Yay, paperdol!

Quick update on Teddy, now that I've caught up after taking last week off and finding a crisis during that time.

He had a bad blood work result a week ago Sunday, so we started him on another round of IV fluids on Monday the 8th. On Wednesday, we found out that the eligibility standards have changed, and he is no longer too old to be considered for a kidney transplant.

Long story short -- Tests have been done. We have an appointment with a vet at the University of Pennsylvania on Monday at 10 (so you can imagine how early we'll have to leave the house that morning to get to Philadelphia in time). There will be a couple more tests, including a tissue match with the potential donors that are available. Then the transplant happens, probably late next week or early the week after. After a couple weeks in the hospital recovering, we bring home both Teddy and the donor (because we don't just get the kidney -- we get the whole cat!).

The bound book is cool, paperdol. The ick is not cool. Get better soon.

That seems only fair, Fred! My fingers are crossed that all goes well for you and him!

One day I will learn that if a body part is going "OW, OW, YOU MORON" that I probably should check on said body part, especially considering that I have a high threshold of pain.

Location for the 2100 Buffista F2F?

'Second Earth' found, 20 light years away

Scientists have discovered a warm and rocky "second Earth" circling a star, a find they believe dramatically boosts the prospects that we are not alone.

The planet is the most Earth-like ever spotted and is thought to have perfect conditions for water, an essential ingredient for life. Researchers detected the planet orbiting one of Earth's nearest stars, a cool red dwarf called Gliese 581, 20 light years away in the constellation of Libra.

Measurements of the planet's celestial path suggest it is 1½ times the size of our home planet, and orbits close to its sun, with a year of just 13 days. The planet's orbit brings it 14 times closer to its star than Earth is to the sun. But Gliese 581 burns at only 3,000C, half the temperature of our own sun, making conditions on the planet comfortable for life, with average ground temperatures estimated at 0 to 40C. Researchers claim the planet is likely to have an atmosphere. The discovery follows a three-year search for habitable planets by the European Southern Observatory at La Silla in Chile.

"We wouldn't be surprised if there is life on this planet," said Stephane Udry, an astronomer on the project at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland.

Two years ago, the same team discovered a giant Neptune-sized planet orbiting Gliese 581. A closer look revealed the latest planetary discovery, along with a third, larger planet that orbits the star every 84 days. The planets have been named after their star, with the most earthlike called Gliese 581c. The team spotted the planet by searching the "habitable zone".

I think this is the first rocky "Earth-size" extrasolar planet ever found.

The Post's commuter column, Dr. Gridlock, cited the Virginia law about making right and left turns on red ... which leads me to ask, aren't you supposed to stop on red?

yeah, I seem to remember some wacky rule about being able to make a left on a red light (after coming to a stop, of course ;) ) if turning from a one way street onto a one way street.

ION, the yummy Old Guard is on campus today. They're the ceremonial unit that does funerals and events in the army. They are required to be a certain level of hot.

I seem to remember some wacky rule about being able to make a left on a red light (after coming to a stop, of course ;) ) if turning from a one way street onto a one way street.

Yep. You can turn left on red if both streets are one-way. I find this useful in Houston's downtown.

paperdol, your neighbors are so sweet! Also? For your cough, go get yourself some Delsym. All it does is calm/shut off the cough impulse, so its great if your don't want the rest of the stuff in nyquil. It'll let you sleep.

In Baltimore, red lights at downtown intersections are usually treated as an advisory.

Hehe. Not just downtown. Light turns green, you wait for the intersection to clear. There are 3 red-light cameras on my drive to work. They seem to have made no difference. I've had to go to court to contest a red-light camera ticket. Picture wasn't of my car and I have no idea how they managed to interpret the plate id in the picture as mine. This might be why they've made no difference.

They are required to be a certain level of hot.

I'm a sucker for uniforms anyway, but those boys are all hot.

Cool beans about GlieseC!