2013 Vancouver Dolphins Day: Let's Save the Dolphins!

Over 50 people gathered together in front of the Japanese Consulate in downtown Vancouver, BC to protest the annual slaughter of dolphins in Taiji Cove, Japan.

It was a peaceful protest with supporters making signs on site, great camaraderie and a musical performance by Carol Cox.

The general public was receptive, taking brochures and waving and honking as they drove past. My personal calculation of honks is 300, and dozens of brochures distributed. Funds were collected to further the cause and organizer Karen made a petition poster to be sent to the Japanese Consulate that we all signed and encouraged passers by to sign as well.

Why do we protest dolphins being slaughtered for meat or culled and discarded? It is claimed they eat the fish in the cove so the fishermen have nothing left to catch. For them it's a generations-long tradition. However, dolphins are considered to have a similar intelligence to humans, with feelings and a complex system of communication. How can we kill such an advanced being when we are not starving? Is it right to leave baby dolphins without their mothers after the slaughter? Perhaps it's time these fishermen hung up their nets and joined the 21st century with new careers.

I encourage you to call or write your local Japanese Consulate to express your beliefs in the hopes that one day, Japan will ban this barbaric practice.

The film The Cove won best documentary at the Oscar Awards 2010 and first brought the dolphin's plight to the world.

After a successful demo we hope to have a fundraiser in November and plan on making this a bigger event in 2014. The more support we have the greater the dolphins will have a chance for survival at Taiji Cove, Japan.

Steampunk: A Journey in Time

Over 100 adventurers disembarked at the airship port in Abbotsford, BC to share their time-travelling experiences.

We met up at Trethewey Heritage House for our second annual steampunk event. There were several vendors there for those who lost their shirts at the last great battle.

Many entertinaing activities took place including a primer in Victorian pharmaceuticals where we learned about the benefits of lavendar and arsenic. There were book readings and body art demonstrations. The bartitsu demonstration by Academie Duello of Vancouver offered each of us a chance to practice self-defense against the dark arts while only using our walking sticks and parasols.

The steampunks mixed and mingled in their divine costumes with tea cups and treats in hand. The rain gave us a chance to try out our new parasols, newly arrived from China.

Stay tuned for next year's events, or hop in your time machine to join us tomorrow.

The Real Reason There is a Skyrocketing Cat Population in Canada: Crazy Cat Lady or the Truth?

Before you say, "Great, it's not the humans' fault after all, it's the squirrels' or the truck drivers'", it's still the human's fault.

In 2011, over 600,000 cats did not find homes in Canada. Of that number, most have likely been euthanized.

My theory as to what happened is as follows.

For thousands of years humans were content to be born as humans, hunt and gather food, tend to the crops and raise their families. Somewhere around Victorian times humans became too smart for their own good and they knew it.

Humans started demanding basic human rights that were constantly taken away by their employers. They started abusing each other and demanding stuff for free. They wanted the government to look after them, but they didn't want to pay the taxes.

Humans sat down and had a good hard look at the world around them. They looked at their pets whom they loved. "I want to be a cat," they said to each other.

"If I can't be a cat in this life, I want to be a cat in my next life."

Tomorrow, those human souls become kittens via reincarnation.

By now you realize that your odds of finding a good kitty home are next to nil.

And once again, the cat overpopulation is still the humans' fault, just like it has always been.

SPCA Cat Report:
http://www.spcans.ca/documents/news/CFHS_CatReport3.pdf

Five Things I Loved About Vancouver Fan Expo & Five Things I Hated About Vancouver Fan Expo 2013

What I loved:

1. All the fabulous costumes that the fans wore, from comic book super heroes to Doctor Who to Star Wars characters.
2. Seeing the stars up close. We didn’t have to purchase autographs or photo sessions to see many wandering around or seated at one of the tables.
3. The panels with the stars which were very informative and entertaining.
4. The chance to buy some cool merchandise.
5. The chance to have our photographs taken with the stars.


What I hated:

1. It’s costly to buy a ticket that only allows entrance to the event, but does not offer anything else.
2. The lack of panels. This was a chance to hear the stars talk, but I guess they’d rather earn money selling photos and autographs.
3. The lack of non-comic book related merchandise. I seriously did not get my Doctor Who fix.
4. Being rushed through autograph and photo sessions. These cost from $40 plus, and only offered about one minute with each star.
5. The mass confusion and lack of security to direct people anywhere. A major concern after the Boston bombing.

Prepare Your Time Machine for the Time Travellers' Bazaar in Vancouver, BC!

12:30 - 4:00 pm

Brittania High 

School Cafeteria

Vancouver, B.C.

Looking for that perfect outfit or costume for Fan Expo, Comic Con, Dragon Con or Victoria Steam Expo? Come on out to this free event, there is no entrance fee at the door. Just come to browse, socialize or shop among the Time Travelling Vendors.

Yours Truly will have mostly jewellery, accessories, and handmade posies for your Victorian costumes. There will also be a bagful of clothes and half a table full of crafting supplies. I'm not sure what the other vendors are bringing but I did hear whispers of Victorian, Steampunk, and Super Heroes.

Anything that can be crafted or worn is allowed at the Bazaar.

Join us for a blast through the past and don't forget to steam up your Time Machine!

What in bread's name is L-Cysteine?

I've always wanted to write a blog entry about the L-Cysteine food additive but sadly can't keep up with my fun projects, let alone depressing nutritional news. Here's a great article that says pretty much what I wanted to decry about the new L-Cysteine food additive. No, we should not be forced to eat human body parts. Yuck. I am not a cannibal!

Source:
I am not a cannibal!

How to Comb a Cat and Get Away with It!

The other day I asked my boyfriend for blog ideas. Perhaps my readers are getting tired of reading about Steampunk, writing, cats, and booze. Not necessarily all at once. 

"How to Comb a Cat" is what he suggested. While he's right on the money with how-to articles being a popular blog choice, I asked why he picked this topic. 

"Because my cat enjoys being combed for five seconds and then she bites me." So, what he was really asking was not how to actually comb a cat, but how to get rid of the tangles and mats.

The topic for this article should be more like "how to comb a cat and get away with it". 

Personally, my cat loves being brushed and combed. She can't get enough of it! If I crazy-glued my hands to her body she would be the happiest kitty in the world.

I bought her one of those flea combs with the tiny prongs. I start by using the wider prongs around her face. Most cats love having their chins and necks scratched and rubbed. Let your cat get used to the comb. Flip it around and use the smooth side, the one without the prongs. Try it for a couple of minutes each day. If she bites the comb then stop. You're telling her that the pleasurable experience ends once she bites the comb or you.

Use the blunt end of the comb to gently stroke her fur from her head to her tail. Don't aim to remove fur at first, just let her get used to the feel. If she hates it, it's going to be a long combing curve.

Do this once a day for about a week. If she's already graduated to being successfully combed then give her a cat treat. If not, use the comb side on her for a few seconds, then go back to the blunt side. Always avoid her tummy, most cats don't like being touched there at the best of times, unless it's my cat.

Comb along the upper back near the tail. That's a hot spot for kitties. 

Remember, if your cat bites or scratches you at any point, it's time to put away the comb and leave the room. Don't reprimand her or look surprised. It's normal cat behaviour. Try again the next day. If she repeats the bad behaviour repeat and rinse your wounds. Biting and scratching means the fun part stops.

Cats are quick learners and will soon realize that seeing the comb in your hand means a fun grooming experience is at hand.

Don't comb your cat for more than five minutes at a time. Most cats have short attention spans. If kitty is happy, leave her happy. 

Once your cat is used to this new combing routine you can get down to business and actually start using the comb to remove loose fur and gently pull apart tangles. Keeping up with this routine on a daily basis will give you and your cat some pleasurable time together and her fur will look fantastic.