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Interesting evolutionary question: Why do toddlers of all species hurtle themselves towards mortal danger with such appalling enthusiasm? I will not provide human examples to spare people's sensibilities, but the hellions (the two new kittens) epitomize this to the extreme:
What makes you think that mature specimens act more reasonably?
Speaking of reasonable adult behavior...
I'm sorry. I'm trying not to turn this thread into my dumping ground. I just don't know what else to do. I have next-to-no support system to rely on for any of this relocation nonsense...Sophie, selling the house, getting the visa paperwork, everything. I feel like I'm flailing through it all.
And I feel so guilty about Sophie. If I hadn't accepted this offer, she wouldn't be in this position, but I feel like refusing it would have been far, far worse for so many reasons Paizo doesn't let us discuss.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Innocents caught in the crossfire as always.
I just want life to stop hurting.
Vent if you need it.
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Sure I've had an evilutionary biology class or six...
There is little to no point in the kittens having a "RUN DANGER" mode. Something is either a friend/mother/playmate in which case you would waste valuable resources running away from it or lose valuable murder training time by not attacking it till you're exhausted.
If something is an enemy a baby animals ability to aid in its own survival by running away is... minimal to say the least. I mean sure you can outrun a HUMAN and go places they can't get to but those things are weird. Everything else is going to catch you.
Sure I've had an evilutionary biology class or six...
There is little to no point in the kittens having a "RUN DANGER" mode. Something is either a friend/mother/playmate in which case you would waste valuable resources running away from it or lose valuable murder training time by not attacking it till you're exhausted.
If something is an enemy a baby animals ability to aid in its own survival by running away is... minimal to say the least. I mean sure you can outrun a HUMAN and go places they can't get to but those things are weird. Everything else is going to catch you.
I'm not talking, "Run danger" so much as, "Don't jump in the river/eat that poisonous item/fall off that cliff."
There should be a built-in fear of environmental hazards (water, heights) and there's a trade-off in food pickiness but some kind of, "I will only eat foods my parents bring to me for the first few weeks of weaning."
Human infants have fear of heights but no fear of water.
Kittens have fear of water but no fear of heights. (Yes, cats have "infinite fall" capability, but only from about 0-10' and 30'+. Between 10'-30' they can still get seriously injured in a fall.)
So not so much, "Why don't baby animals fear predators?", but, "Why don't baby animals fear environmental hazards that have existed for longer than their species?
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KITTEN FARM UPDATE: Fluffy, the Most Perfect Kitten Ever, gets to sleep in our room with us because the Fluffernutter "tolerates her with great hostility". (She yowls and protests Fluffy's presence, but then settles down and they can sleep within 18" of each other without incident.) The hellions are blocked in the living room with a large plywood board.
This morning about an hour after I got up and fed everyone, Fluffy came to the board and gave me those big, impossible-to-resist eyes. "Play play?'
I removed the board. The hellions trotted out. There is much happy chirruping in the kitchen. They like each other. A LOT.
As for pictures, at the moment I know of know major plans this weekend, so I'll at least start trying to get some of Fluffy's early kittenhood pictures up...
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Do I even want to know?
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Breeding, or interbreeding. Congratulations! You are are now the Father of the Kittock.
It also makes me think of the Cold Duke from The Thirteen Clocks, which is not happy for animal lovers. :(
(I am not one myself (plant partisan/fan-girl here!), but I can empathize. I'm not a complete monster. :) )
A cruelty-free kittock sounds to me like it should be something like Velcro, with exceptionally enthusiastic hooks/claws.
Scint PM sent
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KITTEN FARM UPDATE: When the Cranky Calico died, we were rather astonished that the Fluffernutter appeared to miss her. They'd hissed at each other, avoided each other, chosen separate areas of the house to inhabit, and even fought on occasion for 17 years. But the Fluffernutter was clearly sad and lonely after her passing; she spent all her time lying around seeming miserable in her room and barely ever purred. We expedited bringing in Fluffy just to try to give the fluffernutter a new companion.
It's been just under 2 months. The Fluffernutter has made it clear that she mislikes this new intruder. Then we brought in two more kittens. She makes it clear this is unacceptable...
...and her weight is skyrocketing. She's purring like she hasn't purred in years. She and Fluffy spend every afternoon lying together on the bed, just out of reach of each other. Today when I served her her lunch Fluffy walked up and bonked heads against her trying to get at the food. It took her a moment to remember to growl.
I am happy and content that we made the right call for her.
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KITTEN FARM UPDATE: I swear. Across every species.
Stripey is the most ridiculously tiny kitten we've ever adopted; on arrival she weighed in at 2.26 pounds (just over 1 kilo). And, as with all runts of all species, she is overflowing with personality and spunk:
- She was the first to confront the Fluffernutter, running right up and into her face. She got a beatdown for her troubles, but she tried to cow the biggest cat in the room.
- The moment Impus Major opened the doors to WhimseyShire to let her explore, she did not go down the steps into his room, but rather straight up the stud in his doorway and into the attic space he calls Spider Hell. Fortunately, she paused a moment to let her eyes adjust and I was able to yoink her back down.
- This morning Fluffy got up late and begged for breakfast, so I opened a new can of food for her. In spite of having already eaten, Stripey squeaked, trotted over, and butted Fluffy (over twice her weight) out of the way so she could get more breakfast.
Beware the tiny. They are forces to be reckoned with.
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There should be a built-in fear of environmental hazards (water, heights) and there's a trade-off in food pickiness but some kind of, "I will only eat foods my parents bring to me for the first few weeks of weaning."
animals fear environmental hazards that have existed for longer than their species?
Before humans, I don't think anything that wasn't caught by mom was going to become lunch. Mom has probably killed anything edible in the immediate vicinity of the lair. The overlap between mom didn't eat it already, kittens can catch it, kittens can eat it, kitties can kill it, and its poisonous is probably pretty small.
A fear response to heights might keep them out of trees, one of their better escape plans? Moms den site selection might be covering that one.
Or it could just be that cats have tapped into crazytown and dun left the rules. I don't think they have. Red squirrels on the other hand...
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Before humans, I don't think anything that wasn't caught by mom was going to become lunch...There should be a built-in fear of environmental hazards (water, heights) and there's a trade-off in food pickiness but some kind of, "I will only eat foods my parents bring to me for the first few weeks of weaning."
animals fear environmental hazards that have existed for longer than their species?
I was thinking poisonous plants, but maybe mom doesn't set up a territory where such plants are growing...
Or it could just be that cats have tapped into crazytown and dun left the rules. I don't think they have. Red squirrels on the other hand...
Truth. We have squirrels that don't give a s*** about the cats being within 5' of them.
The hellions are barn kittens. In a couple of months I'm going to have to look up squirrel recipes.
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Fantasy NPC: The Four ghosts of the Stormfield Manor
Four ghosts, one estate to haunt...
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I bought the fabric, pattern, and supplies for Hermione's middle school graduation dress at the end of February, but imposter syndrome paralysis has kept me from getting started until this weekend. (The ceremony is on the 22nd.)
Saturday morning, I was telling one of my best friends about my conundrum, and she told me to just bring everything over to her house on Sunday afternoon and she would pour me drinks and help me pin and cut and we would get started together. And she was good to her word. She made me pina coladas and poured me wine, did a ton of cutting for me, and I got the entire lining sewn and got all of the boning casing sewn into the interfacing for the bodice.
As I was packing up to leave, I said to her, "This is the Crafters equivalent of the friend who will help you hide a body."
Without missing a beat, she said, "Oh, I would do that too, and just assume that it was justified."
I know I've complained about it here before, and people identified it as "definitely a California thing", but yet again I forgot to tell the ATM to give me nothing but twenties and it cheerfully spat out three nigh-useless $100 bills.
* After my last writing, some government agency said, "OK, look. $100 bills are legal tender. You have to accept them unless you can't make change." So it's astonishing how most small businesses in the area "don't have change" whenever you try to use them.
* Even at larger stores, handing a cashier a $100 bill is only slightly more polite than taking a dump on their counter. They will give you the stink-eye, then examine the bill, then use one of those special markers on the bill, then frequently call a manager over to take the bill away so they don't have it in their till, and then and only then cash you out. Using a $100 bill is literally slower than writing a check.
So I'm going to dump them on my cleaner and my gardener, because their attitude is, "Hey, cash is cash," but even my cleaner, who travels back to her home country two or three times a year hence has to exchange cash frequently, says $100 bills are a pain for her.
It's just so weird to me that we live in one of the most expensive places in the country, yet $100 bills are derided and considered a massive inconvenience by all but the most high-end establishments. (Yeah, if you go to Alexander's Steak House in San Francisco and pay your $1500 tab with $100 bills, they'll treat you like a king.)
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I know I've complained about it here before, and people identified it as "definitely a California thing", but yet again I forgot to tell the ATM to give me nothing but twenties and it cheerfully spat out three nigh-useless $100 bills.
* After my last writing, some government agency said, "OK, look. $100 bills are legal tender. You have to accept them unless you can't make change." So it's astonishing how most small businesses in the area "don't have change" whenever you try to use them.
* Even at larger stores, handing a cashier a $100 bill is only slightly more polite than taking a dump on their counter. They will give you the stink-eye, then examine the bill, then use one of those special markers on the bill, then frequently call a manager over to take the bill away so they don't have it in their till, and then and only then cash you out. Using a $100 bill is literally slower than writing a check.
So I'm going to dump them on my cleaner and my gardener, because their attitude is, "Hey, cash is cash," but even my cleaner, who travels back to her home country two or three times a year hence has to exchange cash frequently, says $100 bills are a pain for her.
It's just so weird to me that we live in one of the most expensive places in the country, yet $100 bills are derided and considered a massive inconvenience by all but the most high-end establishments. (Yeah, if you go to Alexander's Steak House in San Francisco and pay your $1500 tab with $100 bills, they'll treat you like a king.)
I totally get it man, just send me your hundreds, they're no problem for me.
Large Denomination Bill Issues
Honestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.
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Large Denomination Bill IssuesHonestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.
No worries, Vany, I'll take your 50s.
Anybody have any issues with their 500 dollar bills? 1000 dollar bills?
Large Denomination Bill IssuesHonestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.
My gardener took one look at it today and *almost* handed it back to me. I think only his politeness made him keep it.
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- The moment Impus Major opened the doors to WhimseyShire to let her explore, she did not go down the steps into his room, but rather straight up the stud in his doorway and into the attic space he calls Spider Hell.
Spider Hell is Hell! (Spoilers for La-Mulana 2)
My gardener took one look at it today and *almost* handed it back to me. I think only his politeness made him keep it.Large Denomination Bill IssuesHonestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.
Your $50s too.
I totally get it man, just send me your hundreds, they're no problem for me.I know I've complained about it here before, and people identified it as "definitely a California thing", but yet again I forgot to tell the ATM to give me nothing but twenties and it cheerfully spat out three nigh-useless $100 bills.
* After my last writing, some government agency said, "OK, look. $100 bills are legal tender. You have to accept them unless you can't make change." So it's astonishing how most small businesses in the area "don't have change" whenever you try to use them.
* Even at larger stores, handing a cashier a $100 bill is only slightly more polite than taking a dump on their counter. They will give you the stink-eye, then examine the bill, then use one of those special markers on the bill, then frequently call a manager over to take the bill away so they don't have it in their till, and then and only then cash you out. Using a $100 bill is literally slower than writing a check.
So I'm going to dump them on my cleaner and my gardener, because their attitude is, "Hey, cash is cash," but even my cleaner, who travels back to her home country two or three times a year hence has to exchange cash frequently, says $100 bills are a pain for her.
It's just so weird to me that we live in one of the most expensive places in the country, yet $100 bills are derided and considered a massive inconvenience by all but the most high-end establishments. (Yeah, if you go to Alexander's Steak House in San Francisco and pay your $1500 tab with $100 bills, they'll treat you like a king.)
I assure you I won't complain to take them from you!
...
What?
You expected me to give you change for them?!
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Your $50s too.My gardener took one look at it today and *almost* handed it back to me. I think only his politeness made him keep it.Large Denomination Bill IssuesHonestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.
I have a few 70s, 113s, and 49s you can have. Curiously, they're all marked 'CSA', too, which I assume stands for 'Cash?! Superb! Awesome!'
Round here, you can usually pass a hundee at a grocery store without too much trouble. Especially if you spend most of it. It’s kind of hit or miss at smaller places.
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Fantasy NPC: The Four ghosts of the Stormfield Manor
Four ghosts, one estate to haunt...
With those four ghosts causing trouble, I expect that more spirits will haunt the estate - having been disturbed by all the bickering - and only add to the chaos.
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Yeah, yeah, I know. "Griping about what once was" and all that, but seriously?
As of Windows 11 I noticed that my Word documents are now always opening in 2-page, side-by-side format. I hate it. So I Googled how to fix it. And learned that Microsoft removed that functionality from Word: You can no longer save your preferred view, adding two extra button clicks to every doc I ever open.
Hate you so much, Microsoft!
Yeah, yeah, I know. "Griping about what once was" and all that, but seriously?
As of Windows 11 I noticed that my Word documents are now always opening in 2-page, side-by-side format. I hate it. So I Googled how to fix it. And learned that Microsoft removed that functionality from Word: You can no longer save your preferred view, adding two extra button clicks to every doc I ever open.
Hate you so much, Microsoft!
This is why I still use 10.
This is why I still use 10.Yeah, yeah, I know. "Griping about what once was" and all that, but seriously?
As of Windows 11 I noticed that my Word documents are now always opening in 2-page, side-by-side format. I hate it. So I Googled how to fix it. And learned that Microsoft removed that functionality from Word: You can no longer save your preferred view, adding two extra button clicks to every doc I ever open.
Hate you so much, Microsoft!
Which is no longer being supported in October.
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Which is no longer being supported in October.This is why I still use 10.Yeah, yeah, I know. "Griping about what once was" and all that, but seriously?
As of Windows 11 I noticed that my Word documents are now always opening in 2-page, side-by-side format. I hate it. So I Googled how to fix it. And learned that Microsoft removed that functionality from Word: You can no longer save your preferred view, adding two extra button clicks to every doc I ever open.
Hate you so much, Microsoft!
Yeah, I'm probably going to get a new computer early this fall. My current is nearing the end of its natural life anyway, but I'm not happy about it. :/
If I knew more about Linux ... but I'm not sure I have the time right now to get a good enough grip on it not to drive myself bonkers.
Yeah, Ubuntu is the way to go. It's friendly to both Windows and iOS users, is dirt simple to install, can read both Windows and iOS drives, and its' *only* major shortcoming is the whole, "Oh, these drivers are proprietary so we can't install them for you. Type this and agree to their license agreement to make it work."
When I did my Ubuntu gaming desktop after 10 years away from Linux, I think it took me a grand total of 12 hours to get everything working *exactly* the way I wanted to:
- Half an hour to get the OS installed.
- Half an hour to get used to the OS, start up a browser, and start Googling things that weren't working.
- Half an hour to do the aforementioned typing.
So. 90 minutes and you're ready, and that's right on par with a new Windows of iOS installation from scratch.
Then comes the whole, "Oh my goodness! I can do anything with this OS and it will simply say, "OK! Here you go!" without fighting me tooth and nail or trying to steal all my data! What kind of nirvana am I in?"
And there go the other 10.5 hours...
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I know I've complained about it here before, and people identified it as "definitely a California thing", but yet again I forgot to tell the ATM to give me nothing but twenties and it cheerfully spat out three nigh-useless $100 bills.
* After my last writing, some government agency said, "OK, look. $100 bills are legal tender. You have to accept them unless you can't make change." So it's astonishing how most small businesses in the area "don't have change" whenever you try to use them.
* Even at larger stores, handing a cashier a $100 bill is only slightly more polite than taking a dump on their counter. They will give you the stink-eye, then examine the bill, then use one of those special markers on the bill, then frequently call a manager over to take the bill away so they don't have it in their till, and then and only then cash you out. Using a $100 bill is literally slower than writing a check.
So I'm going to dump them on my cleaner and my gardener, because their attitude is, "Hey, cash is cash," but even my cleaner, who travels back to her home country two or three times a year hence has to exchange cash frequently, says $100 bills are a pain for her.
It's just so weird to me that we live in one of the most expensive places in the country, yet $100 bills are derided and considered a massive inconvenience by all but the most high-end establishments. (Yeah, if you go to Alexander's Steak House in San Francisco and pay your $1500 tab with $100 bills, they'll treat you like a king.)
The dispensary takes them, no problem.
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Large Denomination Bill IssuesHonestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.No worries, Vany, I'll take your 50s.
Anybody have any issues with their 500 dollar bills? 1000 dollar bills?
Hey thanks, man!
Now I'm going to have so much money for lottery tickets and Pokémon cards!
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Large Denomination Bill IssuesHonestly, we can run into those issues with $50 bills, let alone $100.No worries, Vany, I'll take your 50s.
Anybody have any issues with their 500 dollar bills? 1000 dollar bills?
Hey thanks, man!
Now I'm going to have so much money for lottery tickets and Pokémon cards!
....I brought this on myself.
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Which is no longer being supported in October.This is why I still use 10.Yeah, yeah, I know. "Griping about what once was" and all that, but seriously?
As of Windows 11 I noticed that my Word documents are now always opening in 2-page, side-by-side format. I hate it. So I Googled how to fix it. And learned that Microsoft removed that functionality from Word: You can no longer save your preferred view, adding two extra button clicks to every doc I ever open.
Hate you so much, Microsoft!
Yeah, I'm probably going to get a new computer early this fall. My current is nearing the end of its natural life anyway, but I'm not happy about it. :/
If I knew more about Linux ... but I'm not sure I have the time right now to get a good enough grip on it not to drive myself bonkers.
I'm strongly strongly considering going linux for my next machine, since after the Big Move I'm sure I'll have the time to learn how to use it.
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Student A: Okay, senior prank. We steal all the ceiling tiles.
Student B: How?
Student A: There's access from the ag shop. We go there, and-
Me: ...and the Mission: Impossible theme plays on a kazoo.
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So, once we get home we have to shell out $300 per kitten for check-ups, blood tests, de-worming, vaccinations, and all the other "normal" stuff you're supposed to do when a kitten hits 8 weeks old. If my brother had said, "We don't want to pay the vet fees for someone else's kittens, but if you want to pay we'll take them in on schedule," I would've at least understood. But he just didn't bother, completely in line with his nature.
Then while I was at the vet with the kittens, his S.O. texted, "Hey, have you had your kittens tested yet? Our vet says that if you tested yours and they came back negative then we don't have to test ours."
So yep. They didn't do diddly until after we picked up ours. Then they knew we were responsible pet owners so we were going to do all the testing. Then they tried to save money by piggy-backing off of ours.
And yes, he's worth significantly more than I am, so it's not like money's an issue. It's just a "lazy jerk" move.
See? At least trying to keep the griping behind spoilers.
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The proper response is "New phone, who dis?"
And lying. "Inconclusive. You need to take them in."
** spoiler omitted **
See? At least trying to keep the griping behind spoilers.
You did the right thing
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** spoiler omitted **
See? At least trying to keep the griping behind spoilers.
So, how many fake diseases are going to have the kids come up with they absolutely should get their cat tested for?