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Saturday Squirrel Blogging

Cats & Dogs

They are unique, every one. Here, Spike is snuggling; Henry is tolerating. I'm thinking about cats & dogs because of a story last night on ABC News about the Cheetah Conservation Fund:

Dr. Laurie Marker, co-founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, has come up with a novel approach to save them. Her efforts are giving farmers an alternative to killing cheetahs. . . .

She provides them with Anatolian shepherd dogs from Turkey. The dogs grow to an imposing size, become attached to their herds and turn aggressive when cheetahs approach.

"A cheetah does not want to be hurt, so their instinct is to run away," Marker said. Many of the farmers have had success with the dogs and are satisfied with the project.

"We've found that it's reduced the number of cheetahs being killed," Marker said, "and farmers don't lose their livestock."

Amazing what a little creative thinking can accomplish.

Compassionate Conservatism

No aid planned to help low-income families, seniors with energy costs

Conservation will be U.S. focus

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

By Ann McFeatters, Post-Gazette National Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration yesterday said it has no plans to ask Congress for additional funds to help low-income families and financially stretched seniors deal with rapidly escalating home heating bills.

The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration is projecting that this winter's natural gas prices will run as much as 77 percent more than last winter in parts of the Midwest . . .  That could mean that thousands of households won't be able to afford enough heat or electricity.

But he said asking Congress to increase money for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program "is not on the agenda" for the administration "at this point."

more

Congress Seeks to Slash Food Aid for Poor

By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

(10-05) 08:09 PDT    WASHINGTON,  (AP) --

Under orders to whittle agriculture spending by $3 billion, Republicans in Congress propose to slash food programs for the poor by $574 million and subsidies and conservation programs by $1 billion each, The Associated Press has learned.

. . .

The $574 million cut in food stamps would come from restricting access to this benefit for certain families that receive other government assistance. The restriction would shut an estimated 300,000 people out of the program.

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Snapshot 05 October 02005

This anniversary of my brother's death
brings snow to the mountains, rain
to the valleys. Still half-sleeping,
I stand at the window and see golden
birds flying --

maple leaves. I am told it is possible
to write one's genome in one long
line of code, in a leather-bound book,
and a century from today some
scientist can lift

that book from the shelf and make
your twin. No bit of you need survive,
not one cell, not one eyelash, not one
drop of blood. Rhinoceros, platypus,
maple tree, you.

Blogging Poet

Billy The Blogging Poet says that I am probably as well known as any other blogging poet in the world.

This can't be right.

It's the cats, isn't it?

Excuse me, I have to go write some poems.

Sunday Squirrel Blogging

Wanted: TypePad Partner

TypePad is repeating last year's offer to renew for one year, and get a one-year gift subscription for free. Last year I shared this offer with another blogger, and am looking for someone interested in sharing it this year. We split the cost of one renewal ($67.28 each for TypePad Pro); one takes the renewal and the other the gift subscription.

Please email me if you are interested.