tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36421672011-07-28T17:16:03.046-07:00This being a journal of my random thoughts and musings.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comBlogger1611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-13939253520051723852010-03-22T13:20:00.001-07:002010-03-22T13:24:02.735-07:00

This blog is now located at http://imbriumvirtualjournal.blogspot.com/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here. For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to http://imbriumvirtualjournal.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-45065864454472224452010-01-09T19:05:00.000-08:002010-01-09T19:43:05.262-08:00

I just bought a book I’d been wanting for a while. It’s about the West Coast during the Civil War – how often do you hear _anything_ about that?! More specifically, the book focuses on the Russian fleet sent to San Francisco Bay during the Civil War and stayed there for a year, implicitly to support the Union. The Russian fleet was incredibly popular in San Francisco, and parades, dinners, etc.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-25297236451246732522009-09-08T23:35:00.000-07:002009-10-25T16:21:26.918-07:00

Okay, I finally got around to getting my blog up and running again...It's been over a year since I've posted any of my thoughts and musings, or even a nice, long rant. I've been putting more things on Facebook, but still not quite the same. So, here is a random musing on a Russian movie, _The Captivating Star of Happiness_, about the Decembrist revolt of 1825-1826.I love that the Russians are

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-2565249343294255372008-03-26T12:44:00.000-07:002009-10-25T16:24:05.468-07:00

Tipping points reach a tipping point.I was just reading an article about the current financial woes. The article mentioned that things have reached a tipping point, and it occurred to me that the phrase "tipping point" has reached a tipping point. It's become a buzzword for any sort of major change. I see it in articles all the time, but didn't really think about it until a few weeks back when

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-91526593027665153052007-09-21T01:32:00.000-07:002007-09-21T01:39:19.457-07:00

A new odd insect today. The name that springs to mind is leaf bug, but I'm sure that's entirely descriptive. Any idea what it is? I still get stick insects - the little cat went crazy over one last night as the insect ambled its way along the patio screen door - but this type of bug is new. I find its red fringe especially stylish. It was standing in the kitchen in a bit of water (perhaps the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1578357072908823152007-07-19T17:23:00.000-07:002007-07-19T17:40:23.093-07:00

My grunion greeter appreciation certificate. I'm quite taken with it. Check out the fine print.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-29247547521605186132007-04-05T11:04:00.000-07:002007-04-05T11:25:21.718-07:00

Went grunion greeting last night. I posted several pictures on a separate webpage - http://www.twilight-storm.com/Grunion.html - but here is one of my favorites:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-30306320084961228122007-03-14T22:13:00.000-07:002007-03-14T22:15:40.590-07:00

Flower-eating cat.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-17087539194635369862007-02-12T15:58:00.000-08:002009-10-25T16:40:20.005-07:00

Global warming has been receiving an incredible amount of press coverage here the last year. That's encouraging, I suppose. It gets much more in some countries like the Netherlands that are already directly feeling the negative impacts... Like most things in business and in politics, problems tend to get ignored until they become an immediate crisis. Which always struck me as ironic given how

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1169284545305393482007-01-20T01:13:00.000-08:002009-10-25T16:46:47.006-07:00

Saw a neat lecture on Afghan archaeology last night, had all sorts of neat tidbits and some pics. Turns out that there are ruins of several Buddhist monasteries in Bamiyan, right near where those big Buddhas used to be. The lecturer, Dr. Tarzai (three Ph.D.s from the University of Strasbourg; he gave his lecture in French, and his adult daughter translated), has been working in the area for

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1168127336178835092007-01-06T15:43:00.000-08:002007-01-06T15:51:34.243-08:00

Finally managed to get a shot of the highlight of the baby cat's day, a hummingbird. Mally comes running when she hears the whirr of hummingbird wings. Occasionally, I'll her crouched in front of the patio door, waiting hopefully for a hummingbird to come. Sometimes I see her there at midnight, eagerly awaiting the next flyby (one never knows, after all).

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1166770274881682642006-12-21T22:48:00.000-08:002006-12-21T22:51:14.896-08:00

The baby cat on her Christmas present:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1163929429557657152006-11-19T01:42:00.000-08:002006-11-19T01:45:35.076-08:00

Just went to try to pick up a Nintendo Wii for a little cousin. Her mom is kicking herself for not pre-ordering from Amazon, but who knew to expect this artificially-induced Wii insanity, inanity. I drove by several local retail stores, and you can imagine what the scene was like: gamer upon gamer in camp chairs and tents. Gamers were camped outside Target and playing baseball in the parking

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1163069849172500732006-11-09T02:51:00.000-08:002006-11-09T02:57:29.183-08:00

Some days, it seems that my inbox fills itself...

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1162523843884471902006-11-02T19:02:00.000-08:002006-11-09T02:57:45.966-08:00

Have been doing some hiking and walking, quite often with Gosia, we went to law school together. Today, we went to Mission trails, and I took a photo of the Mission Dam:The Mission dam is California historical landmark #52, see http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21478 for details.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1162452862344857122006-11-01T23:20:00.000-08:002006-11-01T23:34:22.356-08:00

Found some Halloween merchandise on sale today. Ended up getting a foam pumpkin, so that I could finally use a pumpkin carving design I found last year. I'm pleased with the result, although it needs some smoothing work on the edges (the foam crumbles a bit).

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1158580296098537322006-09-18T04:46:00.000-07:002006-09-18T04:51:36.156-07:00

A few weeks back, I received a postcard from a very old and dear friend. We knew each other when I lived in Mastershausen, Germany. He sent me a postcard celebrating the town's 950th Anniversary. I used to live very close to the church shown on the right. What memories it brings back!

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1155851621042550182006-08-17T14:33:00.000-07:002006-08-17T15:35:57.330-07:00

Visited the Stephen Birch Aquarium. Ended up becoming a member. Here are some pics.Leafy SeadragonWeedy SeadragonMisc Fish

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1150281814343212722006-06-14T03:40:00.000-07:002006-06-14T03:43:34.366-07:00

Inspired by an online contest to "interpret" the name of an epiphyllum hybrid, I used Djali as a model...his entry is going to represent either "Buccaneer," "Pirate" or "Ostrich Feather."

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1149935512644629612006-06-10T03:30:00.000-07:002006-06-10T03:31:52.653-07:00

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1148120045233310132006-05-20T02:56:00.000-07:002006-05-20T03:14:05.603-07:00

Just saw the Da Vinci Code. Cheesy, but enjoyable on a very basic level. This is a movie that will make you feel really smart, as the movie presupposes the audience has the knowledge of a bunch of inbred three year olds raised by gazelles. The characters’ amazement when these puzzles are figured out is pretty entertaining. It seems I’m smarter than a cryptologist, a British scholar, a Harvard

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1147938206910063592006-05-18T00:41:00.000-07:002006-05-18T00:57:42.330-07:00

What do you mean, it's not a punch card ballot?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1147402180069762252006-05-11T19:48:00.000-07:002006-05-11T19:49:40.080-07:00

Ladybug baby.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1147401113662462362006-05-11T19:28:00.000-07:002006-05-11T19:31:53.673-07:00

One of my flowers bloomed yesterday, an epiphyllum hybrid named Fruehling's Gold.The bud right before it opened.And the flower. Very fragrant, the scent filled my entire balcony.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1147251687373495472006-05-10T01:54:00.000-07:002006-05-10T02:25:15.016-07:00

Went to the Wild Animal Park to look at the epiphyllums, which are now starting to bloom. Here are a few of my favorite shots: I like the flower, and I like how the sparse stamens emphasize the shape of the flower. I like the play of light through the white petals. Interesting color combination. Beautiful color. Don't the stamens look like a fountain, or fireworks?

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1145541600525231202006-04-20T06:51:00.000-07:002006-04-20T07:30:07.236-07:00

Finally made it to the Wild Animal Park for this year's Butterflies and Orchids exhibit.Butterflies...And some paphs...And the epiphyllums are just starting to come into bloom...

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1145284228133508122006-04-17T07:27:00.000-07:002006-04-17T07:30:28.143-07:00

I’d say when a principal can’t tell the difference between a nuclear attack and a student walkout, the school district is a dead loss: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/17/immigration.classroom.ap/index.html

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1144476862511174572006-04-07T23:13:00.000-07:002006-04-07T23:14:22.523-07:00

Fighting the printer demon:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1144475624663192432006-04-07T22:50:00.000-07:002006-04-07T22:53:44.683-07:00

Gypsy and the baby....Gypsy isn't horribly enamored of the baby, but will tolerate her when she's not being active.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1139489756539868872006-02-09T04:44:00.000-08:002006-04-17T07:40:36.153-07:00

Freedom pastries!A friend of mine mentioned an amusing tidbit regarding the furor over the Danish cartoons. It seems they have the Danish (the pastry kind) in Iran. I found that rather surprising, nasty, gooey things that they are (the pastries, that is, not the Iranians or Danes). That they’re also called Danishes in Iran amused me even more (perhaps the concept was imported from the US during

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1135753607165791092005-12-27T21:56:00.000-08:002005-12-27T23:06:47.173-08:00

And my Christmas tree, minus cats...

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1135748697442797572005-12-27T21:41:00.000-08:002005-12-27T21:54:15.576-08:00

And here is Maladicta in my Christmas tree - she's watching an ornament fall to the ground.Must get down...

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1135669069253075592005-12-26T23:34:00.000-08:002005-12-26T23:37:49.263-08:00

Maladicta playing in my parents' Christmas Tree.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1134878816520103782005-12-17T20:04:00.000-08:002005-12-17T20:06:56.530-08:00

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1133311489576426392005-11-29T16:43:00.000-08:002005-11-29T16:44:49.586-08:00

I've tenatively decided on a name for the cat that has multiple meanings and references, the best kind of nameMaladicta. It is the name of a female vampire in the Discworld series - very cool, very sharp-witted character - who is in the the book on tape, Monstrous Regiment, that we listened to on the way home after I found her. It comes from the Middle English word "maladicte," meaning to curse

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1133256289737083422005-11-29T01:01:00.000-08:002005-11-29T01:24:49.800-08:00

Baby cat has not yet mastered the concept of object permanence. When her ringy ball gets stuck, she walks away and starts to search all other places the ringy ball has previously been stuck. It seems that, once stuck, the essential ringy-ballness exists in potentia in every possible sticking place. It doesn't matter where the ringy ball was last seen, it could be in ANY sticking place at any

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1133189535943389712005-11-28T06:33:00.000-08:002005-11-28T06:52:16.000-08:00

What's this?Camera strap, yum...Must get ... lens cover!

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1133129881345488522005-11-27T14:15:00.000-08:002005-11-27T14:18:01.356-08:00

Baby cat's first photo. No name yet. She's about 8 weeks old.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1132565499092028122005-11-21T01:31:00.000-08:002005-11-21T01:31:39.103-08:00

I passed the Bar.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1132292897545607352005-11-17T21:45:00.000-08:002005-11-17T21:48:17.556-08:00

I met Trent Lott at the Parliamentary Assembly, he was with the Senate delegation - all republicans, btw - and was kind enough to pose for a photo with me:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1131329831790348072005-11-06T17:31:00.000-08:002005-11-17T00:36:22.483-08:00

ENGLANDNovember 5, 2005:Buckingham PalaceChanging of the GuardNelson's Column, Trafalger SquareNational GalleryBig Ben and the Houses of ParliamentBig Ben, with the London Eye in the backgroundWestminster CathedralBacklit stained glass windows at Westminster CathedralTower of LondonHenry VIII's armor in the Tower museum. Nice codpiece, no?Tower BridgeNovember 6Salisbury

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1125826770915353222005-09-04T02:36:00.000-07:002005-09-04T02:39:30.970-07:00

Sharing. Bunny and pig seem to get along by dint of the fact that they're totally uninterested in one another. They'll always have broccoli, though.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1125637310118081552005-09-01T21:59:00.000-07:002005-09-01T22:01:50.123-07:00

Gypsy looking contemplative in the garden. Note the blooming mini-rose.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1124695585883728982005-08-22T00:20:00.000-07:002005-08-22T00:26:25.886-07:00

Was reading the news, saw that Olivian Newton John's love interest has gone missing...mind you, he was missing for 11 days before any one reported him missing, which I find suspicious in itself...Anyway, the most shocking thing in the article was that she still tours...At first, I could think only of Nancy Sinatra songs...well, a Nancy Sinatra song...but clearly wrong. I realized the only song I

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1123928424170820312005-08-13T03:18:00.000-07:002005-08-13T03:21:42.293-07:00

Cousin Michal just got back from Canada and brought me some presents, including a darling little Russian doll ornament a very pretty pendant. The pendant is of Raven, a trickster spirit. I adore trickster spirits.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1123926249646642982005-08-13T02:37:00.000-07:002005-08-13T03:17:58.530-07:00

Finally have a chance to update this blog. This is a cream and sugar set that Bernard got me for graduation. It's the Casper Cream and Sugar set by SWAK. I'm a sucker for cats, and the color combination on this set is very pleasing. Very nice.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1119828176117323042005-06-26T16:20:00.000-07:002005-06-26T18:32:25.683-07:00

Big cat.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1118097681359351692005-06-06T15:11:00.000-07:002005-06-06T15:41:21.363-07:00

Bernard sent a new quiz. Surprise, I'm a postmodernist! Does that mean I get to be really cool, act disaffected and smugly superior and wear lots of black...er, nevermind. "Postmodernism is the belief in complete open interpretation. You see the universe as a collection of information with varying ways of putting it together. There is no absolute truth for you; even the most hardened facts

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1118043821561992312005-06-05T22:44:00.000-07:002005-06-06T00:43:41.610-07:00

Couple of funny things today.First, Maria gave me a B&N gift certificate for graduation. I've been browsing for books I want and like. I checked my Amazon list of recommended books. Here is a typical excerpt of books recommended to me and, yes, they pretty show up in this sort of order:Natasha's Dance : A Cultural History of RussiaHow to Start a Solo Law PracticeLinear B and Related Scripts (

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1116634652366874122005-05-20T17:15:00.000-07:002005-05-20T17:17:46.646-07:00

I found an...interesting...tidbit in _The Logic of Japanese Politics_ by Curtis:The most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl occurred in Tokaimura in 1999. The accident happened while workers were transferring enriched uranium in stainless steel buckets, mixing the uranium by hand and then pouring it into a holding tank.And you never realized that the Simpsons was a documentary on nuclear

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1116077007300113032005-05-14T06:19:00.000-07:002005-05-14T06:26:05.633-07:00

This is from an e-mail to a friend. It is one of those things you write not for the recipient, but for yourself, but I'm posting it here for those of you who may find my views on this interesting (surely there is at least one of you out there)._________Thinking over our conversation this morning, I felt I should clarify a couple of points. First, as to whether people are capable of change, I

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1116076764577570482005-05-14T06:15:00.000-07:002005-05-14T06:29:39.296-07:00

Read this the other day. Although the author seems perfectly nice, it rubbed me the wrong way....so I had to e-mail him a commentary on the flaws in both his understanding of the Star Wars universe as well as the problems in his free-market libertarian world view. I hate it when people base their arguments on a flawed analysis and incorrect data and end by concluding that their arguments are

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1115899819724828272005-05-12T04:06:00.000-07:002005-05-12T05:10:19.773-07:00

Geoff sent me a kitchen witch, which I absolutely adore:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1115200371546317642005-05-03T23:20:00.000-07:002005-05-04T02:52:51.630-07:00

Working thought: Extraneous words are vital to set mood precisely because they're extraneous.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1114419414688239222005-04-25T01:53:00.000-07:002005-04-25T01:56:54.686-07:00

A new flower blooming this weekend, an unknown epiphylium. It came from a cutting from Michal's mother a few years ago. A pretty pale pink with a deep floral scent.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1114348785159801202005-04-24T06:18:00.000-07:002005-04-24T06:19:45.160-07:00

The campaign to ban dihydrogen monoxide…laugh. http://www.dhmo.org/ I think my favorite quote is “Dihydrogen Monoxide has been found in our rivers, lakes, oceans and streams…even in Antarctic ice.” *gasp* I guess some politicians actually got a bit worked up about it. From snopes.com: In March 2004 the California municipality of Aliso Viejo (a suburb in Orange County) came within a cat's

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1113654938599602002005-04-16T05:31:00.000-07:002006-04-11T19:57:14.596-07:00

Happy day, Just got notice that my order of ostrich feathers are slowly wending their way across the nation to my door via FedEx. They're for a hat...a bright, gaudy hat. ostrich.com carries a lot of ostrich-related things, including a wide assortment of colors and feathers. I bought four feathers at the Ren Faire last weekend, but I wanted more. Will post pictures when they arrive.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1112511062365947292005-04-02T22:39:00.000-08:002005-04-02T22:51:02.366-08:00

More stick insects today. One on the ceiling when I got home tonight. Not sure if s/he got there on his/her own power, or if he was brought in by one of the cats and escaped. I assume it came under its own power, as it seemed unharmed; the last stick insects the cats caught didn't fare so well. Caught it and put it back on the Cymbidium and noticed two teeny baby sticks nearby. Very cute.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1111994307540214882005-03-27T22:56:00.000-08:002005-03-27T23:18:27.543-08:00

Went to the Getty today, here is a picture from the gardens:And from afar:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1111128613451338912005-03-17T01:58:00.000-08:002005-03-17T22:50:13.453-08:00

Poor bunny ripped one of his toenails off the other day and it has become infected. He's fairly good about taking the oral antibiotic, although he detests the taste and pulls his head into his neck turtle-style to avoid the dose.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1110265981373126992005-03-07T23:11:00.000-08:002005-03-07T23:26:24.920-08:00

Cousin had a fabulous idea to make Amanita mushrooms out of Sculpy. I realize I've mixed mythologies: Celtic mushroom rings and German mushrooms, but to good effect. Here is the result:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1110263699218628432005-03-07T22:33:00.000-08:002005-03-07T22:34:59.220-08:00

In the mail on Saturday:"The Committee of Bar Examiners is pleased to advise you that you have been found to posess the good moral character required for certification to practice law in California." Woo hoo, I'm a good person, and the State Bar said so.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1109326278531979692005-02-25T02:07:00.000-08:002005-02-25T02:11:18.533-08:00

Okay, took an updated picture of the fairy garden, here goes. Filling in nicely, although I've left a few bare patches for additional plants.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1107667954528615942005-02-05T21:30:00.000-08:002005-02-07T03:14:31.600-08:00

Found a stick insect on my Cymbidium orchid (Sussex Court 'Not Peace') tonight. And a wider angle view of the mini garden.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1107665881935288272005-02-05T20:56:00.000-08:002005-02-07T03:15:24.136-08:00

A close up of my mini-garden.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1103180828703695102004-12-15T23:04:00.000-08:002004-12-15T23:07:08.703-08:00

Yukos, the troubled Russian oil giant, has filed for bankruptcy protection in US courts. Very clever move on their part, I'd say, if just because it creates confusion and stir among potential buyers (i.e. Gazprom). International law is fun like that, very few real rules (i.e. genocide, slavery and piracy are BAD, that's as firm as a rule as you get in international law), just some norms that

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1102828306730056772004-12-11T21:06:00.000-08:002004-12-11T21:12:53.250-08:00

Took my first final of my last semester of law school. Two to go, and a paper for one of my graduate classes, then I'm officially done with law school. Yay! Trip to Tijuana yesterday with my NAFTA politics class to see the Mattel maquiladora. Was interesting. The factory was interesting, although not very depressing, no more so than any regular semi-automated factory; turns out Mattel actually

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1102327817378142122004-12-06T02:07:00.000-08:002005-01-22T20:07:51.976-08:00

For those of you curious as to what I've been doing the last two years, here are some of my observations on law school to a friend considering it: The common law tends to be very "detail oriented" and spends a lot of time focusing on facts (as opposed to civil law systems, i.e. every country in the world except the English speaking ones, which are more conceptual in spirit). I'm conceptual, too

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1102232617029755832004-12-04T23:38:00.000-08:002004-12-04T23:43:37.030-08:00

Hey I’ve come up with an idea. I’m going to rate dictators, past and present on their fetishes and hobbies when they weren’t busy repressing their people. E.g. Kim Jong Il gets a negative million points for cool for his Daffy Duck collection. Gold toilet seats get you negative points for taste. Catherine the Great gets major points for the Hermitage, as does Louis XIV for Versailles; at least

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1102062643528669742004-12-03T01:29:00.000-08:002004-12-03T01:24:58.173-08:00

Okay, this is the best photo of the lot: And one of my tree by itself:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1102059690652367802004-12-02T23:39:00.000-08:002004-12-02T23:41:30.653-08:00

A cute Christmas photo of bunny (still trying to get a good one with the cats):

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1098435555000632052004-10-22T01:56:00.000-07:002004-10-22T02:11:27.930-07:00

Jon Stewart of the Daily Show has written a book. Watch the video blurb if you get a chance (in which Stewart says he likes to buy books off Amazon because he’s afraid of, oh, people, the outside world…germs). http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446532681/ref=bxgy_cc_text_a/104-6537346-1827952 It’s Amazon’s #1 book right now. It’s funny, because there are several reviews of the book on Amazon

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1098404050070748352004-10-21T17:09:00.000-07:002004-10-21T17:14:10.070-07:00

Stupid people tricks. Spoke with my ex-boyfriend today; he called and we had a pleasant enough chat, although it is very weird to talk to him these days. Anyway, he had a story about his mother. She is, quite literally, one of the most nastily bitter and stupidest people I've ever met (I doubt the two factors are unrelated). She recently got a new Lexus and accidentally put diesel fuel in the

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1098167686722981932004-10-18T23:33:00.000-07:002004-10-18T23:34:46.723-07:00

Interesting Crossfire episode with Jon Stewart, of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." I've pasted some of the most insightful gems here, a full transcript is available at the following address: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html. STEWART: You know, the interesting thing I have is, you have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably. And: CARLSON:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1098091967513491112004-10-18T02:25:00.000-07:002004-10-18T02:53:55.566-07:00

Human Folly. I’ve decided to start a (very small) museum dedicated to human folly. I'll post pictures on my website if I get around to it. I’ve already two exhibits in the acquisition stage: a pets.com sock puppet ($5 on eBay) and a stock certificate from my old employer (cash value: 18 cents). As my acquisitions budget is close to nill, I expect my museum to grow slowly, but I've just bid on

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1098090309595394372004-10-18T02:00:00.000-07:002004-10-18T02:05:09.596-07:00

Animals are funny. I just bought bunny a used rainbow slinky from eBay for $1.40 total; the local House Rabbit Society website recommends them as good bunny toys, hope he likes it. A good soaking in soap should remove any nasty kid germs the slinky picked up during its previous incarnation. New bird toys today, too, the source of great puzzlement and perhaps even anger to the two birds. You

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1097037281352341802004-10-05T21:33:00.000-07:002004-10-05T21:34:41.353-07:00

At pet store today, found a cute, silly collar for Gypsy. Here she is:

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-108833173148702122004-06-27T03:21:00.000-07:002004-06-27T03:22:11.486-07:00

Maria, Audrey and I went to see Fahrenheit 9/11. Moore’s biggest flaw as a director is his somewhat simplistic and sledgehammer approach to driving home his point, but I found it very effective. Moore’s two earlier documentaries were much more simplistic; this one shows a more mature and sober Moore. Good selection of footage. He managed to make both George Bushes and their cronies look both

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1085625287973275322004-05-26T19:33:00.000-07:002004-05-26T19:34:47.973-07:00

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1083978288859521042004-05-07T18:04:00.000-07:002004-05-07T18:09:10.466-07:00

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/05/07/soldier.charged/index.html. Female private charged with abuse of prisoners. What a weak-minded little fool she is. Just because her lover told her to torture prisoners, she did it with a smile on her face. Ick! Of course, as her sister pointed out, she?s only human. Yes, she is....a bad human. Obviously pathetic weakness runs in her family....I don?t

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1081376600515075682004-04-07T15:23:00.000-07:002004-04-07T15:27:02.076-07:00

Had an idea today. You see, I get a lot of junk mail. I think junk mail that goes to an actual person, e.g. the money laundering scams, should be sent to each other. So when I get one from a guy in, say, Togo or Zambia, I'll forward it to that unhappy widow in Nigeria who lost her husband due to "the situation" in her country, or to the poor (well, "rich") unfortunate in Kuwait with cancer,

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1077958773710751212004-02-28T00:59:00.000-08:002004-02-28T01:14:11.936-08:00

New laptop on the way! Very spiffy, am pleased with it, as has been 4+ years since I've bought a new computer. Have upgraded the existing ones, but not quite the same. Now a brief musing on the miracles of electrical tape. I fixed my old laptop's power supply to get me through the next week until the new one arrives. Jury rigged, but it works! Amazing how dependent one is on electricity

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1075596379950494582004-01-31T16:46:00.000-08:002004-02-28T01:14:36.060-08:00

Found a wonderful, fabulous item today. Italian inlaid wood pedestal chess table. It matches my Italian inlaid wood music box tables. 40% off, too! Here are two pictures, top and side view. Man, I really need to vacuum, cat fur builds up after a week out of town!

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1075527116954210052004-01-30T21:31:00.000-08:002004-01-31T00:28:48.293-08:00

Well, this past week has been positively exhausting. My grandfather and my uncle died within twelve hours of each other, my grandfather of pneumonia and my uncle from complications after heart surgery. I flew to Arkansas for my grandfather's funeral and drove to LA for my uncle's. I just got back a few hours ago. I was so tired I fell asleep on the couch for an hour because I literally could

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1073912702720116422004-01-12T05:05:00.000-08:002004-01-12T05:06:50.326-08:00

Welp, just finished my "updates" for my Public Interest Law class. Then I got to cleaning out some old e-mail when I noticed my Inbox is 225 megs and dates back to 2000. No wonder it gets corrupted on occasion... Sort of creepy, found e-mail from two deceased relatives lurking about in there. Classes start tomorrow.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1073129366687592172004-01-03T03:29:00.000-08:002004-01-03T03:31:44.076-08:00

http://tlc.discovery.com/news/afp/20031229/magazine.html?ct=3498.72619452984 When books attack...Be careful, it could happen to you!

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1072927758178903542003-12-31T19:29:00.000-08:002003-12-31T19:30:50.390-08:00

http://tlc.discovery.com/news/afp/20031215/bullet.html?ct=6788.92970857309 Doctor killed while testing his anti-bullet charm. Surprise, suprise, it didn't work.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1072505461497503602003-12-26T22:11:00.000-08:002003-12-26T22:12:27.560-08:00

My new Xmas ornaments - after Christmas sales rule! Note the Sharpie for size comparison.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1072002979871711072003-12-21T02:36:00.000-08:002003-12-21T03:03:41.623-08:00

Took a few cute photos today of my cats "kissing" under the Christmas tree.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1072002877268994582003-12-21T02:34:00.000-08:002003-12-21T02:38:19.826-08:00

Am back from finals! Seemed to go well, etc. Although I have a cold and have been otherwise mostly nonproductive over the last two weeks, I did feel adequately prepared. Now I need to do laundry, clean, etc. During the last week of classes a classmate and friend noted that I was dressed nicely (at least, more nicely than usual, although she didn't say that), and was I going out after class.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1071206549307114162003-12-11T21:22:00.000-08:002003-12-21T03:03:06.810-08:00

Put up my Christmas tree. A large number of soft toy ornaments and sturdy metal and wood ones - cat-proof, you know. A few glass balls - very small, and thus resistant to breakage despite their delicate nature (none lost yet, despite several spills). Colorful and animal-themed. The tree has the requisite mushrooms - mom claims it is a German tradition that having a mushroom on your tree

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1069568883765850512003-11-22T22:28:00.000-08:002003-11-23T12:45:22.950-08:00

A bit of Yahoo fun tonight. Got hit on by some "attorney" (yeah, right) who happened to have hit on me about a year back. He used the _same_ trite lines he used a year back (charming the first time = pathetic the second time. get some new material, already.) I also recalled how easily he got enraged when he was questioned or challenged in any way (and he's hitting on law students WHY?). So,

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1069370064375747772003-11-20T15:14:00.000-08:002003-11-20T15:15:01.560-08:00

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=405949&section=news Yes, Michael Jackson, go ahead and antagonize the DA.... Cutest quote: "Indeed, a profile of Sneddon on the official Web site of the National District Attorneys Association mentions that 'he's the only DA in the nation to have an angry song written about him by pop megastar Michael Jackson.'"

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068944922730128552003-11-15T17:08:00.000-08:002003-11-15T17:10:47.170-08:00

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap11-15-163124.asp?t=apnew&vts=111520031650 "Milwaukee postal workers find live alligator chewing through shipping carton." What intrigues me most is the explanation that "alligators longer than 20 inches are not allowed to be sent through the mail." So seems you can still buy a 20 inch alligator off ebay and have it shipped via regular mail.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068785310305655782003-11-13T20:48:00.000-08:002003-11-13T20:48:58.170-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/11/13/lawyer.kidnap.ap/index.html You knew working at law firms was a tough job, but did you think it'd be this tough? "An attorney accused of burying an associate alive under the floor of his Manhattan apartment..."

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068767951844208592003-11-13T15:59:00.000-08:002003-11-13T15:59:39.326-08:00

Thought of the day: Luxembourg: A buffer zone in which to park your tanks.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068615948710172812003-11-11T21:45:00.000-08:002003-11-13T16:00:20.420-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/11/06/putin.ap/index.html While doubtless Khodorkovsky didn't pay his taxes, he's hardly an exception. No one pays taxes in Russia. Selective enforcement for political ends. The Russian government doesn't seem to have adapted to operating with the light of international scrutiny shining in. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068446553552889742003-11-09T22:42:00.000-08:002003-11-13T16:00:52.826-08:00

http://www.msn.match.com/msn/article.aspx?articleid=89&TrackingID=516311&BannerID=544658 Horrid, historically inaccurate article. No idea where he got his information about Elizabeth I of England , but he's obviously gotten her confused with Catherine II "The Great" of Russia. While some fringey group claims Elizabeth had scads of lovers, that is a highly controversial minority opinion.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068431614022657732003-11-09T18:33:00.000-08:002003-11-15T17:10:16.716-08:00

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusintl/ap11-09-174712.asp?reg=mideast&vts=11920031753 Yick. Bad baby formula. Can’t you see some execs saying, whoops, forgot the Thiamin, gee, do babies really need that? Nah…. http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusintl/reuters11-09-180601.asp?reg=europe&vts=11920031810 The Romanian film industry. Is good that they’ve been able to expand to sorts of movies other

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642167.post-1068343841241495312003-11-08T18:10:00.000-08:002003-11-08T18:11:03.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/11/08/peru.inca.reut/index.html A lost city found near a lost city. Why is anyone surprised? Lost things cluster together, it's the law.

Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05748366066727955005noreply@blogger.com