afraid of learning another language for programming robots. As my professor says, “The most language to understand is logic. Understand logic, and other programming languages are just syntax”.

Things I’m afraid of/suck at:

-Electromagnetism: I got an A in this course, but electricity and magnetism still seem like very enigmatic forces of nature to me. I do not think of them intuitively as I do mechanical physics. I’m a very visual person, and it annoys me that I can’t see magnetic or electric fields. I wish I was a bird so I could.

-Electronic components: I know what resistors and capacitors are. That’s about it. I remember having to do stuff like LRC circuits in general physics (electromagnetism). again, this stuff is still not intuitive to me. I know how to wire things in series and parallel (LEDs, for example) and which resistors to use so they don’t burn out. That’s about it. I don’t know what diodes and transistors and whatnot are. I don’t know any radio theory. I don’t know how a computer ACTUALLY works (the jump from code to actual physical phenomena). I don’t know how microcontrollers work. I don’t know how to control things with analog or digital signals. I don’t even know the difference between them.

-Soldering: I can do it, but I suck at it. No ones really taught me how to solder properly. I try reading stuff and watching YouTube tutorials, but my solders never come out right, and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Other people seem to do it so effortlessly..

I’ve tried to read about these things, but I am usually overwhelmed. there is also a difference in reading something on Wikipedia and learning about it in real life. I guess I’m a little afraid of failure. I’m also afraid of spending lots of money/time on something and having it not work.

So now that you know my lack of experience and skill, what robot/electronics kit would you recommend for me? Any other advice for me for getting involved with robotics?

PS: I feel like money spent on legitimate education will pay off somehow later. However, I’d still like to keep my first project(s) under $500. Preferably much less.

Thank you, smart people, for helping me not suck as much in engineering.One more thing I’m (kinda) good at:

I can use AutoDesk Inventor for CAD and drafting, which should be a real time saver if/when I start making really cool robots. for now, though, I think the robot kits try to avoid the need for power tools..

waterdub answers:

First thing to do is read up:at least skim through the following:

asic-world.com/digital/tutorial.html

circuit-magic.com/laws.htm

you probably won’t get most of it, but that won’t matter it’s just to ease your passage into the first book:

solarbotics.com/products/jbb/

and buy this kit as well:

solarbotics.com/products/mf08_bundle/

the book will talk you through the basics and the kit has all the stuff you will need for the projects in the book

once you are pretty comfortable with this book i would recommend Robot Building for Beginners by David Cook. this will get you started on how to design and build basic robots without kits. Also read Dave’s website, robot room: robotroom.com/he has alot of info on how to simplify things and save money on projects. his book and his website will tell you where to go from there.

Dave’s book will say all this but i’ll say it here anyway. Definitely get a breadboard for experimenting with. Once you have the basics down don’t be afraid to copy public work, open circuits and sparkfun are full of tutorials and schematics that anyone can use.Www.opencircuits.comsparkfun.com

keep practicing soldering, sparkfun has some great soldering kits that make this easy. Also try buying a bunch of random cheep components and some scrap boards

sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8477

just solder stuff into them at random, they don’t actually work so just go nuts. if thisis still a problem look into wire warping, it is a bit slower , but is really easy. Sparkfun has all the supplies you need for that.

Eventually you will want to check out Parallax.com they make kits and simple microcontrollers that are really easy to use but have enormous potential. they also have some good educational kits that are a good way to learn. Only problem is parallax is a bit pricey, and after ten min on their site you will want to buy the entire store.

PS don’t wory about anything you can’t figure out. for any aplication you don’t understand, somewhere out there there is a plug in module that will do it for you.

so basically i’ve heard you can get tattoos with the ashes of a loved one in but how about a pet?I recently lost my baby blackbird, who i had so many amazing memories with, i shared a relationship and bond with it that i’d had with no other human or animal, he was always popping up in my day from the day he was a vulnerable tiny ball of fluff in the garden untill he was a fully feathered beatifully natured bird. I really loved this bird, even more than my other pets and a lot of my friends and family , current and past. Probably as i was pretty much his mom and as he lived in my room so i saw him many times a day , i loved it when he tapped his little feet on my laminate floor while he scurried to the door when i entered. as i walk through my house i always have these memories, it makes me cry so much

I decided i want him cremated(do you agree with cremation? would you ever have your pet cremateed? as i can always keep him with me although i would have loved to have him freeze dried to preserve him and be able to stroke his beautiful, silky feathers again but the prices are outrageous (aroun 400 pounds which is too much for a 15 year old!) and are very far away.It’s happening tomorrow, im crying as i type this as i guess im dreading it, seeing his tiny body for the last time before it’s reduced to a powdered state, im not sure how i’ll cope.As i walk around the house everything reminds me of him as he explored the house with me. How do i cope, i do the awful thing of thinking ‘what if?’ i feel so depressed, like i can’t go on.Anyway how did you cope with the cremation? and as the bacteria and germs are killed in the cremation process would it be okay to include the ashes in a tattoo?I want him with me forever.I was thinking a simple black bird silouhette…

with his name ‘Derry’ underneathother designs are welcome. Also does anyone know of any necklaces you can put ashes in?

waterdub answers:

Im very sorry that you lost your beloved blackbird.

Getting his body cremated might help you to cope better with his absence. I wouldnt suggest getting a tattoo with his ashes(could implicate some health risks), but perhaps going out and buying a container(like a vase or detailed box) could be considered to put his ashes in. You could find a larger container and put all his favorite things in it, and objects that remind you of all the wonderful times you had together, along with his ashes in a separate jar.Then you could keep that box somewhere special(like maybe where his cage used to be) so you can still be with him.

Remember, he still lives on in you. Beloved ones(no matter what form) leave a mark on our hearts. they change us and shape us into what we are today, and what we will be tomorrow.

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Choose an animal hospital that offers pet services adequate for your pet? I would imagine that I may be completely right in regard to animal clinic. Relatively relaxed and in their own environment, dogs are more likely to exhibit any symptoms without the added stress or agitation from being in the animal hospital. Rural Rd.) and at University Animal Hospital. Positively, that settles this, then. One of these responsibilities is related to the health maintenance of these animals and taking them to specialized doctors for general checkups in an animal hospital is one such thing that is recommended for each and every pet owner. Distraught owners often get panicky about the situation of their pets but seeing the bright signage can put their worries to rest. The cons of a house calls only practice involve the nature of the beast: the doctor is out in the field and can't respond to an emergency. There are several conflicting suppositions in that field. This is an inspired way to developing more this.

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Jan
28

It’s the Tigoodle and the Zeboodle: Dogs transformed into wild animals for pet grooming competitions

1327727370 89 Its the Tigoodle and the Zeboodle: Dogs transformed into wild animals for pet grooming competitions

by Lucy Laing

Last updated at 1:33 PM on 22nd January 2012

This may look like an experiment carried out by a mad scientist or genetic engineer.

But far from taking place in the secrecy of the laboratory this is actually the latest grooming craze set to take Britain by storm.

As part of the wacky fad, already popular in the U.S, dogs are clipped and dyed into different shapes for competitions, with ‘dog artists’ already turning pets into everything from dragons and chickens to pirates and footballers.

Award-winning British groomer Su Weaver – inspired by the coats of tigers and zebras – has embraced the craze and has now transformed two poodles named Willow and Floyd into a Tigoodle and a Zeboodle.

‘People do a double-take on seeing them out together,’ said Su, 36, who owns a dog grooming salon in Rushden, Northants.

‘Some think the practice is cruel but all our dyes are vegetable-based so the animals are totally unharmed.’

Craze: Willow and Floyd have been groomed by ‘dog artist’ Su Weaver to resemble a tiger and a zebra

Su had been a dog groomer for ten years when she first became aware of creative grooming and admits she gets some very strange looks when she takes the pair for a walk.

‘they can’t imagine how they are seeing a tiger and a zebra walking so close together.

‘It’s only when they look closely that they realise they are actually two dogs.’

Unusual: Su Weaver admits people often ‘do a double take’ when they spot the unusually groomed poodles

‘I had worked in my own grooming parlour since leaving school and I was reading an article one day about extreme dog grooming.

‘It showed a poodle whose coat had been styled and dyed to look like an American football player. It was so realistic, it looked fantastic.

‘I wanted to give it a try so I did some research into techniques for styling with scissors and the kind of dyes to use for colouring.

Dye: The Tigoodle’s coat is dyed in order to look like a tiger

‘they are all vegetable based to avoid harmful chemicals. none of the methods pose any harm or discomfort to the animals.’

Su tried dying her own poodle’s coat pink, then she was asked by a friend to create a Valentine’s look for her dog.

She clipped love hearts into his coat and dyed them red.

Competition: The finishing touches are applied to the Zeboodle to enter grooming competitions set to take Britain by storm

She said: ‘The dogs don’t mind standing still and they seem to really enjoy it. they love the one to one attention they get in the grooming parlour whilst it is being done.

‘I’ve never had any skin problems or matted fur as a result. If anything, the grooming keeps them more healthy.’

She has since created other designs, such as decorating dogs with holly and ivy for Christmas and grooming dogs to look like dragons and won the Creative Stylist of the Year in 2010.

The contests are expected to grow in popularity since a law change on January 1 that allows easier movement of pets between Britain and the US.

Panda: This pooch may resemble a panda but is actually a poodle vying for top dog at a ‘creative grooming’ show in the U.S.

Touchdown: This poodle was transformed in to an American footballer in a bid to win a grooming competition in the U.S.

 

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Jan
28

Horses racing in Saturday’s Lecomte at the Fair Grounds are still learning to run

Trainer Dallas Stewart recalled seeing the potential in Kimberlite Pipe as he was approaching the Lecomte in 1999.

10464117 large Horses racing in Saturdays Lecomte at the Fair Grounds are still learning to runMatthew Hinton / The Times-PicayuneThe horse Wilkinson, right, ridden by Garrett K Gomez edges out Pants On Fire ridden by Joe Bravo in a photo finish at the fair Grounds to win the Grade III Lecomte Stakes January 22, 2010.

“He won at Turfway,’’ Stewart said. “He won a little stakes there. I thought he was bottomless when you trained him.’’

In the Lecomte, then a mile race, Kimberlite Pipe didn’t show much, and the bettors didn’t expect much. at 36-1 odds, he finished fifth, 5 ¼ lengths behind 42-1 winner Some Actor.

“I just continued working him out,’’ Stewart said. “He just got better at the right time.’’

After finishing third in the Risen Star, Kimberlite Pipe was ready for the most important race at the fair Grounds. at 21-1 odds, he won the Louisiana Derby. He ran creditably in the Kentucky Derby, too, finishing sixth, 2 ¾ lengths behind winner Charismatic.

On Saturday, 13 3-year-olds will be running a mile and 70 yards in the Lecomte, the first two-turn stakes prep for the Louisiana Derby. It’s only natural to want to make projections from the Lecomte, to try to figure out whether horses should stay on the road to the Louisiana Derby or, more importantly, to the Kentucky Derby.

But as the example of Kimberlite Pipe shows, a 3-year-old at this time of year is a work in progress. Much can change with these horses in a few months.

Also, keep in mind that the Lecomte isn’t a prime target for 3-year-olds. this race is for development and seasoning.

Horses mature at different rates. A horse who was an also-ran in January might blossom in March – or may.

War Emblem, who finished fifth in the Lecomte in 2002, is exhibit A.

He’s the only Lecomte horse to win the Kentucky Derby.

The Lecomte, which on Saturday will be run for the 68th time, has been restricted to 3-year-olds since 1962.

After War Emblem finished sixth in the Risen Star in 2002, trainer Bobby Springer shipped him to Illinois. War Emblem won an allowance race at Sportsman’s Park and the Illinois Derby before being sold, and Bob Baffert became the colt’s trainer. For Baffert, War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell en route to earning the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old.

In the last 20 Lecomtes, 176 horses started. Certainly, many of those horses, including some of the winners, are forgettable, though several turned out to be solid stakes competitors.

Thirteen of those 176 horses raced in the Kentucky Derby. of those 13, only War Emblem and Hard Spun finished in the money.

Hard Spun won the Lecomte in 2007 in a dominating performance in his only fair Grounds appearance, and he proved throughout the year that he was a top-class racehorse. In the Kentucky Derby, he led much of the way before finishing second to late-running Street Sense. The 2007 crop of 3-year-olds was one of the strongest in recent memory, and Hard Spun held his own. He won four of 10 starts that year, earning more than $2.5 million, and he secured a Grade I win in the King’s Bishop. In the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he finished second to Preakness winner Curlin, who clinched Horse of the Year.

The last 20 Lecomtes produced seven Louisiana Derby winners – Pants On Fire (2011), Friesan Fire (2009), Fifty Stars (2001), Mighty (2000), Kimberlite Pipe, Dixieland Heat (1993) and Line in The Sand (1992). Friesan Fire, Dixieland Heat and Line in the Sand, who won the Louisiana Derby on a disqualification, are the only horses to sweep the Lecomte, Risen Star and Louisiana Derby. The other four horses lost in the Lecomte. Pants On Fire finished second to Wilkinson, Fifty Stars finished fifth behind winner Sam Lord’s Castle, and Mighty was second to Noble Ruler.

Some horses from recent Lecomtes showed their best form in sprints.

Justin Phillip, who finished last in the Lecomte last year, Teuflesberg, who was third in 2007, and Fire Slam, who won in 2004, all won the Grade II, seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds on the Belmont Stakes Day card at Belmont Park. (The race was called the Riva Ridge in 2004; it has been the Woody Stephens since 2006.)

Some Lecomte horses in recent years improved with age and became Grade I winners.

Macho Again, who finished sixth in the Lecomte in 2008, was a respectable 3-year-old, finishing a non-threatening second to Big Brown in the Preakness and winning the Grade II Jim Dandy. as a 4-year-old, he won the Grade II new Orleans Handicap and Grade I Stephen Foster and finished second in two other Grade I races – the Whitney and Woodward.

America Alive, who finished sixth in the Lecomte in 2004, hit his best stride as an older horse on turf. He won the Grade I Woodford Reserve on Kentucky Derby Day in 2005 and won the Grade III River City at Churchill Downs that fall.

So, recent history shows that it might be a mistake to give up on a horse who is outrun in the Lecomte.

These horses are youngsters – still growing and learning how to run.

This other animal hospital, which is named the Wyalusing Pet Clinic, is located about 25 minutes or so from Towanda, in the town of Wyalusing. Now you can go in knowing that a veterinarian speaks your native language fluently, offers veterinary advice backed by proper training, treats and administers vaccines to pets like yours, and is equipped to provide pet care services that meet your own high standards for your best friend. We received an itemized estimate in advance for every service and were given the option to pick and choose which services and treatments we felt we could afford. "I need a car that will get me everywhere I need to go. Animal Hospitals Versoix Switzerland Animal Hospital Comparisons You can Count on! Monday to Friday 8am-8pm Saturday 9am to 3pm Our Doc's Thoughts......

Permanent link to this article: http://www.holmesvet.com/horses-racing-in-saturdays-lecomte-at-the-fair-grounds-are-still-learning-to-run/

Jan
28

Around Town Briefs 01/26/12 – Leader-Telegram: Briefs

1327723768 75 Around Town Briefs 01/26/12   Leader Telegram: Briefs

senior classes: L.E. Phillips Senior Center, 1616 Bellinger St.,is hosting eight classes in February and March:

n “Winter Feeding and Identification of Backyard Birds,” 9:30 to10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7: these issues will be discussed by arepresentative of Beaver Creek Reserve. Bird houses and differenttypes of feed will be shown. Free.

n “Introduction to Buddhism,” 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Feb.8-29 and March 7: Survey of major teachings and practices ofBuddhism, including meditation practice, which will be a componentof each class meeting. The fee is $10 for members and $15 fornonmembers.

n “Annuities 101 and Long Term Care Insurance 101,” 9:30 to10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8: The first part of the class willtouch on the basics of the different types of annuities and howthey work. The long-term care portion will discuss the differentways to pay for this service and the different risks and costsassociated with them. Free.

n “Computer Class-Level one,” 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays,Feb. 8-March 21: Basic computer components and operations,introduction to various programs, organizing files and folders,email and the Internet will be covered. The fee is $30 for membersand $45 for nonmembers.

n “EBay Class,” 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 8-22: Learn tobuy and sell safely on eBay. Prerequisites for the class are basiccomputer skills, some experience with the Internet and awillingness to set up an email account. The fee is $20 for membersand $30 for nonmembers.

n “Sheepshead,” 9 a.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 8-29: The class is forbeginners or people who want to brush up on the game. The fee is$10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

n “Reconcile Your Checkbook,” 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9:Representatives from a local financial institution will beavailable to help you with your checkbook. call the senior centerto set up a one-on-one appointment. Free.

n “Facebook,” 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays, Feb. 10-March 9: Overthe past few months, Facebook has made a lot of changes and updatesto its site. Learn Facebook all over again or for the first time.Learn how to add and tag photos, message, chat, manage lists andmore. The fee is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers.

Early registration is encouraged.

For more information call the senior center at 715-839-4909.

From a dog's point of view, the benefits can be huge. How do groupies get at bargain animal clinic webinars? After having made such queries, you can be able to locate an hospital though it is recommended that go for that one which is nearer to your place so that you can take your pet easily over there. A television is mounted in the waiting area and the staff were personable and engaging while we waited for our beloved four-legged family member to be examined for a serious condition. Locate an animal hospital that offers pet services, ample for your own pet's unique health care needs?

Permanent link to this article: http://www.holmesvet.com/around-town-briefs-012612-leader-telegram-briefs/

Jan
28

Camp gets new therapy dog

1327722557 84 Camp gets new therapy dog

Camp Brimshire has a new therapy dog that will be introduced at the facility. Currently in training, the dog will be used to keep up spirits of visiting disabled children, veterans, scout groups, and other visitors of the facility. Therapy dogs have been great tools of the facility in the past and President and CEO Rich Hashagen hopes to continue that tradition with the newly adopted sheepdog.

    “We lost our puppy Cody in November. We have a new puppy we picked up Saturday,” Hashagen explained. after an accident took the life of the former therapy dog, it was important to get another one in training as soon as possible. “He is already going (to the bathroom) outside. He has a lot of training left to do.”    According to Hashagen, therapy dogs are a great way to get visiting children to relax, have fun, and experience an animal that will play with them without causing harm or nervousness. “We use it for our camp, obviously, but they are great for the disabled. We visit hospitals and veteran’s homes, as well as visit with people in nursing homes. Residents bond with them. it gives them something warm and cuddly to play with,” Hashagen said.    Therapy dogs require many months of training before they are ready to interact with visitors. “They start off with puppy school. then it is off to obedience one, obedience two, and obedience three before they are ready for therapy school,” said Hashagen. “It takes a good nine months to a year before they are acclimated and trained.”    Training includes how to act around physical disabilities including wheelchairs and crutches, how to not make a lot of noise, not be too hyper around groups, and interact with children. Working with disabled children, handicapped elders, and challenged individuals is a tough task for any dog, but even more so for a dog that must be calm and careful at all times. the new sheepdog will be filling a big hole left by Cody.     “Cody had 5,000 hours of service when we lost him. He had between six and eight months of formal training. We also had two Irish Setters 15 and 17 (years), respectively,” Hashagen said. He has no doubts, however, this new therapy dog will be up to the challenge. “Right now, he’s cute as a button. We’re really excited.”    Training is already under way, with promising results from the puppy. over the next several months, he will be experiencing his first real challenges as a therapy dog. those at Camp Brimshire believe that he will be another great dog housed at the facility.

An examination table was laden with a glorious, sugary cake, surrounded by cookies and cupcakes and other yummy human temptations. You can search on line. These assistants are highly dedicated to their careers. Randall and his wife Myra were well-known for their availability to care for their animal patients in any emergency. They desired far too much personal information. I know it's hard for people with a few dogs and long drives to get in to an animal hospital so I feel like I'm really providing an important service." Evenings are spent on the phone. Bowie pet owners trust only the best when it comes to veterinary care and so should you. This would last a year before they moved out of the home and into the garage that has been built into a surgery and a kennel.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.holmesvet.com/camp-gets-new-therapy-dog/

Jan
28

‘Why is Margaret Crying So Early in the Morning?’

1327718947 11 Why is Margaret Crying So Early in the Morning?

Cuffer Prize 2011 honourable mention

Margaret’s sharp burst of anguish fills the Home’s dayroom like a summer’s thunderstorm – sudden and short. unlike a cleansing thunderstorm, it fails to freshen the urine-tinged air.

I look up from kissing my grandmother hello. Margaret is positioned in the middle of the room. she leans forward and sideways over the armrest of the high-backed chair into which she is strapped. Wordless, she stares at us with tortured intensity before lowering her eyes to arthritic entwined fingers.

I guess Margaret to be late 40s. Brown hair tucked behind her ears, bright coral lipstick complementing her sweater, a pant cuff hitched up behind her knee, caught during a struggle to cross her legs.

The Home’s dining room doubles as its dayroom. Eight square tables ring an open space. A small kitchenette forms one wall and a 20-inch television is parked high on an opposite shelf. Female residents sit at the tables or slump in wheelchairs scattered around the room. Most stare at the floor.

Among the residents move three aides, or licenced practical nurses, or nurses. I’m never sure who is who as all sport two-piece pajama-like outfits and no nametags. I’ll call them caregivers, because in a Home this is how I see their role. they glance toward, then ignore Margaret, and continue their morning ministrations.

They position chairs in front of the mute television. they fiddle with the radio volume; VOCM plays its toe-tapping Saturday morning Irish-Newfoundland music. Women are wheeled in and out for toileting and bathing.

“Don’t take off me clothes,” a lady calls to the air as a caregiver propels her through the room. “I’m going home now.”

Nan takes my hand in both of hers and rubs her cheek against my palm. she closes her eyes and purrs soft sounds of contentment.

A guttural moan catches in Margaret’s throat.

“How are you,” I say to Nan’s tablemate, the lady with the bearing of a queen. A French knot crowns her thick white hair. With her cultured pearl necklace and double strand of wrist pearls, I can imagine her captivating fellow waltzers at a long-ago ball.

“Your pearls are beautiful,” I say.

She raps her jewelled wrist on the table. “I don’t want to be here.”

This voice and noise rouses her neighbours. A septuagenarian uncoils from her slumped position and flicks her tongue in and out, in and out, as if testing the atmosphere. another grins like she harbours a wonderful secret. she dry washes her hands over and over again.

“Is this OK for me?” laughs a jolly grandmother, brandishing a piece of toast. her rolls of belly fat shake.

“Is this OK for me?” she tap-dances the toast on the table and sings to the radio: “Yes indeed”-tap-”I do”-tap-”love you”-tap.

She brings the toast to her eyes for close examination before tonguing its brown crust. “It’s yucky.” she tosses it on the table.

I turn to a voice muttering, “I feel like doing this.” In a blink the woman whips her green sweater up over her cotton bra.

I walk over and touch her arm. “You shouldn’t do that,” I say.

“Why not?” she giggles.

A male caregiver shuffles close.

“What do you have there,” she says, grabbing his crotch. He performs a quick side step and lays his sloshing Tim Hortons coffee on a table.

“Pull down your sweater, duckie,” he says. He takes the centre of the ribbed waistband between thumb and forefinger and tugs until the sweater again covers her.

“I thought only men acted like that,” I say. He half-smiles and doesn’t make eye contact.

He moves to a woman with multi-coloured eyewear. but no, the purple bridge of her nose connects blue and red bruises that circle her eyes. He lowers his face to hers.

“Where are your glasses,” he says.

She peers in near-sighted confusion. “Somewhere in my room.”

“Do you have your teeth in?”

“My top ones.”

“Where’re your bottom teeth?”

“Somebody stole ‘em.”

“Can I go home with ye?” calls a plaintive voice from a corner of the room.

“Yes,” says the caregiver, not looking at the resident.

“Can I go home with ye?” she calls again.

“Just look at her poor legs,” says Nan. I see a pair of bird-thin legs encased in tights. Their equally thin owner paddles her legs in synchronized futility against the floor; her locked wheelchair doesn’t move.

I need breathing space.

To Nan I say, “I’ll be back in a minute. I’ll get you some chocolate from your room.”

“Good morning,” I say to Margaret as I walk past.

“Errrr,” she says and lurches forward as though to follow me.

A resident plucks at my sleeve. she murmurs in hope. “Please, stop for awhile and tell I about yourself?”

“Can I give some of the ladies chocolate?” I ask at the nurses’ station.

“Not right now. I’m just filling in and I’ve no idea who’s diabetic and who’s not.”

It’s 11 a.m. but the station’s wall clock shows 4:35. The minute hand jerks forward a second, then jerks back. Jerks forward. Jerks back.

A caregiver walks past holding a large clear plastic bag full of shitty Depends.

I lay three chocolates on the table in front of Nan. she arranges and rearranges them like she’s playing a shell game. Guess which one hides the maraschino cherry? her finger hovers over each before she chooses one and pops it in her mouth. “Mmmmm,” she says. “Mmmmm.”

“My mother is having trouble hearing,” I overhear a visitor say.

The caregiver peers into the woman’s ears. “She doesn’t have her hearing aid in.”

“She doesn’t wear one.”

“Yes she does.”

“She’s never worn one in her life.”

“Oh, it must have been the woman in the bed before her.”

Nan wraps the remaining chocolates in a tissue. “I’ll be saving these for Mommy. she likes a little something before she goes to bed.” she fumbles with the waistband of her slacks and tucks the chocolates between the band and her blouse.

“I’m hungry,” moans a woman.

“You just finished breakfast,” says a caregiver.

“Did I?” “Poor thing,” says Nan. “She doesn’t know she ate.”

A diminutive elder positions her varicosed hands on the edge of her table. she presses to move her wheelchair backwards. Instead, the table inches closer to a younger woman on the opposite side. The younger pushes back with a grunt and a screech of table leg on tile.

“Stop it,” calls a resident. “She’s an old lady.”

“Ah, shut up,” drools the pusher. she shoves harder and soaks her knee from the exertion.

“Can I go home with ye?” calls the voice from the corner.

“You’re not going home,” yells the green-sweatered woman. With the rhythm of a lit beacon she flashes her bra.

This time, Margaret’s burst of anguish rises and rises and swirls around the room like a tornado. The wretched howls peak to one long drawn out note before dropping to a wail that leaves her and the Home breathless.

“Tut, tut,” says a caregiver into the silence. “Why is Margaret crying so early in the morning?”

Mary Pike writes fiction and non-fiction and has received awards in the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters competition and a mentorship with the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Emerging Writers Mentorship Program. her stories have been published in “Telling Truth, A Collection of Essays,” the “The Cuffer Anthology Volume II,” “The Cuffer Anthology Volume III” and “Paragon IV.” she lives in St. John’s.

Work surfaces should be clean and sterile. She has, after all, received lots of hugs, personal attention, special treats and lots of T.L.C. One of the cats got better within a few months, but the other cat, it took her years before she stopped laying her head on the floor coughing. Playing with the dog for a half hour a day, isn't just good for the dogs physical health but a dig that's played with continually is psychologically more fit and less certain to become a depressed dog, it also lowers your blood pressure as well and it'll form a shatterproof bond between you and your pooch, which may extend to your folks if you should begin to have one after having the dog.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.holmesvet.com/why-is-margaret-crying-so-early-in-the-morning/

Jan
28

Pet people: The luckiest people in the world

1327717759 81 Pet people: The luckiest people in the worldBy Dr. Ellen Friedman Published: 2:00 AM – 01/04/12

If you have a pet, chances are the new year will be bright. Pet owners, you know who you are. you know what I mean when I remind you that the source of love and companionship in your house will never wane if you have a pet.

From the tiniest budgie to the enormous St. Bernard, your house will never feel empty when you walk in to see your friend. you are the luckiest person in the world. And, in your pet’s eyes, you’re certainly the best-looking.

If you are like me, you bought a king-size bed so that the third dog would be comfy. your neck is stiff in the morning because Marina really, really likes to sleep on the pillow.

If you are like my husband, you say “Good morning, sweetheart” — and you mean puppy Victor.

You’re like my sister-in-law, who got a dog when all her kids were grown and she hated coming home to a quiet house on Friday night. It’s not quiet any more in Brooklyn, to her shrieks of, “No, no!” as puppy Farrell trashes the kitchen.

You’re Ms. Sicoli, who does everything humanly and medically possible to keep her dogs in good health.

Or Ms. DiDomizio, whose pets fill her heart to bursting with love; or the DiVincenzos, who still bring us cookies every Christmas, even when their beloved pet is no longer with us.

Or our nurse Fumi, who took the tiny kitten with the crushed foot home “just for a few weeks,” even though she and her housemate already have a jumble of cats.

For all the kittens who knocked down the Christmas tree, for my sweet Italian collie who had never seen a Christmas tree until he got to my mother-in-law’s house and promptly lifted his leg in the living room. he was quite pleased with her hospitality in offering him bathroom facilities right in the house.

For all the gerbils and bunnies and g-pigs and ferrets and rats and chinchillas and parrots and lizards and all the underappreciated “alternative pets” — more love in a small packet than you can imagine.

From all of us in the veterinary profession, blessed with the ability to help, to heal; for how every day for 20 years when we get home after work, my husband, Dr. Dasaro, and I ask each other, “What good did you do today?”

From us to you, beloved and esteemed pet guardian and friend, Happy new Year to all.

newbvet@yahoo.com.

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.holmesvet.com/pet-people-the-luckiest-people-in-the-world/

Jan
28

The Labour Spokesman: St. Kitts’ Frigate Bay Resort to be refurbished and upgraded

button The Labour Spokesman: St. Kitts Frigate Bay Resort to be refurbished and upgraded

St. Kitts’ Frigate Bay Resort to be refurbished and upgraded 1/14/2012 BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY

Such as getting every one of their clients up to date on shots and giving wellness checks. You should scrub the blackboard clean. His hobbies include watching and playing sports, reading and movies. Animal clinic brings instructors down. You need to attempt to develop as many friends as possible. A Great Charity We Support TAPA (Taking Action to Protect Animals Society) has been involved in the care?and rescue of kittens and adult cats since August 2007. Select your Path to the Geneva Veterinarian of your Choice After reviewing the information outlined in our comparison, choose the column that best outlines your preferences for an animal hospital, and simply click on the OPTION at the top of that column. You may notice that if your schedule does not let up, and your dog does not get out enough he/she begins acting out either aggressively or destructively. Animal clinic is a complex scheme to make free animal clinic.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.holmesvet.com/the-labour-spokesman-st-kitts-frigate-bay-resort-to-be-refurbished-and-upgraded/

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