Happy Winter Solstice!

冬至快乐

You too, pretty kitty!

Hey,

What about all those in the southern hemisphere?

Happy Summer Solstice to you.

And, to all of you on the Equator, sorry that you have nothing to celebrate.

Cheers.

Nice thought Lyn, thanks kindly

and Del, Happy Winter Solstice to you from all the Southern Hemisphere folks....

and have an enjoyable, safe Christmas

Bob

And thanks to you for the nice scenery.

Merry Christmas.

Lyn

Here, I've fixed your picture for you

Hang on! Just Hang on!

Greetings Del and all other CR 4 members,

Del, I can't determine what the green items are around the eyes of the kitty in

your Greeting Card ?????

I was scrabbling about in the garden in the Autumn one morning and I ended up with a mess of Oak leaves and spiders web over my face.
My hooman took a pic of me before serving me my breakfast...what a liberty.
Del

And all the time I thought they was a little crown.

O, I'm busted.
They are really a crown of Oak leaves bestowed on me during my last journey in the KrisDel^TM time machine.
I went back to Roman times and there I was crowned with them by the Emporor Flatulus.

Del

Maybe we'll get that optical mouse in 2010! Cheers, Del.

If you end up going to Stonehenge, don't sacrifice anything I wouldn't*.

_{*Dogs are not ok Del.}

As DVader1000 might say: "May the light be with you!"

Oh, alright, this seems to be the seasonal Christmas card thread that will get noticed.

Happy Solstice/Christmas/Yuletide/Saturnalia/whatever to everyone - you are the cream in my coffee. May all have a wondeful and joyous time over the holiday period, and may the New Year bring blessings to you, one and all.

Expanding on your theme squibble

I just knew you would show here Garthh !

What will really sort the men from the boys, is who manages to slide away and post to BBT on the 25th <cackle>. May suds envelope you, and the soap glide smoothly thru your loving hands

Seeing the cat out of the bag, now everybody knows. merry Xmas to all.

Regards and best wishes for the festive season JD.

TO ALL-

MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE MERRY AND YOUR NEW YEAR PAINLESS!

Merry Christmas to all at CR4

And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me.

And......................may we orl get a spullcheccker fur Crissmuss.

Let me jump in, too. Merry Christmas and a Happy, Enjoyable, and Safe New Year to all of you.

Micah

And he said with a grin, as he wiped off his chin...

Whoops, that's not it.

But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight,

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.

To Del and all CR4ers: may next year be your best yet.

Good news everyone! The Americans are getting socialism for Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc. too everyone.

And Happy New Year too.

Roger, you forgot to include Festivus.

"Happy Frestivus to the rest of us"

If you are not familiar with Festivus you may wish to educate yourself. http://www.kwillis.com/festivus.html Thank you Frank Costanza.

Get your 'Festivus Pole' before it's too late, have fun Airing your Grievences, and good luck with the 'Feats of Strength'

I can't believe I forgot Festivus. I'm sorry Kramer and George's Dad.

Greetings Roger,

I saw a television program, filmed in Antarctica , where the Emperor Penguin fathers

cared for the eggs in minus 100 deg F conditions whilst withstanding 80 mph winds, as the females left in search of food.

Is it me or don't the females always "cut out" in search of food?

Any way God Bless You and keep you throughout the New Year

And from the great white north, a Merry Christmas to all and thanks for all the help I've received here over the last year.

Christmas? Is it Christmas already?

No it's not. You still have two days left.

"I don't care who you are Fatso, get off my roof!"

.

.

.

WISH YOU ALL MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Merry Christmas or whatever strikes your fancy at this time of year.

Strange as it sounds my thoughts always go back to Christmas Day of 1969 in the Republic of South Vietnam. I, and other volunteers, spent the day in a Chinook delivering tons of hot food, presents and other assorted goodies to our adopted orphanage and troops stuck in the boonies.

Pray for those who can't be with their families.

Hooker

Not strange at all. One of the things that makes ANY people great is that spirit that leads to sharing anything you have, regardless of your circumstances, and without a hope, or consideration, of "payback" or remuneration, with those who have less.

THAT, my friend, is what makes my SE Asian Coworkers proud today, to be Americans. And humbles me, because, while I was born here, I sometimes forget what makes me so privileged!

Thanks for the reminder, in this most giving of seasons.

Micah

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year to come.

Remember to include ,in your thoughts, prayers and deeds, all of those who are not able to be with their families at this time and our neighbors in need. Not only at this time but always. Lend a hand-up, not just a hand-out whenever possible.

This was Pagan another cat. Who is the biggest Crazy Cat!

I sort of owe an explanation for the post of Pagan, who was one of my wife's cats.

There are physical seasons, and spiritual seasons.

Pagan was originally found sucking on the tit of its car killed mother.

Originally when I met my wife there was Pagan, Tricky, Nero, Oliver, Jameson, Alistair, and Bernard.

Nero was well named and Alistair would simply leave for days at a time, and only drop in till Nero got himself run over.

I am certain that Oliver was a witness.

After that there was come peace among the cats around the house and Alistair stayed home more. He had a thing with Tricky. Though spayed Tricky was apparently still sexually active, if not promiscuous.

Jameson was fat and dumb, and sometimes actually Alistair would share rabbits he killed with Jameson, so they got along.

My wife had sucked the caul off Tricky, and they were extremely bonded, and Tricky always slept by her head.

Jameson died of a heart attack.

When we had to move it had taken awhile to get the cats to move with us, and Oliver seemed okay, but ran away, never to be found.

In the meantime Pagan typically hid under a bed, or stayed in a chair hidden by the table cloth, and sometimes behind a curtain, and then my wife says every now and then would play in the driveway like a kitten.

She was old and got older, and never let me pet her and would only sometimes sit with my wife.

Tricky got sick with a cancer, and died.

After that Pagan was about a bit more, and Alistair talked a bit more.

All along and still to this day Bernard wants to be a human being. Really he is not the only cat that I've known that was very interested in what I was doing when looking at screens. (Back years ago I had a cat that was very interested in what I was doing when I would sit in the closet and edit Super 8 film, and Bernard still walks across my desk and insists on sitting nearby when I stare at the screen to read , or write.)

Anyway Pagan continued to get old, but actually seemed a bit happier since actually since Pagan was the shiest and most timid, and oldest, was a bit persecuted by the other cats.

One day I went into the bedroom and Pagan was curled up laying on my pillow, and we looked at each other full in the eyes for awhile.

After that Pagan slept by my head every night till she died.

She would let me pet her, and particularly liked it if I pulled her ears back with the smooth and palm of my hand.

I think my wife was very good at naming these cats.

We all want something to pray to, and they pray to us.

That makes them Pagans.

Del was my first friend here on this forum, and the first picture I ever posted was of a battery made of vinegar and tin and some copper.

The picture of Pagan is the first since, and well, if I find a picture of my '54 Pontiac, and learn how to scan it and then post it, some little technological mastery will be achieved by me, hopefully on the cheery side of life.

I swear, I knew the cats thought we were gods when early in my relationship with my wife we were going somewhere, and all seven cats walked to the parking lot and watched us leave in our car.

Be a happy cat, be a happy god? Its wishes and hopes and comes and goes, and we are lucky to share every turn with all of the living company, for the rocks don't care.

Nice post Rus' Pagan looks like a very knowing cat.
We just got back from a couple of days at my folks...had a nice time saw lots of family.
At Christmas a short visit ids sometimes better than a long one, had a walkk down to the coast this morning, followed a stream down to the sea, saw a Kingfisher, (we me and Big Sis saw it, the others the a bit behind us) Big flash of blue, didn't expect to see one so close to the sea.

Lets wish for a peaceful new year...for one and all.

Del

Update on the holiday news broadcasts.
I'm glad that the wannabe terrorist on that US flight got his leg burnt, let's hope it took burned his testicles too
Not too sure that pushing the Pope is News worthy...I pushed Mrs Cat but the local news wasn't interested (she pushed me back tho').
A young lad went missing near us here, lets hope he turns up ok.

I like peace so much I declared war last April Fools on big fast rocks.

Thought about the Xmas Truce of the Soldiers in the Trenches of WWI.

I've long loved war and conflict, up to a point.

The way the Sioux fought it makes Knights look foolish.

-Well maybe at a point on the same page.

It's just serious play intended to impress women, and after that a waste.

"Hey, Honey, Look here, I got a new feather!" When I was a kid in Jonesboro Arkansas the Dust bowl era of the 30s, had dug trenches for us to play in. Mom gave us a couple of apples and we'd go into the trenches and dig with spoons, and put plastic soldiers in them, eat our apples, and navigate home.

I've not been able to find a producer for my 3D virtual reality war movie intended to be an acceptable substitute for what passes for normal.

After reading of the most recent attempt to blow a plane of pilgrims up, I wanted to make a picture of naked passengers on a plane.

I wondered at what the optimum temp and humidity might be for naked flying?

I turned 57 today, and am contemplative in consideration of what has been my history, and what might to come.

Seems long I passed from innocence to adulthood, and even parenthood.

Would likely be a powerful move towards peace in the world if parallel to the Adult running of the UN, was composed of children up to the age of 12, when we typically lose that innocence and purity that is sweet, and unselfish just learned.

Which me to be now, is always the question.

I have failed to make peace in the world.

I know what if is, and wish I could just wrap it up and give it around.

Once played piano with a woman sitting next to me on the bench that was sharing to love of God.

Been in the cold on the tops of short mountains in the wind trying to get a good picture with the excuse it would help sell chewing gum.

Wrote one good poem that was worthy of the title Anonymous.

:

Let my acid tongue unleased.

Burn away the charm of fools.

And let all others be as well advised,

I am no long lost brother.

I am no fool or wise.

I am just a working man.

Who has one life,

And no other.

RSD

No no. it can't be your birthday today... it's my birthday..
(27th)
I'm 58 (that's hooman years...I forget what I am in cat years)
Del

From the perspective of a 59 year old, I can only say that your next year, Del, and your next two, Transcendian, will be among your best -- at least that is my wish for you.

Cheers, It's started well, I got a Chrono' for my birthday, so I can measure arrow speeds accurately, my little 40 pound Hazel bow shoots 143.6 fps (nearly 100mph) .
My son was saying it would be interesting to drive by at that speed as I loose off an arrow, he could look out the window and watch it slowly rotaing in flight. A tad impractical but a fun idea...I shall test my longbow tomorrow.

All the best for next year.
Del

Hi Del,

how are you using the chronometer to measure the speed of the bolt?

Chas

It's one of these
Del

Interesting. Anyway my birthday is the 26th. Thanks to Blink for the positive wishes.

As you can see I was inspired somehow to write a poem. Haven't been writing many poems this year, nor much fiction. Seems as though I produce one decent poem a year.

Glad you got the Chrono and can measure your arrow speeds.

I got another camera that is supposedly all the rage among Vogue Models.

It acts like a Polaroid producing Biz card sized photos.

I was thinking of building an "photobooth". Thing I like about photobooths from a business point of view, and specifically the business of photography is that people expect to put money in the machine.

The machine simply doesn't make any photograph, unless you put money in it!

Overall the history of photobooths is interesting, as well as jukeboxes.

Any cash business is prone to some criminal sidelines, and in the US licensing of Jukeboxes came about due to Mob control of the cash machines.

I have heard good things about the Freakonomics book.

Hopefully I will understand Economics fully enough to complete a workable economic system for Transcendia this year. So far my theory is that if every citizen was given a Whole Life Insurance Policy for their tax payments, the equity power would be well spread giving Labor parity with Capital.

As many know I am very interested in Science and Engineering, and then Political Science. I've often hoped that Jared Diamond would participate in some of the CR4 discussions. I think he does very well at putting tech, and art, and history into an understandable context.

Certainly Del the Cat and his interest in making powerful bows is known to come from the impression that the Battle of Angincort made on him. (Mrs. Nancy Alex) doesn't know how to spell it.

All I know about that battle is that bowmen beat armored Knights illustrating how technology affects history.

I am just as interested in how to apply science, as I am in it for more innocent reasons.

Who knows maybe Chris Leonard and the other Administrators and the Sponsor Globalspec, a Political Science section to us for our birthdays present?

It would make me feel better about how much I ignore my own website.

I haven't even posted my new poem there yet, for instance.

Gottah admit I enjoy batting some ideas around with AH, and while I am for Wind, EW opened my eyes to potentials for NG &CNG which look pretty good in the context of my Taxi Challenge bases for car love.

The current quasi nationalization of the US economy, and its engines, makes the definition of my model country as a Country, Company & Work of Art, merely a reflection of what all modern Countries really are.

Oh to Master not just the Technology, but the Art of Living.

Machiavelli says that a struggle with the environment is not enough to create a nation, which is why I declared war on Asteroids this last year in my annual April Fools Day Holiday Speech.

Bhanki gave me some great budgeting information, and we know now that the ISS is not yet equipped with a suitable Recoiless weapon to deflect Asteroid Threats to the HomePlanet.

In this time of the Multi Polar Power Balance, and Weapons of Mass Destruction I am for a very terrible real war that may well be required to get them eliminated as intolerable threats across all borders. Civilization and relative peace do come at a steep price.

I know a man who was tortured and can't sleep.

Tippycanoe seems to be in some crisis.

Tis the season to be stressful...

My war is better than your war!

Hopefully Disney will buy Transcendia.

I've made a case for Disneyland as a Country in the UN with status comparable to the Vatican. If we called Disney Security, the Disney Army, it would be a bigger army than the Vatican Army. -If you have an "Army" - you can get a seat at the UN you know.

Having created a situation where I have extreme conflicts internally and externally to reconcile I see hypocrisy in myself. I love airplanes and jets and rockets which demand powerful expensive fuels not so far particularly coming from renewable sources.

Obama sure does seem to like Air Force One, and so would I.

He might downgrade to something like a Falcon 50 to look good.

Is Hydazine renewable? I forget.

Garthh may be able to help me figure what fuel for jets would cut back on some of my hypocrisy inherently come from the technology I love that requires the power of fuels I ought to hate.

Onward towards The New Year we go!

Let us continue to help each other as we have, perfect our world with all the strength and wisdom and beauty and humor we know exists in quantities great enough for hope, but shorter than they have to be.

happy birthday to you too Del! a christmassy lot, CR4..

glad to hear it's off to a good start.

Hi Del and Transcendian,

Best Birthday Wishes to a couple of Capricorn cats from a Sag cat

Capricorn cats are smart and sophisticated companions with a down to earth attitude and a love for socialising. Your cat enjoys being a social butterfly and greeting as many people as possible. Your cat's love of material possessions is sometimes misconstrued as an obsession, but in truth these lovable animals are simply focussed on the things that are important to them - especially you! A cat born under the Capricorn sign will be a loyal and loving companion who loves your attention and craves your company. They will do this devouringly without the expectation of it being returned. Capricorn cats also love being right so don't forget to give them a reality check by occasionally letting them outside to experience the real world! The ruling planets that keep your cat focused are Saturn and Uranus.

Cheers, Bob

As an extreme extrovert working at things mostly introverts are expected to do, along with having had the most killing laughs with a New Zealander ever had, I have to say I agree with the jazz.

It's Christmas day & I'm bored already, still, off to to see eldest daughter & 2 grandsons in a few minutes that should cheer me up.

Happy holiday to one & all.

Nicely done Del!

Round the clock testing complete, I get A day at home before going back to complete the reporting this weekend.

But for a day we think of loved ones apart, those in danger for us, and those who have gone ahead; and enjoy those close at hand a bit more.

And I cannot go near the BBT, as I am over 1,000 posts behind.

Best to all my friends here at CR4.

Hi Del, I presume the pic is of Mrs Del, as that colouration is only found on female cats!

Christmas greetings to one and all on CR4.

Chas.

Will Be

I tire of hurt and pain,

And wish it had no home.

Give it to me to throw away.

No recycling will be required.

Yes, alright. Merry Wossname and a Happy New Thingumibob.

Alistair

Looks like he's sitting on your mail.
How do yo get a cat to sit in the middle of the floor?
You open a newspaper or even better a map on the floor and start reading it.

Del

Why do you guys do that ? As soon I leave a bit of paper on a desk, the cat (Sooty) wants to sit on it. Shes's not short of warm bed etc. A4 is her vafourite size - sods law that's what we use that size for letters etc. She prefers A4 paper to any blanket or proprietry cat-bed. She will even take it in preference to a cardboard box she can snugle up in. It's like really young kids at Christams who enjoy the box more than the contents. Infuriating. I'd get her a whole roll of wallpaper if I thought it would work, but no, she wants the bloody bit I'm working on.