Jack’s Old & Busted Blog

Tonya has a new kitten! Like a lot of only-cat households, she’s experiencing a bit of new-sibling rivalry. Here’s a helpful article, and I’ll add a few more links on the sidebar.

(about.com): Your first mistake was keeping the cats together from the beginning. Introducing a new cat to an existing one should be a very slow process, by keeping them separated at first but able to sniff each other through the crack of a door, until they are accustomed to the new scent.

Can’t wait to see pictures!

(Newswise.com): According to new research published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, the 14-day holiday period between Dec. 25 and Jan. 7 shows a spike in death rates significantly above what would be expected for the winter season. The likely culprit: Delays in seeking necessary medical treatment.

Another reason to lie low for the holidays. I’m still amazed at the amount of stress some people put on themselves in the name of holiday cheer. Walking in the mall (!) the other evening, I remarked to Colli how everyone seemed miserable and had a scowl on their face, even the ones waiting in line to see Santa. So much of our economy depends on people madly buying crap, it makes a person feel almost guilty for not participating in the process. I sure wish I could be altruistic about the whole holiday anti-commercialization thing, but that would mean I wouldn’t get as many presents.

On the virtues of idleness:

(from Harper’s): I distrust the perpetually busy; always have. The frenetic ones spinning in tight little circles like poisoned rats. The slower ones, grinding away their fourscore and ten in righteousness and pain. They are the soul-eaters.

Hmm.

I don’t buy a lot of games, but after playing the demo of Gish, I gladly shelled out $19.99. It’s way-cool fun in the way video games used to be before they became training programs for the military.

With our entire household snorting, hacking, and crusty-eyed, I’ve been reading a bit about illness and the conditions that are conducive to the itty-bitty-nasties. Ohio State University has a big page of PDF articles about stress and your immune system. Stay well, don’t worry!

The little animated instruction sums it up. Would be better with audio, no doubt.

(krystal.com): Scramble it Up or eat it Layer by Layer! Get going with a Breakfast Scrambler, our complete “Breakfast in a Bowl.”

Yum!

(fhs.ch): “The destruction, accompanied by a cacophony of machines, was carried out in accordance with strict rules.”