Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* NYU has graciously offered Chen Guangcheng a lecturer position if the Chinese will let him and his family go. It could save face for both sides and is certainly good for everyone involved. *fingers crossed*

* Remember the man who released fifty starved and neglected exotic animals loose to eat the neighbors, then killed himself, forcing animal control to shoot those they couldn't catch? They've given the five survivors back to the widow.

For the record, I believe leopards and the like belong in the wild. I understand that animals who have been born in captivity, suffered certain injuries, and the like can't be released back into the wild, and breeding programs for animals that can't be safely released help keep bloodlines alive. In those cases, the animals should be in zoos with spacious enclosures, preferably with lots of outdoor space with live vegetation. I am absolutely not okay with tiny cages in zoos or private ownership by random people with no oversight or real training.

* "Dear girls of the world today...: http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/441098.html

* "Outlantacon:" http://neo-prodigy.livejournal.com/1065481.html

* This afternoon was perfect cat weather, alas, I was doing errands. It was about as much fail as success. I did make it to Fairhaven, but later than expected as the car was below empty on gas, which ment waiting in the line at the pump and spending the twenty I'm planned for shopping, which meant an unplanned trip to an AT?M. I was less than five minutes late to something on my to do list, so if any of those things or the line at the other failed errand had been shorter, I could have been three for four instead of two for two on accomplishing stuff. Sigh. Don't worry, the cats did get their walk after I put the groceries away. It was rather late, so Mache just patrolled her borders, then went back inside where it was warmer. I saw no dead rodents or other wildlife, so I let the Butt range further then usual, hooking his leash on my big toe, put my feet up and read, wile sipping silver needles. I also managed to do gardening, change litters, and the living room tank. This left no spoons for cooking, but there were leftovers.

Some of the asparagus sent up shoots! Progress! The gladiolas are taller, but not even close to blooming yet. Nothing else is growing yet.

* Hector wouldn't sleep in my room with us, which is always a bad sign. He let me and the black cats seep, but he's spent the whole evening howling. This is so exhausting.
UPDATE: A bit before Midnight, his meds kicked in and he crashed out. Silence, blessed silence!

* If you've visited me up here in the flesh, I likely took you to a beautiful little garden store in Fairhaven. For those who haven't, picture high wooden walls and growing things blocking out the world outside. Imagine a feeling of calm and sacredness, little statues and plaques of various deities, forest spirits, Buddhas, and bodhisattvas. It was so beautiful and precious, and I loved it. It's gone now, by which I mean not just the mini maze of growing things and the attached shop, but the ground on which they sat. Instead there is a hole, going down more than a story with fence to keep folks out and the bottom all covered in gravel. When I say gone, I mean as if they never existed and never could have.

There are other garden stores in Bellingham, but none of them feel like if you turn a corner fast enough you might catch sight of a nymph.

* Food experiments I forgot to mention: It turns out Snicker Doodle is not an ideal ice cream flavour. It's edible but not interesting, if that makes sense. The Nielson-Massey rose is delicate enough for use in whipped cream and strong enough for baked goods so its officially my new extract source. This is them if you are curious: http://www.nielsenmassey.com/consumer/recipes-rose-sangria.php

* A few nights ago, I'd just flipped the channel, and there was a bull dog on the screen. Squirrel, wandering by with his dinner, spotted it and said, "I know that dog!" I was skeptical, but he did turn out to be from Bellingham. Apparently the dog's human takes him to nursing homes to cheer up the residents with tricks. How cool is that? I think it's this dog (same name, same rocking horse trick): http://youtu.be/UhlPmPqfVI8

* rm found, "Whither The Manic Pixie Dream Guy?" http://www.nerve.com/movies/whither-the-manic-pixie-dream-guy

Oh man, there is so much packed in here about changing gender and relationship expectations as well as writing and story.

* "A Look at the Titles in Famous Authors’ Libraries:" http://flavorwire.com/285815/a-look-at-the-titles-in-famous-authors-libraries

* Scary Mogul Heirs, I vote for Cobra McJingleballs as the worst: http://www.thejanedough.com/scariest-mogul-heirs/#0

* Attention Karjack, Hello Kitty Airplane: http://www.girlofacertainage.com/2012/04/30/i-am-dying-of-happiness/

To be fair, that Maternity Ward they link to makes a kind of sense.

* These shoes hurt my eyes and my brain had trouble parsing them: http://gofugyourself.com/fug-and-fab-the-accessories-12-05-2012/nickelodeons-25th-annual-kids-choice-awards-red-carpet-6

* OMG! http://lettersfromtitan.tumblr.com/post/22355716560/maja-li-laertena-soft-dalek-warm-dalek