=== Olecra-what? I’ve refused up till now to even attempt to pronounce the infection I had in my elbow. That the left one was infected was a given; that I later ended up getting a comfort sleeve for the right because I had a whatever in that one, too, was also well known. I no longer shy away from saying it, having just done a few searches and wound up with it: olecranon cyst. And what prompted me to look it up today? Because the doctor told me the pain will dissipate, but right now there’s still substantial soft tissue swelling in the left arm as compared to the right. The first site I went to was http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/97346-overview. There, it explains: - “The bursa is located between the ulna and the skin at the posterior tip of the elbow; because of its superficial location, the olecranon bursa is susceptible to inflammation from a variety of mechanisms, primarily either acute or repetitive (cumulative) trauma. Less commonly, the inflammation may be due to infection (septic bursitis).” Next, I went to http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00028, where I read: - “Bursae are thin, slippery sacs located throughout the body that act as cushions between bones and soft tissues. They contain a small amount of lubricating fluid that allows the skin to move freely over the underlying bone. - “The olecranon bursa lies between the loose skin and the pointy bone at the back of the elbow called the olecranon. - “Normally, the olecranon bursa is flat. If it becomes irritated or inflamed, more fluid will accumulate in the bursa and bursitis will develop. - In elbow bursitis, the bursa fills with fluid, causing pain and limiting movement.” - “Elbow bursitis can occur for a number of reasons. “List of 4 items • “Trauma: A hard blow to the tip of the elbow can cause the bursa to produce excess fluid and swell. • “Prolonged pressure: Leaning on the tip of the elbow for long periods of time on hard surfaces, such as a tabletop, may cause the bursa to swell. Typically, this type of bursitis develops over several months. - “People in certain occupations are especially vulnerable, particularly plumbers or heating and air conditioning technicians who have to crawl on their knees in tight spaces and lean on their elbows. • “Infection: If an injury at the tip of the elbow breaks the skin, such as an insect bite, scrape, or puncture wound, bacteria may get inside the bursa sac and cause an infection. The infected bursa produces fluid, redness, swelling, and pain. If the infection goes untreated, the fluid may turn to pus. “Occasionally, the bursa sac may become infected without an obvious injury to the skin. • “Medical conditions: Certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, are associated with elbow bursitis. “list end” The pain is starting to lessen, and I already have full movement of the arm, but there’s still that lump there on the left side. I don’t like wearing the comfort sleeves as much as I used to, as I think It was overkill and I wound up doing myself a disservice. Plus, it does get hot under there, and in this heat even more so. I just washed both of them on Sunday, and would rather not for as long as I possibly can. So if I think I’m going to sweat, or I’m already hot, I take it off, and just slow down my movements even more so I limit opportunities to hit it. The last thing I’d need is another trip to the doctor because the infection either won’t go away or has come back.

Reply #1101. Sep 21 11, 9:47 AM

=== Squirrels and Nuts This morning, I was looking at the “Free Association” thread. The conversation was still on squirrels, and I thought, perhaps it’s time for a search. Is what I read or heard about them not remembering where their nuts are buried true? Or is that just one of those myths that’s circulating? Not knowing exactly what I’d find, or if it would answer my questions, I Googled “Squirrels and nuts” and came up with the following: http://www.squirrels.org/faq.htmll. - “How many different kinds of "tree" squirrels are there? “Of the ten species of tree squirrels in the northern hemisphere. The most common are the Eastern Gray, followed by the Red squirrel, the Fox squirrel, the Abert or Kaibab squirrels, Douglas squirrel, Pine squirrel, Japanese squirrel, Persian squirrel, Arizona gray, and of course the Western gray squirrel.” - “What is the largest squirrel on Earth? ”… the Ratufa (ratufa indica) sometimes known as the Indian giant squirrel, it can grow to three feet in length. This species is found in southeast Asia, and parts of Nepal.” - “What is the smallest squirrel on Earth? ” The African Pygmy (Myosciurus, pumilio)… Its head and body length is only two and half inches long. With a tail approximately the same length. They are found, in Southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon.” - “Do squirrels hibernate? “No, tree squirrels are active all year round. You may not see them as often in the Winter, since they stay in their nests to conserve body heat.” - “Why does the squirrel have such a big tail? “The squirrel uses its tail for many things, its primary function is for balance. This enables the squirrel to maneuver quickly without falling. It is also used as a parachute, should the squirrel fall. It can act as a blanket in the Winter. Squirrels also use their tail to communicate with other squirrels.” - “Do squirrels talk? “Squirrels do communicate, by making shrill sounds (tchrring). The pitch and the duration of these sounds have meaning to other squirrels. Tail gestures are also a form of communication. The most common tail gesture is the "flicking" which means "get away!"” - “How fast can a squirrel run? “The average speed, at a full run, is between 8 and 10 mph. There is an old story of an Illinois state police officer that once clocked a gray squirrel, with his radar gun at 20 mph. as it ran across a highway.” - “What do squirrels eat? “Most squirrels eat nuts, seeds, grain, and fruit. By far their favorite food would be nuts, followed by sunflower seeds. Urban squirrel have adapted to eat just about anything, including pizza, luncheon meats and all forms of snack foods. Squirrels have been known to eat bird eggs, but this is a last resort. When natural food is scarce, they will eat anything they can find.” - “Can squirrels swim? “Squirrels swim using a "dog paddle" motion, and their tail as a rudder. Swimming is very strenuous for a squirrel, and it's not done unless absolutely necessary.” - “How far can a squirrel jump? “On the ground they hop. Usually moving twelve to twenty inches at a time. It is not uncommon for a squirrel to hop or jump up to six feet in one bound. Of course, if you have ever seen a squirrel race through a tree, you know they can easily jump between branches of greater distances.” - “Where do squirrels live? “Squirrels build nests called "dreys". They are made of twigs and leaves. The interior is lined with fur, feathers or other soft material for comfort. There are normally two exits in this type of nest, and they're built high in a tree between two strong branches. High enough to provide protection from ground predators, but not too high or the nest will be destroyed by the winds. Squirrels also will build a nest, called a "den", in a hollow tree cavity.” - - “How long do squirrels live? “…Most Gray squirrels will die before their first birthday, not due to predators or the lack of food. But by being run over by vehicles. If they survive their first year, they should live five or six more years.” - “When do squirrels mate? “Squirrels mate in the late Winter or very early Spring. This time may vary with location, and the weather conditions. The best time to see a squirrel's acrobatic skill is, during the "mating chase".” - “When are the babies born, and why don't we see them? “Baby squirrels are born in the spring, without fur. They're blind, and weigh in at one or two ounces each. There are usually four in a liter. The mother will keep the young in the nest and nurse them until they're ready to venture out of the nest, on their own. This is usually in eight to ten weeks.” - “What do you call a group of squirrels? “Squirrels are solitary animals. They do not have a hierarchical structure, and therefore, no group name was established.” - “What are young squirrels called? “They are called babies or infants while in the nest. Then for their first year they're referred to as Juveniles. After their first year, they become adults and are simply called squirrels.” - “What is a territory? “Squirrels claim an area, usually one to seven acres in size. They will build their nest in this space. They will find, and store their food in this area. The squirrel must keep other squirrels from invading this space. Squirrels mark their territory by urinating on the surrounding trees. This warns an intruding squirrel, that it's trespassing.” - “Why do squirrels hide their food? “Gray and Fox squirrels hide their food in many places, so if another squirrel or animal were to find it, the entire year's supply would not be lost. Sometimes they hide food temporarily, until they can move it to a more convenient location. This is called "scatter hoarding". “The Red and Pine squirrels will dig a shallow pit, this is referred to as a "midden" where they store the cones they've cut or found. This supply will then be covered with leaves, or other debris, which creates a cold and moist storage environment. This practice is known as "larder hoarding".” - “Do squirrels really fly? “No, but some species do glide. The flying squirrel gets its name from the folds of skin between its body and arms. With its arms extended the flying squirrel forms a wing, similar to a bird. The flying squirrel can glide great distances, as it searches for food.” As Interesting and enlightening as that page was, I still had a question, so I plugged in another search—and was rewarded by being kicked off the Internet. When I again got to Google, I wrote in my search phrase again, and came up with the following: http://www.boobooinc.com/sq/faq.html. - “Do squirrels remember where they bury their food? “No. They don't locate buried food from memory. They find buried food with the use of their highly developed sense of smell.” And just because I’m curious and don’t stop at the first or second site I look at, I went to http://www.whyzz.com/how-do-squirrels-remember-where-theyve-buried-nuts. - “How do squirrels remember where they've buried nuts? “Squirrels collect nuts during the fall in preparation for winter, when there's less food and they'll need something to eat! Some types of squirrels, like the Red Squirrel, collect their nuts in piles. Others, like the Gray Squirrel, bury their nuts in the ground. So if a Gray Squirrel is scurrying all over and hiding nuts everywhere, how does it remember where the food is hidden??!? “Different studies have shown different methods behind squirrels’ abilities to remember where they’ve buried food. Some say that squirrels use their sense of smell, while other say they use landmarks, such as trees and other plants. In other instances, it’s been shown that squirrels seem to not only bury nuts, but also bury “fake” nuts! – In order to trick other squirrels or different animals from finding their stash, some squirrels dig holes in which they bury nothing, but pretend to have buried nuts! “Although it might seem strange that squirrels bury nuts in so many different places instead of keeping them all together in one safe place, the practice actually makes quite a lot of sense: In case another animal finds a squirrel’s stash, he or she doesn’t lose everything by having it spread out in many various places! – Now that's pretty smart!!”

Reply #1102. Sep 21 11, 9:48 AM

Reply #1103. Sep 21 11, 9:50 AM

=== The Spirit Lens I finished “The Spirit Lens” today, though I’m fairly certain I need to listen to it at least one or two more times before a firm opinion of the book can be formed—at least once, as I missed some stuff due to a pounding head, not to mention an aching foot. But physical ailments aside, I thought it was a good book, and that based on how it ends there’s bound to be a sequel—only after this did I Google the book, and learn from Amazon that it’s part 1 of a trilogy. Well, since I’m looking, it couldn’t hurt to see what ot others think of the book, right? First stop, http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2010/01/spirit-lens-by-carol-berg-reviewed-by.html. - “The Spirit Lens stands at about 450 pages divided in 34 chronological chapters headed by their date and it ends with an epilogue. The novel is a first person narration by early 30's Portier de Savin-Duplais, a failed magician from an outside line of a powerful noble family, so distant cousin to the current king Philippe de Savin-Jurnia of Sabria. Student at the famous countryside Collegia Magica of Seravain, Portier has been disabused of any hopes for real magical ability by age 16, but through the intercession of his mentor, family friend and lead magician of the Camarilla Magica, Kajetan, Portier stayed on as archivist for some 16 years now until he is secretly summoned to investigate an assassination attempt against the king that may involve magicians, powerful Court members and even the estranged and seemingly unworldly ueen Eugenie herself. - “Partly a mystery, partly an exploration of a somewhat familiar but also quite different society on the verge of an age of reason, partly the beginning of an epic as far as the big picture goes, The Spirit Lens is packed with events and it has many twists and turns, of which some are quite unpredictable and made me appreciate it quite a lot at the end. - “The style takes a while to get adjusted to since the novel starts on a very light note despite its grim underlying events, Portier being a very self-deprecating and wry narrator, while his two companions in the investigation, Chevalier Ilario and sorcerer Dante start as the overdone cliches of "fop" and "brilliant but moody outsider sorcerer".” - “Sabria is a pseudo-Renaissance kingdom with mostly French/Italian naming conventions that is poised to enter an "Age of Reason" under the leadership of King Philippe. Wracked by the terrible "Blood Wars" some hundred years ago, the nobility and magicians of Sabria formed a compact in which all study and use of magic comes under the aegis of the Camarilla Magica under strict rules and regulations. As magical ability seems to be diminishing among the lines of Sabria' sorcerers, many people including the king himself consider it no more than a stage trick at best or con game at worst and Philippe is promoting the study of science and the advancement of technology. - “However not all is rosy since Philippe though now standing on the throne for a good number of years is an "outsider king", being only a distant heir of the previous king who died childless; his high-nobility wife Queen Eugenie was the bride of the former king too, with Philippe marrying her to consolidate his fragile hold on power. Queen Eugenie, while somewhat otherworldly - some saying she "became unbalanced" when her and Philippe's only son died - is a strong believer in magic and has two powerful sorcerers as her own Camarilla. - “When an assassination was attempted against Philippe involving the worst kind of "blood magic" and with the scant evidence pointing to the Queen's court, if not the Queen herself, Philippe put his most trusted councilor, right hand man and childhood friend that he raised to the highest estates from a commoner birth, Michel de Vernase, Conte Ruggiere to investigate. However after a promising beginning, Michel has disappeared, Philippe is starting to fear the worst about his friend and time may be running out since soon there will be a symbolic anniversary where the mysterious forces of the "dark" may attack again and finish the job this time.” - “Desperate and not knowing whom else to trust, the king summons Portier in secret to investigate and prevent the feared next attack, though he saddles him with Ilario, the half-brother of Queen Eugenie and reputed half-wit and fop at the court as a representative of the "Queen's party", while for magical help Portier goes to Dante, the only known "outsider" sorcerer who got licensed by the Camarilla as the law requires but then retired to the countryside. - “And from here the fun starts and we follow Portier trying to get a grip on events, manage his two companions as well as keeping a low profile as a secretary to one or the other.” - “Whenever magicians are involved and especially in the context of a "cultural fight" for supremacy between magic and science/reason, I am always asking why the magicians are not in charge since as all human history teaches any "competitive advantage" (big warriors, literate priesthood, divine right...) is leveraged into domination and entrenched in societal structures and anyone who can demonstrably do magic automatically has such an advantage. Various books answer this in various ways, some more credible for me, some less, but here the whole setup with the Camarilla and the sorcerers slowly losing magical power as a class fits very well with my worldview. - “After I got into the style of the novel and its happenings started hooking me, its main attraction were the twists and turns and the characters about whom slowly we start having quite different impressions than at the start. Revelations from the past coupled to traits that come at fore only after a while mean that what we believe at the beginning will be quite changed by the end. This unpredictability raised Spirit Lens most in my estimation since in so many genre books the characters are marked: "the destined one, the sidekick, the love interest, the villain, the noble but doomed one", while here there is much more subtlety and even at the end when we seemingly know a lot more, there is a lot of uncertainty at least with regard to the big picture.” From http://www.sff.net/people/carolberg/collegiamagica.html. I learn the names and brief descryptions of the other two books in the trilogy: - “The Soul Mirror” - “By order of His Royal Majesty Philippe de Savin-Journia y Sabria, Anne de Vernase is hereby summoned to attend His Majesty's Court at Merona... - “Anne de Vernase rejoices that she has no talent for magic. Her father's pursuit of depraved sorcery has left her family in ruins, and he remains at large, convicted of treason and murder by Anne's own testimony. Now, the tutors at Collegia Seravain inform her that her gifted younger sister has died in a magical accident. It seems but life's final mockery that cool, distant Portier de Savin-Duplais, the librarian turned royal prosecutor, arrives with the news that the king intends to barter her hand in marriage. - “Anne recognizes that the summoning carries implications far beyond a bleak personal future - and they are all about magic. Merona, the royal city, is beset by plagues of rats and birds, and mysterious sinkholes that swallow light and collapse buildings. Whispers of hauntings and illicit necromancy swirl about the queen's volatile sorcerer. And a murder in the queen's inner circle convinces Anne that her sister's death was no accident. With no one to trust but a friend she cannot see, Anne takes up her sister's magical puzzle, plunging into the midst of a centuries-old rivalry and coming face-to-face with the most dangerous sorcerer in Sabria. His name is Dante. According to this, “Soul Mirror” came out in January of this year, and the third book will be coming out in 2012: - “The Demon Prism” Here’s another review of “The Spirit Lens” from “The Eclectic Reader”: - “Truly, there are no words to describe how I really feel about this book. I suppose the closest I could come would be to recreate the near unintelligible e-mail that I wrote to my friend the very second that I stopped gaping and put the book down—but not only would that be uninformative for you, it would be highly embarrassing for me. All I can tell you is that Carol Berg has successfully upended my world yet again, and as soon as I stop pouting over the need to wait another year to see what happens next in her Collegia Magica trilogy, I’ll start looking for ways to build her a shrine in my computer room.” - “…an incredibly enjoyable fantasy adventure for those who love unexpected heroes, web-worked plots, magic versus technology, and librarians with a skill for investigative spying.” And here’s another review, this one from “King of the Nerds”: - “In the Renaissance like kingdom of Sabria failed magician turned librarian and cousin to King Phillipe, Portier de Savin-Duplais is tasked by his royal brethren to root out the traitors who have attempted to take his life. What follows is a solid mystery tale within a beautifully realized world fraught with tension between science and magic. With The Spirit Lens Berg has created a fantastic new setting and kicked off what looks to be an entertaining and original series. - “The real strength of The Spirit Lens is its trifecta of male leads: Portier, the mage Dante, and the knight Ilario. In each Berg has crafted a complex and realistic character that add something unique and vital to the proceedings. In a world where magic is typically carried in the blood of the nobility Portier is something of a failure having been unable, despite his lineage and basic understanding of magic, to cast the simplest of spells. The Camarilla Magica, the school of magic attended by those who wish to learn magic, teaches a form of magic that uses precise formula to create the desired effect and is, in this way, not dissimilar to science. When Portier meets Dante, the virulent and mercurial wild master mage, he is confronted with a man who has delved into magic as a natural force; a man who had learned his art outside the prescribed teaching of the Camarilla. Thus the two have, to start, something of an antagonistic relationship with Dante looking down on Portier for his Camarilla infused habits and Portier afraid of Dante’s near heretical beliefs. Their relationship is perhaps one of, if not the most, interested ones in the novel. The constant shifting between the roles of master and student, comradely, and rivalry plays an integral role in the plot. Lord Ilario is portrayed as something of a fop, a good natured if foolish man wholly dedicated to proving his sister the Queen’s innocence in the attempt of Phillipe’s life. He serves, somewhat as comic relief, and the brusque straight forward nature of Dante’s personality plays wonderfully the cultured mannerisms of Ilario’s courtly life. Ilario also serves a great purpose in one of the novels most exciting passages, but saying more then that verges too far into spoiler territory. The real strength of The Spirit Lens is its trifecta of male leads: Portier, the mage Dante, and the knight Ilario. In each Berg has crafted a complex and realistic character that add something unique and vital to the proceedings. In a world where magic is typically carried in the blood of the nobility Portier is something of a failure having been unable, despite his lineage and basic understanding of magic, to cast the simplest of spells. The Camarilla Magica, the school of magic attended by those who wish to learn magic, teaches a form of magic that uses precise formula to create the desired effect and is, in this way, not dissimilar to science. When Portier meets Dante, the virulent and mercurial wild master mage, he is confronted with a man who has delved into magic as a natural force; a man who had learned his art outside the prescribed teaching of the Camarilla. Thus the two have, to start, something of an antagonistic relationship with Dante looking down on Portier for his Camarilla infused habits and Portier afraid of Dante’s near heretical beliefs. Their relationship is perhaps one of, if not the most, interested ones in the novel. The constant shifting between the roles of master and student, comradely, and rivalry plays an integral role in the plot. Lord Ilario is portrayed as something of a fop, a good natured if foolish man wholly dedicated to proving his sister the Queen’s innocence in the attempt of Phillipe’s life. He serves, somewhat as comic relief, and the brusque straight forward nature of Dante’s personality plays wonderfully the cultured mannerisms of Ilario’s courtly life. Ilario also serves a great purpose in one of the novels most exciting passages, but saying more then that verges too far into spoiler territory. The real strength of The Spirit Lens is its trifecta of male leads: Portier, the mage Dante, and the knight Ilario. In each Berg has crafted a complex and realistic character that add something unique and vital to the proceedings. In a world where magic is typically carried in the blood of the nobility Portier is something of a failure having been unable, despite his lineage and basic understanding of magic, to cast the simplest of spells. The Camarilla Magica, the school of magic attended by those who wish to learn magic, teaches a form of magic that uses precise formula to create the desired effect and is, in this way, not dissimilar to science. When Portier meets Dante, the virulent and mercurial wild master mage, he is confronted with a man who has delved into magic as a natural force; a man who had learned his art outside the prescribed teaching of the Camarilla. Thus the two have, to start, something of an antagonistic relationship with Dante looking down on Portier for his Camarilla infused habits and Portier afraid of Dante’s near heretical beliefs. Their relationship is perhaps one of, if not the most, interested ones in the novel. The constant shifting between the roles of master and student, comradely, and rivalry plays an integral role in the plot. Lord Ilario is portrayed as something of a fop, a good natured if foolish man wholly dedicated to proving his sister the Queen’s innocence in the attempt of Phillipe’s life. He serves, somewhat as comic relief, and the brusque straight forward nature of Dante’s personality plays wonderfully the cultured mannerisms of Ilario’s courtly life.” “In The Spirit Lens Berg spends very little time exploring the world outside the confines of the plot. At around 480 pages this lends the novel a rather brisk pace while allowing Berg some room to explore the history and culture of Sabria. Again all that exploring is done in service to the plot. I can remember no instance in the novel where something we learn in the novel isn’t tied somehow to the mystery Portier has been tasked to uncover. This leaves the world beyond the boundaries of this story a mere shadow that lingers at the edge of the reader’s vision. This isn’t a bad thing, but extreme focus reminds me more of a straight up mystery or thriller rather then a fantasy novel.” - “With the exception towards the middle of the novel The Spirit Lens is light on action. Portier is an academic, more Holmes then Hammer, and his sleuthing is done via stealth and intrigue. This could have been a bit dry if done poorly but the menace and magic behind the threat that Portier uncovers lends a certain thrill to the narrative and given his lack of magical skills heightens the sense of danger. This danger is made all the more palpable as the reader learns about the banned method of bleeding royal (i.e. magical) blood to empower spells…” - “As the novel progresses magic plays an increasingly important role in the plot and Berg does a masterful job at obscuring the true threat and clouding the motivations of everyone we meet. Indeed the weight of the threats revealed towards the end of the novel, and Berg’s impressive characterization skills, lent an emotional weight to final pages that was wholly unexpected and decidedly welcome. I am left eager for the next volume and impatient to see where the story goes from here.” I think I will add my own commentary, as I seem able to think of nothing else: the question is, who is the “Aspirant,” Dante or Michel? - It’s hard to imagine Dante as evil, since he wasn’t in the beginning, just hard to get along with and cynical of others. - Then again, Dante could very well have been consumed by the thirst for knowledge, and could very easily have planted suspicions of the o ther two mages in the queen’s service so he’d be the only one. - On the other hand, I have no doubt that the one mage was guilty as charged, and that Michel is involved with the bad guys even if he isn’t “The Aspirant”. - And maybe Dante’s being controlled by the villains in some way. Perhaps he stumbled upon some magic that… well, he himself admitted at one point that he’d been absorbing other peoples’ magic, and I can’t but think that’s a very bad thing to do. - And I’ve determined to peruse the pages of ‘Braille Book Review’ looking for the next installment. ___ June 11

Reply #1104. Sep 21 11, 9:51 AM

Reply #1105. Sep 21 11, 9:52 AM

Reply #1106. Sep 21 11, 9:53 AM

=== What about birds? I’m listening to a book that lists the healing effects that dogs have on their owners’ lives. Cats are also mentioned as pets that provide healing attributes, but what about birds? I’ve always said that Ethan’s saved me. He’s taught me lessons about forgiveness and redemption, and keeps me entertained. And of the three parakeets I’ve had since I was 14Mom bought Ellie, A.K.A. Elliot, A.K.A. Eleanor, in 1997 and Benjamin in 2005; Mom and I went to the pet store to buy Ethan on the second to last day in October 2009—Ethan’s the most special to me, perhaps because I was at the pet store when Mom picked him out, perhaps because his temperament’s so sweet… who can tell? Maybe it’s the same thing that connects dog and cat owners to their pets, and one so more than the rest. Maybe it’s like the bond Rocky and I shared before his life was cut short by that car. I can’t but fail to smile when Ethan plays with his toys, and the sound of his distress—whether real or feigned—makes me nervous and anxious. And I often find myself beside the cage at varying intervals of the day with my finger in between the bars, inside the cage, waiting for him to come up and kiss my finger, or rub his head against it, or perhaps allow me to stroke his feathers… So, what about studies of healing qualities and birds? Do bird owners reap any benefits to their choices of pet? To find out, I went to a Google search, as aI often do, and read the following at about.com, which doesn’t really address my question, but is something which could tie in to some of my stories: - “Birds in general are survivalists. They will first choose flight over fight. They instinctively know that fighting is a dangerous endeavor. Whereas flight is avoiding trouble: possible injury or death. Birds have superb reflexes. They teach us awareness and adaptability. Birds represent the air element and are also teachers of proper breathing. Song birds teach us about the healing properties of sound.” And I have to say, some of my characters transform into birds when attaining their “Creature Powers”. - “Amazing and majestic bird of prey, the eagle is often desired as a totem. It holds strong medicine. The eagle soars high in the sky, yet will swoop down to the ground in a swift motion to capture a mouse from the forest or fish from the water. Because of this the eagle is considered a strong connection between earth and sky energies. The eagle has keen sight to be able to see his prey on the ground. As a totem the eagle also represents keen insight.” It should be noted that one of my main characters, Ontario, is a golden eagle. - “There are many different varieties of hawks. Common traits they share are a keen eyesight, superb hunting ability, and impressive flight patterns. As a totem the hawk is representative of soaring to higher states of awareness and vision. You can expect communications with spirit to open up more fully whenever hawk visits.” My character Anja may or may not transform into a hawk, but if not it’ll most likely be Maria or Devlyn, for those are the three characters I’ve given the Power of Insight to. The only reason I wouldn’t is if Tiffany decides one of her characters… not likely, for reasons I cannot yet spell out. - “The cardinal, a red finch, is easily recognized among other birds. Cardinals also tend to stick around for all seasons so they are easy to spot year round. As a totem cardinals interject vitality or serve as a reminder whenever your vitality is lacking. You may also need to brighten up a drab wardrobe with some color. Cardinals will whistle loudly to alert danger, for this reason a cardinal sighting can also be a signal to be on alert for possible trouble.” Anastasia? A distinct possibility, and a good pairing with some of the others. - “Swans as a totem is strong medicine. They are graceful, strong, and tend to live a very long life. For this reason they represent grace, strength, and longevity. As a species they mate for life, a swan showing up can indicate the one you are with, or someone you are soon to meet is a soul-mate. As an archetype, the swan begins life as an "ugly ducking" and yet emerges into a beauty when grown. The swan's message may very well be that things are not as they appear.” Tiffany’s one main character, has the Power to turn into a swan at will. - “When the hummingbird totem visits we are reminded to appreciate the sweetness life offers. We have all heard the saying "Stop to Smell the Roses" and understand this means to slow down and enjoy life. The hummingbird teaches a similar lesson asking us to bury our noses more deeply and inhale the fragrant nectars. Life offers much joy and sweetness if we take the time to breathe it in.” Maybe this will be Devlyn, or perhaps his half brother Cheveyo, or maybe Sehriyah. - “Flamingo, within the crane family, teaches the importance of balance. Pink is the color associated with the heart chakra, and the pink coloring in flamingos vibrate with heart and emotional energies. The flamingo is a visionary and draws its power from water.” Maria? - “Crows are extremely intelligent birds. They are adept at being aware of things around them and have been known to help birds and other wildlife when danger is near with their presence and loud CAW. When the crow visits as a totem it can be a warning of some kind. A crow sighting can indicate that you need to be on alert for changes or differences in your surroundings or life circumstances.” Connor? Adrian? Brendyn? Aivahri? - “The robin with its red breast and trilling song awakens us to the spring season. When robin totem makes its appearance you can expect new spurt of growth or a new beginning for yourself. This bird is associated with the spring equinox, reaffirming the importance of seasonal changes. Are you honoring change in your life or are you stuck in old patterns? The robin teaches us to move forward and try new things.” Mendrana? Nicholys? Jordyn? Victoria? “Ducks are associated with the element of water. They are good deep water swimmers and also are content to glide on top of a body of water. As a totem the duck teaches getting in touch with your deepest emotions in order to get to a calmer state. Ducks are family oriented and enjoy companionship. If a duck visits it could mean it is time to return to your roots and spend some time with your clan.” Kora? Elspeth? Marcella? “The sparrow is a common song bird that reflects the significance of the common traits we share with others in humanity and life in general. The sparrow does not think of itself as common and will assert itself in life to assure its own survival. The sparrow as a totem reminds you to appreciate your place in the world. Sparrow teaches that you have self-worth.? Arielle or Clarice? Emelio or Bianca? Dylan? Next, my attention was caught by http://ezinearticles.com/?Bird-of-Healing&id=2636508. - “The Charadrius is a small maritime bird about the size of a dove in most cases. It's one of a relatively small number of birds which have or had (in the case of some extinct branches) relatives in all parts of the world. - “In oral traditions, the first known mention of the charadrius is in the Jewish Torah where its listed as a bird which shouldn't be eaten. In the written records we currently have, the earliest mention of the charadrius is etched on tablets from ancient Persia. Much more was written by the ancient Greeks after Alexander the Great learned of this species during a visit to the palace of the Persian king Xerxes. - “Though the charadrius family comes in a multitude of colours depending on geographical location, the magical properties were only ever attributed to the white ones as far as we know. According to the ancient teachings of the Persians, the charadrius could divine whether a man was to live or die. Before attempting to save a person brought before them the Persian healers would put a charadrius near them. If the bird turned away from the person they were destined to die and the healers would have nothing more to do with them. However, should the charadrius stare intently at the sick person the healers would do all they could to save them. - “Naturally Alexander was intrigued. He brought several cages of the charadrius back to his palace when he returned to Greece. His healers began to work with these birds and began to discover they could do far more than divine whether a person would live or die. A charadrius, once it determined a person should live, could absorb the person's sickness through its beak. Upon taking the person's malady the charadrius would fly up close to the sun to burn away the germs and then return to the palace. The ancient Greeks found this cure was most effective with those suffering from jaundice. - “Of course, in order to discover all it's potentials, some healer figured it would be a good idea to eat one and write about the effects the meat had on his body. According to him, the bulk of the meat was stringy useless tripe. The marrow of the thigh bone did, however, improve his vision. When this fact went out to the common man the entrepreneurs of the time began to poach and sell this royal bird for a handsome profit on the black market. - “In the medieval days a further discovery was made. Some ailments could be cured simply by catching the gaze of a charadrius. This did nothing to stop the poaching, but it did change the methodology. Once the charadrius was caught, a blanket was put over its cage until it was sold. After all, what would happen to commerce if people were getting healed for free? - “In time, the demand became greater than the supply and the magical branch of this family became extinct to our knowledge. Now this beautiful and useful bird exists only in the astral realms, where the wise can still work with their healing properties if they know how.” After changing my search, I came across “Nature’s Corner Magazine,” with an article I thought might be interesting: http://www.naturescornermagazine.com/healing_power.html. - “It is safe to say that most pet owners feel a special bond with their animal companions. They are always there to comfort you, listen to you, and console you when you are down. However, their ability to help people goes much further than emotional support. There are multiple cases where pets have helped people with physical ailments such as dogs detecting cancer and seizures. Animals have also been shown to help people cope with emotional troubles like depression, and pets have improved the quality of life for people in nursing homes. Several medical reports have credited animals with other positive effects on people’s lives such as: List of 12 items • Lowering blood pressure and stress for every day people • Helping people cope with the loss of a loved one and other major life changes • Better communication in marriages • Service animals like seeing-eye dogs help people disabilities live normal lives • Helping people cope with cancer, Alzheimer’s and AIDS • Higher survival rates for people with coronary heart disease • Better socialization of young children with peers and development of nurturing behavior. • Giving a sense of constancy to foster children • Improving results for anxious and depressed people • Therapeutic horse back riding has helped improve balance, posture, mobility, language, and muscle coordination • Helping facilitate social interactions between strangers and improving social behavior for mentally impaired people and prisoners. • More recreational activity such as dog walking list end” - “Many animals from dogs and cats to rabbits, llamas, dolphins, and horses have played a role in the healing process. Not all animals heal people completely, but they do help boost people’s attitudes and encourage them to live their life to the fullest. A recent estimate of pet owners in the United States shows that about 55 million people have dogs and about 60 million have cats. Animal companions become important family members for both people living alone and people with children and spouses. There are even many homeless people who take in a stray animal to care for. Animal serve as nurtures in our busy society, giving us the attention and contact we need. Let’s not forget the true meaning of “pet” is to touch or caress.” My conclusion? It depends on the bird, as with any other pet. ___ June 12

Reply #1107. Sep 21 11, 9:54 AM

=== Dissonance and other related terms In one of my many back issues of ‘Ladies’ Home Journal,’ I came across an article entitled, “Go for it!” The topic was “cognitive dissonance,” and that got me thinking: isn’t that the same thing I go through each day, the thing that holds me back, maybe part of the reason I avoid a lot of situations? - Psychology.about.com defines cognitive dissonance as “the feeling of discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs… the feeling of discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs. - “In order to reduce this dissonance between belief and behavior, she can either leave the relationship or reduce her emphasis on financial security. In the case of the second option, dissonance could be further minimized by emphasizing the positive qualities of her significant other rather than focusing on his perceived flaws. - “A more common example of cognitive dissonance occurs in the purchasing decisions we make on a regular basis. Most people want to hold the belief that they make good choices. When a product or item we purchase turns out badly, it conflicts with our previously existing belief about our decision-making abilities.” - “There are three key strategies to reduce or minimize cognitive dissonance: List of 3 items • Focus on more supportive beliefs that outweigh the dissonant belief or behavior. • Reduce the importance of the conflicting belief. • Change the conflicting belief so that it is consistent with other beliefs or behaviors. list end” You make that sound so simple! - “Cognitive dissonance plays a role in many value judgments, decisions and evaluations. Becoming aware of how conflicting beliefs impact the decision-making process is a great way to improve your ability to make faster and more accurate choices.” It’s all about insight. Next I went to http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/cognitive_dissonance.htm in the hope of learning additional information. - “Dissonance increases with: List of 3 items • The importance of the subject to us. • How strongly the dissonant thoughts conflict. • Our inability to rationalize and explain away the conflict. list end - “Dissonance is often strong when we believe something about ourselves and then do something against that belief. If I believe I am good but do something bad, then the discomfort I feel as a result is cognitive dissonance.” Explains why I find it next to impossible to be dishonest—although I find I can with certain people; what I mean is, I can’t fib to Mom or Grandma because I always feel so bad about lying that I give myself away/tell the truth in the first place. And let’s not forget about the fact that my face is transparent; you can tell how I feel about something just by looking into my eyes—how embarrassing is that! Kind of makes it tough to play a person whose expression is closed off. - “Cognitive dissonance is a very powerful motivator which will often lead us to change one or other of the conflicting belief or action. The discomfort often feels like a tension between the two opposing thoughts. To release the tension we can take one of three actions: List of 3 items • Change our behavior. • Justify our behavior by changing the conflicting cognition. • Justify our behavior by adding new cognitions. list end” Is that anything like a smoker or addict explaining why he or she is the way he or she is? Or maybe it’s like a woman explaining away why the man she loves abuses her. Or it could be like someone insisting another person is his or her friend when that person’s actions clearly indicate the reverse is true. - “Feelings of foolishness, immorality and so on (including internal projections during decision-making) are dissonance in action.” How about the kid who wants to be popular, but at the same time wishes to do well in school to please his or her parents and thus gain their gratitude? Or the person who stands up to injustice because it’s “the right thing to do”. Or the person who takes an animal home with him or her so it can heal from its injuries. - “If an action has been completed and cannot be undone, then the after-the-fact dissonance compels us to change our beliefs. If beliefs are moved, then the dissonance appears during decision-making, forcing us to take actions we would not have taken before.” Like how some of us feel the need to stick up for another person who’s being bullied/threatened/etc. - “Cognitive dissonance appears in virtually all evaluations and decisions and is the central mechanism by which we experience new differences in the world. When we see other people behave differently to our images of them, when we hold any conflicting thoughts, we experience dissonance.” As in when we lose respect for someone we think we’ve known, whether our interactions occurred for a few months or a few years. It’s that whole “things will never be the same between us” or “I can never trust that person again.” It’s the kind of thing that necessitates growth. ___ June 13

Reply #1108. Sep 21 11, 9:55 AM

=== Don't get me stated This title was prompted by two things: first, the news that Robbie is mad at his dad yet again for not giving him money to pay his fine, and a news report about a bill protecting “traditional marriage”?. “Don’t get me started!” Then again, let’s! Why don’t we head back to the Internet, that is after I get the following off my chest: I had hoped that being in jail had jolted some sense into my eighteen-year-old brat of a cousin. It seems to me, though, that whatever lesson it taught him was short-lived. All I can really hope here is that he’s at least given up drugs. And now, to that other matter, which I refuse to debate unless I see another viewpoint like my own… First, http://www.letusreason.org/current8.htm. - “From the very beginning of God’s revelation to humankind. He revealed His order of creation, especially as it relates to our sexuality. In Genesis 1 we are told that His purpose in creating the two sexes was that through the sexual union of male and female, we could continue to reproduce the race.” - “Whether in the Old or the New Testament, whenever the subject of sexuality is discussed the heterosexual relationship of marriage is always upheld, there is no other option.” - “Not everyone believes the bibles account, yet history itself shows that this was how it was from the beginning just as the scripture states. How do we know what is right or wrong, can we simply vote on morality?” Whether or not I want to argue this, I’m already “in” as they say. So, to start with, are we sure we want that second question in there? What exactly is “morality”? Whose definition do we use? And who are we to attempt to legislate it? Just because we feel we have a fundamental right to something, does that give us the right to infringe on the beliefs of others? - “Imagine a future with few families as we know it today. What would you think if you had no grandchildren to look forward to and the family name would no longer be passed on.” That really doesn’t bother me. I do plan to get married someday, but unless something unforeseen happens to change my mind have no intention to have children. Even if I do, my family name still dies out, at least my branch of it: I’m an only child, and have Mom’s maiden name only because my biological dad… I don’t know, and I don’t want to; Michael isn’t interested in his own child, either: “he loves children as long as they’re somebody else’s”. So, I rest my case. - “What if they were to have their way and influenced society so a good portion or the majority becomes homosexual? Not only would there be no more traditional families, essentially there will be no children for them to adopt.” OK, I’ve seen enough of that site; what kind of applesauce is that argument? Just because gays and lesbians would be given the same rights as heterosexuals doesn’t mean that “traditional families” would become extinct. It’s absurd; some people would still be attracted to the opposite sex, it’s just that gay and lesbian couples would be recognized by society as couples. Next stop: http://www.stephaniecoontz.com/articles/article25.htm. - “Pundits and politicians love to pontificate about strengthening traditional marriage. But as someone who has studied marriage forms and family life for more than three decades, I wonder how many of them have the faintest idea of what they're talking about. - “I suppose they mean the "traditional" marriage of one man and one woman. - “But through most of human history and in most cultures the most widely accepted tradition of marriage has been polygamy -- one man and multiple women. We're not just talking about exotic island cultures or lost tribes in the African jungle. Polygamy is the family form most often mentioned in the first five books of the Old Testament.” There goes your Biblical argument. - “In some societies, traditional marriage meant one woman wedded to several men. In others, a woman could take another woman as a "female husband." In China and the Sudan, when two sets of parents wanted to forge closer family ties and no live spouse was available, one set sometimes married off a child to the "ghost" of a dead son or daughter of the other family. Among the Bella Coola and Kwakiutl native societies of the Pacific Northwest, two families who wished to become in-laws but didn't have two sets of marriageable children available for a match might even draw up a marriage contract between a son or daughter and a dog belonging to the desired in-laws. Most traditional marriages were concerned with property and wealth, not love or sex. - “But what about the sanctity of marriage in the Christian tradition? It is true that Jesus, contradicting Moses, forbade his followers to divorce. But Jesus was not very keen on having them marry in the first place, holding that it was better to abandon worldly ties and dedicate oneself to building the faith. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke, 14). The Apostle Paul thought that getting married was better than burning in hell for unmarried fornication, but that the truly good thing was to remain a virgin and devote oneself to spreading God's word. - “For the first 16 centuries of its existence, the Catholic Church held that marriage was inherently tainted by what Pope Gregory the Great deemed the degrading "carnal pleasure" that took place under its auspices. In the church's hierarchy of worthy females, the virgin ranked highest, the widow second and the wife a distant third. - “Nor did the early church establish elaborate rules about what made a marriage legitimate. One pope proposed that a marriage ought to take place in church to be valid. But his bishops pointed out that such a change would immediately render most of Europe's children illegitimate. So the church decided that a man and woman were married if they had exchanged "words of consent," even if they had done so out by the haystack, without any witnesses or involvement by a priest. - “Not until 1215 did the Catholic Church make marriage a sacrament, and not until 1563 did it begin to enforce rules mandating that certain ceremonies had to be performed to make a marriage legitimate. - “Sixteenth-century Protestant reformers had a much more positive attitude toward the blessedness of marriage than Catholics. But Protestant clerics were stricter than Catholics in enforcing the tradition that marriage should be governed by considerations of patriarchal authority and property rather than free choice based on love. In many Protestant regions, authorities forbade impoverished individuals from marrying at all. And Protestant officials often stepped in to dissolve marriages that had been made without parental consent, even if both parties were adult and children had already been born to their union.” So much for the earlier argument about grandchildren! - “It is also not "traditional" to insist that the state should have the final say over what constitutes a valid marriage. In the Roman tradition, which served as the basis for Western European law, the only difference between marriage and unmarried cohabitation was if the partners thought of themselves as married. It wasn't until 1754 that the English state required a license for a marriage to be valid. And even after that, "self-marriage" and "self-divorce" remained commonplace, especially in the early decades of the United States. In 1833, Pennsylvania's chief justice warned that a strict legal interpretation of rules governing marriage validity would render "the vast majority" of births in that state illegitimate.” It would seem to me then that the so-called “traditional” marriage is actually a “nontraditional” one. - “Most of the "traditions" we associate with marriage are in fact comparatively new. It was only two centuries ago that people began to marry for love rather than for mercenary or practical considerations. Only 130 years ago did men start to lose their legal right to physically beat or imprison their wives. And only in the past 40 years have we established the principle that within a marriage wives and husbands have equal rights in decision-making.” In certain cultures, wives are still second-class citizens. - “Not until 1979 did the last American state finally repeal its "Head and Master" law, which had given husbands the final say over many aspects of family life. Not until 1993 did marital rape become a crime in every state, overturning the millennia-old tradition that a wife was obligated to have sex with her husband whenever he demanded it.” What is that, like a master and slave relationship? “You must do as I say, or else!” - “Many departures from "traditional" marriage have been for the good. But the same changes that have made marriages fairer and potentially more rewarding for both partners have made marriage more optional, requiring partners to negotiate more than in the past. The multiplication of new options, combined with the rapidity of changes in gender roles and social values has had destabilizing and sometimes troubling results for the organization of interpersonal obligations. Trying to revert to antiquated and unfair traditions is not the answer. We need to figure out how to build on the opportunities and minimize the risks associated with the ongoing modernization of marriage. It helps no one to wage futile culture wars to return to a tradition that wasn't half as clear-cut or advantageous as many people believe.” Couldn’t have said it any better! ___ June 13

Reply #1109. Sep 21 11, 9:56 AM

=== Fleas, Fleas nd More Damned Fleas! Grandma spent the entire weekend scrubbing the furniture and spraying vinegar all over the house to rid it of fleas. Michael’s room seemed to be the worst, but they had to spray both the downstairs and upstairs twice. Finally, Grandma told Michael his bed had to be moved, since with the dust ruffle hanging over the mattress, any fleas underneath weren’t being killed of by the vinegar. So that’s what the y did: - “We vacuumed the mattress and box spring and sprayed the hell out of everything.” Hopefully, the tiny creatures are now purged from the house. But if not, Michael and Grandma will have to “bomb” the house with this vapor that kills them, and stay out of the house for at least two hours. “I told Michael if we have to do that again, then we have to evacuate the cats somehow.” So what exactly is a flea? How tiny is it? And what is this “flea season”? How does one get rid of fleas? For answers, I once again turned to the Internet. The first site I clicked on was http://www.stopthefleas.com/. There I learned: - “Fleas have been around for millions of years, sucking the blood of animals and humans. Fleas live on pets, mammals, in carpets, in sofas as well as other household and farm goods. In a typical room, 5 percent of the fleas will be found on pets, 10 percent flea cocoons in the carpets, 35 percent flea larvae and 50 percent flea eggs, again in the carpets. - “The Flea life cycle is similar to the butterfly life cycle. Female Fleas lay eggs that turn in to grub-like larvae. The larvae then develop into pupae and settle inside a cocoon. They wait for a host to start their life and suck blood.” - “When something warm moves by the pupae, they unzip the cocoon and jump on the animal or human body. All this happens in three seconds and the flea can jump as high as four feet. - “Fleas feed on blood, and a flea can live without a blood meal for 100 days. A female has to have a blood meal to lay eggs. In addition, it lays eggs within 36-48 hours of having the first blood meal. A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs in her lifetime. - “Fleas are very tiny creatures, the adults average 1/8th of an inch in size. They have a flat body from side to side, with piercing mouths that help them in sucking blood. Fleas are often confused with bed bugs, lice and ticks. However, fleas are reddish brown to black in appearance, and they are also wingless. - “It is important to get rid of fleas by simple methods as these insects cause serious diseases. Plague, Murine Typhus and Tungiasis are the diseases caused by fleas. Fleas that are lodged on rats, often carry the bacteria, Yersinia Pestis, which is the bacteria that causes Bubonic plague. Plague is a killer disease and can spread widely in poor countries. Murine Typhus is an infection caused by Rickettsia, Rat fleas called Xenopsilla Cheopis transmit this. Tungiasis is caused by the Chigger flea, and they can cause serious damage to the feet as the female species burrow into the feet and breeds there. Their feeding under the skin causes severe infection and irritation. The fleas are removed by surgery. Fleas also transmit Tularemia and tapeworms to humans - “However, there is no need to worry, as there are many solutions to get rid of fleas. You can take up the responsibility of removing fleas yourself or if the problem is severe and you are not comfortable with dealing with chemicals that may be toxic, then pest control professionals are there to help you - “Remember that adult fleas go through stages including adults, pupae, larvae and eggs. Fleas in all stages should be killed to rid your house of them completely. Resistive pupae and larvae grow on to become adult fleas in a few weeks even though the adult fleas are killed. Fleas should be removed from all stages in their life cycle, to protect your family and pets.” - “There are thousands of different species of fleas throughout the world, here are the most common ones that are in America. These creatures attack both pets and humans and inhabit their furs, our hair, and homes. - “Cat Fleas - These are the most common type of flea, at least here in America. Cat fleas live on cats, dogs, and numerous other animals, they are the common fleas found on our pets and inside our homes. They love laying eggs and infesting the carpets, curtains, furniture and entire households as well as the pets. - “Chicken Fleas - As their name implies, these fleas love infesting and living on chickens. They live and breed in the chickens coups, and attached themselves with their heads buried into the skins of the chickens. They can be seen around the faces and heads of the chickens when examines closely, as they appear as blackheads, or small black nodules. When you enter a coup to gather eggs, or clean it, or even to simply visit your chickens, you can become a temporary host for these biting pests.” - “Rat Fleas - Northern Rat Fleas - These nasty little critters are always feeding off the blood of rats and mice. If you have a pet mouse, and have often spotted it scratching it's self, or seen fleas on it, these are very likely the culprits. They favor the blood of rats and mice, but like most other fleas, if brought around humans they will also feed of the blood of people. - “Oriental Rat Fleas - As their name implies these fleas were brought to Europe and America onboard ships from the orient. These are the nasty fleas that were responsible for the great black death (plague) incident that killed millions, it is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population. These fleas are now common in America in coastal towns, and cities, and even along rivers. They often infest not only rats, but raccoons, opossums and other animals that live near these same areas. If you go fishing, and find a flea crawling on your arm, or some other place, it will probably be an oriental rat flea.” Does that hold true for creeks? Grandma lives near a creek. - “Human Fleas - Most folks will tell you people do not become infested with or get fleas! This is not true at all, in fact there is a species of flea called the: Human Flea. It looks very similar to any other flea, except under a microscope. This type of flea likes to infest the hair of humans, it easily finds a host by hiding on the backs of seats of buses and other vehicles, and hitching rides in the hair of new passengers. These fleas love to infest hairy areas of people such as the heads, under the arms and other areas. They live quite well on people, and gorge themselves off the blood. Human Fleas are not that common anymore, thanks to better hygiene and cleaning methods, but they are still out there. - “Sand Fleas - These are the little villains that often bite your ankles when at the beaches. When you lie down on the sand, they will bite any body part that is close to the ground. They are one flea that looks different then most others, in fact their appearance is more like that of a very tiny shrimp-like creature. Sand fleas feed on organic and dying plants, especially seaweed that washes up on a beach. If you are near the beach, these fleas may be found any place there is sand, but if there are little piles of washed ashore seaweed, or other vegetation, this is a hotspot to pick up some sand flea bites.” - “A lot of folks know that fleas are a real nuisance to pets and even to the people who live in a house or apartment that is infested with fleas. But a lot of people are unaware that fleas can carry and spread sickness and life threatening diseases to both pets and people. - “Fleas crawl and bite, and these actions alone can make a person or pet, scratch at their skin a lot. This scratching can easily lead to open wounds and sores and infection. This is just the simplest problem that fleas can cause pets and people, it gets a lot worse. - “Fleas often are like hitchhikers, in that they may live on one host or creature for awhile then, hop and travel until they find another. A flea that finds it's way to your pet or you, may have fed on the blood of a raccoon, opossum or even a rat. Now if that flea bites you or a pet, it can spread the same disease the rat or other animal was carrying.” - “Cat Scratch Fever - Fleas that are living on a neighbors cat that has cat scratch fever, can pick up the disease from the animals blood. Then they travel to your cat and feed on it's blood, giving them the same disease. Later when your cat licks your mouth, or if it scratches or bites you, you may find youself with cat scratch fever. Fleas that live on the cat and are infected, leave their poop in the cats fur. When you pet your handle the cat, your fingers and hands become contaminated, then when you rub your eyes or pick your nose, etc, it's possible to spread the disease to yourself. - “Typhus - Fleas that feed on rats that have Typhus, travel to pets and feed off them and humans. The poop from these infected fleas gets into the mouths and wounds of humans, from petting their pets, and getting bit by the fleas themselves, and having the flea poop get into open scratches and sores, infecting the person with typhus. Typhus can also be gotten by a human, who is even exploring or living in an area where there are lots of dead fleas, or even old cat feces.” - “Bubonic Plague - When a flea feeds on an infected animal that has the plague, it can transfer this serious disease to humans when it bites. The fleas can also infect pets, and in turn these pets can transfer the plague to humans. - “Tapeworms - Another nasty disease or condition that fleas can give to humans and pets, is Tapeworms. Fleas act like the hosts of tapeworms, and infected fleas can pass these tapeworms to humans when they feed off their blood.” - “Fleas lay most of their eggs on carpets and rugs inside a house or apartment. Female adult fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day. There is no need to emphasize the need to remove the fleas as they can transmit diseases that range from allergies to plague. - “The first step in getting rid of fleas from rugs and carpets, is to use a vacuum cleaner that has a powerful suction. Clean the carpets and rugs with the vacuum cleaner daily. Use disposable dust bags for your vacuum cleaners. Once the dust is collected, seal it and remove it from your home. The fleas go inside the dust bag and the disposable dust bag goes inside the thrash can out side.” - “It's not easy to remove the larvae from rugs and carpets by vacuum cleaning. The vacuum cleaner easily picks up eggs and adult fleas, but the larvae cling to the carpet and don't come out easily. The next option is shampooing the carpet, because it can remove the larvae. If they are still persistent then use diatomaceous earth (DE) all over the carpet and rugs. Wear protective goggles and mask before spraying the dust. Blow the dust in to the cracks and crevices. DE is not very harmful for humans, when used properly, but kills fleas. - “Machine wash your rugs in hot, soapy water to remove fleas. Pet bedding also needs to be washed or replaced with new ones. - “Borate based carpet cleaners also have less toxicity for humans. These carpet cleaners can control fleas up to one year. Sprinkle the powder on the entire carpet or rug, leaving any area untreated would nullify the treatment. You may also mix the powder in a rug-shampooing machine with or without detergent and clean the rug. The chemical binds to the rug or carpet and cannot be cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner. This kills eggs, larvae and adult fleas while preventing fleas from laying eggs. Be careful to choose only carpet cleaning borate-based insecticide. Wood cleaning borate powders can be harmful for children.” - “If it's a borate-based powder that you have used, then do not vacuum for 5-7 days. Within this time, the pupae would emerge and die when they are exposed to the insecticide. Then vacuuming would collect the dead or incapacitated fleas. The process of dusting insecticide should be repeated after a few weeks - “Borate based insecticide dusting is good usually for an entire year. Do not steam clean after applying insecticide. When applying borate based flea stopper insecticide make sure to spray it all over the rugs, and areas under beds and couches. - “Mithoprene and Pyriproxyfen are one of most effective insect growth regulators used for flea removal. Do not stop vacuuming after insecticide treatment. Continue vacuuming after a few days or even just a few hours of applying insecticide, depending on the type of the insecticide you have used. - “For best results read the label on the container for instructions. Always consult a pesticide consultant since pesticides you use can be harmful to kids and adults if not used properly. In addition, a problem like fleas should not be something you do yourself without asking a professional especially in the case of severe infestation.” - “Fleas love to infest and lay their eggs on pets, and carpets, but another often overlooked and untreated area where they infest is curtains. Curtains provide some of the perfect needs for fleas, such as dust accumulation and warmth from the sun as well as heaters in the winter season. In fact curtains are often the major source of flea infestation in the home, and it's often the most overlooked area. - “So many folks hang their curtains, and hardly ever clean them. Curtains often become one of the dirtiest things in a home over time. They hang motionless for long periods of time, allowing dust, human skin particles and animal hairs to rapidly build up on them. Not only do fleas love curtains to hide in and infest, but mites do too. Curtains can easily becomes a major source of not just flea infestation but a major source of allergies” - “Cleaning and maintaining your curtain depends upon the type of material they are made of, and other things. First of all if you know the curtains are just some cheap material and you are not too worried about damaging them, take them down, and place them in a washing machine large enough to hold them. Your best bet in washing something as large as curtains is just take them to a laundry mat and use the large machines to wash them. Use any laundry soap that you normally use for washing clothes, and dry them until they are almost dry but not all the way. It's better to hang curtains when they are slightly damp, so they stretch back out a little, and static does not stay in them from the dryer when they are still damp, this makes a lot less dust attract to them. - “If you are unsure about the material the curtains are made of, or if they are valuable, you may wish to contact a professional cleaner that does curtains, or take them to a dry cleaner for consultation and possible cleaning. Some curtains have tags on them, that tell you the exactly materials and methods they should be cleaned with, as well as the dryer settings.” - “Once the curtains are rehung, you can gently mist the curtains with an organic (natural) flea killer, these types of sprays are the most gentle to fabrics as well as pets and people. Like using any product, first do a small spot test on a part of the curtain, to make sure the product will not cause it to stain or change the color, etc. Once you find a safe flea spray, gently mist your curtains as often as the product says to do so, and remember to wash your curtains on a regular basis, at least every quarter, to keep them smelling and looking fresh, and also flea free.” - “Furniture is one major host for adult fleas, eggs and larvae, as dogs often sit on sofas and chairs, and cats love to sit, walk and sleep on furniture. - “Vacuuming daily is the first option for getting rid of fleas in furniture. When vacuuming, remove all of the couch and chair cushions and vacuum them as well as under them. Try to vacuum all the inaccessible areas of the furniture, and do not forget the areas underneath, using a good quality suction vacuum cle. - “Cleaning furniture with soap and water comes as next. A good quality detergent would kill fleas, however, this does not solve the problem totally, since eggs and larvae hide in inaccessible areas.” - “Borate based powders can also be used to kill fleas. These borate-based powders help kill fleas and keep them away for up to one full year. Again, after applying the powder, vacuum the furniture after 5-7 days or as per the instruction on the insecticide packet. - “The best method of removing fleas from furniture is to combine an adulticide that kills the adult fleas and an insect development inhibitor (IDI). Killing the adult fleas should be combined with insect development inhibitor that stops the egg, pupae and larvae from developing into the next stage of growth. Use insect growth regulators (IGRs) like Mithoprene and Pyriproxyfen. These have a long residual life and are very effective in killing flea larvae. In case of using sprays, wait until the sprays are completely dry before using the furniture. It is best to avoid using the furniture until they are vacuumed.” - “Remember, that flea control inside your house is not complete until you have treated your pet and removed fleas from your lawn and yard. Be careful when dealing with insecticides and always keep them away from children. In addition, ask for the help of a professional pest controller if you have any doubts.” - “Fleas feed on blood and love to live on the bodies of your pets. The furry exterior of pets makes an ideal living place for the fleas without them being detected. Fleas not only suck blood from the pets which can ultimately lead to anemia but fleas can also transmit diseases that can be very serious or even fatal. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to get rid of fleas from your pets before they infest your home or apartment, and your lawn. - “The first step towards this is to comb pets with a flea comb regularly. Place a small amount petroleum jelly on the comb, which would result in the fleas sticking to the tines of the comb. Check for areas between the toes, behind the ears, armpits and under the neck.” - “Putting a white paper or white towel under the dog or cat while combing it would make the fleas more visible. If you notice that black specks are falling off or getting stuck to the comb tines while combing then you will know for sure it's fleas. Dabbing the fleas with alcohol would immobilize them and then emptying the paper or towel in to a mug containing water will kill most of the fleas. The mug of water containing fleas should be flushed down the toilet or sink to prevent them from jumping out if they are still alive. Giving your pet a bath daily or regularly would rid your pet of fleas unless the infestation is too large. Fleas cannot live in water, so bathing your pet is very important. Using a flea shampoo as directed can also aid in ridding your pet of fleas however, it is not recommended to use the flea shampoo on a daily basis. - “If you do not want to use chemicals on your pet, there is one solution that usually works well. Cut six lemons into halves, take a quart of water, steep a few hours and then strain the liquid into a spray bottle. Spritz your pet on the body with the liquid, avoiding the eyes. Other natural products like neem, cedar, eucalyptus and rosewood can also keep fleas at bay. However, the efficacy of these natural products is not very reliable when the flea problem is acute.” - “If fleas have already infested your pet to an extreme level, then it's essential that you take it to a vet. The vet may prescribe Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) sprays or foggers such as methoprene (Precor) or pyriproxyfen (Nylar), and insect development inhibitors (IDIs) such as lufenuron (Program) and prescription only IGR systemic products. These products are safe, non-toxic and environmentally safe. You may also use desiccants: Diatomaceous Earth and Boron. Desiccants are considered effective and inexpensive, and they are recommended. - “A single application of Imidacloprid (Advantage) and fipronil (Front-Line) can kill adult fleas in hours and keep your pet flea free for 1-3 months. A few drops of the formula applied to the shoulder of the pet spreads through the coat and kills fleas. These products have lower mammalian toxicity and are considered safer. 'Pyrethrum' based flea killers are useful for immediate relief from fleas. However, any use of chemicals on your pets should not be used without the advice of a vet. Cats can die if insecticide meant for dogs is used on them.” - “Most people realize that fleas in their home and on their pets can be a real nuisance. Not only do these mischievous little creatures cause itching for both man and beast, but they also cause embarrassment. There is nothing more humiliating then going to work or at a restaurant where your sitting right beside other people, and you scratch your head or move your arm, to reveal a flea crawling on your skin, for others to see. - “There is a common misconception by a lot of so called experts that fleas do not, or will not live on humans. This is not true, there is a species of fleas called: Human Fleas that do and will live on humans, in their hair. I am not talking about lice, but fleas.” - “Fleas need warmth, food and shelter to live and be happy where they are. A person who does not bathe or shower frequently or wash their hair with shampoo, is a great host for fleas. And even folks that do keep themselves very clean still provide a temporarily home for flea pests. Fleas love blood, in fact it's their food. Humans as well as pets need blood to live, and the blood both humans and pets have, also serves as a tasty food to the fleas. Fleas don't care if they get food from a pet or a human, they love the blood of both. - “A lot of folks think the fleas don't hang around people because they lack the same living conditions as pets do, this is not true. Pets have a lot more hair then humans, but humans have hair also, most have hair on their heads, some have a lot others have none. Humans also have hair under their arms, and in other private places. All of these places provide a little bit of shelter for human fleas to hide and live comfortably.” - “Taking a daily shower, using shampoo and soap easily kills human fleas and removes them off our bodies. But besides lack of hair, humans have something that provides fleas the same shelter, clothing. Since clothing covers most of our bodies, it acts just like the hair of a pet to a flea, providing a very large place to live. Changing and washing our clothes in hot water, and drying them in a dryer, easily kills fleas and their eggs.” - “Fleas get in to the upholstery and carpet of your vehicle when you take your pets for a ride and if you park on a flea infested yard or other area, they can be transported inside the vehicle by a person simply getting in it. These fleas and their eggs can drop off you or your pet, and land on your vehicles upholstery. Getting rid of fleas in your vehicles is a two-step process. First, you must be sure that your car is free of fleas and then rid your pet of these annoying critters. If you do not get rid of the fleas on your pet, then you can re-infest your car all over again.” Or vise versa, I’m thinking. - “To aid in keeping your vehicles flea free, vacuum your vehicles carpet and upholstery regularly.” - “This would ensure that fleas at any stage in their life cycle do not escape. If you resort to soaping or shampooing this is a better idea as soap kills fleas. However, if the flea problem is severe in your vehicle, vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning does not solve the problem entirely. Eggs survive steam cleaning and some larvae escape vacuum cleaning by sticking to carpet fibers, if this is the case, then you must use insecticides. - “The same method used for cleaning carpets in the home applies to cars as well. The borate-based desiccants keep away fleas for up to one full year. Apply the powder all over your car's carpet and upholstery. Do not vacuum; leave it alone for 3-5 weeks. After which you may vacuum to rid your vehicle from the dead fleas and of course larvae and eggs. At the end of the three weeks, all the fleas will be dead and can easily be vacuumed away. Use a disposable dust bag to collect the dust and dead fleas and seal it before discarding it in the thrash can outside your home.” - “The use of natural insecticides like pyrethrum on car carpets is also very effective. Apply the powders as instructed on the label. Let the powder stay for the time mentioned on the label. Then vacuum the carpet as usual. - “To ensure that you keep your vehicles flea free, give your pets a bath with flea shampoo as directed. Use a flea comb regularly to comb the fleas away. Collect the fleas that drop off while combing. Put them in a bowl of soap and flush the water down the sink. Use desiccants if the flea problem is severe on your pets. You may take your pet to a vet who would prescribe Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) sprays or foggers and prescription only IGR systemic products. You may also use desiccants: Diatomaceous Earth and Boron. Desiccants are considered effective and inexpensive. Before using them, you should talk with your veterinarian. Be careful when using any insecticides and keep them away from children.” - “Getting rid of fleas from inside your home and off your pets is not the end of the story when it comes to removing fleas. As long as fleas are on the outside of your home, in your lawn, there is a big chance that your free roaming dog or cat would catch fleas all over again. It is therefore necessary to remove fleas from your yard and from your lawn furniture as well. We are talking about getting rid off these parasites from the entire premises, inside and out.” Thankfully, Little Girl and Scrappy are indoor cats, but I can’t help thinking—as does Grandma—they came into the house from outside. “Michael normally sprays this stuff to kill bugs before the Memorial Day picnic, but he didn’t this year. I think that’s how the fleas got inside the house.” - “Fleas breed in humid, shady and moist areas where there is debris that is more organic or where pets frequent. The flea larvae do not survive when flooded with water.” Now that I think about it, there was a dog there, Rick and Beth’s dog named Spaz. And it was awfully hot and humid that day, in the 90’s. - “Therefore, the easiest way to get rid of fleas from your lawn is to flood the entire lawn periodically to kill the parasites. The water also washes off the feces of adult fleas on which the larvae survive. In the rainy season, nature takes care of the problem. During a dry season, we have to cut the grass, remove weeds and debris from the lawn and flood it periodically to prevent fleas from breeding as well as to kill the fleas.” The week before Memorial Day, the ground was constantly wet. But that weekend, it was reall y dry and hot—and we haven’t gotten half of the rain we were supposed to since then. Now what about this “flea season”. The first site I went to told me “search unavailable.” Then I tried another site and was thrown off the Internet. Then I tried again, and ended up at http://www.ehow.com/about_4586288_flea-season.html. - “Fleas thrive in warm temperatures, so it is easy for new pet owners (and even longtime pet owners) to assume that once autumn arrives, fleas will depart. After months of battling fleas during the spring and summer, pet owners are understandably tired of worrying about them. Unfortunately, flea season lasts much of the year in most U.S. regions. Many states have no seasonal relief at all.” Not exactly great news. - “Warm, wet weather is prime weather for fleas. During late spring and all through summer, most regions experience outbreaks of fleas. However, fleas do not care about the calendar. As long as the area is warm enough (about 60 degrees or warmer) for them to breed, and the adult fleas have a blood meal, they will breed. As long as larvae have sufficient humidity to hatch (50 percent at least), they will hatch. Because of climate-controlled homes, fleas easily breed inside all yearlong if homeowners don't eliminate fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae.” That’s just great. - “In most areas of the United States, flea season lasts from March or April through November or December. All the states bordering the Pacific Ocean and nearly all southern states in the U.S. have no seasonal break from fleas. Flea season there lasts yearlong. Fleas live almost everywhere in the world. Flea season is slightly different country to country, but regions with warm, wet climates have fleas all year.” So, maybe Janice and Bill brought them back to Pennsylvania with them! - “To prevent flea infestations, treat animals at the very beginning of flea season and be vigilant about vacuuming and general cleaning. This way, fleas won't have the chance to become established on your pet, in your pet's bedding or in your carpets. The actual date to begin treatment will vary year to year, depending on temperature and humidity. Monthly topical flea treatments, such as Advantage or Frontline, are better---and safer--than flea collars or other over-the-counter flea medicines for preventing and controlling flea infestations.” Kind of difficult to do when you’ve had cats before, and they never got fleas, so you don’t even concern yourself with such things—and, perhaps, don’t even consider it! - “Parasites and flea anemia can be especially serious for kittens and elderly cats.” Today, Grandma told me she may have to take Little Girl to the vet again as she’s not acting like her normal self; presumably, she didn’t bounce back from the surgery, but she spends a lot of time upstairs and that seems to be the hardest hit area. - “There is no such thing as a safe chemical pesticide, but some are less toxic than others. Over-the-counter topical flea medicines are generally more toxic and less effective than those you buy from your veterinarian. Fleas have developed resistance to some chemicals in over-the-counter flea products.” It just gets better and better, doesn’t it? ___ June 13

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