Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a year full of love, joy, prosperity, family, and friends.

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Happy Hanukkah!!

Iran Opens Holcaust Conference

The conference, "Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision," was initiated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has described the Holocaust as a "myth" and called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Even before it opened, the gathering was condemned by Germany, the United States and Israel.

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"If the official version of the Holocaust is thrown into doubt, then the identity and nature of Israel will be thrown into doubt. And if, during this review, it is proved that the Holocaust was a historical reality, then what is the reason for the Muslim people of the region and the Palestinians having to pay the cost of the Nazis' crimes?" Mottaki said.

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BBC Video Link

Gifts that Give

This year, give a gift that gives twice!

The World Wildlife Fund Gift Center

Shop to Help Animals

Shop to Benefit the Rainforest

NOVICA -- What the World Creates By Hand

Ten Thousand Villages -- Fairly Traded Handcrafts From Around the World

North Shore Animal League Online Boutique

Shop to Stop Hunger

The Pink Ribbon Store

Shop to Help a Child

Shop to Benefit Literacy

The Michigan Humane Society

Fine Artists Helping Critters in Need

The Smithsonian Store

Shop in Israel

The NPR Shop (Thanks Tammy! I can't believe I forgot this one!)

The PBS Shop

And many more, I'm sure. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Soap and Water and a Cat -- Oh My!!

Let me backstep a little bit....

Last week Rob and I adopted a friend for Katara. She was driving us insane, always active and wanting to play non-stop. She need a kitty-friend to play with. The vet's office where we take Katara (and took Trip) have kitties for adoption. They had offered us our pick of kitties after Trip died, however we had decided to adopt Katara. Last week, I went to the vet's to drop off a sample of Katara's (she had a yucky intestinal parasite). As always, I said hi to the adoptable kitties in the front window. I noticed one of them, Squiggy, was all alone. His brother, Lenny, had been adopted out, but Squiggy was there by himself. Rob and I talked and decided to let Katara meet Squiggy to see if they got along. The did as well as two stranger cats can be expected to do on a first meeting (some sniffing, some hissing, some running away). We brought Squiggy home and named him Sokka.* Sokka and Katara were standoffish at first, but are getting along great now. Sokka is a wonderful big ole lump of marshmellow fluff. He purrs the instant you pick him up and collapses into kitty happiness. Like Katara, he too is talkative (Rob and I get quite the talking to in the morning, when the food dishes are empty!) His meows are great -- he trills. It's adorable! Only problem is, Sokka sheds like mad and has some dandruff issues. Research has led me to believe this is due to the dry air (all the heaters going on and no humidity). One remedy: kitty bath! I went out and picked up a nice moisturizing oatmeal shampoo. And thus, Sokka got a bath today. And really, it went better than I expected. No scratches. Just a wriggly, whiney, unhappy, and very wet kitty! Katara even came over to the bathroom door to find out why her friend was crying. She's such a good kitty! She started purring when she saw that he was ok (though we're sure half of that was relief that it wasn't her getting the bath!) Now Sokka is off hiding and grooming himself. Every hair has to go back in place now.





















Sokka getting his bath.





















A tee-d off Sokka getting towel-dried.















Katara and Sokka snuggling last night.








*Yup, that would Katara's brother on The Avatar.

I'm at it again!

Vote for Token the ferret as the cutest holiday snow ferret!
















VOTE HERE! VOTE HERE! VOTE HERE! VOTE HERE! VOTE HERE!