dynamic elf

I just got an email from dilletante entitled "giant squid eye". It contained a link to a giant squid eye in a jar! and read:

One of Natalie's cheeses recently claimed that the giant squid is the creature with the largest eyes on the planet. She'd been voting for "I don't remember their names, they live in trees... um..." (I suggested lemurs. "Right! Lemurs!"). We had a little conversation about that. I said giant squids had bigger eyes because they were just much bigger animals. She said she thought whales were the biggest animals; I said they were the biggest *mammals*. At least, blue whales. She said killer whales were the most *famous* whales. :)

I also said I thought giant squid ate whales. I'm not sure that's true, though. Anyway, you should show her this eyeball! :)

♥

Random signal-boosting: If you don't read simplykimberly's journal, she is doing a sort of amazing thing to help out a crazy vet tech she knows. From her first post on the subject:

Amanda, our kitten pusher, rescues animals of all sort who would never have a chance at life otherwise. She gets them tons of medical care which, even with her discount at the vet's, has racked up a bill at her work. In fact, she is usually working "for free" because her paycheck goes to her bill. I know it's at least $800-$1000 right now. She's a full time student as well as vet tech, so that bill gets paid off very slowly - especially because she keeps rescuing critters in dire need.

It turns out her bill from helping sick animals get well and find homes was over $2k (though friends of simplykimberly have put a huge dent in it). I didn't see this until just now, but I put what would have been Rory's cat food money toward Amanda's work. If you're similarly inclined, you can go see photos and paypal a donation here. No obligation implied or desired, I just figured a few people I know might be happy for the chance to chip in.

Have you ever seen the Penny Arcade about Claw Shrimp? Well, they're real. Watch the video on the second post about the "pistol shrimp". That shark isn't bad, either, but jesus, pistol shrimp.

I was a grouchopotamus last week. ( cut for grouchopotamus: not for the faint of heart ) I had yet another in a series of seemingly unending doctor's appointments, I hadn't lifted weights in over a week, and even though the world was basically okay I couldn't shake the feeling of ARGH GRAR AWFUL WRONGNESS *GRUMP*. But then, in the past few days, I have:

* helped people move
* seen folks I rarely see
* had a party with spike
* found my wallet which had been missing for a month (please, please do not ask)
* changed my diet in ways that make me happier
* played Rock Band with fennel -- specifically, ALL OF DOOLITTLE OMG AAAAAA *flapflap*
* gotten happily soaked in a rainstorm under rainbow umbrellas
* taken photos
* gotten sweet hugs, kisses, and snuggles
* gotten SLEEP
* played with LED toys
* eaten stinky, stinky French cheese
* biked to work (after D graciously pumped up my tires for me!)

So yeah, I'm happy, and I have good people. Thank you for bearing with me until I returned to my regularly scheduled mollypotamus self.

OTTER PUP!

Seriously shitty week in many ways. ( Here's a pile of otters and Natalie drawing on the bathtub wall. )

(Not, sadly, a pile of otters-and-Natalie drawing on the bathtub wall.)

Cheer me up! Give me something to think about. :)

zogathon is moving to the west coast, soon, and has the following to say about her cat, Scooby:

Despite significant effort on our part, our cat Scooby continues to be extremely aggressive with Jacob. Progressing to biting was the last straw, and we've made the difficult decision to try and find at least Scooby** a new home.

Scooby is a large white neutered male domestic shorthair, 10 years old. He's in good health and is a wonderful, wonderful companion. He seems to enjoy other cats, but needs to be in an adult-only home. (Or at least in a home with only older children.) He comes with all cat accoutrements.

**Lanfear, our other cat, has been with Scoob almost since birth. Her "specs" are the same as Scoob's except she's a girl. She's a pudgy, loudly-purring cuddlemuffin. I think it would probably be better for the cats if they stayed together, so if someone could welcome both into their home we'd like that. Scoob is the only one who is incompatible with Jacob, though.

I get nauseous at the thought of bringing Scoob to even a no-kill shelter, so I ask you, the livejournal community: Do you have room in your home and your life for this/these wonderful animal(s)? Do you know anyone who does?

Thanks.

I can personally attest to Scooby's awesomeness. Please, if you know anyone who could take in another cat and who doesn't have an infant, let me know (or let her know directly).

I am watching an eaglet eat bird flesh LIVE on this eagle cam!

Fainting goats. Startle them, and they stiffen up and fall over in a "faint". There's even video!

Just because, an alarmingly cute kitten photo.