Suma the elephant loves Mozart

It took Suma's keepers at Zagreb Zoo (in Croatia) a serendipitous turn to realise that she appreciates Mozart.

Duh! If cats like me like Mozart, why wouldn't an elephant?

See - ABC News (from Agence France Presse)

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I like Fridays as my human seems more relaxed after he comes home from work. Nell and Declan came over tonight and I had a great time on their laps. They came over for dinner of roasted marinated spatchcock (baby chicken 0.5 kg, under 1 lb), with mash pumpkin, and blanched brussel sprouts and beans. Nell also brought over raspberry brownies that she had made. I like it when Nell and Declan visit, which should be more often.

keisercat@wildmail.com

being over-rated - there's nothing wrong with being a loser

Some people just never know when they are out of their depth.

At Wimbledon recently, the UK's (former) number 1 tennis player, Tim Henman was convinced that he had a chance at beating Roger Federer. So did Henman's British supporters.



Considering that he has never played in a final of a grand slam and is usually knocked out early in most tournaments (though he did make it to a final, losing to Federer in 2004 at the Indian Wells master series), Henman and his supporters really expect far too much from him.

Just because you are number 1 in your own country, it doesn't mean that you are world class.

In Australia, we had a 100 metre sprinter called Matt Shirvington. Though he was Australia's fastest 100 metre sprinter at the time, he was never going to beat any of those black champions. Much was made about him being the world's fastest 'white' man. Big deal, there is no foot race that is segregated on racial grounds. He was never going to win a medal. Shirvington liked competing even if he knew he would never be placed.

Tim Henman should take a leaf from Shirvington's book.

Sure it's great to compete at the highest levels, but it takes more guts to admit your own limitations.

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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Today was a boring day, but I did get some ham for my second breakfast when my human was making his lunch.

keisercat@wildmail.com

CO2 - if you can't reduce it, bury it...

Japan has proposed burying CO2 emissions. As the world's second largest economy (after the United States), Japan is also one of the worse in the amount of CO2 emissions (some 1.3 billion tonnes).

In order to bury the gas, it must be captured/collected, liquified, then pumped into storage containers underground.

See - Guardian article of 27 June 2006

Now, about those whales....

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I napped on the dining chair today and didn't eat my breakfast as I wasn't feeling too well. I felt much better when my human came home from work and ate with gusto.

Emily came over tonight for a seafood laksa dinner. Afterwards, we watched an exciting episode of Prison Break and I lied on Emily's outstretched lap. That Michael Scofield was a bit careless locking up Pope the warden. He should have told Pope's personal assistant Becky that Pope said she could go home.

keisercat@wildmail.com

the ATM

According to Wikipedia, the first electronic ATM (for automatic teller machine, also called cash machine or cash point in the UK) was installed at Enfield Town in North London on 27 June 1967 by Barclays Bank.

After nearly 40 years, using the ATM with a magnetic-stripped card is still not totally safe, with criminals skimming information from the card using card readers attached to machines, and recording PINs (for personal identification number, not PIN number), then creating a duplicate card.

With the development of biometrics, you'd think the banks would be able to incorporate a fingerprint scanner/reader unique to the owner of the card. Of course this would be a problem for immobile people who cannot get to an ATM and let other people use their card on their behalf, but then the bank could allow multiple users of the card by adding and registering another person's fingerprint. That way, they know exactly who has been withdrawing cash.

I'm a cat with paws (and claws) and even I thought of a solution to the problem of ATM fraud.

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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After I ate my breakfast this morning, I went straight back to bed. Unfortunately, my human did not take the hint to stay home with me, so after he had his shower, I got out of bed. Thankfully he had treats for me from his lunch making (a sandwich with turkey slices and cheese).

Tonight he had pan fried lamb steak for dinner (I don't understand why he cooks nice smelling food after he has given me my dinner), and I managed to get a few morsels from him.

keisercat@wildmail.com

FIFA World Cup

I like this from the New York Times of 25 June 2006:
Perhaps American soccer fans whose interest in the World Cup has waned since the United States was eliminated should transfer their enthusiasm to Australia, a team that United States Manager Bruce Arena labeled as one of "the weak ones" in the tournament.

Mr Arena can eat his words now. USA knocked out by Ghana!

We don't fancy the chances of our Socceroos beating Italy, but getting to the final 16 is quite an achievement.

Unfortunately, the broadcast at 12.30am local time is too late (or too early) for my human and I to watch. We need our sleep!

Link - FIFA World Cup quarter finals


Mark Viduka (captain), Craig Moore, Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell after defeating Croatia

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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Sigh! My human left me early today to go to work. Just as well, if he hadn't turned on the heater before the pre-set on time, it would not have come on as he had inadvertently turned the heater off last night instead of leaving it on auto. In any case, it was 10 degrees Celsius inside the house brrrrr.... I went under the covers a few times and had lots of pats and head, neck and shoulder massages which got me purring and purring). By the time my human left (and turned the heater off), the temperature had only reached 16 degrees Celsius.

My human bought more corn fed drumsticks for me today. he baked about 12 drumsticks, froze 9, and simmered 3 and removed the meat off the bones adding the stock for my next couple of meals.

Oh, and we watched Desperate Housewives tonight (with lots of lap time).

keisercat@wildmail.com

more bans to protect our children

In Wake County (somewhere in North Carolina, USA), parents and activist Christian groups have objected to certain books.
A local Christian activist group named Called2Action, and some parents were upset that their children were required to read books like "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, complaining that the books contain "vulgar and sexually explicit language."
...
School officials said five books were formally challenged this school year, including classic books and popular children's books: "The Chocolate War," by Robert Cormier, "Cassell's Dictionary of Slang" by Jonathon Green, "Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky, Peaky Spying" by Barbara Park, "Reluctantly Alice" by Phyllis Reynolds and "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak.
...
"In the Night Kitchen," a children's cartoon book by author/illustrator Maurice Sendak, contains a picture of a naked boy with what appears to be genitalia.

Read more from - American ABC11 TV

In news from Australia, the Australian (federal) government is spending A$ 117 million (of taxpayers' money) to provide internet porn filters to parents to protect their children. See - The Australian of 22 June 2006.

There is some dissent, a notable and interesting one from Jack Marx who claims this is censorship.

And in more news from Australia, following concerns by a few politicians (about gratuitous nudity and displays of sexuality), the 'adults only' broadcast of (Australian) Big Brother has been axed. See - ABC News.

Frankly, these bans don't go far enough. Children should be protected from the immorality of the world, as should adults. Nudity is just not natural. If God intended people to go naked, he wouldn't have made them wear clothes. And sex? Oh my goodness, that leads to unwanted pregnancies and the spread of disease. People should be neutered just like dogs and cats, then they wouldn't show any interest in such things.

Parents pay taxes and elect politicians who in turn should take the responsibility of protecting children and the community from such vulgar and distasteful ideas and images. After all, parents work and are very busy people, so can't always keep an eye on their children

Frankly, any book which depicts violence, murder, torture, incest, rape, wars, masturbation etc should be banned. Oh, that would be the Bible. Nevermind, just ban that too.

Aldous Huxley had the right idea in Brave New World. The government should really try and control what people think for their own protection. After all, people are just too busy to take responsibility for their own children and themselves.

Perhaps the United States and Australian governments could learn a thing or two from the governments of the People's Republic of China, and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea).

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I had a wonderful day with my human today. We listened to some more cool music - Editors and The Kooks. Despite what I wrote last night, there was no opera for today.





This evening, Lily and Jimmy's humans Brian and Jackie came over for some homemade pea and ham soup which had been simmering on the stove for about six hours. I did get a bit of lap time with them.

I better get my human off to bed as he will have to get up early tomorrow to go to work.

keisercat@wildmail.com

forget the pop opera, try the real thing

It's great that lots of people, including young people, are getting into classical music. After all, it has been around for hundreds of years and will continue to outlast the more modern forms of popular music.

Pop opera is, unfortunately too popular - Russell Watson, Il Divo, Amici Forever etc. They are great for people unfamiliar with real classical music as an introduction. But I think it is time they moved on. My human refuses to allow any of those pop (pretend) opera CDs in my house. And certainly not any of those solo renditions of Nessun Dorma sung out of context.

We only listen to the real thing. My human likes to put on for me, operas by Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, Mozart and Donizetti (but not Wagner where I express my displeasure at such heavy metal opera by shaking my ears and my head).

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, that absolutely stunning soprano and a favourite in our Puccini opera collection certainly agrees - see Sydney Morning Herald article of 20 June 2005. She will be performing at the Sydney Opera House next Saturday, 1 July 2005, but my human doesn't have tickets and can't go. Her Vissi d'arte from Tosca is the best.


Dame Kiri

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human slept in again today and spent much of the time with me on the couch. I did go outside in the morning to nibble on some grass when he hung out the washing. We also had an afternoon nap together on the couch which was so comfortable. I even forgot my dinner time until my human woke me.

keisercat@wildmail.com

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but what about parody?

Poor James Blunt. We were listening to his music and recommended him to a few friends before he became popular (and before Back to Bedlam was released in the United States).

Radio stations are now refusing to give air play to some of his songs like You're Beautiful because they have been 'over-played'.

If that wasn't bad enough (he must know how Barry Manilow feels), there are now a number of parodies of You're Beautiful on the internet.


Bloody Cold (from Dead Ringers, BBC)

- Train Wreck - from Univ of California, Irvine students (College Humor) - VIDEO link


MADtv (with Nicole Parker)

- You're Gullible (this is banned in the US following legal action) - AUDIO link

- My Cubicle - AUDIO link

- You're pitiful (Wierd Al Yankovic, and endorsed by Mr Blunt) - AUDIO link




(Kevin Sage)

People are so cruel sometimes...

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

**Be sure to check out my other blog - http://keisercat.blogspot.com (there are lots of cool pictures).

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My human stayed with me today to try and sleep off the flu which has made him congested and headachey. He did leave in the afternoon to go to his regular doctor to get a referral letter to give to his specialist. He also had to get a letter from his specialist doctor to explain his illness to his work, as his boss phoned him yesterday concerning all the sick days he has taken over the last twelve months. My human was very upset and was yelling at his boss on the phone. My human isn't usually like that, but he gets bullied if he doesn't get assertive and stand up for himself.

Not only did my human have to go out to do these things, it was also cold and raining. I gave him lots of cuddles when he got home.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Pavlov's dog

When my human has a shower, I go in and sit on the bath mat, and I try to engage him in a conversation about the day's events or issues I've picked up from information sources, such as the news on the radio or the internet.

Unfortunately, his perception is a little different. He seems to think that I associate his having a shower with me being given a snack afterwards.

Today, he even had the audacity of accusing me of being like Pavlov's dog. Hello? Not just any dog, but Pavlov's dog? What is wrong with this picture? Didn't Pavlov have any cats? Do I have conditional reflexes to external stimuli?

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist, psychologist, and physician. In the 1890s he was about to study the gastric function of dogs, in particular of their salivary gland. He decided that the stimuli producing the saliva was more interesting than the chemistry of the saliva.

He produced a stimuli before the presentation of food and found that due to "conditional reflex" his dogs would salivate in anticipation (or rather expectation) of the food.

The behaviour became rather predictable, but Pavlov was able to get the dogs to "unlearn" the reflex as well.

How this notion of Pavlov's dog relates to me getting a snack after my human has a shower is absolutely ludicrous.

I tell my human I am hungry when I sit at my feeding spot. It just so happens that after my human has a shower, I choose to sit there or on the kitchen floor but this is purely coincidental. I know that he also eats some food after a shower (usually breakfast).

Pavlov's dog indeed. How rude!


Pavlov's dogs were so famous, even one got stuffed!

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human left at the usual time today but returned home early. He had a medical appointment and decided it was best to sleep off the symptoms of the flu for the next few days.

We had a lovely afternoon nap together on the couch.

This evening, Jack's (the dog) human Malgosia, Nina's (the Russian Blue) human Deborah and Cressida (a newbie to me) dropped over after they finished work. I got to sit on Malgosia and Deborah's laps. Cressida got rather defensive with her preference for dogs. How could anybody not like me? I was mortified.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Superman the saviour

I wrote about Superman back on 26 November 2005. Now that the new film, Superman Returns is about to screen, it is time for another write up.



If you watch the teaser trailer from the film website, Jor-El (the father of Kal-El/Superman/Clark Kent) says:
Even though you've been raised as a human being, you are not one of them...
They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be.
They only lack the light to show the way
For this reason, above all, their capacity for good,
I have sent you, my only son.

This certainly alludes to Superman as a Christ-like figure.


Superman movie poster - depicts Superman as a "heavenly figure"

Christian church groups had a lot to say about Narnia. They seem to be silent about Superman.


source

And the original Sacred Heart of Jesus by Jose Ibarrara


Link to two great news articles
- 'Back on a wing and a prayer' by Sacha Molitorisz in the Sydney Morning Herald of 17 June 2006
- 'Superman is a hero of his time' by Anthony Breznican in USA TODAY of 22 June 2006

(10 July 2006 - another great article)
- 'Cape Fear' by John Patterson in The Guardian of 7 July 2006

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human was back at work today, even though he really should have stayed at home with me.

Emily came over tonight for Prison Break and a dinner of green curry (pork and eggplant/aubergine). I didn't feel like eating much even though my human did poach me some fresh Atlantic salmon. Just one of those days. I did get a lot of lap time with Emily though.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Musée du Quai Branly

Le musée du quai Branly opens to the public in Paris on 23 June 2006.



Quai Branly (otherwise known as MQB) contains 3500 indigenous artefacts and artworks from around the world. Australia's contribution is unique. There are 107 pieces in the permanent collection, however, eight works by Aboriginal artists (Mawurndjul, Gulumbu Yunipingu, Paddy Bedford, Lena Nyadbi, Tommy Watson, Ningura Napurrula, Judy Watson and Michael Riley) are incorporated into the design of the building; painted and engraved into the museum's front wall, entrances and ceilings.



artist Nyakul Dawson checking out his friends' work

It is a pet project of President Jacques Chirac, and one of the things he has done right during his term as president of the French Republic. Nuclear testing in the south Pacific in 1995 was not one of them.

I must get my human to check it out next time he is in Paris.

Links
- musée du quai Branly
- The Australian news article of 17 June 2006
- Sydney Morning Herald news article of 20 June 2006

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human shouldn't have gone to work yesterday as he was still unwell and ended up going to bed early last night. Thankfully, he stayed home with me all day and spent a lot of time napping with me.

keisercat@wildmail.com

Juneteenth and slavery

Today was Juneteenth (June nineteenth) which is the oldest celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.

On 19 June 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of the state of Texas and enforce the new freedom of the slaves. At the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa, General Granger read out "General Order No. 3":
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

Link - Juneteenth.com

Unfortunately, slavery still exists today. The US State Department even has an Ambassador-at-Large for International Slavery, Ambassador John R Miller. This is what he said recently:
Here we are in the 21st century and we're talking about slavery. Wouldn't this be a shock to our abolitionist ancestors who thought they finished the job back in the 19th century.
Yes, the slavery is different in some ways. Back then it was state-sanctioned slavery based primarily on color. Today it's not based primarily on color and it's not state-sanctioned, although sometimes governments look the other way. But the tricks of the slave masters are still the same: deception, fraud, beating, kidnapping, rape. And the challenge of modern-day slavery extends into every country in the world, including the United States of America.

Link - Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000: Trafficking in Persons Report (US State Department)

As my human complies with my every whim voluntarily, he does not consider himself to be my slave.

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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After such a great weekend with lots of lap time, I had to concede the return to the weekday of being left alone. Not to worry, Monday night means Desperate Housewives and more lap time.

keisercat@wildmail.com

dead cat bounce

From Wordspy, a really cruel saying:

Markets like macabre metaphors. When stocks begin to rebound, voices of caution suggest it may be only a dead-cat bounce, a phrase coined in The Financial Times in 1985 by reporters in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to signify a slight rise after a great fall.
—William Safire, "On Language," The New York Times, September 8, 2002

Link - Word Spy

I think someone should have reported those FT writers to the RSPCA.

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human slept in again today, until 10.45am. This hasn't happened for a long time, so I think he must be at the early stages of the flu virus that is going around here at the moment. This meant he spent a lot of time on the couch with me, including an afternoon nap. Woohoo!

I think he will have to make some extra hot vindaloo soon, to clear out the virus.

Oh, he did sneak out for half an hour when I was asleep. He went to visit that big white cat, Kettles who lives two streets away. My human dropped off a couple of CDs of medieval music for her human Klaudia and stayed for a cup of coffee. Hmmmpphhhh...

keisercat@wildmail.com

cristal clear - not with bling-bling

Rappers (those people who talk to music, so technically are not singers) make a lot of money and like to flaunt an extravagent lifestyle called bling-bling. This includes drinking fancy champagne like Cristal.



The head of Louis Roederer, the company that makes Cristal champagne would prefer that rappers drank something else, like Dom Perignon or Krug.

Jay-Z was one of the rappers who got other rappers into the Cristal thing. He is of course, quite upset with the Louis Roederer company and will now boycott Cristal from his clubs. See - CNN

No matter how rich people get, wealth does not buy class. If there was an airline run by Louis Roederer (Air Cristal?), they would probably prefer to not sell first class seats to rappers.

I'm sure Louis Roederer would be happy for Oprah to serve Cristal on her show, but not on Ricki Lake or Jerry Springer.

Not much different really, to those clubs and bars that reserve the right to refuse admission to anybody they deem "unsuitable".

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My breakfast was late this morning as my human extended his sleep time. I did get a chance to go outside and nibble on some grass when he hung out the washing as the sun was shining this morning.

Nothing much happened today. I spent most of the day on my human's lap and at one stage he fell asleep with me. Woohoo! My favourite activity.

keisercat@wildmail.com

football - round 12

Football round 12 - sigh!

BRISBANE LIONS: 4.5, 7.10, 12.12, 14.19 (103)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 7.4, 13.7, 20.9, 22.13 (145)

GOALS – Brisbane Lions: Black 3, Moody 2, Rischitelli 2, Selwood, McGrath, Bradshaw, Brennan, Pask, Akermanis, Patfull Western Bulldogs: Johnson 6, Grant 4, Boyd 2, Robbins 2, Street 2, West, Hahn, Hargrave, Cooney, Griffen, Montgomery
BEST – Brisbane Lions: Power, Black, Rischitelli, Sherman, Akermanis, Brennan Western Bulldogs: West, Johnson, Cooney, Grant, Boyd, Robbins, Harris, Street
INJURIES – Brisbane Lions: Selwood (concussion), McGrath (hamstring) Western Bulldogs: Hahn (knee)
CHANGES – Brisbane Lions: Brown (hip inflammation) and Michael (ribs) out, replaced in selected side by Stiller and Harding
REPORTS - Scott (Bris) for wrestling
UMPIRES - Rosebury, Wenn, Jeffery
CROWD - 27,745 at the Gabba


Jared Brennan


Aker takes a cool mark


Jamie Charman vs Peter Street


Ben Fixter tackling Matthew Robbins


Simon Black after a goal

Daily Bugle: Spider-Man reveals his secret identity

In an unprecedented move atypical of superheroes, Spider-Man revealed his real identity, Peter Parker, to the world at a press conference.

After a terrible accident involving young heroes leads to the deaths of several hundred innocent people, Congress passed the Superhuman Registration Act requiring all super-powered vigilantes to register with the government.

The superhero community is divided as some heroes register while others become wanted criminals.

In supporting the Pro-Registration side, Spider-Man makes a statement that superheroes need to be held accountable, and unmasks revealing his secret and real identity.



Superheroes keep their civilian identities a secret for a reason, and that is to protect those closest to them and ensure that they are not threatened by villains.

Oh Spidey, what have you done?

See - Marvel

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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The sun came out this morning so the chill was not as bad as yesterday's. My human not only left me during the day, but also left again tonight after dinner for a few hours.

He went to visit that Russian Blue Nina, whose human Hugh was having a birthday party. Hmmpphhh. My human told me he invited Nina to sit on his lap but she ignored him. Serves him right socialising with another cat!

But the weekend is here, just about, and I plan on staying on my human's lap for as long as possible. Hmmm, I wonder if I can trick him into napping with me on the couch for most of tomorrow.

keisercat@wildmail.com

toilet gadget for iPod® addicts

Some people can't get enough of their iPod® and supposedly even take it to the toilet.

A company has now created a toilet (paper) roll holder to dock iPods® so people doing a shit can continue to listen to their iPod®.



See - Stereo Dock for iPod® with Bath Tissue Holder

Does this mean they listen to shitty music?

Why is toilet paper called bath tissue or bathroom tissue in the US? The paper is for wiping the arse, not for wiping the bathroom!

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

.........ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo..........

Today's coldness was even worse. It was still 1 degree Celsius at midday, until the sun came out and it got up to 5 degrees in the afternoon. I think my human is going to wear a beanie tomorrow morning when he walks to work.

I didn't do much today, and even less tonight (after my dinner), although I tried to engage my human in a game of chase, but he declined. Tonight's episode of Smallville was really cool.

keisercat@wildmail.com

who's afraid of the big black bear?

Certainly not Jack the cat who doesn't even have any claws. Jack chased a bear up a tree, twice. Definitely not a "scaredy" cat.

You can read more about it in The Star-Ledger (New Jersey) of 9 June 2006.



*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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It was so cold today as my human does not leave the heating on when he leaves for work. Thankfully he forgot to switch it off and it came back on automatically later in the afternoon.

Emily came by tonight for dinner (of a small saltbush lamb rack, with mash and broccolini). I enjoyed lying on her lap. My human even gave me some morsels of lamb to eat. Woohoo!

keisercat@wildmail.com

Miranda is 40!

Actually, neither my human nor I know anybody (human or feline) called Miranda.

The Miranda in question refers to Ernesto Miranda and a US Supreme Court case.

As a result of that decision (exactly 40 years ago), Americans who are arrested are now told:
You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney and to have an attorney present during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided to you at no cost. During any questioning, you may decide at any time to exercise these rights, not answer any questions, or make any statements.

This is known as the Miranda warning.

In Sydney, Australia (and elsewhere in the state of New South Wales), a person arrested would be told:
You are not obliged to say or do anything unless you wish to do so, but whatever you say or do may be used in evidence. Do you understand?

In the UK, the warning is:
You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something that you later rely on in court. Anything you say may be given in evidence.
or
You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so, but I must warn you that if you fail to mention any fact which you rely on in your defence in court, your failure to take this opportunity to mention it may be treated in court as supporting any relevant evidence against you. If you do wish to say anything, what you say may be given in evidence.

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

.........ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo..........

It was so cold again last night. It was -5 degrees Celsius. I couldn't decide whether to stay under the covers so kept on going under and out again, and under and out again, until after the fourth time, my human feigned sleep to ignore me. Hmmphh!

He went back to work today, but returned early as his training course (conducted out of the office finished a little bit earlier than scheduled). I greeted him at the door and meowed and meowed (translation: YELLED) at him that I was starving, but he chose to ignore this fact and told me to wait while he cooked my chicken soup (using a whole free range chicken, carrots and potatoes) for my dinner.

Music that we have been listening to lately is - Snow Patrol, in particular Eyes Open (click for Amazon samplers).



keisercat@wildmail.com

Aboriginal art: Sonda Turner Nampijinpa

Back on 5 January 2005 (last year) I wrote about Australian Aboriginal art, and in particular about Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula and Ningura Napurrula.

While my human was in Darwin he was most pleased to meet Sonda Turner Nampijinpa who is a well known woman Aboriginal painter. He spotted her painting on the ground outside a bookshop and art gallery, and ended up offering to buy her painting in progress.



As she was still painting, my human spent a few hours talking to her and learnt that Sonda also has three sisters who are famous painters. Sonda was born near Alice Springs (in central Australia) but now lives in Darwin. Her art hangs at the National Gallery of Australia and at Parliament House.





*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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My human stayed home with me all day today. Woohoo! I tried to stay on his lap as much as possible (but he had to go to the shops at one stage, then he did some housework). How rude! Anyway, he stayed home because today was a public holiday for the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II whose real birthday was in April.

I can understand official birthdays. My official birthday is on 1 March according to the vet, my real birthday is my kitty secret.

Anyway, my human told me all about his trip. It seems I had a kitty uncle Tim who used to follow my human's dad everywhere, but he got really sick and the vet helped him to pass on. My human was sad to learn of this.

My human caught up with his family and a few aunts and uncles and cousins. He told me that his extended family is huge as it is one of the old established families who were early pioneer settlers who built up the town. And yeah, they're all pretty much related to each other!

keisercat@wildmail.com

Dreamtime at Stonehenge

The sacred and very old Stonehenge recently hosted an Australian traditional indigenous dance troupe (Bardi dancers from north western Australia) who were performing at the Salisbury International Arts Festival.



This would have been an amazing sight - the world's oldest culture connecting to an ancient monument of the land whose people came to Australia and at one stage, attempted to exterminate them.

See - ABC (link to news item video)

My human visited Stonehenge (in 1993) and he told me it is a truly spectacular sight. He also enjoyed visiting the city of Bath nearby.

Now talking about football, my human told me that when he was transitting through Adelaide from Darwin (with a two hour layover) he saw a great football legend at the airline lounge (unfortunately, he played for another team, Hawthorn). Still, a legend is a legend and my human said hello to him.


Dermott Brereton (still has a wicked sense of humour)

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I've had a great week with Emily and enjoyed snuggles with her as it has been cold and wet. But I have missed my human (and the computer) and now making up for it by not leaving his lap. For once, he is taking dictation from me. Amazing how he can understand meow-speak when he chooses.

He told me he had a good visit to Darwin, even though he missed me (I should hope so) and will tell me all about it. More in my blog tomorrow.

keisercat@wildmail.com

football - round 11

Football round 11- another loss, but so close

Adelaide Crows: 0.4, 3.7, 7.13, 10.15 (75)
Brisbane Lions: 3.3, 4.8, 5.11, 8.12 (60)
GOALS - Crows: Hentschel 3, Burton, Johncock, McGregor, McLeod, Reilly, Riccuto, Thompson. Lions: Akermanis 3, Bradshaw, Moody, Power, Rischitelli, Roe.
BEST - Crows: Edwards, Bassett, Massie, Stevens, Doughty, McLeod. Lions: Akermanis, Black, Power, Patfull, Sherman, Selwood, Notting, Roe, Voss.
Umpires: McLaren, Quigley, Head
Crowd: 27,516 at the Gabba


after Aker scores a goal


Vossy rallying his players


Jared Brennan


Aker shaking off Brent Reilly


Aker

football - round 10

Football round 10 - a loss!

Collingwood: 3.5, 6.6, 11.10, 16.13 (109)
Brisbane Lions: 2.2, 5.5, 8.7, 12.11 (83)
GOALS - Magpies: Buckley 6, Rocca 2, Holland 2, Davis 2, Fraser 2, Lonie, Pendlebury. Lions: Brown 4, McGrath 3, Bradshaw 2, Akermanis, Sherman, Roe.
BEST - Magpies: Buckley, Burns, Shaw, Johnson, Lockyer, Clement. Lions: Notting, Akermanis, Black, Brown, Charman, Sherman.
Umpires: Rosebury, Allen, Jeffery
Crowd: 54,820 at the MCG


Aker tackling Leon Davis


Aker vs Leon Davis


Ashley McGrath


Ashley McGrath being tackled by Heath Shaw


Tim Notting vs Blake Carecella


Jason Roe and Mal Michael marking against Anthony Rocca


Jamie Charman running into Rocca


Jason Roe vs Josh Fraser


Mal Michael trying to block Rocca

uh oh

It seems that my human is going away again. Dang and Hmmppphhh!

He is travelling to Darwin this afternoon to visit his family (it is almost the equivalent of flying from LA to NY - I am glad I'm not going).

He is also taking the computer away (something about Doctor Who episodes on it), so I will give my Catster Diary and Blog a break for a week (back on Sunday 11 June).

In the meantime, I will have Emily for snuggles. I guess I won't be taking a break from my medication (antibiotics) though. Dang!

Please think kind thoughts for my dear friend Sir Higson Nick who is very old and tired and not feeling well.

the Visigoths

Early European history is usually about the Romans. You know, the Romans this and the Romans that. Then there were the Huns (as in Attila the Hun).

Most people have never even heard of the Visigoths. They gave the Romans a run for their money (whatever that means, what money? do you know Jeter Harris?).

The Visigoths were Germanic peoples who migrated though modern day Italy, southern France and into modern Spain where they had a bit of a kingdom going. The Visigoths also warred against the Vandals. Now that is another story in itself.

The Visigothic era ended when the Iberian peninsula was conquered by the Moors and the Visigoths who did not convert to Islam fled to the Frankish Kingdom (German not French). Compared to the Romans, they had no manners.

Read more from - Wikipedia

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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It was cold, wet and dark today, and I was left home alone with no heating. Hmmpphhh....

When my human returned from work, I demanded dinner, but he served up tinned pink salmon from this morning. No thank you. Thankfully he had bought me some more corn fed chicken (he buys the legs, also known as drum sticks, why are they called that? do you know Jeter Harris?) which he had to cook up. So I waited and waited and proceeded to yell at him to hurry up, then my dinner was served an hour late!

Later on, Merlin's human Kim came over for a simple dinner of bangers, mash and peas. The bangers smelt really good (they were organic beef) but I wasn't allowed any. Double hmmpphh....

keisercat@wildmail.com

Norma Jean

Norma Jean Baker (Marilyn Monroe) would have turned 80 years old today, if she had not died from a drug overdose on 5 August 1962.



Even at the age of 80, Marilyn Monroe would have continued to be an icon (like Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Joan Collins etc who aged very much gracefully).

Marilyn Monroe was hardly a dumb blond. After all, she was married to Arthur Miller. And she knew Albert Einstein.

Methinks that she would have been an activist for the first wave of the feminist movement (in spite of the characters she played on film), and eventually ended up as a politician (as a Democrat of course).

*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.

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I spent the day alone as my human went back to work today - as I was feeling better. He is giving me more food than my usual quota, even if I do have a more sedentary life in my old age, as the vet advised that I should be given as much food as I want. What great vet advice!

We had lots of visitors tonight as my human gave a little shindig (sans dancing and music) in my honour. Okay, it was for his own birthday (which was actually yesterday), but I was the centre of attention! My human doesn't have birthday parties very often (only once before), but a number of people had suggested he celebrate it this time.

There were a few people I already knew and some more I had never met before. I enjoyed lying on Klaudia's lap, she appreciates kitty lap time (I left her plenty of messages for that white fluffy Kettles). There was also Emily, Devi, Fiona (whom I had not seen for many years so we caught up on some lap time), Kim, Nell (Declan was sick and couldn't come), Sue B, Karen (a new visitor), Deborah (I left her messages for Nina, that Russian Blue), Oscar, Tim W (another newbie), Laura (newbie), Anaree (I left her messages for Couscous, the fat cat), Kerry (newbie), Destiny (who went to high school with my human), Nadine (newbie) and Stella (newbie).

The people were drinking Hardy's Oomoo shiraz and a cleanskin Clare Valley riesling, and snacked on zucchini slice, tandoori chicken pieces, Thai style red curry coriander pork and veal patties, and assorted cheese.

I like visitors.

keisercat@wildmail.com