...and donations will be closed for the Soldiers' Christmas/Holiday Package. I will accept checks mailed to me, and postmarked, on or before the 7th of December, and will accept PayPal payemnts made up and through December 7th. Any PayPal payments for that effort received after the 7th of December 2007, will be returned minus any fee charged to me by PayPal. Any checks received with a December 8th or later post mark will be returned to the sender if the sender includes a return address, otherwise I'll just tear them up. Not trying to be a hard ass or anything like that, just trying to keep this manageable. So if you want to donate, please do so on or before December 7, 2007. Thanks very much for the donations to date.
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Modern Enetrtainers Often...
...bore me to no end. For example:
"Oh, no, no, no.
Troubled "Rehab" singer Amy Winehouse took a barefoot walk around chilly East London at 5:40 a.m. on Sunday, while wearing only a bra and jeans."
These were the opening lines of a FoxNews article atv which I just took a brief, very brief, glance. See http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314882,00.html.
Now here is what I think of all this:
Whothe fuck in Hades is Amy Winehouse, and who gives a rat's ass a moment's concern about her, maybe other than her mommy and daddy or another relative (if they even care).
What is the big deal about her walking around in London at zero 5 dirty in the AM, clothed only in a bra and jeans, that actually makes her action newsworthy on a major news outlet?
Is she trying to make a name for herself, or is the media trying to help her pump up her shitty career?
What the heck is her career, what kind of entertainer is a 'Rehab Singer' anyhow?
Why can't people just grow up, and actually tell so called entertainers like thisasshole woman we have had more than enough so stop all the craziness or we will stop buying whatever it is you are selling.
I for one have heard and seen enough of the likes of this woman, and: B.Spears, P. Hilton. M. Jackson, and all the other yahoos that are out there calling themselves entertainers. May I ask: "What ever happened to Randolf Scott?", or maybe I should ask about Bob Hope, or Cary Grant, or Myrna Loy, or Gene Tierney, or Lauren Bacall, Fred Astaire, Rodney Dangerfield? Now those were entertainers. I could at least put up with some shenanigans by them if only because they really produced when it came to entertainment, and all in all they were not show biz whores.
All the best,
Glenn B
"Oh, no, no, no.
Troubled "Rehab" singer Amy Winehouse took a barefoot walk around chilly East London at 5:40 a.m. on Sunday, while wearing only a bra and jeans."
These were the opening lines of a FoxNews article atv which I just took a brief, very brief, glance. See http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314882,00.html.
Now here is what I think of all this:
Who
What is the big deal about her walking around in London at zero 5 dirty in the AM, clothed only in a bra and jeans, that actually makes her action newsworthy on a major news outlet?
Is she trying to make a name for herself, or is the media trying to help her pump up her shitty career?
What the heck is her career, what kind of entertainer is a 'Rehab Singer' anyhow?
Why can't people just grow up, and actually tell so called entertainers like this
I for one have heard and seen enough of the likes of this woman, and: B.Spears, P. Hilton. M. Jackson, and all the other yahoos that are out there calling themselves entertainers. May I ask: "What ever happened to Randolf Scott?", or maybe I should ask about Bob Hope, or Cary Grant, or Myrna Loy, or Gene Tierney, or Lauren Bacall, Fred Astaire, Rodney Dangerfield? Now those were entertainers. I could at least put up with some shenanigans by them if only because they really produced when it came to entertainment, and all in all they were not show biz whores.
All the best,
Glenn B
Trying To Talk The Son Into Something terrible...
...Phyllobates terribilis that is; but he seems hesitant to take on the responsibility of something he has to care for and feed everyday. I tend to think though, that once he finds out why their species name is terribilis, he may reconsider. Such is the nature of 18 year old young men, they are, shall we say, often somewhat impressed by the impressive; and this diminutive frog is just that despite its less than impressive size. You see it carries a terrible wallop, thereby the name terribilis.
Despite its tiny size of about 2.25 inches at most, and despite the fact that it can carry only about one milligram of toxin in its skin, The Golden Poison Frog's poison lode is powerful enough to kill thousands of mice, or maybe up to 20 people. Yes the amount of toxin in the skin of just one Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is enough to do that, and that is impressive. This is one of three frogs known to be used by South American Indians to make a poison with which they tip their arrowheads and dart points when they hunt for prey items like monkeys; and it one of the most poisonous animals in the world.
Luckily, or maybe not so luckily, these frogs loose their ability to produce this toxin when they are in captivity. Wild caught specimens soon loose their toxicity. Captive bred specimens apparently never have the capability to produce any toxins. While it is hypothesized that a certain food item, or possibly combinations of food items, in nature allow for this frog to produce it toxic skin secretions - no one knows what it is that this frog eats to make it toxic. Some had believed that it was a species of ant, but today it is believed more likely that it may be a certain form of beetle that gives this frog its ability to kill. In other words, it is believed that this frog quite possibly eats something as toxic as, or more toxic, than itself in order to load up on its poison. What is it they used to say: One man's meat is another man's poison!
Well, I am going to work at getting a few of these in the yellow or orange variety. I found this pic at: http://www.aaronsfrogfarm.com/images/orterrmal.JPG, and I am quite hopeful they will have some available for sale that look just like this one because I want to buy 4 to 5 of them. They are extremely striking in appearance, and they possibly could make us a fortune. I don't mean by breeding them and selling the offspring, as do many folks, and as we would likely endeavor. What I do mean is that we may experiment at feeding them a variety of available insect species in order prod them into producing their natural toxicity, or at least something that closely mimics their natural toxicity. Why do this, why take the chance of producing one of the most toxic natural substances known to man. Well first of all, there is little chance of toxicity to us since we would handle the frogs safely (for instance while wearing gloves, and we would take other precautions to avoid puncturing our epidermis, and we surely would not eat them). Now the answer as to why take the risk at all. Well, if one was able to have these frogs produce their toxins while in captivity, and do so with timely regularity, and with reliability of as to strength of toxin, that person could make a million, maybe more. The toxins from this frog are considered highly prized in the world of scientific research, especially medical research - yet it is not readily available. These frogs are native to area of Colombia wherein there are often violent activities carried out by terrorists and drug lords. It is not a safe place in which to conduct field research, so the wild caught frogs, with the ability to produce the toxins, are not always readily available. One can only dream of being able to produce these toxins in captive bred frogs, while in captive kept conditions.
Besides all of that, I am just into reptiles and amphibians, and so is Brendan. Right now though I think he would like to venture into the world of fish keeping, and he might prefer an aquarium in his room. I am sort of hopeful I can convince him to keep the frogs in his room, and an aquarium in the basement (safer in the basement if it breaks, the water would do less damage down there). Time and tactful persistence will tell if I can do it, but as you may know, I am none too tactful - so I will also be keeping my fingers crossed that he will see the light.
All the best,
Glenn B
Despite its tiny size of about 2.25 inches at most, and despite the fact that it can carry only about one milligram of toxin in its skin, The Golden Poison Frog's poison lode is powerful enough to kill thousands of mice, or maybe up to 20 people. Yes the amount of toxin in the skin of just one Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is enough to do that, and that is impressive. This is one of three frogs known to be used by South American Indians to make a poison with which they tip their arrowheads and dart points when they hunt for prey items like monkeys; and it one of the most poisonous animals in the world.
Luckily, or maybe not so luckily, these frogs loose their ability to produce this toxin when they are in captivity. Wild caught specimens soon loose their toxicity. Captive bred specimens apparently never have the capability to produce any toxins. While it is hypothesized that a certain food item, or possibly combinations of food items, in nature allow for this frog to produce it toxic skin secretions - no one knows what it is that this frog eats to make it toxic. Some had believed that it was a species of ant, but today it is believed more likely that it may be a certain form of beetle that gives this frog its ability to kill. In other words, it is believed that this frog quite possibly eats something as toxic as, or more toxic, than itself in order to load up on its poison. What is it they used to say: One man's meat is another man's poison!
Well, I am going to work at getting a few of these in the yellow or orange variety. I found this pic at: http://www.aaronsfrogfarm.com/images/orterrmal.JPG, and I am quite hopeful they will have some available for sale that look just like this one because I want to buy 4 to 5 of them. They are extremely striking in appearance, and they possibly could make us a fortune. I don't mean by breeding them and selling the offspring, as do many folks, and as we would likely endeavor. What I do mean is that we may experiment at feeding them a variety of available insect species in order prod them into producing their natural toxicity, or at least something that closely mimics their natural toxicity. Why do this, why take the chance of producing one of the most toxic natural substances known to man. Well first of all, there is little chance of toxicity to us since we would handle the frogs safely (for instance while wearing gloves, and we would take other precautions to avoid puncturing our epidermis, and we surely would not eat them). Now the answer as to why take the risk at all. Well, if one was able to have these frogs produce their toxins while in captivity, and do so with timely regularity, and with reliability of as to strength of toxin, that person could make a million, maybe more. The toxins from this frog are considered highly prized in the world of scientific research, especially medical research - yet it is not readily available. These frogs are native to area of Colombia wherein there are often violent activities carried out by terrorists and drug lords. It is not a safe place in which to conduct field research, so the wild caught frogs, with the ability to produce the toxins, are not always readily available. One can only dream of being able to produce these toxins in captive bred frogs, while in captive kept conditions.
Besides all of that, I am just into reptiles and amphibians, and so is Brendan. Right now though I think he would like to venture into the world of fish keeping, and he might prefer an aquarium in his room. I am sort of hopeful I can convince him to keep the frogs in his room, and an aquarium in the basement (safer in the basement if it breaks, the water would do less damage down there). Time and tactful persistence will tell if I can do it, but as you may know, I am none too tactful - so I will also be keeping my fingers crossed that he will see the light.
All the best,
Glenn B
Soldiers' Holiday package - latest items
I did some shopping for package number 2 last night. So far I have the Crock-pot (already purchased that last week, but have not sent it yet and it will be in package 2), and some new items as seen in the pic. Click on the pic to enlarge it.The items are, starting from the 12 o'clock position and going clockwise: Gingerbread House Kit (with ready made gingerbread pieces and all the trimmings), a case of 12 packs of playing cards, chewing gum, Hershey's Candies variety pack, a 36 pack of AA batteries, a box of 25 Bully cigars by Romeo Y Julieta. They will be squeezed into a box with the Crock-Pot previously pictured in another post. All the other previously bought items and the flashlights shipped yesterday.
By the way, that box of cigars is a good one. It contains 25 cigars, and each of them went for $3.80, yes $95 for the box at Costco! I don't know about you, but when I smoked I thought a nickel cigar was good enough for me, you know the same ones Clint Eastwood smoked in The Good The Bad and The Ugly or one of those Spaghetti Westerns. I figure though that these soldiers deserve much better than what was good enough for me in the way back times of yesteryear. The Romeo y Julietas came highly recommended by 3 people to zero recommendations for another type of cigar.I also went shopping for some folding knives and quality wool socks. I struck out on both, but did see some fairly nice Buck and Gerber knives at Dick's Sporting Goods for $19.99 each. I would like to see if I can find them locally at a better price, if not I may go with them. As for the socks, I could only find medium weight wool socks, and was hoping to get these guys something to really help them face the Afghan winter. Shopping again tomorrow or Friday, and hopefully one of two more packages (2 & 3) out by this weekend.
The donation amount is now up to $600! With the flashlights donated by StreamLight, and that amount of cash from you guys, all I can say is wow - what nice holiday spirit! Once again thanks to your donations this is all possible, and thanks to StreamLight there is more cash to be spent on gifts. So these guys are getting a lot of nice things - but I must say: the nicest thing they are receiving is your thoughtfulness and your generosity. Happy Hanukkah to those of you who celebrate it, and Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it. Happy New Year to all.
All the best,
Glenn B
PS: Forgot to picture the receipt earlier, so I updated this blog with said pic on 12/06/07.
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