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| VacaChat News | Vriends News | Zorro's Corner | Recommended Watching | Fun Stuff | Newsletter Archives |
Vaca Shopping |
May 8, 2016
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| Broadcast Schedule | Channel Links | Important News |
| Today!!! Sunday, May 8, 2016 |
| 3 PM PST/6 PM EST |
| No Story Writing! We'll write again on April 3. |
| 6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
| No VacaChat Broadcast. The chatroom will be open at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST; 8:00 PM CST) |
| Upcoming!!! Sunday, May 15, 2016 |
| 3 PM PST/6 PM EST |
| Story Writing! Join us for all the "behind-the-scenes" fun as we write the new story! |
| 6 PM PST/9 PM EST |
| VacaChat Broadcast. Time for more fun, frivolity, festivity, and fervent activity! |
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| Channel Links |
| The pop-out chat link no longer uses the old style chat.
However, it is still a nice way to save on memory and be able to refresh
without losing both chat and video. The easiest way to do this is to open the pop-out chat in a browser window. Log in. (Type a period in the chat line—hit enter. This will open the login screen.) Size this chat window to equal about 1/3 of your desktop space. Then open a new window or tab (Ctrl-T or Ctrl-N in most browsers) and use it to open the pop-out video. If you opened a new tab, you can then click on the tab and drag it to an open space on your desktop. Size it to about 2/3 of your desktop space beside the chat. Now you have both open and can refresh one without disturbing the other. You can resize either without resizing the other. I hope this helps. |
| VacaChannel |
| http://www.ustream.tv/channel/vacadude |
| Pop-Out |
| If you want to view the chat or video in pop-out screens, use the links below. Some find that this places less stress on their computer and/or its memory. |
| Video: http://www.ustream.tv/channel-popup/vacadude |
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| If you use the pop-out links, it is recommended that you open two browser windows. That way, if one needs to be refreshed, the other is not affected. |
| Our Furred, Feathered, and Scaled Babies |
| We will soon have a new feature on the VacaNews
website. Send us pictures of you and your pets. We'll have a page
featuring all our animal family members. Send them to
vacachatb@gmail.com. Make sure
you include your chat name and your pet's name. You can also include
your real name and location if you want to. I've only gotten photos from a few people. (The new page will be posted soon—just waiting on some graphics from TheDude.) Surely more chatters have pets that they'd like to show to the world! |
| It's ACTUALLY Happened |
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The 5th Anniversary International MOD Meet!!! Yes, photos have actually been posted!!! |
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Click on the title above to see the entire Laughing Outside the Box 2015 series. |
| VacaChat Broadcast Changes |
| Look here for any changes to upcoming broadcasts. |
| On Sunday evening, September 20th, Vaca hopes to broadcast either a recording of his Skype visit with the MOD meet or a brief chat about the MOD meet. |
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| A Note from the Dude | Chatter News |
Prayer Requests |
Vaca Blog |
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| Note from May 1, 2016 | ||
| Hello Vriends, | ||
|
Sorry I haven't written for a while, but with our beloved DotRot
in the hospital, well...she's the glue without which
everything...comes unglued!! And I have been so crazy busy with
work projects, which of course is good for the finances--but it
does leave me feeling a little frazzled. But anyway, Dot is back
home, and the newsletter is back!
Like I say, work has been pretty busy--mostly corporate video kinds of projects. I have one client that has their big, annual tradeshow coming up in Las Vegas next week, so a number of us have been working around the clock to get the videos made for that event. However, aside from work projects I must say that some interesting things have opened up in my other areas of interest. Mostly it has to do with photography. After winning six ribbons for my photos in the LightWriter's Photography Club's annual contest, I decided to try my luck at the county fair circuit. First of these to have a deadline was the Dixon May Fair, which is hosted by the city of Dixon--a city along I-80 just about ten miles east of Vacaville. They have a yearly fair with livestock, home cooking, fine arts, and yes--photography. I had never entered photos in anything other than the LightWriters contest, so this was my first. Well, out of my eight entries I got three ribbons--two 4th place and one 1st place! For a first time out, I was thrilled! What's more, the judge gave a very informative talk on his judging criteria, and I got lots of good information to help my strategies from this point forward. Next week is the deadline for the California State Fair, and next month is the deadline for the Solano County Fair. One of my take-aways from the judge's talk was to try to consider entering the less popular categories. Most of my shots have been in the nature and animal categories, which comprise about 75% of the contest. Very crowded field. On the other hand, the category of computer-assisted photography only had ONE entry! I do that kind of work all day long--I'm sure I could have won some more ribbons if I had only thought to enter in that category. So with that in mind, I took a look at the categories for the California State Fair, and I was surprised to see they had a category for Light Painting. Now I did a fair amount with that about four years ago. Those photos were taken too long ago to be able to enter in this year's contest, but I still have the light brush I had made, and I thought--I could make some new ones! So that is what I have been doing this weekend--I am adding some improvements to my light brush, so that I can spend the next few days making sweeping gestures in the dark of my garage in front of the camera. So hopefully I can pull out some gems that will get me some ribbons at the State Fair! Speaking of which, I should probably get back to that endeavor. I am finding it has been a while since I have worked with the Arduino platform, and I forgot how I had one of the controls wired up. I hooked it up incorrectly, and was rewarded with a whiff of acrid smoke. I hope I didn't cook the component permanently! I really need to brush-up on my electronics noodling... |
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| Cheers, VacaDude | ||
| Sharoot | Sharoot's featured pictures can be found
at the end of each newsletter, under Photos of the
Week. She says that since they are located at the end, then "Sharoot's
the Caboose!" Today we have photos from Sharoot's trip to St. Augustine. |
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| Elsalynda | Elsalynda's latest column entitled Nature in the
City: Great Expectations, is available online here: http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/news/20160423/nature-in-city-great-expectations |
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| TheDaddyBird, DotRot and ChatterChopz | CC came home from karate on Monday night sporting a
new belt. She has been promoted! She is no longer a blue belt but is now
wearing a green stripe belt—green belt with a white stripe, much like
this one: This
belt represents the half-way point between blue and full green.She was honored for her leadership and her exemplary teaching of the younger children. Needless to say, we are quite proud of her. |
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| AnnSavage | On Oct. 27, I received three awards in the San Diego
Press Club Excellence in Journalism competition! I write for Ramona Home
Journal and Julian Journal, and was honored with two first-place awards
and one third-place award for my articles! Links to the articles: First-place stories: http://ramonajournal.com/years-of-daffodil-dedication-p6637-271.htm https://ramonajournal.com/doortodoor-solicitors-raise-concerns-p7315-271.htm Third-place story: http://ramonajournal.com/journalism-students-close-the-book-on-inaugural-class-p6975-275.htm |
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| Littleguys | We received this from Littleguys: For those of you that only know me via the internet, or have not seen me in years and years....I am the one in the turquoise blouse. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Residents-Donate-Artifacts-for-Cedar-Fire-Monument-314003781.html | ||
| We'd love to include more news of VacaChatters. If you have something you'd like to share (something about you or your family) or if you know of exciting news about another chatter that they're just too shy to share, please send it to us! (We won’t run it without that chatter’s permission, however.) | |||
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| DotRot |
I want to thank all of you for your prayers and cards during my recent
illness. Much to the surprise of my surgeon, I made it through the
surgery. It was quite a ride. I am home now after a full month in the
hospital and/or rehab. I'm still recovering and have 4-5 home health
visits each week—from my nurse/case manager, Physical Therapist and
Occupational Therapist. I still have about a third of my almost 60
staples in (the incision was LONG), but the doc wants to leave them in
as long as possible to avoid the possibility of the incision reopening. I'm doing well and gradually regaining strength, stamina and endurance. The pain has lessened tremendously so I'm finally reaching the point where I can concentrate better and accomplish more without having to give up. TDB and CC are doing well also. The stress and worry were hard on both of them. We're all just glad that we can now say that this ordeal is mostly behind us. |
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| Jes | Jes has requested prayers. She has lost a close friend and is also facing some rather daunting medical tests and procedures. She is, of course, worried and stressed, and in need of all our prayers and healing vibes. | ||
| KSBorn |
KSBorn has sent us an update. She writes, "I’m still in the midst of
chemo and hormone blocker every day. In 2008 I had breast cancer and it
returned July 2014 same breast cancer in my lung now and 2 lymph nodes
positive. I’m getting ready to have a surgery to get a port. I will
probably be on chemo for life. I have numerous tests monthly. Thank you so much for the prayers and please continue." |
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| Marilyn Crabb | UPDATE:
Hi! I survived six months of chemotherapy. I'll have my breast
tumor and left axillary nodes removed on Friday, Feb. 13. Radiation will
be next. Please pray that the surgeon does a good job and all my cancer
is removed! My screen name was/is MarilynLA on UStream. (Marilyn from Los Angeles) |
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| Littleguys | UPDATE: (as of
10/25/2015)
Amazing what an injection in the right place can accomplish! My back
started really hurting over two years ago, to the point I couldn't
show my horses "in hand" when I would have to walk beside them, etc,
and it was painful to lean over to harness them. I was diagnosed
with sciatica, meaning the hole in the vertebrae where the sciatic
nerve leaves the spine to go to the left leg was filling up with
arthritis.
But the doctors wouldn't fix it in 2014 because the Stage Zero
Breast Cancer was more important. In 2015, cancer free, it was
time to fix the back. I did get that injection for the sciatica
last summer, and some relief, but that doctor told me something
no other doctor had told me. Half of the pain I was experiencing
as I walked, stood, etc was due to the sacroiliac joint where
the spine meets the left side of the pelvis. Got a shot, well,
three right in that joint Thursday and cannot believe how much
better it is to walk and stand. Why couldn't they do that two
years ago??? Not a magic wand, but so much better,
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| Elsalynda | (as of 3/27) Keep Elsalynda in your prayers. Elsa was recently in Mexico and had a great time until she was hospitalized there! Keep her in your prayers for continued good health for herself and her bird Nupi. | ||
| GentleDoe | Latest update from GentleDoe (as of 1/10).
GentleDoe gives us much more information on her situation and
struggles. To read her entire post, click
here.
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| Shari in Memphis | UPDATE!!!
We heard from Shari recently. She is now on the VacaNews mailing list,
so we'll be able to keep in touch with her more easily. She tells us,
"Hi guys! Shari in Memphis is alive. I've been having tons of health
problems, so that's tons of doc appointments! I have moved to northern
Arkansas, for health reasons, and looking forward to hub moving up here
in a couple of years, when he retires. It's gorgeous in the country, and
I love that we were able to find a place on a stream. Lots of wild
animals around! I miss you all. Shari (no longer in Memphis) (Shari Sides on FB)" |
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| Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts for owl our wonderful VacaFamily members! If you have any prayer requests, updates or news of answered prayers, please let us know. Email us with the information so it can be included in the next newsletter. | |||
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Check out VacaDude's blog! Don't forget to send VacaDude your comments to let him know how much you appreciate him, his time & his talent! (No recent updates) |
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| http://vacadude.wordpress.com/ | ||
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| Vaca YouTube | ||
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Be sure to check out the Dude's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/splinesmith/videos NEW VIDEOS ADDED!!! |
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| A Message From Zorro | StoryTime News | StoryTime Archive | Recipe of the Week |
| Message from May 1, 2016 | ||
| Hello there, Everbuddy! | ||
|
Zorro the Mouse, here! It is good to see you all again.
And it is so nice to hear that DotRot has returned home
again, all safe and sound. It has been kinda boring
around here, what with the Dude working so much of the
time. However, later in this upcoming week we are going
to have some fun--we will be going to the Dixon May
Fair! The Dude has some of his photos in the show there,
but I mainly want to go because all of the yummy snacks
to be had there! I've been dreaming of corn dogs, soft
pretzels, funnel cakes, and of course--deep fried cheese
sticks!! Then hopefully we can go on a bunch of rides
that will stir everything up in our stomachs, and then
we can... Oh wait. Maybe I had better rethink the order
in which we partake of these things! I'd like to eat all
that food once, and keep it down--thank you very much!
I hear that they also have livestock areas where everybody shows off their finest animals. Being a fine animal myself, I wonder if they are going to have any prizes for mouse raising? I could put on some of my lovely outfits that Sally has made for me over the years--surely that will impress the judges! Well, time to help the Dude and Dudette with dinner--we are having curry tonight! And by "helping," I of course mean helping with the eating of it. |
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| Yours Most Whiskerly, Zorro |
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| Next StoryTime | Sunday, May 15 3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST |
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| Title | TBA | ||
| Invitation | We need story writers! Please consider dropping in and checking out the fun we have writing the stories. Honestly, it's not at all difficult to join in and you'll surely be glad you did. | ||
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If anyone wants to request a recipe or a recipe category, just email me.
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Soy Ginger Chicken |
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| Ingredients: | |||
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1½ cups soy sauce 3-4 pounds chicken pieces |
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| Directions: | |||
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Place chicken in a large Ziploc bag. Combine all marinade ingredients
and pour over chicken. Squeeze as much air from bag as possible and set
in refrigerator for several hours (preferably overnight). When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350°F. Carefully remove chicken pieces from bag, reserving as much marinade as possible. Place chicken in a baking dish and bake for 30-45 minutes, or until juices run clear when chicken is pricked at the thickest point. While chicken is cooking, place reserved marinade in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for at least 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat and continue cooking marinade, stirring almost constantly, until it has reduced by at least half and is thick and syrupy. Brush over chicken in the last few minutes of cooking. Save any remaining glaze to serve over rice, noodles or other side dish. |
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Peanut Butter Cup Pie |
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| Peanut Butter Lovers, this is for you! | |||
| Ingredients: | |||
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Crust |
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| Directions: | |||
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Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, crush the vanilla wafers. Then blend in the ⅓ cup melted butter and ¼ cup granulated sugar. Press into a deep dish pie pan and bake for 10 minutes. When you put the crust in the oven, put your metal mixing bowl (from a stand mixer) and metal whisk in the freezer for 15 minutes. In a microwave safe measuring cup, combine 4 ounces of milk chocolate chips and ½ cup heavy cream. Microwave at half power for a minute. Stir, and then microwave in 30 second intervals until it is fully combined and smooth. Pour into the bottom of the pie crust and cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. While the you are waiting for the chocolate and pie crust to cool, combine the 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 cup heavy cream in the frozen metal bowl and beat on medium until soft peaks begin to form. Then beat in the 1 cup peanut butter. Once that is combined, beat in the room temperature cream cheese and ½ cup granulated sugar, until fully combined. Put 9 full sized peanut butter cups in the bottom of the pie crust on top of the cooled ganache. Top with the creamy peanut butter filling and spread it to the edges. Melt the ½ cup milk chocolate chips and drizzle over the finished pie. You may not use all of the chocolate. Allow to firm up in the refrigerator for at least four hours. Before serving, make the chocolate whipped cream frosting. Freeze your metal bowl and whisk for 15 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons granulated and 1 cup cold heavy cream. Whisk until soft peaks begin to form. Then whisk in 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and ½ cup powdered sugar until combined. Put it into a piping bag and pipe around the edges of the pie. |
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| Owl Cams | Other Bird Cams | Other Nature Cams | Video Picks of the Week | Inspiration |
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| Puffins | |||||
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Shetland Islands Puffins | http://www.shetland.org/puffincam/ | |||
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Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam | |||
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Sea Island, Maine |
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam These pages also contain links to numerous other nature cams. |
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| Eagles | |||||
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Southwest Florida Eagles
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi6DdvVbbi8 | |||
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Black Eagle |
http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam |
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Decorah Eagles |
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles | |||
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Berry College Eagle Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/berry-eagle-cam | |||
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http://www.pixcontroller.com/eagles/index.htm | ||||
| Peregrine Falcons | |||||
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PA Falcon Cam |
http://www.pacast.com/players/falcon.asp | |||
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Commerce Tower Peregrines |
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-cameras/peregrine-falcon-web-camera Cam not live now but should be returning soon. |
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Pitt Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam1 | |||
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Gulf Tower Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.aviary.org/PF-NestCam2 | |||
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Emily
Falcon Cam |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emily-falcon-cam | |||
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RFalconCam |
http://rfalconcam.com/rfc-main/ | |||
| Talking Birds | |||||
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Watch the Birdie |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Watch-the-Birdie | |||
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Disco |
https://www.youtube.com/user/MsJumpinJude/videos | |||
| Other Birds | |||||
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Hummingbird University of Arizona |
Marmou (Marilyn) sent this from her new home town in Arizona. This
little lady built a nest on the end of a data cable for a future
wireless access point. http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/webcam/ENR2_HummingBird.aspx |
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California Condor San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego, California |
http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/cams/condor-cam | |||
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KC Zoo Penguin Cam |
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/penguincam |
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Whidbey Island Back Porch other assorted birds |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/katersch | |||
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Hellgate Ospreys |
http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/27/Hellgate_Ospreys/ | |||
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Ostrich Chicks |
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http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ostrich-egg-cam-live | ||
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Streaming Bird Cams |
http://www.beakspeak.com/ | |||
| Pandas | |||||
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San Diego Zoo Pandas |
www.sandiegozoo.org (click
on live cams)
or
http://www.ustream.tv/sandiegozoo. Zoo's
blogs: http://blognew.sandiegozoo.org/category/animals-and-plants/giant-pandas/ |
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Twin Pandas at |
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Giant Panda Cam |
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/webcams/giant-panda.cfm | |||
| Bears | |||||
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Kansas City Polar Bears |
http://www.kctv5.com/category/244581/nikita-berlin-polar-bear-cam | |||
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Brown Bears and Salmon |
http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls (lots of other cams at this site, as well) |
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Black Bears |
http://www.bear.org/website/live-cameras/live-cameras/holly-bears-den-cam-live.html | |||
| Other Animal and Nature Sites | |||||
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Golden Paw-Prints Classic Golden Retrievers Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/golden-retriever-puppy-cam More puppies expected this summer. |
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San Diego Zoo and Safari Park |
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/ | |||
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Wild Earth Safari Cam | http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wildearth-safaris | |||
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The Pet Collective |
http://www.thepetcollective.tv/livestreams/ | |||
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Critter Chat Cams |
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Friends of Felines Rescue
Center |
www.ustream.tv/ffrc | |||
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Little House |
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CC's Page of Links (scheduled for updating) |
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| Other Sites of Interest | |||||
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Fascinating Information about the Jeweled City | ||||
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John has talked about the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition
(PPIE). Tzunamie found us this link: |
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| http://home.comcast.net/~sgsanders/index.html | |||||
| Mother Owl Takes On Snake—and Wins | |||||
| Ketaki sent this in. She says, "I saw it live when it happened and it was so fast. It's too bad she didn't kill it and feed to the owlets. They could have used the food, and the snake, a rat snake, is non-venomous. But she was intent on protection. They run it in slow motion at the end so you can see her, and the inset window shows the snake coming down from the top." | |||||
| http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150514-owl-snake-video-animals-fight/ | |||||
| This Bird Song Collection Will Get You In Tune With Nature | |||||
| http://www.ba-bamail.com/content.aspx?emailid=15112 | |||||
| Help in Identifying Birds | |||||
| Try www.whatbird.com It's helps identify lots of birds. | |||||
| Meet Zeus | |||||
| http://kittensdaily.com/meet-zeus-blind-owl-gorgeous-eyes/ | |||||
| Some Interesting Information About Someone We All Know Well | |||||
| http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1511369/ | |||||
| International Space Station Links | |||||
| During a recent
broadcast the Dude talked about the websites where one can view the
spacestation and the view that the astronauts have. Here are the links: This one has the map, but no chat. http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/HDEV/ This site has a chat room. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload |
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Dog Toy Napper
https://rumble.com/v30ffu-dachshund-pretending-to-be-asleep-to-steal-a-toy.html
Spider Web Timelapse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WBln5lD42Y
Caught Red Handed
https://rumble.com/v30bif-when-youve-been-caught-red-handed.html
The Broccoli Farm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yMZGA2lzg
Meet Porter. The World's First Driving Dog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWAK0J8Uhzk&feature=youtu.be
The Dancing Deer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0UapMLF2UY
Rescued Horses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvH2_l7FvtA
Mind-Blowing Magic Magnets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IANBoybVApQ
Gravity Glue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrycfR9zXA
All Creatures Great and Small
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrfSunLHD2o
Staff of Honor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqHMb0eO1oY
Photographing The President
Well, not THE President, but the President
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNCH6uhB_Bs
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| Just for the Fun of It |
Fun Animations | Photo of the Week | Zorro's Word of the Week |
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Rocky Cookies
http://heidimix.blogspot.com/2015/08/i-love-these-raccoon-cookies-they-are.html
Antique Silver Bunny
http://www.justcraftyenough.com/2014/03/project-more-tin-foil-antiquing/
Chocolate Mice
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/10753/chocolate-mice/
Pinecone Snowy Owls
http://www.redtedart.com/2014/10/16/pine-cone-crafts-snowy-owls/
Snowy Owl Ornaments
http://www.pamspartyandpracticaltips.com/2013/12/snow-owl-ornaments.html
Another Time Machine for Zorro
http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/gallery/gallerydetails.php?id=71
From the Dude
Here's a couple of photos I took this last week.
One I took as I walked around in San Francisco last week,
and another is from a news story--somebody vandalized
one of the signs to have it say "Superb Owl"
Sharoot's Caboose
Sharoot shares,
"
| Kyle's well known among his friends for his "triple
groaner" riddles and jokes. Now he shares them with VacaFamily. Enjoy! |
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Why was the picture sent to prison?
Because it was framed |
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Why are peacocks unreliable?
They're always spreading tails. |
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A band director was standing outside on a metal ladder during a
concert, when a thunderstorm broke out. He wasn't hit by lightning,
but the music was awful. It seems he just wasn't a good conductor.
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Smith goes to see his supervisor in the front office. "Boss," he says,
"we're doing some heavy house-cleaning at home tomorrow, and my wife
needs me to help with the attic and the garage, moving and hauling
stuff." "We're short-handed, Smith" the boss replies. "I can't give you the day off." "Thanks, boss," says Smith "I knew I could count on you!" |
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| The world's first fully computerized
airliner was ready for its maiden flight without pilots or crew. The plane taxied to the loading area automatically, its doors opened automatically, the steps came but automatically. The passengers boarded the plane and took their seats. The steps retreated automatically, the doors closed, and the airplane taxied toward the runway. The plane took off and shortly was in the air away from the airport. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," a computer voice spoke. "Welcome to the debut of the world's first fully computerized airliner." "Everything on this aircraft is run electronically. So, just sit back and relax." "Nothing can go wrong… " "Nothing can go wrong… " "Nothing can go wrong… " |
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| Upcoming Holidaze! | |||
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May Date Your Mate Month Foster Care Month National Barbecue Month National Bike Month National Blood Pressure Month National Hamburger Month National Photograph Month National Recommitment Month National Salad Month Older Americans Month 2nd Wednesday - Receptionists’ Day 2nd Wednesday (usually the Wednesday during Nurse’s Week) - School Nurses Day 2nd Saturday - International Migratory Bird Day Saturday closest to May 10 - National Train Day 2nd Sunday - Mother’s Day 2nd Week - Wildflower Week May 8 No Socks Day Have A Coke Day Iris Day V-E Day World Red Cross (Red Crescent) Day Harry S Truman’s Birthday (1884) |
May 9 National Lost Sock Memorial Day National Butterscotch Brownie Day May 10 National Clean Up Your Room Day National Shrimp Day Windmill Day May 11 Eat What You Want Day National Twilight Zone Day May 12 National Limerick Day Hug Your Cat Day Train Day Fatigue Syndrome Day May 13 National Leprechaun Day Frog Jumping Day May 14 National Dance Like a Chicken Day National Buttermilk Biscuit Day |
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GORMANDIZE
Pronunciation: \GOR-mun-dyze\
verb
Definition of GORMANDIZE
to eat greedily, gluttonously, or ravenously
EXAMPLES
"People stuff themselves, they gorge, they gormandize; their fingers are greasy from morning to night."
— Philippe Sagant, The Dozing Shaman, 1996
"While my ability to gormandize has slackened over the years,
my enthusiasm for cooking big has only grown."
— Henry Miller, The Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon), 19 Dec. 2013
DID YOU KNOW?
Gormandize entered English in the mid-1500s as a modification of gourmand, a term borrowed from the
French that served as a synonym of glutton. The meaning of gourmand softened over time,
developing in the mid-18th century a sense referring to one who is "heartily interested in good food and drink."
It wasn't until the early 19th century that the wholly positive gourmet became established.
Whether that now-common word encouraged the adoption of or was influenced by the softer meaning of
gourmand is unknown. Gormandize, too, has softened over time, but only slightly:
it can now also imply that a big eater has a discriminating palate as well as a generous appetite.
Test Your Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks to create a word meaning "an immoderate indulgence
in food or drink" or "an overabundant supply":
s _ r _ e _ t.
surfeit
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VacaShopping for the Holidays
A NEW VacaShopping Site!!!
Vaca is now posting new items to Zazzle!
His new store is at: www.zazzle.com/Vacadude
The first item available is a note card or greeting card with an all new
Vaca drawing on the front.
Check it out at:
http://www.zazzle.com/owl_igloo_holiday_card-137686885203006237
Don't you need some new decorations for Valentine's Day?
Just think of all the VacaDude gifts!
Check them all out at VacaDude's CafePress store! Support our beloved
artist/broadcaster/friend!
http://www.cafepress.com/vacadude
MollyTheOwlBooks
Eric has discontinued the sales of all his books and merchandise.
of that and want one, let DotRot know
and she'll do what she can to make it available to you.
