Haint

For Love of the Dog Blog

2006-07-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

In case you wonder where I've been I'm over at Dogster's For Love of the Dog Blog almost every day now blogging the world of dogs and dog lovers. Come join us at what has been called "the world's largest dog park!."

Ancient global warming drove early primates' dispersal

2006-07-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Looking a this article from EurekaAlert!, I wonder the extent of the effects of global warming on us as primates.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The continent-hopping habits of early primates have long puzzled scientists, and several scenarios have been proposed to explain how the first true members of the group appeared virtually simultaneously on Asia, Europe and North America some 55 million years ago.

But new research using the latest evidence suggests a completely different migration path from those previously proposed and indicates that sudden, rapid global warming drove the
dispersal.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences present their findings in the July 25 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Their work focuses on Teilhardina, an ancient
genus that resembled the saucer-eyed, modern-day primates known as tarsiers. Like tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans, Teilhardina was a true primate, or euprimate. In both Asia and Europe, the genus is the oldest known primate; in North America, it appears in the fossil record around the same time as another primate, Cantius. Previously, scientists had come up with four ways to explain the geographic distribution pattern.

The first is that primates originated in Africa and spread across Europe and Greenland to reach North America. Another possibility is that they originated in North America and traveled across a temporary land bridge connecting Siberia and Alaska. A third hypothesis is that primates had their origins in Africa or Asia and traveled through North America to reach western Europe.

Finally, it has been suggested that the group originated in Asia and fanned out eastward to North America and westward to Europe.

In the new research, U-M paleontologist Philip Gingerich and coworkers re-evaluated the four hypotheses by comparing with unprecedented precision the times of first appearance of Teilhardina in Asia, Europe, and North America. To achieve such precision, they used a carbon isotope curve recently documented on all three continents. Carbon in the atmosphere, earth and
living organisms differs in the proportion of carbon-12 and carbon-13 present. A flood of carbon-12 is associated with the onset of an event known as the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), one of the most rapid and extreme global warming events recorded in geologic history. It was during the PETM that modern primates first appeared 55 million years ago. Teilhardina in Asia precedes the maximum flood of carbon-12, Teilhardina in Europe coincides with it, and Teilhardina in North America appears just after the maximum. Based on this evidence, the researchers concluded that none of previously proposed scenarios was likely. Instead, they propose that Teilhardina migrated from South Asia to Europe, crossing the Turgai Straits---an ancient seaway between Europe and Asia---and then spread to North America by way of Greenland. The whole dispersal event happened within about 25,000 years.

"It is remarkable to be able to study evolutionary events so deep in the past with such precision," said Gingerich, who is the Ermine Cowles Case Collegiate Professor of Paleontology
and director of the U-M Museum of Paleontology. "The speed of dispersal and the speed of evolutionary change during dispersal are near the maximum for such rates observed today, and the rapid change and dispersal were almost certainly driven by profound greenhouse warming at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary."

Global Warming Turns Seychelles Coral Into Rubble

2006-05-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

This just in from the Independent/UK via Common Dreams.

Published on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 by the Independent / UK
Global Warming Turns Pristine Coral into Rubble

Miles of unblemished coral reefs have been turned to slime-covered rubble because of rising sea temperatures caused by global warming.

A study into the extensive bleaching of the Seychelles corals in 1998 has found that these Indian Ocean reefs failed to recover, with many of them crumbling to broken fragments. Scientists said the findings showed that rising global sea temperatures could have a more devastating impact on the world's tropical corals than previously thought.

"Some of the reefs have collapsed to almost mobile beds of rubble. They are no longer solid structures and some have been overgrown with fleshy green mats of algae," said Nicholas Graham, a coral ecologist at the University of Newcastle. "They have basically turned into reefs of rubble and algae, with very little fish life. It's a depressing story and it's very sad to see what's happened to these reefs," said Mr Graham, a member of the survey team.

The Seychelles once boasted mile upon mile of luxuriant coral reefs but in 1998 the local sea temperatures rose dramatically because of the general rise in global temperatures combined with the effects of a strong El Nino - an occasional reversal of the warm ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean.

Yup the Planet IS Getting Warmer AND It IS Our fault

2006-05-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

I really wish I wrote fiction. I keep telling myself I am and then another news report comes through about global warming and I question that assumption all over again. Here's a new article from The Independent on leaked news about global warming and yes Virginia, we are causing it

Here's just the beginning of the article.

Global warming fastest for 20,000 years - and it is mankind's fault
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
Published: 04 May 2006

Global warming is made worse by man-made pollution and the scale of the problem is unprecedented in at least 20,000 years, according to a draft report by the world's leading climate scientists.

The leaked assessment by the group of international experts says there is now overwhelming evidence to show that the Earth's climate is undergoing dramatic transformation because of human activity.

A draft copy of the report by a working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases are at the highest for at least 650,000 years.

It predicts that global average temperatures this century will rise by between 2C and 4.5C as a result of the doubling of carbon dioxide levels caused by man-made emissions.

Read the rest of the article.

Pugs DO Eat Peanut Butter

2006-04-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

For those of you who wondered where I came up with Pugs making peanut butter, the Three Pug Mugs blog shows that Pugs really LIKE peanut butter. So its not a big step to them making it, is it?

Time for Something Funny.

2006-03-19T06:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, maybe the following is more true than funny. Make that funny AND true:

Dog Rules
1. The dog is not allowed in the house.
2. Ok, the dog is allowed in the house, but only in certain parts.
3. The dog is allowed in all rooms, but has to stay off the furniture.
4. The dog can get on the old furniture only.
5. Fine, the dog allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with the humans on the bed.
6. Ok, the dog is allowed on the bed but by invitation only.
7. The dog can sleep on the bed whenever he wants, but not under the covers.
8. The dog can sleep under the covers by invitation only.
9. The dog can sleep under the covers every night.
10. Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the dog.

Excerpted from Ain't Too Proud to Beg by John T. Olson.

Visit me at Dogster Blog!

2006-03-11T20:17:00.000-08:00

That's right, I'm now blogging over at Dogster.com. I'll be back over here to talk about what's happening with the Haint sequel and other issues like global warming. But come on over to Dogster and join the big pack!

10 part quiz on global warming

2006-03-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Wonder how your knowledge of global warming stacks up? Take the 10 part quiz set up by the Environmental Defense Fund.

Dangerous Foods

2006-03-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

We've all heard about chocolate being bad for dogs. But what else should be on the no-no list? Here's a list from the Cold Nose News.

Thank you Fisher at the Wacky Weim Group on Dogster.com for bringing this info to my attention.

Why are grapes harmful?
As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and not every time. It's also not known whether small amounts eaten over a long time period could have a cumulative effect.What we do know is that the end result in nearly all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. (The term "acute" means that the condition is severe and comes on quickly.)

The dog ultimately can't produce urine, which means they can't filter toxins out of their systems -- a process essential to life.During the twelve-month period in which the effects of grapes were studied, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases involving one or more dogs. Over a third of the dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting to kidney failure, and seven dogs died.

The ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dogs health is entirely unaffected by eating grapes. But until they know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any amount. An ounce of prevention...

So, your dog just scored himself a big box of raisins or some Valentines chocolates. What's a pet owner to do?The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins were eaten recently, is to induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the activated charcoal if vomiting has already occurred. (In a pinch you can make your own activated charcoal by burning a piece of toast until it's charred and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids for at least 48 hours and monitor blood chemistry daily. Normal blood work after 3 days usually means your dog is in the clear.Keeping a watchful eye out, of course, is the best way to keep your pet out of trouble. Like children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for getting into mischief when we're not looking.

It's Not Just the Grapes...There are other foods your dog should be kept away from, and some of them may surprise you:
Chocolate
Who can resist chocolate? Like it your not, your dog.Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. So on Valentine's Day, you're actually being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself!Read my special report on chocolate to learn more, and see how different types of chocolate have varying effects on dogs health.

Cocoa Mulch
Mulch isn't food, but there's one type tempting enough for dogs to eat. Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production (which is how mulch made it into the "foods" category) and are popular as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like the attractive color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. The coca bean shells can contain from 0.2% to 3% theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to 1-4% in unprocessed beans.

Fatty foods
Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This can threaten your dogs health and is potentially fatal.NutsMacadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most nuts are not good for the dogs health since their high phosporus content is said to lead to bladder stones.

Onions
Onions, and especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder too.

Potatoes
Potato poisonings among people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why incidents seldom occur. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for a dogs health, actually quite nutritious and digestible.

Artificial Sweeteners
iXylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, a consulting veterinarian in clinical toxicology for the poison control center, "These signs can develop quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product" states Dr. Dunayer, "...therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately."

Turkey
Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs, partly due to it's high fat content.

Here are the rest of the foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful:
Alcoholic beverages Avocado (the only "fatty" member of the vegetable family)
Coffee (all forms of coffee)
Moldy or spoiled foods
Salt
Yeast
dough
Garlic

The Bottom LineThanks to a more educated public, fewer fatalities from foods like chocolate are being reported these days. But it's important to keep up with what's currently known about foods and their effects on dogs health. Grapes and cocoa mulch, for example, were only discovered very recently to have harmful effects.

Check frequently with sources like the ASPCA, or sign up for the "Cold Noses News" to have information like this delivered to your inbox. (You'll also get a bunch of cool dog stuff along with your free registration).

More News on Global Warming -- Ice is Melting Faster

2006-03-04T20:17:00.000-08:00

This just in from one of the best and most knowledgeable voices on global warming...

Climate change: on the edgeby Jim Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York

A satellite study of the Greenland ice cap shows that it is melting far faster than scientists had feared - twice as much ice is going into the sea as it was five years ago. The implications for rising sea levels - and climate change - could be dramatic.

Yet, a few weeks ago, when I - a NASA climate scientist - tried to talk to the media about these issues following a lecture I had given calling for prompt reductions in the emission of greenhouse gases, the NASA public affairs team - staffed by political appointees from the Bush administration - tried to stop me doing so. I was not happy with that, and I ignored the restrictions.

The first line of NASA 's mission is to understand and protect the planet.This new satellite data is a remarkable advance. We are seeing for the first time the detailed behavior of the ice streams that are draining the Greenland ice sheet. They show that Greenland seems to be losing at least 200 cubic kilometers of ice a year. It is different from even two years ago, when people still said the ice sheet was in balance. Hundreds of cubic kilometers sounds like a lot of ice.

But this is just the beginning. Once a sheet startsto disintegrate, it can reach a tipping point beyond which break-up is explosively rapid. The issue is how close we are getting to that tipping point. The summer of 2005 broke all records for melting in Greenland. So we may be on the edge.Our understanding of what is going on is very new. Today's forecasts of sea-level rise use climate models of the ice sheets that say they can only disintegrate over a thousand years or more. But we can now see that the models are almost worthless. They treat the ice sheets like a single block of ice that will slowly melt.

But what is happening is much more dynamic.Once the ice starts to melt at the surface, it forms lakes that empty down crevasses to the bottom of the ice. You get rivers of water underneath the ice. And the ice slides towards the ocean.Our NASA scientists have measured this in Greenland. And once these ice streams start moving, their influence stretches right to the interior of the ice sheet. Building an ice sheet takes a long time, because it is limited by snowfall. But destroying it can be explosively rapid.

How fast can this go? Right now, I think our best measure is what happened in the past. We know that, for instance, 14,000 years ago sea levels rose by 20m in 400 years - that is five meters in a century. This was towards the end of the last ice age, so there was more ice around. But, on the other hand, temperatures were not warming as fast as today.

How far can it go? The last time the world was three degrees warmer than today - which is what we expect later this century - sea levels were 25m higher. So that is what we can look forward to if we don't act soon. None of the current climate and ice models predict this. But I prefer the evidence from the Earth's history and my own eyes. I think sea-level rise is going to be the big issue soon, more even than warming itself.It's hard to say what the world will be like if this happens. It would be another planet. You could imagine great armadas of icebergs breaking off Greenland and melting as they float south. And, of course, huge areas being flooded.

How long have we got? We have to stabilize emissions of carbon dioxide within a decade, or temperatures will warm by more than one degree. That will be warmer than it has been for half a million years, and many things could become unstoppable. If we are to stop that, we cannot wait for new technologies like capturing emissions from burning coal. We have to act with what we have. This decade, that means focusing on energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy that do not burn carbon. We don't have much time left.

Jim Hansen, the director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, is President George Bush's top climate modeller.......................................................................................................

Condolences to the HaintOps and family

2006-02-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Tigger, beloved cat-familar and friend of Cara the HaintOps passed into eternity. Tigger had developed liver failure. She will be greatly missed by her co-cat Boo, her dog-brothers Darwin and Zeus, and of course her humans, Cara and Ryan and their children Dane and Lily (also known as the HaintGirl for those of you who've come to local booksignings).

My deepest sympathy for your loss and my highest praise for how you and your family are handling this very necessary part of life, death.

Global warming -- its too late

2006-02-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

From Common Dreams comes this definitely uncheery report that there is no way to reverse the climactic changes we're seeing now due to global warming. Seems that about 120 scientists from 11 countries have been working on a study for 20 years investigating the changes and the findings are not pretty. According to their findings, we can't stop our bad behaviours fast enough.

Here's a short quote from the article first printed in the Canadian Press:

One of the most surprising for David Barber, a sea ice specialist at the University of Manitoba, was the fact polar ice is melting at a rate of about 74,000 square kilometres each year - an area about the size of Lake Superior - and has been for the last 30 years.

"This is a very significant result, and it's not some sort of trend that's going to shift back the other way," Barber said Tuesday.

Barber added there is increasing concern in the scientific community that there are factors actually speeding up the melt, but he cautions it's too late to reverse the trend.
"The time to act actually was a few decades ago," he said.

"We're not going to be able to shift the economies of the planet to get off this fossil fuel addiction in a week, a year or a decade. But we have to start the process now to have some stability for future generations."

So much for the Bush administration's assertions that global warming can be dealt with by new technologies. File this one under the, "we should have noticed when the armadillos started moving north" category. Too bad. It was such a nice planet...

Dealing Dogs on HBO

2006-02-14T19:38:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard about it, HBO's new documentary Dealing Dogs throws much needed light on the very ugly side of the dog business, puppy mills. If you've ever wondered if the puppy mills are really THAT bad, check out this film. I haven't seen it but living in Missouri I've seen and heard of the evil incarnate that are those who cruelly breed dogs just to make money.

As I look at my "furkids," I cannot even imagine how completely rotted away at the core those breeders featured in this film must be to treat dogs with such hatred and cruelty.

I hate to think what sort of lives await these "people."

NOT on the lighter side --British scientists say we have 2 decades to make changes or else before global warming causes tragic repercussions

2006-02-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

The world must halt greenhouse gas emissions and reverse them within two decades or watch the planet spiralling towards destruction, scientists said on Monday.

We're down to it according to leading scientists. No more wishy-washy "maybes" according to the guys who know. For more information check out this article from Reuters on Truthout.

Synchronicity is all around us, isn't it? Just this week I got an email from a reader on the East Coast who said that while she was reading Haint, the weather was much warmer than normal and the wind blew incessantly. She said it really set the tone for her reading of Haint. For those of you who've read it, you'll recognize why.

On the lighter side -- new crossbreeds of dogs

2006-01-31T09:06:00.000-08:00

We've been awful gloomy here lately so here's a bit of levity.

Thanks to Jeannette W. and Laurie Butler for passing these on.

New Dog Cross Breeds:

Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport

Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet

Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs, a puzzling breed

Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso, an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle

Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever, the choice of research scientists

Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisors

Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador, a dog that barks incessantly

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point, owned by... oh, well, it doesn`t matter anyway

Collie + Malamute = Commute, a dog that travels to work

Deerhound + Terrier = Derrier, a dog that`s true to the end

Bull Terrier + Shitzu = Oh, never mind ...

A global warming tune you can dance to...

2006-01-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

If you like a lot of humor while considering the plight of future generations of humans and dogs (and all those other species too) check out the new animated clip from Defenders of Wildlife. Its funny and it has a good beat too. In our version of American Bandstand I think I'd give it a 5 out of 5. And you can dance to it too!

Silence the messenger, not defeat the problem -- Bush appointees try to stifle top NASA scientists from speaking out about global warming

2006-01-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am reminded yet again that we are living in Orwellian America by an article in today's New York TImes . Instead of alerting Americans to the very real consequences our actions have on future generations, the administration is working to silence the warnings. Don't worry about solutions they seem to say. Just don't talk about them and no one will know.

Here's the article in total:

Climate Expert Says NASA Tried to Silence Him
By ANDREW C. REVKIN

The top climate scientist at NASA says the Bush administration has tried to stop him from speaking out since he gave a lecture last month calling for prompt reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.

The scientist, James E. Hansen, longtime director of the agency's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in an interview that officials at NASA headquarters had ordered the public affairs staff to review his coming lectures, papers, postings on the Goddard Web site and requests for interviews from journalists.

Dr. Hansen said he would ignore the restrictions. "They feel their job is to be this censor of information going out to the public," he said.

Dean Acosta, deputy assistant administrator for public affairs at the space agency, said there was no effort to silence Dr. Hansen. "That's not the way we operate here at NASA," Mr. Acosta said. "We promote openness and we speak with the facts."
He said the restrictions on Dr. Hansen applied to all National Aeronautics and Space Administration personnel. He added that government scientists were free to discuss scientific findings, but that policy statements should be left to policy makers and appointed spokesmen.
Mr. Acosta said other reasons for requiring press officers to review interview requests were to have an orderly flow of information out of a sprawling agency and to avoid surprises. "This is not about any individual or any issue like global warming," he said. "It's about coordination."
Dr. Hansen strongly disagreed with this characterization, saying such procedures had already prevented the public from fully grasping recent findings about climate change that point to risks ahead.

"Communicating with the public seems to be essential," he said, "because public concern is probably the only thing capable of overcoming the special interests that have obfuscated the topic."

Dr. Hansen, 63, a physicist who joined the space agency in 1967, directs efforts to simulate the global climate on computers at the Goddard Institute in Morningside Heights in Manhattan.
Since 1988, he has been issuing public warnings about the long-term threat from heat-trapping emissions, dominated by carbon dioxide, that are an unavoidable byproduct of burning coal, oil and other fossil fuels. He has had run-ins with politicians or their appointees in various administrations, including budget watchers in the first Bush administration and Vice President Al Gore.

In 2001, Dr. Hansen was invited twice to brief Vice President Dick Cheney and other cabinet members on climate change. White House officials were interested in his findings showing that cleaning up soot, which also warms the atmosphere, was an effective and far easier first step than curbing carbon dioxide.

He fell out of favor with the White House in 2004 after giving a speech at the University of Iowa before the presidential election, in which he complained that government climate scientists were being muzzled and said he planned to vote for Senator John Kerry.
But Dr. Hansen said that nothing in 30 years equaled the push made since early December to keep him from publicly discussing what he says are clear-cut dangers from further delay in curbing carbon dioxide.

In several interviews with The New York Times in recent days, Dr. Hansen said it would be irresponsible not to speak out, particularly because NASA's mission statement includes the phrase "to understand and protect our home planet."

He said he was particularly incensed that the directives had come through telephone conversations and not through formal channels, leaving no significant trails of documents.
Dr. Hansen's supervisor, Franco Einaudi, said there had been no official "order or pressure to say shut Jim up." But Dr. Einaudi added, "That doesn't mean I like this kind of pressure being applied."
The fresh efforts to quiet him, Dr. Hansen said, began in a series of calls after a lecture he gave on Dec. 6 at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. In the talk, he said that significant emission cuts could be achieved with existing technologies, particularly in the case of motor vehicles, and that without leadership by the United States, climate change would eventually leave the earth "a different planet."
The administration's policy is to use voluntary measures to slow, but not reverse, the growth of emissions.

After that speech and the release of data by Dr. Hansen on Dec. 15 showing that 2005 was probably the warmest year in at least a century, officials at the headquarters of the space agency repeatedly phoned public affairs officers, who relayed the warning to Dr. Hansen that there would be "dire consequences" if such statements continued, those officers and Dr. Hansen said in interviews.

Among the restrictions, according to Dr. Hansen and an internal draft memorandum he provided to The Times, was that his supervisors could stand in for him in any news media interviews.

Mr. Acosta said the calls and meetings with Goddard press officers were not to introduce restrictions, but to review existing rules. He said Dr. Hansen had continued to speak frequently with the news media.

But Dr. Hansen and some of his colleagues said interviews were canceled as a result.
In one call, George Deutsch, a recently appointed public affairs officer at NASA headquarters, rejected a request from a producer at National Public Radio to interview Dr. Hansen, said Leslie McCarthy, a public affairs officer responsible for the Goddard Institute.
Citing handwritten notes taken during the conversation, Ms. McCarthy said Mr. Deutsch called N.P.R. "the most liberal" media outlet in the country. She said that in that call and others, Mr. Deutsch said his job was "to make the president look good" and that as a White House appointee that might be Mr. Deutsch's priority.

But she added: "I'm a career civil servant and Jim Hansen is a scientist. That's not our job. That's not our mission. The inference was that Hansen was disloyal."
Normally, Ms. McCarthy would not be free to describe such conversations to the news media, but she agreed to an interview after Mr. Acosta, at NASA headquarters, told The Times that she would not face any retribution for doing so.

Mr. Acosta, Mr. Deutsch's supervisor, said that when Mr. Deutsch was asked about the conversations, he flatly denied saying anything of the sort. Mr. Deutsch referred all interview requests to Mr. Acosta.

Ms. McCarthy, when told of the response, said: "Why am I going to go out of my way to make this up and back up Jim Hansen? I don't have a dog in this race. And what does Hansen have to gain?"

Mr. Acosta said that for the moment he had no way of judging who was telling the truth. Several colleagues of both Ms. McCarthy and Dr. Hansen said Ms. McCarthy's statements were consistent with what she told them when the conversations occurred.

"He's not trying to create a war over this," said Larry D. Travis, an astronomer who is Dr. Hansen's deputy at Goddard, "but really feels very strongly that this is an obligation we have as federal scientists, to inform the public."

Dr. Travis said he walked into Ms. McCarthy's office in mid-December at the end of one of the calls from Mr. Deutsch demanding that Dr. Hansen be better controlled.

In an interview on Friday, Ralph J. Cicerone, an atmospheric chemist and the president of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation's leading independent scientific body, praised Dr. Hansen's scientific contributions and said he had always seemed to describe his public statements clearly as his personal views.

"He really is one of the most productive and creative scientists in the world," Dr. Cicerone said. "I've heard Hansen speak many times and I've read many of his papers, starting in the late 70's. Every single time, in writing or when I've heard him speak, he's always clear that he's speaking for himself, not for NASA or the administration, whichever administration it's been."
The fight between Dr. Hansen and administration officials echoes other recent disputes. At climate laboratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for example, many scientists who routinely took calls from reporters five years ago can now do so only if the interview is approved by administration officials in Washington, and then only if a public affairs officer is present or on the phone.

Where scientists' points of view on climate policy align with those of the administration, however, there are few signs of restrictions on extracurricular lectures or writing.
One example is Indur M. Goklany, assistant director of science and technology policy in the policy office of the Interior Department. For years, Dr. Goklany, an electrical engineer by training, has written in papers and books that it may be better not to force cuts in greenhouse gases because the added prosperity from unfettered economic activity would allow countries to exploit benefits of warming and adapt to problems.

In an e-mail exchange on Friday, Dr. Goklany said that in the Clinton administration he was shifted to nonclimate-related work, but added that he had never had to stop his outside writing, as long as he identified the views as his own.

"One reason why I still continue to do the extracurricular stuff," he wrote, "is because one doesn't have to get clearance for what I plan on saying or writing."
Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

Am I writing science fiction or a snapshot of our actual future? Most of teh time I think its the former, until I read things like this article. Then I have to wonder.

EPA wants to test pesticides on children and pregnant women

2006-01-27T18:32:00.000-08:00

I write science fiction but THIS stuff scares me!

This just out in an article from our noble journalists at TruthOut, the same government which is pushing legislative tort reform (read that cutting liabilities to large corporations) now wants to allow some of those large corporations (large pharma and chemical in particular) to, ahem, test their bug killers on pregnant women and children.

Where's the Queen of Hearts? Which way out of THIS looking glass?

That's right, the companies who already make a lot of money want to use unborn babies as test subjects! Where's the Pro-Life movement when you need them? Seems that dosing the next generation with bug spray just to find out the deleterious effects seems rather odd at best. I mean, haven't there been decades of evidence that bug sprays designed to take out smaller creatures by stopping their nervous systems isn't too good for developing humans? No big discoveries here.

What is very interesting that the same people who want to "loosen up" those controls on human testing also want to "tighten up" the reins on average people who get harmed by large corporations like, oh well, the drug and chemical companies. Might be something there but I couldn't say for sure. All the same, you might want to connect the dots.

We give trophy hunters tax breaks

2006-01-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

Did you know that we actually help trophy hunters kill animals by giving them tax breaks? I didn't but the Care2 and The Humane Society of America folks did. Seems that our brave but bloated hunters (you know, the same ones who think its fun to shoot live animals via webcams in Texas) just can't seem to afford their little vice so a whole cottage industry has grown up advising them on how to make their hunting less expensive or even free by calling it "charity" and getting tax breaks. Amazing!

It seems that if these "hunters" claim they are shooting a couple of extra animals for museums they canw rite off their expenses. Needless to say someone HAD to write a book. SO those guys are not only making money off dead animals, they've encouraging others to kill MORE animals to enable them to kill the ones they wanted to kill in the first place.

Now don't get me wrong. I am NOT a vegetarian and I am NOT absolutely positively anti-hunting in all cases. What I am is outraged that some sick souls would have taken the video game to the next level -- killing live beings. Its one thing to hunt pheasant in person, a completely different thing to shoot a water buffalo via a camera attached to a rifle a thousand miles away from where you sit ensconced in your comfy recliner with your Cheetos! Talk about dehumanization! talk about disconnection from the real event! How do these guys get blooded? Via FedEx?!?!!?

But back to the issue at hand. I'm even more outraged that our tax dollars would support this lazy, inhumane treatment of animals. Here's what Care2 had to say in a recent email:

"The blatent corruption is evident even in canned hunt ads; many operators use slogans like "Hunt For Free," "Hunting in a Tight Money Economy," and "7 Secrets of Tax Deductible Hunting." Can you believe they are actually advertising the taxpayer-financed killing of helplessly enclosed animals? "

Amen!!!!

If you want to find out more check out ThePetitionSite, HSUS or Care2. All have ways to protest this stupendously stupid way to add to the national deficit via theft of tax funds.

ASPCA's 10 most poisonous plants

2006-01-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

If you're an avid gardener (or even a not-so-avid gardener) this is a list you may want to read. There are some plants on it that many of us have in our homes or yards. Most of us know that things like mistletoe are dangerous to pets but did you know kalanchoe is too? I didn't.

Thanks to the ASPCA for yet another service for our home companions!

New York Times editorial on accepting dogs' amazing abilities and one Wonderful Scottish Pixie

2006-01-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

If you've ever seen a diagnostic dog in action, this editorial is no surprize nor revelation. The New York Times has a lovely and short editorial on how we forget how amazing are the animals around us in everyday life.

The writer discusses cancer-sniffing dogs but the piece reminds me of one outstanding little Scottish dog named Pixie. If I had not misplaced my new digital camera shortly after returning from Scotland I would be proud to post Pixie's picture on this or any site. Pixie was a black and tan mix of perhaps border collie and doberman or some other breed with the distinctive blanc body and caramel colored eyebrows. A delight to be around at any time but if one needed to learn just how disadvantaged we are as a species when it comes to natural abilities, spend some time with Pixie, her human companion Adrian Glynn and their friend David Mackie.

All three are absolutely delightful Scots but Pixie was the one who was always at work. You see, Pixie is a diagnostic dog. She watches over Adrian (who is diabetic) and David (who is epileptic). She constantly monitors both and makes sure both are cared for and about. When Pixie is on duty both Adrian and David are safer for it. And the world is a better place for all of us who believe in natural "magic."

No one ever mnetioned in Grimm's Fairy Tales that Pixies could be angels too.

George Monbiot's recent article, "The Scam of Global Warming..."

2006-01-17T20:55:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered how some people could blithely deny the reality of global warming that we see around us every day? Then check out the new article by George Monbiot in the Guardian and passed on to us by the sterling folks at Common Dreams. In "The Scam of Global Warming is That We Pay Others for Our Complacency" Monbiot pulls away the veil from the carbon offset trade. But he also does something even more interesting; he not so subtly raises the larger question of the monied interests' shell game with something that affects us all --global warming and the lack of true action in addressing the very thing that will pull our own earth out from under us as surely as the ice is falling away from the polar bears.

Global Warming Accelerating

2006-01-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

From the fine folks at Common Dreams yet another compelling article on Global Warming. The Independent is reporting that we are about to see an acceleration of Global Warming. Seems that the readings of carbon dioxide parts per million have jumped from 1.6 in the 1990's to recent unpublished findings of 2.2 ppm.

I guess I'd better write the sequels faster so we can see what happens. It would be nice to know if there is much of a future. Sardonic of me I know...

And if you believe this I have a few bridges to sell you -- US government says private enterprise will solve global warming

2006-01-12T19:10:00.000-08:00

Common Dreams has sent on another great article on global warming. In this one the Guardian reports that the US government is addressing global warming by depending on the private sector to devise new technologies!!!! Talk about governing by putting one's head in the nuclear sand!!!! I'm guessing these political appointees never heard of the tragedy of the commons.

2006-01-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

Frog species victim of global warming

Interesting article in The New York Times today about global warming being the root cause of the demise of a variety of frog. Biologists have said for decades that frogs are our canaries in the mines. When they start going, so do we. Thanks to Common Dreams for circulating the article!

And so it begins...

I guess that isn't really correct because I'm sure there are other species of animal and plant life that are already beginning the slide into extinction due to global warming and we just don't know about them yet.

Heil the Weim

2005-12-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

OBEY THE WEIMARANER!
WEIMARANER Propaganda Poster Art by Kevin McCormick
A design of true Weimaraner patriotism. Show your support for this militant breed that inspires "shock and awe" from all who observe them.

Created in the colors of the Weimaraner's homeland, this propaganda design also features the Weimaraner's (and Germany's) motto: Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit (Unity and Justice and Freedom).

Surrender to the authority of the Weimaraner, and show that you support the Weimaraner's diabolical World Domination plot with official "Obey the Weimaraner!" propaganda.

Big thank-you to Pets in the City

2005-12-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

THANK YOU to Pets in the City for recommending Haint in their December newsletter.
Here is the full text of the letter www.thecitypet.com/newsletter.html

I am also most impressed that Amy put out this newsletter in the last weeks of her pregnancy - we are all so anxious to meet the newest Pizano! (now if she would just come over and get all the baby stuff I'm saving for her!!)

Black dogs as spiritual guardians

2005-11-17T09:48:00.000-08:00

Intriguing article by Bob Trubshaw from "At the Edge - Exploring new interpretations of past and place in archaeology, folklore and mythology". He gives mythological background on Celtic canines, Friar Tuck's fifty hounds, Egyptian and Greek canine guardians, and much more!

Black Dogs: Guardians of the corpse ways
Bob Trubshaw
If the folklore of phantom black dogs is exceptionally rich then the mythology of dogs shows they have been not only man's close companions for many millennia, but also providing a very specific spiritual guardianship.

Guardian hounds occur widely in shamanic Otherworldly lore. The Altaic shaman encounters a dog that guards the underworld realm of Erlik Khan. When the Yukaghir shaman follows the road to the kingdom of shadows, he finds an old woman's house guarded by a barking dog. In Koryak shamanism the entrance to the land of the dead is guarded by dogs. A dog with bared teeth guards the entrance to the undersea land of Takakapsaluk, Mother of the Sea Beasts, in Eskimo shamanism [1]. The custom of burying a dog and the skin of a favourite reindeer with a dead man was still current among Ugrian people of Siberia earlier this century [2].

The notion of dogs as spiritual guardians fits the separate folklore of 'Church Grims'. These perhaps derive from the belief that the first person to be buried in a churchyard would have to guard any subsequent inhumed souls. Baring-Gould put forward the belief that it was the custom to sacrifice a dog, specifically one without a single white hair, in the foundations of the church - although direct evidence is lacking. In Scandinavia a similar practice more commonly use a lamb, but the creature was still known as the Kirkogrim [3].

The dog is the oldest domestic animal, traceable to the paleolithic, since when dogs have enjoyed a peculiarly close relationship with humans, sharing their hearths at night and guarding the home, working during the day as sheepdogs or hunters. This close symbiotic relationship with people is reflected in the early literature where dogs seem to have clear connections with the Otherworld. But this is not unique to hounds as many species from bulls, boars, to owls and cuckoos have clear associations with deities which lead to ritual veneration. However, archaeological evidence and mythology brings recurring examples of a very specific role for dogs. They are the 'psycopomps', the guides on the paths to the Otherworld, the guardians of the 'liminal' zone at the boundaries of the worlds.

To continue the article please go here.

Dogs and Light Bulbs

2005-11-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

Afghan:Light bulb? What light bulb?
Bassett Hound:Light bulb light bulb, gonna get a light bulb, Light bulb, light light, yeah gonna get it, gonna get it, WHAT I am gonna get it??? What'd I do??
Golden Retriever:The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're worrying about a burned out light bulb?
Border Collie:Just one. And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.
Dachshund:I can't reach the stupid lamp!
Toy Poodle:I'll just blow in the border collie's ear and he'll do it.
Rottweiler:Make me!
Shi-tzu:Puuuh--leeez, daahling, I have servants for that kind of thing.
Lab:Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeaze let me change the light bulb. Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Can I?
Malamute:Let the border collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.
Cocker Spaniel:Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
Pit Bull:Change it, yeah with ketchup and mustard and put it on a roll and wrap it in bacon and have it with French fries, YUMMMMMM!
Doberman Pinscher:While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.
Mastiff:Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.
Beagle:Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I ate was a light bulb?
Siberian Husky:Light bulb?!? I ate the light bulb, and the lamp, and the coffee table it sat on, and the carpet under the coffee table, and...
Cat:You need light to see?

Dogs: God's Worst Enemies?

2005-11-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Fascinating paper from the Journal of Human-Animal Studies by Sophia Menache, University of Haifa in Israel.
In a broad survey of negative and hostile attitudes toward canines in pagan, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, the author posits that warm ties between humans and canines have been seen as a threat to the authority of the clergy and indeed, of God. Exploring ancient myth, Biblical and Rabbinical literature, and early and medieval Christianity and Islam, she explores images and prohibitions concerning dogs in the texts of institutionalized, monotheistic religions, and offers possible explanations for these attitudes, including concern over disease.
http://www.psyeta.org/sa/sa5.1/menache.html

Joy Ward now blogging!

2005-11-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

Haint author Joy Ward has recently started blogging! She intends the journal style format to complement and personalize the forma writing process as she begins to create the sequel to 'Haint.

Haint to be read at St. Louis Book Festival & Craft Fair

2005-10-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Joy will be reading from her book "Haint" at 12:30pm on Saturday, October22 and 12:30pm Sunday, October 23 at the St Louis Book Festival & Craft Fair.

The Festival is located on the Muny grounds in Forest Park. She also will be available to sign copies of her book as well as to brighten your day with sparkling conversation at the Haint booth immediately adjacent to the Emerging Author's Reading Tent.

Bring your dog to meet Haint's cousins Tank or little Starry and receive an autographed bookmark! (or is that paw-to-graphed?)

The weather looks beautiful for this weekend! Enjoy the spectacular fall colors while strolling among St Louis' premiere book and craft festival. See you at Forest Park this weekend!!

Myth, Legend and Fiction of Children raised by wolves/dogs

2005-09-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Romulus and Remus story began when Amulius, king of the city of Alba Longa, deposed his brother Numitor. Afraid that Numitor's daughter Rhea Silvia might have sons who would rise up to overthrow him, Amulius forced Rhea Silvia to become a priestess, and therefore forbidden to marry. Nevertheless, the god Mars managed to reach her and as a result she conceived the twin sons, Romulus and Remus.
Amulius found out and placed the boys in a trough that was thrown into the river Tiber. Then the twins were found by a she-wolf who suckled them until they were discovered by the shepherd Faustulus, whose wife looked after and gave them their names.
Eventually, Romulus and Remus rose against Amulius, killed him, and restored the kingdom to their grandfather. Wanting to found their own town, Romulus and Remus built a settlement on the Palatine Hill, where the she-wolf had nursed them, but Remus mocked the low walls built by Romulus: as a result, Romulus killed him. Romulus finished building the new city, and called it Roma after his own name.
The classical historian Herodotus wrote that Cyrus had been suckled by a dog. How and Wells, in their notes on Herodotus, say that Sargon of Akkad was also suckled by a dog.
The twins Lycastus 3 and Parrhasius, sons of Ares and Phylonome, were suckled by a wolf.
Mowgli in Disney's 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book".
The 1977 movie "Lucan" - a story of a young boy who was raised by wolves in the wilderness of North Minnesota. Found at ten, he is cared for by a University Research Centre. After being seriously injured in an accident, he is advised to find his real parents. Numerous adventures occur as he tries to find his past.
Okami Shonen Ken (Ken the Wolf Boy) - 1963 Japanese anime TV series about a boy living with wolves.

(check out feralchildren.com for more info)

Wolf Song of Alaska

2005-09-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

I just came across this Wonderful site called "Wolf Song of Alaska". www.wolfsongalaska.org

Incorporated in 1988, Wolf Song of Alaska has distinguished itself as a highly visible and credible organization that is devoted to understanding the wolf, its natural, history, its varied relation to humans throughout the ages, and its role as a major symbol in folklore, myth, legend, art, and religion.

I hate finding such interesting material - I will be now be spending too much of my time embroiled in such topics as The Wolf in Fiction, Wolves in Religion, and Wolves & Humans! They also have a Wolf Museum and an observation facility in Chugiak, Alaska. Road Trip anyone?

THE book!!

2005-07-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

I'm just using this cool new feature at eblogger that makes it soooo much easier to post images. Thought y'all'd want to see the book that is rocking the world. (remember those words)

The website is expanded - check it out.

Haint's Oracle

2005-06-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.
-M. Acklam

Generating excitement for the 1st booksigning

2005-06-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

Wow - our first booksigning is next Saturday!! We are really trying to get the word out and use all possible connections to pump up the excitement for this event. However, I'm frustrated that Haint is still not completely right on Amazon - still the book is not available. Aaargh!

We are thinking of refreshments for the booksigning. Of course Joy and I will be there along with Lily the dog handler and either Tank or Sol. I was thinking of doggie style cookies for the humans and human style dog treats for the dogs. One served out of a dog bowl and the other served on a fancy platter. Hmmmm.

My apologies for not getting the other Flyer dogs out on the blog - I can't seem to download their pics. I'll figure it out someday :)

Just a few musings from the HaintOps - will vent later TTFN

What kind of dog are you??

2005-06-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

Click on the 'what kind of dog are you' link:

http://gone2thedogs.com/game/preloader.swf

Haint's oracle

2005-06-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

Meet Lucky from the Haint flyer!!

2005-06-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Lucky Douglas was rescued as a puppy from uncertain fate by her current fam. She frolics with her adopted sybs Barney and Mushy in a lush urban mulchdom. She enjoys trips to the countryside if it is not too beastly hot, perfecting her Hollywood persona, and flirting through the fence with her handsome neighbor Darwin.

Meet Darwin from the Haint flyer!

2005-06-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

Darwin Puppernutter Jensen is the proud canine companion of the Jensen fam. His hobbies include wearing out tennis balls, licking toes, perfecting his intense stare, and trying to charm delicate morsels from the fingers of his little human companions.