Having spent a few hours messing around on line with current affairs stuff, BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/, Sky News http://news.sky.com/, the Daily Beast CheatSheat http://www.thedailybeast.com (US media site), Press Gazette (B2B subscription magazine for the press) and television station NECN (New England Cable News http://www.necn.com/) - because my kids live in Massachusetts - I'm beginning to think I might be part way to addiction!
Then there's local news, thisisderbyshire, and sports news for Derby County FC - my team and I don't care what anyone says - up the Rams.
I also went through the routine of checking emails and clearing out the Inbox and the Junk, (a bit like cleaning out a budgie or the cat's litter tray - necessary). Then there's stuff like checking Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and LinkedIn; and Skype is open so I can communicate visually with people who might want to video speak! The tabs across the top of my screen tell the whole, sad story.
There's more.
I've been on-line checking the university library catalogue to see the availability of some books I need. I've put in a remote request and once they're available, I can go and collect. I've also ordered a couple of Christmas gifts from amazon.co.uk and a birthday card from moonpig.com.
The iPhone's on charge again along with the iPad, iPod and DSLite. And I've switched on the television for some entertainment while I have lunch.
So why have I dedicated such a large part of my day to such stuff?
I'm nosey. Or maybe a better word is curious. I have a need to know what's going on. I confess to not following celebrities, TV soaps, hip-hop, fashion or chocolate-loving-anorexics, but generally the world fascinates me.
I am interested in current affairs, politics, science, engineering, technology, archaeology, opera, ballet, Gregorian chant, polyphony, fine art, geology, and how the heck we expect to survive when we're losing even the most basic skills and understanding about how our planet works.
If you suffer like me from an over abundance of 'that's interesting', there are techniques for managing your time on line. Like giving up smoking/alcohol/chocolate and Call of Duty, it's not easy, so here are my top ten tips to try, ( sorry, 'work in progress').
On a more basic level I log on to web sites for really mundane matters.Tips on how to grow your own veg for example. How ridiculous. I've been growing veg for 40 years! My grandfather, several uncles, my dad, my brother, my sister - we've always grow our own! Maybe I need reassurance that what I'm doing is right.
Then there are recipes and cooking techniques. Why do I look at these sites? I can't remember not being able to cook. Even as a three-year-old I'd stand on the kitchen stool and wash the lettuce or the cabbage; I was allowed to 'make pastry' and beat eggs and stir jelly and blancmange, (look it up!) when mum was cooking, I was cooking.
And it doesn't end there. I've moved with the times; Marguerite Paton, Fanny Craddock, Delia, Jamie and my number one Hugh F-W.
Seems I'm just a net.junky. Apparently, once you've accepted the problem you can do something about it.
I live in hope.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Friday, 9 November 2012
PET FOOD PONDERING
This morning I found the mostly black-long-haired-domestic family cat, in the hall supplementing her more than adequate diet with freshly caught animal protein.
The smaller,short-haired-tortoiseshell family cat looked on, feigning indifference but beautifully balanced to pounce should a thieving opportunity arise.
I'm not concerned about other peoples' cat prejudices; nor am I concerned about the safety of local garden birds. They have other predators and the two family cats show no interest in their existence.
Only the loopy, black and white, Springer Spaniel concerns himself with their well-being. He has been known to catch the odd pigeon, bless him, I just wish he was more active on that front when my peas are planted or my red currants ripening.
But back to the Cat and the Mouse and pet food.
Why don't the pet food manufacturers sell 'organic mouse meat' cat food? Why are there no 'vole flavoured' cat biscuits or 'goldfish' mini-treats?
How many cats, even in their most feral state, eat turkey or chicken? Has your moggy ever caught a salmon or, even more unlikely, a tuna? And as for beef - really? Yet this is the stuff we're sold in small tins, large tins, packets and pouches; in gravy, in jelly, in succulent pieces? When will that rabbit turn up in a delicate, white wine sauce?
Cats! Why isn't the food 'Sumptuous Sparrow in Sauce', 'Great Tit Tasty Bit', 'Wren Surprise' or 'Yummy Mouse'?
I'm not advocating the capture, breeding or incorporation of domesticated or wild birds, fish and rodents into the production line, but I can't help wondering...
Dogs seem to eat anything and everything that men do, (for 'men' substitute 'humans'). After all, dogs are all descendants of wolves and their teeth are those of carnivores. They hunt, catch and eat meat. As our closest animal companions for hundreds of thousands of years, I can understand the meaty content of the food products on offer, but vegetarian dog food, cheese and doggy chocolate do puzzle me.
Worse than cheese or chocolate though is the vegetarian option. Has your pup/full grown mastiff, terrier, collie, foxhound ever grabbed a cabbage by the stalk and enjoyed a good munch? Does Rover relish radishes, Bonzo gorge on beetroot or Paddy go bananas every time you peel potatoes or pick peppers?
Whatever they're eating, most pets seem to thrive so I'll be paying silly amounts to keep the pussies placid and the loopy dog loopy, maintaining insurance payments, keeping vet's fees to a minimum and generally make sure their needs are met.
Fortunately, fresh mouse is not scarce in this area, so should beef, tuna, salmon and chicken become unavailable there is an option out there!
It does puzzle me though - why isn't there a mouse-flavoured cat food on the market - is someone missing a business opportunity here?
carolemarsh12@gmail.com
The smaller,short-haired-tortoiseshell family cat looked on, feigning indifference but beautifully balanced to pounce should a thieving opportunity arise.
I'm not concerned about other peoples' cat prejudices; nor am I concerned about the safety of local garden birds. They have other predators and the two family cats show no interest in their existence.
Only the loopy, black and white, Springer Spaniel concerns himself with their well-being. He has been known to catch the odd pigeon, bless him, I just wish he was more active on that front when my peas are planted or my red currants ripening.
But back to the Cat and the Mouse and pet food.
Why don't the pet food manufacturers sell 'organic mouse meat' cat food? Why are there no 'vole flavoured' cat biscuits or 'goldfish' mini-treats?
How many cats, even in their most feral state, eat turkey or chicken? Has your moggy ever caught a salmon or, even more unlikely, a tuna? And as for beef - really? Yet this is the stuff we're sold in small tins, large tins, packets and pouches; in gravy, in jelly, in succulent pieces? When will that rabbit turn up in a delicate, white wine sauce?
Cats! Why isn't the food 'Sumptuous Sparrow in Sauce', 'Great Tit Tasty Bit', 'Wren Surprise' or 'Yummy Mouse'?
I'm not advocating the capture, breeding or incorporation of domesticated or wild birds, fish and rodents into the production line, but I can't help wondering...
Dogs seem to eat anything and everything that men do, (for 'men' substitute 'humans'). After all, dogs are all descendants of wolves and their teeth are those of carnivores. They hunt, catch and eat meat. As our closest animal companions for hundreds of thousands of years, I can understand the meaty content of the food products on offer, but vegetarian dog food, cheese and doggy chocolate do puzzle me.
Worse than cheese or chocolate though is the vegetarian option. Has your pup/full grown mastiff, terrier, collie, foxhound ever grabbed a cabbage by the stalk and enjoyed a good munch? Does Rover relish radishes, Bonzo gorge on beetroot or Paddy go bananas every time you peel potatoes or pick peppers?
Whatever they're eating, most pets seem to thrive so I'll be paying silly amounts to keep the pussies placid and the loopy dog loopy, maintaining insurance payments, keeping vet's fees to a minimum and generally make sure their needs are met.
Fortunately, fresh mouse is not scarce in this area, so should beef, tuna, salmon and chicken become unavailable there is an option out there!
It does puzzle me though - why isn't there a mouse-flavoured cat food on the market - is someone missing a business opportunity here?
carolemarsh12@gmail.com
A Challenging Week Worldwide
Sandy devastated parts of the US east coast. Homes were demolished, washed away, flooded. Transport was disrupted as water poured into subways, power lines were cut and lives were lost.
The US Presidential elections ran concurrently as the storm devastated state after state.
The US wasn't alone in it's grief. Haiti and parts of the West Indies are still trying to come to terms with Sandy's destructive malice.
In other parts of the world, fighting, drought, flooding - all take their toll. Europe played it's own game of monetary mischief.
Racism, child abuse, people trafficking, shooting, stabbing, arson, expenses scandals, fraud and banking anomalies - these are our daily bread. Throw in a few car bombs and suicide bombers and we have a recipe for 'life as it is'.
However,on the bright side, bonfire night went quite well and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are having a lovely time in the southern hemisphere.
We heard how a cockatoo used a twig as a tool and that a very, very brave Pakistani girl has survived a brutal shooting by a bigoted group of people trapped in the dark age.
And the public finally found out about the crisis facing our woodlands with the 'ash dieback' disease threatening 80 million trees - bad news. The good news? Something is going to be done about it.
The disease is something that those of us who love trees, (though not by hugging), have known about for a long time.
If you have ash trees locally, in your garden, local park or along the roadside, (and most of us have), check out the Woodland Trust's website to find out more.
woodlandtrust.org.uk/treedisease
The US Presidential elections ran concurrently as the storm devastated state after state.
The US wasn't alone in it's grief. Haiti and parts of the West Indies are still trying to come to terms with Sandy's destructive malice.
In other parts of the world, fighting, drought, flooding - all take their toll. Europe played it's own game of monetary mischief.
Racism, child abuse, people trafficking, shooting, stabbing, arson, expenses scandals, fraud and banking anomalies - these are our daily bread. Throw in a few car bombs and suicide bombers and we have a recipe for 'life as it is'.
However,on the bright side, bonfire night went quite well and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are having a lovely time in the southern hemisphere.
We heard how a cockatoo used a twig as a tool and that a very, very brave Pakistani girl has survived a brutal shooting by a bigoted group of people trapped in the dark age.
And the public finally found out about the crisis facing our woodlands with the 'ash dieback' disease threatening 80 million trees - bad news. The good news? Something is going to be done about it.
The disease is something that those of us who love trees, (though not by hugging), have known about for a long time.
If you have ash trees locally, in your garden, local park or along the roadside, (and most of us have), check out the Woodland Trust's website to find out more.
woodlandtrust.org.uk/treedisease
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