ANTWERP, Belgium (Reuters) - Mozart, an iguana with an erection that has lasted for over a week, will have his penis amputated in the next couple of days.

Veterinarians at Antwerp's Aquatopia had sought to treat the animal's problem, but decided removal was the only solution because of the risk of infection. The good news for Mozart and his mates is that male iguanas have two penises.

Mozart, sitting on the shoulders of his keeper as camera crews focused on his red, swollen erection, seemed unperturbed by the news.

"It doesn't bother him. He doesn't know what amputation means," said vet Luc Lambrecht, adding that Mozart's sexual activity should be undimmed by the operation.

"I don't think so. That's all in his head."

[link]

Good lord, people are dropping like flies around here! First there was fireddecided-to-leave coworker, then there was my staff person, now the other person at her level is out! I guess it was time -- all the positions on my level turned over in the past year, so now it's the more junior people's time.

Popcorn and a tangerine make a good breakfast, right?

One of my classmates was saying yesterday that, when he was home in Poland, it was -20 degrees. I had to go through the whole, "OK, -20 divided by 5 is -4. Times 9 is -36. Plus 32 is -4," before getting to "Yeah, that's pretty cold."

One of my classmates was saying yesterday that, when he was home in Poland, it was -20 degrees. I had to go through the whole, "OK, -20 divided by 5 is -4. Times 9 is -36. Plus 32 is -4," before getting to "Yeah, that's pretty cold."

Instead of dong all that math, I'd think, "OK, zero degrees C is 32F and -40 degrees C = -40 degrees F, so -20 C would be halfway between 32 and -40F, so that's about -4ish F....

Or you can double it, subtract 10%, then add 32.

I just learned this -- after talking with Sue.

My method is to hunt up the nearest thermometer, which cleverly has both scales on it.

It's too damned cold. There's condensation on my office windows and it sure is not humid in here.

And the roads are so salty, clouds of deicer billow up and you can taste it. Uhg.

I never convert the temperature in the winter, but in the summer, I often do. I guess 77F seems warmer than 25C.

Of course! It's a bigger number.

That makes sense to me, Sue. You may want to be afraid, now.

With the fever thing -- I was just thinking that a 1 degree body temperature jump is in Celsius is so much more significant than it is, in Fahrenheit.

37C is 98.6F; 38C is 100.4F; 39C is 102.2F; 40C is 104.