I noticed recently when looking over my stats that someone had searched for "roman cat names." Usually they are looking for Roman DOG names - must be a bunch of Rottweilers out there? But it led me to realize I never did give our friend the domestic kitty equal Latin name time. So was there anything to find?
Why yes.
I didn't know that cats were kept as mascots by the Roman army, nor that Romans considered cats as household gods watching over the warmth and security of the home. And how's about these names!?:
BELLONA (Bell-Oh'-Nah; Female. ): Here's a name for an aggressive cat. Bellona, the goddess of war, seems to be a Roman invention. When a gladiator managed to outlive his many opponents, he was often asked to serve as one of Bellona's priests within her temple. . .
FERONIA (Fair-Oh'-Nee-Ah; Female): Not a very active goddess, but a goddess with a very beautiful name. She was simply the goddess of spring flowers. Pretty name for just about any cat.
SILVANUS (Sill-Vay'-Nuhs; Male): Some sources identify this Roman god of the wildness with the Greek god PAN, but most accounts are in conflict. There are several similarities however. Silvanus loved the outdoors. In fact, he'd rather be in the forests than just about anywhere else. One reason for this attraction to dark overgrown wilderness was his love of scaring unsuspecting travelers. . .
--- There's lots more. You'll enjoy this page, researched and writen by D. Marks and very well too.
Senin, 05 Januari 2009
Prepare for Problems With Fish
Recently, I didn't heed my own advice on having a fish tank. I didn't have back-up equipment that could have saved me a lot of trouble.
I had checked the temperature on my 55 gallon display tank one morning to find that there wasn't even a reading on the thermometer. The temperature had dropped so low, it was below that of the 68-degree low range reading. In fact, it had dropped to probably in the low 60s. For a tropical tank that is usually kept at 74 - 78, this could be quite a problem.
The source of the problem was a faulty heater. No matter what I tried, it wouldn't work. And who knows how long it had been out, since I hadn't checked the temp in a couple of days.
Now on to an emergency trip to the pet store...who didn't have the size heater I needed!! So, on to the next store who did have one on the shelf.
I was lucky...I didn't lose any fish in the long run. But for a $22 heater, I should have had one in reserve, even a used one, to insure my overall investment of fish. With fish tanks, one little error such as this could cause major fish loss.
The thing that saved me, I think, is that the temperature dropped slowly and I'm guessing the heater probably wasn't broken for that long. Fish are more sensitive to sudden temperature changes then they are to a more gradual change. Which is why it was important when I got the new heater to only increase the temperature by a few degrees ever 4 hours over the course of several days. I also added some ich preventative, since when fish are stressed out, they are more prone to disease.
I'm happy to report that all the fish are fine (and warm), but that I could have saved myself some time and aggravation by having a back-up.
I had checked the temperature on my 55 gallon display tank one morning to find that there wasn't even a reading on the thermometer. The temperature had dropped so low, it was below that of the 68-degree low range reading. In fact, it had dropped to probably in the low 60s. For a tropical tank that is usually kept at 74 - 78, this could be quite a problem.
The source of the problem was a faulty heater. No matter what I tried, it wouldn't work. And who knows how long it had been out, since I hadn't checked the temp in a couple of days.
Now on to an emergency trip to the pet store...who didn't have the size heater I needed!! So, on to the next store who did have one on the shelf.
I was lucky...I didn't lose any fish in the long run. But for a $22 heater, I should have had one in reserve, even a used one, to insure my overall investment of fish. With fish tanks, one little error such as this could cause major fish loss.
The thing that saved me, I think, is that the temperature dropped slowly and I'm guessing the heater probably wasn't broken for that long. Fish are more sensitive to sudden temperature changes then they are to a more gradual change. Which is why it was important when I got the new heater to only increase the temperature by a few degrees ever 4 hours over the course of several days. I also added some ich preventative, since when fish are stressed out, they are more prone to disease.
I'm happy to report that all the fish are fine (and warm), but that I could have saved myself some time and aggravation by having a back-up.
Sabtu, 03 Januari 2009
lapland dogs
Image: thanks, Wikipedia Commons.Every winter I find myself thinking what it would be like to live in the cold all the time. These folks are Saami, or Laplanders, in a photo taken around 1900-1920; the Wiki info listed the location as "Norway Sweden" - ? Normally they are concentrated in Finland. They herd reindeer, and use sleds pulled by dogs of a breed called the Finnish Lapphund. I'm very pleased to have found some featured so prominaently in this photo! A very old breed, these dogs have been domesticated for a long part of human time.
Speaking of domesticated, a nickel if you can spot the nice cup and saucer being held by a person in this photo. This reminds us all that civilization doesn't always have to stay put to be valid. People who rely heavily upon each other in their constant transit must require some very fine points of ethics and behavior.
Tips for Choosing A Vet
* Credentials: Is the doctor a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association or any other professional organizations?
* Hours: Do they mesh with your schedule?
* Location: Is it convenient to home and work? (Especially in case of emergencies.)
* Facilities: Do they seem clean and well-organized?
* Availability: How easy is it to book an appointment?
* Staff: Do they seem friendly and knowledgeable?
* Prices: Do they fit your budget?
* Experience: How savvy is the vet about any special health conditions your dog may have?
* Services: Do they perform diagnostics, such as x-rays and ultrasounds, in the office, or do you need to be referred to a specialist?
* Reputation: Ask friends, family members, and colleagues for recommendations.
Tips from the "DogAge" website.
* Hours: Do they mesh with your schedule?
* Location: Is it convenient to home and work? (Especially in case of emergencies.)
* Facilities: Do they seem clean and well-organized?
* Availability: How easy is it to book an appointment?
* Staff: Do they seem friendly and knowledgeable?
* Prices: Do they fit your budget?
* Experience: How savvy is the vet about any special health conditions your dog may have?
* Services: Do they perform diagnostics, such as x-rays and ultrasounds, in the office, or do you need to be referred to a specialist?
* Reputation: Ask friends, family members, and colleagues for recommendations.
Tips from the "DogAge" website.
Jumat, 02 Januari 2009
a traveling dog of lore
From The Panchatantra, a Sanskrit collection of improving tales dating from circa 4th- 6th centuries AD, a tale of a dog who decides that home is best. I don't think that's always the case, but he's got a point. . .
***
In a certain place there once lived a dog by the name of Tschitranga, which means "having a spotted body." A lengthy famine set in. Because they had no food, the dogs and other animals began to leave their families. Tschitranga, whose throat was emaciated with hunger, was driven by fear to another country. There in a certain city he went to a certain house day after day where, due to the carelessness of the housekeeper, many good things to eat were left lying about, and he ate his fill. However, upon leaving the house, other vicious dogs surrounded him on all sides and tore into him on all parts of his body with their teeth. Then he reconsidered his situation, and said, "It is better at home. Even during a famine you can live there in peace, and no one bites you to pieces. I will return to my own city."
Having thus thought it through, set forth to his own city. When he arrived there, all of his relatives asked him, "Tschitranga, tell us about where you have been. What is the country like? How do the people behave? What do they eat? What do they do?"
He answered, "How can I explain to you the essence of a foreign place? There are good things to eat in great variety, and housekeepers who do not keep watch! There is only one evil in a foreign country: You will be hated there because of who you are!"
***
Oh dear. Does that mean I should never go back to Italy again?
***
In a certain place there once lived a dog by the name of Tschitranga, which means "having a spotted body." A lengthy famine set in. Because they had no food, the dogs and other animals began to leave their families. Tschitranga, whose throat was emaciated with hunger, was driven by fear to another country. There in a certain city he went to a certain house day after day where, due to the carelessness of the housekeeper, many good things to eat were left lying about, and he ate his fill. However, upon leaving the house, other vicious dogs surrounded him on all sides and tore into him on all parts of his body with their teeth. Then he reconsidered his situation, and said, "It is better at home. Even during a famine you can live there in peace, and no one bites you to pieces. I will return to my own city."
Having thus thought it through, set forth to his own city. When he arrived there, all of his relatives asked him, "Tschitranga, tell us about where you have been. What is the country like? How do the people behave? What do they eat? What do they do?"
He answered, "How can I explain to you the essence of a foreign place? There are good things to eat in great variety, and housekeepers who do not keep watch! There is only one evil in a foreign country: You will be hated there because of who you are!"
***
Oh dear. Does that mean I should never go back to Italy again?
Happy New Year
There is a song in the old musical "Damn Yankees" about "Gotta Have Heart" and the line "we gotta get better because we can't get worse." Nothing is more true going into the new year. A happy and prosperous 2009 to everyone and their furry, wet, slimy or pocket pets.
Kamis, 01 Januari 2009
happy 2009! some posts i loved most
Yay! I certainly hope things get better for us all this year!
You know how the New Year usually brings out the whole "Best Of" thing? Well I'm not going to do THAT, but I did want to take a look back at a handful of posts close to my heart and sometimes funnybone.
There was The Amazing Skidboot, one of the most gifted dogs ever. I can't forget the gorgeous, scary mechanical tiger Shiva. And I still love those rabbits in Crispypaintings. Speaking of which, I can never forget that "that's rabbit's dynamite."
Do you remember the Italian skunks? Or the Aussie horse Bazzy Boy, who made me laugh out loud? I recall the good lessons learned from Dahni, the blind kitten. I wanted to include Sebastian the handicapped duck, but the link is gone - she (yes) left this life, and here's her YouTube memorial.
You know, when I think about "my favorite post," the one I always go back to is the cat in a knit squid hat. The concept was sheer surrealism.
That's enough now. . . More champagne (nip? bones?) for us all!
You know how the New Year usually brings out the whole "Best Of" thing? Well I'm not going to do THAT, but I did want to take a look back at a handful of posts close to my heart and sometimes funnybone.
There was The Amazing Skidboot, one of the most gifted dogs ever. I can't forget the gorgeous, scary mechanical tiger Shiva. And I still love those rabbits in Crispypaintings. Speaking of which, I can never forget that "that's rabbit's dynamite."
Do you remember the Italian skunks? Or the Aussie horse Bazzy Boy, who made me laugh out loud? I recall the good lessons learned from Dahni, the blind kitten. I wanted to include Sebastian the handicapped duck, but the link is gone - she (yes) left this life, and here's her YouTube memorial.
You know, when I think about "my favorite post," the one I always go back to is the cat in a knit squid hat. The concept was sheer surrealism.
That's enough now. . . More champagne (nip? bones?) for us all!
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