Tillikum the Orca
Posted by Loupie on Feb 25, 2010
I’m sure you will have heard about the incident at Seaworld, Orlando yesterday. For those who haven’t orca trainer, Dawn Brancheau, was killed by one of the animals in her care, Tillikum. Now I don’t know about you but this was a name I recognised instantly. This particular whake has already got two deaths to his name;
Firstly another trainer slipped and fell into his pool where he and another orca grabbed hold of her and dragged her under. It is unclear whether they meant to kill her or were just playing. Then in 1999 a body was found floating in his pool. It is believed the man in question had snuck into the park after hours though what he was planning is unclear. He was found minus his shorts and had suffered one bite to his groin.
Now I don’t know about you but I would say this should tell us something. I do feel for the woman concerned and her family, but surely you can now see that these animals should never be kept in captivity in the first place. In fact according to the BBC there have been 24 attacks on people by captive orcas and although wild attacks do occur no one has yet been hurt.
I will admit I have been against the keeping of large marine mammals in captivity for a while, believing that there is no way we can possibly give them the life they deserve, either space wise or in regards to keeping them entertained, they are clearly far more intelligent than we give them credit for. This has just made me even more determined to my cause.
Belly Dancing
Posted by Loupie on Feb 24, 2010
It would appear I have a new hobby. I have joined the weekly after work belly dancing class. The teacher said I was doing well for the first class and it does take care of that item on my 101 list to exercise once a week.
We were only at it for an hour but it was a really good work out, I get the feeling I am going to be pretty stiff tomorrow, but I think it was worth it.
Library Books
Posted by Loupie on Jan 21, 2010
As some of you will have noticed numbers 58 and 61 are the same on my 101 list. As such I have decided to make a slight ammendment
Number 58 will become; take a new book out of the library each month and return it on time. Sounds simple enough but I am notoriously bad for returning library books on time. Got my first one out yesterday so lets see how long I can keep this up for.
100+ reading challenge
Posted by Loupie on Jan 6, 2010
Skippy Has convinced me to do project 52 (Write one article a week for your website for a year). So here is my first post of the year;
Heard about this from Glowstars, who did it last year, but this sounds like just my sort of challenge.
1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join.
2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
What doesn’t count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.
3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.
My list
- 1001 ridiculus ways to die
- New Moan – Stephordy Mayo
- The Accidental Vampire – Lyndsy Sands
- Miscreation – Stefan Jakubowski
101 things update
Posted by Loupie on Jul 21, 2009
As I have completed a few things on my list I thought I would update you all. The following are complete;
Tag all my photos in iphoto
Learn to ride a bike (I can now get on and go in a straightish line without falling off, I can also sort of do corners
Wear a dress on a regular, non special occaison day – Completed 14th April 2009
Set aside a day to make my iTunes perfect (artist/album/artwork)
Cook a meal for family (I cooked Quorn korma, it was yummy)
See a West End show (Saw the 39 steps)
Learn how to make my own arrows (Have made 6 all by myself, well with a little help)
101 things in 1001 days
Posted by Loupie on Apr 20, 2009
Reposted due to my blog dieing when it changed servers.
Basic idea is still the same;
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past — frequently simple goals such as new year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
My List
- Read every book on my bookshelf that I haven’t already (1/?)
- Get my Librarything account updated and keep it that way
- Tag all my photos in iphoto
- Be comp. tested in hand to hand combat for at least one weapon
- Learn to swim
- Learn to ride a bike
- Learn to drive
- Do 100 push-ups (via 100 push-up challenge)
- Do 200 sit-ups (via 200 sit-up challenge)
- Tidy my room and keep it tidy
- Get a better job
- Finish my Doctor Who scarf
- Complete Cover to Cover Bible notes
- Apply to be a RSPCA Inspector
- Publish “Born Under a New Moon” on Elfwood
- Update my Elfwood account
- Complete NaNoEdMo
- Complete NaNoWriMo
- Write a panto
- Read all the books in the iPhone Classics app (3/20)
- Visit a country outside of Europe
- Get rid of anything I don’t need
- Go onto contraceptive stick
- Have tooth out
- Finish Skippy’s trenchcoat
- Customise a My Little Pony
- Complete Bogle
- Amass £5000 worth of savings (0/5000)
- Start a Lotto pot – Put £1 in for each draw (i.e. £2/week)
- Get a tattoo
- Have a LotR movie marathon
- Wear a dress on a regular, non special occaison day – Completed 14th April 2009
- Sort my address book
- Exercise at least once a week
- Set aside a day to make my iTunes perfect (artist/album/artwork)
- Make it to the top of an indoor climbing wall
- Re-read the Harry Potter series (1/7)
- Learn Quenya
- Learn a ‘real’ language
- Read a book in that language
- Get a WoW character to the highest level
- Unpack the last of my stuff from uni
- Sew some sleeves for my kirtle
- Sleep under the stars
- Stop biting my nails
- Take the MENSA test
- Take a picture to celebrate each goals completion
- Learn to recognise 5 constallations
- See the Northern lights
- Complete ECDL (1/7 units passed)
- Wear make-up on a r4egular, non special occasion day
- Extract my DNA
- Start a new list on day 1000
- Complete both Juice Master programs
- Visit a nudest beach
- Enquire about getting a bat handling license
- Keep nails clean and manicured for a month
- Give up chocolate for a month
- Get some posh medieval kit
- Give up alcohol for a month (0/30)
- Give up chocolate for a month (0/30)
- Give up fizzy drinks for a month (0/30)
- Go on a wolf walk
- Complete painting by numbers
- Make model dragon I got for Christmas
- Cook a meal for family
- Go to Paris with Skippy
- Build up enough muscle mass to comfortably pul my longbow (28lb)
- Buy a decent hat
- See a West End show
- Go on a Narrowboat holiday
- Watch a sunset
- Watch a sunrise
- Go on at least 3 RAG collections a year
- Try 4 different exotic meats
- Watch a bat colony emerge
- Sumbit a book to a publisher
- Collect every available episode of Doctor Who
- Make some coloured hair extentions
- Go paintballing
- Try absinthe
- Get into a 22″ corset
- Make a birthday cake
- Complete Weff Riddles
- Complete one of Wainwrights walks
- Keep a houseplant alive for a year
- Learn 25 origami shapes
- Buy a box to keep medieval kit in
- Get my legs waxed
- Go to Whitby Goth weekend
- Go to a halloween costume party
- Go vegan for a week
- Only drink water for a week
- Wear a pedometer every day for a month and record the results
- Learn to like ‘proper’ tea
- Get my ears pierced again
- Wear a different pair of earrings every day for a month
- Keep a diary and write in it every day for a year
- Make everyone a birthday card for a year
- Climb a mountain
- Learn how to make my own arrows
List started 2nd March 2009 (my 25th birthday)
List ends 25th November 2011
Five lessons we should all learn
Posted by Loupie on Jan 12, 2009
I was sent this as an email forward, so rather than clutter up your inboxes I thought I would post it here for everyone to read.
1 – First Important Lesson – Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read
The last one:
‘What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?’
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name?
I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
‘Absolutely,’ said the professor. ‘In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
Is smile and say ‘hello.’
I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy
2. – Second Important Lesson – Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:3 0 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached..
It read:
‘Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s’ bedside just before he passed away.. God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.’
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
3 – Third Important Lesson – Always remember those who serve.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
‘How much is an ice cream sundae?’ he asked.
‘Fifty cents,’ replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
‘Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?’ he inquired.
By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.
‘Thirty-five cents,’ she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins.
‘I’ll have the plain ice cream,’ he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..
You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
4 – Fourth Important Lesson. – The obstacle in Our Path.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock Some of the king’s’ wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
5 – Fifth Important Lesson – Giving When it Counts…
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, ‘Yes I’ll do it if it will save her.’ As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.
He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, ‘Will I start to die right away’.
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her but he had chosen to save her anyway.
I think there is something we can all learn from these
Loupie
Hello world!
Posted by Loupie on Nov 9, 2008
My blog is back!!