Happy birthdays, javachik and Dylan!

(Edit: and any other b-days I missed from not hanging around on Natter a lot anymore).

That's lame, imo. Like when people play Gimp for a Day and decide they couldn't possibly manage.(um, not the birthday greetings...)

Shoot, thought I'd be kind and let the shower go over a little.

Kindness sucks. Kindness gets me walked on.

They haven't even begun leaving, let alone packing and cleaning up. Now, instead of a half an hour, it's gonna be an hour and a half unless they hustle.

I want to nap!

School lunches around the world: [link]

In addition to the differences in the food, what I really noticed was that just about all the US ones have styrofoam trays and plastic forks, and just about all the ones from elsewhere have reusable plates and flatware. Also, apparently children in the US must have potatoes at every meal.

Also, apparently children in the US must have potatoes at every meal.

Idaho is a harsh mistress.

ION, Secret Russian Army … of Cats!

Although no longer allowed to roam freely through the galleries, around 60 felines earn a living in the basement of the huge former Tsarist palace.

Maria Khaltunen, Hermitage State Museum: "They (cats) work here. They execute, so-called, preventive activities so that rats and mice will stay away or are kept at a minimum. All the museum visitors can see them in the summer. Generally they walk on the square and on the embankment, and also they come out into the big yard. But these (cats) are only those who like to deal with people. Others who prefer living in their community stay in basement."

The priceless treasures of the museum are under the watchful eye of these cats. These four-footed employees are always on guard against rats and mice that can damage the Hermitage collection. They work in the labyrinths of the basement, hunting by day and night.

Cats have been guarding the museum for the last 200 years since the Tsarist period. They first appeared during the reign of Peter the Great’s daughter, Empress Elizabeth. Fed up with hundreds of rodents running through the palace Elizabeth signed a decree ordering the best rat and mice-catching cats to be sent to Her Majesty’s court.

Laser Cat Makes His Own Pet Door

One of the suggestions I found online for strawberries was to dip them in sour cream and then in brown sugar, and then nom.

I pronounce it tasty.

Sour cream with a dash of sugar is nomilicious on cheesecake and fruit.

One of the suggestions I found online for strawberries was to dip them in sour cream and then in brown sugar, and then nom.

This is how my mom and aunt ALWAYS ate them. So good.

[link]

Went to Honfest. "Washed" my car (in quotes because it was more just remove large chunks rather than a thorough washing.) Documented destructo boy's handiwork above.