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General InformationWhy We Are Here: A #Townhall Special Presentation
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DAYS OF NOTE

In an attempt to get more of our chatters involved in our newsletter and to make it more interesting, we are adding several new columns. I'd love to see a gardening column if that's an area of expertise for any of you. Please get together with me if you have other ideas or if you're willing to do a column!

COOKING STARLINK-IRC STYLE Recipes and more    ...by AmazingSis.

Recipe for Friendship Assemble one group of people in assorted sizes, shapes and personalities Measure accurately: 1 Cup friendly words 1 Cup courtesy and patience 2 heaping cups of understanding Sift carefully to remove malice and ego.Add: a dash of wit and humor a pinch of warm personality a handful of forgiveness an ounce of praise Mix well until blended. Cook slowly, keeping temperature low (No boiling, stewing or steaming) Season with a spice of life. Top each serving with a goodly amount of kindness, charity, and temperance. A little bit of love and tolerance improves the flavor. Serve in generous portions. Author Unknown

This recipe was submitted by RetJaxFF of #40Something.  It is SO good! HAWAIIAN WEDDING CAKE Ingredients: (1) Yellow cake mix (1) 20 ounce can crushed pineapples in natural juices (1) 15 ounce can of Mandarin Oranges (2)  8 ounce containers of Cool Whip (1) Small box of vanilla instant pudding (do not make the pudding) (1) Cup of chopped pecans Drain crushed pineapples – Do not throw away the juice.  Drain the Mandarin oranges and chop them into halves. Make yellow cake mix according to the package (using the pineapple juice in place of the water – if the pineapple juice is not quite enough just add water to make up the balance needed.) Then fold in the oranges.   Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. ** Let cake cool before frosting ** Frosting: In a bowl – put the two containers of Cool Whip, drained pineapple, vanilla instant pudding and the chopped pecans and stir all together.  Then spread over cooled cake. BAKE 30 minutes. Remove foil. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serving Suggestion Serve with a crisp green salad topped with your favorite KRAFT LIGHT DONE RIGHT Reduced Fat Dressing. Visual AHA! Show an individual serving on a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce. Top lasagna with a small serving of sour cream or guacamole.

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MOVIES                 Movie Reviews

No movie reviewer right now.  Want to volunteer? Write to the editor

THE BOOK NOOK         Book Nook by Lorelei

Suggestions and comments .. submit them to the newsletter with Book Nook in the subject line.

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If you have a book you'd like reviewed, send an email with the subject "For Book Nook"; we're glad to have suggestions! If you'd like to review a book yourself, let us know. It's good to have fresh viewpoints!

PETS AND PESTS         Critters   by Momma

If you have questions, interesting facts or suggestions, other notable news concerning pets and pests, please submit them to the newsletter with Pets and Pests in the subject line

Hello Starlink-IRC chatters! We have been away for a bit, but are now back to start off 2009 with information, and giggles! I am sure some of you have missed the Starlink-IRC newsletter as much as I have.
 
Usually, when I write this article, I try to share bits of information I have either researched or know from personal experience. To animal lovers, informative hints and cost cutting ideas for healthier and happy pets and wildlife is helpful.  So I have included something I recently learned this winter, as well as some tips I gave you last winter. But I am also taking this time to address a growing problem in these tough economic times.
 
First off, I was watching our local morning news show in early December and found an interesting tidbit shared by a wildlife expert. Many of us (myself included) have tossed out stale bread to the birds and squirrels in our yards. I personally thought that I was doing a good thing, sharing rather then wasting bread crusts that would otherwise go into the trash. While I have continued this practice when I have stale bread products available, I have started placing them AWAY from the bird feeders. Apparently, when our feathered friends fill up on processed wheat products, they get a false sense of fullness, but do not get the nutrients they require. These come from the seeds and grains provided in seed mixtures.

This time of year, food supplies for wild birds is limited and they depend on the kindness of humans to survive. I still toss out whatever few scraps of stale bread I have, for other wildlife, like possums and raccoons, but by placing them away from the bird feeders, and keeping the feeders filled, I am finding that the birds will go to the feeders first.

Last year I also told you about another hint to keep wild birds and their young healthy. Drying out and crushing eggshells and either placing them close to the seed supply or mixing them in with the seed mixture will help keep little bones strong and provide a basis for stronger shells when breeding season starts. Because birds need to ingest 'grit' for digestion, and because they are trying to survive, they often tend to ingest road salt.  Over a long period of time, this weakens their bones. Providing calcium for them through egg shells not only helps them but is a great way to recycle.

And don't forget your dryer lint and hair brushings from your pet! Throw them outside, so that birds can scrounge these up to build and line nests.
 
Okay, now for my comments on a disturbing trend in these tough economic times. ABANDONED pets!

Momma is a bit of a news junkie. I watch local news, which covers global news as well. I read news online. I listen to the radio. For the last couple of months, news programs have included sad stories of animal shelters struggling to handle the influx of abandoned cats and dogs. Many 'no kill' shelters are resorting to having animals destroyed. Stories of cats and dogs dumped off on country roads, in fields, tied to a fence with a note begging for a home, or just turned out to fend for themselves bring me to tears.

This month, with sub-zero temperatures, has been the worse month for abandoned animals. Many dogs and stray/feral cats have been found suffering from extreme cases of frostbite, resulting in loss of ears, tails and limbs, and sadly in some cases loss of life.

I personally know all too well how expensive raising a pet is. With six dogs, two budgies, a guinea pig, and countless stray cats I inherited when my husband passed away, it is a struggle to make sure they are taken care of. The loss of one comfortable pay cheque, and my meager part-time pay (hours cut back as well) means that in order to keep my furry, four-legged children, I have had to give up many things I enjoyed in the past. No more satellite/cable TV, no more shopping for clothes unless at secondhand stores, no more chips and dips, cookies or candies, no more vodka/wine for the weekend, and so many more things, too many to mention. No more luxuries for Momma as they are simply not an option right now. And if this trend continues, eventually there will be no more internet.  These concessions I make willingly for those I consider part of my family.

My pets have also had to make concessions, although they don't know it. They no longer get store bought treats, instead, if and when I have stale bread, they get a small piece with a thin smear of peanut butter. They seldom get toys, and when they do, they are purchased from the dollar store. Much less expensive then when I used to buy from Pet Smart, and they last about as long. The top quality foods they were raised on is no longer in my budget. No Name or white label foods fill my pantry for both myself and the animals.   I do not write about these things to gain your pity, but to show that there are ways to help exist in these hard times. My animals are fed, warm and very much loved. It has always been my thought, that having a family pet is a life-long commitment. Certain responsibilities come with that commitment.

Most of us, when we hit on hard times, would not even entertain the thought to tie our sons and daughters to a fence, in sub-zero temperatures, with a note pinned to them, begging for a home. We would never consider it an option to dump our babies off in the country to fend for themselves. We would do whatever it took to provide for our children, our family. When we add a pet to the family, it is our moral responsibility to offer them the same consideration.

Ok, I can hear a few people saying, "But Momma, you are not homeless. You don't live in your car with children. You haven't lost your house or job." A little known fact, I HAVE been homeless, without a car I might add. I found a home for the cats I had at the time.

Complaining about the problem isn't solving said problem. I know this, and I can offer no easy solution. But... here is a thought...  If you see a friend, neighbour, or family member in financial distress due to a loss of income, talk to them. Many people are too proud to ask for help, so offer it. If they have a pet and it looks like foreclosure is in the future, offer to take in the pet, help find it a home or a suitable shelter.

If you have a few extra dollars at the end of the month, donate to your local Animal Shelter, or purchase a bag of dog/cat food and donate it. It doesn't have to be the expensive kind, shelters are struggling and are all too happy to accept pet food donations. Donate your time at the shelter.

Extra animals in these shelters require extra hands for cleaning, feeding and extra loving hands are needed for comforting scared critters. If you have the room and finances, then consider adoption. These poor animals are not someone's problem pet, they are collateral damage in tough economic times. They have tons of love to offer, and it has been proven that cuddling a pet can help lower stress and blood pressure. So... do it for your health!    :)
 
Next month, I promise not to jump on my soapbox.

I am always looking for ideas for future articles, so if you have questions or ideas, concerning pet care or pest control, please feel free to contact NOLady at: slnews AT starlink-irc.org.
 

Whether it's lighthearted, serious, poignant, or just plain silly, send your contributios to the newsletter with LIBRARY in the subject line.

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Thanks, Kitten^

When Insults Had Class:                          
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." --     Winston Churchill  
  
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." -- Clarence Darrow 
    
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)  
 
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening.  But this wasn't it." -- Groucho  Marx
  
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." -- Mark Twain   
    
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." -- Oscar Wilde    
 
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend... If you have one." -- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill...
followed by Churchill's response:    "Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second, if there is one." -- Winston Churchill                                                
  
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." --   Stephen Bishop 

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." -- John Bright 
 
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -- Irvin S. Cobb                   

"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." --  Samuel Johnson
  
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." -- Paul Keating    
 
"He had delusions of adequacy." -- Walter Kerr                            
 
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" -- Mark Twain 
  
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." -- Mae West  
 
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." --  Oscar Wilde 
 
Lady Astor once remarked to Winston Churchill at a Dinner Party, "Winston, if you were my husband, I would poison your coffee!"
Winston replied, "Madam if I were your husband I would drink it!"

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Adam returned home late one night, and Eve confronted him at the door.
"You're seeing another woman, aren't you?" she accused.
"Don't be silly," he replied. "You're the only woman on earth."
Later, while half-asleep, Adam felt a tickle on his chest.
"What are you doing?" he asked Eve.
"Counting your ribs," she replied.

NOLady