Some sci fi

I love lying on my human's lap while my human watches television.

My human loves sci fi (that is science fiction to those not into it). He told me that a lot of the stories really boil down to one or two themes. One of the most popular is getting lost and using technology to find your way home, usually to earth. Some good ones are:

Quantum Leap - getting lost through time and trying to go home
Star Trek Voyager - lost in unexplored space far far away from earth and trying to go home
Battlestar Galactica - abandoning home but trying to find its origin and a home
Sliders - lost in parallel universes and 'sliding' to different earths to find home

Today was a warm day.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Cat's in the Cradle and Cat Stevens (two cats)

There is a song called Cat's in the Cradle which was a Harry Chapin song and a hit in 1974. It was also a hit in more recent times by the band, Ugly Kid Joe. Part of the lyrics go:
And the cats in the cradle
and the silver spoon
little boy blue and the
man on the moon

Of course it is not about a cat in a cradle (for babies). Cat's cradle is a game played (usually by children) with a looped string on the fingers (so it looks like a cradle), with the string moving from finger to finger.


Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin died in 1981 following a car accident (he was 38 years old). Harry Chapin also worked tirelessly for charity and change. Today the Harry Chapin Foundation supports projects on issues such as poverty.
About Harry Chapin
Harry Chapin Foundation

Also, contrary to popular belief, the song was not sung ever by Cat Stevens (wow, another cat, meow!). It is just that his voice is similar to Harry Chapin's.

Cat Stevens was born in London on 21 July 1948 as Stephen Demitri Georgiou (a Greek name) and changed his name to Yusaf Islam when he converted to the Islamic faith. He also does a lot of charity work and is raising funds for tsunami relief.
Cat Stevens site
Yusaf Islam site


Yusaf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

My favourite house

My human just loves the Sydney Opera House. He keeps telling me about it, and he thinks it is a magnificent building, both inside and out. Some time ago, I wrote about Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim museum in New York, and Falling Water, the house he designed for Edgar Kaufmann in Bear Run, Pennsylvania.

Well, in spite of being a cat, I do have some loyalty to my human and concede that the Sydney Opera House is also one of my most favourite buildings. It is a grand design.


Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House was opened on 20 October 1973 and still remains one of the finest opera house in the world (Glasgow, Budapest etc also spring to mind). The Sydney Opera House was designed by Jørn Utzon, a very famous Danish architect. In fact, architecture is in the Utzon family blood. See http://www.utzon.dk.

Here is the official website of the Sydney Opera House. www.sydneyoperahouse.com

My humans have been to the Sydney Opera House quite a number of times now, especially for the opera. Aside from the inspiring interior, they say the view from the back balcony (for sparkling wine during intermission) is spectacular.

Today was another hot day. On hot days, I just want to be left alone to cool down. I arrange my fur in a way to trap any breeze that comes my way.


Let me in!

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Raindrops on roses...

and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with string. These are a few of my favourite things...

I think not. What was Fraulein Maria thinking?

My top five favourite things are:
(5) sitting on the kitchen floor near the bench as food is being prepared, especially in the mornings when my human is making his lunch for work and hoping that I get a tidbit of something;
(4) being brushed with a big wirey brush, followed with a fine tooth comb;
(3) sitting on a lap, that doesn't fidget;
(2) conversing with my human about all sorts of things, especially what I like to eat; and
(1) HAM

Declan and Nell, and Merlin's human Kim came over tonight for dinner. They had oven dried roma tomatoes, oven dried mushrooms with truffled butter, and fetta cheese drizzled with rosemary infused olive oil, with crackers. Then they had paella for dinner made with Spanish chorizos, chicken and peas. They finished with rockmelon and grapes, and white castello cheese and a blue brie cheese.

Declan gave me three little furry mice toys. Thank you Declan!

I enjoyed sitting on so many laps! I gave Merlin my new toy, a fuzzy bird toy which has a bird call (I prefer a real one, but I'm not allowed out by myself). Merlin is now on Catster (you can find him under my friends list).

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Happy Birthday Mozart

Today is the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who was born in 1756 (died 5 December 1791). Mozart is one of my most favourite composers.



He composed 41 symphonies. My favourites of those are No. 25 and 40, which are also his most popular ones.

He also wrote a number of operas - the libretto in German at a time when it was standard practice for operas to be written and sung in Italian. My favourite Mozart operas include The Magic Flute (in German), The Marriage of Figaro, and Don Giovanni. The libretto for most operas are actually written by someone else (sort of like an Elton John and Bernie Taupin collaboration)

People who really appreciate Mozart would enjoy visiting Salzburg, the town of his birth. The house where he was born, at 9 Getreidegasse, is now preserved as a museum. My human who visited Salzburg some years ago, said that it is also fun to check out the places that were used to film The Sound of Music.

As a cat, I really enjoy classical music, as did my dear departed brother, Fatty.

Today has been a warm day.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Australia Day

My human was home with me all day today, and I even had a little catnap on his lap.

Today is a public holiday in Australia to celebrate our national day called Australia Day. You can read more about it here.

Unlike most other countries, our national day does not celebrate the establishment of our country via independence from colonialism (whether through peaceful means or a war). Australia as a country did not exist until federation of the colonies (into states) on 1 January 1901.

The two closest countries to Australia's history are Canada and New Zealand. Canada's national day, Canada Day on 1 July, celebrates the establishment of the union of the north American provinces into Canada. New Zealand's national day, Waitangi Day on 6 February , commemorates the treaty between Maori chiefs and the British government (in 1840) which established New Zealand.

Australia Day on the other hand, is an anniversary of the landing of a ship in Sydney in 1788 which brought settlers and convicts mostly from Great Britain and Ireland. Some segments of the community mourn the day as Invasion Day where the rights of the local indigenous people were overlooked.

Whatever the differing views, the day is no longer focussed on the past and celebrates modern Australia where Australians reflect on what it means to be Australian.

Some people think it is all about eating lamb. They're not wrong! See the latest television commercial here.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

I am appalled

I have read of three separate incidents in the last 10 days of cruelty to kittens in Sydney and Melbourne by groups of teenagers (boys).

It sickens me that anybody can be so cruel and tortue and attempt to kill a tiny defenceless kitten for fun.

What is wrong with these people?

Jack and Bad Cat's humans (Jess and Mans) came over tonight. They had Aloo Gobi (using the recipe from Bend it like Beckam film), curried lentils, tandoori fetta cheese, and saffron basmati rice.

I enjoyed sitting on Jess' lap. It is also my way of saying hello to Jack and Bad Cat. You can see a picture of them listed under my friends in Catster.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

My favourite word of the day

My human was reading out to me snippets of the book he was reading, and in the middle of it he said BEHOOVE (or BEHOVE - British spelling). Well, I had never heard such a word before and decided that it sounds really groovy.

Behoove is a verb to mean "be appropriate or necessary". For example, it behooves me to write a sentence with the word behoove in it to demonstrate the definition of behoove.

Cool, I used the word three times in one sentence!

Anyway, it obviates the need to use the word necessary in that context.

Neil and Emily came to visit me today which was really exciting.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

HBDK

recipe for slow cooked lamb shanks

Here is a recipe for humans and cats alike which my human made up.

Slow cooked lamb shanks

1 kg fresh vine ripened tomatoes, cut an X on the bottom - put in a saucepan with a little amount of water, and steam/boil on medium for 30 minutes. When the skin is loose, peel. Then return to saucepan, mash and cook for a further 15 minutes. If you cannot get fresh tomatoes, you can use two 400 gram cans.

2 fresh meaty lamb shanks - brown in a heavy cast iron pot (oven proof) with a little bit of good olive oil. Add the tomato mixture, so that it partly covers the meat. Place 3-4 anchovies on top of the meat (this is the salty seasoning). Add 2 fresh bay leaves to the tomato mix and some pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Place in a low heat oven (about 130 degrees Celsius for about 2 hours, preferably 3 hours).

Cut the meat of the bone (it should come away easily). The cat gets the bits not covered in tomato. The rest cut away into bite size pieces, put in a bowl and spoon some tomato mix over, to cover meat. Eat with a fork with crusty bread to mop up the juice. Serve with any green vegetables you (the human) wants to eat - brocolli, beans or asparagus blanched al dente would be nice.

Simple yet delicious.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Happy Birthday Placido Domingo

Today is the birthday of Placido Domingo who was born in 1941 in Madrid, Spain.



Domingo is one of the world's greatest tenors. You can read more about him on his website.

Placido Domingo - official site

At home we have a CD recording of Carmen with Domingo. It is wonderful. My human puts it on for me to listen to when I ask him.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Raining cats and dogs

We had a huge thunderstorm today. And it is still happening. And it is cooler. And cooler weather means getting cuddled to stay warm.

I looked out the window to see if there were any cats and dogs falling from the sky, but all I could see was water.

Consequently, I see no truth in that saying.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Cold fusion

About 15 years ago, the scientific world was nearly turned on its head by claims that cold fusion could be a new energy source. You can read all about it in Wikipedia.

The whole thing was eventually discredited. Recently, this was raised again, but most scientists are still very skeptical. See:
Physics Today
New Energy Times

I think it is a load of crock.

Merlin's humans, Kim, Liam and Jordan, plus Jordan's friend Oliver came over for dinner tonight. They had pasta (spiral) bolognese with freshly grated parmesan cheese. The kids even put tabasco on their food! I sat on Oliver and even Liam's lap beforehand, and on Kim's after dinner.

I must be mellowing in my old age!

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com or send me Catmail from Catster. I love getting messages.

Catnip to humans

I haven't had any catnip for ages. I think it is time for my human to replant some for me! It makes me relaxed and rather dopey!

Humans drink wine, amongst other alcoholic beverages, for a similar effect. My human tells me that in Australia, we have some of the best wines in the world. They very popular in the UK, with consumption surpassing that of French wines there.

My human's top picks are Pinot Grigio/Gris (a white) which is gaining popularity in Australia, a return to Shiraz (our term for Syrah, a red), and Sangiovese (another red, from an Italian grape variety).

For my American readers, the San Francisco Chronicle recently published its top 100 wines of 2004.

My human's top pick for good value Australian wine (after consulting Huon Hooke's column in the Sydney Morning Herald, Good Living supplement of 18 January 2004) are:
Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2002
Hardys Oomoo Shiraz 2003
Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2004

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Flogging a dead horse

I read an article in the UK Guardian (Saturday, January 15, 2005) called Flogging a dead horse.

I find it disgusting that some artists are cruel to animals (and kill them) in the name of art.

One 'well known artist' and the Swedish gallery which exhibited her ghastly art tried to justify this cruelty.

Link - Wetterling Gallery

I hope that there was a medical and humane reason for euthanising the animals (including cats) used in her art. And she was obviously not killing for food, which is acceptable, as most predatory animals hunt and kill for their food. Otherwise killing an animal to make a point is morally reprehensible.

Today was much cooler and it was dark in the morning (overcast) which nearly made my human sleep in and be a little later than usual for work. What I really wanted was for him to stay home and cuddle me all day. I will try better mind control next time.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Food Glorious Food

My human always watches cooking shows on television. He likes the British ones like Two Fat Ladies (in repeats), Jamie Oliver, and when he can bear to watch her appalling knife skills, Nigella Lawson. He also likes the Australian ones like Stephanie Alexander, Kylie Kwong and Surfing the Menu with Curtis Stone and Ben O'Donoghue.

My human is a good cook. He tells me that there are three types of cooks. Those who hate it and cook because they have to. Those who cook scientifically (follow recipes to the letter) and are usually afraid it won't turn out. And those who cook like it is an art. Of course there are those who can't cook at all and can even ruin boiling an egg!

Those who cook like it is an art, cook by instinct and can create something from a bunch of ingredients in the fridge and pantry, knowing what will go well together. They understand texture, taste and visual presentation.

My human has lots and lots of cook books and monthly subscriptions to two cooking magazines, and he will use a recipe occasionally. Why he needs so many recipes I don't know.

Anyway, I think it is time that there is a cook book for cats. Some of my most favourite things to eat, apart from ham, are:
rare roasted or pan fried lamb
rare pan friend rump steak
poached chicken
pan friend tuna

Sometimes when I occasionally get a bad reaction to protein, I am given chicken soup made with chicken stock, with chicken meat, potatoes and carrots. I drink the liquid first, then eat the chicken, then the potatoes and leave the carrots last.

Today was much cooler with drizzly rain. I slept for much of the day, to catch up for all the hot days and nights when I found it hard to sleep.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

The cat's out of the bag

In medieval England, piglets were sold in the open markets. The pig was usually kept in a bag, to make it easy for the buyer to take the pig home.

Sometimes, an unscrupulous merchant might trick the buyer and put a large cat in the bag instead. If the shopper was clever and looked in the bag to check, then the cat was literally out of the bag.

Today was another hot day, 36 degrees Celsius.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Cool for cats

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

I am resting my mind today. It has been so hot that I just want to sleep and stay cool.

Speaking of cool, have you heard the song called "Cool for Cats" by (the UK band) Squeeze? It was out in 1979, and a very silly song. My favourite part of the song is
And ev'rybody tells me that
It's cool to be a cat
Cool for cats - Cool for cats

I want to thank Nina (the Russian Blue) for sharing some her Christmas ham with me. Her human Deborah works with my human in the same office. I hope her other human Hugh helps her to set up her own page on Catster so that she can be listed as my friend on Catster.

Merlin's human Kim came over for dinner (she is also the sister of my other human in absentia, working in Port Moresby). They had double thick medium rare sirloin steak (with truffled butter); cold boiled baby chat Coliban potatoes dressed in basil infused olive oil and chives; cherry tomato, diced Spanish onion, and diced Lebanese cucumber salad with balsamic and olive oil dressing; and a baby fennel and orange salad, dressed with olive oil and rasberry vinegar. They also had a dessert of tin peaches with custard.

I think they also had some kettle chips which was not shared with me!

Today was one of the hottest for sometime, 38 degrees Celsius. And we don't even have air conditioning!

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

A poem

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

I want to share a poem called Nocturne by Mikael Wiehes. This poem was recited by the Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson on New Year's Eve in Skansen, Sweden, instead of the usual fireworks. Of the European countries, Sweden was the most affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

NOCTURNE (Mikael Wiehes)

Nu vilar vind
Nu slumrar mörka vatten
Nu falnar glöd
Nu faller dag till ro
Nu stillnar tid
Nu saktar livet stegen
Nu stiger dröm
Nu tystnar äng och skog

En kort sekund
En tyst minut
En liten stund
låter sig livet hejdas
Nu sover jord
Nu blundar solens öga
Nu kommer natt
Nu faller dag till ro

The wind has calmed
Dark waters now lay tranquil
The glow now fades
The day gives way
to peace

Time now stands still
The pace of life has faltered
Now dreams arise
Silence fills fields
and forests

A calm descends
A quiet minute
A moment when
the flow of life is broken
The earth now sleeps
The sun has closed its weary eye
As night draws near
The day gives way
to peace

It is a very beautiful poem, both in Swedish and the English translation. And very sad.

Today was another very very hot day.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Hello Kitty

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Hello Kitty is a well known cartoon/comic drawn cat character which began in 1974. Hello Kitty has three whiskers on each side, dots for eyes and no mouth. Today Hello Kitty merchandise is popular all over the world (earning Sanrio nearly US$1 billion in sales a year), and even worn by Nicky Hilton. See Sanrio.

Cute kitsch that only the Japanese could invent...

According to Sanrio
Hello Kitty was born on November 1st and she lives in London, England with her parents and her twin sister, Mimmy. They have lots of friends at school with whom they share many adventures. Her hobbies include traveling, music, reading, eating yummy cookies her sister Mimmy bakes, and best of all making new friends. As Hello Kitty always says, you can never have too many friends.

What I want to know is how she eats "yummy cookies" when she has NO MOUTH!


She has no mouth with which to eat. I wonder if she has an anus with which to sh*t. And why doesn't she use a litter tray?

Today was a scorching hot day. The temperature was 34 degrees Celsius today. Tomorrow it will be 36 C, then forecast to be 38 C on Friday before cooling down. I don't like it too hot as I have very nice thick long fur which I spend hours grooming, when I am not sleeping or eating, or writing my diary on Catster.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Today I listened to ABC Classic FM. I particularly enjoyed the overture to Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks. This was first performed in 21 April 1749 in London for a public rehearsal, with the fireworks itself on 27 April. It commemorates the end of the War of Austrian Succession.

When Maria Theresa of Austria succeeded her father Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor in 1740 according to her father's wishes (officially under the pragmaticae sanctiones), her reign was under threat by some who saw her as weak. Charles VI had actually intended her to cede her powers to her (future) husband.

The war started when King Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia in 1740. By 1741, nearly all of the European powers were involved. Aligned with Prussia was France, Spain and Bavaria. Austria was supported by the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.


Empress Maria Theresa of Austria

The war finally ended in 1748. Maria Theresa continued on the throne until her death in 1780, the only female Habsburg ruler.

The Habsburg family continues to this day, with no empire, having to renounce claims to the Austrian throne (to return from exile). The last former Crown Prince, now just Otto von Habsburg (or Otto Habsburg-Lothringen) lives in Germany, and has seven children (the first five are daughters). The eldest son lives in Austria, while the youngest lives in Hungary. Both modern day republics are unlikely to reinstate a monarchy.

You can read more about the modern day Habsburg (in German) from Otto's official site.

Another famous Austrian family is the von Trapp family (as in the Sound of Music).

For my American readers, Austria (in Europe) should not to be confused with Australia (an island continent, which hosted the 2000 Olympics in Sydney).

Today, I listened to ABC Classic FM and thought about Austrian history but I actually I like Handel's Water Music better than his Fireworks music.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

manga and anime

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

My human finished reading to me, Peter Carey's new book Wrong About Japan. Peter Carey is a well known Australian author now living in New York. In the book, Carey recounts his visit to Japan with his son Charley.

Wrong About Japan is about Carey's examination of his son's obsession with manga and anime - Japanese comics and animation.

Both manga and anime have a large global following. Unlike western comics which are marketed at children, manga is also read by adults. Anime from Japan has enjoyed great success in the West, most recently Miyazaki's "Spirited Away".

Today there are more and more manga and anime enthusiasts who attend manga/anime conventions than there fans (Trekkies) who attend Star Trek conventions.

I can't wait for him to finish reading Homer's Illiad to me.

After all those visitors last week, and with two humans home, the house is now very quiet with just me and (my) one human. Sigh... it was much more fun when there was four of us at home.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Fat Cats

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Tonight I wish to register my protest at the term fat cats to describe company bosses who give themselves very high salaries and bonuses that many consider do not match their performance.

Cats are not greedy. We only eat as much as we need. These company bosses should be called fat dogs. Ha ha ha ha ha...

The suitcase in the study has disappeared and the house is quiet. Just when I thought everything was back to normal, it is not. I have to keep an eye on my remaining human, lest he too disappears. Who said all cats are resiliant? Some of us are more attached to our humans, than other cats are. My human said, don't worry, he will be back home again soon.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

I am the walrus?

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

There is an old Beatles song called "I am the Walrus" from their Magical Mystery Tour album.

Apparently John Lennon wrote the lyrics, and the chorus goes like this
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob

Well, I think Mr Lennon was on some serious catnip there.

Lilly and Jimmy's humans came for dinner tonight (Lilly is like me, but with lots of black fur, and Jimmy is part Siamese - but aren't on Catster yet). They also happen to be the parents of my other human and look after me sometimes when both my humans are away. For dinner they had 'bangers and mash' with broccoli, then an apple strudel with custard for dessert.

I have been very spoilt for the last three days with some of my favourite human visitors.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Yawn

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Yawn... I'm tired and giving my brain another rest. Watch this space.

Elizabeth, Sue and Devi came over for dinner tonight. They had Lebanese cucumbers stuffed with smoked salmon or smoked beef, and truffled butter on bread. Then Hokkien noodles with duck, bok choy, gai lan and oyster mushrooms. Bok choy and gai lan are Chinese leafy vegetables. They then had a selection of cheeses with bread, and grapes, and chocolates.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Art

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Some cats paint, and very well indeed. You can read more about cat painting from Museum of Non Primate Art.

A little while ago (on December 2) I wrote about the French impressionist painters Renoir and Monet, two of my favourites.

I also very much appreciate Australian Aboriginal art. We cats actually relate more to the abstractness and interpretation of this art. One of the most well known is Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula from the Western Desert in central Australia. He provides some of the best examples of Aboriginal 'dot painting'. I could contemplate his paintings for days and days (except when I need to eat and nap of course).


Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula - 'Tingari' (acrylic on linen)

Another well known artist is Ningura Napurrula, a Pintupi woman from central Australia. Her style is linear design. Napurrula has recently been chosen to paint the ceiling of the new Musee du Quai Branly in Paris.


Ningura Napurrula painting


Ningura Napurrula at work

While some cats like me also appreciate landscapes and portraits in styles such as Impressionists, we do in fact prefer Aboriginal art which is a lot more complex and appeals to our sense of order.

Surrealism on the other hand (such as like Salvador Dali's) is enough to make us climb the walls.... meow!

Mind you, we can very much relate to Edvard Munch's The Scream.


Munch's The Scream

Neil, Emily and Kim came over for dinner tonight. Yippeeepurrrrr! They had gorgonzola, Tasmanian brie and pecorino cheese on crackers to begin, then tandoori chicken and beef vindaloo with basmati rice, and blanched beans and broccoli. And pappadams.

Bliss, pure bliss (their company I mean, not the food which would not suit a feline digestive system).

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

violence prevention

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

I have just noticed as I type this, a banner from the Family Violence Prevention Fund which says... "The best time to stop a man becoming abusive is before he becomes a man. Teach boys that violence against women is wrong."

Children who are cruel to animals also grow up to be violent towards other humans. Cruelty to animals is also wrong.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Light

PLEASE HELP THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS

100 years ago, Albert Einstein who was a patents clerk wrote five remarkable papers including the special theory of relativity. He did not publish them until nearly 20 years later, and for which he was awarded the Nobel prize in 1921 (for his first paper on the existence of photons).

Photons are light particles. Previously, they were thought to exist as waves (light waves). In fact, light has duality, functioning as both particles and as waves.



Albert Einstein was one of the world's most brilliant scientists.

Like scientists, many cats have brilliant minds. For example, just before Christmas, ice cubes appeared in my water bowl and I spent a few minutes watching as they melted wondering how much volume of ice was required to change the temperature of my water by one degree Celsius.

Today, I went outside for a quick visit and had fun chasing a butterfly before it flew away. I also had a quick brush today.

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com

Happy New Year

I'm back! And a happy new year, for the first of January, to all my human and cat friends. That is, if you observe the Gregorian calendar.

The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582. Prior to that, the Julian calendar was used by most of Western civilisation, since 45 BC (Julius Caesar). The use of BC (for Before Christ is not intended to offend, but to acknowledge common usage over the centuries), in preference to the 'politically correct' BCE (for Before Common Era).

Well, a year date has to start somewhere, and there is some dispute about the real birth year (and indeed date) for the historical Christ.

Other calendars in use around the world include the Hebrew calendar, the Islamic calender and the Chinese lunar calendar.

We should all celebrate the new year for each of those calendars.

I apologise for the cyber-absence. My humans went away for a few days and left the computer turned off (at the wall)! My paws could not reach the plug switch! Thankfully I had visitors who ensured I was fed and cuddled. I am so glad my humans are home!

If you enjoyed reading this, let me know. You can email me at keisercat@wildmail.com